Warrior

Chapter 2: I'm Back

It's been eight years, eight years since I was in Pittsburgh, eight years since I've seen Jade. I sat on the front steps of Brendan's, smoking a cigarette and waiting for them to come home. What would she think when she saw me? I haven't sent letters for a good six months, I couldn't, not after what happened. I closed my eyes, seeing the horrible image in my mind, I took out the bottle from my bag and drank from it, it kept the memories at bay, kept me sane.

I played with the dog tags around my neck, my fathers, my own... And Joel's. I held them rightly, kissing them gently, how would I tell her? Could I even bring myself to it? I pushed the thought out of my corrupted mind. I thought about him, what he did, he was a hero... My hero... But he shouldn't have been... It should've been me. I ran my fingers through my hair, hoping that maybe I would wake up from this nightmare, but it was reality... And I couldn't escape.

A car pulled in, Brendan's car, what would I say? What would they say? I took a deep breath and stared at the car. It was dark, so I know they hadn't seen me yet. Brendan walked out first, he was dressed in a button up shirt, sleeved rolled past his elbows and tucked into his jeans he was taller, more muscle and he looked a lot older, he had to be almost thirty. Jade stepped out of the passenger seat, backpack on her shoulder and she looked exhausted, her long hair was tied back in a ponytail, I wondered if Tess was inside, I didn't bother knocking, I wanted Jade to see me first. They turned to walk to the door an they both froze, seeing me as nothing but a dark figure on their porch. I stood up, walking out of the darkness and pulling down my hood, a small smile tugging on my lips. Brendan stared at me in shock, not knowing what to do or say. Jade dropped everything and stared at me.

"I..l wh-"

"I'm home, Jade..." I rasped and she ran into me, pulling me into the tightest hug she could, she didn't let go, I could feel her chest heaving as I wrapped my arms around her. Brendan walked up to us, his eyes fixed on my face, I could see now he was stressed, things were on his mind,nut he was happy to see me. I wondered if they had heard from Tommy, and then I wondered if I should tell her that I saw him, I served by his side for a while, I don't know if he knew it was me, but he disappeared soon after.

"I.. You stopped writing" she sobbed "I thought... I thought" she trailed off, I knew what she thought, and I felt so bad for not writing... But I couldn't, I couldn't even think after what happened.

"Ahhh, come on, you know me better then that" I smiled, she pulled away smiling back. Brendan grabbed my in a second, pulling me into his arms. My head rested on his chest and He held me tightly, pulling away to look at my face.

"Come on inside, there's someone I want you to meet" Jade had a smile on her face as we walked into the house. In our letters, Jade gave me Brendan's new address, so I was able to go there when I came back. I walked in, looking around the beautiful house. Tess stood in the kitchen cooking, and she turned around to greet Brendan. She saw me and froze.

"Oh my god..." She breathed, her hand covering her mouth and she came to hug me, I chuckled, holding her. She was more Beautiful than I remembered. Brendan cleared his throat, and Tess was looking at him smiling.

"Emily! Rosie!" Brendan called, and my eyebrows furrowed. Two little beautiful girls came running to Brendan, arms wide open and I realized... He had children, two beautiful children that were the spitting image of Tess. They looked at me curiously, pointing their little fingers as I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets.

"Who's that daddy?" They asked, their voices sweet and pure, the smaller one, Rosie walked up to me and looked up at me with her big blue eyes that were Brendan's. She put her arms out for me, I hesitated for a second and picked her up.

"Hi, sweetie" I smiled, she looked into my eyes and I feel like her innocence could see right through me. "My names Naomi, i'm an old friend of your family"

"why you look so sad?" She mumbled, putting her little hand on my face then leaned her head onto my shoulder. Jade looked at me a way when she said that, I knew she was questioning Joel's whereabouts. Tess took the kids to the table to feed them, while me, Jade and Brendan sat in the living room. I learned that Jade was almost finished school, and that Brendan now taught physics at a highschool.

"why... Why did you stop writing?" Jade asked, "I was about to come down there myself" she chuckled, but it quickly faded when my eyes met hers, Brendan shifted uncomfortably and Jades face hardened. "Where is he...?" I stood up from the couch and walked away. I could hear her calling my name behind me but I blacked it out, all I could see was Joel's bloody face, I could hear him choking on his own blood as his hand held my face, I remember the life leaving his eyes, all because he pushed me out of the way. That grenade was meant for me, me only, but Joel thought he had to be a hero. I walked out the front door and stood outside, trying to push out the vivid flashback, I could barely breathe. I pulled the alcohol to my lips and chugged until my throat burned. I wasn't ready, I couldn't tell them, though they probably knew from the way I reacted. I sat down in the cool air, trying to clear my clouded mind.