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"It's OK.  I get that a lot.  The desk hides things.  I was a TNG medic and was hit by an IED in an ambush while on our way to help an injured civilian.  Unfortunately, that all happened to be a ruse used by the cartel to get us to the kill zone."
    "Oh no," he said in an embarrassed manner.  "It's just been a long time since I've seen such a beautiful woman."
    She just blushed, smiled, and rolled on over to her files.  She went through several different cabinets until finally pulling out a file and saying, “Lucas William Hoskins?”
    “Yes, that’s him!” exclaimed Nate.  His heart raced at what felt like a thousand beats per minute in anticipation of the information she held in her hand.  “Is he here?  Is he OK?”
    “He was here for a while, but he volunteered to be a field medic.  It looks like he is currently with a unit that is on an extended patrol.  That’s all of the info I have here as this is basic personnel info, but perhaps Colonel Tucker can help you find out more,” she said as she returned to her desk and handed the file to Colonel Tucker.
    “I’ll see what I can come up with.  The actual movements of individual units are kept quiet, for obvious reasons.  Let’s head back to Post 19 where we met so I can reacquaint you with your horse and gear.  You can spend the night there while I try to find out how to locate your brother.  Hopefully I’ll have some more useful information for you by tomorrow,” Colonel Tucker said as he took the file from the clerk.
    “Yes Sir!” said Nate in an excited tone.  This had been the first time since it had all happened that he had heard anything at all about a family member.  If Luke was with the TNG, he would surely be able to track him down.  “Thank you Ma’am for the information.  You've made my day,” he said to the young woman as he turned to leave.  “Oh by the way, what’s your name again?” he asked her. 
    “Oh it’s Lisa Sanchez.  Sargent Lisa Sanchez,” she said with a smile. 
    “Petty Officer Nathan Hoskins if you want to put it that way,” he said returning the smile.
    “OK kids, we’ve got to get back to catch the next van for the return trip.  Thanks Sargent for the information, I’ll see you around,” Colonel Tucker said as he led Nate out of the room.
    As Nate and Colonel Tucker left the building and walked back to the guard shack to catch the van back across town, Colonel Tucker said to Nate, "We've got some makeshift sleeping quarters and shower facilities back at Post 19.  You can check on your horse and we'll get you a shower and a rack for the night.  I'll check around with our Ops folks to try and track down your brother, and we'll go from there if anything turns up."
    "Thanks a lot Colonel.  I really appreciate what you're doing for me.  This is more help than I ever expected or have received since it all began," Nate said with sincere gratitude in his voice.
    "Call me Mark, no need for formalities between us.  Besides, if your brother has been serving alongside us all this time, he deserves our help in getting you two back together," Mark said as he gave Nate a pat on the shoulder.
    Just as Colonel Tucker said, Nate was given a bed and had his gear, including his shotgun, returned to him.  He visited with his horse and gave her food and water that the TSG personnel had provided him with before turning in for the night.  That night, Nate tossed and turned in anticipation of what the next day would bring.  A combination of excitement and uncertainty pumped through his veins as the culmination of his struggles during the past year's journey was about to come to fruition.
     
     
    ****

    Chapter 4: The Confederacy
     
     
    Evan and Jason were on their way to Ollie and Mildred Thomas's farm for what was now their weekly security visit.  Being that the Thomas farm was only a few miles away, they were riding Evan and Jake's mountain bikes in order to conserve the fuel that remained in their supply