"Why do I get the feeling there's a problem between you three?" The Lt. Colonel asked as he walked over to address the group. He was standing in front of the entire platoon, but his eyes were on River, Shawn and Ian. The three swallowed, and looked at each other, then at the Colonel once more. The Colonel looked at Shawn.
"Mr. Adams?"
"Yes, Sir?"
"Is there a problem?"
"No, Sir."
"Mr. Hayden?"
"Yes, Sir?"
"How about you? Any problem?"
River hesitated, debating whether the question demanded the truth – since there was obviously a problem – or a lie that the Colonel probably wanted to hear. He was an honest young man, though, and he shrugged.
"Nothing we can't resolve, Sir."
"Mr. Brooks?"
"Sir?"
"Is there a problem?"
Brooks hesitated as well, but he seemed to find that River's answer was a fair one.
"We can resolve it, Sir. It's nothing serious."
"It's sprung up twice in one morning," The Colonel observed, dryly. "Obviously, it is something serious." He pointed at the three of them one at a time. "You three, be in my office in five minutes. The rest of you are excused to your meal." He walked off, leaving the cadets staring at him.
"Son of a bitch..." River turned to Ian. "Thanks a lot, asshole."
"What did I do?"
"It's nothing serious, Sir...?" He mimicked Brooks' voice perfectly. "Are you always this stupid? Or is it just a special occasion? You don't tell someone a problem isn't serious – because then they know the problem is. God, what a moron."
"Fuck you, Hayden. You weren't any more help."
"We'd better get to the Colonel's office," Shawn said, interrupting before they could start arguing again. "We've only got five minutes."
Ian glared at Shawn, and then at River for another moment, but he nodded, and turned without another word. River rolled his eyes and shook his head, then motioned for Shawn to follow him.
"Good luck..." Eric said, softly as the rest of the platoon turned and headed for lunch.
"Thanks."
The Colonel's office was a lot different from Jack's office, Shawn noticed. Despite being nervous that he was going to be the youngest person ever booted out of the Air Force academy on the first day of classes. This office actually looked used. Jack's office looked brand new, because he rarely did anything in it. Except the leg of his desk where Jaffer had chewed it once when he was a puppy. There were stacks of papers on the Colonel's desk, and his in box was empty and his out box was full. Jack's was usually the opposite.
The Colonel had taken his seat in his chair behind the desk, and in front of him on the solid piece of furniture were three files. Shawn saw that top one had River's picture on it. He was pretty sure the others would have his and Ian's. The Colonel left them to stew in their own nervousness for a long moment, standing them at attention in front of his desk while he perused the three files in front of him.
"Ian Michael Brooks..." he finally said, reading, and not looking up. "Newark, New Jersey. Graduated from Fillard High, top 10 percent of your class with honors in every subject you took."
There was a silence, and the Colonel looked up at Ian, who realized that that had been a question of sorts. He straightened even further, if that was possible, and nodded.
"Yes, Sir."
"River Chatfield Hayden..." River glowered when he saw the partial smile form on Ian's face at the reading of his entire name, but the smile faded immediately when the Colonel scowled at Brooks. He wasn't amused, and Ian straightened to attention once more while the Colonel went back to his reading. "San Diego, California. Perfect SAT scores, top in your class, Mensa candidate."
River nodded.
"Yes, Sir."
The Colonel gave the blonde cadet a look Shawn couldn't decipher, and then looked down at his files once more.
"Shawn Lincoln Adams... Colorado Springs, Colorado. Graduated from Ronald Reagan High at 13. Perfect SAT scores and a Presidential order admitting you to the academy."
"Yes, Sir."
The Colonel nodded, folding his hands on the desk in front of him.
"The three of you are brilliant young men. Certainly as smart as anyone on this campus – maybe even including some of the instructors..." He paused, but none of them dared say a word – and they certainly weren't going to agree with him aloud. He slammed his hand down on the desk, and River and Ian both flinched. Shawn was pretty much used to sudden outbursts and had long since gotten over such things. Very little could startle him – not after years of being near Jack, who had a temper that the Lt. Colonel would never be able to match.
"Three brilliant young men, who are too stupid to realize that if they can't control themselves, they'll never be able to control others. An integral part of becoming an officer and a gentleman."
The three of them were still silent, but the Colonel wasn't waiting for an explanation from any of them. "It usually takes weeks for cadets to decide who they don't like – and yet, I think the three of you have found yours in only a morning. Very impressive." His tone made sure that despite his words, the cadets would know he was anything but impressed.
"We have a solution, though. A solution that should resolve this problem efficiently and effectively."
The three were still silent, each of them wondering if that solution included expelling them. Shawn felt his heart drop to his shoes. What would his parents say? God, what would Jack say? How would he ever explain this?
"Cadet Brooks."
"Yes, Sir."
"Upon being dismissed, you will proceed directly to your room, where you will gather your things and take them to the room that Cadet Hayden and Cadet Adams share."
"Sir?"
"That was an order, Mister. In the military when a soldier is given an order he responds in one manner. 'Yes, Sir'."
Brooks stiffened to attention once more.
"Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir."
"The three of you will be sharing a room from now until I say otherwise. You will attend all your classes and physical activities with your platoon, but you will remain in your room during any free time until further notice. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Yes, Sir."
"Yes, Sir."
All of them understood, but it was obvious to Shawn that River and Ian both detested the idea. Shawn was just grateful he wasn't being expelled.
"Another bunk is being placed in the room. It'll cut down on your free space, but at least it'll be nice and cozy." The Colonel gave them all a serious look. "And I intend for it to stay cozy. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Adams, Hayden. You are excused to your room. When Cadet Brooks arrives with his gear, you will all go to lunch together."
"Yes, Sir."
Shawn and River both turned and exited the room, followed only a moment later by Ian when the Colonel excused him. River didn't say a word as they walked down the hallway, but to judge by the thunderous look on his face, Shawn was pretty sure his roommate would have preferred to have Satan himself moving in with them. Shawn wasn't sure about Satan... but he knew that this wasn't going to be fun.