Blackouts

By:AliasCWN

Chapter 1

Jack Moffitt pushed the door opened and stepped inside. The smoke filled air of the bar hit him full in the face, different from outside, but nearly as hot. Loud music and even louder voices assaulted his ears. He paused just inside the door to allow his eyes to adjust after the bright light of the desert sun. Men lined the bar several deep while others sat around the tables carrying on loud conversations, their voices raised to be heard over the neighboring din.

Moffitt was bumped from behind as more soldiers tried to push their way into the already crowded room from the street. The sergeant glanced toward the bar where soldiers waited not so patiently for their turn to order a drink. The faces he sought weren't there so he began to systematically search the rest of the room. He found them seated at a table by themselves near the center of the room

Mark Hitchcock was draped over the table oblivious to the noise and activity around him. Tully was leaning over his buddy's shoulder talking into his ear. As Moffitt started to make his way across the room Tully tried to get Hitch to his feet. The blonde's head rolled limply from side to side as Tully pulled on his arm. Moffitt pushed past several soldiers who were standing next to a table. They turned to glare at the sergeant who simply nodded, mumbled an apology, and kept going.

"Is everything all right Tully?" Moffitt's voice rang out over the other voices in the immediate area. Many of the men at the surrounding tables turned to see what had prompted the question.

Tully nodded, giving the gawkers a look that told them to mind their own business. "He's okay Doc, or he will be."

"How much did he have to drink?" The sergeant asked in the same loud tone.

"Only two Doc, honest."

Moffitt's eyebrows rose at the answer. "Then why did he pass out?"

Tully shrugged. "I don't know Doc. Sometimes he just does that." He looked down at his buddy and added. "It's happened twice before. Both times have been since he got that head injury the other week." Tully continued as Moffitt glanced down at his teammate with a worried frown. "He sort of blacks out." Tully explained. "When he wakes up he doesn't remember things."

"What kinds of things?"

"He just forgets what he did for a while before it happens. So far it hasn't caused any problems. I just take him back to our room and put him to bed."

"Does Troy know?"

Tully suddenly looked worried. "I've been telling Sarge that Hitch just had too much to drink. Hitch doesn't want to tell him because he thinks Sarge will take him off of the team. He's afraid he might lose his spot."

"Tully." Moffitt met the eyes of his driver. "Troy will have to be told. It could be dangerous to take Hitch out in this condition."

Tully looked down at the unconscious blond. "Hitch will be awfully mad if we tell. He's really worried about how Sarge will react."

"He has to be told Tully."

Tully nodded reluctantly. "I guess you're right, but Hitch won't be happy. I don't know how he's going to react."

Moffitt smiled gently. "Those parts we ordered for the jeeps are in. Why don't you help me get Hitch back to our quarters; I'll stay with him while you go work on the jeeps. When Hitch wakes up I'll break the news to him. You won't be there so he won't get mad at you."

"But he might be mad at you." Tully warned again. "I kind of feel guilty leaving you to face him alone. He hasn't been himself lately Doc."

"I think I'll live even if he does get mad at me." Moffitt assured him with a smile. "I'm sure he'll see the wisdom of the decision and forgive me eventually."

"I don't know Doc. If Sarge cuts him from the team over this he may blame you." Tully shook his head and thought about staying with the two men.

"Troy may cut him from the team temporarily but as soon as he is healthy again Troy will take him back. He won't want to break in a new member if he doesn't have to. Hitch carries his own weight." Moffitt patted Tully's arm. "Now, help me get him back to our room."

Between the two of them they got Hitch to his feet and half carried half dragged him toward the door. They had to pause frequently to let the curious bystanders move out of their way.

"Maybe you should get him to a doctor." One of the bystanders suggested. "He may have something seriously wrong with him."

"Good idea." Moffitt agreed. "Why don't you see if someone can run over to the hospital and ask them to send a medic to our room? You know where it is, don't you?"

"I do." Another of the bystanders declared. "I'm on my way out so I'll run by the hospital for you." He looked directly at Tully. "You say he's done this before?"

"Twice." Tully answered with a nod.

"I'll let the medic know." The guy answered.

"Thank you." Moffitt smiled. "Now I think we should get Hitch back to our room.

The crowd parted and watched as Hitch was taken from the building. Tully and Moffitt were puffing by the time they reached their building.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stick around? I could stay until the medic arrives."

"No Tully, you'd better get started on those jeeps. Troy wants them ready as soon as possible and it doesn't look as if Hitch is going to be able to help you."

Tully nodded and helped get Hitch up the stairs to their room. A small group of soldiers stood at the other end of the hall watching their awkward progress. Tully shifted under Hitch's weight to reach forward and open the door. They lowered his limp body onto the bed and Moffitt leaned down to lift his feet. Putting his feet on the bed, Moffitt checked his eyes, lifting the eyelids gently.

"I can handle him from here." Moffitt nodded his thanks to Tully. "Troy and I picked up the parts and left them in the rear of the jeeps. Are you going to need any help with them?"

"No Doc, I can do it alone." The private looked down at his buddy before he turned to leave. "Send someone to get me if you need help with Hitch."

"I'll be fine Tully. Hitch will understand once I explain my concerns. He would never put the rest of us in danger on purpose."

"I know Doc, but he hasn't been himself lately. That head wound may have been worse than we thought." Tully looked toward the door where the other soldiers were still standing in the hall. They were watching him and Moffitt with interest. "Do you need something?"

The men glanced at each other and shook their heads. "We were just wondering if you needed any help." One of them answered.

"There is a medic on the way." Moffitt assured them. "We'll be fine."

The men nodded and moved a little further down the hall. Moffitt watched as they entered a room on the other side of the passage.

"I'll see you later Doc, you know where to find me if you need me." Tully pulled the door shut behind him on his way to the motor pool.

Moffitt sat down to wait for Hitch to show signs of waking up.

The men down the hall were in the middle of a poker game when they heard loud voices in what sounded like an argument coming from the other room. Pausing, they listened a moment and recognized Moffitt's voice but they couldn't make out any of the words. Curious, they looked at one another and rose as one to go investigate. Stepping into the hall they turned toward the other room. Before they could take more than a few steps the other door was yanked open.

Moffitt pulled the door to his room open and held onto the door for support. His free hand was pressing against his midsection where blood seeped through his fingers. Staggering into the doorway he faced the surprised poker players.

"Get a doctor!" The sergeant sagged to his knees.

One of the men turned and ran for the stairs. The others rushed forward to help the injured man.

"What happened?"

"Hitch got angry with me. I tried to calm him down but he pulled his knife. I managed to knock him out but not before he stabbed me." Moffitt took a shaky breath and nodded toward a bloody knife on the floor. "He's been acting strange ever since he got a head injury on our last assignment. This wasn't his fault, I upset him."

One of the men put pressure on Moffitt's midsection while two other went to stand over Hitch who was now lying on the floor near a pool of blood. There was a commotion on the stairs and a doctor and several MPs pushed their way through the gathering crowd. The doctor knelt next to the injured sergeant while the MPs started collecting evidence.

An ambulance arrived and orderlies brought a stretcher into the room. The witnesses were moved back so that they were out of the way. Everything got quiet as the sergeant was carried from the room.

The MPs were questioning the witnesses when Hitch groaned and opened his eyes. Noticing the MPs, he tried to get to his feet. He put a hand in front of his face and froze. Blood was drying where it had dripped between his fingers and run down his wrist. Shocked, he looked at the MPs in confusion.

"Have you ever seen this before?" One of the MPs held up a bloody knife in a plastic bag.

"It's mine." Hitch answered as he recognized the weapon. "What happened?"

The MP exchanged a look with his partner. "Don't you remember?"

"No." Hitch admitted with a shake of his head. He looked around the room at all of the faces staring at him. "Tell me."

"You stabbed your sergeant."

"No!" Hitch exclaimed. "I would never hurt Sarge or Doc! Whoever told you that is lying."

The MP looked down at Hitch's bloody hand. "Your sergeant told witnesses that you got angry and stabbed him. Are you saying that he lied?" The MP watched Hitch's face closely.

Hitch looked around wildly. "Why would he say that? Which one of my sergeants was here?" Hitch tried to rise but his foot slipped in the pool of blood on the floor. His eyes got huge and he stared at it in confusion. He lifted his hand and stared at it again. "Will he be all right?" He asked in a small voice.

The MP noted the change in tone as Hitch asked the question. There were no more denials, just a stunned acceptance.

"I don't know." The MP admitted. "It looked pretty bad."

Hitch nodded mutely. He kept his eyes on the floor as the MP slipped a pair of metal cuffs over his wrists.

There was a knock on the door frame and everyone turned to look at the new arrival. Another MP leaned into the room and looked at the MP kneeling next to Hitch. "The sergeant died before they could get him into surgery." The MP announced.

"No!" Hitch's anguished cry was the only sound in the room.

The lead MP nodded and turned back to his prisoner. "You need to come with me Private. My men can finish talking to the witnesses."

Hitch nodded mutely and allowed the MPs to help him to his feet. He kept his eyes down and didn't look at anyone as he was led from the room.