Blind Promises

9. Set Straight

The small eating area Gwen spotted earlier had everything she needed to stop the grumbling coming from her insides. Liam teased her mercilessly for ten minutes while they waited for Coop to get his vest on. The vending machines hummed in electric anticipation with their choices, each fell with a satisfying thump into the well at the bottom, waiting. She scoured the bottom of her bag for every bit of change she had, she was afraid she'd be a picky eater compared to the two she would share accommodations with. Liam finally spoke up, "I know I only handed you a five, that's far more snacks than provided for."

"Yes, well, Rich brought my bag back to me while you were showering and I am making sure that I have something to eat when I don't like what you're having," she said then looked down at Cooper who seemed to understand the predicament just fine. Liam laughed, "Oh yeah, Miss. I don't like the taste of water."

Gwen put a candy bar in his hand then organized everything else to fit into her purse. "I also never said I was going to take your money, all of your snacks are in here, too. Unless you'd rather put them in your pockets where they'll melt. What do you want to drink? It's on me."

Liam reached up and felt her face, her smile almost faded, she knew she'd have to give a little to get to know him, and touch was his sight right now. He answered, "Water is best, it keeps you hydrated more than caffeine laden soda. You should drink some too."

"I should do a lot of things but I rarely do any of them." Gwen smiled into his palm. Liam dropped his hand and took out his phone, he whispered conspiratorily, "Watch this."

"Colonel, I'm going to need someone to get into this machine, I need five bottles of water and three of bottles of soda. I have a thirsty civilian and a chief warrant officer who will need hydration asap. I appreciate it, Sir." Liam held the line a moment, she heard the Colonel give a few obligatory commands then a few orders were shouted down the hall. It only took a few minutes before one of the men that followed the colonel around to appear with enough money to feed the machine. "Here you are Major Halstad, Sir. Is there anything else I can be of assistance with?"

"No." Liam said as he handed her a soda and opened one himself.

"Does someone always follow him around like that? Hanging around to see what he wants next." She asked. Liam explained, "There is always one in the office to do footwork. Some of them will follow him just to see if it gets them up the ladder quicker, just in case you're ever climbing that ladder, it doesn't. He likes them out of sight and efficient.

"And now, lesson number one: You come to terms with a few things around here. Never pay for things that you can get just by asking."

Gwen drew in a deep breath then, "Yeah, about that, this is where it gets a little awkward for me. I'm not sure how this is going to work out but I don't have a lot of savings, what I did have was exhausted with the move. I haven't really caught up yet. Living off of the government is a no for me, and I certainly won't live off of you. If this is an extended situation as you predict, we may be at an impasse."

"You'll do what is necessary to survive and you won't question where your accommodations come from, Miss. Denton. This is not a matter of pride but survival, in case you haven't noticed there were people shooting at us less than twelve hours ago. Those people don't care who we are or what good we do. They get paid with blood money for our heads. Therefore, in order to keep us alive, we get to use blood money, too. You're living off no one at the moment, you have no idea who is footing the bill. You take what you're given, you do what you're told, and you live another day. Clear?" Liam had been light-hearted before but his demeanor changed into a strict and commanding officer. Sensing the change in his master, Cooper whined between them, licked Liam's hands, and nudged him until he responded with attention. "Coop, quit being a sympathizer."

She sat in her chair and stared at Liam, brows raised in disbelief. She wasn't sure if she would laugh or cry. The drugs she'd been given left her a little high, and the adrenaline was long worn off, leaving her with a hang over of sorts. It just wouldn't do if Bascue hadn't picked that moment to walk through the doors. His shower had given him renewed vigor, "Someone's panties are in a bunch, what did you do, princess?"

"Signed up for the military, I guess," Gwen retorted. Rich dropped into the hard plastic seat beside her, its metal legs protested as it slid back slightly. He took a bottle of water off the table, unscrewed the cap, and drank half of it before he said anything. She was waiting for his biting remark, it was right there in his eyes, they were full of "joie de vivre", as Aunt Maisie would say. Rich finally sat the bottle down, "Sounds like it, he brought out his big boy voice, he means business. I suggest you ruck up, young lady."

"Bascue, enough," Liam replied. She could see Liam regretted his stern words the moment he heard his friend's entry into the kitchenette.

Rich nearly made her laugh out loud at his facial expression, he clearly was having fun at Liam's expense finally instead of hers, "What? You're clearly the one that decided it was Day 0 this morning."

Liam pulled his hand over his face, she didn't understand a lot of the crap Rich gave him but it was frustrating by the look of it. When he looked at her, he was much softer, "Gwen, just know that things will be taken care of and that's the end of the discussion. It's the same for us, no difference. Our pay still goes on, it's held in an account, safe and waiting, until then we're provided for. Just like you will be."

"Okay," was all she could muster. The fight had left her, forget it, there wasn't a thing she could do about it. Especially at that moment, she wasn't going to argue. Rich thought little of this by the sound of his scoff, "You're giving up that easy? Aw, come on, you have to have a little bit of fight left in you. Something. You can't be as bossy and demanding as you are and end a conversation like that with "Okay." That's not adequate."

"Sorry to disappoint, but I'm tired. Maybe later, after a nap." Gwen yawned to prove her point. She laid her head on her arm, the Formica tabletop wasn't the most comfortable surface but it would do. Liam leaned up and reached for Coop, from there he raised his hand up until he met her arm, "I'm sorry. I'm trying to balance my job with my personal life which up until yesterday was mostly nonexistent, it doesn't always work out the way it's planned. To complicate things further, my personal life was just dumped unceremoniously into my professional life where the lines are not blurred but have been erased completely. Following the same tradition of complication, I am mostly blind which makes me on edge and frustrated."

She could tell he wasn't finished but the colonel walked into the room and both of them stood, Gwen felt stupid but she just sat there, looking at everyone dully. "The plane is ready and you'll be in the air in twenty minutes. You both have bags on board. Miss. Denton, some of your things are on the plane as well as a set of BDUs in case there is need. I have heard that you feel uncomfortable wearing them due to propriety, as a colonel in the United States Army I give you permission to do so and furthermore, demand that you wear them in cases of emergency."

"Okay." Mahoney was looking at her with concern but Rich just shrugged and gestured for him to go on.

"Gather the drinks you just had to have and let's get you on this flight. I'm having a secondary flight crew flown in last minute but as it is, we're going to make this look like the real deal, okay gentleman? Young lady?" He turned and left the break room, she threw the third soda in her bag and waited a moment.

Rich looked at her, "Are you sure we shouldn't see the medics one more time? You feeling okay, Gwen? I'm serious now, no jokes, you good?"

"Yes, Rich, I'm fine. I am exhausted. I'm human. Not whatever it is you two are. Not to mention you tried to kill me earlier." Gwen made herself smile a little and followed the colonel out the door and in the general direction of the plane.

Once the door closed and they were a comfortable distance Gwen spoke up, "Colonel Mahoney, I need to speak with you about one thing of importance I'd rather not discuss with them yet. I have prescriptions, but it's less than a month's worth left. They aren't drugs I can stop immediately. Some of them I can't stop at all."

"My dear, there is a six months supply of everything you need on that plane. It has all been taken care of, I'm very thorough when I take care of those under my wing," Colonel Mahoney assured her.

Gwen smiled at him awkwardly, "Thank you. I think. I appreciate it."