Thwarted - 49. Chapter Forty-Nine

“I can’t believe it’s only been three months.” Trey raked his fingers through his short hair. “How the hell are we going to survive another nine months of this?”

“We’ll do it because we have to.” Mark wanted to be encouraging, but the three months Trey had been gone had been tough. For both of them. He still hadn’t heard directly from Jackie, but after everything Brent had told him, it was probably just as well. “Just keep reminding yourself that once you’re done over there, you’re on your way to an honorable discharge.”

“Yeah, there is that.” Trey glanced over his shoulder and waved at someone presumably behind him. “I’m just ready to come home.”

“We’re all ready for you to be home.” Mark studied Trey’s face. He loved the fact that they could talk via web cam, but he worried over how tired Trey looked. “Are you doing okay?”

“As good as I can be.” Trey slumped further into his chair. “I’m starting to run out of a few things though.”

“Email me a list of what you need and I’ll get it sent within the next day or two.” They’d figured out that was the best way to put together a care package. There was no sense in sending a bunch of stuff that Trey didn’t need. That didn’t mean that Mark never put extra stuff in, but at least he could be confident he’d sent the necessities.

“Sounds good. Anything new going on there?”

“Not really. Brent’s divorce is all but final. He’ll be closing on the house on Friday and as soon as that’s done, he has an appointment with Jackie and the lawyers for her to sign the paperwork relinquishing all rights to Matthew.” Mark shook his head. He couldn’t understand Jackie not wanting anything to do with her son, but had reasoned that it was probably for the best. He hoped to have everything packed up and ready to go when Brent brought Matthew to him.

His brother-in-law still wanted him to take Matthew when he left. After everything was signed, Brent would drive up, spend a couple days, and then would be staying in Mark’s apartment until he figured something else out. He didn’t want to think about Brent and his sister and turned his focus to things that didn’t give him a headache.

“I talked to Mom and Dad yesterday, and they seem to be getting by okay.”

“That’s what they keep telling me too, but a part of me doesn’t really believe them.” Trey rubbed a hand over his face. “I’ll feel so much better once you’re there to keep an eye on them.”

Mark looked at the boxes strewn around his small apartment. Most of his stuff was already in the trailer he’d rented for the trip up to Gary and Diane’s, but there were still a few odds and ends, and his bed. He felt weird about moving before Trey got home, but he understood Trey’s need to have someone there to help out his parents, and it was perfect timing so Brent could move in. “You know, Dad keeps telling me that they’ll be fine if I want to wait until you get back.”

“I know, he said the same thing to me.” Trey grinned. “I think I finally convinced him it’s for the best.”

“Oh really.” Mark smirked. “And how the hell did you manage that?”

“Well, I may have reminded him that you moving up there will help you out just as much as them.” Trey chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. “It probably didn’t hurt when I reminded him that if you stay in your apartment you were going to have to find a job soon, one that you’d have to quit down the road in order to move. I think I have him convinced now. He told me the cabin is ready for you whenever you get there.”

“Good, because I really don’t like arguing it with him.” Which he’d done countless times since Trey had talked to him about it. He’d already planned to make trips up there to work on the cabin he’d be moving into with Trey, but it made sense for him to just stay up there. “I hope he didn’t tackle too much. That’s part of the reason I’m moving up there, to get it ready and to help him and Mom out when they need it.”

“I know, and I realize that moving before I get home is probably awkward for you.” Trey gave him a tender smile. “I know you’re primarily doing it for me, so that I don’t worry as much. It just makes me love you that much more.”

“The most important thing is for you to get home safe and sound. That’s tougher if you’re worrying about what’s going on here.” Mark wished, not for the first time, that Trey was actually there with him. He wanted to hold his boyfriend and assure him that everything would be fine. He’d be able to, in time, but it couldn’t come fast enough for him. “Besides, hopefully when you get home, there won’t be much left to do. Are you still scheduled for R and R halfway through?”

“Last I knew, but things are changing constantly, so who knows.” Trey frowned and looked around. “I can definitely tell you that after only three months, I’m ready for it. If I never hear or see another mortar attack, it will be too soon.”

“Oh, that makes me feel so much better.” Mark noted the lack of anything on Trey’s head. “Shouldn’t you be wearing your helmet, at the very least?”

“Probably.” Trey reached to the side and held up the helmet in question. “I have it close so that if the alarms go off, I can quickly put it on. It’s been fairly quiet today, but that doesn’t mean much.”

“A case of you not knowing if it’s the calm before the storm?” Mark could see people walking past every once in a while, but no one seemed to be in any big hurry.

“Pretty much. We’ve had at least one or two mortar attacks per day, but it’s been quiet today. Makes me a bit nervous.”

And it also explained why Trey looked so tired. Mark understood how nerves could keep someone from sleeping. Well, nerves and sirens. He remembered how he needed to be alert all the time and how hard it was when sleep was constantly interrupted.

“You look tired.” Mark didn’t know why he felt the need to point it out.

“I am. I’m just not sleeping very well.” Trey huffed out a breath. “I’ll need to try and get at least a few hours before I go on watch.”

“I should probably let you hit your rack then.” Mark knew he needed to, but he didn’t want to. It would probably be at least a few days before he got to talk to Trey again. Like every other time they video chatted, he had a hard time actually signing off. Even though he knew he needed to.

Trey made no move to sign off. “I’ve got a few more minutes.”

As if to refute Trey’s assurance, Mark suddenly heard sirens going off in the background. Trey jerked his head around as people started rushing by.

“Fuck!” Trey looked back at the camera and Mark could see the fear in his eyes. “Love you, but gotta go. Another mortar—“

“Trey!” Mark cried out as the call suddenly ended.