"As much as I'd love to do just that, Van and I have a lot to get done. Our mission isn't over, and we have injured to see about."
"Anything we can do, Sam?" Nathan asked.
It was a fact, he'd welcome his younger brothers' help, but he wasn't about to tear them away from their mom on their first day home.
As if knowing the direction of his thoughts, Marlene let out a snort and stepped away. "If you need them, they're yours, Sam. The sooner you get your business squared away, the sooner I can have my family together under one roof."
"Glad we're handed around so easily," Joe drawled. "This feels like the damn army."
"Well, if you're serious about the offer to help, Van and I could sure use you. I'm getting reports every three hours from Garrett, and Rio is back on the ground. Cole and Dolphin are at Fort Campbell, but I don't expect them to stay more than twenty-four hours before they demand for me to get them the hell out of there. Steele, Renshaw and Baker are itching to go back into action, and I'm leaning toward letting them because Rio is without any sort of backup."
"Nathan and I-"
"Don't even say it," Donovan broke in. "You two buttheads don't belong to us. You belong to Uncle Sam, and he gets pretty pissy when his recruits show up in foreign countries on private missions."
"The best you can do is come back to the house and help out with the communications while Van and I catch some sleep. I can't even tell you the last time we caught any shut-eye."
"I expect you all back here for lunch tomorrow," Marlene said firmly.
"Fried chicken?" Donovan asked hopefully.
Marlene patted him on the cheek and then hugged him as she'd done Sam. "For you, anything. Now go home and get some rest."
CHAPTER 15
"RACHEL . Rachel, honey, wake up."
Rachel roused herself from the deep void of sleep and rubbed a tired hand across her eyes. Then she squinted as the bright sunlight speared her vision.
The plane came to a stop and the whir of the jets cut off. Next to her, Ethan stroked gentle fingers across her cheek.
It was then she realized that they'd already landed.
She sat up, then weaved precariously as she moved too fast. Ethan caught her arms and steadied her. Across from them, Garrett unstrapped himself and went to open the hatch.
"Are you ready?" Ethan asked.
"Where are we?"
"We just landed at the Henry County airport. We're about forty minutes from home."
She let him help her up and guide her toward the exit. Garrett was there to grab her hand as she stepped down. The sandals she'd borrowed from Dr. Scofield slid up and down on her feet as she struggled to keep her footing. The clothes, like the shoes, were too big, but she was clean and comfortable, which was more than she could say she'd been for a very long time.
Sam stood a few feet away. She almost didn't recognize him in the faded jeans and white T-shirt he wore. He seemed much more approachable out of the camouflage warrior mode. Even his expression was softer, less threatening. He wasn't quite so scary.
He stood with arms crossed, watching as they got down from the jet. He leaned nonchalantly against the parked SUV, but he smiled when he saw her.
Determined to put on as brave a front as possible, she straightened her shoulders and pried herself free of Garrett's and Ethan's grasp. Each step forward, away from their support, felt like walking into a void, but she pressed on anyway, until she was just a foot away from Sam.
"Hello, Sam," she said in a low but steady voice.
His smile deepened, and he opened his arms, but made no move toward her. It was up to her to accept the gesture. Taking a deep breath, she walked into his embrace. His arms came around her as he hugged her tightly.
"Hello, sweetheart," he said against her ear. "Welcome home."
Tears pricked her eyes, and she buried her face in his neck. He smelled like Ethan. Strong and steady.
He kissed her hair and simply held her until finally she pulled away. His hand came out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear in a tender gesture.
"How you feeling?" he asked.
"I don't know," she said honestly. "I'm . . . I'm a little scared."
Ethan's hands crept over her shoulders, and she turned instinctively into the shelter of his arms. He pressed a kiss to her temple. "There's no need to be afraid, baby. You're home now with people who love you."
"Come on. I've got the truck waiting," Sam said.
Rachel watched as he and Garrett picked up the few bags that Ethan and Garrett had brought back with them, and then they headed toward an SUV parked several feet away. Ethan gave her a squeeze and then urged her forward.
She walked almost mechanically, unable to process the bizarre feeling that this was all normal, or it should be. After months and months of fear and captivity, she was free. Back in the regular world. She'd resume her life as if it hadn't been on hold for the last year. As if the people who loved her hadn't gone on with their lives without her.
Garrett piled into the front while Ethan ushered her into the back and then crawled in beside her. Sam got into the driver's seat and pulled away from the small landing strip.
It could hardly be called an airport. It was a tiny airstrip in the middle of acres of farm ground. There were only two hangars, one larger and one much smaller, and they were just tin buildings.
Their truck kicked up a cloud of dust as they drove away. Moments later, Sam pulled onto a paved highway and sped up. Rachel looked curiously out her window, hoping something-anything-would register with her.
After several miles, she gave up. It looked like any place. She could be anywhere.
Rachel leaned into the curve of Ethan's arm, and he immediately tightened his hold on her.
"You okay?" he murmured.
She nodded. She hadn't completely shaken off the effects of her withdrawal. The last several days had been harrowing, an experience she never wanted to repeat. There was still an aching emptiness, a hollow void begging to be filled, but it was more bearable now. And she refused to give in. She wouldn't be the only weak one amid these strong warriors.
Ethan had stuck by her side-he and Garrett. They'd taken turns holding her when she screamed and cried, when she'd begged for relief. At her most desperate hour, she'd pleaded with Ethan to get her the drugs.
He'd stood with her, fully clothed, in the shower when she'd been convinced she was covered with spiders. She still shuddered at the memory of the horrible creatures-hundreds of them-scuttling across her body.
After several seemingly endless days, the worst had been over. She was exhausted, and she knew Ethan and Garrett hadn't fared much better.
"Where are we going exactly?" she asked. It was silly to ask. Ethan and Garrett had gone over the details of her homecoming numerous times, but she couldn't help the anxiety that swam rivers through her mind.
She hadn't realized that her hands were clasped together, her fingers twined so that the tips were white, until Ethan carefully pried them apart and laced her fingers with his.
"We're going home. To our house, baby."
She tried so hard to bring an image of their house to mind. Just a brief glimpse, something to tell her that she had a connection to the place she'd lived with her husband.
"I can't remember," she said in frustration.
Garrett turned in his seat, reached over to touch her knee, and as he'd done so many times over the last few days, he offered comfort with just a few well-placed words.
"You're trying too hard, sweet pea. Relax and let it come to you. Even if you don't remember now, there's nothing to say that when you walk inside your own place, that it won't all come back. And if it doesn't? So what. You have all the time in the world."
She let go of Ethan's hand and grasped Garrett's, squeezing with all her might. "Thank you. I love you."
She gasped, completely mortified as the words escaped. Ethan stiffened beside her. She dropped Garrett's hand and raised her fingers to her mouth, horrified by what she'd said.
Garrett stared back at her, no hint of emotion or judgment in his eyes. Just patient understanding and answering love. Why hadn't she said those words to Ethan? Why Garrett?
Her gaze flew to Ethan, apology etched into every surface of her face. She wanted to scream it but was too embarrassed.
There was no anger in Ethan's eyes, just a tightness as if he battled some unknown reaction. A sound from the front had her turning away. It was Sam. Laughing.
Sam glanced in the rearview mirror, a wide grin splitting his lips. "I'm seeing more and more of the Rachel we know and love all the time. You always were the most lovey, demonstrative woman I know."