Hamish

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Syria proved as chaotic and dangerous as expected. Hamish made a ritual of reminding the others daily their job was to help the medical staff only. They weren’t peacekeepers or active duty military. They couldn’t engage combatants.

Days went by slowly in a slog of rescuing civilians buried in their own homes. It was the hell of war. Hamish had always hoped his tours in Afghanistan were the last he’d see of it.

Hamish saw nothing but pain and suffering in the eyes of the people they helped. Half of the time, they ended up working with the White Helmets, volunteers who worked as first responders in the battered cities. He admired their courage in the face of such abject misery and constant danger.

They had almost no respite, barely had time to remember to breathe. Akash emailed him frequently with updates on the goings-on in Cardiff, or sometimes just to say hello. Hamish read them over repeatedly, happy for any connection with his baker.

April had been a busy month for both of them. The arson investigation had finally closed with a surprise ending. A second fire less than a few hundred yards from the bakery caught the detectives’ attention. They were able to connect both incidents, along with three others, apprehending a serial arsonist in the process.

It turned out the twins’ stepfather hadn’t been directly involved. Marc had messaged him a news article on the fires. The arsonist confessed to over thirty fires dating back ten years; he claimed to have heard a man in a pub going on about the bakery and decided to make it his next target.

We can’t exactly arrest him for an overheard conversation.

Convenient for the stepfather.

It was at least a weight off his shoulders. Hamish had worried that someone might be wandering around Cardiff, a danger to Akash. He knew his lover had the ability to take care of himself, but he still worried.

On the heels of the arrest, Akash told him the twins had ended up facing their abuser at trial anyway. They’d been brave. Terrified, but extremely courageous. The two would hopefully be free of his torment for a while at least, given the sentence and restraining order handed out to him.

He made a mental note to ask Gray or Wyatt to check up on the situation. Either would be a good choice for intimidating the man. Alice and Alex might finally find healing.

God, I miss Akash.

Skype hadn’t worked for them in two weeks. Internet wasn’t exactly reliable with almost daily bombings. It seemed more important to reserve their satellite connection for emergency communications.

Under all of his complaints, Hamish knew it boiled down to him missing Akash. They only had a week or so left to go. They’d survived months and months, a week would be nothing at all.

“It’s getting worse.” Adam—Hamish refused to call a grown man Scorch—perched on the cot across from his. “Another hospital was hit in the south of the city last night.”

“I’m aware.” Hamish sighed. “It’s a shitshow, and we’ve no authority to do anything other than help with the bodies. An effort in futility.”

Vinnie joined them with three brimming cups of coffee. He carefully handed two of them over, keeping one for himself. “We’ve a bigger issue, as the planes have been straying closer towards us.”

“I’ve noticed.” Hamish had discussed it at length with the lead doctor, who agreed with his assessment of the danger but refused to take his advice on moving into consideration. “We’ll do what we can.”

“So, nothing but fucking hope we don’t get blown to fucking bits.” Cole, or Voodoo as Wyatt preferred to call him, strode into the room with his own mug of coffee. “Doctor wants to get a move on.”

“We’ve a week left.” Hamish quaffed down the lukewarm coffee and set the cup aside. “All we can do is try to save as many as possible while keeping our arses out of the fire.”

“Easier said than done.” Cole exchanged a glance with his fellow American, who shrugged. “Chug your coffee. Say a prayer to the god of war that he doesn’t abandon us.”

Walking out of the building they used as a bunk, Hamish stared up at the cloudless sky. Plumes of smoke were visible in the distance. Closer than yesterday. He rubbed the back of his neck when the hairs suddenly stood on end.

“Oi. Hamster.” Vinnie jogged up behind him. He nodded toward the small bit of the horizon they could see through the few buildings still standing. “We should let the doctors know.”

Hamish had never been much of a praying man, but couldn’t help sending one up anyway. “Shit.”

He had a bad feeling. From the glances sent his way, the others harboured similar worries. His eyes stayed on the skies, and he sent up a prayer to the gods of war to spare them for another week.

It was selfish. More than anything else, Hamish wanted to make it home to Akash. He’d seen so many hearts broken by a loved one never returning. Please don’t let me be the next one on the list. I’m not ready.

Akash, if I don’t make it back to say this, I’ll send it into the ether and hope you hear me anyway. I love you.

I love you.

I hope I sodding make it home to say it in person.