Disclaimer: The Rat Patrol is not my property. They come out to play sometimes, then I send them home.

Flipped

By Suzie2b

Troy and Moffitt walked into the motor pool where Tully was waiting with his jeep. Troy looked around and asked, "Where's Hitch?"

Tully shrugged. "I was hopin' you'd know. His jeep is gone too."

Troy and Moffitt looked at each other and Troy said, "Tully, go check his quarters. If he's not there, check with Daisy."

"Right, sarge."

As Tully hurried away, Moffitt said, "This isn't like Hitch."

Troy shook his head. "No, it's not. Let's hope he just overslept."

A half-hour later Tully jogged up to the sergeants. "He wasn't in his quarters and his roommate said he wasn't there all night. I found Daisy. She said Hitch was supposed to meet her last night, but never showed up."

Troy frowned and said, "We'd better go talk to Captain Boggs."

#################

After explaining the situation to the captain, Boggs said, "All right, I'll assign another unit to your patrol. I don't want to report Hitchcock as AWOL, so go find him."

Outside again Troy stopped and said, "Tully, go check out anyplace you think Hitch might be. Moffitt, check the Arab quarter and keep your ears open. I'll see what I can find around here."

Tully said, "But he's not here, sarge. He took the jeep…"

"Anyone could've taken the jeep by accident or by design. We need to make sure he's not on base before we go off searching for him in the desert."

Moffitt said, "It would help if we knew a possible reason why Hitch has gone missing."

"It could be anything. An argument with someone, an old girlfriend…"

Tully blinked as something came to mind. "Sarge, I might have an idea why he's missing."

Troy and Moffitt both looked at the private and Troy said, "Okay, spill it."

"He and I got into an argument yesterday."

"Over what?"

Tully explained, "Well, yesterday morning when I got to the motor pool to help service and resupply the jeeps, Hitch complained that I was late. I did sleep in a bit. I thought he was kidding around so I told him I didn't need to be there at all since it was supposed to be our day off. I realized too late that he was out of sorts. He started accusing me of shirking my duties." Tully shrugged. "That got me mad. One thing led to another and I ended up walking away."

Moffitt asked, "And that was the last time you saw him?"

"Yeah, I went back later because the jeeps still needed to be taken care of, but he wasn't there."

Troy asked, "Was his jeep here then?"

Tully nodded. "It was. In fact he serviced my jeep and resupplied both before he left the motor pool."

"Did you try to find him?"

"No. Since the jeeps were taken care of I thought he might've cooled off some. I figured I'd wait 'til this morning to apologize and thank him."

Moffitt questioned, "What time was it when you returned to the motor pool?"

Tully replied, "It was about 1pm."

Troy looked at his watch. "It's 8:30am. We'll meet in the mess hall at noon."

#################

Moffitt wandered into the mess hall a minute or two after noon. He saw Troy and Tully were already there. After getting a mug of tea, Moffitt slid into the chair next to Troy. "Any luck?"

Troy and Tully both shook their heads. Troy asked, "You find anything?"

"Not a thing."

Tully asked worriedly, "What now?"

Troy sighed. "The only thing I can think of…" He was interrupted by the delivery of a message.

After Troy unfolded the piece of paper and read it, Moffitt asked, "What is it?"

Troy replied, "It's from Captain Boggs. We're to report to Major Gleason's office immediately."

The three of them hurried to headquarters and went upstairs to the major's office. His secretary let them in and closed the door. Captain Boggs and another captain were there.

Troy, Moffitt, and Tully saluted and Troy said, "Reporting as ordered, sir."

Gleason said, "At ease, men. Captain Boggs has told me that one of your men is missing, Sergeant Troy."

The sergeant frowned, but said, "Yes, sir, it looks that way."

Captain Boggs said, "I wasn't intending to bother the major with this, but I had a visit from a Private Davis. Do you know him?"

Tully said, "I know a Leon Davis. He's a mechanic in the motor pool."

Boggs nodded. "He heard through the grape vine that Private Hitchcock is missing. He told me that you and Hitchcock got into an argument in the motor pool."

Troy said, "Sergeant Moffitt and I were made aware of it a bit earlier, captain."

Before Gleason or Boggs had another chance to speak, the second captain in the room said, "I also heard that this man is missing with no explanation."

"I don't know you, captain."

"I'm Captain Hunter with Judge Advocate General's office."

Moffitt frowned as he said, "You wasted no time getting here, sir."

Hunter said, "I was already here finishing up another case. I heard there was a problem and volunteered my services." No one offered any information. "Is there a possibility that Private Hitchcock went AWOL?"

Tully snapped angrily, "Hitch wouldn't do that!"

Troy put a hand on his friend's arm. "Easy, Tully. The captain has to ask certain questions."

Hunter smirked slightly. "You have quite a temper, don't you, Private…"

"Pettigrew, sir … Tully Pettigrew."

"Can you tell me what the fight was about between you and Private Hitchcock?"

Tully looked at Troy, who gave a nod. "It was an argument, sir, not a knock down drag out fight. Hitch was upset because he thought I was a little later getting to the motor pool then I shoulda been. We exchanged some words and I walked away."

Hunter nodded. "And that was the last time you saw Private Hitchcock?"

"Yes, sir."

"When did you notice he was missing?"

Tully explained, "We were supposed to go out on patrol this morning. When I got to the motor pool I saw that his jeep was gone. When Troy and Moffitt showed up I knew something was wrong."

Captain Hunter looked at Troy and asked, "Have you looked for your missing man, sergeant?"

Troy said evenly, "Yes, captain. As soon as we realized he was missing, we reported it to Captain Boggs. We spent the next three and a half hours searching the base and the Arab quarter. There was no sign of him."

"And your next step would be?"

"The desert, sir. There are a few places he might go if he just wanted to be alone."

Hunter questioned, "But he didn't come back. Isn't that a bit … suspicious, sergeant?"

Troy took a breath. "Suspicious how, sir."

"There was a heated argument between two of your men. Now one of them is missing…"

Tully snarled, "He's tryin' to say I killed Hitch!"

Major Gleason stepped in with, "That's enough. I know these men, Captain Hunter. They're a tight unit. I have no reason to suspect foul play."

Hunter said, "It's happened before, major. I have to look at it from every angle. Does he usually leave the base without telling anyone where he's going?"

Troy said, "No, he normally tells one of us."

Gleason said, "Troy, you said there are a few places where Hitchcock may be."

"Yes, sir. It could be that the jeep broke down or he somehow got hurt. I'd like your permission to go look for him."

"You've got it, sergeant."

Hunter said, "I'll agree to this with stipulations."

Troy asked, "What would they be, captain?"

"One – you and Sergeant Moffitt have to be back here by nightfall and report that you've returned to either the major or Captain Boggs."

"All right."

Hunter continued, "And two – Pettigrew stays here."

Tully protested, "No!"

"He's a suspect. I cannot in good conscious let him off this base. I must insist on this."

Major Gleason sighed. "All right. Private Pettigrew, you are confined to your quarters until further notice."

Tully tried to plead, "But sir…"

Gleason held up his hand to stop him and said, "Let's just play this his way for now."

"Yes, major."

Hunter said, "You should call for an armed escort…"

Gleason thought his mood couldn't get any darker when he interrupted, "Private Pettigrew, can I trust you to go home and stay there?"

"Yes, sir."

Hunter asked, "Where are your quarters, private?"

Tully replied, "I have a small apartment in the Arab quarter, captain."

"That won't do. I want him confined on base."

Gleason looked at Captain Boggs, who said, "I'll assign him to one of the visitors' quarters, sir."

The major gave a nod and looked at Hunter. "Satisfied?"

The captain said, "Yes, major … but about the escort…"

Troy said, "Moffitt and I will take care of that."

Captain Boggs said, "Come with me to my office. I'll assign quarters and you all can be on your way."

The walk to the visitors' barracks was silent. When they arrived at the quarters Boggs had given him, Tully went inside.

Troy handed him the key and said, "Promise me that the only time you'll leave this room is to use the toilet."

Tully said, "Don't worry. I'll stay put. Have someone tell Charley what's goin' on, okay? And keep me informed."

"We'll tell her before we leave. We'll come by when we get back."

#################

Back in the motor pool Moffitt asked as he slid into passenger seat, "Where do we start?"

Troy got in behind the wheel and started the jeep. "Hitch once told me about a place not far from here where he goes to 'think'. We don't have much time left in the day, so I thought I'd start there."

Less than an hour later, the sergeants arrived at an old waterhole. The well had dried up long ago, but there was plenty of cover and shade from the palm trees.

Hitch wasn't there, but they started to have a look around anyway.

Moffitt said, "There are jeep tracks. He could've been here."

Troy found footprints and a blob of pink half covered with sand. "He was here all right."

Moffitt joined him as Troy pushed at the blob with the toe of his boot. "Bubblegum?"

"Yep." Troy looked around and said, "Hitch probably came here first."

"But where did he go when he left?"

The sergeants walked back to the spot where it was obvious that Hitch had parked the jeep and gotten out. They examined the tracks and Troy said, "He came in the same way we did."

Moffitt nodded. "And it would appear Hitch left going east. So he didn't head back to base when he drove away from here."

Troy stared out at the desert to the east. "What's out there?"

"Not much. The Allies hold most of it. I've heard there's a battalion dug in about a hundred miles from here to the east."

"Let's head out that way for a while. Maybe we'll get lucky."

Moffitt asked, "What if we don't get lucky?"

Troy replied, "Then we'll pick it up tomorrow and keep going."

They followed the tracks east for an hour, but didn't see any sign of the jeep or Hitch. There wasn't even anyplace to get out of the sun.

After checking all around with binoculars, Troy sighed and said, "We'd better head back to base. Captain Hunter will no doubt be waiting to make sure we report in."

Troy and Moffitt knocked on Major Gleason's door just as the sun disappeared on the horizon. Captain Hunter was in the office when the sergeants entered.

Gleason asked, "Find anything?"

Troy said, "We went to an area Hitchcock is known to frequent. It looked like he'd been there. There were jeep tracks and footprints."

Hunter questioned, "How can you be sure these tracks belonged to Hitchcock?"

"We went to a spot where he goes on occasion to be alone. Along with the tracks was a wad of bubblegum in the sand."

"Bubblegum? What's that got to do with anything?"

Moffitt said as evenly as he could, "Private Hitchcock enjoys chewing bubblegum. Is there a problem with that?"

Before Hunter could make a comment and Gleason asked, "Could you tell which direction he went when he left?"

"East, sir."

Troy said, "We followed the tracks for about an hour, major, but we had to turn around to get back here before our curfew. We plan on picking the trail up again early tomorrow."

Moffitt said, "Sir, I've heard there's a battalion north of us here. Would it be possible to confirm that?"

Gleason opened a drawer and retrieved a binder. "If they're out there, it'll be in here." He flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for. "There was a battalion out there, sergeant. It was repositioned two weeks ago." He wrote down the coordinates and handed the paper to Moffitt and said, "This is where the battalion was. Perhaps it will be helpful."

"Thank you, sir. It could be a lead."

Troy asked, "Can we go see Pettigrew, major? I'd like to keep him updated."

Captain Hunter said, "That's not a good idea…"

Major Gleason ignored the comment. "I don't see why not, sergeant. If I were in his position, I'd want to know what's going on too."

When Troy and Moffitt arrived at the visitors' quarters, Charley was leaving with a tray of empty dinner dishes. Troy asked, "How's he doing?"

Charley sighed. "Tully's okay considering the circumstances. Did you have any luck?"

"Tracks and bubblegum at a waterhole he uses at times."

"Well, that's something anyway."

Moffitt said, "We're going to pick up where we left off tomorrow."

Charley nodded. "Okay. I'll let Daisy know what's going on. She's really worried. Tully's been waiting for you."

#################

Early the next morning Troy and Moffitt went to the mess hall for a quick breakfast.

Troy sat down across from his friend and watched Moffitt take a map out of his pocket. "Have an idea?"

Moffitt took the piece of paper with the battalion's old coordinates and set it next to the map before he picked up his fork. "Possibly." He chewed and swallowed a bite of his scrambled eggs, then said, "If by some chance Hitch was going to that battalion, he wouldn't have had a clue that it had been relocated."

"The question is why would he go out there?"

Moffitt shrugged. "I've no idea. I was thinking we should go straight out to where the battalion was located and see if we find anything. We can always backtrack if we need to."

As they ate, the sergeants discussed and plotted a course on the map.

Soon Troy and Moffitt were on their way. Using their plotted course it would take several hours to get to where the battalion had been located.

They didn't expect to see any German activity along the way, since they were in Allied held territory, but it paid to be vigilant.

And their vigilance did pay off. About halfway to their destination, the sergeants saw a German patrol. While Moffitt noted the location, Troy quickly and carefully drove around the Germans so as not to be seen.

However, they both wondered silently it Hitch had been captured.

When Troy and Moffitt arrived at the coordinates Major Gleason had given them, they got out of the jeep and began to have a look around.

Tracks of many different vehicles were pressed into the sand. They took into account that the battalion had moved two weeks prior and concentrated on looking for fresh tracks.

Troy called out, "I've got jeep tracks here!"

Moffitt hurried over. "There are tracks over there that appear to be made by German vehicles. Could be that patrol we saw."

"Could be."

Moffitt studied the tracks and pointed out at a set of dunes. "It looks like whoever was in this jeep went out that way." He spotted another set of fresh tracks and said, "Looks like he was followed."

Troy gave a nod. "Let's shake it."

#################

Charley hummed to herself as she entered the barracks carrying a tray that held the lunch she planned to share with Tully. As she started up the stairs, she could a voice. Whoever it was sounded angry.

As she rounded the corner to go down the hallway to Tully's quarters, she stopped as a man, who was standing in front of Tully's door, said loudly, "We need to talk, Pettigrew! Things will go easier if we do this now!"

Charley walked up to him and asked, "Excuse me, captain. Is there something I can do for you?"

Hunter looked at the young woman and said, "Who are you?"

"I'm here to deliver lunch to Private Pettigrew."

"Well, maybe you can help me. The private has locked himself in there and won't let me in to talk to him."

Charley asked, "And who might you be?

"Captain Hunter. I'm with JAG and working the case involving Pettigrew and a missing man."

"I see. Let me talk to the private."

Hunter took a step back from the door. "Be my guest."

Charley balanced the tray on one hand and knocked on the door with the other. "It's me, Tully. I have lunch."

The lock clicked and the door opened. Tully glared at Hunter as he took the tray and ushered Charley inside.

Hunter actually thought he was going in as well, but Tully quickly shut the door in his face and locked it.

Tully set the tray on the table. "What'd he say to you?"

Charley replied, "Just that he wants to talk to you."

"He's been out there for the better part of an hour wanting to 'talk' to me and making threats about what will happen if I don't cooperate with the investigation."

"Why don't you just talk to him?"

Tully shook his head. "Not without a witness. Anything I have to say will be heard by a second party. I told Hunter that."

Charley thought for a moment, then asked, "Would Captain Boggs do as a witness?"

"He'd be perfect."

"Okay, give me a sec." Charley went to the door and opened it enough so she could squeeze out into the hallway. "I had a talk with Private Pettigrew, sir. He is willing to talk to you, but not without a witness."

Hunter glowered. "A witness isn't necessary. I just want to ask a few questions."

"I'm sorry, captain, but he wants full disclosure…"

"That's a big word for a little girl."

Charley ignored the comment and said, "He doesn't want the facts to be twisted. I suggested Captain Boggs as a witness and Private Pettigrew agreed." Hunter went to the wall across the hall and kicked it angrily. "I assume you're looking for any facts as to what has happened to Private Hitchcock. I would hate to think that you're just trying to hang an innocent man."

Hunter spun around and opened his mouth to say something, but thought better of it and said, "I'll go speak to Captain Boggs."

"Thank you, sir."

Hunter took a deep breath and stalked off. Charley went back inside the room.

Tully gave his wife a hug. "Thanks, sweetheart. He just wouldn't listen to me."

Charley smiled and said, "Well, let's eat lunch. I have a feeling Captain Boggs will be sending for you shortly."

Tully sat down as Charley set a plate of food in front of him before taking the second plate for herself and sat down.

Tully asked, "How's Daisy doing?"

Charley swallowed a bite of her lunch. "She's worried of course, but she's holding it together. Working keeps her busy and passes the time."

"Is she mad at me?"

"Why would she be mad at you?"

Tully said, "Captain Hunter has people believin' that I killed Hitch."

Charley smiled slightly. "Oh that. Well, Daisy doesn't believe you did anything to Hitch. He'll turn up, Tully, don't worry."

#################

Following the tracks Troy drove towards the dunes. He slowed as he rounded one of the dunes, not knowing what to expect. The first thing they saw was the jeep … upside down.

Troy stopped the jeep and slid out of the seat as he took a machine gun out of its fender holster. "Keep your eyes open."

Moffitt nodded as he too got out and grabbed the other machine gun.

Troy cautiously walked around the flipped jeep. The radio's mic had been pulled out from under it, as if someone had tried to use it and a kepi laying half under the passenger side. He got down and looked underneath, but found no one. Troy wasn't sure if that was good or bad, but at least there was a chance that Hitch was alive.

The sergeant stood up with the kepi in hand and looked around, then yelled, "Hitch!" Silence. "Hitch!"

A blond head popped up from between the dunes. "Sarge?"

Both Troy and Moffitt breathed a sigh of relief. Troy called, "Get down here."

Hitch hurried down to meet the sergeants and Troy asked, "Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm all right, sarge. After that stupid argument I had with Tully, I just wanted to be alone for a while. I went to the waterhole…"

Troy handed the kepi to the private and said, "Yeah, we thought those tracks were yours. What're you doing out here?"

Hitch sighed. "The longer I thought about it, the more mad I got at myself for yelling at Tully. It wasn't his fault I wasn't feeling up to snuff that morning. I decided to go talk to a friend of mine. He and his unit were assigned to the battalion that was out here. But when I got here they were gone."

"They got repositioned a couple of weeks ago. Why didn't you just come to Moffitt or me?"

"No offense, sarge, but I was sort of wanting to talk to someone a little impartial. Kevin doesn't really know Tully. I figured he'd be honest when he told me I was an idiot."

Troy smiled as he said jokingly, "I could be honest telling you that too."

Hitch snorted with a tired smile and Moffitt asked, "How did the jeep flip over?"

The private replied, "A German patrol showed up while I was stopped where the battalion had been. I took off, but two of their halftracks followed me. I came here knowing there was a place to hide up in the dunes. If I could get the jeep into that depression where I was, they'd have thought I got away from them. Halfway up the sand shifted, the jeep turned over and threw me clear. I had just enough time to hide. I got into the depression and covered myself with sand. They never saw me."

"You're sure you're all right?"

Hitch nodded. "A few bruises, but I'm fine."

Troy asked, "Did you try the radio?"

"Yeah, but it was dead."

"Okay, now that we've got you let's right the jeep and head back to base so we can get Tully out of trouble."

Hitch frowned. "Why's Tully in trouble?"

Moffitt smiled slightly. "The lawyer from JAG thinks Tully killed you because of the argument you two had."

"He's been arrested?"

Troy said, "Not yet, but Major Gleason had to have him confined to quarters to satisfy Captain Hunter."

Hitch asked, "Who's Captain Hunter?"

"The JAG lawyer … never mind, we'll explain it all later. Get the rope and we'll get this jeep back on its wheels."

#################

Later that afternoon they arrived at Ras Tanura. They parked the jeeps outside headquarters and hurried inside.

As they walked towards the stairs, a squeal was heard by everyone within earshot. When Hitch turned, he was suddenly hit full force by one very excited Daisy Moore. He held her and accepted the lingering kiss she bestowed on him.

Finally Daisy said, "I knew they'd find you! I didn't believe for a second that Tully killed you!"

Charley stood in the doorway of the couriers' office and grinned at the sight.

Troy and Moffitt untangled the couple as Troy said, "Sorry, Daisy, but we have some things to straighten out upstairs."

Daisy took a step back and said, "Of course." She looked at Hitch. "I'll see you later."

Hitch smiled. "You bet you will."

Upstairs Troy, Moffitt, and Hitch went to Major Gleason's office. His secretary smiled when she saw Hitch and said, "Go on in."

When the major saw Hitch, he stood up and said, "Good to see you're alive, private."

Hitch gave a nod. "Thank you, sir."

Gleason called for his secretary, "Margaret!"

She opened the door and put her head in. "Yes, sir?"

"Find Captain Hunter! I want him here immediately!"

"Already done, major. He's questioning Private Davis again and should be on his way shortly. And next time use the phone."

Gleason sputtered, "Phones are completely overrated. Look how quickly you responded to my call."

Margaret smiled. "Most everyone on the floor responded. Will that be all, sir?"

The major gave her a backhanded wave. "Of course that will be all. Get back to work." When the door was closed again, Gleason said under his breath, "Impudent woman." He looked at the three men standing in front of him. "Have a seat, men. While we wait for Captain Hunter, Private, tell me what happened."

Hitch detailed what had happened and why, then repeated it for Captain Hunter when he arrived.

At the end, Hunter said, "I should bring charged against you for going AWOL, private."

Hitch said, "But I didn't go AWOL, sir. It was my day off and I planned to be back here way before dark."

"You should've told someone where you were going."

"Yes, sir, I should have. I was upset and didn't think of it at the time."

Troy said, "It won't happen again, will it, Hitch?"

The private shook his head. "Never again, sarge." Hitch looked at Gleason and asked, "Since I'm not dead, major, is Tully off the hook?"

The major said, "As far as I'm concerned, he was never on the hook. Why don't you go tell him he's no longer confined to quarters?"

As Troy, Moffitt, and Hitch stood, Hunter said, "I'll need a full written report on this incident … in triplicate."

Moffitt said, "Yes, captain, we'll see to it that it gets done before you leave."

Gleason looked at Hunter. "By the way, captain, when are you leaving?"

#################

Troy knocked on the door. The locked clicked and Tully peeked out. Then his face suddenly lit up and he flung the door open. "Hitch! You're alive!"

Hitch smiled. "Yeah…"

Before he could say anything else, Tully put his hands on Hitch's shoulders and held him at arm's length. He looked his friend up and down. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine…"

Tully suddenly pulled his friend into a bear hug. "You scared the bejesus outta me!" He pushed Hitch back to arm's length again and said with all seriousness, "Don't ever do that again!"

Hitch smiled. "I promise to avoid it at all costs."

"Have you seen Daisy yet? She's been worried sick about you."

"I saw her for minute at headquarters. I'll see her again later after I take a shower."

Moffitt finally broke up the reunion when he said, "You're free, Tully. Get your things and I'll walk you home."

Tully chuckled. "Hear that? I'm free."

Hitch barely contained his own laughter as he said, "Yeah, you're free. I'm sure Charley will be glad to have you home."

Moffitt cleared his throat to get Tully's attention. "Your things?"

Tully said, "Oh, right. I'll be right back."

When the private disappeared back inside, Troy said with a smile, "You might want to get going before he comes back."

Hitch grinned. "Thanks, sarge. See you guys tomorrow."