Page 22 of Trusting the Team

“I didn’t see a ring.”

“I see. Have a nice day, John,” she turned on her heel and moved down the hall. Trey watched her sway as she walked away.

“Can we go?” Cowboy asked, dragging his attention away.

Team Mission

14

DUKE

Duke entered the Navy after high school. From a small town in North Carolina, he had wanted adventure. He was the oldest of four, with three sisters. His protective instinct had always been strong, and he had found it only increased when mission after mission they seemed to find themselves facing abuse of women and children. Their latest mission had them in Syria to rescue a group of missing Service Members, who had gone into the local economy to shop. Intel had found a couple locations for holding and they were systematically going through the options ruling them out until they hit pay dirt. After four days of reconnaissance, they found a good possibility. Watching foot traffic there were men that entered and came back out; they figured it was a whore house. Their best chance of surprise was early morning. They waited.

Duke steppedinto the first room. There was a table in the middle with bindings on every leg, trashed NWUs in the near left corner, a broom handle tossed on the ground in the far-right corner. Across the room to the left was an unmoving body. Duke entered quickly and went down to his knee to check for vitals. She wasbreathing, covered in bruises, dirt, and blood. She tried to move when she felt his hands on her. “It’s ok. I’m with the Navy. We’re here to help.” She wasn’t processing well, the voice had an accent she couldn’t place, not local though. She did her best to try and cover up, but moving was too painful. “Where do you hurt the worst,” Duke asked trying to cover any serious injuries just enough to get them out of there.

“My arm and stomach,” she barely managed in a whisper. He motioned at Ferret, who grabbed the broom handle and handed it off. Duke broke the handle, Ferret grabbed some of the rope from the table and handed that off as well. Duke braced the broken left forearm and then reached down to palpate her stomach, without shifting his position or hers. She winced visibly, her back resting against his knee. She looked up in surprise; her crystal-colored eyes meeting his dark ones. Duke swore his heart stuttered.

“Um, I think it may be your spleen. Let’s get you out of here. I’m going to need to pick you up, is that ok?” Signaling he was ok, her right hand flattened against his chest. Duke felt the skip again, watching her hand tremble. Not sure if it was blood loss, pain, fear, or a combination. “See if Cowboy has a shirt in his pack?” He called back to Ferret. “Are you Embry?” Duke asked. Her eyes met his again, she barely nodded. Ferret disappeared and returned with what would be an oversized shirt for the injured woman. “Anyone else?” he asked quietly as they worked to get Embry into the shirt. Ferret shook his head, ‘dead’ he mouthed. “Ready?” Duke asked as he slid his hands under Embry’s knees and around her back. She closed her eyes, nodded slightly, bracing for the impact. She exhaled sharply as Duke stood and shifted her weight in his arms. Ferret picked up Duke’s pack and they headed for the hallway.

Cowboy and Hammerboth carried what looked like rolled rugs over their shoulders as they entered the hallway. “Is she alright?” Chaos asked as they headed toward the stairs.

“She needs a doctor,” Duke answered simply, trying not to stress her out, but let the guys know she needed medical attention. Due to the time of day the team moved swiftly through the town, to the casual passerby looking relatively inconspicuous. As the sun broke the horizon, they picked up the pace to get out of sight. Someone would come looking soon, and while rugs would not be weird, a beaten woman would set off red flags.

As they arrived back at the base they went straight to medical. Ferret led the group through the tent, and they were directed to some bed space. All three men set down their loads. The nurse and medics looked confused at the rug rolls. “You should look at her first,” Hammer instigated, moving to block the rug from Embry’s line of sight. Cowboy did the same. Duke started to step away from Embry so that the nurse could get to work.

With surprising strength, Embry latched onto Duke’s forearm, “don’t leave,” she pleaded, “please?” All eyes moved back and forth between the two. Cowboy smiled and dropped his eyes first. The nurse went back to work after a pause, nodding to Duke that he was fine to stay where he was. Within 10 mins Embry was rolled toward a surgical suite to remove her spleen.

Alone in recovery,Embry was trying to process what had happened. She was still foggy from the drugs, but she felt stronger with a transfusion. Her entire body hurt; her eyes were swollen from the bruising of the beatings she had taken for days. Her arm had been properly splinted until they could evacuate her and get it surgically fixed. Her focus was on thestranger that saved her though. He had not introduced himself; she had no idea what his name was, it was just that he had felt safe. She had never forced herself on someone, but from what she remembered she surely had grabbed him and even pleaded. She let the drugs float her back to sleep, hoping it would look different when she woke up.

Embry was settledinto the evacuation aircraft. “Hey, you’re awake! How are you feeling?” Ferret asked as he passed by her. Embry looked up from her litter, shock turning quickly into humiliation. “Sorry. We didn’t introduce ourselves earlier. You weren’t doing so hot.” Ferret continued. The team was shuffling around him, and Embry took in the sight of the SEAL team as they moved past.

“Give her a break.” That voice she recognized. She waited for him to come into view. He was focused on pushing Ferret through the walkway to forward seats.

“No, we’re right here, man,” Ferret turned to the row of center facing seats across from Embry. Duke looked at his team, deer in headlights. When the plane was underway the lights were lowered so everyone could sleep. Nurses still moved around checking on patients, but it was quiet.

“Could you sit with me for a while?” Embry asked, wanting to feel him close to her again. Duke slid out of his seat onto the floor, scooting over toward her litter.

“Do you need anything? I can get a nurse.”

“No, well, a blanket?—"

Duke got to his feet and came back with two blankets, carefully trying to arrange them over her. Their hands brushed against each other as they tried to straighten blankets and equipment. She caught his finger and he let her keep it, sitting down facing her with his legs crossed. They sat quietly for awhile; he opened his hand to press against her side. “You’re so warm,” Embry answered as she battled fear from her recent experience and what seemed like an innate trust towards him.

“What do you want me to do?”

“My IV hand is freezing,” immediately feeling stupid for taking him at his word.

Duke slid his other hand under the blankets, wrapping his long fingers around her hand. “You aren’t kidding.” Embry tried to pull her hand free mumbling an apology. Duke held on, “Embry, it’s ok. I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t willing.” They settled into silence again. “What’s your name?” Embry asked.

“Gentry.”

“Why do they call you Duke?”

“I’m from North Carolina.”

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