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Max cleared his throat pointedly and then rolled his eyes when Reaper didn’t say anything. “Well?”
“Well, what?”
“You aren’t going to say, are you?”
“Haven't decided yet.”
“But you’ve got an idea…” Max prodded.
“I do…”
“And?”
Reaper sighed and put down his pen, looking at him. The two stared at each other for several minutes before he pulled out a folder and dropped it noisily on the desk.
“What’s that?” Max blurted out.
“Your file,” Reaper replied – and pulled out a sheet of paper. “Your re-enlistment is coming up and I thought you might like to know the current bonus for your position as a pilot.”
“It better have a freakin’ comma in it,” he muttered.
“It does.”
Max grunted – and walked over to pick up the paper to look at the dollar figure, and stared at the large five-digit number listed boldly on the sheet – along with the conditions. He was being offered a large bonus, but for another five years of service… here.
“Is this for real?”
“I take it you’re pleased?”
“Yeah, but… five more years?”
“Inferno,” Reaper said quietly, looking at him as he got up, leaning sideways to shut the door to his office. “Sit down and let’s talk for a moment.”
Max sat in the chair, his mind whirling at the staggering dollar amount he was being offered, and the yawning loneliness that would come with it because he would be separated from Elana.
“Things have changed, brother, and I know that,” Reaper began quietly. “I know you got married, I’m going home to my wife, and Panic is being discharged…”
“What?” Max hissed in disbelief and horror. “He was scheduled to serve the full twenty, and we’ve talked about it several times. He’s a ‘lifer,’ Reaper.”
“He’s also been diagnosed with PTSD and had a breakdown,” Reaper paused. “And the only reason I’m telling you is because it’s killing me and I need someone to talk to also. I know he was a ‘lifer’, but we both know that after Greene’s funeral, things changed… and then Outfield nearly died.”
“Outfield told me,” Max admitted. “I wasn’t going to say anything…”
“It’s all over the base already that he was barely rescued, combined with his request to go back to the States… and Copperhead found him having a breakdown.”
Max swallowed painfully, just listening.
“Thumper’s wife knows someone who has a ranch in Wyoming that shelters former military personnel that need time to heal… and Panic is going to have a chance to get on his feet.”
“You know he has no one…”
“I know, which is why I reached out to Thumper,” Reaper said quietly. “I couldn’t just let him get booted by medical without a place to go. He’s like family. I asked Thumper to take him in and give him a job – when he suggested the ranch. Sparky’s brother-in-law is there now.”
Max nodded and looked at Reaper.
“You want me to stay,” he said flatly. It wasn’t a question or a request but rather a confirmation of what the man was implying.
“Copperhead gave his notice, and he’s going home.”
