CHAPTER TWO
Quinn learned over the years that even though his teammates were all SEALs, just like him and his brothers, not all SEALs were created equal.
To be a SEAL you had to have equal parts skill, emotional intelligence, team attitude and loyalty, speed, and a smidgen of both craziness and hero complex. What Quinn realized is that those ratios were not equal in all his teammates.
On more than one occasion he’d been criticized for stepping in to help someone that needed it.
“I’d like to die on the battlefield, asshole. Not in the bar.”
“He slapped her,” said Quinn staring at his teammate.
“Not my problem. We walk away from that shit.”
“No, you walk away from that shit,” said River. “We don’t. Hitting a woman is never okay. Don’t care where you are.”
“It’s a wonder the three of you aren’t dead,” frowned the man. He left them to put their gear in lockers and the brothers just stared at one another.
“Don’t change, Quinn,” said Finnegan. “It’s what makes you better than me and River.”
“What are you talking about? You guys step in, too.”
“No. We step in when you do,” smirked Finnegan. “It’s not that we wouldn’t eventually but maybe not quite so ferociously.”
“He’s not wrong,” said River. “I think you’re amazing, Quinn. You’re my brother and I love you. I love everything about you, especially your handsome face.” Quinn and Finnegan laughed, shaking their heads.
“You’re such an asshole,” chuckled Quinn. “I get it. I just can’t seem to help myself.”
When the brothers decided to retire from the teams, or at least retire at the urging of the Navy, they returned to Coronado to finish their paperwork, Quinn and Finnegan deciding to stay for a few days and just relax as civilians. Or at least that was the plan.
“Well, we’re no longer SEALs,” said River standing on the beach with his brothers.
“We’ll always be SEALs,” said Finnegan. “We’re just not active duty. Did anyone else think the reasons he gave were all bullshit? I mean, how do you say you have to leave the teams but you’ll get all your benefits, and we don’t get suspicious about it.”
“I agree,” said Quinn, “but I’m sure River doesn’t give a shit. He’s got a new life.”
“That’s not fair,” said River. “I do give a shit. Yes, I have a new life but she was content to let me be a SEAL and she’d move here. I wanted what was best for all of us, not just me.”
“I’m sorry,” said Quinn. “I didn’t mean it to come out that way. It just all feels wrong. I guess we know how all the others before us felt when this bullshit happened to them.”
“It makes you wonder why we even bother,” said Finnegan. His brothers looked at him, confused. “I mean, why serve our country when all they do is get pissed off when we actually go above and beyond.”
“I’m not sure we’re going to solve that issue,” said River. He looked at his watch and then at his brothers. “Priscilla’s gonna be worried we’re not back yet. I’m sure she’s anxious to hear what happened.”
“I’d like to hear what happened,” frowned Quinn. “I went numb after, ‘thank you gentlemen for your service’.”
“It will all work out,” said River slapping his brother’s back. He and Finnegan began walking toward the house then turned, waiting for Quinn. “Quinn?”
“Hold on,” he said staring off down the beach. “Are you guys seeing what I’m seeing?”
Before they could answer, his shoes were off and he was running in full dress uniform, sans shoes, down the beach.
“Well, shit,” muttered Finnegan. “So much for retirement.”
They could see what he was seeing a good two-hundred yards down the beach. A man was gripping the ponytail of a woman, dragging her kicking and screaming down the beach.
Quinn got there first, stepping in front of the man, his big hand in the center of his chest.
“Let me go!” yelled the woman.
“You heard the lady, let her go,” said Quinn calmly.
“Fuck off! Mind your own damn business. The bitch is mine!”
River gripped the man’s wrist, giving it a twist as he let go of the woman’s ponytail. He screamed in pain as she scrambled behind Finnegan.
“You know this man?” asked Quinn.
“I know him but I’m not his!” she said emphatically. “We had two dates. Dates! Not hook-ups. I told you I wasn’t interested.”
“Bullshit. Every look you gave me said you were interested. You’re not gonna make me look like a fool,” he said starting to walk toward her again.
“You touch that woman and I will kill you and bury your body so deep no one will ever find you,” said Quinn.
The man wisely straightened, staring at the three identical brothers. It wasn’t their similarity that got his attention but rather the tridents on their uniforms sitting atop rows of colorful ribbons.
“Okay,” he nodded. “That’s fine. But they won’t be here forever. I will come back for you and you won’t have them to protect you.”
The man turned and walked toward the massive hotel at the end of the beach. Quinn looked down at the woman, reaching a hand toward her. She stared at the three men, then took his hand, wiping the sand off her ass.
“Thank you,” she said. She rubbed her head where the elastic held her hair. Frowning, she hissed.
“Are you alright?” asked Quinn.
“I think so. No. Maybe,” she said shaking her head. “Where am I?”
“Where are you?” asked River staring at his brothers. “Did he hit you in the head?”
“I don’t remember. Maybe.”
“You’re on Coronado Island. San Diego,” said Finnegan.
“San Diego,” she whispered. “Shit.”
“I take it you don’t live here,” said Quinn.
“No. I live in Pensacola, Florida.”
“That’s a long way from here,” frowned Quinn. “I think we need to get you checked out.”
“Yeah,” she said rubbing her head again. “I think…”
She never finished the statement, crumbling to the sand once again.
Quinn knelt over her, feeling for a pulse and nodded at the others.
He lifted the woman, carrying her toward the team house.
The house once owned by Faith and Ian was now a refuge for honeymoons, team events, and on the rare occasion, damsels in distress.
While he walked, River called Priscilla to tell her they were coming with an extra person.
Priscilla opened the door and smiled at them.
“So, is the woman a retirement gift from the SEAL team?”