G Hopf - Sanctuary

“Gunny, how do you feel about what happened today?”

“Jones, things are going to get a lot worse around here. What the Colonel did today will not end today, he just made things worse. We have a choice, you have a choice, but before any of us go off and do something rash, I want to pull the team together. You all are my family and we should talk about this like a family.”

Jones nodded, then left. As the door closed, Gunny relaxed into the large leather chair. He thought deeply about everything. When they had arrived in Coos Bay it felt like they were coming home. Now this peaceful and functioning city had been turned on its head. He couldn’t be a part of this new direction Barone was heading in, he just wasn’t sure what direction he should go in. He could just bite his tongue and keep his head down, but silence is nothing more than a voice of approval. Without a doubt a resistance movement would rise up, but for it to matter they would have to have the support of Marines. The question he then asked himself was, could he join that effort or would he and his team be better off outside? If they left, where would they go? The conversation he and Gordon had back in Klamath Falls then came to mind.

“Idaho, maybe we’ll go to Idaho.”

“Gordon!” Eric exclaimed.

Samantha turned around when she heard his name. She stood up and stared at her husband, frozen to the spot.

“Sam!” he called out to her as he walked briskly toward her.

“Oh my God, Gordon!” she cried out and ran into his arms.

They both embraced and held each other for a long time. He smothered her with kisses and kept saying, “I love you, I love you, I love you.”

“Why? Why didn’t you come back?”

“I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry I failed you, I failed all of you, especially Hunter,” he said, as tears started to flow.

“I’m so mad at you. But I’m so happy you’re back,” she said, choking back tears.

“Where’s Haley? Is she okay?”

“She’s missed you so much, she’s been through a lot. She needs you.”

Seneca looked up from Nelson’s side and yelled, “Hey, you two, Nelson needs attention!”

Gordon and Samantha ran over to help out.

Nelson opened his eyes and said, “Am I dead?”

“No, buddy, you’re going to be okay,” Gordon said, holding his hand. “We gotta get him inside and get him treated!” They quickly loaded Nelson and Eric into the Humvee and took them to Lucy’s house.

Hearing of the death of her husband was a shock, but Lucy kept herself composed enough to treat Nelson and Eric. Her prognosis for Eric was good, but she wasn’t sure Nelson would make it. She was able to remove the bullets from Nelson’s back but he had lost a lot of blood. Now it was a matter of waiting and seeing if he’d survive.

Christopher, Cruz, and Wilbur offered to help but they found that they were more in the way than helpful. They exited the house for the Humvee. It provided a familiar place to sequester themselves while they waited for whatever came next.

As they sat discussing their next move, Christopher managed to make contact with the command element at Mountain Home Air Force Base over the radio.

Wilbur quickly took the radio from him, and after a back-and-forth with an officer, she detailed their situation. It appeared that Mountain Home was functioning, but greatly impaired. They would inform Cheyenne of Cruz’s location and situation, and radio back when they made contact. In the meantime, they were sending reinforcements to their coordinates.

Wilbur tossed the handset aside with a deep feeling of satisfaction. It had been a long time since she had felt… hopeful.

“Should we just head in that direction?” Christopher asked Wilbur.

“Mr. Vice President?” Wilbur directed the question toward Cruz, who was relaxing in the backseat.

“Let’s sit tight until we get word back from Cheyenne. I also think we owe it to Mr. Van Zandt to stick around in case we can be of help somewhere.”

“Speak of the devil,” Christopher chuckled as the front door opened and Gordon stepped out.

Gordon saw the three in the Humvee and nodded, acknowledging their presence. His shirt was stained red with blood. He looked at his hands. They too bore a deep stain from all the blood.

Cruz exited the Humvee and walked up to Gordon.

“Mr. Van Zandt.”

“Yeah,” Gordon responded. He was looking at his clothes now.

“We just made contact with Mountain Home. They are aware of our status and are contacting Cheyenne for further instructions.”

“It just gets everywhere,” Gordon commented, his focus on his pants.

“What’s that?” Cruz asked, looking confused.

“The blood, it gets everywhere. Kinda like sand in a way.”

“Ah, yeah,” Cruz answered him. “Mr. Van Zandt, I want to thank you for taking me as far as you did. I know the circumstances weren’t perfect but you did a good job, thank you,” Cruz said, putting out his hand.

Gordon looked at him, then his hand. He then held up his bloodstained hands.

“It’s okay,” Cruz said, his hand still hanging out there.

Gordon took it firmly and shook it. “My pleasure, Mr. Vice President.”

“Secretary Wilbur told me your story, at least a little bit.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing,” Gordon joked.

“For whatever it’s worth, we have a lot more in common than you think.”

Gordon just started at him, not knowing what to say.

“Both of us are doing what we think best to protect our families. I just believe that doing whatever we can to get this country back on its feet is the best way. I wish I could convince you of that,” Cruz said.

Gordon looked at the now thin and weathered vice president. It was odd in so many ways that the Vice President of the United States was standing in front of him and having a conversation. He opened his mouth to speak but knew what he’d say wouldn’t add to the conversation and now was not the time to get into a discussion.

Cruz waited for a response from Gordon but finally figured one wasn’t coming. “Let me know if we can help in any way, okay?” Cruz finished and turned around to go back to stand by the Humvee to await the troops.

“Mr. Vice President,” Gordon called out.

Cruz stopped and turned around.

“There is something you can do for me.”

Cruz stepped back up to Gordon and said, “What is that?”

Gordon hesitated.

“What is it?”

“When you get back to Cheyenne can you make a call back to Coos Bay for me?”

“Sure. That’s an easy request. Who am I calling?”

“Her name is Brittany McCallister. I don’t know where she’s living, but Gunnery Sergeant Smith with STA platoon, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, will know where to find her if you can’t. Tell her that I made it home.”

“Is that it?”

“Yeah, that’s it. Tell her that.”

“Sure thing,” Cruz said and turned back around.

Gordon watched him get back into the Humvee. He then looked at his bloody hands one more time. Seeing the blood on his hands took him back to that day in Fallujah after he had been pelted with shrapnel. He remembered looking at his bloody hands then and wondering if he’d make it out of there alive.

“Daddy, Daddy!” Haley squealed out from behind him.

The dark memories were washed away with the sweet sounds of Haley’s voice. He turned and saw his precious little daughter.

“Daddy!” she screamed out and ran toward him.

Tears welled up in his eyes when he saw her. He could feel the strength leave his legs as he fell to his knees and opened up his arms. “My baby girl! Come here!”

She ran straight into his arms and hugged him tightly.