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John pulled the pin to the grenade in his palm, his eyes glassy and gleaming like a man possessed as he waved his weapon.
“Grenade!” someone else yelled.
“Clear the room!” his commander shouted, grabbing on to the target’s hand with the explosive device gripped in it.
Mason joined the struggle as something hard hit the ground.
“Get the fuck out, Wright!” Those were the last words his commander spoke before he jumped onto the grenade.
The explosion rocked the room, and everything went black.
Mason sat up, sucking in a gasp of oxygen. Fuck! His heart hammered. The acrid smell of smoke filled his nostrils.
It’s not real. It’s just a flashback. He took a few slow, deep breaths, opening his eyes. The TV was off, and the only light came from above the stove. Aspen was nowhere to be found, but Pippa lay curled up against his lap, her dark hair falling over her face. A blanket from the back of the couch was spread from her lap to his. Aspen.
Mason carefully got up, trying not to wake Pippa. He lifted her, sliding her into his arms as she stirred.
“Shhhh. I’ve got you.”
She snuggled into his chest as he carried her upstairs to his bed. Lady yawned and followed them. She jumped onto the foot of the mattress, curling into a ball at Pippa’s feet. Mason covered Pippa and slipped in beside her. She turned towards him, reaching out for him in her sleep. He pulled her against his chest and stroked her back, wishing to dream of her sweet kisses and tinkling laughter instead of dark memories this time.
Mason’s eyes blinked open. Lady barked. His body shook. Earthquake?
Lady barked again. Mason reached over and tapped the touch light by the side of his bed before turning back to Pippa. Her body jerked and trembled.
Shit.
Lady placed her front paws on Pippa’s thrashing body. Pippa’s eyes rolled to the back of her head.
“Oh, baby. It’s okay. I’m here, sweetheart.” Mason pressed his hand to her forehead, swiping the hair out of her face as he checked the clock. Five thirty.
His gaze landed back on the woman in his bed. His heart broke for her. I wish I could take this away for you.
“It’s okay, Beauty. I’m here. You’ll get through this.”
Her back arched off the bed. Lady whined.
Didn’t matter how much he knew about epilepsy, or the fact that he’d done more intensive research these past few weeks. It was so hard to watch someone you loved going through something that was so scary. He couldn’t imagine having his own body do something that he couldn’t control.
“You’re safe, baby. I’m here. You’re not alone.” He hoped his voice brought her some comfort.
This was one problem he couldn’t fix for her, and it killed him.
