Story Market Day

[ComCamGuy]

Amber was surprised when she saw Sabine standing in the parking lot, waiting for her. She rolled down the window as she pulled up next to her.

“Kinda surprised to see you still here. The way you talked earlier, I thought you were doing an Amelia Earhart on us.” Amber quipped.

“It was tempting. You have no idea how easy it would have been.” Amber noticed Sabine’s speech, her patterns and accent were different. But Sabine kept talking. “But I decided I didn’t want to give up on having friends. Paige says they love me for me, even though they don’t know anyone other than the Sabine they met and have loved with. I need to be that person for them. To do that, I need to nail the lid down on all the rest of my baggage. I thought I had, but I need help, otherwise I’ll just have to keep running, never getting close to anyone.” This statement seemed to take a lot of energy for Sabine to say. Amber knew such realizations were hard to accept and harder to acknowledge.

“So, are you saying you want my help?”

“Yes. I can’t do this alone. I’ve tried.” She paused for a moment, once again unsure or hesitant. “Look, can I drive? I need the distraction.”

“Sure.” Amber got out of the driver’s seat and went around to the passenger side. Once she climbed in, Sabine started forward and was talking again.

“To help me put the lid back on, unfortunately you will need to know everything. I don’t want to tell it to you, I don’t really want to discuss it in depth, dissect the details and so forth. I am looking for help with things to help keep it peacefully slumbering so it doesn’t pop up and ruin someone’s wedding or bar mitzvah.”

“So how am I supposed to know without you telling it to me?” Amber was intrigued. She was sure Sabine had a solution.

Sabine held up a thumb drive. “With this.”

“What is ‘this’” Amber took the thumb drive.

“This is one of three copies outside of Federal evidence. This is everything. I’m not even supposed to have it. When you see what’s on here, you will understand. Don’t show it to anyone. Here’s the other thing. Silas knows some of what’s on here second hand, but not much. I give you, my doctor, permission to discuss it with him, but please don’t show the contents to him. I don’t want the ‘me’ in there to change how he looks at me, how he thinks of me. That’s the person I’m trying to close the door on and move forward.”

Amber looked at the thumb drive. She knew in her heart this was a Pandora’s Box. Once opened, who knew what would come out?

“Are you sure?”

Sabine’s eyes didn’t leave the road as she replied.

“Absolutely not, but I have no one else in the world to talk to who knew me before the horror, and the only one I trust that knew me when it was happening isn’t here. Besides, he has already done so much, but he is on the other side of the country. I would love to go back to the ‘me’ before all of it happened, but that will never be. Instead, I have to focus on only being ‘Sabine.’ There’s a gravestone in a cemetery in New England with Jeanne’s name on it. I need her to stay there. Are you still willing to help me?”

“Still your rules?”

“Yup.”

“How will Silas know he can talk to me about this?”

“Show him the dog tag attached to the thumb drive. Once he sees it, he will know it was from me. After he sees the tag, I want the tag back. It’s the one I got issued when I first came into the military and I’m still attached to it after all these years.”

Amber reached into the back seat and retrieved her small laptop. In for a penny, in for a pound. She opened a new folder on the desktop and titled it ‘Alice’.

“Ok, Sabine, Down the rabbit hole I go. I’m in.” She looked up from the laptop to Sabine and was startled by her reply.

“I don’t know how to thank you, and I’m sorry.” The smile on her face was both heartfelt and sad.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Amber started skimming the lists of files. These were evidentially a full set of court records of multiple trials, well over a dozen it looked like. She recognized several of the family names on the defendant side of most of them. They were fairly prominent old money families. She looked for the oldest file. She figured better to start at the beginning. The oldest one had Jeanne as the defendant. Opening the file she skimmed the subfolders. Prosecution evidence, defense evidence, testimony transcripts, video transcripts of testimony, autopsy reports! Holy Shit!

Amber pulled up the Prosecution case. On first glance, Jeanne was accused of murdering three people, one of which was her husband, in a particularly heinous way. She skipped over to the defense side to see their take on it. If murder was a shock to her, the defense floored her.

Amber had to look again. Physical and psychological torture, sexual exploitation and torment were the kindest clinical terms she saw. And it looked like it went on for years! Rabbit hole indeed!

She skipped ahead. It looks like she was acquitted, primarily based on video evidence and Jeanne’s narration on the stand of the events in question. She was also the star witness against the others involved in the horrors inflicted earlier, once again, narrated by Jeanne.

She would help her nail the box shut. After seeing the barest glimpse inside, she knew she could not walk away without helping her. She looked up at Sabine.

“I’ll help you. We will find a way to make it work.”

 

[Freebirde]

As far as the passports and such, sometimes knowing you have a way out makes a situation more easy to live with than using the way out. Also it is harder to endure if you find you have no choice but to endure.

 

[ted]

Thank you.

 

[Sportsman]

Thank you. It truly is a complicated world.

 

[Shooter]

Rabbit hole. Indeed

 

[sssarawolf]

Many thanks.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Amber continued. “I will not walk away from you. I am on your side, not like the shrinks before. The institution they put you in for evaluation sucked and those shrinks were out to show how superior they were. They aren’t there to help patients. I hate assholes like that. They are the bane of my profession. I won’t treat you like a product on a shelf in a warehouse like they did. In this, I work for you, not the prosecution or defense like they did.”

“First let’s fix things with you friends. All of you were effected by Paige’s attack and it is time you guys admit it. You were the whipping boy and the strength at the same time. You had the worst it because you literally held her very life in your hands. Your skill and passion stood between her and death! Then, at least in your head, you killed for her. You sat with her for hours when no one else could, watching not knowing whether she would live or die recover or turnip, and you stood alone defending her against everyone. Henrik lashing out at you. Your girlfriend angry at you and turning on you when you needed her support. Blaming you for things you were not doing and not trusting you. Exhausting yourself, pouring yourself drop by drop into helping everyone without taking care of yourself. Then as everything is calming down, with your reserves spent, needing to recharge, Bam! Somebody throws open the lid, you get hit with parallels, flashbacks and panic. Of course, you had a bit of a meltdown!”

“Now as for you, I just barely put my toes in the water. I need to get my wetsuit and tanks to start getting the full story. The ocean is deep and cold Sabine but I am willing and ready if you still are.”

“I still get to control the pace?”

“Of course, remember, it’s your rules.”

“OK, can we make it appear casual and not a formal ‘hi, I’m seeing the shrink’ kind of thing, at least around the guys?”

“What formal? We are just talking. Two medical people talking about things they don’t understand or would bore them. They sure as hell haven’t been providing you the friendly ear you need, the sympathetic understanding you deserve. Nothing says you can’t have a friend outside the house. Besides, **** ‘em. You can have another friend and talk with them if you want.”

Amber paused before she continued. “With just the little I saw when I skimmed, you have to be one of the strongest people I have ever met. Everyone needs to take a break or get some help every now and then. I’m in your corner on this. Silas will be too.”

Sabine had a small grin on her face now.

“He better be, otherwise, his sister will kick his ass!”

Amber was momentarily confused until she connected the dots.

“Your why Bill was stressing out a couple years ago and retired earlier than he originally planned to! He was your Master Chief! Beth cried on my shoulder a few times because she didn’t know how to help and he couldn’t tell her why. He was finally able to tell her enough when it was over, I guess. Now it makes more sense!”

Sabine’s voice was wistful. “I miss Bill and Beth. She was always nice to me. She always made these fabulous bunt cakes he would bring to the shop.”

“Sabine, Bill thought so much of you, and he is an excellent judge of character. We will help you. You were family long before now.”

 

[sssarawolf]

Thank you,

 

[Texican]

Sabine now has a friendly ear to help.

Texican....

 

[ted]

Thank you.

 

[Sportsman]

Thank you. We knew this was going to get deep, and it's heading that way already.

 

[ComCamGuy]

They were five minutes from the house. Amber broke the silence again.

“Can I ask a question?”

Sabine froze, tightening her grip on the steering wheel. Her mind started conjuring all the questions she was afraid to hear again.

“OK” Her voice was soft, wooden.

“Are you still a Catholic?”

This was not one of the questions Sabine was expecting.

“Yes.”

“Why?” it wasn’t confused or accusatory. Amber just seemed to wonder. Sabine had to think on it for a moment.

“It’s hard to explain. If I quit now, then everything I endured was a waste, was all for nothing. If I was going to abandon the church, I should have done it before everything went bad. If I had, then I would have had a dozen easy ways out. Divorce, flee, or even death. There were a thousand times I prayed to die, but suicide’s a mortal sin, you see. Too weak to die, too strong to live, too strong to die, too weak to live. Whether I agree with all of it, to walk away would …..” Sabine seemed to run out of steam.

Amber sat there. Part of her could make sense of it but it still boggled her mind. She was broken out of her thought train by Sabine.

“Put your couch away, its game time.”

 

[ComCamGuy]

Andrea, Sofia and Violet were working hard in the kitchen, planning the party for tomorrow and starting to banter ideas for a wedding party. When Paige came in, and Sabine wasn’t with her, Andrea went a little mental.

“What do you mean, you left her there! Did you just pitch her out to the side of the road like a sack of unwanted kittens!?!? She has a bit of temper and you throw her away! I’m going to go get her. If you want her gone, then fine! Let me know and I’ll pack our stuff!”

Paige was a bit blindsided by this. It was suppose to be a happy day celebrating her upcoming wedding. Why was everyone yelling at her, blaming her for everything going on past, present and future, and threatening her. Next the war in the middle east would be her fault. It was becoming a nightmare. Paige had finally had enough.

“Would you just shut the **** up for a minute! Cool your jets you raging psycho and let me explain.”

The silence of the room was broken by giggle heard from Violet. Paige’s glare could not quiet it but a projectile along with the threatening motherly glare of Sofia did.

“It’s not like that at all! She wanted to take care of something and needed to collect herself. I tried to get her to come back with me. What was I supposed to do? Handcuff her and toss her in the back? Shit! Give me a break! She said she would give a call, but Amber already went down there. Sabine knew you were busy cooking and figured to take care of some things!”

“I’m going to go get her!” Andrea started towards the door.

Paige picked up Andrea’s keys and tossed them towards Violet.

“Here Violet, hang onto these until she takes a breath. She been drinking. I am too tired to try to stop her. Handcuff her to wall, tie her in a knot like pretzel, whatever it takes to keep her from leaving. I am tired and need some rest. Later I have stuff for you in the garage, but I have to ask your dad if you can have it.”

Andrea looked over at Violet. Violet was smirking, she knew that wrestling match would be a wasted effort. It wouldn’t even be wiggly enough to be fun. She would just get tied in a knot. She had to trust Sabine. Sabine wouldn’t run away.

“Amber has already left to go pick her up. Two on the road wouldn’t be a good idea.” She turned towards Andrea. “Please, she is fine. She will be back soon.”

Sofia stepped up to Andrea. She figured they needed a better way to diffuse the situation than Violet’s motto when it doubt physical methods usual work best to calm the temper.

“Andrea, let’s get back to cooking and planning. Have another Mimosa and let’s figure out the bachelorette party.” She threw her arm across Andrea’s shoulders, steering her back towards the kitchen. “Besides, you aren’t getting the keys away from Violet so let’s get back to the festivities.”

The two were really starting to bond over working in the kitchen. They both were enjoying talking about recipe, knitting and sewing. Things she did not share with the other roommates. Planning parties were a great distraction.

“Bachelorette party? Now you are singing my song.” Andrea went back to her kitchen tasks. After all she was the most domestic of all the roomates.

 

[ComCamGuy]

When Sabine and Amber drove up, Paige, Silas and Violet were in the barn looking at what Paige brought back. Ivar, Henrik and Veronica were not at hand. Sabine went straight into the house while Amber went over to Silas.

Sabine was set upon when she walked in the door.

“Where were you?!” Andrea was up in her face metaphorically. “Why did you stay behind?”

Sabine wrapped her up in her arms.

“Relax! I had to get something out of the Narc box at work and I couldn’t have Paige seeing them! It’s all ok!”

This confused Andrea, who may have had one too many glasses while cooking. After a moment, her eyes got wide.

“They came in?”

“Yup, and I figured they would be safer there than here.” Sabine looked over at Sofia in the kitchen. “Was she done with what she was doing, or should she be cooking?”

Sofia was sitting at the little bar on the side of the kitchen, a glass of wine in her hand.

“We are done for now out here. If you want to drag her off, I can watch things for a while.” Sofia had a smile on her face and tipped her glass as Sabine took Andrea’s hand and led her up the stairs.

 

[sssarawolf]

Thank you. I'm not great on the lesbian bit but it's a good story. Edited to say, I know this is fiction and you need all kinds of folks to flesh out the story. Don't mind me this morning.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Thank you. I'm not great on the lesbian bit but it's a good story.

Its more about the people connection in spite of the equipment. For some, it's how they are wired, for others it can be a reaction, a way to seek human connection without re engaging with negative experiences, and some ( I think more enlightened) are those seeking love and understanding without putting limits on the equipment involved. I have known people in all three categories. All of them have their own hurdles to struggle against. I'm trying to sprinkle and represent them true to their natures. There are many in the military, and the percentage of those who have at least tried it are getting higher throughout societywise. I'm not trying to champion it, just represent it in a non-militant cram down the throat you must accept this manor. People are people, and some are more conflicted than others.

One of the older ones I know pointed out to me why she said it was about love for her with a simple question-

"Percentagewise, how much time in a true loving relationship, is spent having sex? If its all about the sex, then is it love? Find someone you love being with more than anything, even if you would never have sex again. Then you know it's love not lust. Then the sex is about making someone you love feel good. Then the equipment becomes less important than the person."

 

[ted]

Thank you, things are getting worked out.

 

[Sportsman]

Thank you.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Sabine took Andrea up to their bedroom to show her what she brought from the shop. She had been hiding ‘their’ gift for Paige and Henrik in the Narcotics locker at her shop. This way it was under about four locks, two alarm systems and an active CQ watching the building at all times. She pulled out the small box and opened it.

Andrea was blown away at how beautiful they were. In the ring box was a matched pair of wedding rings. They were a beautiful filigree pattern matching the vintage work in Paige’s engagement ring. They sparkled in the light. Andrea was speechless for a long 30 seconds almost a record for her.

“They’re beautiful! I love the white gold! It should match her ring perfectly!”

“Well, they weren’t able to get them in white gold.”

Andrea was now confused. They sure looked like the white gold of Paige’s engagement ring.

“What are they if they aren’t white gold? They look right?”

“Well, they weren’t available in gold, so I had to upgrade.” Sabine was kind of embarrassed. She thought to herself she should have just let her think they were gold. She was trying to not lie as much to conceal things though.

“If it’s not gold, what is it?”

“Platinum.” Her voice was soft and showed her embarrassment.

“What the ****, Sabine! Did you bump off a bank or something? Platinum rings? I can’t afford much to help pay for platinum rings?” Andrea was starting to get upset!

“Don’t worry about it, Andrea. I don’t spend often, and right now, I want to buy things for the people I care for. I have a decent buffer in my accounts and investments to be able to do things sometimes. This is one of those times. My brother always said spend for those you care for. I care for you guys.” Sabine reaches into her pocket and produces another small box. “I brought something for you as well”

Andrea opens the small box and squeals. Inside is a stunning solitaire fire opal pendant. After catching her breath and the excitement of her new gift sunk in she had to ask.

‘I don’t understand. You drive a twenty-year-old SUV that Paige had to work on for almost a month to get it to run right, wear mega-mart clothes most of the time, and then show up with platinum rings to give your friends and an opal as big as my pinky nail for me? Not that I don’t love the pendant, but what the hell?”

Sabine thought to herself ‘you don’t know the half of it’.

“The quake and the attack on Paige was a wakeup call. Life is too fragile. I’ve been looking at things, my path in life and thinking what am I saving for? Right now, we are facing huge changes in all of our lives. I am trying to do what I can with my money for me and mine while I can.”

“But you are spending too much!”

Sabine moves forward and wraps Andrea up in an embrace.

“It’s ok, I have enough for what we need. Don’t worry, we will be OK.”

They stood there holding one another for a few minutes until Sabine broke the embrace. She looked down at Andrea.

“Why don’t you go play with the other kids and show them your new necklace.” She had a smirk matched by the big grin on Andrea. She always kidded her about having the energy of a twelve year old kid, and the attention span to match.

“I’m going to get a shower and rest for about an hour, then I start cooking. We all still need dinner. I have to be up early in the morning to start baking.” Sabine’s tone turned a bit more serious. “Andrea, you know I love you as much as I can, don’t you?”

Andrea could see this was a serious and heartfelt question. She knew the answer Sabine needed.

“I know you do. I love you too.” Andrea practically skipped out of the room towards the stairs.

Sabine stood there a moment, looking at the open doorway thinking. She moved towards the shower, her movements slow and painful. Old injuries still hurt on days like this. The pain was a reminder of thing past and she swore it hurt just as much as the day it happened.

There were a few ways to make it go away. Some she would do, some she would not. She tried meditation but it on worked for a little while, physical therapy and the doctor’s answer to everything; Motrin. She refused narcotics, not only would it jeopardize her career but, more importantly, she did not like the loss of control. She had a secret stash for the really bad days. So she worked out. People around her thought they were intense but they never knew the reasons. Maybe a hot shower would do it today.

Since she had no witnesses, she didn’t have to put on a false front. Today hurt bad, and she knew she had more pain coming. She knew pain however, and knew she would survive. Hopefully the others could.

The group was kind of scattered about that afternoon. Andrea’s pendant was quite a hit when she showed it off. When several of them were talking with Andrea, Violet brought up ‘maybe she should have cracked out a ring like Henrik did.’ Several different expressions flashed on faces around the group.

Paige and Henrik gave big smiles and started talking double wedding. Sofia was in the ‘that would have been great’ camp. Andrea was neutral about it, telling them the Sabine said she wasn’t the marrying type and didn’t want to ruin a good thing. Veronica was silent. So was Silas and Ivar. Amber turned pale and excused herself, hoping no one noticed. This was after looking over at where Sabine was cooking. Sabine was pretending to not have heard, but Amber had seen the physical jolt in her before she continued with her baking.

Dinner was wonderful in its simplicity and in the company of the group. Afterwards, Violet, Sofia and Andrea cleaned up while Henrik showed Silas, Veronica, Paige and Ivar his prototype sled packages he had brought home and stashed in the barn. Amber spent some time ‘relaxing’ in front of her computer, a mug of mulled wine next to her. She was sitting where no one else could see what she was reading. After about an hour, she couldn’t take any more and closed down her computer. She had to go find Silas.

Amber found him in the barn bullshitting with the group. She maneuvered him away, asking for moonlight walk to stretch things after dinner. She reminded him if he did not move a little he would be tossing and turning all night and neither one of them would get any sleep. He saw the look in her eyes; this was more than a romantic walk in the hayfields. Darn the luck he thought.

She walked him out in the back field area where Henrik proposed the night before and around the open area beyond. As she walked she broke the news of her conversation with Sabine earlier in the day and showed him the dogtag as Sabine instructed. He was both shocked and relieved. He hated keeping things about Sabine from Amber, especially when Amber was asking him.

Now, however, he knew the shoe was on the other foot. It was a relieve to him, he could finally unburden himself of the information his brother-in-law and sister had told him. The most important thing though was Sabine had given him permission to tell what he knew. Without it, he would have taken everything to the grave and Amber knew it. Silas answered every question he was asked after which he felt 10lbs lighter. The walk really would help him sleep after all.

Amber had all the data and couldn’t tell him. This was more familiar to the both of them. She has helped several of his Marines before at other bases as their Doctor, and he knew he could ask general health questions, but couldn’t pry. This time it would be harder than ever before but for both of them he would do it.

Late in the evening, as people were scattering and going to bed, Andrea realized she hadn’t seen Sabine for a while. She looked all over in the house. No luck. Veronica wasn’t in the house either. She figured they might be in the barn. She knew Sabine sometimes got a bit claustrophobic in crowds and may have went out there. Neither were in the barn. Andrea walked towards the back yard.

This is where she found both of them. Veronica was sitting in one of the chairs at the fire pit, a low fire still going. She had what looked like a tumbler of scotch in her hand. Next to her, on the chase lounge cushion on the ground was Sabine, curled in a ball. She looked a bit disheveled and exhausted, Veronica’s fuzzy jacket spread across her like a blanket. Andrea stood there for a little while looking at Sabine. She realized, not for the first time, Sabine was always on guard, always seeming to be playing a part. Rarely did she catch a truly candid moment. This was one of those times.

Andrea saw Veronica watching her. It was a look that said so much. She nodded at Sabine and then motioned with her glass to Andrea. Andrea knew Veronica was telling her she would watch out for Sabine and to let her sleep for now. Rather than embarrass Sabine and wake her up, Andrea mouthed a silent thank you to Veronica and crept back inside. Andrea knew the look on Sabine’s face as she slept there by the fire. It was the same one she had a couple weeks ago when they fell asleep by the fire. It was peaceful.

Sabine woke up a couple times in the middle of the night. She didn’t know how long she had slept, but it was the first time she had slept without dreams in a long time. Each time she woke, she saw Veronica sitting there next to her, a quiet sentinel keeping the demons at bay. Sabine trusted her at this. Andrea was too tender-hearted to stand up to them, so Sabine had to remain on guard. Veronica was another story all together. They told each other nothing. It was all unspoken. With the sky lightening, Sabine woke and stretched. The two of them went inside. They locked eyes for a moment, a silent thanks passing between them. Sabine started the coffee and went upstairs.

Sabine was determined to be there for her friends. She was committing to being Sabine for them. She would do what she could for them. She also would try to let some of her real, her old her out without letting the bad stuff overtake any of the good. This would be a tough balancing act, but hopefully Amber would be able to help her filter things better.

She was going to give Paige the engagement party she deserves to have. It would be the best she could manage. She wanted her and Henrik to have the best, happiest memories of this event. She started picking out her outfit. It would be no formal party like hers was, but they didn’t have that social expectation to fulfill either.

She knew she would even dig out the stockings she had in the back as well. No one would see them but Andrea with the outfit she was picking, but maybe it would give her a thrill as well as herself to play dress up because she wanted it, rather than feeling obligated or because she was ordered to. She better shave, the silk tore so easily.

Just as the sun was coming up, Andrea was awakened by the shower. She went in to find Sabine scrubbing away at her hair in the shower. She could smell the shaving cream in the bathroom as well.

“Shaved legs? For this crew?” Andrea’s question startled Sabine a bit. Sabines reply startled Andrea a bit.

“I don’t want to screw up my stockings. I don’t have many civilian pairs.”

“Stockings? How dressed up are you getting?”

“You only get one real engagement party. It should be a proper affair. I loaned Veronica something to wear since she and I are about the same height. Amber and Sofia are dragging the rest over to their places to get properly dressed. Violet is shopping out of Paige’s closet.”

“Well it’s not the first time she has worn Paige’s clothes, is it.” Andrea quipped. Then Andrea had a panic moment. What was she going to wear! She rushed in and started prowling through her closet, trying to decide what would be right. She shouted back to the bathroom.

“How dressy are we talking?”

“My outfit is on the back of the door.” Came Sabine’s voice from the shower.

Andrea went over and pulled back the door. On the back was stuff she hadn’t seen before. It reminded her of things she saw in the movies like the Mummy, Indiana Jones and the old jungle movies they would watch in bed on rainy day. She knew she would look like one of those 1920’s movie starlets. It looked like a million bucks.

The colors were darker to match her skin, instead of tans and whites they were greys and blacks. She picked a flowing grey silk shirt and a black skirt to pair it with. It was not a tight fitting one. Instead, it was cut in a way to allow for the movement of the adventurous women, ready to grab a vine swinging with Tarzan. There were even some tall safari style boots to go with them. This made sense since she knew Sabine hated heels.

The mental image Andrea was painting was phenomenal. She saw in her mind how the outfit would look with hair down flowing around her face with her offset by her eyes. How she loved it when Sabine let her hair down. Clothes started to flying through the air as she went tearing through her closet trying to find something to accompany Sabine’s outfit. To be on the arm of Sabine the outfit had to be perfect. Challenge Accepted!

 

[ted]

Thank you!

 

[sssarawolf]

Thank you.

 

[Lone_Hawk]

Thank you CCG!

 

[Grouchy Granny]

Positively wonderful! And, I think I can read between many lines as to why she became lesbian - not that that bothers me one bit. Have had some really good neighbors who were either gay or lesbian, really good people.

 

[Sportsman]

Thank you.

 

[ComCamGuy]

The engagement party was a huge success. Everyone and everything turned out immaculately. Sabine had outdone herself with a fabulous cake, Andrea and Sofia’s food was excellent. It was a momentary shock when the star couple came out into the party. Both were in full Dress (A) Blues, complete with all their ribbons, medals, swords and ultra-rare SNCO Boat Cloaks.

It was an unusual decision until the couple had a chance to explain. When they were thinking about what to wear it became obvious when they saw their uniforms hanging together. They started thinking. Without the military, they never would have met. It brought them together. It seemed only right to be paying proper homage to their roots and connection.

Paige was especially excited. With her recent promotion to the SNCO ranks, she could wear the cloak plus her grandfather’s NCO sword. This helped complete some of her own personal military journeys and goals. She thought how it might sound shallow to some, but they were her benchmarks, and she achieved them. Henrik was with her because they met in the military, but he wasn’t a military goal, per say. However, he had become part of it now. He was the next step as they transition from the military.

They also figured with all the stuff going on they would not get a proper retirement ceremony so this maybe the one last time to wear them. Or maybe not

Paige pitched the idea of uniforms for the wedding earlier, but they hadn’t come to solid conclusion on the idea yet. Henrik was a bit traditional and was learning towards wanting to see her in wedding gown while he waited at the alter in his dress blues. She argued if one wore the uniform both of them would. She always wondered why the guy wore a uniform and the women never wore one. She just threw it out there for him to start thinking about it. She did not want to start any conflict today. She had enough of it yesterday.

Henrik thought she was the most beautiful and wonderful sight. She was a martial creature and looked proper in the uniform. It was a part of her and he knew it always would be, even after they retired. You spend enough time in the military and it makes you into something distinct and apart from other people. It sounds cheesy to him to say such things, but he truly believed it never the less.

 

[ComCamGuy]

Everyone was enjoying themselves, having filled their stomach with food and were gathering, toasting the newly engaged couple. Sabine decided it was time she and Andre present their gift before Andre giggled herself into a frenzy. Sabine tapped he glass to get the attention of the crowd while Andrea made sure all the glasses were full.

Sabine asked the couple to come forward so they could present them a small token of their love in the form of engagement presents. Sabine handed the box to Henrik while Andrea gave Paige hers. They were each stunned for different reasons. Paige was blown away by its beauty and the thoughtfulness.

Henrik, on the other hand, was impressed by it, but he knew what Sabine had done. He was drooling over them in gold when they were at the jeweler’s picking up the engagement ring from being sized. He knew how much the yellow gold ones cost, and there was no list price in white gold but only unavailable. When he asked why, he was told the only other version offered was in platinum. Henrik already knew he couldn’t afford the yellow gold ones so he didn’t even bother asking the price on the others. He saw how much they lit up Paige’s eyes, and suppressed his ‘poor person indignation’. They were beautiful, he did like them, but he felt bad about Sabine spending so much!

The rings were each on a matching box pattern necklace for each of them. The ring sized for Paige was on a thicker, longer chain for Henrik to wear, and Henrik’s ring was on one more appropriately sized for Paige to wear. They slipped them on each other and a great cheer went up! Toasts all around!

Henrik tried for a long time to get Sabine alone to “thank” her. Every time he tried someone blocked his way. First it was Paige, then Amber, Andrea even got involved she didn’t know why but it looked like fun, and finally Silas. It was almost like it was a conspiracy to prevent him from getting her alone. He was right it was.

Amber wanted to talk to Sabine before Henrik did. She wanted Silas to talk to Henrik to give him husbandly advice. Silas knew it meant it was time to give Henrik the father speech he got. He had to ease his mind to tell him to Man up and not to ruin it for Paige. Put that country boy pride crap away and let your friends be there for you.

Silas finally did get Henrik alone so as Amber asked, he handed him a tumble of scotch and the speech started. “Henrik, sit down we have to talk”

Silas had the same tone his father did when he when things were about to get serious. He knew it was one of those time to comply not because of rank but because of the fatherly tone.

“Gifts are their way of showing you they appreciate you and see all the intangible things you do, taking out the trash, mowing the lawn, hanging the monkey rope and thinking of things they don’t. Everyone has different forms of ‘money’. They do not see you as white trash but a proud Marine, a faithful friend who is there for them. This is their way of showing they see you for what you are now not what you were. Remember, see people for what they are now. It’s like my daddy always said ‘Silas forget the past you are an asshole because of your deeds you do now not because things that happened in the past quit blaming them take responsibility’. Sometimes it’s best to just act like you don’t hear it and say uh. This is one of them.” He told him once again DO NOT RUIN IT FOR PAIGE OR THE OTHERS.

Henrik started to understand. He went to rejoin Paige and to truly thank Sabine and Andrea for the gift.

 

[ComCamGuy]

With the party such a success, no one wanted it to end. The couple changed clothes late in the afternoon, along with a few others to get more comfortable. Then it was another round of drinks, food and fun around the fire pit which continued after sundown. Things took an abrupt turn when both Ivar and Silas’s phones went off. They stepped away for a few moments then returned, worried looks on their faces. Amber was the first to ask.

“What’s up honey?”

“There was an attempted carjacking near the base. Sgt. Jenson and his family were injured. They were able to escape the situation and make it onto base. Two of the gunmen were killed by the gate guard as they pursued Jenson’s car.”

Sabine was instantly alert and concerned.

“How bad were Jenson and his family?”

Ivar spoke next.

“Jenson took a 9mm or 40 caliber graze across his shoulder blades which also dug in on the far side, tearing apart a bunch of his shoulder. His wife and his 7 year old daughter each took multiple rounds. They temporarily stabilized those two enough to put them on a bird. They should be almost to Carson City by now. Jenson is going to go by ground ambulance.” Ivar looked at his watch, then at his wife. Before he could say anything, she was already talking.

“You two go. Take our car. I’ll give Amber a ride home. We will probably stay here tonight anyway and head to the house tomorrow morning.”

Silas walked up to Henrik and Paige.

“Congratulation again, sorry to run out on you in such haste, but…”

Paige was already talking.

“We understand. Tell us what you need us to do.”

Silas cocked his head for a moment as he thought.

“Tomorrow, think on your inventory list. I think there are some people we know will be staying here like us and you guys. I think we need to move up the timetable for our Christmas gifts. If Jenson was legally armed, he might not have been on the losing side of the equation tonight. I’ll talk with Ivar to confirm our plan.”

Ivar was already at the gate to the driveway, waiting for Silas.

Sabine looked over at Andrea.

“I need to go to Carson City to check up on them. Jenson is one of the good guys.” Sabine raised her voice so Silas at the gate could hear her. “I’ll go check on the family and update you two.”

Veronica spoke up at this point.

“You’re not going alone. It’s not as safe these days. I’ll go with you. No need to bust up all of the party, and we can be back in the morning.”

As the car roared down the driveway Andrea looked at Violet who was lasted known to have her keys “THAT’S MY CAR Veronica and Sabine took”

Five minutes after the phone call, Ivar, Silas, Veronica and Sabine were gone, and the party atmosphere was a bit dented.

 

[ComCamGuy]

The road was swiftly disappearing under the car as Veronica pushed the grip of the tires in most of the turns. Sabine was used to the little car going fast, but this was faster and more in control than she was used to.

“You know, this little thing can scoot!” Veronica exclaimed during one paddle shifting apex.

“Yeah, this thing can fly. Paige tuned it to put up with Andrea’s unique driving style. She goes through pads and rotors at a horrendous rate though. It’s like she still using the evasive driving tactics she learned during her last deployment” Sabine replied as they whipped around a slower car.

“Andrea’s a sweet kid. You’re lucky to have her.” The car leaped forward on the straight stretch.

“Yeah, I am. She actually deserves better than me though.” Sabine’s voice sounded a bit wistful at this.

“Oh, sure, you’re such a horrible person.” The sarcasm in Veronica’s voice practically made a puddle in the floorboard. “Beautiful, smart, well off, caring, confident; how she dare be burdened with such a slug!”

“You mispronounced that. Broken, emotionally distant, terrified of herself, secretive, demanding, volatile, and bad tempered would be a more correct pronunciation.”

When Sabine paused, Veronica replied.

“Ha! Your list does not make my list incorrect. We all stopped being simple at about age six. You’ve had some really bad shit happen to you in the past. It shows in how you carry yourself and in your eyes. Not everyone can read it, but I spent several years in the ‘investigate horrible things people do to one another’ part of my law enforcement branch. I have a knack for it. Some people are good at finding fraud, theft, treason and all the other angles. Lucky me, I got the ‘untangle the shitty things people do’ gene so that’s where I end up working most of the time. It sucks but I can feel what others feel, like I am part of them. It is sick sense because it is usually what some bastard has done to some undeserving soul but at least I look at it as helping even if they don’t live. The sad part is the spirits that haunt you.”

They hit a straight stretch in the road again. Veronica looked over at Sabine. Sabine was sitting quietly, looking down at her hands in her lap. This kind of pissed Veronica off. She knew Sabine to be better than this.

“Snap the **** Out of it!” Veronica’s bellow was sharp and loud in the little car. “Whatever happened is then, not now! Right now, we have people who need you! Time to medic the **** up, doc. We will be there in about forty minutes. You need to be ready. We can drink scotch and howl at the moon about all the shitty things we have seen and done later. We have people to protect and take care of! You work the medical interrogation, I’ll get with the law enforcement and get an Intel dump. How are you stocked in case trouble comes looking to eliminate witnesses?”

“Do you really think that could happen here?” Sabine was paying attention now.

“It happens all the time. They are safer here than at the clinic on base, harder to pinpoint their location and they still have to drive here. We have a good jump on them distance-wise.”

“Pistol, two mags, two more in my bag.” Sabine subconsciously felt and confirmed her count.

“OK, bring your bag with you. If anything goes totally to shit, we meet up at the ambulance entrance in the ER for an evac. I have a bit more than you do ammo and weapon-wise, so you will drive and I will cover us.”

“You make it sound like we are pulling some sort of CQB mission.”

“Things outside the little town you are stationed in are much worse than the news make it seem. If they are at the point of carjacking some NCO driving onto base and trying so hard they get lit up and killed by the base guards, then it’s a factor of ten worse elsewhere.”

“Do you really expect trouble like that?”

“No, but I ran and hid, playing hide and go **** yourself for three days in a city on the African continent when the hostile warlord didn’t like us working with his competitor who the State Department considered the legitimate government at the time. We lost one Agent and our Interpreter on that scramble. Since then, I try to think worse, not ‘expect’ so if I go down hard and you are near enough, grab my bag and boogie.

“There is an unlocked Sat phone, a few supplies and more ammo, plus the extra pistol Paige gave me. There may or may not be ammo left for the long gun in there by that time. Play it by ear.”

Sabine was trying to soak in the shift as Veronica was rattling it to her. Did she just say long gun? She missed Veronica’s next question.

“Huh?”

“I said, did you go to Survival School?”

This brought back a jarring rush of memories to Sabine. She had been, not long after the trials. She freaked the staff at the school out as a student. Everything they were trying to use against her in the resistance part of the training had zero impact.

Most people they are able to get a rise out of, especially the few women coming through the school. They would start with a threat about stripping them down in front of the formation, trying to unsettle them and such. She was halfway naked before they finished with their threats.

They threatened her with confined space elements, she climbed right in. The part the psych techs worried the most about was her complete lack of expression during all of these training elements. When questioned, she merely told them, immediate and complete compliance took the power away from the ‘guards’. And boy was she right!

“Yeah, I did survival school.”

“Great! I thought so. So worst to worst, E&E and call the cavalry.” She paused then continued. “No, I don’t expect any of this to be necessary, but It makes me feel better to have a plan.”

“You know, Hitler had a plan.” Quipped Sabine.

“Yeah, I know.”

 

[Lake Lili]

Thanks CCG! Great story.

Lili

 

[Lone_Hawk]

Thank you CCG!

 

[sssarawolf]

Big thank you.

 

[Cohickman]

And the game is afoot. I hope someone comes calling and Sabine get to redeem herself in her own eyes.

 

[Sportsman]

Thank you. Like usual, always a new twist and deep emotional insight.

 

[Texican]

Thanks CCG for the chapters.

Seems like the turmoil in the US is coming to the sticks. Head on a swivel and armed to the teeth is the standard.

Texican....

 

[ComCamGuy]

As they arrived at the hospital, Sabine was surprised to see a gate, complete with an armed guard at the entrance to the parking lot. Veronica barely slowed down as she waved her badge at the guard. He barely had time to get the gate arm open for her to go through. Sabine looked at the bag Veronica was grabbing from behind the driver’s seat. It was one a simple leather teardrop sling bag but only bigger. She slung it across her body while picking up her coat off the back seat.

Sabine had Veronica wait a moment so she could get something out of the back of the car as well.

“Look, you brought your ‘work’ bag, I guess I should grab mine as well.” Sabine plucked the aid bag from the rear of the little car. It wasn’t a big bag, just an oversized blowout kit in her mind, but she thought to herself if Veronica was talking contingencies and firefights with escape and evasion as even a remote possibility, then she better be prepared.

Veronica was doing a quick mental inventory as they walked up to the ER entrance. She was ok with what she had but wish she had taken time to change clothes. Not that what she was wearing wasn’t ok but she would have chosen some less obvious clothes. She was still in her clothes from the party as was Sabine. They were comfortable enough for lounging, unlike the guest of honors in their dress uniforms but she thought returning blood stained clothes was just bad manners.

They must have made quite a dashing pair walking into the ER. One of the nurses behind the desk as the first to comment.

“Hey, Sabine! Is it supermodel week? Did you get a new girlfriend?”

“She wishes!” was Veronica’s reply before Sabine could react.

“No, Deloris, she is a new co-worker. We were celebrating Paige’s engagement. You remember her. She was here a couple of months ago, head trauma, flown in beat up pretty bad by some asshole. I came down and sat with her. We came about the two we just airlifted in. How are they doing?” Sabine’s voice was a mix of business and concern.

“Not so good. The woman didn’t make it. They still have the girl up in surgery. What the hell went on down there? I understand a third is coming in?”

“Yeah, I left to intercept before I got an update. What’s up with the gate guard? That’s new.” No time to be upset about the wife dying. Like Veronica said scotch and swearing at the moon comes later but now it is time to medic the **** up.

“We having problems with some of the gang guys coming in. Things are starting to get real sketchy around here sometimes.”

Veronica stood and listened to all of this as Deloris and Sabine compared notes. Something about the way Deloris talked about gang members coming into the ER made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. She shifted the coat on her arm to allow her access to the bag across her shoulder. When the feeling persisted, she stepped away for a quick phone call.

“We are at the hospital. The wife didn’t make it. How is the husband?”

“They are heading out now. He has a torn up shoulder. They stabilized it and drugged the snot out of him for the drive.”

“If they haven’t left yet, probably want to put a couple badgers on the ambulance with him in case someone wants to eliminate witnesses.”

“Already ahead of you. Silas grabbed two of our guys to ride along. Full kit.”

“I figured you had a handle on things, Pop, but I had to mention it. Call you when we know more. Don’t worry Sir the Air Force has things under control on this end.”

The line went dead.

Veronica leaned in to where Sabine and Deloris were talking. Delores was starting to recognize her from the last time Sabine was here. She vaguely remembered her having a federal badge.

“The girl is a material witness to a murder. The dead woman was her mother. The third member of the family, the father, is in route by ground. He has major GSW shoulder trauma. I don’t know who you need to inform to keep them safe, but until we know otherwise, unless it’s us or somebody we designate, all three were killed is the story. We don’t want a firefight to break out in the lobby.” Veronica looked from Deloris to Sabine and back.

Deloris was a little uncomfortable with all of this, but trusted Sabine, who nodded for her to agree. She didn’t want to think what the alternative would be if she had not.

 

[moldy]

Unfortunately, admin will show up and deal with what the official story is. But...if my name was Deloris, I'd be going with what Sabine asked.

 

[sssarawolf]

Thankkkkkkkk you.

 

[ted]

Thank you!

 

[Texican]

War is starting with the gangs.

Thanks CCG.

Texican....