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Wasn’t that what he wanted?

A shout turned his head toward the playground, and he saw one of the children go down the slide right into his mother’s arms.

He wanted this.

He wanted a life.

He’d gone into the Marines knowing of the danger, but it hadn’t really touched him.

Even when he’d gone into firefights with his unit and later, the Raider team, he’d seen the possibility of his own death.

Hell, they’d lost people in battle before, but somehow, treading water in the dark night, holding his friend until…

Life, the very definition had changed for him.

Would it ever go back to what it was?

Did he want it to?

Hoss looked over at the playground and smiled.

“I wouldn’t mind having a few of those, too.”

Buck agreed.

Hell, one would be better than he could have hoped for.

But… What would happen if he died?

That was the issue, right?

With his job there was more of a chance of that happening than with others.

Would Mari take that kind of a chance with him?

Hoss cleared his throat a little and Buck looked at him.

“Hmm?”

“You didn’t say what you’d do if you decided to walk away from the Marines.”

Buck nodded. “I think that’s the problem, man. I don’t really know what I’d do. All I’ve ever known is the military.”

“Is… Is that what you’re thinking of doing?”

Buck heard his friend’s question and gave him the only answer he had without lying.

“I’ve got no fucking idea.”

TEN

BUCK

Buck wasn’t sure what to expect when he arrived at Pallas’ office the next day:

Wolf’s door had always been open to them… in theory.

After all, the leader of a Raiders Team couldn’t exactly leave his door open physically.