The Devil Among Heroes : A SEAL Team Story

chapter five | playing house part two

KT POV

Hannah soon left, leaving me alone with Joey and Jared. Joey was more engrossed in playing dolls than asking me any questions so, my mind was free from that aniexty. Well, at least for now. The little girls pig tails bounced as she turned her head well talking, occasionally she'd tug on her right ear as if something was bothering her with it. Jared who was cleaning up the kitchen saw this but didn't say anything , indicating it was either a habit of the young girls or he knew what was wrong with her. Eventually, Joey got worn out and crept over to her dad who had finished cleaning the kitchen and was currently trying to build a fire. The temperatures were expected to drop overnight and snow was expected starting early in the morning for most of the next two days so having a fire now would help compensate for the lack heat in the rather old farm house. Joey continued to tug on her ear as she talked with her dad who instantly picked her up setting her down in one the chairs. "I'm gonna need to run to the pharmacy real quick. Do you think you could just watch the fire and Joey while I'm gone ?" I look at the former SEAL in confusion, I was never one for Girl Scouts growing up as a kid so tending to a fire wouldn't be my forté. Joey I could manage as she was just grabbing her ear and holding on to a teddy bear the appeared from somewhere. Jared looks at me again this time a reassuring look "don't worry. I have my phone on me and will be home for literally thirty minutes, I'm grabbing Joeys ear medication and driving start back here. Do you even want to count how long it takes me ?" I can't  tell if he's being sarcastic or not, as it's hard to read him. I roll my eyes "I'll be fine. you can go." I watch him throw on his jacket, boots and baseball hat before taking his truck keys off the hook. "Thirty minutes, and I'll be back." With that he leaves the house and I watch as his truck beats down the path out into the Virginia woods. Time passes slowly, with each minute my anxiety growing in my chest. Suddenly, a sharp noise from outside alarms me. Joey, whose now asleep on the same chair he dad dropped her off in, doesn't startled awake, for that I'm greatful. My nerves grow as the sounds gets louder causing a dreary feeling to grow inside me like wild fire. My curiosity and nerves get the best of me as I slowly crawl to the bay window in the family room, the curtains still draw. As I peak my head from under the curtains to look out the driveway my heart jumps out of my chest. My body rolls back from the window and survival mode sets in. I immediately pick up Joey out of her seat and run to the back of the house, I place her in her bedroom. Before locking all the doors to her room, and then climbing out the back room window with only a knife to protect me. Why was he here ? Better yet how did he find me ? I don't look back and I know I can't because out on the driveway is a black Range Rover, the same one my father drives.

  I run from the woods onto a road that parallels the highway, and simply continue to run. Somehow I find myself at the apartment complex that I knew where Clay lives. I climb up the stairs and sneak up to his apartment, trying to to raise any alarms especially since people would question a young girl, covered in scares and fresh wounds, dirty, wearing only jeans and a sweatshirt in ten degree weather while carrying a knife. Probably should've grabbed a coat on the way out but my main concern was making sure Joey was safe, and I knew she was. My dad wasn't stupid and wouldn't go into someone's home, all he wanted was me.  But he's been wanting me for seven years now and hasn't gotten close, well that is until today.

I bang on clays door rapidly, and instantly regret it now that Bravo was at the base this morning. I turn to leave but am stopped by clays neighbors door opening. I close my eyes leaning against the hallway wall to nervous to move to scared to face the individual who came out of the door. "Can I help you with something?" I open my eyes to see a man with shorter hair and a beard step outside the door. He looked me up and down with concern probably wondering why my body was covered in dirt, bandaids and scratches. "No, I'm okay. Thanks though." With that I try and leave but he stops me "You're not okay. Come into my apartment with me." Why would this guy be asking at? I flinch in away in fear which casuals him to raise his arms in surrender "It's okay. I'm a friend of Clay's. I work with him, and I'm the medic for Alpha Team, and there 2IC ." I'm still flinch but look at him with a hint of optimism "How do I know you aren't lying?" The man reaches into his pocket and pulls out a government issued phone and private phone, he scrolls and pulls up a picture of him (not in military gear) but he was with my team. "See, I'm a friend of Clays. Come with me, please. You know he would kill me if you left here in this state." I knew whoever this man was correct with that fact but apprehension still plagued my mind "tell me your name." He looked at me once again with concern for a moment before he finally speaks "I'm Derek, and you are ?" I hesitant for a moment as well but answer knowing that I would be safe with him "I'm Zoë." With that he motions me back into his apartment and gently closes the door.

The apartments in pretty nice condition with pictures of a cute couple around the house, who I chalk up to being Derek and his wife. There's some military memorabilia on the walls similar to the stuff I see in the guys cages along with some University of Iowa memorabilia. "My wife Trish and I met at the University of Iowa freshman year before I enlisted. She graduated as a nurse from there and works at a local hospital as a pediatric nurse." The room decor seemed to settle me down as it truly felt homey, and made the room look well cared for. I keep staring at the family on the walls before Dereks voice pull me out of my trance "If you sit down on the couch, we'll talk and I'll get you cleaned up a bit." I look at Derek with hesitancy once again but he quickly reassures me "you can sit. it's okay, you aren't gonna get the couch dirty." I'm surprised he understood how I was feeling but I brush it off and gently sit in the couch which is settled in front of a TV, which is turned to an Iowa basketball game. I watch the game to distract myself but I'm much more a soccer and or football fan so it's not exactly my cup of tea. I don't even realize Dereks sitting in front of me on his knees until he gently shakes my arm. He silently rolls up my sleeves to get the dirt off my arms revealing the massive cuts on my arms that still despite all the mud, sweat and blood were perfectly clean and showed no sign of infections. "Who ever cleaned these up did I nice job. Don't even have to do anything accept rub the dirt off and get a new bandage. Where did you go to get the stitches ?" I look down at Derek while he rubs the dirt off my arm "Trent cleaned them up and stitched them for me with the help of Jason, and Clay." Derek smiles softly while he finishes wiping the dirt off, revealing dirt and sweat soak bandages. He quickly changes them that leans back onto his heels. "Your ZK, bravos new translator aren't you?" I immediately try and move but Derek gentle grabs my wrist. "It's okay, I heard them talking about their new addition to the family the other day. Do you want me to call them? Is there a reason why your were at clays?" I ponder for a moment about whether or not to tell the truth. I take a deep breathe and think of my future and what Derek said about me being the new member of this family. I could either continue down the path of lying and depict or I can turn this page that so many people are offering me. With another deep breathe I begin telling my story to Derek, and thus beginning a new chapter in the story of my life.