Chapter 52

Matthew, aka Maj. F.K Leavenstein, asked his sister for one final massage before he went off to play secret agent. Of course, Brie couldn't turn him down. While she was working on the backs of his legs, he asked her, "What's it been like?"

"What's what been like, Mattie?"

"Being married to the lead singer of Disturbed, the keystone of the resistance?"

"He's a great man, a loving and devoted husband and father. He's the best man I know."

"What about the being forced into seclusion because of his speaking out about shit?"

"It hasn't really been all that bad, to be honest. I mean, I've been well taken care of. No one here really fights with one another, and we have our ways of solving things. It's not the worst life I could have imagined. I mean, sure I'd love to be able to walk out my door and see the sunshine, but it's really not all that bad."

"You really mean that, huh?"              

"Yeah, Mattie, I do. I love him and I'd follow him into the mouth of hell. I hope that someday you find someone like him."

"Do you give him massages often?"

"You know I can't tell you that, Mattie. That's confidential information."

"According to the Utopianists there's no such thing."

"Hence why I'm in hiding and not a part of the real world. I believe that there are certain things that should be kept between a person and their health care practitioner or therapist."

"You're an inspiration, you know that?"

She smiled, and though he couldn't see it, he heard it in her voice. "I'm just one person trying to get by in the world. I'm not trying to inspire anyone."

"Always so modest", he said.

"Just shut up and focus on the massage."

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The next day came and went faster than Brie had wanted it to. The sun rising meant that her brother was about to embark on the most dangerous mission he'd ever taken on. When it set, that meant that he was in and there was a good chance she'd never see him again. She tried to remain strong, but she was dying inside. Her brother meant a lot to her, almost as much as her children and David.

David saw that his wife was upset and tried to be a comfort, but it seemed in vain. There was no comforting her, he thought. Just watching her suffer and being there for her. That's the best he could do.

At dinner, Nicole noticed that Brie was upset as well. She said nothing until everyone had left and she and Brie were cleaning up. "Brie, what's wrong?"

"Nothing", she lied.

"You're not a very good liar, Brie. I can tell that something is bothering you. What's wrong?"

"I'm afraid for my brother. Can't I be human?" she snapped.

Nicole touched Brie lightly on the shoulder as Brie broke down for the first time that day. God, she felt so weak. Nicole wrapped her arms around her and let her cry.

David came into the room and saw Brie crying on Nicole's shoulder. "Is she okay?" he mouthed to her. Nicole just shook her head.

They carefully shifted Brie from Nicole's shoulder to David's as she continued to break down. She sobbed into her husband's shoulder for at least an hour before he looked at Nicole. "I'm gonna take her upstairs. Watch the kids for us, please?"

"Sure, no problem, David", Nicole said and left the room.

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David managed to get Brie up the stairs. He had to carry her, but he got her up the stairs. Thank God he'd been working on his upper body strength when they worked out in the mornings. He even had to carry her into the room and lay her on the bed. Still she sobbed. He sat on the bed with her, silent as a grave, and let her cry. Finally, she fell asleep.

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A week passed, and Mattie checked in with the guys, right on schedule. David made sure that Brie was busy with other things while he and the guys took the call from her brother. David and the guys all made thorough notes of everything that he had to say, every strategy that he was helping them think up and the exact measures to counter them. He was being sure to give the Establishment complicated offenses while giving the Agency the best and simplest defense. Even the General was impressed. "There's a fine strategic mind behind the brown eyes of that Marine. His Commandant would be proud", he'd even said once.

It continued like this for months. Once a week, at the least, David, Dan, Mike, and John would take the call from Brie's brother. After a couple of weeks, David wised up and started conferencing to the Agency, usually directly to the Director. There was no need to take notes that way and David was free to listen and ask question where he felt the need, because this information helped the band with ideas on how to recruit more people to the cause.

When David would come out after making the call, he would let Brie know that her brother was ok. She wasn't overjoyed to hear the news, but it did help. David could tell. One night when they were tucking the kids in for bed, Malachai asked, "When are we going to see Uncle Mattie again?"

"We're not sure, son", David said. "Uncle Mattie is very busy these days."

The months flew by, and news kept coming that the Utopian leaders were running scared and that the War had spread worldwide. People were standing up against Monarchs and Communist leaders all because they were tired of the oppression. It was times like this that made David and the guy proud to do what they did. But what was to come was one of those things that made David and the guys wonder if they were doing the right thing.