Page 52 of Courageous Yearnings

“I’m calling it…”

Lance heard three long steady blasts from the truck and was already making his way back toward the entrance, watching his step and keeping an eye on the ceiling, his pike in front of him like it was going to do anything to help him. If anything, he felt like the kid from the cartoon movie ‘Sword in the Stone’ waving a weapon much too big for him before a demon of hell that was waiting to swallow him whole.

“Ya’ know,” Lance began, his voice cracking in fear. “I think I’m gonna up my life insurance policy…” Only to hear a nervous echo of laughter around him.

“Status report team? Where are you?”

“Changes don’t go into effect for at least thirty days…”

“I heard it was ninety days – and I think I’m gonna up mine too…”

“Probably not a bad idea to evaluate everything, you know?”

Lance bumped into something – that immediately grabbed his arm, steadying themselves and turned to see Alec’s dancing eyes behind his mask and felt Colton tap him in ‘hello’ on top of his helmet.

“WHY DO I NOT SEE THREE HELMETS IN FRONT OF ME YET?”

“Coming Papa…” Alec belted out, causing the three men to chuckle in the midst of destruction that would bring others to their knees.

Sometimes Lance wondered why he felt compelled to do this crazy job, but it was moments like this where he felt like he was a part of something greater, that made it all worthwhile. It was the bond, the friendship, the camaraderie during moments where you weren’t sure if you were going to make it out alive that really brought them together. They would joke, play pranks on each other, and ugh… the snoring?

“Let’s get outta here, fellas…”

It was all the bad habits, the ribald jokes between them, that somehow seemed to form a glue that had been missing for a while. The players were in their positions, the team was there, and it was time to kick butt and take names. Only to see the front door fly open as a figure stood there in full gear, like an avenging angel. Smoke was billowing behind him with spotlights at his back, a pike in one hand and an ax in another. This ‘angel’ was coming to their rescue – and meant business.

“THREE BLASTS,” Justin snarled, his chest heaving under his coat. “THREE BLASTS AND THAT’S YOUR SIGNAL TO EVACUATE URGENTLY – YA’ GOT ME?”

Colton, Alec, and Lance each shared an alarmed look not three feet from the front door where they had been about to exit.

“Whoa, boy,” Alec interjected. “Papa is really mad…”

“MOVE YOU, DORK!” Justin snarled, grabbing Alec by the harness, dragging him forward in a rush causing the other grown man to yelp in fear – and then they heard it. Colton and Lance looked at each other, rushing Justin, who was yanking Alec forward like a couple of football players on the field – shoving and propelling all of them forward. It wasn’t but seconds as a massive rumbling behind them shook Lance’s teeth. They were barely out of the door frame, and all four of them were knocked to the ground, with debris raining all over them.

“Owww, get off me, bubble butt,” Alec groaned at the bottom of the pile.

“I do not have a bubble butt…”

“Someone’s elbow is in my kidney…”

“Someone’s size twelve boot is on my groin,” Colton gasped – and Lance dutifully moved his boot, hearing the other man’s exclamation of relief.

And he winced as a hand slapped the top of his helmet – HARD – and that sound was quickly followed by two other thuds nearby as all three men yelped ‘Ow!’ in unison.

“You three are going to be the death of me,” Justin muttered angrily. “I ought to…”

“Daddy Dailey is back to being angry…”

“Would you shut up, Alec?!”

“Oh my gosh,” Justin muttered, immediately falling to his knees and covering his face where he’d ripped off his helmet only seconds before. All of them paused in their jokes, their teasing, and didn’t move.

This wasn’t normal.

“Justin…?”

“Can you please not get yourselves killed during the first ten years of me being your captain… please?” Justin said hoarsely, looking at them with such a barren, worried, desperate look on his face. “I was a mess after Andy went into shock, and I kinda love my wife, but I’m pretty sure if I fall apart again mentally… she’s gonna be after you all – not me – and while I love Faith, that woman does not look good in prison orange.”

Lance wasn’t sure what to say.

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