FIC: 3 Years in Hell, A Lifetime of Pain (6/?)

[BillGopher <asagiri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Disclaimers - Buffy and Co. belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and UPN.
We're just borrowing them for a bit.

Other Disclaimers - This has violence and angst aplenty. Break out the kleenex,
you might need them.

Archives - As Faith put it, "Want, Take, Have", just let us know where.

Feedback - We both thrive on feedback of all kinds. We can be reached at
kerrison29@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or senseiferret@xxxxxxxxx. Bill Gopher & Kerry
Ferret

Three Years in Hell, A Lifetime of Pain
Chapter 6  

Sunnydale, CA

Joyce had been tossing and turning for the last several hours. Turning she
looked over at Rupert to make sure he was asleep before getting out of bed.
Slipping into a robe, she walked out and down the hallway to Dawn's room
and looked in. She saw Dawn sleeping peacefully, < At least they can get
some sleep.> walking back out of the room Joyce closed the door and headed
downstairs to the living room.

< I know Rupert hasn't been sleeping well in the last few weeks. He's
been so worried about Beth ever since she left for France.> Walking into
the living room, Joyce sat down and turned the TV on and changed the channel
to CNN. Part of her was hoping to see Beth, while another part was terrified
to see her little girl there. She wasn't sure which would bother her more.

After she sat there for a while, she heard footsteps behind her and she felt
Rupert's hands on her shoulders.

“Joyce, you can't stay down here. You need to sleep and you aren't doing
yourself any good waiting to see something.” Rupert moved around to the front
of the couch and sat down next to his wife.

“I can't, what if the news shows something I'll miss it. I can't sleep anyway.”

Rupert could see the worry lines etched on Joyce's face from the strain she
put on herself. He knew she had been coming down here to watch the news for
the last week.

“Rupert, I...”

“Joyce, please. Come back with me upstairs and rest. You read the letter
from Beth, she's fine. What would she say if she were to see what you are
doing to yourself?”

“She'd probably yell at me for worrying,” Joyce replied.

“Yes she would. You're nightly visits down here are worrying us all Joyce.
Dawn especially, she needs you as much as you need Beth to be back here where
she's safe.”

“I know. I'm not trying to ignore dawn. But ever since I found out about
Beth being in France, I remember seeing my mother pace and worry when Dad
went to Vietnam. I just can't sleep Rupert...I'm so tired.” Joyce felt Rupert
pull her close and hold her gently against his chest. “I know Joyce, so am
I.” He felt her slowly start to drift off as he whispered softly that that
everything would be okay and not to worry.

Picking Joyce up, Rupert carried her back to the bedroom and gently laid
her down on the bed and pulled the sheets over her sleeping form. Kissing
her gently on the forehead, “I love you Joyce Summers.”

Walking quietly out of the bedroom Rupert headed downstairs to his study.
Once he was there he sat down at the desk and pulled out a metal lockbox
from the bottom drawer. Unlocking it he opened the box and removed the only
item inside, a small black address book.

Holding the small book in his hands, <I had promised myself I would never
use this, that I would not ask them for help, there is always a price to
pay for their assistance... I believed that nothing could ever make me willing
to go to them for help, I was wrong.> 

Opening the address book, he turned several pages till he saw there on the
page the words, W. Council Contacts written on the top.

Flipping pages Giles searched for a name, someone who would help him without
having to contact the Council directly, at least yet. <Carol. Yes, she
might be able to help me.>  

Picking up the phone Giles dialed the international operator and a minute
later he heard the phone ring 3 times when a women's voice answered. “Watson
residence.”

“Carol, it's Rupert Giles. How are you?”

“Ripper? Its good to hear from you!” The woman's voice became more warm and
friendly, “We had heard that the Council in its infinite wisdom had bounced
you. So what has you calling an old lady like me?”

“Actually I'm calling because I need some help Carol. I have a problem and
I don’t want to involve the Council in this matter.”

Giles heard several seconds silence on the line, “What's wrong? Is it your
Slayer, Miss Summers?” The humour and warmth in her voice was gone replaced
by a business attitude.

==================

Outside Los Angeles, CA

Faith arrived at the Tick-Tock Diner several minutes early, <Always better
to get a feel of the place, before the spooks show up,> and walked over
to a table where she could see everyone who walked in and waited.

10 minutes later she saw a tall, dark-skinned man walk in to the diner and
head over to her table.

“Miss Winters?” his deep baritone voice asked and pulled out a chair as she
sat down in front of her. 

Pulling out an envelope he placed it on the table and slid it over to Miss
Winters, “I have been asked to convey our satisfaction with your last operation.
The intelligence ring you broke could have compromised national security
and agents abroad.”

Faith took the envelope and slid it into a inner pocket in her jacket. <Working
for the NSA does have some perks> she thought happily. <And I know
that St. Agnes's Church needs a new gym, I guess Santa's coming early this
year.> Faith suppressed the urge grin.

“We’ll be in touch thru normal channels.” Within a second he was gone. 

<Dang NSA agents are better at disappearing than Angel.> she thought.
Faith noticed some patrons of the restaurant looking in her direction and
quickly dropped a few bills on the table before making her way out and to
her bike.

Once on her bike headed towards her apartment Faith felt her anger starting
to return. No matter how long or how many missions she did for the NSA she
still felt helpless about Beth.

Faith pulled out into the street and felt the rush of the wind as she gunned
the engine flying down the highway as she headed back towards her apartment.
<It's been over 3 weeks since Red dropped by and told me about Beth, damnit!>
Faith felt a rush of anger over her frustration, none of her contacts in
the NSA or even Angels demon contacts could scrounge up the tiniest bit of
info on Beth's whereabouts or if she was okay. <Why the brick wall? What
else is going on here?> Faith thought, suddenly wondering if this wasn't
a coincidence.

Faith slowed the bike as she neared her building, <Fuck it. Nothing matters
but getting Beth back safe. I'll deal with anything else later> she thougth
when she realized there was one person she hadn't spoken to yet. <Damnit,
I hate singing! Slayer's don't sing, well at least I don't.>

====================

Firebase Bravo 112
75 kilometers east of Bordeaux, France
1315 hours local time, October 16

Taylor, Beth and the rest of the squad walked into the large briefing room.
Scattering about they sat down with the rest of Charlie company. 

At the front of the room were several covered charts, the company commander,
Capt. Daniels and Gunny O'Shea. "Gunny, lets get this on the road," said
Daniels.

“Taylor! Shut the door. Everyone else put a lid on it, the captain's here
to brief you meatheads, not stand here looking at you.”

Once the door was closed and Taylor was seated, Daniels pulled the cover
off the first chart revealing a map of Pyrenees region and several cities.
“The 13th MEU and 2nd MarDiv are to launch an assault from Gironde and strike
into the Midi-Pyrenees. Their job is to take Gers, and the bases at Montauban,
Cahors, Rodez and Aurillac. HQ has code named this operation, Thuderbolt.”

“We won't be in the main assault however, the 13th along with 1 battalion
from the 7th Light Cav and the 82nd Airborne we'll be going in behind UE
lines and hit their supply depots and commo & command bunkers.”

“Our job is to cause as much destruction and chaos in their rear areas as
possible. And considering the chaos you've managed back here,” Daniels smiled,
“that should be easy.” Some of the tension left the room eased by his humour.

“We will not have any artillery or air support during our phase of this operation.
All air & artillery have been have had control transferred to the Army’s
I Corps who are launching a diversionary assault with the 1st Batt/69th Armour
and the 7th Light Infantry near Tours.” 

“At 0130 hours we'll be choppered in behind Cahors, command has decided that
Charlie & Alpha companies will be broken down into platoons when we're
inserted. Better chance at making it in and out that way. You'll have 6 hours
to do all the damage you can and meet back at your rendezvous point for pickup.
Anyone not there will have a long walk home. You'll receive the rendezvous
points for the insertion and retrieval when you lift off.”

“This operation commences in 12 hours, I expect to see all of you here after
the operation. Good luck.” Daniels walked out of the silent room.

O'Hara's voice rang out, “Get you're gear together, you'll be given double
your basic ammo load for this op. Platoon commanders and sergeants stay behind.
Everyone else, dismissed.”

Beth headed back to the barracks, at her bunk she pulled out some paper &
a pen and started writing;


Dear Mom,                October 16,2003

Sorry I haven't written in awhile things have been hectic to say the least.
I know your worrying about me and I'll tell you again that you shouldn't.
Yes it's dangorous here but I've got a great team to back me up. Taylor's
been great at whatching my back and I've even managed to save him a few times.

I wanted to let you know that I might not be writing for a few weeks. We
are headed to a pretty tight spot and won't have much time. I just wanted
to let you know this so you won't worry from not getting letters.

Give my love to Dawn, tell Giles to relax and stop being so British and let
Xand and Will know I'm okay and will be writing as soon as possible.

Elizabeth Summers, LCpl. USMC
    
<<<<<<>>>>>>

Somewhere SE of Brive-la-Gaillard
0530 hours local time
October 17

Beth shifted the Alice Field Pack she was carrying, it was a good deal lighter
now. They had destroyed 2 supply depots, a fuel dump, and a satellite dish
in the last four hours, <Well things are going good so far, lets just
keep our fingers crossed no patrols.> Beth thought as she walked over
to Taylor. “Taylor, what's next?” she spoke softly.

“Not sure, think we're headed towards a triple C (Command, Communications,
& Control) base about 10 kilometers north, after that we head back to
the extraction LZ. Just stay on your toes.”

The platoon stopped just below a steep rise in the road and gathered around
the new Lieutenant, Jason Means.

“Okay, here's what I want. Just over that rise the road goes down into a
small valley. On either side of the road is forest and on the other side
of this valley intel says is a triple C site for this sector. Black, take
your squad down and scout out the road for any surprises. If its clear signal
me and I'll follow with the 2nd squad. Taylor, you stay back at the top.
If there is a trap, you'll be responsible for making a hole for us to pull
back. Clear?” When he saw the three squad leader's nod, “Good. Let's go.”

Black took his squad over the rise and down the road, they spread out as
they got to the bottom and moved into the valley. Several minutes passed
when one of the squad appeared and signaled ‘All Clear’. Taylor watched as
the LT took his squad down the hill and straight down the road towards the
forest. <Idiot! What’s he doing? Why are they bunched up?>

The LT signaled Taylor to come down, “Alright, spread out. Ramirez, I want
you and Shintaro on the flanks. The rest of you keep your eyes peeled, this
is too easy.” As those last words left his mouth gunfire erupted from the
forest cutting down Lt Means and two other Marines. 

The rest of the Marines dropped down looking for any cover in the open ground.
Taylor quickly saw the heaviest fire was coming from left side of the road
by a fallen oak. “Shintaro, Little, give me some cover fire by that oak!”
Several other Marines started firing towards the oak as well and the enemy
fire started to slack off. 

Beth crawled up to Taylor, “Are we having fun yet?” she quipped sarcastically.

“I have had better,” as he fired off several rounds where he saw a huey.
“Now go get your butt over…” when an explosion came from behind them. Turning
he saw a group of about 10 huey’s charging from behind them at the top of
the hill. “Summers, grab Ramirez and Little,” Taylor fired three rounds hitting
one huey and dropping him, “and move over to that ridge on the right. See
if you can swing over it and hit them from the side. We’ll hold them here.”

“K,” Beth replied as she fired two quick bursts killing 2 huey’s and started
to crawl over as bullets flew above her from two directions. She got to Ramirez
first, “Ram, you’re with me. Have you seen Little? He’s got the M60.”

“He’s dead.” Ramirez replied as he moved back, staying low.

“Shit. Well then it’s just you and me then. Let’s go.” 

The two moved up the hill and over the top of the ridge and down several
feet on the opposite side. “Ram, this is what we’re gonna do. Taylor’s holding
the huey’s that hit us from behind. We’re gonna return the favour and hit
them from behind catching them between us and open a way out so Taylor can
get the platoon the hell out of there.” The two moved around the back of
the ridge, the sounds of continuous gunfire carrying over the hill as they
moved towards the road. 

Beth used hand signals to tell Ramirez to stay here as she moved forward.
Moving quickly she stayed low, <Good, the roads clear. The didn’t leave
anyone behind.> Pulling back she got to Ram, “Okay, its clear. When we
get to the top, split left, I’ll go right.  Kill anything that moves fast
and hard. We have to punch a hole fast and get them out of there.” She saw
him nod and they set off towards the road, they moved up just below the crest
of the hill, Beth looked at Ram and gave him the thumbs up. 
    
The 2 charged over the ridge, as Beth crossed over the top saw a huey officer
stare at her in horror. She fired a short burst killing him. Running she
dropped behind a broken tree stump and pulled a grenade and the pin, “one
potato, two potato, three..” and she tossed it at 2 huey’s to her right and
dropped down. She heard a WARRUMPH! as the grenade exploded, peeking out
she saw the huey’s were dead. 

“Taylor! NOW!” Beth yelled, as she did something caught her eye on her left,
as she turned her head she saw a huey pop out off and fire at her. She heard
he supersonic CRACK as bullets flew by her head. Dropping down she started
to duck behind the tree stump when she felt a white-hot poker along her arm.
“AHHHH!” she yelled out in pain, once she was down she looked and saw a bullet
had hit her in the arm. <Ahh, shit that hurts. Ugghh! It doesn’t look
like it hit a bone.> 

Turning her head back towards the road she saw Taylor and several others
from the platoon charging up the hill where she and Ram had opened up a hole
for them to get out. Grabbing her rifle with her good hand she slung it over
her shoulder and forced herself to sit up, trying to ignore the pain. <Ok,
on 3 we’re gonna get up and run the hell out of here. Okay. Three!> Stumbling
to her feet, Beth felt the pain shoot up her arm as she moved it dashing
up the hill towards Taylor and the others who had taken positions on the
top of the hill firing back at the huey’s. Passing Taylor she slowed down
on the other side of the hill and stumbled over O'Shea.  “Shit. O'Shea!” 
She turned away suddenly stumbling back from what was left of the Corporal. 
The right side of his head and face had been blown off.

She felt a hand grab her from behind and saw that it was Ramirez.  “They're
cutting us down like wheat out here,” said Ramirez. He noticed the amount
of blood coming from her arm. “How bad?”

“I've had worse.  Fuckin' huey took out O'Shea.”

Moving back from the hilltop, Taylor jogged over to Beth, “Summers, get everyone
back here moving towards the LZ.” He looked over the remaining marines of
the platoon, “Ramirez, Bryans, Donnell, you’re with me. We’re gonna keep
them a little busy. O’Brien take the claymores & frags and mine this
back side of the ridge along the road. I want a surprise left for anyone
following us. You’ve got 5 minutes to do it. Go.”

Beth got the remaining seven injured Marines moving quickly as possible,
<The LZ’s about 10 klicks from here, we can make it. But that damn chopper
better be there.> Taking a quick glance, Beth turned and looked for Taylor,
seeing him she turned back towards the Marines ahead of her. 

<<<<>>>>

Fifteen minutes later, Taylor and the other Marines caught up with Beth and
her group. “We’re about 20 minutes from the LZ Beth,” he said to her from
behind when he noticed the blood dripping down her hand. 

Beth turned to look at Taylor, “Glad you’re back. I’m not sure if some of
them can keep this pace up though.”

“How bad is it?” he asked as he saw the pale pallor of her face. 

“It passed thru my arm, didn’t hit anything. Sanderson patched up best he
could. It’ll have to wait till we get back to base though. I’ll be ok though.”
Beth turned to hide a grimace of pain from Taylor as she shifted her arm.

Taylor saw her face before she could turn however and knew she was lying,
“Okay. You and Ramirez take rear-guard. I’ll see about moving things up.
We may have to start ditching anything we don’t need. Watch yourself Beth.”
And he jogged forward to the front of the line.

<<<<<<>>>>>>

Beth and Ramirez stayed behind on guard as Taylor and the rest of the platoon
headed into the LZ. Suddenly they heard gunfire from the LZ, “Shit! What
the hell?” she heard Ramirez say.

Beth took off at a run towards the LZ and Taylor, as she got closer she heard
gunfire stop, slowing down she moved behind some trees for cover. 

Seconds later Ramirez crawled up beside her. “Trouble up at LZ.  We've got
to get cover.”

“Cover? We can’t leave the rest of the unit.” Ducking her head from behind
the tree she saw Taylor throw down his weapon followed by the other unit
members. The chopper was a burning wreck and Taylor and the platoon were
surrounded by at least a company huey’s. 

One huey came up beside Shintaro smashing the butt of his rifle into his
ribs, bringing him to his knees.

Ducking back behind the tree. “Shit! There's about a 100 or so that I see.”

“It's no good Summers. We've got to get out of here.”

“No buts, we get captured we don’t help anyone.” Ramirez moved away silently,
heading back down the trail they came. 

Taking one last look back Beth looked for Taylor, but couldn’t see him. Turning
she started after Ramirez.
    
==============

Beth started scribbling on the paper she had scrounged up in the abandoned
bunker that she had found this morning.

Faith,
   I’m writing this in the few spare minutes I have in a bunker we found
last night. We've been on the run for 2 days straight, ever since we were
caught outside Aurillac in an ambush. I’m not sure where Ramirez and I are
right now. 
   If I didn't know better I'd say they were waiting for us. I haven't seen
Taylor since we managed to pull back, I don't know if any others managed
to get away. I just know Ramirez and I have to keep moving south, but we
can't keep this pace up. I'm so tired, maybe we'll lose them. I hope so.”
   War is… war is indescribable Faith.  It rips away at you, tearing your
insides till you can't feel anything.  War is sweat and blood and though
you've shed some blood, it is the blood of those you went to school with,
your friends and comrades, those you were too slow to protect that is shed.
  The sun's gone down and we have to move out. We'll have a better chance
at night to avoid being captured. We might be able to get back, but I'm not
sure. Take care of yourself and tell Mom & Dawn I love them.

Elizabeth Summers, LCpl. USMC

=====================

Sunnydale, CA
1 Week Later…

Joyce was standing in the kitchen when she heard the car pull up in her driveway
and when the doorbell rang a few moments later. As she walked towards the
door a chill run down her back. Opening the door she was greeted to the sight
of two officers from the Marines,  “No!” she whispered.

The officer on her left grasped her arm and held her from falling as he guided
her into the living room and to the couch. Joyce dully noted the cross on
his right collar instead of the marine insignia on both. The priest sat down
next to her holding her hand, while the other officer stood in front.

“Beth??? She’s okay, right?” Joyce asked.

“Mrs. Summers, I’m sorry to bear this news. On October 17th, 2003, Lance
Cpl. Elizabeth Summers was involved in several rear area actions with elements
of the 2nd & 3rd Company/13th Foreign Legion Demi-Brigade. When her unit
was ambushed, she rallied members of her platoon and flanked the unit that
attacked them. During this attack, LCpl Summers was injured during combat,
but was able to open a way for her platoon to pull back and allow the remnants
of the platoon to fall back out of the ambush and back towards their retreival
point. There the platoon was ambushed by a UE company who were lying in wait.
She was again injured as she created a diversion to allow several members
of her platoon to escape. We regret to inform you that Lance Cpl. Summers
was killed in action. Please accept our deepest condolences and the thanks
of a grateful nation for her service to her country.” Capt Myers finished.
He hated this part of his job, all he saw was the pain in the faces of the
families he visited. But it was something that ‘had’ to be done.

“NOOO!!!!!!!” Joyce wailed. <It can’t be Beth, there has to be a mistake.
She’s too smart and strong, she promised she’d come back and they’d keep
in touch.> She felt the priest holding her as he tried to comfort her,
but his words were meaningless. Beth was dead and nothing was going to bring
her back.

Capt. Meyers continued, “For her bravery under fire, Lance Cpl. Summers is
posthumously being awarded the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Her actions
saved several of her teammates, you should be proud of her.”

The priest finally spoke up next to her, “Can we call someone for you, your
husband, family? This is not a time for you to be alone Mrs. Summers.”

“M-my husband, Rupert” Joyce felt the tears pour down her face and the pain
rack her body. Beth was gone, she would never be able to tell her how much
she loved her. 

The priest motioned to Capt. Myers who pulled out a cell-phone and stepped
a few feet away to make the necessary calls.

TBC…