Dahlia's Resolve - Part 3

"I told you that you shouldn't have come," Quinlon chided, wrapping Dahlia's arm with a makeshift bandage and sling. Lifting his eyes from the wound, he met her gaze and ran a hand gently across her forehead. "We need you, Dahlia... We can't afford to lose you."

Dahlia smiled weakly, trying her hardest to hide the burning pain in her upper arm. "I can't ask someone to fight a battle that I wouldn't fight myself... Besides there was no time to waste." Placing a hand on Quinlon's shoulder, she forced herself to stand, ignoring the pleas of her weary legs.

Quin rose to his feet in turn. "I'm not sure that we've gained anything regardless."

Dahlia frowned. Quin's point was sound, though his grave tone weighed heavily on her heart. It seemed like a lifetime ago that Dane's team checked in, communications suspended in the heat of battle. Her own team had fled in retreat, their ranks decimated. She could see their faces, the bodies laying motionless on the cold, unforgiving ground. She desired nothing more than cry. But I have to stay strong... She looked around at the remaining soliders, bloodied and exhausted. I have to.. for them. She could see the hope fading in their eyes. With the distant sounds of gunfire dwindling, she too had her doubts.

"Don't give up on them yet." Quin placed a hand on her shoulder. "Dane's the best leader that team could hope for. He can get them through."

Dahlia nodded. Still... Their larger group of pursuers had long since turned their attention back to the building, leaving the invaders to retreat through the dark forest. Only a few remained, occasionally engaging Dahlia's team in short bursts of combat, pushing them further from their target. Dahlia knew what that meant. They've been found... or captured... Or worse... "If they don't report back within 10 minutes... we're going in after them."

Quinlon's eyes widened. "Dahlia, we don't have the men to do it. We'd be sending them to die."

Dahlia shook her head. "If we don't, then all these other men would have died for nothing." She raised her gaze to meet his. "And I'm not leaving my brother behind."

Quinlon sighed. "10 minutes..."

They waited only two before the explosion ripped through the side of the facility, sending glass shards and debris flying through the night air. Dahlia couldn't help but to smile, courage filling her heart once more. She looked at Quin once more, nodding her head. "That has to be them!" She shouted over the roar of metal and glass hitting solid ground and concrete.

Quinlon nodded. He sprung to action, ordering men to begin their rush toward the building. He selected two to leave behind to guard Dahlia, receiving a look of confusion in return. "You're hurt. I'll lead them."

Dahlia picked up her fallen rifle from the ground. "You're not going anywhere without me." She marched past Quin, her pace quickening as he watched with awe. I'm coming Dane... Just hold on...
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The majority of the guard troops on the ground had turned their attention to the fight within the facility, adding their own gunfire to the chaos. Quinlon led the charge, using his tracker's sense to avoid or pick off the remainder of the pursuit team. They emerged from the thick blackness of the trees, using the cover of night to blend in to the shadows. The large ground contingent was taken off guard, forced to give ground in their scramble for something to duck behind.

Dahlia could barely lift her own weapon, her arm nearly useless in the sling. Yet still she fired... For her brother's sake... For her team's sake... For all who chose to believe and die for their ideals... She fired, again and again. What seemed like hours passed in those moments, until finally the opening came. "Dane!" She yelled over static and gunfire, hoping desperately to hear her brother's voice respond to her radio call.

The response was gruff, although not wholely unexpected. "Dahlia, what the hell are you doing out there!?"

Even in the middle of battle, a wave of relief washed over her. "Dane, we've got you covered. Get your team down here now... We're getting out of here."

"On the way. As soon as we get to the ropes, the guys in here are going to make a push toward the window. Get your team to keep them off us until we get to the ground, then get moving."

"They're coming out!" Dahlia yelled out to her team. "Keep up the fire... We have to keep them covered until they can get down to the ground." A few grunted in acknowledgement. Some gave a thumbs up. Quin echoed her words, encouraging his troop to fight on. Dahlia watched anxiously as the three figures repelled from the building as several of her team fired just above, keeping the interior guards at bay. As Dane's team hit the ground, pain and fatigue finally began to overwhelm her senses. She tried to raise her weapon once more; instead, she collapsed beneath its weight, into Quin's waiting arms.
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Dahlia awoke to the dim light of her quarters, shifting gently on cot which served as her bed. Dane, seated in a chair beside the makeshift bed, helped her up slightly, helping her with a cup of water before easing her back down onto the cot. "Rest, sister," he said, barely above a whisper. He placed a hand on top of hers, clasped across her stomach.

"Did you get them? Did you get the files and data and..."

Dane placed a finger on her lips. "Yes, we did. And we have plenty of time to go over all of those things, as soon as you have your strength back."

Dahlia nodded. Dane stood and gave her a light kiss on the forehead. "How many people did we lose?" she asked, as Dane turned to walk away.

He stopped suddenly in his tracks and turned back to her. He sighed. "We lost a lot of good people. No one could have expected that they'd be waiting for us as they did."

A single tear rolled down Dahlia's cheek. "I led those men into a disaster, Dane. I gave the go ahead for this whole thing... I put myself into the fight... I led them to their deaths..."

Dane stepped back toward the cot, placing a gentle hand on her cheek as he looked into her eyes. "Dahlia... You led those men as best you could... And I have faith that you'll continue to do so."

"How can you still be sure?"

Dane flashed a rare, genuine smile. "Because they believe in your ideas. They believe in what we're trying to accomplish. And most importantly, they feed off of your energy... Off of your strength. As long as you stick to those principles... You'll be leading us all in the right direction." He watched as Dahlia nodded, allowing the tension within her body to ease once more. "Go ahead and get some rest. Our work will be here when you're ready." Dane stood from the chair as Dahlia turned onto her side and closed her eyes once more. "Oh, and Dahlia..."

"Yes?"

"Let me do the fighting next time."

Dahlia laughed softly to herself as sleep overcame her once more.