Burnt Skies Filled with Love

11 | Collateral Damage

"I feel like seeing everything in the daylight... It has a greater impact on your soul." I commented lightly.

"It's the sad reality of the consequences of others," Daniels replied from behind me.

"I just wish we were here sooner." I breathed out and shook my head.

"If we didn't come when we did, it could've been worse," Daniels explained.

"Yeah... You're right..." I said as I watched two soldiers lift up a corpse to place on a pyramid of dead bodies.

"This will all be over soon," Zussman mumbled under his breath.

As we pulled into a supply stop we could hear Turner and Pierson yelling about who knows what. The three of us got out of the jeep and I looked over at them.

"Time for more beans and bullets," Zussman commented. He looked over at Turner and Pierson as well.

"If I tell you to do it, it is the goddamn mission!" Turner yelled. Pierson just shook his head and looked over, spotting us looking at them.

"Hey, pick up the pace! We gotta hit CP by nightfall!" He yelled, clearly fuming over what Turner was yelling at him about. I shook my head and went ahead to help Daniels with supplies.

"Hey, found this lyin' around. It's from your girl." Aiello walked over. He was holding an envelope and threw it onto the box Daniels was carrying.

"Thought I told you not to go through my things," Daniels said in annoyance.

"What kind of chump doesn't open a sugar report," Aiello commented back. I rolled my eyes at his comment.

"Uh, the king who thinks it's a Dear John." Stiles walked over, peering over at the envelope. "See the address? She wrote 'Daniels', not 'Red'. Only one reason to be so formal." Stiles pointed out.

"Hate to say it. I think she's cutting you loose." Stiles also brought up. I shook my head. These men are clueless. "Maybe, it's like Schrodinger's letter. You know? You don't open it, she's still your girl." Aiello walked over to him and smacked him in the back of the head before I could. Aw, maybe I'm rubbing off on him.

"Maybe it's like Schrodinger's letter... What's wrong with you," Aiello said with a thick yet soft voice. Just then Turner came around with Pierson. He stopped and looked at what was happening.

"Quit screwing around!" Turner yelled, and I mean yelled. I was taken back a bit, usually, Turner is the more calm one. "We hit the State Theater at 0730 tomorrow." He said in a much calmer voice. He then walked away.

"Everybody's got their limited," Zussman whistled lightly, "everybody."

"He seems upset. I could tell by his face. There is clearly something wrong." I brought up as the four of us left Daniels on his own.

"Not likely he'll tell us anything." Aiello shrugged.

"I just worry that if it's upsetting Turner... It must be something to be upset about." I sighed lightly.

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Everything just seemed... very chaotic.

"Let's go! Let's go!"

"Come on, Daniels!"

"Daniels, I got you! Keep your head down!"

"Goddamn it! We keep crushing 'em and they keep coming back!"

"We can't hold the plaza much longer!"

"Artillery's on its way, they're saying ten minutes, tops!"