Chapter 32 - Welcome Little Brother (3)

27 December, JL International City K

Phillip noticed the look on Matthew's face and realised that he was thinking about the last time that he spent time with Lexi. He remembered what he had to do when Matthew returned almost twelve months to the date that he had last been in home.

Given what happened with the family and her forced marriage Phillip had become Lexi's confidant. Lexi knew his s*xual orientation and that he was not a threat. Based on what she had said he believed the child that Lexi was carrying was Matthew's not her husband, but she would never say. She did however drift away from talking to Matthew, having him speak more and more to Phillip. He understood why Lexi had to cut Matthew from her life and leave but telling Matthew what happened was the hardest thing that he had done.

It broke not only Matthew's heart but his. All he could do was be there and support Matthew particularly after he read the letter Lexi left him. Matthew was shattered. The girl he loved and wanted to spend his life with had not only married someone else, apparently gave birth to his child, and lost her husband in the space of less than eleven months. Phillip wondered at the time if Matthew regretted his decision in joining the military.

However, the time he spent with Phillip, seemed to give him a new lease on life and Matthew was as committed to his military career as he had been. Phillip wondered why, but he knew that Matthew would only tell him when he was ready. When Matthew left, he promised Phillip that he would take care and be in regular contact.

Matthew had simply decided to commit himself to the military until Lexi had returned permanently from overseas. Their military engagement and marriage had been approved and when she was back he would secure her.

Phillip looked at Matthew and said, "You are thinking about when you last spent time with Lexi?"

"Yes, and you are thinking about having to deliver the news you did a year later."

"I am. Come on admit to me how you feel." Phillip knew he needed to test the waters with Matthew, given he knew the biggest secret. Lexi's Dominic was in fact Matthew's child not her husband's child.

However, before Matthew could respond, Phillip added "You said that you were senior on base. How senior?"

"Military secrets brother mean that I cannot tell you. And do not turn and pressure the President. He told me to pass on a message that he would not tell you exactly what my posting was, save and except it was one of the senior administrative appointments."

"How …"

"Big brother, he was the one, after you told him about your cancer returning that proposed to my superiors that if an opportunity existed to post me here for them to consider it. So, when the appointment was confirmed he was the one that confirmed it and asked me to pass on the message."

Realising that Phillip was annoyed at what happened, Matthew turned and said "And more importantly Chester will get even less from him, despite the two of you being engaged. He is not considered a family member, and you know that President Dong has always abided by protecting the security of the military.

Matthew paused and thought about the quirks of fate that had seen to his rapid promotion within the military. From joining as an enlisted soldier to a general in just over ten year. He happened at times to be in the right place at the right time to act, protect fellow soldiers and ensure that their missions were carried out that moved him through the ranks and postings within the special forces, seeing him assigned previously to City T and then City S, to sort out the special forces teams deployed there before returning to the Capital eight months ago.

City Z was meant to have been the first special forces permanent posting he had but that was changed here, in part due to the appointment problems, but also as of the ongoing threats from the Devil who from all indications was most active in the regions around City K. The one thing that Matthew would ensure is that Phillip had no idea that his posting was a special forces posting, not a general posting. That was because he needed to protect him.

"Phillip, can you be honest with me for a minute?"

"Only if you can?"

"I will, to the extent my orders allow me. What does your oncologist say about your cancer this time?"

"Matthew he is hopeful I will recover, but as he also said there is real prospects that this may be a battle I cannot win. I want to win, as I have Chester and we are committed to each other."

"Keep that attitude Phillip, wanting to win is the hardest part done, you have the psychological desire to win. Now as to your question, all I am permitted to say it is a very senior position on base but is mainly administration. I must keep up my skills, hence I will join the troops in training, but I will be focused on administration. And before you ask, I will join you tonight. Send me all the details, as I have to get back to base."

After giving Phillip a hug, Matthew headed down to return to base. As he shut the door his adjunct asked "Colonel, do you mind me asking you some questions?"