-chapter one-

The sound of silence filled the air as firing ceased. Bryce crouched behind a boulder in a cluster of shrubs. He glanced at his brother for the cue to advance.

Will, a pararescueman, and Bryce, a pilot, had found themselves finally working side by side on a mission for the U.S. Air Force. Bryce was highly skilled as a pilot, but had finally convinced his superiors to allow him on a ground mission. Coincidentally he was commissioned, with his brother, to retrieve two intelligence officers who had been captured in Iraq. That brought Bryce and Will to the situation they were in currently. A group of terrorists had spotted them upon their landing. As Bryce, Will, and a few paratroopers had converged upon the building said to be housing the captives, a number of terrorists had started firing at them.

Will nodded at Bryce and they both launched themselves over the boulder towards the enemy. Immediately bullets rained down around them. Bryce saw one of the terrorists at a machine gun. He knew they would have to take him out if they wanted to get to the building holding the intelligence officers. Bryce called to his brother to cover him and kneeled preparing to line up the scope of his sniper. Will darted over and crouched beside his brother, firing at incoming soldiers. Bryce lined up his sights and fired at the man behind the machine gun. As he released the trigger, time seemed to slow. He knew the bullet would hit it's target. He glanced at his brother with a smile. His brother turned toward him. At that exact moment his brother collapsed. Will had been hit.

Bryce cried out in anguish. The firing stopped at once. The opposing soldiers had all been eliminated. He crouched next to his brother. Will had been hit on the left side of his chest: the lung. Bryce immediately knew the situation was fatal. Tears came to his eyes, but he forced them away; there was no time for emotion. He held his brother's face in his hands. Unable to speak, gasping for air, Will gazed at his brother for the final time. Bryce felt totally helpless, there was absolutely nothing he could do to save his brother. Judging by the way the bullet hit, he realized his brother had saved his life. Bryce would have been hit if not for his brother. Looking into his brother's eyes as the light left them he murmured, "thank you."

-chapter two-

Bryce walked through the VA hospital silently. He desperately wished that his brother were here, injured, as opposed to dead. After his brother's death, he and the others had rescued the intelligence officers and regrouped at the air base to await further orders. Bryce had been admitted into the infirmary after realizing he had suffered a bullet to the leg. He hadn't noticed due to the adrenaline that had coursed through him as he had watched his brother die. The bullet wound wasn't fatal and had merely grazed his calf; nevertheless he had to get it treated so that no infection would set in.

He had been discharged earlier from the infirmary and was now headed to meet his superiors to appeal for emotional leave. His commanding officer had stopped by earlier and declared him incompetent for further military commitment due to his shattered mental state. He just had to get it ratified. Bryce was still in shock over the loss of his brother and closest friend. He couldn't bear to accept the fact that he would never see his brother again.

Since birth they had been inseparable. Will had been 2 years older than Bryce and had acted as his role model for most of his life. Bryce had always aspired to be like his near perfect brother. At times he had become jealous of his brother; for his looks, his ease in school, and his calm and controlled persona. Bryce solemnly approached the door to the office of his commanding officer. He knew that the decision made in this meeting could change his life.

As Bryce entered the room, the men inside fell silent. He had heard them chatting quietly before he had entered, but now not a sound was heard.

Bryce cleared his throat and began to explain his reason for being there, "excuse me, I am here to request military leave due to the recent death of my brother." Just saying the last part of that sentence made him cringe. He still did not want to accept his brother's death and saying it only made it feel more final.

"First Lieutenant Bryce Hirok?" The officer asked.

"Yes sir." Bryce responded.

"It says here that you lost you brother, Captain William Hirok, in combat. I take it that is the reason why you are requesting leave." The officer questioned.

"Yes sir. I lost my brother in combat; he died in my arms." Bryce responded, tears coming to his eyes. Slowly taking a deep breath, he regained emotional control. The officer nodded and review the papers before him. He locked eyes with Bryce and told him he was sorry for his loss then allowed him indefinite military leave until his services were to be called upon.

Bryce was glad to be able to escape this place of nightmares that had once been his home. He no longer wished to fly or be reminded daily of the absence of his brother. He only hoped to retreat back to America and lead a quiet life in which he could forget his sorrow.