Page 40 of Pallas & Kawehi

He smiled at her, lines forming at the outside corners of his eyes. "Good. Good. I was worried about you earlier."

Kawehi tried to wave off his concern. "I'll be okay. I think it just hit me hard, you know? Right here." She put her hand over her heart. "It meant a lot that he called me before he left. I know he can't tell me more than he did, but it was nice to get a chance to say..." She swallowed at the knot that suddenly formed in her throat. "It was nice to say goodbye."

Her uncle walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her as she laid her cheek on his shoulder. "You're a good girl, Kawehi. If this man is worthy of you, he'll tell you these things. He won't let you wonder and worry."

She felt her uncle's reassuring embrace lifting her spirits again. "You're the best uncle ever."

Kawehi heard his laughter and smiled.

"I'm your only uncle!"

"You'd be the best no matter what," she reassured him.

He gave her a gentle pat on the back and released her with a gentle sigh. "You keep your chin up, girl. He'll be back soon."

She walked back out to the counter, smiling.

He'd come back and she'd be waiting.

PALLAS

Two days later, the shit hit the fan, and no, it didn't say Marine.

It said all kinds of nasty things, but they didn't speak the language. They were left to get translations from Marines working at the embassy and nothing was good.

They'd had their briefings on the protests from the ambassador herself, who'd explained that the citizens had been wound up by a planned visit from the US Secretary of State.

"Misinformation is running rampant. You'd be surprised how many people don't bother to read several accounts of news before taking one account as gospel."

Buck had spoken for the group when he'd told her. "Not really, Ma'am. We've heard our share of shit news. Sorry, my apologies."

The ambassador had laughed out loud and waved off Buck's horrified apology. "I appreciate your candor. It's hard to see people upset by news and viewpoints that have so little connection to reality, but it doesn't make things less worrisome or dangerous."

As they stood sentinel at the windows on the second floor, protecting the outer perimeter of the ambassador's office, they caught sight of a fire arcing through the air.

"Fire!"

Voices from the first floor reached them as the front doors of the embassy blew open and Marines rushed out to put out the fire. Buck and Pallas escorted the ambassador back into her offices. "Ma'am," Pallas gave her a pointed look, "are you ready to be evacuated to the base?"

She shook her head. "I know you're trying to be careful and proactive, but I'm not planning to leave. If we leave, that sends a message that I'm sure none of us want to deliver to the masses outside."

Pallas nodded.

He wasn't going to argue with the ambassador. He'd talk to Wolf when he'd gotten some rest. They'd talked Wolf into putting his head down for a few hours as he'd been on duty almost since they'd arrived in the Philippines.

"I know it's a lot to ask of all of you since you're here to protect us, but I need to project a strength here. I need to keep our presence here. The people need to know that we're not running when things get tough."

"You don't have to explain yourself, Ambassador." Pallas knew if it came down to it, the ambassador would go with them to the base to be evacuated if it came down to it. But they were also there to project that same strength to the local public.

They may have been fed a lot of misinformation, but their frustrations were real.

No one had been hurt, yet. But being hurt was always a possibility in their job. It was their service to their country that was the reason they were there at the embassy.

"I hope that by the time all is said and done here, neither of you will feel that your time has been wasted."

"No, ma'am."

"Absolutely not, ma'am."

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