Marcus

Chapter Ten

Marcus ~

Medics swarmed the truck as soon as they arrived back on base, taking an unconscious Avery Richardson to the medical unit without so much as a word to the rest of the team.

Every cell in Marcus' body was screaming at him, pulling him back toward the compound. His skin crawled with anxious tingling of his nerves and he felt like he was going to lose his mind if he didn't turn that damn truck around and go back for Red. His mind took a hard stance, repeating over and over to his breaking heart that it was impossible, but his emotions were too high and they were taking over his common sense.

"I've gotta go back." Marcus said without a second thought, moving toward the driver's side of the truck.

"What?" Axel snapped.

"Did you hear what she fucking said Ax?" Marcus yelled.

"We all heard what she said Mac, but...dude she didn't even know her own name." Austin carefully pointed out.

"She knew Caroline, recognized her instantly." Marcus countered.

"I'm going back for Red, either with you or through you." Marcus growled, feeling his protective instincts flare and burn within him.

"Hold the fucking phone, you aren't even gonna discuss this with us? No planning, no strategy - just bust in there half cocked and thirsty for blood? That's how we operate now?" Axel challenged Marcus.

"No, I just...the longer we wait here..."

Marcus let his head fall back on his shoulders and lifted his head toward the sky, squeezing his eyes shut as his tactical mind rejected the emotional words that were falling out of his mouth.

"Take a deep breath, Brother." Hawk soothed, placing a strong hand on Marcus' shoulder.

He hadn't realized how erratic his breathing had become and his shoulders and chest were pumping and heaving with panicked breaths as his emotions overpowered his thoughts.

"Let's talk this out okay?" Axel said.

All Marcus could do was nod as they made their way into one of the briefing rooms on base.

"Get Nate on the phone." Axel said to Austin who quickly dialed the number and placed his phone on the table.

"What up Blaze?" Nate said after the first ring.

It was the middle of the night in Syria, but only 5:00 or 6:00pm in the States.

"It's Mac, you got a minute?"

"Sure thing man, Claire and I are just eating dinner over at Pierce's place, need me to go somewhere secluded?" Nate answered.

"Nah you can put it on speaker so Hollywood can hear, that'll keep me from havin' to explain it twice, plus he's so damn nosey you know he'd just eavesdrop anyway." Marcus said, trying to muster a smile, but was unable to produce it.

"You pick up our FBI friend from school yet?" Pierce asked.

"Yeah she just got off the bus, but listen she was saying some crazy shit when we were transporting her." Marcus said.

"Was she in her right mind?" Nate asked.

Marcus shifted his eyes toward Axel and the rest of Alpha team, knowing the answer was no. She wasn't in her right mind, far from it, but that didn't change anything for Marcus.

"Heavily concussed, barely conscious." Axel replied on Marcus' behalf.

The line was quiet for a second or two before Pierce impatiently broke the silence.