War Zone

Stubborn

I blinked my eyes until I could see clearly. I looked around to see I was obviously in a hospital. I thought about how I could've gotten here. Was I shot? Was I set on fire? Was I dreaming? Just then a nurse came in. "Ma'am, could I ask you why I'm here"? I asked politely. "You were in an explosion" she replied simply before walking out of the room. A few moments later, Bruno came, forcing his way in by pulling Derrick ( who held his leash ) after him. " Hey " I said as he entered. " He wouldn't calm down until he seen you" he said as Bruno hopped up onto my bed. I patted him lightly on his stomach. " Cap's gonna come to see you in a few" "Are you alright"? He asked "Yea, how about you"? I questioned "Just a couple cuts and bruises, I'm a marine, I've had worse...But uh, they shut down the operation" Derrick said, scratching the back of his neck. "What...are they CRAZY"? I paused, they couldn't do this, we were so close. After that, He left, leaving me by myself to think.

Later that night, Cap came in. I raised my hand to the top of my head and saluted him. "At ease soldier" he said, sitting down on the chair next to my bed. " I heard you shut down the operation"? I questioned, hoping it wasn't true. He gave a long sigh before beginning "Joe, you've got to understand"- "We were so close, we've had bumps in missions, but that's never stopped us"!-"yea, but we've never had missing marines"! "What"? I questioned. "You and Derrick are the only ones we found, the other five, are M.I.A" He said. "We're sending you and Derrick home until we've stabilized the situation and the other soldiers are found" he said, " No Sir, As much as I want visit my family, those men are on my team, I have to help find them" I said stubbornly. "Joe, you're goin home as scheduled, rest up, you've got a long flight tomorrow " He said before leaving.