The Marine

Chapter 12

BLAKE

"Listen up!" Our sergeant demanded, " Their is a small village we need checked out to make sure no possible threats are seen." I held my bottle of water to my lips taking quick and well needed sips.

"Sir, Yes Sir!" We called back in unison and a nod of the head.

"Thompson, Marvel you'll be up ahead!" He shouted and I nodded looking over to Clayton with a smirk," Ambrose, Martin, Collins, Brooke and Walker will follow on alert behind. If their is a threat you do not hesitate you shoot." The new guy Ambrose started laughing down the front and you could see sergeant Deans face beam red.

"Something funny Ambrose? You want to laugh and act like a child do that in you own time! In my time I expect you to show respect and no rely on the good guys to save your ass since you didn't listen!" He roared and honestly you could hear a pin drop.

"Sorry Sir." He sheepishly replied making me crack a grin wanting to laugh myself.

"That's what I though." He sighed, " Go boys and remember I don't want any of you coming back hurt, always protect yourself!" I stood up from the cargo crate and lifted my gun placing it firmly around my neck.

I looked over to Clayton and nodded to the truck and he smiled walking towards it. I made sure I got everything and looked down to the ground, watching the sandy dust create a cloud as I walked.

"Blake?" I was pulled back by the wrist, " You and Clayton are both my best elites. Keep a good eye on the other guys and make sure they don't get hurt." I smiled as he gave me a small hug and pat on the back. He may be my sergeant but he was like mine and Clayton's Dad when we were out here in Afghan.

"Don't be silly you just keep yourself safe Matt." I began to walk away with a smirk, " We all know how clumsy you are." He turned around with a scowl.

"You cheeky little ass." I laughed and walked towards the vehicle putting my helmet on securely.

Before we go into a mission every Marine is nervous. You palms sweat and you suddenly feel more dehydrated than before. It's natural instinct.

However, newly recruited Marines tend to be scared and even more nervous on their first mission such as Ambrose, Collins, Brooke and Martin. That's why I don't give them a hard time.

I guess I just don't have the heart to add more stress to their day but if everything does well this mission can be a fly by.

"Listen up, you heard sergeant." I got into the truck looking back to them all, " If any of you sense a threat contact through the radio first. If anyone of you are in trouble you use the radio to contact me or Marvel. Are we crystal clear?" I asked with emphasis eyeing them suspiciously.

They all nodded and I patted Clayton's back to get him to drive down the road of sand. I turned in the passenger seat and looked around the road looking for any threats for now their wasn't any.

"Your gonna be sergeant one day man." Clayton told me and I grinned.

We always thought of ourselves being sergeant one day and even though I still wanted to be, I didn't want it the same as before. I want to have a family, a wife and a big ass house.

Everyday I spent at home with April, I felt one step closer to that goal. It's been almost three days and I miss her more than ever. I remembered back to my leaving day when she drove me to the bus pick up point. She cried and it made my heart want to break. It was torture but the kisses were more intense...something I can't complain about.

"Do you miss her?" He asked me and I frowned with a small nod.

"You think it will go away for a little but the feeling of detachment just gets stronger." I looked out to the road then back to Clayton, " Do you miss her?" He turned to me with almost red cheeks.

"Marney? Why would I miss her - why would you even." He nervously laughed, " What's happening?" He turned back to the road and went deathly quiet.

"I never said Marney's name. It's been about five days right? I'm surprised she hasn't told April." I admitted with a small smile.

"She isn't like any other girl man. She's literally awesome and you know what she may be blonde but she just understands." I laughed patting his shoulder watching his face blush.

"That didn't make sense but I think I know what you mean." I told him and he turned to me with a smitten smile.

I watched him as he turned back to the road with a happy smile and followed his eyesight. I looked around then turned to the back to check on the guys and they were fine.

"Ambrose? You ok man?" I asked him since he was being deathly quiet.

"Just a little nervous....maybe really nervous? Scared.." He swallowed a gulp in his throat and gave him a reassuring look.

"I'll be there for you man. Nothing will happen to you...just stay alert." He nodded and I smiled noticing a tattoo on his wrist saying "Ellie."

"Your girlfriend?" I asked him with a smile since I didn't see a wedding band. He looked to the tattoo with a smile.

"My daughter." He smiled lifting his wrist up to give it a kiss.

"How old is she?" I coughed the lump from my throat.

"Ellie is eleven months old. She's my world." I smiled and looked up to him.

"I bet she is man." I turned back around in my seat and sat down firmly holding on to the bar above my head.

"Is Ambrose ok?" Clayton asked with a worried look on his face.

"He's absolutely fine." I confirmed with a nod of the head.

We were going about 30 miles per hour and we still had to travel about another ten minutes. It wasn't long but when your a newbie and going to a mission it feels like ten torturing hours.

I was just enjoying some peace before we step into hell.

APRIL

It's been three days since I last seen Blake and as promised he called last night telling me how his journey was and that he was ok. He couldn't tell me where he was which was understandable and I respected him for that but I'm taking his advice.

"The longer your motivated, the less you'll have to wait for me."

So far it was working because I still can't believe were on our third day. I started volunteering at a nearby hospital learning to become a nurse and I was really enjoying it.

I gave patients cups of tea and coffee, talked to them and when the nurse comes in they show me what to do to check blood pressure, heart rate and even learn how to put in a drip.

I spent a lot more time with my Mum and she was definitely better now. I could tell she missed Blake a lot too. Last Friday night when we were watching movies she looked over to my sofa and it was like she was searching for him but the only thing I was cuddling was a pillow.

"Do you like these sweetie?" Lily asked me as she held up a blue aztec hat and scarf. I smiled.

"Yeah they would look beautiful on you." She rolled her eyes and gave of a tut making me chuckle.

"I am buying them for you." I stilled.

"No lily honestly I have my own money I don't need yo-" she placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"Can't your Mother in law buy you anything?" Now I rolled my eyes with a blush.

"Did you treat Abby like this?" I asked her with a smirk and she frowned.

"I'm not a bad person but she wasn't good for my boy. I know a fake when I see them and she was one." I smiled at her choice of opinion, I didn't like her either.

"I just think your being too generous. You've already bought me two dresses, jeans, heels, sweatshirts and tops." My personal favourite was the sweatshirts from 'Victorias Secret."

"It still isn't enough." She smiled, " Your good for Blake and I finally have a bond with a girl he's brought home to dinner." She pinched my cheeks and gave me a hug. What can I say to that?

"Fine." I rolled of my tongue making her chuckle as she walked up to the checkout.

"Then we are hitting Starbucks!" She called back waving the hat and scarf in her hand.

She really is awesome.

BLAKE

We were wandering the village and so far there was no threats, which kept most of us happy. I looked over to a little girl who didn't seem pleased with the fact we were in her territory and her Mother wasn't getting far with her calming down.

I put my gun down and nodding over to Clayton before heading over to the little girl screaming in the hands of her Mother.

"May I?" I put the safety cap on my gun and pushed it to my back watching the Woman nod.

I lifted the little girl up and rested her on my hip with a smile. She stopped crying that was for sure but she was a little scared, which is normal for 3 year olds and strangers.

"Would you like to take a walk with me?" I asked her bobbing her on my hip gently.

She nodded and I threw her in the air making her giggle.

"Lets to then." I put her on the ground and took her hand in mine walking slowly behind so I could keep her safe.

I took the safety cap off my gun and put it in my right hand keeping it away from her as far as possible.

"Blake?!" I heard Ambrose call through the radio frantically.

"What's wrong Ambrose?" I asked turning around looking for him.

"There is a man with a knife." I heard a faint swallow, "He's threatening to stab me." I looked for him and just saw a faint piece of camouflage at the side of a fallen demolished house.

"Marvel, Collins, Martin and Brooke...fall back Marine in distress!" I shouted through the radio and looked down to the little girl with a reassuring smile.

"Hey cutie" I cooed going down on one knee, " Go and get your Mummy and close you door tight ok?" I looked at her little pink dress with her really tanned skin and smiled.

She had big brown eyes like April.

"Yes..Sir." She slightly struggled with English but I smiled at the attempt and watched her protectively as she ran back to her Mum.

I smiled and gave them a small wave before grabbing my gun into position in my both arms and running up to Ambrose.

The rest of the team caught up with me but I was already at the scene.

The man was old and his clothes were ragged. He had a small but sharp knife up against the back of Ambrose and I couldn't help but wonder how the hell he let that happen?

Didn't he learn anything at boot camp?

"Sir? Put the knife down." I warned and the old man turned to me with tears in his eyes.

"Don't tell me what to do." His English seemed fluent but I was more worried about Ambrose.

"You can say that to me after you give me back my Marine." I almost growled with anger. What's this guys problem.

"This war is all death!" He shouted.

"Put the god damn knife down!" I put my gun up and watch his face pale slightly.

"My family." He cried and started saying some type of prayer.

I was so over with this. I walked closer to the man and caught his hand yanking back the knife and pushing down hard on his pressure point. I watched as he fell to the ground then turned with rage to Ambrose.

"You see a threat, you don't god damn hesitate! Didn't you learn anything at boot camp?" He looked got he ground with a nod, " I'll keep you safe but in the meantime you need to learn how to keep yourself alert and out of danger." I told him softer as he looked in shock.

"Sorry." I nodded and looked over to Clayton who gave me a smile.

"Just watch out man." I told him patting his shoulder in a manly matter.

I walked over to Clayton and smirked slightly as he put the safety cap on his gun with a smile. Here we go.

"Show off." He smirked making me laugh.

"Is the rest of this place ok?" I asked him in all seriousness.

"Yeah let's get back to base." He pointed to the old guy, " Do we tell sergeant about Ambrose and his hiccup." He asked curiously and I looked to Ambrose as we got in the truck.

"I'll cut Ambrose some slack but I'm going to talk to him about it." I sighed, " He put his life in danger." I told Clayton as he started up the truck and started to drive.

"Good work man." He smiled and we punched fists.

"Another crazy day tomorrow." We both laughed," Good job guys!" I called back to Ambrose, Collins, Martin and Brooke.

I was beyond excited to get back. I can't wait to phone my beautiful girlfriend now.