Chapter 8

Sunday 09 December

Present — Ben - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany — very early morning.

I certainly fucked up this time. After the son-of-a-bitch MP hit Jens, she went out like a light and her head bounced off the sidewalk. I went on a rampage and beat the shit out of him even breaking some bones. The other MPs all jumped me and I was holding my own until one of them smacked me over the head with his nightstick.

I guess I have a hard head because I woke up while we're still outside and Jens is being loaded on a gurney. As I struggle to my feet I yell, "Hey, what the hell are you doing to my fiancée!"

The MPs get defensive and the General walks up and orders, "Stand Down Marine."

I look at him and plead, "Sir, please listen to me. I will stand down and gladly return to my room if Jens can share my room with me. Otherwise I'm going to tear the hospital apart looking for her."

He motions me to the side, "Ben, sorry to be so hard on you. But Jens has been hell on Evelyn and me ever since you were captured. Most of the time she won't even talk to us unless it's to cuss us out. She has a pretty good concussion and needs to stay in bed for awhile. If you will talk to her for us, I would be very grateful. So with that understanding, I'm going to let you two share a room."

This really made me wonder what the hell has gone on between Jens and her parents, but I have a chance to be with her so I'm going to take it, "Sir, I appreciate the opportunity you've given me and I will try to do my best."

"I knew we could count on you. One more thing, you are going to have to answer for injuring the MP."

"Yes Sir! I knew I would. But he hit Jens and anyone who hurts Jens gets the hell beat out of them."

I hop on a different gurney and they push us into a new room with two beds. I guess they figure if I can beat the shit out of half the hospital I don't need to be in the ICU. I try to help as they slide her onto the bed, but they won't let me. I crawl onto my new bed and look over at Jens.

The nurse looks at me and says, "We need to get her into a hospital gown so I'm pulling the curtains."

"I'm her fiancé and it's not like I've haven't seen it all before."

The nurse smiles at me and gently says, "And I know you two are waiting until you get married, so be a good little Marine and behave while I pull the curtain."

I'm impatient as hell since I want to be close to my injured Jens and hold her. Finally the nurse pulls the curtains back and I see Jens. Ouch! She's going to have one hell of a black eye. The nurse puts an ice bag on her face to keep down the swelling. "I'd be glad to help with the ice bag if you just slide my bed over close to hers."

The nurse answers, "I really shouldn't do this, but you two are so cute I can't resist. You had better behave because if you do something bad and get me in trouble I will make your life hell in here."

I get an evil thought, "Thank you nurse I appreciate it. Because you've been so good to me I think I need to warn you about one thing."

The nurse gives me a serious look, "Okay, what's so important you need to tell me?"

I motioned her close to me, "Jens gets really violent when she wakes up from being in a fight. It might be good if she's restrained."

The nurse looks at me, "Are you sure?"

I smile, "Oh yes miss, after a fight, she can be very violent when she wakes up." I know I am lying, but I want to make sure Jens can't run away when she wakes up.

I keep the ice on Jens face - it seems to be helping. The nurse comes back with the restraints and I watch as she ties Jens down to the bed. She puts the call button in Jens hand and instructs me, "Keep taking the ice off about every fifteen minutes. Make sure if you fall asleep you don't leave it on her face."

The nurse comes back in, "I almost forgot. I need to change your dressing. Would you like something for pain first?"

"Thank you miss, but no."

"I'll try to be gentle." She takes my arm out of the sling and I gasp in pain. "Sorry this is going to hurt," she says as she unwraps the dressing. For the first time when I'm not drugged to hell I get a good look at the wound. I realize my arm is way past FUBAR! As she starts cleaning it out, it stings like hell and I watch the bubbles as she disinfects the wound.

I look at the nurse, "I know you're not supposed to do this, but I need to know. Am I going to lose my arm?"

She smiles, "They were worried about it at first, but you're doing much better. There's still a slight chance you could, especially if you keep doing stupid things like you did tonight."

I pump my hand and notice the fingers don't quite work right, "How about my chance of recovery? Can you tell me anything about how well they expect it to go?"

She gives me a worried look - a look which tells me more than her words can, "I really can't say anything. Different people recover from injuries differently." She finishes dressing my wound and slips my arm back in the sling.

"Nurse, thank you for being gentle with me and most of all thank you for being honest with me."

She smiles and says, "You two are going to be fine. You've both been through so much but now you're back together again."

I lay back on my bed, look over at Jens, then look down at my arm and wiggle my fingers. I try to practice playing the piano and realize my fingers, especially the little and ring fingers don't move right. I try to practice pulling a rifle trigger and realize even my index finger isn't working quite right.

Again I look back at Jens. I hope she can still love me since I'm not going to be a sniper and probably not even a Marine. I have no idea what I'm going to do with my life. The only thing which comes to mind is how this is Hussein's fault. Yes, I'm going to go back over and kill the bastard: He tortured me and ruined my life.

I start getting sleepy so I pull the ice off Jens face, pull her as close as I can and drift off to sleep.

Present — Jens - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany

Son-of-a-bitch! My head hurts like hell and someone is tickling the shit out of my ear. I try to move but I can't, "I don't know what the fuck is going on and who the hell is tickling me but I'm going to kick the shit out of you!"

I open my eyes and see Ben laughing at me - he's been using my hair to tickle my ear. " ... and to think the future Mrs. BTB talks like a sailor with the same mouth she uses to kiss her husband-to-be."

I try to move and realize I'm tied to the bed. I thrash around trying to get loose, but it causes my head to start pounding. I stop fighting and after thinking a bit ask, "Did you say the future Mrs. Bride-To-Be?"

"Not quite, I mean the future Mrs. Blaine-To-Be," Ben answers and starts touching my face.

"Ouch that hurts," I complain and try to move. "So why am I being restrained like this?"

"I didn't want you to run away from me again before we could talk." He grins at me, "And I also thought I could have some fun." He starts moving his hand down my neck. It tickles so I start wiggling and complain, "Hey cut it out that tickles."

"I bet it doesn't tickle as much as this," he says as his hand keeps sliding lower towards my breast.

I sing,

"Ah, ah, ah no touchy and no feely till I get a wedding ring."

He gives me a funny look, smiles and sings,

"My honey my baby don't put my love upon no shelf."

I grin at him because he knows the song,

"Don't give me your lines and keep your hands to yourself."

He starts singing,

"I got a little change in my pocket going jingle lingle ling.
Want to call you on the telephone baby I give you a ring.
But each time we talk I get the same old thing."

I add the next line,

"No huggin no kissin until I get a wedding ring."

He sings his next line,

"My honey my baby don't put my love upon no shelf."

And I finish the verse,

"Don't give no lines and keep your hands to yourself."

He grins at me,

"Cruel baby baby baby why you want to treat me this way.
You know I'm still your lover boy I still feel the same way."

I sing,

"Let me tell you a story 'bout free milk and a cow.
They'll be no huggin no kissin until I get a wedding vow."

He replies,

"My honey my baby don't put my love upon no shelf."

I finish,

"Don't hand me no lines and keep your hands to yourself."

The nurse came in, "Ms. Donaldson, it's good to see you're awake. You must be feeling better because the two of you are disturbing all the sick people. Was that the Georgia Satellites I heard you two singing? I haven't heard them in years."

I smile at her and it hurts my face, "It sure was! I was letting this perverted Marine, who had me tied to the bed know he wasn't getting any until we are married."

"Well, you sure don't seem violent now so I think we can take off the restraints," the nurse chuckles

"Excuse me miss, might I talk to you first." I look over at Ben and his face is a mask of worry. She goes to his side and he whispers in her ear. She gets a big grin on her face and says, "Sure SM Blaine we can do that for you. We'll see both of you in a couple of hours."

"Hey! Hey! HEY! What about these fricken restraints?" I yell as she walks out of the room.

I look over at Ben and he's grinning like crazy and goes to touch me. I try to wriggle away from him but I can't. He starts caressing my face and neck. It feels really good but I'm pissed because I'm still tied down, "Get your hands off me you perverted Marine!"

He chuckles at me, "You know, I sort of like these restraints. I think we should get a set after we're married." I suddenly realize I said almost the same thing to him during an earlier "discussion".

"Are you trying to get even with me?" I snap at him!

Ben stops having fun and starts getting upset, "Hell no! I will never try to get even with you! Use the damn sense of yours to figure it out. I just want to make sure we can talk everything out before you run off again."

I finally use my sense and he's telling me the truth, oh shit! Now I'm trapped and I'm going to have to tell him everything. I bite my lip trying to figure out how to start, I'm so embarrassed.

"Jens, I'll make this easy for you and I will start. You know I was blocking you when I came back. Because I was worried about how you were going to react when you found out about the girls. And I have to say I'm proud of you because your reaction wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

I blush, "Ben, I'm sorry I didn't take it very well."

"Shhhh, let me finish Jens. Yes, things with them got very confusing and yes, they do hope I will marry them, especially Yasmeen. But I never promised them I would marry them, I always told them I was marrying you and they were my little sisters. Use your sense and tell me if I'm lying."

"Ben I know when you're lying and will kick the shit out of you if you lie to me."

"I did promise them and their families I would bring them to America. I hoped I could do it at the Embassy, but I was unconscious when I got there. They are supposed to be waiting in a safe place for either myself, you or Liz to come and get them."

There is a long pause because I don't know what to say so Ben continues, "Jens, they both saved my life and I owe it to them to keep my promise."

He looks at me and I see tears in the corner of his eyes, "But I love you more Jens and even though it would kill me inside to break my promise to them, I won't let this decision break us up. If you tell me to leave them where they are I will do that, but I will make sure they are taken care of."

Oh boy! Ben really puts me in a tight spot this time. I really want to leave those two little conniving bitches wherever the hell they are. But I know what it would do to Ben if I make him break a promise. Shit! He's expecting an answer from me now...

Present — Ben - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany — talk with Jens

Well I'd just told Jens all about the girls and gave her the power to decide if we were bringing them to America or leaving them in Tajikistan. I patiently wait for an answer from her, hoping I know her well enough and she will make the right decision.

She's biting her lip the way she does when she thinks really hard - God I've missed seeing her. Even with her bruised face, she's still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. I can tell by the change in her facial expressions she's made her decision.

"Ben, I'm not really happy about this and you know it! They are both conniving manipulative little bitches and won't be happy until they marry you. So the only way I will agree to them coming over here is if we are married first."

I smile at her, "Thank you my love! You made the right decision. I would have liked them to see our wedding, but I understand why you feel the way you feel and I honor it. I do hope once you meet them you will love them like little sisters. Zarika has been through more hell and torture than I have and will need some help with it. Yasmeen is young and doesn't know much about life but needs a strong role model just like you," I add

Jens looks at me, "Ben it sounds more like I'll be their mother than their sister. I'm not sure I'm ready for two teenage daughters."

"All I ask is you give them a chance when you meet them," I smile at her. "Okay Jens, I'm done unless you have any other questions."

Present — Jens - Hospital — Ramstein AFB Germany talk with Ben

I really don't like the idea of bringing the fricken girls over here. It will be better if we're married and I figure if they're too bad I will ship them off to military school. "Ben, I would like to talk some about what happened to you when you were captured and how you still feel about it. But I know now is not the time."

Ben looks at me, "Jens I love you and can't wait to marry you! I meant it last night when I asked you to marry me right away. I want to call the chaplain right now and have him perform the ceremony."

Oh my God! Now I have to tell him about my disgrace. "Ben, I don't know where to start on telling you this." I take a deep breath, "My love, I hope you still love me after I'm done."

He smiles at me and says, "Jens just tell me the truth. Nothing will make a difference in the way I feel towards you."

I start crying so Ben pulls me close, "Ben I failed you and I'm so embarrassed. I knew you were alive but I couldn't convince anyone other than Liz of the fact."

"Your Mom and Dad didn't believe you?" He quietly asks.

I sob, "Fuck them Ben, don't ever talk to me about them. I hate both of them. I found out they were 'secretly' happy when you 'died' because they didn't feel you were good enough for me. Glen blocked me from trying to rescue you and Evelyn didn't even come to see me in the hospital."

Ben holds me close until I simmer down enough to continue, it feels so good to be in even one of his arms again. "Ben, I'm so very sorry I didn't come and rescue you, but I couldn't." I cry a bunch more, still afraid to tell him why.

"Shhh, it's okay. You couldn't have rescued me. I was very lucky to even escape."

He is so comforting and supportive of me. I'm sniffing and Ben holds a Kleenex so I can blow my nose, "Thanks my love. Ben this is so embarrassing for me and please don't hate me. I couldn't come to rescue you because I was in Leavenworth." I break down and cry remembering the hell I went through in prison. Ben keeps holding me with his one good arm.

Ben says, "Jens it's okay and nothing to be embarrassed about. I knew you were in prison."

I stop crying and look at him, "How in the hell did you know, did someone tell you?"

He smiles, "I saw you every night in my dreams. My dreams were what kept me going and fighting to come back to you. In many of those dreams I saw you in cold gray room and felt how angry you were."

I wanted to punch him - this would have been much easier if he would have told me. "And you still love me?"

He taps me on top of the head, "Jens you're the smartest person I know but sometimes you're so dense. When are you going to get it through this hard head of yours I love you now and I love you forever? I can tell there's more you need to say, but it can wait until later if you want."

I smile at him and I think I might really believe him, "No, we need to finish this and put it behind us once and for all. Ben, I'm also no longer a Marine, they gave me a dishonorable discharge because I went AWOL to save you."

He pulls away and looks at me, "Jens, you're not telling me the whole truth here. You don't get a dishonorable discharge for just going AWOL. But it doesn't matter to me that you're not a Marine, in fact it's probably better for both of us."

I look at him glad to be changing the subject, "Why? I thought you loved being a Marine and if I'm not a Marine, I can't go on missions with you."

He looks over at his arm and moves his fingers, "Jens, I'm not stupid but sometimes I'm slow - especially when it's something I don't want to believe. I figured out last night when they changed my dressing that my arm will never be the same again. And because of my injuries, I can no longer be a sniper. I haven't told anyone but you yet, but I plan on taking a medical discharge from the Marines." I watch as tears slowly stream down his face and I want to - no I need to - kiss the hell out of him and hold him tight.

I start thrashing around in the bed, "Ben you'd better help me get out of these fucking restraints right now so I can love the hell out of you. Otherwise I'm going to tear myself up trying to get free." He slipped his good arm down and released the restraint on my right arm so I could use it to free myself. It took longer than I wanted because I was shaking so much. I finally got my last foot free, crawled into bed next to Ben and started kissing the hell out of him - kissing away each tear.

I snuggle up beside him and decide not to tell him for now, why I ended up in Leavenworth. I can tell it doesn't matter to him and there will be time for the rest of the truth later. I start daydreaming what our life will be like, living at our cabin and raising lots of children.

Then I sense the rage that's still in Ben about being captured and tortured and I realize we can never have the idyllic life of my dreams until Ben gets rid of the rage. Revenge! That's what Ben wants and that's what Ben needs to be whole again. He feels Hussein took his manhood and he can't be free until Hussein is dead. I mistakenly thought our battles were all done and behind us, but I realize there are even more battles ahead. Don't worry my man: I'll be right by your side for each and every battle. And we will both look into Hussein's eyes as the life ebbs from them.

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

Liz and Bernie had everything else under control and left me to do the voodoo I do so well. I was busy trying to hack into the military networks to get the information I needed to find arms dealers and outfit Ben's rescue. They'd changed some of the encryption protocols and it was driving me crazy.

I felt a hand on my shoulder, spun around, grabbed the bastards arm, threw him on the floor, hopped on his back and held my pistol against the back of his head. "Who the fuck are you?"

"Jens, it's me, Linus."

I looked at him and realized it was Linus! I hopped off his back and helped him up, "You should know better than to sneak up on me. You're lucky I didn't shoot your ass."

"Shit Jens, I called to you five times. It was like you were hypnotized by your computer. What the hell were you concentrating so hard on?"

"Sorry Linus, they changed the encryption schema on MILNET and I was trying to figure it out so I could get some information."

"Why don't you just login?" Linus asked

"Duh, because I'm on the run and I don't want them finding me?" I sassed.

"I didn't think you would use your name, here try this." He reached in his pocket and handed me a card.

"Are you fucking kidding me, you have Stockman's login information? This is great." Then I saw the password, "That perverted bastard, look at his password: ru18qtpie."

Linus looked at me and said, "And if they were under eighteen it never stopped him. Make sure you proxy¹ your web connection through an anonymous server."

¹A proxy server is a computer which acts as a go-between for computers requesting data from other computers. Anonymous proxy servers, like TOR (The Onion Routing) allow you to interact on the web anonymously. Not all sites accept TOR connections.

I glared at him, "I've been out of circulation, but I'm not a newb² you know! Come and watch this." I proceeded to connect through four anonymous proxy servers, finally connected to the server in Jalalabad and logged on as Stockman."

² Newbie, someone that's new to using computers.

"Looks like you've still got some chops even after being away for so long."

"You bet I do, now let's get the intel I need." I proceeded to download maps, intel and then just poke around. "Hey, what's this?" I called Linus over because I found a whole encrypted folder with the date of our mission on it, I tried to get into it, but I couldn't.

"I can't open this folder and I think it's something about the mission Ben and I went on."

"Let me try." Linus sat down and he couldn't hack it either. "Shit, let's just copy the folder and work on it offline." He started copying the folder but said, "Son of a bitch, this is going to take awhile. We might as well go do something else."

I went over, sat in a chair and started wondering what the hell Liz was going to do that she needed body armor and a pistol under a burka?

Present - Liz - Friday 07 December — Dushanbe, Tajikistan

I am still pissed at Michael as the cab shows up and I consider asking the driver if he wants to make some extra money. I decide against it because I wonder that he might not be just a cab driver - he seems a bit suspicious to me. I give him the address for Vasili and hope he's not as much of a bastard as Michael is. I lean back in the seat and close my eyes. That was a mistake because when the cab stops, I wake up and notice we're inside a garage. I don't think this is Vasili's place.

I look at the driver in the mirror and demand, "What the fuck is going on?"

He turns and smiles, "There's nothing to be worried about Ms. Morgan, we'd just like to ask you a few questions."

I reach in my purse and hit the speed dial for the emergency help number, "I'm an American citizen and I've done nothing wrong in this country, I demand to see my ambassador."

I see a couple men approach the cab, one opens my door, "Ms. Morgan, please follow us. Someone would like to ask you some questions."

"And if I don't what will you do?"

He bends down and looks in the cab, "Suit yourself, I guess we'll drag you." He reaches in to grab me so I pull a tactical pen out of my purse and stab him in the back of the hand. "You bitch," he yells, "I'm going to beat the shit out of you." He starts to get in the back of the cab and I begin kicking the shit out of him. I didn't notice the other door open, but I knew I was in trouble when arms wrapped around me. I slam my head back and catch the bastard in the face so he lets out a yell and turns me loose.

Crawling out his side of the cab I take off running as soon as my feet hit the ground. I'm almost to the door when someone yells, "Stop or I'll shoot!" I see some tires, dive behind them and a shot rings out but it's too late.

"Ms. Morgan, be reasonable. There's no way you can escape. You've already injured two of my men. You must know we have you trapped and we will shoot you if you try to escape. Come out peacefully and we'll let you go as soon as you tell us what we want to know."

I wanted to cuss him out, but I needed to buy some time, "I don't know who you are. How do I know you will keep your word?"

"You don't but you also don't have a choice. I could just walk over there, shoot you in the leg and then torture you until you tell us what we want to know. If you come out peacefully and give us the information I promise you we will let you go."

I think yeah sure you will but it will be in pieces, "Okay, one minute and I'll come out. I dropped everything out of my purse and I need to pick it up." I start making noise like I'm picking up things and pull a knife out of my purse. I hear a slight noise at the door behind me, look and see the snake cam under the door and wave at it. I watch as it scans the room.

"You're taking too long; I'm coming over to get you." The voice says.

I turn my head and shield my eyes. The door blows open then flash-bangs and automatic gunfire fill the room. An arm grabs me and pulls me outside into a waiting car and we speed off.

When we are a safe distance away the helmet and face mask come off, "You okay Liz?" Jim asks.

Matt adds from the front, "Make sure she didn't get hit, I took two to the vest. The guy with the pistol was good. Even though he was blind he still hit where he thought he was shooting."

"Thanks guys, I'm fine. But what the hell took you so long? I thought I was a goner."

Jim grins at me, "Sorry we were getting pierogi³ when your call came in."

³ Russian meat pie

"You guys and your eating - some day it's going to kill me," I complain. But really I'm so thankful we hired Matt and Jim after they got in trouble helping Jens trying to rescue Ben. With the places I went it was nice to know help was a quick speed dial away.

"So who were those guys Liz and what did they want?" Matt asks.

"I'm not completely sure, but I think they were Mafia, perhaps even Russian Mafia. They wanted information, but I can't think what it would be, and then my death. Let's get to Vasili's flat and see if I can get some information from him."

When we turn on the street for Vasili's flat, the whole street is in chaos with four police cars blocking everything. "Jim, you have the camera gear with you?"

"It's in the trunk, are we going to play reporters and see if we can find out what's going on?"

"That's my plan, dump the tactical gear and let's go. Matt, you've got our backs but stay hidden."

"You got it boss-lady." Matt replies.

Jim is ready and Matt pops the trunk. Jim and I get out of the back seat and grab the camera gear. We wander over by the crowd and the police. I nod to Jim and he pretends to video the scene. The camera attracts the attention of the police and one of them comes over, "You cannot film here."

I motion for Jim to cut the camera, "Hello, I'm Elizabeth Morgan from the Truth Network. Would you care to tell me why we can't film here when we have permission from your government?"

The policeman looks sheepish, "I will go get the detective in charge, please do not film until I get back."

Ten minutes later a very distinguished looking older gentleman walks up to us, "Hello, I am officer Kostia, I recognize you Ms. Morgan from your excellent broadcasts. I would like to apologize for the policeman that bothered you." We shook hands, I held onto his hand after the shake for about half a minute all the time I was gazing into his hazel eyes.

"Thank you officer Kostia, I can tell you're not military so you must be NSC⁴?"

⁴ NSC — National Security Council — Tajik secret police.

Present - Kostia - Friday 07 December — Dushanbe, Tajikistan

This has been a very busy morning for me and now with the appearance of Ms. Morgan has become quite interesting. She is a beautiful lady but I also feel she is as deadly as a cobra. Interviewing her will be a pleasure and will tax all my skills, I decide to flirt with her some so I give her a big smile and answer her question, "Shall we say I am just an interested party and leave it at that."

I look at her cameraman, and can tell right away he is much more than a cameraman, "I must say, you travel with very large cameramen. It might be better if he took a little walk so we could talk about a few things in private."

She nods at him and he takes off as I motion for one of my men to follow him. I take her arm and stroll down the street. "Okay Ms. Morgan, I think I know what your interest is here. After you went and saw Michael this morning you decided to come here and talk to Vasili. They were both guards on duty when SM Blaine showed up at your embassy. You must be doing a story on SM Blaine's escape."

"That's right Kostia. I'm doing a special interest story on SM Blaine's escape. He's one of the few to ever escape from the Taliban."

I can tell it is not quite the truth. "So you decided to start with the two gate guards at the embassy?"

"Yes then I want to interview the Marines who were on duty." She flirts with me trying to make me believe her story.

"Did Michael give you any information?"

"Unfortunately no, his price was too high." I feel her tense up when she answers.