AUTHOR'S NOTE: We press on with Who Dares Wins. From here on, the story's pace will surge. The first 67 chapters covered two months, but the next ~ 50 chapters will cover six months, so a sizeable increase. I aim to complete those 50 chapters over the next 12 months, though that's just a target because I have many story ideas, as well as many video games to play and enjoy :)
RECAP: Here are a couple of things you might need to know or maybe you just forgot: Who Dares Wins began with Sarah Walker's first day in the British Special Air Service, becoming the first female special forces soldier in all of NATO. On her first day, she met Chuck Bartowski, a three-year SAS veteran and a member of Red Team, Mobility troop, G Squadron, 22 SAS. After a rocky settling-in period for the new team of eight, the unit is now settled and has formed a blissful friendship. Meanwhile, Chuck and Sarah are now dating exclusively, and have recently gone public with that decision to their six teammates, comprising team leader Staff Sergeant Chris MacDonald, Sergeant Cole Barker, Corporal Daniel Thomas, Trooper Jamie Hughes, Trooper John Murray, and Trooper Bryce Larkin. In this chapter, the team returns to work after a long and well-deserved weekend off-duty, where, amongst scores of other activities, the team got spectacular revenge on Blue Team, the second component of Mobility troop, for a past grievance during an operation for Red Team on close protection in London (Ch54).
Who Dares Wins
Chapter Sixty-Eight: Battle Lines Drawn
Stirling Lines
Monday, 3 December, 2007
Chuck arrived at the kennels just after 7am, where the bustling activity of the main base of operations for the Special Air Service played out around him. Inhaling deeply as he walked the final few steps to enter the facility, he savoured the invigorating scent of freshly cut grass that hung in the air.
With a lot on his plate for the morning, Chuck didn't waste a second, entering the facility and making eye contact with Steve, the Kennel Master NCO.
"Steve," Chuck said with a nod to his fellow NCO.
"Good morning," the Kennel Master replied, returning the nod as he stood, collected a food tray, and approached Chuck. "Back on rotation?"
"Yep," Chuck said with a grin. "Back and refreshed after a long, exquisite weekend. All re-energised and rearing to go!"
Steve suppressed a laugh. "Still with the girlfriend, Jill?"
"Nope," Chuck said nonchalantly, with a dismissive headshake. "She's ancient history. I have a new girlfriend now. She's amazing."
Steve repeated his actions in suppressing his amusement, this time more substantively after Chuck's admission. "You don't wait around long."
"Not for someone I know to be perfect," Chuck admitted with a grin, his thoughts becoming lost about Sarah as he walked along with Steve into the corridor of the kennels towards Ghost's cage. "My new girlfriend, she's the best woman I've ever met."
Steve suppressed an additional soft chuckle. "Decisive. I can appreciate your confidence regarding that. Is it the teammate I've seen you with recently?"
Chuck stopped dead in his tracks, his face suddenly flashing a pale shade of white in panic as he pivoted to face Steve, his eyes filled with questioning.
"Sorry," the Kennel Master said, detecting Chuck's sudden anxiety as Steve waved his free hand out in immediate apology. "That's not my business to know."
Chuck's breathing sharpened, his thoughts scattered and desperate as he sought the right words to salvage the situation. With a nervous cough to clear his throat, he carefully spoke, his voice tinged with caution, "Uhh, we're completely professional while on the job and all of us, not just Sarah and I, are teammates and friends while on this base and while on deployment, never anything more."
Steve nodded. "Mate, you need not defend yourself to me. I stepped out of place with my remarks and it's not my place to have asked what I did."
Chuck nodded, his mind remaining caught on the alarming development that if Steve suspected Chuck and Sarah were an item, others might too. "You won't, uh," Chuck coughed again, "Repeat anything I've said to anyone else, right?"
"You have my word as a friend," Steve said with a nod, offering his free hand in apology, which Chuck accepted. "I've known you a long time. During that time, I've always seen you to be one hundred percent professional towards your job, so I don't doubt your professionalism. As for anything else, I have neither the authority nor command to have an opinion as to how you conduct your private life. It was an untoward remark, one of which I won't repeat."
Chuck nodded, happy to leave it there.
Steve then handed Chuck the food tray. "I've probably pissed you off already so early into the morning, so I'll bugger off and leave you to it."
Chuck suppressed a chuckle, smiling at Steve. "Thanks."
Steve then turned away, retracing his steps towards the reception area of the kennels.
Once Steve was out of sight, Chuck allowed himself a moment to shake off the impact of Steve's surprising question about his relationship with Sarah. Gathering his composure, he continued his walk until Ghost—his beautiful Belgian Malinois—appeared in sight.
"Hey little buddy," Chuck said with a grin.
Ghost held Chuck's glance, his tail already wagging excessively in excitement of seeing his handler again.
"I've not seen you as much as I'd have liked since we first met seventeen days ago," Chuck said with a grimace. "For the most part, that couldn't be helped, for command has had me busy elsewhere. But for the past few days, that's more the fault of myself in wanting to enjoy the much-needed time off work given to me and the rest of the team. But that's finished now, so I'll endeavour to put you first for a while!"
With his remarks finished, Chuck sank to a knee, suppressing a laugh because Ghost's head had been tilting from side to side during Chuck's long speech.
From there, Chuck slid under the food tray so that Ghost could eat.
"Once you're finished, it's that fun time again where I give you a good brush, but then I must leave because I'm hungry myself. But I wanted to give you yours first as an apology," he said with a loving grin.
A few minutes later
Chuck performed the finishing touches on his grooming of Ghost, now inside the canine's cage.
"Well, it looks like we're just about finished, buddy," Chuck said, grinning.
A sparkle danced in Ghost's eyes as he met Chuck's, his tail wagging furiously as he looked at Chuck, overwhelmed with sheer happiness and increasing fondness.
With the grooming of his canine complete, Chuck took hold of Ghost's chew toy and played with him, which they did for a few minutes.
"Have you been a good boy while I've been away?" Chuck asked.
Ghost discarded the chew toy and moved to lick away at Chuck's face in reply.
Chuck laughed at Ghost's actions. "I'll take that as a yes!"
Ghost continued with his actions, then Chuck moved to pet and stroke Ghost's neck and face.
"I have to leave momentarily, but I'll be around a lot more, I promise!" Chuck said with a smile. "And I'll endeavour to bring you on the very next mission with us if I get my way and they allow it!"
Ghost reacted by licking away at Chuck's face again.
Chuck laughed at his companion's actions. "I guess because you've been a good boy, I'll let you in on a secret too," Chuck whispered.
Ghost paused in wait for Chuck to say or do something else.
Chuck soon continued, "Remember that beautiful woman and teammate I was with a few times?"
He soon suppressed a laugh. "Of course you do, because who could forget Sarah? Well... I'm in love with her."
Ghost tilted his head in reply.
"I know…" Chuck said, suppressing a laugh. "It's very soon after I met her... But if you know, then you know, buddy! Maybe one day, once you're finished serving your queen and your country alongside me and we retire together, you might find a special lady doggy companion who you will grow to love too. Sarah's actually the reason I have to love you and leave you for now, buddy, because I need to grab breakfast with her before we begin our duties. I know you won't mind me leaving so soon now that I've confided in you with my secret I've told no other living thing. Though I hope to tell Sarah herself in due time once she's ready to hear that."
After Chuck finished speaking, Ghost eagerly moved in to lick away at Chuck's face again.
Chuck laughed at the action, then moved to kiss into Ghost's head in reply.
From there, he moved to stand. "I have to leave now, buddy, but I'll be back at my earliest convenience, I promise!"
Chuck held his glance onto the canine for a last moment, then moved to return the items he'd collected to their positions.
Once he was done, he exited Ghost's cage, closing it shut after him.
"I'll be back soon, buddy, I promise…"
X-X-X-X-X-X
Chuck burst into the canteen, the mouthwatering scent of fresh pastries, sausages, and bacon filling the air as he walked through the double doors, a wide smile spreading across his face and his stomach rumbling in delight.
He was long overdue for some food, having last eaten at the perfect barbecue at his home with the team the previous night.
Chuck's eyes sparkled, feeling a place of home take over him as he took in the lively scene of his fellow soldiers, the canteen filled with animated conversations and boisterous laughter.
After a moment, Chuck became convinced he could detect more excitement than usual amongst the many 22 SAS soldiers seated around the benches within the facility.
Giving up on his observations, his glance finished towards Jamie, Cole and Sarah, seated at their usual places on the bench Red Team often occupied.
They quickly met his gaze, each sharing a warm glance with him.
When the greeting wore off, Cole and Jamie returned to conversation, while Sarah held her glance with Chuck as he moved to approach his teammates' position.
On arrival, Chuck's already-formed grin grew brighter as he locked eyes with his girlfriend. "Hey."
Sarah smiled back. "Hi. How was Ghost?"
"He's great!" Chuck said with a loving grin.
Sarah held her smile. "I ordered for you."
"Thanks," he said, his grin holding towards a woman starting to mean a great deal to him, then he looked at the contents of what Sarah had ordered for him. "Everything I need first thing of a morning, too. Perfect!"
She smiled again. "The least I could do was get it right after how many times you've already ordered for me."
Chuck suppressed fond laughter as he moved to take a seat next to her.
Once sitting, Chuck inched closer to Sarah, the softness of his voice matching the tenderness of his words as he whispered, "Have I told you how beautiful you look yet today?"
"Yeah," she said with a smitten smile. "You told me just before we left your bedroom."
Chuck grinned in reply. "My bad then," he teased, knowing he'd already said it to her today. "But I guess I should tell a woman as beautiful as you how perfect you are at least twice a day."
"Twice?" she asked in reply, her tone laced with mischief, matching the look in her eye.
Chuck suppressed laughter, shaking his head, overcome with amusement and fondness for the woman now consuming his life. "Ok, you win. How many times would you like to hear it?"
Sarah remained silent, merely giving him an amused look in reply.
"Leaving it for me to guess, huh?" he asked with a grin.
Sarah held her silence, as her lips forced themselves to hold in her happiness.
Chuck muted soft laughter. "I guess I'll have to leave it for you to guess my estimations in reply then, too."
"That is so not cool!" Sarah's mouth shot agape, immediately betraying her happiness because she couldn't fight off a smile as soon as it did.
Chuck continued his muted laughter, causing Sarah to swat at his hand, overcome by the intense connection she felt towards him whenever she was with him, which grew stronger by every hour of the day.
The lovers and teammates shared the moment for a few seconds more, then Chuck looked away from his girlfriend for the first time since sitting, glancing at Jamie and Cole instead. "Call me crazy, lads, but everyone in here looks more cheerful than normal. I can understand all of us after our perfect weekend together and everything we did, but what about them?"
"It's because they're all learning what we did to Kyle and Joe on Saturday!" Cole said with a chuckle, apprising his best man of the situation.
Chuck broke out in a laugh, sharing it with Cole and Jamie, while Sarah just about fought hers off.
"Yeah, Cole's right, mate!" Jamie said, another wave of laughter hitting him. "By now, I'd guess half the squadron has access to the content showcasing Joe Lewis's predicament on Saturday! And I'd imagine that as the day goes on, that number will increase further, maybe even to the lads out in Iraq!"
Chuck, Sarah and Cole shared the immediate laughter with Jamie.
"I suppose you had no hand in that spreading, Jamie?" Chuck asked one of his best friends with a smirk.
Jamie continued his hearty laughter. "Of course I didn't! Who do you take me for? I'd never do something like that, mate!"
Chuck, Sarah and Cole's laughter increased exponentially, as they each knew Jamie was lying.
"I suppose we should ensure we catch up to Jamie in spreading Kyle's predicament, too," Chuck said with a grin, looking at his teammates. "It's only right that the whole regiment finds out about his kinks and off-base activities alongside Joe, 'cuz it's arguable he deserves it a lot more!"
Sarah snorted in immediate reply to Chuck's comment, while Jamie remained in a state of laughter.
"I'm already one step ahead of you, Chuck!" Cole said with a deep grin. "I've been spreading some of that to the other teams since yesterday!"
Chuck, Sarah and Jamie shared additional laughter with Cole as Chuck said, "In that case, I'd better catch up!"
"Me too," Sarah said with a joyful smile.
Cole pointed in endorsement at Chuck and Sarah as the laughter continued for a moment longer, then Chuck turned his attention to the toasted bacon sandwiches and fruit courtesy of Sarah's thoughtful gesture.
Looking back at Sarah after a moment, Chuck joked with a grin, "I still can't believe you actually ordered for me."
Sarah rolled her eyes in reply, knowing it was only a matter of time until her lover made a meal of the gesture and started teasing her about it.
"Will this be a common occurrence?" he pestered, pushing the attempted exchange further.
Sarah shook her head at him. "Oh, shut up," she said, trying not to smile. "You've ordered lots of times for me already."
"It would appear I've struck lucky inside and outside the bedroom," he said with a grin. "My beautiful girlfriend is now ordering my food for me. We're making progress in our relationship."
Sarah snorted in reply, unable to hide the amusement or happiness she felt from being with him any longer. "Just don't expect it too often!"
"Once a year is enough with everything else you give me, beautiful," Chuck said with a loving grin.
Sarah smiled adoringly in reply, her eyes locking with his. "What else do I give you?"
"Everything that you do in the bedroom," he teased, still grinning. "You're on top of your game with that, at least. I'm never unfulfilled in that department."
Sarah snorted again. "Really? That's everything I give you?"
He muted a chuckle. "Yeah."
"Shut up," Sarah commanded softly, shaking her head, a small smile playing at her lips as she fought back the amusement her boyfriend had successfully stirred within her, having successfully wound her up.
She then swatted away at his chest, causing the lovers to share a cute exchange of laughter.
With their exchange at an end, Chuck got started on the food Sarah ordered before it spoiled, while Sarah picked away at her own plate, their glances continuing to meet frequently in a compromised state of attraction.
After a few minutes, Sarah glanced back at Chuck for the latest time, noting his demeanour appeared more relaxed than she'd ever seen him.
He caught her glance a moment later, causing her to tense briefly at being caught staring at him.
Overcoming her fluster, she said, "You're looking more relaxed at work than in all the time I've known you today."
"Yeah," Chuck nodded, grinning.
"Why?" she asked simply, wanting to learn why he was in such a great mood, not that she was far behind him in that feeling either.
Chuck stifled a chuckle. "Because of the perfect long and joyful weekend all of us had," he said with a loving gaze, then his tone changed to a more compromised state, "And because I'm with the most perfect of women. So, how can I not be in such a relaxed and blissful state, being with you?"
Sarah felt her skin clam and her breath caught at the delightful words of her boyfriend.
Her shoulder soon raised in an involuntary movement, as she fought to overcome how special she felt again.
Once she regained her composure, he asked, "Did that answer your question?"
"Mh-hmm," she said with a nod.
He grinned in reply.
She smiled back.
Chuck was about to return to his food, but he paused as his eye caught on Bryce, John Murray, and Big Dan's arrival in the canteen.
His three teammates were laughing and sharing a joke, but they caught Chuck's glance after a few seconds, and once they did, he shared a nod with them.
Turning his attention back to his other teammates sitting with him, Chuck suppressed a laugh and said, "I can already tell by their faces that they're in a mischievous mood."
"Which is bad news for those fine chaps in Blue Team!" Cole said with a rowdy chuckle.
"Yeah, Cole's right," Jamie said, laughing himself. "I'll give all three of them no more than a few minutes before they go round the canteen spreading the content we came into possession of on Saturday!"
The laughter amongst Chuck, Sarah, Jamie and Cole continued while John, Dan and Bryce, too, were laughing away.
After a moment, the four teammates witnessed Bryce, John and Dan doing exactly what Jamie predicted, as they approached other soldiers, each with their phones out.
"It seems they didn't even take a minute to do that, Jamie!" Sarah said in amusement, her eyes glued on Bryce, Dan and John as they showed their phones to other soldiers and the laughter within the canteen quickly intensified.
"Yeah, and none of us are surprised one bit by that!" Chuck said.
The four teammates succumbed to a shared silent laughing fit together, watching on for a few minutes as their scheming teammates went around the canteen, sharing footage from Saturday night's revenge on Blue Team.
"Blue Team aren't even here yet and half the canteen already knows about Joe and Kyle!" Jamie laughed, breaking the silence amongst the four seated Red Team members.
"They aren't here because they're scared to show their faces!" Cole chuckled.
Cole's reply caused Jamie's laughter to increase as he said, "Then we win two times over because they'll go hungry!"
Chuck, Sarah and Cole shared laughter with Jamie for a long moment, then John Murray finally moved to join the foursome.
"Speaking of going hungry," Chuck said once John Murray came to a stop close to their position, "you three haven't even ordered anything yet."
"Yeah, fella," John Murray said, his face crinkled in enjoyment, "Because we're having too much fun showing the lads what Kyle and Joe got up to Saturday night, so we are!"
"We thought as much," Sarah said, fighting off a smirk.
Once the Scot met Cole's glance, Cole cautioned, "You chaps had better hurry and order while you still have some time left."
"Aye," John Murray agreed with a nod, casting his glance towards the queue to be served.
Chuck glanced over at Big Dan and Bryce, then said, "Good luck getting those two to stop what they're doing to sit here with us instead."
Chuck's teammates shared a laugh at his remarks, and then Sarah said, "I'd better hurry and get Chuck and I another coffee too."
"Wow," Chuck said with a grin. "You're even doing that for me, too! I must have done something right over the perfect weekend we all had together."
Sarah burned a narrowed gaze into Chuck's eyes. "Shut up and eat your breakfast, or else I'll go and get one for everyone except you, rather than just for you."
"You do that, girl!" Jamie said with vigour. "He doesn't deserve one, but we do!"
Chuck shot an immediate glare at Jamie for his remarks.
The five teammates shared final amusement, and then Sarah and John departed the bench to join the queue.
For a few minutes, the situation remained unchanged as Bryce and Dan continued their provocations in absentia towards Blue Team when suddenly, five members of Blue Team, Kyle Rogerson, Joe Lewis, Adam Carter, George Russell, and Gary Wilson entered the canteen.
The arrival of most of Blue Team sparked an immediate outpouring of laughter and glances from everyone present in the canteen towards the five members.
A heavy silence fell upon the group of five as they glanced at each other, their faces etched with anger, frustrated by the never-ending outpouring in the canteen.
Kyle Rogerson quickly snapped around to face most of the soldiers looking at them, his face flashing with anger. "Here we fucking go! I don't even need to ask if it was those pricks in the other half of our troop who've been bragging about what might have happened on Saturday night!"
"What might have happened?!" an SAS soldier from a different troop suddenly shouted out. "We've all seen that it happened with our own eyes, mate!"
An immediate outpouring of laughter exploded and filled the canteen, which lasted for a long while.
The anger amongst the five Blue Team members seemed to drastically increase, but more so for Kyle Rogerson, the most hot-headed member of Blue Team—by some margin.
Kyle shot his glance over towards Red Team's bench, locking eyes with Jamie, Chuck and Cole. "Which of them was it who's been spreading the footage around then? Because I'll knock him, or her, out!" he said, his glance then changing toward Sarah.
Cole Barker quickly commanded Kyle's attention again when he said, "All for one, and one for all!"
"Well said, fella!" Big Dan shouted, his tone chirpy, excitement consuming his face.
Cole's response—and Kyle's anger—sparked a fresh rapturous wave of laughter through the canteen, which was like nails on a chalkboard to a pissed-off contingent of Blue Team, who stood staring with hostility at everyone who looked at them.
Kyle, wanting immediate ammunition of his own to fire, walked away from the rest of his team, moving to a central position as all eyes diverted to him.
"I sent an immediate text to their whole team as soon as I was untied," Kyle said.
A fresh wave of laughter hit the canteen at the mention of him being untied.
"You never sent one to Chris!" John Murray quickly reminded him. "I wonder why?"
"Or me!" Sarah laughed. "But they don't have my number!"
The laughter increased over John's point, but significantly more so for Sarah's.
Kyle ignored John and Sarah and changed his focus to Bryce. "I got a reply from all of them, except for Speedy Gonzales!"
Kyle then turned his attention solely to Bryce by turning his body to face Bryce fully, who was standing close to Big Dan and another bench in the canteen. "We reckon he was too scared to reply. So, was it as we expected?" he asked, now staring Bryce out.
The whole canteen, including Bryce's teammates, turned to face Bryce in query.
For everyone not part of Red Team, this was blockbuster drama now occurring. For Red Team too, the feeling was mutual. However, for Bryce's teammates at least, they weren't looking at him to get on his back. Rather, their glances were rather pitiful and sympathetic as they each suspected that Bryce was indeed scared of Kyle, not that they blamed him, as Kyle was a revered boxer in his parent regiment before he joined the SAS.
Bryce took an extended pause as he broke Kyle's stare, glancing around at the many eyes on him as opinions began to form that maybe he did fear Kyle, which would draw him immediate flak if that were the case.
Gaining a sudden onset of courage, knowing if he had to fight Kyle, his teammates would be around too, Bryce met Kyle's glance again. "Nah, you're wrong. I didn't reply because I was saving my reply until I saw you in person."
Kyle immediately stepped towards Bryce. "Is there something you wanted to say to me?"
"Yeah," Bryce said with a nod as he broke their glance, but ensured to keep his guard up as he flipped open his phone, then showed the screen to Kyle. "I wanted to show you something too, my new screensaver! I didn't know you were into men, you dickhead!"
An immediate outburst of laughter exploded around the canteen, including from all of Bryce's teammates as relief washed over all of Red Team, now knowing that as wary as Bryce may be about Kyle, at least he wasn't outright scared or submissive.
However, Bryce's comment, his actions in showing the screensaver—which was a picture of Kyle tied to the bed with Dan holding a spanker over him and a transgender escort in his immediate proximity—and the canteen's response to it set Kyle into a fiery rage. "I'm gonna fucking kill you! You scrawny, smug little twat!"
With Kyle's threat delivered, he charged the remaining distance to Bryce, his rage clear for all to see.
On arrival, Kyle went straight for the kill, discharging a straight left at Bryce, who'd raised his guard to defend himself.
With Bryce now ready and waiting to receive the first punch, it stunned the whole canteen when it did not arrive.
The whole canteen quickly locked their glance onto Big Dan, who, in one swift motion, stepped ahead of Bryce and grabbed hold of Kyle's outstretched arm, pushing him backwards and sending him flying as he did so.
Excitement immediately rippled and spread through the whole canteen, knowing it was now truly kicking off!
Undeterred, Kyle recovered his stance, this time directing it at Big Dan instead. "Fuck off, you fat twat, or I'll have you as well!"
Big Dan let out an almighty smirk, unfazed by the Blue Team loudmouth. "Let's have at it then! Come on!" he shouted in a challenge.
Kyle reacted instantly, stepping the short distance to Big Dan.
As soon as Dan saw the first forward step, he reacted, moving towards Kyle as they grappled.
Now tangled together, the two fighting soldiers touched foreheads, with Dan's brute strength immediately pushing Kyle several yards backwards and threatening to send Kyle tumbling to the deck or into a bench.
However, finding strength against a more imposing physique, Kyle halted Dan's forceful shoving of Kyle backwards with his head as several SAS soldiers positioned all around them attempted to dodge their fighting comrades.
Kyle and Dan soon started to sweat, with the toll of their actions showing the exertion of their efforts in their intense physical confrontation.
However, both of them appeared reluctant to throw the first punch, each knowing of the other one's capabilities, and the possibility of a potential court martial and return to their parent units for starting a full-blown brawl in the middle of a canteen filled with thirty-plus people while they were on-duty as soldiers.
Well, at least for Dan, that whole point of that applied.
For Kyle, it was more a case of knowing that Dan would not go down easily, and that Big Dan was the least of all on Red Team and the whole regiment that he wanted to fight in a no-rules encounter, for he knew Dan to be a serious opponent.
Meanwhile, in another part of the canteen, another confrontation was brewing between Mobility troop.
With two coffees in her hands, Sarah was on her way back to the bench when she felt a firm push from George Russell, whom she passed by, causing her to spill one of the hot coffees over her, which hurt.
"You fucking bastard!" Sarah cursed, gritting her teeth as anger flashed before her eyes.
She raced to place down the coffees on Red Team's bench, turned, and stormed to George Russell, who now had his back to her and was watching Dan and Kyle's continued confrontation.
On arrival at George Russell's person, Sarah extended both arms and discharged a forceful push, sending George tumbling forward and crashing into Adam Carter, with both of them crashing to the deck.
The noise suddenly increased in decibels owed to the drama Red and Blue Teams were creating all by themselves, as the excited soldiers watched on.
In immediate reply to Sarah's actions, Gary Wilson, whom Sarah had not touched, stepped forward and pushed Sarah in reply.
Sarah fell back a few steps, but she remained steady on her feet.
Now seething that she'd been provoked and pushed twice when she had done nothing to warrant it, she was about to return the actions to Gary Wilson in a more severe way.
However, before she could act, Chuck appeared in her immediate view, storming with purpose as he shoved Gary Wilson, sending him tumbling sideways and flying into the nearest bench, causing immediate complaints from the soldiers situated around that location because their trays of food and drinks were knocked causing spillages.
"Touch her again!" Chuck warned, glaring at the three Blue Team members in Chuck and Sarah's immediate vicinity.
Sarah shot a glance at Chuck next to her in a query at his comment, but she quickly moved on from it, glad to have Chuck at her side for anything that happened next.
Back over at Dan and Kyle's position, the soldiers continued to quarrel as Joe Lewis arrived in the vicinity, his glance meeting Bryce as he prepared to separate Kyle and Dan.
"What are you looking at?!" Bryce asked, shooting a hostile glare at Joe, eager to get involved in the flaring quarrel between both teams.
Joe Lewis paused his attempted intervention immediately, his focus now locking solely on Bryce. "Do you want to find out?!"
"Come on, then!" Bryce shouted, extending his arms out in a challenge.
With Bryce's signal given that he wanted to start something with Joe, the Blue Team member was happy to oblige.
As they prepared to start their own beef, Kyle suddenly pushed Big Dan in the way of them both, with Dan and Kyle doing everything except throwing the first punch at each other.
Now blocked from getting to each other, Bryce and Joe attempted to get past Dan and Kyle to get to each other, but without success.
They started trading insults and hand gestures with each other with no option available for them to physically confront.
Meanwhile, outside the canteen, a heated conversation was also occurring between Staff Sergeant Chris MacDonald and Blue Team Leader, Staff Sergeant Neil Williams.
"None of this need have happened had your lads not fired the first shots!" Chris shouted aggressively towards his counterpart, continuing an intense ten-minute argument, as they approached the doors to enter the canteen.
"Are you taking the piss, you stupid twat?!" Staff Sergeant Williams asked, scoffing as the two senior NCOs entered the canteen. "There's no way I'm going to let you put this on my lads! There's only one lot responsible for this, and it's your lot!"
Chris's anger intensified, evident in the deepening scowl on his face and the flaring of his nostrils. Just as he was about to reply, he froze in place, observing Chuck and Sarah in a heated verbal confrontation close to George Russell, Adam Carter, and Gary Wilson.
However, his and Staff Sergeant Williams' attention quickly diverted to the more immediate and significantly louder confrontation ongoing in the vicinity of Dan, Bryce, Kyle and Joe, who were now joined by John and Jamie, who were attempting to break things up along with a few other soldiers from other troops, to the dismay of other soldiers present and enjoying the show.
John, with the help of a few others, soon managed to separate Kyle and Dan when suddenly, Joe Lewis pushed John Murray.
Jamie reacted immediately, stepping towards Joe Lewis as he glared at his nemesis. "THE NEXT ONE WHO GETS PUSHED ON MY TEAM, IT'S GOING OFF FOR REAL! BECAUSE I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!"
Just as Joe Lewis was about to respond, a commanding voice interrupted all proceedings, "HEADS UP!"
The canteen turned to the entrance, their glance locking on Staff Sergeant MacDonald, the crier of the warning.
Chris turned his attention to his counterpart. "I'll get that lot!" he said, gesturing to Dan and Kyle's group. "You get the other lot!"
Staff Sergeant Williams nodded in agreement, putting his heated disagreement with Staff Sergeant MacDonald aside as the two senior NCOs split up and directed their respective teams to separate areas. Blue Team, although begrudgingly, left the canteen empty-handed, as none of them were able to get any food.
Red Team, now in full, returned to sit around their bench, with all of them except for Chris sharing smirks, deeming them to have gotten the better of Blue Team in the exchange.
Chris, now composed again, glanced around his team. "What happened?"
"Well, fella, to cut a long story short, Kyle and I had a bit of a barny!" Big Dan said, trying to hold in amusement.
Snorts erupted from most of Dan's teammates.
"Yeah, fella," John Murray said with a nod. "And George and Gary decided to be tossers, both pushing Sarah, who had done nowt to deserve it and was minding her own business, so she was."
"Yeah, so we gave a few warranted pushes of our own in reply," Chuck said.
Sarah shot Chuck an immediate look as soon as he made his comment. Looking back at Chris, she nodded. "Yeah, we did. And a few choice words, which they didn't like, but I don't care. The stupid bastards knocked hot coffee all over me."
Chris took a moment, glancing around all of his team and the spillage on Sarah's attire, until he said, "Nice one. Well done, lads and Sarah. We won the exchange."
The entire team did an immediate double-take, as shock erupted amongst the whole team.
"Come again, fella? Because I didn't quite hear that," Big Dan said, wanting to make sure he heard right.
Snorts erupted again, but they quickly ceased once their team leader started speaking again, "I've had Neil on my back for the past ten minutes and was close to decking him so I'm in no position to judge any of your conduct and I'm sure most of it was warranted, although we should all tone ourselves down a touch in winding them up because our revenge was more than complete on Saturday night."
Laughter erupted, knowing the team leader was in sync with them as Big Dan said, "They wouldn't tone down for us, fella!"
"Be that as it may, we almost caused a brawl, so Chris is right. We should tone down our gloating about Kyle and Joe's situation a touch," Cole said with a cheerful grin, looking around at his teammates.
The laughter continued as some heads nodded in acceptance of Cole's point.
"And at least we learned that Speedy isn't scared of Kyle, either!" John Murray said.
The Scot's remark had its effect as many "Too right," remarks were uttered, but Jamie took it further, declaring, "Thank fuck for that as well, mate, because the grief would have turned to us instead if he was!"
"Bryce stood up to Kyle?" Chris asked, glancing around.
Everyone nodded as Dan replied verbally, "He did indeed, fella. And all of us were impressed with him. He didn't just stand up to him, he embarrassed him and then stood waiting to be smacked, but I put a stop to that."
Staff Sergeant MacDonald registered what Dan said, then turned to Bryce again. "For that, you get the gold star, laddie!"
Bryce suppressed a laugh. "Cheers."
The good spirits continued amongst Red Team as individual conversations related to everything that had just occurred picked up amongst the team again as Chuck leant into Sarah. "Two against three? That was great odds for us."
Sarah smiled in reply. "But while I appreciate you at my side, maybe I was wrong about you being as calm as I thought. You came in to push Gary like a raging bull," she joked, amusement threatening her.
"They all made you spill my coffee!" he said with a grin.
Sarah smirked. "Was that your only reason?" she joked.
"Of course!" he said, still beaming joyfully.
She smiled back.
"We would have made a great tag team, Sarah," he said.
"Mh-hmm," she agreed as a sudden wry smile encompassed her features and she leaned closer towards him to whisper, "But we could use some practice together. We can work on it at my place tonight," biting her lip as she finished.
Chuck suppressed fond laughter. "That sounds great! I'll bring the gloves!"
Sarah snorted. "That's not what I had in mind," she said, giving her boyfriend and teammate bedroom eyes. "What I had in mind wouldn't require any clothes."
"I'd rather not see Blue Team naked, nevermind fight them like that!" Chuck joked.
Sarah shook her head, overcome in exasperation by her teasing boyfriend. "What about seeing me naked?"
Chuck narrowed his glance. "Sarah, are you sure you're serious about winning this fight? Because whenever I see you naked, I can't focus on anything else."
Joy lit up Sarah's face in immediate reply as the lovers shared a smitten glance.
They shared the moment for a few seconds until Chris concluded it, declaring, "Right, let's be off before Blue Team returns and we all end up on a charge for filling their faces in."
Laughter erupted amongst the whole team as Chuck and Sarah gazed at each other, sharing a final lover's smile until they turned away to focus on the rest of the team.
"Do we have to piss off right this second, Chris?" Bryce complained. "Because me and Dan never got a chance to get any food."
Red Team shared another salvo of humour at Bryce's complaints as Cole said, "You shouldn't have been doing what you did for so long then, should you?"
"Of course, we should, fella, and I've no regrets," Big Dan said, snorting. "But I need a shower after all of that! Kyle has me all hot and bothered, getting me very excited, but we didn't manage to take off our clothes and properly have at it!"
Immediate snorts erupted amongst the whole team, but they couldn't contain their latest outburst of laughter, which they shared for a long moment as the team stood and prepared to depart.
"And besides, none of Blue Team got fed this morning, but at least five of us did!" Chuck shouted through his laughter.
Chuck's remarks set off a fresh outpouring of laughter as Red Team wrapped their arms around each other and departed the canteen in great spirits, with the battle lines drawn and ripples of discord sown against their archrivals, Blue Team.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Next chapter, tension continues simmering for Mobility troop, with a serious flashpoint occurring while Mobility troop also receives a dangerous mission. Can they put their differences aside to focus on it? Find out, soon!
FOOTNOTES: I hope you enjoyed the chapter today. I'd love to hear your feedback with a review and I'll see you again soon with more Who Dares Wins!