Shattered

Chapter 6

Lee

I was on fire, I finished before my brothers and I couldn't fight the grin overtaking my face. The General nodded solemnly before turning to go inside. Grant and Jackson flopped on the ground like dying whales, panting for air. "One day, Leelee, we are going to beat you, this I swear." Grant wheezed out. My leg was in immense pain, but I wasn't going to let anyone know. I had the day off, so I could soak it later. 

"Keep telling yourselves that, Grant. I'm a damn cripple and still beat you both." I chuckled. Earning a glare from Jackson. "You aren't a damn cripple. Yes, your leg looked like ground round for a bit there and you got some wicked awesome scars, but you are no damn cripple and if I hear that again, you will regret it, Leelee." I scoffed, "Oh yeah, what are you going to do about it? Grab an oxygen tank and try to catch me and your breath?" 

He hopped off the ground and charged me, but I shot off. I had a good lead too until my leg couldn't take anymore and I toppled to the ground. Jackson pounced and began to tickle me. I fought back, never surrender. "Grant, I need backup, this is a feisty one!" Jackson hollered and the next thing I knew, Grant, Davis, and Carter were standing over me with wicked grins. "No fair, four men against one woman? What is this?" Suddenly, I was plucked from under Jackson and thrown over a very broad shoulder. 

"Come back with my prisoner!" I heard Jackson shout, laughing. Carter ran, I did enjoy the view of his very nice ass in snug fitting jeans. "Nope, I captured her fair and square." He yelled back. "But I don't even know you, you can't steal my sister!" Jackson whined and I couldn't control my laughter anymore. I slapped Carter's ass, "Put me down, you brute. All the blood is rushing to my head." He slid me down the front of his body, slowly. I felt every ridge of muscle in his chest and suppressed a shiver, he felt wonderful. 

Those baby blues darkened and I smiled at him, "Did you really smack my ass, Cap?" He asked and I nodded, "All's fair in war games, Soldier." I gave him a wink and went to walk around him and my leg gave out. I was almost to the ground when strong hands caught me. "Woah there, Tiger." Jackson, Grant, and Davis were next to me before another word was said. "What happened? Is your leg still not getting better?" Grant asked as Carter lifted me into his arms. I shook my head, "I have an appointment on base tomorrow, but they have been talking surgery. I'm tired of being cut open, I feel like an eighth-grade science experiment."  

"How many?" Carter asked as we made our way into the house, Carter carrying me. I knew the General would see this as a sign of weakness and I tried to get down, "I can walk, I swear. I'm not that weak." His arms were like steel bands, no give. "How many, Lee?" He asked again. "Five since we got back. They want to rebuild the muscle tissue." I slumped in defeat. Davis was the next to speak, "I guess PT isn't rebuilding it on its own." I shook my head, "Nope, they talked about removing it for a while, but that was a no-go. There is no way in hell they are taking my leg." 

When we reached the living room, The General was in his recliner and popped up when he saw us, "What happened?" I sighed, "It's no big deal, General." He narrowed his eyes, "If that's the case, why is the SEAL carrying you? Set her on the couch, Grant, grab the ice and Jackson, her meds and water." He barked out and my brothers snapped to it immediately. I sighed as Carter set me on the fluffy couch then looked at the General, "Because he wouldn't let me walk, stubborn ass." The General was next to me, "Slide them off, I know you have shorts under them. I want to see the leg." 

I looked at Carter and flinched before sliding my track pants over my hips and down my legs. I had on a tight pair of black short shorts underneath. The left leg was slightly swollen, my scars were red and puffy. I had thick pink scars that ran from the inside of my thigh all the way to my ankle, scars from all the torture. Then I had scars from the several surgeries, the stitches, the skin grafts, and the pins in my knee. It was ugly and I never wore shorts outside of my own home. 

I felt his eyes on my leg, it burned like fire. I looked up and met his eyes, but what I saw there shook me to the very core, pride. Not pity or sympathy or even disgust, it was pride. "Do you know that the intel you gave us from that mission enabled us to wipe out a faction of insurgents and saved hundreds of lives?" His voice was rough like he was fighting back tears. I shook my head, "They never told us anything, other than I lost two great men, and two more were damaged beyond repair. We were only there for recon, the intel they gave us was off and put us square in the middle of their camp. They grilled us over and over, our stories never changed. Then, they kicked me out. I was no use to them anymore." 

I swallowed my tears, I couldn't cry in front of all of them. I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder and looked up to see the General standing next to me, looking into my eyes with his matching green ones, "You have always been a damn fine soldier, that doesn't change with your military status." He patted my shoulder and sharply turned and left the room leaving me with my mouth open along with my brothers. Davis chuckled and Carter looked lost. Jackson shook his head with a small smile, "The General has always been proud of you, of all of us. Mom would have been too."