The Navy's Ghost (Bad Boys of Beta Squad) Read Free Page B

the artery before it was too late. He saved your life, though it looks bad now. However, everything is healing cleanly and the last CT scan of your leg showed the artery functioning correctly.”
    “ That’s healing cleanly?” Whittleton shot a look of amazement at the woman.
    “Yes, L t. Commander.” Meecham gave him a half smile. “We’re going to clean it, rebandage it, and take a look again tomorrow. It should be healing and itching like crazy in a few days. Don’t touch it.” She leveled a motherly finger at Chris.
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    The doctor’s face smoothed into a real smile. “Good. Let’s get you cleaned up and resting.”
    The process of cleaning and bandaging her injured leg tested Chris’s endurance, but she’d be damned before she’d show weakness in front of her commanding officer. She’d done Hell Week. This wasn’t nearly so bad.
    No, this is damn near worse!
    Chris counted the ceiling tiles in a vain attempt to ignore the pain until they reattached the leg brace. Dr. Meecham told her they’d up her calcium intake as well as continue the Dilaudid drip for the next week while her muscles healed.
    As if she read Chris’s mind, Dr . Meecham laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “You got a second chance, Ensign. Don’t squander it, okay?”
    Chris nodded, but couldn’t bring herself to say anything. Second chance at what? Her life as a SEAL had ended. The doctor patted her shoulder and inclined her head to Whittleton before she strode from the room.
    No one said anything after her withdrawal and the regular hospital sounds intruded into their little pocket of space. Chris wished everyone would leave while she figured out her next move, but she held her peace while the nurse went about her duties as if no one else existed.
    Whittleton stayed, patiently waiting for the nurse to finish. She injected the pain meds directly into the line and Chris took a deep breath as they hit her system. The damn stuff burned like a sonofabitch, making her arch her back and groan low in her throat. The burn only lasted a minute, quickly followed by blessed relief.
    “All right, Ensign?” the nurse asked.
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    She quietly unhooked Chris’s IV, replacing the empty saline bag with a full one. Then she packed up her cart, and left the room without another word.
    Chris returned her gaze to her team leader and he gave her his patented half-smile. “The man responsible for your injury has decided, with a little judicious encouragement, to give up all the information pertaining to the terrorist cell operating in Nicaragua, and their biohazard imports operation.”
    “Did you catch them all, sir?” Crushing the terrorist cell would improve her mood.
    “Yes. Bravo Squad went in at 1900 the day you returned to Coronado.” The lt. commander lost his smile, but fierce triumph glowed in his eyes. Hooyah, they’d gotten the bastards. She nodded her gratitude, but her gut clenched with loss. She’d been left behind already.
    “ Glad to hear it, sir. Would you pass on my congrats to the squad, sir?”
    “ Will do, Ensign.” A half-smile curled his lips. “They also took your nickname for the squad.”
    “My nickname, sir?” Chris blinked.
    “Bravo Squad does it mo’betta?” He chuckled at her blank stare. “They shortened it to Beta Squad, because they’re second to none.”
    Chris gaped at her CO. “Did I really say that, sir?”
    “Yes, Ensign. Under the influence of morphine. I have multiple reports.” He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t remember?”
    “No, sir.”
    “They’ve adapted it out of honor and affection for you, Brickman.”
    “ Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”
    “They are all looking forward to seeing you.”
    “Thank you, sir.” Chris didn’t want them to see her like this.
    They lapsed into silence again. What more was there to say? The squad had vanquished the terrorist cell and only she’d sustained injuries. At least as far as she knew.
    “Was anyone else