Page 7 of Coveting Catherine

Rising from his knees, Leo picked up his brother and headed to the checkpoint. His mind raced as to how their perfectly executed plan went to hell. Why was Olaf separated from the group? He swallowed as he thought about Whiskey's pregnant wife.

He thought of the Reeses and Catherine. His heart plummeted as he remembered his cocky reply when she told him about her worries. His hands clutched the body harder as he walked. He cried for his brothers, the broken team, their families, and the man he thought he was only an hour before. Leo saw combat every time on the field, but the images of his brother’s burned body seared into his brain. His gut told him nothing would ever be the same again.

He pulled into the driveway of the house Catherine and Carol rented until they decided where they wanted to live. The screen door stood propped open, and Catherine's vehicle was missing.

Leo knocked on the door and it swung inward. He craned his head around the corner. Scattered toys lay on the floor, and an empty box sat on the table. “Catherine?” he called out as he walked through the sunny kitchen. He climbed the stairs and listened for any evidence of her or Melody. Walking into the bedroom, he found the closet doors thrown wide and empty hangers scattered on the floor. He sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed. Pain at losing her a second time struck his chest. Catherine yelled he betrayed her. Why did he feel like life betrayed them both?

CHAPTER FIVE

Ash watched Leo leave, knowing his former leader felt personally responsible for his and Whiskey’s imprisonment over the last four years. He smugly smiled to himself as he thought how much it killed Leo to see Ash with Catherine. Leo’s guilt over his inability to save Catherine’s brother, finding Ash and Whiskey, and now the wives discovering the secret the team closely guarded, played right into Ash’s hand. His manipulation of Catherine to hurt Leo, worked to his advantage. Even after Leo rescued him from the depths of hell, Ash’s hatred for Leo pricked like a thorn in his side. His gut churned as he recalled their former team leader, Maverick. The man meant more to him than a friend or teammate. He became the father figure Ash lacked all his life.

Ash spent years living in a foster home in the same town as Leo and Olaf. What started out as friendship turned sour when Leo decided to join the football team and met Olaf. Leo grew from a small, timid boy to the town's favorite young man. He became the football team’s captain, voted homecoming king, and the teachers loved him. Within months, Leo gained weight as he spent more of his time in the Reese family home. Carol Reese sent nutritious lunches with Olaf for Leo to school. Henry Reese took it upon himself to mentor the lost young man.

By the time senior year rolled around, Leo barely remembered Ash’s existence. At the first opportunity, the two young men signed up for the Navy. They didn’t even notice Ash attended the same basic training as them. Ash forgot about the duo as their careers sent them in different directions.

Then one day, Maverick walked into a team meeting and introduced Leo. Of course, he excelled at everything and moved up in ranks, sliding into second in command, infuriating Ash.

The team Ash knew as a family admired Leo. Even Maverick held a high regard for the young team member. While on a mission to rescue two kidnapped doctors on a humanitarian effort, Maverick jumped out of the helo to save Leo. Maverick ended up injured. The SEAL leader would make it home, missing a limb.

The team left Ash to stay with Maverick. They knew the two men shared a close bond. Leo was rushed into surgery for a stab wound. Ash gripped Maverick’s hand and willed the man he considered his family to wake up.

"Ash." Maverick faintly whispered. His skin held a ghostly pale hue. His lips lacked any color. IVs hung from the bedside along with bags of blood.

"I’m right here, Mav." Ash quietly answered as his friend’s steady heartbeat sounded in the room.

"SITREP," Maverick commanded gruffly.

"The two docs received medical treatment. Both will make it. Leo's in surgery for a stab wound, it doesn’t sound life threatening."

"What's my prognosis?" Maverick weakly asked.

Ash swallowed the lump in his throat. "They can’t save your leg. You might get a little R&R after all." He knew Maverick wouldn't take the loss of his leg well.

"If they take my leg, I won't be a SEAL. I'll end up becoming some useless piece of shit," Maverick stated.

"Don't talk like that. Even with one leg, you can still kick the shit out of anyone on this team." Ash's stark voice cut him off.

Maverick remained quiet.

Ash gripped the man's hand. "Mav. We're a team. We take care of each other."

"You're my boys. I can’t sit around and watch you go off on missions without me, wait for you to return, and hope you'll visit me. We won't be able to discuss missions. Eventually, I'll become some sad sack sitting on a bar stool, waiting for my life to end. I don't want to live like a washed up has been." Maverick turned his head and winced in pain. Ash leaned over and pushed the morphine button.

"Push this when you're in pain. Don't be a hero." Ash ordered.

"I mean it, Ash. I don't want to live like this. You gotta help me." Maverick’s weak voice pleaded.

"Mav, I don't know what you want me to do. You're on heavy meds. You don't know what you're saying. Give it time. These days, they make artificial limbs which can do all sorts of things. The team isn't abandoning you. You're one of us." Ash tried to persuade his friend.

"Damn it, Ash. I’m done. Listen to me. I can't ask the others. It's my life, and I don't want to spend the rest of my days in the VA begging for medical care and pain meds. I've seen too many men go through this shit. I didn't tell you, but I brought Leo on the team to take my place. I planned to retire." Maverick winced again. Ash sighed and pushed the button, knowing the stubborn ass refused to do it.

"Come on, he isn't ready to take over the team. He hasn’t been with us six months," Ash reasoned.

"Leo's a born leader. He knows how to handle the men. He's made the decisions for the last three months. I've acted as a placeholder. Leo's someone the team can count on," Maverick replied.

"What the fuck, Mav? Seriously? Leo's the reason you're lying in this bed right now." Ash felt incensed. The golden boy had struck again.

"I’m lying here because I saved my brother. He put his life on the line to save those docs. I’m tired, Ash. We know when we take this oath, we follow it through to the end. This is mine, son. Please help me."

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