Chapter 10

Monday 10 December

Present — Ben - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany

I don't know whether to feel anger, sadness, or worry: I know my arm is messed up, but the news Crispy gave me was not even as good as my worst nightmare. After he left and while Jens is distracted by cuddling with me I sneak a look at my hand. It looks like it has the measles from all the spots he poked with the needle but I didn't feel any of them.

I'm tired of the emotional rollercoaster I've been on all day and need a break. Cuddling with Jens is just the distraction I need. But teasing her a little will be even better. "It's so nice holding my submissive little wife-to-be."

She looks at me, "What are you talking about?"

I grin at her, "After telling you to shut your mouth during my little talk with Glen I now know I wear the pants in this family."

She starts getting upset but then surprises me when she cuddles close and purrs, "Yes dear."

I look at her big grin and say, "Can you tell I'm yanking your chain?"

She bats her eyes at me and declares with a great deal of innocence, "You are? I didn't know."

I'm disappointed and ask, "Jens, are you serious?"

She sits up and looks at me. "Ben I told you a very long time ago I'm not a femi-nazi and I meant it. I also just told you I'd do anything to make our time together the best ever for you. If you want me to be your 'submissive little wife', I will do my best to fill that role for you."

I'm now in shock and utter, "Jens, you can't be serious!"

She grins and says, "Serious as a heart attack. So tell me, do you want a 'submissive little bimbo wife' or would you rather have Jens?"

I finally figure out she's yanking my chain and now it's my turn. "I think I like the idea of you being my submissive little bimbo wife. So get your ass up and make me a sandwich."

"Like hell I will! Make your own damn sandwich!" She fires back. "Submissive little bimbo wife my ass — shit you've got another think coming if you believe that!"

Boy, submissive sure didn't last long! I grab her, pull her close and say, "Now that's the fiery Jens I know and love. Come here and give me a kiss."

She struggles to pull away from me and declares, "Not until you apologize for the submissive little wife comment."

"Okay, okay, give me a minute." She stops struggling, looks at me and I grin really big, "I'm sorry you're not a submissive little wife."

She starts laughing. "You are impossible sometimes. It's a good thing I know you're just teasing me, otherwise I'd have to kick your butt." She snuggles up next to me but her phone rings, "Shit, who the hell is bothering us." She changes her tune when she looks at the phone, "Oh goodie, it's..."

Present — Jens - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany

Oh yeah! We're back to the loving couple we've always been. I know because Ben is teasing me about being a 'submissive little wife.' Shit, like that will ever happen! There's more of a chance of me letting Glen and Evelyn come to our wedding than me ever become his blonde bimbo — I won't be anyone's blow up Barbie doll. But it's fun to tease him back. I even get him worried until he calls my bluff.

We just start cuddling again when Liz calls, "Hey sister, long time no see or hear. Do I have news for you!"

Liz answers, "And I have news for you too, let me go first."

"No fricken way because mine is better! You need to get your ass back here and help me plan our wedding. I can't do anything without my maid of honor here."

The phone goes silent for a very long moment and then I hear her voice, "Jens, that's great news. So you two are going to finally get married. Why the big change?"

I tell her about Ben taking a medical discharge and how we're headed back to America today. And then I go over all the other details.

She answers, "Wow that's great news! We will make so much money from your wedding videos."

I tease her by saying, "But no videos of the wedding night!"

She laughs and replies, "Too bad, those would be priceless."

Ben motions for the phone and I hand it to him. "Hey Liz, how are you doing and when are you coming back?" I wait for him to get his answer and then he hands the phone back to me.

"Yeah sis, when are you coming back?"

"Jens the joy I feel can't be expressed over the phone. Some things can only be said in person or in writing."

I tense as I hear the code words we established in Kabul ages ago. "I understand sister. What's going on?"

"Not much, I'm in Dushanbe and I was just thinking about when you and Ben pretended to be pirates on Glen's sailboat." I tense at hearing Glen's name but continue listening. "It was a great time until Frankie fell overboard and Ben almost died saving her."

Then it hit me - Liz is telling me Ben is in danger! "I remember how he almost died. I was so scared."

Liz continues, "What was the name of the pirate he called you? It was from the Gina Davis movie Cutthroat Island?"

I remember the name and reply, "Yeah Liz I know who you're talking about, but I'm much sexier than she is."

"Yes but her names are much sexier than Jennifer Donaldson. Especially if you combine them by putting her character name first and then follow it with her real name," Liz adds.

"Are you being odd again?"

"I'm not being odd today, but someday I'll get even with you for the comment. I want to let you know Matt and Jim are leaving soon for Ramstein so don't leave without them. Well I hate to cut this phone call short but I'm busy as hell here. Love you sis, give my love to Ben and I'll be back soon to help with the wedding."

The phone goes dead and I look at Ben while I try to disguise my concern. "Jens, I don't know what you two were talking about, but it was a strange conversation." He looks closely at my face and asks, "And what are you so worried about?"

I jump out of bed and start pulling on my clothes. "Ben, I'm not sure exactly what's going on, but I need to find a computer right now! First I need to get an MP to our room!"

He starts to struggle to get out of bed and demands, "Jens, tell me what the hell is going on!"

I bite my lip, and decide he needs to know. "Ben, our conversation was in code and I won't know everything until I can get to a computer. But Liz let me know she thinks you're in danger."

I see an amazed look cross his face as he says, "Jens, she must be wrong. I'm in a hospital on an Air Force base. How much safer could I be?"

"Ben she doesn't think she's wrong on this since she's even sending Matt and Jim back to help. I don't know anything else right now. Listen to me for once and don't fight me." I reach in my purse and hand him a Cold Steel throwing knife. "It's not a Ka-Bar, but it's all I could fit in my purse. Hide it under the sheet."

I watch as he balances the knife in his hand, "No, but for throwing this is better than a Ka-Bar. I wish you had a pistol in your purse. Aren't Matt and Jim still in the Marines?"

"Ben it's a long story and I don't have time to tell it all right now. They now work for us as our bodyguards. I'm going to see Dr. Crispin to arrange for a guard, and then I'm going to find a computer." I hug him and cry a little, "Take care of yourself and don't you dare die!"

Present - Liz — Dushanbe, Tajikistan

I get ready to call Jens and Mira stops me, "Ms. Morgan, your mobile phone is not secure so be careful what you say to Ms. Donaldson."

I look at her and say, "Thanks for the warning. I'll handle it another way."

I call Jens to give her the bad news but she's so excited to tell me her good news. Except her good news about planning the wedding is the worst thing I could ever hear. I start to sway from the shock and Mira grabs and steadies me. I recover and even pretend to be happy about her news. Then I give Jens the code words, and as much detail as I can fit in a short conversation and I hang up the phone.

"Mira, I need to get to a computer right away."

She smiles and says, "You are in luck. There is an Internet café just a half block away. So Ms. Donaldson and SM Blaine are getting married?"

A few tears form in the corner of my eyes as I reply, "Yes they want me to help plan the wedding. I guess I always hoped something would happen and I could marry Ben."

Mira hugs me, "Ms. Morgan it bothers me because you are so upset. Are you sure we cannot do anything to fix this problem?"

I pull myself together and look her straight in the eye, "Mira, I'm going to tell you for the last time and I want you to tell Ira: They are my best friends and I want you to protect them exactly the same way you protect me."

She smiles sadly and apologizes, "Sorry Ms. Morgan for suggesting it again. But we just hate to see you so sad. We will not mention it again and we will precisely follow your instructions."

"Then, let's get to the Internet café." We walk outside and find Ira and the guys guarding the front, "Matt and Jim come here a minute." Everyone gathers around me and I tell them what's going on, "Matt and Jim, I want you to go to the airport and get to Ramstein as soon as possible. Take the jet but make sure to send it back here."

"You got it boss lady." Matt says.

Jim adds, "Are you sure you'll be safe?"

Ira gives him such a nasty look, "I should kick your butt for being so disrespectful."

He challenges her and remarks, "Like you could really do that."

Quick as a flash she's behind him and has a knife to his neck. "You will apologize to us right now."

I need to defuse this situation quickly, "Hey, all four of you cut this out or I'll kick all your butts."

Ira drops the knife to her side, looks down and walks over by me, "Sorry Ms. Morgan, but he made me angry when he implied we could not protect you."

Jim looks relieved and starts to apologize, "Sorry Mira..."

"That's Ira," she interrupts.

"Sorry Ira, I just want to make sure Liz will be safe."

"You should call her Ms. Morgan because it is more respectful." Ira grumps.

"Okay, that's enough of this bickering. Now kiss and make up."

Ira looks at me, walks over to Jim and gives him a big kiss. When she finishes she reaches into her purse, pulls out breath spray and puts four sprays in her mouth.

I chuckle, "Ira, 'kiss and make up' is just an American expression. It means you need to become friends again. I didn't order you to kiss Jim."

She blushes and replies, "Sorry Ms. Morgan. I thought it was an order."

Jim was finally all smiles, "And I'm sorry too. I really didn't mean to insult you."

"Apology accepted, just do not do it again." Ira pulls out a phone and makes a call, "A taxi is coming for both of you."

I motion Ira over to me and whisper, "Ira I'm so sorry you thought I ordered you to kiss Jim."

"Thank you Ms. Morgan, I do not like him and it was nasty. But if you would have ordered me to kiss Matt I would have enjoyed that." Her eyes twinkle as she grins at me.

Mira interrupts, "We are going to the Internet café as Ms. Morgan needs a computer." We start walking down the street in our standard formation. The twins are talking to me about clothes and shoes and asking me a million questions about America. I suddenly stop and look at them, "Shit, how am I going to get you two to America with me? We need passports and visas."

They both give me a sad look and answer, "Sorry Ms. Morgan we have passports but did not think about visas."

I give them a different look and reassure them, "Don't worry about it, I have a few friends who owe me some favors. I'll have your visas by tomorrow."

That promise earns me stereo grins and Mira says, "Thank you Ms. Morgan."

"Don't you think you should call me Liz?"

Ira gives me a scared look, "Oh no Ms. Morgan. It would be disrespectful to call you Liz."

I wonder what sort of training they've been through to make it so hard to call me Liz but decide to explore it later.

As we reach the Internet café, Ira says, "Please wait here and I will go in and make sure it's safe." The next thing I know everyone is leaving and Ira comes to the door and waves me in.

"You didn't have to chase everyone out."

She smiles and confirms, "Yes I did because they were possible threats to you. Here is the best computer for you and I switched the language to English."

"Thank you Ira, but I won't be using much of this computer as it is right now." I reach in my bag and pull out an eight gig Kingston Traveler flash drive. Good - it's a Dell computer. I plug in the flash drive, start the computer reboot, and press F12. The boot menu comes up and I tell the computer to boot from the flash drive.

It takes a bit for the computer to boot and the first thing the flash drive does is check the BIOS to make sure it's not infected. It takes a few more minutes and then I'm prompted for my password. I look at Ira and she walks away to give me privacy. I mess up the password the first time. Shit! I only have two more tries and then the drive gets wiped. I get it right the next time and it boots into a secure OS.

I fire up a secure browser session, go to Google and create a new account under the name of MorganAdamsGinaDavis, a combination of Gina Davis and her character's name from Cutthroat Island. I give it the password ogndmGnDvs all the even letters from the two names combined. It creates my account and I compose a new email. Then I get busy typing.

Sister, great news about you and B! You two are the perfect couple and I love being your best friend. I can't wait to get back and plan the wedding with you but all hell is breaking loose here in Dushanbe.

I came here to make sure B didn't marry the girls and thank God he didn't! But they are dangerous little bitches because they won't stop trying to get married to him. Don't be pissed at him about it because he has no control over it.

I was detained by the NSC and thought I might have to go to work for them, but I was able to escape. In the process of getting free, I picked up two of their best agents as my new body guards. They are twins and are two of the most drop dead gorgeous and dangerous women I have ever met and they have already saved my life so I'm bringing them back with me.

What I did determine is the truck B stole from H had a fortune of gold in it and everyone in the whole world is looking for the truck and the girls. I accidentally let slip B probably knows where the girls are. My new body guards think the NSC will accidentally let the information leak and said B and anyone he cares for will be in danger.

The Russian mafia has already tried to grab me twice and I think they will be going after you soon. Watch your back sister and keep your man safe.

XOXO (One set for you and one set for B)

L

I made sure I didn't leave anything out, then I clicked save and made sure the message was in the drafts folder. I signed out of Google and then logged into my secure server and fired up my email. "Hey Ira, do you have your passports."

"I have mine and will get Mira's." She walks to the door and says something. Mira walks over with her passport. Ira walks back, hands them to me and starts to leave, "No, please stay. I want you to see this."

To American Embassy, Dushanbe Tajikistan

Attention: Sam Clark Ambassador,

Sam, I need a big favor from you and will be very appreciative if you can pull this off. I'm hiring two Tajik women to work as bodyguards for me and I need work visas for them tomorrow. I know it's short notice, but I know you can work miracles and like I said I will be very grateful. I would be even more appreciative if you get the paperwork started for their naturalization.

They are twins and here is their passport information.

Miranda Sedankina Number 1027895 BD 01/01/1986

Irina Sedankina Number 1027896 BD 01/01/1986

There might be one issue: They are both former NSC agents.

One more thing if it's not too much to ask. I'm in a couple of situations here and I don't feel safe staying in my hotel. I was wondering if you could provide a room for the three of us tonight.

Thanks, you're a sweetie.

XOXO Liz Morgan

I send the email and look back at Ira.

"Ms. Morgan, you would do this for us?"

"Of course, you two saved my life."

She looks at me, "Do I understand you offered to be trained by him to get our visas?"

"I'm sure he will require it, probably more than once."

I see her start to cry, "Ms. Morgan, no one has ever treated us as well as you have in just the last few hours. We-we-we are just your bodyguards."

I stand up and hug her, "Ira, you and Mira are more than just my bodyguards, you're my girlfriends. And you've saved my life. I think it's time I take my two new girlfriends out clothes shopping and then for a nice dinner."

She grins and leads the way outside. I only see Mira and she explains, "Matt and Jim have left for the airport."

Ira excitedly tells Mira something in their private language then Mira comes over and hugs me. "Ms. Morgan, Ira told me about the letter and what you have offered to do for us. I am embarrassed because it is the bodyguard which should do this for their boss, not the other way around. When we get to the Embassy I will offer us to the Ambassador in place of you."

I step back and look at her, "Like hell you will. I'm not letting my two very good girlfriends be abused. It's no big deal to me since I've done him before."

I watch as they both start crying, I open my arms and they fall into them giving me a big hug. Several minutes later they pull away, open their purses, pull out hankies and dry their eyes. Then they fix their makeup, "Sorry Ms. Morgan. We are not used to being treated this way. It is not professional for us to cry."

I grin at them and explain, "Sure it is! You are women and even professional women cry. That's what makes us better than men. Now, lead the way to the best shops in Dushanbe."

Mira replies, "First, you need some body armor like ours. Then we will shop for clothes which will fit over it."

Ira calls a cab, we jump in and head towards their body armor tailor.

Present — Jens - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany

Son-of-a-bitch! Now Liz has me really upset! She told me Ben is in danger of being killed but she can't tell me anything more on the phone because she is concerned someone is listening. I almost drop the phone when she says, "Some things can only be said in person or in writing."

I haven't heard that phrase since Kabul, when we were trying to rescue Ben. Fucking Glen and Evelyn had Blackwater and a bunch of others hunting for me. Shit! she even used our fricken money as a bounty for my capture. Ben and I earned that money and it just isn't right for her to use it as a reward for capturing me!

Every bit of our communications was being monitored and we needed a safe way to communicate. So we stole a page from fucking Al Qaeda and set up bogus email accounts. Then we'd post a message to the drafts folder and others could log in and read it. Because the connection to the email server used SSL¹ the connections were impenetrable. And because we never sent emails from the account, Echelon² couldn't intercept them. This was the same fricken technique Al Qaeda used to organize 9-11.

¹ SSL - Secure Sockets Layer: cryptographic protocols which provide secure communications on the Internet.

² ECHELON is a name used in global media and in popular culture to describe a signals intelligence (SIGINT) collection and analysis network operated on behalf of the five signatory states to the UK-USA Security Agreement (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States).

Liz gives me all the information I need: The account name, and password. Now I need to get to a fricken computer so I can retrieve the message. I am in such a hurry as I leave the room I forget to nicely ask Ben to stay in bed and wait for me to return.

I walk into Dr. Crispin's office, "Hello Dr. Crispin."

He looks up from his computer, "Jens, what are you doing here?"

I lie just a little and reply, "I came to find out when we're leaving and to tell you Ben is getting restless. I think he's going to try to escape again."

He looks at me, "Then why didn't you stay with him. You have a very calming influence on Ben."

Rats, I need to be careful, "I decided I want to lease a plane so I was wondering if I could use your computer."

"You couldn't do it over the phone?"

I smile and lie again, "I didn't have the phone number and I need to look it up. You really should go check on Ben."

"You're sure about this?"

"Oh yes sir! I think he's trying to escape about now. Make sure you take at least one MP."

"Okay, I'll go check and let you use my computer. But don't mess with the patient records."

"Thank you sir, I promise I'll be a good girl."

As he leaves, I run over to get on the computer. I fire up the web browser and go to Google and then right into gmail. I enter the account information and log right in, well almost right in since I mess up the password twice because I am so nervous. Finally I'm in and I read the message: It's such good news Ben didn't marry the fricken girls! I was still worried about it and now I don't have to worry anymore.

The twins sound so interesting and they must be really good if she's sending Matt and Jim back to keep us safe. I can't believe the story about the gold and I'm a little pissed that Liz mentioned to the NSC that Ben might know where the girls are hiding. But I think she's probably correct because it sounds like something Ben would do and I need to ask him about it. I decide to write a quick reply so I start a new email.

Sis, thank you so much for all the work you've done. But you should have told me where you were going! I've been so worried and lost without you!

OMG B wanted to call the chaplain and marry me today and I almost said YES! But you know how much I want a big wedding. Do you think I'm doing the right thing????

I also don't trust those conniving little bitches. I can sense they tried to seduce B while he was asleep but they couldn't get it done. I did tell B they can't come to America until we are married. So if he knows where they are and tells me, I'll leave you a message. You can find a way to sit on them until after were married. If they try any tricks, I'll put them in a fricken military school.

Thanks for sending M and J back since it sounds like we can really use them. I'll make sure we wait until they come before we leave.

Well, I need to get back to B and make sure he's not doing something crazy - you know, something Marine.

Love you sis

XOXO from B and me!

I click save and watch it go into the drafts folder. Then I clear the browser data and close it. I look at the desktop of the computer and notice the patient information database, I want to open it and look at Ben's medical file, but I've lied too much today and feel very bad about it. I hit Ctrl L and lock the screen.

I jump up and almost run back to the room. I walk into the room and Ben is...

Present — Ben - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany

Jens just told me I was in danger and went flying out of the room like her ass was on fire. I waited for about fifteen minutes and got bored. I don't know what the hell is going on, but I'm sure not going to lay on this bed and wait any longer. She forgot I don't have any tubes or monitor wires to restrict me and they never took away the scrubs. And she never asked me to stay in the room - not that I would have listened.

I tuck the throwing knife in my sling and start getting out of bed just as Glen walks in the room. "What do you think you're doing Marine? You have orders to stay in bed."

Shit, seeing Glen and hearing him order me to do something sets off a huge mental turmoil. My initial response is to salute and obey his orders. But a hell of a lot went on between Jens and her parents and that's changed my feelings towards Glen. Plus, since I asked for a medical discharge I no longer feel I'm a Marine — well that's not quite right since I'll always be a Marine, but I'll never again be one of Glen's Marines.

I give him a dirty look, "Then I'm breaking those orders and any others you give me. I have things I need to do and they don't involve lying in this bed."

"I'll have you before a court martial."

I laugh and start walking towards the door, "Glen, it doesn't matter anymore to me. Court martial me and bust me back to a PFC. I don't really care!"

Dr. Crispin and an MP block the doorway. The MP gets tense and Dr. Crispin looks at me, "Hey Ben, are you taking a little walk?"

I smile at them and explain, "No, I'm not going for a fucking walk. I'm going to find Jens and figure out what the hell is going on. You two need to get out of my way because I don't want to hurt either of you."

Four more MPs show up. Crispy answers, "Ben Jens told us you were going to try to escape again. You can't go running all over this hospital with your arm. If you keep fucking it up, you're going to lose it."

What a lying little sneak Jens has become: Telling them I'm going to escape. When I see her again I'm going to spank her ass for real! "This is the last time I'm telling you Crispy, get the fuck out of my way."

He stands to the side and I glare at the MPs, "Well, five MPs against a one armed Marine - this might almost be a fair fight. Move out of the way or I'll kick your butts."

Glen yells from behind me, "I order you to stand down Marine!"

So I yell back, "I order you to shut your fat fucking pie hole!"

One of the MPs pulls a funny looking gun and points it at me. I laugh and say, "If you shoot me with your fucking toy gun, I'm going to take it away from you and make you eat it."

He grins and pulls the trigger. I watch as two barbs connected to wires stick into my chest. The next thing I know I'm thrashing around on the floor getting the hell shocked out of me. It stops after what is the longest thirty seconds of my life.

Crispy leans over me and explains, "Ben that's called a Taser and if you continue to fight he will shock you again. Do you understand?" I nod my head.

"Let's get him back to bed," Crispy orders and the MPs start to gather around me to help me up. As they reach for me, I rip the barbs out of my chest and jab them into the closest MP's leg. The doofus with the Taser is too slow and shocks the hell out of the MP. I spin around on my back and take down the others with my legs.

They're cussing and swearing and I'm kicking the shit out of all of them, as they try to hold me down. I grab the Taser gun from the MP and shock the hell out of the MP already lying on the floor. I'm fighting with the other MPs trying to get their Taser guns and I'm almost free when Jens yells, "Ben what the fuck are you doing!"

Everyone stops fighting. I look over at her and see she is extremely pissed off. Then she sees Glen in the room and her anger multiplies, "And who the hell let you come into my room! Everyone out of our room right now or I'm going to kick some butt!"

The MPs get up off the floor, except for the one that's been tazed. Since he pissed himself and passed out, they have to carry him out of the room. Glen comes over but Jens glares at him, "Don't say a fucking word to me or I'll kick your fat fucking ass. I'm sure this is all your fault!"

He laughs as he walks out of the room, "Ben you're going to get your ass chewed."

She looks at me on the floor and then to Dr. Crispin, "Please help me get Ben's ass back in bed." They both help lift me up and put me back in the bed and Jens continues, "Dr. Crispin, please check his arm. I want to know if he's damaged it anymore."

He checks my arm and finds the throwing knife in the sling. He grins and hands it to Jens. "Well, it's bleeding some more, but that's about all. I don't know why he didn't mess it up."

"Thank you doctor, will you please leave us alone and close the door on your way out."

He looks at me like I'm a condemned man and shakes his head, "Yes Ms. Donaldson. Do me a favor and don't hurt him too much."

Jens is standing beside my bed. I give her a big smile, she returns the smile, jumps into bed with me and asks, "What the hell do you think you were doing?"

"I missed you and wanted to come find you. Why did you tell them I was going to escape?"

She grins at me and explains, "I realized I didn't ask you nicely to stay in the room and knew you were going to try to find me. So I had to improvise a solution."

"How did you learn to be so sneaky?"

She replies, "You taught me."

I think to myself - yeah right, if anything you wrote the book on being sneaky. She senses what I'm thinking and pinches me, "Hey I did not write the book on being sneaky."

I grin, "Well then you co-authored it with me. So tell me what the hell is going on."

Present — Jens - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany