The funeral was held the next day. It was for the most part uneventful and full of the customs and traditions associated with it. The pleasantries, the affections, the sympathies were all given. The gossiping and rumor mill were also in full force but discreetly away from the family. Few family members were around. No surprise as many lived in Mexico and could not come, while the few that were in the US were spread around finding it difficult to get back on short notice. For the mean time it was just the three of them.

For their part the family did come together for a moment and shared in the mourning. Grams and Liz wept bitterly for the loss as did David who also mourned for Parisa. It was the only opportunity he had to mourn her properly and he needed it. Liz and David even shared an embrace and a comforting word or two.

Eventually the little house once full of friends, and acquaintances, emptied out and was once again left deprived of life, and activity, except for the three remaining occupants now bound to one another. Some oblivious, and some defiant to the fact that they needed each other.

The following morning David slept in longer than usual waking up around 7:30 AM. To his surprise Grams was already up. She was in her robe, her hair a mess.

"It's about time you got up!" she greeted the still wakening David.

"We have a problem, Liz doesn't want to get up and go to school. I've tried calling her for the past half hour and she won't listen to me. Esta floja nomas no quiere ir a la escuela (Lazy bum just doesn't want to go to school)."

"So what do you want me to do about it?" replied David in bewilderment.

"Go talk to her. Get her up, get her out to school!"

"I'm sorry Abuelita but I can't deal with all of this right now. I have to get to the base and see when I can back out on assignment."

"Como? What do you mean back on assignment? No, no I need you here, with your sister. She needs you and I can't deal with her by myself. I'm too old, I'm tired, I..."

"I'm sorry but you'll have to deal with this for now. I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise," he said walking out the door leaving Grams shocked, and upset.

David took a couple buses to an Army Center where General Kasey was temporarily stationed for the next few days before flying back out.

After a few hours, he arrived at gated, campus like center. It is about a city block long with a large open field, and a large parking lot. There were no building surrounding it and the ones inside were bland, single tone, devoid of any character. There was a five foot, chain-link fence with barbed wire surrounding the center with an automatic door as the entrance, but that was all. To an outsider it looked like a minimum security prison, or worse, a high school. To David it looked like home.

David walked up to the gate pressing the intercom for assistance.

"Good morning how can I help you today?" asked the operator.

"Hi, this is Second Lieutenant David Zamora. I'm here to see General Kasey if he's available?"

"Hold on one second."

David waited for moment. There was a small park with tennis courts across the street with people jogging, walking their dogs. It was a calm, and sunny day. It was the calmness that made David a little anxious, which he found interesting.

"Sir? If you have your ID card please scan it and the gate will open. The General is in building 21."

"Thank you," said David.

"Not a problem Sir. Have a good day."

The halls were dull, and cold. There was a tight corridor filled with offices and the walls covered with military posters and paraphernalia. There were men and women in uniform carrying about in a strict manner alien to outsiders. They had a confidence and swagger about them that made outsiders know this was their world, their territory, and they ruled it, and that was that. David being one of them felt more comfortable knowing he belonged.

"General Kasey, Sir!" saluted David standing at the open doorway.

"David, so glad to see you again. Please come in. I'm sorry couldn't stay longer after the funeral. Unfortunately things here don't slow for them," lamented the General.

"No they do not Sir."

"At ease. Please take a seat. Honestly, that's not entirely true. Funerals are never easy, no matter how many you attend, especially when they hit so close. They feel...lonelier when it's in the general population," said the General thoughtfully.

"Yes Sir. I know what you mean."

"So, to what do I owe your visit?"

"Sir, I'm grateful that you personally brought me to attend my father's funeral. He was a very good man, and great father. I wish I could have had the opportunity to know him as an adult but now I won't be able too. At least I got to say goodbye to him. So thank you."

"You're very welcome. And now?"

"Now, I would like to get back on assignment as soon as possible."

The General fiddled with a pen over a document he had read five times this morning.

"May I ask, why you're so eager to get back out there?"

"It's where I belong Sir. Everyone else is still out there and I don't believe that I should be relieved of my responsibility to my men and my commander because of personal circumstances. I made a commitment to them, to the army, and I want to fulfil it."

The General rested his head on his left hand, fiddling a pen between his fingers with his right hand still staring at the paper.

"I've seen many people run in fear from battle wanting to go home, I've seldom seen them run from home in fear for battle."

"Excuse me Sir?"

"There are a great deal of men and women would love nothing more than to be back with their families if only for a temporary stay. You are barely back a day after being away for years, and now you are asking to leave. I just wonder why?"

David sat silent for moment. He thought about why he wanted to leave as well and how best to answer.

"It just...doesn't feel right. I don't belong here," he admitted with a certain level of shame.

"You barely gave it a chance. I know the transition can be a difficult one, and I'd be more than happy to schedule an appointment with someone who can help if you'd like," said the General like a caring father would.

"It's not that Sir. I just...it's not going to work. I don't see how it can," David said as if he had already made up his mind on the outcome of it.

"And with all due respect, I think it's my decision to make."

The General sat back on his chair disappointed.

"Well, no not entirely. See there is still an investigation on you, and it's not certain you will be assigned to your same post given the incident, and finally it needs to be approved and right now I don't see how it can be."

David was beginning to feel like his options were shrinking, and as if he was being singled out.

"I could try other channels," David countered.

"You could, and I would flag it."

David's face restless as it was now clear he would not be granted his request.

"Son, listen. I'm not trying to punish you. You wished to have a chance to know your father as an adult right? Well, you have one to know the rest of you family now. Enough running, enough distance. Go home, find out where you come from. If after a few months you still don't feel like this is going to work out, then we'll see where we can send you. I'm sure the investigation will clear you, and we can revisit our options then. But give it a chance. You may think that your men out there need you that this country needs you, but those two women you left at home need you more."

With that David left. He would take an extendedleave and try out this life for a few months. He rode the bus back home gettinglost a couple of times. He was disappointed, annoyed, and a bit resentful. Heknew the General meant well, and logically it all made sense; but he wasapprehensive, anxious, scared.

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Why hello there you magnificent you!

This is the last part of the new intro the ongoing story. It was lame on my part but I wanted to get my writing skills up a bit before I wrote a proper beginning. Kind of shot my self in the foot because the next part will be kind of rough. So I will edit them shortly. 

Please if you enjoy the story so far try to power through the next few chapters. They get better. Haha. If they don't do let me know and I'll do my best to fix them. 

Thank you again for sticking this long and I hope you'll keep going! :D 

Roge.