Keep My Baby Safe

by Bella Grant

  You heard the man, Derrick said. Assholes and elbows! The team that doesn’t find her buys the beer.

  You’re on! Thom said. I’ve got Tonto with me. I can taste that free beer already.

  The four men snickered quietly and rose from their covering crouch.

  She glanced at the timer. Only fifteen minutes in and they were already close. Shit! She’d set them up to fail, but they were far better than she’d given them credit for. She listened to the radio chatter of the MPs a moment as they looked for their quarry. She picked up the radio to point them in the right direction, but put it down. She’d already stacked the deck against her team by sending them in blind and giving the MPs radios and vehicles. They weren’t supposed to get even this far, and she wanted to see how this played out. Once the team learned some of the skills she would teach them, they were going to be fucking lethal.

  She watched as the two teams went about searching the planes. Dan and Thom were headed in the wrong direction, but Derrick and Rich found Fug in short order.

  I’ve got you, Derrick said as he found Fug sitting in the shade under an A-10 Warthog. Rich, find PJ and Thom, and let’s get out of here. We’ve got forty minutes.

  On it!

  Tasha divided her attention between the Derrick and Rich team and the Dan and Thom team. Thom’s weapon popped up as Rich slipped around an airplane, but he held his fire.

  We’ve got her! Rich hissed, waving his arm at them to call Dan and Thom to him.

  As the three men moved back to Fug’s position, she switched her attention to Derrick and grinned. Fug was drinking from her canteen and had either sweated through or poured water on herself to keep cool. Derrick was having a hard time not staring at her breasts plastered to her t-shirt.

  The men joined up and moved out. They were going to get in and out without a scratch. She wasn’t sure if she was thrilled or disappointed. Thrilled that they were better than she’d given them credit for, but disappointed that unqualified success would make them that much more cocky and difficult to teach. They’d started moving at that same ground-eating trot they’d used on the way out but had to slow as Fug began to lag. She expected the men to bitch and moan, but they said nothing, slowing to accommodate her pace.

  Bandits, five o’clock! Rich roared as he pivoted to his right and opened fire.

  Got them! Road A26! one of the MPs called over the radio an instant later.

  Dan threw himself over Fug, driving her hard to the ground as the other two men turned and added their fire to Rich’s, their guns popping softly as paint splatters appeared on the MP. The man dropped his gun and held up his hands. She’d instructed the MPs that any shot to the face shield, or two to the torso, they were to drop their weapons. They were out of the fight.

  Dan leapt to his feet, dragging Fug up as he did. If you want to live, haul your ass! he snarled as they began to run. Rich, Derrick, and Thom were following, but their weapons were up and covering their retreat.

  Ah! Shit! Rich snarled as he stumbled. Bandits! he screamed as he, Derrick, and Thom stopped and began to fire behind them, taking down the lone MP that had shot him in the back.

  Get her out of here! Derrick yelled as more MPs appeared on the run, others in a hard charging Humvee. We’ll provide covering fire!

  The melee began as the MPs converged on the men. The MPs were wearing armor and face shields, but her guys had no such protection. Dan shot one MP in the face one-handed while hauling Fug along by the arm. Rich, Derrick, and Thom would long be dead, but they followed, using the aircraft for cover as much as they could, firing as they retreated, grunting and snarling in pain as the paint balls struck home.

  Dan shoved Fug to the ground again, falling with her as he opened fire, painting the MP orange with his weapon before jumping to his feet, dragging Fug up again, and running. They’d almost made the building when he grunted hard and deep, but a moment later, he burst through the door, Fug in hand, both of them gasping for breath.

  “Stand down. Stand down!” Tasha called into her radio. It took a moment before her boys realized the MPs were holding up their hands and had stopped firing. The four men looked around. Each man had a different color paint loaded in their weapon. Dan’s was orange, Rich’s was red, Derrick’s blue, and Thom’s green. All the MPs were using white.

  Shit, Derrick muttered as the three men looked themselves over. It was a quick count, but it looked to Tasha that Derrick had been hit three times, Rich five, counting the one in the back, and Thom twice. Better than she expected, but they were still dead.

  Tasha rose from her chair. “You’re excused, Airman. Thank you. I’ll see you at the NCO club later. Beers are on me.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Fug said, then turned to Dan and smiled, making comically wide goo-goo eyes at him. “You saved me,” she gushed breathlessly, her hands clasped at her face like a fairytale maiden, but then she became serious. “Thank you, Sergeant. Seriously. If this had been real…” She let the sentence hang unfinished, but it was clear what she was saying. “Thank the other guys too.”

  Dan smiled but his face looked haunted, as if he were seeing a ghost. He nodded. “Airman.”

  Fug turned and left the building, joining the MPs for a ride back to the base and probably a shower.

  “Let me see,” Tasha ordered.

  Dan turned so she could see his back. He’d been hit once in the right shoulder. “Those fucking paint balls hurt!”

  “Less than a bullet, though.”

  “Yeah.”

  A few minutes later, Derrick and her other men entered the building. “Fuck. I’m going to be sore as shit in the morning! Why didn’t you give us some armor like you did the MPs?” Derrick snarled.

  “Because in the real world, you won’t be wearing armor.”

  “You set us up to fail!” Rich accused.

  “Yes, I did,” Tasha replied. “In the situations you’ll be going into, you won’t have good intel, tactical advantage, or any of the other things you’re used to having. What did you learn today?”

  “That you’re a bitch?” Thom spat.

  She grinned. “Okay, that. I’m a cold-hearted, ball-breaking bitch. Get used to it. But what should you have done differently?”

  “It’s my fault,” Dan announced. “I was worried about the clock. We should have been moving under cover more. And we should have gone to ground instead of making a run for it.”

  Tasha nodded. “Maybe. But more than that, what else?” She could tell Dan knew, but he wouldn’t call out or blame a team member. “Okay, I’ll tell you. Rich. Why the fuck did you think it was a good idea to start screaming like that? When did the shit really hit the fan? You fucked your whole team with that shit.”

  “I was leading. It’s my fault,” Dan said loudly. “They knew where we were, so it didn’t matter!”

  “No, it wasn’t your fucking fault. It was his,” she said, pointing at Rich, then softened. “The MP hadn’t seen you yet because he didn’t call your position until you yelled your warning. Look, I understand why you did it. But I told you, you have to forget your training. You should have taken the MP out as quietly as possible and then gone to cover.” She softened further. “I’m not blaming you. Not really. It may not have made any difference because you’re right, I set you up to fail. I gave the MPs every advantage. I wanted you to fail because I wanted to show you how what has been drilled into you since basic training isn’t going to save your life. You’re on your own, and yelling like that to protect your buddies only brings in the thunder. Understand?”

  She stepped up to Rich and spun him around so she could see his back. “In the real world, that might not have been a fatal shot. But even if it was, instead of one man down, we have three. You see what I’m driving at?”

  Rich nodded curtly. She could tell he didn’t like being dressed down when they’d accomplished the mission and saved the girl. These were proud men, willing to give their lives for their brothers, but she didn’t want them to give their lives
. A dead American in a foreign country was only slightly better than a live one.

  She decided to throw them a bone. “However, on the bright side, you got the target out without a scratch, and you weren’t supposed to. I’m surprised you even found her, to be honest, so call me impressed with that.” She smiled and nodded with in grudging approval. “Congratulations, mission accomplished. Now, I’m going to show you a different way, a way to reduce the 75% casualty rate.” Her smile grew. “So you don’t have to kill every one of my fucking MPs the next time. Jesus. They looked like they were standing in a fucking paint factory when it exploded.”

  Daniel

  Dan, Rich, Derrick, and Thom stepped out of Dan’s Chevy Tahoe. They’d spent four hours after extracting Fug in debrief with Tasha, going over the mission in detail. When it was over, Rich had pulled the rest of the members of the team aside and apologized. He wouldn’t admit he’d fucked up in front of Tasha, but he knew he had.

  The rest of the team had laughed it off, but they had taken the lesson to heart because Tasha was right. The SEALs knew all about stealth. But when the shit hit the fan, the instinct was to warn their buddies then go Rambo on every asshole they saw, a tried and true plan that had served the SEALs—and the rest of the armed services—well for many years.

  After washing the sweat and desert off themselves, Dan had picked them up. He was taking them out to show them his town. He’d brought them to Pokey’s, a bar and grill which was one of his favorite spots for a burger and beer. Derrick and Rich would have to buy their own burgers, but the beers were on him and Thom tonight.

  They settled at a table in the middle of the room and quickly placed their orders.

  Derrick looked around. “Fuck. I chose the wrong service.”

  Dan snickered. “What?”

  “I should have joined the damned Air Force or something. Check out all the prime pussy in this place. Is it always like this?”

  “Yeah, pretty much. Southwest women are the prettiest around.”

  “I’ll say,” Rich added. “Too bad there isn’t a naval base close by. These poor women don’t know what they’re missing.”

  Dan snickered again.

  “What was it like falling on Fug?” Thom asked as he sipped his beer.

  “Soft,” Dan replied with a small smile.

  “Lucky bastard,” Derrick sneered with a grin. “She was looking good in that t-shirt.”

  “Tell me about it,” Thom said. “Probably why that MP snuck up on us. Rich couldn’t keep his eyes off her tits.”

  “Fuck you, Ranger Rick,” Rich snarled before downing a swallow of beer.

  “If it was anybody’s fault, it was mine,” Dan said. “This is what I do. I should have known better.”

  “It was nobody’s fault,” Thom corrected. “You heard Tasha. We weren’t supposed to succeed. She put that time limit on us so we had to haul ass and not take it slow and careful. We did the best we could with shitty ROEs.” The other men nodded. The Rules of Engagement had been stacked against them from the start.

  “Enough about work,” Rich said when the waitress dropped their burgers off. “I’m going to eat this burger”—his tone fell off on the last word as he smiled— “then I’m going to find something else to eat later…if you know what I mean,” he finished with a lecherous smile.

  “To eating out,” Derrick toasted, hoisting his mug.

  The men laughed softly as they clinked their mugs together.

  -oOo-

  “I haven’t seen you boys around,” a stunning blonde said as four women paused at their table. “You stationed at Davis-Monthan?”

  “He is,” Thom said with a jerk of his chin at Dan. “He’s showing us around.”

  “But you’re all Air Force?” the woman with the raven-black hair asked.

  “Navy,” Derrick said.

  “Same,” Rich added.

  “Army,” Thom finished.

  “And you’re Air Force?” one of the brunettes asked, holding Dan’s eyes.

  “Yeah.”

  “Care to join us?” Derrick asked.

  “Sure,” the blonde said.

  The men pulled another table to theirs, and the group distributed themselves around the larger table.

  “I’m Rachel,” the blonde and boldest of the bunch said as she settled next to Derrick and leaned in close. “That’s Karen, Misty, and McKenzie,” she continued, naming the two brunettes and the raven-haired woman who had settled next to Rich. “We don’t get many Navy, or Army for that matter, around here.”

  “Just in town visiting our pal Dan here,” Thom said with a nudge. “Buy you ladies a drink?”

  “We’d love one,” Rachel said. “Beers.”

  Derrick ordered another round for the table.

  “Going to be around a while?” Misty asked as she gave Thom the once over.

  “A while,” Thom replied.

  “What about you?” Karen asked.

  “I’m stationed here. Part of the 48th Rescue Squadron.” Dan smiled as her eyes glazed over. She obviously had no idea what he was taking about.

  “I always thought the Army, Navy, and Air Force didn’t get along,” Rachel wondered aloud. “But you guys seem to be having a good time.”

  “Just out having drinks with friends.”

  “Been friends long?”

  “Not long. But we’ve been in the shit together. That makes friends fast.”

  Karen nodded. “Dangerous missions?”

  “If we told you, we’d have to kill you,” Rich said softly as he looked around, his eyes narrow and suspicious. Then he grinned.

  McKenzie twittered out a laugh as she leaned in a little closer and put her hand on his arm. “It looks like you know how to handle yourself.”

  He shrugged. “I do okay.”

  Rachel drew her finger down Derrick’s bulging arm. “I bet you’ve seen a lot of action.”

  Derrick smiled. “Our share.”

  “Anyone at home?” McKenzie asked Thom.

  “No.”

  “What the fuck!” a man’s voice snarled. “Rachel, what the fuck are you doing?”

  “Shit,” Rachel muttered. “What’s he doing here?”

  “Friend of yours?” Derrick asked as a massively muscled man marched across the bar.

  “Ex-boyfriend,” she replied softly before she turned to face the man. “Get lost, Chad. I told you, we’re done.”

  “We’re not done until I fucking say we’re done.”

  “You’re jacked again. Leave me alone.”

  “Fuck you, you skanky bitch,” Chad growled as he reached for Rachel’s arm.

  Derrick intercepted it. “The lady asked you to leave her alone,” he said as he rose, holding Chad’s arm by the wrist. The five guys who were with Chad hardened, their oversized muscles tensing. Thom, Rich, and Dan rose to back Derrick up.

  “Get your fucking hand off me, you fucking ape.”

  “I don’t want any trouble,” the bartender yelled. “I’m calling the cops.”

  “No need for that,” Rich called. “There won’t be any trouble, will there, boys?” he asked, his voice low and threatening.

  “Go away. Leave me alone,” Rachel hissed. “Just accept we’re finished!”

  Chad jerked his hand away. “Yeah, okay, we’ll go, but you’re coming with me.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

  “Leave,” Derrick said, his tone threatening.

  Chad licked his lips. “We’ll be waiting for you outside,” he hissed, getting in Derrick’s face.

  “Then let’s go. We’ll settle it right now,” Rich sneered.

  “Out back,” Chad growled and stomped away, his entourage turning and following him out.

  “Fuck,” Dan muttered. “We don’t need this.”

  “What’s his story?” Thom asked.

  Rachel grimaced. “He’s lost his fucking mind. He started getting jacked up on steroids, and it’s made him mean and aggressive. I got sick of his
shit and left him, but he won’t leave me the fuck alone.”

  “’Roid rage,” Rich said with a knowing nod.

  “Yeah.”

  “And the guys with him?” Rich asked.

  “He calls them his posse. They work out together.”

  “We need to let them cool off,” Dan cautioned. “We don’t need our asses thrown in jail.”

  He could tell that Derrick, and especially Rich, didn’t like it. “Yeah, okay. You’re right,” Rich conceded. “Stay with us,” he said to Rachel, “and we’ll make sure you get home okay.”

  “Thank you,” Rachel murmured as everyone settled back at their table.

  Less than five minutes later, Chad returned. “You chicken-shit fucks,” he snarled as he stormed in. “I’m going to kick your ass.”

  “We don’t want any—” Dan began as the four men rose, but Chad didn’t give them any choice.

  He took a swing at Derrick, a sloppy roundhouse that he ducked under easily. The patrons scattered, Rachel and her friends scrambling to get out of the way as Chad’s posse waded into the brawl.

  Dan ducked under the wide swing of the tattooed gorilla and fired a hard right straight into the man’s face. He staggered back, his face bloody, then came back at him with a roar. Dan sidestepped his charge, grabbed his wrist as he passed, and turned with the charge, twisting the wrist and bringing the arm up hard behind the man’s back. With five on four, this was no time to hold back. He shoved the arm up as hard as he could and heard the pop as the man’s shoulder let go.

  The gorilla screamed in pain as Dan shoved him to the floor. He turned to face another attacker, but three of the men were already down. Thom had his arm across the throat of one the men, his other hand behind his head, forcing his head forward. As he watched, the man sagged as he slipped into unconsciousness. Derrick’s left cheek was red where he’d obviously taken a punch, but as Dan watched, he punched the final assailant in the gut with a hard left. As the man doubled over, he grabbed him by the back of the head and drove his face downward into his rapidly rising knee. The man hit the floor like a sack of potatoes.

  The fight was over in seconds. Except for one chair, the furniture was still upright, and all the glassware was unbroken. The man Thom choked out began to stir as he came around, and the other four moved slowly on the floor as they grunted in pain. It appeared to Dan that everyone had used the minimum amount of force necessary to end the fight quickly and with finality.