Chapter Twenty-One – Rick
Today was going to kill him. Rick had several NCOERs due to the first sergeant this week but he could not focus.
Coop was on the track today for the first time in months.
Did the trainer even know to call Rick if something happened?
What would he tell the captain if he needed to run out?
Rick hadn’t been too open with his company commander about his personal life.
Shit. He needed to not worry. Coop knew what he was doing and his PTA had told him that he was ready. Rick needed to trust his man.
“Lieutenant, you okay?” Emerson’s voice broke into Rick’s brooding.
Snapping his head up, Rick saw Emerson standing in the doorway. He threw his pen on the desk and leaned back in his chair. “Please, for everything that is holy, tell me there’s an issue that I need to address right now.” Yup, he was throwing himself on the mercy of an emergency to distract himself.
“Unless you know something that I don’t, then, nope. I don’t want to jinx us by saying more. You know how that goes, like saying it’s quiet in an emergency room,” Emerson said as he sat in front of Rick.
“I actually know about that. My friend, Drew’s partner…significant…boyfriend…” Rick stumbled over how to label Brody. It still surprised him that, one—Brody and Drew ended up at the same base; two—Brody was gay, Rick wouldn’t have pegged him as gay; three—that they were seeing each other.
Emerson’s face clouded over. Oh fuck. “Didn’t realize you were a homophobe, sir,” Emerson bit out through gritted teeth.
“What. The. Fuck?” Rick snapped. “Why would you think I’m a homophobe? I’ve got a partner.”
“You’re gay? Then why did you stumble over your friend’s boyfriend?” Emerson looked baffled.
“Because I don’t know that Drew and Brody have figured out what they’re doing so I wasn’t sure how…
permanent a title to give Brody. I went to college with both of them, and I’m still shocked that they’re dating.
I didn’t know Brody was gay. Drew? Oh yeah, no hiding that when you’re roomies for years.
And yes, I am gay. Been with my boyfriend for almost a year.
Coop’s a racer and is on the bike for the first time today after an accident he had while I was in officer basic…
” His mind went back to Coop climbing on the bike again.
No lie, seeing Coop straddling a bike was a sight to behold that definitely gave him ideas.
Rick wasn’t going to let his worry affect Coop.
He wasn’t. Coop wasn’t holding Rick back from jumping and rappelling, or everything and anything else Rick wanted to do.
He was going to swallow his anxiety and smile big.
“Okay, what I’m hearing is you need a distraction.
” Emerson slapped his hands against his legs as he stood.
“Up you go, Lieutenant. Where’s your rucksack?
We’re taking the platoon on a road march.
They can always use the physical training.
Are they going to bitch? One hundred percent.
Bet you a beer that Swanson is the first to complain. ”
Rick laughed as he stood. “No bet there. I’m not stupid.
Swanson complains when his water is too warm in his Camelbak.
” Checking the clock, Rick did some mental calculations.
“Let’s take it a bit easy on them today.
Yes, I need a distraction, and yes, they can always use conditioning but we have the battalion run this week.
How about we do an easy seven miles? If they stay on pace, it shouldn’t take us more than two hours. ”
Battalion Headquarters was only another half mile.
His soldiers had it in them. A quick glance at his watch told him they were on pace to be done in under an hour and a half.
Hooah! Rick felt his phone vibrate in his thigh pocket but there was no way he was pulling it out at the end of the march.
Coop was on the bike today but regulations say no phones.
Whoever was calling could leave a voicemail.
They were almost back at headquarters so he’d respond soon.
“Let’s go, Bulldogs. You’ve got this. Less than a mile to go,” Rick called out encouragement to his soldiers. “Emerson, cadence.” A strong cadence would get them there in a good mood.
Emerson started up, “A is for Army!” with the platoon responding.
Rick watched the formation, seeing who was struggling, who needed a bit more attention.
A smile broke out when he realized that they were all moving together, no one appearing to lag behind.
His phone went off again, irritating him.
Someone better be fucking dying for them to be blowing up his phone.
When the thought registered in his brain, Rick stumbled. What if someone were dying? What if Coop had another accident? The platoon trooped into the open area at company headquarters, and Emerson commanded them to halt. Rick stepped around the formation to stand at the front.
“Bastogne Bulldogs, march completed, sir,” Emerson reported to Rick.
“Thank you, Staff Sergeant. Well done, platoon. Everyone, cool down and hydrate,” Rick instructed them as he moved to the side.
Rick dropped his ruck and grabbed his phone from his pocket.
Seven missed calls? Shit. Pulling up the phone app, Rick looked at the number.
Area code 743? The only people with that area code were his parents and brother, and since their names weren’t associated with the number, it wasn’t them.
Just as he went to slide his phone away, it rang again from the same number.
Might as well tell the person he wasn’t interested, so they’d stop calling him.
“Lieutenant Stanton,” he said as he answered.
“Ricky?”
“This is Rick Stanton. Who’s this?” Okay, maybe he was a little short but he was hot, tired, and wanted to stretch and sit down.
“Guess I’m not in your contact list since I changed my number. Has it been so long you’ve forgotten you have a brother?” Christopher asked. Rick moved the phone from his ear and stared at it, then moved it back to his head.
“Chrissy?” Rick fell back on using his childhood nickname for his brother. The shortened form of his name had stuck for Rick. When he started to talk, his brother’s full name had been a challenge for Rick.
“Yeah, Lieutenant. Proud of you,” he said. “Mom and Dad couldn’t stop talking about you being an officer and a college graduate.” Rick frowned. Something was wrong with Christopher’s voice. It sounded like he was crying.
“Christopher, what’s wrong? There’s no way that you’re calling me a year after I graduated to tell me that you’re proud of me.
Not that I’m denying you are and thank you.
But why are you blowing up my phone? What happened?
” Rick was already locking his emotions down.
If he’d learned anything in the last year, it was to control himself.
“Mom’s in the hospital and it—” Christopher choked on whatever he was about to say.
“Do I need to get home?” Rick was already thinking ahead to what he needed to do before getting on the road. Report to Captain Powers. Arrange emergency leave. Throw some things in a duff—
“Rick? Are you listening?” Christopher demanded. Damn it, Rick must have been so into his mental checklist that he hadn’t heard a word his brother had said.
“Sorry, was making a list of what I would need to do to get there. What’s going on?” Look at him being all focused.
“Mom’s been going through radiation and chemo for the past four months. She was diagnosed in November with pancreatic cancer. The treatments haven’t worked. She’s—fuck, she’s dying,” Christopher finished on a sob.
Rick looked to the sky as tears welled up. When was the last time he’d talked to either of his parents? Maybe a month ago? What a great son he was…not.
“You didn’t know?” he demanded after a minute. Had Christopher and his parents kept him in the dark on purpose? Rick knew he’d been a surprise baby and wasn’t close to his brother but for them to keep this from him?
“I had no clue. I spent Christmas Day with Mom and Dad. Gave them tickets to see Sawyer Brown for Christmas. You know how much Mom loves the lead singer. She looked fine. Dad looked fine. Neither said a thing. Today, I stopped by the house to drop off a cake that Mrs. Combs had given me for Mom. I was working on a bathroom renovation for her. Was shocked when I saw Mom’s car in the driveway.
It’s a fricking Wednesday. She should’ve been at school.
When I opened the door and saw her on the floor…
not going to lie, I screamed. She’s lost at least thirty pounds.
Her face is ashen. I dropped the cake. Called nine-one-one… ”
“Chrissy? Are you okay? Where are you? Where’s Dad? What do you need me to do? Where do I need to be?” Rick couldn’t string together two thoughts if someone had held a gun to him.
“We’re at Lexington Medical Center in the emergency room.
Waiting for a bed for her upstairs. Dad’s down getting a cup of coffee.
Said that they thought everything was going to be fine so they didn’t tell us.
Thought she was just tired from all the treatments.
Not sure what the next step is. Dad sat with your contact up on his phone for over twenty minutes and couldn’t bring himself to push call.
Said he didn’t want to ruin your day. I told him that I’d call you. ”
“Oh fuck that shit. Ruin my day? How about ruining my year for not knowing something was wrong with my mom?” Rick tried to hold it together, but it was getting difficult.
“Lieutenant Stanton, are you all right?” Emerson asked from beside Rick. Christ, he hadn’t even noticed the tall man approach.
Rick looked at his NCO and couldn’t form a sentence to answer him.
“Sir? You need to sit down. Rivers, get your ass over here. Double time. Lieutenant, you need to get off the phone. You look like you’re about to pass out.” Emerson grabbed Rick’s arm and guided him to a bench next to the entrance to headquarters.
“S’up, sergeant?” Rivers said as he stopped in front of them. “Whoa, the LT doesn’t look good. Do you want me to find Doc?”
“Find me First Sergeant Pearl and maybe Captain Powers. Sir, hand me your phone.” Rick looked up at Emerson.
Wow, he’s really tall. Rick must not have answered the man because he felt his phone being pulled out of his hand.
“Not sure who this is, but what do you need from my lieutenant?” Rick watched as Emerson talked on his phone.
He didn’t know what Chrissy was telling him.
He was sure that Emerson was asking questions, but all Rick heard was humming in his ears.
Finally, Emerson said, “I’ll have him call you back. Lieutenant, where is your man?”
Rick knew that Emerson was speaking English but there was a fog over Rick’s thoughts. He knew the answer to the question. He did. “Ummm, Coop’s on the track.”
“Okay, let’s get him on the phone. You’ve got to report to the company commander, then get your ass on the road.
” At the command in Emerson’s voice, he jumped to his feet, ready to go.
He had objectives now. Talk to the commander.
Drive to North Carolina. He could do this.
Rick was brought up short by Emerson tugging on his uniform top, which pushed him back down onto the bench.
“Hold up! I’m not letting you behind the wheel of a vehicle.
You need to process the shock that was dropped on you before you can focus to drive. ”
“What’s up, Staff Sergeant?” Captain Powers walked out of the company headquarters with Top right behind him.
“Lieutenant Stanton just received notification that his mother is in the hospital. Her prognosis isn’t good and he needs to get there ASAP.
I spoke with his brother and you should be receiving a Red Cross message.
” Rick listened as his platoon sergeant handled things for him.
Drew’s family was so right. Good NCOs were worth their weight in gold.
Captain Powers stepped in front of Rick and dropped to a knee. “I’m sorry for your news, Rick. Let’s get it processed so you can travel home. Do we need to look into flights for you? Top?” the captain asked as he looked over his shoulder.
Rick started shaking his head. “No, sir. It should only be an eight-hour drive and I’ll need my vehicle.”
“Okay. You get home, pack, and then head out. Check in with me or Top so we know you made it safe. I’m considering you on leave until next week.
” Powers tapped Rick’s knee and stood. “Emerson, make sure Rick gets to his apartment safely. Top, looks like the platoon is waiting to be released. You’ve got that? ”
“Not a problem, Captain.” Top crossed the area and called the platoon to attention. His soldiers were in good hands.
“Upsy-daisy, Lieutenant,” Emerson said. “Let’s get your man on the phone so I can brief him as I drive you home.”
Rick followed the taller man to the parking area. Yeah, get him to Coop. Everything would be all right if he had Coop beside him.