Fosters: Blackhawk (36 page)

"I'm not sure what the fuck to say here.  I
thought you knew.  He's on the adoption site."  He looks
relieved.  What the fuck is going through his head?

"I'm not sure I could foster kids.  I'd
want to kill the fuckin parents if they had to go back to them."
 

I smile.  "Thank fuck, I thought you didn't
want the kid.  He really is a good kid."  

He smiles but doesn't say anything.  Pres
comes in with the Baxter's and Beau.  "They're clearing the
hall; I guess Keith's phone blew up."  Pres says. 
Driscoll, Bull, Patches, Chet, Sam and Casper come in.  Holy
fuck there are a lot of Officers.  I wonder how many members
there are.  Pres and Jamie get on with the meeting.  I
start to take notes but stop when I realize it's a smoke
screen.  He only goes on for a couple of minutes and the
information is useless. At the end Pres asks for questions.
 

Rob asks why we're going into Connecticut for
Ops.  Pres looks at Steve.  "We have interests there
being threatened.  This threatens our women and kids."
 He asks for clarification.  Danny leans over and says
something to him.  He withdraws the question.  No one has
questions.  Pres asks for the members of the Ops team to stay
for more detailed planning.  Everyone else files out.
 Steve tells Patches he's on his regular kids and Center
Security.  Doc is on standby, Casper and Rob are staying
clean.  They all leave.  I don't know why Rob stayed but
I'm relieved he's out.

Pres waits until Steve looks out the door and
nods to talk.  "Driscoll you'll be on with Chet and
Bull.  You’re the lead.  Casper will meet with you and
Rich about the family Security at one. The kids will be at home
tomorrow.  After the last Ops mission I'm not leaving them
vulnerable.  I need you to sit in on the meeting and I don't
want anyone to know about the switch until we leave."
 Driscoll nods.  Bull and Chet give a 'Roger Pres.'

Steve is waving a wand around the table, Digs is
checking for bugs on the other side.  When they sit we
start.

"Obviously that was all shit.  Tess had a
vision, we're watching Rob again, he may just have a bug on him but
I'm not taking chances."  We nod.  They pull maps and
Beau puts a video up. We're hooked to their surveillance feeds via
Baxter's satellite.  This is more like the Ops planning I'm
used to.  I take notes and ask my questions.  We have to
move a team from burial land but everything else looks ok. Danny
looks at me, "There are no problems for you working on this
land?"

"I'm Indian; we've fought on and over land for
fuckin ever.  As long as I'm not landing or fighting on sacred
ground I'm good.  The spirits will help me defend it."
 He fuckin laughs making me laugh.  

Jamie watches me.  I stop laughing and look
at him.  "You're more focused but relaxed, it suits you."
 I nod.  I guess I'm growing up.  "We'll have a
chopper ready to get the kids and women out.  They'll be
coming here until the men secure the property."

"You can fly them to my land here, it's twenty
minutes away.  They'd feel more comfortable there. 
There's a secure hangar in the village.  I'll have
transportation there bring them up to the cabin with my
grandmother."  They look at me.

Danny looks at the map.  Steve runs his
hand over it.  "Would save fuel, your grandmother wouldn't
mind?"  Fuckin guy,

"She's OUR grandmother and no she wouldn't mind,
she's shaman."  I tell him.

He rolls his eyes, "Met the woman twice. 
Don't know grandmothers.  Why's shaman important?"

"Heal the weary travelers." I tell him.  My
fuckin family not knowing about their heritage, I need to show
them.

"Fuckin good idea then."  He tells Pres.
 Kevin laughs.  "Little Ben and Jessie ridin along to
keep em calm.  Tess said they're scared.  Bringin to
reservation with grandma will be better than an hour to people they
don't know in high population."  

"Nunánuk, grandmother."  I tell him.

He smiles, "What he said."  Danny and Kevin
laugh.  Jamie and Pres look at each other.  

We get on and finish the meeting; I get a copy
of the map so I can go over it at home and call Nunánuk. 
I tell her what's happening, she says bring her the women and
children and she will have the spirits waiting to heal their hearts
and ease their minds.  You gotta fuckin love Nunánuk.  I
tell her I'm bringing the kids and Aleena over the weekend; we'll
stay in my house.  She's excited.  When I hang up
everyone is watching me.  

"She said yes."  I tell them.  

"You didn't speak in English; the only thing I
got was Aleena."  Kevin says.  

Really?  "If I knew you needed to know what
I was saying, I would have spoken slower."  I say and sign for
him.  He cracks up.  "You've known me for years, why are
you surprised I'm a fuckin Indian, it's not like I can hide
it?" 

"Now that we see it isn't just a look we're
worried about pissing you off, we don't want you taken our fuckin
scalps."  Kevin says making everyone laugh.  

"My tribe uses hatchet."  They stop
laughing.  

"We're just surprised by all we're learning
about you Cloud.  There's a lot more to you that we never knew
or saw.  On top of it you're a fuckin dead eye and we forgot
what you brought to the team."  I just look at him.  

"Cloud they pulled that same shit on me.  I
fuckin did everything but stand on my fuckin head and spit nickels
at them.  When they opened their fuckin eyes I was shot up and
not in the mood for the whole memory lane trip.  Ignore them,
they get tired of it and leave you alone after a while."
 Danny says.  

"I always knew you were Badass.  Anyone
lookin at Cloud knows he is too."  Tiny says.  I roll my
eyes.  Fuckin Brothers.  

"The fuckin point...My grandmother will be
ready.  I speak in Mohegan because she taught us to and not
many people speak it anymore.  Can we move on?"  

"Fuckin Badass.  Like VP and Danny."
 Tiny laughs.  

Danny stands, "Let's go eat Cloud, leave them to
fuckin Memory Lane.  It's a beautiful day for a ride."  I
get up and follow him.  We ride to Manomet for
breakfast.  Danny is fuckin serious when he wants to ride.

CJ

The kids make breakfast for us.  The
kitchen is clean and the dishes are in the dishwasher.  I'm so
glad they took care of everything.  We talk about what they
have planned today.  Darren and Brantley have the kids split
into two groups.  Taylor has computers today.  He'll pull
one from each group throughout the day.  I smile at their very
grown up schedule.  Cloud says he's proud of them and can't
wait to see what they came up with.  I love hearing him talk
to them, he's genuine and shows them respect.  

When the kids go to the living room Cloud comes
up behind me.  "I need to get to work.  I told Christian
someone will call when the kids are out.  They may be busy so
expect it to be abrupt." 

He's so friggin sweet.  "I'll word it nice
and sweet for him.  Thank you for doing that.  Be safe
and come home to us."  I tell him hugging his arms.  I
want to hug him so I turn around and hug him.  "I love you
Cloud Blackhawk.  I'm proud of you for fighting for right and
defending people you've never met.  Go do your job, be
safe."

"I love you baby.  I'll be home as soon as
I can."  He bends and kisses me.  I love how he sets my
body on fire.  

When he lifts his head I squeeze him.
 "Don't rush, do what you need and know we're all good. 
We'll see you when you get here."  

"You're perfect."  He says kissing my head,
grabbing his flight bag and walking out the door.  

When I turn around Christian is there.
 "Someone will call when they have the kids."  He
nods.  I put my arms out he comes to me.  He's been so
sad since he had the vision.  "They'll get them out baby."
 I squeeze him tight.  I can't imagine seeing death like
that and being expected to act like nothing's happened just because
it hasn't happened yet.  I need to talk to Tess and Sally
today.  

"They might help.  I'll go see Tess; I
don't want it in my head mom.  Jeremy was too weak to take it
away.  Can I go now?"   He talks against my shoulder, so
friggin sad.  

"Let me call her and see if it's ok."  I
pull my phone as I'm talking to him.  Tess says to send him
over.  He's gone with Hawk before I hang up.  

I turn toward the living room and I'm surprised
by a knock at the door.  Chase is smiling when I open it.
 "You're early Chase."  

He nods, "Yeah, I know Cloud left.  I just
saw Cal run over to Tess' I don't want the boys worrying over the
men not being here."  

These giants are so friggin thoughtful.  I
open the door wider and let him in.  "Thank you Chase. 
They're in the living room going over their schedule for the day."
 He walks through.  I guess I'll get some work done while
I'm waiting for the call about the kids. 

Cloud

I'm waiting for the team to get into
position.  Dancer, the other chopper, is set down fifty feet
away from me.  I wonder how the boys liked the ride.  My
team is looking at the maps.  The team that rode on Dancer is
already making their way to the house.  I take deep breaths
calling for the spirits to shield the kids and guide us.  I
feel them near and smile. 

Ben: "Blackhawk we have vehicles approaching,
stand ready."  

Me: "Roger Watcher."  I look back.
 "It's go time MD."  I do preflight hearing the team
readying for the flight.  

Jake: "Bravo standing by for go."  

I tune out the land Ops until I hear
engage.  Kevin is on Alpha team, Jamie is running their
Ops.  Rich is running HS1 with Steve and Danny.  

Ben: "Blackhawk cover the roads leading
in.  They have a fuckin army closing in on all sides. 
Fire at will."  Holy fuck.

Me: "Roger Watcher."  I get us up.
 "MD we have a fire at will to clear the roads."  

Jake: "Roger Blackhawk.  Bravo is a go; we
have a fire at will.  Make them count Bravo."  I hear the
clips, safety lines are on, they'll be on the rails by now.  I
keep us low and picture the roads around the compound.  

Me: "Watcher, I don't have a visual on
vehicles."  

Ben: "They're closing in on the
reservation.  It's not just the compound being hit Blackhawk."
Fuckin hell.  

Me: "Roger Watcher."  I lift us higher.
 "MD we're moving to the reservation outer roads. 
Prepare to engage."  I hear 'fuckin hitting the whole place,'
off the mic.

Jake: "Roger Blackhawk."  Going over the
rise I see the trucks.  Holy fuckin hell.  It's a fuckin
army.  

Me: "Bravo we have visual; we're starting from
the rear.  Fire at will." 

Jake: "Bravo we have a fire at will, take them
in order, make your shots count.  Blackhawk call for supplies
before we're out."  

Me: "Roger MD.  Blackhawk to Watcher,
requesting supplies for reload." 

Ben: "Copy Blackhawk, Steady is thirty minutes
out."  

Me: "Roger Watcher."  Art is flying into
this fuckin mess.  Shit.  The first shots are fired
mowing down the trucks front seats.  

Jake: "Blackhawk we have a supply truck in the
middle of the convoy." 

Me: "Roger MD."  I swing us around to lock
and fire.  Swinging back I see men exiting the vehicles in
front of the supply truck.  "You have jumpers MD."

Jake: "Roger.  Gun one continue with
assault, gun two hit the runners."  

I make my way up to the front of the convoy, the
trucks are fuckin speeding down the road bouncing, throwing dust
all around.  

Jake: "Blackhawk move directly behind so we
clear enough dust for a visual."  

Me: "Roger."  I move and they stop the last
of the trucks.  Turning back I fly over the broken
convoy.  Shots are fired at us, Jake has gun one stop them.
 

Me: "Watcher north east road clear.  Bravo
moving north to west."  

Ben: "Negative Blackhawk.  Move southeast.
 Larger convoy is closing in."  

Me: "Roger Watcher."  I swing us around
getting swore at from gun one.  "MD larger convoy southeast.
 Fire at will still in place, reload while you can."
 

Jake: "Roger Blackhawk."  He yells to the
team getting us ready again. "Blackhawk you’re fully loaded."
 I see it on my panel." 

Me: "Roger MD.  I have visual on convoy."
 

Jake: "Hit the first truck so they're blocked
from going further.  Roll back slow and steady."  

Me: "Roger MD."  I lock and fire.  The
first truck explodes; the domino effect stops the first twelve
trucks.  The team clears the threat from them.  "MD I'm
going to hit the line then we can play."  

Jake: "Thank fuck Blackhawk.  Reloading
while you strike."  I hover over the road giving me dust cover
and fire like a video game using my console to navigate the rounds.
 "Blackhawk clear."  I pull up and fly over the
trucks.  Fuck I got them.  I love these fuckin guns.
 

MD: "Nice work Blackhawk.  Find me
runners."  I hear the team talking but hunt for the
runners.  They leave a trail of dust so they're not hard to
spot.

Me: "To the east MD."  They're not using as
many rounds.  Jake must be at gun one.  I swing and find
the next dust storm.  I put them east of me.  Three shots
and the trucks upside down and bodies are hanging out the
windshield.  We hit two more and I ask for direction.

Ben: "Nice fuckin job Bravo.  HS has the
Brothers clearing the last one.  Provide cover for Alpha and
HS1.  They're in a fuckin war at the compound." 

Me: "Roger Watcher."  I fly like I'm on
fire.  "Reload MD."  

Jake: "Roger that."  Coming from the back
of the house I fly low then lift up to see what the gate looks
like.  They've been breached.  I lock on a semi blocking
the view from me and fire.  As soon as it's away I duck back
behind the house asking for inventory.  We're fully loaded for
the moment.  I tell them to hold the fuck on and move us right
through a cloud of black smoke. They're firing as we go. 
Fuckin team are fearless adrenaline junkies.  Circling they
hit everything firing at us and the Brothers.  HS1 closes in
on foot and bikes hitting the runners.  An explosion rocks the
chopper.  A building is engulfed.  Fuck.