Le's Soldier

Part 23

6:30 the next day

I woke up in between Katie and Leah. Katie's arm was around my waist and my head was Leah's chest. I felt so much better than last night but still like shit. I had such a bad headache from all the crying and memories flooding back. I only had one nightmare last night that shook me a bit but the girls got me to calm down.

I managed to squeeze out of the girls embrace and go head to the bathroom where I looked in the mirror and saw how much of a mess I was. My eyes are red and puffy, my face is puffy, my hair is tangled.

In the midst of all the overthinking I remembered I had to be at the badd at 8am to meet cap. I jumped in the shower and started to wash my body when I felt arms snake around my waist, I turn around and wrap my arms around the blue eyed blonde that I'm so deeply in love with. Leah tucked her head into my neck kissing it softly while I held her so tight. She pulled away and looked at my face wirh tears running down my face that I didn't even know about. I think knowing that im going into this new mission already in the headspace im in and terrified of losing the ones I love so deeply is making it worse but this is the job I chose to do and I'm doing it, I can't back out from helping the country I want to protect. After shower and Leah washing my hair for me we got out and we helped eachother dry off and get dressed, Leah was kissing every single scar of mine even the ones from my childhood so delicately it made my chest warm up in the best way.

Katie was downstairs when we got down there and I only had 5 minutes before I had to go. When she saw me she ran over and hugged me and apologised profusely about how sorry she was hurting me and doing what she did. I forgave and told her that if she did it again she was not gonna walk. Obviously joking.

Leah drove me to the base as she didn't feel comfortable with me driving alone. Fair enough.

Leah pulled up outside the base just before eight. The familiar concrete walls and guarded gates made my stomach twist, the weight of everything pressing down again. She turned the engine off but didn't move straight away.

"Hey," she said softly, taking my hand. "You've got this. And I've got you. Always."

I nodded, leaning over to press my forehead to hers. I wanted to stay there, freeze time, pretend the world wasn't about to demand things from me again. But it was. It always did.

"I'll see you tonight," I said, forcing a small smile.

Leah kissed me gently, like she was trying to pour calm straight into my bones. "Come back to me."

"I will."

I got out of the car and watched her drive away before turning toward the entrance. As soon as I stepped inside, the air changed. Heavier. Sharper. Less forgiving.

Tommy was already waiting near the briefing rooms, leaning against the wall with a coffee in his hand. When he saw me, his expression shifted instantly.

"Jesus, Lil," he said quietly. "You okay?"

I shrugged. "Define okay."

He didn't push. Instead, he stepped forward and wrapped me in a quick, firm hug—the kind that grounded you whether you wanted it to or not.

"You're not doing this alone," he said. "Whatever it is."

Before I could respond, the door to the briefing room opened and the Captain stepped out. One look at his face told me everything—this wasn't routine.

"Lilly. Tommy. In. Now."

The room was dim, lights low, screens already glowing with maps and satellite images. I took my seat, hands clasped tightly together to stop them from shaking. The Captain stood at the head of the table, arms crossed, jaw tight.