Parting is such sweet sorrow
A couple of weeks after the wedding Simone was still on cloud nine, the first week of their honeymoon they had done nothing more than spend time with eachother. The next 2 weeks they had spent moving into their new house and concecrating each room in their own little way......
After Lucy had spent that first night with Hoot he had sugested she and he would be roommates and she moved all her things into the room Todd had left behind. Her father had made no problem of it, as they were only going to be roommates, but for the last two weeks she hadn't spent one night in her own room.
Hoot was on his way to a meeting called bij the kolonel of his division when he ran into Todd. "Hey man how's married life treating you?" Todd smiled "Oh its fine I still can't get over the fact that it happend." They walked towards the same building together were the also ran into Simone standing there. Todd kissed her. "He sweetie, what are you doing here?" Simone greeted Hoot before awnsering her husband. "I got called to a meeting in room 108" Hoot looked surprised. "Im supposed to go to a meeting there as well." "I'm supossed to ber there as well! Whats that all about?" Todd looked at the both of them. They walked into the building and got into room 108 were a group of rangers and Delta's were sitting there together. The kolonel walked in and the whole group saluted him. "At eaze and sit down." Het picked up a stack of paper and gave each man in front of him a pile instructing them to hand them down to the people sitting behind them.
"Good afternoon. You have all been gatherd here because you are to be sent out. As some of you might all ready know there is a cival war on in Somalia, things are starting to crumble down, millions are dead and thousands more are dying, the UN has decided that troops are to be sent in. Now the UN has said that only regular troops are to be sent in, but Washington wants a small group of Delta and Rangers to be present. So the Delta's and rangers present shall be sent out. All the information you need is in the information packages you have been givven. You move out in a week!" The kolonel picked up his things, saluted the group and walked back out of the room.
Hoot looked at the papers in his hand, he knew it would have only been a matter of time before he might have gotten shipped out, but this was a bit quick. His mind was completely occupied with the fact that he didn't want to leave Lucy so he didn't see what was going on between Simone and Todd.
While Simone looked trought the stack of papers she had been handed to see what her work would be in Somalia Todd looked at her, his face completely blank. "You're not going!" Simone looked up at him. "What sweetie? I'm sorry I was reading." "You're not going..!" Todd said still looking at her. "What do you mean I'm not going?" Simone now lowerd her stack of papers and looked at him. "You're not going, I won't let you! That's the end of it." Todd crossed his arms over his chest. "Excuse you? Of us both who is the boss of me? Were do you get off! Who died and made you my keeper?" Simone was pissed and looked at him as if she could hit him at any time, but he didn't care! The thought of her being in harms way was enough to make him fisically sick. "I'm you're husband and I'm telling you you're not going! I don't want you there and that's it!" Simone still stood there looking at him, not believing the stunt he was pulling. "If I would have needed your permission I would have asked for it! Who died and made you my father?" She turned round without even saying goodby to Hoot she stormed out of the room.
Todd turned to Hoot who was now looking at him "What just happened here?" Todd raised his arms in a question to Hoot. "I don't know, I think it was something you said." Hoot replied with his thourgts still on how to tell Lucy that he was shipping out.
When Simone came home she was still very angry at Todd, she just couldn't believe he actually thought he had the right to order her arround like that. It was sweet that he wanted her safe, but she wasn't going to let him determine her life just because she was married to him! She sat down and lit a cigarette, still thinking about what he had said.
Hoot walked across the base with Todd, who was dreading going home, this was the first fight he and Simone had ever had. She had looked very angry, but he didn't care! All that mattered was that she would be safe if she stayed here. He looked at Hoot. "Are you going to tell Lucy now?" Hoot looked up at him as if seeing water burn. "No im not, I don't know when or what im gonna tell her so you don't either!" Todd shook his head; you'd better do it fast though, because if she won't find out from me, Simone will tell her. When they got the Todd's street they said goodbye and Hoot walked towards the appartment, not knowing if Lucy would be there yet.
Todd had finnally gone home, he had walked arround the base hoping that by the time he would go home she would have callmed down a bit. When he walked into the house she was in the kitchen making dinner, he walked over to her and kissed her neck. "Hi, I'm home." She looked over her shoulder at him and threw him a look wich said she was still mad at him. "Ah come on sweetie don't be mad!" He turned her round to him; his arms still round her waist. "I know you're mad at me, but I just don't want you to go." She stared him straight in the eyes. "I get the fact that you're worried, I do. But if you didn't want a wife who could be shipped out you should have married a civvie. I like my job and if it tells me to go somewhere I will. You don't see me freaking out because you have to go? I Get the fact that it's your job and know that there is a possibilitie that you could get hurt. But you don't see me going arround orderring you that you cant go." He looked at her and felt pretty ashamed. "Ahw sweetie I'm sorry, but I just don't want you to get hurt." He tried to kiss her again, but she backed away. "You're not getting away with it that easy! I so don't like you right now. So if you wouldn't mind could you just leave me alone?" She got lose out of his hands and walked away from him. Todd just stood there in the kitchen for a while and then went out the front door.
Hoot opened the door of the appartment; loud hardrock music came blasting towards him. One thing he had learned about Lucy these past weeks was that she liked her music loud. He looked arround but didn't see her anywere, the last place he looked was the kitchen, she was sitting at the table reading a book with her back turned to the door and occasionally shooting a look at the oven. He snuck up on her and kissed her neck, making sure he backed up right after that to prevent himself getting punched in the facec again. "Jeesus! Do you really want another black eye? I could have punched you again!" Lucy said with a shocked look on her face. Hoot smiled. "No you couldn't have, I was prepaird this time. You'll never catch me off guard again." He took her in his arms and kissed her, after a few moments the bel from the oven went of and Lucy broke their kiss. "Wait I have to take that out of the oven." She tried to get lose but he held onto her. "That can wait, im hungry but not for food." He smiled at her before picking her up, kissing her, and carrying her out of the kitchen. He gently laid her down on the couch and laid himself half on top of her. For a moment he just leant on his arms looking at her before leaning in to kiss her.
A couple hours later Lucy was looking at him. "You know I spent quite some time prepairing that soufle in the oven and you've gone and ruinend it!" She smiled. "Ah but although your coocking is good" He took her hand and kissed each of her fingers before kissing the top of her hand and pressing it to the side of her face. "There are other things I like about you." She smiled while trying to get him to look at her. "I know that, but I have to go meet my mother." She got up kissing him on the cheek one more time and then picking up her clothes to go change.
Todd was sitting in the bar, he had called Hoot and he was on his way. He didn't know what was wrong, he had appoligized! Why was Simone still mad at him?
When hoot walked up to him he greeted him and handed him a beer. "I don't know man, what did I do that was so bad? I mean I apoligized but she's still pissed." Hoot looked at him. "What exactely did you say to her?" He listned while Todd told him the whole story, after he was finished hoot just raised his eye brows. "We'll im stummped; I mean you appoligized so I don't see the big deal." "Yeah well neither do I but she's still pissed all the same." Todd looked up from his beer. "How did Lucy take it anyway?" Hoot looked up. "Well I haven't exactely told her that im leaving yet." Todd now looked at him with a shocked face. "You'd better do so soon, us shipping out will go round the base like a wild fire." Hoot nodded. "I know but I just don't know how to tell her."
Lucy was sitting at the table with her mother, planning a party for her father's birthday. They had already decided on the guest list and were now planning food and drinks. As her father loved to barbeque her mother wanted to do that and then go for a whole Texas theme with it. "So well have to get hats and things like that." Her mother smiled at her. Lucy nodded and started writing the things her mother mentioned down. "Have you and Hoot any intention of making things official?" Lucy was so shocked by her mothers question she dropped her penn. "What? How do you mean? Making what official?" Her mother smiled. "Come now, Im not talking marriage here, but you could at least admit to me and your father that you two are lovers. We're not blind you know. That whole friendly friends thing you pull off eachtime we're arround hasn't fooled us for a long time." Again Lucy was shocked. "You know....? How......? What.......? When.......?" "Ever since that night after Simone told us she was engaged, you know when you didn't come home, and you moving in with him was kind of a give away." Her mother put her hand on Lucy's. "Ok so you know, what did dad say?" Her mother squeezed her hand. "Actually he said nothing; I think he's actually glad that you two are together. He is a lot different from the guys you've brought home so far. At least he doesn't have any tatoo's in plain sight, that's a deffinite improvement on your last boyfriend." She smiled whil kissing her daughter on the cheek.
At that moment Simone came trough the door, greeted them wit a simpel. "Hi" and plunged into one of the free chairs. "What's up with you? Last time I talked to you happiness was all I heard." Lucy looked at her little sister. Simone pulled a face. "Well all the happyness he'll be having is sleeping on the goddamn couch tonight and maybe tomorrow! You know what he did! We got orders to ship out today we're going on a UN mission to Somalia, and that jackass ORDERD me not to go, who the hell does he think he is ORDERING me arround?" She crossed her arms, sat back in the chair and pouted. Lucy sat up and looked at her. "You're being shipped out? When..? How...? With who?" Simone raised her eyebrows. "You don't know? I thought Hoot would have told you by now. A group of Delta's and Rangers aer being shipped overthere with the regular troops. Im going as comm specialist, so I don't know what Todd is all botherd about, I won't even leave the base." "Hoot is being shipped out?!" Lucy got out of her chair. "That prick heard he is getting shipped out and I have to hear it from my sister?" She was now turning slightly red with anger. "I can't believe he came into the house and...... Without even telling me he's leaving! When are you leaving?" She had turned to Simone. "End of the week, but he might not have had the time to tell you, we only got our orders this afternoon." Simone tried to defend Hoot but Lucy was too far gone in her anger already. "I franckly don't give a rats ass! He had enough time this afternoon when he came in! Im sorry mom but I have to go!" She grabbed her bag and walked out. Her mother looked at Simone. "What was that all about?" Simone shook her head. "Donno, but he obviously pissed her off."
Lucy walked into the appartment and looked if Hoot was in the house, but all she found was a note saying that he had gone to see Todd. "Bastard." She mumbled to herself, she walked into his bedroom and grabbed all the things in there that were hers. Then walked over to "Her room" and put them away, if that's how he wanted it, he could get it that way!
Simone got home pretty late; she had talked to her mother for a couple of hours. Todd wasn't home yet, she grabed a spare blancket and a pillow from the cubboard and dropped them on the couch. That would give him the message were he was sleeping tonight! She turned round and went to bed.
Hoot came in the door, he was tirrerd and desperately wanted to go to sleep, but he knew he had to talk to Lucy first. The lights were all out so he assumed she had gone to bed. When he walked into the bedroom he saw she wasn't there, how could that be? Her coat was on the chair. He walked back to the livving room to see if she was on the couch, she had the habbit to fall a sleep there, but she wasn't there either. He had a tight feeling in his stomach, what could heve happened? He stood there for a second and then heard the creacking of bed boards coming out of the other bedroom. He walked over there and softly opend the door, in the bed he saw Lucy fast a sleep. What was she doing here? Since she had moved in she hadn't spent a night in this room and now she was a sleep in it? He turned round and walked out again, he didn't want to wake her, he would talke to her tomorrow morning.
Lucy opend her eyes as soon as she was sure he had left the room, she hadn't Been sleeping, she couldn't! She had gotten used to fall asleep to the sound of his breathing. But if this was the game he wanted to play she couldn't give in now!
When Todd came home he knew Simone was home, her car was in the driveway, when he got inside, he saw a big lump on the couch, he switched on the lights and saw the blanket and pillow. She was that mad she was going to make him sleep out here? He decided to talk to her tomorrow and got on the couch.
Hoot woke up, the smell of fresh made coffee was coming from the kitchen, he put on a pair of pants and walked to the kitchen thinking he was going to see Lucy standing there but she wasn't there. He looked to see if there was a note on the table but there wasn't.
Lucy had left the house early she hadnt wanted to run in to Hoot, so she went to the range early so she could get some practice in. She was shooting when all of a sudden Todd tunred up. "What are you doing here?" She lowerd her gunn and looked at him. Todd looked at her. "Well I kind of need to talk to you......... Me and Simone had a fight; I actually slept on the couch last night! But I don't know what went wrong, and was hoping you might be able to tell me." Lucy walked to the table and started checking Thunder. "Its not actually my place but I'll do you this favour once. The reason she is pissed is the fact that you think you can order her arround and determin her life for her. Our father has been doing that her whole life, and I should think she doesn't need that from you." Todd looked at her for a second. "So she is that pissed because I told her she couldn't do something? God I thought she was pissed because I wanted her safe... I got to go... Thanks!" Todd turned round to walk away, but turned right back round again. "He did you speek to Hoot?" Lucy raised her shoulders. "Not since yesterday afternoon why?" She was asking, but knew the awnser already, Hoot wasn't going to tell her about them being sent out and he was just going to lead her on and lie to her the rest of the week and then leave! Todd looked at her for a second; did her look just get angrier? "Nothing never mind." Now he did walk off, he had to go do somethings before he could go home an apollogize to Simone.
Hoot walked on to the range, there she was! He saw Lucy laying on her stomach aiming at a target and furiously shooting at it without taking rest, one bullet after the other went in to the target. Wich looked like a piece of Swiss cheeze already. He waited for her to reload before shouting her name. Lucy heard her name and looked up. Hoot was stading at the side of the range looking at her; she reached for a new bullit clip, reloaded and started again. Hoot looked at her in surprise, she did see him? Or didn't she? He decided to walk arround; he still had to tell her that he was leaving.
By the time he got to her Lucy had stopped shooting and was now standing at the table checking her bullet clips and weapon. "He Babe, I lost you this mornig. Were did you go?" She looked up when Hoot had said that, but avvoided him when he tried to kiss her on the cheek. "What?" Hoot looked surprised at her. "First off im at work thank you very much! And second I just don't want you to do that right now." she looked at him for a second and then continued he work. "What's wrong? Last night you slept in the other room and now you're acting like im some kind of stranger; did I do something to piss you off like this?" Hoot just looked at her, what did he do to make her this angry? "You're a lying piece of shit that's whats wrong! Do I look stupid or simple? Where the hell do you get off?" Hoot reached for her shoulder to try and calm her down but she slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me!" Hoot was now getting annoyed. "What? What did I do, if you tell me, it would make this a lot easier?" She looked at him for a second and then put her arms in her sides. "You knew? Yesterday afternoon when you came in the house you knew you were being shipped out?" Hoot sighed, she had found out already. "Yeah I did, and I ......." He couldn't finish his sentence because Lucy interupted him. "So you knew you were leaving and didn't bother to tell me? My sister had to tell me that my... oh I don't even know what we are! But I had to hear from my sister that you were leaving! Last week we had a conversation about how we were going to tell eachother everything! And the first time that really matters you back out on that and let me find it out by myself. I don't down shift like that, if you make an agreement you stick to it. What have you all of a sudden turned into Mike? Keeping things from me?" When Hoot heard him being compared to Mike something snapped. "You're actually compairing me to that prick! I've been called a lot of names but that was one of the worst! And the fact that you won't even let me explain myself about not telling you shows how much you know!" He turned on his heels and walked off. Lucy threw her empty clips in a barrel and stormed into the warehouse.
Simone's car came to a screeching halt on the drive way, she had gotten a call that she needed to get to the house at once. So she had dropped everything and ran out, the whole drive home she was thinking about the fact that something might have happened to Todd. She jumped out the car and ran to the door; there she found a small note instructing her to go round he outside of the house. Currious about what might be going on she walked round the house; there she found a load of glass bottles with each a single red rose in them. On each rose there was a small white card. She walled over tho the first bottle wich also had a bigger card attached to it. She picked it up and read it. "read your way trough the chain and get to where you need to be....." As she walked her way through the chain of roses she read each little card wich in the end read; "I know that I hurt you but it wasn't my intenttion, I love you with all my hart and want to let you make your own decissions. Can you forgive me for what I said? And will you let me make it up to you?" The end of the chain came to the pattio doors where she saw Todd standing behind a huge bunch of roses looking at her with a question in his eyes, she dropped all the cards she still had in her hands and walked over to him. Standing in front of him for a moment and then kissing him passionately. When she ended the kiss she looked at him and whisperd; "You're forgivven." Kissing him again, he lifted her up and carried her to the bedroom where he laid her on the bed and laid beside her. "I so don't like our couch, it's not very comfertable." He said smiling before kissing her again.
Lucy was furious, something inside her said that she shouldn't have had a go at him like that but he had admitted that he delibberetly didn't tell her he was leaving. When the day was over she didn't feel like going back to the appartment, she called her parents and asked if she could spend a couple of days at their house. She went to the appartment knowing Hoot wouldn't be there and got some of her things.
Hoot came home, he had wanderd arround still angry about Lucy comparing him to Mike, he handt told her about leaving because he actually didn't want to leave.... He walked into the appartment prepaird for another blow out, but all as quit. He looked arround the whole appartment but she wasn't there. He sat down on the couch; he would just wait till she got back then.
After a few days Hoot was getting anxious, she hadn't shown up at the house and she hadn't contacted him. Did something happen? He called her parents but the General said he hadnt spoken to her for 4 days. He went to the range but she wasn't there either. In the end he went to see Simone, she would know where she was.
Simone put the phone down and looked at Todd. "That was Lucy, if Hoot comes here we are not allowed to tell him where she is.Apparently they had some big argument and she is very angry." Todd looked at her. "I'm sorry but im not going to lie to him, if he asks me where she is, I'll tell him she's at your folks." Simone nodded. "Same here, I know her, she might be pissed now but it will wear off, the sooner the better actually I mean we're leaving tomorrownight." The minute she had said this Hoot walked trough the pttio doors. "Hey, sorry to interupt you but I cant find Lucy, and I hoped that you might know where she is." Simone gestured to a chair. "What happened?" Hoot sat down and looked at her. "Man I don't know, you told her we were leaving, I cam home that night and she was in the other room, next morning she's not there so I go find her at the range. She absolutely went nuts on me! I mean she even accused me of being the same as Mike! Now I can take a lot off abuse but that just went to far so I stormed out. I know it wasn't all her fault, I should have told her myself, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it, the thoght of having to leave here...... I need to talk to her, but I can't find her." Simone put her hand on his shoulder. "Ok the Mike bit was harsh I know, but you have to know that Lucy doesn't handle things well when she thinks that somebody is keeping something from her intentionally, and after ,Mike that got even worse. Just go and talk to her and try to explain why you didn't say anything when you first heard you were shipping out." Hoot looked at her. "That's what I tried to tell her the other day, but she wouldn't listen!" "Well then tie her down to a chair and gag her! You can't leave with out this being resolved, you two would only end up worse if you do!" Simone had gotten up while saying that. "So get your ass in your car and go talk to her, she's at my parents." Hoot looked at her with surprise on his face. "How can that be I've called them 9 times already and your father keeps telling me she's not there?" Simone smiled. "Trust me she is, now go!" Hoot got up and walked out of the house.
Lucy was sitting in the livingroom when she heard a car pull up the drive way, she looked out the window and recognized Hoot's car. She jumped up from the chair she was in. "Im not here and I don't want to talk to him." She said to her father walking out the room and going to her old room. She locked the door and leant against it.
The General opened the door before Hoot even got a chance to knock. "Im sorry son but she doesn't want to talk to you." The General actually had a look of compassion on his face. Hoot looked at him for a second. "Ok so she doesn't talk and just listens." The general stepped out of the way and pointed towards the door of Lucy's old room.he walked over to it and tried to open it, when the door wouldn't give way he realized she had locked it. "Baby, come on will you let me in?" he waited for a moment, but when she didn't give in to his request or even said anything he continued. "Ok I would have rather done this looking at you but if that's the way you want it I'll do it like this. I'm sorry, for not telling you I was being shipped out and for getting mad at you when you called me on it. But I didn't like the fact that you compared me to Mike, and I really didn't know how to tell you I had to leave. I've trained for this and never made a problem of being shipped out, but since I've been with you everything changed. I don't want to leave this time, but I have to. I didn't lie to you, I just couldn't tell you, I don't evver want to do anything to hurt you; I don't want to spend our last days together fighting. Will you please come out?" He pressed his hand against the door. Lucy leant back againts the door, tears welled up in her eyes. How could she know he meant it? How could she know this wasn't just a lie? Hoot waited for a couple of minutes, when she still didn't open the door he turned to the General, greeted him and walked away. When Lucy heard his car drive off she came out of the room, her father looked at her but didn't say anything.
Hoot took up his pack and dropped it in the jeep standing by to take him to the airfield, he would be 4 hours early but he didn't care. It wasn't like he had any one to say goodby to. He had called his parents last night and he would see Todd and Simone on the plane. He took on last look at the apartment and jumped into the jeep.
A couple of hours later at the MacArthur house Simone and todd were saying goodbey to her parents, her father instructed the both of them to be carfull and hughed and kissed his daughter. Her mother cried and hughed them, cried some more only too hugh them again. "Mom if you don't let them go they won't ever get on the plaine." Lucy walked out the door; she was dressed in her civillian clothes and looked at her sister and Todd. "Im sure giong to miss you both, you will write me wont you?" She asked Simone whil huging her tightly. Simone hughed her back and then looked at her. "Did you talk to Hoot?" Lucy's face sank. "Not really why?" "Because he's leaving! Is that a good enough reason?" Simone was now actually a bit miffed with her sister. "Don't tell me he came over here and you sent him packing? The guy cares Lucy! He was worried sick when he couldn't find you." Lucy just stood there looking at her feet, maybe they were right? "Lucy listen I've been his best friend for years and I know he does, he doesn't even have to tell me I can see it by the way he looks at you." Todd looked at her as well. When after a few moments she still hadnt givven either of them a reaction they turned round to the car and got in, as did her parents they were givving them a lift to the airfield and they all drove off. Leaving Lucy on her own.
Could he really have meant everything he had said? Was she that stubborn that she was going to let him leave without saying goodbey to him? A few seconds she continued her inner struggle and then ran inside to get her keys, she would need to get a few things first.
Hoot was sitting in the Hercules plane that was to take them to the next base, where they would transfer onto regular planes. All arround him conversations were going on, but he could only look outside. Maybe she would come anyway. "Man I hate to be the one to say it but I don't think she's comming" Todd looked at him with his hand on Hoot's shoulder. Hoot nodded but still looked outside.
Lucy sped onto the airfield, she thought she might have broken every speed limit on the base, but she just hoped she was in time! She parked the jeep right outside the hanger and honked the horn a few times, several faces popped out the back of the plane to see what was going on, but none of them were Hoot. What if she had made him mad? Hoot looked up; did he just hear a carhorn? "Heej sarge I think that's for you!" One of the Delta's called from the back of the plane. Hoot jumped up, it couldn't be! Could it? He alkedto the back of the plane and saw her standing there, he walked further out the plane, not quite sure if she was there for him or her sister. The minute she saw him walk onto the loading dock of the plane she waved at him, god she had been on time! Hoots hart jumped the second she started to run towards him, she was here to see him! When she got to him she almost jumped the lats bit of distance into his arms. "God im so sorry! Im such an idiot, please, please tell me you're not mad at me!" Lucy mumbled, her face hidden his neck while he held her. Hoot put her down and put his hand under her chinn to raise her head so she would look at him. "I'm not mad; what ever gave you that idea?" Lucy looked at her feet for a second. "Because I behaved lika a complete bitch.......again!" she said very ashamed. He leant in to kiss her, what was supposed to be a small and sweet kiss turned into a goodby kiss that almost made her sink trough her knees. They only broke appart because during their kiss a crowd had gathered near the exit of the plain, and they had started cheering. Hoot looked up at them and just smiled before looking at Lucy again. "Oh before I forget I have something for you." Lucy said taking him by the hand and leading him to the jeep. When they got there she reached over to the pasenger seat and took a bag from it. "I want you to take this with you." She said handing it to him; he unzipped it and looked inside. "I can't take this!" Lucy put her hand on his cheek and made im look at her and put her forhead against his "We both know Thunder is a better gun than the one you have, just do me this favour? I do expect you to bring it back to me." She smiled faintly. Hoot felt warmth spread across his chest, she trusted him enough to give her gun to him. "I will." He said before kissing her again. "And this is something else for you personally." She handed him a wrapped parcel." They stood together for a few minutes more, foreheads leaning against eachother, when Hoot was called back to the plane.
He kissed her one last time and got back on the plane, where he turned and waved at her one last time.
A few hours later Hoot was sitting next to one of his men on the normal plain, he decidedto unwrapp his other gift. From the wrapping paper he took the book "The collected works of Shakespeare" amongst the pages he saw a small piece of paper sticking out, he opend the book on the marked page and read. It was a scene from Romeo & Juliet, with a pink highlighter a few sentences from the balcony scene were highlighted it was a bit of Juliet's text and it read;
"Goodnight, goodnight parting is suchs sweet sorrow. That I shall say goodnight till it be morrow."
A couple of weeks after the wedding Simone was still on cloud nine, the first week of their honeymoon they had done nothing more than spend time with eachother. The next 2 weeks they had spent moving into their new house and concecrating each room in their own little way......
After Lucy had spent that first night with Hoot he had sugested she and he would be roommates and she moved all her things into the room Todd had left behind. Her father had made no problem of it, as they were only going to be roommates, but for the last two weeks she hadn't spent one night in her own room.
Hoot was on his way to a meeting called bij the kolonel of his division when he ran into Todd. "Hey man how's married life treating you?" Todd smiled "Oh its fine I still can't get over the fact that it happend." They walked towards the same building together were the also ran into Simone standing there. Todd kissed her. "He sweetie, what are you doing here?" Simone greeted Hoot before awnsering her husband. "I got called to a meeting in room 108" Hoot looked surprised. "Im supposed to go to a meeting there as well." "I'm supossed to ber there as well! Whats that all about?" Todd looked at the both of them. They walked into the building and got into room 108 were a group of rangers and Delta's were sitting there together. The kolonel walked in and the whole group saluted him. "At eaze and sit down." Het picked up a stack of paper and gave each man in front of him a pile instructing them to hand them down to the people sitting behind them.
"Good afternoon. You have all been gatherd here because you are to be sent out. As some of you might all ready know there is a cival war on in Somalia, things are starting to crumble down, millions are dead and thousands more are dying, the UN has decided that troops are to be sent in. Now the UN has said that only regular troops are to be sent in, but Washington wants a small group of Delta and Rangers to be present. So the Delta's and rangers present shall be sent out. All the information you need is in the information packages you have been givven. You move out in a week!" The kolonel picked up his things, saluted the group and walked back out of the room.
Hoot looked at the papers in his hand, he knew it would have only been a matter of time before he might have gotten shipped out, but this was a bit quick. His mind was completely occupied with the fact that he didn't want to leave Lucy so he didn't see what was going on between Simone and Todd.
While Simone looked trought the stack of papers she had been handed to see what her work would be in Somalia Todd looked at her, his face completely blank. "You're not going!" Simone looked up at him. "What sweetie? I'm sorry I was reading." "You're not going..!" Todd said still looking at her. "What do you mean I'm not going?" Simone now lowerd her stack of papers and looked at him. "You're not going, I won't let you! That's the end of it." Todd crossed his arms over his chest. "Excuse you? Of us both who is the boss of me? Were do you get off! Who died and made you my keeper?" Simone was pissed and looked at him as if she could hit him at any time, but he didn't care! The thought of her being in harms way was enough to make him fisically sick. "I'm you're husband and I'm telling you you're not going! I don't want you there and that's it!" Simone still stood there looking at him, not believing the stunt he was pulling. "If I would have needed your permission I would have asked for it! Who died and made you my father?" She turned round without even saying goodby to Hoot she stormed out of the room.
Todd turned to Hoot who was now looking at him "What just happened here?" Todd raised his arms in a question to Hoot. "I don't know, I think it was something you said." Hoot replied with his thourgts still on how to tell Lucy that he was shipping out.
When Simone came home she was still very angry at Todd, she just couldn't believe he actually thought he had the right to order her arround like that. It was sweet that he wanted her safe, but she wasn't going to let him determine her life just because she was married to him! She sat down and lit a cigarette, still thinking about what he had said.
Hoot walked across the base with Todd, who was dreading going home, this was the first fight he and Simone had ever had. She had looked very angry, but he didn't care! All that mattered was that she would be safe if she stayed here. He looked at Hoot. "Are you going to tell Lucy now?" Hoot looked up at him as if seeing water burn. "No im not, I don't know when or what im gonna tell her so you don't either!" Todd shook his head; you'd better do it fast though, because if she won't find out from me, Simone will tell her. When they got the Todd's street they said goodbye and Hoot walked towards the appartment, not knowing if Lucy would be there yet.
Todd had finnally gone home, he had walked arround the base hoping that by the time he would go home she would have callmed down a bit. When he walked into the house she was in the kitchen making dinner, he walked over to her and kissed her neck. "Hi, I'm home." She looked over her shoulder at him and threw him a look wich said she was still mad at him. "Ah come on sweetie don't be mad!" He turned her round to him; his arms still round her waist. "I know you're mad at me, but I just don't want you to go." She stared him straight in the eyes. "I get the fact that you're worried, I do. But if you didn't want a wife who could be shipped out you should have married a civvie. I like my job and if it tells me to go somewhere I will. You don't see me freaking out because you have to go? I Get the fact that it's your job and know that there is a possibilitie that you could get hurt. But you don't see me going arround orderring you that you cant go." He looked at her and felt pretty ashamed. "Ahw sweetie I'm sorry, but I just don't want you to get hurt." He tried to kiss her again, but she backed away. "You're not getting away with it that easy! I so don't like you right now. So if you wouldn't mind could you just leave me alone?" She got lose out of his hands and walked away from him. Todd just stood there in the kitchen for a while and then went out the front door.
Hoot opened the door of the appartment; loud hardrock music came blasting towards him. One thing he had learned about Lucy these past weeks was that she liked her music loud. He looked arround but didn't see her anywere, the last place he looked was the kitchen, she was sitting at the table reading a book with her back turned to the door and occasionally shooting a look at the oven. He snuck up on her and kissed her neck, making sure he backed up right after that to prevent himself getting punched in the facec again. "Jeesus! Do you really want another black eye? I could have punched you again!" Lucy said with a shocked look on her face. Hoot smiled. "No you couldn't have, I was prepaird this time. You'll never catch me off guard again." He took her in his arms and kissed her, after a few moments the bel from the oven went of and Lucy broke their kiss. "Wait I have to take that out of the oven." She tried to get lose but he held onto her. "That can wait, im hungry but not for food." He smiled at her before picking her up, kissing her, and carrying her out of the kitchen. He gently laid her down on the couch and laid himself half on top of her. For a moment he just leant on his arms looking at her before leaning in to kiss her.
A couple hours later Lucy was looking at him. "You know I spent quite some time prepairing that soufle in the oven and you've gone and ruinend it!" She smiled. "Ah but although your coocking is good" He took her hand and kissed each of her fingers before kissing the top of her hand and pressing it to the side of her face. "There are other things I like about you." She smiled while trying to get him to look at her. "I know that, but I have to go meet my mother." She got up kissing him on the cheek one more time and then picking up her clothes to go change.
Todd was sitting in the bar, he had called Hoot and he was on his way. He didn't know what was wrong, he had appoligized! Why was Simone still mad at him?
When hoot walked up to him he greeted him and handed him a beer. "I don't know man, what did I do that was so bad? I mean I apoligized but she's still pissed." Hoot looked at him. "What exactely did you say to her?" He listned while Todd told him the whole story, after he was finished hoot just raised his eye brows. "We'll im stummped; I mean you appoligized so I don't see the big deal." "Yeah well neither do I but she's still pissed all the same." Todd looked up from his beer. "How did Lucy take it anyway?" Hoot looked up. "Well I haven't exactely told her that im leaving yet." Todd now looked at him with a shocked face. "You'd better do so soon, us shipping out will go round the base like a wild fire." Hoot nodded. "I know but I just don't know how to tell her."
Lucy was sitting at the table with her mother, planning a party for her father's birthday. They had already decided on the guest list and were now planning food and drinks. As her father loved to barbeque her mother wanted to do that and then go for a whole Texas theme with it. "So well have to get hats and things like that." Her mother smiled at her. Lucy nodded and started writing the things her mother mentioned down. "Have you and Hoot any intention of making things official?" Lucy was so shocked by her mothers question she dropped her penn. "What? How do you mean? Making what official?" Her mother smiled. "Come now, Im not talking marriage here, but you could at least admit to me and your father that you two are lovers. We're not blind you know. That whole friendly friends thing you pull off eachtime we're arround hasn't fooled us for a long time." Again Lucy was shocked. "You know....? How......? What.......? When.......?" "Ever since that night after Simone told us she was engaged, you know when you didn't come home, and you moving in with him was kind of a give away." Her mother put her hand on Lucy's. "Ok so you know, what did dad say?" Her mother squeezed her hand. "Actually he said nothing; I think he's actually glad that you two are together. He is a lot different from the guys you've brought home so far. At least he doesn't have any tatoo's in plain sight, that's a deffinite improvement on your last boyfriend." She smiled whil kissing her daughter on the cheek.
At that moment Simone came trough the door, greeted them wit a simpel. "Hi" and plunged into one of the free chairs. "What's up with you? Last time I talked to you happiness was all I heard." Lucy looked at her little sister. Simone pulled a face. "Well all the happyness he'll be having is sleeping on the goddamn couch tonight and maybe tomorrow! You know what he did! We got orders to ship out today we're going on a UN mission to Somalia, and that jackass ORDERD me not to go, who the hell does he think he is ORDERING me arround?" She crossed her arms, sat back in the chair and pouted. Lucy sat up and looked at her. "You're being shipped out? When..? How...? With who?" Simone raised her eyebrows. "You don't know? I thought Hoot would have told you by now. A group of Delta's and Rangers aer being shipped overthere with the regular troops. Im going as comm specialist, so I don't know what Todd is all botherd about, I won't even leave the base." "Hoot is being shipped out?!" Lucy got out of her chair. "That prick heard he is getting shipped out and I have to hear it from my sister?" She was now turning slightly red with anger. "I can't believe he came into the house and...... Without even telling me he's leaving! When are you leaving?" She had turned to Simone. "End of the week, but he might not have had the time to tell you, we only got our orders this afternoon." Simone tried to defend Hoot but Lucy was too far gone in her anger already. "I franckly don't give a rats ass! He had enough time this afternoon when he came in! Im sorry mom but I have to go!" She grabbed her bag and walked out. Her mother looked at Simone. "What was that all about?" Simone shook her head. "Donno, but he obviously pissed her off."
Lucy walked into the appartment and looked if Hoot was in the house, but all she found was a note saying that he had gone to see Todd. "Bastard." She mumbled to herself, she walked into his bedroom and grabbed all the things in there that were hers. Then walked over to "Her room" and put them away, if that's how he wanted it, he could get it that way!
Simone got home pretty late; she had talked to her mother for a couple of hours. Todd wasn't home yet, she grabed a spare blancket and a pillow from the cubboard and dropped them on the couch. That would give him the message were he was sleeping tonight! She turned round and went to bed.
Hoot came in the door, he was tirrerd and desperately wanted to go to sleep, but he knew he had to talk to Lucy first. The lights were all out so he assumed she had gone to bed. When he walked into the bedroom he saw she wasn't there, how could that be? Her coat was on the chair. He walked back to the livving room to see if she was on the couch, she had the habbit to fall a sleep there, but she wasn't there either. He had a tight feeling in his stomach, what could heve happened? He stood there for a second and then heard the creacking of bed boards coming out of the other bedroom. He walked over there and softly opend the door, in the bed he saw Lucy fast a sleep. What was she doing here? Since she had moved in she hadn't spent a night in this room and now she was a sleep in it? He turned round and walked out again, he didn't want to wake her, he would talke to her tomorrow morning.
Lucy opend her eyes as soon as she was sure he had left the room, she hadn't Been sleeping, she couldn't! She had gotten used to fall asleep to the sound of his breathing. But if this was the game he wanted to play she couldn't give in now!
When Todd came home he knew Simone was home, her car was in the driveway, when he got inside, he saw a big lump on the couch, he switched on the lights and saw the blanket and pillow. She was that mad she was going to make him sleep out here? He decided to talk to her tomorrow and got on the couch.
Hoot woke up, the smell of fresh made coffee was coming from the kitchen, he put on a pair of pants and walked to the kitchen thinking he was going to see Lucy standing there but she wasn't there. He looked to see if there was a note on the table but there wasn't.
Lucy had left the house early she hadnt wanted to run in to Hoot, so she went to the range early so she could get some practice in. She was shooting when all of a sudden Todd tunred up. "What are you doing here?" She lowerd her gunn and looked at him. Todd looked at her. "Well I kind of need to talk to you......... Me and Simone had a fight; I actually slept on the couch last night! But I don't know what went wrong, and was hoping you might be able to tell me." Lucy walked to the table and started checking Thunder. "Its not actually my place but I'll do you this favour once. The reason she is pissed is the fact that you think you can order her arround and determin her life for her. Our father has been doing that her whole life, and I should think she doesn't need that from you." Todd looked at her for a second. "So she is that pissed because I told her she couldn't do something? God I thought she was pissed because I wanted her safe... I got to go... Thanks!" Todd turned round to walk away, but turned right back round again. "He did you speek to Hoot?" Lucy raised her shoulders. "Not since yesterday afternoon why?" She was asking, but knew the awnser already, Hoot wasn't going to tell her about them being sent out and he was just going to lead her on and lie to her the rest of the week and then leave! Todd looked at her for a second; did her look just get angrier? "Nothing never mind." Now he did walk off, he had to go do somethings before he could go home an apollogize to Simone.
Hoot walked on to the range, there she was! He saw Lucy laying on her stomach aiming at a target and furiously shooting at it without taking rest, one bullet after the other went in to the target. Wich looked like a piece of Swiss cheeze already. He waited for her to reload before shouting her name. Lucy heard her name and looked up. Hoot was stading at the side of the range looking at her; she reached for a new bullit clip, reloaded and started again. Hoot looked at her in surprise, she did see him? Or didn't she? He decided to walk arround; he still had to tell her that he was leaving.
By the time he got to her Lucy had stopped shooting and was now standing at the table checking her bullet clips and weapon. "He Babe, I lost you this mornig. Were did you go?" She looked up when Hoot had said that, but avvoided him when he tried to kiss her on the cheek. "What?" Hoot looked surprised at her. "First off im at work thank you very much! And second I just don't want you to do that right now." she looked at him for a second and then continued he work. "What's wrong? Last night you slept in the other room and now you're acting like im some kind of stranger; did I do something to piss you off like this?" Hoot just looked at her, what did he do to make her this angry? "You're a lying piece of shit that's whats wrong! Do I look stupid or simple? Where the hell do you get off?" Hoot reached for her shoulder to try and calm her down but she slapped his hand away. "Don't touch me!" Hoot was now getting annoyed. "What? What did I do, if you tell me, it would make this a lot easier?" She looked at him for a second and then put her arms in her sides. "You knew? Yesterday afternoon when you came in the house you knew you were being shipped out?" Hoot sighed, she had found out already. "Yeah I did, and I ......." He couldn't finish his sentence because Lucy interupted him. "So you knew you were leaving and didn't bother to tell me? My sister had to tell me that my... oh I don't even know what we are! But I had to hear from my sister that you were leaving! Last week we had a conversation about how we were going to tell eachother everything! And the first time that really matters you back out on that and let me find it out by myself. I don't down shift like that, if you make an agreement you stick to it. What have you all of a sudden turned into Mike? Keeping things from me?" When Hoot heard him being compared to Mike something snapped. "You're actually compairing me to that prick! I've been called a lot of names but that was one of the worst! And the fact that you won't even let me explain myself about not telling you shows how much you know!" He turned on his heels and walked off. Lucy threw her empty clips in a barrel and stormed into the warehouse.
Simone's car came to a screeching halt on the drive way, she had gotten a call that she needed to get to the house at once. So she had dropped everything and ran out, the whole drive home she was thinking about the fact that something might have happened to Todd. She jumped out the car and ran to the door; there she found a small note instructing her to go round he outside of the house. Currious about what might be going on she walked round the house; there she found a load of glass bottles with each a single red rose in them. On each rose there was a small white card. She walled over tho the first bottle wich also had a bigger card attached to it. She picked it up and read it. "read your way trough the chain and get to where you need to be....." As she walked her way through the chain of roses she read each little card wich in the end read; "I know that I hurt you but it wasn't my intenttion, I love you with all my hart and want to let you make your own decissions. Can you forgive me for what I said? And will you let me make it up to you?" The end of the chain came to the pattio doors where she saw Todd standing behind a huge bunch of roses looking at her with a question in his eyes, she dropped all the cards she still had in her hands and walked over to him. Standing in front of him for a moment and then kissing him passionately. When she ended the kiss she looked at him and whisperd; "You're forgivven." Kissing him again, he lifted her up and carried her to the bedroom where he laid her on the bed and laid beside her. "I so don't like our couch, it's not very comfertable." He said smiling before kissing her again.
Lucy was furious, something inside her said that she shouldn't have had a go at him like that but he had admitted that he delibberetly didn't tell her he was leaving. When the day was over she didn't feel like going back to the appartment, she called her parents and asked if she could spend a couple of days at their house. She went to the appartment knowing Hoot wouldn't be there and got some of her things.
Hoot came home, he had wanderd arround still angry about Lucy comparing him to Mike, he handt told her about leaving because he actually didn't want to leave.... He walked into the appartment prepaird for another blow out, but all as quit. He looked arround the whole appartment but she wasn't there. He sat down on the couch; he would just wait till she got back then.
After a few days Hoot was getting anxious, she hadn't shown up at the house and she hadn't contacted him. Did something happen? He called her parents but the General said he hadnt spoken to her for 4 days. He went to the range but she wasn't there either. In the end he went to see Simone, she would know where she was.
Simone put the phone down and looked at Todd. "That was Lucy, if Hoot comes here we are not allowed to tell him where she is.Apparently they had some big argument and she is very angry." Todd looked at her. "I'm sorry but im not going to lie to him, if he asks me where she is, I'll tell him she's at your folks." Simone nodded. "Same here, I know her, she might be pissed now but it will wear off, the sooner the better actually I mean we're leaving tomorrownight." The minute she had said this Hoot walked trough the pttio doors. "Hey, sorry to interupt you but I cant find Lucy, and I hoped that you might know where she is." Simone gestured to a chair. "What happened?" Hoot sat down and looked at her. "Man I don't know, you told her we were leaving, I cam home that night and she was in the other room, next morning she's not there so I go find her at the range. She absolutely went nuts on me! I mean she even accused me of being the same as Mike! Now I can take a lot off abuse but that just went to far so I stormed out. I know it wasn't all her fault, I should have told her myself, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it, the thoght of having to leave here...... I need to talk to her, but I can't find her." Simone put her hand on his shoulder. "Ok the Mike bit was harsh I know, but you have to know that Lucy doesn't handle things well when she thinks that somebody is keeping something from her intentionally, and after ,Mike that got even worse. Just go and talk to her and try to explain why you didn't say anything when you first heard you were shipping out." Hoot looked at her. "That's what I tried to tell her the other day, but she wouldn't listen!" "Well then tie her down to a chair and gag her! You can't leave with out this being resolved, you two would only end up worse if you do!" Simone had gotten up while saying that. "So get your ass in your car and go talk to her, she's at my parents." Hoot looked at her with surprise on his face. "How can that be I've called them 9 times already and your father keeps telling me she's not there?" Simone smiled. "Trust me she is, now go!" Hoot got up and walked out of the house.
Lucy was sitting in the livingroom when she heard a car pull up the drive way, she looked out the window and recognized Hoot's car. She jumped up from the chair she was in. "Im not here and I don't want to talk to him." She said to her father walking out the room and going to her old room. She locked the door and leant against it.
The General opened the door before Hoot even got a chance to knock. "Im sorry son but she doesn't want to talk to you." The General actually had a look of compassion on his face. Hoot looked at him for a second. "Ok so she doesn't talk and just listens." The general stepped out of the way and pointed towards the door of Lucy's old room.he walked over to it and tried to open it, when the door wouldn't give way he realized she had locked it. "Baby, come on will you let me in?" he waited for a moment, but when she didn't give in to his request or even said anything he continued. "Ok I would have rather done this looking at you but if that's the way you want it I'll do it like this. I'm sorry, for not telling you I was being shipped out and for getting mad at you when you called me on it. But I didn't like the fact that you compared me to Mike, and I really didn't know how to tell you I had to leave. I've trained for this and never made a problem of being shipped out, but since I've been with you everything changed. I don't want to leave this time, but I have to. I didn't lie to you, I just couldn't tell you, I don't evver want to do anything to hurt you; I don't want to spend our last days together fighting. Will you please come out?" He pressed his hand against the door. Lucy leant back againts the door, tears welled up in her eyes. How could she know he meant it? How could she know this wasn't just a lie? Hoot waited for a couple of minutes, when she still didn't open the door he turned to the General, greeted him and walked away. When Lucy heard his car drive off she came out of the room, her father looked at her but didn't say anything.
Hoot took up his pack and dropped it in the jeep standing by to take him to the airfield, he would be 4 hours early but he didn't care. It wasn't like he had any one to say goodby to. He had called his parents last night and he would see Todd and Simone on the plane. He took on last look at the apartment and jumped into the jeep.
A couple of hours later at the MacArthur house Simone and todd were saying goodbey to her parents, her father instructed the both of them to be carfull and hughed and kissed his daughter. Her mother cried and hughed them, cried some more only too hugh them again. "Mom if you don't let them go they won't ever get on the plaine." Lucy walked out the door; she was dressed in her civillian clothes and looked at her sister and Todd. "Im sure giong to miss you both, you will write me wont you?" She asked Simone whil huging her tightly. Simone hughed her back and then looked at her. "Did you talk to Hoot?" Lucy's face sank. "Not really why?" "Because he's leaving! Is that a good enough reason?" Simone was now actually a bit miffed with her sister. "Don't tell me he came over here and you sent him packing? The guy cares Lucy! He was worried sick when he couldn't find you." Lucy just stood there looking at her feet, maybe they were right? "Lucy listen I've been his best friend for years and I know he does, he doesn't even have to tell me I can see it by the way he looks at you." Todd looked at her as well. When after a few moments she still hadnt givven either of them a reaction they turned round to the car and got in, as did her parents they were givving them a lift to the airfield and they all drove off. Leaving Lucy on her own.
Could he really have meant everything he had said? Was she that stubborn that she was going to let him leave without saying goodbey to him? A few seconds she continued her inner struggle and then ran inside to get her keys, she would need to get a few things first.
Hoot was sitting in the Hercules plane that was to take them to the next base, where they would transfer onto regular planes. All arround him conversations were going on, but he could only look outside. Maybe she would come anyway. "Man I hate to be the one to say it but I don't think she's comming" Todd looked at him with his hand on Hoot's shoulder. Hoot nodded but still looked outside.
Lucy sped onto the airfield, she thought she might have broken every speed limit on the base, but she just hoped she was in time! She parked the jeep right outside the hanger and honked the horn a few times, several faces popped out the back of the plane to see what was going on, but none of them were Hoot. What if she had made him mad? Hoot looked up; did he just hear a carhorn? "Heej sarge I think that's for you!" One of the Delta's called from the back of the plane. Hoot jumped up, it couldn't be! Could it? He alkedto the back of the plane and saw her standing there, he walked further out the plane, not quite sure if she was there for him or her sister. The minute she saw him walk onto the loading dock of the plane she waved at him, god she had been on time! Hoots hart jumped the second she started to run towards him, she was here to see him! When she got to him she almost jumped the lats bit of distance into his arms. "God im so sorry! Im such an idiot, please, please tell me you're not mad at me!" Lucy mumbled, her face hidden his neck while he held her. Hoot put her down and put his hand under her chinn to raise her head so she would look at him. "I'm not mad; what ever gave you that idea?" Lucy looked at her feet for a second. "Because I behaved lika a complete bitch.......again!" she said very ashamed. He leant in to kiss her, what was supposed to be a small and sweet kiss turned into a goodby kiss that almost made her sink trough her knees. They only broke appart because during their kiss a crowd had gathered near the exit of the plain, and they had started cheering. Hoot looked up at them and just smiled before looking at Lucy again. "Oh before I forget I have something for you." Lucy said taking him by the hand and leading him to the jeep. When they got there she reached over to the pasenger seat and took a bag from it. "I want you to take this with you." She said handing it to him; he unzipped it and looked inside. "I can't take this!" Lucy put her hand on his cheek and made im look at her and put her forhead against his "We both know Thunder is a better gun than the one you have, just do me this favour? I do expect you to bring it back to me." She smiled faintly. Hoot felt warmth spread across his chest, she trusted him enough to give her gun to him. "I will." He said before kissing her again. "And this is something else for you personally." She handed him a wrapped parcel." They stood together for a few minutes more, foreheads leaning against eachother, when Hoot was called back to the plane.
He kissed her one last time and got back on the plane, where he turned and waved at her one last time.
A few hours later Hoot was sitting next to one of his men on the normal plain, he decidedto unwrapp his other gift. From the wrapping paper he took the book "The collected works of Shakespeare" amongst the pages he saw a small piece of paper sticking out, he opend the book on the marked page and read. It was a scene from Romeo & Juliet, with a pink highlighter a few sentences from the balcony scene were highlighted it was a bit of Juliet's text and it read;
"Goodnight, goodnight parting is suchs sweet sorrow. That I shall say goodnight till it be morrow."