[2011]
Six Days. Six Days where her life changed. Six Days that would make her life hell.
Natalie dreaded today because of a specific event. The funeral. She slowly put her uniform on,dreading every second. She pulls her brown hair into a tight bun,then puts her beret on. She looks a herself in the mirror. Her blue eyes looked dead,her face is paler,even her lips seemed drained of color. She holds the dog-tags in her hands,looking at what is left of her comrades,what she would have to give to their families. Dark thoughts clouded her head:Why them and not her? Why did she live? Why did they die?
The funeral was a blur for her. The sun could hardly shine past the clouds,which made the day even gloomier. Nat silently stood as the speeches were given,her heart broke more when she heard Gaz's name.
"No!" She thought "This can't be real,it can't! "
Speeches were given. First the General,then Price,then Natalie. Her voice shakes with every painful word,it was miracle that she made it through without crying.
"Lt. Gary Ward was one of the bravest men I've ever known. Gaz,as we called him,was the one who trained me. He was also one of my father's closest friends. Gaz fought with everything he had,which I admired. Even when he was wounded and surrounded,he still fought. He will never be forgotten,not by the SAS,and not by his loyal comrades. In the words of Plato 'Only the dead have seen the end of war" Natalie stepped off the stand,walking past Gaz's heartbroken family. His mother stopped Natalie for a moment,
"You're a hero,to us and to the SAS" She told Natalie,who shook her head and replied.
"No,I am not a hero,but I did have the honor of fighting alongside a few,including your son."
By the end of the funeral,rain was pouring on them. Natalie stood beside her father and Macmillan,who silently watch as they lowered the casket into the ground. Price and Nat walked back to their car afterwards,it was there that Nat broke down sobbing,her head in her hands. "Why them? Why did they die and I lived? Why wasn't it me? Why?" Her voice shaking and trembling as she cried out. Price wraps his arms around his daughter,holding her as she cries. Her head throbbing as she clings to him,by the time she stopped crying,she went silent as Price drove them home. She goes to her room,while Price goes to his room. She takes off her uniform,which was soaking wet from the rain. She changes into a tank top and shorts,curling up on her bed. She wraps herself in the blanket. She cries herself to sleep that night.
A dying scream,a gunshot,a pistol sliding, three gunshots
Something that would come to haunt her. All she had left now was her father and Soap. She woke up the next morning exhausted,having barley slept with the nightmares. Price knew that he needs to help his daughter before she digs her own grave.
Nat walks into the kitchen,seeing Price already there "Hey Dad"
Price turns to her "Are you alright Lass?" His hand rests on her shoulder as he speaks. She nods her head,though they both know that she's lying.
Price pulls her into a hug "It's gonna be alright Nat" He kisses the side of her head. Nat closes her eyes and relaxes into the embrace,her head on his shoulder.
After a moment he pulls away,setting a plate of pancakes on the counter for her,her favorite childhood food. Nat smiles a bit,eating the pancakes,once she finishes she washes the dish. She approaches the couch where her father is.
"Dad?" She sits down next to him on the couch.
"Yes?" He looks at her
"When do we have to come back to the military?"
He sighs before answering "3 weeks"
Hours later she heads to the cemetery,she sat down at Gaz's grave,she salutes the small flag next to the grave. After 2 hours she stood up. She said one last sentence then walks back home.
"Only the dead have seen the end of war."