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“Which is difficult for all of you.”
“I’m not going to lie and say it isn’t, but the five of us found ways.”
“I’m not a psychiatrist, but I can tell you that until the six of you talk about what happened together, you’ll never be able to let it go.”
“That’s something I’ve been told more than once. Do you really think you can help him?”
I wish I knew the answer. “Only if he allows me to. And only if he lets me in. I’m not going to try and hurt him, but I will push hard against his fallback of heavy drinking and ignoring life and all those around him.”
He sat quietly for a few seconds. “Don’t give up on him, Doc.”
“I’m not a doctor.”
“Well, you’re a hell of a lot better than a lot of doctors I’ve been forced to see.”
Wow, a compliment. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Shoot. I came barging in here. The least I can do is answer a question.”
“Did something else happen to Snake? I mean before he left for the war or after he returned?” By the pinched look crossing his face, I knew I was right.
“You’ll have to ask him.”
“I’m asking you. If you don’t want to tell me any details, I totally understand, but it would be helpful to know just how many obstacles I’m facing.”
I’d never seen man so uncomfortable in my life. “Let’s just say tragedies seem to follow him. I don’t know a lot of details, but he did go through something before he was eighteen. Whatever it was put the edge in his personality. I think that’s why he was so reckless at times, barreling into a dangerous situation without listening to his sergeant or the rest of the guys he served with.”
“What happened on that day in Afghanistan?”
He thought about what I was asking and turned his head, staring at the roses. “None of us really know because he’s never told a soul. He just ran off all of a sudden into the line of fire when Hawk and the rest of us were trying to get him back. We did try and go after him, but the five of us would have died that day if we’d stayed. It tore us apart.”
“I’m not blaming you or anyone else for what happened, Mustang. He made a decision that altered his life,” I told him, softening my voice.
“Whatever it was meant something to him. A life to be saved. Something like that. Don’t think badly of him. As I told you, he’s a damn good man.”
“I believe you because I’ve already seen it. By the way, what you did for Apollo and Snake was wonderful.”
“You’ve been reading up on me?” At least he grinned.
“I’m thorough in everything I do.”
“That’s good to know.” He rose to his feet, extending his arm. “I’m sorry about confronting you. He was just so different last night, angry but… I don’t know. Different. But I could tell he liked you.”
Heat rushed over the back of my neck, a few focused and filthy thoughts forming in my mind.
“At least that’s something.”
* * *
Snake
There was almost nothing I hated more than a dive bar, especially one that was as crowded as Raunchy Ride. However, I’d made a promise and I was intent on trying to keep them after breaking so many in my life.
I rubbed my hands on my jeans before heading inside, the blaring country music already getting on my nerves.
“That’ll be five bucks, buddy,” one of the two gruff-looking bouncers told me.
While I paid the fee, a part of me wanted to start some shit with the man for no other reason than the way he was glaring at me, a sly grin on his face. What the hell was the man staring at, my scars? Fuck him. I resisted punching him in the face as I walked past, hissing seeing the number of people in the joint. Too many. I wasn’t into crowds or music, people, or chitchat. But I reminded myself I was doing this for Vader.
