FALLEN | The Devil of Caracas

Chapter 19 | The Fallen One

Lexi attempts to browse through a magazine with her left hand, while her right remains in a sling. She winces, as she painfully adjusts her position. The hospital bed is comfortable enough, but only for so long. For a U.S. Army forward operating base, it's not a bad hospital. The equipment is state of the art and the doctors here lack nothing.

She looks to her right, eyeing two soldiers in the beds next to her chatting loudly. They've been going back and forth about some obnoxious movie and she's ready to tell them to shut up.

"How ya feeling?" rings a familiar voice.

She turns to her left to see Sam Remington walking toward her bed, with a big grin across his face. 'Is this man ever not happy about something?' she wonders.

"Better," Lexi replies. "Thanks to you guys and, of course, lots of drugs."

"Good," says Sam. He grabs a nearby chair, flips it around and places it close to her bedside. Then taking a seat, he leans forward and looks up at her. "Also, you're welcome for saving your ass."

"Yeah, yeah..." says Lexi, looking away. "I had that shit under control, so don't let it go to your head." She attempts the light-hearted banter, while her mind triggers a flashback. She had never experienced anything more terrifying in her life. Lexi quickly stuffs her emotions deep inside her and looks back at Sam's face. His smile is still present, although less enthusiastic, but his eyes are full of empathy. He examines her intently and she returns his gaze.

"What?" she finally asks.

Sam remains silent for a moment. "That's the first time you've had a team member killed, isn't it?" he finally asks.

Lexi looks away again. She stares at the foot of her bed, avoiding his eyes. Finally, she nods.

"First time under fire?" Sam asks.

She shakes her head.

"I mean while on the ground," he adds.

She nods.

The two of them remain silent for a moment. "It's gonna stick with you the rest of your life," Sam finally says. "It changes you. People don't really realize what that kind of experience does to them until they go through it."

"Are you trying to make me feel better about it? Because you kinda suck at that." Lexi says, sarcastically. She looks back up at him.

Sam, chuckles. "No, just letting you know that you're not alone in all this."

Lexi wonders what kind of terrifying things Sam has seen and done during his career in the Army.

"I'm sure you just get used to it, right?" she asks.

He shrugs. "I guess. Maybe for some people. I think the best thing to do is to just keep moving, you know? It's always harder when you stop. When things get quiet... that's when the thoughts come back. The fear... Honestly, I think I'm more scared of the silence than when the bullets are flying."

She looks him over. It's hard to imagine this man being afraid of much. His large stature and gnarly beard match the composure of a man who should be feared rather than be afraid. But there's something profoundly tender in his soul.

"I guess all the noise reminds you that you're not alone," he says.

The two soldiers eye each other for a moment. Lexi glances back down toward her feet. "So, tell me about yourself, Sergeant," she says, abruptly changing the mood of the conversation.

Sam smirks. "Well, what is there to tell?"

Lexi shrugs her good shoulder and looks back up at him. "I don't know. Start from the beginning."