Page 69 of Salute, To Bravery
“Ed asked me to marry him, Tommy. I said yes. We were married by the Chaplin. We weren’t going to tell anyone and have a big wedding at home. But Maelstrom had worried Ed, and so we got wed quickly,” Kaitlin muttered.
Fuck! I knew Roger’s body was in cold storage, but this could turn into a shitstorm. I needed Captain Shere on side. And luckily, I knew how to play hardball. I didn’t think the captain realised I knew about his special time with Sophie. I’d make sure Kaitlin got all the benefits she should receive.
Even so, this wasn’t the time. Kaitlin was deep in grief, and now we knew why. She was grieving her husband and the loss of a future together.
“You won’t say a word to anyone, not until I’ve spoken to my commanding officer,” I said, turning to the nurse.
Her face turned from stern to gentle.
“No, I won’t. But she needs help; I recommend this doctor; she will understand and act accordingly,” the nurse replied.
“Huh?”
“She’ll be medically discharged due to trauma and PTSD. That doctor will make sure Corporal Foster gets a medical discharge and also gets a medical pension,” the nurse stated, and then turned on her heel and walked away.
I looked down at Kaitlin as she shrank back into the bed and closed her eyes. My injury took second place to the needs of my team.
Chapter Four.
Sniper - 2013
“This is it,” I said, gazing at the land I’d inherited. It was a small campsite with eight cabins in Green Valley, ten minutes away from Box Elder, where we’d just purchased a bar.
Lance looked around; it was strange calling him that, or Prez. He was no longer Tommy Anders, or even Lieutenant. Tommy was now Lance, President of the Fallen Warriors. I liked that name; it resounded with me. Despite falling, we got back up and remained warriors. My arm was a dud, fucked up, but I could still run a bar and build my weapons, and I was happy. As happy as I could be after the previous year.
I wrinkled my nose as I saw the condition of the cabins. They weren’t great, but they’d do. Most of them needed repairs, yet they were liveable. After the way we’d been living for the last twelve years, anything was an improvement. This, we could build on and make our own.
The cabins were in a wooded area, giving us privacy, which was something we all wanted. The presence of eight cabins was lucky since we were a group of eight.
Our Lieutenant became President. Maelstrom had become Bat, no longer Sergeant, or Jake. Kaitlin was now called Reaper, and Sophie was Tempest. I was Sniper, not DiMarco and the enforcer. But there was one missing, a hole that would never be filled, so we’d carried a part of him with us.
Reaper walked past, carrying Kane Rogers, her four-month-old son. They’d not known Kaitlin was six weeks pregnant when Rogers died. It was a blessing that saved her from the brink. Kane was the only person who could draw any emotion out of his mother. Reaper had shut completely down once we had buried Rogers.
The three men who walked by our side today were also recruited from the hospital we’d been sent to at home. Raddock was a tall man, quiet but a thinker. He’d lost a leg, like Lance and Bat. Owl had lost both legs, but he was a security systems expert. Worm had lost a hand but was shit hot at hacking. Lance and Bat had put them through their paces before accepting them into the MC.
Eight of us in total so far. Fallen Warriors MC was small, probably one of the smallest MCs around, but we’d grow.
The nurse, Maylin, who had helped Kaitlin, had discovered our plans and supported us as much as possible. Maylin had also flown back to the States and was working in Norfolk. Maylin said that if she came across any likely candidates, she’d send them to us. We had a Prez, VP, enforcer, secretary, Tempest, and a second enforcer, Reaper. Other positions we’d fill as we grew. There was no rush. Life was plodding along as we wished.
“Definitely needs some work,” Lance announced, and I nodded.
“This will give physiotherapy a different meaning,” I agreed.
“Yeah, I don’t want to see Owl on a roof with a hammer. Owl takes enough risks as it is,” Lance stated, and I controlled my smile.
That was true. Amputee or not, nothing phased Owl, and we’d had to rescue him from predicaments. Owl appeared determined to prove his independence. That was usually the case for most of us. With our disabilities, we all felt we had something to prove. I hated that word. Disabled. My left arm didn’t work, but that did not make me less capable, as I’d proved several times.
Physio had been rough. Bat had given up, and Lance had kicked his ass every day until he realised he was just as good as always. Once Bat understood that, there’d been no stopping him, and he’d become a machine. Bat was leaner and more toned than he’d been in the army.
“We have privacy here. This is a perfect spot to heal,” Lance said, and I nodded.
“Are we going to check the bar?” Raddock asked.
“Yeah, it’s time we took an interest in it. We’ve had a nameless face running it for four weeks. The previous owner vouched for the manager, but we don’t know him from Adam,” Lance replied.
“That’s the biggest cabin and the first to be worked on,” I said, and Lance nodded. We’d give it to Reaper and Kane.
We walked back to our bikes and mounted them. It was amazing how easy it was to ride with an amputated limb.
