Warrior

Chapter 20: This Isn't Iraq

"Did you tell her?" I whispered, looking up at him. He played with my fingers, but his face was stern and straight. He nodded.

"I told her yesterday... Probably why she don't wanna see me" he stood up, putting his hat and his Jacket on.

"You're leaving?" I asked, his eyes met mine and he hesitated for a moment. He nodded again, putting a toothpick into his mouth.

"Gotta get some training done" he walked towards the door and opened it, but looked at me "I'll uh, I'll see you" I smiled him and he smiled too, closing the door behind him. I wish he stayed longer, I wanted him to be around. I guess those feelings from before were slowly finding their way back, not that they ever left.

I walked into jades room, opening the door slightly and walking in. She sat on her bed, emotionless, staring out of the window. "Jade?" I sat down next to her and she looked at me.

"You and him?" She trailed off. I shook my head.

"No, he just... He understands what I feel you know?" She sighed, frustrated. I knew she didn't want me around him. "I'm assuming he told you..." Her eyes looked away and she nodded, I watched the tears fall down her face.

"I... Didn't even get to say goodbye" she sobbed, and I held her to my chest "I didn't even know she was sick!" I didn't say anything, I rubbed her back, trying to keep her calm as possible. I knew she was strung out last night, I just didn't bother to say anything in front  of Tommy. I opened my mouth to speak but i heard the front door open. I thought it was Tommy.

"Jadeeeeee come out and plaaaayyy" a voice spoke, and Jade froze, her skin turning ice cold. I put my finger on my lips and motioned silently for her to call the police and hide in the closet. She scrambled into the closet, a look of terror on her face. I on the other hand went full army mode, hiding behind the doorway and opening it slightly looking out the crack and seeing a man dressed in black standing here and he had a gun. I let out a slow breath. I recognized his face, someone I knew long ago, Joe? Oh my god it was Joe. I looked back at the closet to see Jade, hands over her mouth, tears running down her face.

Joe approached the door, and placed his hand on the knob gently. I readied myself he pushed the door open and I tackled him out of her room into the living room. He shot the gun twice before I managed to get it out of his grip and turn it on him. He stood, hands in the air and looking me dead in the eyes.

"Well look at you, miss Call of Duty are we?"

"Why are you here?!" I spoke, my voice strict and commanding, he chuckled.

"I'm here to beat the shit out of your little friend for walking out on me, and now that you're in my way, guess I'll have to do the same to you" He came at me, pushing the gun up and out of my hands before I could shoot him. It fell behind me somewhere and his fist met my face, once, twice, three times, he broke skin. I was shook for a second, I could hear the screaming voices of my comrades, the gunfire and my brother choking on his blood. My mind went blank and I let out a scream, slamming my elbows into his face and knocking him to the ground. He laid there eyes wide in shock as I mounted him, throwing elbows and punches at his face, he was bleeding out of his nose and his mouth. Jade pulled me back but i fought against her grip trying to get at the man who laid there unconscious. She held me back as I breathed heavily, I was fuming he came here to hurt Jade.

"NAOMI, YOU'RE NOT IN IRAQ ANYMORE" she yelled, trying to get me to calm down, I guess I blacked out. I pushed her off me, a little more rough than I planned but I was shaken.

"Get your hands off me" I breathed sharply. "Did you call the police?" She shook her head. I became furious, "CALL THEM RIGHT FUCKING NOW" Joe was beginning to wake up and Jade shook with fear. "HEY, THERES NO FUCKING TIME TO BE SCARED" I yelled, grabbing her arms with my hands, repeating the words Joel did to me on my first deployment.  I heard his voice in my head as I said it to her. "YOU GO GET THAT PHONE AND YOU CALL THE COPS BEFORE HE CAN DO MORE DAMAGE" but I wasted too much time, and Joe caught me from behind, choking me with his arm and throwing hard punches into my ribs cashing me to scream, Jade ran back to the room as he crushed my windpipe.

I brought my head back, breaking his nose with my skull, he stumbled back screaming in pain. I pushed him against the wall and brought my knee to his rib ferociously, choking him out with my forearm, he was struggling against me, and I felt the anger come out I was killing him.

Suddenly the door was taken down, cops swarmed in and tore me off him. Jade came out of the room, crying as a female cop talked sweetly to her. Another one was trying to talk to my but I couldn't speak, I saw Joels eyes when I was hurting Joe, the light leaving them. I couldn't breathe. The male cops pulled Joe away as he kicked and screamed, threatening to kill me and Jade. I looked over at her, furious that she wouldn't tell me what was really going on between them. I would've made her call the cops sooner, but now we went though this shit. The cop asked me if I was ok, and was talking about my bruised and cut face. I said nothing, and walked to Jade who was shaking.

"He's gone, you're  ok" she hugged me and sobbed into my chest. She had a lot of explaining to do... We were leaving for Atlantic city in a few days with Brendan for Sparta, so at least I could get her out of the house, it was too traumatic right now, I debated if I should tell him when we got there, I debated if I should tell Tommy too.