Ok, this one is sad, for obvious reasons. This is basically a sequel to Physical for those of you who have read it. Anyway, enjoy.
Simmons jogged around the canyon looking for Grif. This was the fifteenth time this month he had run off from the base and gone missing. The other times Simmons had let it slide, letting Grif get away with hiding away. But today Simmons wasn't going to stand for it, and decided to go out looking for him. He finally found him in one of the caves sitting up against a rock, staring up at the ceiling of the cave. Simmons shifted, alerting Grif to his presence. Instantly the other soldier went pale and he jumped to his feet, backing up and covering his face, cowering in fear as he shook. Simmons opened his mouth to question him, but Grif's voice came first.
"No! Please, don't hurt me! Haven't you done enough today? I'm begging, please Sarge!" Grif whined in terror. Simmons gasped and he stared at his friend. His left ribcage had blood dripping down it, his chest was covering in hash marks from when an armored boot had made contact, and his left shoulder was covered in blood. Simmons looked up at his friend with a sad expression. Had every time Grif had come here been because of this? Because of Sarge? How much could Simmons have prevented?
"Grif?" Simmons said in an almost weak tone. Grif slowly put his arms down and looked at Simmons, pain in his eyes. "How long?" Grif looked down silently, not answering the question pointed at him. "How long? Come on, this didn't just start today." Grif mumbled something. Simmons tried to make it out, after a moment of thinking he finally got it. He gasped. "Six weeks? Grif, why didn't you say anything?"
"Because if I did he wouldn't just bash on me," Grif said quietly. Simmons gave a confused look. "Sarge has anger management issues, I can tell. If I were to tell anyone the beatings wouldn't just be given to me, they'd be given to you and Donut too, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened." Simmons heard footsteps and raised his gun. He grunted in surprise as Grif shoved him out of the cave and ran back inside. Simmons looked in and raised both eyebrows as Caboose entered, looking sad. "Are you ok? What happened?" Caboose grabbed the bottom of his shirt and raised it. Simmons and Grif both gasped quietly at all the bruises and blood covering his body. Caboose put his shirt down.
"Church was really mad today," he said quietly. "I tried to help, but he just got even madder, and when Tucker left to go work on the tank, h-he attacked me." Grif hugged Caboose and let the young solider cry to his hearts content. Simmons jogged off towards blue base. This had gone on long enough, Grif and Caboose deserved better than this. And there was only one person who could help him. He spotted the bright blue soldier sitting up against his rock, playing with a small knife. Simmons walked over and Tucker slowly looked up at Simmons cast a shadow over him.
"We need to talk," Simmons said. Tucker scootched over and gestured to the spot next to him. Simmons sat down looked over at Tucker. He growled and snatched the knife out of his hand. "I need you to listen, and listen good. Church has been beating Caboose, and he did a number on the kid today." Tucker's eyes widened. "He and Grif have been swapping stories often in the caves, because Sarge has been beating Grif too." Tucker's jaw dropped at this and he stared at Simmons. "And we have to do something about it." Tucker gave a firm nod.
"Damn right we do," he said firmly as he stood up. "The two are very annoying, but even they deserve better than that." Simmons nodded in agreement. "I'll grab Church and drag him into the middle of the canyon, you do the same with Sarge." Simmons gave another sharp nod and the two went their separate ways to their bases, where both grabbed their leaders and forced them towards the middle of the canyon, where the two glared at each other.
"What the hell is wrong with you two?" Tucker and Simmons screamed at once. The two leaders flinched at the loudness of the remark and gave each other puzzled looks before sharing their expression with their two soldiers. Both groaned and rolled their eyes.
"We know you've both been beating Grif and Caboose, and we have proof," Tucker hissed. The two leaders shared a look, as if silently conmunicating with each other, and they both nodded as they each got evil smirks. Tucker grunted as Church grabbed him by the arm, balling his hand into a fist and bringing it down upon his face. Simmons gasped and went to go help his friend, but Sarge grabbed him by the arm.
"No, no! Please no!" Simmons pleaded, but Sarge did not listen. He punched Simmons in the face and tossed him to the ground, stepping on his ribcage and putting his weight on him. Simmons groaned in pain and glanced over at Tucker, who had blood covering his face and had been tossed to the ground, Church kicking him in the head. "No, stop! Please, stop! Argh!" Sarge kicked Simmons in the gut and pulled him up by his hair, raising a fist and grinning. Simmons felt tears come from his eyes. "Oh please Sarge, please no."
"CHURCH!" Both the leaders looked over as Tex ran over, she gasped as they both dropped their punching bags. She growled. "At least when I do it, I make sure they're wearing armor and I don't make them look like they just got attack by Sheila!" She jogged over and knelt over Tucker and Simmons, looking them over. "Both of you, back at blue base now." The two started to argue, but Tex stood up and shoved them towards the base. "NOW!" They two growled and stormed off towards the base, leaving Tex to tend to the two downed soldiers.
Obviously, I'm going to make another chapter, that one with be the one with hurt/comfort.
Thanks for reading and please review.