11. No mission
ELEVEN
No mission
STEVE
“He’ll be in good hands, Steve,” the nurse at the rehab clinic promised him with a reassuring smile. “We’ll take good care of your brother.”
Steve had never felt so helpless as he had when his brother turned around one last time with a determined yet frightened expression before two caregivers escorted him through a set of swinging doors leading to the inpatient wing of the clinic.
“Steve?” The nurse asked with obvious concern on her face.
He blinked, then offered a curt nod. “Thanks, Araceli. I appreciate all your help.”
“Nick made the right choice. He’s doing the right thing,” she said with conviction. “The brave thing. But don’t you worry. The time will pass by before you know it.”
He nodded again, then headed outside, where he parked his beat-up, yet dependable Dodge sedan he used to tow his few belongings down from Michigan. Steve landed in the driver’s seat and turned the engine, but he paused before putting it into gear. If it weren’t for the fact that Araceli was the wife of one of his fellow firefighters, he would have been a lot more concerned. Firefighter wives, girlfriends, and significant others were like family which meant she would keep a steady eye on his brother.
Good thing, too. Weaning himself off whatever drugs he’d been taking and getting clean would be no small task for Nick.
Steve put the car in reverse and backed out of his spot. He was overwhelmed by a sense of loss. In the Marines, he always had a mission. He always had something to keep him focused, a task at hand to take out insurgents, protect his fellow Marines, or pitch in when the Corpsmen were overwhelmed. On one day, when their Corpsman was injured and couldn’t treat the other Marines, Steve’s paramedic certification was a literal lifesaver.
Upon his return to civilian life, his work as a firefighter filled that void. Then, finding his brother all but consumed him. Now that Nick was getting the help he needed, Steve was at a loss as to what to do. Maybe he’d join Derek and Kiro for breakfast at Baba’s Diner after their next shift.
Maybe.
On the drive home, he wondered if that would be enough.