A/N: Just a quick one, sorry if you're one of those people who can't stand songfics, I normally am myself but I couldn't help but include the marine hymn in this chapter. I was just going to put the first verse but the last one made me laugh so I put the whole damn thing.

Also, I should admit that the ball mentioned in this chapter is a total figment of my imagination. For the life of me, I couldn't find out if there is one or not but I really need it for the plot… so just go with it pretty please.

Finally, I only just said (two chapters ago) that there would be probably three to five chapters more. I shall have to eat my words because there is no way in all hell that this story will be finished in two chapters or so. No frickin way. I was joking when I said it would probably be ten more before, but I'm not joking now.

Chapter 18

Free fall

The sensation is incredible. As the solid surface drops out from beneath you and your stomach flies upwards, the world below opens out. Shane Schofield and the ten other bodies falling beside him could see nothing but sea and sky, blue in every direction.

It felt like flying.

It felt like freedom.

But the rip of the cord and sudden jerk of the canopy was the harsh snap back to reality – every second was only bringing them closer to the ground. By the time the parachute had opened above them and they were drifting as though weightless, they weren't far from the churning waves. In fact, they were so close that Schofield reckoned he could count the foaming white head's as they crested. They opened the chutes high enough to stop them flattening like pancakes against the tensed surface of the water but low enough that it didn't fully take the speed off and they sliced into the water like bullets.

Immediate silence like the womb enveloped them.
Shane could hear his own heartbeat throbbing in his ears. With a few powerful kicks, they broke the surface as one. Quickly shucking their facemasks into waterproof pouches and grabbing compasses to find their bearings, they set off in the direction that hopefully lead towards land. They didn't have that far to go actually. The drop zone was a little over a mile offshore. Hearts pumping hard with adrenaline, they would cover that distance quickly.

Although the water was cold, it was nothing compared to the temperatures at thirty-five thousand feet and so the water against Schofield's face – the only part of him exposed – was refreshing. The rhythm of each long stroke propelling him through the water, rolling to momentarily steal a breath before powering on, focusing only on rhythm and breathing, Shane found it calming. By the time they were dragging themselves and their equipment up the beach, high fives and curses and jubilation all around, he was calm enough to risk a small half-smile at Jack when no one else was looking.

They all piled their gear back into the truck and still dripping wet, climbed in together. As the driver rumbled the large personnel truck into gear, he was unsurprised to hear the traditional Marine Hymn sounding loud and proud – and off key – in the background.

From the Halls of Montezuma,

To the Shores of Tripoli;

We fight our country's battles

In the air, on land, and sea;

First to fight for right and freedom

And to keep our honor clean;

We are proud to claim the title

Of UNITED STATES MARINES.

Our flag's unfurled to every breeze,

From dawn to setting sun;

We have fought in every clime and place

Where we could take a gun;

In the snow of far off northern lands

And in sunny tropic scenes;

You will find us always on the job -

The UNITED STATES MARINES.

Here's health to you and to our Corps

Which we are proud to serve;

In many a strife we've fought for life

And never lost our nerve;

If the Army and the Navy

Ever look on Heaven's scenes;

They will find the streets are guarded

By UNITED STATES MARINES

Schofield managed to find himself a quiet seat next to Book II.
"I've been meaning to have a chat with you," he said. "Haven't had the chance to ask you how it went?"

A brilliant smile spread across Book's face. Shane was sure he'd never seen the younger man so openly happy.
"She said yes," he replied, seemingly stunned. "It was great."

A look of delirious bewilderment crossed his face and he turned to Schofield, saying, "I'm getting married. I'm really getting married."

Shane couldn't help but laugh, clapping him on the knee.
"Congratulations."

"Thank you for the, you know."

"Don't mention it."

When they pulled into the compound, Jack was the first on his feet – completely recovered from his near death experience.
"Is it my prerogative to give us all the rest of the day off?" He asked in Schofield's direction, loudly, so that the whole unit heard which was, of course, his intention. Nothing like a little peer pressure to help smooth along a decision. Shane just nodded his head once and the whole unit roared their approval. He stood up, silencing them.

"I think we're due a party anyway, right?" He said, clapping Book II still seated beside him and staring off into the distance on the shoulder.

"What?" the other man piped up, startled, to see the whole unit staring at him expectantly.
"Oh yeah," he continued with a broad grin spreading across his face "I'm getting married and we're having a baby."

As expected, the celebration was riotous. Somebody – Schofield suspected Rebound – ducked off and procured a ridiculous amount of alcohol as well as a bottle of orange juice for the pregnant Juliet, who somebody else had invited. In the end, it lasted most of the day. Schofield didn't mind that one bit. They were nearing the end of their training and his grace period together. Soon, they would be released on active duty and he would be looking for a new job.
They could afford to goof off together for a few hours.

"Didn't realise it was that time of year again," Mother's voice rang out over the crowd. She was standing by the table giving advice to Juliet and Skip when she spotted the envelope that Schofield had abandoned there.

"Yeah," he replied, getting up from his seat under the window where he had been watching Astro beat Rebound at Super Mario Kart.
"I can honestly say I didn't expect to get one of these this year," he said, taking the envelope from her and opening it for the first time.

Looking over his shoulder as he pulled out a small piece of paper with swirling, elegant writing on it, she said, "there's something so fucking cool about seeing your name on the same piece of paper as the president's."

"Holy shit," Skip's voice came from over his other shoulder.

"You going then?" He directed the question to Juliet – complete with orange juice and just noticeable bump – and Mother.

Juliet just nodded. He supposed when you were a member of the secret service, you probably became a touch blasé about these things. Mother nodded vigorously also, saying, "My Ralphie says he's gonna shoot himself if he's forced to wear a suit again but I wouldn't miss it for all the fried chicken in the world."

Every year without fail since the episode with the president in Utah, an envelope like this had turned up in the mail, cordially inviting Capt. Shane Schofield to the annual President's ball to be held in the grand ballroom of the White House itself.
Apparently, saving the life of the president has its perks.

In all the noise, nobody noticed when Jack slipped quietly out of the room.

Schofield was just about to declare it a night too when Skip was suddenly at his elbow again, of all things, holding out his phone.
"You dropped this," she said, "thought you'd probably need it if someone special calls."

As if at her words, the phone in his hand buzzed with a message.

"How'd you know that was going to happen?" He asked both amazed and suspicious.

Skip laughed mischievously.
"Cause you've got two missed calls. Is he really such a big secret you can't even have his number on speed dial?"

Unfortunately for Schofield, she said is clearly in earshot of Mother, who asked loudly for everyone to hear, "Who?"

Even more unfortunately for him, it was Book II who answered that question for her.
"It's probably just his boyfriend," he said and the whole party just stopped instantly, all heads turning his way.

"How come Skip knows?" Book said.

"How come I don't?" Mother said.

"Fuck," Scarecrow said.

He decided the best way to handle this particular situation was to act totally cool, like nothing happened. He pulled his phone out and checked the message instead, studiously avoiding all the glances coming his way. As Skip had noticed, he didn't have Jack on his speed dial for exactly this situation, but the number was Jack's – he had it memorised instead.

I'm in your room ;)

That was all the message said.
Schofield smiled to himself. His night was suddenly looking a lot brighter.