Something Worth Fighting For (36 page)

“I’ll get it, Ellie.” Dad called from the door as I headed up the stairs.

“Thanks.” I went upstairs setting the donuts in the kitchen.

“I would have went with you.” Darcy yelled from in the living room.

“You were sleeping, I’m sure you needed it.

“Have you slept?”

“No.”

“You need to try to sleep.” She scolded me as she came into the kitchen.

“I can’t. I’ll lay on the couch and rest but I don’t think I could sleep even if I wanted to.” The commotion outside caught my attention as dad ran up the stairs with Chad behind him.

“Atlas was at the field hospital and was flown to Germany.” Chad ran into the room as I let out all the breath in my lungs.

“He-- He’s alive?” I bit my trembling bottom lip.

“As far as I know, yes.”

“Thank you.” I fell to my knees, bursting into tears.

“We don’t know how bad it is but I do have some more details I’ve gone over with your dad. I’ll leave it to him to tell you. I’m going to get the number in Germany and see what I can find out from there.”

“Thank you so much.” The words were broken as I spoke them. Dad was helping me back to my feet and over to the couch.

“Did you hear anything about Adam?” Darcy sat next to me, pulling my head into her lap.

“He’s in rough shape... I’ll let Ben talk to you girls about it. I’m going to go see what else I can find out.”

“Thank you, Chad.” Dad shook his hand as he walked him to the door.

“I’ll keep you updated.”

“Please do.” Dad shut the door, something we rarely did during the summer. “I need to talk to Ellie first, Darcy, and then she can talk to you.”

“Okay...” Darcy hesitated before getting up. “I’ll be upstairs.” She left going up the staircase as Dad took her place.

“It’s bad isn’t it?” I asked softly.

“Adam is bad, baby. The vehicle they were in was attacked. The easiest way to explain it is an explosive device was shot or thrown at it and it hit the side of the car that Caleb and Theo were on. Theo died and we’re not sure about Caleb yet. Atlas was in the back and jumped out when he saw what was coming at them, jumping out saved his life. He was on the ground when the car exploded. Adam is going to lose both of his legs. He couldn’t move them, they were trapped, and barely hanging on. Atlas ran back and pulled the stuff off of Adam and carried him over his shoulders to safety. Atlas was shot several times on his way to the vehicle behind them.”

My world was spinning too fast. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, slowly drowning, trying to take a breath and sucking down water instead of air. “But he’s alive, right?”

“Yes, as far as we know Atlas is still alive. They will do what they have to do in Germany to get him stable enough to come to the states. He was a lucky, man. It was like he had someone watching over him. Chad is working on getting the number or getting Atlas to a phone so you can talk to him even if it’s just for a minute.”

“Thank you, I know you had to pull some strings to get this for me.”

“He’s my son, I’ll do what I have to for the two of you. I’m damn proud of you and him. He did an amazing thing that most men wouldn’t have the balls to do. He’s a brave man and will be recognized for it.” Dad kissed my forehead.

“He’s an incredible man, I had no doubt about that.” I smiled a genuine smile.

“I think it might be better coming from you. Darcy finding out about Adam, ya’ know. It’s going to be a lot to take in.”

“I’ll tell her. My heart is broken about Theo, oh God his wife...” I gasped as dad gave me a somber nod.

“Wow, I just can’t imagine not having them around. Shit, okay, I need to get my head together.”

“It is a lot to take in. Right now just be thankful that Atlas is alive.”

“I am,” I took a deep breath, nodding. “So very, very thankful.”

“I know, I am too.”

“Please help me find a way to get to talk to him. I need to hear his voice. I need to hear from him that he’s okay.” I looked at my father whose eyes were focused on his phone.

“I’ll do my best, baby.”

“I know you will.” I sat up kissing his cheek. “Thank you for doing everything you have for me, for us, I am so grateful for you and for what you do.”

“You’re my little girl, I’d move mountains for you.” He said seriously as I gave him a weak smile, tears burning my eyes.

“I’m going to go talk to Darcy.” He helped me off the couch and I headed upstairs to find Darcy sitting by the window on the floor.

“He’s dead, isn’t he?” She said flatly.

“No.”

“What?” She asked breathlessly.

“An explosive was launched at the vehicle they were in.” I started as I sat down in front of her, taking her hands. “It hit on the side Theo and Caleb were on. We lost Theo for sure and don’t know about Caleb yet. Atlas and Adam jumped out of the vehicle when they saw it coming toward them or something like that. When it exploded, Adam wasn’t all the way out of the way and his legs were trapped. Atlas ran back and pulled the debris off of Adam but...” I watched as Darcy’s mouth fell open. “Adam is going to lose both of his legs, Darc. Atlas carried him to safety while insurgents shot at him. They are both in or headed to Germany now.”

“I... I don’t know what to say.” She put her head in her hands as she started to cry. “I’m just relieved he’s alive. I don’t give a fuck if he has legs or not as long as he comes home to me.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Under all of the sadness, despair, heartache, Darcy was still Darcy.

“You’re in love with him.”

“Hopelessly.”

“I know the feeling, sister.”

“Ellie?” Dad called from the doorway. “I have someone that wants to talk to you.”

“What?” I asked, tears automatically coming to my eyes. “Is it...?”

“Yeah, baby, it’s him.” He walked over handing me his cell phone.

“Atlas?” I asked quietly.

“Hey Ginger.” His voice was soft at the other end. It had been a week since I heard his voice and nearly two full days of worrying that I would never hear it again.

“Oh God, Cowboy you don’t know how good it is to hear from you.” I was hiccuping from crying so hard. “Don’t you ever do that to me again!”

“I hadn’t planned on it. It wasn’t nearly as fun as it sounds.” He chuckled.

“How are you?”

“I’m shit right now. I’m lucky they were superficial wounds for the most part. I won’t lose any limbs or have to have any reconstructive surgery or anything. Just through and through shots really. A lot of stitches, I’ll have some scars for sure.”

“I don’t care as long as you’re okay.”

“Yeah, baby I’m okay.”

“How is Adam?”

“Fuck, Ellie, that’s the worst thing I’ve ever had to do. To leave Caleb and Theo was in fucking pieces and run away with my best friend.” I heard his voice crack. “He’s in bad shape. I planned on asking the next time a nurse came in. I don’t know if they’ll tell me anything but I have to ask.”

“You are an incredible man, Atlas Ryker and we are so proud of you.”

“Thank you, baby.”

“I was so scared...” I admitted, breaking down again.

“No baby, don’t cry. It breaks my heart when you cry.”

“I’m sorry, I just can’t help it. I’m so relieved.” Darcy was rubbing my arm as I leaned against her.

“How are my babies?” I could hear the change of tone when he spoke out the twins.

“Growing every day. I’m not sure my father could possibly be happier for us.”

“You told him?”

“Yeah, it wasn’t the way I wanted to but it is all known now.”

“Good.”

“You sound really tired. I’ll let you get some rest. Do you want me to call Andy?”

“Would you? I’m going to ask when I can be shipped back state side but I should be getting some of my stuff soon. I’ve been here a few days and just now getting around to communicating. My hearing was gone for a couple of days and still ringing a little. Hopefully I’ll have my phone in a day or two and I can call you or I’ll call you from the room if I get one or whatever, I don’t know. Some way I will get in touch with you. Just know that I am okay and I will be okay. I can’t wait to see you. You need to rest too. I know you, I’m sure you haven’t slept since finding out.”

“You know me so well. Okay, I’ll wait by the phone. I love you so much, Atlas, always.” I said with a shaky voice.

“You were the first thing I thought about. You and the twins. Rest, eat, take care of yourself. I’ll be home soon and we can take care of each other. I love you all, endlessly, always.”

After the phone went silent I handed it back to my dad who was staring at me with wondering eyes. “He’s okay. He’s going to be okay. He said they were in his opinion superficial wounds, which means he doesn’t want me to know how bad it is. He should get to come home and he’s okay.” I said it all in one breath I started to laugh and cry at the same time.

“How is Adam?” Darcy asked quietly beside me.

“He’s in bad shape, Darc but they’re optimistic. He’ll probably be in Germany for a while. Atlas was going to ask the nurse about him the next time they came in.”

“I don’t care as long as he’s alive.”

“I know, honey.” I kissed the side of her head. “Atlas asked me to call his mom.”

“Good luck with that.” Darcy snorted as I pulled my phone from my pocket.

“No joke.” I took a deep breath and pressed the icon for her number. I waited as the phone rang until it went to voicemail.

“You’ve reached Andy Ryker I’m not here to take your call right now please leave your name and number and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible, thanks.”

“Hey Ma, it’s Ellie. I need you to call me as soon as you get this. It’s really important. I’ll try calling you back in a little while if you don’t call me first. Um, I’ll try Ares’ phone as well. Love ya’, bye.” I hung up and hit Ares’ number next.

“Hello?” He mumbled sleepily after the fourth ring.

“Ares? It’s Ellie.”

“Ellie? What’s up?”

“I need to talk to Andy but she didn’t answer.”

“Is everything okay?” He sounded more awake now as he cleared his throat. I could hear him shuffling around his room.

“Not really.”

“Is it the babies?”

“No, she doesn’t know about that yet. It’s Atlas.”

“Ellie...”

“He’s alive but I need to talk to her.”

“Alright let me see if she’s up.” He knocked on her door but I couldn’t hear anything. I was bouncing up and down on the floor anxiously.

“Ellie?” Andy’s voice came through the other end.

“Hey Ma, sorry to wake you up I forget about the time difference sometimes.”

“Don’t worry about it, is everything okay?”

“Sort of, kind of, yeah, no, shit.” I breathed out, running my hand through my hair.

“What’s wrong, Ellie?” I could hear the bed move on the end of the phone as I assumed she sat up.

“They were attacked. He’s okay, some stitches, but he was shot, they aren’t serious, through and through but...”

“Wait, what?” Her voice was filled with panic as I took a deep breath and tried again.

“He’s okay, he will be. I talked to him not half an hour ago. He wanted me to call you and let you know that he’s okay and what happened.”

“But he’s okay?”

“Yes ma’am. He will be. It’ll take some time to be back to one hundred but he’ll be just fine. He told me to tell you that he loves you both and that he would call me soon and let me know when he should be back stateside.”

“I’m so glad you told me. I was thinking everything was just fine and he would be home soon and...”

“Trust me, I’ve done enough worrying and crying for the both of us in the last 48 plus hours. Our guy is going to be just fine though. You’re going to be so proud of him when he calls you and tells you everything. I’ll be sure to let you know when he’s coming home that way you can be here if you want.”

“And you’re sure he’s okay and he’s not just telling you that?”

“He knows better than to bullshit with me right now.” I laughed.

“What does that mean?”

“That’s something Atlas wants to tell you.”

“Okay... Well the next time you talk to him make sure you tell him to call me.”

“I will. You have a voicemail from me but you can ignore it now since I talked to you.”

“Oh okay.”

“I’m going to go I’m being forced to go lay down since I didn’t sleep last night. Atlas’ orders. I will talk to you soon.”

“Alright, thank you for telling me.”

“Of course, love you guys.”

“We love you too.”

“Bye,” I hung up without another word and blew out a long breath with a weak smile. “That was not nearly as painful as I thought it was going to be.”

We began the waiting game all over again. I waited to hear from Atlas, Darcy waited to hear about Adam, and together we were a united front. We never left each others side. We cried together, we yelled to make us feel better, and she drank. I lived vicariously through her on that one. But together we were going to get through it.