****
The dishes were done, the kitchen spotless, and the three of them had migrated to the lounge area of Dale’s suite.The fire crackled softly in the hearth, casting flickering light across the room.The lights were low, the atmosphere warm and quiet, almost intimate.
Dale sat on the couch, his long frame stretched out and relaxed, one arm slung over the backrest.Ty had claimed the armchair to the side, a glass of whiskey in his hand, while Oren had sunk to the floor, his back to the fire, legs stretched out, ankles crossed.A few bottles of beer sat open on the coffee table between them, mostly forgotten.
Dinner had been good.No—better than good.Easy.Familiar.They’d eaten, laughed, told stories—ridiculous tales from their service days that had them all howling.And for a while, it felt like nothing needed to be said.Like the cracks in the foundation had been sealed with spaghetti sauce, shared glances, and stolen kisses.
But silence, even the comfortable kind, eventually opened the door to truth.
Oren cleared his throat, his gaze fixed on the wine glass in his hand.“Ty...”
Ty looked over, eyebrows raised.Oren didn’t look up, but the tightness in his shoulders told Ty everything.
“I need to say something.”
Ty gave him the space.Didn’t interrupt.Just waited.
“I’m sorry.For what I said.For how I said it.You didn’t deserve that.”Oren’s voice was quiet, but steady.“I was reacting to ghosts—my father’s voice, the shit he drilled into me.But I don’t think like him.Not anymore.I’ve spent too long trying to unlearn what he beat into me.I don’t believe that love is wrong.I don’t believe that you’re—we’re wrong.”
He finally looked up.“I believe people should be able to love who they want.And I want to live that way.Even if it means losing everything else.Come hell or high water.My father be damned.”
Ty’s chest tightened.He nodded slowly.“I know you didn’t mean it.But I needed to hear that.So, thank you.”
Oren finally met his gaze.There was emotion in his eyes.Gratitude.Regret.Something else.
He looked at Dale, then back at Ty.“I meant what I said earlier.I want to live free of that hate.But sometimes ...sometimes the cracks in the cement let the demons crawl through.”
Ty leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.“We all have cracks.You’re not alone in that.”
Oren hesitated, then asked, voice low, “What about yours?I think I inadvertently threw you into one of your traumas this morning?”
Ty exhaled through his nose.He didn’t want to tell the story.Didn’t want to live in it again.But if Oren was laying himself bare, then Ty owed him the same.
“My stepfather.He came into our lives when I was eight.At first, it was little things.Too much touching.Comments that made my skin crawl.I told my mom.She didn’t believe me.Or didn’t want to.Either way, she didn’t stop him.It went on until I was twelve.That’s when I started working out.Hit the gym.Learned to fight.And the next time he tried again—I broke three of his ribs and shattered his jaw.He didn’t come near me after that.”
There was silence.
Oren’s expression was stricken.Dale looked like he wanted to murder someone.
“I don’t tell many people that,” Ty said, voice soft.“But I want you to understand I know what it’s like.To feel helpless.To be told you’re wrong, broken, dirty.And I know what it takes to come back from that.”
Oren swallowed.“Thank you.For trusting us with that.”
Dale cleared his throat, his voice rough.“Oren, there’s more to our past.All three of us.Something you need to know.”
Oren turned to him, wary but listening.
Dale met his eyes.“We’ve met before.You and Ty.And me.It was years ago.You were hurt.Taken.Ty was injured during that op—we pulled him out, unconscious but alive.But Ty ...when he came to, and realized you were not there, he came after me and my team.Begged us to go back, that he saw you move before he passed out.He was adamant that you were alive, and at first I didn’t believe him.No one did.He was in a wheelchair and he still fought to get to you.And then he made me believe, too, and we went back.”
Ty picked up the thread.“I remembered you.Even through the pain.I knew you were still out there.And Dale—once he believed, he didn’t hesitate.He got the Pathfinders together.They went back.Found you in that cell.Barely breathing.But alive.”
Oren didn’t move.His face was stone.But his knuckles were white against his knees.
Dale continued, his voice shaking.“You don’t remember, and that’s okay.But I needed you to know.I made the call to pull out.I thought you were dead.I am so sorry, love.I failed you.”
Ty watched Oren closely.Watched the tension build.
Then Oren exploded.
