Chapter Title: CHARITY BEGINS NEXT DOOR Introduction: =================== Life isn't fair. So when you fight back, fight dirty. =================== Christmas has always been my favorite time of year. I married young, and had two perfect daughters, but my marriage was far from perfect. We had been young and in love. I was entering the community college and Denise was starting her senior year when we decided to tie the knot. Her family's ready acceptance of me was a huge factor - the family I'd never had, making me feel like a real member of theirs. I can admit it now; I probably loved being a part of the family as much as I loved Denise. Our split up was inevitable, two teenagers who knew nothing about life thinking their infatuation with each other would make everything else workout. I wasn't an all-star, super jock, Rhodes Scholar with a 12" swinging dick. I was just your average student, A's and B's, spending some bench time on the football team to get my letter, and losing m
"Life is hard. Life's a bitch and then you die. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When God closes a door he opens a window. If I hear one more God-damned cliché I swear I'll kill something," I growled. "Alex, you got a raw deal. You had two perfect little girls, and now they're gone. Your past is shattered. Your little bit of immortality is lost. And as bad as you've got it, I'd remind you others have it worse, and they just press on. You need to as well," Cathy told me, kneeling beside me and holding my hands. The woman barely knew me. A middle-aged mother of three with grown kids, and a workaholic husband. Her life was her home, keeping it immaculate and decorated for every holiday and season. Now it seemed I was her newest project. Why should I matter that much to her? Couldn't she see I didn't want her help? "Sure, starving Ethiopians, children in Nigeria dying of aids, Tibetan monks martyred, it's a tough world. Boo hoo." "You don't have to look as far as Ethiopia or
"Just thought I'd fix your fence, before it falls down. I hope you don't mind." She just shook her head. She stood there watching me, and I felt ill at ease. I was a stranger. She shouldn't be talking to me. I should probably leave. "I'm just going to clean up here and head back home. I can finish up later when your mother's home." I straightened up my clothing a bit, wiping my hands on my pants. "I'm Alex Reed. I live across the alley," I explained, pointing down a few houses. She nodded. She reminded me so much of my own daughter, right around that age. Her hair was the same length, blonde, but not quite as light as Allora's. Allora. My perfect little Allora. I closed my eyes, seeing her in that hospital bed, bruised and bandaged, fighting for her life. Her hair tucked under the bandages, the few strands that stuck out dark from sweat. Her body so small in that antiseptic white bed. My Allora. Gone. It felt like somebody had wrapped a band around my chest, and pulled it tigh
I made a list of phone calls, and went to work. Calling, one-by-one, my friends, neighbors and co-workers, I apologized for my behavior and thanked them for their concern. To a one, they blew off my boorish behavior, and promised they'd be there for me if I needed anything.I stopped, with just a few calls remaining, wondering where those people were for Sandy and Erica, who seemed to need it far more than I.I picked up the phone and dialed Denise's family. I knew it was going to be tough. I apologized for leaving the funeral arrangements to them, and thanked them for all they had done. Speaking to Dan was difficult, but my conversation with Sharon almost did me in. The time we'd spent in the hospital, watching over Allora came up, and I had to take a break for a bit to get my emotions under rein, while I listened to Sharon sob. Even after the divorce we'd remained friendly, and I was glad that we'd had each other on that fateful watch. I promised I'd stop by in the next couple of da
"I understand." She held my hand. "How are you doing?" "Better. Not good, but at least I can get out of bed." "We're here if you need us. You know that, right?" "Yes. Thank you. After the girls, you were the best thing that came out of our marriage." "We love you too. Don't forget it." "I'm sorry I was so useful about the funeral arrangements, I don't think I could have handled it without you," I confessed. "Don't even think about it. That's what family is for." That's what family is for. * * * My day wasn't quite complete. A few more calls and I was putting things in motion I wasn't sure I should, but I couldn't resist. Around dinner time, I ventured next door. Cathy's husband John answered the door. "The hermit has left the cave. Good to see you out and about." He shook my hand, letting me in. "Cath - Alex is here." Cathy came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishcloth. "How'd your day go?" "Not bad. A few surprises, but I survived." "We're about to eat. Care t
Her words surprised me. "Not at all. I'm just trying to fight back a bit against the unfairness of the world. What are you doing out here alone, anyway?" "I can't stand the way they look at me. Like suicide is contagious or something. They don't know what to say; they all avoid me, or look at me like I was a leper or something." "People can be assholes." She smiled. "I'll drink to that." I sat beside her and drank my 80 proof eggnog in silence. We watched a small group come out and start talking while they lit up their cancer sticks. "I know you mean well, Alex. But you can stop now, Ok?" she said softly. "One last thing." "Please. Enough already." "Steve called. Everything's cleared up with the insurance. You'll get your check next week." She looked at me like I'd grown a third eye, completely stunned. "Really?" "Really." She finished her wine, gulping it down, then sat back. "Shit. Six fucking months they drag it out and then suddenly, like that," she snapped her fingers,
"What?" "It's too much." "That's what my ex said every year. I never got a complaint from the girls." She gave me a wry smile. "At least one of us is going to have a pretty spectacular Christmas." "Isn't that how it should be?" I saw her nod, and noticed that her eyes were glistening again. I decided to leave it alone. Until those moments, I really hadn't seen Sandy as a woman. I'd related to her as a person in need. But between her dressing up at the party, her comments on my patio, and the way she was dressed in just a robe, I'm almost ashamed to say I was scoping her out. She was rail thin, with short dark brown hair, almost black. She wasn't very large on top, but when she was moving around on her hands and knees, arranging presents, I got a few glimpses inside the top of her robe, and saw the swelling of very feminine breasts. Her legs were as thin as the rest of her, but with decent calf definition. Some of her movements were less than ladylike, and I saw myself peeking u
I stood carefully, my pretty little sister-in-misery still impaled on my rod. She wrapped her legs around me tightly and clung to me with both arms. I held her by her sweet little ass and slowly climbed the stairs. With each step I lifted and lowered her, screwing her along the way. Nearing the top step she surprised me by giggling. "What?" "You're stronger than you look," she said, softening the words with careful little kisses bestowed across my chest. "You're light as a feather. I need to feed you." She smiled wickedly. "A protein oral injection?" I almost dropped her, and she giggled, "What?" "You, young lady, have a dirty mind." I saw a storm flitter across her face, but she shook it off and smiled. "It's been a long time, Alex. I'm not so good at flirting and teasing." "Ditto, beautiful. Bear with me." She made a little rolling movement of her hips, ending with my cock completely sheathed within her moistness. She giggled. "Damn! I can't believe you can just hold me l
Five days later I was in my Class A uniform and escorted into an office in the Pentagon.The General was there, along with a major from the Adjutant General Corps and a corporal holding a camera.The General said, "Let's get it on, Major."The Major said, "Attention to Orders:" They gave me a medal for the ding, and another with a "V" for valor for helping Waters and the overall mission.I thought it was over, and relaxed. The general smiled and said, "Not yet."The major repeated, "Attention to Orders:" I received an early promotion to Captain and the general put on the two silver stripes—railroad tracks—when we were done.After the pictures were taken, the General dismissed the Major and said, "Follow me, Captain, Corporal."We went down a corridor and came to another door. I opened it and saw Elke in a simple yellow dress with Sophie in front of her holding a bouquet of flowers. Next to Elke was First Sergeant Franklin
We landed ten minutes later. The First Sergeant was running the show—two ambulances were there to load up Waters and me. A staff car with two nurses, a driver and a guard took the children away, and two MP jeeps were there to take the duffel bag. They cut away my pants leg in the ambulance. As soon as we reached the hospital I was wheeled into an X-ray room and then the gurney was pushed into a brightly lit room and I could feel them cut away the rest of my uniform. It was no longer a spasm of pain; my leg now hurt like hell. Minutes later I looked up at doctor holding a mask over my face. As he pushed it against my mouth and nose he said, "Take a deep breath, Lieutenant. You got something in there so we're going to dig around and get it out of you." I took a breath and then everything disappeared. Chapter 5 Someone was lightly shaking my shoulder; I woke up. A voice said, "It was a ricochet. The round went in three inches; hit an artery and then some muscle tissue, but no bone.
Waters immediately posted an outside guard and sent the other sergeant to watch the kids. When it was time to leave we would wake them and give them candy that was treated with a drug that would keep them drowsy and quiet. He turned to me, "Do your thing, Lieutenant." I walked into the communications room and found both safes open. I opened a duffel bag that I had brought and dumped the contents of both safes into it. There would be plenty of time to see what we got later. I searched the rest of the room and found nothing else. Next was the Commander's office. It had a desk with a phone, a bed, filing cabinet, and a bookcase—it was exactly as Elke had described it. I searched the filing cabinet first. It was unlocked, which made me suspicious. There were some folders in it that I put in the duffel bag, but I didn't believe any sensitive information would be left in an unlocked filing cabinet. I searched the bookcase next, but other than some pornographic picture books there was
"Well, Lieutenant?" I really had no choice. The operation was for Elke, and Elke was my responsibility. "Yes, Sir, I volunteer." The Colonel nodded as if this was expected and said, "You're relieved from all duties. I'll speak with Captain Myer. Go with the First Sergeant, and he'll explain how it's going to happen." We drove to a building some distance from the office. Something had bothered me ever since Elke came back from Choiden. "Top, they never were going after Sophie, were they?" "Lieutenant, you and I don't know the answer to that question. War and spying is nasty business, and sometimes bad things happen. No good can come to you and Elke if you let that question fester in you. "You should focus on the mission. "Right now you're going to meet the team. You're going to face a great deal of hostility from these men. They train as a team and you're breaking up the team. They know you didn't make the decision, but you're an officer. Their attitude against you doesn't make
The next morning Elke was released from the hospital. However, before she physically left the building she sat down with the First Sergeant, an intelligence officer from the 2nd Armored Division's S2 office and a sketch artist. I was politely, but firmly, told that they would be more productive if I weren't with Elke when they talked. It was obvious to me that they were trying to identify the other four women whom the Russians had either coerced or talked into spying in our regional sector. When the meeting was over Top walked over to me and said, "She's trying, Lieutenant. It's just going to take time to learn everything that she knows. "When does she go back to work? "Monday," I replied. "Why do you ask?" "Lieutenant, that's how she passes any information to the Russians—a customer comes in and buys something and the exchange is made then. I'll talk to the Colonel and make sure we have something for Elke to give them." The following Monday Elke passed on the news that in four
"She won't be really conscious for quite a while—probably until tomorrow morning. "Lieutenant, this appears to be a suicide attempt. At a minimum we have to notify the German authorities, and I would guess she'll need some psychological counseling. I'll take care..." "Major," I interrupted, "there are some things that you aren't aware of, and before you do anything I suggest you talk to Colonel Weldon or First Sergeant Franklin." He looked at me in surprise. "Isn't Colonel Weldon the Commander of the intelligence battalion?" "Sir, please talk to the Colonel or First Sergeant. "Can I see Elke now?" He considered my request and then said, "Follow me." We walked down the hall until we reached a door. He opened it and said, "Just look." Elke looked terrible. Fluids were going into her through an intravenous line, her hair was wet and plastered against her face, and an oxygen mask was over her nose and mouth. "Major, she looks awful." "Lieutenant, we saved her life; she looks wor
An hour later we came close to shore and she put on her blouse. She put her bra into the lunch bag. It was another night of slow, loving sex. When we were done I said, "I love you." She didn't answer; she was asleep. Our last day at the resort we hiked the hills again and then tried to swim in the lake. The water was ice cold and it was impossible to stay in it for more than thirty seconds. We gave up and dressed and walked to the small town two miles away and shopped for trinkets. In the early evening we were still in the town and decided to eat at a small restaurant off the main street. The fish just caught from our lake tasted great and the sweet German wine complemented the meal. Our table had a single candle burning and the light reflected off Elke's face and chest. She seemed happy. We walked back to our cabin and took our shower together to get the day's dirt off. We opened a bottle of wine and sat on the porch watching the last light of day disappear into the water. I pu
"Dave, what are you..." and she gasped as I sucked her tender, little point of pleasure. Quickly her groans became louder and she started to spasm violently as my tongue brought her to climax. She cuddled next me later and said, "No one has ever done that to me before." "Did you enjoy it?" "But should we be doing it, Dave?" "Answer me, Elke. Did you enjoy it?" "Yes, you drove me crazy with pleasure—I lost control of my body." "Then we should be doing it. Anything that I can do to give you pleasure, we should be doing." With a breakthrough in her sexual shyness, I thought it was a wonderful weekend for both of us. I wanted to sleep with her Sunday night too, but she sent me back to my base housing. Early the following day I joined Top for our ritual cup of coffee. He was always first in the office and I, being an early riser, was always the second one in. Top said, "Captain Myer tried to reach you Saturday night to see if you were free for a meeting Sunday morning. I called y
I looked forward to the weekends. I would come to her apartment early and she prepared breakfast for us. Then we would start out on our weekend plan. Sometimes it would be a day at the park where Elke and I would spread a blanket and enjoy the lunch that she had prepared. Other weekends we would take a commuter train to nearby cities and explore them. One Saturday in the late afternoon Elke took me to a beer garden on the other side of the city. The music was happy and lively, and the teenage kids danced and raced through the tables as they played their games. After a few beers Elke giggled, "Dave, you must dance to the happy music." "But Elke, I'm not a good dancer and I've never seen this type of dance before." She reached out her hand, "I will show you." The band was on break so I took the opportunity to buy another pitcher of beer for Elke and me. Just as I arrived at our table I heard a familiar voice say, "Good evening, Lieutenant." I turned and answered, "Good evening to