JANE'S POV :

It was indeed a disastrous reveal. Killer's shout was so loud I couldn't have missed it even if I was asleep.

Their unfiltered conversation swept the floor under my feet and yet I stood still.

My dearest friend had left to risk his life without telling anyone. The last time we spoke, he promised 'I'll be back soon.' Nick you've got to keep your promise because I can't wait for that 'soon' to get over all my life. If those were your last words to me... Shut up Jane! Stop thinking so negatively.

Nick left for the mission day before yesterday. Killer has not rested his ass since then. He has stayed either inside his office or with Uncle. The expression on both father and son's faces looked like things were about to blow off.

Flynn had taken my phone into his custody. "It will be safe for all of us." He said politely and I agreed. I had barely any self control. I'd put Nick in more danger because of my anxiety and then never forgive myself. It was better to give my phone away.

My heartbeats were not coming down and my eyes ready to burst at a moment's notice despite zero sleep last night.

Twenty four hours have passed since my brain feels on fire but there's no news of Nick.

I called Martins to share this pain but he was not reachable due to his study. Damn it.

I had no option but to stick to Ren. She was a silent mess herself. We shared the worrisome vibes and there was nothing to help us get better. She was gloomy for both the days.

I was scared, to say the least, at the thought of going to my room and trying to sleep alone again. I knew I'll be up in worry. And with such a thumping heart, there's no way I'm going to calm down enough ever to sleep off.

I skipped dinner again. Nick is out there somewhere. How can one eat peacefully if he is hungry? Ren and Killer however continued to feed themselves well like everyday.

God how do these guys live such a life? This is the first time I'm worried about someone that's not even my family. And still I'm about to pass out.

These people have seen each other going for missions multiple times. No wonder they have a stone heart, because soft ones would break in the first go! Suddenly the respect for them has raised ten folds. Look at Killer and Ren and Uncle - they're all calm. No panic. It's impossible to believe.

"You can't do anything with that sad face and empty stomach." Flynn said before I left my food untouched.

"That's the least I can do, right?" "That's zero if you ask me. Give your body strength and rest to face whatever is to come." He said and that punched some sense into my brain.

Having little dinner, I retired to my room. Trying to distract my mind off Nick, I thought of everything else.

I don't know when I slept off, but I'm pretty sure the nightmares didn't leave me.

************************************

My telephone rang at 5 in the morning. It was Uncle James. I felt something is odd. It felt like I was dreading for this moment to arrive.

"Hello?" "Good morning, Jane. Can you please get ready and join us in fifteen minutes?"

"I... Okay.. But join you for what? Are you going for a run?" I asked as I got up.

"No, we're going to meet Nick." Nick! He's back! Yes! Oh thank god!

"Wow! He's back! But where is he? HQ?" I said hurrying up.

"He's at AFH, Jane. I request you to hurry up and meet us outside mess." He cut the call while I stood frozen.

He's at.. Hospital? Oh no. Tears were flowing from my eyes uncontrollably. This can't be happening. Those vibes - they turned out to be true. His life fell into danger.

I told bloody Killer that I'll call Dad and get him back, but he stopped me. Asshole! Look what has happened now!

Oh my god! Nick please be fine. I'll be there at the earliest.

The next thing that came to my mind was to make another call. I went through all the exchanges and reached the one person I wanted to talk to.

"Martins! Nick! He's there! Did you meet him?" "I just heard about him. He is being taken to the Operation theatre. I'm going to see him. You guys are coming?"

"Yes. Leaving soon." "Alright. I'll go and see him."

"Martins.." I broke into more tears. I still can't believe Nick is hurt and is undergoing some surgery.

"Control yourself, baby. He'll be fine. I'll go there and check. Don't panic. Just come." "Yeah. okay."

I cut the call and got ready in record timing. My heart couldn't stop thumping. I could hear my heartbeats loudly.

I ran to the mess and there stood Uncle, Killer and Ren. Uncle had an emotionless face, Ren was looking at me with sympathy. She looked like she had cried a few minutes ago but trying her best to be strong. But Killer - he looked at me with red eyes, with an amount of anger I've never seen. I could feel he wanted nothing but to shoot me in my head.

What did I do now? In fact that should be me! He stopped me from calling back Nick.

"Wills, Jane and I will go in one vehicle, Captain Renee, you follow in second." He ordered.

At other times, Killer would disappear as soon as any ordered is passed. Today - he didn't budge.

"Didn't you guys hear me?" Uncle raised his voice and Ren nodded and ran away. Killer still didn't move.

"Major Wills. Behave. Don't force me to take any harsh decision right now. You know better." His warning was clear. But I had no clue why Killer was defying him.

"Why are we still protecting her?" He said still looking at me angrily.

"After all this, why? She has no right to even see Nick now." What is he bloody saying?

"She has all the right to meet him." Uncle said curtly on my behalf.

"Yeah because he is in the hospital because of her!" Because of me? Is he crazy?

"Enough!" This is the loudest and scariest I've heard. Uncle is truly pissed off right now.

Killer clenched his jaw and stopped arguing.

"You speak one more word against my orders, and I'll immure you in KMA for indefinite period. Then YOU won't get the privilege to meet your own brother till he gets back here. You want me to do that?"

That's not good. Getting locked up at KMA while your brother fights in hospital is not something Killer would agree to. He's smarter than that.

"Negative, sir." He said forcing his eyes on the floor.

"Then move." Uncle barked and this time he followed the instruction.

"What is going on, uncle? What did I do?" I asked him as he hurried walking after Killer.

"Don't worry, Jane. You are nowhere at fault. Wills is just psyched out because of Nick's condition." He tried to stay calm. I knew there's a storm within him that he's holding as well.

And who would not. Earlier, one of his sons came back from the death-cave. Now his other son is on hospital bed. Which Father would stay this calm? Only Colonel James.

"How is he?" "I don't know exactly. Just heard that he got two bullets. He's still breathing and in hospital, so I feel more hopeful than the previous time."

I looked at him unbelievably. How can he say that?

"Two bullets?" "Yes. And I don't know which freaking part of his body was hit. I'll feel better only after I see him myself."

I nodded and soon, a big convoy of 6 army vehicles arrived. The sheer number of vehicles scared me.

"One is not enough?" "It's for security. Don't worry. Get in."

I've grown up in an army environment to understand that size of convoy indirectly tells the risk of movement involved.

But I don't understand what is the risk here. Who are they keeping themselves safe from?

Uncle pulled out a pistol from one side of his waist belt and checked its bullets. Killer did the same and so did every other human coming with us. Everyone had some or the other kind of weapon - either pistols or rifles. I looked at Ren and raised my eyebrows asking about her weapon. She pulled out her own pistol and kept it back. Then she took a scalpel (medical knife) out of her first aid box and jiggled it between her fingers. God bless whoever goes near her.

I hope it doesn't come to that. Mostly there is no attack or fight when a convoy is this big. Nobody dares to touch anyone who is guaranteed prepared to kill hundred others.

Uncle handed over my phone back to me along with a knife. My eyes darted to his face. "I know you haven't learnt how to use it yet. But keep it in your hands. I've seen your reflexes, you're a born fighter. Trust yourself should something go wrong and we're unable to protect you. Do not turn your phone on till I'm with you."

Uncle climbed the passenger seat of the olive green LMV while Killer waited for me near the rear entry. I pass him and he hisses "All this security for vain."

If I thought he used to hate me before, then I was wrong. What he's feeling for me right now, makes me think he used to tolerate me before. He is THAT pissed off.

I got in and he followed. He sat with his muscles tight, never looking at me even once. He didn't want to see my face, period.

The whole journey, I kept my breath short for 4 hours. I didn't know what the fear was, and I didn't want to ask the only person who could answer me.

The journey felt never ending. The road seemed infinite. Negatuve thoughts had consumed my whole brain and I was a few moments away from crying my fears out.

I don't remember when was the last time I had this desparate urge of breakdown. Mom leaving us was the maximum pain I had faced bravely. But this suffering was beyond my limits.

Our LMV stopped suddenly and Killer took out his pistol immediately. I jerked when there were three loud knocks on the back door. Killer let loose but his pistol was still in his hands.

"We've reached AFH. Get out." He snapped at me, snatched my knife that I held tightly throughout the journey and left me without even looking at me.

Keeping his pistol back in place, he went and ensured that other than the 4 of us, rest everyone goes to the military parking with all the 6 vehicles. Once they started moving, he turned around to follow Uncle and we entered the hospital.

Martins met us on the way. He saluted uncle and led us to where Nick was. He didn't speak a word. There was so much tension in the air, I couldn't bear it.

We reached ICU where a senior surgeon stopped us. Soon he recognized Uncle and apologized.

"He'll be fine?" Uncle's tone was markedly composed but one can estimate the fear inside him.

"If his recovery is as great as his spirit, definitely yes. Your boy is a fighter! He had one bullet in his left arm and one in his abdomen. If the arm one had gone a few centimetres here or there, his head would have been in the line. And I have no clue how on earth his intestines didn't come in contact with the second bullet - that one would have been a disaster. He was smart enough - tied his wounds tight and thankfully there was less blood loss. We've removed both the bullets and done the packing. We'll keep him here for a few days - may be two weeks for serial radio-investigations. I don't want to miss any perforation in his guts. He'll need some rest and multiple follow ups after discharge. I think he rescued three others with those bullets still in his body. That's the spirit I've seen only in your students, Colonel. How do you build this in them?" "They learn what they see, sir." Uncle said proudly, but he also looked pissed off.

"Can I meet him?" "Ya, sure. You all can. We gave him spinal anaesthesia, so he won't be able to get up from bed for a few hours."

"He's alive and will be fine, I'm thankful to you for that." "And those three officers will be thankful to him. Go meet your son, Colonel."

He gave a warm nod and I felt so much better. Most of my worries had subsided.

We entered 'Intensive Care Unit.' There he was lying with his eyes closed, breathing peacefully. As soon as he realised we're looking at him, he opened his eyes.

And I just let it loose. I cried my heart out. I had imagined worse - something I never want to say. But seeing him breathing, I can breathe peacefully too.

I had thought I lost my best friend. During the whole journey I relived every moment I spent with him - teasing me, defending me, hitting me - everything. If there was one person I looked forward to venting my heart out, it was Nick. He had been with me since Day one. I owe so much to him, I might not be able to pay back in this life. But not if his life is over. Or is about to.

And now - when he looked at us with his eyes open, heart still beating, chest still breathing, I can cry and thank the Lord that my worst fears didn't turn true.

If this was my state, I can't imagine how frantic I'd be if I was his brother. Killer lost his shit and argued with Uncle because he too thought that he lost Nick. I'd kill everyone I see, he didn't do that atleast. And I think, me being the only person he could shout at, he used me to channel his anger. I don't mind that considering his state.

"You idiot!" Uncle said angrily. His eyes were wet. There was no doubt that he too shed a few tears on the way.

"Sorry." Nick said trying to get up.

"Don't. You are anaesthetised below chest. And you'll stretch the sutures." Ren hushed politely and Nick nodded. She couldn't hide the tears at the brim of her eyes. She must be going through the same, more Infact. They've been friends for years. She's truly a fighter to not have shown how weak she too was throughout all this.

"When have you ever done just what you've been told, huh?" Uncle scolded him again.

I had no clue what is going on. But Ren and Wills apparently did because they said nothing.

"I had no option. Others were either injured or trapped. And you taught me not to leave the team members to die, right?" He said looking back at Colonel.

"Just what I needed! Both of my sons answering back! I really don't know what to do with you two!" Uncle said irritated.

Nick looked at Killer with confusion and Killer nodded towards me as an answer.

"Oh. Hi, Jane. I'm sorry, I -" "She doesn't know." Killer cut in and I lost it.

Everyone stood silent while Nick looked at me contemplating what and how to cover for what was just spoken. That means everybody else knows the reference, except me.

"What is it that everyone knows but me!? What is it Nick?" I was still crying.

"Nobody told you?" He asked cautiously making me even angrier. "Told me what?!"

************************************

JustDream431 as a reader -

Bam! What just happened? Nick almost killed himself in action!

Four hours! Four hours to see that one dear person- whether he's alive or not, whether he'll survive or not - trust me, four hours are not less. Imagine the state of all these people during their journey. I felt the most for James. He almost lost his first son and he's going all over it for the second. God needs to go easy on him now.

And Wills! Whew. He'd really shoot everyone as Jane said. I've never seen him THIS angry before.

************************************

Writer's note-

Sorry I left at the cliffhanger but your answers are coming soon.

I know a lot of you have guessed it by now. I'll still request you to hold on. DM if your popping nerve won't sit calmly.

For those who haven't, lock yourself in your room and turn the lights off. Do not let your parents or siblings hear you say 'What the fuck?!'

Don't tell me I didn't warn you!

PS - last chapter coming with a bang. Soon.

Please VOTE and COMMENT.