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Chapter 12

Roommates

0530 Hereford

Georgie pulled her hair back into a tight bun as she surveyed the items carefully laid out on the bed. She would be packing them into her Bergen tonight. Tomorrow morning at 0600 hours she will be leaving Hereford and heading to Bagram. She smiled thinking how Elvis always had his gear neatly lined up, ready to go well before departure. Her eyes tracked across the bed to that picture on his nightstand. The one of them together in Afghanistan, happy and anticipating their wedding. His dog tags were lying next to the picture frame, just as he had left them. Georgie moved around the bed and reached for them. Her fingers touched the metal reverently, gently gliding them over the letters that spelled out his name. It troubled her that he had to take the tags off for this op. But she knew what would happen if he were caught with them on. Either way, it peaked her worry. All signs indicated he was undercover. She clutched the tags to her chest and touched Elvis' image behind the glass.

1000 Afghanistan

Elvis had taken first watch when the two set up camp at dawn. They were both presently concealed beneath camo mesh blinds to assure their presence went undetected. A pair of vigilant blue eyes peered from behind the mesh as Spanner slowly removed himself from concealment and checked the perimeter of their camp. All was clear. He quickly moved to where Elvis was asleep beneath his cover and nudged his boss with the barrel of his AK-47.

"Elvis….Elvis….wake up call." Slowly the mesh cover began to move.

"Asfand." Came a raspy voice as Elvis' head popped out. He emerged rubbing his eyes. "Was 'at two hours?" He grumbled.

"It was"

As Elvis stretched his arms over head he became tangled in his head wrapping. "Shit!... What the fuck!?".

Spanner grinned as his boss wrestled with the unruly fabric. "I took mine off." He said backing away as Elvis briskly stood up clearly agitated. "Course ya did!" Elvis said wrapping the damn thing around himself with a flourish. Spanner laughed and tossed him an army issue energy bar. Elvis' hand instantly shot up.

"Good catch!" Spanner said as he sat down on the ground placing his rifle across his legs, ripping his bar's wrapper open with his teeth. Elvis took a moment to look around, bending and stretching to wake up every muscle in his lean body. He looked at his watch, then sat down in similar fashion but across from Spanner so that they could watch each other's backs. Elvis ripped his wrapper away and took a sold bite. He would be the first to admit, he was starving. As he chewed, he pulled out the grid map that was carefully hidden inside of his boot and reached for the ammo clip pouch that hid the GPS. All the while his eyes were darting around and past Spanner keen to any indication their presence had been detected. Spanner did likewise. With precision Elvis carefully matched their coordinates between the grid map and GPS.

"Fuckin A!" He said looking at his watch and grinning at Spanner. "We're on point mate! Should RV with Batoor at about 1130 hours. If I proper reckon, we'll meet up just over that ridge."

Spanner studied the referred location and foliage. "At least we'll have cover along the way."

"Yeah" Elvis said said nodding in agreement. Spanner devoured the last piece of his bar.

"Deeeelicious!" He said licking each finger one by one. Elvis popped the remainder of his into his mouth and dusted his hands together.

"Make sure ya 'aven't got any crumbs in yer beard!" He said with a smirk. Spanner looked at him with jest.

"Yer just jealous that I have a real beard!" He said flicking at his facial endowment.

Elvis' eyes widened. "Oi then! This is real!" He said rubbing a hand against his cheek and chin.

"If ya wanna call it a beard." Spanner retorted with a toothy grin.

"Oh fuck off!" Elvis said making sure his food wrapper was proper disposed. Spanner laughed at him. "Remind me again who's in command 'ere!" Elvis growled.

"That ain't gonna make yer beard grow Elvis!"

They both laughed and began to organize their gear for travel. It certainly was no display of disrespect on Spanner's part. These two men relied on humor to maintain their sanity. The humor could be black as midnight at times but it compensated for the pain and grief they were forced to witness and deal out.

"We're just meetin up with Batoor?" Spanner asked adjusting his head covering.

"Yeah. He'll be tendin his goats."

Spanner's eyes lit up. "Goats!? Cheese!"

Elvis stopped folding the map and looked up beneath a fringe of dark hair. "Cheese?!"

Spanner caught his look and grinned. "That's right. It's healthy."

Elvis squinted his eyes with an incredulous expression. "Who the fuck are ya now, Jamie Oliver?"

"Give it a rest! Toni has reformed my eating habits." Spanner said clasping a hand on the edge of his vest with an aristocratic air.

"Ah! Has she now?" Elvis said trying not to grin as he shoved the map down in his boot. "And has the sergeant reformed yer drinkin as well?"

"Nah."

"Yeah. Reckoned that's what you'd say."

"Well Miss Blythe does fancy a good pint don't ya know."

"Now there's a match made in Heaven, eh?" Elvis said cheekily as he packed his mesh blind away. Spanner adjusted his rifle sling.

"Georgie has done some work on you as well mate!"

"Indeed she has. She's made me a better man." Elvis could not hide the feelings that began to churn inside of him. Georgie…just hearing her name was like a breath of fresh air. Elvis had thought of her before closing his eyes to sleep this morning. As he had drifted into slumber he imagined he could smell the perfumed scent of her body close to him. Could hear the sound of her breathy voice telling him she loved him as he lowered…. Elvis cleared his throat. He suddenly felt too hot with his head wrapped and pulled the covering off. Spanner giggled.

"Ya had that on just right!"

"Oh piss off! I'm working up a sweat 'ere!"

"Just packin yer gear?"

"Yes just packin my gear, alright?"

"Nothin to do with Georgie?"

"Lieutenant don't ya 'ave camp clearin to do?"

"Affirmative."

"Then crack on!"

Spanner knew Elvis was worried about Georgie going to Bagram. At least Toni was safe back in Hereford. The enemy often launched attacks against air bases and MERTS could come under fire while attempting to extract the wounded. He did not want to press the issue. He knew his boss needed to stay focused for the mission. Elvis was often inside of his own head and one could not read what he was really feeling, unless you knew him. He was logical and impulsive. That's what made him a mad boss and the best team mate Spanner ever had the pleasure to serve alongside. He remembered the first time he met Elvis...

They were roommates at Hereford. It was their first and only attempt at Selection. Spanner was just about ready to receive his sergeant's badge and Elvis had come in as a captain. But Selection was designed to assess your individual skills as well as your ability to work as a team. Until officer's week, everyone was just a candidate. Spanner was sat on the side of his bed, strumming the acoustic guitar he would soon not have time for when tall, dark, Elvis Harte walked into the room. The newcomer's eyes missed nothing as he quickly surveyed his surroundings then tossed a well-used Bergen onto the bed.

"Alright." He said and Spanner responded with a nod, "Mate."

"Elvis Harte" And he reached to clasp the other's hand.

"Angus Thompson….but I answer to Spanner."

Elvis schooled his face to remain neutral but his eyes displayed a burst of fireworks. "Copy 'at... Spanner is it….Angus."

The duel was on….

"And is it truly Elvis?"

"Affirmative. From day one!"

"Yer folks actually loved ya that much?!"

"Still do." Elvis said tearing into his Bergen.

"Yer mum smitten with Presley?"

This time Elvis turned and locked eyes with his roommate. His expression was like stone . It made Spanner second guess his delight in antagonizing him…..then…

"Yeah. Reckon she was. She is a bit gutted I can't carry a fuckin tune worth shit!"

That completely broke the ice. Spanner thumped his hand against the wooden guitar as if applauding the come- back, laughing and leaning over.

"Don't 'ave a fit there Angus!" Elvis said grinning and certain the two of them would get on nicely….

"Echo one to victor base over…" "Echo one to victor base send…."

Static, just static….static….

"Hello this is echo one to victor base….do ya read me over?" Elvis was growing impatient.

"Victor base copy echo one. Over" static…..static….

"Roger that victor base. Commencin to RV Smith….ETA 1130 hours send"

"Copy that echo one. Acknowledge. Safe journey over."

"Echo one copy. Out."

The two moved out then. Refreshed and fortified for the rocky hill climb and hike ahead of them. They appeared to be two nomadic travelers and they were getting closer to the prize.