Page 37 of Rescuing Ally: Part 2
“With what intelligence? We’re flying blind.”
“Better than paralysis by analysis.”
Walt shifts uncomfortably in his chair. Blake and Carter exchange looks. Rigel’s jaw tightens as he watches our partnership disintegrate in real time. The whole team feels the fracture line running through their leadership.
Ethan tries to regain control. “Maybe we should take a step back?—”
“We stick to proven tactics,” I state, backing my team leader. “Coordinated assault gives us the best chance of success with minimal casualties.”
“We’re days behind and still clueless about where she is.” Gabe’s pacing now, fists clenched at his sides, jaw flexing with every ragged breath. “We’re discussing tactics like we know where we’re headed. One of threepotentiallocations?”
“Gabe.” Ethan’s voice is calm. Contained. “You’re making it worse?—”
“I don’t care!” Gabe spins back, voice sharp. “She’s out there alone. Scared. And I’m stuck here watching hours bleed away.”
The room stills.
No one dares interrupt him.
He drags a hand through his hair, eyes red-rimmed and wild. “I should be with her,” he mutters. “She needs me. God, she …”
A beat of silence.
Then, softly. Broken.
“I promised I’d protect her.”
Not us. I.
“I should’ve never let her out of my sight,” he goes on, voice cracking now. “I should’ve been there. I should’ve …”
My heart stops.
Gabe doesn’t even hear himself. Doesn’t notice the shift. But every word twists like a knife between my ribs. Because in his mind, right now—it’s just him and her.
No we.
No us.
No space for what we built between the three of us.
Just him. Her. And the guilt eating him alive.
My hands curl into fists, and just like that, I feel it—the splinter, deep and raw. The slow bleed of something breaking between us.
Blake shifts like he feels the fracture too.
Rigel glances at me, eyebrows furrowing.
The conference room goes dead silent except for the hum of electronics and the whisper of ventilation systems. Blake’s coffeemug hovers halfway to his mouth. Carter’s pen stops moving across his notepad. Walt’s medical bag sits forgotten on the table between us.
Gabe stares at me for a long moment, something like satisfaction flickering in his eyes. Like he wanted this confrontation. Needed it. He walks out, leaving Ethan to salvage what’s left of mission planning.
THIRTEEN
Training Exercise Gone Wrong
GABE
