Chapter 72

Flashback – Tatiana – At the hospital

Ben had really touched my heart and I was crying silently for him. I started to compose myself when чёрт воз'ми! (chyort voz'mi - oh shit!). Masha walked into the room and saw my fresh tears.

I expected to be lectured, but Masha surprised me. She smiled and simply asked, "Tatiana, where is Jack?"

I answered, "I had him step out of the room and I thought he was right outside."

Masha got a panicked expression and stated, "No, he wasn't there when I arrived."

Ben did not help when he laughed and commented, "Shit, that's just Jack! He's always getting lost."

Masha motioned for me to assist her in the search for Jack, I squeezed Ben's hand and said, "I must go and help Masha find Jack."

Ben was helpful this time when he suggested, "Well knowing Jack, he's either looking for coffee or booze. When you find either one of those, you will probably find Jack."

Flashback – Ben – At the hospital

Damn! It was nice having Tatiana here holding my hand. Since I couldn't see it helped me to calm down. But now that she was gone, it was time to figure out what in the fuck they were doing to me. I tried to remove the bandages over my eyes, but the fuckers did too good a job and I couldn't budge them. Then I tried to move my legs and what the fuck! My legs wouldn't move, in fact I couldn't even feel my legs. I fell back on the bed (which wasn't the wisest thing to do because it hurt my back) and tried to get my head around ... Oh fuck no! Don't tell me I'm fucking blind and crippled!!!

I immediately started to feel sorry for myself ... Then I remembered the look on the faces of the hostages I saved. And then I began to really think ... Well, it was a small price to pay for those kids! Hell, one of them might even go on to become someone famous ... And me, well I fucked up royally ... Yeah, the Marines would throw my ass out for this and I would have to go back to the cabin ... At least I still had all the money my damn dad had left me to live on...

I heard a crapload of noise as some people walked into the room. I questioned, "Hello? Who's there?"

I was shocked when I heard...

Flashback – Jack – At the hospital

I needed one of two things: Either a cup of coffee or a drink of something stronger. Since this was a damn hospital they had to have one or the other. I really didn't know where the fuck I was going, so I wandered into a room, figured out it was the doctor's lounge and damn straight! There were a couple doctors setting in some chairs and they passed a bottle between them.

I walked up, made some motions and they figured out I wanted a drink. They motioned for me to sit down and passed me the bottle. I took a big slug of it, then I started to cough. This sure as hell wasn't vodka - it kicked like a damn mule! The doctors got a big laugh out of my antics so we continued to pass the bottle and soon we were best friends...

Flashback – Tatiana and Masha – At the hospital

We began to search for Masha's Jack and I apologized, "Masha I'm sorry that I have shown my feelings..."

She interrupted me, "Tatiana, do not be sorry for that, instead be joyful."

I questioned, "But we are not..."

Again she interrupted, "Yes, that's what they tell us. But we both know better. So if my secret is safe with you, then your secret is safe with me. Now let's find Jack because he's sort of a lost lamb without me."

I was very worried about Jack. He shouldn't just run off and not let me know where he was going. While Ben speaks Russian as well as a native speaker, Jack speaks Russian more poorly than a very young child.