Page 59 of Be With Me
Mooney shook his head and groaned. “Got a massive headache and I’m pretty sure that my right shoulder is dislocated. You?”
“Same on the headache. Don’t feel anything else but I’m sure I’ve got more bruises than I got during my first jump.” Once Bristol was standing, they moved around Evans toward the cockpit. “Let’s look up front before we figure out how to get Williams down.”
Mooney got to the opening to the cockpit first and just stared. The glass was gone as was the co-pilot. Searching for the co-pilot was going to have to wait. He was injured and had three others that weren’t conscious. Bristol, while not noticeably injured wasn’t steady on his feet. The pilot was out cold with blood covering his face. He turned to Bristol who looked a bit green now. Mooney reached for the radio but as he got close, he saw the tree branch through the receiver. Well, fuck. Not going to get or send a transmission with that and there was no way their handhelds would broadcast further than maybe three miles with the mountains around them, if they were lucky.
Pulling on all his training, Mooney steeled himself. “Okay, Williams first. We’ll need something to stand on for each of us. I’ll brace him with my good shoulder while you undo the harness then you can take his weight to the ground.” Bristol nodded and moved toward the back of the copter. He dug around in the storage and came back with two boxes of MREs. “That’ll work. Ready?”
It didn’t take them long to move Williams from his unintended hammock. Then they worked to get Evans and the pilot settled next to Williams. Mooney moved to locate the M16s that had been stored for the flight. He grabbed one for each of them and two extras for when others woke up. Mooney didn’t think the pilot would be waking any time soon; he was breathing and his heart rate was steady but with all the blood covering his face, Mooney was positive there was some brain trauma.
Handing a M16 to Bristol, Mooney sat next to him and nodded. Time to wait.
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Debbie never knew she was such a great actress. She should win an Academy Award for her performance for the boys that afternoon. She’d kept the tears at bay by sheer will alone and how she’d driven, shaking as much as her hands had amazed her. Danny had promised that one of the heptad would be there as soon as possible and the rest would be there the next day, if not sooner.
Knowing that the heptad was on its way, centered her. She took the boys out for pizza at the playland and let them burn off energy while she chewed her nails to the quick. She hadn’t called anyone except Danny since Burton left. She didn’t know if anyone else from the unit was with Luny and she wasn’t going to be the one to tell any of the other spouses. Should she call Luny’s parents? Rob? Rick? Her uncle or Tommy?
Where would she and the boys live? They didn’t have a house anywhere. Hadn’t been in the same location for more than two years. Cam and Cal knew moving. Should she take them back to the farm? Tommy would let them stay there as long as they needed to. She knew that with all her being. Would she need to go back to work? What would she tell the boys? Their papa was their world. What would she do without Luny? He was her center, her strength.
Her phone beeped next to her, stopping the spiral her thoughts were taking. When she picked it up, there was a text from Mackey.
Kevin, Danny Spook are driving up. My plane just landed. Getting a taxi to the house.
Debbie closed her eyes as the relief flooded her system. She wasn’t alone anymore. Luny’s heptad had her.
“Cam, Cal. Let’s go. Time for your bath.” The twins stopped in their tracks as they heard her call out and ran to her, jumping in her arms. She closed her eyes and held them tight. Maybe too tight as they squirmed to get loose.
“Did you—” Cal said
“see? We got—” Cam continued.
“five baskets,” Cal finished.
Thank God they hadn’t picked up on her stress. “Come on. There’s a surprise at the house for you.”
“Papa?” they asked together, hopefully.
Debbie took a deep breath, fighting down her tears. “Papa’s not coming home until after Christmas. But I bet you’ll love seeing your surprise.” She hustled them into the van and drove home. Mackey was sitting on the stairs waiting when they arrived.
The boys fought their boosters as they saw their uncle sitting there. “’Key!” They threw themselves at Mackey for hugs. He stood with one in each arm and smiled at Debbie.
“It’ll be okay.”
“You promise?” Her voice cracked but she couldn’t stop it.
“If I could, I would.” He squeezed the boys as they wriggled to get down. “Is it bath time? Did I make it to read tonight’s story?”
“Mama’s reading—”
“us the Penguins. But—” Cam told him.
“you can listen.” Cal nodded agreeing with Cal.
“Oh, it’s like that is it?” Mackey teased the boys as Debbie opened the door. “I’ll take that offer. Up you go and get your ducks ready. You stink.” He shooed the boys up the stairs before wrapping Debbie in a hug. “I’m here and the others will be here soon. Spook said he’d reach out to some friends that are over there to see if they heard anything.”
Debbie nodded her head against Mackey’s shoulder and sniffled. Luny had to be okay. She needed him too much. They boys needed their papa and even though she knew that the heptad wouldn’t abandon her and the boys, it wasn’t the same. She knew that from personal experience.
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