Alex's Revenge Chapter four

Just as Alex begins to panic, she hears her name being called. She spins one last time, finally seeing her mom standing near T.J. at the front of the crowd. Alex runs towards her practically tackling her in a hug, a few tears finally slipping down her face.

            It takes a good minute before Alex releases her mom, and moves on to Chase and the rest of her friends and family. Just then fifteen cargo deuce and a halves pull up and Alex snaps back into military mode. She starts ushering everyone onto the trucks and making sure everything runs smoothly.

            Once everyone is on she climbs onto the back of the first truck in line, the movement of doing so causing the pain in her side to worsen. She tries to ignore it but it’s starting to throb. She sucks in a deep breath hoping it will help at least somewhat.

            Alex listens to the random chatter of the people in her truck, not really focusing on anyone in particular. It’s all just background noise to her at this point, her ears still ringing a bit from all the gunfire.

            As the trucks come to a stop at the entrance gates of Camp Lejeune Alex jumps off the back of the first truck, regretting the action almost immediately, pain intensifying throughout her left side. Once explaining to the MPs guarding the gate, all the trucks are let in and the people are led to the spare rooms in the bunker.

            Meanwhile Alex heads to the General’s office for a debriefing of what went on at the hotel. The General congratulates her on another job well done, informing her that as soon as they have more information, her team will be allowed to go after Abdullah once again. She thanks him before heading to the infirmary to have her side and head checked out.

            Just as she reaches the door the bunker, the tornado warnings start sounding, the wind picking up drastically. One of the soldiers helping in the bunker opens the door and Alex orders him back into the bunker telling him to make sure everyone is in and away from the door.

            Suddenly she gets a call from T.J. He’s panicking because he was in a debriefing with the General with the alarms sounded and now he can’t leave to check on his wife and daughter who live off base. “Alright, calm down, I’ll go and get them and bring them back here,” Alex says hoping to ease him a bit.

            She takes off in a full on sprint to the parking lot, hopping into her 1972 Chevelle, and speeding towards the gates. The MPs are reluctant to let her out but she explains the emergency in full and they allow her to go on the condition of when she gets back the three of them will take cover in the booth.

            As she speeds down the empty, wet streets, the rain beings to come down much harder, hail starting to slam against her car. She can feel the wind attempting to shove her car every way that she doesn’t want it to go, but she holds on as tight as possible.

            She comes to a sliding screeching halt outside T.J.’s house. Running up to the door she begins pounding on it, hoping they are ready to go. Rebecca pulls open the door cradling Lily in her arms, their bags on the floor next to them. Alex grabs the bags as she ushers the girls to the car.

As they near the base Alex’s headlights hit the storm just right and they can see the monster size tornado heading right for the base. She shoves the accelerator all the way to the floor hoping they can make it in time.

Just before she reaches the gate, she spins the car around and throws it in reverse, backing up to the gate, allowing the girls to get into the booth first. Alex barely has time to climb from the car and get into the booth before the tornado shoves the car into the door, slamming it shut with a hard thud. They can hear the deafening wind whipping outside, as the booth is attacked by random pieces of debris.

Just as Alex lifts up a bit to see where the storms is, the window is pelted by bricks, cracking the bullet proof glass. She drops back down and covers her head, expecting it to break at any minute. When it doesn’t she realizes it’s very quiet outside. She stands up and looks out all around the booth and notices nothing is moving.

            Taking a chance she opens the other booth door slowly, hoping that her eyes aren’t deceiving her. Once she knows for sure the storm isn’t close anymore she helps Rebecca off the floor and leads her and Lily back to the car.

            Once the MPs raise the bar Alex lurches the car backwards and heads for the bunkers. T.J. is already standing outside waiting for them, and he smiles widely as the car nears him. Both he and Rebecca thank Alex for going after here and Lily. “You guys know I’d do anything for the three of you, no questions asked,” Alex simply states as she heads down into the bunkers looking for everyone.

Alex's Revenge Chapter three

“He’s not dead, I killed his twin not him,” Alex states the second they are far enough away from the doors. Everyone looks at her confused.

            “General Wallace called, they found out that his fingerprints weren’t a perfect match, it was his twin, and now Abdullah has sent men here to make us pay, to make me pay for what I did,” Alex says not wanting to look at her team, “We have to evacuate this entire building because it’s rigged to blow in an hour.”

            Her team stands there unsure of what to do or what to make of the new information. “So what’s the plan then,” T.J. asks, encouraging Alex to focus and do her job.

            “We get the employees to move all of the guests upstairs down into the ballroom, and send people who are at the party up to get their things, we secure the building and move them next door as soon as possible, if Abdullah’s men show up we fight,” Alex says finally looking her team. They nod in agreement ready to go to war all over again.

            As Alex sends T.J. to inform the manager and employees of the plan, she sends Connor and Sam to get all the weapons and ammo they may have in their cars or rooms. Adam, Emily, and herself all head back into the ballroom, to inform the party goers of what’s happening.

            Alex steps up to the mic once again, scanning the room and noticing how calm yet concerned everyone looks. She takes a deep breath before speaking, “I’m sorry to end this night so soon, but we will be evacuating in thirty minutes so please in an orderly fashion go upstairs and pack your things and come back down here, everything is under control, but this is very important and I need to you guys to go now.”

            Just as she finishes Connor motions for her to come over the door. She spots the bag that holds his sniper rifle and understands his idea. She tells him to take Sam up with him and call her cell if there is any sign of the enemy. Sam comes down from the rooms handing Alex both of her hand guns and the small duffle bag with other random ones they luckily had with them, before he joins Connor on the roof.

            Checking to make sure both guns are loaded Alex heads back into the ball room, the bag slung over her shoulder. She sets it near the mic and advises everyone to head upstairs now. This time people listen and starting heading up to collect their things. Alex starts moving tables against the wall to allow for more people, hoping it’s a big enough room.

            After about fifteen minutes guests start filing back into the ball room, packed and ready to go. As soon as she spots her mom, Alex removes her button up shirt and hands it to Alison, not wanting it to get in the way. Since she is only wearing a tank top, Chase sees the bandage and immediately heads towards her. “What happened to your arm?”

            “I promise I will tell you later, now’s not the time,” Alex says kissing his cheek and heading for the hall. A couple minutes later the manager walks up to her and lets her know everyone is now in the ball room. Just as she checks her watch, Sam calls and tells her there are enemy vehicles pulling into the parking lot. “Okay get down here as fast as possible, both of you,” Alex says, getting the key to the ball room from the manager and giving it to T.J. “you’re in charge of the evacuation.”

            T.J. grabs the duffle and lets everyone know they are probably going to be hearing a lot of gunfire and to just stay calm, before locking the doors and taking his place next to Alex. Adam and Emily guard the doors leading out back onto the beach, while Connor and Sam position themselves near the stairs. Alex and T.J. on either side of the hall facing the front desk.

            Alex readies herself for what’s to come, hoping they will be able to clear the building in time. Taking a deep breath, she hears glass shatter, signaling the arrival of her enemies. Before she even has time to blink one of them throws a smoke bomb near her and T.J. Her eyes start to water, her lungs burning, but she aims down the hallway and fires despite it. She can hear gunshots ringing all around her, some from her own gun.

            Finally the smoke begins clearing and Alex can now see they have taken out of few of the enemies, but there are still quite a few left. They begin charging towards T.J. and her, not caring if they get shot. She fires her final round from her M9 Beretta, the slug ripping through the chest of the closest enemy.

            Unfortunately there are still at least ten more enemies give or take. One charges right up to Alex, while she’s slightly distracted, and grabs her by the throat. He uses so much force that she’s lifted from the ground. He begins walking towards the ball room doors, planning to use her as a battering ram. Alex isn’t quick enough and next thing she knows, she’s laying on the ball room floor, pinned down by the throat.

            She struggles to force him off of her. Luckily he begins taunting everyone about how their hero will be too dead to save them. That’s just the distraction she needs to slip her leg in between them and shove him off her. He stumbles backwards, shocked and angered at Alex’s strength. Alex pulls her combat knife from her boot. Before she has time to use it though, the guy pulls out the detonator and runs.

            Alex runs out of the now busted doorway of the ball room, yelling for T.J. to evacuate immediately, as she gives chase out of the hotel and into the parking lot. They both hop into their vehicles and speed off onto the empty highway. Just as Alex begins catching up to the enemy vehicle another appears behind her.

            It hits the back bumper sending her car lurching forward into the right rear quarter panel of the vehicle in front of her, causing it to flip and roll repeatedly. Alex slams on her brakes and turns the wheel, sending her car into a spin. The car that was behind her doesn’t slow down and in turn catches Alex’s car at the left back tire, also causing her car to flip several times.

            Dazed and confused Alex climbs out of the side window of her upside down car. She looks around seeing all of the carnage the accident left, noticing the back car is on fire and the front car is almost nonexistent, but on its tires. The driver of the front car falls from the open door still holding onto the detonator.

            Alex walks towards him, ignoring the mild pain in her side and blood dripping from various spots. He laughs, blood spilling from his mouth. “Say goodbye,” his Arabic words choking on the blood. Within seconds he presses the detonate button and there is a loud explosion in the background. Alex turns in time to see the building collapse and the fireball that erupts with it.

            She suddenly feels a different kind of pain, the kind that will cause her do things only seen in movies. Just as she kneels down next to the driver, her back up arrives. “Saved by the Marines,” she spits out walking towards the jeep.

            “Take me back to the hotel,” Alex demands as she climbs into the front seat.

            They speed off towards the hotel, Alex hoping and praying with everything in her that everyone got out safely. As they pull into the parking lot, there is nothing left but a pile of flaming rubble. She can feel tears building up, but none fall quite yet. As much as her side hurts, she tries to ignore the pain, spinning around and heading off for the other hotel, looking for a sign of life.

Alex's Revenge Chapter two

A few days later Alex wakes up dazed and confused, the bright lights and white walls making her already blurry vision worse. After rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she looks around and notices she’s no longer at the base, but in a hospital. With what little strength she has, she presses the nurse call button and waits, drifting in and out of consciousness.

Alex barely hears the door open, her eyes fluttering open as her head turns towards the noise. The nurse speaks, but his voice simply echoes in the background as if she is back on the battlefield, guns firing off all around her. She stares at his mouth hoping to make out the words, but the tunnel vision hasn’t faded, her body still coming out of the coma.

Alex tries to muster all of her energy into talking, but something is preventing her. It’s like her throat has closed up, and she can’t move her tongue or even her mouth at all. She quickly realizes that she has a tube obstructing the words from coming out.

She manages to point towards it, the nurse now understanding her confusion, and calls for the doctor. Within minutes the doctor walks into the room holding Alex’s chart just like in every doctor show she’s ever seen.

After much deliberation the doctor decides Alex’s condition has improved enough to remove the intubation tube. Once it’s out Alex manages to force out a few rough sounding words, “doc, how bad?”

She smiles softly before replying “well now that you’re awake and the tube is out, you’re going to be just fine.”

Alex nods understandingly, not wanting to speak more than she absolutely has to. Seconds after the doctor walks out Alex’s right hand wanders up to her left shoulder, her fingertips brushing a bit hard against her bandage covered wound. She hisses in agony, the injury being more painful than she expected.

Her eyes close as she tries to will the pain away, but she sees his face instead, which causes a different kind of pain. He’s laughing at her pain, at the injury he inflicted upon her. She can’t force herself to open her eyes. She’s stuck staring at him, at his amused smirk, at his dark soulless eyes. She’s trapped watching herself get stabbed over and over, unable to do anything about it.

Back in the real world Alex’s heart rate monitor begins spiking, as the nightmare continues on loop. Her nurse rushes in to see what is causing such a significant spike. He sees her body semi-violently shaking as sweat drips from her forehead, knuckles white from gripping the sheets much too hard. As soon as he touches Alex’s arm her eyes burst wide open, her breathing harsh and rapid.

She thanks him quietly, as her palms press against her eyes trying to rub the image of Abdullah’s face from her vision. Before she even has a chance to think there is a knock at the door. Her hands drop down as she glances towards the doorway. Alex smiles seeing not only her team but her family as well.

For a while she is able to be distracted from his face and the pain. For a while she is able to just be herself again as if she isn’t in the hospital. She likes the way being able to laugh at stupid jokes feels even if the movements pull at her stitches and cause discomfort. Everyone just simply being there, keeping her company and talking amongst themselves soothes her mind, body, and soul.

Hours go by, and yet no one has left. Everyone seems a bit scared to leave, afraid of what could happen if they do. Alex reassures them that she is fine, but they stay firm on not leaving for more than a few minutes at a time. She isn’t even sure who seems more anxious, her mom or T.J.

Days go by and Alex is finally feeling the effects of the coma wearing off. She is now able to get up and walk around without almost collapsing. She is even having meetings with a physical therapist to set up a workout plan for her to be able to use her arm the way she used to. The only problem is she still sees his face, he follows her throughout the hospital, lingers in the background when she is distracted just waiting for her to be alone or asleep.

Alex wishes she could sleep without seeing his face, without the nightmares, without the emotional pain of what his eyes do to her, but she can’t manage to get rid of any of it. She refuses to tell anyone though. She knows they will make a bigger deal out of it than it is. She knows that it’s her battle to fight.

After a week in the hospital Alex feels like she is going crazy. Nothing to do but wander around and watch crappy T.V. Luckily both her doctor and Physical Therapist agree she is ready to start light work on her shoulder. She is able to lift the three and five pound weights with only minimal pain, and tries to talk her physical therapist into letting her lift the heavier weights.

            Another week goes by and Alex has been informed she is being discharged the next morning. She is doing well with her exercises and as long as she checks in every couple of weeks she is allowed to do the workouts from home. Alex is thrilled to finally be getting out of there.

            “I have a surprise for you,” Alex’s mom says, as soon as the doc leaves the room.

            “And that is?” Alex says with a real smile on her face.

            “Well we aren’t going home, we are going to South Carolina for a party,” her mom replies. Alex attention is now caught with intrigue. She waits patiently for her mom to continue.

            “Well I’ve been talking with Lucy and we’ve decide to throw you and your team a welcome home party, but none of the guests know that’s what it’s for, we have everything all set up and ready to go,” Alison finishes.

            Alex practically tackles her mom in a hug, repeatedly saying thank you. Alison just laughs at her daughter’s enthusiasm, happy to see she is feeling better emotionally too. Alex is practically bouncing off the walls with excitement, ready to leave the mission behind. She just has one more thing to get rid of, Abdullah. She can hear him laughing in the background as her mom and her discuss all the party details.

“Do you think I’m that easy to get rid of Alex dear?” he asks in his native tongue.

Part of her wishes she couldn’t speak Arabic fluently, then maybe she could easily ignore him. If she couldn’t understand him, then how would she be able to focus on him? He would just simply go away. At least that’s what she likes to tell herself. She’s not fully sure it would be that easy though.

            The next day they are headed back to South Carolina, back to something sane, back to before everything became a nightmare. Well at least that what Alex hopes. It doesn’t quite work out that way though. On the flight down to Charleston whenever Alex glances out the window she sees him sitting on the wing of the plane, along for the ride.

            Looking in the bathroom mirror of the hotel room, Alex debates if she should wear something over her tank top, unsure if she wants people to know about her wound or not. Shaking her head she grabs a button up from the suitcase that lays open on her bed, and heads out the door, putting it on as she walks down the hall.

            Once downstairs she leans against the wall just outside the ballroom doors, waiting for her cue to enter. She quickly becomes nervous, thinking back to how she left in such a rush, hoping this time she can just enjoy the night. Just as her thoughts begin to consume her, Alex hears Lucy talking about someone who hasn’t arrived yet.

            Smirking a bit, Alex turns and opens both doors and walks in as if she owns the place. Looking at the crowd on her right, she can see the shock, relief, and excitement on their faces. She scans the sea of people looking for one certain boy, their eyes quickly locking on one another’s. Chase hurries over to her, instantly kissing her, his arms pulling her as close as possible.

            “I told you I would come back to you,” Alex whispers, as they break from the kiss.

Chase simply responds with a smile, pulling her towards the dance floor just as the music starts. They dance for what seems like hours, but is really only forty minutes before finally taking a break.

            Chase heads off to get drinks, as Lucy walks up behind Alex and asks, “have you told him yet?”

            Alex shakes her head no and sighs before responding, “He’ll freak if he finds out I almost died, I just want to enjoy tonight, and not worry about that.”

            Lucy nods understandingly, before walking off to dance with Andrew. Alex heads over to sit her with her mom thanking her again for making tonight happen.

            Alison smiles and laughs a bit. “Well I can tell Chase and you are both clearly enjoying yourselves,” She teases, watching her daughter smile happily.

            “You’re right about that one,” Alex says unable to stop the grin from forming.

            Alex looks towards the dance floor to see her brother and his girlfriend dancing away, laughing at whatever stupid joke her brother just told. She points it out to her mom, grabbing her camera from the table to quickly capture the cute moment. Alex sighs contently, happy to be with everyone, happy to finally relax. In the back of her mind though she wonders how long this will last before she is off on another mission.

            Chase comes back and sits behind Alex, setting her drink down next to her. He leans forward and whispers in her ear, “I’m so glad you’re back.” Alex turns her head and smiles at Chase, kissing his cheek.

            Just as Alex thinks everything is back to normal, her phone starts ringing, the caller I.D. showing her commanding officer’s name. Her breathing hitches in her throat as she mumbles something about being right back.

            Alex heads for the hallway, answering the phone, hoping for anything but bad news. As her commanding officer informs her of what they have received in her name, her body practically falls against the wall, her mind not thinking enough to catch it.

            After hanging up, Alex turns pressing her palms against the wall. Before she has time to think, she brings her right arm back and throws it forward at full force. The impact with the wall causes her knuckles to bleed. She doesn’t care about that right now though. She has much more serious matters to deal with.

            As she heads back into the ballroom, blood drips from her fingertips. Walking right up to the mic, she asks for her team to meet her in the hall, her voice sounding strained. Everyone in the room notices the blood, but doesn’t mention it yet.

Alex's Revenge Chapter one

“Thank you sir, I appreciate this opportunity and I will be the best Marine I can be;” Alex said as she stood from her seat, located across from the Marine recruiting officer.

                “I’m glad to hear that,” Officer Samuels replied, shaking Alex’s hand.

As Alex walked out of the office she couldn’t help but think about what everyone would say. Alex has never been the shy, quiet girl but never this daring either. *bzz bzz* the vibration of her cell phone pulls Alex from her flashback.

 It’s been four and a half years since the day she joined the Marines, and since then she has been assigned to the United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations. Looking down at her phone, she sees that Lucy is checking in to see if her flight is still on time. Alex shakes her head and laughs slightly at her friend’s fourth text of the same question.

                “Yes Lucy, it’s still on time, I’ll be landing in Charleston in about three and a half hours” Alex texts back before shutting her phone down for the flight. Just as the flight takes off Alex zones back out into another flashback. Boot camp wasn’t exactly the easiest thing in the world, but she had to do it. This is where Alex met the rest of her Special Forces “crew.” As a Master Sergeant she was able to put her own team together.

             

   First there’s Staff Sergeant Timothy Jackson “T.J.” Andrews, he is her second in command and a real sarcastic pain in the ass when he wants to be. Surprisingly a quick and quiet moving person for someone so big built. T.J. stands about six feet four inches and has muscles popping out of his uniform.

                Then there’s Corporal Samuel Crawford, the guy always challenging Alex the most. He’s always so competitive, but he has a good head on his shoulders. He is the most rational thinking person on the team, and Alex often turns to him when in need of a clear plan.

                Now Corporal Connor Dunning, he’s the best damn sniper a girl could ask for on her team. He can take out anyone within three thousand yards give or take. He loves his Barrett M82A1; if he could he would marry it. Enemies don’t have time to know what hit them before they are already dead on the ground.

                Last but certainly not least are Lance Corporals Adam and Emily Bryant, the married medics. They often work side by side to save the lives of their fellow soldiers. It’s rare when they are separated, but they are just as strong apart as they are together.

                The last mission they were on together didn’t go as well as planned. The mission was an extraction, easy enough go in grab the guy and get the hell out of Dodge. The guy wasn’t there though, after double and triple checking all of their leads, he wasn’t there. “Where is he?” Alex says as she slams her rat against a wall.

                “I-I-I don’t know he was supposed to be at the church as always on a Sunday” Asim stumbles over his words, fearing for his life. He attempts to pull away, knowing full well he has been caught in his lie.

                “Bull fucking shit Asim, tell me the truth now, all of it” Alex screams pressing her M9 Beretta hard against his neck.

                 Suddenly something about Asim changes, his eyes grow darker, a sly cruel smirk appears on his face. “You will never find him, he was never here and now he is further than ever before,” Asim spits out very thick Arabic words at Alex.

                Alex punches him so hard he falls to the ground with a rigid thud. “Whoa Alex what the hell was that about?” T.J. asks as Alex pushes past her team out into the hall of the rundown apartment building.

                “That stupid jack ass in there played us, he played me” Alex says punching a hole in the wall. “He’s not even here, I doubt he ever was” Alex finishes, looking over at her team.

                “We are beginning our descend into Charleston so please fasten your seatbelts we will be arriving in thirty minutes,” the captain says over the intercom pulling Alex from her flashback. She yawns and stretches, looking out the tiny window to the ground below. As the plane lands, Alex looks at her watch noticing she is fifteen minutes early. “Well that will make Lucy happy,” Alex thought to herself.

                “Oh my god, you’re here” Lucy practically screams as Alex walks into the baggage claim area. Alex cringes slightly at the high pitched voice behind her as she grabs her luggage.  She smiles checking out her new surroundings, the Marine in her coming out.

                “Alright, let’s go we have a wedding to decorate for” Lucy says, pulling Alex along behind her.

         Roughly two hours later they are standing in the ballroom. Alex slowly spins taking it all in, trying to figure out the best way to boldly decorate without going overboard. The masquerade theme is a fun one, but not something easy to decorate calmly for exactly.

                Four and a half hours later the ballroom was ready for the festivities. As she walks out of the ballroom Lucy tries to peek in. “You know our deal, you don’t get to see it for five more days just like everyone else” Alex says as she pulls Lucy away from the door. Lucy pouts as they head off to get ready for Lucy to show Alex around town.

                 Alex has been on high alert knowing she could be pulled into another mission at any second, and it’s really starting to drag on her. Come the night of the rehearsal dinner, Alex hopes that the mission can wait one more day. From the start Alex thought Lucy was joking when she said casual for the dinner, but it turned out to be true. Alex gets to wear jeans like she wanted, instead of having to wear a dress two days in row.

                Lucy smiles as she saw Alex walk out of her hotel room a slight smile on her face. Alex is dressed in dark blue jeans not tight, but not loose either. Her red and black button up shirt is half open, revealing a white tank top underneath. Her hair pulled back into a banana clip, while her feet are covered with chocolate brown heeled boots.

           At the restaurant everyone is having a good time. Alex for the most part stays off by herself assessing the room though. Her phone vibrating occasionally which keeps her on high alert. It’s thankfully never a mission though.

     

When Alex arrives back at her hotel later that night, she crashes onto her bed, looking over at the couch. She has her uniform all laid out just in case she needs to leave on short notice. Glancing at the clock she notices she only has six hours before she has to be up again. Before she knows it Alex was fast asleep, continuing her dream about her last mission.

Alex storms back into the apartment and picks Asim up off the floor by his collar. “Asim, remember that deal we talked about? Where if you turn over Abdullah you go free, yeah that’s not happening, I don’t care what happens now,” Alex practically growls at him.

Asim simply smirks as Alex shoves him towards T.J. “Don’t worry I’m willing to die for my leader,” Asim proudly states.

Alex jerks awake at the sound of the alarm, and she groans rolling over to shut it off. “Why is it so early,” She moans, not wanting to get up. Just as she is about to doze back off someone starts knocking on the door. Before she has a chance to even get up she hears “Alex come on get up, it’s my wedding day.”

“Fine, I’m coming, hang on a sec,” Alex says heading for the door. As she opens it Lucy walks in past her, practically bouncing with excitement.

“Give me fifteen minutes to get ready,” Alex says heading for the bathroom. A short while later Alex emerges wearing a tank top and jeans, hair somewhat towel dried. She quickly slips on her sandals and grabs the small duffle bag and the dress bag before heading out the door with Lucy. As they enter the salon downstairs, Lucy quickly pulls Alex to the hair chair making her sit. “You’re up first tell them what you want,” Lucy says, skipping off to get her make up done.

Alex politely but fake smiles at the woman “Uh, can you just curl it then put it up in this banana clip, but not this chuck of bangs please,” Alex says, pulling the bangs she wants out in front of her face.

            The hair stylist gets to work on her hair doing as she requested. Once it’s done Alex smiles and thanks her, then bobby pins the hair to make it look like side swept bangs before walking over to Lucy. “Oh! It looks so good,” Lucy says grinning up at Alex, as the makeup artist puts the last touches on Lucy’s face.

“Thanks,” Alex mumbles, her mind preoccupied with a thousand other things. She hears Lucy speaking as if she is talking to someone else, simply in the background, instead of right next to her. All of a sudden she hears, “okay, your turn, I’m gonna go get my hair done now.” Alex smiles half-heartedly and climbs into the chair, not having to decide on her makeup, Lucy already doing that thankfully.

A few short hours later Alex is walking down the aisle, taking her place as the maid of honor. Glancing at all the guests she spots someone she never thought she would see again. Her heart starts racing, eyes staring straight at his before shifting back down the aisle to where Lucy is now walking from. She tries to focus on the ceremony, but she can see him out of the corner of her eye and it makes her nervous.

After Lucy and Andrew have their first dance, Alex pulls her aside, “you didn’t tell me he was coming.”

“Sorry! It totally slipped my mind,” Lucy says, giving Alex a puppy dog look. Alex sighs and shakes her head unsure of what to do. She knows she can’t avoid him all night long, but she knows speaking to him would be a bad idea. The anxious feeling still with her, she has yet to figure out if that’s a good thing or not.

As Alex aimlessly walks around making small talk with people she doesn’t know and conversing with those she does, she manages to absentmindedly keep tabs on a certain old “friend”. She smiles slightly without realizing it every time she catches him looking at her. 

Just as she finishes giving her maid of honor speech her phone goes off. She glances at the caller I.D. before answering it. “Yes sir, alright sir thank you, I’ll see you then sir,” Alex replies before hanging up. She looks at Lucy sadly before mouthing “I’ll be right back.”

Hurriedly, Alex heads up to her room and changes into her uniform, before packing the few items that weren’t already in her bags. She rushes back down to ball room and walks up to the D.J. asking for the mic. Everyone stares at her as the music stops. Scanning the crowd, her eyes land on him, he looks confused and sad almost. Alex closes her eyes for a brief moment inhaling deeply before turning her attention to Lucy and Andrew.

“Lucy, Andrew I really wish I could stay and help you finish celebrating this incredible and happy day, but unfortunately that call was my mission and I have to go,” Alex says before turning and addressing the rest of the room, “and for those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m a Marine and I have something very important I have to go and do right now.”

Alex hands the mic back to the D.J. before walking over to Lucy and hugging her tightly; whispering in her ear, “thank you so much for letting me be a part of today.”

Alex says goodbye to the other few people she knows well, all but him of course, before heading out of the hotel and catching a cab to the airport. Once there Alex quickly gets the ticket left for her and heads to the security line hoping they aren’t too busy.

Just as she nears the front of the line Alex hears her name being called. She turns to see him at the back of the security line not being let through without a boarding pass. She looks at the TSA guard motioning for her to step through the metal detectors and says “hold on, I’ll be right back.”

“Wha” Alex starts to say before a certain someone kisses her. She melts into the kiss allowing it to happen, as well as kissing back. Once they break apart Chase smiles softly at Alex before whispering “come back to me, okay?”

“I will” Alex says as she heads back towards the front of the security line. As she crosses through the metal detectors Alex turns and waves to Chase before heading off to find her gate.

Alex stares out the window of the plane, not paying much attention to the people moving around her, her mind being split a few different ways. She barely even hears the flight attendant giving the final takeoff announcements. Before she knows it, the plane is in the air, and she is heading towards Richmond, Virginia.

            Right after landing, Alex starts running through the airport and to the baggage area to meet the MP taking her to Quantico Base. They make it to the base in record time, the MP driving her right up to the General’s office.

            As she steps inside everyone is already there waiting for her. She salutes her commanding officer before he tells them their itinerary and informing Alex she will come up with their game plan once they are at Camp Dwyer.

            Once on the plane to Afghanistan Alex sits off by herself listening to music as the others read or sleep. Alex can barely sleep even though the flight is roughly twenty hours long. She can’t help but think about her family, her friends, about Chase and what he said before she left, about the kiss she has waited to have for years.

            After the plane lands the six of them are taken to speak to the General in charge of the base to see what’s available to them and to be briefed. Alex stands in the corner leaning against a shelf, arms crossed as she takes it all in, already formulating a plan of attack. After going over everything General Shaw takes the team into the command tent so they can begin working out the details of the plan.

            Alex leans over the table, looking at the pictures and maps of the mansion that Abdullah is hiding in. “Alright so we’re going to park a surveillance truck here, across the street from the gate, then there will be three teams positioned, one on each side of the house and one out back just in case we need them,” Alex says guiding her team step by step through the plan.

            “The six of us are going to stay close to these walls, walking up to the gate, and take out the guards in the front courtyard, then we will take out anyone in the windows while walking up to the front door, from there on we will just make it up as we go,” Alex finishes, looking at each team member. They nod in agreement as Alex stares back down at the pictures.

            Long after her team has left the tent Alex is still standing there staring at all the different data and pictures of Abdullah. Her hands gripping the table so tight her knuckles lose all color. Just as she’s about to flip the table she shoves off of it and heads to find her team, not wanting to lose her cool.

            Sitting in the mess hall, Alex watches her team goof off and laugh with some of the other marines, admiring them for being able to be so laid back right now. She tenses at the thought of the craziness she left back in the states with Chase. After a few more minutes of watching everyone she heads off to find a punching bag.

            The next day everyone heads out on the mission. Alex and her team set up along the front wall; her, T.J. and Conner on the right, while Sam, Emily and Adam are on the left of the gate. Alex gives the hand signal and Sam tosses a hand grenade over the wall. Their ears ring from the loud explosion, but they quickly move to the gate to take out any remaining guards.

            Once the courtyard and windows are clear the six of them head for the door, T.J. kicking it open. Alex gets a little too far ahead of her team and is grabbed by one of the enemy soldiers. Gun shots ring off in the background just as Conner and Sam walk into the room where Alex has a pistol pressed against her skull.

            “I suggest you put those guns down or I will put a bullet through her brain,” the soldier growls at them. Alex smirks at her team before quickly spinning, knocking the gun above her head, as a shot is fired and rips through the wall. She kicks the inside of his knee dropping him to ground before knocking him out.

            After clearing the first floor the whole team heads upstairs to find Abdullah. Checking every room, they work their way to the large double doors at the end of the hall. On the count of three Alex and T.J. bust into the room Sam and Connor right behind them, and Adam and Emily bring up the rear.

            As everyone is fighting off random soldiers Alex gets grabbed from behind by Abdullah. He presses the tip of a blade to the front of her left shoulder, and in one quick shove he sinks the metal deep into her skin. Her team watches in horror, as blood begins dripping from Alex’s new wound.

Alex manages to keep from screaming as the pain begins spreading throughout her arm and chest. Without even thinking she rips the blade from her shoulder and spins, shoving the blade into Abdullah’s throat. His body drops lifeless at her feet before she turns to face her team, pressing her right hand to her wound.

“Well that was interesting,” Alex says, panting slightly. Just as Alex starts follow her team out into the hall she gets lightheaded and blacks out, collapsing in a pile on the floor.  Her team hears the thud and rushes to her side, Adam and Emily quickly getting to work trying to stop the bleeding.

T.J. kneels next to his best friend, begging her not to die on him, while Sam calls in for a medevac. Within ten minutes the chopper lands in the street and Alex is put on a stretcher to be taken back to the base. Once back at the base they start working to get her stabilized so that they can transport her to Walter Reed Medical Center.