Set directly after Ranger Rendezvous, Beachhead and company arrive back at the PITT.

This will be a longer fic. A bit of fun, a bit of ranting. A lot of Beachhead and a new Joe. I am also attempting to get a lot of other Joes to appear in the fic.

I do not own any rights to GI Joe and make no money from these posted writings.

Chapter One

Beach squinted at the sunlight as they stepped out of the small transport truck. "Gawd damn but it's taken us long enough to get here." He hefted his duffel bag and the rifle case as they headed for the motorpool. The bandage on his head had scuffed the hair up on that side. The discoloration of the bruising and the bloodshot eye on that side gave him a hungover appearance.

Stalker on the other hand looked spry and alert. "Now now Beach, it wasn't anyone's fault that we got delayed at the airport. You should have more patience." He held out a hand. "Give me your rifle, I'll go put it in the armory, gotta take mine down there anyway." He took the case. "I think you should go check in with Hawk." They rode the lift down into the lower levels of the Pitt.

Beach snorted. "Yeah well... thanks for taking the rifles." He suddenly grinned and bumped fists with the lean Sergeant. "Rangers lead the way."

"You got it. Courtney, keep him out of trouble a little while, 'kay?" He disappeared into the halls.

Covergirl tilted her head slightly to give her Ranger a sideways glance. "How's the head?"

"It hurts." Beach started to reach for the bandage and stopped himself. "Whaddaya expect? I got shot in the head." He swallowed and they walked a few steps in silence before he spoke up softer. "Sorry. I'm cranky. My head hurts and I just wanna get back to normal." He flicked his eyes to her and then reached to take her hand briefly.

She squeezed his fingers. "It's okay. It's been a rough week." She reached up and patted him. "Poor Beachie, you're going to need a vacation from your vacation."

"Shut up, princess." He was nudged by her anyway. "See you for dinner?"

She smiled. "Of course. I'm going to go sign in with Flint and get unpacked and stuff. I hope Hawk isn't sending you out somewhere, you need a little rest with that big giant hole in your thick skull."

"Ain't no hole in my head." His voice lowered. "Ah just act like it around you." When she blushed and smiled, he cheered inwardly at his success. "Go on, git. Can't have you taggin' along with me everywhere like a danged puppy..." He shooed at her while she shook a fist at him mockingly. As she veered off to the other offices, he headed for Hawk's larger office towards the back of the admin section.

Despite everything that had happened, despite his injuries and the shock and betrayal of his old teammate, Beach was still in a decent mood. He had needed the time at Fort Benning, being reminded of the camaraderie of the Rangers and competing instead of being involved in a running dangerous battle... he felt revitalized. And, he grinned evilly, he was going to build himself a tall log walk too, the Joes were entirely too complacent about his obstacle course and it needed a good shake up.

His good mood evaporated in an instant about ten minutes later when Hawk dropped the most unexpected news on him.

"HELL NO!" Beach saw Hawk's eyes narrow and suddenly swallowed his hot temper down. "Ah Ah mean... uhh... You can't really be serious? Stormshadow is a murderin' crazy-headed bastard! He can't be on the team!"

Hawk raised only one eyebrow. "He's on the team."

Beach couldn't quite hold his tongue. "But yer nuts to think..." Hawk's face went stony and Beach struggled to backpedal. "Not that yer nuts.. but the idea. Ah mean, he's crazy and if you think he'd... uh.. "

The voice of authority spoke. "Are you questioning my judgment?" He watched without expression as his Sergeant major struggled to find a non-insulting way to call his commanding officer a complete twit. He finally spoke again. "Let me put it bluntly. Are you capable of following orders or not?" His tone left no room for mistake.

"Sir! Yes Sir!" Beachhead snapped to attention. His expression still looked confused and upset but that didn't matter as long as his actions followed his orders.

Hawk stepped over to stand close to the Ranger. "Good. Now listen up. You will treat him as a teammate. You will not attack him. You will not pick fights with him. You will not accuse him of past crimes. Am I being clear?"

"SIR! Yes Sir!" Beach's stance didn't even twitch. He stared directly ahead, rigid as a statue.

Hawk could tell he wasn't happy about it. "I understand this will be a difficult time. I do want you watching him during your regular duties, as all of my senior staff will be. But I don't want you harassing him or laying hands on him."

Beach nodded. "Yes Sir!" He paused. "But.." His eyes made a bare flicker over to Hawk's face before staring straight ahead again. "But... if I got to train him..."

Hawk leaned back slightly. "You train him like you would any Joe."

"But he ain't a Joe!" Beach hurried to continue at Hawk's dark look. "Ah mean, he ain't passed even the first assessment... he oughta be with greenshirt ranks!"

Hawk snorted and returned to stand behind his desk. "He's an Arashikage ninja, I have little doubt he can keep up." He took a deep breath. "So. Can I trust that you will not rush off to try to put a few bullets in our newest team member?"

"Sir yes sir." Beach kept even the hint of rebellion out of his voice.

"And I'm not going to have you in here trying to explain to me how you got into a fistfight with him the instant you got in the same room?"

"Sir no sir!" Beach straightened even more.

"Good. Dismissed." Hawk watched the Sergeant major struggle to think of an objection that didn't question Hawk's sanity and fail. Finally he saluted sharply and left. As soon as the door shut, Hawk settled into his chair and sighed. "This will be... interesting."

Beach stalked through the hallways, his mind turning over the idea. It occurred to him that Stalker probably had been in the know and that pissed him off. Stalker wasn't fourth in command. There was no reason he should know before Beachhead. But then, Hawk was the commanding officer and if he wanted to tell a lower ranked team member before Beachhead, then that was how it was.

"Hey Beach." Alpine waved at him trying to get his attention. "Hey dude, good to see you back but the PA is yelping at you." When Beach glanced up, he spread his hands. "Doc's been repeating that you're to go to medical." He was glowered at and backed up two steps. "Hey hey, not my fault. You come back to the Pitt with a big old bandage on your head, Doc's gonna want to see you, you know?"

"Dammit." Things just kept getting better and better. Beach changed direction to head down to medical. Normally he'd simply avoid the medics until they ran him to ground, but right now he'd welcome the legitimate chance to yell at some people.

End Chapter

Well, now everyone knows who the new Joe is. (I know, like that was a mystery!) I'm certain that things will be smooth flying from now on and Beach and Storm will become fast friends and trusted teammates immediately.

Stop laughing.