by C. C. Brown
“What are you smiling for?”
“Because you’re so blind to the fact that this isn’t over. You two mules love one another so much that it’s blinding your better judgment. First you deal with court, then you work on putting your fragile relationship back together.”
The smile that crept across my face was the first that had appeared in what felt like days. I hugged Dalton with everything I had, finally feeling as if a bit of life had sparked inside of me. I wasn’t sure how I had gotten so lucky to have him in my life, but right now, I was beyond thankful.
“Let’s go. We’re going to be red as lobsters if we stay out here too much longer.”
Nodding my head, I stood and walked over to the lounge chair to grab my towel, only there was a male sitting there, hindering my ability to pull it away. He had a devilish grin on his face, his eyes full of deceit as he sat there and staring at me as if he were a wolf ready to eat its unsuspecting prey. I tried to ignore him and go for my towel, but he held it down, biting onto his bottom lip before finally speaking.
“Pfc. Bennett, I presume?”
I took a deeper look, trying to figure out if I knew him or not. Nothing was ringing a bell, and if we weren’t at a public pool, I would have feared for my safety.
“That’s my towel you’re sitting on,” I casually responded, not trying to confirm anything for him. I looked around, but it seemed Dalton had ducked into the men’s room. I was on my own.
“Oh is this your towel? I’m sorry about that, here you go,” he said, raising it up for me. When I grabbed for it, he pulled it back, smiling again. “Seems like you’re having a rough day. It’s not every day a pretty girl cries in her boyfriend’s arms at the base pool. You’re much too cute for that…need me to kick his ass?.”
“He’s not my boyfriend, and I don’t know you, so I don’t need you to do anything for me besides let go of my towel.”
I went to grab for it again, and he let it go, allowing it to fall to the ground.
“I know who you are, and I know who your boyfriend is. Alex should probably watch out because it doesn’t seem as if you’re keeping up your end of the bargain in this relationship, and all of this fraternizing would have been for nothing.”
I glowered at him. Then it finally hit me, this was that asshole, Vernon.
“Good luck in court tomorrow, Pfc. Bennett. You’ll need it.” He stood and walked away.
Dalton came out of the bathroom freshly showered with a smile on his face. The myriad of emotions coursing through me at the moment were just too much to take. I plastered on a fake smile and walked out with him, wanting this weekend to be over with finally.
++++
My nerves were shot the next morning. My shower was much too long, it took me a good twenty minutes to make my hair behave, and every time I looked at myself in the mirror, I’d find something wrong with my uniform. To date, I had spent less than six months in the Marine Corps, and I was about to face a pre-trial hearing, something that most Marines wouldn’t see in twenty years of service.
Alex came to mind, and I wondered how he was doing with all of this. I hadn’t heard from him since the night he dropped me off and walked away. So many times I wanted to pick up the phone and call him, but I stopped myself. If a break from me was what he needed, then I would respect his wishes.
When I could no longer stand it, I grabbed my cover and walked out the door and down to Captain Hedlund’s office. I hoped that I’d left with enough time to get to Hedlund first; I wanted to speak to him without Alex present. Having Alex around, even the mere thought of it sent my stomach into a fit of convulsions.
I could smell the aroma leaving the chow hall as I walked by with every swing of the door, but I had no interest in going in. I was wound too tightly, and the smell did nothing but further agitate my already shocked insides.
Alex’s truck was nowhere to be seen as I turned the corner for the base legal office. I took notice of all of the staff in the office wearing my same uniform—Service Alphas. The green pants creased to perfection, khaki shirt fitted with a matching tie, and the green coat with rank insignia and service hashmarks covered in service ribbons situated over the left breast. Everyone looked very business-like.
Court day—the day to seal my fate.
I self-consciously tugged at my coat, feeling like something was wrong with my uniform because as much time as I had given myself this morning, it still didn’t seem like enough.
“Pfc. Bennett, you’re a little early,” Lance Corporal Nelson spoke, jarring me away from my shot nerves.
“Oh, I know. I was hoping to speak to Captain Hedlund before we head off for court.”
“Let me see if he’s available to take you. Go ahead and sign in, then take a seat.”
I did as instructed, holding my cover in my hand like it was the last inch of life left in me. Lance Corporal Nelson came back, instructing me to follow her back. She knocked on the door, then gently opened it, motioning for me to make my way in. Captain Hedlund was knee deep in paperwork, but stopped what he was doing when I walked in, giving me a firm handshake before taking his seat.
“Lance Corporal Nelson, the files we’ll need for court have a few additional documents that need printing. Everything is in your email.”
“Yes, sir.” She turned and walked away.
“Captain Hedlund, Alex and I did not get married this weekend.” He sat in his chair, looking relieved and shocked at the same time. “In fact, we aren’t together anymore. I thought you might want to know about this before we go into court this morning.”
“I won’t lie, Pfc. Bennett, I wasn’t thrilled about you two running off to get married, but I have to say that I’m shocked that you didn’t.”
“I think we all are, sir.”
“Are there any extenuating circumstances that I should know about? Anything that might affect the outcome of this case.”
“No, sir. Just personal differences, that’s all.”
“Okay. Well, thank you for letting me know. I need to get with Lance Corporal Nelson and make sure that everything is set to go. Have you had chow?”
“No, sir. My stomach is in knots, so no room for chow.”
“Okay. Well, I’ll see you back here at zero seven-thirty. Relax. I am going to do everything in my power to help you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
I strode out of his office, feeling much better than I had when I’d initially walked in. I walked out of the base legal office feeling like the day didn’t have insurmountable task standing in front of me. Just as I turned the corner to sit in the foyer, I heard the roar of Alex’s Ram, and watched him as he parked, making eye contact with me the entire time. The same Alex that I had come to know the first day in formation was present—emotionless, moving with a purpose, and impersonal. That much hurt, but when he walked in my direction, my heart lifted just a bit.
“What are you doing here so early?” he asked, studying my face.
“I guess I could ask you the same thing, but if you must know, I came to speak to Captain Hedlund.”
“About what?” he asked, furrowing his brow.
I exhaled harshly. I was sure this wasn’t going to go over well. “I needed to tell him about us…our standing in case he needed to know it for court.”
Alex wiped his face, breathing hard as well. “I was coming to do the same thing. He must be happy. Enjoying someone else’s misery.”
“Alex, it wasn’t like that at all. He’s a professional. He thanked me for letting him know, then went back to work. That was it.”
His demeanor changed, and the stocky bulldog faded away as the relaxed Alex I had come to know and love emerged before me. “Have you eaten? Let’s get some chow.”
“No, I can’t eat. My stomach is in knots. I just want time by myself to take this all in before we have to go and learn our fate.”
“All right, I’ll see you in a bit.” He stalked off to his truck, looking every bit as impeccable as I would have e
xpected him to. He opened the door but stopped and yelled out, “You look great, Blondie,” before hopping inside and pulling off.
Alex using my nickname was a term of endearment. It hurt, and it healed. I was on a roller coaster again, and this time, one way or another, I wanted off.
++++
The courtroom had an eerie feel to it—cold and sterile with concrete walls and old wooden floors. If they’d wanted full intimidation for the defendants in this space, they had done a mighty fine job of accomplishing their goal. From the second Captain Hedlund and Lance Corporal Nelson marched Alex and I into the building, my shot nerves disintegrated. The magnitude of what we were facing had somehow been minimized in my mind because from where I was standing, this was larger than anything I could have even begun to comprehend.
The military police situated in the corner were the unwanted reminder that Alex and I could very well be led out of here today in handcuffs, awaiting transport to the brig. Once again, my stomach knotted, and my head began to spin. I was lost in my own hell, and it was about to rear its ugly head in the name of First Sergeant O’Hara.
I didn’t see O’Hara until shortly before zero eight-thirty. He walked in with Major Godinez, looking like the snarl-faced bulldog that he was. Those beady eyes of his had a way of searing my soul, making me feel less than. Probably because that was how I saw myself at the moment.
Captain Hedlund walked over and shook both of their hands—always the consummate professional. He spoke briefly, then turned and headed back toward our table. I sat with my hands in my lap, sweat coating my brow as I found it hard to slow my heartbeat.
When I looked over to Alex, I was shocked to find him engaged in conversation with Lance Corporal Nelson, smiling every so often and looking like he wasn’t fazed by what was happening in the least bit. A piece of me envied his easy going demeanor while another part of me hated him for it. I was sweating bullets, thinking about how I would fare in prison while he was probably planning his next night out. My irrational hatred was beginning to get the best of me, so I turned around and stared off into the distance, hoping time would pass so we could get this over with.
“All rise”, the young looking Sergeant called out. “The Honorable Colonel Thompson presiding.”
When Colonel Thompson walked into the courtroom and took his seat at the bench, my heart sank. This shit had become real. My lips dried, but repeated licks and sucks did nothing to help the overwhelming feel. Colonel Thompson may as well have held an anchor tied around my feet, and at any second he would let go, sending me barreling down to depths unknown to suffer through my own inexplicable death. I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer.
“You may be seated,” Colonel Thompson barked.
The Sergeant spoke again. “This is the case of United States Marine Corps versus Sergeant Alejandro Cruz and Private First Class Cassie Bennett.”
“Major Godinez, you may present your argument.”
Major Godinez stood and walked to the center of the room, looking charismatic and confident. He had a nice appeal to him, even if he were trying to take everything away from me.
“Your honor, this is a very simple, open and shut case. Sergeant Alejandro Cruz and Private First Class Bennett embarked on an affair that violates the Marine Corps manual section eleven hundred point four that strictly and expressly prohibits the act of fraternization. Sergeant Cruz was Private First Class Bennett’s Comm school instructor. Undue bias was given to Private First Class Bennett, thus destroying the morale of the class.”
“You are in a court of law, Major. Be sure you have proper legal authority to assert your accusations.”
“Yes, sir, I fully intend to lay them out for you.”
“Proceed.”
Major Godinez went to his side of the room and grabbed a folder from the table, sifting through the papers inside. Captain Hedlund pulled out the same folder, quietly and meticulously following along with everything that Major Godinez elaborated on.
“Your honor, as a Staff Sergeant-select, Sergeant Cruz knew full well that his affair with Private First Class Bennett was not only against the rules but that it could potentially cause him to lose his selection, rank, instructorship, as well as serve brig time. He abused his power, both in the classroom and out, taking Private First Class Bennett from the barracks, off base, and doctoring documents to cover his tracks. He is a predator of the greatest nature, and there is no telling how many other female Marines he has exercised his power and influence over. Today, I ask that you please put a stop to his menacing behavior once and for all.”
Hearing Major Godinez speak about Alex in such adulterous, licentious ways caused my breath to hitch. He was none of those things, and if they had only known how much he had fought with himself to bypass me and keep going, they would know that this wasn’t patterned behavior for him. He was a good guy and an upstanding Marine. They knew nothing except what First Sergeant O’Hara had told them.
“Major Godinez, how do you plan to prove these accusations? Fraternization carries a lofty consequence, especially at the magnitude that you are describing.”
“Yes, it does, sir. And I would like to present to you signed affidavits from fellow instructors, Comm School staff, and students.”
The Sergeant briskly walked over and took the documents from Major Godinez. I had no idea they had gotten that many people to speak out against us, and now my heart was racing faster than my breaths could keep up with. The perspiration was covering me, head and hands, in between my legs and under my arms as well. I swallowed hard as Colonel Thompson looked through them, showing no expression and giving nothing away about the contents of each page.
“Furthermore, sir, I present the text message exchanges between Sergeant Cruz and Private First Class Bennett, to include photographs.”
The Sergeant walked over and took those pieces of evidence. More than anything else, that felt like the last straw. That would be the piece that would seal the deal, strip me of what little rank I held, and lock me away until they strapped a dishonorable discharge around my neck and sent me on my way. That thought paralyzed me. As hard as I had worked to move on and make something of myself, I was destined to be exactly what my mother had said I would be—a nothing. A nobody.
“Objection, your honor—”
“You will have your chance at rebuttal, Captain Hedlund,” Colonel Thompson reprimanded.
I looked over to Alex who had his eyes trained on Major Godinez, looking as if he wanted to punch him in the face and stomp him into the ground. I had seen that look before, and when Alex got it, nothing good came from it. Nothing at all.
“Your honor, a pair of Sergeant Cruz’s dog tags were found in the wall locker of Private First Class Bennett.”
The Sergeant walked over and took the zip lock bag containing Alex’s coveted dog tags. Alex twisted his head, cracking his neck as his moist, deliciously plump lips puckered into an angry pout. Captain Hedlund was given notes from Lance Corporal Nelson, something highlighted in yellow, pointing out something that put a gentle smile on his face. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but if it were a sign that we could be spared in some way, I couldn’t wait until he was able to speak.
“And finally, your honor, I have First Sergeant O’Hara’s sworn statement accompanied by a signed statement of understanding from Sergeant Cruz himself. He stood in the office of First Sergeant O’Hara and admitted to the charges against him.”
The Sergeant, once again, took the evidence and marched it over to Colonel Thompson, who looked it over, then looked back to Major Godinez.
“Is this everything, Major?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Um, your honor,” First Sergeant O’Hara called out, skidding his chair back and standing up. Major Godinez grabbed his shoulder and motioned for him to sit back down. He listened, shutting his mouth and taking his seat without so much as a peep. They exchanged a hushed but heated exchange as First Sergeant O’Hara pointed out something in a notebook and Maj
or Godinez brushed it off.
I was thankful that they were done presenting evidence because from where I was sitting, I was drowning in my own shit, and there wasn’t any help in sight.
“Captain Hedlund, you may now present your argument,” Colonel Thompson commanded.
Captain Hedlund stood, taking a notebook from Lance Corporal Nelson and addressing the court.
“Good morning, Colonel Thompson. Major Godinez would lead you to believe that this is an open and shut case, given the evidence that he has presented in court today. Unfortunately, we have something called protocol that must take place when charging a Marine with a crime, and that protocol was bypassed.”
My ears perked up at the mention of protocol and things not going accordingly.
“Those sworn statements are he say she say and should be inadmissible in court. We have an innocent until proven guilty stance here, and my clients were guilty in the eyes of First Sergeant O’Hara and Major Godinez before they were given proper counsel.”
“I’m glad you have such strong conviction, Captain, but that is not evidence,” Colonel Thompson badgered.
Captain Hedlund raised a finger, then strutted further into the middle of the room.
“Case in point, Private First Class Bennett was attacked by a Private Allen in her barracks room on a Friday evening. Luckily, Sergeant Cruz was in the barracks and received word from the firewatch that there was an attack in progress. He rushed to the scene of the crime and was able to fend off Private Allen, saving Private First Class Bennett from an uncertain, but potentially fatal fate. The relationship in question stems from that incident.”
Potentially fatal fate…
I had never allowed my mind to wander to what could have happened to me had Allen not been stopped. He was much larger than myself, and was hell bent on destroying me—what that meant, I had no clue. Tears threatened to spill as I listened to Captain Hedlund speak.
Alex snuck a peek over at me as I gently wiped at my eyes. His face softened, and his eyes glistened as he took me in. The sordid tale of Allen—his abominable, animalistic behavior—and me was too much for both of us to take. It made sense. Whenever Alex heard of these events, he regressed back into someone unknown. He turned into a person who was incapable of dealing with the stresses of the situation, and now was no exception.