Chapter 18: The Tour

Finn POV

Link shows me to my room before he gives me the grand tour. I throw my bag in on my bed.

I notice the lay out goes my room on the right

then a pretty good size bathroom at the end of the hall

with River's room straight across from mine.

Good I'll have her close to me, if I decide to go there with her. She's definitely off limits but maybe she can keep a secret.

Next to River's room is another room which is pretty big like a second master bedroom. This house is bigger then it looks from the outside.

It look like they are using it as gym, which has some decent equipment. Explains why he's looking a little jacked now. Might challenge him to some push ups.

Looks like it is also a small office off in the corner. He says he's been working from him a few days a week.

Thanks bro, I think as I look over the gym equipment.

Now I could get in a few pretty good workouts while I'm here.

I didnt want to go find some gym just to workout anyway. Have to keep up on my dailies.

I mean I can turn just about anything into a piece of gym equipment.

We don't have a lot of options out in the desert while on assignment so we use what we can.

Suddenly I start thinking about the time my unit and I were making some crazy mock gym equipment

We had a blast

It was the first time in a few months that we were able to have a good laugh

The memory has me suddenly spiraling back to different memories from over there

At first it's okay just some fun memories.

Just different flashes of me and my friend Jordan and the rest of my team messing around at the outpost.

Normal things like

Rough housing

Push up contests

Wrestling around

Chasing and shooting each other with bags of rubber bands we found in a old office area.

Normal guy stuff

Quickly my memories drift.

Now I'm holding my best friend Jordan as he bleeds out in my arms.

I'm starting to spin into a panic

I start breathing heavily and start sweating a bit

I can't focus

Shit my kness are getting wobbly and I'm getting dizzy. I back against the door frame.

Suddenly I realize Link is saying something to me. I look at him but I can't focus.

I can't clear my head enough to hear what he's saying

I try to focus on him. Pick a focal point and breath.

I can't focus so I start counting to help bring my breathing back down along with my heart rate

1

2

3

Come on Finn focus

Think Damn it

1

2

3

4

5

Okay good I've got this. Okay breath damn it. Get control.

Okay slow breaths in your nose for five seconds then out your mouth.

Count to five while exhaling.

Good keep going. I'm good, that's it just breathe.

Over and over keep breathing.

It's starting to help

Okay almost there

It's tricks like this we're taught in the military to help us calm ourselves down before we take a shot, or before we move into a dangerous situation

They help us with mental clarity and relaxation

Best thing I've learned especially being out there doing what we do

It gets serious as fuck out there sometimes and if you panic you're dead, end of story, lights out

I'm a little more focused now

Shit, I forgot Link was saying something

I look over and I see him just staring at me with his gray eyes a little darker now

"Sorry, what did you say" I ask as calmly as I can

He looks a little more concerned now as he lifts his hand to my shoulder

"Are you okay Finn" he asks with a slight squeeze

"Yeah, Yeah I'm good, sorry brother" I say giving him a slight smile. He looks at me still concerned.

"Really I'm good" I reassure him.

Even as grown men he's trying to take care of me.

He's still a pretty great big brother and he can read me like a book no matter how long it's been since we've seen each other.

"Okay Moving on then" he says more as a question than a statement.

"Yes, I'm fine" I say back.

Next is a half bath, then the kitchen and a large beautiful archway leading to the living room

The living room is a little big but not oversized it looks livable

Then there's his and Chailor's room and a laundry room at the front of the house

"It's really beautiful Link, congrats man"

I can't believe you're all growed up now" I laugh "I mean your getting a wife and now a house" I say half playful half jealous.

"Congratulations brother, you've done good" I say. I'm really proud of him.

"Thank you" he says with a huge smile

"Can I tell you a secret" he asks

"Of course, always Link" I answer back

He quickly leads me into the office/gym and closes the door behind him

"If you think this house is beautiful wait tell you see this baby" he says as he's pulling out what looks like a blueprint of something

"This is the house I'm building for Chailor as a wedding gift" he says full of pride

"It's amazing" I say as he shows me the layout

"She's going to love it man, she really is" I say

"I really hope so brother"

"I've been working on it since our sixth month anniversary" He quickly adds.

"Wow. It's huge." I say.

I can just see all that happiness and love in his face.

"I can't wait to show it to her" he says his voice full of happiness.

I hope one day I can find someone and if we have even half of that love we'd have a lucky life

He has quite the life here and I'm so happy for him.