The Darkness

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 10 – Welcome to the….. Jungle

Roman still couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something nagging him from the dream he had. He was often described as a practical man with no time for superstition but sometimes he had listened to his instincts and acted on those alone and that had saved his life. Yeah, sure there was a difference to focusing on a dream and learning where not to put your foot. He shook his head, grabbed another quick coffee and went back to his reading.

It was ten minutes later when Jacko knocked on his door.

“Enter!” he called quickly, his tone still slightly distracted.

“Sir, are you ready for the Target range?” Jacko asked him.

Roman nodded as he drained the dregs of his coffee. He made sure that the briefing pack was put away securely and he headed out with Jacko. He was saluted by a couple of the junior officers that he would be on the mission with and noted that the idiot who still called him granddad didn’t bother.

Jacko grinned at him.

“When are you going to punch the SOB Hardcore?” he asked.

Roman grinned back.

“Probably by the end of today at this rate!” he told him.

They checked out a couple of M4’s and a dozen clips and headed over to the target. They set up at two targets next to each over and loaded the guns. Roman pulled the switch from Safe to 1 and set up to take a shot.

He paused and took a deep breath then pulled the trigger. The gun seemed to stutter in his hand and the round went wide.

Jacko sniggered.

“Mate!” Roman protested.

“Perhaps you’d feel more conformable if you were wearing an apron?” Jacko suggested, still smirking.

Roman clicked it back to safe and turned and looked at his friend.

“You think any of this has been easy. I was dragged away from my family Jacko. I was at peace.” His voice was raised.

Jacko continued to grin.

“No way I will believe that Hardcore. You forget I’ve been in touch with Ella.” He said, knowing this was another button he needed to press.

“Jacko for the last…” he bit off "… time do not call me by that stupid nickname.” Roman uttered through gritted teeth.

“Perhaps you are right Lieutenant Harris, Sir.” Jacko said to him. “Perhaps you have gone soft. Pity that someone like Ella hand to end up with you. She should have stayed with Gardy.” Jacko told him. He saw the look on Roman’s face. “Oh you don’t know that she dated him before she went with you?” Jacko grinned.

Romans hands tightened on the grip of the gun and he felt a flush of white-hot rage go through him.

“What are you talking about?” he asked the other man through gritted teeth.

“Michael caught them. Said Gardy was all over her. Reckon she wasn’t putting up much of a fight.” Jacko said.

Roman turned and clicking the gun up to three he pointed and shot at the target. Bursts sprang from the gun until it was empty. Roman disengaged the clip and inserted another one. He shot this, until it too was empty of ammunition.

He eventually turned to Jacko and thrust the gun at him.

“Don’t ever talk to me again Sgt.” He told him and walked away.

Jacko watched him walk away and then looked at the target. All shots were kill shots. He grinned, so Hardcore was in there somewhere he thought, he turned and put the weapons back before going to find the other man, before he did something stupid and maybe explain about Ella.

“Here comes Granddad.” The snot-nosed brat called just as Roman walked past.

Roman stopped and turned.

He pointed to the insignia on his shirt.

“Pay attention to a senior Officer.” He barked.

The man stood up a little straighter but sniggered and muttered under his breath that Senior was the right word.

Roman walked up to him and stood close enough to see the pores in the younger man’s skin.

“Son, I know that you don’t mean to hassle me. I mean you know that I am a trained killer, right.” He said to him.

“So what Granddad. We all are!” he sniggered.

“Perhaps you would like that demonstrated so that you give me the proper respect that I’m due.” Roman said softly. “I’ll even let you throw the first punch”

“And get kicked off this mission?” the younger man laughed.

Roman stepped back and took his shirt off placing it carefully on one side.

“No ranks here.” He said, his voice as cold as ice.

The other man looked taken back, but as his mates was now clearly watching he could not back down from the challenge. He peeled off his top and put it to one side too and then stepped up to Roman. He looked into Roman's eyes and felt a flutter of fear.

Roman stood his hands down by his side and waited. He didn’t have to wait long before the punch came. He caught the other man’s fist before it even connected and saw the flash of surprise in his eyes.

“That the best you can do, son?” Roman asked him. ”I taught my prissy daughter to hit better than that!” he taunted.

He let go of the man’s hand and took a half step back. His weight was on the balls of his feet, which would enable him to move quicker. He suspected that the other man would throw another punch and was proved correct when the man threw a left hook. He let it hit him, moving only slightly to deflect the full strength of the blow. He needed to judge his opponent.

The younger man threw more punches, grimacing when only few hit their target. Eventually Roman sneered at him.

“Perhaps you should practise your moves in the gym more instead of loving yourself in that mirror!” he said coldly.

The younger man roared and charged him. Roman saw it coming and side stepped watching as the fool went past him. He stuck his foot out as the last minute, almost as an afterthought and the man went flying.

He lay on the hard dusty ground for a matter of moments before he pushed himself up and sent a look of hatred at Roman.

“Son, I haven’t even laid a finger on you yet,” Roman told him. “What say you forget this nonsense and calm down before you and your friends get hurt.” He drawled, having noticed the group of men watching them.

Jacko walked up and heard the last exchange. He walked over to a nearby oil drum and took a seat on it waiting for the next bit. He was glad that it wasn’t him that was about to get the brunt of Roman’s bad mood. And maybe them young fools would figure out why he was called Hardcore, Jacko thought with a grin.

The youngster turned and looked at his mates, there was no way he could back down in front of them now, not after his bad mouthing of the other man.

He roared in frustration and charged the other man and this time connected. It sent a jolt through him as though he’d run full tilt into a brick wall.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you!” Roman snarled and let lose his fists to swing at the other man. They brawled for a solid half an hour, before the younger man was left unconscious on the hard ground.

“Anyone else have a problem?” Roman asked, he was breathing heavily and a trail of blood was trickling down from his spit lip, his only visible injury.

A chorus of ‘No Sir’ went round the group and Roman collected his shirt from the oil drum near Jacko. He glared at the man for a long moment.

“Com’on!” he ordered.

He walked quickly back to his room and waited for Jacko to come in before he slammed the door shut behind them.

“Talk.” He said to him.

“Gardy had the hots for Ella and she turned him down. He didn’t like it.” Jacko said.

Roman took a deep breath and looked down at his knuckles.

“And?” Roman questioned.

“He cornered her one night and tried to change her mind about going out with you. Michael caught him and taught him not to mess with his sister.” Jacko finished.

“Why didn’t she tell me?” he thought back to her losing the baby back then, what if it hadn’t have been his he was suddenly struck by the idea that Gardy had maybe done more than mess with her.

“She might have done but her brother got hisself murdered and everything was all messed up.” Jacko sat down and looked at the other man.

“Murdered?” Roman said. “So you mean him being in the minefield was no accident?”

“Don’t reckon so. You knew Mike, he was a good un! No way he would have blundered in a minefield by hisself.” Jacko said.

“Did he…” Roman started to ask.

“You’re asking the wrong person.” Jacko told him. “But I reckon if he did and she ain’t told you then that is her business.”

Roman put some coffee on to brew and poured out a couple of shots.

He sat on the other chair.

“So Gardy has always hated me.” He said. “Is he going after my family?” he asked Jacko.

“Why ask me Roman?” Jacko picked up the glass and drank in an effort to delay answering the question.

“Because you are the only one who will give me straight answers. Am I being kept out of the way so Ella can be used as bait?” he asked.

“I seriously don’t know Roman.” He told him. “But I can tell you that old friends are keeping a close eye on her. And not just on her account either, Dammit Roman you cut us off and when you needed help you went to Gardy. You really were blind about him weren’t you?” Jacko said hitting below the belt.

“I trusted the people I served with and yes, of course, I had doubts about him but he acted like a mate so I let things ride!” Roman explained, struck by the thought that his mates were still pulling for him despite the fact he had barely spoken to them over the years.

Roman stood and poured out the coffee. He noticed that his hand was a bit sore from the earlier fight and he looked down at it, then opened and closed it, flexing it. He handed Jacko his cup and sat back down with his own.

“Men like him only care about themselves Roman.” Jacko took a swig of coffee and looked at him. “He’s dangerous and he will hurt Ella. If you want to take a swipe at me for telling the truth then you need to hear this. When we finally tracked you down to Summer Bay, we accidentally let it slip to her. We all told her not to go and see you. And then when we heard you were getting married we tried to talk her out of it.”

“Nice to know I’m so popular!” Roman grimaced.

“This is our Ella. She doesn’t just belong to you. She helped out when Pete lost his job and lent him the money to keep going until he got on his feet. She took care of James when he split from his Mrs and started drinking. When we tried to thank her she just shrugged it off and said it was only what you or Mike would have done.” Jacko told him, looking him straight in the eye. “We knew you were in a dark place Roman and we couldn’t reach you. We figured that with enough time you’d come around.”

Roman looked down at the floor.

“We was worried that maybe Ella marrying you was her way of helping you.” Jacko said, watching as the other man’s head shot up and he looked like he had just been punched in his solar plexus.

Roman wanted to deny that, say that she loved him as much as he loved her; but the words wouldn’t come. Had she been happy in the Bay with him he wondered, she was used to travelling around going wherever her camera took her. Had he held her back?

“Maybe you better have a talk to her when you get home.” Jacko suggested draining his coffee and placing the mug on the desk as he stood up.

“Jacko,” he said to the other man as he stood about to go out of the door. “For what its worth, I’m sorry and thank you.” Roman said.

Jacko shrugged.

“Nothing to apologise for Hardcore, ain’t like we haven’t all been there.” Jacko told him and walked out.

Roman poured himself another coffee and sat for a long time looking at the filled cup before straightening himself up and heading back to the range without taking a drink. He needed to get some sniper practice in with the SR 25.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 11 – Bad Medicine

Gardy walked into the hospital with a large bunch of flowers. He was wearing nondescript clothes and a black baseball cap. He stopped at the front desk and asked about Ella, giving the woman the name Elizabeth Harris. He was informed that there was no one of that name in the hospital and he grimaced.

“How about Elizabeth Addison?” he asked, referring to her professional name.

“No I’m sorry Sir, there is no one by that name here.”

“Look, I’m sorry I know I’m a pest but I know my friend’s wife has just given birth and I’d really like to give these to her.” He gestured to the flowers.

“I am sorry sir but I really don’t have any information on those names.” She told him.

Gardy could feel himself losing his temper and took a deep breath.

“Ok how about trying them with the first name of Ella?” he suggested, spelling it out.

“no sir, and please step away form the desk before I call security.” She told him, placed her hand on the handset of the telephone on the desk beside her.

He shrugged and then handed her the flowers.

“Well I tried. Why don’t you take these?” he tried a little charm, feeling a rivulet of sweat trickle down his face. It was a bit too hot to be wearing a baseball cap. He though idly.

“Again, I’m sorry sir we are not allowed to accept deliveries. Perhaps you could find someone to give the flowers to?” she said.

“Not even personally?” he questioned.

She pointed to the sign on the wall beside her.

“See sir, no deliveries accepted and yes, that does include personally. I am sorry they are lovely flowers.” She said to him with a small smile.

He walked away without another word knowing that he wouldn’t be able to get past her.

He knew there were no more hospitals around the area that she would go to so she had to be here. He dumped the flowers in the bin and walked around the service area. He went into the staff changing room and grabbed an orderlies outfit and snatching open a locker he attached a hospital id card. Luck was on his side when he’d found one that looked vaguely a little like him. Well enough so that at first glance he wouldn’t be discovered.

He took a service lift up to the maternity floor and found a trolley piled with clean towels to push so that it looked like he wasn’t just dawdling about. He noticed a keypad on the door through to the nursery and waited until he saw someone punch in the code before he approached it. He messed it up first go and had to look around to make sure no one overlooked him; and then wiping his suddenly sweating palm on his trousers he took a breath and had another go. It worked and the doors slid open. He walked down the corridor and kept going despite his curiosity about what Roman’s brats would look like,

He was struck by the thought that maybe she had played around on him and they weren’t Roman’s after all but knew Ella wouldn’t do that. Pity though, it would have been interesting to watch the look on Roman’s face when he was finding out they weren’t his.

He suddenly noticed that there were far too many men around. As though they were guarding something. His instincts were proved right when up ahead outside a room he noticed a man wearing a black suit with an obvious bulge under his jacket. HE lowered his head a fraction and concentrated on pushing the cart until he could make an escape.

It was obvious she was here and that her children were too, but she had gotten smart. He grunted with frustration as he left the floor and went in the lifts and out of the hospital.

“Dammit,” he said as he was travelling away in his car, five minutes later. “That was my favourite baseball cap.”

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 12 – The prodigal returns

Ella woke up slowly and looked around. She saw a man standing at the window looking out.

“What are you doing here?” she asked him.

He turned at the comment.

“I came to see you, is that hard to believe?” he asked quietly.

She flinched.

“Yes it is.” She told him and despite the discomfort she sat up and raised the bed so that she wasn’t lying flat. She eased herself back on the pillows and reached for the water by her bed.

“Liz I know I haven’t been there for you.” He said.

She laughed bitterly.

“Since when did you start to care? I needed you and you turned away from me.” She said bitterly. “And I don’t use that name anymore, everybody calls me Ella.” She tells him as an afterthought.

“Ella. “ he said trying it out.

“Don’t bother you won’t be around long enough to get familiar with it. Get out.” She said.

“Do you really feel like that?” he asked. “I know that I haven’t been there but it doesn’t mean that I don’t love you, you know.” He said, taking a step toward the bed.

“Stop I’ve heard it all before and it doesn’t mean anything!” she said and placed the water glass on the table.

He reached over and automatically filled it up.

“Look Ella, I do care for you despite everything and I am sorry that I turned away from you.” He said humbly. “I understand if you don’t want me to be part of your life.” He looked at her for a long moment.

“You care?” she said her tone raising. “Since when? I have been alone all these years I have had to cope with losing my brother and my mother and Jennie.”

“And what did you do after Michael died you got on a flight and went right back. What do you think it did to me to have you over there? I’d already lost one child and your mother was having a breakdown.” Her father said.

“Well you must have laughed when I was medi-vacced out!” She said.

“Laughed? What kind of monster do you really think I am?” he asked. “It killed me to know why you had to come home. And then, I was the one who found your mother.”

He referenced her mother’s suicide.

“You reaped what you sowed. We don’t want anything to do with you.” She said.

“Ella!” he protested.

“Dad, get out.” She said.

“I can’t.” he said.

“Why? You’ve left us alone all these years.” She told him bitterly, feeling the loneliness of missing her father all those years.

“Because I am part of the operation to track down Gardy.” He delivered the killing blow as gently as he could.

She picked up the glass and threw it at him.

“You ….” She screamed the expletive. “Where’s Roman?” she shouted.

“He’s safe. It wasn’t my choice to pick him.” He said. “He was just the best person for the job and I certainly wasn’t aware you were pregnant.” He told her softly.

“I’m supposed to believe you. You, father of the year, you walked away when I needed you and I had to bring up Mike’s son all by myself. I tried to talk to you about Mum but you walked away. She was my mother.” Ella screamed at him, losing all control.

“And Michael was my son and she was my wife. I’m sorry I let you down Ella, I will always be ashamed that I wasn’t there for my daughter but I was grieving too.” He added. “I’m sorry.”

She looked at him and saw him, as he was, human. She opened her arms and he sat on the bed and held her.

“If Roman doesn’t come home to me in one piece I will hunt you down, you know that right?” she said, crying.

“Ella, I have to tell you. Gardy was here.” He said.

“When?” she asked calmly.

“Yesterday. He made it as far as the maternity ward.” She was told.

“My babies?” She asked.

“They are safe. I have them guarded.” He said.

“But he got close?” she said worried. “I have to get us out of here.” She pulled back and tried to stand up.

He stopped her and pressed her back to the pillows.

“Ella, you are as stubborn as…” he began.

“You!” she finished with a smile.

They shared a look as they remembered her mother saying those words to her.

“I miss her, Dad.” She said referring to her mother. “And I missed you.”

“I know. I miss her still and of course I missed my little girl but I was leaning on my pride and couldn’t pick up the phone.” He said. “I give talks at Mike’s school every year as an excuse to see him. I’m proud of you Ella, you brought him up good.” He said to her and those words brought fresh tears.

“And he never told me.” She said.

“Well I go under the name Colonel Maxwell.” He grinned.

She giggled his little girl again just for a moment.

“Colonel George Maxwell Addison I am ashamed of you!” she said, using his full name.

They were interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Come in.” Ella called and saw her Dad shake his head.

Nic walked in with Mike.

“Good timing.” Ella said out of the corner of her mouth.

Nic stopped her hands on Mike’s shoulders.

“Er Hello.” She said, puzzled at seeing a strange man on Ella’s bed.

“Nic, this is…” she stopped wondering how to introduce him. Then said bravely. “My father.”

“But I thought….” Nic blurted.

“That I was dead?” he asked.

“Yes.” She blurted again, and blushed.

“Nah!” Mike told her. “We just weren’t talking to him!” he grinned. “And Sir, if you want to use an alias I suggest you make sure that your photograph can’t be looked up on Google, along with your career!” Mike said to him, cheekily.

Ella laughed.

“He’s certainly a chip of the old block.” Her father said to her.

“Can I ask why you are here?” Nic said taking a step forward and putting her hands on her hips.

“So is she!” Ella told him assuming that he knew who she was.

He grinned.

“She named the baby George.” He said proudly. “If she could do that then I could stop being an ass and come and apologise for being an idiot.” He looked down and saw that they were holding hands.

“So wait, do I get to call you Granddad now?” Nic asked.

“Dad she’s only after your credit card!” Ella said looking at Nic.

Nic grinned.

“Hey, it was worth a shot.” Nic walked over to the bed and sat down on a chair beside it. “They are going to bring Georgie in to see you soon.” She told Ella.

Ella grinned but didn’t confess that she had gotten out of bed the night before and walked to the nursery to see the babies.

Mike had moved around to the other side of the room and was standing near where the plastic glass had fallen. He nudged it with his foot avoiding the pool of water on the floor.

“Er Mum…” he began. Then looked at his granddad and said. ”Never Mind!”

Another knock sounded at the door and Georgie was brought in. “Would mum like a cuddle?” the nurse asked.

“Of course!” Nic answered for her.

The nurse wheeled the cot in and Ella gasped. She lifted the baby out of the cot and handed her over.

Th Colonel stood up from the bed and then walked away, standing at the end of the bed, letting Ella enjoy the moment.

“Hey sweetie I’m your Mum and I’m about to have a massive panic attack.” Ella said.

Nic laughed out loud.

“You’ll be fine.” She told her. “You helped me El.”

Nicole looked at her and suddenly Ella burst into tears.

“I want your dad here.” She said touching the dog tags she still wore. She didn’t see her Dad flinch at the comment.

Nicole stood and leaned over Ella.

“I know step-mama.” She said stroking her hair. “But you are so strong, you can do this. It’s only for a little while longer.” She told her softly.

El looked at her and sobbed.

“Oh Nic, I love him.” she said. She looked down at her son and all she saw was Roman. She half smiled.

Her Dad took a step towards her.

“Liz.” He called not yet used to the new name. “Ella.” He amended. “I’ll get him back to you I promise.” He said, his heart breaking at her distress.

Nic and Mike looked up at him and he returned their look without comment.

“Dad,” she began, “He is the father of my children, “ she looked in turn at Mike, Nic and then Georgie, “You have to promise me.”

He walked over to the bed and touched a gentle finger to Georgie’s’ head. “Ella, I never wanted him to do this, I tried everything to stop it. But I couldn’t.. I didn’t have the right to mess up your life again. I should have taken care of Mike and let you life your own life.” He stopped a glint of tears in his eyes. “Will you forgive me for being a selfish man?” he asked.

“Dad! I wouldn’t have let you take Mike. He is my life. Jennie and Michael chose me to look after him in case anything happened you know that!” She said.

Nic squirmed in her seat, feeling uncomfortable at witnessing this display and she looked across at Mike to see how he was doing and was surprised by the grin on his face.

“Sir,” Mike began formally. “You are talking to someone who cried like a sissy when I started school and didn’t leave to go home like all the other mum’s. She was there all morning, standing outside the school gates. She said that it was in case I got upset. I was 4 and even I didn’t believe that one!” He grinned.

Nic laughed and looked at El.

“Ok, so I’m overprotective about my babies.” Ella muttered.

“Not just your babies!” Nic said softly, “You take care of us all.”

Ella blushed and looked down at Georgie, who had just opened his eyes. He was so small, she thought again.

“Do you hear what they are saying about your Mummy, Georgie?” she asked him.

He blinked and looked at her, although she knew that he wasn’t really looking being far too young. She saw Roman’s eyes and nose she thought with a dash of pride and also a touch of relief her nose was awful to inflict on a child. He gurgled, his lips pursing. She stroked his face.

She looked up to see that all three had their eyes on her.

“You zoned for a moment!” Nic told her.

She blinked.

“I think you were falling in love with your son” Nic smiled at her.

Ella looked up and tears fell down her cheeks.

“He has Roman’s nose!” she told them.

Nic laughed.

“Well that’s a relief, we had bets that maybe it was that Calvin Klein underwear model.” Nic grinned. She held out her hand to Mike and Ella watched as Mike handed over some money.

“Mike, you bet against me?” Ella muttered.

“No.” he paused. “Well yes. I saw your contact sheets. You seemed to get very personal.” He grinned.

Ella blushed.

“That’s what your Dad thought too.” She muttered, and grew embarrassed when she saw Nicole’s knowing look.

They were interrupted by another knock at the door as the nurse came back in.

“Sorry, it’s time for the little one to go back to the nursery, we really shouldn’t have let him come for a visit so soon but someone was very persuasive.

Ella and Nic shared a look, before Ella reluctantly handed over the baby.

“And I won’t even mention that it is only supposed to be 2 visitors at a time.” The nurse said.

“I’m not here.” Mike said. “I’m just a figment of your imagination.” He grinned.

The nurse smiled. She placed Georgie gently in the cot and made for the open door, she paused at the door. “And you’ll be pleased to know that Sophie has come of the ventilator. We are still keeping her on a high oxygen solution at the moment but all the signs are promising.”

Ella smiled her relief.

Nic looked puzzled.

“What’s up?” Mike asked.

“Just that for a nurse she hand weird shoes on. Shouldn’t they be white to go with the uniform.” Nic suggested.

“Nic it’s alright.” Ella said. “I’ve got the feeling that she isn’t an ordinary nurse.” Ella looked at her dad who coughed.

He looked at the other three and then shrugged.

“She’s one of my best Doctor’s actually. She is part of the team looking after you.” He grinned suddenly.

“Does that mean that Gardy has been here?” Nicole asked intelligently, standing upright.

“Nic.” Ella said.

Her dad walked over to stand beside the window and looked out before turning around and looking at them. He glanced at Ella, who nodded encouragement, before he began speaking.

“We believe that Gardy is on the edge of a psychotic break. This is making him careless, but also dangerous. His fingerprints have been found in your house and on the mirror from the bathroom. The emails alone can put him away for Cyber stalking. He changes identity every few months, weight, and eye colour, hair colour, and facial hair. He has created a number of false identities for himself.” He said and was interrupted a by Nicole.

She stood with her hands on her hips.

“How do you know about the emails and the Mirror?” she asked quickly. “And why haven’t you done anything about it.”

“Nic.” Ella tried to interrupt her.

“And why did you get my dad sent away?” she said her voice raising.

“I know because the security firm that Ella contacted is run by a friend, and because Ella has now gone to the police, when she had proof that he was getting in it became the matter of more than just the local police force. “ he said calmly, explaining the connection.

“As for your father young lady, I tried to get that stopped but I am not god. There is something bigger going on than just Gardy, as dangerous as he is. I promise you that I will do everything in my power to send Roman back to you.” He said.

Nicole was still not mollified but she looked down at Ella who had sunk back tiredly against the pillows.

“Com’on Nic we better go.” Mike said quickly. After they said goodbyes he guided Nicole out of the room leaving Ella with her father.

“She’s a chip of the old block isn’t she?” her father said softly.

"If you think dealing with me will be bad if anything happens to Roman then you should prepare yourself for her.” Ella smiled but he could tell that she was struggling to keep her eyes open.

“I have someone keeping him company, you might remember Jacko.” He said and saw her give a quick grin. “Yes, that what I thought, you already knew that.”

“I’m glad you came Dad.” She said softly.

He bent down and placed a kiss on her head as she drifted asleep.

“You’ll always be my little Princess.” He told her and turned to leave. He thought he heard her chuckle but he wasn’t certain. He closed the door quietly behind him and walked down the corridor. There was a helicopter on the roof ready to take him back to the airforce base to pick up a flight back to Afghanistan.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 13 – Tick Toc Tick Toc

Gardy squirmed on his seat by the desk in his hotel room. He had his laptop open looking at pictures he had taken of Ella. He needed to see her, to see those brats. He needed to touch the B**** he thought. Feel her tremble under him. He let himself drift into fantasy enjoying the thought of her underneath him. Finally yes he thought, in his imaginings she was asking him for it. Begging him. He moved to the bed and stretched out thinking of how her lips would tease his, how they would taste. How at first she would resist but then tell him she loved him and it was a mistake that she went with the other one. He avoided thinking the name to prolong the fantasy.

Her hands would be on him, all over him, everywhere. He touched himself with his own hands imagining they were hers. Oh, he thought finally,

But even his own fantasy betrayed him and he suddenly included Roman in it, pulling him off her.

“No.” he cried out in frustration.

He stood and walked into the en suite shower and turned the water jets to full, stripping off his remaining clothes The punishing water hit muscles that he’d sculpted in the gym over the past few weeks, dropping the extra weight and shaving of his hair. He’d even given up alcohol in order to cut back on calories, now how was that for self control he thought with a sardonic grin. He stepped out of the shower and wrapped himself in a towel. He dressed in a black designer suit and dreaded tie and walked out of the room and downstairs to reception.

“Hello.” He said to the cute receptionist, “Have you got any messages for me?” he asked.

“No Mr Harrison. Nothing today.” She said with a quick nervous smile.

“Thank you.” He told her with a smile, he reached out and put a fleeting touch on her hand.

She flinched and pulled her hand away quickly.

He smiled even wider as he walked through the lobby and went to collect his car. She remembered him from his last visit, he thought. He’d had to complain about the state of his room and they had sent her up to deal with him. He’d taught her a thing or too and then made sure she didn’t talk by tell her he would come back and kill her family.

Normally he didn’t stay at the same place twice but he’d been curious to see if she’d remembered.

He was still grinning when he climbed out of the car at the restaurant where he was meeting one of his clients to discuss a purchase of something that went Boom.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 14 – If I lay here

The Colonel walked slowly, and he had to admit tiredly, into the briefing room and watched as the men filed past and took their seats. He saw one man had been involved in a brawl at some point and knew that Roman had finally gained the men’s respect. Especially when he noted that the latter didn’t have a mark on him. He thought back to Ella and he wanted to take the man to one side and tell him about the children and pass on the letter he was holding. Promising himself that he would do that first thing upon their return.

He watched as the British Army Captain pulled up the maps and showed them all, outlining the landing zones and terrain. He conducted the rest of the briefing. At the end of it Roman was asked to stay behind.

“Sir,” he said.

“We’ve been wondering which one of the men you want as your spotter.” The British captain began.

“That’s easy, Sgt Thompson.” He stated.

“Son, I’m sure you are aware that the Sgt is not part of this assignment.” The Colonel told him.

“I’m aware of that Sir, but the fact is that I’ve worked with the Sgt before, we have a trust.” He said.

The Captain looked across at the Colonel who nodded.

“Very well LT Harris bring him up to speed.” The Captain said finally. “Dismissed LT.”

Roman turned and walked away slowly. He was curious as to why they had acceded so easily and went off in search of the other man, finding him moments later in one of the barrack blocks.

“Jacko.” He called.

The other man looked startled and hurriedly pushed something in his pocket. Ok, Roman thought, perhaps he had woken up this morning in the Twilight zone.

“L T.” Jacko drawled.

“Have you got a minute?” Roman asked politely.

Jacko excused himself and followed Roman to his quarters.

“What is it LT?” Jacko asked quickly, once inside the room.

“Well for starters are you ok Jacko, you seem a bit nervous?” Roman asked.

“Sir, I’m fine.” Jacko told him not quite meeting his eyes.

Roman nodded and proceeded to bring the other man up to speed on the mission.

“And Colonel Addison is fine with my going on the mission?” Jacko asked.

Roman nodded and walked over to get them a couple cups of coffee.

“Said that he couldn’t think of anyone better,” Roman said softly. “I mean you know the man I don’t!” Roman said carefully.

“Well sure I do, but he’s your father in law. “ Jacko muttered. “I mean I know Ella ain’t exactly that friendly with the man but then you know that don’t you?” Jacko said quickly.

Roman placed a cup of coffee in front of the other man.

“Tell me about It.” he said with just a touch of edge to the statement.

He took a long drink from his own cup.

Jacko laughed.

“I’ve said as much as I know.” Jacko told him.

Roman laughed and pulled up the other chair. He spun it around and sat on it, folding his arms across the back.

“Actually Sgt I think you know more than that.” Roman said in a cold tone of voice.

“Roman don’t make me say anymore I’ve give you as many clues as I can here.” Jacko said hastily.

“You’re telling me that my father in law is involved in this whole mess. Did he get me recalled?” Roman asked.

“I really don’t have that information. He got me here, that much I do know.” Jacko looked unhappy at the cross-examination.

“Yes, whose side are you on?” Roman asked him eventually. He drained his cup and placed it on the desk.

“That’s easy, Ella’s!” he told him.

Roman laughed bitterly.

“I don’t know her at all do I?” he said finally.

“Roman you know as much as you let yourself know.” Jacko told him. “This darkness. It gets us and draws us in until we can’t see any light. We are who we are trained to be. Soldiers. You are and always will be. Accept it.” Jacko told him. “You can fight it and you’ll lose Roman. You keep walking away from who you are and you’ll lose. You’ll lose Ella and now, something more important.”

Roman looked at him for a very long moment.

Jacko pulled out an envelope and left it on the top.

“I’ll see you on the range tomorrow LT. “ Jacko told him and left him alone. After a long moment Roman took hold of the envelope and read the letter sent from Joe. He read the words before him feeling a dark curling rage inside him. She’d denied him knowledge that she was carrying his babies and nearly died during their birth. He stood and walked out of the room. Across the compound and finally back to the briefing room.

He walked straight up to the Colonel and pulling back his fist he punched the other man.

“Son!” the man exclaimed pulling himself off the floor and standing on unsteady legs.

“I am not your son but apparently I am your son in law.” Roman said. He stepped back and folded his arms across his chest.

“Now perhaps you’d like to tell the real reason I’ve been dragged into this mess?” Roman told him.

“You know it.” he was told.

“That’s not good enough. Why didn’t you tell me who you were for starters?” Roman said.

“My daughter didn’t want to know me. How could I mention who I was?” he said quickly.

“Didn’t?” Roman picked upon the past tense. “Does that mean you’ve seen her?” he asked.

He nodded slowly. He briefly wondered how much the other man knew and decided it would be pointless to hold anything back now. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a letter from Ella.

“She asked me to give this to. Said to find a time when it wouldn’t distract you. Well that isn’t going to happen now is it?” The Colonel said.

Roman took the letter and walked out without a backward glance. It was only later that he would realise that he had punched out a Colonel.

He poured another coffee and sat at the desk to open the letter. Out tumbled a number of photos. He looked at them seeing his children for the first time.

“Dear Roman, I’m sorry that this letter is the way that I tell you about our children but I can’t hold the information back any longer. I know you will be angry with me. Ok, very angry, well… er…. Furious. Yes I knew I was pregnant when you left, I didn’t mean to give you such a hard time but well I was hormonal. I went into premature labour and the babies had to be delivered by C Section. You have a son I have named George Joseph and a daughter Sophie Nicole. As you can see from the Pics Sophie is a little unwell but we are pulling for her. So you see you have more reason to come home in one piece. First you need to seriously tell me off for keeping this secret and then I need help with Nappy duty! I love you Roman and I’m sorry. Please come home to us. Ella.”

Sighing Roman lay on his bed and looked at the pictures.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 15 – Mixed up World

Aden walked into the house and called out.

“Ella?”

“Upstairs!” she called.

Aden walked slowly up the stairs, his heart started pounding. He could feel the palms of his hands getting sweaty and he hoped that she was dressed in like a Yashmak.

He followed the sounds and walked in their bedroom. Their bedroom, he repeated to himself, Ella’s and Roman’s bedroom.

He saw her bending over the bed as she was struggling with the bedding and he felt his body stir.

“Hey!” she called, turned to him and smiling.

“You shouldn’t be doing that.” He said hurrying over to the bed and pulling on the quilt.

The action knocked her off balance and she tumbled onto the bed, pulling him with her.

“Oh!” she said and laughed.

He reached over and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

“I’ll have you know that Rachel gave me the all clear yesterday.” She grinned.

She pulled away from him slightly aware they were lying on a bed.

“Don’t.” he said, meaning, please don’t move away.

“Aden.” She warned.

He moved so quickly that she didn’t expect it.

His lips pressed on hers.

She just had to stay still she thought, and nothing would happen.

He pushed her down flat on the bed pushing up her skirt to stroke her legs. Then moving his hand to under her top. He found her breast, heavy in his hand and he knew he should stop but she was kissing him back.

“No!” she cried pushing at him as he caressed her breasts, his denim clad thigh moving between hers.

“We can’t. “ She panted and pushed at his shoulders.

“El I need you.” He cried and she moaned against his lips.

“Aden, I love Roman. “ she said a tear falling down her cheek. “I can’t do this.”

He looked down at her and went to kiss her on the cheek and capture that tear in his mouth to take away her pain but his lips found hers again.

Her hands stopped fighting him and she pushed up his T shirt to stroke and caress his chest. She moaned against his lips and he rubbed his leg gently between her thighs. She wanted him, he thought.

“El are you protected?” he asked crassly. Just wanting her. Wanting her beyond reason. His marriage didn’t matter. Roman didn’t matter. He tried to remind himself that she had just given birth to Roman’s babies but it didn’t mean anything. He needed her.

She started at the question and pushed at his shoulders.

“Stop!” she cried. “Oh god stop!” she moaned afresh in renewed pain. She pushed at his shoulders and began crying.

Aden pulled away and climbed off the bed, watching as she curled into a ball and cried her eyes out.

She pulled herself together and stood up slowly, turning back to the bed she tugged off the sheets she had only just put on.

“El, stop!” he said and stepped forward and put his hands on top of hers.

“No, its dirty!” she cried.

“El.” He pleaded.

She turned in his arms and her legs were unable to support her any longer she sank to the floor.

“Tell me,” she asked him in a tone of voice, that he hoped never to hear from anyone ever again. “Which would be the worst crime?” She paused, then uttered the fowl word. “To …. In his bed or using his condoms?” she fell on the floor unable to control her sobs.

“Please El, it was me. I did it. I pushed.” Aden said.

He sank to the floor beside her and tried to get her to look at him.

Eventually she looked up.

“No it wasn’t. I wanted you.” She said, her voice sounding so quiet in the room. “I wanted you in my husbands bed and I didn’t care.” Her voice sounded dead and flat compared to how she normally sounded,

He pressed his body close to her and held her. She didn’t resist as he stroked her hair.

“El.” He said but didn’t know how he could fix this.

“I love him.” she said. “I’m in love with him.” She took a breath. “Where do see this heading aside from a tumble in bed?” she asked plainly.

“El I don’t know, I think I’m in love with you.” He said.

She gasped and started sobbing.

He took her in his arms and they started kissing again.

“God no!” she cried. ”Aden please go.”

She pushed him away.

He fell back and looked at her.

“I’m sorry Aden. We cant’!” she told him.

“I can’t leave you like this.” He said.

“If you don’t we’ll end up in bed. How can I live with that?” she asked brokenly.

He stood and walked away.

Aden walked back up the stairs with a glass of water and a couple of headache tablets. Ella had been crying non-stop for the last hour. He’d tried a couple of times to get her to move off the floor but she lay there.

“Ella, I want you to take these and drink this please.” He said in his best Doctor voice.

She looked at him.

“Why won’t you leave?” she asked him tearfully.

“Because I can’t.” he said. “Not when you are like this.” He placed the glass in her hand and watched as she eased up off the floor.

He took hold of her other hand and placed the tablets in it.

“Take em El!” he said.

She took the tablets and swallowed them drinking the full glass of water. She thrust the empty glass back at him.

“Thank you.” He said and unthinkingly reached out to push the hair away from her face. His hand touched her cheek, wet with tears and his heart broke. He lent forward and kissed her softly. She kissed him back.

“No!” she cried pushing him off her. “Aden please!”

He rolled to one side.

“This is no good we can’t keep doing this to ourselves.” Aden said placing his arm over his eyes.

“Oh we aren’t doing it to ourselves we are doing it to Roman.” She said clawing up from the floor. “Hey maybe we’ll get bonus points for not screwing around in his bed!” she muttered pulling her blouse closed and fastening the buttons with a shaking hand.

“Ella.” Aden began. He put a hand out to her and saw her flinch.

“Don’t touch me.” She said clearly. “No hugs, no holding hands nothing. You stay away from me and I’ll stay away from you and maybe we can get over this before we make a bigger mistake.” She told him.

She bent down and pulled up the sheets and other bedding taking it downstairs and back into the laundry. She set the washer on and pulled out the drying she had put in earlier. Stuffing it unfolded into the basket.

Aden held out his hands and she reluctantly handed it over. He carried it upstairs for her and she told him from the safety of downstairs that it needed to go into Mike’s room. He brought the basket down minutes later.

“I put it away for you too.” He said conversationally.

“Thank you. I poured you out a coffee.” She smiled briefly. “I’ve been allowed a real coffee once a day.” She said at his raised eyebrow.

He suddenly realised why she would be limiting her caffeine and found his eyes straying to her breasts then he lifted his gaze up and focused on the ceiling for a moment.

“When are you bringing Georgie home?” he asked conversationally.

“Not for a week. They want to release them both at the same time and it gives me a chance to baby proof the house.” She said.

“Well if you need a hand.” He said. An image of where he’d put his hands earlier slipped into his mind and he groaned aloud.

“Don’t take this the wrong way but I will be asking Miles.” She grinned.

“This will be hard.” He told her and smirked when her gaze drifted downwards.

“Yes.” She said breathlessly.

“El.” He said standing up.

He took a step toward her, thinking please stop me followed by don’t stop me. He cradled her face in his hands and kissed. She tasted of cherries and coffee, he noted.

“This is crazy.” He said. “I need to leave.”

“Yes.” She reached down and pulled at the hem of her skirt.

He stood up from the sofa and reached for his T-shirt.

“Don’t look like that.” He told her.

“How am I supposed to look. I’ve just cheated on my husband.” She proclaimed.

“We didn’t have sex. El.” He protested, as though kissing her and feeling her up was ok as long as there was no sex. He grimaced.

“Well let’s see I kissed you back. I pulled off your top and I let you put your hands all over me.” She felt a tear trickle down her cheek. “I love Roman so how could I?” she stood and paced into the kitchen. “And how far exactly do we have to go before it is considered not cheating.”

“Just so you are clear?” he asked sardonically, standing in the doorway between the kitchen and the lounge.

“Yes” she picked up the earlier coffee things and emptied the cold contents into the sink.

“I don’t know.” He said and then an Aden trademark smirk ran across his lips. “Perhaps we should get naked and find out?” he suggested.

She turned and picked up a cup to throw at him, and that would explain why she had to keep buying new cups she thought idly, and instead found that she was laughing.

“Your T Shirt is on inside out.” She told him after a moment.

He looked down and in one fluid movement he pulled it over his head and stood there with it in his hand. For a long moment their eyes met across the kitchen before he pulled the shirt back on and took a step backwards.

“This is way beyond control.” He muttered.

She laughed.

“Kinda exciting isn’t it?” he asked. He folded his arms across his chest and found himself flexing his muscles.

“Give it a rest! His are bigger!” she muttered rolling her eyes at him.

He laughed.

“Way to give a guy a complex, I bet not everything is bigger.” Aden said smirking.

She blushed.

“You’d lose.” She told him smugly.

“Woah!” he replied blinking.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 16 – Pump up the volume

Roman shaded his eyes against the glare and ran the last few K’s to set up his position. He moved the scrub to offer more protection.

“Jacko, check out the rocks about the cliff for me. I’m getting a bad feeling about this.” He told the other man.

“You and me too LT!” Jacko muttered.

Roman lay in the sand and looked through the scope at the target. There were a number of vehicles coming from some distance away. And they weren’t friendly.

He thought he saw a glint coming from the cliff and stayed still watching for it again. Convinced that he was imagining it he focused instead on the new arrivals. Heavily armed with AK-47’s and the later model the AK–49 he radioed the Intel back to HQ. He used the scope to try and get a look at the inside of the cave. He could see boxes and crates lining the inside of the entrance. He had a feeling these were explosive and advised HQ of that too.

“Jacko, what do you say we get ourselves a little closer?” he asked the other man.

“Now LT you know I don’t do rhetorical questions!” Jacko laughed.

Roman crawled forward and checking about he eased up and ran crouching low to the ground. He had every confidence that the other man was following.

He pulled the scrubs around his position and added webbing over the top. He was as camouflaged as he could get. He looked though the scope and checked his watch. Jacko surveyed around in a 360-degree sweep.

“I don’t like the looks of this LT I have a real bad feeling.” He said.

“Me too Sgt. Check those cliffs again.” Roman instructed.

“I don’t see anything but I thought I saw a flash earlier.” He said.

“Me too!” Roman looked out of the scope again down at the meeting point. “Jacko, look down there,”

The other man slid down on his belly and trained his binoculars on the entrance to the cave.

“They seem to be using a funny way of walking into that cave.”

“Landmines at the entrance.” Roman confirmed.

He radioed back to HQ and warned them. Checking his watch he saw that it was 30 minutes until the helicopters would be on site.

“Waiting making you nervous LT?” Jacko asked.

“Everything is making me nervous today!” he grinned. “Nothing like old times to pump the adrenaline Jacko.” He said softly.

“That flash again.” Jacko told him. “Lower this time like someone has just moved position. 3 o’clock.”

“Saw it.” Roman confirmed. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a silencer for the SR-25 and fixed it to the end of his gun. He trained the weapon on the cliff top and waited.

“LT how about a game of I spy to pass the time?” Jacko asked him.

Roman chuckled.

“I spy with my little eye two machine guns at the entrance.” Roman said.

“Another 2 further up the cliff at 5 o clock.” Jacko told him.

“Got them.” Roman told him. “Is it just me or do they seem to be waiting for us?” he asked his friend.

“Just because you ain’t paranoid LT.” Jacko muttered. He swung his pistol out of his holster and added the silencer.

“Ten minutes to go LT.” Jacko told him.

“Longest damn half hour of my life!” Roman muttered.

“You know it’s at times like these that I like to look back on my life and tell pertinent stories.” Jacko said. “To pass the time.”

Roman laughed.

“And is there a pertinent story for today Sgt.” Roman asked with a chuckle. “Flash again 3 o’clock.”

“Yeah, don’t get drunk and re-up. And when Ella asks you a favour just say no, Hell no!” Jacko said. “I count 2 at 3 o clock. In position and trained on us LT. They knew we were coming.”

“Are you saying kissing me wasn’t the highlight of your life?” Roman asked. “I’ve got them. I’m going to take them out first then the guns at 5-o clock and finally the entrance. Pick off those landmines Jacko.” Roman instructed the other man.

“It could have been better. I hope you shave when Ella kisses you.” Jacko said conversationally. He was kneeling on the dusty ground one knee up, his arm folded over it, elbow on his knee, so he could rest his gun arm on it. He clicked the safety off.

“Well obviously if I’d known you were going to kiss me I would have shaved for you and perhaps taken my shirt off too.” Roman chuckled. He clicked the safety off.

Jacko didn’t even glance at Roman as he chuckled, clicking the safety off his own weapon.

“You know LT if I even thought you were serious I might be tempted to give up women for you.” Jacko took aim with the gun. “But you went and married Ella and I’d rather charge those machine guns with just a stick in my hand that face Ella in a bad mood.”

Roman laughed.

“Here come the choppers Jacko. Let’s get serious.” Roman said and pulled the trigger. The shot went on target, as did the next one. Roman moved to the next target and took out the upper machine gun positions while Jacko took out the others. He then trained his gun on the entrance to the cave and he and Jacko took out the landmines lining up the entrance.

Roman took careful aim and fired at the crates.

“I have the sneaky suspicion that those are our weapons over there, Jacko.” Roman said as he watched one then another explode into orange flame.

“Bad guys coming out of the cave at 7 o clock.” Jacko said excitedly.

They heard the choppers land in the background as they took aim on the second entrance to the cave.

“We’ve been spotted Jacko!” Roman called urgently, as a round hit the dirt in front of me.

“Tell me about it.” Jacko muttered.

Roman glanced up for a second at his Sgt, seeing that he was wounded, before resuming fire on the targets.

“Is it serious?” he asked Jacko.

“Why you offering to kiss it better?” Jacko asked, swapping the pistol to the other hand to continue firing.

“Any second now I will begin to think you are coming on to me!” Roman told the other man.

“You wish LT, you ain’t my type I prefer redheads.” Jacko told him with a groan.

“We need to haul ass out of here Sgt.” Roman said as another round smacked into the ground 2 cm away from his hand. A cover of dust shot up on impact.

“I agree. After you!” Jacko told him.

“no, no I insist, ladies first!” Roman said sarcastically.

Roman stood quickly and pulled his Sgt up, helping him to run to a safer distance. He heard weapons firing in the background and noted that the Friendly's had arrived. He glanced over his shoulder and continued to run. He heard the bullet before he felt the impact in his back. The force of the shot pushed him forward and he toppled into Jacko pushing him to the floor. He noted the series of bullets that hit the hot desert sand would have wiped them out if he had not forced them to the ground. He vaguely heard Jacko call for a dust off before he passed out.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 17 – Just like Jesse James

Roman woke up slowly to find that Jacko was pulling at his clothes, he took in the details with a weary eye. They had landed and were back at base, he looked up and saw the rotors were slowly stopping.

“You wore a vest!” Jacko said with relief.

“You were checking that?” Roman asked. “That was a relief I thought you were coming on to me again.” Roman groaned.

“In your dreams LT!” the other man grinned.

“Jacko, no offence but if you were in my dreams I’d consider never sleeping again!” he said with a chuckle and then groaned as pain flared in his ribs.

He pulled the Flak jacket off and dumped it on the ground then pulled up his shirt and revealed the additional bullet proof vest he was wearing underneath.

“How the hell did you know to wear that?” Jacko asked eventually, his relief still evident in his voice.

“I have no idea I just woke up this am and had a real bad feeling. And then I thought of you going home to tell Ella what had happened, and well, I didn’t want you to get hurt.” Roman coughed and then spat on the dusty ground below him.

“How the hell did they get fricking Armour piercing rounds Jacko? I’m getting seriously PO’d.” He said. “And this hurts like a son of a …”

“You kiss Ella with that mouth LT?” Jacko asked him with a grin.

Roman laughed then groaned clutching at his ribs.

He bent down and picked up the spent shell that had fallen out of his clothes.

“Well I’ll be ….” Jacko said finishing the sentence with the expletive.

“Not by me you won’t!” Roman muttered with a grin and pocketed the ammo.

“That is what I think it is isn’t it?” Jacko said.

“It had my name on it. Now lets go see who is stupid enough to think I won’t kill the SOB.” Roman grinned.

“Not before you get your ass checked out by the quacks LT!” Jacko told him. “And don’t even think about trying to tell me you are fine, I made a promise to El and she’ll know without anyone having to tell her. You know that!”

Roman clapped the other man on his uninjured shoulder.

“I still don’t know what I did wrong to deserve you Sgt.” Roman muttered.

Jacko took a step and then muttered “Hey!”

Roman turned and grinned at him.

“When we get back to the world I’ll invite you over for dinner and we can talk about old times.” He said.

“Hell no, LT.” Jacko grinned. “I’m a brave man but I’m not risking Ella’s cooking, not even for you!”

Both men laughed.

They walked away from the Helicopter and to medical and after a twenty-minute debate the doctor decided that he wasn’t going to keep the two men in overnight and they made their way to the briefing room to see what Intel had been brought back from the cave.

They were just in time to hear some snot nosed brat shout out.

“And where was our scope? He bottled it.”

Roman stood to one side of the room and listened. Jacko unsuccessfully hid a snigger.

After a few more minutes of hearing the kid whine Roman took a step forward and spoke up.

“Permission to speak freely?” he asked the Colonel, who nodded.

“You want to know where I was son?” Roman asked him, ignoring the half-smothered chuckle from his Sgt. “Well let’s see after I warned everyone about the extra troops, landmines and the machine gun positions. I moved closer so I could take out the snipers that knew we were coming. Then I took out one of the machine gun positions and instructed my Sgt to take out the other and then we shot the Frick out of the landmines at the front of the cave so that your pansy ass feet wouldn’t get blown off. And while you were piling off the choppers my Sgt and I were shooting hell out of the men pouring out of the cave even while we were being shot at.” Roman grinned.

“Does that just about cover it Sgt?” he turned to the other man.

“Well apart from being shot of course.” Jacko said and demonstrated with a wave of the sling on his arm.

“Oh yeah I forget that bit.” Roman reached into his pocket and threw the spent cartridge at the Colonel who caught it.

“Seems that someone didn’t want me to come back. That’s armour piercing.” He told them and scanned the faces of the people around the room. All apart from one man displayed shock.

Roman looked at his Sgt who nodded. He grinned and looked over at the Colonel and nodded. They had their suspect.

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 18 – Ask and ye shall receive

Roman sat on the chair in the corner of the interrogation room. He had a flashback to trying to talk to Nicole in one of her ‘I don’t accept your authority in my life’ moments and seeing a display of the same attitude. He grinned.

Jacko chose that moment to knock on the door and walk in with coffees for everyone. He pulled up a chair next to Roman and they started whispering to each other.

Roman looked over at the British Army Captain and then focusing back at Jacko. Jacko pulled out a large knife from his boot and made little cutting motions in the air before putting the knife away. Roman chuckled.

“Do you think your little side show will intimidate me Lieutenant Harris?” The British Army Captain told him. “I’ve trained people in interrogation techniques.”

Roman laughed and stood up swivelling the chair around so the back was facing the table and sitting back down folding his arms over the back of the chair and leaning forward.

“Actually Harry, me and my friend were just discussing what my wife would do to you in this situation. Me, I’m much more mellow.” Roman confessed with a grin using the other man’s name.

“If you want to talk to me Lieutenant Harris you will use my rank.” The Captain said haughtily.

Roman looked over at Jacko who was laughing.

“And I insist that Sergeant Thompson be removed from this room.” He added.

Jacko looked at Roman.

“Yeah, LT we should definitely get Ella out here.” Jacko murmured.

“I told you Jacko that the Geneva Convention prevents that sort of thing.” Roman said ignoring the Captain and Colonel Addison who was also sitting at the table. “If Ella was here well we’d have to clean up the blood and explain why he was dead. It’ll be much better if we just ask him questions. Less painful.”

Jacko grinned.

“Who will tell?” he asked. “It’s not like anyone who knows Ella will ever double cross her.”

Roman laughed huskily.

“You’re telling me Jacko. I mean when I tell her that this creep tried to kill me well maybe I should just cut his testicles off now to stop some of the pain.” Roman grinned. He drank some of his coffee and rested his chin on his arms.

The Colonel laughed.

“You two are very funny.” He told them.

“Well what do you think Colonel she’s your daughter.” Roman asked him.

The Colonel looked over at the Captain.

“I think that if she were here now you’d already be dead. My daughter doesn’t have time for anyone who hurts her family.” He told the man.

They watched as he swallowed.

“Maybe you should tell us what we want to know.” He suggested softly.

The Captain swallowed again.

“You think you can trick or intimidate me well it won’t work. Get your wife here Harris. Why don’t you ask her just how friendly she is with Gardy.”

Roman laughed.

“Because she would spit in my eye for even saying his name. I know my wife Harry, old chap!” Roman said mockingly, his accent becoming frightfully British.

“You know nothing. He’s been meeting her for years. He wouldn’t marry her so she went after you just to tick him off.” Harry muttered.

Roman laughed.

“LT.” Jacko began. “We should just let Ella have this sack of….”

“And spoil my fun?” Roman asked. “Next thing he’ll suggest is that I’m going to go home and find Gardy in my bed.”

Jacko laughed.

“Depends on whether she would want his death to look natural or not L T” Jacko grinned. He drained his coffee and placed the plastic cup on the floor.

Roman looked over at the Colonel and smiled.

“You know you two are painting a not very nice picture of my daughter. Perhaps I will have her flown out here.” He mused.

Roman looked at the Captain out of the corner of his eye and saw that he’d swallowed compulsively again.

“Might not be such a good idea.” Jacko said. “She’s still po’d with Roman for getting called up.”

“Hey.” Roman said and draining his cup, he rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “She’ll be fine I sent her some flowers.”

“Roman!” Jacko said quickly.

“Well ok, I sent her the flowers with the message ‘sorry hun, I’m off to war back soon’.” Roman admitted looking sheepish. “She will have forgiven me by now.” He looked over at Jacko and then took a long look at the Colonel. “Alright so it took 10 years for her to start talking to you again when all you asked was for her to tidy up her room but this is different.”

Roman looked straight over at the Captain and saw a trickle of sweat run down the other man’s face.

“But then on the other hand.” Roman began. “Maybe I’ll stay here a while its safer.”

Jacko laughed.

“True.” He said.

“What do you say Harry? Would you like to meet my wife?” Roman asked in a very quiet tone of voice, “or would you like to keep your testicles?”

Jacko burst out laughing again.

“That is so funny LT, because after she rips them off she’d let him keep them in a jar afterwards.” He joked.

Roman narrowed his eyes and stared down the other man. He waited very still and patient until the British Army Captain looked away.

“Fine. I give in.” he began. “I met Gardy here in 04 when he was regular army. He had a swindle going on where he sold arms to anybody who wanted them. I found out and I tried to get it stopped. He found out that despite my rank I was broke and made it look like he was paying me.” The man paused and took a breath. “He blackmailed me and I couldn’t do anything to stop him.” He looked over at Roman.

“He found out you were here and he wanted you out of the way. I swear that’s all the involvement I have with the man.”

Roman stood from the table and walked over to the wall behind the Captain he folded his arms across his chest.

“You knew he was going after my family though,” he said in a very quiet tone of voice.

“Yes. Yes I did.” Harry said.

“And you did nothing to warn them.” Roman said, again using the ultra quiet tone of voice. “And you were trying to get me killed.”

“Yes. Ok Yes. “ The Captain broke down.

Roman lent forward and said in a whisper.

“After I’ve finished with Gardy I will be back for you. And if he so much as touches a hair on my wife’s head you will be eating your testicles Harry. That I promise you.” Roman finished.

He motioned to Jacko and they walked out of the room together waiting in the hall for the Colonel to come out of the room.

“There is no plutonium is there?” Roman asked.

“There was but we managed to get the shipment before it was delivered. Now we know who Gardy’s informant is we can stop his supply line.” The Colonel told him. “Now if you two aren’t too tired would you like to go home?”

[TelephotoMarigold]

Chapter 19 – Since you've been gone

Ella walked into the house with a bag of shopping under one arm and a couple of carriers in the other hand. She was tired and had been at the hospital most of the day with the babies. They told her that she could bring Georgie home at any time but she wanted to wait and bring the two of them home together. She was nowhere near finished working out the nursery.

She had chosen to use Nicole’s old room and had so far made Miles and Geoff move out the furniture while she stripped the wallpaper and painted the room white. She wanted to use a paint effect on it either in lemon or mint green and couldn’t decide which. In the end she suspected that she would use both. She might actually go there after she’d put the shopping away to have another look round. She had tins of both colours of paint.

She had two different types of border to use too, there was nothing like making your mind up she thought sarcastically. She had the curtains to match the borders, so she would either go with the lions; tigers, elephant and giraffe animal theme or the sun, stars and rainbows. She kind of liked the rainbows. She could paint the lower half in green and the upper in the yellow.

Maybe if she sponged it, she thought, so that it wasn’t block colours. It would give her an excuse to have pizza for dinner again instead of cooking if she actually started work on it tonight. Maybe then she would also get some sleep instead of missing her husband and her babies.

She was able to feed Georgie, while Sophie was still on a feeding tube but with the help of a pump she was able to provide the milk for her daughter. She was able to touch her and help bath and change her inside the special crib she was in. Although no longer on the ventilator she was still on rich oxygen saturation. She was promised a proper cuddle any day now.

She and Nic were on a promise to go shopping for Baby clothes and everything else she would need, as she delivered early she hadn’t got around to buying much of anything. Although Colleen was busy knitting even as she spoke!

She needed everything she thought with a sigh. Babygrows; nappies, bottles, blankets bedding, and even cot bumpers. The list went on, even with Belle and Nic offering to let her have some stuff. She was beginning to think she was useless at this mum business, she suddenly thought with a sigh feeling suddenly overwhelmed.

The furniture had been delivered flat pack and she was useless with a screwdriver. Miles was on standby to help her with it but there was something wrong with getting someone else to help her make up the cribs, it just didn’t feel right.

Sighing again, she kicked the door closed behind her and threw her house keys on the table behind the door, a habit she picked up from her husband, before turning to punch in the code in the alarm. She saw the flashing red light and blinked at it. Thinking that it was strange that it was disarmed, she decided to carry the food into the kitchen before seeing to it.

Turning she saw the souls of his boots first and then the legs sticking over the arm of the sofa. Peering over the back she looked down.

“Jacko?” she cried. “What are you doing here?” she asked quickly. She dropped the food on the floor and looked up to see her father standing in the doorway of the kitchen.

“Dad?” she asked her voice shaking. “Is it…” she began to ask.

She rushed towards him and saw him step to one side so she could see the man standing behind him.

“Hello El.” Roman said to her.

She started sobbing and rushed into his arms.

“I thought…” she began. “When I saw my Dad I thought you…” she was unable to finish the sentence.

“No I’ve kept my promise to you.” He said softly for her ears alone.

He picked her up off the floor holding her full length against his body and kissed her holding her tight in his arms. Her arms were wrapped tight around him

The Colonel walked over to Jacko and helped the other man up. “I think we should go disappear for an hour.”

“Make that two!” Roman instructed.

They walked out of the door as they saw the other man carry her up the stairs.

“El I love you.” Roman told her as she pulled at his clothes. “Is it ok?” he asked.

She looked at him.

“Yes its ok.” She answered knowing what he meant.

He lifted her onto the bed stripping her clothes off.

His hands were gentle as he familiarised himself with her body.

“You’ve changed.” He said softly.

He pressed kisses down to her breasts.

“You are ripe here.” He cupped her breasts in his hands.

She smiled at him.

“I’m feeding our babies!” she said quietly.

He smiled.

“Oh yes, thank you for reminding me I’m really really really angry.” He told her kissing her in between each word.

She laughed up at him

“I love you. I’ve missed you.” She told him tearfully. “Don’t ever go away again.” Her voice was full of emotion,

He looked down on her.

“I can’t wait.” he told her softly. “I need you so much.”

She welcomed him home.