Unbreakable Duty

Waiting to Wake Up

The waiting room had grown quieter, the initial rush of activity slowing as the hours ticked by. Earn sat with Susie beside her, her mind still swirling with fear and uncertainty. The vivid memory of her nightmare lingered, refusing to fade, and the sterile scent of the hospital only heightened her anxiety.

The door to the waiting room opened again, and Earn looked up to see her mother and younger brother, Second Lieutenant Phongpipat, walking in. Her mother immediately rushed over to Earn, with worry on her face.

"Earn, are you alright?" Her mother's voice was soft but filled with worry as she gently cupped Earn's face, searching her eyes for any sign of injury.

Earn nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm fine, Mom. It's Fahlada... She's the one who's hurt."

Her mother's expression tightened with a mixture of fear and relief, while her brother, dressed in his military uniform, stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. He then looked between Tan and Bow, gesturing they needed to talk.

Earn glanced over to Tan and Bow, who were standing a few feet away, talking quietly with his brother. Tan looked grim, and Bow's usual carefree demeanor was replaced with rare seriousness.

"What did they say?" Earn asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Her brother exchanged looks with Tan before turning back to her. "The attack was connected to the one that happened to you a year ago. The same group, it seems. They were after you again."

Earn's heart sank. The memory of last year's incident, hazy and disjointed, resurfaced in her mind. She remembered the fear, the confusion, and how Fahlada had protected her then, too. But there were gaps, things she couldn't remember, like a missing piece in a puzzle she couldn't solve.

Her mother, still holding her hand, spoke up, her voice firm but comforting. "Your father has arranged for extra protection, Earn. In Fahlada's absence, you'll have ten bodyguards assigned to you at all times."

Earn's eyes widened in surprise. "Ten? Mom, that's --" 

"Necessary," her mother interjected gently but firmly. "we can't take any chances, not after what's happened. Fahlada would want you to be safe."

Earn knew her mother was right, but the thought of being surrounded by so many people felt suffocating. She was used to Fahalada's quiet, steady presence, not a crowd of bodyguards.

Her mother squeezed her hand, her tone softening. "You should come home and rest, Earn. You've been through so much today."

Earn shook her head, her resolve firm. "I'm not leaving until I know Fahlada is okay. I can't... I can't just leave her here.. Not for what she has done just to protect me."

Her mother sighed, understanding but still concerned. "Alright, but you need to take care of yourself too. We'll wait together."

Hours dragged on, each minute feeling like an eternity. The waiting room remained tense, the silence occasionally broken by the low murmur of conversation of the distant sound of a monitor beeping. Earn's anxiety grew with every second that passed, the image of Fahlada's blood-stained suit haunting her.

Finally, the door to the waiting room opened, and a doctor stepped inside,  a weary but reassuring smile on his face. Everyone in the room looked up, their hearts in their throats.

"Captain Fahlada is out of surgery," the doctor announced. "we were able to repair the punctured lung, and she's stable now. She's out of danger, but she'll need time to rest and recover. Usually, it will take between 6-8 weeks for her to heal completely. So, no missions for her until she is cleared."