6. Alexis

Chapter 6

Alexis

T he sandstorm had come and kept them pinned down for ten hours. The wind whipped and howled, the sky darkened by the flowing wall of sand. Alexis had slept through most of it, but had watched some of it in awe, wondering how such insane things happened.

By the time the storm was over and the dust had settled, the sun, which had been up for hours, illuminated the world again. Movement in daylight would be tantamount to suicide. Alexis had woken up about an hour before the storm had died and had kept watch over Kate's sleeping form. They'd have to stay until the sun went down anyway, so Kate needed to sleep while she had the opportunity.

What she'd said to Kate hours before had been the truth. Alexis actively avoided strong attachments to anyone but purely platonic friends. As a result of this, most of her friends were men. Fear had kept her from getting too close to someone romantically, and Alexis wondered if she could push that fear aside for Kate.

Since she'd lost her aunt, Alexis had written off relationships. The single, casual sex lifestyle she had was the only kind of romance she knew. Alexis wasn't even sure she knew how to be in a relationship.

There was no denying the feelings that had snuck in. Kate was like a drug, and she'd become addicted to her the moment they'd met. Alexis just hadn't known it at the time. Now she was faced with the decision of allowing herself to be vulnerable and at Kate's mercy. It was terrifying, thinking of giving that part of herself to someone—although she wasn't sure she'd given her heart to Kate. It was more like Kate had snuck in, a thief in the night, and stolen it right out of her chest.

Alexis couldn't deny that Kate seemed the best person who could ever have stolen her heart. If Kate could find a way to trust Alexis, even with her reputation of being a player, then the least Alexis could do was try.

They may not even make it out of there alive, and Alexis couldn't imagine the agony of making it safely to the extraction if Kate weren't with her. She couldn't let Kate die in the goddamned desert.

Deep down, Alexis had always believed she'd die in a place like this. Deployed on some suicide mission in a dessert hellhole. It made her long to see forests, mountains, and lakes again. The green was a special type of peace that a person missed, particularly when facing death around every corner in a sandbox. But she couldn't let Kate suffer the same fate. She still had healing to do and a life to live. If it was at all within Alexis's control, she'd get Kate to the extraction point alive and in one piece. Then, she'd spend the rest of her life trying to convince Kate that she could trust Alexis and would treat Kate the way she deserved from a partner. She wanted to spoil her rotten and push away both women's sadness and loneliness.

Was she capable of it? Capable of loving one woman forever? Alexis didn't know, but she did know that for Kate Cross, she wanted to try.

Deep voices echoed down the alley to their left, and Alexis backed slowly and silently into the basement, positioning herself with the best sightline to take out any intruders but still keeping herself between the stairs and Kate. She flicked off the safety, started her breathing routine, and waited.

Breathe in for four seconds, then hold for four , she thought to herself. Alexis slowly exhaled through pursed lips like she was blowing through a straw, then started the loop again. She repeated it as the sounds of men speaking grew louder. Alexis knew a little Arabic, and she understood basic Kurdish, at least enough to get directions and order a beer. She couldn't understand a single phrase of what was being said, and she figured they were speaking Arabic or one of the other languages common in the Syrian/Iraqi border. Their voices were casual with happy inflections. Alexis was pretty sure they had no idea she and Kate were hiding mere feet from them.

Shadows passed over the doorway to the building, but they kept moving, not stopping to do a search. Alexis moved silently toward the staircase and watched the men pass, identifying four different men, all carrying some type of weapon. Most had rifles or machine guns. Alexis rolled her eyes and tracked their path, curious to see if she could follow their prints in the sand later.

The men's voices faded away as they left the area. Alexis kept her ears open and guarded the staircase like a statue until the sun started to set.

When the sun started its descent, the rhythm of Kate's breathing changed. She was waking up, and Alexis retreated back into the basement. Her bag sat near Kate at the far wall, and she searched through it as Kate began to stir. Alexis grabbed an M.R.E., pulled it out of her pack, and set it and the remainder of their water next to Kate.

After deploying several times, getting stuck in the desert, and going without meals for a while, Alexis had grown used to being nauseated when she was in the desert. Not eating wouldn't bother her for at least another day. If everything went according to plan, they'd be out of there before then.

She was used to living like this. Kate wasn't.

Shuffling sounds emanated from behind her, and Alexis heard Kate wake up and search for her clothes in the semi-darkness. A smile grew on Alexis's face, but she kept her gaze trained on the entrance, determined not to let thoughts of Kate dressing distract her from guard duty. Plastic crinkled and tore, and Kate's soft groan echoed through the darkness.

"Thank you for the food." Kate's voice came from behind her, and Alexis turned to find her in a t-shirt and panties, her hair tumbling down past her shoulders.

Nearly swallowing her own tongue, Alexis nodded at her. "No problem." She returned to her watch and felt Kate approach from behind. She pressed her head into Alexis's back and wrapped her arms around her waist.

"I really want a shower," Kate grumbled into Alexis's back.

Alexis chuckled, "Me too. Soon enough. The sun will be down soon and we will get out of here. Go finish eating."

Kate turned on her heel and did as she was told.

When the sun had gone down completely and the street was quiet, Alexis led them back onto the street and down the alley they'd turned in from last night. She surveyed the different alleyways and turned them south again along a different path. The streets were still littered with obstructions. Cars, boxes, and rubble from nearby buildings were strewn everywhere, making the path difficult to traverse.

They picked their way through the streets as silently as possible, and Alexis drew them to a stop behind an old, burned out bus. The end of the city was just a few blocks ahead, and nothing stood between it and the entrance to the valley. If they could make it the last few blocks without being followed, they stood a good chance at extraction within the next few hours. The opportunity to escape was nearly overwhelming, but Alexis continued with caution.

The streets were silent, Kate and Alexis crept forward, keeping their eyes and ears open for any sign of trouble. Wary of the silence, Alexis glanced around. Something didn't feel quite right, and Alexis slowed, trusting her gut.

Ahead of them, the final intersection loomed in darkness. Blinding lights flicked on, coming from each side of the intersection. Behind them, the sound of a truck revving its engine roared into the night, and more lights bathed them.

They were trapped. It had been an ambush.

They'd known that any survivors would have headed through the city and not around it, so they'd just set up their men by the exit to the city. The lights were blinding, and Alexis couldn't make out how many combatants there were.

"Get down," Alexis ordered quietly. Kate dropped to the ground just as gunfire rang out and Alexis crouched over her to shield her. Heat and searing pain bathed Alexis's previously injured shoulder. She'd taken another hit, but this one had definitely hit something important. Hot, wet blood trickled down her left side, and Alexis rolled off Kate, stood, and ran toward the southern exit dragging Kate with her.

Rifle at the ready, Alexis fired, ignoring the pain that threatened to make her pass out. She managed to take out two of the enemies ahead of them, and a gunshot barked near Alexis's ear from behind. Kate fired, nailing the third assailant. He went down, and they broke into a sprint. Kate followed close behind her, and Alexis heard her firing behind them, It sounded as if she had taken a few out from those who were pursuing them, as well.

"I need to conserve ammo," Kate said in her ear.

Alexis nodded, running as fast as her injury would allow. There was a cave off to their immediate right, and if they were fast enough, no one would see them go into it. She put on a burst of speed and led Kate into the cave. Her knees gave out five feet from the entrance, and Alexis collapsed.

"I took a hit, Kate." Alexis coughed. The pain was blinding, and she didn't know if she'd be able to stay conscious much longer.

Kate rolled her over and saw the condition of her left shoulder. "Oh, fuck. Oh, Alexis, you idiot!"

Blood pooled around the wound, and Alexis started to feel cold.

Alexis had been right all along. She would die out here in the sand. She would never make it home.

Kate dug through her pack, searching for something, and Alexis's vision swam. At least Kate was uninjured. Alexis pushed her rifle into Kate's hand, dug through her pockets and found her satellite phone.

"Take it. Call them and let me know you're twenty minutes from the extraction site. Leave me. Just run south. They'll see you and pick you up."

It was as if Kate had been slapped. She reared back, obviously angry.

"Don't you fucking dare think I'm leaving you here. Shut your mouth, stop moving, and sit the fuck still while I save your life, you idiot!"

Angry tears coursed down Kate's face, and Alexis cupped her cheek and swiped at the tears with her thumb.

Darkness crept in, and she let it as the pain engulfed her. Alexis saw Kate shake her head before she blacked out.