Between the precision crack of guns, in the silence, Richard whispered, “I never understood the concept of saluting. But I get it now. I do.”
Jamie didn’t move, his hand held at a perfect, unrelenting angle to his head.
Sometimes, there were no words left to describe the ugliness of war, the loss one felt in the absence of good men and women gone now from this earth.
Because in the end, words were an inadequate measure of respect for the dead.
As the last volley faded away, a distant, lone bugler began to play “Taps.” The somber notes rent the air just as deeply as the bullets had, and Jamie found himself blinking back tears. He took a soundless breath and got himself under control, his thoughts shying away from all themight-have-beensandcould-have-beensthat lingered at the back of his mind.
When the last note faded, Jamie and those saluting lowered their arms. The honor guard detail began to fold the flag into a triangle before handing it off to Matthew. He took it with careful hands before turning on his heel and walking slowly to where Lieutenant Kevin Hughes’ widow sat. Matthew knelt and presented the flag to her, speaking quietly. Jamie couldn’t hear his voice, but he knew what words Matthew was saying.
He’d spoken them himself for several of the fallen after Libya all those years ago.
Hughes had died guarding the White House, when the Sons of Adam had nearly broken through the defensive line with help of a metahuman. Matthew’s second-in-command had done his duty to the very end, as had all the others being laid to rest in Arlington today. But because this was Matthew’s team, Katie had decided to pay her respects. Despite his grief, Jamie and the rest of the team had refused to let her go alone.
Richard and several other dignitaries and politicians who had been present at the State Dinner had chosen to come and pay their respects to the dead in recognition of their sacrifice that night. Jamie tried not to read too much into his father’s somber demeanor. Considering the high profile of some of those wanting to attend and the security issues involved, it could have turned into a circus. But with Alpha Team in attendance, the Secret Service and other private security had quietly agreed to wait at the entrance to the cemetery so as not to distract from the funeral itself.
The director had come for reasons of his own that Jamie didn’t profess to know. Perhaps to talk with him, perhaps not. Jamie watched as after the benediction was read and the ceremony came to a close, Nazari joined the queue of mourners who wished to give their condolences and support to Hughes’ widow.
Standing off to the side were the surviving members of Hughes’ team, a somber group of men and women who looked how Jamie felt—hurt and broken.
Katie tilted her head in their direction, catching Jamie’s eye. “Be right back.”
She slipped away like a ghost and Madison seamlessly took her spot. The easy way his team moved around him, ensuring at least one of them had eyes on him at all times, was both stifling and comforting at the same time.
As mourners began to peel off in pairs and smaller groups, the crowd around them thinned. Jamie took it upon himself to follow after Katie for once. She and Matthew stood near the oak tree in quiet conversation. They were holding hands, eyes only on each other, and the sudden gut-punch of emotions Jamie felt threatened to drown him.
Katie’s eyes snapped his way, and while she wasn’t an empath and wasn’t merged with an empath, she could make him forget—just for a moment—why he was grieving. Long enough for Jamie to get control of himself.
Matthew watched him approach and slowly nodded at him. “Hello, Jamie.”
In moments like this,sorryseemed so insignificant, but it was all Jamie could think to say. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Matthew’s jaw tightened, and he blinked a little rapidly for a second or two. “Thank you. Kevin was a good man.”
“I wish things had turned out differently.”
“I think we all wish that were the case.”
They couldn’t change the past, and the one man who could change the future was dead. Jamie didn’t know what his own future held anymore. He wasn’t sure he wanted to.
“I was talking with Matthew about staying with him for the rest of the day,” Katie said.
“The director wanted to see me back on base,” Jamie said.
Katie frowned, her gaze flicking back and forth between Jamie and Matthew. It was Matthew who shook his head and made the choice for her.
“Go with Jamie. I’m standing vigil until Kevin is interred,” Matthew told her.
Tradition dictated that the fallen were never left alone until they rested in the ground. One soldier always stayed behind at the gravesite to watch over the deceased until the earth took them home. Only then was duty done.
Matthew, as with any good leader, would see the people under his command home to the very end.
Katie kissed Matthew gently on the mouth before stepping back. Jamie held out his hand and Matthew shook it firmly.
“Let Katie keep looking after you,” Matthew told him.
“What makes you think I could stop her?” Jamie asked.
