AN1 Hey gang! I have so many story ideas going through my head, like you wouldn't believe! Unfortunately, all of them are long-format stories, so I don't want to start any of them while I already have multiple ongoing long tales. Some future stories to come from me include a 17th-century story with Chuck as the Heir to the French throne, while Sarah, a mysterious woman, appears at Chuck's court. The tale will have the writing format of a 19th-century adventure novel and will be in a first-person perspective, which will be my first story to be delivered in that specific style.
Other upcoming stories from me will include a 19th-century Napoleonic Wars tale, with Chuck being a gentleman British officer and Sarah a partisan Spanish guerilla as they embark on adventures to beat the French.
And completing off a trio of my future ideas that I'm willing to share has Chuck as an LAPD cop who works with an FBI BAU (Behavioural Analysis Unit) to apprehend a cop killer. The BAU team is led by Casey and consists of Sarah, Zondra, Carina, and Bryce (a cameo just like canon). Bryce leaves the team to join the CIA, the unit decides to offer the job to Chuck, and the story picks up from there, running for several years.
I will release all three projects sometime in the future, but preferably not before making significant progress in Who Dares Wins and ideally completing Redemption and possibly New Beginnings.
AN2 In other Who Dares Wins news, I finally got around to part two of Chuck and Sarah's first night together (taking place at the immediate conclusion of Ch18 and before Ch20). The usual warnings of sexual scenes for those who may intend to search it out via my profile or in the hidden mature category on this site.
Who Dares Wins
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Lockdown: Part Seventeen: Dogs of War: Part One
Friday, 16 November, 2007
Stirling Lines
08:00 hours
Today promised to be an extraordinarily important day for Corporal Chuck Bartowski and his teammates, but mainly for Chuck.
As part of G Squadron's counter-terrorism deployment, Mobility troop, and thus, Red Team, were now on operations again.
But beyond that minor readiness change, this very day was so momentous for Chuck above all else because today, Chuck would officially become Red Team's dog handler on operations.
Red Team had been without a K-9 since the fateful helicopter crash several months ago, which had killed Sergeant Neil Reynolds and Corporal Ben White, who was the team's MWD (Military Working Dog) handler before the tragic loss of both soldiers' lives and the team's loyal canine, Reaper.
A year ago, Chuck had begun training extensively to master the craft of becoming a Special Forces MWD handler so that in the event of the team losing the assigned handler, then their vital role on the team could be immediately replaced by someone trained and requiring just a K-9 to begin working with. However, because Red Team lost Reaper in the helicopter crash, there had not been an immediate replacement readily available until now.
Now on duty, dressed in his special forces combat uniform, Chuck approached the indoor kennel facilities on his base of operations.
Captain Wallace had already briefed Chuck at the mess hall at 06:30 that the Regiment's support personnel were expecting his arrival at the facility. And besides, Chuck knew all of the personnel here by name anyway, having trained here extensively for over three months a year ago.
Entering the facility, Chuck nodded at the Kennel Master Sergeant posted at the desk.
The Sergeant returned the gesture to Chuck, standing as he did so, before leaving his position behind the desk, collecting a food tray, and approaching Chuck.
Chuck, feeling in a great mood because of last night's activities, held out his hand in a further greeting to the Sergeant and said, "Good morning, Steve."
Nodding at Chuck once more, the Kennel Master shook Chuck's hand and said, "Good morning."
Detaching themselves from the handshake, the two NCOs began walking and entered the corridor housing the dog kennels for the Regiment on either side.
"This one's a natural. Two years old. He answers to the name of Ghost. Our trainers highlighted his work ethic and his ability to sniff and detect. If there are explosives around, he'll find them," the Kennel Master said confidently.
"You always do a good job with that because Reaper was a great one, too," Chuck said, nodding at Steve with respect.
"Thanks for the praise, but that's not necessarily true. Sometimes, like humans, some dogs just can't be trained in the speciality that your teams require, hence the delay. However, we're confident that Ghost will perform to a similar level as Reaper," the Kennel Master said.
Grinning, Chuck said, "Then he's a perfect fit for Red Team."
The Kennel Master shook his head, suppressing laughter, before handing Chuck the food tray. "You'll be needing this. He's a hungry boy. He weighs seventy pounds."
Chuck nodded while suppressing laughter as he took the food tray out of Steve's hand.
Steve then soon came to a stop, and Chuck stopped with him.
"Naturally, with you taking over primary responsibility from now on, you or your team leader are free to decide how quickly you intend to integrate him into your unit. But we recommend several days of you building a rapport with him before expecting him to follow and obey your commands," the Kennel Master advised.
"I'll discuss it with my team leader, but I'm inclined to agree. Plus, I'll probably need some days to settle myself because I've never owned a dog before: military or not," Chuck said, laughing in slight apprehension over the mammoth responsibility that would now fall to his burden.
"Don't think of him as a beast," the Kennel Master urged. "Instead, think of him as a best friend because I can assure you: he soon will be."
Chuck nodded.
"I'll leave you to it. If you need me, you know where to find me," Steve said.
"Thanks," Chuck replied, nodding at the NCO.
The Kennel Master promptly turned and walked away to attend to other tasks.
Now alone, Chuck drew in a large intake of air to compose himself before his first meeting with his new companion, which he knew he needed to get off to a good start and not leave a negative impression.
Ben White was an exemplary dog handler, and Chuck had conversed extensively on the subject with his deceased comrade. Those conversations had provided Chuck with knowledge in spades of how to be a good handler, which is why he knew that he had to get his first meet right, because Ben had already coached and told him so before his death.
Soon composed enough to begin the introduction, Chuck took a few further steps until he arrived outside the cage of Ghost, which had his name attached to the large kennel, and a British flag placed in the nameplate's immediate proximity.
The canine instantly became alert to Chuck's presence.
"Hello, Ghost," Chuck said, his tone soft, his expressions friendly as he glanced down at a typical Belgian Malinois. Ghost was short-haired, fawn in colour, with a black overlay and a black mask. For Chuck, it was love at first sight.
Chuck moved to crouch and held the food tray slightly in front of him. "I've heard a lot of things about you, boy."
Ghost tilted slightly, attempting to interpret Chuck's words before his gaze lowered to the food tray in Chuck's hands.
"This is for you," Chuck said, grinning.
Chuck then placed the tray onto the floor, arching himself forward as he slowly slid it under the kennel housing Ghost, who watched Chuck's actions like a hawk.
With his actions complete, he returned his hands to his person and returned to his former position, slightly away from the cage.
Ghost cautiously began to approach the front of his kennel, while Chuck remained in place, not making any movement, still holding his friendly glance onto his new companion.
Arriving at the front of his cage, Ghost lifted his nose as he began sniffing at Chuck.
"Hello, buddy," Chuck said, still grinning at the K-9.
Ghost soon lowered his gaze towards the food tray Chuck had given him before sniffing away at the contents.
After a brief moment, Ghost started to eat cautiously from the tray, still feeling alert toward Chuck.
It took two further mouthfuls until Chuck noticed the tension in the dog lift and relax into its feeding.
"Good boy," Chuck called out again, knowing that building up the necessary rapport with his new companion would require Ghost to associate Chuck with good things for a few days, enabling the dog to trust and follow Chuck.
Chuck waited in place until Ghost finished feeding. "Good boy."
Ghost soon returned his glance to Chuck.
Chuck's training a year ago allowed him to read canine behaviour and their communication skills, and he knew that Ghost was more relaxed in his presence but knew that the next step could likely trigger the dog's caution and heightened alert towards him.
Moving to stand, Chuck approached the cage door.
Chuck's actions caused Ghost to back away and move deeper into the kennel but became more alert as Chuck entered the cage.
Chuck closed the door to the cage with his eye on Ghost the entire time, his body language relaxed and non-threatening towards the K-9.
Many dog owners were advised never to make eye contact with or stare at dogs due to their wolf instincts within them. However, all working dogs had been selected for their excellent temperaments. Plus, it was Chuck's job to handle and thus become the immediate domineering partner in their relationship from the outset.
Crouching down inside the cage, Chuck held out his hand and said, "Come say hello, boy."
Chuck paused, his hand stationary, knowing he had to let the dog move to him first before moving towards the dog.
Ghost soon cautiously approached the position of Chuck's hand. On arrival, the dog and human shared another glance until Ghost lowered his head and began to sniff away at Chuck's hand before licking at it.
"Good boy," Chuck said, suppressing a laugh.
The dog soon returned to look up at Chuck once more, and Chuck held his smile at his new friend.
And after a few seconds, Ghost stepped further into Chuck's proximity to allow him to pet and become acquainted with him.
Using his hand already extended out, Chuck rubbed away at Ghost's neck and behind his ear.
"Who's a good boy then?" Chuck asked in a soothing tone.
With Ghost soon fully relaxed in Chuck's presence, Chuck moved his second hand to perform the same actions as his first hand on the other side of the K-9's face.
"I'm Chuck," he said to the dog with affection. "And we're going to become the very best of friends."
Ghost soon approached Chuck's face, and he licked at his cheek.
Chuck, deciding not to kiss the dog on the first meeting, suppressed a laugh and continued to pet his new friend for a long moment more.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Later that evening
Chuck returned to the kennel facilities for evening feeding. His first meeting with Ghost had gone as well as he could have expected.
He was now looking forward to spending time with his four-legged friend again.
The Kennel Master, still on duty, handed Chuck another food tray, which he carried one-handed because he brought a chew ball attached to a rope in his other hand.
Chuck walked up the corridor housing the kennels until he stopped at Ghost's cage.
The dog, like last time, instantly abandoned all activities at the sight of Chuck.
"Hey, Ghost. Did you miss me?" Chuck asked, grinning. "I missed you. I brought you two things this time," he said, showing both things in his possession to the dog.
Ghost tilted his head, attempting to register Chuck's words, before changing his glance onto the food tray and the chew toy in Chuck's hands.
Chuck could tell from reading the dog that there was still a significant portion of caution within him, and he knew that would last for several days.
However, the dog's tail wagged slightly, which was a clear sign of excitement.
"Let's find out what has you excited most of all, shall we?" Chuck said as he crouched.
Moving to place the toy between his legs, for the time being, he then used both hands to push the food tray through the large opening below the cage.
As he looked at Chuck, Ghost started cautiously approaching the front of the cage. However, he advanced faster than the first time, and on arrival, he didn't sniff Chuck's person.
Ghost's attention soon diverted towards the food tray, where he began to eat with much less apprehension than the first time.
"Good boy," Chuck praised the dog for its good behaviour in showing clear signs of forming an evident rapport with him.
He paused in place until Ghost had finished and backed away from the opening, and once he had, he stood and moved to enter the kennel.
Keeping his eye on Ghost as he closed the cage, he said, "Look what I brought. It's yours now, boy."
Ghost rotated his glance between Chuck and the ball, and his tail soon started to wag.
"Come and play then," Chuck encouraged, bending down as he started to shake the ball to entice his new friend to have some fun, another step which would ensure that Ghost would begin to associate Chuck with good things.
Ghost soon approached Chuck and moved to take the chew ball into his mouth, reacting positively towards Chuck's attempts to build up their rapport.
"Good boy!" Chuck said playfully, suppressing laughter as he began to tug away at the rope.
Ghost quickly began to tug back as the new friends acquainted themselves.
"Oh, you're a strong one indeed!" Chuck soon laughed as Ghost started to tug away at him in play. "But I'm stronger."
They continued their activity for a few minutes until Chuck stopped, and he moved to crouch down.
Now on his knees, Chuck started to pet Ghost, rubbing away at his face as the dog kept the chew ball in his mouth and looked at Chuck, allowing himself to receive Chuck's attention.
After a minute, Ghost dropped the chew ball from his mouth and licked away at Chuck's face.
Laughing away, Chuck said, "Who's a good boy?"
Ghost continued to lick away at Chuck's face for brief moment until Chuck adjusted himself to kiss into the side of the dog's head.
X-X-X-X-X-X
A short while later
Chuck returned outside his barracks' sporting a massive grin in joy. His first day as Ghost's first handler went tremendously, and he was already excited and eager to be back with the K-9 again tomorrow morning. Chuck had been apprehensive for most of the morning, but the instant he stepped into the cage, all doubts about whether he could rise to the task and perform the new role with full passion and commitment evaporated.
Chris, Sarah, Jamie Hughes, Big Dan, and John Murray were standing idle and positioned close to the team's personal vehicles.
As Chuck approached them, Big Dan said, "There's no need for us to ask how it went, fella, because we can all see by your face."
"Yeah, mate, you look the spitting image of how Ben used to look whenever he'd spent time with Reaper," Jamie added.
Chuck nodded, suppressing laughter in happiness.
"We always knew you would be a natural at it, fella," John Murray said, grinning at his friend.
"I don't know about being a natural," Chuck said, shying away from the praise.
"We'll find out if he is in a few days," Chris stated.
Everyone nodded.
Sarah soon broke a glance she'd held towards Chuck since sighting him approaching them. Looking around the rest of the team, she asked, "So, what's the plan for the rest of tonight?"
"Head out, grab some food, and then retire to our prison cells in this lovely barracks of ours," Chris said.
"Can it at least be an English or Chinese takeaway?" Sarah asked. "Because I don't really like curry or much Indian cuisine."
Laughter broke out amongst the team.
"Some of us had a feeling that curries weren't your thing, mate," Jamie soon said.
"Yeah, we did. But Sarah, you can have whatever you want 'cause we're not sadists, and we were waiting for you to speak up about it," Big Dan said.
The rest of Sarah's teammates nodded, while Sarah smiled awkwardly, slightly embarrassed that there was yet another thing that she couldn't take to, but the team could, because she couldn't drink beer either.
"Sarah, don't feel bad about it," Chuck urged as he smiled at her, "Every single one of us on this team doesn't like some things. The only reason yours keep popping up of late is that you're new, but if you ever tell us that you don't like something, we won't force it on you, just like you wouldn't force what we don't like on us."
Sarah smiled back at him.
The rest of the team, except for Jamie, nodded while Jamie said, "He's right, Sarah. I don't fancy an Indian tonight meself, so I'll go with you."
Sensing Sarah needed a little further support to ease her concerns, Chuck said, "Neither do I, so I'll come with you both. Just give me a few minutes to change into some civvies, and then I'll be back out."
Sarah, Jamie, Big Dan and John all nodded, while Chris said, "And get Cole and Bryce to hurry up while you're in there."
Chuck nodded before he turned away from his teammates and entered the barracks.
Now inside, he walked quickly along the hallway because he knew his team leader was impatient when waiting longer than necessary for people.
Chuck entered Bryce's room without knocking, which was the general custom within 22 SAS.
"They're waiting for you outside, mate," Chuck said.
Bryce nodded.
Chuck departed Bryce's room and headed towards his best friend's.
Arriving outside Cole's room, he entered just like Bryce's. Only this time, a grin lit up his face for obvious reasons.
The best friends shared eye contact, and Cole matched Chuck's friendly smile.
"So, how was your first day with him, Chuck?" Cole asked, holding his glance.
Chuck's grin significantly expanded. "It was great, Cole. I'm happy I chose to step up a year ago."
"You'll make us proud," Cole said, still beaming his best friend with a loving grin.
Chuck grimaced. "I don't know about that. I have big boots to fill because Ben was top notch at it."
"Nonsense," Cole said as he approached his best friend and patted him on the shoulder. "Ben was a great lad, and we all feel his loss. But you'll make him proud. The lads and Sarah all believe in you. And I certainly believe in you! You wouldn't be my best man if I didn't."
Chuck smiled at his best friend's praise, to which Cole nodded, and grinned back at him.
Chuck then said, "They're outside, mate. I just need to change, and then I'll join you…."
X-X-X-X-X-X
A short while later
Red Team arrived at a location close to their base, which housed multiple takeaway restaurants along the street.
Departing Cole and Sarah's cars, the team linked up on the pavement.
"Right, we'll be off for a vindaloo then," Big Dan said, pointing his thumb at the Indian takeaway.
"And we'll be off for an English," Jamie said, pointing his own thumb at the Chinese and English takeaway outlet two doors down.
"See you all in a bit," Bryce said.
Everyone nodded as Red Team split into two groups of five and three.
Chuck, Jamie and Sarah soon arrived outside the Chinese and English takeaway restaurant.
Jamie and Chuck were about to enter inside but paused when Sarah said, "We'll join you in a minute, Jamie. I just need a word with Chuck first."
Nodding inside the takeaway, Jamie said, "Take your time, mate; there's a queue as you can see anyway."
Chuck and Sarah nodded, and Jamie promptly entered inside.
Chuck turned his attention to Sarah once Jamie entered. Grinning at her, he said, "Hey."
"Hi," she replied, returning his warm gaze.
"What's up?" he queried.
"You seem happy today, Chuck," Sarah said, still smiling.
Chuck nodded, grinning back at her. "Yeah. Today has been a good day. Really good. But you don't look so unhappy yourself either."
"I'm not," she admitted as she held her display of joy towards him. "So, does this mean you're staying with us then?"
Chuck broke their gaze slightly. Looking back at her after a brief pause, he said. "I can't say that with one-hundred percent certainty yet. I tell you what: give me a few days, and I'll give you a definitive answer just as soon as I have it. Deal?"
Sarah nodded affirmatively.
Chuck grinned at her.
"I know I already said it but you really do look optimistic and cheerful today," she said, shaking her head in amazement because this was among the happiest she'd seen him. "Is it because, like the lads said, it was your first day with him?"
Chuck nodded, still grinning. "He's impressive, Sarah. Wait until you meet him."
"He sounds it. But I'm sure with someone as kind, as loving, and as understanding as you are, then he will be in great hands too," she said with a smile.
Chuck returned the affectionate glance to her. "Thanks," he said, returning her smile. "But actually, there's another reason why I'm so happy today too, not just because Ghost is a really good boy."
"Why's that?" she asked back as the teammates and lovers held a stare into each other's eyes.
Chuck moved into Sarah's immediate proximity, where he whispered, "Because of last night with you."
A huge smile lit up and encompassed her features, and she bore him a lover's gaze. "Me too."
Chuck returned the lover's gaze to her in kind.
The lovers held it for a few seconds longer until they brushed their hands together for a long moment before they joined Jamie Hughes inside to order their food...
AN3 Sorry, gang, no Manchester today. I finally saw the perfect moment to introduce Ghost to the story! I had been struggling to find a place to fit him, who would be his handler, etc., but then suddenly, it just came to me, and I rolled with it. Ghost will be a central figure for the story from here on out.
Next chapter: Chuck spends a second day with Ghost, and then on the third day, the team uses Bryce to become a special interest of Ghost's, who becomes eager to play with him! What follows during the proceedings promises to be great fun! The team are then briefed and departs for Manchester.
Do you like Ghost's inclusion? What about the Charah at the end? Leave a comment, please :)