Page 108 of Her Marine
Killian snorted. “I know it’s been twenty-three years, but I’m pretty sure you and Mom can still return her.”
Thomas chuckled as he shook his head. “Your mother isn’t going to allow that. But, you know you shouldn’t do anything that will worry Journee or Gena. That’s all I’ll say about it.”
Killian nodded. Thomas always had this way of giving advice and even chastising him sometimes, but it never felt like that was happening. It just sounded like a conversation the two of them were having together. As a teenager, he’d appreciated that approach and often preferred that Thomas reprimand him instead of his mother.
They made small talk as they waited for their drinks and food to arrive. Several minutes were spent in silence eating before Killian broke it.
“I wanted to talk to you about something, and I haven’t spoken to anybody about it aside from Journee,” Killian stated.
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“Commander Fields offered me early retirement, but…”
“You’re not sure you’re ready to retire,” Thomas finished when Killian trailed off.
“It isn’t something I’d ever thought about, and I enjoy what I do. I’ve always known the risk and that I was putting myself in danger. That didn’t matter to me because I was making the world better for the people I care about.”
“And now?”
“I…still feel that way, but, and this is going to sound selfish because I have you, Mom, Ziggy, and all the guys, but I don’t know that I could put Journee through something like that again, something that bad.”
Thomas nodded as he swallowed the bite he’d just taken. “I know that everyone you’ve spoken to has probably told you she didn’t leave your side while you were in the hospital. From the time she arrived, she was right beside you.”
“I know,” Killian responded.
“No, you don’t,” Thomas countered. “We couldn’t coax her from that room. None of us could even get her to take a walk outside because she wanted to make sure she was there when you woke up. She gave you sponge baths, brushed your teeth, shaved you, read to you.” He paused for a moment. “I’m saying all that to tell you she deeply cares about you. So, whatever decision you make, she would support it.”
“I asked her if she could do that again, and she told me she would as many times as she had to as long as I was okay.”
“Then whatever decision you make, you can make it knowing you have her full support.”
Killian knew Thomas was correct. He’d been thinking about it for the past couple of weeks and wanted to talk to someone else about it. He knew that his stepdad would give him advice without steering him one way or another.
30
Killian watched Commander Fields lean back in his office chair, placing the pen in his hand down. He’d made an appointment to see him after his conversation with Thomas. He hadn’t expected his superior to be able to see him so soon, but he assumed he’d been anxious to see what he’d decided.
“Are you sure that’s what you want to do, son?”
“It is.”
“My offer was a good one, Killian.”
“I know, and I appreciate you willing to do that for me, but if anyone can make this work, it’s you, Commander,” Killian responded.
Commander Fields was quiet momentarily, picking up the pen he’d dropped barely a minute ago and tapping it on his desk. After several long seconds, he sighed.
“Your appointment is tomorrow, correct?” he questioned, and Killian nodded. “If the doctor releases you, you’d still have two weeks before they would consider you active duty again. Take that into account.”
“I did,” Killian responded. “I’m fine with that.”
“Okay, Marine. Let me work on that for you, and I’ll see you in two weeks.”
Killian stood, saluting the other man before leaving his office. He went to the parking area, stopping several times to speak to some officers he passed who asked how he was.
Once in his vehicle, he pulled out of the parking lot and headed back to Woodbridge. He was glad he’d met with Fields first thing that morning. The traffic getting there was congested, but he knew the traffic going back wouldn’t be nearly as bad. Most people would have already made it to work by that time. Killian knew he could have called his commanding officer to inform him of his decision, but he needed to get the forms his doctor would need to fill out if she released him, and he wanted to thank Haney in person.
He’d yet to see the other man. Journee told him he’d come by twice while he’d been unconscious, and Commander Fields told him it was Haney that got him stabilized and kept him that way until they got to a hospital, all while he was injured himself. When he arrived, Haney hadn’t been on the premises, and he was told he would be coming in later. Killian decided to call him up and invite him out for drinks.
