Hey guys, kind of went with a little different format with this one. Let me know what you think.
Wolf was often in a congenial mood when on duty which was odd to say the least since he was currently in Afghanistan. Many of his fellow soldiers considered him to be a strange cookie for considering the rebel infested desert a beautiful vacation spot. That was until they overheard him on the phone with whoever it was he spoke to back home.
"What do you mean you broke it?" Wolf practically yelled into the phone attracting the attention of all those still in line waiting for their turn on the phone. "Do you have any idea how expensive that printer was?"
Panther and Eagle broke off from their conversation as they glanced towards the phone booth, one with amusement and one with concern.
"What do think is going on?" Panther asked.
"Whatever it is, it is not good," the other soldier replied with a small shake of his head and a smile.
"Who is he even talking to?" Panther asked.
"Accomplice," Eagle said forgetting if Panther had ever been given the kid's name after the bank hostage incident.
"Why is he using his one call to talk to Accomplice?" Panther asked, his eyebrows crinkling in confusion. "I thought he couldn't stand the kid."
"He can't," Eagle told him but didn't seem inclined to explain further. Panther raised his eyebrows in an expression that clearly said he wasn't going to except that for an answer. The other soldier sighed but continued. "Wolf is looking after Accomplice for a little while."
"Like, as the kid's guardian?" Panther asked, incredulous.
"Yeah, it surprised us too," Eagle said. The two were distracted again as Wolf's conversation again spiked in volume.
"How the hell did you manage to change the language to Portuguese?" he shouted and Eagle assumed they were still discussing the broken printer. There was a long pause as Wolf listened to whatever Tom was saying on the other end. "No, I don't know how hard it is to find a repairman who speaks Portuguese, Harris, and I don't care. If that printer isn't fixed by the time I get home you're grounded." There was another pause from Wolf and the soldiers behind him started laughing slightly at the normally calm and collected man's obvious irritation. "Forever! That's how long!"
"So they don't get along, right?" Panther asked slowly, knowing he was approaching a personal topic but couldn't seem to stop himself from asking. He was just too curious.
"Sometimes," Eagle replied. "They're actually pretty good for each other. Balance each other out and all that." Panther was ready with another question but was distracted yet again by Wolf and his explosive conversation with home. Panther thought it a little sad. Calls home were supposed to be the calmest part of the job and a moment the soldiers looked forward to. But Wolf's calls seemed to be a separate war altogether.
"I don't care if the sundae isn't complete without the sprinkles! Just eat the damn ice cream and quit giving Jack such a hard time!" Wolf snapped. After another pause Wolf pulled the phone away from his ear to give it a weird look before he continued the conversation. "No, I wasn't aware Cub sings like an angel. What does that have to do with anything?" Nearly everyone lost it that point but were ultimately able to shove the laughter back down.
Wolf took a deep breath to calm himself and then said, "Did you finish that book report?" The soldiers in line lost control of their laughter at that point and Wolf had to turn sharply to glare them back into silence.
Wolf finished his call not long after that and practically slammed it back into the cradle before storming out of the phone tent.
"And people wonder why I look forward to deployment," he snarled as he came near to where Eagle and Panther were standing.
"So," Eagle said to gain his friend's attention. "How's the kid?"
"Same as always," Wolf growled, glaring at nothing in particular and crossing his arms. "Jack will tell you." Wolf looked as if he had a very sour lemon in his mouth and walked away grumbling about teenagers, crazies, and printers stuck in Portuguese.
By the time the next phone call rolled around most of the SAS soldiers had gathered around the tent in order to overhear. They had all heard about Cub and Accomplice up at Brecon Beacons. In fact a few of them had been present during Cub's brief training and when the two boys had been there hiding out. And all of them were more than a little curious about Wolf's new domestic situation. They may be the country's most elite soldiers but they had a tendency to be gossips too.
Fox had the pleasure of being just behind Wolf in line for the phone and thus overheard most of the conversation that took place. This week the conversation was fairly calm. Tom didn't seem to want to talk about anything more controversial than his football game.
"How was it?" Wolf asked. "Did the team make the championship?...Congratulations...When is that game?...If I can, I'm not sure how much longer we'll be here...Another week maybe...How was your history test?...I told you it would help...You're dad called? What happened?...We'll talk about it when I get home but don't take it too seriously. Did you tell your mom?...You need to call her. She probably wants to talk to you about it...Yeah...Yeah...Just try not to make things harder on Jack...Yes I know you're not insane...No you can't get a chicken for a pet...Fine, I'll talk to you next week...Bye."
That phone call was an entertainment disappointment.
Next week was infinitely more entertaining. Tom Harris was incapable of not doing something incredibly stupid and/or frustrating.
"What did I tell you about causing trouble? How much damage was there?" Wolf was overheard saying quite loudly. "You're fifteen Harris, almost sixteen! You know it's impossible to dig a hole to the other side of the world so don't give me that bullshit! What were you really digging for?"
Snake shook his head at this point; Fox just continued flipping his magazine; Eagle prayed that this hole hadn't been dug in the Rider's backyard. If it had he would be the one trying to salvage what was left of their grass.
"Do you really expect me to believe you were digging for oil?" Wolf asked incredulous. "You aren't seven Harris and you can't just expect to get away with this crap anymore. I will not put up with any of that Easter Bunny Incident bullshit."
Panther shot Wolf's tensed back a strange look as did the rest of his Unit.
"What were you digging for?...You're lying through your teeth...Yes, you are...Because I can tell Harris!...If you think that wasting my call allowance is going to get you off the hook your dead wrong. If I have to I will have you shipped out here...Yes I can, Jones owes me a favor and I'm not above having you stuffed in a wood crate and brought here so I can deal with you in person...Why would you try to dig up the neighborhood's water pipe?...I'm pretty sure it's a federal offense to dye the water supply green Tom...I don't care if its National Jokester Day! You are not allowed to screw with the city's water supply!...What do you think?...Two weeks. No Chuck, no unnamed Wii, no telly, none of it."
Wolf eyed the clock as his time came to a close. He glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone was laughing but nobody dared looked him in the eye, much less show their amusement.
"I'm not saying that...No...Good-bye Harris...Yes, you're allowed to go to the championship game...I'll try...A week maybe...Yes...No...Yes...Alright, bye."
A week and a half later Eagle received an interesting package from Jack. When he opened it up on his cot he found a DVD, some pictures, and a letter resting in the bright red tissue paper Jack used last Christmas when wrapping gifts. He rolled his eyes at her improvisation.
"Whatcha got there?" Fox asked as he collapsed onto his own cot just to the right of Eagle. They shared the hut with the rest of K-Unit and J-Unit.
"Just something Jack sent me," he said and read the letter silently and slowly, taking in her girly handwriting and the pizza stain in the top right corner. She had also kissed the paper near the bottom by her signature leaving a bright pink lip stain and he could he smell her body spray. Jack didn't like the smell of perfume so she would use a melon body spray she bought at the grocery store.
Andy,
Everything is going well here. Well, everything's normal here which is to say it isn't always well. I miss you bunches and bunches. This letter is a little shorter because we decided to send you a video recording of Alex's Championship game and some pictures I thought you might like.
I won't ruin the surprise of the game but I will tell you that it was a nail bitter. You would have enjoyed it. I can't wait to see you again and as soon as you get home I'll make your favorite biscuits. Alex sends his love (don't tell him I said it like that) and he bought another horror movie for you two to watch next movie night.
Stay safe.
Hugs and kisses.
Jack
Eagle smiled and slide the letter under his pillow to re-read later before he picked up the three photos in the box. He rolled his eyes at Jack's sentimentality. He was pretty sure Alex had no idea what pictures she had sent to Afghanistan because the teen would never have approved of these floating around a SAS Army camp.
The first one was simply of Jack baking something in the kitchen. Eagle could see the eggs, flour, and sugar behind her. She had her long red hair up in a messy bun and there was a small bit of flour on her cheek. Her green shirt was covered with spilt flour and she was smiling so wide he could see all of her teeth. He smiled to himself, missing her a little more acutely than he had been before.
The second picture was of her and Alex on the couch. Alex had all of his books spread out on the coffee table and looked to be in the middle of a huge pile of homework. Jack was smiling at the camera and Alex was giving a small-but clearly annoyed-smile. Eagle figured it was Tom who took the picture. He usually stayed at the Rider house when Wolf was deployed.
The third picture was a professional one of Alex and some girl at the spring dance Jack had told him about two weeks ago. Eagle had to admit that the kid cleaned up nice and that he had good taste in girls. She was pretty; way out of the kid's league.
"Hey," Eagle said, gaining everyone's attention. "We need a television." He held up the DVD.
"What is that?" Snake asked.
"It's the championship game we missed," he said and Wolf perked up. He had legitimately wanted to go to that game. It was a big deal to both boys and Wolf was aware that Tom's parents would be iffy on attendance. The darker soldier went out to find a television with a DVD player and it didn't take him long to locate one and get it all hooked up in their hut. His actions caused some stir and it wasn't long before half the camp was stuffed into their small space eagerly awaiting a football game, even though it was just a high school championship game.
Jack had been right about it being a nail bitter. The two teams were pretty much evenly matched and the first half passed with some close calls on both sides but with no actual scoring. Eagle had to admit that Tom was probably the best player on the field, better than Alex even, despite his skills and advanced athletic prowess. Tom was born to be on the field and he made a brilliant captain.
In the end the boys' team, the Spartans, won the game by a single goal with only thirty seconds on the clock. With the way the SAS soldiers were cheering and carrying on a passerby would have thought that England had just won the World Cup. But that was how it was when this was the only solid entertainment you had in a month. Besides, it had been a great game.
Eagle rose from his chair to turn off the DVD once the game was over, figuring it was done but Snake stopped him.
"Hang on," he said. "I don't think it's over." And it wasn't. The DVD cut away from the recording of the game to a small news clip on the local station.
"And this week was the local Championship game between Brookland and Tremont. The game made news in areas outside of sports for its dedication ceremony which took place just before the game started. John is at the field to bring us some more details on this heartwarming local story."
Eagle felt mildly confused for a moment. The DVD had started right at the first whistle. They hadn't seen any sort of dedication. The screen cut away again to the field where a reporter was standing next to none other than a profusely sweating Tom Harris.
"Thanks, Karen. I'm standing here with the Brookland Spartan's captain Tom Harris. First off, Tom, congratulations on the stellar victory."
"Thanks, John," Tom replied breathlessly, looking excited and elated.
"Now, both you and the Tremont captain came to together today to give this game a very special dedication to all of the British soldiers currently serving overseas."
"Yes, sir," Tom replied. "We have several team members on both teams who currently have family on active duty and couldn't be here today. We just wanted them to know we were thinking of them."
"Now as I understand it you yourself have a family member in Afghanistan," the reporter continued and everyone glanced quickly at Wolf and Eagle. However, both were silent and concentrating on the news report whole heartedly. Both soldiers were more than a little touched but not showing it.
"Yeah, my guardian," Tom said. "He tried his hardest to be here but duty called." The kid didn't sound bitter about it at all, in fact he was smiling and sounded perfectly content with the outcome of these events. "We wanted all the soldiers that couldn't be here to feel as if they had been so we dedicated the game to them. We also had a fundraiser at both schools to raise money for a professional camera crew to tape the game and to pay for the postage of sending it to all of the family members overseas."
That explained the quality of the picture. Eagle had wondered how Jack had managed not to put her thumb in front of the lens or drop the video recorder once. It was because she hadn't filmed it at all.
"We also donated all of the proceeds from the school's Spring Dance to the army hospital here in London." Wolf smiled at Tom's last comment. The reporter quickly signed off after that but not before Tom waved at the camera and Wolf saw that he had a piece of bandana wrapped his wrist. It was Tom's signature addition to his uniform. Usually it was just a dark blue bandana with a paisley pattern but Tom had made a special addition to it for this game. A small bright pink patch in the shape of a 'K'. It didn't take a genius to know what it meant.
The DVD ended after that and the soldiers all sat in silence for a moment, more than a little touched at the support from the famed Accomplice. And then the applause started. It was quick but loud, and once it was over people started filtering out to go back to their various tasks. Eagle took the DVD out of the player and carefully put it back into its case.
"Think I should I un-ground the kid?" Wolf asked eventually looking slightly torn.
"That was probably his intention all along," Snake told him.
"He's not that diabolical," Fox chimed in but Wolf gave him a look. "Right?"
"I'll just buy him some comic books," the soldier continued, settling on a plan. "He'll be happy with that."
Panther stood in line to wait his turn for the phone. He wasn't feeling too nervous, like he normally was just before he called home. He was a little too distracted by Wolf's conversation just like everyone else was. The man was talking in normal tones and thus Panther was really the only one who could hear him. But people were still curious. They wanted to know what else the kid had done in the two weeks they hadn't been able to call. Everyone had missed last week's call due to a severe sand storm that interfered with the communications and anything that wasn't of the highest importance wasn't done.
"We got that DVD," Wolf said, and then smiled at whatever the reply was. "Yeah, we did, about half the camp saw it. That was one hell of a game kiddo...Yeah? What did the scout say?...That's great! I'll sign the papers when I get back...We fly back in a few days...Promise...If you come with Jack to the airport we'll go out to eat...No, Tom we aren't going to McDonald's. Pick somewhere else...I'll go for that...I don't think airport security will be happy about you bringing that inside...No, leave that at home...Jack told Eagle that progress reports have gone home so don't think you can hide it from me...Why would you put it in the freezer?...I don't think the paper is going to degrade in a few weeks...Put it in my desk and then leave it there, you hear?"
Panther tuned the rest of the conversation out. The two obviously weren't in a fighting mood and he felt more than little weird about listening in at this point. Wolf deserved a private conversation with the kid.
When K-Unit stepped into the baggage area of the airport they were greeted by their various family members. Fox went to his fiancé; Snake darted off to his new girlfriend and sister; J-unit split off from their bunk mates to go to their various family members as well. Their reunions were getting a little more attention than normal due to the fact they were still in their fatigues. People loved to see soldiers reunited with their families.
It didn't take long for Eagle to find Jack who latched on and refused to let go. Wolf saw Alex standing next to them patiently but awkwardly. The soldier couldn't see Tom anywhere and he fought down a groan. The last thing he wanted was to go hunting for the kid through the busy airport.
He didn't have to go searching though. Tom came out of nowhere and before Wolf could do anything he had jumped up on him with a bright smile and a look in his eye that Wolf had come to associate with a sugar high.
"Oof," the man grunted as the kid's full weight pushed the air from his body and he had to fight to keep his balance.
"Harris," he growled as the boy hung on like he was a monkey. He saw several of his fellows laughing at the sight. Alex had his mobile out and Wolf was positive he was taking a picture, which he would take care of later.
"Wolfie-poo!" the boy greeted brightly. "You're home!"
"Yeah, I know that," the man said with a glare. "Now get off of me." The boy complied and Wolf got a good look at him for the first time in over a month and a half. The boy didn't seem that much different than when he'd left. In fact the only new thing about him was his t-shirt. It was in a army-like fatigue pattern and had lettering on the front that said, "I heart Army". Wolf felt his eye twitch but didn't react otherwise like he knew the kid wanted.
Tom was talking rapidly, barely pausing for breath, and Wolf had the distinct feeling that the kid was hyper, a horrible state in Wolf's general opinion.
"Tom," the soldier cut in, his hand on the kid's shoulder, demanding his full attention. "Did you have Mountain Dew again?"
The boy's sugar crazed smile was all the answer he needed. Tom continued talking, perfectly content in not having Wolf answer, as the man led him out of the airport and to a cab that would take them back to the flat. Eagle, Jack, and Alex had already left for their own home as had the rest of the Unit.
When they made it home Wolf went to shower and change before they were to go to dinner at Tom's favorite Greek place. But when the soldier came into the living room he found the boy dead asleep on the couch, his sugar high gone and the remote held loosely in his hand as Scooby-Doo played on the screen. He looked dead to the world and Wolf didn't have the heart to wake him. He just took the remote and turned off the television before he draped the kid's favorite blanket over him.
"Good to see you too buddy," he whispered before he went back into his room to take a look at that progress report. If he were Tom where would he hide it?