Chapter 6

Friday 07 December

Present — Ben - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany

I only sleep for about an hour because Jens is lying on my left arm and now it's asleep. I almost laugh - all the pain in my right arm and it's my left arm that wakes me. I look down at Jens and realize there's a wedge between us, in fact two wedges named Zarika and Yasmeen. I've been blocking her but I really miss the closeness we share. It's my fault it's gone and I'm going to fix it. I start to gently wiggle Jens, "Hey my love, wake up."

"Mmmm, it's so nice to wake up next to you again," Jens says and looks up at me. "Why did you wake me? Is the nurse almost here?" Suddenly she realizes: "Ben! You're back — you're finally back with me." She hugs me tight and starts crying! "I can feel almost everything again!" she says through her sobs. I hug her tightly and let her cry as she slowly quiets down.

"Jens, we need to talk. I need to tell you something."

"What, that you love me?" She grins at me, "I already know that!" She looks closer at me and realizes it's something else. She sits up in the bed and I flex my left arm to get the feeling back into it. I feel the pins and needles as the blood rushes back in.

"Ben, what's this about the girls I'm sensing?"

I gaze deeply into those violet eyes of hers, "I guess I need to explain a few things. If you hate me when I'm done I'll understand."

"Ben, I don't know what the hell this is but you're scaring me." I see some tears in the corner of her eyes.

"Jens, I love you and I've been totally faithful to you. Do you still have the picture of the girls?" She pulls it out of her purse, hands it to me and gives me a dirty look. "Ben, you need to tell me all about these girls."

I point to the picture, "Jens let me tell you the story about two of the most incredible young women I've ever met. This girl's name is Zarika: She is responsible for helping me escape. If it wasn't for her, I would have died."

She looks at me but isn't happy, "Then I owe her."

"And this young lady is Yasmeen: I meet her while Zarika and I were trying to get to Tajikistan. She was a big help in getting us both out of Afghanistan."

"Ben, you're not telling me everything," Jens says as she starts to get angry.

"Jens, let me explain, but it's going to take some time and you have to be patient and trust me."

Present — Jens - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany

I really miss the closeness of sensing Ben's feelings. I know we haven't been together very long, but I've become addicted to the closeness of sharing one mind with him. Now since it's gone I don't feel complete. I know what Ben felt like before we became a couple and I don't like it.

We slept together last night for the first time since he came back, but he's not really back. Part of his heart and mind is still in Afghanistan.

He wakes me early in the morning again and I realize he's back! And I can sense all his feelings again, everything that's happened since he was captured comes rushing into my mind. It feels like trying to watch a movie set on fast forward. The emotions are overwhelming.

Oh my God the torture he endured! I knew some of it but not all and what I sense almost makes me throw up. The mental and physical anguish he went through. I'm damn pissed at his captors and I want to go and seriously kick butt!

Ben's angrier about his captors than I am and is already planning revenge. The thought of revenge permeates his mind. I've never known him to be this angry about anything. I want to tell him I'm ready, let's go kick some Taliban ass!

Then things get complicated about the two girls. He starts telling me about them as we look at the picture. I can sense Ben's been faithful to me in spite of those two little conniving bitches! I can tell from their actions, they really think Ben will marry them. He feels they are his little sisters, but he did seem to enjoy the kisses from them too much.

"Ben, I can sense almost all your feelings again, except for the one area I've never been able to see. You need to tell me everything about those two little girls!"

Ben was looking desperate, "Jens, I'm trying if you will just let me continue."

I was getting more pissed all the time. "You'd better start trying harder. Because what I'm sensing is they feel you're their husband!"

"Jens, I've never told them that. I always told them they're my little sisters."

"Didn't you pretend Zarika was your wife?" I counter.

He turns and looks away, "Yes I did, but I made sure to tell her she wasn't my wife and never would be. And it was only when we first met Yasmeen's parents."

"That's another thing; didn't you agree to take Yasmeen as your wife?" I was highly pissed off now.

Ben gives me a pleading look, "Jens, it's not like that at all. I always told her she was just my little sister."

"Ben, what about the kisses? I know you didn't kiss them, but when they kissed you, you enjoyed it - you enjoyed it too much." I start crying.

Ben tries to move and hug me, but I'm too upset so I jump off the bed. If he was well I'd kick his butt! "Ben, I need to go think about all this."

I grab my things and head out of the room, "Jens, don't leave. I wasn't unfaithful to you!" Ben shouts as I walk out the door.

Flashback Natasha (Jens) — Kabul Afghanistan - Monday 15 October

I was so glad when we landed in Kabul. We were lucky to even escape from the Air Base. I was more tired than I realized and I slept through part of the flight. With the surgery I still wasn't back to normal. The whole time I slept, my sleep was haunted by images of Ben being tortured.

Liz took us into the airport bathroom with all our gear, opened up bag, handed me some clothes, took some for herself and said, "Natasha, put this on."

I went in a nasty stall and looked at the burka she gave me. I yelled over the stall, "Liz, you're crazy if you think I'm wearing this. It's cruel and unusual punishment for women to wear these."

"Jens, shut up and put it on. It's a great disguise and no one will bother us."

"Liz!"

"Jens, don't give me any crap, just do it!"

I didn't like it but I put it on. Shit it was hot, uncomfortable, and scratchy. I came out of the stall and Liz was already done. She walked over and made a few adjustments. "There now you look like a proper muslim wife," she teased. I flipped her off and Liz looked around quickly, "Jens don't ever do that again when you're in a burka. If someone saw us and reported us we'd be stoned."

"I don't think it'd be any worse than wearing this crap." I complained.

"You think it's bad in here, wait until were outside in the sun, you're going to roast. Okay give me your other clothes."

I looked at her through the slit for my eyes, "I have them on underneath this piece-of-shit bag I'm wearing."

"Okay, go back in the stall and slip out of those clothes and hand them to me. Otherwise you'll be too hot." She ordered.

I went back in the stall and slipped out of my clothes. I whispered to Liz, "Do I leave my underwear on?"

She laughed, "Yes leave your underwear on."

I walked out and handed her my clothes. She put them in a bag, rummaged around in another bag and double checked to make sure we were the only ones in the bathroom. She pulled out a pistol with a belt and holster and handed it to me, "Put this on under your burka."

I went back in the fricken stall and complained, "Okay Liz, I'm tired of playing musical stalls. Is there anything else I need to do while I'm in here?"

"You did take care of your bodily needs, didn't you?"

"Shit!" I said.

"That's what I'm asking you Natasha, did you?" Liz laughed.

I moved the muslim torture dress out of my way and took care of business. "Damn! There's no paper." I complained.

Liz waved a roll over the top of the stall, I grabbed it. "Natasha, don't tell me you're always this helpless."

No one could see me so I flipped her off, twice in fact.

I messed with the burka but it didn't feel right to me. I walked out of the stall and Liz came over and adjusted it again. "This is how a burka is supposed to fit, "she told me.

I leaned close to her and whispered, "No wonder muslim men don't get any, their wives are too pissed from having to wear this shit. I'm already sweating up a storm and starting to stink."

Liz leaned closer, "Good now you'll smell like you belong here. Natasha, you know what the difference is between a catfish and a woman in a burka?"

"No Liz, what?"

She looked around confirming we were still alone, "One has whiskers and smells like a fish — and the other one is a fish." We both started laughing until another woman came in, then we grabbed our bags and left.

As we walked out the door Bernie was waiting for us. "Jens, walk behind me and do what I do." I followed her and acted just like her. We walked out of the airport and caught a taxi. Bernie said something to the taxi driver, and we took off. I could tell we weren't headed to one of the better parts of Kabul. Suddenly I was very happy I was in a burka.

Present - Liz - Friday 07 December — Dushanbe, Tajikistan

I flip on my phone as soon as I we land, and see I have five missed calls from Jens. I call her phone and she picks up right away.

"Liz, thank God it's you!" she starts crying.

At first I worry Ben died, "Jens, what the hell is wrong. Did Ben die?"

"That son-of-a-bitch, isn't dead yet, But if he wasn't so sick, I'd kill him," she cries into the phone.

I'm pretty sure what happened, but I want to give Jens a chance to vent so I pretend to be angry at Ben. "Okay sister, I don't know what the hell he did to you, but I'm coming right back to kick the shit out of him. No one makes my sister cry."

"Oh Liz, I don't know how to tell you. It's about the two little girls." She continues crying.

"Don't tell me the bastard slept with them. I'm going to castrate him if he did," I keep pretending.

"No Liz, he didn't sleep with them." Jens continues and sniffles.

I decide to get some information from her, "What did the prick do, did he marry them?" I hold my breath waiting for the answer.

"No Liz he didn't marry them." I almost sigh in relief. "Jens, then what the hell did he do that has you so upset at him?"

She went on to tell me how she can sense all his feelings again. She describes how he called them his little sisters, pretended he was married to them, and how they both helped rescue him. She tells me how they kissed him and that he enjoyed it too much! Most important, she felt the girls thought he was going to marry them. She finally tells me how he promised them he'd bring them to America.

I don't say anything for a minute because I'm afraid I'll laugh. "Liz, are you there?" Jens finally asks.

"I'm here Jens. So, you're telling me you're upset at Ben because he adopted two sisters?"

I hear Jens breathing and I wait for an answer. "Liz, it's more than that!" she tries to explain.

"Oh really sister! How the hell do you figure?" I ask in my most sarcastic tone.

"Liz, he-he-he..." I interrupt her saying, "He came back to you Jens that's what he did. He fought through hell and back to come back to you. We don't know how many shitheads he killed getting to you, but we know he's one of the few to ever escape. So he picked up a couple of strays on his way back to you. He didn't fuck them and I'm sure he could have, shit he didn't even kiss them — they kissed him! Jens he was totally faithful to you! So get your head out of your ass unless you want to lose him to those two girls."

I don't wait for an answer and I hung up the phone. Damn! Sometimes she acts just like a kid. I'm glad I'm around to whip her butt when she needs it.

At least I know he says he didn't marry them but I sure hope they didn't trick him into it. Now I just have to find the two of them. I'm glad Jens isn't with me because as pissed as she is, she'd probably kill both of them.

The phone rings again, it's Jens. "Liz, did you hang up on me?"

"Hell yes I did and I'm going to do it again! I won't talk to you when you're acting like daddy's spoiled little brat. I'm not going to be part of you trying to crucify Ben for something silly and something he didn't even do. Get your head out of your ass and go give Ben the loving he deserves - if you don't you'll lose him." I hang up the phone. Shit! If she fucks up too bad with Ben, I might even have to pick up the pieces — nah, I couldn't do that to Jens, but it is tempting.

The phone rings again, and yes it's Jens again. I answer the call and hear Jens give me a raspberry then she hangs up.

The phone rings and I get ready to just push ignore, but this time I don't recognize the number. I answer it, "This is Liz; it's my time your dime."

"Liz, it's Ben," I feel so much pain in his voice, I almost drop the phone. I decide to be upbeat and try to cheer him up.

"Ben, hey it's great to hear from you! How are you feeling?"

There's a pause on the end of the line and he says, "Liz, I feel like hell. Jens has left me."

My sister is being such an asshole - she's the one that needs her ass kicked! "Ben, I don't think she'd ever leave you. It must be a misunderstanding. Tell me what happened."

As Ben tells me the story from his point of view, I start getting even more pissed at Jens. She's way over-reacted to everything. Sometimes she is such a drama queen!

"Ben, I think you need to give her some time and space. She's not thinking right now and she's reacting with her emotions. Once she starts thinking logically she'll realize how much of an asshole she's been and then she'll come running back."

The line was quiet for awhile, "Liz, I love you like a sister, but don't ever call Jens an asshole again or I'll kick your butt. This is entirely my fault!"

Oh boy, now Ben's getting all fouled up. "Listen here Mister, who the hell do you think you are telling me what I can and cannot call Jens. If she's acting like an asshole then I'm going to call her an asshole. Just like I'm going to call you an asshole too! This is not your fucking fault asshole! You both need to get your heads out of your asses!" I hang up the phone in disgust.

It rings again and it's Jens. I pick it up and another call comes in and it's Ben, so I conference them: "Jens, you're an asshole and Ben you're an asshole." I yell. They both start talking at the same time and finally realize they're talking to each other.

"Jens, is it really you?" Ben asks.

"Well it sure as hell isn't one of your other two girlfriends. I bet they're too young to know how to dial a phone." She snaps back at him.

"Jens, stop being and asshole." I yell in the phone. The people around me turn and look so I smile and shrug my shoulders.

"Liz dammit! I told you not to call her an asshole!" Ben says with anger.

"Ben, I don't need you to save me. I can take care of her by myself." Jens adds.

"Ben, you're right. She's not acting like an asshole and I apologize to both of you. She's really acting just like Evelyn." I explain in a calm voice.

"Liz, fuck you! I'm not acting like my mother."

I laugh in the phone, "What's wrong sister, did it hit a little too close to home?"

I hear her start sniffling into her phone. "Jens, I need to talk to you in person and tell you how much I love you! Since you won't come to me, I'm going to come and find you." Ben says and his line goes dead.

"Jens, he's going to hurt himself if he gets up. You'd better go and stop him." I tell her. She gives me a raspberry and hangs up her phone.

I stare at my phone thinking what a FUBAR mess this is. I'm tempted to throw the damn phone in the trash but decide not to and walk off towards the street to find a taxi. Ten minutes later I slap myself on the forehead for being so stupid, I'd better call the hospital and let them know Ben is going to escape. I find the number of the nurses' station in the ICU and call.

"Third floor ICU, unit clerk speaking." There's a bunch of noise in the background, it sounds like all hell is breaking loose.

"Hi, this is Elizabeth Morgan from the Truth Network. I have information that SM Blaine might try to escape."

"Ms. Morgan, I wish you had called five minutes ago. He just ripped out all his tubes and broke out of the ICU. We didn't even think he could walk, but he beat up an MP and two orderlies getting out of here."

Shit! I was too late. "I'm sort of his adopted sister; would you please call me when they find him?" I give her my phone number, hang up the phone and slump down into a chair. I hold my head in my hands and start crying. The two people I love the most, maybe the only two people I have ever loved are hurting each other and I can't fix it.

Flashback - Liz — Kabul, Afghanistan - Monday 15 October

Bernie was going to meet us in Kabul with information, something he couldn't trust to email or the phones. He knew the routine and was waiting for us outside the ladies room in the airport. We came out in our burkas, followed him out of the airport and got into a cab - just like good little muslim wives.

I recognized the address of the area we were going and it wasn't a good part of town. Jens was squirming and messing with her burka too much so I pinched the hell out of her until she stopped.

The driver made a comment to Bernie about him breaking a new wife into wearing a burka and then laughed. Bernie laughed and told him how important it was for women to be taught their place. I wanted to kick both their butts, but I pretended to be the good little muslim wife.

We finally arrived at a dilapidated building and the driver stopped the cab. I held on to Jens arm so she wouldn't jump right out. Bernie got out first, grabbed all the gear, and then ordered us out of the cab. We followed Bernie into the building. He turned and locked the door.

I walked over to him, "I should kick your butt."

He laughed, "Just like a good little muslim wife, you obey me outside the home, but you rule me inside the home."

I flipped him off. "Bet your good little muslim wife never did that to you," and laughed.

"Can I get the hell out of this death dress?" Jens complained.

"Sure, there's a bathroom down the hall where you can change," Bernie laughed. "Here's some BDU's for both of you."

I grabbed them and we took off. "Hey, these are Army BDU's." Jens remarked.

Bernie shouted, "Beggars can't be choosers. If you don't like them you can always stay in your burka. It makes both of you look so sexy." He laughed and Jens flipped him off as we went to the bathroom.

Jens threw off the burka and she really did stink! I handed her a couple wet wipes, "Thanks Liz, sorry but I really need those."

"No problem sister and I agree you do really need those."

She bit her lip, "I think I'm so stinky because I'm still getting the anesthesia out of my system. It's too bad we can't take a shower."

For a second I had a vision of us showering together, and pushed it quickly out of my mind. "Yeah, that would be nice." I was changed and said, "Let me go ask Bernie if there's a shower." I quickly left the bathroom, to get away from her and my emotions. I went down the hall and asked Bernie, "Jens was wondering if we have a shower here?"

"No shower and no hot water. The best you can hope for is a whore bath," He teased me and laughed. Jens walked in as I turned red, "What's going on Liz?"

"Nothing Jens, we don't have a shower or hot water. You'll have to just either use wet wipes or a washcloth."

"Okay, no problem I do those all the time out in the field." Jens smiled and said, "even though these are Army BDU's I still feel much better being out of that medieval torture device."

I wanted to tell her to stop acting spoiled but knew it would cause a fight. "Okay Bernie, what do you have for us?" He went through everything and Jens said, "That sure isn't much, I was hoping we'd have more by now."

"Normally we would, but the whole area is in an uproar over Ben killing those two high ranking Taliban. They aren't letting anyone into or out of the area." Bernie answered.

Jens went over and pulled out her laptop, "Do we have an Internet connection here?"

"Just through this," Bernie answered and held up a sat phone. She took the phone, hooked it up to the computer played around with some settings and said, "Now we have free Internet."

I looked at Bernie and motioned him to the side, "She's going to be busy for a while. Let's make something to eat."

Flashback - Zarika — Tajikistan Day Eighteen

I was a pest and kept asking Oleg the time since he was the only one with a watch. He finally got tired of it and handed the watch to me. I looked as the second hand moved across the face and it seemed to move in slow motion. I can't wait to get out of the cab and take care of Ben.

Yasmeen is such a baby, she complained about the way the men smell. They don't smell half as bad as Hussein's men. I started shaking remembering what they used to do to me and how brave Ben saved me. "Zarika, are you okay?" Oleg asked.

I looked at him, "I am fine. I was just remembering some bad things."

He looked at the floor, "It was about those terrible men that took you? We were shocked when you came back, everyone thought you were dead."

I shivered again and punched him in the arm, "I do not want to talk about it."

The two hours were finally up and I crawled to the back of the truck. Yasmeen was curled up next to Ben and was sleeping. I wanted to pull her hair and beat her up but I know Ben would make both of us ride up front. "Yasmeen, it is time for you to go up front." I said and gently shook her.

She woke up, stretched and yawned. "Thank you Zarika, I have been taking good care of Ben. I have kept cold washcloths on his head and have been giving him lots of kisses."

I wanted to punch her smart little mouth for kissing Ben, "I am sure Ben tolerated all your kisses." She gave me a dirty look and said, "We need to wake up Sasha."

"Go on up front and I will wake him." Yasmeen crawled up front; the minute she left I wiped Ben's mouth to get rid of her slobbers and gave him a big kiss of my own. He started coughing and woke up.

Flashback - Ben — Tajikistan Day Eighteen

I felt like I couldn't breathe and it woke me. I opened my eyes and saw Zarika smiling mischievously at me, "Ben, it is good to see you are awake. Let me wake up Sasha."

She leaned over and shook the hell out of Sasha, "It's been two hours and Ben is awake."

He sat up and looked at me, "How do you feel?"

"I feel like shit and all of a sudden when I was sleeping it was like I couldn't breathe and it woke me up."

Sasha looked concerned, "Let me check your lungs." He put on a stethoscope, "Ben, take a deep breath." I took a breath and coughed." He moved the stethoscope, "Take another deep breath." I did what he told me but this time I didn't cough.

He looked puzzled, "Ben your lungs are fine, I don't know why you felt like you couldn't breathe. Let's take your temperature." He put the thermometer in my mouth and took my pulse. He read the thermometer and said, "You are doing fine." But I could tell from the concern on his face he was lying. "Drink more water."

Zarika put the glass up to my lips and I drank a little bit but it upset my stomach. "Ben, drink more water." Zarika told me.

"I can't or I will get sick. Where are we?" Zarika called up front and they answered her, "Good news Ben, tomorrow we will be in Dushanbe." She put a wet cloth on my head and it felt really good.

"Ben, I'm going to redress your wound. Would you like some morphine first?" Sasha asked.

I looked at my arm the best I could, I was sick of the constant pain but knew from my past I could handle it. I silently cursed the fact I didn't die an honorable soldier's death. "No Sasha, no morphine."

He looked at me, "Are you sure?"

"Hell yes I'm sure. No morphine!"

He started undressing the wound and I said, "Wait! Zarika, give me a piece of wood to bite on." She put a piece of wood between my teeth and Sasha continued. The dressing had stuck to the wound and he had to pull it off taking some dead skin with it. The pain became intense; I saw stars and dots in front of my eyes. I started trying to move, "Zarika, hold him still." Sasha commanded. Zarika fell on top of me and held me down. Just as I slipped into unconsciousness I saw my dad's face where he was burning in hell, "Be seeing you soon in hell with me you worthless shithead!" echoed in my ears. I swung my good arm and hit the SOB in the face and then wrestled with him as we both were consumed by the flames.

Flashback - Yasmeen — Tajikistan Day Eighteen

I was sitting in the front, trying to keep the other men from touching my legs with theirs and also trying to ignore their terrible smell. One of them kept spoiling the air and it was worse than ever, they were animals. It was so bad, I felt like I was going to be sick.

Then I heard a bunch of noise from the back of the truck and had an excuse to leave. "I am going to see what is happening," and crawled into the back of the truck before they could stop me.

Zarika was lying on top of Ben and Sasha was lying beside Ben. I saw a lot of blood. "Zarika, what did you do to Ben? Why is there so much blood?"

She looked at me and I thought she was going to start hitting me again. "Yasmeen, help Sasha. I think Ben broke his nose." I watched as Ben struggled to get up, "I think you need some help Zarika. Let me help hold him down."

"Yasmeen, I have Ben. Please help Sasha." I pouted a little; Zarika was getting to have all the fun with Ben and went over to Sasha. "Are you okay?" I asked.

He made some funny noises and I couldn't understand him, then I figured out he was just waking up; I shook his shoulders, "Wake up Sasha."

"Ohh, my nose," he said and grabbed his nose.

"Sasha, what can I do for you?"

He held his nose and looked around, "Get me some rags he said." I handed him some rags and watched as he tore them into little strips and started stuffing them up his nose. It was making me sick so I turned away and started touching Ben's head. The minute I touched Ben, he stopped fighting. Zarika looked at me and grinned. I thought about saying something but I knew it would cause a fight.

"Yasmeen," Zarika whispered, "Go help Sasha." I went back over and Sasha was done messing with the rag and his nose. I laughed when I looked at his nose, "Sasha, your nose is crooked." He felt it, "Do you have a mirror?" I took the small mirror I had hidden in my pocket. I used it to make sure I was always pretty for Ben and handed it to him. He looked in the mirror and then handed it back to me. I started looking at myself making sure I looked more beautiful than Zarika.

"Yasmeen, stop looking at yourself and hold the mirror for me," Sasha scolded me. He grabbed my hand and moved the mirror in front of his face. I moved my hand a little and he roughly grabbed it, "Keep the mirror here and do not move your hand." I thought about hitting him, but decided it would not be wise. He looked in the mirror, reached up, grabbed his nose and pulled it down and around. I heard a pop and he started swearing.

I moved the mirror to cover my ears and he grabbed my hand again, "Do not move the mirror or I will hit you," Sasha threatened. I started crying and shaking.

"Zarika, come help me with the mirror." Sasha said.

Zarika came over and took my mirror. I thought about snatching it back but remembered what Ben said would happen if we fought. She held the mirror and Sasha messed with his nose some more, his nose made some more noises and he swore even more. Finally it was straight.

"We need to tape my nose so it doesn't move. Zarika please get some tape for me." I took my mirror back and wiped it clean because I don't know what sort of nasty things Zarika had gotten on it. Then I looked at myself in the mirror and decided I was the youngest and most beautiful wife Ben would ever have. I moved over to where Zarika had been, lay down right next to Ben and watched Zarika help Sasha.

They were done and Sasha asked for the mirror again so I reluctantly handed it to him. He looked at his nose some more, messed with it just a little more and handed the mirror back to me. I hid it from Zarika again.

Sasha looked at us and said, "Girls I hate to do this, but I think we need to tie Ben's arms and legs so he doesn't hurt anyone else. Do you have any rope?"

Zarika looked at me, "Yasmeen, since your back here during my time to take care of Ben, you can get the rope for Sasha."

I really wanted to flip her off, but I knew she would hit me again and we'd both end up sitting in front. So I slowly crawled away from Ben and found the rope for Sasha. I watched as he tied Ben's arms and legs to the board underneath him. It made me sad to think Ben was tied up like an animal. But I thought about all the fun I could have with him when it was my turn to take care of him and smiled. Zarika looked at me, "Yasmeen, it's time for you to go back up front." I crawled back up front and it smelled worse than ever.