Gunslingers

Dan and I paced the base. Every time we passed each other, we glared at the other. Dan had finally lost it and blamed Sanders and Martinez on me. I had called him out on giving up the search. What had happened to no man left behind?

"If you disobey my orders, you will be in a shit storm, Baker." Dan stopped to face me.

"So bet it. He's my partner, and I'm going to find him."

Dan nodded. "Do what you have to do. Cory's got a Humvee waiting."

I wished I could say I was surprised, but I obviously wasn't. Dan had to play bad cop because his commanding officer was pissed as hell.

Smiling, I left the room to find Cory. We were going to get my best friend. We would find him.
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The sun lowered and so did my hope. There was no sign of Matt or Rae. We had really and truly lost them.

"Vengeance, there's a truck approaching us. Guns at the ready," Cory said.

Nodding, I trained my gun on the vehicle as Cory motioned for it to stop. The vehicle actually slowed and then stopped. A man covered in blood and grime hopped out and ran over to us.

"Shit, be prepared." Cory pulled over.

I nodded and kept my gun trained on the man until I recognized him. Pushing my door opened, I ran to the man and embraced him.

"Matt!" He pulled me close to me and hugged me like his life depended on it.

"Rae's in the truck. She's in bad shape."

I followed him to the passenger side and saw a pale and blood-soaked Rae. She looked miserable, barely even awake. I helped Matt get her out of the cab and into the Humvee. We had a moderately long drive ahead of us, and I could only hope Rae would make it.

Rae leaned against Matt's chest and closed her eyes. A pained look crossed Matt's face as he looked down at her. Something appeared in his eyes as he watched her.

"What happened, Sanders?" Cory asked as he sped through the desert.

"Allad knew we were coming. He found us. We just never saw it coming." Matt sounded exhausted.

"Sleep, Shadz, you're safe now," I said and watched my friend nod and close his eyes. It had been a long day for him... well, three days.
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The Humvee stopped, and Cory and I went to get Rae out and to the medical center. She'd probably be medi-vaced to Germany. Matt startled awake as we gently picked up Rae.

"Thanks, Zacky." He climbed out and helped get Rae to the medical center. "Where's Dan?"

I motioned to the small command center and watched him disappear inside. Cory helped me place Rae on a bed and then left for my own bed.

"Where's Matt?" Rae asked before I could leave. Her voice was shaky.

"He went to make a report. Do you want me to stay with you?"

She nodded and extended her hand. I took it and prayed she'd be okay.

Notes

And the plot thickens. Not really, but so it goes.

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Heretic Blood