Disclaimer: Muse Watson and the gang from NCIS are not mine. I'm sure that somewhere in California there is a "Code Four Lounge". But this one is totally a product of my fevered brain. During my research I tried to be as accurate as possible about the 1/9. Any resemblance to a living or dead veteran is purely accidental.
Author's Note: When I researched this story, I found that the 1/9 was not in Vietnam in '72. At least not that I could find. So I tweaked the dates. Muse Watson's hometown is Alexandria, Louisiana and he was born in 1948 so he tracks pretty close to Mike Franks.
Spoilers: "Silent Night", "Hiatus 2" I think. It's the Gibbs flashback where Mike mentions being chased by Charlie (VC). It's the reason I wrote this fic. Anything in Italics is from the show.
Dedication: This entire story (no matter how long or short it may be) is humbly and respectfully dedicated to veterans regardless of branch or when or where you served. This specific chapter is dedicated to those Marines and Sailors who served in the First Battalion, Ninth Marines in Vietnam. Their record speaks for itself. Anything I could say would be superfluous. As Gibbs would say, "SEMPER FI!"
MCRT Bullpen, December 23, 2008
The team is brainstorming and trying to get a handle on Ned Quinn. Special Agent Tim McGee is reeling off Quinn's bio while Tony and Ziva are looking at the plasma.
McGee: "…Enlisted in the Navy. Became a Corpsman instead. Attached to the First Battalion, Ninth Marines."
Gibbs (walking up): "The Walking Dead"
The Code Four Lounge, Oceanside, CA 1992
The Code Four Lounge is a cop bar. A place to unwind after a tough tour. It was owned and run by a retired Oceanside PD Captain. It had a U-shaped bar, booths along three of the four walls and tables scattered throughout. Police memorabilia took up much of the wall space.
Two NIS agents were at a table towards the back of the bar. The older one was drinking beer from the bottle. The younger, drinking dark amber liquor neat from a glass.
Mike Franks, the older agent was attempting to get his younger colleague drunk. The case they had just wrapped up had involved a young boy. These cases always hit Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs hard. Hence the drunk getting. "The only problem" Franks thought "is this kid can hold his liquor."
Even though it was Wednesday the Code Four was in full swing. It was getting harder to get refills from the waitress.
There were several groups drinking at the bar: there were the Patrol cops, distinguished by their Polo shirts, short hair, neatly trimmed mustaches and workout toughened bodies, then there were the Detectives, longer hair, suits, less muscle. Finally there were the MP's and NIS agents from Camp Pendleton, a cross between the two.
Shuttling between them all were the "blue groupies". Young ladies of all descriptions, looking to rub up against a cop for the evening or maybe longer.
Franks was finally able to get the attention of a waitress. "Darlin', I'll have another beer and get my youngster here another one of those Jack Daniels' he's been drinkin'".
"It won't work Boss, I'm not getting' drunk." Mike lit a cigarette. "Well Probie, ya don't mind if I do, do ya?" " 'Course not Boss." Gibbs knew that Franks was just trying to get his mind off young Billy Sanders.
To play along, Gibbs asked a totally out of left field question. "Say Boss, the other day you said Charlie was chasin' you thru rice paddies. What unit were you in when you were in Vietnam?"
Mike Franks usually unreadable expression flickered. "Where the hell did that come from Jethro?" "Well you know what units I served in. Just askin'" Gibbs said innocently. Franks chuckled and blew a smoke ring. "1st Battalion, 9th Marines." Gibbs' eyes widened slightly. "The Walking Dead". "Very good Probie, I see that Knowledge is still being stressed at the Parris Island School for Boys."
The 1/9 was legendary in the Corps. During the Vietnam War it endured the longest sustained combat and suffered the highest Killed In Action(KIA) rate in Marine Corps history. Its members were awarded a total of 87 Silver Stars, 18 Navy Crosses and 2 Medals of Honor.
"It was one helluva fine outfit." said Mike. His mind drifted back….
Quang Tri Province, RVN 1969
Staff Sergeant Mike Franks USMC was lying in his rack smoking his first cigarette of the day. Since his unit, Bravo Co. 1/9 came out of the boonies yesterday, today the men could "sleep in". Normal reveille didn't apply. The only cloud on Mike's horizon was he had to see his CO at 0800.
"My momma always said my big mouth would get me in trouble." thought Mike. While in the bush Franks had taken a brand new second john to task about how he had deployed the platoon.
There had been a lot of "See here, young Staff Sergeant's" and " With all due respect Lieutenant's". The bottom line was the El-Tee had complained to the Captain. So, Mike was in the shit...again.
Mike Franks had been living the good life back in the World. Going to LSU, drinking beer and chasing co-eds. That all changed in '67 when his best friend from high school, Davey Wayne was killed in Vietnam.
The entire town of Alexandria, Louisiana turned out for the funeral. Mike stayed drunk for three days. When he sobered up, he joined the Marines. His folks were less then pleased. Mike told them he would go back to school after his hitch was up. What he didn't tell them was he planned on staying in the Nam as long as it took for him to get even for Davey.
But now he had this thing with the cherry El-Tee. "Well, hell, what can they do? Ship my sorry ass to Vietnam?" Mike got up, showered, put on a clean set of utilities and went to breakfast.
Exactly at 0800 hrs, he was standing tall in front of his company commander. The session was short and to the point. Staff Sergeant Franks had screwed up. Rather than bust him in rank the captain had pulled some strings and gotten Mike transferred to Charlie Co. The only problem was Charlie was going back to the boonies at the edge of the Arizona Territory, day after tomorrow. "Don't mean nothin' Skipper, I don't mind". His captain stood up and extended his hand. "You're a fine combat Marine, Mike. Try and keep your mouth shut". Franks laughed, "Probably not going to happen sir, but I'll try".
The next day Mike checked into Charlie Co. The welcome from his new Skipper was cool but correct. Capt. Fred Collins was impressed by, but wary of his new platoon sergeant. "I see you've extended your tour once already Staff Sergeant. Got a death wish?" "No Sir, just some unfinished business with Charlie". "Well we're going out tomorrow. You'll get plenty of chances to finish your business. Third Platoon is short a platoon sergeant. You'll be under Lt. Kearns. He's new, but not a cherry. That's all". "Aye Aye Sir". Mike stiffened to attention, about faced and got out.
Third Platoon was a good bunch. Lt. Kearns was willing to listen and had some good ideas of his own.
The following day before the company moved out, Mike was approached by a Navy Corpsman. "Staff Sergeant we haven't met yet. My name is Ned Quinn…."
The Code Four Lounge, Oceanside, CA 1992
Mike Franks snapped back to the present when his Probie asked him if he was okay. "Sure, but I'm dry Probie. I do believe this is your round". As they waited for the next round to arrive, Mike reflected on how far he'd come since Vietnam. He had gone back to LSU. Got his degree in accounting of all things. But life behind a desk rapidly lost its appeal.
A friend from school had joined the FBI. He talked about the Bureau constantly. During one of the bull sessions, his buddy had complained about "those cowboys from NIS stealing a case from us".
Franks figured any agency that could piss off the FBI was one he wanted to work for. He joined NIS in '76. He hadn't had the chance to piss of the Feebies yet, but there was still time.
"Hey Boss it's getting late. I've got reports to finish tomorrow. I'm headin out". "Okay Probie, I think I'll stay a while and try to snag one of these pretty young things floating around here". Mike Franks ordered another beer and leaned back. The night was just starting.
A/N: A couple of people (and you know who you are) asked for a Mike Franks story. Here it is. Now it's your turn. Hit that green button and let me know how I did.