500 Miles

Eight

Song for this Chapter: I Am Defiant- The Siege

"I don't know where my mind is
Don't even know what time is
Somebody stop the virus
I don't think I'll survive this"

"What do you mean, you enlisted?" Julian is in shock. I don't blame him. I just dropped a bomb on him.
"I couldn't let you go another winter like we did Jules. I'll be in training for a few months, and then once I get my duty station, you all are coming to live with me."

My job has been the same since I was old enough to figure it out. Take care of my siblings. This was the only way to get them out of the system and ensure their safety.

After we were removed from our step-father's care, it became a nonstop fight to keep the four of us stable. Our mother no longer in the picture, and an alcoholic father, it was up to me to do what I did best. Which worked out most of the time.

The kids didn't ask for much, and I made sure they never needed anything, either. Jules worked overnights through the school year, sacrificing his sleep to help me. He still managed to keep his grades up, and the youngest three never knew. We created our own little family based on love and kindness and compassion. A feat that seemed impossible not long before.

*******

Almost a week had gone by before the team began fulfilling their roles. A week to decompress as much as possible, to sleep, and to heal, in my case. My hip was still achy and sore, and still darkly bruised, but I had normal range of motion and was relatively pain free. Reyes was pleased with my resilience and recovery and cleared me for light duty.
Stanisic became the weapons coordinator, the gunsmith. Rodriguez and Rabelista took up night sentry positions with Jace. Reyes took myself and Livvy under her wing, training us on the basics of being a medic. Blake took on the role of a scout, and within days had become the go-to for weapons training.

We fit in here. There were a few rumors floating around, but Jules and I were doing our best to shield the three youngest from them. It was working. Livvy was tasked with learning the basics of medical care, while Reyes was training me on the more intense stuff. We had our own little triage area.

Colds, allergies, minor scrapes and bruises, that fell on Livvy.
Stitches, wound care, antibiotics, that fell on me.
Everything else more severe fell on Reyes, with me as her second.

"Ophelia?" A small voice jars me out of my thoughts. Livvy sits on a cot, legs crossed, watching me and Reyes read over guides and procedures.

"Yes, little star?" I shift sideways, easing the dull pain in my hip.
"We won't see anyone we know again, will we." It's a statement, not a question. I leave my studies and step over to Livvy's cot, waiting as she scoots for me to sit, then climbs into my lap.

Her head rests on my shoulder, just like when she was younger and needed me more.
"I don't think so, no. But that's okay. You have us now. You have me, and I have my drills, and you won't need anyone else again. Not as long as I'm around." She nods, thinking, processing my statement.

"You're right." She says finally. I smile, and give her ponytail a tug.
"Tell you what, you go shower, and I'll braid your hair when you get done, okay?" I try to lift her mood. It works. She's off my lap and out the door in seconds.

Reyes clears her throat. "You're a good sister, you know that?" I give her a small smile.

"Not good enough some days." I reply. If she knew our background, she'd take it back in a heartbeat.

*******

My brain awakes in a panic, my heart pounding as I fight to ground myself. My heart only begins to slow as I take note of my surroundings.