Shattered

Chapter 4

Carter

We had been hearing about LT's bar for a while now, but never really got around to going. "I hear the ladies flock there just to get one night with a uniform." Benny says and I roll my eyes, I was so tired of uniform chasers. I was so tired of one night stands. I wanted a girl to keep, one to come home to, kids, a house, the whole nine years. I was thirty, not a kid anymore and wanted more out of life. My SEAL team was great, but they didn't keep me warm at night. 

We load up and head to the bar, they guys practically drooling over the chance for fresh meat, me, I just wanted a damn drink. Our last few missions had been easy in and outs, nothing as bad as three years ago. The extraction in Fallujah would haunt me forever. That team had been tortured, two of the five hadn't made it, two had been discharged, and one was at a desk. The worst was the female, she was their weapons specialist, they had almost killed her. I can't believe they waited two weeks to send us in. I don't know how she lived, but she was a damn fighter. 

We pulled up and made our way inside. Benny honed in on a waitress in an ungodly short skirt and I shook my head. We made our way to the bar, when I felt eyes on me. I turned to see a vision sitting by the door, how had we missed the bouncer? She was long and lean, black hair pulled up in a ponytail, bright green eyes, full lips, long legs in snug jeans. Wow, then it hit me, I had seen those eyes, it was her. I told the guys but they didn't believe me and when I looked up and saw the bartender was another one I waved him over. 

"Hey, were you on the team in Fallujah three years ago?" I asked and he nodded, "Name's Davis, Clinton Davis." I shook his hand, "Carter Stevens, SEAL Team 8." He nodded, "You pulled us out. I remember. Whatever you want is on the house, it's mine and Cap's place." I shook my head, "No, we can pay, I just wanted to know if that was her." His face turned serious, "Yes, but your team isn't paying." He looked over at her and waved her over. She strolled over, power and confidence in her strides, she never took her eyes off of us. 

"Cap, these are SEALs from SEAL team 8. They were our extraction team from three years ago." I watched her pale and start to sway. I jumped up to grab her before she fell, but Davis stopped me, "You can't touch her. Cap, you ok?" What, I can't touch her? Is he that possessive? She nodded, "I'm fine. Thank you for getting us out of there." We nodded. "I should get back to my post." Then she left. I looked at Davis and he sighed, "She hasn't been the same since then, especially after she was discharged. The Army was her life. Her father is General Marshall, it's in her blood. She was the best solider I know and still is." 

I shook my head, how could they throw her away? Next thing I know, some scrawny kid is fighting with a monster of a man and Cap jumps up and separates them, catching a hard hit in the back of the head, knocking her into a bar stool. She jumped up, pissed and making them leave. I followed her to make sure that she was ok and when she turned and looked up at me with those big green eyes, I nearly kissed her. I looked at her forehead and saw the blood, "You're bleeding, come with me" As team medic, I was used to this sort of thing and would have her patched up in no time. She cocked her head and narrowed her eyes at me, "I stopped taking orders three years ago, Soldier" Then she slipped around me and headed to the back. 

Davis jogged over, "Don't take it personally, she just hasn't let anyone close to her in years. Come on, follow me." I followed him into an office in the back of the bar. "Cap, you ok?" Davis called out and I could see him heading towards a bathroom. "Yap. I'm good. I just don't like blood in my eye. "I hear her chuckle out. She sees me and sighs, "LT?' He smiles at her, "Just let Carter look, he's team medic." She snarls at him, making him laugh. I slip past Davis and move in front of her. I look at her head and then into her eyes, almost begging her to let me help her and when she nods I want to fall to my knees and thank God. 

I examine it, touching it gently because I know it is tender, but she doesn't even flinch. "It doesn't look bad, just a small cut. No stitches, but it may scar." She snorts, "What's one more." I flinch, remembering the state of her body when I found her. I sigh, "For what it's worth, scars are sexy. Like badges of honor." I tell her while putting the bandage in place. She smiles and I almost lose myself, it was beautiful. "That's what the General says, badges of honor."  Her bright green eyes meet mine and I am frozen in place. I notice that Davis has left and we standing toe to toe. Never in my life have I wanted to kiss anyone more than her at this moment. She takes a step back, walls firmly in place. "Thanks for you help, again." Before she can leave, I grab her arm. "Don't run off, please." She whips her head around, eyes wide and I realize my mistake. 

I let her go and take a step backward, holding my hands up as if she were a spooked horse. She looks at me for a moment, "Want a beer?"