Sometimes Goodbye is a second chance

  • So many newbies lately! Here is a very important PSA about one of our most vital content policies! Read it even if you are an ancient member!
Status
Not open for further replies.
Taryn showered and changed into pajamas. She was tired, emotional distress was driving her mad. Now she kept thinking about the end result... she knew in her heart Falk wanted her deployed again. Could she bring herself to say goodbye to Clark? He said he'd wait... so many say that. She didn't want to think about it. The least amount of time she would do overseas was twelve months... a whole year. There was no way she would allow him to wait for her for an entire year. If the time came she would leave him a goodbye note, take her things and leave. She wrapped her arms around herself and slipped into a shallow sleep.
 
Clark went upstairs, mind churning. He decided to go up to bed. He slipped into the bedroom, sliding in beside Taryn.

The mysteries could wait till morning.

He held her gently, tucking her against his chest tenderly. "I love you, Taryn...only woman I've ever truly loved..." He whispered, knowing she was asleep and couldn't hear.
 
It was another two weeks before Taryn's phone rang with information about her review. In the two weeks Clark and her had gone on like nothing had changed even though when she was alone, she found herself often fighting off tears. The bar was the only place she could exist without thinking about her worries and her fears. She was usually too busy working and that's how she liked it best. Taryn was on her morning run when she got the message that at noon she needed to be at the base for the review board.

She showered quickly knowing it was an hour and a half drive one way. She unpacked her military uniform, the dark knee length skirt, panty hose, shiny black shoes, the matching jacket with all her credential ranking pins, beneath that her perfectly ironed white button down with proper tie and the hat sitting atop her flawless bun. Once dressed she moved to find Clark.

"Hey... I'm heading to the review... I'll see you later." She said trying to sound as optimistic as possible."
 
Two weeks had passed and Clark had only gotten inches closer to the mystery. His living room was full of charts and decoded sections of journal. Between the bar and the mysteries, Clark was more than engaged in distractions from the fact that Taryn may very well leave him.

What would happen if she did that? Could he continue?

He was in the kitchen, journals on the table when she came in. He stood, nervous for her. "Okay honey...drive safe." He leaned in, kissing her gently and trying not to ruin her uniform. "Be very careful. Don't lose your temper." He stroked her cheek, flashing a smile.
 
Taryn smiled, the man had gotten to know her very well. She kissed him back, her heart aching with her walk to her vehicle. She drove quietly, not even bothering to play music. She paced the hallway outside the conference room once she had arrived. Nate cleared his throat to get her attention. She looked up at him, her eyes blinking. He stood in his formal uniform as well. His eyes raked Taryn and he nodded in appreciation.

"I forgot how good you looked in uniform." he smirked. Taryn gave him a deadly glance and he schooled his features. "Sorry.. yeah, seriousness. Okay."

"I just want to get in and get out." She said with a shallow exhale. The door opened and the military policeman ushered them in. The board sat at a long table before them. Three men and a woman all in formal uniforms. Two generals and two lieutenant generals. The proceedings began and it was worse than Taryn could have imagined. They tore apart her career interrogating her on events that happened years before leading up to her assault of her sister. Taryn swallowed her pride as she answered fighting the anger and rage that could be clearly seen in her face.

"Sgt. Roberts, it has come to our attention that Dr. Ellis believes you are at the edge of a mental breakdown in relation to your PTSD diagnosis. Do you believe your time in command has come to an end?" The female Lt. Gen. asked.

Taryn nodded. "Yes ma'am I do. I have served my country faithfully for over six years and it is time I focus on recovery. Soldiers leave in the name of patriotism and to protect and serve, many have no idea that they too could suffer from PTSD. It would be the practical, rational thing to do."

"To honorably discharge you?" The general interrupted. He didn't give Taryn time to answer as he continued. "Honorable... yet you exhibit no honor, Sgt. Roberts. You attacked your own flesh and blood then two months later divorce your husband and less than a week after that you get arrested for a DUI. What I see here is a little girl that should never have joined the military since she's so stuck up in her little high school drama."

Taryn's nose flared. She had dealt with the prejudice of being a female in the army since day one but this general had no idea what he was speaking about and her rage had topped off long before.

"With all due respect General, you don't have a damn clue of what you're talking about. I am a sargeant in the united states army, I've been to war four times and advanced not because I slept around like some women have. I advanced through hard work and through blood sweat and tears shed to change the minds of bigots like you. I assaulted my sister because I came home after eighteen months in Afghanistan to find my sister in bed with my husband. I divorced him for the same reason and I got arrested for a DUI because the only way to numb the pain was drinking. Was it right of me no, but I would not change a damn thing I've done so far."

Everyone on the board stared at her wide eyed. Her fiery spunk would not go down without a fight.
 
Clark went right back to work on the journals, finally finding something useful in this mad hunt of his. He hadn't had any calls from Charlie since that dire warning two weeks ago and he saw it as a good thing. The less he heard from him the better.

Clark decided that putting his energy into the mystery would distract him from the thought of Taryn before a military board.

He found the jewel he needed...information about some secret mission Charlie was supposed to be running
 
It took the board another hour of drilling her and her witnesses with questions before they adjourned for deliberation. Falk and Nate went to eat, inviting Taryn though she refused. Dr. Ellis stayed with her. He knew she was fuming so instead of prodding her he stayed quiet, a silent shoulder. After an hour the military policeman ushered them back in once again. The board all sat down once she had saluted and the foreperson spoke.

"After careful consideration from all parties we grant you fit for duty, no discharge at this time. The reason for it being that you have been selected sargeant Roberts for a special operation of national security. Sensitive information has been stolen from the pentagon that could put the United States of America in a very dangerous position. You leave 1900 tonight."

Taryn's heart sunk, she knew this was going to happen yet she couldn't believe that they were doing this to her. What was she going to tell Clark?

"How long is the job?" she asked, her voice quiet and clear.

"Twelve months, no leave." The general stated. He eyed her speculatively. "Everything all right Sgt?"

Taryn cleared her throat and nodded, her spine straightening. She saluted them and turned to leave. Orders were orders. Nate caught her on the way to her vehicle.

"Whoa, what's going on T? You should be happy your career is saved! your pension... and you got a new job. Why are you upset?"

"Nate because there's more to life than the army... you should know that, that's why you left me for Krystal."

Nate sighed and watched her jump into her SUV and speed off. By the time she'd get back to town it would be four. That left her five hours till her flight. She prayed Clark would be at the bar... that way she coudl tell him and go or leave a note at the house. The entire hour and a half drive she just prayed he was at the bar.
 
Clark was so caught up in his journals that he hardly noticed the pounding on the door until it grew incessant.

He moved to answer it, swinging it open. "Mr. Kentworth?" A man in military uniform stood before him and he frowned.

"Is Taryn okay?" Clark crossed arms over his chest.

"Sir, I'm here with orders..."

Orders? What kind of orders and why? "Well speak up then..."

"You are to accompany me on a special mission...it seems you're the only one that can decode special agent Charlie's notes..."
 
Taryn arrived at the house and it was empty. She thanked the stars above and moved to pack her military duffel. She changed into her military uniform and packed everything she would need. As she went to leave the house she left a note for Clark.

I got orders... I'm shipping out. It's better this way. Thank you for everything, I hope you'll find the right one, you sure as hell deserve it. <3 T

She stopped at a store on the way to the airport shopping for everything she would want care package wise. Body soaps, shampoo and conditioner, enough to last her the year. With an entire cart full she stood in line. The woman ahead of her in line had a small child in the cart. She could not have been more than four. The little red headed girl stared at Taryn with big green eyes. Whenever Taryn would look at her she'd smile and hide behind her mother. It made Taryn smile as well. It warmed her heart, the longing for a child of her own filling her mind. She quickly shut the thought out. The cashier scanned all of her items and when she went to slide her card to pay for it, the redheaded child's mother slid hers.

Taryn looked at her astonished, the total had come up to well over a hundred dollars. The small child spoke then, "When you get to where you're going... can you tell my daddy I want him home?" Her little voice filled Taryn's heart. Tears welled up in her eyes as well as the mother's.

"Thank you so much for your service, and everything you do. God bless." she said with a smile and turned to leave, the small girl waving at Taryn.

The stay at the airport was long but when she boarded the military plane she shoved her earbuds into her ears. It would be sixteen hours till touch down. "Hoorah." she whispered as she pressed play.
 
It was under the military mans gaze that Clark was packed journals and a bad of essentials. He was a silent man, hands at his side until it came time to carry the journals. Only then did the man reach forward and take the box. When Clark left the house he looked behind him in sadness. Taryn would come home to find the house empty. He was forbidden to keave a note and was only allowed one call to the bar.

Clark had the right mind to put Adam in charge, allowed to say nothing else. "No one must know. This is top priority and top secret." He was ushered into a vehicle, the men silent the entire ride.

This must have been what Charlie meant by the fact they were watching. Damn, curse his luck.

Finally they reached an airport, a private jet waiting on the runway. He was put on it, the box of journals being shoved in his hands. "I suggest you study Mr. Kentworth..." He stumbled into the plane, muttering and cursing as journals spilled about the cabin.
 
Taryn awoke as the plane was descending. As had happened on all her previous deployments, she was in the mindset of a military personnel, no longer thinking as Taryn the woman. She deplaned with another seventy soldiers at a base outside Doha, Qatar. Taryn found her bunk and sat on the mat all of ten seconds before her Lieutenant barged in. She scrambled to her feet saluting him, the jet lag getting to her.

"Sgt. Roberts, you are to join us in the general's office. It is of strict security, tell no one where you are headed. Be there at thirteen hundred." With that he turned and left. Taryn looked at her watch. She had fifteen minutes to find where the general's office was. As she went to leave her bunk she ran into her roomie.

"Sgt. Roberts, I'm Sgt. Espinosa. Nice to finally meet you." The older woman smiled. The women shook hands. "If there's anything I can do to help, let me know."

"How do I find the general's office."

"Oh, black flag, always look up." She pat Taryn's shoulder and disappeared into the bunk. It was an excrutiating hundred and five degrees and in the desert, even Taryn's aviator ray bans couldn't knock out all the glare. She made her way to the building with the black flag and into the office.

"Sgt. Roberts, nice of you to join us." General Falk said with risen brow. "I'd like you to meet your consultant Clark Kentworth."

Taryn's jaw dropped as she swung around, her eyes focusing on Clark. "What the fuck?" she said outloud, unaware her mental filter had shut off
 
Clark had been shuffled around until he had reached the base. They settled him in with the general and debriefed him. "Mr. Kentworth...what we ask you to do is of the highest importance. You will be consulting for a select team of individuals to finish what Charlie started. That being to retrieve vital information to us. You've read the journals?"

Clark shook his head. "I've worked for weeks and barely unscrambled what half of one is." He pointed to the one tucked under his arm. "And frankly it talks about stuff I barely understand..I mean..the items mentioned..." He paused. They weren't really listening to him now. All he was reminded of when he looked at the general was his father and he sighed in frustration.

A commotion made him pause in setting the journals on the table and he frowned. He looked up to find an angry Taryn standing in front of him. He blinked a few minutes, mouth curling into a smirk. "Well hello there! I see they dragged you to this hell hole too..." He saw the look on the generals face and shrugged. "Oh I guess it's a good thing I'm a civilian huh?"
 
"Is there something we should know Sgt. Roberts?" General Falk began. Taryn swung around and not giving a damn for the hierarchy of ranks she slammed her fist into his desk.

"You know damn well who he is Falk. Now you want me to tote a civillian around Qatar picking up after a dead end and expect him not to become another casualty? This is some lowball shit." She spoke so fast that the general's right hand whistled.

"I've never seen someone so angry with you General." She said. General Falk glared at her and turned back towards Taryn.

"You both leave outside the wire in an hour. Sgt, your team is in hangar C preparing the humvee. God speed."

Taryn's gaze could pierce souls and even Falk fidgeted in the line of it. She turned on one heel and head out the door. Her head was pounding but not even nearly as hard as her heart was. She knew the dangers of war, Clark did not. Now she was faced with keeping her team and the man she had fallen for safe. If this wasn't enough to break someone she didn't know what was.
 
Clark looked at the general. Even he knew he had been watched since day one. He watched Taryn storm out, picking up the journals. He grew a little cocky but decided he wouldn't rest easy if he left this opportunity wasted.

"You know Falk..you remind me of my father...I always did hate my old man. You better make sure my bar is taken care of. " He tucked the journals under his arm and flipped Falk the bird before storming out of the tent.

He never would have done that...never. But being taken away from his bar and shoved into unknown territory pissed him off. Seeing Taryn upset? That only made him angrier.
 
Taryn stood in the hangar. It had dozens of humvees waiting for duty, others being worked on and others blown to bits by IED's. Her face was stoic though there was a storm brewing beneath. Being a first sergeant, Taryn was leading a group of five men. A sergeant, two sergeant first class and two master sergeants. After introducing herself as 1st Sgt. T, she explained out of the circumstances she would rather learn them by first inital of their last names. The men obliged.

"I've heard about your work in Afghanistan only a few months ago. It is an honor to work beside you first sgt." Master Sgt. K. Said saluting Taryn. She nodded a thank you and went through a mental checklist to make share they were prepared. She was signing off on artillery when Clark joined them in the hangar.

"Men this is Mr. Kentworth he is our Intel specialist and a civilian... we shield him by all means." She spoke as if she had never met him in her life.

"Crazy consulting for the military... they ever tell you folk the tal heads eat y'all alive out here."

Taryn turned towards Sgt. R.

"This isn't basic Sgt. We will have respect for our enemies because they have the ability to end our lives as much as we do theirs. They call us soldiers you call them insurgents on my watch." The others in the team whistled. Taryn was a no bull shit fly zone at all times. It was the only way to keep them alive.

When they were ready to leave she dismissed her team to skype and phone family members before leaving the wire in which they would go radio dead except for secure line messaging with base. Taryn was left in the hangar with Clark alone. She turned towards him so many emotions behind her crystal irises.

"While you are here, we are not a thing. Ever. If I am injured you press on you do not put your emotions before the safety of my soldiers or the mission am I clear Clark?" She spoke curtly and clear though her heart ached behind her ribs.
 
Clark had watched them all, still a little confused as to what exactly he was doing here. He looked towards Taryn as she spoke and he shook his head. "Easy to say and impossible to do. I can't just shut off that part of me..."

His eyes took her in and he sighed. "I'll try... although I really hate this."
 
Taryn frowned. She hated it too but the pros of having been to war various times before meant that she had grown numb to it all. She moved towards the laptop given to her convoy.

It was one of those super strength throw me out of a plane, run me over, drown me and I'll still work computers. Bulky outer case but functional in her line of work.

Their route had been mapped using an algorithm the route they would actually take was hidden from anyone that would try to intercept the Intel.

She used a napkin to draw out her map. One of her convoy returned and shook his head with a smile.

"You know they know her for this. She was captured two deployments ago and had all these napkins on her but none of the insurgents could break her code or her. My brother was on the mission that rescued her, when they broke in she had already broken free of restraints despite her injuries. We are being led by a beast man." He said to Clark. It was obvious he was pumped up for what lied ahead
 
Clark tried not to laugh at the napkins. He had done the same through business school. He looked over at the man speaking, glad to see her team valued her so much. With that much loyalty and determination nothing could go wrong. He wasn't so worried about himself as much as he was concerned for her.
 
The time came and all of the convoy strapped up, their rifles and other firearms on their bodies they stood beside the humvee. Taryn moved down the line checking to make sure all their safety gear was in check. She stood before Clark, a heavy protective vest in hand. She slid it on him, leaning close to strap it tightly to his frame. Her eyes refused to land on his for fear that she might give away just how worried she was for him. She placed a helmet on his head and stepped back.

"It's gonna be hot in that humvee but hotter in the desert. We ride till point A, eyes peeled at all times. If anything warrants a deviation from route A, I have three other routes only I know of. In the event one of us gets captured none will know the plans but me. Not that I don't trust you gentlemen but the fact is I know I won't break and I know if they hurt ya'll, you won't have shit to give up since you know nothing. Let's roll out."

One of the master sergeants shook his head with a smile. "Nice pep talk boss."

Taryn couldn't help but smile, she had lived many years of her life doing this, even though she'd rather be home... this too felt like home for her.

Once they were all in their respective seats inside the humvee, master sgt. K behind the wheel they head out. Taryn looked out the back at the safety of the wire.

"Hoorah gentlemen." she said, the men joining in a loud hoorah of their own.
 
Clarks eyes bore into her as she strapped him into the vest. "This seems a little much for a nobody like me," he muttered as she slammed the helmet onto his head.

Excessive yes. That's how he felt. He wasn't important enough for any of this. He was just a simple bar owner!!

Clark piled into the humvee with all the journals. He was working on the one that was numbered as the first and so far it was a letter about how items connected to history played a role in intelligence the military could use. He had given examples and equations that he barely understood.

Clark opened the notebook, deciphering it when a sentence made him stop.

"If I'm right then I'm gone and you're stuck untangling my web, brother. I'll give you a piece of advice...trust no one."

His face paled as he realized this message was strictly for him.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom
Back