Georgia on My Mind

Tully and the Rats reunited in Tripoli. The Rats were accompanying several of the top brass back to Benghazi along with Isla who had performed for the troops in Algiers and Tunis prior to the stop in Tripoli. The stopovers were short, just allowing time for a quick concert for the soldiers and patients, a hot meal, a good night's sleep and on to the next location. The Rats were glad to have their missing member back with them and he was glad to be back with his friends. However, when he discovered they were headed back to Benghazi, he was thrilled his teammates were going to get to meet Mary Ellen but upset he could have just waited for them there and had more time with her.

Isla was just finishing her performance when Tully found his friends. He enjoyed her tap dance and 2 final songs before they joined her backstage.

"Oh, Tully," she gently embraced him, "I'm so glad to see you again. Are you healing well?"

"Yes ma'am, thank you," Tully replied with a big smile. The others noticed he seemed happier than usual.

"We're heading for dinner, want to join us?" Troy asked.

"Of course," Tully answered.

"You seem to be on the mend," Moffitt commented as they began their meal.

"Yeah, they took good care of me in Benghazi," Tully nodded. "Really good care. Thanks for the book. It helped during the first few days."

"Good," Moffitt was studying his driver who continued to look happier than they could recall ever seeing him. "Anything happen while you were there?"

"You could say that," Tully said looking at his plate with a big grin covering his face.

"Okay, tell us about her," Hitch demanded.

"What makes you think it's a girl?" Tully attempted to ask seriously.

"Cause I know you and I can't imagine you being this head-over-heels about a jeep or a stray animal. Your face has "special girl" written all over it," Hitch said wisely. Tully paused for a few moments, then met their eyes.

"You're right," he admitted, and the grin was back. "Her name is Mary Ellen, and she was one of my nurses. I've never met anyone like her before and I'm really glad we're headed back to Benghazi so ya'll can meet her." His eyes sparkled and his face reflected the depth of his feelings. "I'm afraid I'm gonna have to ask for my marriage proposal back," he jokingly said to Isla. He had twice asked her to marry him after tasting her pies.

"Well, I guess, I'll just have to be heartbroken and maybe settle for your teammate here," she squeezed Hitch's arm. "It sound like you really like her a lot."

"Don't laugh, guys, but I think I'm in love with her," Tully said seriously. "I know we haven't known each other very long but I think she's the one for me."

"Does she feel the same way?" Troy asked.

"I think so, Sarge," Tully replied sincerely. "I want you guys to meet her and tell me what you think."

"Does our opinion matter if you truly love her?" Moffitt asked.

"I'm pretty sure about how I feel but I value your opinions and I'd like to know what you think—kind of like Hitch wanted us to get to know Isla and how important she is to him."

"Well, I am very happy for you, Tully, and I can't wait to meet her," Hitch said happily for his friend.

"Me, too," said Isla, "I gladly release you from your proposal, and I will still bake pies for you whenever possible."

"She sounds amazing, Tully," Moffitt raised his mug of beer, "And I look forward to meeting Mary Ellen."

"Same here," replied Troy.

"You are one luck guy, Pettigrew," Andy added.

Two days later, they pulled into the base at Benghazi and said goodbye to Andy who went to be reunited with his team. The sergeants reported to the commanding officer and Isla went to speak with the hospital administrators to arrange the entertainment while Tully and Hitch serviced and stocked the jeeps. The privates had just finished their work when the sergeants joined them in the motor pool with their room assignment.

"I'd like to get cleaned up and find Mary Ellen," Tully said wiping his hands on a rag.

"We could all use a shower and some food," Troy said. "You set up however you want us to meet Mary Ellen and we'll be there." The four of them showered and grabbed a quick bite before going their separate ways. Tully headed to the hospital, Hitch went to see if Isla needed his help with the show that evening, Moffitt went to meet with some colleagues who were studying ancient ruins in the region and Troy went to find his friend, Vixen, who was stationed in Benghazi.

Tully arranged for them to have drinks before the show together that evening and dinner afterward. The program was going to be more elaborate than Isla's usual hospital concerts since she had been requested by the base commander to include her ballet solo, The Swan. She had performed it there several months earlier when traveling with the USO and they were anxious to have a repeat performance. She needed several hours to warm up and prepare for the ballet numbers so she would meet them at dinner after the show.

Troy, Moffitt, and Hitch were delighted meeting Mary Ellen over drinks. Tully definitely cared very deeply for the nurse, and they could see the feeling was mutual. They had never seen Tully so happy and animated. They attended the show and waited for Isla to change before joining them. She and Mary Ellen took to one another right away and they walked together on their way to the restaurant/bar.

"I loved your performance," Mary Ellen remarked. "I didn't get to see you when you were here before. Your dying swan made me cry."

"Thank you. You did a wonderful job caring for Tully when he was wounded. He thinks very highly of you," Isla confided. "You must be very special indeed for him to have such a high opinion of you."

"Tully is amazing. I've never met anyone like him. He's so honest and compassionate." Mary Ellen replied. They continued to talk while the guys walked a few steps behind and conducted their own conversation.

"She's great, Tully. Quite a Georgia peach," Hitch gave his friend a thumbs up.

"You did good, Tully," Troy affirmed.

"She seems very nice, and I think she feels for you the way you feel for her," Moffitt agreed. Tully beamed at their praise.

Dinner passed pleasantly with them getting to know one another and Mary Ellen was entertained by stories of their exploits and Hitch & Isla's lifelong friendship. She told of growing up in Americus, GA, and life with her parents, 2 brothers, a sister and 3 dogs. She played the cello, liked to quilt, was an avid reader, enjoyed fishing and camping and loved being a nurse. Throughout the conversation, Tully's eyes never left her face and his affection for her was undeniable.

"So," Tully finally turned to Hitch in order to give Mary Ellen a break from all the questions, "have you and Isla pursued anything we should know about?" The couple in question ducked their heads momentarily as their cheeks pinkened and the others laughed.

"You could say we've made a start," Isla responded with a wide smile. "We did share a kiss or two."

"I'm guessing they were successful," he prompted.

"Made her leg pop," Hitch reported.

"What?" Tully was confused.

"You know, when it's a really good kiss, it makes a girl's leg pop up, like in the movies," Hitch explained.

"It did no such thing," Isla protested.

"I was there," Hitch said.

"So was I," Isla countered.

"Well, other than an alleged leg pop, how was it?" Tully continued. The two thought about if for a moment and responded at the same time.

"Electrical," said Isla.

"Magical," said Hitch.

"Good job," Tully patted Hitch on the shoulder.

"Well, Mary Ellen, it has been delightful meeting you, but I think Troy and I have some sergeant's stuff we need to take care of so you younger folks can have some privacy," Moffitt and Troy stood, leaving the two young couples to enjoy the rest of the evening without supervision.

"By the way, Isla," Troy said as he donned his hat, "it popped."