For Winterhalt and capsarchic. A romance story challenge featuring Low Light in ten chapters. Rated T to M

Chapter Two

Casting Seasons to the Wind

1600

Sharon Dixon was tall. At her son's shoulder she was close to five foot nine. She had the same brown hair cut into a stylish bob that accentuated her cheekbones. She wore it that way to keep it out of her face. As a Registered Nurse she did a lot of bending over. She couldn't have her hair hanging in a patients' wound or breathing tube. She held herself with military precision.

It was years of dealing with Army men from Fort Leonard Wood. It showed. Her eyes were the same as Trick Shot's but other than that the similarity ended. Trick Shot had his father's angular nose and lips. It was the one that the upper one was smaller than the lower one. It always made him look like it was in a pout. His height he inherited from his mother.

Next to her son her smile was wide and bright. Trick Shot had the same smile. It was probably from expensive dental work that the nurse couldn't afford but sacrificed for the sake of her son. She was proud. It was the first time since basic that she had the chance to see Trick Shot on base. Otherwise it was holiday dinners back in Missouri. That's when she watched her son grow into a man.

Trick Shot seemed to change every time she saw him. If she was asked the worst thing a mother could imagine was seeing her son in uniform. Now she couldn't imagine him without it. He was much more confident than the child she sent away to boot camp four years ago. The military was good for him.

She walked the halls with Trick Shot and met his friends. She wore sensible shoes and jeans with a stylish up to date button down shirt she wore beneath a winter jacket. To the greenshirts she was Mrs. Dixon even though she never married. It was just the way she portrayed herself. She didn't correct them. She was over forty but still had a woman's body if not a little bit wider in the hips. The kids didn't notice but the older soldiers did. They glanced behind them as she walked.

If Trick Shot noticed he didn't say anything. He was too excited showing her around the base. She flew in from Missouri to Salt Lake City Utah and rented a room at the outskirts of town. It was family week and she saved her money to come here. She knew it mattered to her son. The hospital afforded her the paid time off. She looked forward to the time she could spend with her son.

As far as she could tell she was the only single mother of the group. The rest sat with husbands and children that were all military. That was the way it was Michael's entire life.

She was only twenty years old when the Captain left her pregnant. As soon as he found out he was on his way to Germany to his wife and kids. Sharon never forgot that. She worked full time waiting tables at the local diner while she went to nursing school. She gave birth to Michael in her second semester. She named him after his father.

It was hard but she did it. Michael was the center of her universe. It was what she lived for. When he met his father for the first time she thought he would leave. Instead he chomped on pizza across from the Captain and played Whack-A-Mole. He didn't seem to care.

When she told him that was his father he yawned and went to bed.

"OK mom see you in the morning." He said.

He was thirteen.

When he was eighteen the Captain came to his graduation from boot camp. He sat in the bleachers. He was a lot older now. His hair was salt and pepper. He still wore it military style. Dixon looked more and more like him every day. The Captain watched and stayed silent. She was never as proud as that moment. When it was all over she was the first one on the field. In her hand was the disposable camera she bought for a buck ninety-nine. The Captain put his arm around his son and she took the picture. It was the only one they had of father and son.

He was twenty-two now.

She met and was introduced to General Hawk. Unlike the other mothers that offered their finger tips in a soft hello that left him feeling like he just shook hands with a noodle this woman looked him straight in the eye and offered him her hand in a firm grip. She kept the General's gaze. She didn't look away. If it piqued his interest he didn't say. Still he afforded her more than the usual politeness.

"You should be very impressed with your son Mrs. Dixon." Hawk said. "He is an asset to the GI Joe team. He will make a useful team member."

It was the usual bullshit that he gave to every parent he met. She didn't let go of his hand or break eye contact. To his surprise she laughed instead.

It was a bark of a laugh that left the rest of the room looking over. It was loud. It was sudden. It was embarrassing. When she laughed she let everyone know. She was never one for hiding her feelings especially when she was happy. Trick Shot looked around hoping no one else heard it.

"Of course I'm proud! I wouldn't be here if I wasn't proud of my son, General Hawk."

That was another thing about Mrs. Dixon. Where the other mothers shook hands and stepped politely aside none of them called him by his name and rank. She dropped her hand and looked him in the eye. She smiled. And when she smiled General Hawk smiled. He saw himself laughing and shaking his head.

"I can see where your son gets his eyes from. He'll make a good sniper yet."

That was what she wanted to know. She didn't have to know any regulatory mandated rhetoric from General Hawk. She finally stepped back. Her son was going to be a sniper. He was going to be a sniper on the GI Joe team. He was going to be the best of the best. When she walked away General Hawk watched her go.

Low Light stood stiffly in the corner. He never had to deal with family week. He didn't have to. Now he had Dixon. That meant taking out his dress uniform and cleaning up. Across his left chest were various tabs and medals. The more ostentatious ones he left behind. He stood halfway in the shadows. It didn't stop Dixon. He was used to Low Light hiding. Most people passed him by. It was odd to see him cleaned and shaved with his dress uniform on. Without his goggles his grey eyes stared at the crowd. He made a direct line to Low Light. He was smiling ear to ear.

"Mom this is my instructor Low Light." Trick Shot said. "Low Light, this is my mom."

When they met it was with an audible thunk.

Sharon Dixon stood at her son's left shoulder. She seemed to laugh in a way that reached her eyes. They sparkled when she looked at her son. Her face was cut by the light in a smile that stopped when she saw him. She seemed to be reading him. Without his goggles on he felt exposed. It was as if she was staring directly at him. And she knew. He was the first to look away.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Low Light." Sharon Dixon said. She held out her hand. "My son has said a lot about you. They say you're the best. I'm glad Michael can learn from you." She held her hand out for what seemed like an eternity. Low Light only heard half of what she said. All he could see was her lips. It was as if she knew what he was thinking. None of it was honorable. He grunted instead. Next to her Dixon was oblivious. He would have him in his sights if he knew what Low Light was thinking.

He coughed.

"Low Light? Low Light?" Dixon held his hand in front of his face. "Don't worry mom. He's like that." He said. She stared at him some more. She had the same eyes as Dixon. They peirced everywhere they looked. "Come on let's go see Firewall. You'll like her."

"Firewall. Is that the girl you were telling me about?" She asked. She was already walking away. She gave a glance behind her and laughed. Compared to Low Light's her laugh was hard and loud. It was the laugh that someone would give when they didn't care who heard it. Low Light's laugh was low and coarse. Her back was cut into a V showing off her hips and legs. Her hips swayed with each step. It was too enticing to ignore. He would dream about it tonight.

He rubbed a hand through his hair. He snorted. He wasn't talkative on a good day. With Sharon Dixon in front of him he was speechless."Get a grip of yourself Cooper. It's Dixon's mom." He said. If she didn't think he was weird before she did now. He shook his head. He was done with family week. He never wanted do another one. Next week when it was over Dixon would be back in training. Sharon Dixon would be back in Missouri. It was over before it began.

Trick Shot was standing in front of the American Flag on neutral ground with his mother. They were finished with the tour. He was busy taking her back to her car. It was a maroon rental SUV with Utah license plates. If anything could be worse it was the image of his apprentice with his mother. Low Light stopped. He turned around. That direction would take him back to the party. He turned around again. That way led to his room. He would have to walk past them. Not only did he stand and stare he forgot to shake her hand. Now it looked like he was stalking her. Mrs. Dixon didn't seem to notice. She turned back to her son.

"Thanks for coming mom." Trick Shot said. "I'll see you in the morning. I'll take you out to breakfast. There's this place in town that has the best pie. I'll bring Firewall."

Sharon Dixon smiled. "My son the GI Joe sniper." She said.

Dixon opened the door for her and she started the car. He gave her a kiss on the cheek before she backed up. She turned around and looked. Beneath the American Flag the dusk to dawn lights were just beginning to flicker on. Soon it would be time for Last Post. Behind the dark Low Light was looking at her too intensely.

She ignored it.

End Chapter Two

Catching Seasons to the Wind

I guess Sharon Dixon is not a big fan of Low Light. He is. What happens next?