Chapter 7
Lexie did her best to put on a positive and happy face for the SEALs.
She was certainly thankful to be out of danger of being re-kidnapped, but her future was still so uncertain.
Not to mention, she was completely out of her depth.
She didn’t know much about the military, and being deposited on a US Navy ship was so far out of her comfort zone, it wasn’t even funny.
More than that, she knew that her time with Midas was coming to an end. He’d go back to Hawaii with his team, and she’d be on her own once more.
For the first time ever, Lexie wasn’t happy with her solitary lifestyle.
When she’d first joined Food For All, she’d been thrilled to get away from her dad and his snide remarks and his constant belittling comments.
She’d enjoyed living by herself and not having to answer to anyone.
But now she understood she literally had no one who would be worried about her.
No one to know or care if she disappeared off the face of the Earth.
Being kidnapped had brought home just how alone she truly was. And it sucked.
She loved the closeness Midas seemed to have with his friends, and hearing about Mustang and his wife made a visceral longing rise up within her. She wanted that closeness but had no idea how to get it. With friends or with a man.
And it sucked even more that she felt such a connection with Midas. She wanted to think he felt it too. That kiss they’d shared had literally rocked her world. But they hadn’t had time to talk about what it meant…if it meant anything at all. It could’ve just been the situation.
Midas had given her a set of noise-canceling headphones to wear in the helicopter, but they weren’t connected to the rest, so she had no idea what the others were talking about.
Midas tapped her on the shoulder and pointed out the small window, and she sat up straighter to look outside and caught a glimpse of a huge Navy ship.
It was dark outside, but the lights on the ship were like a welcoming beacon.
The chopper turned and began to drop elevation, and Lexie steeled herself.
This was it. They’d land, and she’d have to say goodbye to Midas.
She wasn’t ready.
But ready or not, the helicopter slowed as it descended to the deck of the ship.
Lexie started badly when Midas put his hand on her thigh. They still couldn’t talk because of the noise, but when she looked over at him, he smiled and nodded.
It was a little pathetic how much that simple touch meant. Lexie wasn’t a touchy-feely person. How could she be when she’d been single for so long? But after spending the day plastered against Midas, she was beginning to see why people craved human touch so much.
The chopper landed without much fuss and Lexie winced at the bright lights shining inside the interior through the open door. Midas helped her take off the headphones, then Slate and Jag held out their hands, assisting her to climb out of the machine.
A woman was there to greet her. “On behalf of the USS Nimitz and all her crew, welcome home, Lexie,” she said.
“Um…thanks,” Lexie mumbled.
“I’ve been ordered to bring you straight to the infirmary so you can be looked over. Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”
Lexie nodded. She’d expected to wait for Midas and his team to exit the helicopter, but the woman gestured in front of her and said, “After you.”
Without a choice, Lexie headed in the direction the woman had indicated. She looked back to see if Midas was coming too, but saw he was preoccupied talking with his team and the other Naval officials who had greeted the chopper. He didn’t even look over as she walked away.
Lexie felt off-kilter and nervous, now that Midas wasn’t with her. It was stupid. This was an American ship and the woman escorting her to the infirmary was gracious and nice. But she’d hoped to at least get to say goodbye to Midas. To thank him again. To tell him…
She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say.
Her escort held open a thick steel door and Lexie stepped over the threshold. She winced as it clanged shut behind them. The sound was loud and final.
That was that. Midas would head back to Hawaii with his team and she’d…
She wasn’t sure what she would do next.
Once inside the ship, the woman stepped in front of her and led Lexie down several staircases and hallways until she was hopelessly lost. There was no way she’d be able to find her way back up to the deck…not without a lot of help.
As she walked, the woman chattered about nothing in particular, pointing out things like where the enlisted and officers ate, and the break rooms. Everyone they encountered nodded respectfully as they passed, but the farther they got from the chopper, and the SEALs, the more self-conscious Lexie became.
She knew she looked rough. Her hair was probably sticking up in its usual unruly way, her scrubs were filthy from sweat and dirt, and she wore Shermake’s too-big sneakers on her feet.
All the sailors she passed were dressed in immaculately pressed uniforms.
Finally, they arrived at a door bearing a big red cross.
They entered the infirmary and her escort gestured to a table toward the back of the room.
The room was empty except for them, and for some reason that made Lexie feel even more self-conscious.
She’d never been comfortable being the center of attention.
“Go ahead and sit there,” the woman said. “The doctor’s been notified that you’re here, so I’m sure he’ll be arriving soon.”
“I don’t want to be a bother,” Lexie said.
The woman’s brows furrowed as if she was confused. “A bother?” she asked.
“Yeah. If the doctor was sleeping or something, I could’ve waited until the morning to see him. All I need is a place to sleep.”
The sailor shook her head. “Lexie, you were a hostage. You need to be seen right away. Besides, it’s his job.”
“Right. Sorry,” Lexie said, feeling as if she’d been chastised for some reason.
“There’s a gown over there you can change into,” the woman said, pointing over to a stack of plastic-wrapped garments. “I’m just going to step out while you change. It really is good to see you. We were all pulling for you.”
Then she nodded and turned and left the room.
Lexie didn’t move. She didn’t want to change her clothes. She felt vulnerable enough as it was. She wasn’t going to be practically naked when she met the doctor for the first time.
Shivering as the chilly temperature of the room began to register, Lexie lifted her feet and put them on the edge of the table she was sitting on. She knew she was probably contaminating the clean paper under her, but she didn’t care. She wrapped her arms around her legs and sighed.
Why being here felt scarier than anything else she’d done in the last twenty-four hours, Lexie didn’t know.
Maybe because she was surrounded by strangers and had no idea what would happen next.
It wasn’t a good feeling. How would she get off this ship?
Where would she go? Did she still have a job with Food For All?
She didn’t like feeling so out of control of her own life.
Lexie rested her cheek on her updrawn knees. Suddenly, she was exhausted. She’d been running on pure adrenaline and bravado since the SEALs had attacked the camp out in the desert. Yes, she’d gotten some sleep in the hole with Midas, but that seemed like a lifetime ago.
Her muscles hurt, her heart hurt for Dagmar, and she was sad that she hadn’t gotten to say goodbye to Midas or his friends.
She knew they probably rescued people all the time, so she wasn’t anything special to them, but this was the first time she’d been rescued.
And she would’ve felt a lot better if she’d at least gotten to say thank you.
Not sure how much time had passed, Lexie jerked when the door to the infirmary opened once more. A man who looked way too young to be a doctor entered. He smiled at her and said, “Lexie Greene?”
She nodded.
“I’m Doctor Chow. I understand you’ve been a POW for a few months, is that right?”
Lexie was annoyed. It was stupid, but she couldn’t believe this guy didn’t already know.
Then, she immediately felt bad. How egocentric was she? Thinking everyone would automatically know who she was and what she’d been through.
“Yes,” she said. “But I feel pretty good, all things considered.”
He was carrying what looked like an iPad, which he lifted and begin to tap. He looked up at her after a short period of time and frowned. “You haven’t changed into a gown.”
“No,” she said. “I feel more comfortable in what I’m wearing.” And she did.
The doctor nodded, as if reading more into what she’d said. “You’re safe here,” he told her. “No one will hurt you.”
“I know,” Lexie said. Then it dawned on her what he meant. “I wasn’t raped,” she said.
He nodded again, but it was clear he didn’t believe her.
Lexie wanted to cry. She didn’t want to be here.
“I wasn’t,” she insisted. “I’m tired. And hungry.
And thirsty. I’m sore from hiding out all day in a hole under a floor of a shop in Galkayo.
I’m cold because I’m not used to the air conditioning.
But I’m honestly surprised at how good I feel.
I just need a shower, some clean clothes, and a place to sleep. ” It felt good to stand up for herself.
But the doctor’s next words wiped away her confidence.
“How about you let me do a complete workup and figure out what you need?”
Lexie sighed. She knew the man was just doing his job. She nodded. What else could she do?
Midas was annoyed. After they’d landed on the aircraft carrier, he’d been momentarily preoccupied talking with the Night Stalkers who’d picked them up, and when he’d turned around to escort Lexie to the infirmary, she was gone.