The news spread faster than I'd anticipated.

I was restocking medical supplies in the base's dispensary when Luna, my loyal bodyguard, slipped through the door with her face pale.

"Miss Elisabeth," she whispered, using my real name for the first time in three years. "Your father's been contacted. Senator Herrera knows."

My hands stilled over the antibiotic vials. "How long ago?"

"Less than an hour." Luna's eyes darted to the window. "Military intelligence confirmed your identity this morning. By now, every political network in Washington has the information."

I closed my eyes briefly, feeling the carefully constructed walls of my new life beginning to crumble. Three years of anonymity, of safety, of distance from Vincent—all undone by a routine transfer request.

"He's coming here," Luna continued, her voice barely audible. "Official visit. Tomorrow morning."

---

The base was in chaos by dawn. Soldiers scrambled to prepare for the unexpected visit from one of the country's most powerful senators. I watched from the medical wing as they polished equipment and straightened uniforms, whispering excitedly about the honor of hosting such an important dignitary.

Marcus Thompson found me reviewing patient files, his expression grim. "He's not here to inspect medical facilities, Doc. He's here for you."

"I know," I said quietly.

"Your father's people called ahead. They're... concerned about your welfare." Marcus hesitated. "They don't understand why you've been hiding out here."

I looked up from the files. "Did they mention why Senator Herrera is suddenly interested in a military medic?"

"Didn't have to." Marcus's eyes held a mixture of curiosity and concern. "The way they talked about you two... there's history there."

History. Such a simple word for such a complex nightmare.

---

Vincent's helicopter touched down at precisely 0900 hours. I stood among the medical staff, dressed in standard-issue fatigues with my hair pulled back in a regulation bun. Professional. Anonymous. Invisible.

But as he stepped from the aircraft, his eyes scanned the crowd and found mine immediately.

The shock in his expression was almost worth the three years of hiding.

"Senator Herrera," I said formally as he approached our group. "Welcome to the Northern Border Medical Facility. I'm Staff Sergeant Elisabeth Jenkins, senior medic."

"Staff Sergeant," he repeated slowly, his voice carrying a note of disbelief. "I wasn't aware the Jenkins family had military connections."

"Recent development," I replied evenly. "If you'll follow me, I'll brief you on our operations."

Throughout the tour, I maintained clinical precision in my reports. Number of patients treated annually. Surgical success rates. Specialized training programs. I spoke of medical protocols and supply chain management as if I'd never known him at all.

But Vincent's attention kept drifting from the medical equipment to my face, as if searching for traces of someone he'd once known.

"Remarkable work you're doing here," he commented as we concluded the formal tour. "I'd like to discuss some of these initiatives further. Perhaps over coffee?"

"I'm afraid my schedule is quite full today, Senator," I replied. "However, Dr. Mitchell can provide any additional information you require."

His jaw tightened slightly. "I wasn't asking, Staff Sergeant."

"Then my answer remains the same, Senator." I met his gaze steadily. "This facility operates on military protocol, not political convenience."

Something flashed in his eyes—frustration, confusion, perhaps even hurt. "Is there somewhere we can speak privately?"

"There's nothing to discuss that couldn't be addressed in official channels," I said coolly.

---

Back in Washington, Sloane paced the elegant hallway of Vincent's penthouse apartment. Her phone buzzed with updates from her security team at the border base.

"Still nothing?" she demanded when the call connected.

"Nothing concrete," the voice replied. "Herrera requested a private meeting with the medic, but she refused."

Sloane's perfectly manicured nails dug into her palm. "What else?"

"He's been asking questions about the Jenkins family. Specifically about their daughter."

A cold dread settled in Sloane's stomach. "How much does he know?"

"Not sure yet. But he's definitely interested in her."

Sloane ended the call and stared out the window at the Washington monument. Something about this felt wrong. Vincent had been distracted since his poisoning—more focused on politics than their relationship. But now he was suddenly taking official trips to remote military bases and asking about the Jenkins family?

She pulled up the security file on her tablet, scanning the information her team had compiled on the mysterious military medic.

"Elisabeth Jenkins," she whispered, studying the service record. "Three years at a border base..."

Her finger froze over the screen as she noticed something odd about the timing. Three years ago—exactly when Vincent had begun his rapid rise to power. Exactly when he'd become more distant, more focused on his career than their relationship.

"Who are you?" Sloane murmured, her suspicion growing. "And what do you have to do with Vincent?"

The summons came at dawn.

"Staff Sergeant Jenkins," Colonel Marcus Thompson's voice crackled through the intercom. "Report to the command center immediately."

I found him hunched over satellite maps with two Canadian officers. Their uniforms bore the distinctive maple leaf insignia of the Royal Canadian Armed Forces.

"Ah, there she is," Marcus said, straightening. "Gentlemen, this is Staff Sergeant Elisabeth Jenkins, our senior medic."

The older Canadian officer—Major Beaumont according to his nameplate—extended his hand. "Pleasure. We've heard good things about your work here."

"Thank you, sir," I replied, keeping my tone professional despite the flutter in my chest. Three years of anonymity were crumbling by the minute.

Marcus gestured to the maps. "We're planning a joint training exercise in the northern mountains. Medical evacuation scenarios, combat triage, that sort of thing."

"And you need me to..." I began.

"Lead the medical component," Marcus finished. "The Canadians have requested our best, and that's you."

I felt a chill run down my spine. High-profile training exercises meant visibility. Visibility meant attention. Attention meant...

"Is there a problem, Staff Sergeant?" Major Beaumont asked.

"No, sir," I said quickly. "When do we start?"

---

The mountains loomed gray and imposing against the morning sky as our convoy wound its way up the narrow road. I sat in the lead medical vehicle, reviewing the exercise parameters on my tablet.

"Complex terrain, multiple casualty scenarios," I murmured to myself. "They're not messing around."

The exercise unfolded like clockwork. I established three field medical stations, coordinated evacuation routes, and implemented a triage system that earned approving nods from the Canadian medical officers.

"Your people are impressive," Major Beaumont commented during a lull between scenarios. "Especially you, Staff Sergeant."

I was about to respond when my radio crackled: "Medic to sector four, priority one."

Sector four was a steep ravine where the soldiers were practicing rope rescues. As I scrambled toward the location, I heard shouting and saw figures gesturing wildly.

A young private lay sprawled at the base of the cliff, his leg bent at an unnatural angle. Above him, three more soldiers clung to ropes, their descent halted by what appeared to be a tangled harness.

"Report!" I barked.

"Private Wilson fell ten meters," the nearest soldier called down. "The safety line snapped!"

I dropped my medical pack and began assessing Wilson's injuries while barking orders. "Get me a splint from the main pack! Someone call for the evacuation helicopter!"

As I worked, I became aware of another presence—a woman in civilian clothes standing at the edge of the rescue zone, observing intently.

"Who are you?" I demanded without looking up from Wilson's leg.

"Sloane Wheeler," she replied, her voice cool and measured. "I'm here to observe the medical operations."

My hands froze momentarily before resuming their work. Sloane. Vincent's fiancée. Here.

"What's she doing here?" I muttered to Luna, who had materialized at my side.

"Official observer," Luna replied quietly. "Came in with the second Canadian contingent."

I glanced up to find Sloane watching me with calculated interest. Her perfect makeup and tailored clothes seemed obscenely out of place amid the chaos of the rescue operation.

"Shouldn't you be somewhere safe?" I called to her.

"I'm perfectly fine here," she replied with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'm interested in learning more about military medical operations. After all, I'll be a political wife soon."

The way she emphasized "political wife" made my stomach clench.

---

The final scenario of the day involved a simulated avalanche rescue. The soldiers had constructed an elaborate training ground with unstable snow formations and multiple "buried" casualties.

I was directing the medical team when I heard a scream from the far side of the training area.

"She's trapped!" someone shouted.

I turned to see Sloane struggling near a precariously balanced snow formation. She'd somehow wandered into the danger zone during the simulation.

"Stay where you are!" I called, rushing toward her while signaling for the safety team to follow.

As I approached, I noticed something odd—the safety rope that should have been securing the snow formation had been cut cleanly through.

"Help me!" Sloane cried, her voice trembling perfectly. "I was just trying to get a better view!"

I reached for her arm, but before I could pull her away, there was a sharp crack above us.

"Look out!" Luna shouted.

The snow formation began to shift, then cascaded downward in a roar of white.

I threw myself forward, pushing Sloane toward Luna while trying to shield her from the falling snow. The world turned white as the avalanche engulfed us.

When the snow settled, I found myself half-buried with Sloane clinging to me, her face streaked with genuine terror.

"You saved me," she gasped, her eyes wide with shock.

But as the rescue team pulled us free, I caught sight of something in her expression—something that looked remarkably like satisfaction.