Hell of a Soldier

Ch.12 Cold Water

Riggs

"Beep...Beep...Beep..." The familiar rhythmic pattern of a monitor rang through my ears.

It was annoying and I wanted to shove my fist through the screen of it.

So that's what Im going to do. I pried my eyes open to be met with the dim lighting of lanterns.

"What the fuck?" I sat up, my abdomen screaming in pain. I fell back down on the cot.

I was in a dark green tent surrounded by others who also laid on cots.

What the fuck happened? It smelled awful in here. A mix between medications, herbal tea, and sleep.

I rolled my head straight on my pillow and closed my eyes, trying to recall what happened.

I remember getting shot while running towards the woods. It fucking hurt.

I remember watching Thomas take a bullet through the shoulder and Avery trying to cover him while he got to safety.

I would have done the same in a heartbeat if my weapons weren't left at the Rover.

I remember using myself as a shield to protect Dylan.

Wait.

I sat up quickly and looked around the cots.

After a few minutes of stretching my neck and scarring my eyes, some of the men were nude, I sighed in relief.

She wasn't here.

Which meant she was either dead or at camp.

I refuse to believe she is dead. So camp it is.

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Dylan

I couldn't stop tossing and turning. I had way too much to think about.

Would Riggs be okay? He had to be, right? He is strong. Brave. Selfless.

I recalled the events of the night of the shoot out. Riggs didn't even hesitate to throw me in front of him. Or to take a bullet for me.

I shuttered at the memory of him bleeding all over me, his face paling.

I threw my legs over the side of my bed and quickly raced out of my cabin. I left my coat and boots behind. It was a warmer night anyway.

I followed a familiar path to a large stream, sitting on the edge. Riggs would drag me here after long hours of work and make me swim with him.

"It'll help your muscles relax."Riggs winked at me.

He snaked his hands around my waste and lead me deeper into the freezing water.

"Riggs, its cold! We are gonna freeze to death." I shivered and pushed away from him.

"You only live once." He said in a mocking voice.

I had said that to him once when I decided to climb a steep slope for a small rescue mission we had.

I may have fallen and I may have bruised a rib or two, but you truly only do live once.

I took a deep breath and swam over to him, wrapping my arms around his neck.

"Better?" Riggs held the bottom of my thighs. I had wrapped my long legs around his waist.