On the way back to the base we met the convoy caring for the support personnel and supplies, to the Windfarm. after briefly checking in The entire base was back, out waiting to greet us. This was by no means a military thing, not for such an Op early on in what was going to be a life long war. It was, however, human, I don't care if you fight for the enemy, or what branch you are in, at the end of the days you are human. I let my Human side "To A mother victory!" The Commander shouted, pumping his fist into the air. His men, respond by echoing him.
"We need to talk." I grunted.
"Yea but you can't get out of it this time." The commander put his arm on my shoulder.
"Thank you!" I shouted and raised my hands into the air. "This took every person on the base, every member of the team, if you put together proposals, loaded the humvee's, or participated, your role was the keystone in our arch of success today!" I cheered, so did the crowd. "COMMANDER!" I grumbled at him.
"Ok." He motioned to his office.
Jeff wasn't following, and I wanted him with us in the office. "Little man, come on!" I turned at shouted at him.
The prisoners were being escorted to a holding area, they were all shielding their faces, and making themselves look small, in hopes people wouldn't notice them. That was a shame, I had seen it so many times, in the middle east. However this much shame on everybody, means either, they all feel really guilty, or something else is going on. I don; 't think this many people, who set out to cause mayhem, Not this many would look like this.
"Mom?" Jeff. shouted, walking sideways but looking at a woman. "Mom it's me, Jeff."
"Sir, I think I am..." I stated.
"Go to him." He said motioning me to him. He let me get a few steps on him and then hr followed behind me.
"Jeff." I said softly, but firmly. "Babe let's go." I grabbed his arm gently. and lightly tugged on his arm, he resisted. "Let's talk about this." I grabbed his arm.
"No!." He shouted, as the woman, he called mom, walked by him, not even looking at him.
I pulled on him harder, the commander took this as a sign, to help me. He grabbed Jeff's other arm. There was no one I knew better than Jeff, He was my brother in arms, and my companion and lover. To say that the commander's Help was a mistake, was obvious. All good soldiers fight for a reason, some fight, to serve, some serve to belong, some for the scary reason, the list is a thousand miles long. Some, like Jeff, fought, because they didn't, or couldn't feel helpless. Nothing wrong with any of those, I was un sure how Jeff would react to being made helpless. When he tensed up, I let him go, sure this was going to become violent. It was important to note, that it took Jeff longer to pull the trigger on his Saw, so warning the commander was the next thing I was going to do.
Jeff roared like an enraged lion, he leaned down into the commander, throwing him off balance, now under the commander, who was staggering into Jeff, I could see the rage in Jeffs Eyes, he had been a victim once, never again, there was the slightest grin, a twitch of his lips., a quick tug, on the Commander's arm, and he fell on to Jeff's back. Now there is a word that described the look on the commander's face, the concern, his eyebrows peaked. Jeff stood up a bit,r knocked the commander up and back and up over Jeffs's shoulder. Then time started to move normally, Jeff roared again. His shaggy shoulder-length hair, curled enough to make him look a bit like a lion.
"Jeff!" I said firmly. "Breath!" I made the Guester.
He panted, looking down. "You taught him how to do that?" The commander sighed, looking up at me
"Oh shit sorry!" Jeff blushed realizing he was looking at the commander, and finally realizing how the commander got there. He offered the commander his hand.
"Hey, I don't think you broke anything, I appreciate that." He chuckled. He stood and dusted himself off. "Put away these humvee's and get their's ready to go." The commander ordered to the few airmen who were standing and watching. "How'd you know to let go?" He asked.
"Don't trap Jeff." I sighed. "Once he tensed up I knew it was going to be bad."
"I don't know where that came from, I really am sorry." Jeff said sounding mad at himself.
"It wasn't your fault." The commander said. "It's PTSD." The commander sighed.
Jeff didn't know to react to that. "Can we talk to her first?" Jeff asked.
"We." The commander, beat me, and pointed to himself and me. "Will talk to her." The commander took Jeff to his office, and we met Jeff's mother,
"Hello." I smiled at her. She was dis-shuffled her hair was matted, her face was dirty, It was no reason why she didn't want Jeff to see her. That bond a mother shares with her only son,, cant be put into words, and was stronger than a bit of dirt. I leaned down and cut her hands free, she winced when she saw my knife. She had all the signs of abusive captivity. "Now then I hope that's better." I smiled while sitting, I slid her the glass of water, she took it. I took and a sandwich from a brown paper sack ate half and gave her the rest.
She ate really fast. "How is he?" She asked.
"Jeff?" I asked, she nodded. "He is very good, he has been worried about you."
"I am glad he is ok, and surprised to see him here." She sighed. "He was always my brave little boy, i guess it shouldn't." She smiled.
"I know it's hard happened, but lets start the day I found Jeff. He was being chased by an angry mob north on south Greeley," I nodded my head, to encourage her to be honest, and opened.
"A group of men came to the house." She stared off into middle space. "I didn't know what to do, my husband, tried to defend us, to buy us time, I sent Jeff away, and tried to save my husband."
"Can I see him?"
:"After we are done." The command said,
"Soon." I Turned to glance a dirty glare at him, "He is her son, and she is his mother. Never..."
"I misspoke." The commander surrendered,
"Soon,." I sighed, "I just would like to figure how you got from Cheyenne proper to the out skirts of town."
"Chained to my neighbors, and marched out." She sighed. her face reflected such shame and self Louvain, that a glance confirmed that the commander didn't seem to notice. Not anywhere was there a hit of anger, or even surprised Jealousy. As far an I could tell, they was telling the truth. Besides what mother in her forties would join, a band of outlaws? Not many with kids, I thought to my self, none with a kid like Jeff. He was a good kid, the kind with involved parents, the ones that wouldn't walk away for an idea.
Jeff didn't know it yet, he could read people like I do, his mind had the same gears that liked to grind up hard problems, like mine. He saw things in ways that made new ideas, easier and faster to make. I could see it in him. It was the reason I loved him, I thought.
"Get her checked out." I said to the commander. "I'll get Jeff." I sighed, He nodded back at me., and escorted her to the infirmary. I walked back to his office,
"Can I see her?" Jeff stood as soon as I opened the door, not waiting to see who it was to ask.
He smiled at me hopefully. "Yes." I half smiled back. "But you should know, that what she has been through changes people."
She's still my mom." He shrugged.
"Yes, but she was abducted, and forced to be part of some evil plot. She is going to have two sets off feelings, one of your mothers, that is all you can see, and one that is of your mother who let go ahead of her, who got caught and couldn't help you."
He nodded slowly. "Will my old mom ever come back?" He gulped.
I quietly nodded. "In time, the best thing to do is to give her time, and let her set the pace." I sighed, he looked at me confused, like I expected him to. "Your going to have to hold back your urge to 'pretend' that this didn't happen, and show her love, and attention, in the ways she does, at least for a while." I sighed. He nodded slowly. as if say sure, but I don't understand.
We walked into the infirmary. "mom?!" Jeff shouted ignoring my words he ran to her. They hugged, more of an embrace. "I missed you." He sighed contently. Killing someone had taken something from him, for a split second, he had it back, He was just a boy who missed his mother. all was right in the world. At least for him.
"She, looks ok for someone who was taken, prisoner." A doctor said. "She could use a bit to eat, but other than that she's fine."
"Now what?" Jeff asked, but not sure who to ask, he asked anyone.
I had seen, hostiles take prisoners, and use them in such manners. I had also seen many happy unions fall apart, as both victims, realized how much has changed. "We go home." I sighed. There was going to be a woman in my life.