Blind Promises

58. Time to Clean Up

"For what my opinion might be worth, I knew what you were when you hit that artery through some of the best armor money can buy. You're an intelligent man, you just let some intimidation and fear get the best of you. The oldest tactic in the book, use a man's weakest spot against him, his family." Liam did see it when Larry fought.

He threw him a pistol. His partner seemed satisfied with the state of his girl, he'd stood up and nodded. Liam put him on other tasks, "Rich, secure the two of them, call in the MPs, Medivac Colleen to the nearest hospital, that's not a kill shot, could be potentially nasty. Post our guys at her door. Hal needs extra security, be sure to stress that, SOCOM heard the audio, let them take your camera. They'll try to let him go, you know they will."

Rich gave him a two fingered salute, it was ridiculous, "Yes Sir!"

"Get your ass moving," Liam ordered.

He finally let himself look at Gwen. She was laying there, eyes closed, blood running out of the corner of her mouth. His mind was racing, "Larry, get the first medivac for her." Liam checked her pulse, it was good. "Liam, I don't need a medivac, I just hit my mouth on the way down. Fuck, that bullet hurt."

She still didn't open her eyes. Liam rolled her over enough to unstrap the vest, he lifted it off carefully, leaving it where it would be easy to put right back on. The slick black shirt was a tight fit but he was able to push it up to see where the impact had been. She was going to have a pretty nasty bruise. He put everything back on her just as it was. Having checked the room twice, Rich gave him a nod. Liam kissed her lips, "Gwen, we can't do this, I don't care about my full retirement or clearance anymore, I can consult from home."

"Liam, this started way before you and I met. This isn't the norm. I know you're afraid that without Hal they will make you and Rich go live active again, but I've had Robert look into it. Hal secured your positions tightly as well as mine. You'll just have to get used to a new colonel. I told you I knew who the head was, Robert helped me a great deal after I learned your mother was the figurehead. Something didn't add up, I knew there had to be more to the story. There was. Did you know that your mother had psychology training before you were born? She did. I do believe that is where the Inquisitive trigger comes from, eventually it may come back." Gwen gave him a peck on the cheek.

Liam smiled, "Come on, let's get you sat up and moving around. I want you behind me at all times until everyone in this hanger is flushed out. Between Rich and I, okay?" Gwen nodded. Liam wasn't finished, "In a minute I'm going to clip my Beretta to your vest, I want you to use it if anyone shoots at you, do you hear me?"

"Yes, Liam, I'm not a child."

"Good, there is a spot for everything you're going to receive, just remember where you put it. Rich's knife goes here. Extra mags, easy access right there. Ever shot a semi-automatic?" Liam asked her.

"I've shot everything that Corby can get his hands on. Fully automatic on down. Short answer, yes. Liam, are you okay? You know I can, and I can do it well." Gwen wiped more blood from her mouth onto her pants. A trash can was right beside the desk, she spat in it twice. Liam looked at her a moment. "What?"

"Nothing. But I meant in your current state."

"You've never seen a girl spit before? I'm assuming I can, life or death, not optimal but doable, right?" Gwen asked. "At least I'm not puking, all that blood running down my throat was disgusting but I was too busy trying to freaking breathe to worry about blood." Gwen spit one last time. "Okay, anything else?"

"Oh, no no no." Gwen bent over. "Not now little baby, we've made it this far. Just a little while longer."

He panicked, his mind was racing, what could she mean? "Gwen, baby, what's wrong?"