Chapter 6
The military transport plane rumbled as it touched down on the runway at Norfolk Naval Base, tires skimming the tarmac with a sharp screech.
Early morning light filtered through a thin mist, casting pale hues over the sprawling base below.
Inside the cavernous aircraft, the team shifted, gathering gear and preparing to disembark.
Moose remained seated for a moment, exhaustion and tension etched deep into his face. As the hatch opened, an ensign in crisp dress uniform stood nearby, clipboard in hand, her expression calm and professional.
“Senior Chief Wilkins,” she called out as he approached.
He nodded.
“Commander Michaels has arranged everything for you,” she said, handing over a neatly printed itinerary.
“Your connecting flight to McGhee Tyson Airport in Tennessee is confirmed, and your rental car reservation will be ready for pick-up upon arrival. Additionally, the Commander has authorized a week of emergency leave.”
She paused, offering a small, reassuring smile. “If you need anything else during your travel or once you arrive, you can contact Commander Michaels directly. His number is included with these documents.”
Moose accepted the papers, the routine grounding him briefly amid the weight of what lay ahead.
“Thank you, Ensign,” he said, sliding the documents into his jacket pocket.
The ensign nodded politely. “A car is waiting outside to take you to Norfolk International Airport. You’ll get there in plenty of time for your flight.”
“Safe travels, Senior Chief,” she added respectfully before stepping back.
Moose stood still for a moment, the weight of the papers grounding him amid the whirlwind ahead. Then, suddenly, he was surrounded by his team. Warden handed him his duffle as others closed in with pats on the back and nods of encouragement.
Moose let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. “Y’all ready to get rid of me that fast?” he joked, the tension easing as the familiar presence of his team rallied around him.
He felt a surge of warmth as his brothers and sister gathered close—the teammates who had become family through countless missions and shared struggles. They meant the world to him, steadying him when everything else felt uncertain.
“Thank you, guys,” he said quietly, voice thick with appreciation.
Warden clapped him on the back with a broad grin. “Now get going before you miss that flight.”
Spider’s sly grin followed. “Yeah, and try not to get lost on the way home.” Moose allowed himself a small smile as the tension in the air eased.
He jogged across the tarmac, duffle slung over one shoulder. The driver stood nearby, trunk open and ready.
Moose nodded, took a deep breath, and slid into the car. The familiar weight of his team’s support propelled him forward as the vehicle pulled away heading toward Norfolk International Airport and the next leg of his journey.
Settling into his seat, Moose let the hum of the engine fade into the background. He pulled out his phone, fingers moving quickly to dial Bear.
“SitRep!” Moose said, urgency sharpening his tone as he skipped any greeting.
Bear’s voice was calm. “We found Nancy. She’s got a broken leg but is otherwise stable. They’re planning surgery to stabilize it soon. We’re at Johnson City Medical Center now. Flora’s handling the doctors and doing her best to keep things calm for your mom.”
Moose’s chest tightened. Over the years on Bear’s team, he and Flora had talked quietly about his mom, sharing observations and theories.
He’d spent countless hours researching and reflecting, piecing together behaviors he’d seen growing up.
Now, with Flora by Nancy’s side, Moose felt a deep sense of gratitude—if he couldn’t be there himself, Flora and Bear were the next best thing, people who understood his mom’s condition and knew how to navigate it with patience and care.
Leaning back in his seat, Moose asked, “Bear, is there anything you need from me? My flight leaves Norfolk in forty-five minutes. It’s a ninety-minute flight, plus another hour or two to get the rental car and drive to the hospital.”
Bear’s voice came through calm but warm, with a hint of humor.
“Not a thing, Moose. Nancy was awake and even managed to sign for her own medical care, stubborn as ever. Jim gave us her insurance card, so we’re all set.
Right now, we’re just hanging out in the waiting room, drinking bad coffee, and the boys are battling each other on their phones.
No pressure. We’ll be here, probably arguing over who’s winning, whenever you get here. ”
Commander Michaels had locked down every detail—flights, transfers, even the rental car—timed down to the minute to get him moving as fast as possible. Moose shot a wry grin at the tiny vehicle waiting for him.
“Barbie car, for sure,” he muttered, sliding behind the wheel of what looked more like a child’s toy than a ride for a man six-two and loaded with gear.
He climbed stiffly into the cramped, powder-blue rental car, his long frame scraping against the steering wheel and doorframe.
His desert camouflage uniform was wrinkled and dusty after two days of relentless travel; it had been ages since his last shower in Oman.
Endless hours airborne—from Oman to Norfolk, then on to McGhee Tyson—had left his muscles aching and his mind thick with exhaustion.
He shoved the key into the ignition; the engine buzzed to life beneath him.
The early afternoon sun stabbed through the windshield, casting long shadows across the highway as Moose eased the car onto the asphalt.
The tight cockpit pressed against him from every angle; the air was stale and close, but there was no room for distraction.
Every muscle locked in coiled readiness, every sense keyed to the road ahead and the urgency of the miles to come.
Ninety minutes later, Moose pulled into the hospital parking lot, the bright white building looming overhead.
He killed the engine and took a deep breath, trying to shake off weariness and nerves.
His go-bag slung over one shoulder, Moose steadied himself and stepped inside, weaving past busy staff and anxious visitors.
Moose spotted Bear leaning casually against the wall near reception, his shoulders relaxed but his eyes alert.
Beside him, Flora slumped in a chair, cradling a steaming cup of coffee, her face etched with exhaustion.
Link stretched out in his seat, legs crossed and eyes closed as if trying to snag a moment of rest. Nearby, Rhys and Sammy sat close together, fully absorbed in games on their phones, fingers tapping rapidly across their screens.
Moose nodded in their direction, tired but managing a faint smile. “Took me a while to find a place to park the Barbie car,” he joked, voice rough from disuse. “Any change?” He shifted the bag slightly onto his other shoulder, easing the weight.
Bear stepped forward, clapping him on the shoulder and pulling him into a quick hug.
He exchanged weary nods with each of the others, then settled beside Flora. The room was filled with the heavy quiet of waiting and the uncertainty hanging over them, but the familiar presence of these friends offered a small measure of comfort.
Flora leaned close, voice gentle. “Nancy made it through surgery just fine. They’re moving her from recovery to a private room now. A nurse will come get us shortly after she’s settled.”
Before Flora could finish her sentence, quiet footsteps approached. A nurse appeared, clipboard in hand, smiling politely.
“Ms. Wilkins is settled in the room now,” she said, looking around. “Unfortunately, only two visitors at a time. Who would…?”
Moose stepped forward. “I’m her son, Mike.” He glanced at Bear. “Will you come back with me?”
Bear gave a curt nod. “Yeah, I’m coming.”
As they walked the quiet hall, Bear glanced over. “She was lucky that tote with all the supplies was still in the cave. Made a huge difference.”
Moose’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait… that tote is still there?” His voice caught.
Bear nodded. “Yeah. When they found her, it was right there—packed with snacks, water, blankets… seemed like it’d been there a while.”
Moose shook his head, trying to process it. “I left for the military fourteen years ago. I never thought…”
He swallowed hard as emotion surged. “That tote was more than just storage. That cave near the creek was our retreat—when Mom needed to get away from people. Blankets, food, water, even Maya Angelou’s Complete Collected Poems. I used to read “Still I Rise” when things were tough. It helped keep us sane.”
Bear gave a quiet smile. “Sounds like she kept going there after you left.”
The next afternoon, nearly a full day after Nancy had surgery, Moose sat quietly by her bedside in the dim hospital room.
Her steady breathing was a comfort amid the beeping monitors and sterile smells.
He reached out, gently taking her hand in his, feeling the faint pulse beneath her skin—the life she still held, despite everything.
Nancy’s eyes fluttered open briefly, and Moose looked into them, searching carefully for any sign of pain or discomfort.
The town didn’t understand her. He knew she was smart, that she took in everything around her even if she didn’t express it the way others might.
Though non-verbal, her face softened, showing a flicker of recognition, as if she sensed his presence and the heavy weight he carried.
“I’m sorry,” Moose said quietly, his voice tight with emotion. “I should’ve been here more. I don’t know if leaving the Navy is right, but sometimes I wonder if staying away only makes it worse.”
He tightened his fingers gently around hers, hoping to communicate the words he struggled to say out loud.
Nancy didn’t hold his gaze—she rarely did—but she was comfortable with him in a way she wasn’t with others. Her humming filled the quiet room, soft and steady, a language of her own. She reached up slowly, pressing a gentle touch to his hand.
It was her way of saying she was listening, she understood, and maybe, in her own way, she was telling him it was okay. That small reassurance settled some of the restless tension in Moose’s chest, grounding him.
After a long silence, Moose rose and met with the hospital’s social worker outside the room. He listened carefully as she outlined options for home health care: nurses to assist with daily needs, physical therapy to aid recovery, specialized support to help create a safe environment.
Moose signed the necessary papers, each signature feeling like a solemn promise he wished he could fully keep.
“I won’t be here long,” Moose admitted quietly. “Just a few days before I have to head back to Norfolk and the Navy.” The words hung heavy between them.
A nurse passing by offered a respectful nod and softly thanked him for his service, her eyes acknowledging the weight of his responsibility—not just as a sailor, but as a son doing everything he could to ensure his mom was cared for.
The social worker gave him a sympathetic look. “It’s good you’re planning ahead. Your mom will be in capable hands. The more support you arrange now, the easier the transition will be.”
Moose nodded slowly, feeling the tug of duty and family pull him in opposite directions. He knew the battle wasn’t just about service or distance—it was about making peace with staying or leaving, and finding a way to be there for Nancy, no matter the cost.
Moose eased the “Barbie car” onto the quiet road leading into Banner. The fading sun cast long shadows through the trees blurring past his window. The familiar ache of guilt tightened in his gut—just four days. Four days to be the son Nancy needed, to face a past he’d left unfinished too long.
His mind churned with the weight of decisions waiting beyond tonight’s supper. The Blue Star Diner was his destination—a worn beacon in this small town, where Bear, Flora, Link, Rhys, and Sammy were already gathering. A simple meal, but also a crossroads Moose hadn’t dared to face fully until now.
Was it time to leave the Navy behind? To finally join Bear’s Blue Ridge Protectors? Not someday, but now? The thought filled him with both hope and fear.
As the diner’s neon sign flickered into view, Moose set his jaw, gripping the wheel tighter. Tonight’s meal would be more than just supper. It would be the start of a choice to change everything, leaving the Navy to join Bear and the Blue Ridge Protectors, to finally be there for his mom.