Chapter 2

Chapter 2StormRiding the open road on my motorcycle with the morning sun beaming down on my face and Breaker at my side was literally the best feeling in the entire world.Breaker and I had met in the military, discovered we had a meeting of the minds about a lot of shit, and stuck together after we were discharged for lack of a better plan. The thing was, putting the horrors of battle behind us was not as easy as being honorably discharged from of the military with a chest full of medals. The PTSD, sleepless nights, and feeling of impending doom were now our constant companions.That’s why I started a support group for wounded warriors, or as Breaker called it a male bonding session for broke dicks who couldn’t get their lives together. That’s exactly how he saw himself and thus why he needed our support group.I had been given the name of a vet in need of extra support and the thing that really bothered me about this one was that his neighbor left a heart-wrenching voice mail asking us to check on him as well. The neighbor had found my flyer nailed to a telephone pole and called us to say he was having nightmares, drinking all the time, and was hopelessly depressed. Since we were the only group within a hundred miles, getting contacted by both of them wasn’t all that surprising, but it put him in the highest risk category in my mind.We pulled up, cut our engines and flipped down the kickstands on our bikes. Breaker took off his glasses and eyed the small house that appeared to be abandoned.“You sure we got the right address, Storm? It doesn’t look like anyone lives here,” There was no vehicle, the grass was overgrown, and deliveries were piled up on his front porch.I jumped off my bike and stalked up to the front door. “There’s only one way to find out. Let’s beat the fucking door down and see what jumps out at us.”Breaker chuckled because he knew all about my shitty sense of humor and how I used it as a personal shield in stressful situations.I knocked on the door forcefully multiple times to no avail. Refusing to give up on a brother in need, I walked around banging on the windows, and finally on the back door.Suddenly, the door flew open, and a rough looking man growled, “What the hell do you want at such an ungodly hour?” I swallowed thickly at the sight of him sitting in a jacked up wheelchair that looked like it had been pieced together with scrap metal. The crazy fucker had two mangled legs and a shotgun resting across his lap.I asked boldly, “Are you Adam Daniels?”He glared at me and grabbed for the weapon in his lap. “Get the fuck off my property.”I leapt back and tried to talk him down from the edge. “What the hell kind of Charley Foxtrot shit is this? Stand the fuck down soldier. We’re friendlies.” I jerked back another step and stated hotly, “I didn’t survive four damn years in the middle east to get taken out by a fucking wounded warrior stateside.”My response might have been a little over the top because the man rolled his eyes at my dramatic display. “Since when did the military start sending in reinforcements that were worlds jumpier than the fucked up vets they were tasked with checking in on?”I frowned down at him. “I wasn’t sent by the United States military, you dumb fuck. Your neighbor called because she’s worried you’re pissing your life away on alcohol and depression. And you cancelled all your appointments with the VA.”Breaker pulled his thumb back towards a pretty woman with long blonde hair looking worriedly at us from her back patio. “Fucking hell, Storm. You never said his neighbor was Bravo Tango.”I frowned at my longtime friend. “Forget the tits and ass and let’s focus on the brother we came to see.”Daniels just shook his head. “Drop me a clue here. Why are the two of you on my porch today? Whatever bullshit you’re selling, I’m not interested.”“We run a support group for wounded warriors.”He rolled his wheelchair back and pivoted to close the door. “Not interested. Good day, gentlemen.”I shoved my big biker boot in his doorway before he could get the door closed. “Just give me ten minutes of your time. If you don’t like what I have to say, I’ll leave.”He sighed. “I already don’t like what you’re saying. Does that count?”“No. You’re not the only recently discharged vet around these parts that’s having a problem jumpstarting your life.”He wheeled around and began moving back through his house. “I’ll bet all of the rest of them have legs though. Am I right?”I strolled in after him. “We don’t play who’s the most disabled vet games. We’re all wounded in different ways. Some wounds are just more obvious than others.”“In that case, I’d say your major malfunction is that you’re a total fuck up nursing a hero complex. Now, why don’t you go save some damsel in distress and leave me the fuck alone?”I dropped down onto the messy sofa across from where he came to a stop. “Why you gotta be this way, man?Breaker came through with a huge black garbage sack, picking up beer bottles and snack food wrappers. At least he was making himself useful.He glanced at Adam, “You don’t mind if I clear up, do you? Clutter makes me nervous as fuck.”He gestured around the room with one arm. “Knock yourself out, boy scout. It’s not like I’m saving all my trash for posterity or anything.”I reached down, picked up a wrapper from the floor and sniffed it. It smelled delicious, so I turned the wrapper over to read the label. “Turkey jerky, is this shit any good?” That was called an ice breaker, only it didn’t work.“Sure. I’ll buy you a whole case if you leave now and promise to take me off your list of charity cases in need of caretaking.”I frowned at him. “Why are you being so anti-social?”“In case you haven’t fucking noticed, I got my legs crushed in a terrorist attack and now I can’t run and dance in the sunshine. It pisses me off.”I frowned at the smart ass. “What the hell was your MOS, some rear-echelon non-combat position?” A vision rose in my mind of his Humvee getting blown up while traveling from one location to another.His reply brought me up short, “Military intelligence. Any other questions, smart ass?”I tried again. “Look, all this overt hostility can’t be good for your health. Why don’t you give our support group a chance? You never know, it might end up being just what you need to get over the hump.”I looked at him, hopeful that he would at least give it a shot. The man looked like hell. It was pretty apparent he hadn’t showered in days. His hair had grown out a bit and was a greasy mess on his head. He was quickly growing a shabby beard. Everything about him gave the appearance of self-neglect.He replied woodenly, “What can I say or do to get you to leave my home and never come back?”“Nothing. I have a feeling you need the support of fellow vets who are suffering from PTSD.”“Yeah, because misery loves company, right?”After a brief pause, I tried a different angle. “Maybe they need your dry, wry sense of humor. Would you really turn me down, knowing you might have been the voice of reason that kept a fellow vet from putting a bullet in his head?”“Me minding my own business seems kind of selfish when you put that particular spin on it.”“It’s not a spin if it’s true,” I shot back. Clearly this man had no idea how tenacious I could be.A short silence spun out between us. When he spoke again I knew that tenacious or not, I’d lost this battle.“Look, I respect what you’re trying to do here. I just need time to work this shit out on my own. Get your battle buddy and hit the road.”When I didn’t immediately answer he added. “I heard your motorcycles pull up. Must be nice to ride the open roads. It’s one of the hundred and one things I’ll never be able to do again. And that’s why you’ll never understand what it’s like to be me. Vets aren’t all the same, so assuming your group has what I need is the height of fucking arrogance.”I scratched behind my neck, getting more uncomfortable by the minute. “Can I at least check in with you every now and then, just to be sure you don’t change your mind?”He glared at me. “Would it even matter if I said no?”I jumped to my feet. “I’ll take that as a yes. I’ll give you a week or so and pop back in. Just a head’s up, I’m probably gonna keep popping in until I’m sure you’re okay.”“You’re a fucking nuisance, that’s what you are,” he ground out.Breaker was at my side in the blink of an eye. “We’re leaving already?”I jerked my chin towards the door. “Yeah, let’s ride. We’re burning daylight.”