Brothers

Chapter 15

Realizing who they are, Chris immediately put the gun in its holster. 

"Nick, put the gun down." Chris warned, without looking at him.

The  Lieutenant looked at Chris then to me before reluctantly lowered his weapon. 

I walked over to Mendoza and touched his shoulder, urging for him to get up.

"Come on, Mendoza. It's okay." I told him gently.

He unraveled his hands from around his neck and slowly lifted his eyes to look at me. His eyes were full of fear as he looked around until his eyes landed on Mariah.

He spoke to her in Pashto, his voice was filled with worry and fear. I looked at Mariah to watch her facial features. Her eyes grew soft when Mendoza finished what he was saying.

She responded back in the same language until Mendoza looked at me before looking down at Ali and touched his shoulder, speaking their language. 

"What did he say?" Kyle asked Mariah as Ali got up from his position on the ground.

"Mendoza wanted to make sure that him and Ali won't be harmed. He said to tell you guys that they came as soon as they could get away from Jones."

"Why couldn't he tell us that in English?" Spencer questioned.

She pointedly looked at him.

"He was driven by fear." she looked at Nick and Chris. "When you guys came barging in here, it made them scared so they started to speak their language."

"So can they speak English still or just Pashto?"

"They can speak English."

"I don't understand." Nick voiced.
She sighed.

"When you get really scared or traumatized the individual will tend to go back to what he or she is used to. For Mendoza, it's going back to his language." she explained further.

I turned to Mendoza to find him staring at me.

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant. We tried to get out when Lieutenant Jones told us to get our weapons. He ordered us to attack you when you guys we're least expecting it."

"It's okay. Did you notice anything else before you escaped?" I asked patting his shoulder.

"I overheard him saying something about a helicopter coming to pick him and a couple of men to go to America." Ali informed.

"When are they coming?" Mariah asked, standing up to walk over to us.

Chris was by Jason working on the stab wound. Jason was laying on his back, covering  his eyes with his arm.

I stood up along with Mendoza and Ali.

"I'm not sure. I assume they are coming when you guys were distracted." Ali replied.

"If they did that, then they already left." Mariah pointed out.

"We need my other soldiers." I said. "Maybe they heard something."

She nodded.

"Let's hope one of them has Ashes."

"Do you want me to push the button on the walkie talkie?" Peter asked.

I nodded.

"We should all do it so they can come together."

Peter nodded and took out his walkie talkie, walking over to Chris and Jason.

"What walkie talkie?" Nick asked. "How come My crew and I don't have one?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Because I didn't give you one."

"Why not?" 

"Because I didn't trust you." I simply stated.

"Fair enough."

"Mine, Jason's and Chris' walkie talkies are all signaling for help." Peter said, coming to stand by Mendoza and I.

"Okay." I pulled out my walkie talkie and pushed the button. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mariah and Kyle do the same. "Someone needs to be next to the door when they come." 

"I will." Kyle volunteered.

"Okay." I nodded. "Make sure that it's them before you open the door. Wait for a couple minutes and put your ear against it. If you hear voices great, if not, stay up there until you get them."

He nodded and walked out of the cell.

I turned back to Mendoza.

"Did you get anything else before they left?"

He shook his head.

"Ali?"

"No. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I just hope that the Lieutenants are okay." I mumbled, looking through the cell door.

Mariah limped to me and put her hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry, Lieutenant. They are one of the best soldiers out there. I'm sure they're fine." she reassured, squeezing my shoulder.

I sighed and nodded but didn't answer until she limped to the wall.

"Yeah. But that's not what I'm worried about."