Lessons Learned

By:AliasCWN

Chapter 1

While between assignments the Rat Patrol was being assigned to Captain Beauregard at his front line base.

The two heavily armed jeeps rolled through the front gates and got their clearances. Tully and Hitch stayed with the jeeps while Moffitt and Troy went to report to Captain Beauregard and get their tent assignments.

"Hey! Look who's here!" Private Cal Tuttle raised a hand in greeting as he noticed the two privates. Cal had gotten his first combat experience while driving a fuel truck across the desert under the watchful eyes of the Rat Patrol. Because he had followed their directions he had avoided being killed when a German plane tried to destroy the truck load of badly needed fuel. He always made it a point to say hello whenever they were on the same base.

"Hey Cal." Tully called. "Has the captain drafted you as his personal cook yet?"

Cal laughed at the reference to his cooking skills. It wasn't often that he got to cook in the Army but he had gotten the opportunity to cook for the Rat Patrol. He had enjoyed writing to his mother and telling her how much they had appreciated the skills she had taught him. "Not yet." He answered Tully's question. "He has some southern boy doing his cooking for him; for all of us actually, the Captain eats with the rest of us. He doesn't have a private cook."

"He doesn't know what he's missing." Tully grinned. "Sarge would grab you up in a heartbeat. He still talks about your cooking. Especially when it's Hitch's turn to cook." Tully grinned at his buddy as he made the comment.

"I'd be glad to cook for you any time we get the chance." Cal smiled.

"It's a good thing you don't drive a jeep or Sarge would be trading one of us in in exchange for you." Hitch added with a smile.

"No thanks." Cal put a hand up to indicate that they should stop right there. "Since I've been here I've heard a lot of stories about what you guys do. I don't mind cooking for you, but the rest I can do without."

Hitch smiled. "That's okay,that just means we don't have to worry about getting traded."

"Not for me you don't." Cal laughed. "I like living too well to trade places with either of you."

"What?" Tully asked wide-eyed. "We're alive!"

"And you have skills I could never hope to master that keep you that way." Cal shook his head. "Nope, I'll stick to driving truck and cooking an occasional meal."

"Can we tell Sarge you'll cook supper for us?" Tully asked hopefully.

"Sure." Cal answered, pleased with the request. "I can scrounge up enough wood to make a fire and we can eat outside."

"The cooks giving you trouble again?" Hitch asked.

Cal shrugged. "They don't like anyone messing around in their domain. That's okay." He added. "I wouldn't want them driving my truck either. I've become kind of attached to it." Cal blushed at the confession.

"We know what you mean." Tully grinned and looked over at Hitch. "We're kind of attached to our jeeps too."

Cal glanced at his watch. "I have to go but I'll meet you out behind the visitor's quarters at 1700 hours. Bring your appetites." With a hurried wave Cal rushed off.

"What are you cooking?" Hitch called after him.

"I'll let that be a surprise, it's more fun that way." Cal called over his shoulder with a little laugh.

Hitch shook his head as he watched the other man walk away. "If he could drive a jeep Sarge might seriously consider trading one of us in."

"Hey, I'm safe." Tully laughed. "Sarge likes the way I fix the jeeps." He was walking away so he didn't see the look that Hitch gave him.

Troy and Moffitt were delighted to learn that they would be enjoying more of Cal's cooking.

"What's he making?" Moffitt asked.

"Who cares?" Troy replied. "So far it's all been good."

"He said it would be a surprise." Hitch answered. "I already asked."

"I like surprises." Troy grinned. "At least that kind."

"Hitch told him that if he could drive a jeep you would trade one of us in for him." Tully chuckled.

"I might." Troy laughed. "If he could drive and cook he'd be darn near perfect."

"But he doesn't want the job." Hitch explained.

"Too bad, we could probably teach him to drive."

"He likes his truck." Hitch added.

"Then I guess your job is safe." Troy smiled at his driver. "What time is supper?"

"1700 hours behind the visitor's quarters."

"We'll be there with bells on." Troy looked at Moffitt for an agreement.

"Wouldn't miss it for anything." The British sergeant nodded.

Troy gave Hitch and Tully the number of their assigned tent before releasing them to entertain themselves. "See you at 1700 hours for supper."

"We'll be there." Tully promised. He turned to Hitch to see what he wanted to do with his free time.

"I have to go to supply." Hitch said before Tully could say anything. "I'll meet you for supper."

"Okay." Tully answered warily. Is everything okay Hitch? I can help you with the supplies."

"Everything's fine Tully. I just need a few things, you go ahead, I'll catch you later."

"I thought I'd go over to the motor pool and catch up with some of the guys. The last time we were here I got friendly with a couple of them."

"You go ahead Tully; if I get done early I'll join you there." Hitch urged.

"All right, if you're sure."

"I'm sure." Hitch answered.

Tully looked back once to see Hitch hurrying in the direction of the supply tent.

Hitch didn't join him at the motor pool and Tully was beginning to worry as he approached the small fire behind the visitor's tent. The other driver hadn't been in their tent either when he went to check. He had decided to go look for him if he hadn't put in an appearance by 1700 hours. As he got closer Tully relaxed as he spotted his buddy sitting on a box talking to Cal while he watched the other private prepare the meal.

"I thought you got lost." Tully teased as he walked up to the fire.

Hitch shrugged. "I saw Cal and decided to keep him company while he cooked."

"I think he's really guarding the food so no one else on base takes it." Cal added with a grin.

"That too." Hitch laughed easily. "You'd be surprised at how many people wanted to invite themselves to join us." He sniffed the air before adding, "Or maybe you wouldn't. Cal's cooking is pretty popular."

Cal laughed at that. "But don't worry, I told all of them that this was a private party."

"Are they going to resent us for it?" Tully asked with a grin.

"I'll cook for them some other time." Cal promised. "I told them that you guys don't get here much and that this is a special occasion."

"Tell them it's Sarge's birthday." Tully suggested.

"Is it?"

"No, but they don't need to know that."

Cal shrugged. "I don't need an excuse to cook for friends. If they don't like it they can eat in the mess hall." He added a few more ingredients to the meal he was preparing. "I like to add a little cayenne pepper to spice things up a bit, not much you understand, just a touch."

"Add whatever you like." Tully agreed. "Just as long as we get to sample the end result."

Cal laughed again and began to stir the pot. "I told my mom what the army gave me to work with and she wrote down a bunch of recipes using those ingredients."

"Is this one of them?" Hitch asked.

"As a matter of fact, it is."

Troy and Moffitt walked up while Cal was explaining how his mother had come up with the recipes and tested them out on the neighbors.

"She only sent me the ones they really liked." Cal explained.

"My mom's not much of a cook." Hitch explained. "We had a cook but we weren't allowed in the kitchen while she was making the meals, she always claimed that we got in her way."

"That explains a lot." Troy chuckled.

"I try Sarge!"

"Without much success."

"It's better than going hungry." The blond grumbled in his own defense.

"You got me there pal." Troy agreed. "So what is this anyway?" He asked Cal as he turned away from his driver.

Cal finished cooking and dished out the food. The meal passed quickly with friendly conversation and lots of praise for the food and the cook. Cal appreciated their praise and promised to pass some of it on to his mother who had insisted on teaching him to cook. "I told her you liked my cooking and she laughed. She said she knew how it felt to have someone appreciate all of your efforts. My dad tells her all the time that she's a great cook."

"Does your dad cook?"

"He grills but he's lost in the kitchen." Cal admitted. "Mom does all of the cooking on our camping trips too. Dad says he needs to be able to control the heat or he burns everything."

"I doubt if Hitch can grill either." Troy said. "He and your dad would probably get along just fine."

"That or they would starve." Tully laughed.

Moffitt looked up in time to catch a flash of annoyance cross the blonde's face. "Hitch has other skills that are just as important."

"He has a way with the ladies." Tully grinned.

"Good thing too; they can do his cooking for him." Troy added. He grinned at his driver who looked away quickly.

The five friends shared the clean-up and sat around talking until Cal announced that he had to turn in. "Unlike you guys, I have to work tomorrow."

"Actually," Troy looked at his privates, "the captain's aide stopped us on our way over here and said that the captain wants to see us at 0700 tomorrow. It looks like we might have to work tomorrow too."

"Then we'd better turn in too." Hitch suggested.

"It's still early." Tully protested. "I told the guys from the motor pool I'd join them for a beer later." He looked at Hitch in a silent invitation.

"You go ahead." Hitch said. "I'll help Cal carry his gear back to his tent and then I'm going to turn in."

Tully glanced over at the sergeants before shrugging. "Suit yourself."

"A beer sounds good." Troy stated, watching his driver. "One can't hurt Hitch."

"No thanks, I'm just going to turn in."

Troy looked at Moffitt but the Brit just shrugged.

"Is everything okay Hitch?" Moffitt asked as the others walked slowly away.

"Fine Doc." Hitch answered without looking up. "I'm just going to help Cal with his pans and stuff before I head for my bed."

The sergeant hesitated, watching the younger 'rat' collect the various cookware. "If you change your mind you know where we'll be."

"Yeah sure Doc, if I change my mind."

"Well good night then."

"Night Doc, have fun."

"I'm sure it will be a relaxing night but we'll miss you."

Hitch looked up and smiled. "You'll be fine Doc; you don't need me to have a good time."

"Perhaps not but we will miss you just the same."

"Have a beer for me, I'll see you when you get back if I'm not already asleep."

"All right then." With a backward glance every few steps Moffitt followed the others toward the other side of the base where the bar was located. Hitch seemed intent on gathering up Cal's possessions so that they could return them to his quarters.

"They wanted you to go with them." Cal spoke quietly as Hitch continued to stack the pans.

"They don't need me," Hitch answered, "they can have a good time on their own."