Learning to Stand by Claudia Hall Christian

office.
    Walking to her group work area, she found
them diligently working on the things she asked them to do hours
before.
    “ I have disbanded this
team,” she said. “The Admiral is looking for new assignments for
each of you. You will be contacted either by Colonel Gordon or the
Admiral regarding your next assignment. Captain Hutchins, you have
been returned to the Navy. Agent Rasmussen, you have been returned
to Homeland Security.
    “ My decision is final. While
within my power, I have not added a note to your files regarding
the dissolution of this team. As far as the world knows, we were
asked to complete a project that was beyond our scope.
    “ I remind you that you are
officers in the United States Military. In the future, I hope you
are able to work for someone you’re able to respect.
    “ Do not contact me, write
me, email me or IM. That is a direct order from your superior
officer. Thank you for your attention.”
    Without saying another word, she walked out
of the building to her car and drove home. Once there, she worked
her way through the voice, fingerprint and code security in her
basement office. Locking the door, she collapsed in a heap on the
floor.
    And wept.
    F

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    Three hours later
    Wednesday morning
March 26 – 10:45 A.M. MDT
Fort Logan National Cemetery, Colorado
     
    Alex stepped back to admire her work. She
spent the last hour cleaning the eleven granite stones which
marking the final resting place of the Fey Special Forces Team. As
she often did when she was here, she talked to her friends and
teammates. She told them about her life. She shared her loneliness
and grief. While Jesse hovered nearby, she detailed everything that
happened.
    In her effort to keep her few living friends
close, she had lost them all. She’d known Troy since basic
training, Trece and White Boy almost as long. Matthew had been her
sparing partner, her buddy and her closest friend through some very
dark nights. She spent six months in Walter Reed with Vince. Within
a few days, they would be scattered to the wind.
    And she would be alone.
    Moving from stone to stone, she lit incense
with Jesse’s Zippo lighter. Peace be with Alexander, the stone they
laid for her, Nathan, Paul, Jax, Dean, Scott, Tommy, Dwight, Jesse,
Mike and finally Charlie. Standing in the fragrant smoke, she
wondered what was next for her.
    Her failure was complete.
    She couldn’t move on from her days on the
Fey Special Forces Team.
    Not willing to face her life, she clicked
Jessie’s Zippo lighter opened and closed. Charlie bought these
lighters to commemorate their first mission. Since her lighter was
still broken, she used Jesse’s.
    Hearing a car pull up behind her, she placed
her hand on the Glock 9 mm which rested at her sacrum. She turned
around to see a familiar black limousine.
    “ I thought I’d find you
here,” her father, and General-turned-Senator, Patrick Hargreaves
said.
    “ How did you get here so
fast?” she asked.
    “ I was in town for a series
of meetings.” He looked at his watch. “I’m meeting with the
governor right this minute.”
    He put his arm around his favorite child in
an open hug. They watched the smoke from the incense blow over the
eleven granite stones.
    “ You’re not wearing your
Alyssa get up,” he said.
    “ Couldn’t get the lenses in.
Crying,” Alex said. “So I gave up.”
    “ Is it safe?”
    Alex shrugged.
    “ I’m sorry, Dad. I know you
wanted me to be career military, but I couldn’t do it. I’ve failed
you. And I’m very sorry.”
    Patrick made a noise, somewhere between a
snort and a grunt. Noticing her look, he worked his face toward
something more sincere. His blue eyes danced with laughter.
    “ There’s no way you can fail
me, Alex,” he said.
    “ Why did you
laugh?”
    “ Because I gave my superior
officer the same speech a couple months into leading my own team,”
he said. “What happened?”
    “ They don’t respect me. I
asked them to do specific