Joined Forces, Borrowed Trouble
By: AliasCWN
Chapter 3
The lone American jeep approached the British base slowly, making sure that they didn't make any sudden moves. Troy had called back to their base to explain the situation and asked them to radio the British base and alert them to their pending arrival.
The British MPs drove out to meet them well before they got near the gate. "You the blokes who need medical attention?" A burly sergeant asked as they pulled up alongside the jeep.
"Sergeant Sam Troy." Troy responded. "We have a wounded man who has a head injury."
The British sergeant looked them over carefully before he gave the nod to his men to lower their weapons. "Follow us in." He ordered. Glancing at Hitchcock, he issued a warning. "Stay right behind us and don't try to go anywhere else."
Hitch nodded, popping a bubble as the sergeant glared at him.
With the British MPs leading them in and another group of MPs following them, they made their way to the medical building. As Moffitt was picked up and placed on the stretcher, a lieutenant arrived to check on them.
"He's British." The lieutenant noted with a shocked expression.
"Yes Sir, he is." Troy replied.
"But you're American."
"Yes Sir, we are." Troy admitted.
"What's a British sergeant doing with an American unit?"
"We borrowed him and just haven't returned him yet." Troy explained.
"You borrowed him?" The lieutenant searched the sergeant's face for any sign that he was joking.
"Yes Sir."
A doctor approached and interrupted the exchange to ask about Moffitt. Troy explained how he had been hurt, when it happened, what they had done for him, and how long he had been unconscious. The doctor asked a few more questions, some they could answer, some they couldn't. Finally he turned to leave, ready to return to Moffitt. His eyes fell on Tully, who was still not his old self. "Bring that man inside too; he looks like he could use some medical help." Not waiting for an answer, he turned away.
Tully looked up in surprise but offered no resistance as two MPs took his arms and guided him into the building.
"You and your other private will come with me Sergeant." The lieutenant commanded.
With a glance at the building where Moffitt and Tully were being treated, Troy and Hitchcock allowed themselves to be escorted to another building. Once there, they were taken to an empty office and left alone.
"What's going on Sarge?" Hitchcock asked uneasily.
"My guess, they're trying to make sure that we're who we say we are. They're probably on the radio with Colonel Wilson or Captain Boggs right now."
In the British Captain's office:
"Are we sure they are who they claim to be?"
"We are on the radio with their commander right now Sir. They are giving us descriptions of all four men in their unit." The lieutenant answered.
"They claim to be with the Long Range Desert Group; how can that be Lieutenant? You told me that three of them are American. The LRDG is a British commando operation." The Captain tried to remember all that he knew about the operation.
"Yes Sir, it is mainly made up of British troops. We started the operation but there are some teams made up of other nationalities. I believe that there are some Australian troops and some from New Zealand too."
"But these are American." The Captain repeated.
"I've heard tales of a team that has both American and British members Sir. I believe that the British soldier was a sergeant. They were supposed to be stationed around here somewhere. They have some vile name. I believe that the Germans gave them the name. Apparently they have done considerable damage and the Germans have compared them to the desert rats that inhabit the region. They call them the Rat Patrol Sir."
"Rat Patrol?"
"Yes Sir. They're quite well known around the area. I heard quite a bit about them while we were held up at the seaport. They have made quite a name for themselves."
"I suppose that their leader was the British sergeant, the one who is injured?"
"No Sir." the lieutenant admitted. "The leader is the American sergeant."
The Captain was about to reply when there was a knock on his door.
"Yes?"
An orderly entered with a message for the Captain. The officer took it and read it, then read it again. Handing it to the lieutenant, he waited as his junior officer read it too.
"Do those descriptions match the men the MPs brought onto the base?"
"Yes Sir, to a T."
"Show them in Lieutenant."
Troy and Hitch stood as the lieutenant opened the door to the room where they waited. Turning to face him, they waited expectantly.
The lieutenant beckoned them to follow him. He led them into a larger office where they were met by a Captain.
"You're identity has been confirmed Sergeant. You and your men are free to move about the base."
"Thank you Sir." Troy responded. "May we see Sergeant Moffitt and Private Pettigrew, Captain?"
"I'm told that the sergeant is still unconscious but you are welcome to drop by and check on him if you like. Your private is also being held for observation. The doctor wants to keep an eye on him for at least twenty-four hours. He is awake, I believe. I'll have Sergeant Willis escort you to the medical building to check on your men. When you are through, he can show you to your quarters. I'm afraid that we are a little short on space here so the two of you will have to share a room."
"That's all right Sir, we're used to sleeping almost anywhere. If it's going to be a bother, we can bed down next to our jeep. It wouldn't be the first time that we did that Sir." Troy responded.
"I'm sure," The Captain answered, "spending so much time behind enemy lines, I don't imagine that the Germans offer you any accommodations."
"Oh, they offer Captain." Troy smiled as he contradicted the officer. "We just prefer to sleep in a room with no bars on the windows."
