VANGUARD(103)

Epilogue





July 10, 2014





The doors opened up, and Sophie could see Will. She thought he saw her too, but then he was caught in the glare of television lights and flashbulbs. It wasn’t often they returned from a mission to press coverage, but this one had been an exception from beginning to end. The Rev split off from the main group to join the waiting PR team. Poor Dave. No rest for him.

She waved at Will and Anjali, a huge smile on her face and a trace of tears in her eyes. It was always like this when two of them came home to the third. It had become too chaotic (and dangerous) for the three of them to be away at once. They’d had so many homecomings like this over the years.

But this, too, was different. Now they were four, not three. A tall, rangy man with curly black hair stood behind her, his hand resting gently on her hip.

Sophie could tell that most of the team didn’t recognize Michael at first glance.

The skeletal thinness of his face and body was gone. He had enough hair now to fall over his forehead. His missing teeth had been replaced. He looked strong and healthy. But the biggest change showed in his face and his eyes. He no longer looked like a terrified, angry prisoner of war. Michael was happy.

Sophie fell into a long teary hug with Anjali, leaving Michael and Will to themselves.

“Welcome home, Will.” Michael reached out a hand. They shook, and he pulled Will into a brief embrace. “How is the situation over there?”

“Better than when you left. We left the camp in excellent hands with the UNHCR. I know a lot of the people who came in behind us, and they’re top-notch folks. Having Commandant Jaros gone doesn’t hurt either. He skedaddled back home before the UNHRC got anywhere close.”

“Well, we are glad you have returned safely. Sophie has been going crazy without you.”

“I’m sure you’ve been keeping her busy,” Will said.

Michael grinned and flushed a little. Sophie extracted herself from Anjali’s embrace, and turned to Will. “Hey, boss.”

“Don’t call me boss.” He pulled her into his arms for a long hug.

The greeting between Michael and Anjali was restrained. Anjali clearly hadn’t forgiven Michael yet. Sophie looked up at Will and wondered if he could convince Anjali to let it go. But she could never ask that of him. They’d need to wait to see how it played out.

Sophie and Michael helped collect the luggage, and greeted other members of the mission. They weren’t attached at the hip, but Sophie always knew exactly where he was. She felt most content when she was in contact with him. They stood in the excited crowd, Michael’s hand cradling Sophie’s shoulder. She leaned against him, her ear pressed to his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

The four of them managed to load their bags onto a cart and push it to Will and Anjali’s car, which Sophie and Michael had driven to the airport. Sophie had her doubts as to whether all the luggage was going to fit.

“I swear I’m buying a company van.” Will was sweating as they piled the luggage into the trunk. “First thing on Monday morning.” Anjali and Sophie looked at each other and giggled. “What?”

“You say that every time we come home from a trip,” his wife said. “But you never buy the van.”

“This time is different.”

The women laughed again, and Will shoved the last bag in with a string of curses.

They drove home, the car dragging its tailpipe occasionally with the weight of them and the luggage. Michael and Will sat in the front seat; the women insisted Will sit up front since he was tallest. Anjali and Sophie sat in the back, talking a mile a minute. For a while, they were just two girlfriends who had been apart for a long time, complete with giggling and whispering behind cupped hands.

“Man, I’m glad you’re here,” Will said to Michael, taking everyone in the car by surprise. “You belong here with us.”

Sophie looked into the rearview mirror and saw Michael smiling back at her as he drove.

“Thank you,” he said at last, still looking at Sophie. He seemed to struggle with his words for a moment. “Thank you.”

They were four now, instead of three. It would be different. But it was going to work out just fine.





-





August 9, 2014





Carter groaned in disbelief as the car pulled up in front of the house. They were arguing.