26 comments/ 12452 views/ 24 favorites I Made a Promise By: GatorRick I had originally intended this to be a two part story, But I got so caught up in it that it begged to be told in one part. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. ***** Lieutenant Mitchell called our squad together early one morning in late November. Mitchell was a newly minted second lieutenant assigned to our squad replacing a seasoned veteran. Just great. Well, he wouldn't be the first one I would have to break-in. Intel had provided us with information that three hostages had been taken, one a young American woman by the name of Emily Thornton, by an ISIS terror group operating some 200 kilometers from our base. She was being held hostage for a ransom from her family. Our squad had been selected to intervene and attempt a rescue. We were taken to a site approximately five klicks from where they were being held. It took us about forty minutes to make our way to the site. Lieutenant Mitchell ordered me and my spotter to take position on a small hillside some six hundred meters from the front of the building while he and the reminder of the squad made their way to the rear. I am a sniper in the Untied States Marine Corps holding the rank of Gunnery Sergeant. My name is Frederick Wolfgang Steiger, but go by my nickname, Rick, for obvious reasons. My spotter is Lance Corporal Thomas McMurray. We had just taken up our position when we observed three hostages being led from the nondescript building. They were dressed in loose fitting orange jumpsuits, each with a cloth hood over their head. Their would be executioners forced them to kneel in front of them. The three ISIS terrorists were dressed in long flowing robes from head to toe with the only visible parts of their body being a narrow strip of their face allowing them to see and their hands. The tallest of the three terrorists stood behind a kneeling hostage with a knife in his hands. I sighted my M110 recoil-operated, semi-automatic a heavy SASR (Special Application Scoped Rifle) on him. Just as he drew back his hand holding the knife I fired. Before the 7.62 round struck him in his forehead I had sighted and fired at the second target and then at the third man. My spotter whispered in my ear . . . . "Target one down . . two down . . three down." In the space of less than one and a half seconds three men lay dead in the dirt. "Where is the guy the camera?" I asked McMurray. "Twenty meters to the left," he answered. I quickly found him in my 30 mm scope just as he was rising to his knees with a pistol in his hand. Before he could fire I shot him in the back of his head. Then both of us heard sounds of flash/bang grenades followed by gunfire from the building. Lieutenant Mitchell emerged from the building and signaled the two of us to come down and join him. By the time we arrived at the scene the three hostages had had their hoods removed and our combat medic Pharmacist Mate William Collins, affectionately known as 'Doc', was treating them. As I walked up Mitchell said to me. "Just had to shoot them in the head, didn't you Gunny? You know how hard that makes identifying them, don't you?" "Yes, Sir. I do. But you never know what kind of body armor they might be wearing under those heavy robes. Head shots are sure kills, Sir." I replied. Proving my point I went over to one of the dead terrorists and moved his clothing aside revealing a high-tech kevlar vest. "If I had shot him in his chest from where I was I doubt it would have stopped him, Sir." "You're right Gunny. I should know better than to question you. We'll take some blood samples, finger prints and see if the forensics boys can ID them." "Oh, there is three more dead in the house. Appears one of them had his dick bitten off and he bled to death. Simpson killed the other two."
 "We'll remain here for awhile, Gunny. You and the 'Doc' transport the hostages back to base." The lieutenant had no sooner finished speaking to me when I heard the distinctive sounds of the rotors of the Sea Knight helicopter as it approached. As we boarded 'Doc' came over and shouted in my ear. "The three of them were pretty heavily drugged up to make them compliant as to what was going to happen. I've given them something to counter act what they were given. The two younger ones are not doing too well. I'll stay with them, but you'll have to handle the older one." "When she begins to come out from under of the effects of what she was given she'll be disoriented and scared. Do what you have to do to keep her calm." He instructed me. Sure enough some fifteen minutes after we took off for our flight back she began regaining her faculties, stood up and started struggling and flailing her arms around. I managed to wrap her up in my arms and pull her down onto my lap, whispering calming words in her ear. She soon settled down. But every time I tried releasing her she began struggling again. I had no choice but to continue holding her against my body for the remainder of the ninety minute flight back to base. Once I looked past the dirt and dried tears on her face I saw she was (is) a very pretty young woman. Over the next ninety minutes I had time to reflect back on my life that had brought to this moment. ******************** I was almost fifteen years old when my dad left on one of his extended business trips one morning. As he did every time he left on one of these trips he took me aside and said to me. "Rick be sure to take good care of your mom and sisters for me while I am gone. You are the man of the house until I come home." "I will pop. I promise you I'll take care of them." I replied. Little did I realize then how much that promise would impact my life. My father never came back. It was the middle of winter and a severe ice storm had struck the just day before he left. The roads were still icy and his car hit a patch of black ice. Unable to regain control he crashed into a large tree. We were told he died instantly. His life insurance was just enough to pay for his funeral and a few months of mortgage payments. Mom had a job at the local library but it didn't pay enough to support the four of us; her, my two younger sisters and me. She found a part-time job, working from the time she got off at the library until eleven at night as well as all day Saturday and Sunday. Even with that added income we only just managed to scrape by. Working all those hours soon took a toll on her. She was always tired and fast becoming worn out. As soon as I turned fifteen I got a part-time job working at the market after school and on Saturdays. I gave everything I earned to my mother. It helped and she was able to cut back on some of the extra hours she was working. When I turned seventeen I left the market and got a job on the loading dock of the local factory. I worked the night shift from when school let out to midnight. It paid a whole lot better and with that income mom was finally able to quit her part-time jobs. Even with working all those hours I still did well in school. So well that I was the valedictorian of my high school class. My guidance counselor encouraged me to take the SATs and I had a perfect score on the mathematics portion and missed a perfect score on the verbal section of the exam by two points. I had offers from several universities and colleges. I soon realized that even with a full academic scholarship we wouldn't be able to afford the incidental costs. Besides my mom and sisters depended on my income from the loading dock at the factory to make ends meet. My sisters were still too young to get jobs so I decided to forgo college and continue working at the factory. I was bound and determined to keep the promise I made to my father. Then the economy went south and the factory was forced to close. There were no other jobs available. I decided to investigate the military. The Marine Corps appealed to me so I enlisted. When I told my mom she was not happy. But she reluctantly became convinced when I told her I would be getting three meals a day/seven days a week, all my clothing would be provided and I would have free health care as well as being able to enroll in on-line courses for college credit. I made arrangements to have most of my monthly pay sent home for mom and my sisters to replace what I had been earning at the factory. I was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina for basic training. It was tough. I kept my eyes and ears open and did what I was told without any questions or arguments. The first time we went to the rifle range I had a ball. I had always been blessed with excellent eyesight and great eye-hand coordination so I did real well at the range. My Drill Instructor was impressed with my uncanny ability to group my shots within a quarter of an inch on any target at any range from two-hundred out to four-hundred yards using just the iron sights of the weapon. I did so well that upon completion of boot camp I was sent to sniper school. After finishing sniper school I had a year and a half of additional training before I was sent overseas for my first tour of duty in Iraq. Now I was just beginning my fourth tour. Being stationed in a war zone qualified for extra-hazardous duty pay. That coupled with no income tax made it attractive for me to keep volunteering for the additional tours. I really could use the money since my sisters were now in college and the money I sent them really came in handy. I snapped out of my reminiscing back to the present when the woman on my lap began squirming and wiggling around. Somehow she had managed to free her arms from my bear hug and they were now firmly wrapped around my neck with her head nestled under my chin. ******************** When we landed I helped her out of the aircraft into the waiting arms of the medical team that was there to meet us. She placed her hand behind my head, pulling it down to her lips and gave me a long kiss. "Thank you for everything," she whispered in my ear before giving me another kiss. Before I could respond 'Doc' called to me from inside the helicopter. "Gunny, give me a hand with these two. They're still in pretty bad shape." Returning to the aircraft I re-entered. 'Doc' was struggling with two terrified young girls that appeared to be in their early to mid-teens. They had been severely traumatized by their ordeal and now found themselves surrounded by strangers. No wonder that they were hysterical and refusing to move. 'Doc' picked up the older of the two, exited the helicopter and I followed carrying the other young girl. They were both crying and clutching at us as we walked to the medical staff. As soon as they saw the older woman, already in the vehicle, they calmed down and allowed themselves to be placed alongside of her. After they left I retrieved my weapon and walked to my quarters. I field stripped the rifle and thoroughly cleaned it. After showering and changing into a clean set of BDUs I walked over to the hospital. Stopping one of the medical staff I asked if I could see Ms Thornton. A doctor heard my request and walked over to me. "Afraid not, Gunny. We ran a blood test on her to determine what she had been given. Those bastards loaded her up with all kinds of crap. It'll take at least twenty-four hours to flush her system out before we even let the intel boys de-brief her." "Best guess is that you'll be able to see her in about two or three days." "Thanks doctor. Will you tell her I came by to see her? She doesn't know my name so just tell her I'm the guy from the helicopter." "I can do that." He responded. ******************** I woke up to find a nurse standing over me. The first words out of my mouth was to ask where was I and what day was it. Well it's just after four in the afternoon and you were brought in yesterday morning, Tuesday, just before eleven in the morning, I was told. "You have had a rough couple of days. But by all indications you're going to be just fine. Are you up to a couple of visitors?" I was asked. "I guess so." I answered. "Good afternoon, Ms Thornton. I hope you're feeling better. I'm Major Williams and this is Captain Collins. To set your mind at ease your parents have been notified of your rescue and safe return. I have made arrangements for you to talk with your father as soon as we are finished here. We are with Military Intelligence and we have some questions for you if you are feeling well enough to answering them for us." "I guess so. What you do want to know?" "Why don't we start from when you were captured and taken hostage and go from there." "Okay. After all those men broke into the facility I was working at they went from room to room shooting anyone who resisted. When they came upon me I was counseling two young girls who had been sexually abused." "I heard one of them say that I was the one they were looking for. Their leader remarked that I should be worth at least ten million dollars." "They tied and blindfolded the three of us. We were placed in a truck and they drove for what seemed like hours finally stopping at run down two story building. They separated us and I was placed in a room with who I assumed was the leader since he was the one giving the orders." "He took his thing out from his pants and motioned to me to open my mouth. I refused, clamping my lips together firmly. He then pinched my nose shut and when I was forced to open my mouth to breathe he shoved his thing into my mouth. I bit down . . . hard. He screamed and tried to pull away from me. I just bit down harder. He began beating me on my head, but I refused to stop biting him." "Two of his men ran into the room and tried to pull me away from him. Finally, one of them punched me so hard I lost consciousness. When I regained my senses my mouth was full of blood. I spit it out along with a large pieces of flesh and skin." "One of the men came into the room, slapped me and forced me to drink a bottle of water. After some minutes I began to feel really funny. That's the last thing I remember until I regained my senses sometime later. I was in some sort of a helicopter and sitting on a man's lap. He had his arms wrapped tightly around me telling me everything was going to be okay. I felt safe and secure in his arms. I nestled close to him as he continued to whisper calming words into my ear." "That's pretty much all I can remember until you walked into my room. Now can you help me fill in the blanks?" Major Williams told me that I had been kidnapped and held for ransom by an ISIS faction that controlled that part of Iraq. The man who tried to force himself on me was Mohammad al Shari who commanded that faction. He bled to death from you biting him. I was told. His companions were so incensed by your actions that they decided you had to die. The water you were forced to drink contained a toxic mixture of drugs designed to make you unable to resist or fight for your life. Captain Collins told me that I was saved from being decapitated by a Marine sniper who shot my executioner and three others before they could harm me or the two teenage girls. "Who was the man with me in the helicopter?" "It was the same man, Ms Thornton, Gunnery Sergeant Frederick Steiger," Major Williams interjected. "What else can you tell me about him?" "Not much I'm afraid", Major Williams continued. "All we know is that he is very good at what he does. He is just beginning his fourth tour here. Never takes any leave to go home between tours. The men in his squad respect and like him, but it appears he has absolutely no social life." "He came to see how you were doing several hours after you were brought here. The medical staff told him you weren't able to receive any visitors until they were able to flush the drugs from your system and we had the opportunity to de-brief you." "I would very much like to meet him. Can you arrange it?" "I'll see what I can do," Captain Collins answered, leaving the room. He returned several minutes later and told me that Gunnery Sergeant Steiger was out on a mission and will be gone until tomorrow. "I contacted his commanding officer with your request. He assured me that he would pass it on as soon as Sergeant Steiger returns." The following afternoon there was a knock at my door and a young man stepped into the room. "I'm Gunnery Sergeant Steiger," he said by way of a formal introduction. "I'm Emily Thornton," I replied. "Please call me Emily, not Ms Thornton" "Fair enough. Just call me Rick. It's what my mother and my sisters call me." This was the first time I saw him without his helmet and bulky body armor. My God, he was a real hunk. He was about six foot tall with dark brown hair and brown eyes. His smile lit up the room. When he spoke his voice was deep and yet soft. After we got the 'how are you? I'm fine' part of the conversation out of the way we engaged in a long discussion about ourselves. I couldn't believe how fast time had passed when an orderly came in with my dinner. Rick stood up and announced he would be going so I could eat. I implored him to stay. "Don't go, please. I can eat this cold. I would very much like to continue talking with you." He sat back down and we continued our conversations late into the evening. I confided to him my life as a spoiled little rich girl. The only reason I was in Iraq was that my grandfather insisted that I do something to help others before coming into the trust fund he had established for me. I told Rick how much the short period of time I spent here had opened up my eyes to what was really important in life. Then he briefly recounted his life from the time his dad died up to the present. I was amazed how much he had sacrificed in order to fulfill the promise he made to his father. When he finally did leave I gave him a thank you kiss. As soon as he left I missed him something terrible. I never believed in the old cliche 'love at first sight' until today. I wanted to love him and I wanted him to love me, too. Then I began eating my dinner. Nothing ever tasted as good as that cold food. Late that evening a doctor came by with the results of my latest blood test. Everything was normal. All the toxins had been flushed from my system, thank God. "The medical staff and I believe that you will be able to travel home in a couple of days. You will require an escort from Iraq to Germany. You'll also require one going on to your home town." "Why don't you call your parents tonight with the news and see what they can arrange in way of an escort for you" the doctor said as he left. Since it was after ten in the evening I realized with the time differential it was just a little past two in the afternoon at home and daddy would be in his office. Making the call I explained to him what I wanted. "Are you sure about this? You know I'll have to check him out before I agree." He responded. Using my pathetic, little girl voice I said. "I don't care daddy. Just do it for me, please, daddy please." ******************** After receiving assurances from his only child that her health was fine, Peter Thornton instructed his secretary to have George Samuelson report to him ASAP. "George, I want everything you can find out about this individual and I want it before nine tomorrow morning," I instructed him, handing him a slip of paper with a name written on it. "Awful short notice, boss. I can do it but it's gonna be expensive." "George, I was just about to spend ten million dollars in ransom money to get my daughter home. Spend whatever you have to. Just get it done." It was a little past eight that evening when my cell phone rang. The cell phone display simply said 'Samuelson'. "Mr. Thornton, I'm faxing you everything I have on the name you gave me. It was a piece of cake. The guy is a real straight arrow. There is absolutely nothing adverse in his background. He is an up-and-up guy." I Made a Promise Going into my home office I retrieved the fax, read it over twice and then made a telephone call. ******************** I was having breakfast in the mess hall the morning after meeting with Emily Thornton. I thought to myself about what she had told me about herself. Sure, she was a charming and engaging woman, but she was way out of my league. Better just forget about her. As I was finishing my second cup of coffee one of the privates who worked in the admin office came up to me and said. "The colonel wants to see you in his office right now, Gunny." When I showed up I was ushered immediately into Colonel William Jacobs office. "Have a seat Gunny," I was instructed. Colonel Jacobs picked up a sheet of paper from his desk, read it and then said to me. "Gunny, Ms Emily Thornton will be released from medical care tomorrow and will be flying home. She will require an escort from here to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Once there she will be met by someone who will escort her to Frankfurt and will accompany her on a commercial flight back to the states." "Why me, Colonel? Why was I singled out for this mission?" "I don't have that answer for you. Will you accept the assignment?"
 "Do I have any choice, Sir?" "Afraid not, Gunny. Get your gear together. You leave tomorrow at 0930." "Yes sir," I answered. "I'll be sure to see that she gets there safely." As I stood preparing to leave he handed me a packet. "This is her passport, a couple of her credit cards and some of her personal items, including her cell phone, we recovered from where she was kidnapped." The following morning I met Emily at the airfield, returned her passport along, the credit cards and the rest of her belongings to her and we boarded. I managed to snag a window seat and the accompanying seat next to it right by the emergency exit. Settling into our seats Emily grabbed my hand as we rolled out for take-off. Once we were safely in the air she loosened her seatbelt and laid her head on my shoulder. Flying on a military transport with a large group of noisy service personnel excited to be starting on their journey home is not conducive to any type of intimate conversation. Speaking directly into my ear she said, "I was so nervous about going home that I didn't sleep well last night. Do you mind if I close my eyes for a bit?" I nodded my consent. Still holding my hand she reached over with her other hand and grasped my arm. In spite of the loud talking all around us she managed to doze off as she snuggled even closer to me. I thought to myself what it would be like if we could share moments like this forever. Then reality set in as I knew that in a few short hours she would leave, continuing on the second leg of her journey. When we arrived at the Ramstein Air Base we de-planed and I walked with her into the terminal where she was to meet her escort for the remainder of her trip home. Instead we were greeted by a two-star general. There was a change in plans. The escort scheduled to accompany her was unable to fulfill his obligation. The general handed me new orders along with an envelope containing travel documents and instructions. Then he wished us a safe journey and left. I failed to notice the big smile on Emily's face when she heard about the change in plans. Grasping my arm she looked up at me and said, "looks like you are stuck with me for a few more days." "Appears so," I replied, secretly pleased by the turn of events that would allow me to continue living in my fantasy world. "I promise that I will see you safely back home." In the envelope that the general gave me were two train tickets for travel between Ramstein and Frankfurt. Once we arrived in Frankfurt the instructions said to take the S-Bahn (surface rail) from the Hauptbahnhof (main railway station) to the airport. From there we were to go to the Hilton Garden Inn Frankfurt Airport. The accommodations were prepaid. Then the following morning we were to go to the Lufthansa counter in Terminal One to acquire our tickets and boarding passes for the flight to Boston's Logan International Airport. A car would be waiting to take Emily to her home in Marblehead, Massachusetts. ******************** Rick took my hand and led me toward the waiting train at the Ramstein Station. Since it was a local we would have to change trains twice once in Landstuhl and the second change at the Mannheim Hauptbahnhof. The first two legs of our journey went smoothly. The trains were crowded so all we pretty much could do was gaze out the window at the German countryside. As we were walking through the Mannheim station toward the track that the Frankfurt train would depart from a crazed man with an automatic rifle came running toward us shouting 'Allahu Akbar . . Allahu Akbar'. Before I knew what was happening Rick pushed me to the floor and threw his body on top of me. I was aware of bullets striking the pavement all around us. Then I heard additional volleys of automatic weapons firing. German security had reached the scene and killed the man. Rick rolled off of me and asked if I was okay. Before I could answer I saw blood all over his chest. Somehow I managed to pull him to a sitting position, wrapping my arms around him and crying hysterically. "I love you," were the last words he spoke to me as his eyes closed. ******************** "NO...NO...NOOOOOOOOOOO!! GOD, NO!" I screamed holding Rick's lifeless body as his blood ran down my arms. I never felt the hands that pried me away from Rick's body. A blanket was wrapped around me as I watched several men place Rick's body on a gurney and rush him away. One of the men yelled something in German that I didn't understand. Then another man helped me to my feet and we began running to keep pace with the two pushing Rick to a waiting ambulance. He was alive, just barely, but alive. When we arrived at the hospital Rick was rushed into surgery. I sat outside the operating room waiting for several hours while the doctors worked feverishly to save his life. I called my father telling him what had happened. "I'll leave your mother for a day or two with a nurse and I will be there as soon as I can to bring you home, pumpkin." "No, daddy. Stay with mom. She needs you more than ever now. No matter how everything turns out I'm staying here by myself. For the first time in my life there is someone more important than me." Before Rick was wheeled into the operating room they gave me his personal possessions to hold. I went through his wallet and found his mother's phone number. Then I made the hardest phone call I ever made in my entire life. "Hello, Mrs. Steiger. My name is Emily Thornton. I have some very bad news about your son." I explained to her the circumstances that resulted in her son being shot. She started crying so I gave her several moments to compose her self. As soon as she settled down I continued telling her that her son was in surgery but the prognosis was not encouraging. I told her to get her passport and go to the airport. I would arrange to have an airline ticket waiting there for her. When she told me she didn't have a passport, never needed one, it complicated things. This was a problem my father, even with all of his connections, could not fix. I promised her I would call her immediately with any news of a change in his condition as soon as I leaned of it. Five hours later I called her back. Rick had come through surgery and the doctors said the next seventy-two hours would be critical for his recovery. I called every few hours with updates on his condition. We soon were on a first name basis. No more Mrs. Steiger. She was now Barbara and I was Emily. The hours stretched into days and the days into weeks before he was well enough be released from the hospital. Now it was me who would be escorting him home. I secured a car and driver to take us to Frankfurt Airport. I didn't want to take the train. Too many bad memories. When we were safely on our way I told Rick that I would take him home first and then would make my own way home afterward. He looked at me and simply said. "NO. I made you a promise that I would see you safely back to your home and I fully intend to keep my word." When we arrived at the airport I had the driver drop us off at the 'Squaire' where the Hilton Garden Inn was located. Our original reservations had long since expired so I had called ahead to secure new ones. I was told that there was only one room available. I had no choice but to book it. We checked-in at the front desk and went up to our room. Rick opened the door for me and stepped into the room after I entered. "Uh Oh. Looks like we have a problem." He remarked. "There's only one bed. Well, I'll just sleep on the floor. It won't be the first time or, if you prefer, I'll spend the night in the lobby." "You'll do neither, Rick. It's a king size bed. Plenty of room for the two of us. I promise not to attack you in the middle of the night. But that's a promise I may not be able to keep," I smirked. It took all the will power I possessed, but I was able to keep my word. Darn it. I woke early the next morning before Rick. After showering and dressing I slipped out of the room for a few minutes and made a call to my father. I had forgotten about the time differential and his phone rang for quite some time before he answered. After I explained I was fine and everything was okay I said to him. "Daddy, I have a big favor to ask." I told him what I wanted. He said he would do what he could. When I reentered the room Rick was just getting up. "Come on sleepy head. We have a plane to catch." It was just a short walk from the hotel to Terminal One and the Lufthansa desk. I had already made arrangements for our flight back to Boston/Logan so checking in was a snap especially since we were flying first-class. With our boarding passes in hand, we cleared the security check point and proceeded to the departure gate. Not long afterward we boarded and took our seats. Rick looked at me and with some wonder in his voice said, "Really, Emily, really. First class?" ******************** Flying home in first class with Emily just re-affirmed my earlier belief . . . this woman was way out of my league. I mean two first class tickets probably set her back at least seven grand. This girl spent money like there was no tomorrow. Yep, way, way out of my league. Eight and half hours later we arrived in Boston. After clearing passport control and customs we entered the arrival hall where Emily spotted someone she recognized. Taking me by the hand she introduced me. "Rick, this George Samuelson, my dad's right hand man. George, this is Gunnery Sergeant Frederick Steiger the man who saved my life . . . twice." George shook my hand vigorously, slapped me on the back and said that Mr. Thornton would have accompanied him but that Emily's mother was still recovering from surgery and he did not want to leave her alone. He walked us out of the terminal to the short term parking lot and, after placing our luggage in the trunk of his car, we set off for Emily's home in Marblehead, Massachusetts. A little less than an hour later we pulled up to a wrought iron gate that swung open allowing us to drive up to the house. We had no sooner stopped and gotten out of the car when the front door opened and an older man rushed out of the house. Enveloping Emily in his arms I heard him say . . . "Thank God you are home safely, pumpkin. Your mother and I have been so worried about you." Releasing Emily he grabbed me in a bear hug and exclaimed. "You must be the man who saved my daughter's life! There is no way I'll ever be able to repay you, but I will damn sure try." Taking me and Emily by the arm he walked us into the house. Sitting in a wheelchair in the foyer with a blanket over her legs was a woman I took to be Emily's mother. As soon as Emily saw her she broke free from her father and rushed over shouting, "Mom, mom. What are you doing out of bed? Are you okay? George said something about another surgery . . ." Before Emily could get another word out her mom pulled her onto her lap, hugging and kissing her. "Calm down pumpkin, calm down. Yes, I have had several surgeries. The first was two days before you were kidnapped. It was partially successful but it encouraged me to continue in the hopes of walking again." "The second one was just about the time you were to originally come home. That is why your father was unable to go and get you. The final one happened just a few days ago. The doctors told us, looking at Emily's father, that there is no reason I won't be able to resume a full and active life in a few months." With Emily pushing her mother's wheelchair her father took my arm and we followed them into the sitting room. Emily proceeded to tell her parents the entire story from the time she was taken captive until we arrived in Boston. She did leave out a little of the more descriptive parts of her captivity. I don't think her mother or father could have handled the part of how Mohammad al Shari died. When she recounted the incident at the railway station in great detail both her mother a father had horrified looks other faces. They interrupted her narrative to ask me how I was. Had I recovered? After reassuring them that I was well on my way to a full recovery Emily finished her story. At that moment a member of the household staff announced that lunch was ready. After eating I asked Mr. Thornton if he could have George take me back to the airport as I wanted to fly home to my mother and sisters. He replied, "I am afraid George is not available right at the moment. He is running an errand for me at this time. As soon as he returns we will see about reuniting you with your family." "Let's all go back to the sitting room." Emily suggested. "We can sit by the fire for a while and relax." "My wife and I have planned a party tonight to celebrate Emily's safe return. We want you to be a part of this celebration. Please say you will stay," Emily's dad implored. "I appreciate the invitation and under any other circumstances I would say yes. But I have not seen my mom and sisters in over three an half years. I'm kind of anxious to get going," I said as I stood. "No, Rick. You have to stay!" Emily exclaimed as she clutched my arm. That same sentiment was echoed by a voice from behind me. I turned to see my mom standing there. She rushed over and the next several minutes were filled with hugging, kissing and a lot of tears. I will admit a lot of those tears were mine. "How ever did you get here? I mean I don't understand how did . . ." "Emily and her father arranged all of it. I received a telephone call very, very early this morning from Mr. Thornton telling me to pack enough clothes for a week and for your sisters to do the same." "I had to explain that both of your sisters were taking their final exams at the university. I knew they would drop everything to come but I also knew that they had to stay behind and finish their tests. "Mr. Thornton had arranged for a car to pick me up and take me to the airport." "This nice man" she continued, nodding at George, "picked me up and drove right here." "We'll leave you two to catch up with each other." Peter said, escorting his wife and Emily from the room. Boy did we ever catch up with what had happened since the last time I saw them. Mom told me both my sisters were finishing their last semester of college. They were still living at home for the time being. "Rick, I want you to stop sending money home. I don't need it anymore. I've been promoted to oversee the entire library system for the county. The job comes with a substantial bump in salary. You have made enough sacrifices in your life for me and your sisters over the years." "You have more than kept your promise to your father. He would so very proud of you. But now it's time for you to think about yourself." Just then mom's cell phone rang. It was Robin, the older of my two sisters, calling to find out where mom was. Mom told her what had happened and Robin was so excited, screaming and yelling for Linda to come to the phone. Mom handed me her phone and, as soon as the two of them had calmed down, I was able to tell them what had been happening. After I had finished explaining everything I asked about their exams. They both had finished two of their final exams and had three more to take to complete the term. As we finished talking I told them to study hard and I would see them in a few days. ******************** Later that afternoon Emily reminded me about the party for that evening. It was to be held at the country club and was to be a semi-formal affair. "Please wear your dress uniform for me. I want to show you off to everyone." She exclaimed, kissing me on my cheek, as she skipped off. When we arrived at the club it appeared that the party was already in full swing. Mr. Thornton, pushing his wife in her wheelchair, led us in. Emily had grasped my arm as we followed. George Samuelson escorted my mother right behind us. Holy crap there had to be over a hundred people in the room. As soon as the crowd saw us they erupted into cheers and hand capping. Evidently Emily was a very, very popular young woman. We were soon mobbed by well wishers and admirers. Emily was overwhelmed by her friends. She tried her best to include me, but it was soon apparent her friends were really not interested in me. There was one guy, he was introduced to me as Quentin Reynolds, as he proceeded to shoulder me aside to embraced Emily. I thought he was a little too familiar and intimate with her. To her credit she slipped away from his embrace and rejoined me. "Old boy friend . . . ex-old boyfriend," she whispered. As he moved along he gave me a snotty and condescending look. After the crowd of well-wishers dissipated Emily excused herself to the ladies room. I took the opportunity to step outside onto the patio for a breath of fresh air. Standing there I thought to myself just how insufferable some of these people were. Many of them didn't even acknowledge my presence in spite of Emily's attempts to include me in the conversations. Standing at the edge of the patio overlooking the darkened golf course someone grabbed me by the arm, spun me around getting in my face said, "I want to speak to you asshole." "I don't know who you think you are with Emily falling all over herself hanging on your arm and everything. You think just because you saved her it means something. My tax dollars pay you do that. You're nothing but an ignorant, stupid jarhead. You are not even close to being in her class." As he continued his tirade he drew a crowd from amongst the guests. Just as I was getting ready to teach this insufferable bastard a lesson Emily, her father and George Samuelson pushed their way through the crowd. The look on Emily's face rapidly changed from shock and horror to anger. "Quinton Reynolds," she screamed furiously. "How can you say such horrible things? Get out . . get out! Leave right now!" Now Peter Thornton is not a small man but George was at least five inches taller and fifty pounds heavier. Get the hell out of here right now Quintion!" Peter thundered. "George help this piece of trash out of here." "With pleasure boss." Then George grabbed Reynolds by his collar and the seat of his pants and frog walked him through the assembled on-lookers throwing him out with a warning not to return. Peter Thornton quieted the crowd down and announced. "Sorry about all the commotion folks. Now that we have removed that despicable piece of humanity I need to explain a few things to all of you about this young man." I Made a Promise "This is more than a just celebration of Emily's safe home coming. It is also a celebration to honor a man who has sacrificed so much in his own life for others." He then briefly recounted the story of my life from the time my dad died right up to the time I was wounded in Germany. "If this man had not been there for my daughter she would not be alive today. My wife and I will be forever in his debt, a debt we can never adequately repay." Some where from the back of the assembled guests someone began to clap. Soon everyone was clapping and cheering. It was several minutes before the crowd was quiet enough to hear him say. "My friends please let's go back inside and resume the festivities." As we walked back inside Peter came up and confided to me. "I hope you don't mind me telling everyone about your private life, Rick. I had George check up on you several months ago. After all Emily is my only child. Your mother filled me in on all the gaps this afternoon. You are quite an admirable young man, Frederick Steiger. I am proud to say I know you." ******************* Several days later I had to tell Emily that I had to go back to Iraq. I would be leaving in the morning. She was crying and holding on to me saying, "No . . no. You have to stay with me. I need you. I want you more than anything I have ever wanted in my entire life. I can have daddy fix it so you don't have to go back." "Emily," I replied. "When I entered the Marines I swore a oath . . . a solemn promise to serve and protect my country. What kind of man would I be if I went back on my word?" The next morning I left. It was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my entire life My last vision of Emily was seeing her sobbing in the arms of her father. ******************** TWO YEARS LATER I awoke from another troubled night filled with the same nightmare of that tragic day two years ago when the love of my life left me. The spot next to me in bed was empty. I could hear sounds of my new husband, of only one month, in the kitchen preparing breakfast for the two of us. He soon returned carrying a tray with coffee and buttered toast. Sitting on the edge of the bed he handed me a mug of piping hot coffee and a slice of toast. After I finished my coffee he placed my empty mug on the night table. "Was it the same nightmare?" He asked. I nodded my head yes. "But the frequency of it has dropped significantly since our wedding." "Emily, its been two years now. You have got to let it go. It wasn't your fault, no one blames you." "But I blame myself. If I hadn't been so selfish it never would have happened. All I ever thought about was me... me... me. Everything I ever wanted, I got." "Truth be told I'm not unhappy about having the nightmares. They serve to remind me of just how much I could have lost." "Now I just need you to hold me." My husband got back into bed, rolled over to me and held me tightly in his arms whispering the same comforting words he had said the night before as he calmed me down from my nightmare. I began kissing him as my hand began caressing his naked shoulder. My fingers lingered lightly over the scars left by the two bullets that had struck him as he lay on top of me protecting me that afternoon over two years ago. Looking into his eyes I whispered, "I love you so very, very much Rick. Just hold me, just hold me and never let me go."