Brothers in Arms

[wideeyedone]

Her twelve hour shift had gone well. It was steady, but their were no emergencies. Jane Croft worked as a NICU nurse. She was tired but she enjoyed caring for her fragile patients and reassuring their stressed and frightened parents. She had just the right temperament to coax a frightened mother into snuggling her preemie against her skin. And she knew how to take care of a couple that was coming undone because of the stress of the NICU.

Jane went to the parking garage and got in her car. She was still wearing her pink scrubs and her tennis shoes. Some of the girls had asked her to go with them for a drink, but she just wanted to get home. She sung along with the radio as she drove. All she could think about was a hot bath, a glass of wine and her pajamas. But those thoughts faded when she pulled into the driveway. Scott's pick up was parked at a precarious angle. Her estranged husband was there.

She sighed deeply. And all of her heartache came rushing back. She had loved Scott Croft with all of her heart. It had been almost from the moment she met him. She had been out with some of her girlfriends from the hospital, she was a brand new nurse, celebrating her first real paycheck. He was in the same bar with the other SEALS in his unit. He had bought her a drink and asked her to dance. His smile went all the way up to his eyes. She was smitten.

But that had been three years and several deployments ago. After his last go round in Afghanistan, he just wasn't the same. He was angry. All the time. And the way he soothed his anger was with alcohol and other women. She had tried so hard. She got him appointments with a counselor, she researched getting him into rehab. But he didn't want to jeopardize his career or his reputation. And after a particularly severe bender, he packed his stuff and left.

She was surprised to see him, pacing on the front porch of their little house. She turned off her car and headed to the house. She didn't have to get close enough to smell him to know he had been drinking.

"Everything okay, Scott?" She asked softly fishing her keys out of her purse. She hadn't changed the locks yet, but he hadn't let himself in. He groaned and crossed his arms across his chest.

"Janie, I need some cash. I tried to use the debit card, but there was no money in the account. I had to get Sher- um, my friend, ....to pay the tab." She unlocked the door while he stammered over his girlfriends name and tried to cover.

She got the door open and tossed her keys and purse in the chair by the entry way. She left her tennis shoes on the porch, she was always careful not to wear her hospital shoes in the house.

"You should eat something, Scott. And sleep it off. I don't want to fight with you..." She didn't raise her voice, but it was obvious that she was tired of his behavior and she wanted him to go. "I don't think you should drive, Scott. Let me call you a cab, or we can call one of the guys to come get you."

She was shocked when she heard glass shatter. He had picked up vase off of the table and hurled it at the wall.

"Stop telling me what to do, Jane. You can't fix me. " His voice was low but his face was set in anger. She took a few steps back from him.

"I am not trying to fix you." She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. She cried out in surprise when he grabbed her by the arm, pulling her to him.

"Janie, I can't take your disappointment. I can see it all over you. I hear it in your voice, I feel it when I touch you. I am not the same guy any more." He shook her as he spoke and as much as she tried to fight it, she started to cry. And that seemed to only make him madder. "Damn it, Janie. Please... don't." She heard a hint of tenderness in his voice. A hint of who he used to be. She laid her hand on his chest.

"Scott, I just want things to be better. I just..." He started to shake her, his grip biting into her arm.

"Shut up, Jane. Shut up. I don't want to hear it." His voice was loud and ragged now. She could smell the cheap beer on his breath. She stumbled when she pulled her arm away from him. She almost fell but caught herself on one of the dining room chairs.

She went to her purse and pulled out the cash that she had. She laid it on the table. She took her phone and went to the bedroom, locking the door. She could hear him, rummaging through things, she heard more glass break. She didn't know what to do. She didn't want to call the police. She didn't want to make trouble for him.

She texted Chase.

Can you come over? I will explain, but I need your help. Jane

Part of her felt like it was unfair to call Scott's best friend, but she didn't know who else to trust and she was a little afraid that Scott might come back.

 

[Love2rp]

Chase Daniels looked over at his phone lighting up as he sat on his couch watching the news. Instinctively he knew it was either his good friend Scott or his wife Jane. After all this wasn't the first time this happened and it seemed to be happening more and more lately.

As he went for his phone he got up to grab his keys, knowing how this would end. Immediately he started to have flashbacks about the past few years......

Chase and Scott had been best friends since grade school, what started out as a fight between two 5th grade boys ended up with a lifetime friendship, surviving life's ups and downs. After high school both decided to enlist in the Navy rather than trying to go to college and side by side they made the decision to enroll in BUDs to attempt to become SEALs. The truth is the only way they got through the program was by relying on each other and having recognized this, when it came time to assign the few that made it through to the teams, they decided to keep Scott and Chase together.

That night they went out to the bar and Scott set his eyes on Jane his friend Chase was right there by his side, playing wingman for his friend and dancing with this new girl's friend from work. Never having settled down himself Chase became like Scott's adopted brother, always coming over for dinner, Jane always trying to set Chase up with a new girl but it never working out. They were all fairly inseparable but the truth is Chase always had feelings for Jane. Never letting on because of the harm it would cause he always tried to measure up the girls he met to her.

As time progressed and Scott and Chase had more deployments he noticed his friend changing. Rather than talking through classified things only they could know Scott turned to alcohol and women. Chase did his best to stay with his friend and support him but he couldn't stand to see how it was hurting Jane. Lately the two good friends had begun to drift and Chase tried to tell himself "as long as he can keep focused on the job there's no point fighting".

He sighed as he texted back "I'm on my way" and hit send as he got in his truck wearing his grey Navy t shirt and jeans as he began to drive

 

[wideeyedone]

Jane heard Scott drive away. She let herself out of the bedroom and looked around their little house. The contents of her purse were dumped out on the floor. There were shards of glass mixed in with her lipsticks and coupons. He had knocked several pictures off of the wall.

She sighed deeply and got a broom out of the pantry and started cleaning up. She tried to pick up some of the larger pieces of glass, and she cut the palm of her hand. She winced and dropped it.

She heard a truck in the driveway. She looked out the front door and signed in relief when she saw Chase.

She waved at him through the screen door.

"Hey, thanks for coming." She called out to him, she felt her cheeks get pink. She was truly embarrassed that things had gotten this bad.

 

[Love2rp]

"Hey Janie" Chase said walking in the door and giving her a small hug. Stepping back he looked around "shit, I see Scott is on a tirade again" he said noting all the pictures off the wall and the broken glass everywhere

Looking over at Jane he saw the bandage on her hand "don't tell me he hurt you!" Chase said with anger obvious in his eyes and voice thinking his former friend had gone too far this time. He bent down and picked up a picture from their wedding day, the happy couple, the maid of honor and Chase as best man, the boys in their dress whites, the girls in beautiful dresses, boy that seemed like so long ago now.

Emotions stirred inside Chase but he hid them deep below to be there for this woman who more than ever was his best friend now instead of his brother in arms

 

[wideeyedone]

Jane shook her head when he asked about her hand.

"I was trying to clean up. But he did grab me, ." She looked up at Chase. "Can I stay at your place tonight? I don't want to be here if he comes back."

Jane tucked her hair behind her ear and bit her lip. She was trying so hard not to cry. She pulled up the sleeve to her scrubs and saw the red hand print starting to turn into a bruise.

"I think it's over, Chase." Her voice was tinged with emotion. She knelt down and picked up the things from her purse. She tossed her things back in her handbag. She packed an overnight bag. "I am sorry to put you in the middle. I just don't know what else to do."

 

[Love2rp]

Chase looked over at Jane, a strong, intelligent, good woman on the verge of breaking down and all he could do was put an arm out to hug her. As he held her close he whispered in her ear "you can stay at my place as long as you need Janie" he said as he reached for her overnight bag, always the gentleman, even in times of great stress. The truth is, he was fighting hard not to show much emotion. He was already thinking the same words "I think it's over" in regards to his lifelong friend.

He walked Jane out and stood by her as she locked up. Walking to his truck in silence he knew he had to break the sorrow with the only way he knew how.....humor. The same humor that had gotten he and his brothers through battle, made him the unfortunate target of his drill instructors in boot camp and made his toast at his friend's wedding very memorable.

Holding the truck door open for Janie as she got in he looked at her in her broken state and said "you know, if you wanted me to make you hot dogs with mac n' cheese for dinner there weee easier ways to ask!" He said managing a chuckle and his trademark cocky smirk as he closed the door and walked around the front of his truck, getting in, starting the engine and easing down the driveway

 

[wideeyedone]

She looked over at Chase when he got in the truck.

"I don't think I can handle hot dogs and mac and cheese. What do you think about thick steaks and a bottle of wine? My treat."

She leaned back against the seat and sighed deeply. She was so tired, but she was so glad that she had good friends like Chase.

"I think this new one's name is Sherri." She tossed the other woman's name out there and she wasn't sure why.

 

[Love2rp]

"Free steaks and wine?" Chase said with a chuckle "now when have I ever said no to that!" He said as the lights of passing cars illuminated their faces "good news for you is that I have both at the house!"

Chase listened to Jane talk and knew how tired she was, physically, emotionally, in every way possible "Sherri huh?" He said not looking over "the bartender from the dive right outside the base? From what I hear she's the gift that keeps on giving, until you get a penicillin shot anyway" he said, not sure why he blurted that out.

He continued to drive for a bit "do you know if Scott is dropping out of the teams or is he going to re-up?" Chase asked, he had been offered far more lucrative contractor roles but loved his brothers too much to leave them. He would consider it though if Scott was coming back. Not only were they growing apart, he was getting dangerous on missions

 

[wideeyedone]

Jane rolled her eyes when she heard about the bartender.

"My mouth is watering thinking about you grilling steaks." She listened to him when he asked about Scott.

"He doesn't talk to me about that any more. He says he is broken and he is tired of me fixing him." Her voice broke when she came to the word fixing. She closed her eyes and turned her face to the window.

 

[Love2rp]

Chase just grunted, unsure of what to say other than that Scott could use fixing and that he wished that he himself had someone to fix him.

He decided to let Jane rest since that is what she needed as he finished the final few minutes of the drive to his house. Pulling in the garage he closed the door "well here we are, home sweet home" he said as he grabbed Jane's overnight bag. "Please don't judge me by the mess inside" he said half jokingly as he got out and opened the door for her. Holding out a hand to help her out of the truck and unlocking the door to the house.

Truth is it really wasn't that messy at all but after living the bachelor lifestyle for so long it wasn't as spotless as he would have liked. "You take the big bed" he said bringing her bag to his room "I've got the couch" he said as he walked down the hall

 

[wideeyedone]

Janie sat down on the couch and called after him as he went down the hall.

"I actually fit on the couch. So, why don't I sleep out here." She tucked her feet underneath her. "Besides, I haven't been sleeping really well."

She tucked her feet up underneath her and looked around the little house. It wasn't a mess at all, just obvious that no woman lived with him and hadn't for some time.

"Is she pretty? What is she like?" She asked, hating herself a little for caring about the woman her husband was screwing around with.

 

[Love2rp]

"If you aren't sleeping well then sleeping on a couch won't make it better!" Chase said coming back down the hall and looking at her looking small and vulnerable on the couch "if you are worried about the sheets don't worry, I do clean them!" He said with a chuckle

He looked over at Jane as he walked by "is she pretty?" Chase said as he made it to the kitchen grabbing a bottle of wine "if you like that trailer park queen mentality then yeah I guess she is" he said removing the steaks and seasoning them. "She's a quick lay.......sorry to be blunt" Chase said looking up at Jane, "she isn't someone like.....like you Janie" he said quickly.

"So, red or white?" Chase said holding up two bottles, trying to divert attention

 

[wideeyedone]

She looked at him with a smile. It was sweet of him to make her feel better.

"Whichever is sweeter." She responded when he asked about the wine. She fingered the back of the couch, watching him get the food ready.

"I took care of the sweetest little babies today. One of my babies got to go home. She was finally healthy enough. Her parents were so happy. It made me feel so good. I was ready to go home and put my feet up, and enjoy dinner."

She sighed deeply.

"Can I help in the kitchen?"

 

[Love2rp]

"Can you help with dinner?" Chase said sarcastically from the kitchen "after your story where you said you were ready to go home, out your feet up and enjoy dinner?" Chase said before getting stern in a mocking way "you better get those feet up sailor!" He said with a drill instructor's mock voice

He brought her a glass of white while the grill was warming "it must be really satisfying" he said handing her the glass while he sat on the arm of a chair across from her with a glass of red "taking care of babies, helping new life to recover and grow......I can only imagine how satisfying that would be" Chase said, his mind wandering to the countless missions performed and lives taken by a simple trigger pull. Not that he questioned for one second any of those lives his right index finger ended. It was his job to find a threat, assess a threat and end a threat, still, you cannot be human and not have it affect you. Some chose a quiet route while others went off like Scott.

He got up and headed back to the kitchen to grab the steaks and put them on the grill

 

[wideeyedone]

She curled up on the couch and did her best to relax. She saw a blanket on the end of the couch and pulled it up over herself. She cuddled into the couch, under the blanket, holding a pillow.

It used to be that when she was tired or when her heart was broken because one of her tiny patients didn't make it, Scott would hold her close and smooth her hair. And she would tell him about what happened and he would tell her that she was an amazing nurse and that someday they would have their own healthy babies and they would dream about the future.

But now he broke things and took her cash and slept with insta-lay bartender skanks.

She couldn't help it, she started to cry. She tried to keep herself quiet.

 

[Love2rp]

Chase came back in from the deck where the grill was "dinner is......" he stopped when he saw her on the couch under the blanket, at first thinking she was asleep but then seeing her shoulders shake with was unmistakable tears.

"Hey now" he said coming over "no woman cries at my house until sunrise when they realize their mistake" he said with soft smile, trying to break the mood. He knelt on the floor next to Jane and put his strong hand on her head. So odd, the hand that ended lives with a trigger pull was now being used to carress a friend in need

"It's ok Janie, you're safe here" Chase said as he knelt close to her and gently rubbed her head

 

[wideeyedone]

She tried to quiet her tears.

"I am sorry. I just never thought it would end this way. In my nightmares, I thought he might not come home... but I never thought he would stop loving me."

She took his hand in hers.

"Thank you, Chase. I didn't know who else to call." She let go of his hand and wiped her tears. She sipped in a deep breath.

"Let's have steak and wine and forget our troubles. And then we need to find you a girl. There is a really cute new nurse down in cardio. And I hear she might be kinky." She said with a giggle.

 

[Love2rp]

Chase smiled. He wanted to help her get her emotions out, to be able to get passed all this he knew she needed to talk it through but that he couldn't push it, that it had to be on her time. And so rather than pushing harder he went along.

"Kinky huh? And how would one randomly find out at work that another person was kinky?" He said with a chuckle, loving the sound of Janie's laughter filling the apartment. "Not that it's a bad thing, I mean, don't go searching through the drawers in my bedroom!" Chase said teasing as they made their way to the table

 

[wideeyedone]

She sat in her chair and sipped her wine.

"One time she had a rope burn on her wrist and I asked her if she was okay. She told me that she had had too much fun over the long weekend with an old flame that liked to tie her up." She said with a giggle. "She asked me if I had ever been tied up and we swapped stories." Her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment.

"Um... never mind?" She stammered a little.

 

[Love2rp]

"Swapped stories and then you say never mind?? I don't think so Janie!" Chase said laughing and pouring more wine into her glass "more wine will get the truth out of you!" He said as he took a drink of his own wine, his eyes meeting her's across the table

 

[wideeyedone]

She took another sip of wine.

"I am sure you have heard my stories, from Scott. I mean, I think so anyway. Scott was always super proud when he and I tried something new or when I planned a little something for him before he deployed."

 

[Love2rp]

Chase shook his head with a smile "nah he'd always come in with a dumbass smile on his face but he never lead with any stories and honestly, I didn't ask" he said as he watched the joy return to eyes if only slightly. Truth is the last thing he wanted to hear about was his friends sexual conquests with the girl he really wanted to be with "but can't say I wasn't jealous that he had someone to send him off properly!" He said as he took a bite of his steak

 

[wideeyedone]

"What would I find if I went searching through your drawers, other than boxers and navy t shirts? Do you keep girls' panties as trophies? Do you have anything leather or latex hidden away?" She couldn't even ask with a straight face, she totally got the giggles.

 

[Love2rp]

"All those girls you set me up with didn't tell you? I thought you girls shared everything!" Chase said half serious. Sure he did have some pairs of old girlfriends panties but he didn't ask for them, they were either left behind or given to him. They definitely were highly represented in the thong category

He had always partially wondered and worried about what the girls Janie set him up with reported back

 

[wideeyedone]

Janie cut into her steak and took a few bites.

"They all thought you were super cute and and sexy as hell. And a couple of them seemed surprised that it didn't work out. One was even convinced you were into some other woman."