Page 133 of No Fear

Donnie gave Charlie one last kiss, then stood to join his team, trying not to think about the tears rolling down her cheeks.

It was showtime.

Chapter Twenty Three

Charlie sat on the back deck of Steve and Diane’s house.

The last twenty-four hours were a blur. She had thought she was going to die. Donnie’s team got them out. It had been chaotic, with explosions, bullets and dead bodies. She had lost sight of Donnie when the first explosion hit. Another group of men had appeared and got them to the bus. Those men had stayed with the hostages, and they trudged through the terrain for what seemed like hours until they finally reached a military plane. Charlie had kept her eyes on the open tailgate, expecting to see Donnie and his team behind them.

When the plane took off without them, her heart sank. He wasn’t coming.

When they finally landed in Coronado, they were taken to Westside to be checked over. When she saw Sophie, Charlie had collapsed into tears. Diane had arrived a few minutes later and the two women had not left her alone for a moment since. Kelly and Mira had spoken to her by phone, but both were at the base, working. She had been told the team were still on the mission. Frustrated, she wanted to know exactly where they were, what they were doing, and if everyone was OK. Kelly had calmly said she could not share that information, but at last check-in, everyone was alive. Now she understood what it was like to love a man like Donnie. The not knowing sure wasn't easy.

“I made you a tea.” Diane handed her a mug.

“I’m supposed to be waiting on you,” Charlie said taking it from her.

Diane had been quick to insist Charlie stay with her, saying she could use the help at over seven months pregnant. Charlie had agreed to stay for a day or so, but then she planned to go home. Back to Albany. As much as she wanted to see Donnie get home safe, she had no idea when that would be, and she desperately wanted to see her parents and Maddie. Donnie would call when he got home, she was sure of that.

“That was just a ploy to make you stay here.” Diane smiled, easing herself into the chair next to her.

“I’m grateful. This is hard. Not knowing if they’re OK, or when they will be home. I don't know how you do it.”

Diane squeezed her hand. “Think of it like no news is good news. If anyone was hurt, or something had happened, we would know. Sam or Kelly would tell us.”

Dex had been hurt. She’d heard his cries. She kept that to herself, unsure what she should share. Kelly must know, and if she hadn’t shared it with the ladies, then she wouldn’t either.

“How are you all so calm? I mean Sophie has gone to work, you’re taking Megan to school like any other day.” Meanwhile, she sat here torn up inside, worried out of her mind.

“Because this is like any other day for women of men like ours. It’s not that we’re not worried. Trust me. In the beginning, years ago, when Steve first started deploying, I was like you are now. Worried out of my mind. You learn not to dwell on it. This is who they are. This is their job. They are the very best team. I know Steve will not take unnecessary risks and will do everything he can to come home to his family. I trust that, and it keeps me going. Together with Kelly, Mira, and Sophie, of course.”

“I’m not even in a relationship with Donnie, and I’m worried.”

“With the amount of history you two have, relationship or not, you both have feelings for each other,” Diane said softly.

Charlie stared out at the ocean. She did have feelings. She loved him. Seeing him there in Daram had been surreal, but she had never been so glad to see anyone in her life. When he had promised he would see her real soon, there had been no fear in his voice, only a willingness for her to trust him before he was gone to face those men and do his job.

“I just thought they would be home by now. We’re safe.”

“I know it seems strange.”

Charlie looked at Diane. “Donnie told me they are some kind of special unit. Doing missions nobody knows about.”

If Diane was surprised, she didn’t say. “Exactly why their team went to Daram.”

The reality of the type of missions Donnie went on sank in. They didn't have to go and save people in a country most people had never heard of. But they did, without question. To stop innocent people from dying. Men who did that were good men. Honorable. Men who lived to protect and save others. That was Donnie. To his core. She thought about the ambassador giving her life trying to help others.

“Ambassador Clarkson served in the army. I worked with her a couple of times. I looked up to her. Respected her. She did so much good. It’s so unfair.”

“She will be remembered for the good she did. She died doing what she believed in.” Diane stood. “I’m going to go and pick up Megan from school. Do you want to come?”

“No, I think I’ll stay here, if that’s alright? I’m going to see about booking a flight home.”

“Of course. I told you to make yourself at home. You know you’re welcome to stay.”

“I know. Thank you. But I need to see my folks. There’s something I need to tell them.”

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