The usual disclaimer applies... I hold no ownership in Garrison's Gorillas or its characters and realize no monetary gain from the story you are about to read.

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Curses, Jinxes and Blessings

"Y'know I think we might be out from under it." Goniff grinned and nudged Chief in the arm with his elbow.

Dark eyes narrowed in irritation as the young man bent to retrieve the bag that had just been knocked from his hand. "What?"

The little cockney dropped his voice, intoning dramatically, 'The Curse," and then clutched the bottom of his seat as the plane bounced and jerked, the wheels screeching as they made contact with the ground.

"What'r you talkin about? What curse!?"

"Y'know, the one says one a us blokes has gotta be bleedin' when we get back from these little trips across the channel." The plane came to a stop and Goniff queued up with the rest, waiting for the door to open.

Actor turned his head and spoke over his shoulder. "We are involved in dangerous work Goniff. The odds of injury are quite high, but there is no supernatural power in it." Throwing his pack out the open door he stepped down out of the plane.

"Nah, it's a curse. Has't be a curse"

"Well, where I come from, if y'believe in that kinda stuff, you don't talk about it. Y'can call evil to you just by talkin' 'bout it." Chief jumped down and stood for a moment as he always did, scanning his surroundings before moving off after Actor towards the waiting jeeps.

Casino turned raising a warning finger "And where I come from if you say a bad thing three times you call it right down on you. So you just give me a little space for a while why don't ya." He hopped out of the plane and turned to grin up at the little Limey standing wide eyed in the opening. "Don't worry, babe, I'll keep the first aid kit handy."

Goniff tossed his sack on the ground and climbed down after it. Bending over he grabbed the bundle and hoisted it up over his shoulder staggering back as the force of the swinging weight overcame his slight build and tenuous balance. He hit up against something solid and heard a muffled 'crack!' Rolling his eyes he squeezed them shut for a second before turning around. Garrison was standing with his back to him still in the act of pulling his gear off the plane, his arms held away from his body slightly. "Uh... You OK Warden?" Goniff watched as the other man gave a slight shake to his head. He had to drop his bag and reached out quickly as the Wardens knees buckled. Sliding the bigger man down his body he crouched on the tarmac with the full weight of the Army officer leaning on his side. "Fellas! Hey fellas!" he called out in alarm.

The other three turned, Actors long legs carrying him to the front of the group as they made their way quickly back to the plane. Kneeling down he helped the stricken Englishman lay their commander out on the ground. "My God! What have you done? He's out cold!"

"Blimey!" They watched for a moment as a trickle of blood made its way down Garrison's temple to disappear in the hair over his ear. Goniff looked around at the others "I think I broke the Lieutenant!"

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"It's alright Goniff!" Griping the cat burglar's wrist with just enough force to loosen his fingers Garrison pulled his arm up out of the man's grasp. "I'm fine. It's just a mild concussion. I don't need a nursemaid"

"But you might get dizzy or, or need somethin'…."

"You'll be the first one I call. Now go stow your gear and get some rest."

Goniff looked up at him with a doubtful eye "If you'r sure." but he continued to hover near his elbow.

"I'm sure." His voice held a slight note of desperation. Goniff had been clinging to him, trying to make amends since he'd come to in the back of the ambulance. "Go! Now!" Garrison watched the man retreat to the stairs, shooing him on with a wave of his hand when he changed direction and turned to head back towards the office. He stood, listening, finally breathing a sigh of relief when he heard the creak of the old tread at the top of the stairs and the murmur of voices overhead as the other men greeted the solicitous little menace as he entered their quarters. Walking across the room he tossed his cap on the corner of the desk before pulling the chair out and sitting down. He reached up and rubbed gingerly at the bandage that covered the stitches in the hairline over his right eye. "How can he climb buildings like a squirrel and still fall over his own feet when he's on solid ground?"

Laughing, Actor pushed himself away from the door where he'd been leaning, "Just part of Goniff's natural charm. He's made good use of his clumsiness though." Answering Garrison's questioning look, "He almost always falls into his mark when he is taking their papers or keys. Hadn't you noticed?" He laughed again as Garrison checked his pockets with mock alarm and exaggerated thoroughness.

Moving to stand in front of the desk Actor watched as the Lieutenant pulled a stack of papers the Sergeant Major had left on the corner of the desk over to rest in front of him and reached into the drawer for his pen. Clearing his throat he waited for the younger man to look up at him. "I don't believe that reading and writing reports is precisely what the doctor had in mind when he released you to come back here and rest."

"Yeah? Well, I need to get these done and there's no point in putting it off. Besides it's restful enough now that I got Goniff out of my hair." Matching Actors stubborn look with one of his own the Warden looked him in the eye and continued. "Now why don't you just go upstairs and join him, and let me get to work."

Actor smiled reasonably "Ah, Goniff! I'm sure he would be happy to come down and help you in any way he could."

"You wouldn't dare." Garrison shot a black look of displeasure at Actor.

The con artist raised an amused eyebrow. "Wouldn't I?"

Garrison continued to glare up at the man, weighing his chances of winning the battle of wills but finally heaved a sigh of surrender and tossed the pen back in the drawer. "Ah hell! These can wait 'til tomorrow. There's still two of everything anyway and I don't have the energy to do twice the work." He ground the heels of his hands into his eyes and yawned before pushing the chair back to stand. Moving around the desk he ran his leg into the corner and stumbled, Actor reached out to steady him. "I said I don't need a nursemaid!" Turning he pulled his arm out of range.

Actor stepped away towards the door, "Perhaps you'd just prefer another. I can get Goniff down here in just a moment…."

"Alright, enough!" Garrison raised his voice irritably. His head was pounding and his eyes hurt. The floor didn't feel quite solid under foot and when he looked across at Actor he seemed slightly blurred around the edges. He let his shoulders sag, heaved a sigh, and then laughed "You win!" Letting himself be led up the stairs to the doorway of his quarters he turned on the threshold. "What? You aren't going to come tuck me in and read me a story?"

Actor gave him a patronizing smile "Only if you're not asleep when I come back to check on you."

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Chief looked up from his cot when Actor entered the room. "You gonna get him to do like the doc said?"

The con artist smiled and laughed "I think so, as long as I can threaten him with Goniff."

The little burglar squinted up at him and grinned, then turned his attention back to his solitaire game. Actor cast a glance around the large room they shared. "Where is Casino?"

"Said he had ta meet somebody down in th' town." Goniff continued in a conspiratorial tone. "I think he's got himself a bird."

"He certainly has been secretive of late."

"Well he better hope the Warden don't find out how much time he's been spendin' down there."

Actor settled back in the armchair by the fire "Has he told either of you who she is?"

Goniff shook his head and turned on the chair to face the other two men. "Y'know I don't think he trusts us!" Grinning at Actor "Now you I could understand, but I'm harmless enough you'd think he'd bring me 'round t' meet her."

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The sun was out, the supplies had come in, and the lingering headache the Warden had made him reluctant to send them out on a run through the obstacle course that would ultimately require his presence, so for a change the cons had enjoyed a decent breakfast at a civilized hour and were now lounging on the grass near the front steps of the manor, much to the disgust of the Sergeant Major. When one of the guards pulled Garrisons jeep up and got out, leaving it running on the gravel drive near the entrance, Goniff sat up in alarm.

"Hey! Actor, didn't that doctor say a week out for the Warden?"

"That's what he said."

"Yeah! Since when does the brass stick to the rules?" Casino scoffed.

"Just because the jeep is there" Actor said as they watched Garrison make his way from the entrance down the steps to the jeep and climb in behind the wheel, "and the Lieutenant is in it, does not necessarily mean a mission." He pushed himself off the ground and walked over to the Sergeant Major, dropping a quiet word in his ear as he watched the jeep pull out and head for the gate. After a moments hesitation the British non com scurried up the steps and disappeared into the mansion.

Chief got to his feet and walked over to stand next to the sophisticated con artist, looking from the sly smile on his face to the retreating jeep, he frowned in suspicion. "What'r you up to?"

They watched the jeep pull to a stop at the gate and sit there idling, waiting for the barrier to be raised. They could see the sentry place the handset to the radio back in it's cradle and stand motionless for a moment before he moved out of the shack to stand by the drivers' door at attention. Garrison pulled himself up ram rod straight in the seat and slowly turned his head towards the soldier. The guard stepped back a pace and gave a negative shake to his head. The men at the gate were frozen into a still life for several long moments until Garrison finally turned away, raising his cap and running an irritated hand through his hair. When he settled the cap on his head again he snugged it down low over his eyes and then stepped from the vehicle. They heard one of the motorcycles roar to life behind the building where the motor pool was located and watched it speed around the corner of the mansion and race towards the gate. Pulling to stop the soldier left it near the guard shack and stepped to the jeep, saluting the Lieutenant smartly. After a pause Garrison snapped off a salute and turned to stalk around the jeep. Settling into the right hand seat he turned and aimed a stare back along the long drive at the aristocratic Italian who stood waving at him from the stairs as the jeep pulled out of the gate.

Casino threw his head back and laughed then fixed Actor with a wicked grin, "He's gonna kill you!"

An elegant shoulder shrugged up and then dropped. "I'm sure he has merely forgotten the doctors' orders that he not drive until after his evaluation tomorrow."

"Oh sure! Like he just happened to forget to tell the Sergeant Major that he was ordered to use a driver in the first place?!" Casino snorted in disbelief, shaking his head in amusement he repeated "He's gonna kill you!"

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As it had grown later in the day, and closer to the time the Warden would probably be pulling back onto the grounds and heading back into the mansion the men had drifted up into their quarters and found quiet, inconspicuous pursuits to occupy them. Without discussion they all felt it might just be better to be out of sight when the irritated Army officer returned. Goniff waited up in the room as long as he could, fidgeting at the table, playing poker with Casino until the surly safecracker couldn't handle his incessant movement and chatter any longer, then he'd headed downstairs to raid the kitchen.

"Here he comes," Chief reported from his perch next to the window that looked out on the front terrace and lawns of the estate.

Casino gathered up the cards spread in front of him on the table and shuffled again, laying out another hand of solitaire while Actor settled deeper into the chair by the fire and brought the book he was reading up to shield his face. They listened as the jeep approached the front of the building, heard the door slam shut and the vehicle move off, the rumble of the engine receding as the driver made his way back to the garages behind the large house. The window next to Chief rattled with the slamming of the large front door. Casino looked over at Actor and smirked, shaking his head as they listened to steps rapidly ascending the stairs towards their quarters. There was a sound of murmured voices, a shout, a loud rolling crash, silence, and then the sound of steps pounding back down the stairs.

Chief bolted across the room, pulling the door open he raced down the hall with the others hard on his heels. He checked on the landing for a heartbeat then headed down, taking the steps two at a time, Casino close behind. Actor leaned over the railing and peered down into the foyer at the base of the stairs to find Garrison sprawled on his back staring up at him with a bemused frown on his face, Goniff kneeling by his side. "Don't you move!! Goniff! Don't touch him!" he shouted urgently as he pushed himself away from the rail and continued down the stairs. When he reached the bottom and knelt down by Goniffs side Casino had already picked the lock and removed the handcuff that secured the mission briefcase to Garrisons left wrist and tossed it aside.

"Bloody Hell! Lieutenant? Can you hear me?" Goniff asked in an anguished voice.

Garrison raised a quizzical eyebrow "Yeah?" and picking his head up, started to roll forward to rise.

"Let's not do that yet." Actor flattened his large hand over the Wardens chest, pinning him to the floor. "Chief get the Sergeant Major."

"I'm alright! Just let me up…"

"Better just lay there for a minute, babe. Sort of take stock."

Garrison closed his eyes and relaxed back on the floor, took a deep breath, and started methodically flexing muscles and moving joints. When he bent his knees, setting his feet on the floor, and reached his hand up to rub the back of his neck he open his eyes again, "I'm alright! Now help me up." he said with the stubborn edge of authority they'd grown used to.

Casino shared a look with Actor before reaching to grasp the hand held out to him, taking the Warden under the arm, helping him to his feet as Actor supported him from the other side. When he released him he looked down at his own hand, noting the blood smeared across his palm. "Oh yeah, you appear to be just fine." Pulling his handkerchief from his pocket he shoved the stained uniform sleeve up and twisted the cloth around the deep gouge the cuff had left on the other mans wrist. Looking over his shoulder he spotted the little cat burglar quietly picking up cap, briefcase and keys where they were strewn on the stairs and floor, "Good one Goniff! We oughta get another week off outta this."

"Knock it off Casino!" Garrison shot him an irritated glare as Actor helped him out of the hall and into the library.

Chief and the Sergeant Major arrived at a trot as the Lieutenant was being settled on the large sofa. "My word! What's happened 'ere now?" the Rawlins stared directly at Goniff who stood at the far side of the room still holding the things he'd gathered from the floor.

Garrison answered irritably, "Nothing! I just missed my footing on the steps. I'm fine"

"He fell down the stairs." Actor stated firmly and looked over at Goniff for confirmation. "Where were you two?"

Goniff shuffled his feet and shot a look at the Lieutenant before saying quietly with a slight grimace. "We was up near the top. I, uh, tipped the tray and some stuff fell off it."

"Jeeze! I thought you musta strung a trip wire or somethin'" Casino snorted.

"I said that's enough! Casino it was an accident, dammit, I don't want to hear another word about it." Garrison twisted on the sofa to find Goniff backing towards the door, still holding on to the case that held the briefing materials. "Goniff, bring that over here. Casino, get the key out of the safe."

Casino walked to the safe, spinning the dial through the combination he now knew by heart. They all knew he'd cracked it long ago, there was certainly no need to pretend for the Warden's benefit. He could have picked the lock on the case too. Heck, any one of them coulda done that, even the Warden was getting pretty good at it, but if the guy wanted to get traditional on them for the Sergeant Majors benefit he could play along. He pulled the door open and reached in to pick up the small key. Reaching the sofa the same time Goniff did he looked at the little man, shaking his head. "You know, I think you might have been wrong about that curse!"

"Casino! Not another word!" Garrison glared at the group gathered around him. He reached up for the key, wincing as he took the briefcase from Goniffs hand. "Come on, gather around here, we have mission to go over."

"Ah,,, begging your pardon, sir." the Sergeant Major spoke up, "You've got to get over to the medical building." He continued, only slightly cowed by Garrison's narrowed eyes and black gaze. "Regulations. Sorry, sir." The non com inquired seriously, "Shall I get a stretcher, sir? Or can you make it on your own?"

All but Goniff chuckled as Garrison dropped his head in his hand before looking up at the Sergeant in disbelief.

Backing towards the doorway the Brit hit the button on the intercom unit, ordering the staff car to be brought around to the front steps and directing the company clerk to notify the medical unit that they were on the way.

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Garrison rested the handset of the phone back in its cradle and looked out the windows at the British NCO standing on the broad steps out side. Three weeks! A concussion, followed by two cracked ribs and a injury to his wrist that had made it difficult for him even to button is own shirt. Finally he'd been cleared for full duty and they'd just been handed a part to play in an operation he'd been hearing rumors about for the last two months. He was ready! The inactivity had driven him crazy. He moved away from the desk, and, opening the French doors, stepped outside into the morning sunshine. "Where are they Sergeant Major?"

"I 'ave Casino and Actor over on the firing range, sir." the Brit jerked a thumb back over his shoulder as they walked around the corner of the building towards the large front entrance, "And Goniff climbing up the brickwork, round the side of the building. Chief's keepin' an eye on 'im. I, uh, didn't think, what with the way things 'ave been going that it would be prudent to give Goniff a loaded gun, sir."

Garrison gave a quick laugh, "Probably a wise decision. Get them together Sergeant." He moved up the stairs towards the portico, "Have them meet me in the map room."

There was a tearing snap of wood breaking, a swirling, deep-throated grating sound over head and a shouted "Watch it!" Garrison gasped as a razor sharp pain shot across his back and another drove into the calf of his right leg causing him to drop to his knees, as a large stone urn shattered behind him on the steps. He was still trying to struggle to his feet as the team converged on the front step, Chief racing around the corner of the building, Actor and Casino sprinting up from the firing range and Goniff scrambling down the stone on the front façade of the building. Two of the guards from the gate were running up the drive and two of the men from the motor pool behind the house had just rounded the corner.

Chief reached him first, dropping to his knees in front of him he took him by the shoulders.

"Are you alright?!"

"We've gotta get back across the channel! It's too damned dangerous around here!" he mumbled, staring into the young man's eyes before slumping forward onto his shoulder.

Actor stopped briefly by each man to check on them before heading inside to use the phone to summon the medic that had just been assigned to the estate's permanent force of guards. Considering the black cloud that seemed to have been hanging over Lieutenant Garrison for the last few weeks, he thought the corpsman might get a fairly thorough work out in the care and handling of minor injuries. He stepped into the Sergeant Majors office and picked up the first aid kit on the way back out.

By the time the medic jogged around the building from the barracks the laceration on the Sergeant Major's cheek had been cleaned with alcohol and covered with a temporary bandage, and Casino was working on cleaning his hands where he had scraped them on the stone steps. A field dressing was bound around Garrison's leg and Actor was easing him out of his shirt.

The young man cleared his throat, "Doesn't much look like it, but could anyone use any help?"

Garrison turned his head slightly, glancing over his bloodied shoulder at the new man. "Corporal Riley, see to Goniff will you?"

Goniff huddled miserably against the balustrade, as Chief tore his trouser leg back revealing a deep gouge in his shin just above the top of his boot.

Casino watched the medic help him limp over and sit down on the top step. He cocked a eyebrow in the little mans direction, "That jinx seems to be backfiring a bit there Goniff. We need to bury a toad at midnight or somethin' to see the back side a this bad luck streak a yours?"

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Reynolds considered the officer standing before him as he tapped his pen on the desk top. "You've been seeing rather a lot of the aid station in the last few weeks Lieutenant." He raised an eyebrow and continued, "Are you sure about this? You're not having any personal problems with this man?"

"Absolutely not, sir! The portico roof was rotten! I had it checked. It gave way under Goniffs weight and the urn just shifted and fell. He's lucky he didn't come all the way through and break his neck. My foot slipped on a spoon he dropped when I fell on the stairs, and he lost his balance and fell into me when we landed a few weeks back." Garrison assured his superior. "Pure accidents, sir. All of them." he finished with conviction.

The young man was leaning on a cane, his left arm rested in a sling. Reynolds motioned him to be seated. "Still, it might be best to keep him in front of you on this next one."

"Then we're still a part of this?" The Lieutenant sank gratefully into the chair that sat in front of the colonels' desk.

Reynolds chuckled and looked across at him, "I'd prefer yours to be the group we send in," He paused for a moment, "If you can manage to stay out of hospital."

Garrison laughed and rubbed at the new scar in the hairline over his right eye. "I can try, sir!"

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