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Brandon Michaels was standing at the grave site as the public workers lower the body in the coffin down into the hole. He had no idea of how to react, when to leave of even if it was all right for him to cry in front of some men who look gruff and worn by working outside in public service.

He was unable to help himself as the tears began to run down his cheeks he slowly turned away just as the body had gotten to the bottom of the six foot whole. He held onto the flag, walked back to his car, got in, and drove home.

When he arrived at home, there was a house full of people waiting for the man who refused to ride in the funeral parlor provided limo instead he drove Carrie's 1971 Ford Mustang. Her custom plate on the front that read simply "Carries Stang." He pulled into the driveway and parked it in the garage specially built for her 'stang.

As he entered the house tears still on his cheeks Carrie's Mom who attempted to hug him, he just pushed her away as he headed for the bar in the study. He picked up the full unopened bottle of 1994 Gold Series Jack Daniels Whiskey they bought when they joined the Army together. Each vowed not to open it till they were done with their military service.

Brandon was already done due to injuries suffered in the first Gulf War but Carrie was slowly moving up the ranks as a Communications Specialist.

She was ordered into combat service as many of her counterparts had already either gotten out of the service or have been killed in combat.

Six months into her service in Afghanistan while moving their commo equipment an IED went off right next to the door she was sitting inside.

Two pieces of shrapnel entered her face and head just under her Kevlar helmet, which had shifted under the pressure of the device going off.

Brandon was awoken at 3 am just two weeks ago by the local recruiter who had requested to do the notification. SSG Mandrell had stopped by Carrie's parents house earlier in the evening but was comforting her parents till about 2 a.m...

He knew he had to stop by Brandon's house before her parents called and told him. When he pulled into the driveway, he was certain that he had not been notified yet as the house was dark.

SSG Mandrell rang the doorbell and waited for Brandon to come downstairs to answer the door. He opened the door and knew immediately there was a problem when he saw SSG Mandrell standing there.

"No, she's not dead going away leave me alone!" Brandon screamed at him all the neighbors outside lights went on as he

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