Chapter 7

You made a mistake Private…in the end you did the right thing…which tells me you're a good man…we can always use good men in Uncle Sam's Army." Hanley said with a smile.

Kovac couldn't believe it, Hanley had forgiven him, slowly he relaxed his grip as he let out a long sigh feeling the weight he had been carrying since that day fall away. "Thank you Sir." He said sincerely.

"Let's move out Soldier." Hanley responded.

Within minutes the two men were parked outside the CC for King Company, Lt. Hanley grabbed the satchel for Capt. Jampel then stepped out of the jeep. As he turned to tell Kovac to relax until further notice he stumbled, reaching out grabbed the back of the passenger seat to help steady himself.

Kovac saw the color drain from the LT's face and quickly made his way to the man's side. "Lt. Hanley are you alright?

Hanley heard the question but it sounded like Kovac was speaking from a distance, as he shook his head to try and clear it everything went dark.

Kovac caught the LT as he passed out…after easing the unconscious man to the ground he checked the bandage finding it soaked. "Damn." Looking around Kovac caught sight of Sgt. Saunders walking toward him. "Serge, I need your help."

EPILOGUE

Saunders sat beside the Lieutenants cot in Medical waiting for his friend to wake up, it had been over seven hours since he and Kovac had brought the LT in. The Doctor had cleaned and stitched the wound explaining to Saunders that the injury, though painful was not life threatening but the blood loss would require a few days stay at Medical until the LT could get some food in his system and a little rest.

To say he had been surprised to see Kovac with the LT was an understatement, Saunders hadn't heard from the Private since the man had been shipped back to the states and had kept the man's actions to himself. Kovac had told him that Lt. Hanley knew what he had done and was letting it go…Saunders was glad, he liked Kovac but if things had gone differently with Hanley that day he would have brought charges against the man himself…it still made him angry when he thought about it…

Who are you mad at Saunders? Hanley asked quietly.

The LT had been awake for a few minutes but at the expression on Saunders face had remained quiet only speaking when his friend's features had relaxed.

Ignoring the question Saunders clasped the LT's forearm. "It's about time you woke up I was getting bored sitting here watching you sleep." He said with a grin.

How did I get here? Hanley asked. "Last thing I remember was reaching for the satchel to give to Captain Jampel." Thinking about the satchel he sat up quickly, regretting the movement as soon as he made it, pressing a hand against his side he lay back down. "Damn, that hurt."

"Lie still LT…Kovac delivered the satchel so don't worry." Saunders said. "We brought you here when you passed out by the jeep…seven hours ago…

"Seven hours…it was just a graze." Hanley commented and with a stubborn tilt to his chin asked. "When can I leave?"

Recognizing that look, Saunders replied, "Not for a few days, the Doc said you lost a good bit of blood…that's why you passed out…he wants you to stay here until your body replaces it."

"Two days…that's not so bad." Hanley said thoughtfully

Saunders wasn't sure he had heard correctly. "You're actually going to take the Doc's advice and stay here the full two days?" He asked surprised.

"Sure...I could use the rest…that last assignment was a little rough." He replied.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Kovac...at the time it didn't seem to matter…you were going to be alright and Kovac had been shipped State side." Saunders said, holding his friends gaze.

Hanley nodded before responding, "In a way you did tell me, just not the whole story…remember when you had that bad fever a while back? At Saunders nod, he continued. "You let it slip about Kovac and what happened but not enough for me to take any action, when Kovac confessed I filled in the blanks."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Saunders asked quietly.

Saunders…I trust you to have my back, every time we head out on an assignment…I trust your advice when given…I trust your opinions…and…I trust you have a good reason for holding back information when you feel it necessary…That's why I didn't say anything then and I'm not doing anything about the incident now.

"Just so you know LT…if you had been killed that day because of Kovac…I would have pressed charges myself…after I let the men have a go at him…

Hanley caught the intensity in his friend's eyes and with a smile clasped his forearm. "I also trust you to do the right thing in any given situation."

"I better head out, Kovac went to visit the rest of the men while you were sleeping…wanted me to let him know how you were and Doc wanted to check you over when you came to…I'll let him know you're awake." Saunders said as he stood up.

"Thanks Saunders…tell our men I'll be back in two days and I expect to find them all in one piece." Hanley ordered as he found a more comfortable spot on the cot and closed his eyes.

"Alright Sir…I'll tell them." Saunders said as he walked away.

THE END

I almost didn't write an Epilogue…thought the story was finished after Lt. Hanley told Kovac his decision. Unfortunately, my muse kept nagging me, saying "Ya gotta have interaction between Saunders and Hanley, ya just gotta." So to keep the peace I added it (You have to keep your Muse happy or bad things happen, LOL) Hope you enjoyed this installment of COMBAT: Variations! a WHN for "Beneath The Ashes." Til next time…Take care…