Alice looks at TJ with tears in her eyes. TJ says to Alice, “I know, but we don’t have time for this.”
Alice wipes a tear away from her left cheek and exits the bedroom.
Odin looks up at TJ for help and TJ tries to stay calm, but he can’t help to get emotional at the sight of Odin suffering.
TJ wraps a towel around Odin and Odin lets out a moan. “I know O. I’m sorry, but we are going to get you help,” says TJ to Odin as TJ carries Odin down his hallway and towards his living room.
Janet exits from TJ’s master bedroom and she starts to make a pile of things she is bringing with her.
TJ carries Odin towards his front door. Janet opens the front door and TJ walks towards his jeep. Alice exits her room with her bags and supplies, and she makes her way outside to TJ’s jeep.
Janet brings several bags of supplies, gear, food, and weapons over to TJ’s jeep and she quickly loads them into the back of TJ’s jeep.
TJ sits with Odin in the backseat of his jeep and he tries to comfort Odin.
Janet locks the front door to TJ’s house and Alice gets into the passenger seat of TJ’s jeep.
Janet gets into TJ’s driver seat and notices that the military vehicle that was parked behind TJ’s jeep is gone.
“Where did the Army jeep go?” asks Janet.
“I don’t know, but the bigger question is where are we going to go?” answers TJ.
“Let’s go see Ryan,” answers Janet.
“We can’t. I told you I’m done with them,” replies TJ.
“Where else can we go?” asks Janet.
“I don’t know, but we can’t go to MacDill or to see Ryan,” answers TJ.
Alice, while sitting in the passenger seat of TJ’s jeep, looks down at her paper map and answers, “I think I know a place.”
CHAPTER 2
IS IT STARTING TO STINK?
As TJ is telling us his story he gets a call over is radio. “Where did you go T?” asks the person over the radio to TJ.
TJ looks down at the radio that is clipped onto his belt and says to us, “I have to take this.”
TJ walks into Bobby G’s kitchen and talks with the person over his radio.
I call Odin over and Odin walks over to me and Lauren who are sitting on the loveseat in Bobby G’s living room.
“He is walking pretty good,” says Lauren as Odin sits in front of me.
I check over Odin and see that the bullet hit him on his left side near his left hip and also exited near his left hip.
I see that Odin is still a little tender around the gunshot wound and I apologize to Odin for touching Odin’s wound.
“Everything okay?” asks Phil as TJ enters the living room.
“Yeah, Janet was asking if I went to my house,” answers TJ.
“Did you?” I ask TJ.
“Yeah I went before I came here, and it looks the same since the last time we were there,” answers TJ.
“Where did you go after you left your house when Odin was shot and who stitched him up?” I ask TJ.
“Alice took us to the reservation that she was researching and I’m glad she did because they saved Odin’s life,” answers TJ.
“What about Janet’s cats?” asks Lauren.
“We went back and got them, and they are at the Reservation as well,” answers TJ.
“They did a good job on Odin’s wound. It’s still healing, but it looks good,” I say to TJ.
“The Reservation has everything you could think of and they are self-sufficient there,” says TJ.
“Where are you staying? Are you in a tent or teepee or what?” asks Phil to TJ.
TJ chuckles and answers, “Yeah, we have an extra-large teepee for Janet, her two cats, Alice, Odin, and me. No, they have a whole community built with large homes for tons of people.”
“These are the same people from the casino that shot at us and almost killed Jon?” asks Phil.
“No, well technically yes, but they aren’t the same people. The casino is only one aspect of the Native Americans and most of them hate the casino,” answers TJ.
“I doubt they hate the money that it brings in,” I sarcastically reply.
“How far away is the Reservation?” asks Phil.
“Not far at all, especially with the highways being wide open now. You can be there in about 20 minutes,” answers TJ.
“But enough about me, what’s been going on here?” asks TJ.
“Just trying to get things under control around here,” I answer TJ.
“What’s going on with the Conquerors? I have seen more and more of their symbols popping up,” says TJ.
“Yeah, we are working on that, but they look to have come back around Tampa Bay, and they have started causing trouble again,” says Phil.
“What’s your next move?” asks TJ.
I think about TJ’s question and answer, “Not quite sure, but we have to meet with some people and then go from there.”
“Well, if you need my help, just reach me over the radio,” says TJ.
“You’ll answer now?” jokes Phil.
TJ smirks and answers, “I will, but again, I’m sorry about before and if you can setup a meeting with Bakari, I would appreciate it.”
“I’ll keep you in the loop and the next time we meet with him you can come with us,” I reply.
“Sounds good,” replies TJ.
“I have to be getting back, but I’m glad I was able to talk with you today,” says TJ.
“Me too. I’m glad you and Odin are doing well,” I reply.
I walk with TJ, Phil, and Odin over to TJ’s jeep.
“So are you done with MacDill?” asks Phil to TJ as we stand by TJ’s jeep.
“I haven’t been back since
