An Officer and a Sonny
Chapter 1
Davis woke up Friday morning exhausted. The alarm sounded at 5:30am, just like every morning. She hustled to make her bed, and straighten her quarters before rushing to shower and dress before morning PT. In the shower, Davis took inventory of her body. Her legs were tired and sore. Her arms were burning from holding leaning rest, which is really just a polite term for a full plank, as punishment for her team's lack of discipline. She could barely lift her arms to wash her hair, but she gritted her teeth and did what she needed to do.
Friday was a repeat of Monday and Wednesday. Morning PT was a three-mile run. Davis wasn't the fastest runner in her class, but she was in the lead pack. She was thankful for her eight years in the Navy, as she watched several of the soft college kids drop back, off the pace needed to graduate OCS. Davis made a mental note to thank Sonny for training with her the last two weeks. Sonny spends a lot of time complaining, about everything, but at the end of the day he was always one of the hardest workers in the room. And Davis appreciated his help more than ever as she realized she had extra gas in the tank and surged towards the front of the pack.
By afternoon drills Davis had lost count how many times she had been disciplined for someone else's mistake. Her body was sore, and she was mentally exhausted. Davis knew she could do the work. She knew she was near the top of the class in both PT and drills. But the Gunnery Sergeant didn't care how well Davis did at her own PT or on her own drills. The Gunnery Sergeant punished Davis when members of her team fell behind on the run, failed to do the required push-up and pull-ups or dropped their rifle during training. And of course, there was leaning rest for Davis while the rest of the team re-cleaned their quarters after failing inspection. Davis still couldn't figure out how her teammate had gotten sand in his dress shoes on the first day of training.
After dinner Davis was shocked when the Gunnery Sergeant announced that her team would be given internet and phone access that weekend. It was only an hour window in the evening, and Davis was sure she wouldn't be able to actually talk to anyone on Bravo, but she could at least send an email to Mandy and Blackburn. And, of course Sonny. Davis was incredibly thankful how encouraging Sonny had been the last two weeks. He had helped her train and quizzed her on the prep materials and handbook. Now more than ever Davis could use an encouraging pep talk from her best friend.
The next evening Davis sat in the crowded computer lab on base and checked her email. She had one from Mandy wishing her good luck, and a similar email from Blackburn telling her she is going to do great. While both emails should have boosted Davis' mood, both just made her worry she was going to let everyone. Gunnery Sergeant seemed to take pride in making team leaders DOR, and Davis was positive she wouldn't let up an inch until Davis DOR'd or graduated.
Davis smiled and laughed to herself when she saw she had 6 emails from Sonny. One for every day she had been at OCS.
The first email said, "The only way to guarantee failure is to never try." Followed by, "You got this. SQ."
The rest of the emails were similar. Each had a motivational quote and the top and a short message from Sonny at the bottom.
Davis clicked on Sonny's email from that morning, and smiled as she read, "Some people want it to happen. Some wish it would happen. Others make it happen. You got this, make it happen.
"Hey. I have no idea if you've read a single one of these emails. Just wanted you to know I'm proud of you. One week down. Eleven more to go. You got this, Davis. Sonny."
Davis quickly typed out a reply. "Sonny, OCS is harder than I thought. I don't want to let anyone down. What if I don't make it?" With a shaky hand, Davis hit reply and sat back in her chair with a sigh.
Davis was torn from her thoughts when the computer dinged, indicating a new email. It was from Sonny. "Call me. Now."
Thankful that Gunnery Sergeant had granted them phone access, Davis quickly pulled out her phone and FaceTime'd Sonny.
"Sonny, I don't know…." Davis started to say.
"Damn Davis, I like the new look. That's hot. I might have to remember that later." Sonny said with a hearty laugh, seeing Davis' bob hair cut for the first time.
"Sonny…" Davis started again.
"Nope. Don't. You got this." Sonny said, interrupting Davis again.
"Sonny." Davis said, getting annoyed. "I don't know if I can do this. The Gunnery Sergeant appointed me team leader. So, every time someone else screws up, I get punished. It doesn't matter if I do the work, if someone else screws up, it's on me."
"Davis. That's part of being a leader. Do you know how many times Blackburn, or Jason, have gotten yelled at for something Clay or I have done?" Sonny said.
"Ugh. I know. It's just… This Gunnery Sergeant really hates me. She wants me to quit. How am I going to put up with this for eleven more weeks?" Davis said, worry stretched across her face.
"Davis. Remember when I was in Green Team? And I wanted to punch my instructor in the face every single day?" Sonny said with a smirk.
"Yeah. We met at the bar just about single every day. And I told you to suck it up. Your dream is more important than one instructor." Davis said, slowly realizing where Sonny was going.
"And…." Sonny started.
"And, I should suck it up because my dream of being an officer is more important than one Gunnery Sergeant?" Davis said with a sigh.
"Well, it was good advice then, and I think it still applies. Don't you?" Sonny said, looking Davis in the eye.
"You're right. Thanks, Sonny." Davis said with a relieved sigh. "So? How are the Philippines?"
"Hot. Muggy. Clay has been on me about being 'too content'." Sonny said with a laugh.
"Well, Clay hasn't been on a Gucci deployment with you yet. He hasn't seen 'Sonny Quinn, International Man of Leisure." Davis said, laughing for the first time in days.
"It has been weird, without you. I don't remember the last time I was deployed without my Right-Hand Woman. But I guess this is the new normal. Huh?" Sonny said with a quiet sigh.
"Is everyone good?" Davis said, ignoring thoughts of a future without Bravo.
"Yeah. Pretty much. Something is up with Ray, but he isn't talking. Jason is still freaking out about paying for Emma's school. Clay just wants to shoot something. Brock and Trent are good."
"And you?" Davis said, worry creeping back across her face.
"I'm good." Sonny said, with a smile.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah."
"I'm good too." Davis said, with a small smile.
"I know." Sonny said with a grin.
"And, on that, I better go." Davis said. "Take care of yourself, Cowboy."