Disclaimer: I don't own Bones no copyright infringement intended.
Nertoold54: This is entirely true of Perkins he kind of seems like a dick but it's unintentional. He's dealing in his own way, I guess you could say.
GeorgieNZ: I try to update as early as possible in the morning which is usually right after my son goes to school. A few minutes of coffee to enjoy the quiet before I go back to work. Blerrgghh still willing to pay someone to pack my house LOL
Yenyen76: So glad that you could get a laugh out of yesterday =D I wanted to balance out the drama of Espionage with this story and I think it's working. Hopefully I can do the same with the sequels.
Guinesshero: YOU ARE A MAMA'S BOY!
Angelbach: That is one of those manly men things unfortunately. They are trained to be 'Army Strong' which is all fine and good until something gets broke. Then they hide it instead of fixing it. We'll see a bit of Perkins 'dealing' in either the second or third series of the story. Ha at this point it's going to be packing everything but two changes of clothes and food. We move on Saturday ahhhhhhhhhh!
ArielBrennan: He'll begin to talk but the question is will he finish? Hmmm question to ponder. I tried to make it at least a little realistic in that since (we all know Espionage was completely unrealistic). Real life swings around all the time and you have to learn to balance it out or you become nuts. =D
Thank you for your reviews. I noticed that some reviews that were made for a previous chapter are just now showing up. I think it has something to do with that new moderation for anonymous reviews. /shrug Who knows...
Chapter 42 – Catholic Guilt
Michelle sat in the third hour of her English class, licking her lips in anticipation of nailing this guy's guts to the wall. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she pulled it out.
Call me when you're done with your classes
She put her phone back in her pocket and frowned. Something was niggling at her conscious. Something just didn't feel right. Shaking her head, she smiled as the professor brought the class to an end. Standing up, she walked down to the front and arranged to rewrite her paper. Smiling, she left the classroom and pulled out her phone. Hitting speed dial one, she waited as the phone rang.
"Hello?" Legates answered, swallowing his nervousness.
"Hey, Honey, what's up?" She asked, walking across the plaza headed to the metro.
"Do you have a minute for a serious conversation?" He asked, swallowing nervously again. Michelle heard the hesitation in his voice and walked over to a bench to sit down.
"Sure, what's up?" Michelle asked in a soft voice. He let out a ragged breath and sighed.
"I may have done something that's going to upset you," he said quietly, looking down at the bed between his legs.
"Well, how about you let me decide that," she told him then waited. She heard him breathing, she could almost hear him thinking.
"Josh," she prodded softly not wanting to push too hard but not wanting to wait forever.
He sucked in a breath and let it out. She could feel him gathering his courage. Maybe this was that ominous feeling she had gotten earlier.
"I've been seeing a psychologist for PTSD treatment," he said slowly. Michelle nodded but said nothing, worried that she might scare him off.
"After we started dating, I actually started talking to him instead of yanking his chain. If you could do it so could I," he said, wincing at the way that sounded. Michelle's eyes went wide at his declaration. She remained silent, listening.
"That sounded wrong," he said heavily.
"No, it's okay. I know what you mean," she said softly.
He nodded and his hand clutched the phone tight against his face. He bit his lip, knowing he was going to have to tell her this but he didn't want to.
"Part of the reason is because I have nightmares," he said haltingly.
"Yeah, I know," she said, nodding.
"About Maluku," he whispered into the phone. Michelle sucked in a breath and closed her eyes. It was her fault that he couldn't sleep.
"Oh, Baby, I'm sorry," she said, biting back her tears.
"Sweetheart, it's not your fault," he said, instantly seeing that she had taken that wrong. She let out a breath and inhaled to clear her mind.
"Anyway, my doctor asked me to journal my dreams. So I did. He made copies," Legates whispered in a scared voice. Michelle blinked slowly and shook her head.
"Why would that make me mad or upset me?" She asked him, not seeing the connection.
"Sweetheart, he's holding what I saw happening to you. He's seeing your worst memories through my eyes," Legates whispered. Techie backed out of the doorway and softly closed it. Michelle let out a sigh of relief.
"Baby, it does not bother me that you are telling him about it. If this is what you need to do to help you sleep better then it's fine by me. He's not asking me to tell him about it. He's not asking me to relive it. He's asking you and if you are ready to do that then go ahead," Michelle said softly, biting her lip.
"But, Michelle, it happened to you not me," he said raggedly, tears rolling from the corners of his eyes unheeded.
"Josh, listen to me. Yes, something happened to me. But something happened to you as well. Not the same thing as me but something none the less. If you need to talk to someone about it then go ahead. I don't care if you tell them about what you saw, heard, or felt. As long as your doctor doesn't ask me about it then I'm fine with it," she told him. She could feel the silence stretch across the line.
"I have to go talk to Cam. Meet me over at the lab," she told him.
Legates nodded and stood up. Clearing his throat, he looked around the room. Michelle heard him sniff but said nothing about it.
"Okay, I'll be there in a few," he said in a gravelly voice.
"I'm still at school but I should be there in say ten minutes," she said, glancing at her watch.
"Okay, I'll see you there," he said.
"Yep," she said then hung up the phone.
Legates stared at the phone and shook his head. Grabbing his keys, he left the room and headed down to his truck. Half an hour later, he pulled into the parking garage and walked to the visitors' desk. After showing ID's and getting a visitors pass he headed to the main part of the lab. As the doors whooshed open, he heard Hodgins' maniacal laugh. Stopping just inside the door, he scanned the lab. People bustled everywhere it seemed different yet familiar.
"Hi, Sweetcheeks," Daisy chirped as she bounced by without pausing.
He shook his head, pushed down his homicidal thoughts, and headed for the lounge. He sat down on the couch where he'd passed hours sleeping and began his wait.
"Hey, Sweetcheeks," Angela said with a grin. Legates looked up and gave her a smile.
"Awww, Sweetie, you look like shit. What happened?" She asked, picking up her coffee and sitting down next to him. He shook his head, clasped his hands together between his knees and leaned forward.
Angela scooted closer and leaned over to catch his eye.
"What happened?" She asked, concern written in her big brown eyes. Legates swallowed and looked down at the floor after looking her in the eye.
"I uhh talked about what happened in Maluku," he whispered in a choked voice. Angela sat up confusion written on her face.
"To whom?" Angela asked, still confused by his demeanor.
"Dr. Nabhan," he answered.
"Who?" Angela asked, now thoroughly confused. Neither saw Booth come up the steps and lean against the railing.
"Dr. Nabhan is a psychologist that works for the U.S. Military. He evaluates and treats soldiers with PTSD," Legates explained in a clipped voice.
Angela put her elbow on her knee and dropped her head in her hand. Booth silently got his coffee and left the lounge, neither of the occupants of the lounge noticing him.
"So, you told him about what happened with," Angela gestured around the lab with her hand. Legates swallowed and nodded.
"And you're upset why?" Angela asked, still confused. Legates let out a sigh, trying to think of a way to explain his situation.
"He's upset because he seems to think that he's betrayed me in some fashion," Michelle said, from her spot leaning against the railing. Angela looked up at Michelle with her brow scrunched.
"Yeah, I don't get it either. This is more a Booth thing. Because you know Booth does that whole Catholic guilt thing," Michelle said, shrugging.
"I'm not Catholic," Legates muttered.
"Coulda fooled me," Michelle snorted.
"What's a Booth thing?" Booth asked, walking up the steps carrying Brennan's coffee cup as if he hadn't been there earlier.
"He's doing the Catholic guilt thing," Michelle said, gesturing toward the slumped man on the couch. Booth paused and looked over at Legates.
"I look like that?" Booth asked, waving his hand with the cup towards Legates and wincing.
"Pretty much, Studly," Angela said.
"Is this becoming some kind of family meeting," Legates grumbled, seeing Cam coming up the stairs.
Standing up, he brushed past everyone and headed down the steps. Michelle sighed and headed after him. Cam looked around with a puzzled expression on her face.
"Well, since we're all here, Michelle has to write a paper on death in the medical field so she will be observing and asking questions," Cam said. The people standing there nodded and looked down to see Michelle chasing Legates out the door.
"Josh," Michelle called out.
"What?" He snarled, turning on his heel and scowling at her.
"Hey, what the hell is going on?" She asked with her hand on her hips.
"You brought me here so everyone could make fun of me and know about me seeing a psychologist," he snapped, his face turning red. Groaning, she looked at him with her own scowl.
"Josh, that was not why I asked you to meet me here. I asked you here to talk to me and maybe Booth. Not about what you talked to your doctor about but about dealing with the obvious guilt you're feeling," Michelle said, sighing. Legates crossed his arms over his chest and continued to scowl.
"Families, especially this one, are particularly nosy. They're trying to help," Michelle said.
"Yeah, but now I feel nuts because they know I'm seeing a psychologist," he said, his jaw working back and forth in irritation.
Michelle smacked her hand over her mouth and giggled. Reaching out, she grabbed his hand and dragged him back into the lab. When she pulled him up into the lab, they found the three they left behind plus Hodgins and Brennan. They were animatedly discussing some dead guy. Michelle dropped Legates' hand and clapped hers together.
"Raise your hand if you've talked to Dr. Sweets for his professional services," she ordered then raised her hand. Legates watched through narrowed eyes as each of them one by one raised their hands.
"Now keep your hand up if you think someone is stupid, nuts or fruity for talking to a psychologist for help," Michelle ordered. Each one of them dropped their hand.
"Nuts are fruits and people can be neither one as they are not a sentient being," Brennan pointed out, sipping her coffee.
"Thank you, Bones," Booth said sarcastically.
"You're welcome, Booth," Brennan said, smiling as the sarcasm whizzed over her head.
Michelle turned on Legates with her arms crossed over her chest. Staring at him through narrowed eyes, she pursed her lips. Booth stood up with a sigh and rolled his eyes.
"Come on, Legates. Let's go see if we can get the flavor of guilt and toe jam from your mouth," Booth said, grasping Legates' arm above the elbow.
Michelle watched Booth steer Legates down the catwalk away from everyone into the little used corner. Michelle turned to look at Cam with a pensive look.
"Okay, so do you have a dead person?" Michelle asked, looking around. Cam stood up and waved Michelle down the steps and into the autopsy room.
Legates leaned against the railing and laced his fingers together. Booth mirrored his actions and looked over at him.
"What the hell is bouncing around in that noggin of yours?" Booth asked, looking at Legates.
Legates squeezed his hands together and clenched his jaw. He was tired of repeating this and the lovely feelings that came with saying it. Telling Michelle had been bad enough.
"I told the military shrink about Maluku," Legates bit out.
"Okay," Booth said, turning to look out over the lab.
Legates glanced at Booth from the corner of his eye. Booth's eyes were staring into space as he processed what Legates was telling him.
"So, you feel like you've done something wrong?" Booth asked Legates with a smile quirking his mouth.
"Yes, no, I don't know," Legates grumbled.
"Why?" Booth asked in a straightforward manner. Legates took stock of why he felt this way and tried to put it into words.
"We made a deal. We don't talk about Maluku," Legates said around a clenched jaw. Booth watched as Legates fingers squeezed tighter, his knuckles turning white.
"And do you honestly think they'd hold that against you? I mean do you just never mention it or was it not to mention it to people in general. Certain people? I mean what are the specifics?" Booth asked, resting his chin on his shoulder as he looked over at Legates.
"I always took it to mean not to tell anyone, at all," Legates said.
"Okay, well let's think of it like this. Psychologists aren't people. They're weirdo's I mean look at Sweets," Booth said, gesturing below them to Sweets and Daisy. Legates shook his head and bit his lip.
"Look, the guys will never know that you said anything unless you say something. I've carried the guilt and horrors of things for most of my life. Let me assure you the nightmares they will continue. Well, mine slowed down when I met Bones," Booth said, lacing his fingers together and rolling his thumbs one over the other. Legates grunted and looked down into the autopsy room.
"You can't change what happened but you can try to deal with it. Now how did Michelle get drug into this epic Catholic guilt trip of yours?" Booth asked, staring out over the lab.
"Ehh, this was her thing. This happened to her not me. I didn't think she'd appreciate me talking about it or the dreams that I had because of it," Legates grunted, his eyes following Michelle as she followed Cam around the autopsy room.
"Mmmm but it did happen to you. You are not dreaming about watching Bones get tortured are you?" Booth asked in a gravelly voice.
"No," Legates answered shaking his head.
"Are you dreaming about being tied up?" Booth asked, putting his foot up on the lower railing.
"No," Legates answered again.
"So you are dreaming about what YOU saw, right?" Booth said, his leg starting to bounce as memories flooded his own brain.
"Yeah," Legates said quietly.
"So, it was about what happened to you not her. Yes, this horrible awful thing happened to her but you saw things too," Booth told him. Legates let out a huff of air.
"But I don't think she would want him knowing what happened to her. She's worked so hard to keep it a secret and I should have respected that," Legates muttered.
"Mmm, is she upset about it?" Booth asked, shooting a look over at the autopsy room.
"She doesn't seem to be," Legates answered with a frown.
"And she knows that you told the doctor?" Booth asked, moving his gaze up to Legates. Legates swallowed and nodded.
"So, then nothing to feel guilty about. She understands emotional trauma. Michelle is a sweet girl, she would never do anything to hurt anyone. That includes getting angry at someone for getting help," Booth said. Legates snorted and started chuckling.
"She poked Oaks in the ass with a knife last night," Legates told Booth. Booth leaned his head back and bellowed out a laugh.
"She's a little feisty," Booth said. Shaking his head, Booth laced his fingers and looked over his arm at Legates.
"Look kid, if you have someone to talk to take advantage of it. That doctor is not allowed to tell anyone what you said. He might be able to tell the military that you are mentally unstable if that's the case but he is not allowed to go into specifics other than the diagnosis," Booth told him.
"Michelle is not going to deny you anything that will help you. She seems to genuinely care about you. Why? I don't know but hey. As long as you don't hurt her I won't have to kill you. Although, I do owe you a good butt kicking for the forehead tattoo," Booth said, smirking at Legates.
"No need. I got the cold shoulder from the guys, ignored by Michelle and a nice large helping of guilt for my stupidity. Oh and I got laughed at for my forehead tattoo," Legates said, shaking his head.
"Fine, but don't let it happen again and I'm not sure I'm done with you yet so don't get complacent. Now, go tell Michelle bye and get gone. She has work to do," Booth said, standing up and clapping Legates on the shoulder.
Nodding, Legates stood up straight and headed around the catwalk to the stairs. Legates went down the steps and over to the autopsy room. He knocked on the door and Michelle opened it.
"I'll be right back," Michelle called over her shoulder. She stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her. Looking up at him, she smiled.
"You look a little better," Michelle said. Legates looked down at her and smiled softly.
"Yeah, but I really have to know. Are you really not upset with me for talking about it?" Legates asked with a slightly pensive look on his face. She looked up at him, her eyes dark and fathomless.
"You're nightmares belong to you as mine belong to me. You haven't told him about my nightmares so why would it bother me that you told him about yours?" She asked him, tilting her head. He looked down and shook his head. Leaning over, he captured her lips in a kiss.
"Legates and Michelle sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G," Booth sing songed as he walked past, a smirk plastered on his face. Michelle burst into laughter and Brennan walked past.
"Still juvenile, Booth," Brennan said. Legates snickered and stepped back.
"You need to get back to work and I have something I want to do," he told her with an enigmatic smile.
"I'll talk to you later," Michelle told him with a smile.
Nodding, he turned and walked out of the lab. He stopped at the visitors' desk and turned in his visitor's pass. An idea had started to form as he walked to the garage and to his truck. Climbing in, he started his half hour drive back to the base. After parking and entering the dorm, Legates picked up his pace and hurried to his room.
"Schweetie, I'm home," Legates bellowed, making Techie jump. Walking over to his friend, he looked down at the book Techie was reading.
"Introductions to Algorithms?" Legates asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Engineering," Techie said, setting the book down.
"We're going to take Michelle out for a HALO jump," Legates said with a grin.
"You two really should go out for a normal date," Techie said.
"We did, our first two dates were perfectly normal," Legates pointed out.
"True enough," Techie sighed, "come on. Let's go talk to Michaels. Maybe we can set it up as training and get the next day off."
The men left their room and headed down the stairs and out to Legates' truck.
Sergeant Michaels looked up when Corporals Legates and Techie walked into the hanger. Setting his clipboard down he put his hands on his hips.
"Trouble and his brother Double. What are you guys wanting?" Michaels asked the men with a grin. He knew what they wanted. Their unit liked to do night jumps for fun. They were a weird bunch for sure.
"Hey, Michaels, we want to do a night HALO jump what do you have open?" Techie asked him with a grin. Michaels picked up his log and flipped through the records.
"It looks like every night this week is good. We don't have anything on the schedule," Michaels answered without looking up. Techie looked at Legates who pursed his lip, squinted one eye and thought for a second.
"Wednesday," Legates said after his thoughtful pause.
"Okay Wednesday. All ten of you?" Michaels asked his pencil paused over the log.
"Plus one," Legates said, smirking.
"Certified?" Michaels asked, his pencil moving across the log.
"Nahh will be tandem with me," Legates said grinning.
"Unless you got your teaching-" Michaels was cut off when a few papers were shoved under his nose.
He picked them up, scanned them, nodded and walked to the copier. After making a copy he returned the papers to Legates.
"Have they jumped before?" Michaels asked, staring at Techie.
"Don't look at me this is his thing," Techie said, pointing at Legates. Michaels turned to face a smirking Legates.
"Yes, she's jumped once before that I know of," he answered.
"She? Oh this is going to be a fun date," Michaels snickered.
"Yeah, well this jump should be more fun than her last one. She went tandem with Rickets," Legates growled.
"Is she nuts?" Michaels asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Just uninformed," Legates said, shaking his head.
"Alright, you guys are set up for a six o'clock jump. So be here at six, ready to go," Michaels told them.
"Yep, thanks Michaels," the two men said, waving as they left the hanger.
Michelle rolled her eyes and pouted. Legates had called yesterday and asked if she would go out with him the following night. Since her Wednesday nights were free she agreed. She was still trying to get him to tell her where they were going.
"Why won't you tell me where we are going?" She almost whined at him.
"Because, sweetheart, that would ruin the surprise," he told her with a grin.
"Well is what I'm wearing appropriate?" She asked, looking down at her jeans and sweatshirt.
"Did you wear something under your jeans?" He asked her with a serious look on his face.
"You told me to wear double layers so I'm wearing a pair of fleece lined jeans," she told him, flicking her fingers across her jeans.
"Which by the way are making my ass sweat," she told him with a frown. He burst into laughter at her statement and shook his head.
"You'll be glad for it, trust me," he said. She let out a sigh and glared at him. They pulled onto the base, stopping at the visitors' center to sign her in.
"Oh jeez I'm not playing hide and seek with you guys," she told him with a look of fake fear..
"Hmm never done that. Bet that would be fun," he muttered.
"Oh God, now I'm giving you freaking ideas," she grumbled good naturedly.
He grinned at her and drove to the hanger. The guys were standing around the door waiting for them. Michaels' eyes narrowed as Legates pulled up. When Legates got out of the truck, Michaels' eyes widened in shock.
"You mean to tell me, that, that is your truck?" Michaels asked, pointing at Legates' truck.
"Last time I checked it was," Legates said, looking at his truck.
"You bastard, now I really do hate you," Michaels grumbled. He turned his gaze to Michelle and waited for an introduction.
"Michelle, this is Michaels. Michaels, this is my girlfriend Michelle," Legates introduced them.
Michelle shook his hand and glanced at his stripes. Squinting, she ran through all the military guys she knew.
"Sergeant right?" She asked, looking Michaels in the face. Michaels nodded and smiled.
"Yes, ma'am," he answered. She nodded and stepped back to look around.
"Oh God, you're going to throw me out of a plane? You know Booth will kill you or put you in jail. Never mind Cam and Dr. Brennan," Michelle said. The guys started laughing as Legates took the brunt of that one. Michaels head snapped around at Booth's name.
"Oh Jeez, Legates, are you getting me in trouble with Booth? Seeley Booth? Nuh uh ya'll are canceling this," Michaels said. Michelle turned to Legates with a grin.
"No, no trouble I'm just pulling Josh's leg. He wouldn't throw me out of a plane. At least I don't think so," she said.
"I hope you really trust him," Michaels said, grinning at the realization that Legates was a foot taller than Michelle.
"Of course I do. Why?" She asked her features in a puzzled expression.
"Because if you're jumping tandem then when you get ready to jump and when you land your feet won't be on the ground," Michaels snickered. Techie looked at Michelle standing next to Legates and guffawed as he pictured it.
Legates walked to his truck and opened the toolbox that was against the back of the cab. He pulled out a duffel bag and walked to where Michelle was standing. He let her into the hangar and to the bathroom.
"You're going to need to put these on," he told her, handing her the bag.
She scrunched her face, shrugged and took the bag. She stepped into the handicap stall and paused. Shrugging at the random thought, she opened the bag and groaned. Skin tight pants and shirt were in the bag, a pair of socks, and gloves. Sighing, she pulled them out and began stripping. She heard the door open and scowled.
"Baby, you didn't take any of your sedatives or sleep stuff in the last twenty four hours have you?" Legates asked from the doorway concern in his voice evident.
"No," she grumbled as she pulled on the garment.
"Just making sure," he said. He tried not to laugh as he heard her grunting in the stall.
"Son of a freaking-" she cursed in a low voice as she struggled into the garments.
He chuckled and left the bathroom. He walked back to where the other guys were standing and shifted from foot to foot in boredom.
"I swear, Legates, if Booth comes after me. He still jumps for fun, not lately but he has in the past," Michaels muttered.
"Sarge is not going to mess with you, Michaels," Techie assured him.
Michelle came out of the bathroom pulling and tugging on her clothes. She was shifting uncomfortably. She scowled at Legates and he chuckled.
"Since you're doing a tandem jump which in these circumstances is unusual, you don't have to have all the training these twerps did," Michaels told her, gesturing to the guys standing around her. Michelle nodded in understanding.
"However, you do need the basics. So here's the deal. Pure oxygen all the way up, then on the way down too or you'll get the bends," he told her.
"I have my scuba certification. Got it," she said, giving Michaels thumbs up. Legates looked at her in surprise.
"What? I almost went to Hawaii one year for Christmas," she said, laughing silently at his surprise.
"Okay, so you know the basics. Good, however since you'll be strapped to the Jolly Green Giant here if you pass out it won't be a huge deal," Michaels said, "just make sure to listen to him."
Michelle's eyes widened at that piece of information but she nodded and looked over at Legates with a raised eyebrow.
"Are you sure you can do this with her strapped to your chest?" Michaels asked, looking at Legates.
"Michaels, we're trained to jump with a hundred and fifty pound packs strapped to our chest. She weighs a lot less and is smaller than the packs," Legates told him.
"Packs don't grab random body parts," Michelle said with a smirk.
The guys around them hooted in glee at her statement. Michaels started laughing and grinned at Legates who just shrugged.
"Okay, did you use the bathroom?" Michaels asked Michelle with a grin.
"Yeah, when I was changing," she said.
"High Altitude Low Opening jumps are usually strictly military. Although, I have heard about some place out in Tennessee doing it. Anyway, get ready to do something most civilians don't get to," Michaels told her.
She nodded. Legates started strapping things to her, explaining the equipment as he strapped it to her. He strapped his own gear on while the other guys did. They walked together to a plane on the tarmac and climbed in. Legates clipped her to his harness and sat down dragging her to his lap. She wiggled and smirked at his reaction.
He swatted her leg and put her oxygen mask on her face. She watched the guys lean back in their seats and she jumped when she heard their voices come through the earpiece that Legates had strapped on her head. Michelle wasn't sure how long they'd been flying but the back door of the plane started to drop and the guys started to stand.
She was wondering how this was going to work with her feet hanging above the floor if Legates stood up. He put his arm under her knees and stood up. She felt like a small child in his arms. Goodman shot her a laughing grin. In return, she shot him the bird. She heard Legates laughing in her ear.
"Ready?" He asked her between the bursts of the oxygen.
She gave him a thumbs up and he stepped towards the doorway. She was ready to close her eyes when he turned and stepped off the back backwards. She felt a jerk then the feeling of floating on her back. Her eyes shot to the sky and she saw the stars twinkling in the sky above her.
Then she felt his knees pull up and they spun heels over head. She wanted to scream but couldn't catch her breath. Grinning under his oxygen mask, Legates wrapped his arms around her waist. Michelle let out a breath but did so too soon. He turned them so they faced down and spun them. They drilled through the air, Michelle trying to scream but unable to. Tucking his body, he flipped them head over heels this time.
The men laughed at her squeals as they saw Legates spinning and flipping. Finally, he turned and faced towards the ground. She reached her hand down and pinched his thigh in retribution. She heard his chuckle in the headset. They were now face down and she saw the guys flipping and turning in the air. She giggled at their antics in the air. They had only been falling for a few seconds when music began to drift through the radio.
"Where the hell is that coming from?" Techie's voice asked over the radio. He received no answer from anyone.
Who can say where the road goes,
Where the day flows, only time?
And who can say if your love grows,
As your heart chose, only time?
Floating through the headset, the slow music was in direct contrast to the speed at which they were falling. A little over halfway through the song Michelle felt the jerk of the parachute as it deployed. They started falling even slower. She felt him put his arms up and start steering them towards the landing point but far enough away from the other guys to safely land. Michelle's heart was pounding and a grin was plastered to her face. She felt his arm reach down and she lifted her knees so he could put his arm under them.
Her teeth clunked together slightly as his feet hit the ground. They fell forward and he tucked around her as they rolled. She was laughing when he landed on his butt with her in his lap.
"Not one of my better landings," he said, "although if I get to land with you in my lap every time I land on my ass then I'm more than happy to."
Laughter rang through the headset as the guys saw him sitting on the ground with her in his lap. He unclipped her harness and Techie walked over to help her up. When she was standing, she began to look around. The men were gathering up their parachutes and folding them haphazardly. There was a truck on the far side of the field.
Michelle pulled her mask and helmet off. She was slightly dizzy for a second from the change in O2 levels. She sat down and watched as they gathered their parachutes up. When they were finished she stood up and followed them to a truck on the far side of the field. When they reached the truck, they started stripping off their gear and throwing it in the truck. Michelle pouted because the clips to her harness were on the back. So she pulled the gloves off her hands and stood there glaring at Legates as he pulled his gear off.
"You okay?" He asked her, pausing from taking his gear off.
"Fine, just hurry up and get your gear off," she grumbled. He continued stripping his gear off and laughed.
"You just want to get me out of my gear," he teased. The guys around him laughed at Legates' comment.
"Yeah, so you can get me out of mine. It was fun and all but now I have a huge wedgie and can't do anything about it until you take this harness off me," she said grumpily. The men froze, looked at her then started bawling in laughter.
"Oh, shit," Goodman said, gasping in laughter.
"You need help with that, Baby?" Legates asked, laughing at the look on her face.
"No, thank you. I'd prefer your fingers not be near my ass crack," she told him with a smirk. The guys had just caught their breath but quickly started laughing again.
"God, you two are hysterical," Techie said, still laughing.
Michelle shot Techie a smile. Legates finally walked over to her and unbuckled her harness. She shrugged out of it with his help. As soon as the harness off, the guys watched in amusement as she yanked at the back of her thighs trying to dislodge her wedgie in a ladylike way.
When she finally stood still Legates gestured to the truck. Michelle put her foot on the step and found her waist grasped. She squealed when she was lifted into the truck. Before she could say anything, a smack landed on her ass making her jump. She spun and put her hands on her hips. Legates looked at her with a grin and a shrug.
"I couldn't resist," he told her. She let out a chuff and turned back to the front of the truck. She walked to the front and plopped down on a bench.
"Uh, Techie, small problem. This truck seats ten including the driver's seat and passenger's seat," Wilson mumbled.
"Someone will have to sit in someone's lap," Techie said, shrugging.
"You can sit in Josh's lap," Michelle offered with a smirk.
Legates snorted as he climbed in the truck.
"Not happening. C'mere," he said, moving toward her.
She crossed her arms, pouted and shook her head no. He laughed, picked her up and moved to the back of the truck. She struggled and giggled at him. The guys rolled their eyes and climbed in the truck around them.
"You hurt my butt," she whined as he sat down and pulled her into his lap.
"Awww, how can I make it up to you?" He said, kissing her cheek.
"Kiss it and make it better?" She said with a small smile on her face.
The men in the back of the truck roared in laughter. Legates leaned forward and put his mouth near her ear.
"Maybe later," he whispered.
She giggled and leaned back against his chest. He settled his chin on her shoulder and squeezed her. Techie chuckled when he saw Michelle's eyes flutter shut.
"You wore her out with your clothes on. Imagine what you do with them off," Techie said.
Legates chuckled and lifted up so her head was leaning back on his shoulder. She sighed softly and tried to curl up in his lap
A/N: Okay let's see what's up for tomorrow...forethought, keys, thrashing, explanation, Capital Grounds, notes, payment, sweaty, grunting men, good brothers, getting fat, bad liar, Lewis, and arriving at the gym.
A/N2: I've been reminded by my husband to tell you that there is no way that the military would ever take a civilian on a HALO jump. There is however a place in TN that you can do it. It costs like 6k but you can do it.