Chapter Eleven: A Future and a White Dress.
Rick spent all day Sunday in bed. He didn't have much choice. He was surrounded by determined female guards, Kate, Martha, Johanna, Lanie and Lisa who spent most of her day either sitting on the bed chattering away or snuggled up to him. To his vast surprise Jim Beckett spent a good part of the afternoon either talking about the Hawk books or arguing, good naturedly about the merits of the Yankees versus the Mets
Kate had managed to pry the little girl off the bed to feed her lunch but as soon as she was fed and used the bathroom, she scampered back to the bedroom as fast as she could. Kate couldn't help but fall in love even more when Lisa's nap time came due she crawled under the covers, snuggled against Rick and went to sleep.
Jim shook his head and smiled fondly. "I've never seen anything like it. Lisa has bonded with you Rick. It looks like she's already decided who her daddy is and she's a very strong willed girl."
Kate sat down on the bed and gently stroked Lisa's curls. She looked into her father's eyes.
"She has Dad; she's been calling him daddy since the night we became engaged." Rick spoke up. "We haven't discussed it yet but I guess now is as good a time as any. Jim will you ask Johanna to come in please." Johanna came into the room and sat down beside Kate.
"I probably should have talked it over with Kate first but this is a decision that concerns the whole family. As soon as Kate and I are married I want to adopt Lisa and give her my last name. Or she can keep Beckett. That's really up to Kate. Either way, I want to adopt Lisa so that she is legally my daughter as well as Kates. I know that slimy bastard Sorenson signed away all legal rights to Lisa but that doesn't mean he won't try something in the future. I don't want him to have the tiniest loophole to crawl through." Kate's eyes were shining as she said;
"Yes you should have discussed this with me first and I'm a tiny bit mad that you didn't but it makes me love you even more, if that's possible, that you love us both so much. I want it."
Johanna leaned over and Kissed Rick's cheek. "Thank you Rick I agree." Jim agreed also.
. Late in the afternoon Kate's friends Esposito and Ryan showed up, quickly overcoming their cop's reserve, and enjoying Rick's quick wit. Esposito and Rick shared the bond of elite soldiers and Ryan was somewhat in awe of him.
Jim went into the kitchen and got beers for three of them and a Japanese non-alcoholic beer for Rick. Kate picked up a very reluctant and uncooperative Lisa from the bed and left to give the men some time to themselves. As soon as she left Rick climbed out of bed, stretched, wincing a little as he did then leaned against the wall as he drank from the neck of the bottle.
Smiling widely, his eyes sparkling with pleasure in spite of his pain Rick said;
"Thanks Jim this stuff is pretty good even if I can't get a buzz of it and thank you guys for showing up. As much as I love the company of women a guy needs other guys around. And while I know it's out of love, they've been hovering quite a bit today. At least none of you is going to feel my forehead and ask me how I'm feeling." Esposito smirked.
"Oh I don't know about that, Honey-Milk here might, Jenny's got him pretty whipped."
Ryan looked indignant. "I would not and I am not whipped I just love my wife. On top of that, I don't see you refusing anything when Lanie crooks her finger at you, Booty Boy."
Rick laughed at the easy banter between the partners and felt a twinge of regret at the same time. He knew that his time with the teams was over and that he was going to miss the camaraderie. Esposito caught the look on his face and understood it perfectly. It had been hard on him too, leaving Special Forces. He decided to lighten the mood.
"Hey I've got a question for you Cap, are you crazier than the average trooper or what? Only five years or so with the teams and already you've got more medals than Patton. Rick shrugged. "Hey Esposito you know how it is, some of us have it, some of us don't."
That started a series of stories about incidents and service life, operations that they'd been on and other special operators they both knew. Rick was describing one op that his team had been on, not in detail of course but mostly time and place when Esposito's face paled.
"Your team was on that op Cap?" Rick looked at Esposito, quizzically.
"Yeah that was us, just a neat little exfiltration job, got in, brought some guys out and boogied."
"Neat little exfiltration job, my ass, that was one hairy op. Esposito had suddenly become emotional. Mr. Beckett, Ryan, the Cap's lying through his teeth. I was the sniper on our team we got ambushed and pinned down. Half the team was dead, the rest of us wounded.
The Cap brought his team in under heavy fire, terminated the goats (Army slang for the Taliban) and got us all out, dead and wounded. I'd have bought the farm if not for Captain Rodgers." Esposito got to his feet went to Rick and enveloped him in a man-hug. "Forever Bros, man."
Esposito stepped back and said; "When the doc's clear you Bro, you me and Ryan are gonna go down to Mama Rosa's, eat some Carne Asada, and do some shots. On me Bro. Hey Mr. Beckett you want to come too?" Jim smiled at Esposito, pleased at being included in the younger men's activity. "Yes I certainly would. Just tell me where and when. And call me Jim."
"When did you take your last pain pills Bro?" Esposito asked.
"About noon and I only took one, I hate feeling doped up." Rick responded. Esposito grinned.
"These beers are only three per cent, one won't hurt you and we need to celebrate." Jim agreed and went into the kitchen and got four beers out of the refrigerator. Kate and Johanna were busy cooking so Jim just made sure that they didn't notice that the fourth beer was a real one and not an alcohol free. That was a mistake that would bring the wrath of all four women down on the men's heads, even poor Ryan's although he hadn't done anything but drink his.
Rick was a little fortunate that it was Johanna that caught them and not Kate. She opened the bedroom door and said; "Dinner is ready, come and eat…Rick what do you think you are doing?" When she looked into the room Rick was standing with the beer in his hand. The men hadn't realized how much time had gone by.
Kate heard Johanna and quickly came to see what was happening. When she saw the beer, she got angry but she was more hurt than angry. "Will you all give us a minute please?" She said.
The rest stepped out of the room, giving the couple their privacy. Kate parroted her mother.
"Rick what do you think you are doing? The doctor said no alcohol. none, zero, zilch."
Rick had the grace to look ashamed of himself. "It was only one beer and I only took one pain pill at noon"
Kate folded her arms. "As if that makes it better. First no alcohol means no alcohol not just a little and the doctor prescribed two pills as the normal dosage. Just because you can endure the pain doesn't mean you should. Unnecessary pain retards healing. You don't need to be super alert for the next week. Second, you're not single any more. We're engaged and I won't take any chances with your health. I may be mad as hell at you at the moment but I love you and Lisa loves you. Please promise me that you'll follow the doctor's orders."
Rick nodded his head. "I'm sorry Sweetheart, you're right. I got caught up in the moment and wasn't thinking. I promise not to do that again. Something else stupid, I imagine."
As quickly as her anger came, it was gone, erased by his apology. She chuckled.
"Oh. I don't doubt that at all but you're forgiven." She stepped in and kissed him.
Martha had her turn scolding him, while Johanna and Lanie laid into Jim and Esposito. Jenny arrived in time to hear the story and took Ryan to task.
Kate and Johanna had cooked up a delicious dinner of pork chops, mashed potatoes and corn that helped settle things down a little bit. Rick had apologized to Kate, mostly because he knew how scared she still was after the incident. He'd heard her sob, Three inches to the right and…Oh God! Nonetheless he thought that the women were over reacting. After all it was only one beer.
It kind of amused him that poor Ryan had caught hell when he didn't do anything wrong. At the same time he felt sorry for Ryan. After dinner he pulled Jenny aside.
"Why are you on Kevin's case Jenny, he didn't do anything." Jenny glared at Rick.
"That's right Rick, he didn't do anything that's a sin of omission. He should have said something. Even if you ignored it, he should have said something."
Kate came over to Rick. "Come on Babe, please get back in bed. You're supposed to be on bed rest. That's the only reason they let you come home. They usually keep gunshot victims several days, even relatively minor wounds. Then she purred into his ear. If you're a good boy I'll reward you later. Just lay there and I'll do all the work." When everyone else had gone home and Lisa was asleep she kept her word.
The next week passed incredibly slowly for Rick, even with Lisa happily staying as close to him as she could and doing her childish best to entertain him. He'd had to call Fort Drum and reschedule the appointment with the career counselor and the S-1(Personnel officer) for the following Wednesday but the time did pass and the day of the appointment came up. Kate took the day off to go with him.
Entering the office a slight, balding, officer stood up from behind his desk and smiled. "I'm Lieutenant Colonel Greenlee, Captain Rodgers I'm very pleased to meet such a gallant officer. You know we paper shufflers have to get our thrills vicariously. And this lovely Lady must be Ms. Beckett. I am delighted to meet you as well, Ms. Beckett. Don't look so surprised Ms. Beckett I happen to watch television too. My wife likes to watch the premiers and comment on the dresses. I just like to watch the pretty women this premier was a little more exciting than most. Please take seats and we can discuss your options.
"Captain Rodgers the Army cannot afford to lose both your skills and your talent. On the skills level, it is often said that those who can, do and those who can't teach. I think that is so wrong on so many levels. I believe that the best teachers are those who can and have done and are willing to teach others to do. The results of your team actions emphasize how well you can teach.
On the talent level your writing has had a very positive influence on both the Army's image and on recruiting. We feel that the idea of such great stories being written by a serving officer really reaches the public. To emphasize that, the Hawk's Nest movie has had the largest box office opening for a military action movie in fifty years. And standing on its' own a very good opening for any action movie, seventy- five million dollars on the opening and one hundred million dollars total.
In view of this the Army is willing to make some very unusual concessions, I may not be a line officer but I think that I've done a good job. And we have two assignments available. One is Associate Professor at West Point for special operations. Here is our offer on that. Upon your reenlistment, you will be promoted major and assigned to the faculty. You will work with the incoming plebes for their basic summer. In August you will be required to take the command and staff course but you will be allowed to do it by the distant learning program from Fort Lee Virginia."
The colonel smiled and turned to Kate. "Ms. Beckett I'm sure that as Captain Rodgers' fiancée that you would prefer him out of the Army altogether but as I just said, the Army, the country need him. It has already been agreed that if he reenlists he will be in a permanent non-deployable status. We know that you want stability the assignment to West Point will guarantee that. May I ask how soon you and the captain plan to be married?"
Kate smiled at the colonel, so obviously happy at the prospect of her future. "We haven't set a date yet, you know there's so much to plan for, getting the venue for the wedding and the reception, the guest list, the invitations oh so many things."
"How does a June wedding to you, if the Army helps, even if the Army benefits from it?"
"What do you mean Colonel?" Kate asked.
"If Captain Rodgers reenlists and accepts the assignment at West Point, the wedding could be held in the Cadet Chapel with the reception at the West Point officers club. You would be spared the stress of finding a venue and the expense of renting one. The Army would benefit from the publicity. We would only ask for a few photos of you leaving the church under the arch of swords and a few more in the club."
"What do you think Kate?" Rick asked.
"Give us a week to think about it and discuss it with our family and we'll give you an answer." Kate said.
"Before you go, I have to present the other option which is cadre status on the staff of the special warfare center at Fort Bragg, also non-deployable status." They stood and thanked the colonel then left, delighted to finish so quickly, leaving them with most of the day to spend together.
Kate was driving as Rick' stitches weren't out yet and his left pectorals were still sore. She loved her Jag but today she was enjoying the thrill of the powerful Dodge Viper. She grinned at Rick.
"It's still early and I'd both like to play with this car a little bit. I know this lovely little place about an hour out of the city. Let's go there for lunch." Rick grinned back.
"Sounds good to me and maybe we can find a secluded spot and you can play with the car's owner. We could make out in the car like a couple of teen agers…Kate, what's wrong?" Rick was shocked as the playful smile dropped off her face and a hurt expression took its' place.
In a choked voice Kate said; "Babe, I know we've forgiven each other for the mistakes we've made but those years we lost still hurt. So many times I wanted it to be me you were kissing and it wasn't. I cried myself to sleep after dates that weren't with you. You should have been the one to take my virginity as a gift, not some punk who took it like a trophy."
Rick cringed. "Kate, I'm so sorry, me and my damn big mouth." Kate sniffed and suddenly that playful smile was back. "Babe, we can't change the past but these seats recline and leather is easy to clean. Let's find a really secluded spot and you can make it up to me by doing a lot more than making out. After lunch though, you're going to need your energy."
They pulled into the parking lot of a small restaurant, Stacy's Country Inn. Not an original name by any means but delightfully retro. Entering the restaurant, Kate was greeted by a matronly looking woman. "Hi Katie, it's been a long time. How are your mom and dad?"
Kate smiled, her eyes lighting up with pleasure. "They're fine Stacy. Quite busy with cases but fine. Stacy, I'd like you to meet my fiancé, Richard Rodgers." Richard, I'd like you to meet a dear friend, Stacy Kasey." At the incredulous look on Rick's face, Stacy laughed and said;
"It's true, Captain Rodgers, my parents had a lousy sense of humor but it's catchy so I used it when I opened the restaurant and kept my last name when I married. Actually, I'm Katie's second cousin. My husband, Kurt is out buying supplies he'll love meeting you."
Rick raised an eyebrow. "Why would he be impressed meeting me?"
Stacy laughed. "Oh come now, just because we're an hour out of the city doesn't mean we're in Hicksville. We do get cable out here and we do watch premiere events. I knew exactly who you are before Katie opened her mouth. Kurt has read every one of your books and we've already seen the movie. We were just waiting for Katie to remember about her country cousins."
Stacy then hugged Kate and kissed her cheek. She shook Rick's hand, smart enough to know that you didn't get too close to an elite soldier without his permission. Dangerous that.
Kate ordered for both of them, asking for Stacy's version of the classic Irish stew with soda bread. Kurt came in just as they were finishing and as Stacy predicted was very happy to meet Rick and especially pleased when Rick autographed all of his books. After a nice chat and promising the Kasey's an invitation to the wedding Kate drove them to a secluded spot she remembered, pulled the car off the road and in to a clearing in the woods. Putting the top up on the car, she then climbed onto Rick's lap and began kissing him, at the same time guiding his hand under her skirt. She was right, he needed the energy.
That evening, Kate called her parents and Martha asking them to come to her apartment. Once everyone arrived they were told about the offers from the Army and the rationale the Army offered for Rick's reenlistment, versus returning to civilian life. The final decision was that if the promised stability was there was no real need for Rick to leave the Army. It also promised a stable career. After all, reader's tastes could change and a popular author could quickly become obscure. Not that it would matter financially; Rick had already made enough money and invested wisely enough to be set for life but he was not the kind of man to sit idly by and rest on his laurels.
They also decided that Kate would wear her mother's wedding gown and take the Army up on the use of the Cadet chapel and West Point's officers club for a June wedding.
Colonel Greenlee was pleasantly surprised the next day to receive the call informing him that Rick had agreed to reenlist with a contract that guaranteed his promotion to major and assignment to West Point. The Colonel was thrilled that they also wanted to hold their wedding at West Point. The positive publicity from the event would not only benefit the Army but would have a positive effect on his own efficiency report.
Author's Note: This story is winding down, only a couple of more chapters to go. I reserve the right to base a couple of more future stories in this universe/timeline. Please review.
Swordwriter