A WINTER'S TALE
BY: THE BARD

Chapter Seven
A Silent Prayer

   Duke took a deep breath as he emerged from the elevator. The halls were empty save for the occasional nurse shuffling between rooms.

  This is not the first visit he has made since the team returned from Alaska, but this will probably be the hardest.

  "You do what you have to do, Conrad." He thought to himself.

  "Excuse me sir," he turned to find a pretty young woman approaching him from the nurse's station, "but visiting hours are over...you can come back...oh, its you..." She smiled softly as she recognized his uniform. "I'll tell Dr. Greer you're here."

  "Thank you, Nancy." He smiled and touched her arm before she could go, "Any change?"

  She frowned. "No...nothing today....I'll let the doctor fill you in."

  Duke watched as she ducked behind the desk and picked up the phone to page Doc, his mind drifting back to the tragic events of the past week.

  He had stood frozen as the knife hit her. He had seen her go down. His heart had clenched in shock and horror as he watched her die in Flint's arms. All his training, all his experience...all of it had escaped him at the crucial moment. Had it not been for Lifeline, she would still be dead. As it was, they had nearly lost her three times on the flight to Nome.

  He still couldn't believe the medic had managed to bring her back every time...and keep her back...until they reached the hospital. Lifeline took a lot of heat from the other Joes due to his stance as a pacifist, but that will surely end now. As far as everyone was concerned the man was a hero. He worked on her tirelessly, focused on her completely, not bothering to stop even when the hospital emergency staff had taken over.

  It took a day to stabilize her enough for the Life-Flight chopper to transfer her safely to a more modern, better-equipped facility closer to home. Lifeline volunteered to accompany her and Duke had given him the OK. It left them without a medic but the mission was wrapping up and given Jaye's condition, he didn't feel comfortable leaving her in the hands of strangers.

  "Are you ok Duke?" He turned to see Doc standing behind him, his face a study in concern. He smiled and took his hand in greeting.

  "Just thinking..."

  Doc nodded his understanding.

  "I hear that there has been no change..."

  The doctor frowned and shook his head no.

  "We have done everything we can here. The gashes on her arm and shoulder will heal...although there might be some scaring. The major injury...well...she took a pretty bad blow to the back. It missed her spine but collapsed a lung and nicked her heart...hence the blood loss." He shook his head in frustration

  "For all intents and purposes, she should be fine. Even with the meds she should have regained consciousness by now. She should have been off life support long ago. I can't understand it. Its like...no..."

  "What is it Doc..."

  Duke watched as the Joe's veteran doctor took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes before turning back and staring him right in the face.

  "Its like she doesn't want to wake up. I know...I know...psychology is not my field, but for all intents and purposes its like she has somehow given up. It's the only thing I can think of that explains this."

  Duke closed his eyes.

  "God, Jaye...don't give up now..." he thought to himself before turning to follow Doc towards the room.

  "Is he here?" Duke asked and he nodded, knowing exactly to whom he was referring.

  "Hasn't left her side for a minute..." Doc smiled sadly, "I finally got him to go back to base for a shower and a change of clothes early yesterday. He was beginning to scare the nurses."

  "At least it's something. Has he had any sleep?"

  "Not much...I slipped something into his drink last night which helped," he paused, considering, "I think he is afraid if he leaves her side she will not be there when he gets back."

  Duke nodded. After what Doc had just told him, his old friend might not be far off the mark.

  They stopped in front of the door and Duke peered in the window. It was a nice, private room...bright and filled with flowers and cards. The entire Joe team had trekked in and out of here over the past few days. Each one leaving a little token by her side, each one departing with a tear in their eye.

  His hand clenched into a fist as he thought of her family. No next of kin to contact, no family to sit by her side. Her one surviving relative, her Grandmother, had passed on last year. As for friends...well...it seems that since the tragedy so many years ago she had cut herself off so completely from her old life that no one knew who they might be or where they might find them.

  The rest of the Joes knew her story now. It was hard to keep secret once they figured out no one was coming to see her at the hospital. The revelation had left them stunned. This whole situation was hard on everyone...even Beachhead, who seemed to have it in for Lady Jaye from the moment they met.

  The woman had touched everyone.

  He looked at the figure sitting beside her, holding her hand.

  Some more than others...

  "I'll leave you now," Doc turned to go, "I have to go and do rounds. Page me if you need anything..."

  Duke nodded his thanks and opened the door.

  She looked so tiny on that huge bed, so small and delicate. Not at all like the vibrant young woman he had grown to love like a sister. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was covered in an oxygen mask. Tubes and wires trailed out from underneath the covers to the various flashing, beeping, humming machines that surrounded her...keeping her alive.

  Flint looked up as he approached the bed. His eyes were red and puffy and despite Doc's success in getting him to go home and shower, already a five o'clock shadow was beginning to form on his face. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a hooded 'Airborne' sweatshirt, and looked better than when he had last seen him. But not by much.

  They sat in silence for a moment, both lost in their own thoughts. Duke had known Flint for years. They had joined the army at the same time and had been friends since day one. They had trained together, partied together, served together...the man had saved his life more times than he could count...

  Sometimes being a leader wasn't easy.

  "How long?" he asked finally, breaking the silence.

  Flint didn't look up. He just brought his hand up to gently stroke Lady Jaye's head. Doc must have re-taped his broken fingers, Duke thought as he saw the fresh bandages on his hand.

  "About a year..."

  Duke stiffened in shock. He had expected that they had gotten together at some point...the events of the past week had slammed that fact home pretty hard...but he had not realized it had been going on for so long.

  Anger at being played for a fool struggled against admiration at his friend's accomplishment.

  "Dash, I hate to bring this up now...especially now..."

  "I know." Flint looked up at him and smirked humorlessly. "Duty. I understand better than you could possibly imagine."

  "You are suspended as of this moment, Flint. You knew the rules. You chose to ignore them." He tried to look stern and commanding but he knew he was failing utterly. This was his best friend. "I'm sorry."

  If he had expected an angry outcry, he was disappointed. Flint merely turned back to Lady Jaye and continued to stroke her hair.

  "Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, only with what you are expecting to give...which is everything."

  "What was that?"

  Flint smiled sadly.

  "Katherine Hepburn, I think. Lady Jaye said that to me once in passing. I can't even remember what we were talking about. I..." he paused and turned to look directly at him, "I didn't understand at the time. Now I do. Its amazing that it takes something like this to put things into perspective."

  Duke stared at him. Even after all this time Dash could still surprise him. He knew then what must be done.

  "Hawk will be returning from Switzerland in four days. He will deal with you then," he reached into his pocket, pulled out a folded sheet of paper and handed it to Flint, who opened it and scanned the contents.

  He looked up when he was done, his eyes revealing nothing.

  "I had better go," Duke bent over to kiss Lady Jaye on the forehead before he turned to leave, "For some reason there is a new transport chopper that hasn't been added to our inventory at the base. I guess I had better go chew someone out."

  "Conrad."

  He stopped in the doorway but didn't turn.

  "Thank you."

  "Just do what needs to be done."

************************************************************************

  Low Light fumbled around in his pockets looking for a cigarette, remembering as he did that he had promised to quit.

  "Next week, " he mumbled to himself as he pulled out a pack and began the search for his lighter.

  "That'll kill you, you know."

  He looked up to find Shipwreck standing next to him holding up a light. In his mouth was a cigar.

  "Thanks." He took a long drag and leaned against the helicopter that was docked next to him, observing the activity in the large hangar.

  "Its pretty amazing, isn't it..." the sailor commented quietly. Low Light merely nodded.

  To his right, Leatherneck and Gung-Ho were passing the time checking their weapons. In the chopper, Wild Bill was leaning back with his feet propped up on the dash, his Stetson pulled down over his eyes while Lift Ticket made the rounds of the machine. Scarlett and Snakes were over in a corner signing something to each other while Ripcord watched and smiled. Bazooka and Alpine were arguing over something as usual.

  They had all arrived at the hanger separately, all of them surprised to see the other there. No one was supposed to know about this. All of them were 'supposed' to be on leave.

  It was Christmas Eve after all.

  Low Light himself, well, he never went home at Christmas. He usually stayed on duty. But he took leave because he knew he had to do something. When he heard what might be going down he knew he had to help.

  The image of her lifeless body still haunted his dreams. So much blood...

  It was his fault. He should have kept a better eye on her. He should have known something was up.

  He should have killed Storm Shadow with his first shot.

  He shuddered and took a deep drag, inhaling the calming smoke.

  "What the hell are you doing here?" Low Light jumped at the sound of a familiar voice. For an instant he thought for sure the question was being asked of him and him alone until he looked up and realized the figure that had appeared in the doorway was addressing them all.

  They all stood silent as they watched Flint approach, not knowing quite what to say. Low Light observed him closely, warily. He was dressed in a solid black combat uniform geared for night assault. Slung over his shoulder was his pack and shotgun. He wasn't wearing his trademark beret.

  Low Light tried to make himself small so as not to be noticed. He was very good at that, perfected throughout his childhood. He hoped it would serve him now, as he was certain that Flint was going to come over and chew him out...tell him he didn't belong.

  He merely looked at each one of them, his eyes steeled and determined...but it barely hid the hurt deep inside. Low Light saw it though. He knew it was there.

  "You haven't shed a tear, have you? At least not in public." He thought to himself sadly, "My dad would have loved you, Flint." Oddly enough a small tinge of jealousy rattled in his head, but he quelled it before it took hold.

  "You can't just 'come along'. This mission is under the table. I am officially suspended...and I only have one chopper..."

  'Two choppers..." Wild Bill had emerged from the cockpit. "Lift Ticket and I put another whirly down for 'maintenance'"

  "I..." he continued, but Leatherneck cut him off.

  "We take care of our own, Flint. We take care of our own."

  All of them nodded agreement as Flint continued to stare at them in amazement. It was clear from the look on his face that he did not expect this, but just as apparent was the fact that he appreciated it.

  Scarlett stepped forward and as she did she pulled the dog tags from around her neck, held her hand out and dropped them on the floor in front of the warrant officer.

  "For Lady Jaye..." she whispered.

  Leatherneck and Gung Ho followed suit, each dropping their tags in the same pile.

  "For Lady Jaye..."

  Alpine, Bazooka, Snake Eyes, Ripcord, Wild Bill, Lift Ticket and Shipwreck all did the same, all while repeating the same words.

  "For Lady Jaye..."

  Finally, Low Light leaned forward and approached Flint, pulling his tags from around his neck as he did. He stopped in front of him and stood for a moment, meeting his eyes.

  Did he not blame him for this whole thing? Didn't he want to throttle him? God Low Light wished someone would. But no, Flint merely watched him as he did the others...

  ...There was no malice in his gaze.

  Low Light dropped his dog tags into the pile.

  "For Lady Jaye."

  "I guess there is no point in arguing," Flint swung his pack onto his pack, "Well then, lets boot. I will brief you in the air. But first, there is one stop we have to make."

  Low Light felt Flint's hand pat his shoulder as the big Warrant Officer walked past towards the others, and with that gesture came the realization that that the man didn't blame him at all. It was a gesture of friendship, of thanks...of understanding.

  He knew then that these people were here not only for Lady Jaye, but for Flint as well. With that one act, Low Light remembered why it was the Joes gathered here would follow this man even if it meant their jobs...even if it meant their lives.

  What had Leatherneck said? We take care of our own....

  Low Light turned to help move the choppers out of the hangar, thinking as he did that for the first time in his life he was starting to feel like he belonged somewhere.

  He was starting to feel that he had a family after all.

***********************************************************************

  Flint wrapped his jacket tightly as he emerged out into the open. The wind off the ocean was brutal...cold and damp. The island that was a summer paradise for the rich became a desolate place in December.

  The cemetery was empty. Not surprising given the hour and the time of year. Not even two military choppers landing in the middle of the empty field beside it had attracted any attention. As far as Flint was concerned, all the better.

  He needed to be alone.

  He had to do this alone.

  Standing silent against the night sky, he searched for the words. The cold stone monument in front of him offered no help, no hint, no comfort. Just a sad epitaph chiseled in granite...a mute reminder of those he had come to see.

  Andrew Burnett...Katherine Hart....Robert Hart-Burnett...

  The rational soldier in him screamed that he was crazy for being here. That he should be in the chopper and on his way. He had less than three days to accomplish what he had set out to do. Less than three days before the opportunity would be lost and for all he knew his entire career and with it any chance he had of trying again.

  His heart, however, told him something entirely different, and for the first time in his life he decided to listen.

  "She is trying to get to you, isn't she...She want to be with you..." he finally spoke, his voice catching in his throat as he did. He stopped and took a moment to collect himself before starting again.

  "She thinks she failed you. But you and I know damn well she didn't. This task she set for herself is insane. You have to realize that. The hate...it's eating her up inside."

  "She...she misses you so much. She feels so alone..." he paused and knelt down before the grave. His thoughts, his words...they were all coming out in a jumble.

  "She is needed here. * I * need her here. Alive. Send her back. It isn't her time and you know it. God, she hasn't even turned thirty yet. I know you miss her but let her have a full life. She deserves to have a full life!" his voice rose of its own accord, "Please...I will take care of her. I promise she will want for nothing. Please...don't take her away from me!"

  He took a deep breath.

  "Its time for you to let go. It's time for her to heal. We fight COBRA everyday. With every battle we are closer to bringing them down...to destroying those that destroyed you."

  A strong wind whipped up off the water and seemed to draw all warmth from Flint's body. He shivered and pulled himself up. It was time to go.

  "She loves you. She misses you terribly...but if you take her it will kill me."

  He didn't know if the next words should be directed at the dead or at the living, sitting in a hospital bed miles away, but they came out of their own accord.

  "I know I failed...I failed her miserably. Please give me another chance...let me give her the life she deserves. Give me another chance..."

  With that he turned away. There was nothing more to say.

  He was exhausted and drained by the time he made his way back to the waiting choppers. The Joes were all milling about, silently passing the time while they waited for his return. They were curious as to why they were here, but asked no questions. He was grateful for that.

  "Let's go." He said as he reached them, and they all nodded as he walked passed and boarded the first of the choppers. Wild Bill turned on the engine and the blades began to spin slowly round.

  He had seen their look of concern but had ignored it. He didn't want to deal with it now. They had a mission to complete.

  He had a mission to complete.

  As they took off he looked out into the clear night sky at the stars that shone like a beautiful canopy of light.

  He was not a religious man. He was not quite sure what he believed, but as he watched the scene before him he said a silent prayer and hoped that whatever god or gods that existed on this plane were listening, and would watch over her while he was gone...

  ...Would keep her safe

  It was Christmas after all...a time for miracles.

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To Be Continued
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