A Man Alone
Disclaimer: Same as before. The translation to the song Morgen Marschieren Wir was done by Bluteisen on DeviantArt.
Author's Note: Thank you to Ckorkows, VStarTraveler, and Igenlode Wordsmith for insights for the first scene.
The Pit, Intelligence Center
Conrad Hart and Kate Todd
03 March 2002, 0034
Conrad glanced at his watch, noticing it was a little over a half hour past midnight after they walked out of the Intelligence Center at the Pit. It was a silent walk for a few moments before Kate spoke, "There's definitely hope for Todd."
"I agree, mademoiselle," Conrad replied, with a small smile.
"I do feel kind of bad that we helped hide that camera in the meadow," Kate said as she stifled a yawn.
"To be honest, it's what parents would do, to make sure the kids aren't up to anything untoward," Conrad replied.
"I'm still glad that Roadblock and Shipwreck let the kids have their moment together," Kate replied with a smile as they neared the Officer's Quarters.
"It was indeed beautiful," Conrad replied, "I just hope it is enough to help Monsieur Todd along the road of healing."
"I think so, I mean isn't there that Bohemian saying: The Greatest Thing You'll Ever Know Is Just to Love And Be Loved In Return?" Kate asked.
Conrad stopped in his tracks, turning to face her, "This is true, mademoiselle. However I also argue that love hurts, like the old song goes."
"It is worth it, though," Kate replied.
"When it works, yes," the former Legionnaire replied coldly.
"Conrad, whatever it was, I'm so sorry," Kate replied.
"You had no part in the events I'm thinking of, mademoiselle, there is no need to apologize," Conrad replied, "If anyone needs to apologize it's me for that rather bitter reply."
"Like I said, if you ever need to talk…" Kate began.
"I am thankful for that, mademoiselle, and I intend to use that lifeline. Just not tonight," Conrad replied.
"Fair enough," Kate replied as they continued the walk back towards the Officer's Quarters.
As they walked Kate heard the strains of Morgen Marschieren Wir as Conrad began to whistle them softly.
There he goes with that tune again. Kate thought as they entered the building and headed for the stairs. They headed for the apartment and Conrad opened the door, with an 'after you' flourish.
"Thank you," Kate said with a tired smile.
"I'd be be best off to bed," Conrad replied, noticing Kate headed over to her laptop at the kitchen table as he headed for his bedroom. Probably wants to get a head start on her report.
Kate was doing no such thing, having typed the words Morgen Marschieren Wir onto Google. Plugging her earphones into the audio jack of her laptop she clicked on an MP3 file of the song to download it before opening her email.
Thankfully Marci's boyfriend is German. Kate thought, recalling that particular fact about her Secret Service colleague. I definitely should thank Hans for translating the lyrics for me.
Kate clicked on the file once it downloaded and as the song's first verse ran through her earphones she recited the first verse, "Morning we're marching off. To the farm in the night-time loft. A cup of sweetened tea. Sugar and coffee. And a glass of wine!"
I could go for the glass of wine. But the sweet tea, sugar and coffee would do nicely. Even if the coffee were BA's coffee. Kate thought to herself with a slight grin.
She quietly read the second verse's translation to herself, "Morning we're marching off. To the farm in the night-time loft. When I go to leave. My sweetheart cries and heaves. And she looks so sad!"
Those last few lines are pretty sad lyrics for a song with a jaunty tune. Kate thought, blinking. I wonder if Conrad left someone behind when he joined the French Foreign Legion?
"Sweetheart go back to your home! For it's late and the heart is sure to roam. Don't be bound in sorrow. Go and wake tomorrow. And see the dawn!" Kate continued, matching the song's German lyrics with the English translation on her screen.
I can only imagine how I'd feel if Tim were marching off to war. Kate thought with a blink.
"Sweetheart I love you true. But be married, I can not do. Wait for me a year. Then when we are near. We'll be quite a pair!" Kate continued to read the translation.
I can see why Conrad might find the song endearing. Especially with that last verse. Kate smiled ruefully as she pulled the earbuds out of her ears before locking her computer and walking towards her bedroom.
"I know she'll wait.
I know that she'll be true.
Look down. Look down.
They've all forgotten you." - from Les Miserables
The Pit, Officer's Quarters
Conrad Hart and Kate Todd
04 March 2002, 0633
"Non, Regrette Rien. Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien…" Conrad sang softly as he began to brew the pot of coffee.
"Conrad?" Kate said as she walked into the kitchen.
"I thought I'd get breakfast started," Conrad replied as he reached up into the cupboard, pulling two mugs out.
"That was so cute last night," Kate smiled softly, "I just feel kind of bad that we spied on the kids like that."
"As I said last night it was a necessary evil to ensure they didn't get up to anything untoward," Conrad replied, pouring coffee into each mug as he spoke.
Kate sighed, "I suppose so. I mean two teenagers in the throes of hormones."
"Such is love, mademoiselle," Conrad replied, handing Kate one of the cups of coffee, "After all if you were in love, would you not want to express that physically?"
Kate took the cup of coffee from Conrad, "Thank you. And of course I would. But it would have to be the right kind of moment."
"This is grown up Kate talking, right?" Conrad grinned as he brought out some sugar and creamer.
Kate took both and as she mixed them into her coffee she said, "That's a bit of assuming, there Conrad. Do you really think I was that hormone crazed as Todd and Althea's age?"
"I didn't mean to imply that, mademoiselle," Conrad replied, "I apologize for any offense."
"None taken," Kate replied.
After a brief silence while Conrad went over some of his notes Kate spoke up again, "Do you think we should take the gamble with the Mess Hall again?"
"If it helps the decision I noticed that BA was thumbing through the latest edition of Vampire Weekly after dinner last night. It's focus was on breakfast recipes." Conrad replied.
"Ugh," Kate groaned, putting a hand on her abdomen, "I'm glad we stocked up on supplies, then."
"As am I," Conrad replied as he put a couple bagels into the toaster as Kate laid out cream cheese, smoked salmon and other fillers.
I wonder what happened with Conrad to make him both hopeful yet guarded when it comes to love? Kate thought.
Unable to contain her curiosity Kate asked, "So what happened?"
Conrad fixed her with a look, "You might have to be more specific, mademoiselle. Are you referring to last night or some other time?"
"Last night could be a starter, and Mass the other day as well," Kate answered, "Or any other time you've expressed both optimism and pessimism whenever Althea and Todd's little romance comes up in conversation."
"I simply was being pragmatic. As I've said before I've see love do tremendous things in my life: both good and bad." Conrad replied as he walked over to the toaster after he heard the pop of the bagels being cooked.
"Was it something that happened at San Diego State University?" Kate asked.
Conrad stopped in his tracks before turning around to face her, "Yes."
He turned back around to retrieve the two bagels and as he did so Kate thought to herself. That's probably all I'm going to get out of him.
Conrad retrieved both bagels, and as he handed Kate her food he said, "Her name is Brook. And I think it best we continue this conversation at the table."
Kate nodded as she carried her plate and her mug of coffee towards the table. Wonder what the story is with Brook?
Conrad carried his own plate and mug to the table before sitting down in front of Kate. He glanced towards the wall clock in the small dining area before saying, "We don't have anything scheduled for the morning until 0930 so we do have time for this."
"Oh right, that briefing with Roadblock," Kate replied, "So what's the story with Brook?"
"Her family had moved to Daytona Beach after her father had retired from the New York City Fire Department when I was in the sixth grade. I still remember the first time I asked her to dance was in PE class," Conrad replied wistfully.
"Aww," Kate said with a small smile, "That's so sweet."
"We got to be good friends from then on, though I didn't ask her to dance again until our Freshman year of high school, at Homecoming," Conrad replied, blinking his eyes, "And then I remember the summer before our junior year of high school, realizing that I liked her more than as a friend. I asked her out and we dated all through high school."
"Just like Althea and Todd," Kate replied, a small smile on her face, "So what happened?"
"We date through college, we both attended San Diego State University on NROTC scholarships. Brook actually took the Marine Corps option, she was wanting to be a JAG officer and the Marines were recruiting at the time. I was aspiring to join the US Navy SEALs like my Dad did in Vietnam," Conrad replied before pausing to take a drink of his coffee, "At one point we had talked about getting married after we graduated, but it was halfway through our junior year of college that we broke up."
God, that sounds like it hurt. His tone might be calm, but it really sounds like it hurt. Kate thought as she took a sip of her own coffee, "Why did you break up?"
With a sigh Conrad replied, "She said that she was too young to get tied down. That maybe we should take a break."
"That's rough," Kate replied, "On Sunday you asked me about loving something to the extent that you'd lay it all on the line for them as well as being betrayed by them. How is Brook connected to that?"
"I was getting there," Conrad replied, "We barely spoke to one another for the rest of our junior year. It took that long before I realized it was stupid, Brook was my friend long before she was my girlfriend and that summer we mended our friendship even if our romantic relationship was kaput as the Germans would say."
"She was seeing someone else, wasn't she?" Kate asked softly.
Conrad nodded, "His name was Trent Bailey, he was a senior and in the NROTC unit when we were freshmen at SDSU. I didn't like him from the start, the way he looked at Brook. Anyway, after he got commissioned in the Marine Corps he was stationed close to us at Camp Pendleton and started hanging out back at SDSU."
"So this fight you got into at SDSU was with him?" Kate asked.
Conrad nodded, "But it wasn't over jealousy, that's what I want to emphasize."
"Okay, if it wasn't over jealousy then what was it about?" Kate asked.
"I had a sneaking suspicion he wasn't treating Brook right. He was always acting all jealous about her. I'd even hear him gaslighting her after fights they'd have. It was one day during our senior year that I learned the depth of abuse Brook was enduring. She told me that he hit her and that it had been going on since a couple months after their first date. When she rolled up her sleeve and showed me the bruises I had enough," Conrad replied coldly.
"What happened?" Kate asked.
"I went to where he and several of his friends were at a bar off campus. I was seeing red that night. I punched him in the mouth after I confronted him about what he'd been doing to Brook. I don't remember much more of that particular evening other than seeing red and hitting him repeatedly…" Conrad replied.
"What happened next?" Kate asked. With what I know about Conrad and his sense of justice I'm not surprised that's what happened.
"I got taken in for assault, but Trent declined to press charges. I didn't know until later that there was another plan behind it. I faced a disciplinary hearing at my NROTC unit and expulsion from the university," Conrad replied, "Long story short I was expelled from the NROTC program and was barred from graduation. Thanks to some professors' intervention they at least allowed me to finish my degree."
"You said you were betrayed at SDSU, and from what I gather by Brook. What did she do?" Kate asked.
"It was at my disciplinary hearing where I testified under oath that Brook had been abused. But she stayed silent. She didn't admit anything she told me," Conrad replied, "I put everything on the line for her only to be betrayed."
"Conrad," Kate replied gently, "You have to know abuse victims don't always talk about what happened."
"I learned that later, mademoiselle," Conrad replied evenly.
"Alright," Kate replied, "So why the Legion?"
"I had nowhere left to go, mademoiselle." Conrad replied.
"Why did you feel that way?" Kate asked. Way to ask for the obvious.
Conrad continued, "Because I let so many people down. My family, especially because my father had served for thirty three years in the US Navy, Brook, my friends. I couldn't face them after that. I gathered what money I had for a plane ticket to France where I would ultimately join the Legion."
Kate blinked her eyes as she heard the raw emotion underpinning Conrad's words, "Have you talked to them since?"
"I've talked to my family, yes. About a year after I enlisted and after a bout with cafard," Conrad replied, "But Brook, I've not spoken to for nearly nine years."
"Do you know if she stayed with Trent?" Kate asked.
"She didn't, that much I learned from my parents when I spoke to them a year after enlisting," Conrad replied, "That was the one thing good that came from this entire episode."
"I think so too, hopefully Trent's behavior will catch up with him," Kate replied.
"One can only hope, mademoiselle," Conrad replied, "So you see, now, why I have both optimism and pessimism when it comes to our young mutant lovers."
Kate nodded before she replied softly, "You must see what you and Brook had when you see Althea and Todd."
"Very astute, mademoiselle," Conrad replied as he sipped at his coffee.
"I hate to parrot a cliche, but they say it's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all," Kate replied.
"It is one I do agree with," Conrad replied with a sombre expression.
"Do you think you'd ever try and find Brook again?" Kate asked.
"Honestly, mademoiselle, I don't know if I ever could talk to her again," Conrad replied, "I'm not sure how I would react if I saw her again."
It might be good for him to get some closure. Kate thought. But right now isn't the best time to bring that up.
"When I walked up the gates of Fort de Nogent in Paris I felt I did not have a friend in the world," Conrad replied, "I felt I was a man alone."
Kate gently put her hand on his forearm, "Conrad, you've got me as a friend."
"Mademoiselle," Conrad replied, gently and with a small smile, "That is something I am grateful for."
They finished breakfast in a comfortable silence before washing the dishes and putting them into the dish rack to dry. After a few small chores they prepared to head for the briefing. And as they walked outside towards the headquarters building Kate recognized Conrad was whistling a tune.
She mused over the recognition in light of the breakthrough from earlier. Morgen Marschieren Wir. With what I know about Conrad's past I know why he'd probably find that song so poignant.
The Pit, Headquarters Building
Roadblock, Conrad, Kate, Sedgwick
04 March 2002, 0919
"Wonder what this is about?" Kate asked as they walked down the hall to the briefing room.
Conrad smirked as they walked into the room and pointed to the wall, showing the projector screen was down but the presentation was yet to be displayed.
"We're about to find out, mademoiselle," Conrad replied.
"Bloody cable," Sergeant Sedgwick grumbled from the corner of the room as he pulled the offending cable off his laptop. He looked up in time to see Conrad and Kate walking into the room.
"Good morning," Sedgwick said with a smirk, "Sorry the presentation hit a bit of technical difficulty."
"It happens," Kate replied.
"Isn't technology wonderful," Conrad joked.
Sedgwick dug around in his backpack until he retrieved a second cable. Hooking it up to his laptop and the projector the title slide of the presentation then came into focus.
Conrad and Kate looked up to see the title slide had the words Jungle Survival Training in bold font on it. Shortly after that the door opened and Roadblock walked into the room. Kate turned to him, "So we're undergoing jungle survival training?"
"Yes, we are," Roadblock said, "But in two different camps. Todd and I will be camping at one site, you two will be with Sedgwick and Recondo, another team member of ours, at another site."
"Okay," Conrad replied.
"Conrad, doesn't the Legion have a lot of jungle warfare experience?" Kate asked.
"Indeed, mademoiselle," Conrad replied with a toothy grin, "In Indochina from the 19th and 20th centuries, predominantly. In fact the 1st and 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiments cut their teeth in the jungles of Indochina in the 1940s and 1950s, often parachuting in under fire to rescue beleaguered garrisons under siege by the Viet Minh."
"And recently in Africa," Kate observed.
Conrad nodded, "And we also remain active in South East Asian jungles too. For instance we helped guard elections in Cambodia."
"The UN peacekeeping mission in the early nineties," Kate replied.
"You know of them?" Conrad asked.
"We discussed them in one of my political science classes in college," Kate replied, "I didn't know the Legion was there, though. Were you there?"
"It was my first deployment as a young Legionnaire," Conrad replied.
Note to self, something to ask him about in the future. Kate thought to herself as the briefing began. She began to take notes on her PDA, Conrad did so on his notebook as Sergeant Sedgwick spoke.
He's not taking nearly as many notes, Kate observed. But then again he's been through this kind of thing before while serving in the French Foreign Legion.
Sedgwick clicked another slide which showed the different inoculations they were to receive. Kate grumbled, "Shots...ugh."
"I take it you'd prefer them to be the whiskey variety?" Conrad whispered with a smirk.
"I'm actually not a shots kind of girl, period," Kate replied.
"Well, stand by for plenty of shots of the needle variety," Conrad said with a smirk, "We got at least that many before deploying to Africa."
"Ugh," Kate groaned as she rubbed her upper arm.
"I didn't mean to needle you," Conrad grinned.
"Pun intended?" Kate replied with a wry grin of her own.
"Oh most certainly, mademoiselle," the ex-Legionnaire replied.
Kate chuckled lightly to herself as the briefing continued.
TBC