Chapter 18

Wednesday 12 December

Present — Ben — WRAMC

There are times to fight a battle and there are times to regroup — and this is a time to regroup. This doesn't mean I'm sitting here passively, because I never do - not even when I was captured. I need to explore all the details of Evelyn's treachery and then plan an appropriate response taking into account the feelings Jens still has for her. Yes she tries to hide and deny the feelings, but I can sense them in her. Otherwise it would be simple - Evelyn would be dead.

Besides, it's funny as hell watching Jens trying to figure me out. For some unknown reason, she's confused and has no idea what I'm doing or thinking. I'm not sure why she can't sense properly right now, but it's fun and I'm glad she's having this problem. I even let her tie my hand back down and then say, "Jens, thank you for always being here for me. And thank you for taking such good care of me."

I watch as tears start down her cheeks, "Ben, I don't know how you could say that to me..."

I interrupt and answer, "It was easy, I just opened my mouth and it sort of rolled out."

She jumps on top of me and starts kissing the hell out of me! Then she pulls away and says, "You're lucky you're wounded - otherwise I'd screw your brains out."

I grin at her and come back with, "And trade your white wedding dress for one in camo?"

She gives me a dirty look but says, "What is your fascination with camo wedding dresses? And no, I would still wear white. I know you're not naïve enough to think that all brides who wear white dresses are virgins."

I remember back — it seems like a lifetime ago — to a little girl with camo hair. I smile at her and reply, "But my bride will be a virgin. So stop torturing yourself and call the nurse."

For a change, Jens senses my thoughts, smiles from ear to ear and says, "You remember my camo hair? I did that just for you." Then she falls on top of me and seriously attacks me.

I try to fight back but the restraints keep me from tickling her, but I do find the call button and push it. It doesn't take long for nurse to show up. I hear from the door, "What's going on in here?"

Jens tenses, stops, then turns and looks at the nurse, "I thought Ben was having problems so I was practicing mouth to mouth resuscitation."

The nurse laughs and says, "Yeah right! This isn't a prison, although some patients think it is, so you don't get conjugal visits. Get off your fiancé so I can make sure he's okay."

I watch as she slowly slinks off the bed but I can tell she's not happy.

Present — Jens — WRAMC

How the hell did the nurse know Ben is awake? I'm upset because I want some serious loving from my Man! Especially after he remembers my camo hair! I didn't think he remembered any of those early meetings when I was a skinny little brat.

Ben says to the nurse, "Thank you for coming so quickly after I pressed the call button."

The fricken sneaky devil-dog! Now I know how she knew he was awake.

She said, "It looks to me like I came just in time. What in the heck was going on?"

Ben chuckles, "Jens got excited and you might say I was a captive audience. How about untying my good arm so I can defend myself?"

She flirts with him, "I thought every man dreamed of being tied down and molested by beautiful women."

I clear my throat, "Hey, did you forget I'm in the room?"

The nurse turns and says, "Oh thank you, I did. You need to leave the room while I examine SM Blaine."

I reply, "There's no way in hell I'm leaving the room while you're in here. He's my fiancé and I'm staying."

She looks at me and says, "Young lady, you don't have a choice in this. If I order you out of the room you either leave or I call security."

I stand up and get ready to fight when Ben says, "Nurse, she is my fiancée and I would appreciate it if she could stay. If you need privacy to examine me, have her stand by the doorway and pull the curtain."

The nurse looks at Ben and replies, "If you don't have any problems with her staying, then I suppose it will be okay. These young girls are so excitable. Missy, please move over by the doorway. But don't argue with me this time."

I get upset and argue, "Excuse me! I am not a young girl and I am not a Missy!"

The nurse interrupts me with, "But you are very excitable and in a state of agitation. After the seizure SM Blaine had, he needs to rest and when I came in the room you were giving him way too much stimulation. You will either do what I tell you or I will have you removed."

I start to fight with her and Ben says, "Jens, please don't get thrown out of the hospital. I need you."

I decide to listen to Ben and reply to the nurse, "Okay, I'll move over by the door, but I don't trust your grubby mitts on my Man!"

The nurse laughs at me and I started towards her until I see the pleading look in Ben's eyes. I say, "Ben I'll be right over here by the door just in case nurse battle axe gets inappropriate with you!" Then I turn and storm off by the door.

The nurse pulls the curtain and I strain my ears to listen since there's too much laughing and carrying on for my taste. After what seems like an eternity the nurse opens the curtains and motions me over.

I go to get in her face and she says, "Young lady, simmer down and relax. SM Blaine has just recovered from a seizure of unknown origin and he needs rest. If you start making out with him again, or keep flying around here like you're the drama queen of the world, I'm going to throw you out of this hospital."

I start to blast her and Ben says, "Nurse it really helps me calm down if she lays beside me and cuddles. Would it be okay if she does that?"

The nurse looks at Ben and then looks at me and says, "As long as all she does is cuddle and doesn't excite you like I saw before I think it will be fine. But I will be checking on you two so behave yourselves."

I notice all the restraints are off Ben and I happily climb into bed with him as fricken nurse battle axe leaves. I stick my tongue out at her, then sigh, cuddle up close to Ben and say, "She's a bitch and a half and I hate her."

Ben chuckles and says, "Jens, let me tell you about nurses like her. They are very good nurses and take their jobs seriously. They care so much that they develop a queen syndrome. If you fight a nurse like her you will never win, because they have all the power."

I say, "I'll kick her flabby old ass if she flirts with you again."

He kisses me on the head and says, "Jens, don't worry about it. Or did you forget I only love you?"

"Shit!" I say and start crying because I did forget and slipped back into my old habits and worries. Ben holds me close and it feels so good that I drift off to sleep.

Present — Ben — WRAMC

I look down at Jens and smile as she falls to sleep. God I've missed holding her and sleeping with her. The problem is I'm not sleepy because I'm still upset about Ramstein. Nurse Claire (Jens never did learn her name) comes in the room and smiles at us. I whisper, "Any chance I can watch TV to see what's going on in Ramstein?"

Claire whispers, "Sorry SM Blaine. Doctors orders are no TV for you because of your PTSD."

I look at her and say, "Well, I'm going to go crazy if I don't have something to occupy my time."

She replies, "I'll go find you a magazine or book. But the doctor's here and will be in soon to see you."

I ask, "You're not going to get in trouble for removing the restraints?"

Claire replies, "No way! I've got all the doctors afraid of me and if I decided you didn't need restraints then you didn't need them."

I whisper, "By the way, thanks for letting Jens stay with me."

Claire grins and says, "She's a good kid and will make you a hell of a wife once she simmers down and grows up. Sorry I had to get rough with her. I know what you two have been through but she needs to let you heal."

I answer, "I know she will never thank you, but I know she did appreciate getting to stay."

Claire says, "Let me go and find you a magazine or book." I watch as Claire leaves the room and think about the words she said. Yes Jens will make me a hell of a wife, but I hope she doesn't simmer down too much because I like her fiery temperament."

The doctor shows up before Nurse Claire returns with the book. He takes a look at us and smiles. Then he says, "Looks like you're both resting well to me."

I look at Jens and reply, "Yeah, she's exhausted from taking care of me."

He says, "You might want to wake her up so she can hear about your surgery later today."

I'm surprised about the surgery because I didn't know it had been scheduled, but say, "Nah, I think I'll let her sleep because she really needs it. You'll be back in before they take me down and I'm sure she'll give you the fourth degree then."

He smiles and says, "Well, at least let me fill you in on what we're going to do." Then he gives me all the details about the surgery and asks if I have any questions.

I reply, "What about the nerve damage?"

He doesn't smile when he answers, "SM Blaine, I won't lie to you, it doesn't look good. You are going to lose some use of your hand and probably some use of your arm. The wound is too extensive and too old."

I fake a smile, "Thanks doctor for telling me the truth. I know you're the best and you'll do the best job you can."

He leaves and I look at my arm while a few tears trickle down my cheeks. Nurse Claire comes in with a book, sees me and whispers, "You'd better stop feeling sorry for yourself! You're one of the very lucky ones. I could take you through the rest of this ward and you'd see men totally missing their arms and legs. Not only do you have all your arms and legs, you have the love of a young lady to help you heal. Many of the men in here don't have anyone."

She puts the book and the table and leaves — leaves me to think about her words. I remember the many times I've been in hospitals and the large number of wounded soldiers I've seen. Yes, I do have all my arms and legs, I have both eyes and I can hear reasonably well, yes I am one of the very lucky ones. I look at Jens, she sighs and I realize I'm incredibly lucky — but I still can't get Ramstein out of my mind!

Present — Liz — Flight to Ramstein AFB Germany

My ears pop and wake me up as the jet starts its descent into Ramstein. I look on one side of me and see Ira smile, then on the other side and see Mira smile. I yawn stretch and realize I don't remember when I've ever slept this well.

Mira says, "We noticed you slept very well."

"Yes sisters I did, I slept too well and too long and I didn't get to talk with you about how we are going to work together."

Ira answers, "Ms. Morgan, we are well aware you have a dangerous job. It is our job to make sure you do not take foolish chances."

I ask, "Like Samantha did when she ran into the hospital?"

Ira smiles and Mira answers, "Yes Ms. Morgan. We will not let you do something like that. Especially now since you have others working for you who will do those assignments."

I turn my head and look at Mira, "Others? All the others I can think of are just Samantha."

I hear a sniffle from Ira, I turn and she seems to be crying, "I guess Mira and I will not be good enough to be news reporters like you said."

I'm not sure if she's really crying or not, but I do think I've hurt her. I hug her and she winces, "Sorry Ira I forgot about your ribs. And I also forgot I have two more beautiful news reporters. Please forgive me. I've gone from being the only news reporter to having three others to help me and it's a big adjustment."

Ira calms down some and replies, "We forgive you Ms. Morgan. It's just we have both always dreamed of being reporters and we thought you forgot about your promise to us."

I answer, "Sisters I will never forget about any of my promises to either of you. But we still need to figure out how to work together."

Mira says, "Yes Ms. Morgan, we will figure this out after Ramstein is over but for right now you will listen to us."

It is an order and I can tell they are very serious about something. I turn my head and look at Mira, "Mira, you know something you're not telling me. So spill it."

Mira says, "Ms. Morgan, what do I need to spill?"

I smile, "Mira, spill it means to tell me the information you're keeping from me."

Mira starts to look down, I clear my voice, then she stops and looks me in the eyes as she says, "When we picked up our visas we checked at our office. The WMD the terrorists have is enriched with radioactive material."

I look at her and say, "Are you telling me they have a dirty bomb?"

Ira replies and I turn to face her, "Yes Ms. Morgan, they do. Unless the Marines are very careful the terrorists will use it to kill as many of them as they can. This is why Mira had you practice so much with the gas mask."

Mira adds and I turn towards her, "But you are not fast enough yet Ms. Morgan. Ira is still the fastest of the three of us even with her broken rib. So she will be reporting from close to the hospital while we stay a safe distance away."

I look at Mira and start to argue but Ira says, "Please Ms. Morgan, do not argue with us on this. You will be very busy taking care of Samantha and directing me."

I say, "Ira, I don't want you getting close to the hospital. You could be killed if they detonate the WMD."

Ira laughs, "Ms. Morgan, Mira and I will be listening to the terrorists, just like Samantha did. Your cameraman and I will run away if we think they will detonate the bomb."

I reply, "And if I refuse to listen to both of you?"

I get my answer when Mira's handcuffs click around my wrist. I look at her as she smiles at me because I'm handcuffed to the plane seat. I get very upset, "Mira you had better release me from these handcuffs right now!"

Present — Mira and Ira — Flight to Ramstein AFB Germany

Ms. Morgan yells and pulls at the handcuffs, "Dammit Mira! I'm going to kick your butt if you don't take these handcuffs off me."

I tell Ms. Morgan, "I am sorry but you have broken a promise to us and are not listening to us. I have to keep you safe and if you won't listen to us this is the only way I know of to keep you safe."

Ms. Morgan glares at me, yanks on the handcuffs a couple of times and says, "Shit! I hate it when you're right. I did promise to listen to both of you, but..."

I interrupt her, "Ms. Morgan, there is no debating here. We are professionals and we are telling you this is more dangerous than you can imagine."

She looks at me, "There's more you haven't told me?"

Ira answers, "Yes Ms. Morgan. There is more we cannot tell you."

Ms. Morgan looks upset, "Dammit! I hate it when you can't tell me everything."

I answer, "Ms. Morgan there are some things that would make you a target if we told you," Ira adds with a giggle, "or as you would say - if we told you we would have to kill you." I finish with, " ... so we will never be able to tell you everything. We are your sisters and you will have to trust us."

She looks at me and I see the resignation on her face as she says, "But as your sister I do expect you to tell me everything you can because the information might save our lives."

Ira says, "Ms. Morgan, if you again promise to listen to us, Mira will remove the handcuffs."

She looks at Ira and says, "I promise I will listen to both of you at Ramstein. But I agree only if we take the time when this is over to create a set of working rules for our relationship."

I say, "We agree because we know you will not break this promise to us again. But you need to follow what we ask you to do today without questions."

She says, "I promise."

I quickly run to the front, grab our change of clothes and head back to Ira and Ms. Morgan. "We need to get changed before we leave the plane." I hand each of them their clothes. Ira smiles and Ms. Morgan fights with the handcuffs and says, "What's this, I thought we'd wear these nice slinky black outfits."

I grin at Ms. Morgan and say, "These are special clothes which we only wear when we are going to fight. We really thought we would get in a fight with the Russian mafia when we left Dushanbe. We do not ever want to wear them when we are on television."

I get out of my fighting clothes and slip into a nice camo school girl pleated dress and a long sleeve matching camo top. I pull on a pair of matching camo knee high socks. I wrap a holster around my upper thigh and slide my pistol into it. When I am done I turn and ask Ms. Morgan, "Do you approve of our new uniforms for the Truth Network."

She smiles and says, "They are classy, sexy and very functional. I like them." She fights the handcuffs and adds, " ... but unless you take these off me I can't change."

I unlock the handcuffs, Ms. Morgan grins at me and says, "I bet your boyfriends love those handcuffs and how fast you are with them."

I look at her with astonishment and say, "Ms. Morgan, we have never had boyfriends, just assignments." Then I feel a few tears in my eyes...

Present — Liz — Ramstein AFB Germany

Shit! I keep forgetting my sisters had an even more bizarre childhood than I did. After mentioning boyfriends, both Mira and Ira are upset and tearing up. They are strong as hell about most things, but things from a 'normal' childhood seem to upset them. That Kostia bastard - Fucking them up like he did! I wonder if I need to get counseling for them but they don't seem to need it. If Sam comes through for me on the one huge secret request and if what I suspect is true, it will go a very long way towards healing their past.

I hug them both, "Sorry my sisters. I forget that you two are so special and sometimes I say stupid things. Forgive me?"

Mira says, "We are sorry too Ms. Morgan about crying. It's just we have always wondered what it would be like to have a boyfriend. Other than you caring for us, no one else ever has."

I smile and say, "When the time is right I will help to find both of you good boyfriends and then I will make sure you know how they should treat you."

I smile as they start talking to each other.

"Mira, I cannot believe it. She will help us find boyfriends."

"Ira, I am a little nervous and worried. I don't know how to treat a man unless they are an assignment. What if I get upset and break my boyfriend's neck or arm?"

I hear Ira giggle, "Mira I know what you mean. It will be hard not to hurt them if they get us upset or try to train us."

The plane taxies to a stop and it snaps my sisters out of their conversation. Mira says, "Ms. Morgan please stay here with Ira until I am sure things are safe."

She takes off towards the front of the plane and picks up a bag on her way.

Ira says, "Ms. Morgan please stand in the aisle. I need to get some gear too."

I look at Ira and reply, "How are your ribs? With your injury, you're not carrying anything unless I'm sure you won't hurt yourself." Ira surprises me as she grabs me in a big hug and says, "Thank you Ms. Morgan for taking such good care of us!"

I hug her back but this time she doesn't wince as I pull away and look at her, "Your ribs must be feeling better."

She smiles and says, "No, it's just that sometimes the pain is worth it and I don't care."

Mira motions for us to follow here and we head to the front, step off the plane and head down the steps to a waiting Humvee.

Present — Cpl. Cohen - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany

Samantha is busy helping the staff and patients coming out of the hospital. I guess she has seen enough and doesn't want to go back into the hospital. I roll up to her cameraman who is still videoing and motion for him to cut the video. He sets the camera on a tripod and we move off to the side to talk. I say, "Before they clear out all the bodies, I think there are things we need to film to show the world just what these bastards did."

He replies, "I can't go back in right now because I have to keep taping here. But I have an extra camera I can give you. It won't have a live feed but it's charged and has over an hour of tape available."

I reply, "I'd be happy to film as much as I can. But I warn you I plan on going back into the worst areas."

He looks at me and says, "I doubt we will ever be able to show any of the video other than to the government and the military. But they've been bugging us for our tapes so this might just keep them off our backs. Here's the camera and here's how to operate it."

He gives me some instructions and I roll towards the door with the camera. The same airman sees me from the last time and doesn't even attempt to stop me this time. I roll back into the hospital - back into hell.

Present — Samantha - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany

I watch Frank the Tank head back into the hospital with our extra camera and I know where he's headed. He's going to the maternity ward and the children's ward — a hell I don't even want to see. I've helped five people who went in those areas to recover bodies and they all came out crying, babbling, incoherent messes. One nurse even has psychosomatic blindness.

I look over at Bernie and decide to do a report. I walk over, take the microphone and he smiles at me, "Hello world! Samantha Stevens, reporting for the Truth Network from the butchery at Ramstein. Thanks for staying with us while I was busy helping the aid workers. From what I understand there are no more survivors and as you have seen, things are slowing down and fewer bodies are being removed from the hospital."

"The only areas left with bodies are those areas where the terrorists inflicted the most horrendous crimes upon humanity. Areas like maternity and the children's wards. We don't know if we will ever be able to remove those bodies because the aid workers who have gone into those areas have returned too psychologically disturbed to tell us what they saw."

"As you might have noticed, Frank the Tank has bravely gone back into the hospital with one of our cameras. I can only guess he will reenter those areas to document the brutality of the terrorists. I highly doubt we will ever be able to show that tape to the world. I do think our leaders should be forced to watch the video and see what the years of their apathy towards the terrorists have produced."

"I have continued to monitor the terrorist's radio communications and here is an update on the situation inside the hospital. Things are at a standoff. The terrorists are massed in the center of the building and are hiding like the cowards they are, huddled around their WMD."

I want to mention the Marines but decide the fucking terrorists might be listening so I'd better lie. I continue, "The Marines have the building surrounded and have sealed off all the exits. But they have not gone deeper into the building because they do not want to give the terrorists a reason or a target to detonate the WMD."

I look up and see Ms. Morgan and two other women in matching outfits standing beside Bernie. I start to cry in relief and collapse. They all run over towards me. Ms. Morgan hugs me and holds me up as one of the other women takes the microphone.

Present — Ira - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany

I am very nervous as I take the microphone from Samantha. I have practiced many times in front of Mira and the mirror, but now I am in front of a camera.

I look at the camera and say, "Hello everybody, this is Irina Morgan, (I use Ms. Morgan's last name because she says we are sisters) Liz Morgan's sister reporting for the Truth Network. We just arrived and as you can see Ms. Morgan is busy taking care of a very traumatized Samantha Stevens. This is my first time reporting and I hope you show me some of the grace you have shown Samantha."

I notice Ms. Morgan, Mira and Samantha leave as I continue, "Liz Morgan and my twin sister Miranda are taking Samantha to get her some help. I will update you on Samantha's condition when I have more information.

"Miranda and I have years of experience with these terrorists and I will tell you, what you have seen here is what we have seen for all those years. They are no respecter of life and will kill anyone they can to strike fear into the hearts of others.

"We have new information concerning the WMD. It is extremely large and was most likely hauled into the hospital in multiple pieces. It has been enhanced with radioactive isotopes — so it is what is normally called a 'dirty bomb' and there is a dead man switch on the bomb. This means one person keeps a button pressed and if he lets go of the button, the bomb detonates.

"Knowing these terrorists as I do, I know they are waiting for enough of our brave soldiers to get close to the WMD and then they will detonate the weapon. The terrorist's twisted teaching tells them they will have rewards in their heaven if they are martyrs. If our brave military cannot find a way to stop the bomb's detonation, this hospital will be decimated and many others will lose their lives.

"Even though we will be risking some danger, Bernie and I are going to enter the hospital. We will stay in the outer corridors and not attempt to find the terrorists, but we need to further document the cataclysm."

We head towards the door and an airman comes up in front of me and says, "Halt, you cannot enter the hospital." I keep walking, he grabs me so I take him down.

I turn and smile at the camera, "Remember it is not nice to touch someone without their permission. The airman will soon wake up having learned that lesson and with a big headache." We make it to the door, I look around the corner and see three aid workers lying on their sides in the middle of the hallway - shaking and crying like babies. I turn to the camera, "Unfortunately, there are more casualties of this butchery that I need to help. These are aid workers who have been disabled by the horrors which they have seen. Bernie, please keep the camera out here and wait for me, I will escort them out one at a time."

I move into the hospital and check to make sure there are not any terrorists. I have seen them use situations like this as a trap. I walk up to the first aid worker, squat down beside her and stroke her hair, she is shaking like leaves on a tree. I see a gurney so I roll it up beside her. Then I pick her up (ouch, that makes my rib hurt very badly), put her on the gurney and cover her with a sheet. I roll the gurney towards the door and when I get outside more airmen run up acting like they're upset at me so I yell, "Take her to the medical tents, I have two more workers to help."

One of them takes her and another notices Bernie with the camera and says, "The hospital is off limits to new crews."

I look at him and reply, "This is not a news report, it is now a rescue mission. There are at least two more incapacitated aid workers who need help. Are you going to tell the world you are preventing me from helping those people? I did not think so! Stop bothering me and go get me some help."

He takes off and I go after the next victim. This is an older man and he is not as bad as the young woman I helped earlier. I squat beside him, hold his hand and say, "Come on Sir, we need to get you outside in the fresh air and you will feel much better."

He says, "They-they-they, did terrible, terrible things."

I smile at him and say, "I know because I grew up fighting terrible beasts like this. We need to show them they did not win and they did not beat you! Let us stand up and walk out of here." I help him to his feet and as he puts his arm over my shoulder and slumps on me, a pain like fire shoots through my back. We walk out of the hospital together. The airman did get some help and they take over as soon as we are outside. I look at the camera and say, "Please, be patient with me. I still have one more aid worker to help."

This worker is an older lady but she is totally catatonic and is stiff as a board. I try talking to her with no response so I try touching her and get no response. I even pinch her without response. I work my arms under her arms and stand up. An intense pain goes through my body and I almost pass out. I slowly drag her out of the hospital. As I get to the doorway I yell, "Help me please."

People run up and take her away from me and I reach around to feel my back. When I bring my hand around it has my blood on it. I realize I did too much and now my rib has punctured my side and I am bleeding.

I smile at the camera and say, "As you can see the terrorists are still inflicting casualties even though they are hiding like cowards. I am going to ask Bernie to keep taking video while I consult with Ms. Morgan."

I pull out my phone and make a call...

Present — Liz — Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany

I'm doing all I can to get some help for Samantha, but the medical staff here is overwhelmed and many of them appear to be in shock. Plus it seems like everywhere I turn some airman tries to give me crap - one of them even makes the mistake of grabbing my arm. Mira promptly knocks his ass out. After that they leave me alone.