Page 55 of Eight Years (The Trident Trilogy 1)

“Hey. You’re okay. We’re all okay. We’re back in the plane, headed home. Ty is just fixing up a few scratches you have on your head. No big deal. You’re fine. Okay?”

I think I’m nodding at him, but to make sure, I eek out, “Okay.”

He sits down beside the stretcher, his hand resting on my shoulder. Ty seems to be done doing what ever he was doing. My head hurts, but it doesn’t feel like it’s leaking anymore. I close my eyes for what feels like a minute, but when I wake up, I realize it’s been more than that. Ty and Bryce are gone. Mason has taken their place. He’s sitting with his back against my stretcher, head down, sleeping.

I feel more focused now. I try to remember what happened, and it all comes roaring back. The hike down the mountain, Haroun Hadzic, the interrogation, the firefight, the helicopter out, and then blank. I shake my head a little, trying to remember, but it’s not there. I suddenly remember what Haroun said to me about Yusef being in Sarajevo, and it comes crashing back to me why I’m on this trip. I need to get to my computer and start a target package for Yusef.

I sit up gently so I won’t wake Mason, but he springs up the second I move.

“Whoa, whoa, Mills. Where are you going? Lay back down.” He’s trying to gently push me back on the stretcher.

“No, I’m fine. I need to work.”

“Millie, there’s plenty of time to work. You need to be still.”

I manage to sit up on the stretcher without him pushing me back down. I notice his hands at the ready in case I get dizzy.

“Mason, I’m fine. I need to get up.” I start to get off the table, and he grabs my shoulders to steady me, making sure I’m not going to fall over.

“I can stand. I’m good,” I insist.

“Come over here with me for a second,” he says as his hand makes it to my lower back, pushing me toward a seat away from the medical area.

“Sit down. Let me check you out.”

It’s not a request, so I sit. He runs me through a battery of tests, mainly testing my eyes and my focus. I pass.

“Okay, let’s just sit here for a second. Make sure you’re good,” he says as he sits down beside me. “Do you remember what happened?”

“Yeah. Mostly. I don’t remember getting from the helicopter to the plane.”

“Yeah, you fainted when you were getting out of the helo. I carried you in here.”

“I fainted? Wow. I’m so sorry.”

“Why are you sorry you fainted? It’s not your fault. Just kind of happens.”

“Have you ever fainted on a mission? Or any of the guys?”

“Mills, we’re trained operators. We do this every day. We’re used to it. Most people haven’t been in a full-out firefight. You did good.”

“I didn’t do anything.”

“You did what you were told, and in that situation, that’s all we expect of you.”

“I could have gotten you all killed.”

“Nothing you did endangered our lives. I asked you to do exactly what we told you to do, and that’s what you did. That was perfect.”

“I’ve never even been shot at, much less that,” I say more quietly than I intended.

“You did good, Millie. We got the information we went in for, and we all got back safe. It’s a good day.”

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