AN1 Thanks a bunch for the feedback of late. It's massively appreciated and helps me tremendously in seeing if direction and delivery are right. Please keep the reviews coming; in return, I'll promise to keep the chapters coming thick and fast at a steady pace of around two per week for as long as they do.
AN2 I noticed while writing this chapter that Who Dares Wins is already my longest story on the site. By the time it's finished, it will eclipse the length of all of my others combined, and by some considerable margin, so that's a clear sign of my plans for this tale (only The Spy and the Soldier will come close to it once complete, but S&S is on a pause at the moment because WDW is my focus for now).
Who Dares Wins
Chapter Thirty-Nine: Lockdown: Part Eighteen: Dogs of War: Part Two
Stirling Lines
Hereford
United Kingdom
Saturday, 17 November, 2007
08:00 hours
Chuck walked along the corridors of the indoor kennels at the precise time he had the previous day, knowing it was important to adhere to a routine that his new boy Ghost—or any dog for that matter—could adjust to.
Just like yesterday, Chuck carried a food tray. This would not be the case every day—simply because he was a special forces soldier, which meant he had FAR too many responsibilities to do it every day for the rest of Ghost's life—but for the first days at least, it was best for the canine to have its food brought to it by the new handler to build a rapport with each other.
In addition to the food tray, Chuck also had a dog grooming brush with him today, knowing that grooming your dog was another terrific way to build their relationship. This was the last indoor activity Chuck would engage in with Ghost before taking him out to exercise and play, which he would attempt in a few hours.
Chuck soon came to a stop outside Ghost's kennel.
Ghost paused his activities as soon as Chuck appeared in view, and he moved to stand to greet the human.
"Hey, boy," Chuck said, smiling at his new friend.
Ghost's tail soon started to wag, undisputedly more excited to see Chuck than he first was yesterday.
And Chuck had to admit: he felt the same way about Ghost too.
With his posture relaxed, Chuck knelt and placed the food tray and brush onto the hard floor for now. Chuck then moved towards the cage, where he paused in place.
The Belgian Malinois approached the front of the kennel as its tail continued to wag.
"I missed you, buddy," Chuck said, smiling at the canine, before nodding down to the food tray. "Look what I brought."
Ghost shot his gaze down at the food tray, and his focus quickly became locked on the contents.
Suppressing laughter, Chuck said, "That's how I feel about food too. It looks like our partnership was written in the stars."
Chuck then put through the food tray to the side of Ghost, who stood eagerly awaiting its arrival.
With the tray in place, Chuck stepped back away from the cage to give the dog some space.
The dog soon began to eat its first meal of the day, and Chuck paused, distracting his mind with anything he could think about until Ghost withdrew from the area to signify he had finished.
"Now it's time for what all dogs love, a good brush," Chuck said, grinning, as he picked up the brush before taking the chew ball into his possession that he'd left attached to the hanger of Ghost's accessories the previous night. "And then we can play!"
Ghost became excited as Chuck approached the opening, his tail wagging multiple times.
Entering the kennel, Chuck closed it behind him.
Ghost swiftly approached Chuck with his eyes firmly fixated on the chew ball.
However, knowing he would play with Ghost as a reward for allowing Chuck to brush him, Chuck suddenly commanded, "Sit."
There was the briefest of seconds of hesitation because this was the first command Chuck had issued to him, but Ghost soon sat as commanded.
"Good boy," Chuck said, grinning. "Brush first, and then we play."
Chuck tucked the chew ball into his pants and turned his full attention towards brushing Ghost.
He spent a few minutes on the delicate task, closely inspecting Ghost for any skin conditions.
Ghost soon relaxed into the activity.
"Good boy!" Chuck said, full of life, finishing the task a few minutes later, tossing the grooming brush to his side and taking hold of the chew ball. "And now we can play!"
Ghost's excitement returned and took hold of him. He quickly moved to scoop the ball into his mouth, and the new companions began to play.
X-X-X-X-X-X
12:00 hours
Chuck arrived outside the kennel facilities to spend some more time with Ghost. While his activities with Red Team so far today were critical, Chuck had to admit that they felt trivial compared to his activities with Ghost. On the back of what had happened on Monday, and the loss of Ben White and Neil Reynolds just four months ago, maybe Chuck's new responsibilities with Ghost were precisely what he needed at this moment: something to allow him to put his focus into and to allow him to move on from everything that had happened this year, which had been Chuck's hardest year in the armed forces thus far.
Entering inside the facility, Chuck walked along the corridor dressed in his endurance training gear and he soon stopped outside the cage of his new friend.
Ghost instantly abandoned his activities, focusing his attention on Chuck, and his tail began to wag.
"Hey, boy," Chuck said, grinning at Ghost before he took hold of Ghost's chew toy and also a collar with a lead attached.
In addition to the basic dog collar and lead that Chuck now possessed as Ghost's handler, the dog's working gear was also placed on the hanger, consisting of a lightweight tactical vest for the K-9 and a much more tactical leash that had a lot of flexibility to it, which Chuck would be attaching onto his belt area when necessary whenever he would be wearing his own battle gear.
Ignoring the working gear for today, Chuck turned his attention back to Ghost and said, "Now we can really play."
He then entered kennel, leaving the door to the cage open as he did so.
Knowing it was time to go out, Ghost instantly performed a few looped circles in excitement before quickly sitting still once he'd finished.
Suppressing laughter at the actions of his new friend, Chuck moved to put the collar in place.
"Good boy!" Chuck said with a lot of enthusiasm. "Let's go and play then."
Ghost promptly stood and raised himself to rest his two front paws onto Chuck's knee in eagerness, looking up expectantly at him.
Chuck petted Ghost briefly before they soon departed the kennels together.
A few minutes later
Chuck arrived with Ghost at an open grass field two hundred metres in length.
The pair had already done their respective physical exercises for the day, and Chuck already knew that. However, he hadn't intended to take care of their exercise needs for the next half hour anyway.
Rather, the next half an hour was about one thing only:
Fun.
Stepping onto the grass, Chuck let his excitement consume him as an attempt to signal his new friend to reciprocate the enthusiasm.
Chuck quickly started to shake the chew ball in front of Ghost, which caused Ghost to move play with him.
After a minute of playing, Chuck called, "Out."
Ghost instantly let go of the chew ball and looked up at Chuck in search of additional command.
"Good boy," Chuck said, smiling down at him. "And now we're really going to have some fun."
Turning to his front and towards the two-hundred metres ahead of them, Chuck performed a few brief stretches.
With his actions complete, he soon said, "Come on, Ghost."
Setting off at a jogging pace, Chuck moved in motion along the field, his new friend setting off with him as soon as Chuck made the first step.
Chuck soon increased the pace of the exercise further and further until the pair flew along the field at a rapid sprint.
"Come on, boy!" Chuck shouted further encouragement in excitement.
Ghost responded as the companions covered every blade of grass on the field until they arrived at the end.
Slowing the pace, the partners turned at Chuck's lead, and Chuck said, "And back we go!"
Once more, Chuck and Ghost set off back down the field towards where they'd just come, quickly regaining their top speed as they did so.
Approaching this end of the field, they slowed their pace again before stopping and completing their four-hundred-metre exercise in less than a minute.
Coming to a stop, Chuck paused to get his breath back and bent over to regain air.
Meanwhile, Ghost had his tongue out of his mouth, panting away to circulate the required air through his body.
It took Chuck a short moment to cool down, the 400 metres wasn't the quickest he'd ever run it for fun, but that was understandable, considering he'd started at a jogging pace and had a hold of Ghost.
Looking down at Ghost, Chuck said, "Now it's your turn to do some running alone."
Shaking the ball in his hand to attract Ghost's attention, Chuck soon lifted his hand back, and he threw the ball as far as he could, letting go of the lead and shouting, "Go fetch, Ghost!" in the process.
Ghost instantly gave chase after the chew ball while it was still in flight.
And as Ghost dashed after his toy, Chuck could only watch on in awe and amazement at just how agile and rapid Ghost truly was.
Chuck already knew that Belgian Malinois were among the most agile dogs in the entire world, and the fastest runners too, but seeing it play out first hand right in front of his eyes was truly some sight to behold...
Ghost quickly arrived at the ball's location, scooped it into his mouth, and he made off towards Chuck with as much gusto as when he first set off to fetch the toy.
On his return, Ghost traversed through the field at very high speed and arrived back at Chuck's position in seconds, dropping the ball at Chuck's feet as he did so.
"Good boy!" Chuck said enthusiastically.
Sinking to one knee, Chuck moved to kiss the side of Ghost's head, who licked away at Chuck's face on Chuck's completion.
Soon picking up the ball again, Chuck threw it a second time, shouting, "Go fetch!".
Of course, he knew that a Belgian Malinois needed far more work than simple fetch and carry, but as he'd said earlier—today was about fun.
A few minutes later
Chuck and Ghost were coming to the end of their play, of which they had a great time together.
Chuck was preparing to stand to take Ghost back inside when Chris MacDonald and Cole Barker started approaching the two companions.
Ghost instantly became alert from where he was seated close to Chuck, who moved to stand to greet his teammates.
Chris and Cole soon stopped close to Chuck and Ghost as Ghost watched the two strangers like a hawk.
"How's it going?" Chris asked.
Grinning, Chuck said, "Great. We've had a lot of fun out here, and our relationship is progressing very well."
"That's good to hear," Cole said, returning the warm glance to his best friend before he nodded to register Ghost.
"He's extremely energetic, needs to please, and be praised for doing it," Chuck said.
"Then we'll start his training with the team tomorrow," Chris stated.
Chuck grimaced briefly. "I don't know, Chris..." he said but paused briefly. "I'm inclined to agree with the Kennel Master. Tomorrow will be just the third day which could be too quick to get him to follow and work with me."
"We've been without a K-9 in our unit for four months now," Chris reminded Chuck. "We might get sent on an op at any moment, so the quicker we integrate his expertise into our unit, the quicker we could potentially save lives because you know as well as I do that dogs are a force multiplier. So he starts tomorrow. Don't worry. We'll start with something light first with a decoy."
Chuck nodded in concession. "Ok, we'll try it. But if it doesn't work, it will be a setback that we can do without, as you said. But who will be the decoy?"
"Bryce will," Chris said instantly.
Chuck and Cole erupted in wicked laughter.
"He'll love that, he will," Cole said, still laughing in approval. "He'll love it!"
Chris finally joined the best friends in laughter, and the three of them chuckled for a long moment as they each began to picture Bryce being chased by Ghost.
Once their sadistic laughter calmed, Chris said, "We'll be at the Killing House in thirty minutes. Join us there."
Chuck nodded at his team leader.
Cole and Chris then turned away and left Chuck and Ghost to be in their own company again.
Turning his attention to Ghost, Chuck knelt again and said, "Don't worry. He's a cuddly bear once you get to know him, just like you are," and he moved to kiss the side of Ghost's head once he finished.
"Come on, buddy. Let's get you back. And then I'll visit you later tonight with your din dins…."
X-X-X-X-X-X
Sunday, 18 November, 2007
Stirling Lines
Hereford
United Kingdom
12:00 hours
Sarah, Jamie, Bryce, Big Dan, Cole, John Murray and Chris MacDonald were standing on a large field on their base of operations in wait for Chuck and Ghost to begin decoy training, which would involve Bryce acting as a decoy for Ghost to attack, though Bryce didn't know of his upcoming misfortunes yet.
"So who's playing the decoy then?" John Murray suddenly asked, glancing around the team for an answer.
"Hopefully not me, fella, 'cause I've just had a massive burger and a plate full of chips, so the last thing I want to have to do is to run halfway down the fucking field with a Maligator chasing after me!" Big Dan said, shaking his head.
Sarah, Jamie, Bryce, Cole and John Murray snorted, while Chris said, "He is."
Everyone turned to look at Chris, who was pointing at Bryce.
Bryce instantly became agitated. "Oh, fucking hell! Why does it have to be me?!" he complained, shaking his head in frustration.
Sarah, Jamie, Cole, Big Dan and John snorted multiple times in approval before some of them succumbed to their laughter.
While Chris said, "Because you're the fastest on the team, and we need to see what he is capable of and give him a run for his money."
Bryce started shaking his head, puffing out a sigh, feeling pissed off that Chris chose him to be the decoy. "Sarah's just as fast as me," he argued.
"Gentlemen are always supposed to go first!" Sarah quickly said, snorting. She was very much looking forward to Bryce being the decoy, and she had zero intentions of volunteering herself to be chased down by Chuck's new friend!
Sarah's comments caused everyone except Bryce to extend their fits of laughter.
Sighing in defeat, Bryce said, "Will I at least be wearing protection?"
"Fucking hell, Speedy, fella, you're getting bit, not having sex!" Big Dan remarked, snorting.
Instant snorts broke out from Cole, John and Sarah, while Jamie entered an immediate fit of laughter, and everyone else quickly joined him once they couldn't hold back their hysterics any further.
Bryce, remaining unamused by having to be the decoy, complained, "For fuck sake!"
"Stop whining, laddie, or you'll be doing the next one too!" Chris instantly rebuked him, warning sternly, and he was not messing.
The laughter continued amongst the team as most of them began building up in excitement over what was to come in just a few minutes time, of which all of them had cozy front row seats to the show!
Meanwhile, a conversation was ongoing between Chuck and Steve inside the kennels.
"I'll come out with you the first time just in case I'm needed," Steve said.
Chuck nodded as they walked along the corridor before stopping at Ghost's cage.
"Hey, buddy," Chuck said, grinning at Ghost.
Ghost's tail started to wag as the dog and handler shared eye contact.
"It's time to go to work," Chuck soon said.
Ghost instantly knew its meaning and paused as Chuck took hold of Ghost's tactical vest and the tactical lead accompanying it.
Entering the cage, Chuck crouched as he dressed Ghost in his apparel.
Once Ghost was dressed, Chuck attached the tactical lead onto the top of the vest on Ghost's back, then connected the leash onto his belt pouch.
Moving to rub Ghost's face in affection briefly, Chuck then stood and said, "Heel, boy."
The handler and canine departed the cage side by side and soon linked up with the Kennel Master, Steve, holding a bite jacket loosely in his hand.
A few minutes later
Chuck, Ghost and Steve arrived at the rest of Red Team's position.
Coming to a stop a short distance away, Ghost moved to sit at Chuck's side.
"Who have you selected to be the decoy?" Steve asked, changing his glance between Chuck, and Red Team waiting a few seconds away from them.
Chuck grinned and said, "Our quickest runner," while nodding over at Bryce.
Steve laughed and said, "It won't be enough, I can assure you of that. No living nor past human could outrun a Malinois, never mind a special forces Malinois. They're nuclear-powered fur missiles just looking for a target!"
"I know," Chuck said, sharing the laughter with Steve as he began chuckling sadistically. "That's why I'm going to enjoy this very much indeed!"
"Better becoming the handler than constantly getting bit as the decoy, ey?" Steve said, still laughing.
"I couldn't have said it any better, mate," Chuck replied, grinning. "And I'm very much looking forward to seeing him get bit, and then I'll very much enjoy it when it's the rest of their turns too!"
Steve nodded, laughing for a brief moment longer, before he composed himself and said, "I'll get him kitted up in the jacket and explain what he has to do."
Chuck nodded.
Steve then departed, leaving just Chuck and Ghost.
Moving to kneel, Chuck petted Ghost and said, "Who's a good boy?"
Ghost licked away at Chuck's face in reply.
Laughing away until Ghost stopped licking at him, Chuck then pointed Ghost in the direction of Sarah. "Do you see her, Ghost?" Chuck whispered as he and Ghost looked at Sarah, who was looking back at them and she was smiling at Chuck. "That's Sarah. She's a very special woman to me. I've not told her that yet. But I will... in time... when she's ready to hear it, which could be a while. So I want you to be as nice to her as you are to me. But as for the rest of them, you can be as rough as you want with them because they're stinky!"
Still chuckling, Chuck stood and said, "Come, boy."
The K-9 and his master began walking in the direction of Red Team.
Arriving in the vicinity of his teammates, Chuck came to a stop. Turning his attention to Ghost briefly, he gently commanded, "Sit."
Ghost followed his command, and Chuck turned his attention to Sarah, Cole, Jamie, Dan, John and Chris.
"Alright?!" Chuck chirped in excitement, glancing at them all.
His teammates all nodded, glancing just as cheerfully back at him.
All seven of them were looking forward very much to what was about to happen, as would Bryce have if the shoe was on the other foot and one of them was to be the decoy instead of him.
Nodding towards Bryce, who was being fitted with the bite jacket fifty metres away and receiving instructions from Steve, Cole said, "Look at him! He's sweating already!"
Approving chuckles erupted amongst the seven teammates.
Chuck shook his head in sheer excitement and said, "I can't even begin to tell you how much I'm looking forward to this, Cole!"
The laughter intensified as Jamie clapped his hands excitedly together and said, "Not half as much as me, mate!"
The chuckles and intense excitement continued, while most of Red Team began to rub at their thighs in sheer enjoyment.
"So, how much chance are we giving him then?" Big Dan asked, nodding at Bryce
The group pondered the question briefly until Sarah chuckled with a smile on her face, "I'll give him a 0.1 percent chance, Dan, and that 0.1 percent is only if Ghost picks up an injury."
The laughter continued as Steve started to walk back to Bryce's teammates and Ghost, who was now alert and had his focus aimed straight at Bryce!
"Is he ready?" Cole asked as Steve stopped in front of the seven teammates.
Steve nodded. "Yeah, and he's feeling confident that he can outrun him even though I told him it was impossible."
"If he's that confident, then he won't be needing the vest, will he?!" Jamie chuckled, rotating his glance between Bryce fifty metres ahead of him, and the rest of the team stood close together.
The laughter continued as Chris shouted to Bryce, "If you don't do the job properly, then we'll reset and start all over again, with you back in the vest!"
Chris's declaration caused the chuckles to develop further still, with seven-eights of Red Team fully intending to enjoy every moment of what was about to happen!
"Are you ready?" Chris asked, looking at Chuck.
Chuck nodded.
"Right," Chris said, looking around the team and trying his best not to smirk, but he was failing because he was looking forward to seeing Bryce getting a good beasting by the team's newest member. "Let's begin the hunt!"
The excitement quickly took hold of Red Team, well, for Red Team minus Bryce.
"You're going down, Speedy!" Jamie Hughes shouted at Bryce, chuckling.
Chuck began to take a few steps towards Bryce, and Ghost followed him, still watching Bryce like a hawk, who was now in the vest and was holding his unloaded MP5 submachine gun.
Coming to a stop, Chuck commanded, "Guard."
Ghost instantly obtained an extraordinary interest in Bryce, having been given his mission by Chuck.
"It's your turn now, Speedy!" John Murray shouted, snorting.
John Murray's laughter was swiftly shared by Chris, Cole, Jamie, Big Dan, and Sarah. However, Chuck remained focused on the task of waiting for Bryce's upcoming provocations to Chuck and his new friend.
Observing six of his teammates chuckling at his expense while Chuck held Ghost on the lead attached to his person, Bryce soon shook his head, puffing out a sigh, before he murmured, "Fuck it!"
Overcoming his reluctance to be a decoy, Bryce pointed his MP5 towards Chuck and Ghost, which caused Ghost to step forward instantly, and he began attempting to pull Chuck towards Bryce.
However, Chuck held firm against Ghost's resistance, his body not taking a single step forward.
"Come on, Speedy, we're waiting, fella!" Big Dan shouted suddenly.
The chuckles continued as the group of six with nothing to do but observe continued to enjoy the show at Bryce's expense.
Puffing one final sigh, Bryce shouted, "Come on then! Let's fucking have it!" at Chuck and Ghost.
Ghost instantly doubled his efforts to break free of Chuck in an attempt to engage and attack Bryce, and he showed his full mouth at Bryce as the K-9's controlled aggression quickly unleashed, with Bryce now firmly the target of that aggression.
Chuck, who was now having to fight very hard to keep Ghost from pulling him forward, continued in pause because he didn't intend to release Ghost until Bryce started running away from them.
"Come on, Speedy, fella, you can fucking shout louder than that!" Big Dan shouted at him, still chuckling away in intense excitement.
"If he doesn't, then he's the decoy again next time!" Chris warned.
The laughter continued between Sarah, Cole, Jamie, John and Big Dan as they enjoyed the show. But especially for Sarah, because call this a little payback for what Bryce did to her and Chuck on the first day of lockdown.
Gaining further courage, Bryce shouted, "COME ON!"
Ghost, by now, with his well-defined muscle had managed to begin pulling Chuck ever so slightly forward towards Bryce, eager to engage and neutralise his target.
"Louder!" Jamie shouted at Bryce as the laughter continued.
Unwilling to keep his anxiety going any further, Bryce gave way and screamed, "I'M GONNA FUCKING SHOOT YOU, YOU TWAT!"
Suddenly, a deafening howl escaped from Ghost at Bryce in aggression, his full teeth showing at Bryce over the fifty-metre distance between them.
Most of Red Team erupted in roaring laughter over Bryce's remarks and Ghost's immediate reaction to them as they rotated their glance between their decoy teammate and Ghost, who was snarling and pushing at Chuck like crazy in his efforts to close Bryce down and attack him!
However, Bryce instantly spooked at the terrifying single bark from Ghost. Shouting, "FUCK THIS!" he immediately turned, threw his MP5 onto the floor, and started running as quickly as possible to make enough space from Ghost in the hope he would tire. Bryce was very confident in his endurance and his ability to outlast Ghost.
Bryce's actions transcended the laughter amongst most of his teammates to far greater heights, and Sarah, Cole, Jamie, Chris, Big Dan and John could only watch on in sheer delight at the sight in front of their eyes.
Knowing it was now time to unleash Ghost to attack Bryce, Chuck quickly detached himself from the lead holding onto Ghost, commanding "Get 'em!" as he did so.
Ghost instantly flew like a bat out of hell to chase down a fleeing Bryce, who was now like a sheep in front of the headlights as Ghost chased his prey.
And as he ran, Bryce wasn't looking behind him and instead focused all of his efforts on escaping Ghost's pursuit.
"RUN, SPEEDY, RUN!" Big Dan shouted, howling in laughter.
The laughter continued as Chuck, and the rest of his teammates quickly gave chase after Bryce, and Ghost was hot on his tail.
"Knock knock?!" Jamie shouted suddenly as the seven of them ran after Bryce and Ghost.
"Who's there?!" Cole shouted back as he ran.
"Speedy's worst nightmare, that's who! RUN, SPEEDY, FELLA!" Jamie replied in a fit of laughter, and Jamie's teammates quickly joined him.
"DON'T LOOK BACK, SPEEDY, FELLA!" Big Dan soon warned, howling in laughter at the tremendous sight in front of his eyes as his teammate was dashing in desperation to escape Ghost, who shot through the grass in chase like a heat-seeking missile!
Ghost had soon almost caught Bryce when Bryce finally looked behind him.
Seeing the terrifying sight right behind him, Bryce turned to his front, attempting to increase his pace, but suddenly, he tripped and lost his balance.
As he started to trip, the loss of Bryce's speed caused Ghost to crash into him like a thunderclap!
Ghost quickly took out Bryce from under him, which caused Bryce to catapult into the air, and he landed sharply on his back.
Red Team and Steve instantly winced in sync at the brutal takedown and Ghost wasn't even done yet!
"Fucking hell!" Jamie said aloud in shock before quickly erupting in a mixture of snorting and chuckling, and Chuck, Sarah, Big Dan, Cole, Chris, John and Steve joined him in suit.
"He just got seven bells of hell knocked out of him!" Cole said, crying out in laughter.
With Bryce now on the deck, Ghost picked himself up from the deck and bit into the side of Bryce's torso, who was frantically waving his hands above his head in fear of Ghost biting his face.
"Aaah! Fucking hell!" Bryce cried out, with Ghost now biting into him. "Get him off me!"
Bryce's seven teammates and Steve soon arrived at the position, with each of them in heaps of laughter after the brutal takedown, with Bryce now wheezing for air and in agony from being bit at the same time!
Coming to a stop at Bryce and Ghost's position, Chuck said, "Good boy!" at Ghost before he shouted at Bryce, "Stay on the ground, and do not move!"
"Get this fucking twat off me!" Bryce complained in agony because Ghost was still biting him through the vest.
Bryce's latest shouts caused Ghost to begin to rag away at him in aggression, with his bite held firmly into Bryce's torso, who was powerless and immobilized to stop it.
"Sarah, move in and secure him," Chuck instructed before looking back at Bryce. "Do not move!"
Sarah nodded and quickly moved to stamp on Bryce's back, which brought her great pleasure!
Chuck waited a few seconds more until Bryce stopped moving, then commanded, "Ghost, Out."
Ghost obeyed the command and released his bite on Bryce.
"Good boy!" Chuck said with great pride. "Sit."
Ghost sat down, and Chuck moved to reconnect the lead onto Ghost's back again. At the same time, Cole and Jamie moved in to secure Bryce, with everyone except Chuck and Bryce in heaps of laughter as they did so.
"Well, Speedy, fella, you've proved that you're the second fastest on the team because the honour of being the fastest now goes to Ghost!" Big Dan joked, snorting.
"Where was a tree when he needed one?" Jamie asked back.
"Actually, Maligators can climb trees too," Steve informed Jamie and the team.
Steve's comments only furthered the intense laughter between Sarah, Jamie, Big Dan, Cole, John and Chris for a very long moment more.
But Chuck was too busy to laugh because he bent down and started to stroke a panting Ghost on his head. "Good boy!" he said, moving his hand to the side of Ghost's face instead, which he stroked until Ghost moved to rub his head against Chuck's thigh…
X-X-X-X-X-X
Sunday, 18 November, 2007
An Operations Room
Stirling Lines
19:00 hours
"How was the training with the new K-9?" Captain Wallace asked, glancing around the full complement of Red Team.
"It was good, Boss, very fun," Chuck declared, grinning.
"Yeah, it was," Sarah agreed while beaming Chuck a loving gaze. "And Chuck was a natural at it and he made all of us proud."
Chuck glanced at Sarah and the lovers shared a warm gaze while Cole, Chris, Jamie, Dan and John all promptly voiced agreements with Sarah, but Bryce said, "Fun for you, maybe. But not for me. Fucking hell! I'm still hurting like hell."
All of Bryce's teammates except Chris shook their heads in amusement while Chris warned, "Quit your whining, laddie, or you'll be right back out there tomorrow."
"Not tomorrow, unfortunately," Captain Wallace said suddenly.
Red Team turned to face their front again.
"Tomorrow, from 09:00 hours until mid Afternoon, Red Team will be training in the form of a simulated assault against a shopping centre in Manchester, in liaison with Greater Manchester Police," Captain Wallace declared.
"When do we depart, Boss?" Chris asked.
"Tonight," Captain Wallace said quickly. "There's a luxurious five-star hotel in the city centre. The management got wind of our exercises and was kind enough to provide the CO with rooms for you, ladies and gentlemen."
Excitement quickly built up within the team.
"What day will we return, Boss?" Cole asked.
"Tuesday," Captain Wallace said. "Lockdown will not apply. You will be free to spend the periods before and after the exercises doing whatever you want."
Excitement reached dangerous levels within the team, and approving cheers and chuckles erupted, knowing they would get some time in a stress-free environment.
"I thought that would make you happy," Captain Wallace said.
"What about dogs, Boss?" Chuck asked. "Will we be taking ours?"
Captain Wallace shook his head. "No place to keep him during the downtime, unfortunately, Corporal."
Chuck nodded, and his lips creased in sadness, knowing he would now spend a few days away from Ghost after having just met him.
"He'll still be here when you get back," Captain Wallace declared.
"Yeah, he's ditching us already for his new mate!" Jamie joked.
Most of Red Team laughed, while Chuck was unamused and stuck two fingers up at Jamie.
"Just a few protocols to discuss, and then I'll send you all on your way…."
A short while later
Red Team were back in their barracks and were preparing to depart for Manchester, where they would spend the next two days training and sleeping at a luxurious five-star hotel, which the team intended to treat as a mini vacation. Well, after they had completed the exercise, at least, as they were all consummate professionals.
The unit spent a few minutes gathering their kit until they departed the barracks one by one until they were all linked up at their two service vehicles.
"I'm looking forward to this!" Cole declared, grinning.
"You and me both, Cole," Big Dan said, pointing in approval at Cole.
Chuckles broke out amongst the team, except for Chuck, whose gaze held towards the kennel facilities on the base.
Noticing Chuck's distraction, Sarah put her hand on his arm and said, "Chin up. It's only a few days."
Chuck nodded, forcing a smile at her. "At least I was able to see him before the briefing," he conceded.
"We'll leave you here with him if you carry on with this," Chris said.
Quickly pointing at his team leader, Chuck said, "Oh no, you won't, you bastard! 'Cause I have a date with a five-star room and the nearest bar just as soon as we're finished tomorrow!"
Approving laughter erupted within the unit over Chuck's comments. The excitement then quickly consumed Red Team as the team of eight promptly entered their service vehicles and departed for Manchester to begin their training and subsequent twenty-four-hour vacation!
AN3 Next chapter: Some training for Red Team, which I intend to make fun. Afterwards, the team bugger off to do their own things, which includes a passionate and romantic Chuck and Sarah first date! Yes, they've already had sex three times before going on it: so shoot me, I don't care ;)
Please leave a comment on the chapter today :)