His Army Doctor

Fishing

“What do you want to do today,” asked Chloe as she stood up and washed her plate in the sink. 

Delilah just stared out of the window. “Does it really matter? I’m basically on house arrest? It’s not like I can do what I want.”

Chloe walked in the living room and looked around curiously. She obviously had not been in Tobias’ home much before the last couple of days. “Wow, this guy doesn’t even have a TV.”

Delilah sighed, relaxing her tense posture, “Yeah, I noticed that. I’m not much of a television person anyways.”

Chloe shrugged as she sat down on the couch, “Well, then you’re in the right place. Thanatos Island only catches 3 or 4 channels anyways. The war wreaked havoc on our satellites. It think it’s kind of low on the priority list of war recovery.” 

Delilah nodded. After traveling for most of the last year, she was aware of how many luxuries the war had taken away. The war ended a year ago, but most of the recovery efforts had been placed on repairing roads, reopening stores, reopening manufacturing, ect. Delilah really didn’t mind though. It seemed like their society had been taken back in time 200 years. They were living in simpler times now. Town markets were now where most people bought goods for their homes since most cities didn’t have funds to rebuild their grocery stores or to power them. Most food was grown locally now instead of by large companies. Due to the widespread damage of roads, many people had gone back to using horses and bikes as a means for transportation. People stopped buying cars so many of the major automotive companies had gone under. Airports were slowly reopening, but due to all of the airway bombing attacks during the war, most people were extremely skeptical. People just chose not to travel now or if they had to, they took the train or boats. Their government was working hard to restore the industrialized side of their country, but it seemed as if it would take several generations before life returned to the way it once was prior to the great war. 

Chloe cleared her throat, interrupting Delilah’s thoughts. “So, I know you’re here looking for your brother, but why hasn’t he contacted you himself?”

Delilah was silent for a while. Chloe began to fidget nervously, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep any boundaries. I was just trying to get a better grasp on what would bring you to Thanatos. Most people are terrified of this place.”

Delilah relaxed after hearing Chloe’s pure intentions. “My brother and I came from a dysfunctional family with an abusive alcoholic father. My mother was blindly in love and allowed him to come into our lives over and over again. While I was in college, something happened in our family… My brother took the blame for something he didn’t do to, well, to protect me basically. He went to jail for it. He was going to be in jail for a long time. We came from a small town and most people knew about our father and were really sympathetic to my brother being in prison. When the war started 5 years ago, the warden at our local prison gave my brother the opportunity to be drafted into the war as part of the ‘Inmates drafted into Service Program.’ It basically would allow inmates who had records of good behavior be drafted into the war. It would take time off of their sentence.  Unfortunately, they would have to be reincarcerated after the war. So, even then, he would be in prison for most of his life for something he didn’t even do. I saw my brother before he left. I told him that given the first opportunity, to run. I told him I would find him. He can’t contact me because he’s still on the radar. Unfortunately, a lot of inmates in that program ran away during war. Some ran off before they even went to battle. So, needless to say, when law enforcement finds those men the punishment will be harsh. My brother’s battalion was attacked off the coast. Many of them died and some were injured. I believe my brother is alive and is hoping to be declared ‘dead.’ I know he won’t mess that up by trying to contact me. He would have to wait several years for the dust to settle before he came to look for me. Even then, he can never return to Marush. It’s a small town. People will recognize him especially if he is asking around for me.  Nothing was keeping me in Marush, so, unlike him, I can travel freely to look for him.”

Delilah realized that she had just given a lot of private information to someone who was practically a stranger, but it felt good to get some of those secrets off her chest. Chloe was also not military herself. She had come to this island for the same reason as Delilah, to be with her brother, so Delilah wasn’t really concerned that Chloe would run off and tell Tobias or another army official of her brother’s indiscretions.

Chloe’s eyes were widened with the details of my story. “Wow, that’s a lot to take in, but that all makes more sense as to why you came to Thanatos. You think maybe he was brought here to recover?” 

“Yes, I’m hoping someone will remember him.”

“I hate to even ask this, but what makes you think he is still alive?” Chloe questioned.

“I have a friend at the Marush prison. I check in with him regularly. Marush prison will be notified if one of their prisoners is a confirmed fatality. Speaking of which, I haven’t called since I’ve been here. Do you know where Tobias’ phone is?”

Chloe pointed to the far wall in the kitchen. “Yeah, there’s a satellite phone in the kitchen that can let you dial off the island.”

Delilah finished her conversation quickly and left the guard her phone number at Tobias home so he could call her with any new information. Delilah walked back into the living room to see Chloe still sitting there with her hands holding up her cheeks in a daze still processing all the information.

“Does General Matthews know any of this,” asked Chloe.

“He only knows I’m here looking for my brother. He doesn’t know about my brother’s past. I’d like to keep it that way.”

Chloe nodded. She was too afraid of him to ever disclose anything privately to him anyways. 

Delilah looked out the glass door over the waves hitting the side of the wooden dock. The sea here was so beautiful and pure. “Do you think Tobias has any fishing poles?” Delilah asked looking at Chloe. 

Chloe’s face brightened up probably appreciating the turn in conversation. “Yes, I’m sure he does. He loves to fish. It’s one of the few things I ever hear him mention other than military work. Maybe they’re in the shed outside on the dock.”

It didn’t take long to find a couple fishing poles and a tackle box in the shed. Delilah hadn’t had time to fish in years, but it was something she loved. Her and Daniel would spend hours sitting on the docks of Marush pulling in speckled trout and mullet. Chloe wasn’t a very skilled fisherman but she seemed to enjoy being outside and chatting about small talk. She didn’t bring up Daniel again or Delilah’s sketchy past. Sometimes, Chloe would get so drawn into the story she was telling that Delilah would have to remind her to check her bait. After a couple of hours, Delilah and Chloe had caught enough fish to even eat for dinner. Delilah didn’t love the task of cleaning and grilling fish, but she had nothing else to do. Chloe had obviously done this before as well as she was fairly fast with the deboning. 

A couple drops of rain began to fall as the ladies finished up the last few fish which signaled to them it was time to go inside. 

As they were shutting the glass door, headlights appeared on the gravel driveway. “Oh that’s Lee, General Matthews should be here any minute. Are you okay with me leaving?” Chloe asked.  

“Of course. Thanks for accompanying me today, Chloe. It was nice.” Delilah kindly answered. It wasn’t a lie. It had been a long time since Delilah had another female to talk to and dare she say ‘friend’.

Chloe’s face lit up as she gave Delilah a hug. She was probably more than happy to leave before she had to face Tobias again. She didn’t seem very comfortable in his presence. “Ugh, get a shower before you eat dinner. You smell like fish guts,” laughed Chloe. 

Delilah laughed. After she watched Lee’s truck leave the driveway, she seasoned the fish and placed them in the oven to bake them since it was raining too hard now to try and grill. She started some yellow rice on the stove as well. She went and got a fresh shower while she waited on the fish to cook. She was still achy and stiff, but she could actually wash her own hair today. She tied her hair in a loose side braid and put on some fresh clothes. She made sure to wear a long sleeve shirt that would cover her bruises. She had to look perfectly fine if Tobias was ever going to let her out of this house. Delilah went to the kitchen and prepared the plates. Perfectly timed, Tobias came in the house soaking wet. The rain must have really picked up out there. He glanced curiously in the kitchen as the smell of freshly baked trout waded into the foyer. 

“You cooked again?” asked Tobias as he began to remove his boots. 

Delilah placed the plates on the table as she answered, “Yeah, I’m sorry. Hope you don’t mind fish. I get bored sitting around.”  

“Where’d you get the fish,” Tobias questioned as he began to look at some mail he had brought in.

“Oh, me and Chloe caught them off the dock today.” 

Tobias looked up a little surprised, but he didn’t say anything. Most people had learned how to fish and hunt well these last 5 years since the food market was so unpredictable. 

“Are you going to change?” asked Delilah as she motioned towards Tobias wet clothes that were now dripping on the wooden floor. 

“Yeah, sure.” Tobias didn’t seem to mind the wet clothes in the freezing cold temperatures outside. He walked to his bedroom and came back with a pair of jeans and a flannel button down. He walked out with it unbuttoned and seemed to have no intention of buttoning it up. 

It was hard not to notice his tan chest that was rippled with muscles. Delilah looked down at her food quickly not wanting him to catch her staring. 

They ate in silence. Tobias didn’t say anything about the food, but he must have liked it because he went back for seconds. He was such a quiet and withdrawn man. It was difficult to understand his thoughts. After dinner, Tobias made a fire and they sat on the couch. He looked through some paperwork he had brought home from the camp. Delilah stared out the window and watched the rain fall. She wondered about Daniel and if she would ever find him. She hoped he was somewhere warm tonight and not out in this weather.

Tobias began to speak, interrupting her thoughts. “There is a military dinner next Friday night. It is a formality that I must attend. Most all military personnel on Thanatos will be in attendance. You may come if you’d like to ask around about your brother.” he said without looking up from his paperwork. Delilah’s eyes lit up. This is the perfect type of setting to ask. The less professional setting may allow people to open up more. “Really? That would be great! Thank you!” Delilah unconsciously leaned over and hugged Tobias out of excitement. She felt him stiffen beneath her arms. Embarrassed at her lack of thinking, she quickly let go and leaned back to her seat. She looked down awkwardly, “Sorry, I got excited.”

Tobias’ expression softened a bit, “It’s formal, so Chloe will show you where to go to get a dress.” 

Delilah rolled her eyes a bit. She really hated dressing up, but she wouldn’t miss this chance. She tucked her braid behind her ear shly, “sounds good.”