This is a short story based on the T.V. show, Combat! NO COPYRIGHT is intended, no money is being made from this story and I do not own any of the characters but I do enjoy taking a walk with them once in a while. Though I borrowed two of my favorite characters from the show the story line is from my own imagination and has not been beta'd but I do try to keep errors to a minimum. Now On With the Story!
CHAPTER 1
"Saunders, this wasn't my fault." Hanley grimaced as they continued to walk back to camp.
"No Sir, it never is." Saunders replied casually.
"Hey, I still outrank you…show some respect." Hanley said with a smirk.
"Well Sir, I'd salute but then how would you stay on your feet." (Glancing at Hanley with a raised brow)
At the moment Saunders had his left arm around Hanley's waist providing support so the LT wouldn't have to put too much weight on his left leg. Saunders had his weapon of choice, the Thompson slung over his right shoulder leaving his right hand free in case the .45 holstered to his right hip had to be drawn.
The LT had his right arm slung over the smaller man's shoulders while carrying the carbine in his left hand just in case it was needed. Hanley knew he wouldn't be able to walk without Saunders support so glancing at the Sergeant said.
"That's a good point…we'll skip the saluting for now." Hanley caught the matching smirk on the other man's face.
"Nice command decision Sir." Saunders took a moment to glance at his watch. {5:30, it'll be dark in a few hours, if we only had the jeep}
They were still some distance away from where 2nd Platoon had set up camp and Saunders figured it would take longer to get back as Hanley was going to have to move slow because of his injured leg but at the moment there wasn't much else they could do except keep walking.
"Saunders, I didn't expect the jeep to bust a tire and I tried to avoid the ditch." Hanley said quietly.
"I know." Saunders replied, "It would have been easier if the tire had blown a little closer to camp, though."
"Then we wouldn't get to enjoy this nice relaxing stroll back." Hanley started to grin which quickly turned into a grimace as he stepped wrong.
Saunders tightened his grip around the LTs waist then scanned the taller man's features.
"Yeah, real nice, you get any more relaxed Sir, I'll have to carry you." Though Saunders was smiling, Hanley could see he was concerned.
Looking around the LT spotted a few trees about sixty yards in the distance and came up with an idea.
"We could get to those trees and see if there's a limb that might be sturdy enough to use as a crutch, that way you won't have to carry me." What do you think?
"I'll tell you what I think, when we make it to the trees." Saunders replied.
Fifteen minutes later they were standing in front of a very tall tree and while Saunders walked around it trying to find a way to climb, Hanley scanned it as well, noticing the trunk was bare and the only hold he could see was over eight feet from the ground where a limb had broken off at some point leaving a stump about a foot and a half from the trunk its base still solidly attached from what he could tell. As he watched the Sergeant continue checking out the tree, stopping every few steps to examine the trunk, Lt. Hanley stated his opinion.
"No way, Saunders, no way in Hell are you climbing up there." Hanley told the shorter man.
The Sergeant had noticed the stump and gauged the distance from the ground, he had also located a few solid looking branches any of which would work as a crutch if he could get to them. Getting enough lift to reach the broken limb would be the hardest part and would require Hanley lifting him up and at the moment Saunders wasn't sure if his friend would be able to give a boost without aggravating his leg.
Coming to stand beside Hanley the Sergeant told him what he thought.
"Sir, other than the few trees here there doesn't seem to be any other options as you can see the land around us is bare at least until we get within a few miles of camp." Pausing he watched as the LT glanced in the direction they were going, turned to examine the tree, focusing on the broken limb, finally turning back to the Sergeant. "If we run into trouble and get separated you'll need something to help you walk and right now that tree has what we need."
Frowning, Hanley thought {Hell…I know he's right but it's going to be risky}. "Alright Saunders, we'll try it but do not (He caught and held the other man's gaze) I repeat, do not take any unnecessary risks once you get up there…Understand?"
Coming to attention with a smirk on his face Saunders gave Hanley a salute. "Yes Sir, permission to climb the tree now."
"Very funny Saunders, let's just get this over with before I change my mind."
"Change your mind, I'm the one who's gonna be climbing."
"Don't remind me." I'm only the one who has to lift you up and play catch if you start to fall."
Once Hanley was standing under the broken limb he turned so his back was resting against the trunk, facing Saunders. Setting his carbine and pack on the ground near his left foot he leaned forward bending his right leg slightly so the Sergeant could use it to step up on his shoulders. Trying not to put too much pressure on his bad leg Hanley took a deep breath and glanced at Saunders.
Do you have anything to cut the branch with? He asked.
Saunders had placed the Thompson beside the carbine and was kneeling going through his pack, finding what he was looking for he held the small axe up for Hanley to see.
"This should do the trick." As he stood hooking the axe to a clip on his utility belt he asked. Are you ready?
Lt. Hanley nodded and a few minutes later Saunders was perched on the broken limb with an arm wrapped around the trunk to maintain his balance.
He heard Hanley release a string of curses and peered down at him. Are you alright Lt.?
"Just peachy." He replied through gritted teeth.
"Maybe you should sit down when I'm ready I'll let you know."
"Yeah, that's probably a good idea." Hanley eased himself to the ground resting back against the trunk, straightening his injured leg out with a sigh. "I'll be right here if you need me."
Picking us his carbine the LT placed it across his lap, alert, green eyes scanning the area around him to make sure they weren't disturbed. Listening as the Sergeant started chopping away at a branch staying alert while Saunders was unarmed.
Thirty minutes later Saunders called down. "Watch out below!"
He dropped a branch almost as tall as the LT and about three inches in diameter with two smaller limbs sprouting from one end forming a V, which when padded would make a good arm rest as Hanley walked. Saunders figured the length would work with Hanley's height and would allow him to walk without bending the leg.
Lt. Hanley stiffly rose to his feet using the tree as a brace while helping the Sergeant down and a few minute later using Hanley as a human ladder Saunders stood on solid ground.
Catching the wince on Hanley's face Saunders figured it was time to see what shape the leg was in.
"Take a seat LT, so I can take a look at that leg." He had tried to get Hanley to let him check it earlier but the man had refused, saying. "It's fine, just a little bruised." When after a three mile walk he could barely flex the leg without it causing pain Saunders had come to the conclusion Hanley was just being stubborn and when the man had suggested a crutch the Sergeant knew it was more than a "little bruised."
Hanley started to tell Saunders he was fine but even as stubborn as he could be sometimes the LT knew better than to hide an injury that might put them at risk if they met up with an enemy patrol. So reluctantly he sat on the ground leaning against the tree to allow Saunders to examine the leg.
"This isn't necessary." Hanley protested but at Saunders raised eyebrow he let out a frustrated sigh and said. "Fine, look away."
Saunders knelt beside the injured leg pushing up Hanley's pant leg until he could get a clear view from calve to knee. Using his hands he pressed gently around the ankle but the LT didn't react {that's not the problem} slowly he moved up the calve pressing slightly checking for any damage but couldn't see anything wrong and again the LT didn't react to any pressure being applied. But as he moved to the thigh area it was a different story as soon as he pressed on the inner thigh, Hanley tensed and cursed.
"Damn, Saunders take it easy."
Saunders glanced at the LT and with a lighter touch continued with the examination, when he pressed on the outer part of the muscle he felt the leg tense and immediately his wrist was caught in a tight grip.
"Don't." Hanley said through clenched teeth. {He was fine as long as no pressure was put on the thigh but at the slightest press it hurt like Hell}
Saunders thought back to when they had hit the ditch, Hanley's left leg had been caught between the side of the jeep and the rim of the ditch. It had taken the effort of both men to lift it enough for the LT to slide out but for a few minutes the weight of the vehicle had rest against the limb and as a result Saunders figured the thigh sustained some bad bruising as he hadn't detected any obvious breaks.
"I'm not a doctor but I'd say when your leg was caught between the ditch and the jeep a lot of pressure was put on the thigh and it's been bruised up pretty good." Catching Hanley's eyes, "that's probably why it hurts when you walk or bend that leg, the muscle flexes which aggravates the bruising."
"How do we fix it? Hanley asked
"Hell if I know," replied Saunders with a small smile. "The crutch will help but it's still going to be an uncomfortable walk back to camp."
"Which is seven miles in that direction (pointing straight ahead) over two slight inclines and a small hill." Right? Glancing at his second.
Saunders nodded his head. "Yes Sir but then the ground levels off within a few miles of base camp."
Groaning Hanley rest his head against the tree and closed his eyes. "Not worried about the last few miles, it's the first five."
Straightening the pant leg Saunders sat back on his heels observing the LT, "Why don't you try to relax while I work on the crutch?" "Then we can try to cover a little more ground before night fall."
Opening his eyes, Hanley nodded. "Ok Sgt., maybe it won't be as bad as I think it will."
"Way to keep a positive attitude Sir." Saunders settled beside the LT, making sure his Thompson was within reach and started working on the crutch.
Hanley watched his friend work with the wood, stripping it of the bark and smoothing what he figured would be an arm rest and slowly he relaxed knowing Saunders would be aware of their surroundings even as he worked. When Saunders started cutting up their spare t-shirts to use as padding for the crutch Hanley closed his eyes for a moment thinking about the day.
Saunders had been on a two day pass in the town of Lewandel and Hanley was to pick him up this morning which went off without a hitch. He had arrived in Lewandel to find Saunders packed and ready to go but Hanley wanted to take time for breakfast before heading back to camp. The LT had been relieved to find his Second looking energized and breakfast had been a light hearted discussion of what each had been doing for the past two days. After the meal they made their way to the jeep and when Saunders had offered to drive Hanley had turned him down.
With a questioning look Saunders took the passenger side seat, throwing his pack behind it. Are you sure you wanna drive?
While most folks might think Hanley expected to be driven around because of his rank that wasn't true, Saunders drove when it was the two of them simply because he was shorter and the LT with those long legs found it too cramped with the steering wheel and on long drives it could be really uncomfortable for the taller man.
"Yeah, it's only ten and a half miles back to base so it shouldn't be a problem." Hanley responded as he took the driver's seat.
Then about three and a half miles from town the tire blows, next thing he knows they're in a ditch with his leg pinned against the side of it by the jeep, he's cussing {Well, Dammit it hurt} and Saunders is telling him to hold on, finally the two men lift the vehicle just enough for him to slide out and then the feeling starts coming back to the numb limb and he's cussing again. Saunders had tried to figure a way to recover the jeep but there was no way the two could pull the vehicle out, so they shouldered their packs, grabbed their weapons and started walking. {and here we are}
Saunders finished up with the crutch, standing placed his arm over the padding that covered the limb at the forked section testing it for comfort. While not perfect the sergeant figured it would be more comfortable than the bare wood. Still needing to check the length against Hanley's height Saunders turned to the LT, glancing down seeing the man still had his eyes closed the Sergeant spoke.
"Hey, Lt. Hanley time to wake up, you need to stand up so I can make sure the crutch is the right length."
Hanley opened his eyes as Saunders spoke and with a sigh went to stand, only to fall back against the tree half way up when his injured leg protested. "I wasn't sleeping Saunders but I think I could use some assistance." He said.
Reaching out Saunders clasped the LT's hand and pulled him to his feet, bracing Hanley when he staggered almost knocking the smaller man down. Holding the bigger man up with one arm the Sergeant held the crutch out to him, a smile playing on his lips.
"Here Sir, try this before we both end up on the ground." Making sure the LT had recovered his balance Saunders positioned the crutch under Hanley's arm, watching as he made small adjustments. "Well LT, how does it feel?"
Hanley took a few practice steps around the Sergeant and with a grin answered. "You did a good job Saunders, it's long enough that I won't have to bend my leg too much as we walk, it'll still be slow going but maybe not as painful. Thanks."
Leaving the LT to practice a little more Saunders gathered their weapons and both packs handing the carbine off to Hanley as he stepped in beside him.
"If you're through playing Sir, we should probably start back."
With a grin Hanley settled the carbine on his shoulder. "Ok, Saunders let's go."