“And maybe the Iraqis could’ve missed, or shot at something else. Or maybe the other helicopter could’ve seen them first. Or, I don’t know, maybe Bush could’ve never started the war in the first place! You’re still not getting it—none of that had anything to do with you. Did you start the fire? Did you?” Gabriel repeated when Jake didn’t say anything. “I’m going to sit here until you answer me.”
“No.”
“No,” Gabriel repeated. “The Iraqis did. When they shot you down.”
“f**k,” Jake spat. His eyes were still wet. He swiped furiously at them. “I still let my friends die,” he said.
Gabriel took a deep breath. “No, Jake. You relived a nightmare from when you were a kid while you were trapped in a crashed helicopter and bleeding to death.” He brushed Jake’s temple with his lips, something so
