CHAPTER TEN
Monday morning found Mike watching over the recruits. He noticed that Jesse wasn't among the other instructors. He looked around and didn't see her and felt the hurt that she couldn't face him. Tex approached him.
"Hey, Admiral," Tex said quietly. Mike looked at him.
"Tex," Mike said.
"Wanted to let you know that Second Place isn't feeling well, so she's going to sit today's sessions out. We can filter her four one to each of the other groups."
"Do what you need to do," Mike said as he wasn't in the mood to instruct a group today. He was glad Tex recognized that and suggested what he did. Tex was still staring at him, and Mike looked at him. "Something else?"
"Naw, just, well, give it time, Mike," Tex said softly, then walked away. Mike stood staring at his feet for a while. He wasn't sure how he felt. As the day wore on, he thought more and more about how he did feel and what he wanted. The hours passed as he hung to the back, rotating around his groups, not really watching. His mind was occupied with other matters, wishing his official duties were done for the day and he could escape from the world. Finally, the day came to an end and the recruits were dismissed. Tex approached him.
"Admiral," Tex said.
"What is it?" Mike asked.
"Knight's complaining in the infirmary. Says he wants to see you, make a formal complaint."
"I'll see what I can do," Mike said, dreading having to meet with the kid.
"Just passing the message along. Good luck," Tex said with a smile and then he walked off. Mike took a deep breath and walked to the infirmary. He walked in and found where Knight was. He stopped the doctor first.
"Hey, how's Knight doing?" Mike asked.
"He's recovered. I'm ready to discharge him. No contact for three days then he'll have full clearance."
"Thanks," Mike said and walked off towards Knight's bed. When he got there the kid looked up and recognized him.
"Admiral, just who I wanted to see," Knight said in a cocky voice.
"Excuse me, Son?" Mike said not liking the kid's tone. Knight realized his mistake.
"I apologize, Sir. I would like to make a formal complaint against Instructor Baker."
"On what grounds?"
"Sir?"
"On what grounds are you making a complaint?"
"Sir, she had to be dragged off me," the kid said confused. Mike sighed and leaned his hands down on the end of the bed.
"She was provoked by you, Son," Mike replied. Anger flashed in the kid's eyes. "I'd reconsider your request. The eyewitness accounts may not go the way you think they will."
"She attacked me, Sir," he said through clenched teeth.
"No, recruit. She defended herself after being provoked. You struck the first blow. I was there. My account will hold the most weight," Mike replied in a tired voice. The kid studied him and slowly nodded.
"Yes, sir," he said reluctantly.
"I'll expect you back into the mix tomorrow and in three days back to full training."
"Yes, Sir."
Mike walked away feeling satisfied the kid wouldn't cause a ruckus. He wasn't hungry yet, so he retreated to his quarters and sat in the dark feeling sorry for himself. He thought about going to the gym but knew that was ruined for him now. He waited for a while, hoping the mess hall would clear out before he got there. He really wasn't in the mood for company tonight.
When he got there, he breathed a sigh of relief as the mess hall was empty. He gathered a plate of food and sat down to eat his dinner alone. He looked up when the door opened and prayed it was Tex and not someone who would want to sit with him. He froze when he saw it was Tex, but he wasn't alone. Jesse was with him.
He watched the two come in, she hadn't seen him yet. She looked up when Tex said something, and she caught sight of him. Her eyes went wide, and she mouthed something under her breath. Mike felt completely rejected in that moment. Tex froze and looked at Mike, then slowly turned to look at Jesse.
"Don't run," Tex said sternly. Jesse looked at him pleadingly and Mike looked at his plate of food. He didn't understand what he had done so wrong. Tex grabbed Jesse by the arm and tugged her down the food line. The two of them made their plates and then Tex walked over and sat down next to Mike. Mike felt a pang of fear wash through him as he realized what Tex was attempting to do. Tex looked at Mike.
"Don't run," he said to him too. Mike swallowed and then picked up his fork and continued to eat, staring at his plate the whole time. An eternity seemed to pass as Mike studied his food, trying to calm the tidal wave of emotions erupting inside him.
He heard the chair across from his scrape against the floor. A shadow descended and someone sat down. He still couldn't bring himself to look up from his plate. He didn't want to be here, but at the same time he wanted to be here. He just wanted to go back to the easy and friendly manner he and Jesse shared a few days ago.
No one spoke and Mike felt the weight of the silence on his shoulders. He couldn't bring himself to look at her, not wanting to see what was in her eyes. He knew he would talk to Tex later; almost certain the man had set this up.
"For shits sakes! I didn't set this up, Second Place, stop sending me daggers," Tex said out of the blue and Mike cringed. That answered that question. "You two need to work this shit out."
"It doesn't matter," Jesse mumbled, and Mike felt his heart break a little more. She really didn't want to be around him. He swallowed the lump in his throat and shoveled the rest of his food down, vying to make his escape. He felt a hand tap his elbow and he looked over at Tex.
"Don't run," he said again, but Mike could only shake his head.
"She already said it. It doesn't matter," he said working hard to keep the rejection he was feeling out of his voice. "I guess we made a mistake."
The words tore at Mike. He never wanted to say that, not about what had happened. He didn't view it as a mistake by any means, but it was obvious that Jesse did. And as much as it hurt him to hear that, better now than down the road. At least she wasn't using him for sex and then dump him when he got fully attached to her.
He went to leave, and Tex cleared his throat. Mike looked at the man, only to see him staring intently at Jesse. She was blinking, and Mike realized she was holding back tears. Whatever was going on, he didn't want his heart caught in the middle. He turned, ready to escape. He didn't want to go back to his quarters. It was lonely there, and his thoughts and memories could run rampant in the darkness.
He reached the door, and no one made a move to stop him, so he opened the door and left the mess hall. He walked out into the cool night air and started to walk. He figured a good walk might clear his head enough for him to sleep.
He walked the entire base, making his way around in the dark, keeping away from any area that showed signs of life. He paused multiple times to admire the night sky, for the first time since he came out of the sea, missing it. He really missed his friends from the Nathan James. He realized he was really missing Tom. Tom knew him better than anyone and was one person Mike had felt comfortable enough to open up to. They had had many talks while deployed.
He checked his watch and wondered if it was too late to disturb his old friend. Tom and Sasha lived in Annapolis now, as Tom was still teaching at the academy. Sasha was retired from military life. It was a Monday and maybe they were still awake. He pulled his cell phone out and called up Tom's number. He hesitated. He hadn't been this conflicted in a long time. He didn't know if he should fight for her or let her go. He finally pressed the call button and waited. He walked a short distance and found a bench to sit down on. Finally, the call was picked up.
"Mike! It's been forever. How's life treating you?" Tom's voice boomed into his ear. His mood lifted a little just hearing a voice from his past.
"It's going," he said trying not to sound as dejected as he felt.
"You, okay? Doesn't sound like it's going great."
"Well, it was, but then I kind of screwed up," Mike said with a sigh.
"Utoh. Want to talk about it?"
Mike launched into his short history with Jesse and talked about how things had gone. He didn't give a bunch of details but did explain what had happened a few nights ago. There was a long pause when he was done, and he wondered if the connection to Tom had been lost. But then Tom answered.
"Ah, Mike, I'm sorry, Buddy," Tom said softly. Mike hung his head. He didn't want pity.
"I guess I misread the situation," Mike said. "I'm not the people person you are." Tom laughed heartily in his ear.
"You were the joke guy," Tom replied. Mike smiled. "Have you tried talking to her?"
"No. She doesn't want anything to do with me."
"She really did a number on you, didn't she?" Tom asked. Mike closed his eyes.
"Yeah," he said sadly.
"I still think you need to force the issue. Get her to talk about it. What's Tex say? He still there with you? I heard he was working for you now."
"Yeah, Tex is working for me. He's one of the instructors and is the one that actually brought Jesse in to begin with. They have history together."
"What kind of history?"
"Not that kind of history," Mike said reading between the lines. Tom chuckled.
"Friendship?"
"Yes. They worked together before Tex went to Gitmo."
"She was a merc?"
"Yes, for a short while. She was Army before that."
"She sounds tough."
"You have no idea," Mike said thinking about her hand-to-hand skills.
"Well, if you want this, you know what you're going to have to do, Mike," Tom said. Mike paused a moment. Tom was right it was up to him. If he wanted her, he was going to have to go after her. He decided to change the subject.
"How're the kids doing?"
"Great. Ashley lives in St. Louis now. Ashley has a government job and Sam is applying for the academy."
"Following his dad, huh?"
"Appears that way."
"And Sasha?"
"I'm doing great, Mike!" he heard Sasha say into the phone.
"She's siting here listening in," Tom said. Mike smiled.
"I think you need to go talk some sense into that girl, Mike," Sasha said. Mike sighed.
"Tom driving you nuts yet, Sasha?" Mike asked, avoiding the conversation Sasha tried to start.
"Not yet," she said with a chuckle.
"Hey, I think I'm adjusting to life pretty well," Tom said defensively. Mike laughed.
"Sasha?"
"Better than she is!" Tom said. "Ow!"
"That's what you get," Sasha quipped. "He's actually doing pretty well. I've found my niche working for a local gym."
"Civilian life agreeing with you?" Mike asked.
"For now," Sasha said.
"She gets cagey sometimes," Tom replied. "We're planning a trip because she's been land locked too long."
Mike heard Sasha laugh and he smiled. They talked for a while longer before he said his goodbyes. It had been nice to talk with his friends and made a mental note to not wait so long before he called them again. He thought about their advice, and both seemed to think he should fight for Jesse if really wanted a chance.
He just needed to figure out if he would be able to survive a fight for her, and what he would be like if he lost. That was the worst part he thought. He could fight for her like his life depended on it, but if she wasn't into it, he'd still be left high and dry, just a little more emotionally wrung out.
He leaned back against the bench backing and stretched his legs out in front of him. He looked up into the starry night and found the constellations that he had learned to sail by.
To Be Continued…