Waveland

Chapter 25

David's army returns. The gate's open. This time is different than the last. It isn't a celebration. The army didn't enter through the main gate but the gate nearest to their training field. Xavier stood next to the Doctor who was already warned of David and the soldier's arrival. David Purposely avoided the eyes of our people, keeping them in the dark until the threat of aliens or human enemies became too big. He didn't want the gossip or fear to stir in the camp. Xavier observes the guard's torn uniforms spattered in blood. Some soldiers have their arms tied in thin clothes attempting to stop the injuries they sustained. Xavier watched as the Doctor ushered them into the medical camp. Xavier followed behind the remaining wounded soldiers who hold their broken arms against their chest, while others hold their sides possibly suffering from internal injuries. 

The soldiers who have large gashes down their arms, or across their chest on the threat of bleeding occupy the beds, while the less minor soldiers with injuries sat on the floor. The ones with minor injuries, scattered across the floor playing an old card game. 

One by one Xavier cleanses the soldier's wounds, taping up their injuries, and stitching the deep gashes against their skin. He breathed relieved that no serious surgeries are required. As the room empties, he breathes a sigh of relief that Rose or his brother weren't injured. They were safe. He even felt grateful that Tyler wasn't among the wounded. One by one the men left emptying the medical bay to either return to David for further instruction or to see their families and friends. A small smile crept on Xavier's face thinking of seeing Rose. Her own beautiful smile breaking every time she saw him. 

Xavier approached the last patient. One of Christian's friends, Patrick eyes look at Xavier's with pity. Xavier doesn't understand the feeling, he ignored the look dismissing it as shock after their contact with the aliens. Xavier held a bucket with water, soaking a brown cloth, wiping the blood from Patrick. There is a large gash across his forehead, deep enough for stitches. "Hold this against your wound, I need to reset your arm." Xavier examines the loose arm, it lays limp against the Patrick's side. "This might hurt." He spoke softly, placing his arm on Patricks collar bone for support and just like the doctor taught him and he popped the shoulder back into place. Patrick didn't even flinch, Xavier didn't want to check about what type of training a person has to not even express the pain from a dislocated shoulder. Instead of a cold stare though, Xavier realized Christian's friend still had the same pity in his eyes never looking away from Xavier. 

He pushed past, focusing primarily on playing the role of a doctor. He gathered medical equipment. Xavier had spent the last days training by the doctor side preparing just for this moment. Just like both him and David had instructed him to. His role was to help his people. He placed the bloody cloth back in the water, and held a thin sharp metal with yarn attached to mend his patients skin back together. He willed his entire focus into now revealing the trembling he was feeling in his bones. 

"Are you pleased you fought off the aliens and only have minor injuries?" Xavier joked, needling a perfect line between his skin. In and out. In and out. Xavier repeated to himself. 

"Xavier." Patrick rasped. Xavier stilled trying to keep his anxious thoughts from making him lose control. He heard the concern in his voice. The way he was looking at him. 

"What happened?" Xavier continued his work unable to look at Patrick while mentally preparing for whatever his brother's friend had to say. 

"It was a trap. Some didn't make it back." Patrick whispers, he was paranoid eyeing the room looking for anyone within ear shot. It seemed like he was looking for a certain person. 

"Rose? Christian?" Xavier trembled under the guilt about thinking of a girl before his own brother.

Patrick only stared at him and Xavier immediately knew the answer. He had to keep all of his strength not to shake. He fingers slightly shake, still holding the equipment against Patrick's forehead. His stitches only halfway finished. 

"Was it the enemy camp?" Xavier asked trying to organize his thoughts. A trap. Patrick said it was a trap, the enemy camp must have finally striked back after Rose saved him from being their hostage in the war against David. He wasn't stupid he knew their had to reason why they haven't heard from the enemy camp. Why would they want Rose? Xavier doubt David would do anything if it was Rose who was taken. 

"No." Patrick grabs my hand. His voice low, determination in his eyes. Xavier's heartbeat raced.

"Are you almost finished?" Patrick silences at the Doctors approach. 

"Yes Sir." He didn't look up from Patrick. "Don't talk or I might mess up and accidentally give you a permanent scar." 

"Good then I will have a story to tell." Patrick jokes but his smile doesn't reach his eyes.

—--

"Captain." Xavier brushes past the entrance of David's tent. He came here immediately after treating Patrick, blood still spattered on his white T-shirt and dark pants. He couldn't wait he needed to know what happened on this damn mission. He didn't bother waiting for permission. David was like a father to him, the only one he had left even if David scares the hell out of him.

"Xavier!" He rapidly flips over his papers so Xavier can't see. "I hear you are great help for our Doc."

"Where is my brother?" Anger crosses the captain's eyebrows. His expression as if my concern about the second in command was an inconvenience. 

"I wanted to wait to have this conversation, but it seems you did a good job patching up my men there is no reason to delay." David rose from the table, covering the stack of papers he was reading. 

Xavier breathe hitched waiting for him to continue. He watched as his captain circled his table leaning his back against it, standing in front of him. 

"I told you the girl you are so fond of would cause trouble." David looked at him, a challenge in his eyes. Xavier does everything in his power to not back down from his terrifying look.

"Rose?"

"Yes. She is the reason the plan went wrong. The girl doesn't know how to follow orders. She very will be the reason your brother is dead." Captain starts toward him. His height towering over him. Threatening him. Xavier stares at the ground, wrapping his head around everything David is saying. No. No. No. He repeats to himself. 

"My brother is not dead." His voice comes out soft. 

"We are not sure. We had to get out of there, the building exploded, aliens were crowded the area we had to get out of there." David tower over him. "We will look for your brother tomorrow at dawn." 

Xavier nods his head. David was their captain he had faith the men knew what he was doing. As much as it hurt him to think about Christian being left behind, he knew his brother was strong. He would survive. Rose survived for months by herself, surely his own brother could survive one night. 

"What about Rose?"

"You can not trust that girl!" David's rage bursted, he took a stop back running a hand through his scruff on his chilling calming his temper. Xavier had never seen a single person get under his skin before. Even the enemy camps who proved to be deadly didn't rattle David as much as Rose does. "She is going to the death of this camp." A warning growl. 

"You can't hate her that much?"

"I know that she will betray us all. My boy, she is not the person you think, she is a monster."