Shattered

Chapter 3

Lee

Three years later.........

I am running behind, again. I rush through my shower, throw my shoulder length hair in a ponytail, slip on my jeans, combat boots, and black t-shirt, and head to my truck. I make it to LT's bar right on time. I was a bouncer there most weekends. Davis had opened the place about two years ago. We were both medically discharged, he was fine with it. He said it gave him a chance to be with his family and he was sure making it grow, Clarrissa was pregnant with a set of twins. Matthews was ok now, he dealt with amnesia and PTSD for a long time, but he was doing good, still in the Army, but he took a nice desk job that we laugh about all of the time. 

I worked for a private security company and it paid well. I got to buy my own house about a year and a half ago and after a long and grueling rehab for my leg and many therapy sessions, I was almost normal again. I walked in about two minutes early and LT called out, "At least you're never late, Cap." I flipped him off and he laughed. I got my stool and a beer and posted myself just inside the front door as the bar opened for the night. It was right off the base, so our crowd was mostly military and uniform chasers. I rolled my eyes at the desperate women that threw themselves at anything in a uniform. 

LT and I were partners in the bar, we bought it together, but he runs the place, it was his dream. The crowd was smaller tonight than usual, but that was fine by me. Less people, less trouble. Tammy, a waitress that had the biggest crush on me, winked as she sauntered past in a tight tank and shorter than legal skirt. I shook my head with a smile, she knew I wasn't a lesbian, but she told me every time I saw her that it would take just one night for her to change my mind. Despite that, she never made me uncomfortable, she was a good person and we did talk a lot. 

There was a group of men walking through the doors with a familiar gait, they were a team. I could see the way they scanned the room and watched each other that they were special forces of some kind. The five of them walked up to the bar and ordered beers when one turned and caught my eye. He smiled and then went still. His face paled and he looked like he had seen a ghost. He was tall, probably six-five, well built, blonde hair, blue eyes, the all-American boy. He leaned over and whispered something in his team mate's ear. He also turned and looked at me, I watched the blood drain from his face. Ok, this was crazy, they either needed to drink or get out. I was not a freak for their viewing pleasure.

They waved Davis over and they all huddled together until Davis popped up and waved me over. I hopped down off of my stool and strode over, eyeing the men. "Cap, these are SEALs from SEAL Team 8. They were our extraction team three years ago." I felt the blood drain from my face. Blue eyes stood and grabbed for my arm, but Davis intercepted him. "You can't touch her. Cap, you ok?" I nodded, "I'm fine. Thank you for getting us out of there." They each dipped their heads. "I should get back to my post." I turned before they could say anything. 

It wasn't three minutes later, a fight broke out. It was a larger than life Marine and an Army private who's mouth was bigger than his brain. He was a scrawny guy. I jumped up and separated them, catching a fist in the back of the head for my troubles. I fell forward and smacked my head on a bar stool, and that pissed me off. "Alright, both of you, out. Now!" I growled at the men and drug them outside. I had the scrawny private by the collar and shoved the very large Marine out the door with my other hand. I threw them out the door and turned to come face to face with the blue eyed SEAl. He looked at my forehead and then back into my eyes, "You're bleeding, come with me." I cocked my head to the side and narrowed my eyes at him. "I stopped taking orders three years ago, Soldier." I scooted around him and made my way to the office to stop the bleeding. We kept a fully stocked first aid cabinet in there for this very reason. Usually, it was Davis that needed patching. 

I close the door behind me and grab a few supplies from the cabinet before heading into the attached bathroom. "Cap? You ok?" I here Davis call while I am cleaning my head. "Yap, I'm good. I just don't like blood in my eye." I chuckle. He clears the corner with Blue eyes right on his six. I sigh, "LT?" He grins, "Just let Carter look, he's team medic." I snarl at him, making him chuckle and Carter moves in front of me, looking over my wound. He looks into my eyes, asking permission, I nod. He reaches up and touches it gently. His hands are warm and slightly rough and I can imagine how they would feel all over me. Woah, where did that come from, I haven't been with a man in months. He hums, "It doesn't look bad, just a small cut. No stitches, but it may scar." I snort, "What's one more." I see Davis cringe out of the corner of my eye and Carter flinches. 

"For what it's worth, scars are sexy. Like badges of honor." Carter says while putting a bandage over the cut. I smile, "That's what the General says, badges of honor."