A/N

Set early in season 2, after/ during the events of the first 4 episodes.

Some parts follow what happened in the episodes, but others veer away from it, so I guess you could class it as an AU.

Starts right after Zeke gets back from Saigon after having seen his ex wife.

I own nothing and no one.

xxxxxxx

Zeke looked up at the knock on his door. He really didn't feel like ministering to one of his men right now, but he was their 'Sarge' and he'd never turn one of them away if they needed him. "Come in," he called, when all he really wanted to say was 'go away'. He let out a sigh of relief when the LT poked his head through the door. "Hey LT," he greeted with a sad smile.

"Hey yourself," Myron said as he moved into his Sergeants room, closing the door behind him and taking in the man's slumped shoulders, his eyes flicking to the half empty bottle of whiskey sitting next to him. "I came to see how your meeting with your ex went." Not waiting for an invitation, he walked over to pull out a chair and a second glass.

Zeke watched as his LT made himself comfortable, hesitating only a moment before he obliged the other man and poured him a measure of Jack Daniels. "Oh it went just great LT," he replied, unable to keep the sarcasm or bitterness from his voice.

Myron winced slightly downing his drink quickly, before holding out his glass for more.

Zeke filled both their glasses again, staring forlornly at the rapidly emptying bottle.

"Don't worry, I've got another one in my room," Myron said as he sipped at his drink this time, watching as Zeke took a considerably larger gulp. "So, I take it she didn't come all this way to tell you she wanted to get back together?"

He shook his head. "Nope!" He took a sip and let out a sigh. "God I was so stupid!"

"Hey," Myron said, reaching out to place a hand on his Sergeants arm. "It's not stupid to want your family back!"

Zeke's eyes dropped to his LTs hand where it rested on his forearm. "No, it's not," he agreed. "But it was stupid to think she'd wanna get back together with me. I didn't even give her a chance to talk, to tell me what she came here for. I just went full steam ahead like a damn bull at a gate and told her how much I wanted to try and make it work out this time..." He looked at his glass and spun it in his fingers, before taking another drink.

Myron just sipped his drink and waited, knowing the other man would go on when he was ready.

"She came all this way to...to tell me she was getting remarried."

Zeke had spoken so softly, Myron had to lean in to hear him. "Oh..." Myron struggled for something more to say. "I'm sorry to hear that." He held his glass out towards his friend, waiting for Zeke's eyes to come up to his. "But it's her loss...she would've been lucky to have you back," he said quietly, sincerely. "I want you to remember that."

Zeke held his COs eyes for a few moments longer before he looked away, emptying his glass. "That an order LT?"

The corner of Myron's mouth twitched. "No, it's not an order," he replied. "Think of it as a request...from one friend to another..."

Zeke's head came up, touched that his Lieutenant considered them friends. He nodded, his teeth digging into his bottom lip, his heart still broken, but somehow lighter. The utter desolation he'd felt after Carol had turned away from him at the airport had been threatening to consume him, but now, as he looked at his friend, it seemed to recede just a little.

Myron tapped out a cigarette and lit up, taking a deep breath of the soothing smoke. "So, you got a pack of cards around here or what?" he asked, determined not to let his Sergeant sit and ride his hurt out alone.

Zeke stared at him for a few seconds but knew there'd be no getting rid of the boy, so he simply gave him a small smile and reached into his desk drawer.

They passed a pleasant few hours, just talking and playing cards before Myron stood to leave. "Well, I guess I'll see you tomorrow," he said as he headed towards the door. Zeke looked at his watch and Myron smiled. "Yeah okay, later today then," he conceded, as he turned away.

"LT?" Zeke called to his retreating back.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks," he said quietly, with a slight nod.

Myron nodded once in return. "Anytime..." They looked at each other a moment longer before Myron smiled and tapped his cap against his leg. "I'll see you later," he said finally and disappeared out the door.

Zeke let out a sigh and settled back in his chair, pouring what he vowed would be his last drink tonight.

Myron took in a deep breath of the humid night air as he made his way back to his own hooch, happy he'd been able to help his Sergeant, truly hoping he had left him in a better place than he'd found him.

xxxxxxx

A/N

so this was all this fic was supposed to be, a little one shot about how Myron helped Zeke after Carol left Saigon.

But as quite often happens with me, it's turned into something much more, so there will be quite a few more chapters.

I will put a warning here though, that the rating will change later on to T or possibly M, and Myron and Zeke will get a lot closer as their friendship develops, so if you don't like to think of Zeke and Myron as anything other than friends, you should stop reading now and leave it a this little one shot.

And if you enjoyed this, it'd be nice if you left a review to let me know :-)