Home on the range.
The next day Lucy was standing in her room, looking at herself in the mirror, she was in uniform. Lucky for Simone they were on a dessert base so instead of the dreaded green they had gotten a brown uniform.
She just finishing tying her hare back, it always took some time to get the sea of curls in a tight knot at the back of her head. She put her cap on and walked to the kitchen. When she entered she saw Simone sitting at the table, in uniform also and with the same knot at the back of her head. "A damn Simone we can't go out both wearing the same thing! Ill have to go change now! Thanks a lot!" She sat down with a smile and Simone smiled back at her. "All ready for today?" Lucy asked while she took a cup of coffee her mother handed her. Simone grimaced "Ready as I'll ever be. I don't know what I'll be doing all day at that depot but im going!" The distinct tone in her voice was meant for their father, who was calmly sitting at the head of the table drinking his coffee and reading his news paper.
"I know you don't like this girls but I had no choice. You do need more field work and I don't have any open slots in the office so this is what you get. You can't always get what you want you know." He took another sip of coffee and turned to their mother. "oh dear, I was thinking about inviting some men over for a lunch after church Sunday, do you think you can make something wonderful like you always do?" Their mother just nodded as she lent in to kiss him on the cheek for paying her a compliment on her cooking. Simone signaled Lucy and made a gesture like she was about to throw up...
Ten minutes later they were in the jeep and on their way to "work" the only good thing was that the depot and fire range weren't that far apart.
Lucy looked at the two bags beside her. On of the bags contained Thunder which was her gun. She loved that gun! Her father had given it to her on her 18th birthday. The only thing she LOVED about the army was shooting. When they were both 19 she and Simone had taken a sniper course, much to their own surprise they had liked it, and their father had been very proud of them for both being excellent shots.
Later that morning Lucy was sitting at a table taking Thunder apart and cleaning it. With care she took apart her gun piece by piece. Cleaning every bit thorough and neatly placing all the pieces in precise order on the table. This was something she could do for hours on end and never get tired of doing it.
Simone walked in. "Out off all the jobs he could have given us on the base he gave us these! I'll have you know I haven been counting bullets all morning! Yeah! Bullets! And if we are one of we get to start all over again!" She sat down in a chair and lit a cigarette. "You see what he's done to me! I've started smoking again! I handn't smoked for a whole 2 days and now I've started again. But enough about me, do you want one?" She handed Lucy a lit cigarette. "How has your fun been?" Lucy looked at her while putting Thunder back together. "Oh just peachy, I spent my morning handing out M16's to rookies who wanted to know 'were all the cool guns' were and then when I handed out the clips I heard the word 'Cool' 600 times. I swear to god I we would have pulled that with our drill Sergeant back in boot we would have had our asses' chewed off!"
She had finished putting Thunder back together and let her finger slide over the engraving in the handle. In the same font that was used on the AC/DC album covers she and Simone had engraved their nicknames from sniper training on their weapons. Lucy's read; Thunder and Simone's read; Strike.
Lucy looked up at Simone "Up for a game?" Simone almost jumped out of her chair. "I'd love one but I haven't cleaned Strike yet!"
Lucy reached under the table and gave her a gun similar to her own. "Done! Who rocks? That would be me!" Simone gave her a big smile. "Have I told you I love you today already?"
They walked out onto the range; the first thing Lucy looked for was the Base record board. At the top of the board she spotted that none other than Sgt. "Hoot" Gibson held the base record, followed closely by Blackburn in second place with just a few points difference. "Awh my day just got a bit brighter! Look who holds the base record! What do you think, with how many points should I burry him?" Simone smiled. "With how ever many that would make you happy, let me ask you this; why do you dislike him so much?" Lucy turned to her with a foul look on her face. "You need to ask? Who does he remind you of? Who does he act like? It is that I know men couldn't have babies because else I would say he was dad and Mike's son. Only better looking."
Simone decided not to go further into it and started loading Strike.
They spent the next half hour blowing the top 2 records on the board to smithereens. Once Lucy was satisfied she had beat Hoot by enough points she allowed the Lieutenant to put her and Simone's nicknames on the board. The thought of Hoot's face when he would find out she had whipped him of 1st place was enough to make her smile widely.
Hoot was walking next to Blackburn. "So you and Simone are going out to dinner on Saturday? Are you serious about this girl? If you are just out for a bit of fun, you would be better off picking some other girl. You don't want to mess around with the daughter of you superior officer, trust me on this."
Blackburn looked at him in surprise. "No don't tell me you did! Did you?"
Hoot wished he hadn't said anything but if telling him about Kimberley kept his friend out of trouble it was worth it. "It was a couple of years back, when I was still stationed in Florida. Kimberly was the daughter of a general; we messed around a bit and had a good time together. But she moved way to fast and after a couple of months the word marriage came up. I was so not up for that at the time I was too young so I told her that. She got very mad, broke up with me and got 'Daddy' to make my life an absolute living hell. Im talking every crappy job there is and stupid assignments. Eventually he got tired of harassing me and transferred me to here. Im telling you don't mess with the girl who has a 4 star general for a father."
The memory of Kimberly still stung, he thought that he loved her but wasn't sure now. He just knew that she really messed with him and he didn't like it.
Blackburn looked at him again. "I really like Simone and hope she likes me back, but I can't be sure until we go out now can I? So therefore dinner on Saturday. But this girl is she the reason you dislike Lucy that much?" Hoot looked up the second he had said here name. "Where did you get that idea?"
Blackburn tried not to smile. "Sorry buddy but every time you and here are within a yard of each other the air freezes over. I could take my field knife and cut the tension between you to."
Hoot didn't smile. "Lucy MacArthur is the kind of girl I was talking about yes. You saw the way she played her father when he came out on to the training range. She is exactly like Kimberly."
They dropped the subject and walked on to the shooting range. When they got there a large crowd stood round the fence. Hoot heard the steady shots of 2 high power riffles go of one after the other. "Hey Grimsy, what's going on man?" He asked one of the soldiers leaning over the fence. Grimsy turned. "Man 2 guys are shooting out there and they busted you and Blackburn's records like it was nothing!" Hoot took out his binoculars and looked at her board. "Thunder and Strike! What are they doing here?" Blackburn threw him a puzzled look. "A couple of years back I did a sniper course. The base were it was held had 2 legends on their record board; Thunder & Strike. No one had been able to break their records and last time I heard they were still on top. These guys are good, very good. I wonder what brought them here." Blackburn had a tingle in his stomach; it had to be Simone and Lucy......
Back on the range Lucy and Simone were both laid on their stomachs shooting up at the playing cards that had been set up on the hill in front of them. It was a game they had thought up a long time a go, 52 cards were set up, one after the other they shouted out the card that the other one had to shoot. If 5 of harts left above was shouted the other had to shoot the center of the hart at the top left corner on the 5 of hart's card.
Lucy looked over at Simone. "You make this shot and I'll polish your boots for a week! 2 of harts right under." Simone took careful aim and fired a shot. Lucy peered through the scope on her gun. "Ha! Not trough the entire hart! You are getting sloppy."
Simone turned and smiled to her. "No fair, you are imagining Hoot's head with every shot you are taking! No wonder you are not missing. 3 of clubs left top!" She yelled, and Lucy took aim"
Hoot looked trough the binoculars, he wanted to get a look at the two shooters but he couldn't see their faces because they were on their stomachs with their caps turned round on their heads.
He had heard about them much during the sniper course and was very curious. The fact that Thunder beat his record didn't bother as much as it would have if it would have been just anybody.
During his training he had repeatedly tried to beat the record Thunder had set at the course but had failed every time. He looked again. The person on the left was taking another shot, he steered his look towards the gun and slipped passes a blue mark on the writs of the shooter... he nearly dropped his binoculars. The blue mark on the shooters wrist resembled the mark that he had given Lucy, twice in fact! "Fuck, you've got to be kidding me! Lucy MacArthur is Thunder!" He looked at Blackburn. "I just got my ass handed to me by Lucy MacArthur! Stop laughing it's not funny!"
Blackburn couldn't help himself. "Im sorry man I should have told you last night but you were in such a bad mood. Simone and Lucy are both military and not half bad either." Still laughing Blackburn turned back round and faced him. "A minute ago you were all happy that Thunder busted your record, but now you're not because Thunder turned out to be Lucy? They buried us both, but you don't see me complaining!"
Hoot huffed. "That's because you are sweet on Simone and Lucy doesn't hate your guts. She will never let me live this down, she will not let this chance to humiliate me go by unchecked, she'll milk it for all its worth."
Blackburn tried not to smile; Hoot was getting very upset over someone he didn't care about. "Well it's not like you try to be nice. What about that little run in you had with her last night? Man I've known you for 4 years now and have never seen you act like that before."
Hoot put his binoculars back. "Just drop it ok." He hated it that Blackburn was right, he had been more than rude towards Lucy, but she hadn't really been nice to him either so that justified his behavior.
Lucy sat up and clipped the safety on Thunder. "Ok so what's the final score now? 40 for me 38 for you?" Simone clipped the safety on her gun as well and raised her eyebrows. "Oh hell no! I don't think so! 38-38 if you care to remember that last time we plaid in Germany I slaughtered you!" Lucy smiled while she stood up. "Ok no need to rub it in."
They walked to a nearby table and started checking their guns.
The men that had stood around the range now scattered and went about their business again. Simone unclipped her visor and stuck it back onto the side of her gun.
"Well hello Miss MacArthur, winning again?" Her hart took a small jump when she heard Blackburn's voice coming from behind her. She turned and gave him a big smile. "Naw but where I rule at pool there is just no beating Lucy on the range. But that doesn't matter. You can't always have everything can you?" He came closer and stood in front of her, actually a bit to close, there were other people around. But she didn't care.
Hoot walked up to Lucy "Quit an impressive gun you have there Miss MacArthur." Lucy felt her stomach give a jolt; she turned around and faced him. She just remembered she was in uniform and stepped in to a salute, she hated this but technically he was her superior officer. "Good morning Sgt."
Hoot was surprised by her action and fell silent for a few seconds, then recovered and dismissed her with a short at ease. "Like I said quite an impressive gun, but isn't it a bit too big for a small little lady like your self?"
On the other side of the table Simone looked at Blackburn. "Here we go again..."
Lucy glared at him. "Not so big that I can't handle it, tell me Sgt. I thought you were a 1st class Sgt.?" Hoot looked puzzled by her remark. "What do you mean I WAS a 1srt class Sgt.?" Lucy smiled and tipped her head towards the board. "Well because you seem to be a 3rd class one now." There was no mistaking the taunt in her voice; she wanted to piss him off. He leant into her. "And what is to say that it wasn't just pure luck that you beat my record?" Lucy was at her boiling point now. "When let's find out then shall we? You and me here and now! Straight forward target shooting." Hoot smiled she was challenging him. "Ok I'll go get my weapon and we will find out." He walked of to go get his gun.
Lucy turned to Simone. "You want in on this?" Simone raised her hand. "No thank you, this is your private little war with the Sgt. I won't have any part of this." Lucy now turned to Todd. "How about you?" Blackburn also stepped back. "Sorry but I know I can't even beat Hoot so I really don't want to hurt my pride anymore by taking you on."
Hoot came back and they both started preparing their weapons.
Simone turned to Blackburn. "No disrespect to your friend there but I do hope she kicks his ass." Todd smiled. "Hey same here, I hope she beats him as well." Simone looked up at him. "Why?" "Because a lesson in humility would do him good, he has been acting like an idiot for the past 2 day, just because Lucy reminds him of some girl he once knew." Todd desperately wanted to put his hands on her face and touch her; it took a lot of self-control not to. He couldn't, not here anyway.
Lucy looked at Hoot. "You ready?" Hoot just nodded and the both took a lane on the range. The lieutenant walked up. "Ok rules are you take turns in shooting, no shooting before the other has their weapon in rest. May the best man win! Sorry man or woman." He added quickly when Lucy gave him a quick look.
The first few shots were taken rather quick and Hoot managed to keep up with Lucy, but as the targets became further away Lucy started to take her time shooting. It was once again her turn and she raised Thunder to her shoulder.
Hoot looked over at her, her stance with that gun was terrific, he had known from the beginning that he would loose. So why did he accept this challenge? "You know you are actually quite pretty when you are shooting." He had thought it but it wasn't supposed to have come out of his mouth!
Lucy now distracted with what he said shot and missed!
Simone's jaw dropped. "What happened? She missed! How could she have missed that shot? She hasn't missed a shot less than 90 yards in 4 years!" She looked at Blackburn, who in his turn was looking at Hoot. Hoot had out his hand on his head like he had wanted to hit himself. "Im not sure but I think he said something that put her off." He said to Simone.
Lucy was angry, no more than angry. This guy would stop at nothing to beat her! But if that was how he wanted to play it he could get it like that!
Just at the point were Hoot took aim and pulled the trigger, she sweetly said. "Tell me Sgt. The soft way you hold your gun, is that the same way you hold your women?" Not only did Hoot miss he missed by a mile!
She said that on purpose! She wanted to get back at him for what he had said. Only thing is that he had actually meant it. He looked at her and saw the triumph in her eyes, while she turned to take aim again.
Simone covered her eyes with her hand. "My god cant these two be arround eachother for 5 minutes without getting into a fight?"
Hoot glared at Lucy. "Why Miss MacArthur you want to try it out yourself? Cause let me assure you that this range is not really the best place for a demonstration, but if you insist." He put his weapon on the floor and made a move towards her.
Lucy looked at him while he got closer to her, the color of his eyes had changed she didn't know if it was possible but they had actually turned darker then they already were. She felt him locking his eyes with hers, and the heat of them being channeled by his gaze. She felt like a deer in a pair of headlights, caught with no were to go. In reaction she stepped back and automatically aimed Thunder at him. "It would be wise for you to keep your distance Sgt.! I think that this little exercise is over." She lowered her gun and clipped the safety on. She might have been able to defeat him at shooting but, the verbal challenge he had won by making that last remark. She didn't look at him when she walked away, she couldn't. For what he just tried she wanted to slap him in the face, but why did her insides go all soft at the thought of him trying? The thought of him actually DOING it made that feeling even stronger God she was such an idiot! Weren't little comments and arguments how things got started with Mike? Hoot wasn't interested in her; he was interested in her father!
She took the scoop of Thunder and put it away. Hoot walked up to her feeling a lot of embarrassment and just a tiny glimpse of victory. "Are you giving up so soon Miss? How can we decide who is the better shooter if you stop now?"
Without looking up at him se replied: "The moment you break my score we will know wont we? Now if you will excuse me Sgt, I have some work to do." She gave him a quick salute, turned and walked into the gun cage, knowing he couldn't follow her in there.
Hoot walked out of the building were Simone and Blackburn were waiting.
Simone walked up to him with a semi angry look on her face. "Tell me Sgt what did you say to make her miss? She never misses, so tell me 'Hoot' what did you do?"
Actually pretty embarrassed for what he just did, Hoot didn't want to look at her. "Nothing she didn't do to me Miss. If you don't mind, I'm late." He passed her and walked off. Blackburn followed him.
Blackburn caught up with Hoot and walked beside him. "Your not going to tell me what that was all about, are you?" He asked to Hoot. Hoot sighed and sat down on a nearby bench. "That was not how it was supposed to go down, I don't know what happened but it wasn't good. She does something to me Todd, I don't know exactly what but every time im near her I turn into someone I'm not. Out on the range, I was looking at her and thought she looked quite pretty, my mind took control off my mouth and I told her! I could have kicked myself! She thought I was just saying it to distract her, but I meant it. In retaliation she asked me if they way I held my gun was the way I held my women, I asked her if she wanted a demonstration and moved on her, it's a good thing she pointed that gun at me cause I would have done it! She resembles everything I don't like and yet when she comes near me all my self-control goes out the window and I'm really attracted to respond to her anyway I can."
Todd just looked at him for a second. "Maybe that if you stop comparing here to Kimberly, you would get along a lot better. You had her set for that type before you even got to know her. What did you think of her the very first time you saw her?"
Hoot closed his eyes for a moment. "I was intrigued; she was pretty, strong willed and definitely not scared."
Todd nodded. "And what did you think of her the moment she met up with her father?"
Hoot opened his eyes again. "When I saw the way she played him all I could see Kimberly standing there... I know what you mean, but I don't know she does something to me, the best thing that I can do is just go back and apologize and then just stay out of her way."
Simone stormed into the warehouse looking for Lucy. "What went on between you to?" She simply asked when she found her. Lucy looked at her. "I freaked ok! He just managed to freak me out that's all." Simone sat down beside her. "He freaked you out by doing what?" She lit a cigarette and gave it to Lucy. Lucy took a drag and blew a trail of white smoke out over her head. "He called me pretty, can you believe it, that cocky bastard calls me pretty and I wig out! So naturally I got my own back by asking if he held his women like he held his gun. The end problem was that he wanted to demonstrate it to me. That's why I broke off the exercise and came in here." Simone didn't say a word and just quietly sat besides her smoking her cigarette. She definitely needed to talk to Todd about this, he had said Hoot had been acting strange as well, maybe that could mean something......... She turned to Lucy. "So let me get this straight, you freaked because he called you pretty? What is that all about? I don't know you as the type to back off of a guy because he calls you pretty. Really I do get the fact that he reminds you of Mike, I do but that doesn't mean that he is the same you know."
Lucy sighed. "But he is......... you've seen the way he acted before he knew who dad was and how he acts now. He is just the same as Mike. I will not be used to further a man's career in the military. The part I myself don't get is why everything I feel about him is contradicting each other. I hate the way he acts but when I look at him I forget it because I get lost in his eyes that means until he opens his big mouth. The way he looked at me just now actually made me go weak in the knees! Im getting too easy and soft. But I will not give into it... I got fooled once but I won't be stupid twice." Simone looked at her again. "Look I know you've been hurt in the past but that doesn't mean that every man you will come across will hurt you, im not excusing him for his behavior because he's been an absolute jerk to you. But you could at least try to be civil when you run into him."
Lucy stood up, as far as she was concerned the discussion was closed, she had said too much already and really didn't want to go into it any more. Simone stood up as well she needed to get back to work anyway, the bullets were waiting.
Hoot felt his heart beating fast, they didn't see him...... He was feeling very confused, he didn't mean to overhear them talking but when he heard Lucy's voice he couldn't help but listen to her every word.........
He turned and walked out of the building were Todd was waiting for him, they had walked a bit when they were stopped by a jeep. General MacArthur got out of it, Hoot and Todd both saluted him. "Gentleman, good I ran into you. I would like to extend an invitation to the both of you to come and have lunch with me and my family on Sunday." They were both kind of stunned, it wasn't everyday that a 4 star General invited you to his house, both proud they accepted the invitation. And the General drove off.
Todd looked at Hoot. "Well so much for staying out of her way then..." He said. Hoot said nothing and looked lost in his thoughts as they walked back to the barracks.
In the evening Lucy was sitting at the dinner table, still confused about what happened that afternoon. "Well my dears how were your first day then?" Her father asked them. Simone looked at him and gave a faint smile. "Oh fine Im just loving counting those bullets!" She said with sarcasm dripping from her voice. Her father looked at Lucy but had to wait a while for her to give a reaction, because she was still lost in her thoughts. When he asked her again she responded. "Oh fine I felt quite at home on the range."
The next day Lucy was standing in her room, looking at herself in the mirror, she was in uniform. Lucky for Simone they were on a dessert base so instead of the dreaded green they had gotten a brown uniform.
She just finishing tying her hare back, it always took some time to get the sea of curls in a tight knot at the back of her head. She put her cap on and walked to the kitchen. When she entered she saw Simone sitting at the table, in uniform also and with the same knot at the back of her head. "A damn Simone we can't go out both wearing the same thing! Ill have to go change now! Thanks a lot!" She sat down with a smile and Simone smiled back at her. "All ready for today?" Lucy asked while she took a cup of coffee her mother handed her. Simone grimaced "Ready as I'll ever be. I don't know what I'll be doing all day at that depot but im going!" The distinct tone in her voice was meant for their father, who was calmly sitting at the head of the table drinking his coffee and reading his news paper.
"I know you don't like this girls but I had no choice. You do need more field work and I don't have any open slots in the office so this is what you get. You can't always get what you want you know." He took another sip of coffee and turned to their mother. "oh dear, I was thinking about inviting some men over for a lunch after church Sunday, do you think you can make something wonderful like you always do?" Their mother just nodded as she lent in to kiss him on the cheek for paying her a compliment on her cooking. Simone signaled Lucy and made a gesture like she was about to throw up...
Ten minutes later they were in the jeep and on their way to "work" the only good thing was that the depot and fire range weren't that far apart.
Lucy looked at the two bags beside her. On of the bags contained Thunder which was her gun. She loved that gun! Her father had given it to her on her 18th birthday. The only thing she LOVED about the army was shooting. When they were both 19 she and Simone had taken a sniper course, much to their own surprise they had liked it, and their father had been very proud of them for both being excellent shots.
Later that morning Lucy was sitting at a table taking Thunder apart and cleaning it. With care she took apart her gun piece by piece. Cleaning every bit thorough and neatly placing all the pieces in precise order on the table. This was something she could do for hours on end and never get tired of doing it.
Simone walked in. "Out off all the jobs he could have given us on the base he gave us these! I'll have you know I haven been counting bullets all morning! Yeah! Bullets! And if we are one of we get to start all over again!" She sat down in a chair and lit a cigarette. "You see what he's done to me! I've started smoking again! I handn't smoked for a whole 2 days and now I've started again. But enough about me, do you want one?" She handed Lucy a lit cigarette. "How has your fun been?" Lucy looked at her while putting Thunder back together. "Oh just peachy, I spent my morning handing out M16's to rookies who wanted to know 'were all the cool guns' were and then when I handed out the clips I heard the word 'Cool' 600 times. I swear to god I we would have pulled that with our drill Sergeant back in boot we would have had our asses' chewed off!"
She had finished putting Thunder back together and let her finger slide over the engraving in the handle. In the same font that was used on the AC/DC album covers she and Simone had engraved their nicknames from sniper training on their weapons. Lucy's read; Thunder and Simone's read; Strike.
Lucy looked up at Simone "Up for a game?" Simone almost jumped out of her chair. "I'd love one but I haven't cleaned Strike yet!"
Lucy reached under the table and gave her a gun similar to her own. "Done! Who rocks? That would be me!" Simone gave her a big smile. "Have I told you I love you today already?"
They walked out onto the range; the first thing Lucy looked for was the Base record board. At the top of the board she spotted that none other than Sgt. "Hoot" Gibson held the base record, followed closely by Blackburn in second place with just a few points difference. "Awh my day just got a bit brighter! Look who holds the base record! What do you think, with how many points should I burry him?" Simone smiled. "With how ever many that would make you happy, let me ask you this; why do you dislike him so much?" Lucy turned to her with a foul look on her face. "You need to ask? Who does he remind you of? Who does he act like? It is that I know men couldn't have babies because else I would say he was dad and Mike's son. Only better looking."
Simone decided not to go further into it and started loading Strike.
They spent the next half hour blowing the top 2 records on the board to smithereens. Once Lucy was satisfied she had beat Hoot by enough points she allowed the Lieutenant to put her and Simone's nicknames on the board. The thought of Hoot's face when he would find out she had whipped him of 1st place was enough to make her smile widely.
Hoot was walking next to Blackburn. "So you and Simone are going out to dinner on Saturday? Are you serious about this girl? If you are just out for a bit of fun, you would be better off picking some other girl. You don't want to mess around with the daughter of you superior officer, trust me on this."
Blackburn looked at him in surprise. "No don't tell me you did! Did you?"
Hoot wished he hadn't said anything but if telling him about Kimberley kept his friend out of trouble it was worth it. "It was a couple of years back, when I was still stationed in Florida. Kimberly was the daughter of a general; we messed around a bit and had a good time together. But she moved way to fast and after a couple of months the word marriage came up. I was so not up for that at the time I was too young so I told her that. She got very mad, broke up with me and got 'Daddy' to make my life an absolute living hell. Im talking every crappy job there is and stupid assignments. Eventually he got tired of harassing me and transferred me to here. Im telling you don't mess with the girl who has a 4 star general for a father."
The memory of Kimberly still stung, he thought that he loved her but wasn't sure now. He just knew that she really messed with him and he didn't like it.
Blackburn looked at him again. "I really like Simone and hope she likes me back, but I can't be sure until we go out now can I? So therefore dinner on Saturday. But this girl is she the reason you dislike Lucy that much?" Hoot looked up the second he had said here name. "Where did you get that idea?"
Blackburn tried not to smile. "Sorry buddy but every time you and here are within a yard of each other the air freezes over. I could take my field knife and cut the tension between you to."
Hoot didn't smile. "Lucy MacArthur is the kind of girl I was talking about yes. You saw the way she played her father when he came out on to the training range. She is exactly like Kimberly."
They dropped the subject and walked on to the shooting range. When they got there a large crowd stood round the fence. Hoot heard the steady shots of 2 high power riffles go of one after the other. "Hey Grimsy, what's going on man?" He asked one of the soldiers leaning over the fence. Grimsy turned. "Man 2 guys are shooting out there and they busted you and Blackburn's records like it was nothing!" Hoot took out his binoculars and looked at her board. "Thunder and Strike! What are they doing here?" Blackburn threw him a puzzled look. "A couple of years back I did a sniper course. The base were it was held had 2 legends on their record board; Thunder & Strike. No one had been able to break their records and last time I heard they were still on top. These guys are good, very good. I wonder what brought them here." Blackburn had a tingle in his stomach; it had to be Simone and Lucy......
Back on the range Lucy and Simone were both laid on their stomachs shooting up at the playing cards that had been set up on the hill in front of them. It was a game they had thought up a long time a go, 52 cards were set up, one after the other they shouted out the card that the other one had to shoot. If 5 of harts left above was shouted the other had to shoot the center of the hart at the top left corner on the 5 of hart's card.
Lucy looked over at Simone. "You make this shot and I'll polish your boots for a week! 2 of harts right under." Simone took careful aim and fired a shot. Lucy peered through the scope on her gun. "Ha! Not trough the entire hart! You are getting sloppy."
Simone turned and smiled to her. "No fair, you are imagining Hoot's head with every shot you are taking! No wonder you are not missing. 3 of clubs left top!" She yelled, and Lucy took aim"
Hoot looked trough the binoculars, he wanted to get a look at the two shooters but he couldn't see their faces because they were on their stomachs with their caps turned round on their heads.
He had heard about them much during the sniper course and was very curious. The fact that Thunder beat his record didn't bother as much as it would have if it would have been just anybody.
During his training he had repeatedly tried to beat the record Thunder had set at the course but had failed every time. He looked again. The person on the left was taking another shot, he steered his look towards the gun and slipped passes a blue mark on the writs of the shooter... he nearly dropped his binoculars. The blue mark on the shooters wrist resembled the mark that he had given Lucy, twice in fact! "Fuck, you've got to be kidding me! Lucy MacArthur is Thunder!" He looked at Blackburn. "I just got my ass handed to me by Lucy MacArthur! Stop laughing it's not funny!"
Blackburn couldn't help himself. "Im sorry man I should have told you last night but you were in such a bad mood. Simone and Lucy are both military and not half bad either." Still laughing Blackburn turned back round and faced him. "A minute ago you were all happy that Thunder busted your record, but now you're not because Thunder turned out to be Lucy? They buried us both, but you don't see me complaining!"
Hoot huffed. "That's because you are sweet on Simone and Lucy doesn't hate your guts. She will never let me live this down, she will not let this chance to humiliate me go by unchecked, she'll milk it for all its worth."
Blackburn tried not to smile; Hoot was getting very upset over someone he didn't care about. "Well it's not like you try to be nice. What about that little run in you had with her last night? Man I've known you for 4 years now and have never seen you act like that before."
Hoot put his binoculars back. "Just drop it ok." He hated it that Blackburn was right, he had been more than rude towards Lucy, but she hadn't really been nice to him either so that justified his behavior.
Lucy sat up and clipped the safety on Thunder. "Ok so what's the final score now? 40 for me 38 for you?" Simone clipped the safety on her gun as well and raised her eyebrows. "Oh hell no! I don't think so! 38-38 if you care to remember that last time we plaid in Germany I slaughtered you!" Lucy smiled while she stood up. "Ok no need to rub it in."
They walked to a nearby table and started checking their guns.
The men that had stood around the range now scattered and went about their business again. Simone unclipped her visor and stuck it back onto the side of her gun.
"Well hello Miss MacArthur, winning again?" Her hart took a small jump when she heard Blackburn's voice coming from behind her. She turned and gave him a big smile. "Naw but where I rule at pool there is just no beating Lucy on the range. But that doesn't matter. You can't always have everything can you?" He came closer and stood in front of her, actually a bit to close, there were other people around. But she didn't care.
Hoot walked up to Lucy "Quit an impressive gun you have there Miss MacArthur." Lucy felt her stomach give a jolt; she turned around and faced him. She just remembered she was in uniform and stepped in to a salute, she hated this but technically he was her superior officer. "Good morning Sgt."
Hoot was surprised by her action and fell silent for a few seconds, then recovered and dismissed her with a short at ease. "Like I said quite an impressive gun, but isn't it a bit too big for a small little lady like your self?"
On the other side of the table Simone looked at Blackburn. "Here we go again..."
Lucy glared at him. "Not so big that I can't handle it, tell me Sgt. I thought you were a 1st class Sgt.?" Hoot looked puzzled by her remark. "What do you mean I WAS a 1srt class Sgt.?" Lucy smiled and tipped her head towards the board. "Well because you seem to be a 3rd class one now." There was no mistaking the taunt in her voice; she wanted to piss him off. He leant into her. "And what is to say that it wasn't just pure luck that you beat my record?" Lucy was at her boiling point now. "When let's find out then shall we? You and me here and now! Straight forward target shooting." Hoot smiled she was challenging him. "Ok I'll go get my weapon and we will find out." He walked of to go get his gun.
Lucy turned to Simone. "You want in on this?" Simone raised her hand. "No thank you, this is your private little war with the Sgt. I won't have any part of this." Lucy now turned to Todd. "How about you?" Blackburn also stepped back. "Sorry but I know I can't even beat Hoot so I really don't want to hurt my pride anymore by taking you on."
Hoot came back and they both started preparing their weapons.
Simone turned to Blackburn. "No disrespect to your friend there but I do hope she kicks his ass." Todd smiled. "Hey same here, I hope she beats him as well." Simone looked up at him. "Why?" "Because a lesson in humility would do him good, he has been acting like an idiot for the past 2 day, just because Lucy reminds him of some girl he once knew." Todd desperately wanted to put his hands on her face and touch her; it took a lot of self-control not to. He couldn't, not here anyway.
Lucy looked at Hoot. "You ready?" Hoot just nodded and the both took a lane on the range. The lieutenant walked up. "Ok rules are you take turns in shooting, no shooting before the other has their weapon in rest. May the best man win! Sorry man or woman." He added quickly when Lucy gave him a quick look.
The first few shots were taken rather quick and Hoot managed to keep up with Lucy, but as the targets became further away Lucy started to take her time shooting. It was once again her turn and she raised Thunder to her shoulder.
Hoot looked over at her, her stance with that gun was terrific, he had known from the beginning that he would loose. So why did he accept this challenge? "You know you are actually quite pretty when you are shooting." He had thought it but it wasn't supposed to have come out of his mouth!
Lucy now distracted with what he said shot and missed!
Simone's jaw dropped. "What happened? She missed! How could she have missed that shot? She hasn't missed a shot less than 90 yards in 4 years!" She looked at Blackburn, who in his turn was looking at Hoot. Hoot had out his hand on his head like he had wanted to hit himself. "Im not sure but I think he said something that put her off." He said to Simone.
Lucy was angry, no more than angry. This guy would stop at nothing to beat her! But if that was how he wanted to play it he could get it like that!
Just at the point were Hoot took aim and pulled the trigger, she sweetly said. "Tell me Sgt. The soft way you hold your gun, is that the same way you hold your women?" Not only did Hoot miss he missed by a mile!
She said that on purpose! She wanted to get back at him for what he had said. Only thing is that he had actually meant it. He looked at her and saw the triumph in her eyes, while she turned to take aim again.
Simone covered her eyes with her hand. "My god cant these two be arround eachother for 5 minutes without getting into a fight?"
Hoot glared at Lucy. "Why Miss MacArthur you want to try it out yourself? Cause let me assure you that this range is not really the best place for a demonstration, but if you insist." He put his weapon on the floor and made a move towards her.
Lucy looked at him while he got closer to her, the color of his eyes had changed she didn't know if it was possible but they had actually turned darker then they already were. She felt him locking his eyes with hers, and the heat of them being channeled by his gaze. She felt like a deer in a pair of headlights, caught with no were to go. In reaction she stepped back and automatically aimed Thunder at him. "It would be wise for you to keep your distance Sgt.! I think that this little exercise is over." She lowered her gun and clipped the safety on. She might have been able to defeat him at shooting but, the verbal challenge he had won by making that last remark. She didn't look at him when she walked away, she couldn't. For what he just tried she wanted to slap him in the face, but why did her insides go all soft at the thought of him trying? The thought of him actually DOING it made that feeling even stronger God she was such an idiot! Weren't little comments and arguments how things got started with Mike? Hoot wasn't interested in her; he was interested in her father!
She took the scoop of Thunder and put it away. Hoot walked up to her feeling a lot of embarrassment and just a tiny glimpse of victory. "Are you giving up so soon Miss? How can we decide who is the better shooter if you stop now?"
Without looking up at him se replied: "The moment you break my score we will know wont we? Now if you will excuse me Sgt, I have some work to do." She gave him a quick salute, turned and walked into the gun cage, knowing he couldn't follow her in there.
Hoot walked out of the building were Simone and Blackburn were waiting.
Simone walked up to him with a semi angry look on her face. "Tell me Sgt what did you say to make her miss? She never misses, so tell me 'Hoot' what did you do?"
Actually pretty embarrassed for what he just did, Hoot didn't want to look at her. "Nothing she didn't do to me Miss. If you don't mind, I'm late." He passed her and walked off. Blackburn followed him.
Blackburn caught up with Hoot and walked beside him. "Your not going to tell me what that was all about, are you?" He asked to Hoot. Hoot sighed and sat down on a nearby bench. "That was not how it was supposed to go down, I don't know what happened but it wasn't good. She does something to me Todd, I don't know exactly what but every time im near her I turn into someone I'm not. Out on the range, I was looking at her and thought she looked quite pretty, my mind took control off my mouth and I told her! I could have kicked myself! She thought I was just saying it to distract her, but I meant it. In retaliation she asked me if they way I held my gun was the way I held my women, I asked her if she wanted a demonstration and moved on her, it's a good thing she pointed that gun at me cause I would have done it! She resembles everything I don't like and yet when she comes near me all my self-control goes out the window and I'm really attracted to respond to her anyway I can."
Todd just looked at him for a second. "Maybe that if you stop comparing here to Kimberly, you would get along a lot better. You had her set for that type before you even got to know her. What did you think of her the very first time you saw her?"
Hoot closed his eyes for a moment. "I was intrigued; she was pretty, strong willed and definitely not scared."
Todd nodded. "And what did you think of her the moment she met up with her father?"
Hoot opened his eyes again. "When I saw the way she played him all I could see Kimberly standing there... I know what you mean, but I don't know she does something to me, the best thing that I can do is just go back and apologize and then just stay out of her way."
Simone stormed into the warehouse looking for Lucy. "What went on between you to?" She simply asked when she found her. Lucy looked at her. "I freaked ok! He just managed to freak me out that's all." Simone sat down beside her. "He freaked you out by doing what?" She lit a cigarette and gave it to Lucy. Lucy took a drag and blew a trail of white smoke out over her head. "He called me pretty, can you believe it, that cocky bastard calls me pretty and I wig out! So naturally I got my own back by asking if he held his women like he held his gun. The end problem was that he wanted to demonstrate it to me. That's why I broke off the exercise and came in here." Simone didn't say a word and just quietly sat besides her smoking her cigarette. She definitely needed to talk to Todd about this, he had said Hoot had been acting strange as well, maybe that could mean something......... She turned to Lucy. "So let me get this straight, you freaked because he called you pretty? What is that all about? I don't know you as the type to back off of a guy because he calls you pretty. Really I do get the fact that he reminds you of Mike, I do but that doesn't mean that he is the same you know."
Lucy sighed. "But he is......... you've seen the way he acted before he knew who dad was and how he acts now. He is just the same as Mike. I will not be used to further a man's career in the military. The part I myself don't get is why everything I feel about him is contradicting each other. I hate the way he acts but when I look at him I forget it because I get lost in his eyes that means until he opens his big mouth. The way he looked at me just now actually made me go weak in the knees! Im getting too easy and soft. But I will not give into it... I got fooled once but I won't be stupid twice." Simone looked at her again. "Look I know you've been hurt in the past but that doesn't mean that every man you will come across will hurt you, im not excusing him for his behavior because he's been an absolute jerk to you. But you could at least try to be civil when you run into him."
Lucy stood up, as far as she was concerned the discussion was closed, she had said too much already and really didn't want to go into it any more. Simone stood up as well she needed to get back to work anyway, the bullets were waiting.
Hoot felt his heart beating fast, they didn't see him...... He was feeling very confused, he didn't mean to overhear them talking but when he heard Lucy's voice he couldn't help but listen to her every word.........
He turned and walked out of the building were Todd was waiting for him, they had walked a bit when they were stopped by a jeep. General MacArthur got out of it, Hoot and Todd both saluted him. "Gentleman, good I ran into you. I would like to extend an invitation to the both of you to come and have lunch with me and my family on Sunday." They were both kind of stunned, it wasn't everyday that a 4 star General invited you to his house, both proud they accepted the invitation. And the General drove off.
Todd looked at Hoot. "Well so much for staying out of her way then..." He said. Hoot said nothing and looked lost in his thoughts as they walked back to the barracks.
In the evening Lucy was sitting at the dinner table, still confused about what happened that afternoon. "Well my dears how were your first day then?" Her father asked them. Simone looked at him and gave a faint smile. "Oh fine Im just loving counting those bullets!" She said with sarcasm dripping from her voice. Her father looked at Lucy but had to wait a while for her to give a reaction, because she was still lost in her thoughts. When he asked her again she responded. "Oh fine I felt quite at home on the range."