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Back at the base, Kat was having another violent nightmare. Jako was with her at the time and held her down as he yelled for a nurse. Jake entered just as the sedation was taking effect.
“Thanks Jako. I’ll stay with her.” Jake sat down beside her and took her limp hand. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t here when you needed me,” he told her. He could only hope that she heard him.
Sarah made her way down to the hospital ward three hours later.
“You should take a break.”
“I’m fine,” he insisted. She gave him a sad look. “I just want to be here when she wakes up.” She nodded in acknowledgment and let the room.
The team gathered for a late breakfast and decided to run through their plans for the operation again. Ryan advised that they not overdo it on this one. He knew that they were under a lot of pressure and insisted that they take the afternoon off to rest.
Janie was headed down to visit Kat. She was awake when Janie entered the room. Janie thought she saw a split second of disappointment run through her eyes.
“Just me,” Janie said smiling.
“Sorry, I was expecting Jake.”
“I know. He’ll be down soon. He is just running maneuvers with the rest of the team.”
“New mission?”
“Yep.”
“I wish I could get out of this bed. I’m so sick of sitting still. I feel like I should be out doing something.”
“Care for a game of chess?”
“Absolutely!” Kat agreed, eager for anything that would challenge her mind. They were already in the middle of their second game when Jake came in.
“I should get going. Thanks for a great game. I’ll come back and say goodbye before we head out,” Janie promised. She left and made her way back to the command center to find Ryan.
“I want to give Kat an ear wick,” she said to Ryan. He only stared at her in response. “She was showing sincere interest in this mission. I think being able to hear what’s going on might trigger some memories for her.” After thinking it over for a moment, Ryan agreed.
Janie headed back down to Kat’s room, feeling very pleased with herself. Jake gave her a strange look. As she explained her plan, Kat lit up. Jake wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but Kat certainly was.
“I don’t know how to thank you enough,” Kat said hugging Janie. Janie smiled hugging her back, then went upstairs to get ready.
“What’s eating you?” Kat asked at the sight of Jake’s grumpy face. He cracked a smile despite his best efforts. He was so handsome when he smiled. “I’ll be fine,” she assured, assuming the answer to her own question. “I need this...I need to feel like I’m a part of something.” He smiled again and squeezed her hand, then went to get ready for the mission. He ran into Ryan on his way up.
“Please make sure someone is with her at all times. We have no idea what kind of crap this is gonna stir up for her.”
“Don’t worry Jake. I won’t leave her side, Ryan promised. Inwardly, Ryan hoped that he would not regret this decision. Ryan had received word again from the CIA, pressing him for access to Kat. He lied and told them that she was still in a coma, and that he would contact them when something changed.
Kat had fallen asleep while she was waiting on the team to arrive at the appropriate location. She suddenly awoke in a cold sweat and sat straight up in bed. Ryan in sitting in the chair beside her.
“Kat, you were calling the name ‘Carl’ in your sleep. Do you know who that is?” Ryan asked.
“No Sir.”
“He was your handler for the undercover CIA mission you were working when you went missing. But, it seemed as though you were almost afraid of him in your sleep. Do you remember anything about him?”
“No sir, I’m sorry.” Just then, they received word that the Ops team was ready to begin. Kat was so excited to be a part of the excitement in this way.
Everything was playing out exactly as they had planned. Until suddenly, Janie noticed a pirate coming up from behind Jake. Shots were fired. As Jake fell to avoid the shower of bullets, he was able to return a few shots back at the target. Just as he was taking cover, he saw Janie go down. All was quiet for a moment; Jake had successfully taken out his target. Kat and Ryan held their breath as they listened to the sounds of Jake rushing to Janie’s side.
“Get her off the freighter now!” Reese ordered. Sarah and Reese gathered the rest of the men. BJ and Thomas restrained Cadiid and returned with him to the yacht. Janie had taken a bullet in the lower part of her abdomen, just below the vest. Ryan had already called for a rescue chopper to come in. In the meantime, Jake and BJ field dressed the wound and gave her morphine for the pain. Only fifteen minutes had passed by the time the chopper arrived. The medics immediately got her stabilized and loaded her into the chopper. Sarah flew back with her. The pirate who had shot her didn’t survive. BJ and Thomas took the freighter to a secluded cove they had discovered; a crew would be sent to pick it up later. They took the tobacco boat and headed for the compound.