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As a little reward: Chapter 7.
When he started this topic later at the barrack, Dick got a little upset. "Hey Dick, calm down. It was just an idea of mine. Don't you like her?"
"Of course I like her. She's smart, she's pretty, she's quick on the trigger but nonetheless she's serious enough to know what's in store for us. So yeah, I like her very much."
When he saw the fat grin on Lew's face, he quickly added: "But that doesn't mean that I'll get involved with her. I like you too and as far as I know we don't have a sexual relationship." Dick, who was very satisfied with his sneaky retort, underestimated his friend, because Lew said: "Hey, Dick. If you would have said that you're interested in me…" and wiggled flirtatious with his eyebrows.
"Oh, you crackpot! One day you'll drive me crazy."
"Okay, okay. I'll stay serious. I just think that you could use a little fun too. And I'm sure that Maggie could be a lot of fun. We all don't know if we'll come out alive of this whole war-thing… Besides I'm pretty sure that she likes you a lot. She looked very confident this morning while you cuddled her."
Before Dick could respond, Lew dragged him out of their barrack. Because he didn't watch where he went, he managed Dick straight into Maggie. Dick flushed immediately while Maggie gave him a cute smile and went away.
When they reached their company they saw Malarkey and Guarnere grappling with each other. There was a lot of action because the other guys were betting on the winner. Maggie, who was afraid of Sobel who should appear at any moment, stepped in between them and stopped their brawl. Everybody, including herself, was a little shocked by her courageous behaviour, but in the end they were all grateful because just at this moment Sobel came around the corner. If he would have seen the previous chaos, he certainly would have punished them all viciously.
Maggie, who stood beside Dick in the end, whispered an apology for her earlier behaviour: "Sorry, Sir. I shouldn't have done that. I know, it's your job. But I was a little afraid of Sobel's reaction…" Dick gave her a timid smile; he didn't expect Maggie to apologize, because he was really grateful that she had intervened, because trouble within the company was never good for anybody.
Sobel came to them and told Dick about his commission to company XO. Dick was kind of proud of himself and appreciated the promotion, but Sobel knew how to louse things up for other people. "As my new surrogate you should be able to deal with administrative tasks. As a test and of course as a sign of my trust, you'll take over my duty at the officer's mess. Your service there starts at 4:30. But you're allowed to take Fox with you. I'm pretty sure that she's talented in the kitchen, because she didn't show any talent for military things."
Dick hoped that Maggie would refrain from an adequate reaction because he saw Sobel's calculating glance. He could see that Maggie was angry but she didn't say a word. And when Sobel asked: "Is that clear, Fox?" she just answered "Yes, Sir. Crystal-clear!"
"Easy company lets move for your PT!" he barked and started to jog.
"Sorry, that you're involved in the mess-duty" stated Dick after they had started running.
"No problem, Sir. Captain Sobel just hates me and I'm afraid that I'll have to get used to his harassments… And we really ought to be at the mess at 4:30 in the night?"
"I'm afraid yeah…"
"Hey, Meg. Looks like you'll not get enough of your beauty-sleep, mhm?" said Guarnere from behind them.
"Nope. But I'll be lucky to give all my beauty-stuff to you, now that it's useless with me, Bill. I know that you pay special attention to your appearance."
Suddenly Sobel screamed from behind them: "I didn't grant you the permission to talk during your exercises!" Maggie ducked her head and tried to be invisible but she apparently failed, because Sobel added: "Fox, I'll see you in my office at 20:00 hours!"
"Yes, Sir!"
'I don't know, what I did to deserve a CO like Sobel… Perhaps I should rethink this weeding-thing. Could be much worse than marrying Dick and raise cute redheaded Mini-Dicks… Oh my god, I'm going insane because of Sobel's repulsiveness and Dick's adorableness.'
The rest of the day was uneventful and Maggie found herself in front of Sobel's office at 19:56. Exactly at 20:00 she knocked on the door.
"Fox, finally. I will not tolerate your impertinence any longer! You'll get a punishment and you'll accept it like a man. Did I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Sir. But I'm nut sure, what it is that I should be punished for…"
"You're in no position to question my decisions. But to illuminate you: You talked during PT without my permission." Maggie thought that Dick and Bill deserved a punishment likewise in that case, but she didn't say a word because she didn't want to involve her comrades.
"Besides, your sheer presence at this camp is reason enough for any kind of punishment." added Sobel. And then he said with a wicked grin: "But I'm no brute. So I'll give you a choice. Easy company will absolve a 10 mile march or you'll spend the night with me."
Does anybody like to guess how Maggie will react?