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But the ti could have stopped her fro to Rubistan And not even a whole bottle of tequila shots could have made her marry Jack if she hadn’t wanted to

Sydney pulled her arm free from Monica’s waist "I don’t know if I could have er"

And yet Sydney sat tall, radiating far more peace than Monica could find within herself God, she’dherself that just because her anized, she had control over her life

Her little sister was the stronger one today Wounded but not broken

"You would have held it together But I’lad I could be here to make it a little easier for you"

"Me, too" Her ar the baby up for adoption"

"You can come stay with ether again, for good this time That’s one decision I’m certain about As hellish as all of this has been, we understand each other better now"

Not only was Sydney stronger, but Monica’s little sister wasn’t so little anye she’d never thought to look to Sydney for advice, far lad for you and Blake both You deserve happiness more than anyone But the offer stands If he’s TDY, you could drive down I’ll drive up when I can We’re fa to be okay"

"Maybe I’o with the support

Sydney blinked, wide-eyed "Excuse h not to sob her eyes out, but ood, too "Call it a part ofI’m not okay yet God, hon, you knoorried as hell I need to see you’re all right Often And I suspect that’s not going to ease up for a while"

"Of course" Sydney pressed her sunburned cheek against Monica’s, then pulled back "I figure we’re due soab fests with lots of pizza and popcorn because, God, I’ popcorn these days so much I can hardly stand it"

The Ziploc seal strained close to breaking even with her newfound respect for her sister’s wisdoth Tears burned the backs of her eyes and no as she i the full extent of her pain on Sydney

"Popcorn You’re on Lots of it, with extra butter" Sliding off the litter, Monica pulled a smile and wondered if her other sister liked Jiffy Pop After twenty-three years, maybe it was ti Yasmine And I’ll check on Blake while I’m out there"

"Thank you"

"No probleave her the perfect excuse to run from the plane before her Ziploc seal ripped

Ripped stitches hurt like hell, and Jack was pretty sure he’d pulled one free while checking in with Blake about SSE

Jack worked not to liy not to wince with each step closer to the medivac plane His crash-landed aircraft looled at the engine port Once stripped of computer equipment, the battered aircraft would be blown up to keep it out of enemy hands

Damn, but that hurt more than the shrapnel And he wouldn’t even be around for its destruction since he was being sent back early in theon that edict She’d even backed up her diagnosis with one of the other docs Married service ether wasn’t an issue today since he’d been injured

And when she found out he’dto go along with the ass-shooting

Sooner, rather than later, since Monica stood outside the plane with her back to him She braced a forearm on the side of the aircraft Her forehead fell forward to rest on her wrist

And thenhell Indomitable Monica’s shoulders sluh faded and he picked up his pace toward her The notches in her French braid had loosened over the hours, straggles teasing free with the bulk of her hair still contained enough that the vulnerable curve of her neck showed in thesun

He cruised to a stop beside her, careful not to startle her "Everything okay?"

She didn’t e his arrival But since she couldn’t have missed his words, he let his hand fall to rest between her shoulder blades, inched up to work a light e at the base of her neck

"Are you all done here? They should be finished securing the airfield soon and we can leave Gardner and his teao So far as they can tell, all the tunnels out have been blocked Now they’ll start searching them from the inside"

Was she asleep on her feet?

A shudder quivered through her, then echoed into another, continuing into a tre to death in spite of the rapidly rising desert teripped her upper arms, turned her toward hiainst hirief that went beyond crying

He rubbed soothing strokes over her back,and it’s-okay platitudes that didn’taway he decided he h the ure out what must have

Her sister’s physical

Da Sydney would bring instant sh ht now and he didn’t have the details

But he could danant, Jack It happened here"

He hadn’t expected that

His hands stopped Rage blindsided him faster than that missile He’d been prepared to hear Sydney was raped, but This was too much "Ah, hell, Monica, I’m so damned sorry"

She didn’t answer the obvious, just kept shaking in his ar He wished he could soak up her pain, as well Finally she stilled in his arainst hiht hints of her aloe shah the air of sweat, dust and war "Does Gardner know?"

"Yes, and he’s okay with it Well, as okay as anyone can be hat happened here," she said, her hot breath saturating through both his flight suit and T-shirt "She’s going to have the baby, ive it up for adoption"

"Do you want us to offer to raise it?"

Where had that come from? Soain AlthoughMonica always inspired hi deeper even if he fell short of the mark sometireen eyes "Us?"

Well, she didn’t have to look quite so damned surprised "There is an us, you know Unless all that talk earlier about loving me was bullshit"

Her shock melted with an irreverent snort "You’re such a roed, his quota of sensitive stuff to say already depleted "You know me"

Her hand snaked up from between them to caress his face "Yes, I do and still you surprise me sometimes Thank you for the beautiful offer"

"She’s faood way that let hi deep

"God, Jack, how could you ever doubt yourself?"

Okay, now things were getting deeper than he was coht line in thewilly-nilly everywhere

He dropped a kiss on her forehead "You need to head back inside We’ll be flying out soon"