She's My Bodyguard

Twelve

We signed the deal to place three resorts, one in Tel Aviv, one in the triangle between holy sites in Jerusalem, and one on the Dead Sea shore.

I also got tabs on my friend from one of the embassy guards.

"Maybel!" The female soldier turned.

"Romera...." A smile split across her face. "I'll be damned! How have you been?" She shuffled her rifle behind her back and pulled me into a hug.

"I've been good." And it wasn't a lie. "Where's Yrena?"

"Oh, she got married about two years ago, and she just had a baby nine months ago." If my jaw could hit the floor, they would have. "I have her address, she would be excited to see you."

*

We drove through to Jerusalem, making a trip out of it. We stopped in a couple of cities, browsing goods and having him try new foods.

When we arrived at her house, I rang her doorbell, hoping she would answer.

"One minute!" She called from the door in Hebrew, and I heard babbling, her child, no doubt. When the door opened I heard a gasp.

"Don't you dare drop that angel."

"Leysa August Romera, I should kick you to hell for not coming by sooner!" I grinned at her, and pulled her into a hug. "Come in, come in- wait a minute. Who is this? Who is he?" She pointed a finger at Mason.

"This is Mason Clairmont, he's kind of the one who rescued me and I ended up working for him and now he's my boyfriend?" I made sure it was in Hebrew so he couldn't understand.

"English, please!" Yrena and I laughed.

"Okay. Come in, both of you."

*

"I'm so sorry I haven't been in touch." She poured us cups of tea. "When I left after Sean's death... I didn't want to be in contact with anyone anymore." She sat across from me while her daughter, Akiva, was in her walker, playing with the toys on it.

"I was there when you were sent off... I tried to go to you, but Commander Mizrah wouldn't let me." I had been tucked in a blanket, being escorted by two Navy SEALS, and put on Suicide Watch during the flight back. "I'm glad you have found peace."

"Speaking of, why did I have to find out you got married and had a kid from Maybel?" She snickered.

"Oh, Micah and I had been dating since our first year in the IDF, we just didn't get married until last year, and then little Akiva came along, and that was the end of service for me. Micah is still serving... Speaking of, he's home. Let's go see Daddy, yeah?" She picked up Akiva, going to the door. Things about Yrena changed. No longer wearing pants, she wore a long skirt, and her hair was covered. Micah must have been orthodox.

Or she was and I didn't know.

"Are you going to stay for a couple days? They're doing a public prayer and moving it into a festival in the old city." I looked to Mason.

"Want to party it up, Israeli style?" I grinned. He shrugged, giving me a smile.

"Why the heck not?"

*

Yrena and Micah insisted that we stay with them for the night, which we thought would be a good idea, until Akiva started wailing.

"Oh, God.." I looked over at the clock. 2:10. "Maybe it was a good idea I didn't have a kid. I would have shot myself by now." Mason grumbled, pressing his face into my chest. "My tits aren't big enough to muffle the sounds of wailing baby."

"A man can try..." The crying died down, he didn't move.

"Those aren't your personal pillows."

"But you're comfortable..."

"Yes, I know, but my back hurts." He groaned and rolled up to his side and I shifted onto his chest.

"Okay, kettle." I snickered, kissing his throat. "Oh don't do that..." He said in a very Wayne-like state.*

"Nope. I get to make you uncomfortable since you wouldn't relinquish my personal pillows to myself." I  nuzzled his chest, finally letting sleep take over again.

The first part of the day was a prayer session, blessing the soldiers of the IDF. It was a prayer I knew well. It was chanted for Sean every morning, and every sundown, when he was in the Israeli hospital.

"Protect our men and women who faithfully serve to keep their people safe, who keep our faith alive, and serve as dutiful servants of God, defending our world from evil, greed, and eternal damnation." I translated for Mason. When the prayers ended, I translated what the Rabbi was saying. "With our mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins, let us thank those who serve this country, keeping us safe, and toast to our freedom." The celebration was supposed to start.

Then an explosion went off.

It was sixty meters from us, and I pushed him to run, as well as Yrena, with Akiva in her arms.

Then a second one, thirty meters.

Then one. I heard the clicking. I did what I had to do.

I took Akiva from Yrena and pushed her and Mason forward, then as the charge went off, I used all of my body to keep Akiva safe.

I felt sharp stone and glass shards enter my legs and side, and my head hit the cobble, and I felt my left side shatter inside.

"LEYSA!"

Black clouds filtered in through my vision and my ears were ringing.

"Oh God... She saved us..." I felt Akiva be taken from my arms. She was wailing. Safe.

"Leysa? Leysa, baby, look at me!" I coughed, my lips wet and my tastebuds filled with metallic blood. The darkness closed around me, and I wasn't scared.

No... I was finally going to be with Sean again...

I would finally be at peace.

I would have the death that all my brothers had before me.

A warrior's death.

It's not over. I promise. Far from it.

School starts Monday! I'm not ready!

No scheduled updates.