In Every Clime and Place (16 page)

I looked into her eyes for a long time. A tiny portion of my brain was screaming about regulations, but every other cell in my body was overriding it.

“You know,” she said, “we’re not in the same fire team any more. You’re not in my chain of command. We’re equals in the eyes of the military.”

Like I needed convincing. I wanted her badly. It wasn’t just physical lust, not more than half, anyway. I really enjoyed her company, and we had shared the experience of combat. She understood me as no other woman could. We had fought back to back, side by side. It’s hard for a combat veteran to get close to someone who hasn’t been there. I’d seen it in my dad. After my first tour in Africa, I understood him. I would never feel as close to a civilian as I did to Angelina Sabatini. I’d have to be an idiot to let this chance slip by.

“You realize we could be in deep trouble for this,” I said, offering her a last chance to escape, gentleman that I am.

“What are they gonna do? Cut our hair, stick us in a tin can and send us into space to be shot at?”

“Good point,” I growled, grabbing her hand. We raced back to the squadbay. Inside, I checked the hatch to be sure it was locked.

When I turned back, she had pulled her rack down from the bulkhead. She pulled off her boots and knelt on the bed and began to unbutton her utility shirt. I felt a shivering thrill of anticipation that I hadn’t known since I was sixteen, fumbling with Mary Kate O’Brien’s bra clasp in the back seat of her father’s Chevy.

I rushed back to the rack and kissed her, holding her strong body against mine. I ran my hands through her hair, down her back and over the curves of her hips. She wrapped her arms around me and held me close to her.

I let my kisses travel to her throat, then moved around behind her, kissing her neck and reaching around to finish undoing her buttons. She reached back and ran her nails through my hair. She caught one of my hands and guided it to her breasts. I let my nerves drink in the feel of her against me.

Neither of us wanted to let go, so it was a long and wondrous time before we managed to strip by stages. I didn’t want to rush any moment of it. I wanted to savor each touch, each sensation, from the sight of her to the scent of her hair to the feel and taste of her body.

She lay back as I kissed my way from her face to her neck and over her breasts. I had to brush aside her dog tags and a religious medal. There was probably some symbolism there, but I shoved the thought aside for later. My lips traveled over the soft skin of her belly, across her hips, down her magnificent legs and back up again.

Like a good combat NCO, I carefully judged the moment for my final assault, entering as her passion was at its height. I had never wanted a woman this much, or wanted to please one more.

As we approached climax, our bodies locked together, I could hardly believe my good fortune. The most wonderful woman in the world was pressing her splendid naked body against mine and clawing my back.

The good Marine buried deep beneath my cynicism tried to warn me just how much trouble I was courting, but since I’d just survived being shot at, with far less payoff, it didn’t make much impression.

USS
TRIPOLI

We had time to shower, dress and compose ourselves before the squad returned, cursing Gunny Taylor. Sabatini and I were innocently reviewing personnel files when they clattered into the squadbay.

“Have fun?” she called over her shoulder.

“Oh yeah. Fucking tons,” O’Rourke complained, kneading his shoulder.

“The gunny’s quick for an old man,” Johnson offered, easing himself down onto his rack.

“What the fuck did we do to deserve a gunnery sergeant for a squad leader?” asked Bauer.

“You broke your old one,” I explained. “You’re supposed to protect your leaders because the replacement may be worse.”

O’Rourke nodded. “It’s taken me twelve years to get you broke in right. New corporals just don’t understand how alcoholism and insubordination are actually military virtues.”

I chuckled. “I need to stick up for you, because I only look disciplined next to you. If they shitcan your ass, I won’t have a prayer.”

“What have you two lazy bastards been up to?”

“No good,” she replied with a smile.

I was impressed. I might have choked if I’d had to answer.

“Any word on Sarge?”

I grimaced. “Nothing definite. His shoulder is chewed up pretty good. The docs need to see how much nerve damage he took.”

“That sucks,” Terry said. “He’s a good Marine. He doesn’t belong behind a desk.”

“That’d be like a racehorse pullin’ a fuckin’ plow,” said Johnson.

“Nice analogy,” I said. “We’ll turn you into a warrior poet yet. I like the ‘fucking’. It keeps the eloquence from diluting the Marine-ness of the quote.”

Johnson smiled at the compliment.

Terry shook his head. “Fuckin’ intellectual.”

“It might be his ticket out,” offered Bauer. “He’s alive, and he didn’t lose the arm. If he loses twenty percent function and gets an honorable discharge with a pension, how bad is that?”

Well, it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but it would be the end of Sgt McCray’s world. The little Marine universe we’d lived in for so long would be gone. Even if the Old Man kept him on—and I’d seen one-legged mess sergeants before—he’d feel like it was charity.

“It can’t be easy going back to the real world after that long in the Corps,” Sabatini pointed out. “Who’s he going to call an undisciplined fuck if he’s not O’Rourke’s squad leader?”

“Yeah,” Terry agreed. “I can’t see him working at a civilian desk job yelling, ‘Get me the fuckin’ quarterly reports, you worthless piece of shit! Christ, my grandma moves faster and she’s fuckin’ dead!’ It just don’t seem right.”

I doubled over with laughter at Terry’s impression of our fearless leader. The idea of Vice President McCray, in charge of Marketing, terrorizing accountants and interns, was hilarious. It probably wasn’t going to happen, but it was hilarious.

“Think about what you’ll do when you get out, Mick?” Johnson asked.

“Not really.”

Gunny Taylor chose that moment to enter. “An Irish kid from South Boston? Don’t you have nine brothers on the police force and a job waiting with your name on it? They’re probably already collecting your bribes for you.”

“How do you know so much about Southie, Gunny? Actually I only have one uncle on the fire department, I’ll have you know.”

“So your nine brothers were too dishonest for the Boston Police Department?”

“Three brothers,” I corrected. “Pat’s older than me. He did his four years in the Corps, then got out and became a teacher. Then me. Jimmy shocked dad by not joining the Marines. He went right into construction. Sean’s the baby. He’s in theater.”

“He the one that brought his boyfriend home for Christmas?” Sabatini asked with a smile.

“How’d you guess? There’s one in every big Irish Catholic family.”

“Wait a minute,” Terry objected. “I don’t have a gay brother.”

“I thought you were that brother.”

He replied with a one-finger salute.

“Now you mention it, Mick,” said Johnson, “I have caught him starin’ at my beautiful black ass in the shower.”

“Oh, that’s it. Just pick on me! Screw you, you rookie bastard. See if I keep an eye out for your welfare any more.”

“Long as you got that beautiful black ass he will,” Sabatini reassured Johnson.

“I’m being harassed.” Terry looked around for support. “Look at this, boss. Two NCOs are encouraging another Marine to torment me and damage my fragile self-esteem. Gunny, what do you have to say about this?”

“I’m just thanking God that the Corps was spared two Collins brothers,” the tall Gunnery Sergeant smirked. “Rest period is over. Get suited up in full combat gear. We’re gonna practice squad maneuvers.”

This announcement was greeted with groans.

“Look, you sorry excuses for Marines, we’re gonna have new replacements soon, and I want to fool them into thinking you know what the hell you’re doing. Saddle up and get your asses in gear.”

We made our way to the large training area in the cargo bay. Gunny Taylor had us practice moving in a hostile environment. It wasn’t new, but we were getting used to different combinations of teams. I switched Terry to point, because Johnson was the new guy and I wanted him to perfect his skills as a TAR man before I moved him around. Sabatini’s team was a little rougher around the edges, as it was missing two of its original Marines. Li was learning point. Bauer had been TAR man all along, so he knew what he was doing.

After about half an hour, Gunny Taylor got a call over his headset. He talked quietly for a second, then swore and excused himself. He told us to carry on the exercise, leaving Sabatini and me in charge.

We kept on assaulting the cargo containers. As time went by, we made adjustments and criticisms of the teams. Bauer seemed to lose his enthusiasm when the gunny left. Sabatini had to correct him after every maneuver. At first, it looked almost genuine. The TAR is heavier than the ACRs the rest of us carried, and it simply follows that an automatic weapon requires more ammo, so he had the added weight of ammunition to contend with.

After a short while, I could see what was happening. He was testing, seeing how much slack he could get from the new team leader. I tried to restrain myself from butting in. It was her team, she had to learn to command it.

“Bauer!” she snapped in exasperation. “For the millionth time, when Li drops behind cover and snaps in on the target, you flank to starboard while we cover you. What the fuck is so difficult?”

“I’m gettin’ tired of this bullshit exercise.”

“I don’t remember asking if you were,” she said. “You don’t think you’re gonna get tired in combat? Now get your ass back in position and let’s try it again.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Don’t be an asshole, Marine,” she said reasonably. “We’re all sick of this shit. The sooner we get it right, the sooner we get out of here.”

I tensed watching the exchange. She had done the right thing, trying a reasonable tone of voice. If it worked, we were out of the woods. If it didn’t…

“I told you, I’m not moving. What the fuck is your problem? That time of the month?”

I started to step forward, when I heard O’Rourke’s whisper over my headset. “Mick.”

I turned. He shook his head slowly. I grudgingly nodded. She did have to solve this one herself.
But just wait until I get you alone, Bauer.

Sabatini smiled her sweetest smile. “If it were, you’d already be coughing up your nuts. Now, for the last time, get the fuck back to your starting position.”

“Or what?”

The smile never wavered. “PFC Li!” She held her rifle out to the side. Li took it. She then removed her helmet, pulled the chevrons off her uniform collar, tossed them in the helmet and handed it over. “Thanks, Marine.”

Bauer looked a little concerned. He hadn’t expected this from an attractive young woman. Any other NCO in the platoon would have beaten him senseless by now, but he somehow didn’t think she had it in her. He looked at me, got no guidance, and set down his TAR and helmet.

“Whenever you’re ready,” said Sabatini.

Bauer circled uncertainly. He wasn’t happy with this, but he’d backed himself into a corner. He didn’t want to be brought up for striking a superior. By removing her rank, she had symbolically told him that wasn’t an issue, there would be no repercussions. I still planned to knock out a few of his teeth in the shower, but neither of them knew that.

She waited for him to move. When he did, she snapped out a lightning kick to his knee. If it weren’t for the armored shin guards, his kneecap would’ve been dislocated. He stumbled but recovered and threw a punch which she dodged. They circled for a few seconds.

Sabatini was clearly too quick for Bauer, so he decided to close and use his size to advantage. He grabbed at her wrist and surprised me by catching it.

I shouldn’t have been surprised. It was a setup. Sabatini grasped his sleeve and spun away, pulling him off balance. She swung her right foot around to hook him behind the knee. He stumbled forward, fell to his knees, then caught a boot to the chest that put him on his back. Still holding his right sleeve, she dropped her knee on his chest, then rolled it gently forward onto his windpipe. The threat was obvious: if she felt like it, he’d have a crushed trachea.

“Are we done?” she asked sweetly.

“Yeah,” he croaked.

She stood and even helped him up.

I let out the breath I didn’t remember holding. I felt pretty sure she could control the team.

The whole squad’s performance improved considerably after that display. After an hour, we were satisfied with the results of the training and dismissed the teams. As we did, I heard a summons from Gunny Taylor.

“On my way, Gunny. You got the squad, Killer,” I told Sabatini. “His Exalted Highness requires my presence.”

The hatch to Gunny Taylor’s office slid open at my knock. He waved me in.

I stood at attention before the desk. “Good afternoon, Gun—”

“Stow it!” he snapped. He glared at me a long moment. “I was watching the exercise. You want to explain why you did what you did?”

“I thought the fight was better than the alternative, so—”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it,” he growled. “You started to step in. Fortunately your team has more brains than you do. Not that that’s real tough. You do that, it looks like you’re playing favorites and that she can’t handle the team without help. You know better than that.”

“Sorry, Gunny.”

“Don’t give me sorry. Why the fuck did you do it? I’m hoping it was because she’s a new team leader and you stupidly thought you should help. My only other theory is you two have a thing going. I hope you can tell me I’m wrong.”

I froze up. In twelve years, nothing had made me freeze like that. Not being shot at, not having a man in my sights, not hand-to-hand combat, not having two stripes torn off, not even the first time I had to try to hold a bandage on a wounded Marine’s severed artery and watch him die. This time, I didn’t know what to say or do.

I couldn’t lie to Gunny Taylor. This surprised me. I’d lied to my parents, teachers, nuns, priests, Mary Kate O’Brien’s dad when he asked about my intentions toward his daughter, and a long series of officers. It was a survival trait in the military. And Catholic school.

Anyway, I just stood there like an idiot.

“Oh, Christ,” he said as the truth sank in. “Look, I see your point. She’s good-looking and she’s a Marine. She’s probably great in the rack. But you gotta break it off. It’s gonna fuck up the platoon.”

He waited for a moment. I still couldn’t think of anything to say. I was going to disobey an order. I knew it, but I didn’t want to take that step over the brink. I wanted to explain, but couldn’t force the words past the lump in my throat.

“You didn’t say ‘aye aye, Gunny’, did you?”His voice was almost pleading.

“No, Gunny. I didn’t.” My voice was almost a whisper. Gunny Taylor was the last man on Earth or off it, I guess, that I wanted to disappoint.

“Oh, Christ.” He put his head in his hands. “Why? The sex can’t be that good. You’re trashing two careers here.”

“I’m sorry, Gunny.” I summoned my courage for the battle I didn’t want. “I can’t leave her. I’m in love.”

My own words took me by surprise but there was no point in denying it: for some time now I’d been getting a warm, soft glow in my chest when I thought of her. I’d begun to notice that even her little tics and quirks made me inexplicably happy. What might have begun as lust and circumstance had got a deep hold on my emotions above my navel.

He groaned. “Collins, you’ll get over it. You’ve had girls before. You’re one of my best corporals. You’re on your way to fucking sergeant. Tell her it’s been fun, but it ain’t gonna work out.”

“I can’t use her and toss her aside,” I said earnestly. “For Christ’s sake, Gunny, she’s a fucking Marine! I can’t treat a Marine like that.”

He stopped. I’d scored with that one. If it had been a civilian or a woman in another service he’d have told me how stupid I was to throw away my career. He’d ask if the silly skirt was more important than the Corps. But now it hit him. She was a Marine as much as I was. He couldn’t attack her character. She was one of his Marines. He’d die for her as quick as I would.

He stared at the overhead for a long time. He knew it was hopeless, but he was not used to defeat. It hurt me to win as much as it hurt him to lose this one, and he knew that too. I looked at Gunny Taylor like a father, and I loved the Marine Corps. Only now I loved Angelina Sabatini more. If they were going to force me to choose...

“OK,” he whispered hoarsely, “I can’t get through that thick Irish skull of yours. If she’s as bull-headed as you, the only way I can stop you is to toss you both in the brig. I sure as hell can’t do that. I need you both, something big is coming up.”

He leaned forward aggressively, stabbing the desk with a finger. “You listen up, Marine. I don’t give a rat’s ass what you do on leave, but you will maintain professional distance on this ship. You two will act like team leaders and nothing else. After this cruise, if you want to get together, knock yourself out. I’m not gonna rat you out, but if I catch you doing anything you wouldn’t do with O’Rourke, I’ll knock your fucking heads together. You read me, Marine?”