A Ranger's hunt

The Grand Finale

I radioed the Rear Admiral "Sir, do you have anything to do with the Suhkoi's helping cover our exfil?" He seemed shocked "Suhkois? Covering your exfil?" I replied slowly "....yes sir, after the A-10s and F-18s bugged out the Masks we're pushing through the line as the Chinook lifted off, a Suhkoi flew by and started bombing the enemies. They escorted us and then bugged out when we got over the ocean" the Admiral replied "I will make sure Washington knows that the Kremlin helped us get our boys home" I replied "yes sir, I'll see you when we land" before cutting the radio. So the Kremlin helped us of their own accord, maybe Sasha is right.  I pulled out my phone calling Harry "Sir" he sighed in relief "I heard the body count was rising" I looked down "on both sides" he sighed "How many?" I looked out at the passing mountains "26 of 41" he wasn't expecting that "that many? how about you? Are you okay?" I checked my body "I got some superficial wounds, other than that I'm physically fine just tired" Harry pressed "and mentally?" I chuckled "I'm a mess, Doing a mission while heartbroken is a struggle, I'm too tired to fight the memories, my entire world is crumbling" Harry sighed "about Meghan" I stared out the back of the Chinook "what about her?" He continued "she's a mess, she's worried about you, she's been listening to the coms for any word on you. You should really talk to her when you get back" I steeled myself "I want to leave Rainbow" Harry was shocked "why?" I sighed "I've seen too much, No one should hold a 19 year old kid as he dies plus Valkyrie made it expressly clear not to come back" Harry was fighting annoyance before sighing "I can't stop you anyway" I replied "I'll be in your office when I touch down" before hanging up
       Closing my eyes I'm haunted by the images of that kid, everytime I try to get some sleep I see his face. Once we land of the USS Wasp I talked to the Rear Admiral and then found the pilots of the jets who helped us escape and thanked them. Eventually  I found a place to sleep and soon enough, I fell asleep plagued by nightmares I nap ever now and again. A Huey brought me to an airport in Japan before I got transferred to a private jet provided by Harry to bring me to Hereford where I head straight to Harry's office once I arrive. Knocking I heard "come in" opening the door I see Valkyrie talking with Harry. "I should go" I said as I turned before Harry turned a paper and pushed it towards me, I picked it up as I started to read it "I need a pen" he tossed me it as Valkyrie walked over "(Y/N) what are you doing?" I looked over coldly "well valkyrie you told me that if I left to not come back, sadly I left my shit in my dorm so I had to come back." She had tears welling in her eyes "I'm sorry okay?! I just wanted to protect you I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" I sighed "Am I supposed to take you back now? Is that it?" She looked confused "You used our relationship to try to stop me from doing my fucking job, you tried to force me to take you with me! Did you even think of how I'd feel being forced to choose between my job and you?! You were willing to give up the safety of Rainbow because you wanted to come on the mission with me, a mission with a 56% fatality rate by the way"
       She sighed, tears starting to form "ever since I lost Craig, I've been terrified of losing you, I didn't want to risk you being killed. I was trying to do what I could to try to make sure you're safe but I see now that I was smothering and ignoring who you are as a person. I'm sorry, I really am I can't take back any of it" I spun on her "You're not the only one who lost him Meghan! I trusted you! You said you'd be there for me and you lied! You left me the moment I went to do my job! not to mention you didn't at all respect my decision! How can we even continue as a couple if you don't respect my decisions like I do yours?" she started crying realizing how hurt and mad I actually was before continuing "I'm sorry, I was so scared of losing you, losing the future I wanted. I want a ring, a family and a life outside of the military with you. I want two little ones running around having fun, I want those moment where I can just go to you if I'm sad or want to relax. I want it all. I got so mad because I was horrified I'd lose it, we just lost Craig and then I hear you preparing to go off solo on a mission in a hurry. The entire time you were gone I was terrified you'd die. please just give me one more chance, just one, if i fuck it up you can leave and I won't even try to contact you" I sighed, my heart yearning to forgive her and my eyes watering, looking at Harry "Got any advice?" Harry looked at the clock "she wants to be with you, that much is clear. If she's willing to put the effort in and you want to be with her, I think you should give her the chance, life is about learning from your mistakes. From the little time I saw you outside of mission briefs you and her looked happy." I looked up and thought searching for any wisdom, i remembered my grandfather saying "The only way to see if someone is speaking truth, is to take the leap" I looked at her and searched her eyes for something, what it is I haven't a clue but I must have found it I nodded "fine you've got your chance, prove me wrong"
     Walking over to Harry I signed my retirement and walked out the door to pack. When I left my room 15 minutes later I saw Meghan waiting "what are you doing here? don't you have training?" She shook her head no "I retired remember, we were gonna retire after this mission, that you went solo on." I nodded "we'll see how worth your retirement was"