DISCLAIMER: I don't own 24 or any of the characters.
A/N Tony gets a little help during an exercise in boot camp from a high school girl.
Michelle ran her hands through her hair, attempting to tidy the unruly curls temporarily. She slipped her band on the newly formed ponytail and took a deep breath, her cheeks red from the short walk in the icy wind. Hidden behind the oak tree's stout trunk, she was able to watch her mother drive round the corner. A smile spread across her face as she shifted the heavy school bag on her shoulder. She would wait another minute, just to make certain her mother hadn't forgotten anything and return for it, before sneaking back home. After all, three pages of algebra were just too much for one person to complete in a single evening, especially as Kathy's sister had managed to hire the latest horror movie. She shivered as she remembered the previous evening at her friend's house, with the lights turned down, just her four best friends, screaming aloud as the lid had risen on the coffin. Fun as it had been, the algebra had remained undone, so she had resigned herself to remaining at home that day and completing it. Another minute passed and she decided it was safe enough to venture out.
Just as she took the first step an army truck drove up, screeching to a halt on the opposite side of the road. The tallest man Michelle had ever seen leapt from the driver's side, strode around and opened the hatch. 'Get out,' he snapped. 'On the double! I'm in no mood for shit today!'
The breath caught in her throat as she watched a group of men scrambling out, noting their identical uniforms. They were obviously from the base a few miles out of town, training to be Marines, she guessed. She wondered what they were doing so close to the center of town.
'Alright, listen up! The red group is gonna spread out and take some prisoners. You better do, if you wanna hope of watching that movie tonight! Move it.' She watched as half the men disappeared down the street. 'Now blue group, what do you have to do? I wanna hear it, since you all failed this simple test yesterday! Group of school kids would've beaten you blindfolded, and I wasn't necessarily referring to high schoolers!'
Michelle watched, a hand over her mouth to conceal her grin. The scene reminded her of some army comedies she had watched with her friends, where they had discussed the good looks of the soldiers in great detail. She examined the group of recruits before her, unknowingly selecting the best looking one. They all appeared to be listening to the tall man in silence, whose invective followed invective punctuated by a few well timed curses.
'Almeida! Repeat your orders to me. I wanna make certain you understand them this time!'
'Sir, we're supposed to make our way through this hostile town and assemble on the pier to prepare for evacuation at precisely 12:00 hours, sir,' a dark haired man replied stiffly. The breath caught in her throat as he turned his head in her direction and she caught a glimpse of his face. My God. He's so hot!
'Alright. See you remember that, this time! You got yourselves four hours to remain concealed and get to the pier. Don't even think of failing! Dismissed!'
Nose pressed against the trunk she watched the blue group scatter. The dark haired Marine who had been addressed previously appeared to hesitate, his head turning rapidly in both directions before he slipped inside a store. She stared after him wondering what he needed before she remembered she herself was supposed to buy a loaf of bread after school, which was the only reason – at least it was the main reason - she entered the shop a few seconds behind him.
Her loaf of bread secured within seconds, she allowed her eyes to rest on the Marine who carried a bag of rolls in one hand and a packet of sliced cheese in the other. He wandered the store nervously, peering between the shelves before sliding into the next row. Bread in hand she followed, noting him select a tomato and apple and carry them over to the cashier. He paused, smiling at the sight of a packet of dolls' clothes before he added it to the pile. Alert brown eyes never leaving the street, he pulled out his wallet and laid a ten dollar note on the counter.
'Would you like a bag with that?' the shop assistant asked.
'Yeah,' he said, his voice sending a delicious shiver down her spine. Yeah, she repeated silently. Yeah.
'May I help you?'
Michelle jumped, so intent on staring at the Marine that she failed to notice the girl had now turned to her. Wordless, she passed her loaf of bread across, laying her handful of coins on the counter.
'You need another five cents, honey,' the woman told her.
She blinked, startled back to reality. 'Another five?'
'Sure. It's gone up this week.'
'I haven't got another five,' Michelle admitted, her cheeks scarlet with shame as she poked desperately through her pockets. 'I'll come back…'
'Here,' the Marine said, laying a coin on the counter.
Tongue-tied, she stared at him. 'Thanks.'
'Sure. You don't wanna keep coming back,' he said, his tone indicating he was experienced in that time wasting pursuit. 'Always take some extra, you'll need it!' He strode towards the door, drawing back at the sight of two Marines.
Michelle glanced at him inquisitively as she collected her loaf. 'Aren't you coming out?'
'Yeah, in a minute. Do me a favor, would you? Watch which way those Marines go.'
Intrigued, she nodded, stepping outside the store. She laid her bag on the ground and unzipped it, keeping the departing Marines in her periphery. 'You can come out now, they've gone,' she assured 'her' Marine as she struggled to close her bag over the bread. 'They went straight down the street.'
He nodded his thanks, taking a final quick glance down the street to make certain no one else was visible. 'Thanks.'
'Wait a minute, where are you going?' she asked him, lifting her awkwardly bulging school bag. 'Why are you hiding? Did you do anything wrong?'
'No, it's an exercise,' he explained, pushing open the door and peering cautiously outside. The icy pacific gale appeared to have deterred the town's inhabitants from venturing outdoors, and the entire street appeared deserted. Still he hesitated, leaning against the door and listening, though what he expected to hear above the wind she couldn't imagine.
'What exercise?' she questioned, clutching her bag closer against her to avoid it carried away by the gale.
He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, the look of alertness never leaving his features. 'We're supposed to be stranded in hostile territory,' he told her, his eyes roaming the street. He took a step outside and she followed, inexplicably drawn to him. 'We got to get through town and make our way to the beach within four hours without being captured. I gotta go.'
'No, wait,' she said, stepping in front of him. 'I know a shortcut. It's a lot less windy!'
The dark eyes glanced at her for a second before he nodded. 'Okay.' She led the way down a side street and into a narrow alley, the howl of the wind diminishing. She noticed him watching her and pushed her stray curls back, longing for straight hair. Here she was, alone with the cutest guy in town, and she looked as though she had just climbed out of bed! Her face turned red.
'Who did you buy the toys for?' she asked, leading the way past some bins, noting her companion stopped to peer behind them before following her. 'Have you got kids?' It would be a little early, but she was aware things happened unexpectedly.
'No,' he said, rubbing his face. 'It's for my youngest sister,' he explained briefly, pressing himself against a wall and peering round a corner. Satisfied, he crossed the road, walking beside her. 'Aren't you supposed to be at school today?' he asked, darting her a quick glance.
Michelle blushed. 'Mom said I could stay home. I was sick,' she lied, groaning inwardly. Had she misjudged him? He had appeared to be so kind before in the shop. Would he report her? He was a soldier after all, and that was surely similar to a policeman. She leaned against a lamp post, slightly dizzy.
'Hey, are you okay?' the Marine asked her in a gentle tone, taking her wrist and feeling her pulse, his eyes fixed on the deserted alley. 'Your heart's racing! You wanna sit down?'
'No, I'm fine,' she answered, more humiliated than ever before. 'You're not gonna mention me, are you? I really was sick, this morning.'
The Marine's eyes opened wider and he chuckled softly. 'Why would I do that? You think I never played hooky?' he asked, his eyes sparkling.
The breath caught in her throat. He was even more handsome than before, when he smiled. 'What's your name?' she asked, before she could stop herself.
'Tony Almeida,' he replied, glancing at the alley again. 'You wanna tell me what else you got planned for today, apart from getting me to the beach?' His eyes twinkled and she blushed, aware he was watching her hair.
Irritated, she pushed it back. 'I was gonna stay home and finish all my homework,' she admitted with a sigh. 'It's not that exciting, is it?' He shook his head, peering behind a fence. 'There were a coupla parties last week, so I didn't have time,' she concluded, and he nodded again. 'I got three pages of algebra,' she groaned, amazed she was speaking so freely to the stranger.
'That's kinda a lot,' he commented, glancing at her again out of the corner of his eyes. 'You sure that's one day's homework?'
Michelle laughed, noting his humor. 'Hardly. A couple of us were passing notes around, so we got three to do. Everyone else just got one.'
'And you're good at it?' he inquired, walking a little slower.
She slowed, dismayed to note he had noticed her struggle to keep up with him. 'Not really. I usually give it to my brother, but he's away now. It'll take me all night,' she sighed. 'You don't know how lucky you are. It must be great, being a Marine.'
He gave her a strange expression, before grabbing her by the hand and pulling her behind a pile of bins. 'Shh!'
She fell silent, watching an officer approaching their position from the other side of the alley. The Marine's face appeared paler, his body motionless as the man walked past them. She noticed he had a hard look on his face, his sharp features set in stone. For some inexplicable reason his presence made her nervous. She assumed her companion's unease filtered through to her.
'Who was that?' she breathed, once they resumed their journey.
'My D.I.' he replied, casting a glance backwards. 'You think school's bad, just come spend a coupla days at boot camp.' To her dismay he failed to elaborate, continuing to walk a little faster.
'We got to turn left now,' Michelle told him, hurrying to keep up. 'He looks mean,' she remarked, hoping to get a few stories, but the Marine remained silent. 'Does he yell a lot?'
'He's a sergeant, it's his job,' he told her, rubbing his face.
'Does he yell at you?' she asked, wishing he would talk more.
'Sometimes. Is it far to the beach?'
'We're almost there,' she told him, pointing ahead. 'That's my house, the one with the blue door, and the beach is right behind it.'
The Marine stopped, leaning against a wall, glancing at his watch out of the corner of his eyes. 'You wanna go get your algebra,' he asked, to her amazement. 'Seeing that we're already at the beach I got about three hours to kill.'
Michelle's mouth fell open and she closed it rapidly. Was this handsome soldier actually offering to do her homework? Could she really hand him anything so tedious? On the other hand, did she want a letter home the next day? She looked at him carefully, noting his serious expression. 'I'll go get it,' she told him in a rush.
'Listen, I got to find some sheltered spot where I can write it up and remain concealed,' he said, glancing down the street again. 'You got a garden shed or someplace like that?'
'It's a little cold,' she said, hating the thought of him sitting on the chilly floor. 'The library's five minutes walk that way. They got plenty of desks and it's warm.'
Eyes narrowed, he considered the suggestion.
'I could keep a look out for you, to see if anyone's coming after you,' she offered, hoping he'd agreed.
'Sounds okay,' he decided. 'Lead the way.' He tucked her notebook into his uniform, pulling the jacket tighter round himself as they rounded the corner and the full blast of the wind hit them. 'Carefully, hah.'
She slowed instantly, giving him time to peer round the corner before they entered the street. The wind caught them from behind propelling them forward. 'I'll go in first and see if it's clear,' she offered and he gave her a brief nod.
The library was deserted with the exception of an old woman peering at a cook book. Michelle checked each aisle before joining the Marine, who was devouring the remainder of his second roll, three slices of cheese in his hand. He grinned at her sheepishly. 'I missed breakfast.'
She nodded, uncertain what to reply.
He walked round the library, his dark eyes studying its layout before he selected a desk concealed behind several shelves. 'Okay. If you gimme a pen I'll get started. Let me know if anyone enters.'
Michelle hunted through her pencil case and handed him a black biro. An eye on the glass door, she allowed herself to glance occasionally at her 'friend' who studied each question through narrowed eyes before noting something in her exercise book. That's unbelievable. He figures it out in his head. The guy's a genius! Half distracted, she glanced up a fraction of a second later than usual in time to make out two pairs of boots entering the building.
'They're coming,' she gasped, horrified. Why now? No one ever comes to this library!
The Marine nodded at her briefly, his eyes searching the room from behind the nearest bookcase. 'Dammit. They're fanning out,' he cursed. Noting her questioning look he shook his head. 'I can't afford to get captured this time.'
'I know a place where you'll be safe though you might not like it much…' Michelle told him as an idea flashed through her. 'Come on.'
He followed, head bent well down behind the final row. 'They'll look in there,' he sighed, shaking his head at the bathroom.
'No they won't,' she assured him, pushing the ladies' door open. 'Hurry up.'
His cheeks darkened. 'I can't…'
'There's no one here. You must,' she urged, giving him a much needed shove not a fraction of a second too soon as the two Marines in the opposite group rounded the bookshelves simultaneously from opposite angles. One of them opened the men's room, returning a second later.
'It's clear.'
Tony remained pressed against the door, his eyes on the ground. Michelle threw him a reassuring smile and pushed the door open, stepping into the library. She pushed her hands through her curls and removed a book from the nearest shelf aware of the Marines' eyes boring into her. She desperately wished they would leave, aware how her 'own' Marine felt about his hiding spot.
'You didn't see anyone else in there?' one of them inquired, leaning over her book.
She jumped violently. 'No. No, it's empty,' she stammered clutching the book to her.
The Marine nodded. 'Interesting book, that,' he observed. She nodded, glancing down at the book in her hands.
Oh God, oh God. I had to pick this one! 'I've always been interested in Engels' work,' she said forcing her voice to steady. 'I'm studying this book at the moment for history. "Anti Dühring and the Dialectics of Nature" is his best work.'
The Marine's eyebrows rose fractionally. 'If you say so.' He took the book from her, an eye on her curls. 'You're reading chapter 13 "Negation of the Negation."'
Michelle nodded, wishing desperately she had the faintest idea what the chapter title meant. 'I've just started!' Please, please don't ask me anything about any of this! Please go.
The Marine nodded again. 'I won't keep you,' he said, undressing her with his eyes. 'You ever want to go to a movie or something, I'll be real happy to come. You must be sick of high school boys by now. I'm real good. No one's ever complained!' He left, leaving her with a parting smirk. She leaned against the bookcase trembling as they sauntered out before she stuffed the book back onto the shelf.
'You okay,' her Marine asked gently, his eyes focused on her.
She nodded, chewing her lip so hard it bled.
'Don't pay any attention to Davis. He's a bastard.' The slightly harder tone caused her to risk a glance at his face. Oh no. He hates that guy. He looks like he's thinking of going after him right now.
'I'm okay,' she repeated, twisting a stand of hair round her fingers.
He hesitated momentarily before giving her a brief nod. 'Okay. Let's finish your algebra,' he said, throwing her a grin. 'By the way, you should've asked Davis what his thoughts are about the dialectics of nature. It would've been interesting!'
They remained in the warm library another two hours, Tony working on her algebra while she amused herself with a novel, an eye on the door every time it opened. After a while he finished and she tucked it into her coat.
'I gotta get to the beach now,' he said. 'We gotta assemble at the pier by 12:00 and hopefully get taken back for lunch!'
She nodded, leading him back to the pier, her eyes peeled on their surroundings. His quiet assurance that she would make a fine Marine thrilled her. A pang of regret filled her as the pier came into view, quite a few Marines assembled round it. 'Tony, thanks,' she said, and he nodded briefly, before turning to join a group of Marines on the pier. She followed at a distance, unwilling to return home. If she was honest with herself she wanted to see the D.I. (whatever that meant) and hear him yelling. Settling herself behind some coastal vegetation, she watched her Marine (well, she knew him a bit) walk over to the group.
'Almeida! Well well, wonders never cease!' the D.I. cried, his hard voice floating over to her easily on the wind. 'You actually made it. Record time, too! No hard luck stories today about old ladies stopping you on the street and asking directions?'
The young man flushed, pulling himself straighter. 'Sir no, sir,' he said, while the sergeant looked him over. Michelle wondered why he didn't join the rest of the men on the pier.
'Don't imagine this will get you off, tonight!' the D.I. snapped. 'You're still confined to quarters and you can re-evaluate yesterday's dismal performance. Is that clear?'
'Sir yes sir,' Tony replied, his voice harder to hear in the wind.
'Dismissed. Wait a moment, come back,' he snapped, as Tony turned to leave. Michelle leaned forward, unable to imagine what else he could possibly want. 'What the hell happened to your uniform?' He walked around Tony, pointing to his jacket. 'You call this clean? You're on report, Almeida. You've got K.P. tomorrow morning!'
'Sir, I got sentry duty tomorrow,' the Marine objected, and Michelle's heart ached. He remained ramrod straight in the icy wind, eyes straight ahead.
'So you do. Fine, you've got K.P. on Thursday. Have I dismissed you?' he snapped, as Tony shifted his weight. 'You'll stand here till I give you leave to go!' He turned to another returning private, leaving Tony standing by himself at attention on the shore.
For a fleeting moment, Michelle entertained the idea of racing across the beach and giving the D.I. a push, picturing him swimming in the powerful surf. Only for a moment, however, as it was unlikely he would move more than an inch judging by his build, and he would probably be outraged and throw her into the water instead. A stronger gust of wind pushed her, and the heavens opened. She pulled her coat tighter round her and tied her hood on, her hair already soaked in the short time it took her to do so. Surely the D.I. character would take his men back to their barracks. She sighed, disappointed that her friend would soon leave.
'So it's raining a little,' he yelled, his voice clear over the deluge. 'Stand up like Marines. Do you seriously imagine you're ready to be deployed next week?' (So he would leave, next week.) Tears filled her eyes which she angrily brushed away, telling herself it was the rain. 'I've yet to see a sorrier group of mommy's boys in my life! Alright, we'll return to barracks, get out of the rain. WHO SAID THAT?' he bellowed in such fury that an icy shiver ran down her back, though she was certain he couldn't see her. 'Front and center, Almeida. What the hell do you mean, "what rain?"'
She pushed her face to the very edge of the knee high grass determined to hear his answer, but the wind and waves drowned his words out. 'Really,' the D.I. yelled. 'I'll bet you're sorry, and you'll be sorrier still. You can stay out here for a while; the rain might calm you down. Attention.' Tony pulled himself straight and the merciless D.I. nodded. 'Alright, at least I've managed to teach you that much. Dismissed.' The rest of the Marines trudged back to their barracks, a mile further down the coast. 'I'll be back later, Almeida! Move a muscle, you'll regret it.' He turned and trudged after his men, overtaking them within seconds.
Michelle remained where she was for another minute, breathing heavily. Her friend (well, she barely knew him but she would certainly never forget him) stood as still as a statue, swaying only in the strongest gusts. She crawled away, returned home and removed her wet things, rubbing her hair in a towel. She was freezing despite her dry clothes; she could only imagine what it would be like out on the beach. "We gotta assemble on the pier by 12:00 and hopefully get taken back for lunch." Dammit, he's starving. He missed breakfast and he's about to miss lunch as well. Making up her mind, she ran to the kitchen, putting on a kettle before she had time to think better of her actions.
This time, the Marine's face was hard as he caught sight of her. 'What the hell are you doin' out here?' he snapped, and she blinked away a few tears. He obviously hated her bothering him, despite having been so kind an hour ago. 'It's pouring.'
'I brought you something,' she yelled above the wind, rain and pounding waves. She opened her bag and handed him a sandwich, resolved to give him everything she brought, even if he did hate her. He was obviously cold, soaked to the skin. 'It's lunchtime! Don't worry, I know how to make ham sandwiches,' she assured him, pulling out the second item she'd prepared. 'I made you coffee.'
He appeared a little more interested. 'Coffee?' He took the flask eagerly, his hands ice cold as they brushed against hers. 'You know, if my D.I. returns and sees this…'
'I'll tell him I asked you to help me open it,' she said, relieved to hear his voice a little less hostile. 'But he's not here.'
'Don't be that sure. He's got a habit of appearing suddenly,' Tony told her, devouring the sandwich and drinking the coffee. 'Tell me you didn't just watch the whole thing out there?' He nodded his head at the pier and she blushed crimson, unable to meet his eyes. What on earth would he think of her now? Surely no normal girl would ever pursue an unknown soldier? She sniffed, feeling tears prick her eyes again.
He sighed, handing her back the empty flask. 'You remind me of my little sisters,' he told her kindly. 'I got two around your age. Now listen to me, ah…'
'Michelle,' she told him, thrilled he'd asked. It appeared he had forgiven her spying on him.
'Michelle. You must go back home now, and stay there. There's a real storm coming.' He stared at her, meeting her eyes. 'You gotta promise me you'll do that, okay?'
'What about you?' she protested, barely able to stand upright.
'I'll be fine,' he insisted. 'Go now.'
She lingered another minute, noting his hair plastered to his forehead. 'But you're terribly wet.'
'Michelle,' he snapped, and she jumped, seeing his eyes flash. 'If you don't leave right now, I'll have to take you home, and if Sergeant Wills comes back and doesn't find me here, he won't be real pleased. Look, there's lightening.' He pointed over the ocean, and she noticed the small flash. 'Hurry up, okay?'
She nodded, making no attempt to move. 'You're being deployed next week.'
'Yeah. But…'
'Where are you going?'
He shook his head. 'They haven't said, yet. Michelle, look, you gotta go now, it's not safe here.'
She lingered a final moment, hating the thought of him in danger abroad. 'You'll be careful, won't you?' she pressed. 'When they send you away.'
His eyes flickered for a moment. 'Yeah,' he agreed, his voice softer than before. 'I know how to take care of myself. Look, that was closer.' A crack of thunder shook the ground making her jump. 'Go now!'
'Thanks for all your help' she said, racing across the dunes. 'And take care!' You'll stop crying this instant, Michelle Dessler! So he's going away, but you hardly know him. He certainly wouldn't be interested in you. You remind him of those young sisters he mentioned! She sniffed as she unlocked her door and slid inside. Please let me see him again, she prayed unaware of what she was doing. The next thunderclap shook the house and she pressed herself against the couch. You just never know. Stranger things have happened.