The Ten of Them. Chapter 24

The Ten of Them. Chapter 24 Composed by hard93



Ron continues, “The unit basically just got back on the first of December from overseas and have been off on leave, they knew he was retiring on December 31, but wasn’t due to leave the area until the third. They chose the second January, and then they have learned that I was going to be in the area too. They insist that I come along because Sergeant Major Sampson and I go back to when I was a Second Lieutenant, just green out of officer’s training. They found out JJ will be there too, they all loved your parents Sam. I tell them how happy you are; I even sent that video file your Mom has been showing.

Reese giggles as she remembers she tells us, “I remember when the first time you walked in to the office, Sergeant Major Sampson called it to attention and you snap to.”

Ron chuckles, “Sergeant Major Simpson kept a straight face, but the rest of you nearly lost it. What you do not realize I nearly lost it too, if it was not for the Sergeant major looking professional at me. It only took me a second to realize what I have done, and the look in Sergeant Major Simpson’s eyes said its okay just carry on. He has that way about him, he can make you feel like you screwed up when you did a great job, or you can do a great job when you screw up.”

Reese giggles again, “I just got to the unit myself. We actually met him on the very same day.”

Ron chuckles, “That’s the first time I noticed you. They lost your luggage and you were in civilian clothes. I was really hoping you were a Second Lieutenant just like me. Man was I disappointed to find that you wasn’t.”

Reese giggles, “It could’ve been worse, I may have been a Captain and then you would have to salute me every time you turned around.”

Ron gets a little reflective as he remembers, “That was the first day I met your Dad Sam. He was my boss, and I immediately liked him. He told me he done the same thing when he walked in on his first day.”

Reese says somberly, “Sam that was the first day I met your Mom. This was before she was even pregnant with you. She looked over my orders, and my previous performance reports. Your Mom was a tough but fair person. She saw in my performance reports where I was disrespectful to a general, and then she made me relate the story in my own words of the event. With a sad smile she told me, that was what she thought had happened. You see my old boss caved in and wrote me a poor report from pressure up the chain. That is when she told me that our commander had requested for me once I come up for transfer. I learned that she respected that I stood up for myself. It seems the commander too had a run in with that same general.”

Ron chuckles, “I was wondering why Nancy always looked out for you. She made you work harder than anyone else, but she made sure you got credit for that hard work.”

Reese says, “Nancy never let that one performance report destroy my career. She got a lot of heat for my next performance report, but she had more than enough evidence to back up the rating I got. Sam your Mom was my hero from then on.”

Reese looking at Ron wonders aloud, “Strange that Gen. retired shortly after all this blew up. Then that poor performance report of mine got cleared out of my records.”

Ron chuckles, “Not when you know what our commander did, she taped him threatening to have you one way or another. You see the General was not used to anyone turning him down. Of course, our Commander did not like him at all, and when she threatened to give that evidence to his wife. He caved faster than your former chain of command did.”

Ron looks into the face of his wife before he says, “When I first found out about this I was so mad I wanted to bring charges against the General. The Commander said, “She was only a Major and would retire as a Major, but the rest of us still have a career in front of us.” If we brought charges, Washington would sweep it under the rug along with the rest of us. This way Washington will disown him, he will live out the rest of his days on his retirement with nothing else. No cushy government job, no job with a government supplier, no chance it running for Congress too.”

Reese looks at her husband before she says, “You know you could’ve stayed if you wanted to, I would’ve waited for you.”

Ron looks into his wife’s face again this time he smiles before he says, “That wouldn’t be fair, and I deserve to have you all the time.”

When Reese slaps him on the shoulder Ron chuckles before he says, “Did I say I? I intended to say you. I did not say that right at all. I intended to say, that would not be fair to you, and you deserve me all the time. Wait a minute we deserved to be together.”

Reese giggles, “You just saying that because I’m a great shot, and you’re a little afraid of me.”

Ron chuckles, “I know how good of a shot you are. However, I also know you are on my side, and I hope you know how much I do love you. I could not stand to be without you. That is what I really wanted to say. That I love you and never want to be without you, not for a minute ever.”

Reese giggles, “Yes Sir.”

Ron pulling her into his arms chuckles before he says, “Don’t you Sir me. I work for a living now, if you can call what we do work.”

Sam clears her throat before she says, “Okay, there’s no way that you can get out of going Ron?”

Ron turning to Sam looks into her determined face and says, “No, and worse than that neither can your Daddy. The unit wants to recognize him as your father.”

Sam looking at Ron says, “That is another reason for me to go.”

I start to object but I immediately feel Kathryn has a different idea turning to her as she says, “Sam can go, if you promise not to get yourself hurt Sam. You’re not big enough to stop bullets my beautiful little Princess.” Through our bond, I feel Kathryn communicate that I had better make sure she does not get hurt.

Kathryn turning to Sam says, “Sam the only reason I’m letting you go is I know you won’t stay here even if I try to hold you down. But you better not get hurt, your Daddy or I would never forgive ourselves. Sam, you are more like your Daddy than you realize. Both of you will not stop protecting the other, your Dad will not stop protecting the people around him, first is love ones, then anyone around him. That’s just the way he is, the way you are.”

Sam wrapped her mother in a hug with tears running down her cheeks she finally says, “Mommy I won’t let Daddy get hurt, I won’t let anybody hurt us. If I cannot keep Daddy out of trouble I better help make sure he gets through it.”

I start to say something, I’m not willing to let Sam place herself in any danger, I’m not willing to allow Sam in a dangerous situation if I can prevent it, thinking we’ll just not go, will pick them up on the fourth or the fifth, I don’t care what it costs or how it looks. Sam is my daughter and I will not take any chance of losing her.

Sam let’s go her mother comes into my arms holding me close she whispers, “Daddy if we don’t go a lot of people are going to die, a lot of good people that you save. Daddy I can keep you from getting hurt, and I do not get hurt either. Angel Mommy told me in my dream. Daddy we have to go, you save those people and I save you. I don’t get hurt, you don’t get hurt, and you save a lot of people.”

Ron looks at me, “Don’t worry only a fool would try to rob a restaurant where military hangout, it’s as bad as holding up a cop bar.”

I unlike most people my age know life can be short, and that no one knows how much time they have. That makes me worry for Sam and the rest of them, my family I would do anything to protect. I guess I am truly am like most when it comes to that. In the hope to save the ones that I love, I would brave any fire, swim through any flood to save them. Does that make me a hero? No that makes me a father, a husband, an uncle, a brother and a son.

I am not in a jovial mood as I say to them, “The problem is all it takes is one fool who got a hold of a gun. Sam I know I just can’t risk you for anything.”

Sam’s argument is simple and elegant and her logic is undeniable, “Daddy, I got two Angels protecting me, and you got one protecting you. If we are together, they are three Angels with us. We have Ron; we have Grandpa Sampson and all the men there. Grandpa Sampson can have the men stand down and let you handle the robber. Ron can make sure the guy that accidentally shoots you keeps his gun in its holster.”

Ron smiles and says, “We can tell the men it’s a demonstration of your martial arts. If they think there is no threat, they will not pull a firearm.”

Sam says, “Besides that Daddy, I get to help you find something special.”

Looking into Sam’s face, I can see her determination and is going to be a trademark of her character. I say, “You promise to stay by Sergeant Major Sampson, that you let Ron stop the guy from firing, that you do not put yourself in danger no matter what my beautiful daughter.”

I cannot help thinking this is crazy. I am thinking about letting my four-year-old daughter into a situation where a thief attempts an armed robbery, and a Good Samaritan may accidentally shoot me. Sam has only been in my life six months but I do not see my life without her, Kathryn is my wife, Sam, and Crystal are my daughters, Cindy will be my niece forever, and they are my girls. I cannot take a chance; I would rather die myself then lose one of my girls.

Before I can change my mind Sam says, “Yes Daddy, I promise. I will stay right beside Sergeant Major Sampson; I will point out the person to Ron. I’ll tell you when the guy arrives to rob the restaurant.”

Kathryn looking at Sam asks, “Sam that way no one gets hurt?”

Giggling Sam says, “Only the idiot Daddy hits, but Daddy just knocks him out to the cops come.”

Kathryn looks at me and she says, “I know you really don’t want to take Sam along, or put her in any danger but this way nobody really gets hurt.” What could I do without a better solution to the situation we have?

The Coach says, “I’m coming too, I’ll keep Sam safe, even if she has to use me to throw at somebody.”

Sam hugs her grandpa. Helen has not said anything finally says, “I think you are all crazy. Just hire some security guards for outside the restaurant. That should scare the shit out of any would-be thief.”

I agree with Helen, and I will hire security guards to surround the restaurant. Sam will be safe, so I do not feel bad about taking her now. I know if I did not she would never forgive me, or it would break her spirit. One of many things I love about Sam. Sam does not see herself as weak or small. Sam sees that she has the potential to do anything.

The room is very silent, and Misty clears her throat almost everyone jumps. Misty says, “I can’t go with you Marshall, but you can go.”

Marshall has a surprised look on his face as he turns to his wife. Giggling she says, “I know you wouldn’t go unless I let you, but you would not be my Marshall if I made you stay.”

I pull Helen into a hug I whisper, “Thank you for your suggestion, and I’ll make sure at least a dozen security guards are around the restaurant.”

Helen pulls back looking into my face she says, “So everyone going to keep Sam and you save is for nothing.”

Finally smiling I very softly say, “No, it’s for love and that’s far from nothing.”

Giggling Helen says, “Good because you know I’m coming too.”

What could I do at that point? The only thing actually could do was to give Helen a hug, and say, “I think the aircraft is full with Marshall, Helen, Dad (the Coach), and Sam coming along.” The one I booked to fly out was quite a bit smaller than the one that was to return. The four extra passengers it would be pretty well full.

I can tell each of my brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws wanted to come too, but I convinced them to stay with Kathryn. Kathryn called her doctor who refuses to let her go. Since Misty and Reese went to the same Doctor, he also refuses to let them go as well.

Daniel and Kara both want to come as well, asking the second time I tell them, “How many people you think it’s going to take to keep Kathryn off that aircraft? If she cracks Kara, you are one of the few people she will listen to what you say. You won’t be able to stop her if you are on the airplane.”

Kara asks, “You really think she will listen to me?”

With a smile I say, “Of Kathryn’s four sisters, you’re the one she respects the most. You’re the one she always tried to be like, the one she wanted to be proud of her the most.”

Kara looks at me confused before I continue, “Don’t forget I can practically read her mind now. I know she loves all her sisters, but you’re the one she puts on the pedestal the highest.”

Daniel laughs at a memory that comes to his mind. Looking at Kara he says, “Remember back when I graduated from high school and a beautiful twelve-year-old girl comes up to me and gives me a kiss. What really shocked me wasn’t that you kissed me, it was the feeling I got.” He looks into his wife’s eyes, “You ran off before I could say anything. Your little sister’s stayed around for a moment or two more before she left she smiles at me and says I’m going to do just like Kara and marry an older guy.”

Kara has a shocked look on her face before Daniel continues as he chuckles at her expression. Hugging Kara he says, “You think I would forget our first kiss? What you did not know is that kiss had a greater effect on me than even I knew at the time. All through college, I could not look at another girl without her reminding me of you. I did not even really date because of that. I am just glad, that JJ fell in love with Kathryn. I would never be happy with anyone else, my Love.”

Daniel pulls Kara into a long kiss, when they do break it is to giggles from the children. Kathryn smiles at her sister before she says, “If you hadn’t ran off so fast after you kissed him for the first time I’m pretty sure he would kiss you just like that if Daniel had the chance.”

Daniel looking lovingly into Kara’s green eyes says, “I wanted to, but she confused me when she ran off. If I knew she was in love with me, I would have stood up to my brother-in-laws. They’re very protective of their little sisters, it’s a good thing JJ is a black belt or they might just have killed him.”

Eddie laughing slaps Daniel on the back and says, “Part of the reason I was so mad the first day I met JJ, was that Kathryn already had a crush on him. I figured he was going to hurt her so before he could I would just run him off.”

My other two brother-in-laws come over hearing what Eddie said, they both laugh and Michael Junior reaches into his wallet before he hands me his martial arts card. I notice, he has been training and now sports four belts of his own. Mark and Eddie do the same; they each have multiple black belts, in multiple disciplines. Michael Junior says, “When I left here and went to college, I just began training with you. At college I ran into a couple of people, they were watching me do my workouts. They invited me to the dojo they were a member of, I went to my first testing and was surprised when the Sensei handed me my first belt. When Mark join me, he joined my dojo too, and then Eddie. Eddie even surprised the Sensei at how good he is.”

Michael Junior continues, “I know why you trained us, other than the fact that we ask you to. You did teach us a lot of things, some things Dad been trying to preach into us for years, things like discipline and hard work.”

Eddie getting a smile for Michael Junior says, “When we first met you, we were so proud of ourselves with no good reason to be. In other words we were arrogant, self-centered and more than a bit of a bully. You have the skill to put the three of us on our ass, three times each, without hurting any of us, will just our pride mostly. I wonder why Dad and Mom let you do that, until one day I had to go to the local courthouse for a speeding ticket, there was a father setting in the courthouse waiting to see what was going to happen to his son. His son got into an altercation with another young man, as in most fights things happen that you never intend to at the beginning of the fight. He set there in tears waiting to hear the verdict from his son’s conviction. His son could get fifteen years to life. I realize we were heading down that same path till a young man thrown us on our asses and open our eyes.”

I look a little shocked, and Kathryn giggles beside me. The brothers give me a second before Mark continues, “You really opened my eyes, here you are a natural born athlete, and the biggest nerd I know. I mean that in the nicest way too. We did not find out for a while that you made your fortune from two Internet companies that you sold. Then you turn our little sister into this trading genius, who else you know makes a million bucks inside of a week. By the time I left for college, we figured out who was buying the cars for us, giving us full scholarships with no academic or athletic requirements.

You never asked us to accept you, but you assisted us as your family. You never tried to bully, buy or direct our affections or our friendship. You did not tell us what you are doing for us, you did not ask for praise or even acknowledgment. You have the strength and skill to bully anyone you want, but you treated everyone like they were your equal, your friend. It is no wonder people love you, it is impossible to hate someone like that. JJ the more I got to know you, the more I saw how good of a person you are.