**************************************************
General Thompson was a young man. A West Point grad who'd ascended the latter of rank very quickly during the war. And as he sat in the living room, speaking with Nicki as Trent played on the floor, he explained to them how he'd found to his amazement that his best advisor during the war was a nineteen year old kid. An enlisted man. He and Weston had become fast friends, constantly together planning the next step.
"Weston had an incredible mind. It was amazing how he could almost tactically see into the future. He knew the moves of the enemy before they knew them for themselves. He was an incredible man. I swore to him that should anything happen to him I would take care of his wife and son. He would've done the same for me..." It was there that Nicki cut him off.
"Thank you General, but Trent and I are fine. The loss was terrible, but we're moving on," she said, trying to be polite. For some reason she didn't really understand she just wanted this man to leave, friend of Weston's or not. Thompson shifted in his chair, smiling grimly.
"Wes always told me how tough you are Nicki. He talked about you all the time. The day he didn't come back from patrol, I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe the enemy had outsmarted him. Your boy is going to have quite a legacy to live up to. I almost pity him. It's not fair that everyone will compare him to a father he never knew."
"I know. I'm afraid that he'll feel he needs to be Weston. We've already had problems with Weston's younger brother trying to live up to his reputation. It isn't healthy. Trent doesn't need to be his father, I don't ever want him to think that."
"If he'd known he wouldn't get to watch his son grow up, I think it would've driven him nuts Nicki. He, he really loved you guys. I should go," he said as he stood up and started for the door. Nicki followed him, seeing him out. At the door he turned to her.
"Listen, Mrs. Guard, if it's alright with you I'd like to keep in touch with you and Trent. My wife and I live only a few hours away. We have a son a little older than Trent. Perhaps we could get together from time to time. No one knew Weston better than you, but I was one of the last people to see him alive. If Trent ever needs to talk with me about his father someday, I'd be, honored, to tell him how much of a hero his dad was."
Nicki leaned against the edge of the open door.
"I'd like that. Thank you, General." He nodded shortly, putting his hat on before heading out to his car and Nicki closed the door behind him.