More Than Meets the Eye

"What do you mean they won't be able to use it?"

"Don't you take that tone with me, Lieutenant."

"But sir…"

"That program is for military personnel only…"

"…they are 'military'."

"Then show me their enlistment papers and produce their dog tags and serial numbers."

"I take it you won't accept these then?"

"That's right Lieutenant."

"Sir, I intended to stick with this."

"Be my guest, Lieutenant, but you do realize that any recommendations you put forward with regards to these men of yours will come right back to my desk?"

"Yes, sir. I realize that."

"Good." The captain turned and dropped the reports and requests he'd been given into the trash bin at the side of his desk. "I didn't want you to be too surprised when you got the rejections."

"Captain Johns, if you would just take the time…"

"If you're going to suggest that I take the time to get to know your group, Lieutenant Garrison, I already do." Johns drew one of the files out of the stack that lay on his desk and tossed it towards Garrison. "I read every word that's in their files. I know exactly who these men are! Now, dismissed, Lieutenant!"

So that's the way it was going to be? He knew that his group didn't enjoy the favorable position other special units did. In fact with General Jackman gone they had very little backing in the combined intelligence division they were assigned to. He could even understand all the skepticism and distrust. But, damn it! Everyone of his men were volunteers and each one of them had something valuable to bring to the work that they were being sent out to do. If the higher ups would just use their imagination for once they'd see that…."

"Very well, Captain. Thank you for your time." Garrison said formally as he plucked his cap off the desk and settled it on his head. He fired off a crisp salute, waiting through the time it took Captain Johns to return it… as soon as he did he turned and left the office holding in the irritation that was building inside until he reached the street. He even managed to contain himself until he reached the staff car but once there he vented some of his frustration on the vehicle with his fist, leaving a slight dent in the roof over the door Rawlins had opened for him.

The English NCO's brow raised and he pursed his lips. "Shall I take that to mean your meeting didn't go too well, sir?"

He just turned and looked at the Sergeant Major for a moment as he massaged the side of his hand. That was an understatement even for the British.

"Looks like every step of the way is going to be a fight, Sergeant."

"Don't worry, sir," Rawlins smiled. "You're up to it."

That drew a derisive snort of laughter from the young CO. "I'm glad you have confidence in me. If I'd given in to my first impulse Captain Johns would be flat on his backsides."

Rawlins shook his head as he walked around to the driver's side of the car. "I believe they only allow you to do that once, sir, and you've already had your go."

"God, I knew I should never have told you about that." It was during their first week or so together, during the time you ask and answer questions to get to know someone you'll be working closely with. Garrison asked the Sergeant Major if he'd ever gotten…well,… sideways of all the military rules and regulations. After hearing Rawlins' story he felt honor bound to answer him truthfully when he turned the question back on him. He'd only been able to give an account of the circumstances immediately surrounding Byrd's finding himself on the floor, nothing about the mission in question, but it didn't seem to matter, as soon as he'd reached the point of General Jackman's arrival the British non com's mouth had lifted in a smile… Now when his frustration with the men, or the brass, built and threatened to boil over that same smile would ghost across Rawlins' face and he'd remind him that he'd already 'had his go.'

AN* A very Happy Birthday to Ron Harper our much admired Lieutenant Garrison.