by June Kramin
~*~
“Desk Jockey? What’s this bullshit, Garner?” Van threw a letter on his CO’s desk. He had been back to work for a few days and had an unwelcome surprise in his work mailbox.
“Just what it says. The range is below acceptable on your back. They don’t want you out on the water and putting the other members of the crew at risk.”
“At risk? My ass! What is this bullshit really about?” Van slammed his fists to the desk.
His CO stood. Regina had him pegged when she said he had short man’s syndrome. He was five foot four inches. He was an inch taller than she was but for a man, he was considered short. He had to prove how big he was on a daily basis and, in his mind that equaled to being an asshole. Nothing was up to his standards, nothing was done fast enough, and he didn’t know how to speak in any voice other than a yell. He picked up the paper and envelope then shoved them into Van’s chest. “Desk Jockey or take an early out.”
“Bullshit!”
Garner walked to the front of his desk. “No bullshit. You think you can stay doing what you want just because you like it? What military do you belong to, Kimball? You have to follow rules like everyone else.”
“A few degrees of bending? That’s what you’re calling this? Petty Officer Clark is fifty pounds overweight if he’s an ounce. I can run circles around that bastard and out bend him.”
“He can lose weight. You, on the other hand, have gotten increasingly worse over the last few months and it shows. You’ve been out three times with that back. They know it’s only going to get worse. You’re a liability out on the water.”
“Liability?”
“It’s a matter of time before you slip up and cost someone their life.”
“I acquired this back saving a life, asshole.” That would probably cost him. You never spoke back to a commanding officer, let alone swore at one. He knew he had nothing to lose. “This isn’t about my back! This is between me and you!”
“The hell it is. Regulations are regulations.”
“You’ll never let it go that I keep covering your ass, will you?”
“Like hell.”
“You are the disaster waiting to happen. You’re the one who has the crew in danger constantly with all your miscalculations. You trying to get rid of me because you’re afraid I’m going to tell someone about all your fuck-ups!”
“Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Kimball. Just take that gorgeous wife of yours back where you found her and lead a cushy civilian life in paradise. Drink Mai Tais and find a nice waterfall to screw her under.”
“You son of a bitch!” Van landed a solid punch on Garner’s chin and sent him flying over his desk, backward. Van stormed out of the office, but not before punching through the glass on the door first. When he reached the gate, the MP’s stopped his car.
“We received a call from Garner.”
“And?”
“We’re not supposed to let you leave.”
“You calling in backup to keep me?”
“Nope. I want to shake your hand. I’ve been waiting years to see someone pop that prick.” He motioned to the bandana covering Van’s knuckles. “I don’t want to know, do I?”
“Nope.”
The MP stood at attention and saluted Van instead of shaking his hand. Van smiled and returned a casual salute back.
“Tell him I removed the barrier myself and punched your lights out, too.” He waved at the second officer who was removing the sawhorse that served as a roadblock.
“I’ll think of something. You’re my new hero, Kimball.”
Van laughed and drove off base. The smile was short lived. He decked his Commanding Officer and went AWOL. There was going to be hell to pay.
~*~
The phone rang at one in the morning. Reggie’s hand landed hard on it as if she was trying to shut off an alarm. After another ring, she picked up the receiver, but was still half asleep. “Hello,” she mumbled into the phone.
“Reg?”
“Derrick?”
“You awake?”
She looked over at the clock. “It’s one a.m. why would I…” She sat up, suddenly awake. “What’s wrong? Where’s Van?”
“He’s fine. He’s here at my place.”
“Your place? But he’s on duty tonight.”
“He kinda…left.”
“Left? How? Why?”
“It’s a long story. I just wanted to let you know he was okay and he was here in case the MPs show up lookin’ for him.”
“The MPs? What the hell happened, Derrick?”
“He took a swing at Garner.”
She gasped, knowing what that could mean. “Why?”
“He’s out.”
“Out? Who?” She was confused.
“Van, Reggie. He’s out.”
As Reggie hung up after saying she’d be right over, there was a knock at the door.
“Shit!” After throwing on a robe, she went to answer it. She slowed down her pace and decided it was best if she played stupid. “What are you doing here?” she asked Garner when she opened the door slowly and pretended to be sleepy. “Is Van okay? What’s up with the MPs?” she asked, looking behind him.
“Is he here?”
“Why would he be here? He’s on duty.”
“He went AWOL. Do we have permission to search the place?”
She pushed the door open, leaning against the door jam. “I know goddamn well you don’t need my permission, but I appreciate the formality.” The MPs walked in while Garner stayed outside the door.
“Has he tried to call you?”
“Would I be worried about him right now if he did?”
“Military wives are a rare breed. There’s no telling the lengths you’d go to—to lie for your husband.”
“True enough. I’d also put a slug up your ass if he’s lying somewhere hurt because of you.”
“I always knew you were a real lady there, Reggie.”
“Mrs. Kimball, to you,” she said, crossing her arms. “What’s the matter? Did you forget to put a tracking device on this piece of property of yours? How is it you lose a man?”
“He’s in deep shit. I’m not going to even try to sugar-coat it for your pretty face.” His eyes began to wander down her front and she was suddenly very uncomfortable. She grasped the front of her robe and held it tight. He smirked, reached over, ran his hand down her face then gently stroked the hand that held her robe together.
“Do you get much on the side, Reggie? You know, when Van’s away and on duty?” He leaned into her with his hip. His erection pushing against her made her want to scream, but she was frozen with fear. He slipped his hand inside her robe with his fingertips touching her breast. “…Because I can make things easier for him if you want me to.” He leaned into her, pressing himself against her harder and his hand going a little further inside the robe. He brought his face closer, like he was going to kiss her. “If you can fit me in some—”
He stopped talking when he looked in her eyes. They had been full of fear, but they were now open wide and looking over his shoulder. He looked in the direction of her gaze; there was an MP behind him. They had gone out through the back sliding door and came around to the front of the house. Garner quickly dropped his hand and stepped back. “Tell him to be sure he gets back to the station as soon as he shows up, if he knows what’s good for him.” The MP hesitated, briefly looking over at Reggie before he followed his CO back to the work truck.
She closed and locked the door, leaning against it for strength to remain standing; it wasn’t enough. She slid down to the floor and shook violently. She rubbed her hand against the carpet trying to wipe off his touch then clutched her robe tighter. She breathed deeply and clenched her eyes tight to fight her tears. She wanted Van now more than ever, but she knew she could never tell him. He’d kill Garner for sure. Reggie had no idea what made him punch his CO, but she was sure he had it coming. Of course, the military would never see it that way.
She had to go to Van, but she wanted to wait a minute. There was no doubt in her mind that they’d try to follow her, thinking she knew where he was. After waiting ten minutes on the floor, gathering herself, she ran to her bedroom to get dressed.
Reggie parked at the grocery store parking lot and waited; she hadn’t been followed. She ran the equivalent of two blocks to get to Derrick’s townhouse and came bounding up the stairs. He was waiting at the door and gave her a strong hug.
“Is he okay?”
“Just drunk. His hand is cut up a little, but he doesn’t need stitches.”
“His hand? Why?”
“He punched out a glass panel. Come on.” He led her to Van, who was passed out on the couch. She gave his sleeping face a kiss and knelt on the floor. She picked up his hand; Derrick had already cleaned and bandaged it.
“Won’t they come here?”
“I don’t know. Maybe. I figured he was safer here for a while than at the Monkey.”
“You guys aren’t supposed to go in the Brass Monkey. The wives don’t even go.”
“After punching out your CO, I guess a little bar hoppin’ on the wrong side of the tracks isn’t going to do any more harm.”
“What happened, Derrick? Tell me.”
“One of the dysfunctionals called me and told me to come get him. Not everyone listens to the ‘no Brass Monkey’ rule, Reg.”
“Not that. Why did he punch Garner? What did you mean when you said he was out? I don’t get it.”
Derrick let out a heavy sigh and walked over to Reggie, offering her his hand. He helped her to her feet and brought her to the loveseat.
“From what I gather, Garner, that chicken shit, put a letter in Van’s mailbox at the station sometime after supper.”
“What did it say?”
“He was being taken off regular duty and getting assigned to strictly desk work.”
Reggie gasped and put her hands to her mouth. “That would kill him!”
“It isn’t right, I know, but he and Garner have always clashed. I’m sure he saw a way to stick it to Van good and seized his opportunity.”
“Why doesn’t he transfer Van if they don’t get along?”
“Why transfer when you can totally screw up someone’s life?”
She stood up, furious. “That groping bastard!”
“Groping?”
“Whatever,” she said, trying to brush off her comment. Derrick couldn’t know either. She cursed herself for shouting it. “He’s a bastard. How can someone like that be in the position he is and mess with everyone else’s lives? Van loves what he does. How can one person do that to him?”
“It’s just done, Reg. It ain’t right, but it’s done. If it could have been reversed before, it sure as hell can’t now. They’ll throw him out for sure if they don’t send him to the brig first.”
“They can’t do that!”
“He hit an officer. They can.”
“You gotta help him, Derrick.”
“I don’t know what I can do.” He turned at a knocking on the door and saw two MPs standing outside. “Aw, shit.”
“I was so careful to make sure I wasn’t followed.”
“They’re making rounds. I have to let them in.” Derrick went over and opened the door. Reggie stood there nervously waiting to see what would happen. There were two MPs, but their CO was no longer with them. “Where’s numb nuts?” Derrick asked.
“He went home. Told us to keep going. He here?”
“He’s here. Don’t take him, Joe. Just let him sleep it off. I’ll bring him in the morning.”
Reggie’s heart raced. The MP was standing there, but her mind saw Garner.
The MP walked into the living room and addressed Reggie. “Are you okay, Mrs. Kimball?”
She looked at him and took a few small steps back. Her mind was shutting down. She didn’t want another man touching her; she was getting agitated. After looking over to Derrick, her eyes went back to the MP Derrick called Joe. She made short shakes with her head and kept repeating softly, “No.”
Derrick’s head titled at the expression on Reggie’s face. “What the hell is going on? Why do you want to know if she’s okay, Joe?”
Reggie continued to shake her head ‘no’ and reflexively clutched at the opening of her jacket. She had backed into the TV before she realized she had been backing up at all, and lost her balance.
The MP reached for her trying to steady her and she let out a scream at his touch.
~*~
The scream registered over everything else that had been going on. Van sat upright and flew off the couch. In the half of a second of thought that he gave the situation, he wanted to remove the cause of the problem. Act first; sort out the details later.
He tackled the MP and sent him to the floor. He was too drunk to put up much of a fight so the MP had him on his back in one quick twist. He sat on Van’s chest and held his arms above his head.
“No!” Reggie screamed. She was going to jump on the MP, but Derrick caught her by the waist. “Watch out for his back!”
“Quit it, Van! Sit still!” Joe yelled. When Van stopped struggling, Joe released his hands and got off of his chest. The other MP came over and the two men helped Van to his feet then walked him backward to the couch. Derrick let Reggie go and she flew into Van’s lap, straddling him. Her arms went tight around his neck and she buried her face in them.
He held her tight. “What the hell is going on?”
Chapter 12
“REGGIE?” VAN STROKED HER BACK, but she wouldn’t budge or speak. She tightened her grip.
“What did you guys do to my wife?”
“We didn’t do anything to her, Van. It was Garner,” Joe said.
“What?” Derrick stomped toward Joe. Van squeezed her tight and whispered, “Baby?” She only tried to climb higher in his lap. Van rocked with her, suddenly scared.
“What happened, Joe?” Derrick asked.
“I didn’t see much. I don’t know what he did. All I know is his hands were somewhere they shouldn’t have been and he was a little too close for comfort for my taste. I’m sorry, man,” he said to Van. “I would have taken him out, but I thought maybe I was wrong. Your wife just closed the door.”
“When?” the second MP asked. “I didn’t see any of this.”
“You were already back at the truck. I went to tell Garner the house was empty.”
“Fuck!” Van held Reggie’s face in his hands and leaned her back. “Did he hurt you?” She shook her head ‘no.’ Her eyes were glazed with fear and her lip trembled. He pulled her close again. “Damn, baby.” He stroked her hair. “What was all the bullshit of her screaming in here?” he addressed back to Joe.
“I dunno. I think I scared her getting close. I was only trying to catch her from falling and knocking the TV over. I wouldn’t touch your wife, Van.”
“I know. I’m drunk; I’m not an idiot.”
“I’m sorry,” Reggie whispered.
“No, baby. No!” Van held her close. “You don’t get to be sorry here. You didn’t do anything wrong. Derrick?”
“I don’t know anything, man. I just picked up your drunk ass.”
Van was at a loss. Things still weren’t registering properly. It was too much, too fast.
Joe had been staring out the window at the canal, deep in thought. “Van?” Van looked up at him. “I know what happened is stressful for her and all but…something doesn’t seem right.”
“What do you mean?”
“I wanted to let you stay here. You know, sleep it off. But she’s acting a little beyond that.”
“What are you saying?” Van’s mind was racing. He hadn’t really understood what they had been saying at all about what happened. He was worried the guys showed up too late to his house and…he didn’t even want to think about what else could have happened.
“She acts like she’s been hit.”
“What? That’s insane,” Derrick yelled.
“Don’
t give me that,” Joe said back. “We’ve all been through the same courses. Something isn’t right. She’s scared ten ways from Sunday and it doesn’t fit.”
“You think Garner hit her?” Van asked.
“No. You. Unless you put me at ease about this, I’ll take you in, buddy.”
“No!” Reggie cried, still holding tightly onto his neck. “He’s never laid a hand on me. I swear.”
“She was just felt up by a jerk, Joe. Sorry to be so crude, Reg,” Derrick said in apology. “You guys know better than that. Van wouldn’t hit anybody. He’s the one doin’ repairs on kids’ feet while we’re watching the bikini show.”
The other MP finally spoke up. “I know him. That’s my vote, too. You’re off base, Joe.”
“I had to ask. She has me worried. What the hell do we do about Garner now?”
~*~
“I wanna go home, Van,” Reggie whispered into his ear. She held him tight as if wishing it would magically make it so. She was tired of the yelling, tired of fighting tears. She hated the accusations that flew at Van even if only for a second. She hated the past she dragged into the relationship. Her heart was still racing furiously. Above all, she didn’t like the lightheaded feeling she was getting. She was embarrassed about the screaming and about what happened at the house. She wanted to go home.
“Take her home, Van,” the second MP said. “We’ve already been to your house. We don’t need to go there again. We’ll show up in the morning and bring you in. Joe, I didn’t see nothin’. We can get the XO and Garner there together and hash this out tomorrow.”
“I wanna go home,” Reggie said again a little softer.
He stroked her back, trying to offer her comfort. “One thing doesn’t have a damn thing to do with the other. I decked Garner. He’ll have it in for me, but he’s going to pay for what he did to my wife.”
“I know what I saw.” Joe said. “That was bullshit. I don’t care if he was the President of the United States. That ain’t right.”
“I wanna go home, Van,” Reggie whispered again even softer then her head gently fell limp on his shoulder.
~*~