Got another one for you all you readers out there I know its a short one but happy reading. Be sure to read and drop a review if you like.

Chapter 41 gi joe fanfic

Well once again it's a new year for me. The only difference was that I just turned twenty-one. For some odd reason I was often told by Strike that it was consider a special time for me. Yet to me it was more like a meh feeling. I don't understand what's so special about it. All it means, is that I'm getting older. Yet oddly enough I'm still the youngest Joe here at the pit.

For the most part everything seemed to go on in a normal pace. Training, doing duties, and eating. Every once in a while, I would be assigned something a bit special duty wise. You know to keep the monotonous duties that I usually have at bay. I know one of them was being Hawk's personal scribe for a day or two. It wasn't too bad. I mean all I have to do was get some forms ready for him and maybe his coffee. At least he didn't make me do the coffee thing too much. However, I would often agitate him over the desk decorations that I got for him from my Guam travels. Usually I would just move them to the front near the center whenever he was out of his office.

Another special duty, was one that I was not really looking forward too much. Being Beach heads assistant for a few weeks. What did that mean for me? Well to put it in simple terms, I was sort of Beach heads assistant in helping him training some of the new green shirt recruits. Not that I just stood there with a clip board. But more often then not helping out with those who often got hurt, mainly by him. I mean he didn't really provoke it at all, it was more or less the constant frustration and even the berating that some of them got. Basically, anyone with really thin skin pretty much wanted to fight this guy. I can tell you from witnessing first hand, that this is the kind of guy that you do not want to get into a scrape with. I once seen him take out three well built navy seals in less than three moves. It wasn't pretty to say the least. I know one of them got their shoulder separated. Another had a broken nose, and the other had a dislocated knee cap. I guess in some small way, it was to keep me busy in giving these guys some medical before they shipped them back to their units in disgrace.

Once that was over I was pretty much done with any special orders by any other Joes. It was Saturday now in the second week of January. As I was making my way to recreation room, I see Clutch coming my way. Before I got to the main door, he actually opened it up for me. I just nod to him with approval. As I made my way in, I thought it was rather odd to seeing the recreation room empty. I mean its close to 1800 hours and the place is dead. I just shrugged it off so I could make my way to the T.V. That is until I get an eerie feeling that I'm sort of being watched.

When I turned around it was none other than Clutch standing behind me, with a toothy grin. I was about to say something, till I saw Grunt standing next to out of nowhere. Again, he sported a toothy grin as well. And finally, I Shipwreck was coming in slowly to my other side. I open up first. "Uh is there something you guys need."

"Not really reaper, other than we have some virgin blood on our hands here," Shipwreck added.

"Huh, what. Um I not really following what you're saying there. However, since it's the three of you here, I'll let you do you and I'll be on my way."

As I started to walk out Clutch wrapped his arm around my shoulders and next. "Hey…hey, what's your hurry Reaper."" Why don't you stick around for a few minutes and hang with us."

I was sort taken aback by that remark from Clutch.

"Hang with you, I don't think I ever have been allowed to hang with you guys."

"Awe that's not true Reaper, we always would welcome you to come along with us when ever you went on liberty," Grunt added.

"Well yeah, but half of the time it was to be your designated driver and not by choice."

"Well you got a point there, but I promise you this time will be different," Shipwreck said.

"What do you mean by this time?"

"Well its just that we got some liberty coming up like right now, so are you in or are you out," Clutch asked.

"I guess I would have to be out since I didn't really filled out a liberty request this week," Mark added.

"Not to worry Reaper I got that covered, "as Grunt pulled out a liberty pass with Reapers signature.

"HEY you can't do that, that's illegal. I don't know what illicit shit you guys are up to but count me out." I was storming my way out of there, till I felt a tug on my collar.

"Oh no you don't Reaper like it or not, you're coming with us calmly or kicking and screaming," Shipwreck said maliciously.

At first, I had the upper hand in getting out of Shipwrecks grip. Alas I was no match against three season Joes at once. I have to remember that they are just as strong, if not stronger than me. The scuffle lasted for about ten minutes. Till they had me restrained in an office chair with my hands and legs duct taped tightly so I couldn't move. I couldn't so much as screamed since my mouth was also gaged.

It didn't take me long to put two and two together that these guys were hell bent on hazing me. And hazing me drinking wise. I guess I didn't heed to Strike's warning at all. Yet theses dudes were clever enough to roll me into area's where no one would notice me pleading for help.

When we got to the tarmac they already loaded me up to the transport, before Wild Bill even checked us in. I guess so it doesn't raise and suspicion. Needless to say, they already had a Vamp loaded up. I myself was hooked in to the side of the Vamp still restrained. As the back door starts to close, I could wonder what's instore for me.

That is until I saw a couple of familiar faces that came to me in the last second. It was Strike and Lady Jaye. I looked to them with pleading eyes for help. Strike for the most actually came next to me about to remove my gag, while Lady Jaye was just laughing at my expense. "Really you guys, was it really necessary to restrain him like this."

"Well Strike he did resist for the most part," Grunt said sheepishly. Strike just scoffs at that last remark by Grunt, as she went ahead and cut Mark's restraint off.

Once she did that, she started to apologize on their behalf in front of me. "Hey I hope they weren't too rough on you."

"Nah its ok Strike, I just really wished that they just asked before acting. So are we heading back to pit."

"Not necessarily, we are actually heading into town."

"Oh yeah I forgot about the drinking thing. You'll be there to make sure I don't do anything stupid right?"

"That's the plan on my part."

"What about Lady Jaye then."

"Well she just wanted to tag along."

Well it wasn't too long till the six of us landed on the outskirts of town. And once again heading towards Tucson. Only this time we all made it to O'Malley's. I was bit hesitant at first going in because of the last time they carded me. Yet the same old security guy checked my newly military I.D. to see that I was of age and he lets me go through.

Once inside, I would say it was a bit dark inside with the lights somewhat dimmed. We a sat at a table overlooking a few flat screen T.V.s and a few pool tables. "All right reap we are going to start slow for you since, Strike keeps bugging us to take it easy on you."

"Uh ok." The first thing I had was beer. I never had it before. I mean it was fizzy like a soda, only it tasted a bit different. At first it seems to have a fairly bitter taste to it. I had maybe a couple of them, before Shipwreck gave me something a bit different. I mean it looked like a normal beer at first, but when I tasted it had somewhat of a sweet tonic taste to it. When I asked about it, Clutch told me that it was a boilermaker.

For the most part both Strike and Lady Jaye were drinking cokes. This boilermaker was actually a lot better than a regular beer. So without really thinking I had about two more large mugs of it. Before long Grunt had me try out one of those long island ice teas and a fruit drink that had rum in it. What I didn't realize until the next day, was that all of this stuff contained a lot of alcohol. I mean at certain points during the night Strike would try to step in a bit and cut me off. I was having none of that. I actually got to try some rum straight up.

After about nine to fifteen drinks mixed or not, I didn't realize that was completely smashed. For some reason my vison was a bit blurred, and my speech was slurred a bit. When the time came for us to go, I could barely walk. I mean both Strike and Lady Jaye held on to me.

At one point coming to the Vamp, I don't know why I did this but for some reason I started to sniff near Lady Jaye's hair. Lady Jaye on the other hand was helping Mark out getting him to the Vamp. Huh I thought coming out with Strike watching the kid drink would be a bit entertaining, as Lady Jaye thought to herself. That is until she felt someone's breath near her neck. She flinches a bit only to notice that it was Mark doing it.

"Whoa their Mark what are you doing." Mark who was completely plaster just kept sniffing Lady Jaye's hair and even running his hands on to her neck line and face.

"Sergeant your hair smells so nice almost like strawberries. And your skin is so smooth." Lady Jaye just started to laugh a bit at what Mark pointed out.

"You know what Reaper, you're just as fun when you're plaster. But come on cool your jet's ok. If I was Scarlett, I guarantee that you'll be on the ground seeing stars."

Mark who responded in some slurred speech said, "Awe don't be a grump pants Sergeant, I'm just complimenting on your scent."" You know what Sergeant."

"Yeah what is it Reap."

"I would take a bullet for you, because we're pals right."

"That we are Reap, but I'm pretty sure the sandman is calling for your now."

As mark chuckles a bit to himself he then starts to lean on Strike a bit more Strike. "Strike…. Strike."

"I'm listening Mark what is it."

"I would take a bullet for you too."

"Awe that's so sweet of you." Strike was about to speak up again, till Mark cuts her off mid-sentence.

"I would not only stop a bullet for your but I'll also make sure you're really safe."

Of course, Mark doesn't realize that he's yelling out loud making ass an of himself. "YOU HERE THAT TUCSON I WOULD DO ANY THING FOR STRIKE. I WOULD EVEN TRADE MY LIFE FOR HERS. SHE MEANS A LOT TO ME."

Strike on the other hand tried her best to calm down Mark. "Ok...ok…ok Mark, lets calm down ok and we'll be back home soon. You think you could do that for me."

Mark looked at Strike with his red hazy eyes saying, "sure thing Strike…. Sure thing."

Once they got out of there and back to the pit, the drinking brigade went on there way. While Lady Jaye already went on to her dorm to get some shut eye. Strike on the other hand was holding up Mark as he slowly stumbled on his way back to his dorm.

From that point on Mark really wanted to tell Strike something. "Strike…. Strike."

"I'm here buddy what's on your mind.

"Strike, promise me you wont ever let me get like this again."

Strike chuckles a bit at what he said, but none the less reassured him. "Sure, thing Mark, I won't ever let you get this drunk again."

"Thanks Strike." "Strike…Strike… "

Strike sighs out loud only to say, "still here Mark."

"I know you may think that it's the alcohol talking, but I really did mean all those things I said about you."

Strike was about to say a few things to him, when instead Mark beats her to the punch. "I really would take a bullet for your Strike. I would do anything for you too as well. I would be your fire in the darkest night. I could be your sun when its cold outside. I really like you Strike. and when this is all over I would want you to be mine."

Strike who holding up Mark, while taking him back to his dorm, was really silent listening to him profess his love to her. 'I like you too Mark, and I would like to be with you at the end of all this. But for now, I think it time that you hit the hay ok."

"Ok Strike, thanks for listening."

"Not a problem I'll see you in the morning ok."