Page 10 of Daisy
“No, and I didn’t find any water either. I see that thankfully the Calvary has arrived, so the water is no longer an issue,” Daryl said as he looked up at the soldiers in the cave. Daisy simply nodded in agreement. Ace moved between them and asked in a gruff voice.
“Where have you been? Why was Daisy here alone to defend herself and the wounded?” Ace growled out his questions with obvious distaste for the man in front of him. Daisy placed a gentle hand on Ace’s back in an effort to calm him down.
“I was out looking for water. We had very little left and no idea when someone might show up. There was no way in hell was I going to let Dr. Robertson go out to look for it by herself, even though she tried to pull rank on me and go anyway.” Daryl growled back in response.
“Good answer,” Ace replied as a smile crossed his face. He stuck out his hand. “Thanks for looking after her.” Daryl looked at the outstretched hand for a moment. Then gripped it hard and gave it a good firm shake.
“I was honored to be in this situation with Dr. Robertson. She is a hell of a soldier was well as a doctor. She saved my ass the first day when we were trying to get supplies up to the cave and some insurgents attacked us. I won’t forget my debt. I always repay them,” Daryl said with conviction.
“Daryl, you don’t owe me anything. It is what we do, they have each other’s six. Now let’s drop the mushy chit chat and get the hell out of here. I’m tired, hungry, and in desperate need of a hot shower,” Daisy grumbled as she moved to gather her supplies. The men all chuckled at her declaration and began to help prepare the wounded for travel.
Thankfully they made it to the extraction site without further incidence. On the flight back to camp, Ace took Daisy’s hand in his. She looked at him questioningly. He just squeezed her hand. He couldn’t talk to her right now. The chopper was too noisy and too many ears were around, but he had every intention of sitting her down for a long hard talk once they were safely back at camp. She was too damn reckless with her life. He was determined to find out why and make her stop her suicide quest.
Chapter 10
Once they had arrived back at camp and the wounded soldiers had been taken away for another doctor to care for, Ace insisted that Daisy allowed one of the doctors to check her out, too. She wasn’t pleased, but her colleague pulled rank on her. The general of Camp Leatherneck had arrived. He insisted that Daisy be checked into the medical facility for a full physical including lab work. Daisy knew instinctively that Ace had something to do with it, but she couldn’t argue with a direct order from a superior officer.
After blood had been drawn, x-rays had been taken, and an IV line was dripping saline into her system, Daisy was finally able to relax a little, but not completely. The man sitting at her side made her tense. He had refused to leave her for a moment since he found her in the cave. Daisy wanted to be irritated at him, but at the same time she found it comforting that someone was concerned for her for a change. It was refreshing.
“Daisy, are you comfortable? Do you need anything?” Ace asked quietly once the room had cleared of medical personnel. He looked worn out, too. He had a deep furrow on his brow. He clearly hadn’t shaved in days and he had dark circles under his eyes.
“I’m fine Ace, you however, look like shit. You need to go shower and sleep. I’ll be here when you get back,” Daisy told him gently as she squeezed the hand that had refused to let go of hers.
“Daisy, I am not going anywhere for a long time. I thought I had lost you. You have no idea how hard the last 3 days were for me. I know that sounds like a selfish thing to say when you had it so much worse, but I was sick with worry and fear. Not knowing where you were, if you were hurt, or hungry. Worse if the enemy had you and was doing unspeakable tortures to you,” Ace paused as he took a shuddering breath. “You have to stop this death wish you have. I don’t know what makes you want to put yourself in the thick of danger over and over, but it is going to stop. Today.”
“Okay,” Daisy replied quietly.
“I mean it…What?” Ace asked with a frown on his face. He was obviously prepared to argue with her, but the fight had gone out of her. She realized while in the cave waiting for help to come, that shedidhave a death wish and she needed to stop. She wasn’t only hurting herself, but also her family. She had tried so hard to push them away over the years, but Luke had refused to let her. He was always pushing her to visit him and talk to him when she was deployed. She never had the heart to refuse anything he asked of her.
“I said, okay. You are right. I have to change what I am doing, or I am going to end up 6 feet under pushing up my namesake,” Daisy replies simply. She just didn’t have it in her anymore. After 20 years, it was time to say goodbye to the guilt and move on. She turned to look at him. Ace could see the defeat in her eyes.
“Damn straight you are. And I am going to help you. I want to help you, to be here for you, but you are going to have to open up and let me in. I can’t fix what I don’t know is broken,” Ace said sincerely.
Tears began to well in Daisy’s eyes. It was the first time in almost 20 years she had allowed herself to shed them. She had told herself she had to be strong and never weak. Tears were a weakness she couldn’t afford but sitting here with Ace she didn’t feel weak. For the first time in many years she felt whole, like a real person. Daisy allowed them to flow down her face.
Ace got up from his chair and sat on the side of the hospital bed and pulled her onto his lap. She rested her head on his broad shoulder and she let out all the anger, fear, guilt, and frustration she had felt over the years. It took a long while for the tears to abate, but once they did Ace took a tissue from the overbed table. He dried her tears and wiped the snot from her nose. Daisy was embarrassed but it was the most romantic thing she had ever experienced. He wasn’t grossed out by her outburst and the resulting mess she had made. Sleep came quickly for Daisy while she was wrapped in the safe warm arms of her Marine.
She awoke some time later to find her room full of big strapping men. It seemed all of his team was here as well as Daryl and the SEALs. She was still wrapped in Ace’s arms with her head on his chest. He had shifted them in the bed, and he was stretched out beside her. The men were talking quietly and didn’t seem to realize she had woken up yet.
“Ace, Hawk is arranging for some time off for us once we are back at Camp Lejeune. He wants you to bring Daisy to meet him, Charlotte, and the kids. Charlotte is drilling him for information,” Deadeye laughed. “You know how she is. She needs to know all the details so she can fix everything.”
“Yeah, I know how she is,” Ace replied with a chuckle. “Even with all she has to do with Brian, the twins, and one on the way, she is always looking out for us, just like a mother hen.”
“Yes, and she has taken Elise under her wing, too,” Deadeye smiled. “But I’m very glad she has. It has been good for Elise.”
“I am glad to hear they are both doing well,” Wolf joins the conversation. “Caroline will be wanting an update.” The men all chuckled. They all knew the women all too well. Always concerned for others.
Daisy shifted a little and all eyes in the room turned to look at her. She looked up at Ace from her resting spot on his chest. He really was a very handsome man. The look in his eyes almost took her breath away and suddenly she wanted to not be so close to him. She tried to pull away, but he tightened his embrace. She relaxed not wanting to make a scene in front of an audience.
“Hey, sweetheart. How are you feeling?” Ace asked her quietly. She could feel the heat of her blush at the endearment. She hadn’t ever had anyone speak to her in such an intimate way especially in front of a room full of Alpha males.
“Um…I’m fine,” Daisy shifted a little trying to get comfortable in the awkward situation she found herself in at the moment. “I’m just a little sore, but overall okay.”
“You are quite a remarkable woman, Dr. Robertson. Daryl filled us in on what happened after we left your company that morning,” Mathew “Wolf” Steel informed her. “I feel bad that we didn’t accompany you on your chopper. We could have helped you with the wounded.”
“You had no way of knowing we were going to get shot down,” Daisy replied. “There is no need to feel bad. It’s just part of the job.” Ace started to interject, but about that time the commanding General and his entourage entered the room.
“Ah, Dr. Robertson! I am glad to see you are awake and doing well,” the General eyed her curled up next to Ace, but didn’t comment on it. “I have looked over your personnel file and while I am quite impressed with your service and dedication, I see you haven’t taken any leave time in a couple of years. We can’t have all the time piling up, you understand. I have signed for you a two-month leave. When it is close to your time being up, come see me. We will talk about your future with Naval medicine.” And with that he turned and left the room without giving Daisy an opportunity to protest. She turned to glare at Ace. He was behind this. She was sure of it.
