Page 67 of Salute, To Bravery
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“It’s been five days, why isn’t he awake?”
“We can only assume it is the trauma from what he underwent.”
“Wake him the fuck up.”
“Do you know what an amputation in the field is like? No? Then shut up with your demands and let us do our job. Lieutenant’s body experienced a massive shock, and he nearly bled out. With respect, Captain, go away.”
Yeah, I don’t need to be dealing with this shit. An amputation in the field sounds like a shitload of pain I do not want to be faced with. And this darkness is so soothing and nice. Why wake up to a different world? One I know for certain has changed.
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“Tommy, it’s been seven days; we need you to wake up. Jake is not doing good, he’s in a bad way. DiMarco isn’t coping, and Foster is comatose. She is beyond traumatised. She’s being sedated. Rogers is dead, Tommy. Can you hear me? Ed is dead. We need you.”
Damn it, the guilt trip. Well, I'm emotionally scarred; I know I’ve lost a limb somewhere. But there’s no pain here, no facing cruel reality. I’m no longer the man I was. And if I don’t want to face that, I don’t have to.
“Tommy, please, I’m scared; we’re falling apart. I’m lost and not sure what to do.”
“Damnit, you should have let me go,” I muttered. A sob met my ears, and Sophie grabbed my right hand and squeezed. It was like turning a tap on, and I screamed in agonising pain.
“He’s awake!” Sophie yelled.
Fuck me, I was fuckin’ awake alright, as agony swamped my entire body. Ten days had done shit.
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“Don’t give a shit, Jake. You’re sitting in that damn chair even if I have to drag you by the throat into it,” I growled at my best friend.
Jake looked at me from eyes that, even after two weeks, were black and blue.
“Fuck you, Lieutenant,” he snapped.
“I can kick your ass,” I snarled.
“Yeah, with what army?” Jake spat.
I lunged out of the wheelchair and grabbed Jake’s waist. His eyes widened as I hauled myself onto the bed, using my one leg to stand. Jake’s mouth opened just as I punched him straight in it. Jake sat up roaring as he shoved me backwards, and unbalanced, I fell into the wheelchair but landed too heavily I tipped it over. The fuckin’ thing whacked my stump, and I screamed in pain as I collapsed.
Guilt hit Jake’s face, and he pressed the call button as I writhed on the floor. Sweat broke out on my forehead as pounding footsteps rushed towards us.
“You are an asshole,” DiMarco called out.
“Which one?” Jake demanded as he leaned over the bed and peered at me. Pissed at him, I reared up despite the pain andhead-butted him straight in his noble nose. Jake wailed and fell backwards as I collapsed back to the floor in agony.
“You’re the prick, Sergeant. Lieutenant gave you what you deserved. You’re not the only one who lost a limb, but you are being the baby,” DiMarco sneered.
“What on earth is going on here?” a nurse asked, horrified.
“He broke my nose!” Jake screeched.
“If he ain’t in a chair by this afternoon, come and get me. In the meantime, get me to my bed, and I need some damn pain medication,” I demanded.
“I’ve never seen such behaviour,” the nurse exclaimed.
“Hang around lady, you’ll see a lot more,” I promised and let tears leak from my eyes.
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