Page 35 of Silent Dust
Moose, ever the comedian, groaned dramatically, slinging his gear over his shoulder. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, sir. We aim to impress.”
Nova smirked, brushing dust from her uniform. “We were going for ‘ruggedly heroic,’ but I guess we missed the mark.”
Michaels nodded, deadpan. “If by ‘ruggedly heroic’ you mean ‘a herd of half-drowned rats,’ then congratulations—you nailed it.”
Blast chuckled, shaking his head. “We’ll take what we can get.”
Michaels’ expression softened as his gaze fell upon Bear, who stood a step ahead of the others, his exhaustion evident yet overshadowed by an intense urgency, The tension radiating from him a silent testament to the emotional toll of the mission and the weight of the news he was about to receive.
“Lieutenant Kowalski,” Michaels said, his voice quieter now, a hint of empathy cutting through the formality that usually characterized their interactions. “The hospital’s been briefed. They’re expecting you. The latest update I have is that she is waking up, but she’s still struggling with the withdrawal and hallucinations. Damn it… I can’t believe that guy managed to get to her a second time, but she’s strong. She’ll make it.”
Bear felt a surge of relief mixed with dread at the mention of Flora’s struggles. He had been so focused on the mission, on the chaos of the past few days, that he hadn’t fully processed the implications of her condition. The thought of her fighting through withdrawal, battling demons he couldn’t fight for her, twisted in his gut like a knife. He wanted to be there for her, to hold her hand as she navigated this difficult path.
“Go straight there,” Michaels continued, his tone firm but supportive. “Alpha Team, you have the next week off. Thank you for a job well done!”
The announcement was met with a mix of cheers from the team, their exhaustion momentarily forgotten in the excitement of a rare break. Bear barely registered the chatter around him, his mind racing at the prospect of seeing Flora again. He nodded to Michaels, his throat tight with gratitude.
“Thank you, sir,” Bear replied, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions inside him. The weight of the mission was lifting, but the gravity of what awaited him at the hospital loomed large.
“Take care of her, Bear, if you need anything, call me,” Michaels said. “She needs you.”
Warden stepped forward, joining the rest of the team who had gathered around Bear. “We’re going to head over to Hawk’s and get the kids for you,” he said. “We’ll let them know everything is okay. We can give you some time alone with Flora before we bring the kids up. How’s that sound?”
Bear nodded, gratitude swelling in his chest. “Sounds perfect. I’ll call you from the hospital and Facetime the kids.”
With that, he turned and hurried toward the exit, his heart pounding. The world outside awaited him, but all he could think about was Flora. He could already envision her—fragile yet fierce—fighting to reclaim her life. He would be there to support her, to remind her that she wasn’t alone in this battle.
As he descended the ramp and stepped onto the tarmac, the crisp air filled his lungs. His mind raced with thoughts of Flora’s smile, her laughter, and the love they had built over the years. He knew he had to be strong for her, to reassure her that they would face this together.
On the drive to the hospital, Bear deliberately pushed everything related to the mission into the back of his mind, locking it away in its own compartment. Now wasn’t the time to think about anything but Flora and his family. As the drive stretched on, hope mingled with anxiety, he felt in his heart that this was a chance to rebuild what had been fractured.
When he finally arrived, Bear rushed through the hospital doors, his heart racing as he navigated the familiar corridors. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, a reminder of the countless hours spent in this place, but today felt different because he was here for Flora.
As Bear approached Flora’s room, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for whatever awaited inside. Ghost stood silently on guard duty by the door, a steady presence in the tense atmosphere. Bear offered a small smile and greeted him with a fist bump. “How ya doin’, man? It’s been too long.”
Ghost grabbed Bear into a bear hug, mockingly dismissing the puny fist bump. “Good to see you made it back without any extra holes!”
After greeting Ghost, Bear barely had time to exchange a few words before a doctor emerged from Flora’s room. Ghost stepped aside and nodded toward the man. “Bear, this is Dr. Randolph. He wants to speak with you before you go in.”
Dr. Randolph gave Bear a steady look. “I need a moment to discuss Flora’s condition and what to expect. It’s important you’re prepared.”
Bear opened his mouth to argue, desperate to see his wife first, but before he could speak, the doctor gently placed a handon his shoulder. “Let’s talk first. I know you want to see her, but she’s been through a lot.”
Ghost remained on guard duty by the door, his presence a reassuring constant as Bear followed the doctor away for the conversation.
The doctor led Bear to a private waiting room, and they both sat down.Dr. Randolph began a brief rundown of the events leading up to the current situation.
“She’s been having hallucinations whenever we try to ease her out of sedation,” he explained. “She was ripping the IVs out of her arms, and we had to sedate her again just before you arrived. I’m sorry—I had told your Commander that she would be awake, but we couldn’t calm her down.”
Bear absorbed the news, the weight of it settling heavily on his shoulders as he prepared himself for the difficult road ahead.
“You are welcome to stay with her as long as you wish. We had a recliner put in the room for you. Hopefully, your presence will calm whatever demons are in her mind.”
19 - FLORA
Ten minutes earlier,Flora’s eyelids had fluttered open, but darkness clung to her vision, swirling like fog. Her body was heavy, cottony, and every breath felt labored. As her senses stirred, a sharp, cold breeze brushed her face. Her mind tangled in shadows, blurred between waking and sleeping.
Suddenly, her vision cracked open like a camera shutter. She was standing in a dimly lit street, the world silent but for distant sirens and the pounding of her own heart.
