Chapter 1
Justice McQuaid stared at the 3D image of his brain, unable to make sense of it. Before the ambush, before his SEAL teammates perished, his brain functioned like a microprocessor: absorbing data, analyzing it, and spitting it out at lightning speed in order to solve problems and plan rescue missions. Now, he could barely follow the conversation with his neurosurgeon. Or maybe he didn’t want to. Honestly, the brain injury was only one of his problems. Another was the embedded shrapnel in his spine, making it impossible for him to walk.
He recalled feeling as if he’d been stung by a hundred deadly desert scorpions. That pain, however, paled in comparison to losing his team, guys he’d known for the past seven years. He jerked his attention back to his neurosurgeon, swallowing the hot bile rising in his throat.
“When the swelling decreases, some of the symptoms you’re experiencing, such as memory loss and the inability to verbally express complex thoughts, should become less severe and hopefully dissipate altogether. In the meantime…” Dr. Nolan broke off as Justice interrupted him.
“In the meantime, I’m brain-fu…”
“Justice,” his father, Rear Admiral Franklin McQuaid, cut in smoothly.
“Yeah, well, at least I haven’t forgotten how to curse,” he muttered. “Sorry, Doc. You were saying?”
“We’ll map your progress and see how it goes.”
Justice nodded at the doctors sitting at the conference table. “Next up?”
Another doctor rose to his feet and pulled up Justice’s spinal images. “The surgery to remove the shrapnel was a success. You’re not going to have any permanent damage.”
Unlike my brain.
“Wonderful. Does that mean I’ll be able to walk again?”
“Yes. With time and intense physical therapy.”
“Hot damn.” He slapped the arm of the wheelchair.
Thatearned him a stern warning look from his father.
“I’ll put in an order for physical therapy to begin immediately.”
The doctor directed his remark toward Rear Admiral McQuaid which annoyed the hell out of Justice. It was just like his father to make his recovery another one of his missions.
“Hey, shouldn’t you be talking to me?” Justice demanded. “After all, Iama ranking officer in the SEALs. Lieutenant Commander, if my memory serves me correctly.”
“Thatrolled off your tongue without any difficulty at all,” Franklin noted with a wry tone.
Fed up with this counseling session his father assembled, Justice unlocked his wheelchair. “I’m done here,” he declared.
“But Lieutenant Commander,” the surgeon who’d operated on his back protested. “We…”
“I said I’m done!”
As he wheeled himself toward the door, he heard his father say quietly, “Let him go.”
Alone in his private room at Walter Reed Hospital, a scream rose in Justice’s throat. He couldn’t believe he and his team had been ambushed as they conducted a peace mission in Afghanistan. More to the point, he couldn’t believe he’d survived. He should have died along with his men. But, somehow, he’d been thrown free of the Humvee as it exploded. He supposed this was God’s way of playing a joke on him. To deprive him of his team and his skills. The two things that mattered most to him.Now what?
Several hours later two rear admirals flanking his father entered his room. He saluted them and waited. Waited for his world to explode again.
Rear Admiral Simpson gazed with sorrow at him as he officially intoned, “The Navy thanks you for your faithful service, Lieutenant Commander McQuaid.” He handed him an envelope. “As of today, the twenty-third of March, you’re retired with full pension and benefits.”
No! This couldn’t be happening! He tossed the envelope aside as hot tears stung his eyes. Rear Admiral Simpson left with his companion, his duty done, and Justice glared at his father.
“Just don’t stand there! Dosomethingto stop this. Please. The Navy is all I have…”
And then his speech became garbled as the pressure in his brain increased with his anger and frustration. Furious and helpless, he cried unabashedly in his father’s arms.
The terrible moment went from bad to worse when Justice started seizing. Franklin yelled for help and stood by, impotent, as well-trained nurses rushed to his son’s aid. He stayed with Justice through the night, sleeping on the hard couch in the hospital room and offering soothing words of comfort during his nightmares.
