Welcome back folks...I felt like taking a walk and decided to see if any of the guys from King Company wanted to come along. From what Brockmeyer has told me, it's been a rough week and the men could use a little relaxation. Saunders has been a little edgy, Caje hasn't been smiling and Kirby has been getting into trouble. Keep in mind I do not own any of the characters from Combat!...I only borrow them on occasion and I receive no money for the telling. NO COPYRIGHT IS INTENDED. Now, enough talk, the guys are getting restless so on with the story...Hope you all enjoy and thanks for spending time with us today.

CHAPTER ONE

"Ok…maybe this wasn't one of my better ideas…"

"Kirby, we're in the middle of nowhere, our jeep is out of gas and you didn't pack any provisions." Caje responded irritably. "So no this wasn't one of your better ideas."

"It's not the middle of nowhere Caje." Kirby took a moment to look back in the direction they had started from. "We're what…ten, fifteen miles from base."

Caje looked as his friend in disbelief…ten or fifteen. "We're twenty-five miles out Kirby…based on the map Minuet is thirty miles in that direction," Caje pointed toward the East. {I should have listened to Little John and stayed on base} Shaking his head he stepped toward the hood of the jeep, using his arms for leverage and with a little jump he maneuvered his slight frame up sitting back against the windshield staring off into the distance a frown on his lean face.

Kirby stood back a few feet from the Cajun, wondering if he had pushed his friend a bit too far this time…in defense…he had only been trying to take the Frenchman's mind off the chewing out he had received from an irritable Sarge a few days ago...of course Kirby had received one at the same time but for him it was a normal part of being in the service…for the Cajun not so much.

Thinking a trip to town would do the trick he signed out a jeep with the Captains permission and he and Caje had headed toward Minuet…thinking that maybe the drive would help his friend relax a little. {A 25 mile walk back to base was not going to help} glancing back at Caje. "Look, I'm sorry."

Caje let out a long sigh, he knew Kirby hadn't meant for them to run out of fuel…Pfc. Davis had been in charge of the Motor Pool and probably signed out the jeep then messed with the gas. {Probably still mad about losing half a month's pay a few days ago in a poker game…I tried to warn him about playing against Kirby} Davis had accused Kirby of cheating but the B.A.R. man never cheated he was just really good and most of the men knew when to fold…Davis goaded Kirby into an all or nothing hand and when he lost half his wages Davis started throwing accusations...things got out of hand and Sgt. Saunders had to interfere…man, Sarge was not happy.

Flashback

Saunders had done his best to stay calm when Davis and Kirby started throwing insults but when he had to step in between them to prevent the two men from trading punches, Caje could tell Sarge had had enough.

What the Hell is wrong with you? He said angrily, stepping in between the two men, giving each a hard push back. "You know he doesn't cheat Davis…how many times has one of the men warned you about playing poker with Kirby if you can't stand to lose? "And you Kirby...switching his glare to the B.A.R. man…you know better!"

But Sarge…

"I don't want to hear it Kirby...if you two can't play nice and I have to step in again…you'll both be on report!" That, being said…Saunders glared at both men daring them to say anything…when Kirby and Davis looked away the Sergeant turned abruptly and walked out of the sleep quarters mumbling about "men acting like kids and not a damn babysitter…"

All the men had been surprised by the Sergeants reaction and for a few moments after he left there was utter silence.

Davis gave Kirby an angry push before he turned and made his way to the other side of the room sitting down on his bunk arms crossed staring at the floor.

Hey! Thinking it wouldn't be worth another chewing…Kirby didn't follow but stood there wandering why the Sarge had reacted the way he did.

The more he thought about it he realized Sgt. Saunders had been short tempered for the past four days...ever since the LT took off on one of his undercover missions four days ago. Wandering if that had anything to do with his being on edge, Kirby stepped over to Caje's bunk, sitting down beside him.

What's up with the Sarge? He asked, watching as Caje cleaned his rifle.

Pausing for a moment, Caje glanced over at his friend, seeing the frown marring Kirby's face, voiced his thoughts.

"The LT was supposed to be back yesterday afternoon, there's been no radio contact for 36 hours and the Sarge is worried."

How do you know when the Lt was supposed to be back? "The way I understood it…the mission was classified and need to know only." Peering into the dark features wait for a response.

"I have my contacts.", Caje answered a little defensively, "Besides if you haven't noticed every time the LT has been sent on one of his 'solo missions' the Sarge gets edgy and tense until he gets back…you and Davis need to work out your differences 'Mon Ami' at least until Lt. Hanley returns…Sarge wasn't kidding about putting you two on report if it happens again."

Coming back to the present, Caje did a quick scan of the immediate area before he hopped off the hood and stood beside his friend. "I know you meant well Kirby and I appreciate the thought but right now we need to decide if we're going to wait here and hope someone comes by or start walking back to base." Looking up at the sky he figured the Sun would only get warmer and with plenty of daylight left it would make for a long, hot walk back…well, the quicker they got started the quicker they'd be there.

"Lucky for you I have a canteen of water, a couple of rations and a first aid kit in my pack." At Kirby's raised eyebrow he explained. "It never hurts to be a little prepared for the unexpected…you might consider doing that in the future." Sitting the pack on the ground he looked for a place to hide the jeep until they could come back with fuel.

"Kirby…help me push the jeep over there." Indicating a stand of trees a few yards from where they stood...it's going to be a long walk back, so we best get started." They took a small sip of water then Caje picked up his pack and they began the trek back to base.

The two men had been walking about an hour when Kirby glanced over at his friend, a frown was playing around the man's features and taking a breath Kirby spoke.