Scarlett's Soldier

Chapter #39

Chapter #39
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Louri’s POV
We get to Melanie’s house and go straight inside. “Hey we’re here.” I call out. “Come on, he's asleep on the couch.” Melanie says after she practically pops out of thin air. “We’ve been married for almost two years and I still have no idea how your mom just pops out of thin air like that.” I whisper to Scarlett. “I don’t know Babe she has been able to do it my whole life and I still don’t know how.” She whispers back. “I’m magic.” Melanie says clearly hearing what we said. “Honestly at this point Melanie I wouldn’t doubt it.” I say as we enter the living room. “He doesn’t look good. How long has he been like this?” I ask. “It started this morning and just got worse and he started asking for you two. That’s when I called you.” She says. “Hey Buddy it’s Mommy you ready to go home.” Scarlett says waking Devon up gently and he nods tiredly and she picks him up. “Where’s his bag?” I ask. “Oh it’s in his room I’ll get it.” Melanie says before heading off to the room Devon always stays in when he’s here. “Hey Little Marine. Mama heard you don’t feel good. Can you tell me what doesn’t feel good?” I ask him. “My tummy.” He says weakly. “Ok well why don’t you try and get back to sleep alright.” I tell him and he nods before putting his head on Scarlett's shoulder. “He feels really warm. I think he has a fever.” Scarlett says. “Ok here you go.” Melanie says handing me Devon’s bag. “Thank you. I will call you later to tell you how he’s doing.” I say as we walk to the door. “He didn’t even wake up when I put him in his carseat. He must really not be feeling well.” Scarlett says as she buckles herself in. “Yeah he probably got it at daycare.” I say focusing on the road as I drive us home. “Why don’t we keep him with us tonight just to keep an eye on him.” Scarlett suggests as we get in the house. “Uh, let me change the sheets first.” I chuckle. “Yeah that’s probably a good idea.” Scarlett says as we walk upstairs. Scarlett sits on the small couch that’s in our room with Devon asleep in her arms as I change the sheets. “Ok all set you can lay him down now.” I say to Scarlett after the sheets are done. “Do you always have to pull it so tight when you do the bed?” Scarlett asks. “I just do it out of habit at this point it’s just muscle memory.” I tell her. “Ok he’s sleeping and I have paperwork I need to do that I should have done 3 months ago are you good staying with him?” I ask. “Yeah of course but what paperwork?” She asks and I sigh. “I have to write a report about everything that happened to me those four days I was in captivity. I’ve been putting it off.” I tell her. “Oh.” She says moving Devon to her lap. “Do it in here I don’t want you to relive that alone in the office.” Scarlett says. “Are you sure it’s not pleasant?” I tell her. “I’m sure I don’t want you to be alone.” She says. “Ok I will just sit on my side of the bed as I type them up.” I say pulling out my computer and getting in bed next to Scarlett and Devon.
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Scarlett’s POV
Louri was typing for an hour before she stopped. “Babe.” I say but she doesn’t respond. “I don’t think I can keep going for today, I will have to finish it tomorrow.” She says placing the computer next to her before getting out of bed and to the restroom. Then I hear glass breaking in the restroom and I gently get out from under Devon and run into the restroom. “What happened?” I ask when I see a shattered mirror and her on the floor then I see her bloody fist and I put it all together. “Louri.” I call out but I don’t think she can hear me. “Louri Babe, you are at home. I need you to talk to me.” I say sitting against the sink across from her. “I don’t want to do those reports Scarlett I can’t not alone Baby help me.” She says crying. “Of course can I look at your hand first, your bleeding?” I say and she nods and holds her hand out. “Babe, that's the fourth time you’ve punched our mirror. Can you tell me why?” I ask. “I can’t stand to look at myself and I don’t know how you can.” She says. “Because when I look at myself I see someone who is scarred and broken.” She adds. “When I look at you I see the strong amazing woman who is a fantastic mother and has put her life on the line for others multiple times. I see a fighter, a survivor and the woman I love.” I tell her. “But the scars.” She starts. “Are beautiful and each of them has a story. I love each one no matter how you got them.” I tell her as I clean her hand. “How did I get so lucky?” She says to me. “I did this movie called the Nanny Diaries and my costars sister came to visit him one day when she came home from war.” I say and she smiles at the memory. “And we ended up getting weekly coffee at the little shop outside the base.” She says. “Yeah and you never let me pay.” I laugh. “I let you pay once remember.” She says with a smile. “Once out of years of our weekly coffee” I say and she laughs as I put a bandage on her hand the blood made it look worse than it is. “I’ll pay for the mirror Scarlett.” She says. “Babe the mirror can wait I am more focused on you and Devon.” I tell her and she nods her head. “I love you Scarlett.” She tells me placing her good hand on my cheek. “I love you too Marine.” I reply easily making her smile before leaning in giving me a kiss and her other hand goes to my waist pulling my in closer. We pull apart for air resting our foreheads together. “You keep saving me.” She says looking me in the eye. “All I did was bandage your hand.” I say and she shakes her head with a smile. “You are the reason I survived those four days. I don’t give a fuck how long it would have taken but I wasn’t going to break my promise I was going to come home no matter what and I did. Because the thought of turning you into a widow killed me and I wasn’t going to do that to you. I wasn’t going to make you raise Devon alone because I love you too much to leave you.” She says with tears running down her face and I can feel my our tears flowing. “Thank you for keeping your promise.” I say my voice cracking. “I’m your Marine and I always will.” She says before I crash my lips into hers and she returns the kiss instently. I break down in tears and she just holds me as I cry. “I was so scared that you wouldn’t come home when I saw that live stream I-I-I.” I cry. “I’m sorry that you had to watch that Baby. Have you talked to the therapist that the Marines are providing?” She asks and I nod. “Just say the word and I will retire from the Marines.” She says. “No no Louri I wouldn’t you to leave what you love just for me.” I say looking up at her. “But I love you and Devon more.” She says. “I know you do Babe I know and we love you too. You always come home sometimes not the way I want you to but you always do. You have survived seven tours and there might be more I don’t know. But please don’t leave the Marines for us. I would feel guilty for the rest of my life if you did.” I tell her. “Ok, ok Baby.” She says stroking my cheek with her thumb. “Mama Mommy!” We hear Devon call out and we run back into our room and we go to the bed and he is staring at Louri’s computer. “FUCK Devon look away now!” She yells we she sees him looking at and grabs the computer slapping it closed. Devon starts crying when she yelled something she rarely does around him because she doesn’t want to scare him. I pick him up as Louri goes and puts the computer in her bag. “Scary picture Mama hurt.” Devon manages to say. “Louri what was on your computer?” I ask worried about what my son who is only 1 ½ years old. “I will show you later. Devon what did you see?” She asks him in a soft tone. “You uniform red and you hurt on floor.” He says. “I’m so sorry son. Mama should have closed her computer I’m sorry my Little Marine I’m so sorry.” She says with tears in her eyes. “Do Mama hurt now?” He asks. “No Mama’s all better now.” She says sitting on the bed next to me and Devon leaves my arms and jumps into hers and she holds him close. “I will protect you from the bad men Mama.” Devon says. “The bad men are gone Devon Mama is safe. You know how Mommy looks hurt in her movies sometimes?” She says. “Yes but that is fake.” He says smart kid. “Well I’m not really hurt in those pictures they are fake ok.” She says to him even though she knows and I know they aren’t fake but when we tell him that he doesn’t get nightmares about what it looks like happen to me in my movies. “So Mama didn’t get hurt?” He asks. “No Little Marine Mama’s ok.” She says holding back tears and he just nods. “Are you feeling better Buddy?” I ask and he nods. “Then let’s get you in some jammies and get you to bed little mister.” I say to him and he nods again. “Ok go with Mommy I’ll be in to say good night in a little bit.” She says handing him to me and as I get to the hallway I can hear her quiet sobs and my heart breaks all over again. I get Devon in his jammies and in bed when Louri knocks on the door frame. “Good night Devon sweet dreams.” She says giving him a kiss on the head. We go back to our room and close the door. “What was on your computer Louri that would cause you to cuss and yell running to get the computer?” I ask. “This isn’t going to be pretty so please sit down and I’ll show you if you want to see them.” She says getting her computer from her bag.

A/N
Devon is going to be just fine. The next one is intense. Anygays see you in the next one.