Disclaimer: The Rat Patrol is not my property. They come out to play sometimes, then I send them home.

Author's note: Florence Nightingale pioneered the idea of Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT). She discovered that patients of different ages living in a psychiatric institution were relieved from anxiety when they were able to spend time with small animals. Freud believed that dogs could sense certain levels of tension being felt by his patients.

Roger Wilco

By Suzie2b

The Rat Patrol had been out on a mission for two weeks, the third of three back-to-back missions, and Troy and Moffitt had begun to notice that Hitch and Tully had started to act a bit off lately. The privates had been arguing a lot the past week. Little things turned into big things and they were blaming each other for the slightest infraction.

At first the sergeants figured it was the stress of their latest mission. However, when it was done nothing changed. In fact it had begun to escalate. That morning Troy and Moffitt had to separate Hitch and Tully when it appeared a loud argument looked like it might turn into fisticuffs.

Troy pulled Hitch away and growled, "What is wrong with you? You two hardly ever have a disagreement and have always worked things out when you do." Hitch sighed, but didn't answer. Then Troy noticed the somewhat pale complexion and dark circles under his friend's eyes. "Are you all right?"

Hitch nodded. "Just a little tired."

"You haven't been sleeping, have you?"

"Not real well. I can't seem to relax. And when I do sleep, I have strange dreams."

Troy said, "I know the stress of this last mission was worse than what we usually deal with…"

Hitch said, "I don't think it has to do with just this one mission, sarge."

"Okay, I get it. I'll talk Boggs into giving us some time off when we get back to base. For now you and Tully just do your best to not kill each other."

"Sorry."

Troy joined Moffitt at the jeeps. "What did Tully have to say?"

Moffitt said, "Not much. I can tell he's not been sleeping much and he's very tense. He said he 'doesn't have patience for anything' and everything is making him angry."

"Hitch isn't sleeping either. It has to be these back-to-back missions. We haven't been on base, any base, in weeks."

"What are we going to do? We can't let this continue."

Troy sighed. "There's still several days before we get back to Ras Tanura, and only if Captain Boggs doesn't call with another assignment for us."

Moffitt said, "One more mission right now may be the straw that breaks the camel's back."

"I guess we can just keep the radios turned off until we get back to base. I can't refuse a mission if I don't know about it." Troy noticed the thoughtful look on his friend's face and asked, "What are you thinking?"

Moffitt turned and reached into the back of the jeep as he said, "I read something interesting the other day in a magazine my mother sent." He rummaged through his belongings until he found it. As Moffitt found the page he was looking for, he said, "It's an article about therapy animals." When he found it, he handed the magazine to Troy. "It's believed that people with a great deal of stress and anxiety benefit from having an animal to hold and pet."

Troy quickly read through the short article. "Makes sense, but how does that help Hitch and Tully out here?"

Moffitt smiled slightly. "We're less than a day from the base at Lod. Colonel Lloyd is the commanding officer there." Troy was trying to figure out what the other sergeant was trying to tell him when Moffitt said, "The last time we were there the colonel had two dogs. They were quite friendly as I recall. I watched him let the animals roam the mess hall at dinner time. The people under his command took advantage by petting the dogs. You could tell it was helping them to decompress."

Troy looked over at Hitch and Tully, who were obviously staying away from each other, and said, "Do you think it could help them?"

"I think it's worth a try. If this keeps up, they're going to explode and possibly hurt each other."

Troy called his men over and said, "There's a change of plans. We're going to Lod."

Tully asked sullenly, "Did we get another assignment already?"

"Nope. We may have found a way to put you and Hitch in a better mood."

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When they reached the base at Lod, Troy and Moffitt went to talk to Colonel Lloyd, leaving Hitch and Tully to avoid each other in the motor pool.

The sergeants were let into the office and Lloyd said, "So, what can I do for you, Sergeant Troy?"

"Well, sir, we have a small problem and we're hoping you can help us out."

"Oh, what kind of problem?"

Troy and Moffitt explained the situation and Lloyd said, "I understand the problem, but what can I do to help?"

Moffitt said, "The last time we were here I had the privilege of meeting your dogs."

Lloyd smiled. "Roger and Wilco. They're good companions and keep me sane."

"I also remember you allowing the dogs to roam through the mess hall so people could give them affection. The entire mood of the room changed."

"Ah yes, I see what you're getting at now. One of my aides is walking them right now, but they should be back soon. Why don't you get quarters and I'll bring Roger and Wilco to meet you and your men. Say, in about an hour from now."

Troy said, "Thank you, Colonel Lloyd. We really appreciate this."

The colonel said, "I understand how stress and fatigue can affect the men and women working out here in the war. If a simple scratch behind the ears can help relieve what your men are feeling, I'm more than happy to oblige."

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When Troy and Moffitt went to collect the privates, they found them in the middle of yet another argument. The mechanics were watching to see if it was going to come to blows.

Troy shook his head as he and Moffitt went to break it up. Troy grabbed Tully by the arm and pulled him around to face him. "I've had enough of this bickering!"

Tully said, "He started it!"

Hitch shot back, "I did not!"

Unusual for Moffitt, he raised his voice as he said, "Troy's right! I've had about all I can take of this quarreling as well!"

"Sorry, sarge. I don't know what's going on with us."

Tully hung his head slightly. "I'm sorry too."

Troy said, "Well, we may have found a way to get you two decompressed."

"What's that?"

"You'll see. Let's grab our packs and go to the quarters we've been assigned."

When they got to their quarters, Troy sent Hitch and Tully to get showered and put on clean clothes. Hitch asked, "What about you and Moffitt?"

Troy replied, "We'll take our turn in a while."

The privates had only been back for a few minutes when there was a knock at the door. Moffitt opened it and saluted as he said, "Good afternoon, colonel."

Troy, Hitch, and Tully saluted as Colonel Lloyd walked in with his two dogs and said, "At ease, men." He looked at Hitch and Tully. "I hear that you two are having problems."

Hitch and Tully glanced at each other, then at Troy and Moffitt. Hitch said, "We're sorry if our sergeants bothered you with this, sir."

"It's not a bother, private. Sergeants Troy and Moffitt are concerned. They asked for assistance and I'm happy to give it." The colonel patted one of the shaggy mixed breed dogs and said, "This is Roger." He patted the other. "This is Wilco." The dogs wagged their tails and moved over to where Hitch and Tully stood – they seemed to sense the anxiety in the two men. "Not only are Roger and Wilco my companions, they also seem to calm things down whenever they're around. I've seen soldiers so tense they were in pain all but melt after a few minutes with one or both dogs." Colonel Lloyd handed a bag to Troy and said, "They've been fed for the day. There are bowls for water and some treats for them."

Tully knelt down and began to scratch Wilco behind the ears. "How long can they stay, sir?"

"Through the night at least. We'll play it by ear tomorrow."

After the colonel left, Hitch went over and sat down on his bunk and Roger followed and sat on the private's feet. Hitch slowly pushed his hands through the soft shaggy fur on the dog's face.

Moffitt smiled and looked at Troy. "This might be a good time for us to shower."

Troy gave a nod. "Sounds good to me."

By the time the sergeants returned both Hitch and Tully were sound asleep on their bunks. Each had an arm around their new furry friends.

Troy smiled. "We'll give them a couple of hours, then we can go get something to eat."

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They walked into the mess hall with the two dogs, who immediately left the four men to do their "rounds" of the other people there. Troy, Moffitt, Hitch, and Tully got their food and sat down. When they were finished greeting everyone and mooching scraps from anyone they could, Roger and Wilco settled under the table on Hitch and Tully's feet.

The two dogs seemed to know and understand what was going on. They stayed close to Hitch and Tully, always ready to accept scratches and pets. Always ready to nuzzle a hand if they sensed a need.

Hitch and Tully were still not really speaking to each other, but at least they hadn't gotten into a fight since being introduced to their new friends.

Roger and Wilco slept on Hitch and Tully's bunks. Roger curled up at Hitch's feet with his head on his legs. Wilco stretched out next to Tully with his head on his shoulder. It would be the best sleep either private had gotten in weeks.

Troy and Moffitt could see the tenseness draining out of their men.

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The next morning when Troy woke up, he found himself alone. He got up and grabbed his pants to start getting dressed. A few minutes later Moffitt walked in as Troy was pulling his boots on. "I thought maybe you guys went to breakfast without me."

Moffitt put his things in his pack as he said, "Well, I didn't, but Tully, Hitch, and their shaggy friends were gone when I woke up."

"Let me go wash up, then we can go eat."

The sergeants half expected to see the foursome in the mess hall, but they weren't there. After eating, Troy and Moffitt decided to look around the base and maybe locate their men.

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Tully was awakened in the morning by a cold wet nose sniffing in his face. He pushed the muzzle away and opened his eyes. Then he smiled and reached out to scratch Wilco's head. "Mornin', boy."

Tully sat up and saw that Hitch was about half dressed with Roger sitting patiently beside him. Hitch whispered, "Get dressed. We'll take them outside."

Tully quickly dressed and they left the quarters they were sharing with Troy and Moffitt without waking the sergeants.

The first order of business was letting Roger and Wilco do their business. After a few minutes of sniffing, each dog found that perfect spot. Then they were off the mess hall for breakfast.

Roger and Wilco greeted the few people that were there and gently took the tidbits that were offered. While Hitch and Tully ate, the cook came out with two plates piled high with scrambled eggs and sausage links, which the dogs devoured.

The cook walked over to the table where Hitch and Tully were sitting. "You guys doing better today?" When he didn't get an answer, he continued, "I was just wondering because I saw you with Colonel Lloyd's dogs. Roger and Wilco are considered wonder dogs around here. I've seen some pretty messed up guys come through here, but in less than twenty-four hours with the dogs they start to snap out of it."

Hitch smiled a little. "Yeah, we are feeling better this morning." He looked at Tully and asked, "Aren't we?"

Tully smiled a bit himself as he said, "Yeah, I think we're gettin' there."

The cook grinned. "Good to hear." He placed two well-worn baseballs on the table and said, "They like to play fetch."

After they'd eaten, Hitch and Tully went outside with the baseballs. As soon as Roger and Wilco caught sight of the balls, they knew exactly what was going to happen and began to prance and nudge the balls in the humans' hands.

Hitch and Tully found a back street that was all but devoid of vehicles and began to throw the baseballs for the dogs to chase down and bring back. After a few minutes of play with the only words spoken were when praise was given to Roger and Wilco, the two men looked at each other and said in unison, "I'm sorry."

Tully smiled and said, "I've said some pretty bad things to you lately. Can't explain why, but I didn't mean any of it."

Hitch nodded. "I haven't been any better and I regret every bad word I said to you. Do you think it's from being off base so long and the back-to-back missions lately?"

"I'm sure of it. And that last assignment was an especially bloody one."

"Yeah, the worse one we've had in a while."

Hitch and Tully continued chatting until Roger and Wilco had played themselves out. Then they were able find a pail under a spigot that they filled with water so the dogs could drink. After that, Hitch and Tully found a place in the shade and sat down. The dogs laid next to them with their heads in each man's lap.

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Troy and Moffitt casually wandered the base hoping to see their friends. Eventually, they located Hitch and Tully sitting on the ground in the shade with Roger and Wilco. The sergeants watched for a short time, just to see how things were going.

Hitch and Tully were talking animatedly, smiling, and laughing like old times. The dogs lay serenely next to them excepting every scratch and rub they could get.

Moffitt smiled. "Looks like Roger and Wilco did the trick."

Troy sighed with relief. "Yeah, I haven't seen them so relaxed in quite a while."

"Why don't we leave them alone for now? We'll see them later."

"Let's go talk to Colonel Lloyd."

In the colonel's office he was happy that things were working out well for the two privates. "A little unconditional love and acceptance goes a long way, especially out here."

Troy smiled. "When would you like Roger and Wilco back, sir?"

"This evening after dinner will be fine. I imagine you'll be heading out tomorrow."

"Yes, sir. Back to Ras Tanura."

Lloyd nodded. "Well, I know you've got a few days of travel ahead of you, so be careful out there."

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That night everyone slept soundly. Morning came and as they prepared to leave their quarters for the last time, Moffitt asked, "How are you feeling now that Roger and Wilco are back with the colonel?"

Tully replied, "I miss havin' 'em around, but I sure feel better for knowing them."

Hitch agreed. "Who'd have thought that just sitting and petting a dog could turn us around like that."

Troy remembered Colonel Lloyd's words and said, "Unconditional love and acceptance. Roger and Wilco expected nothing from you, but accepted everything you gave them."

Moffitt nodded. "They showed you how to relax again and reminded you of your friendship, not only between yourselves, but with Troy and I as well."