Chapter 24
LOGAN
"S o you really want this to be your last thing?" Sergeant Nichols asked as he and the rest of the squad approached the front doors of the bowling alley. "All the shit you could do you want to spend it hanging out with our stinky asses?"
"Yeah." Bron shrugged. "Gonna miss you guys. This paperwork is nothing compared to knowing I won't see your dumb faces every day."
Logan clapped Bron on the shoulder. Bron had been relatively quiet most of the week when he'd been around. Logan guessed it wasn't like he was trying to be reserved or pull away, but more like the compact bruiser of a man didn't quite know how to put into words the emotions he was feeling.
He could understand. He didn't really know what to say to the man, having only known him a few weeks compared to everyone else.
But when Bron said in the morning that he'd like to skip work in the afternoon and hang out with the squad, Sergeant Nichols took it to heart.
A quick conversation with Lieutenant Parker later, and suddenly Sergeant Nichols had managed to get their training excused for the afternoon.
Logan wasn't going to argue. It was a hell of a lot better than painting the walls of the barracks, which was what they had been doing. He was thrilled to escape the pointless task of painting the already pristine barracks walls. He'd much rather be bowling, especially since Sabby would be there.
Opening the door, Logan wondered how he'd act around Sabby. The topic of her and him being a couple had never been discussed with the rest of the squad, and he wasn't sure if they knew about it. He'd consciously avoided discussing Sabby on duty, he didn't want to put Sergeant Adams in a bind.
Hell, he didn't even allow himself to think of her as Jess Adams when he was on duty. So this was going to be new for him, being in uniform while his girlfriend and his fire team leader were in the same room, and the rest of the squad was present.
"Uhm, got a minute Sarge?" he asked her as the rest of the squad reached the door. "A question."
"Sure," Adams answered, waving the others on. "We'll catch up. Grab me some shoes, would you? I'm an eight women's." When they were alone, she turned to Logan. "What's up?"
"Uhm, how do you want to handle Sabby being on shift behind the counter?" Logan asked. "I don't want to put you on the spot."
Adams inhaled, then exhaled. "Obviously Nichols knows about it, but I feel you," she said.
"Okay, here's what we'll do. I'll go in, avoid Sabby.
You go get your shoes, and when she gives them to you, you be the good boyfriend and apologize, explain the situation.
Nobody'll say anything about me ignoring her, I'm a bitch on duty, remember? "
"You're not a bitch," Logan said.
Adams smiled. "Awww."
"You're that bitch," Logan finished, and Adams laughed hard.
"Damn right I am." She punched him lightly in the shoulder. "Come on, let's go bowl."
But inside the bowling alley, there was already a situation. Instead of getting their shoes or picking out balls for their lanes, the squad was gathered by the counter. Sabby was there too, and while Logan was initially happy to see her, the look on her face told him that something was up.
He quickly saw what it was. In the cafe area, near where the karaoke stage was normally setup, was a group of officers in their blue service uniforms. The 'dress blues,' as Logan's old drill sergeant called it, was actually a pretty decent looking uniform, and Logan liked it more than the green service uniform.
But he knew the 'blues' were only for ceremonial occasions, and doubted he'd wear his more than one or two times a year.
The officers looked like they were having a party, and as Logan approached, he could hear Sabby explaining to Sergeant Nichols what was going on. "...I put up a sign on the door saying the alley was reserved, but..."
"Come on Sabby, you know nobody reads signs," Nichols said teasingly. "Okay then, so what's the schedule?"
"Well, they're supposed to have their party wrapped up in the next half hour or so," Sabby said. "I know you guys were looking to hang out with Bron here, but maybe..."
"I thought I rented this place exclusively," an officer in blue interrupted them, approaching the counter. "What are... oh. You."
Logan looked, and saw that it was now-Captain Ambush, as he thought of him. He was looking at them with disdain and a little bit of anger in his face, his eyes mostly on Sergeant Adams, who was obviously easy to pick out.
"We didn't know the alley was closed, sir. We'll find another place to go."
"Damn right you will, Sergeant," the captain, who Logan saw was named Huffman, said. "This ain't your party. And why the hell are you in the alley, in duty uniforms, during business hours anyway?"
"It's my last day in the unit, sir," Bron offered up, still trying to be respectful. "Our commander cut us loose, suggested we have some fun. I said I wanted to bowl. We didn't know about this ceremony."
"Hmph," the captain said, sniffing. "What sort of unit decides to skip work to go bowling?"
"One that whipped your ass," Carter whispered, and a few people snorted.
The captain noticed. "Did you say something, soldier? Is there a problem?"
"Sir." Nichols stepped up, "I'll deal with it. Please, go back to your ceremony, we don't want to waste your time."
The group turned, and Logan caught Sabby's eyes. He gave her a little nod, and turned to join the rest of the squad. But as he started away, he heard the captain start berating Sabby.
"I knew just looking at your unprofessional appearance that I couldn't expect things to be fully squared away, but how hard is it to tape a single paper sign to a door?"
"Captain, I..."
"I knew you were ate up," the captain interrupted, and Logan stopped in his tracks.
He knew he shouldn't, but Huffman was messing with Sabby again, chastising her far beyond reason and drifting into bullying.
"With that ugly haircut and your horrible screeching that was clear, bitch. But..."
Sergeant Adams growled, her eyes flashing dangerously, but Nichols and Tom Franklin quickly held her back. They knew she was furious at the insult aimed at her sister.
But nobody did anything to stop Logan, and before anyone could stop him, he turned on a heel and walked back to the counter, where the captain was continuing to berate Sabby.
"...and if you were in my unit, you'd be on your way out of the Army before the ink was even dry on your orders. Who do you..."
"Think you are, being such an unprofessional jackass?" Logan asked. "And before you start talking shit, remember who handed your platoon their ass. And who handed you your ass the last time you stepped out of line."
Sabby gasped, but the truth was, Logan didn't care. Insult him? Fine. Be a son of a bitch to his NCOs? Not cool, but he'd go off of their lead.
Sabby was innocent.
"You," the captain growled, his eyes widening in recognition. He smirked, pursing his lips. "You're like a fucking pimple on my ass, aren't you? Constantly an annoying pain."
"I'm who I am," Logan returned. "Why not just go back to your party, captain?"
"Fuck that." The captain gritted his teeth. "I want your chain of command."
"I'm his fire team leader." Sergeant Adams' voice was cold enough to freeze the Sahara. "And I don't see anything wrong with what Hollywood said."
"Fine, then I'll just report all of you to..."
"Their chain of command? Already taken care of," a new voice said, and Logan's eyes cut over to see Captain King come up. The National Guard captain saw him and his eyes narrowed. King explained.
"Carl King, Charlie Company XO. Sergeant Nichols, Major Kirk wanted me to swing by. He forgot to give Specialist Davis a little personal going away present since the Colonel called him to headquarters. So, with Major Kirk's compliments."
King reached into his pocket and handed Sabby a couple of folded over twenties that Sabby took.
"I can't help you, sir. The alley's rented by Captain Huffman here."
"Ah, so that's the problem," King said. "Well then, as long as we're playing who's got the bigger set of railroad tracks, where's your chain of command, Captain Huffman?
I'd love to give them my compliments as to your manners and professionalism when interacting with civilian employees and my enlisted soldiers.
Maybe we can discuss your tactical proficiency as well? "
"Back off, Captain King," Huffman said. "Your PFC here was totally out of line. I want something done about it. Your people are ruining my promotion party."
"Of course, of course," King said, not worried at all. After all, not only was he an equal rank to Huffman, but had seniority on him as well. "But I'd say it's equal levels of error here. So." He raised his voice, "just who is your commander, Captain Huffman?"
The National Guard officers on the other end of the room finally paid attention to the situation, and a moment later a National Guard lieutenant colonel came over, his blue eyes curious. "Brad Mercury, battalion commander. What can I do for you, Captain?"
"There's no reason for you to get involved sir," Captain Huffman said quickly, clearly not liking the escalation. "I was just telling Captain King and his troops that..."
"That I'm an ate up unprofessional idiot with the IQ of the nacho cheese sauce," Sabby interjected, causing Logan's fist to ball up. He hadn't heard that particular insult before he'd gotten involved.
Colonel Mercury lifted an eyebrow. "Is that so, Captain?"
"Sir, I might have been a bit direct with the staff here, but..."
"You called my sister a bitch," Adams growled, and Colonel Mercury's eyebrows knit. "Sergeant Jessica Adams, sir."
"I see," Colonel Mercury said, sighing. He looked at Huffman, and Logan could understand the expression on the man's face. On one hand, he didn't want to eviscerate an underling, especially an officer, in front of another unit. Especially not enlisted troops.
On the other hand, there was an issue to address, one that transcended rank and dealt with personal insults beyond the Army.
"Captain King, why are you and your people here, anyway?" Colonel Mercury asked finally. "Just curious."
"It's Specialist Davis's last day in the unit, sir," King replied. "Major Kirk decided that a little time together was better than them all painting the walls of the barracks."
"Ah," Mercury replied.
"Sir, please!" Huffman said. "This PFC here is the guy I told you about. He attacked me in the parking lot of this very bowling alley!"
"You threw the first punch," Logan growled. He looked at Mercury, and squared his shoulders. "Your then lieutenant was a jackass to Sabby that night as well, sir. I didn't start the fight, and I tried to deescalate the situation. But I damn sure ended it."
"And yet it seems to not be over yet." Mercury stroked his chin. Glancing over his shoulder, he nodded to himself. "Captain King, I think I have a proposed solution. Seems Captain Huffman and PFC..."
"Goodman, sir."
"PFC Goodman have some beef to settle," Mercury finished. "And this could ruin more than a few careers. I don't want that, neither do you. So instead of that, how about we settle this here and now."
"I'm down with that." Logan smirked. "How?"
"Well, when I started in the Army we'd just go behind the motorpool, take off our rank, and the two of you'd beat the shit out of each other until you had it out of your systems," Mercury said, and Logan's smirk grew. "That's not this man's Army any longer, son."
*Oh damn, I think I just got sonned*, Logan thought, but Mercury's expression said it wasn't over yet.
"So here's the deal. Captain Huffman's a pretty decent pool player. So Goodman, you and Huffman play nine ball, best of five series. Loser buys beers for the room, and we squash this."
"A moment, sir?" Sergeant Adams pulled Logan aside. When they were out of earshot, she whispered to him, "Can you take him?"
"I'm a math major who's been hanging out in a bowling alley for the past few weeks, remember?
" Logan whispered back. "I know those tables pretty well.
Come on, Sarge. I know we both want this guy's ass for what he did to Sabby, but paperwork gets swept into files.
This way I can put this guy in his place in a way that counts. "
"If you can," Adams said. "Are you sure, Logan?"
Logan smirked. "I'm playing for my girl's honor... Jess. That's motivation."
"Then go kick his ass." Adams punched him in the chest, "or I will."
"Nope," Logan said quietly. "Mercury's right. This ends today."
Adams nodded, and they returned to the group, where Logan stepped up. "I'm game, sir. Loser buys the beer."
Logan offered his hand to Captain Huffman, who was suddenly the focus of everyone's attention. It was time to 'nut up or shut up,' as Logan used to say in college. Finally, he stuck out his hand, and they shook.
"Good," Colonel Mercury said. "Then let's get those uniform tops off, approach the table like a pair of men, and get this settled. I'm tired of this particular headache."
* * *