AN1 I have always said Who Dares Wins is a story about eight people—not two. However, I recently realized I have only done Chuck and Sarah POV and given Big Dan a few hundred words during AWOL. Hell, even Jeffster has had a lot more POV than anyone else on Red Team other than Charah. So, this chapter is my attempt to change that.
Who Dares Wins
Chapter Forty-Five: Lockdown: Part Twenty-Four: Jamie Speaks His Mind
Stirling Lines
Credenhill
Tuesday, 20 November, 2007
18:00 hours
The happy-go-lucky Trooper Jamie Hughes arrived inside one of the two showering facilities in Mobility troop's barracks, where six teammates had entered just a few seconds before him.
The only Red Team member missing and not presently in attendance for their post-duties showering ritual was Chuck.
Jamie moved to take up a position at an unoccupied showerhead in the washing facility.
Once he arrived at his destination, he took a moment under the cascading water and drew a relaxing sigh.
From there, he soon glanced behind him to look at Big Dan because the big Geordie broke the silence and said, "It's freezing 'cause of that extreme cold we're about to be lumbered with for the next few days, fellas and ladies, but this water is lovely!"
Jamie and the rest of his teammates muttered prompt agreements in chorus before Jamie turned and started glancing around the facility at his teammates until he focused his glance at the back of Cole Barker.
"So, where's your other half at, Cole?" Jamie asked as a smirk escaped.
Instant snorts broke out from most of the team as they turned to look at Jamie, each keen on taking part in the exchange Jamie had now started.
Meanwhile, Cole shook his head at Jamie in contempt for winding him up. "Last I saw him, he was making off for the kennels to spend some time with Ghost, his new other half," he said, starting to chuckle as he finished.
Jamie shook his head in amusement, quickly joining in the laughter with Cole, as did most of the other Red Team members in attendance.
"Of course, he was, mate! I don't even know why I asked to begin with," Jamie said back.
Now pointing directly at Jamie, Cole said with a grin, "You asked for no reason other than to poke at my friendship with him because you're jealous of the bond we have with each other."
Snorts continued from most of Red Team, who each monitored the exchange between their teammates with keen interest, but none of them opted to insert themselves into the discussion just yet.
Jamie, meanwhile, continued chuckling and said between his laughter, "Now, why would I be jealous of you and him? As it so happens, Sarah and I are already forming a similar understanding, mate!"
The showering facility suddenly filled with ironic winces in a tormenting way towards Jamie, which caused him to chuckle.
While Sarah finally joined the discussion and said, "Speak for yourself, Jamie," before she turned to look at Cole, Big Dan, John Murray and Chris with a mischievous grin. "He's imagining it."
Additional laughter erupted and intensified amongst Cole, Big Dan, John Murray, and Chris, while Jamie moved to put a hand on his heart as he glanced at Sarah two showerheads away. "That hurts, Sarah! Every time I try and be your mate, you shoot me back down! I'm not going to bother anymore, and it's your loss, girl!"
Sarah held her friendly gaze at Jamie, suppressing laughter in the meantime.
The laughter in the facility continued until the group turned their attention to John Murray, who said, "Actually, if we want to get technical, fellas and lassies, it's now Sarah who is Chuck's other half, not Cole!"
Jamie erupted in instant hysterics at the joke, as did Big Dan, Bryce, and Cole, who also began to point in endorsement at John Murray.
However, Sarah was unamused. She turned herself to shoot a direct hostile glare at John Murray, who felt immensely satisfied with himself for winding her up.
After a few seconds, Jamie stopped laughing once the humour in the remark ceased to exist, as did Dan and Cole, while Chris had not taken part in the laughter at Sarah's expense at any point, nor would he ever concerning such matters because he intended to remain impartial and non-judgmental towards a team member's personal lives, so long as it was never brought to work.
However, Bryce did continue laughing at the remarks, seemingly finding John Murray's comments to be much more humorous than anyone else did, which turned the showering facilities awkward because his laughter suddenly sounded incredibly out of place for most of the unit.
"That was fucking great, mate!" Bryce suddenly shouted in immense excitement over to John Murray.
John Murray nodded, suppressing laughter as Bryce continued his fit of laughter as numerous of his teammates started to stare at him for his apparent hyperactivity towards the subject.
"Fucking hell, Speedy, fella, the joke was funny for a few seconds, but it wasn't that funny!" Big Dan soon said, shaking his head.
Heads started to nod as Jamie changed his gaze between Big Dan and Bryce, and he said, "I couldn't agree more, mate," before he finished by looking at Bryce, and he shook his head towards him, evidently unamused by his teammate's excessive actions.
"What?" Bryce asked, meeting Jamie's glance.
Jamie continued his belittling headshakes towards Bryce. Fucking gobshite! First, he was acting like a twat in the car a few hours ago, and now here as well! If either Sarah or Chuck or both of them don't deck him soon, I'll do it for them! he thought, but he bit his tongue towards Bryce, at least for the time being.
The awkward silence in the showering facility owed to Sarah's glares at both John Murray and Bryce, in conjunction with Jamie and Bryce's exchange, was soon disturbed by Chuck finally entering the showers, whistling away to Use Somebody, by Kings of Leon as he did so.
"Speak of the devil," Big Dan said, looking at Chuck.
Chuck narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Dan to query his comment before he gazed around the rest of his teammates. "What did I miss?"
"Oh, just him with his usual childishly boring antics," Sarah said, nodding at John Murray as Chuck moved to take up a position next to Cole at a free showerhead.
"Touchy," John Murray said back laughingly, which triggered Bryce's laughter again.
"She's right, though," Jamie suddenly said, deciding to stick up for someone he was growing to value a great deal amidst an onset of rising frustration he felt towards Bryce because of his laughter, which Jamie deemed spiteful in nature towards Sarah. Bryce's immensely triggering laughter of something nobody else found funny was quickly beginning to piss Jamie off in conjunction with what Bryce had done earlier to her in the car on the journey back to base. "And that gobshite over there as well," he said, nodding over at Bryce.
Everyone instantly paused from their washing activities to closely observe the exchange between Jamie and Bryce in case something kicked off and needed potential intervention.
"What have I done now?" Bryce asked, looking at Jamie.
Jamie scoffed in a mixture of irony and his building frustration towards Bryce's behaviour today. "What haven't you done? It's only just turned six, and you've already behaved like a knob multiple times today. Are you going for the record tonight or something?" he asked, shaking his head in contempt at him.
"I was just laughing as all of you did," Bryce protested his innocence.
However, Jamie continued to scoff, and he shook his head again before changing his glance away from Bryce because he couldn't stomach looking at him any longer before he REALLY gave him a piece of his mind.
A brief awkward silence ensued within the facility as everyone felt the excessive tension from Jamie towards Bryce—and Bryce's awkwardness in response to it—until Chuck broke the silence by saying, "Anyway, John's only talking about others constantly to deflect attention away from the fact he's single, can't find a girl, and doesn't want any of us to suddenly remember that fact."
"Ya wee bastard!" John Murray said back instantly.
Chuck's intervention did the trick, as an outpouring of laughter amongst the whole unit replaced the awkward.
Sarah, not content with leaving the poking towards John Murray there, asked tongue-in-cheek, "I wonder why he's single anyway?"
"Your guess is as good as all of ours, mate!" Jamie chuckled back in reply.
The laughter at John Murray's expense continued to be shared for a few seconds more, until it calmed, and everyone turned back to focus on their washing activities again.
"So, Chuck, your whistling to Kings of Leon when you came in reminded me of something important I had to tell you," Jamie overheard Cole saying as Jamie lathered himself up with soap.
"Yeah?" Chuck asked.
"I promised you a Kings of Leon gig if you came through the shit concerning your mates in the Grenadier Guards. And because you have, I went ahead and got tickets. Actually, Chuck, once I told Sophie about it, she insisted on fronting half of the cost with me," Cole said.
Jamie paused from washing and joined multiple teammates in turning to look at Chuck as they each wanted to see his reaction to Cole's gesture.
Chuck grinned at Cole and said, "You didn't have to do that, mate, nor Sophie either."
Cole scoffed, matching Chuck's warm gaze. "Of course, I did. I'm a man of my word, and you're my best mate. But there's a problem…"
"If you can't go, Cole, it's fine, fella, because I'll go with him instead so long as you're paying!" John Murray hastily interjected.
Chuck and Cole each gave John Murray the finger in sync, which triggered laughter amongst Jamie and the rest of his teammates again.
"So, what's the problem?" Chuck asked as they continued their conversation.
Cole drew out a sigh. "I could get tickets, but I could only get four tickets. As you know, Sophie isn't into Rock music, so I'm lumbered with two extra tickets that we don't need. The things I do for my best mate!" he said, shaking his head with a grin.
Chuck suppressed laughter as the best friends shared a loving gaze until Jamie interrupted the moment and said, "Considering you've already paid for four, Cole, I'd be up for joining you both and paying for one of those tickets from you if neither of you mind that idea?"
Cole and Chuck turned to look at Jamie, and once Cole started to nod, Chuck quickly joined him in sync.
"Sounds good to me, Jamie," Cole said.
"Yeah, same here," Chuck agreed.
Jamie nodded. "We'll have a fucking blast, mate!" he said excitedly, chuckling away.
Chuck and Cole shared the laughter with him until Big Dan chimed into the discussion and said, "If neither of you mind, I'll pay for the fourth and join you three."
Jamie, Chuck and Cole turned to look at Dan and Chuck and Cole nodded again in sync.
"Never one to miss out on a social occasion with your mates, ey?" Chuck said with a grin.
Big Dan nodded. "You know me too well, fella."
Chuck nodded, suppressing laughter.
"Birmingham won't know what hit them once we arrive! I'm looking forward to it already!" Cole said gleefully with a rowdy chuckle.
Jamie, Chuck and Big Dan shared the moment with him until Jamie asked, "So when will it be, Cole?"
"A few months from now, just before our training deployment in Africa," Cole informed everyone.
Jamie nodded.
"What about us?" Bryce soon asked.
"Yeah, what if we want some of it?" John Murray said.
Jamie joined everyone else in changing their glances between Bryce and John Murray as Sarah said, "Tough. First come, first served. So, the rest of us will have to find something else to do with our time."
Jamie, Cole, Chuck, Big Dan and Chris chuckled in reply, each feeling satisfied with the reactions of Bryce and John Murray.
However, John Murray soon fired back, "Aren't you unhappy that Chuck will be going off with the lads, Sarah?"
"Nope," Sarah instantly said with glee filling her face. "Because I'm absolutely over the moon that they're leaving you out."
John Murray winced until Bryce said, "It's fine, John, mate, we'll make our own plans."
"What, getting pissed and hanging out with the groupies?" Chuck asked back.
Jamie, Sarah, Cole and Big Dan erupted in multiple snorts to hold in their latest onset of laughter, while Bryce said, "It's better than standing squashed in an arena for several hours with no air and people stinking all around you."
"Jealous, are we?" Big Dan asked smugly, lifting his head back at Bryce.
"Of course, he is!" Cole said instantly. "We're going Kings of Leon and they're not, then we'll be heading back home to our other halves anyway!"
"Does that include Chuck going home to Sarah?" John Murray interjected again.
Bryce erupted in hysterics once more, which caused Jamie to glare at Bryce for a long moment until he shook his head and looked at Big Dan next to him. "His chosen laugh whenever Sarah is the joke is now really starting to piss me off, mate, especially after what the little shit did in the car on the way back!" he said under his breath, still shaking his head.
Big Dan nodded in agreement. "We'll deal with it as soon as we get out of here, fella."
Jamie nodded, wholly intending to do precisely that.
Meanwhile, Chuck started to glare at John Murray for his comment, but Sarah replied verbally and said, "If it did include that, at least he would have a partner, and so would I, unlike you, so you're not in a position to get on my back about it. You're no better than Bryce jerking off to porno mags."
Everyone strongly winced at Sarah's remark until John Murray said, "You're not holding back your punches today, Sarah."
"Then stop behaving like an immature child every chance you get, and I won't have to," Sarah said back with conviction.
"She has a point," Chris interceded. "You deserved those comments because you're taking it too far, and that soft bollocks who seems to be hell bent on laughing at everything and anything related to Sarah," the seasoned team leader said, pointing sternly in reprimand at Bryce.
"I couldn't agree more, Chris!" Jamie said, now glancing with distaste at Bryce again.
"Speaking of Chris," Chuck said after a few seconds in the latest intervention at moving the conversation away from Jamie's rising frustration towards Bryce and John and Sarah's unpleasant exchanges. "What will he be doing when we go to Kings of Leon, and Bryce and John hang out with the groupies?"
"He'll be getting a good slapping from the wife, fella, as would I from the missus, which is why I'm fucking off to Kings of Leon with you lot!" Big Dan instantly joked.
Jamie and the rest of his teammates snorted to hold their laughter, but they were unsuccessful, and the showers erupted with prolonged laughter.
The unit shared the humour for a long moment until Big Dan said, "Fucking hell! I got soap in me eye after all of that!"
The outpouring of laughter intensified as Chris said, "Serves you right for opening your mouth. Any more of that, and I'll be putting in additional soap, Laddie!"
Extending his arms out in challenge to Chris, Big Dan said, "You're welcome to come and try it, old timer!"
The laughter continued for a few seconds until Red Team finished the remainder of their washing activities, and they started to flood out of the showers and into the changing area one by one.
X-X-X-X-X-X
Jamie entered the changing area closely behind Chuck and Cole. Now inside the room, he moved to collect his towel from one of the benches, and he started to pat himself down until Big Dan arrived in his immediate vicinity and took up a position next to him.
Like Jamie, Big Dan fetched his towel and replicated the actions.
Once Jamie was dry enough, he wrapped the towel around him, closing it shut to cover most of his body, and Big Dan repeated the actions.
Now with both of their towels wrapped around each other, Big Dan approached Jamie's proximity.
Jamie nodded at Big Dan as he arrived and said, "Alright?"
Big Dan nodded. "Super, fella, and you?"
"I'm pissed off with that gobshite, mate," Jamie admitted, nodding Big Dan over towards Bryce, who was laughing and joking away with John Murray in another corner of the changing area.
"I think it's safe to say all of us could tell, fella," Big Dan said and he also glanced Bryce briefly before he returned his gaze onto Jamie. "So may I ask why you've taken issue with him?"
Jamie shook his head as he puffed out a sharp sigh. "It's his conduct towards Sarah, mate. I'm sick of it. She's his teammate and they'll be expected to fight side by side out in the Stan and Iraq together. For fuck's sake, they're already fighting side by side in the battles we've had already and he's hellbent on treating her like shit 'cause he can't get her into bed and shag her brains out, and I've had enough of it, mate! He was her selection partner and only a little rat behaves like he's behaving towards her because you know as well as I do that you're mates for life with whoever you come through selection with, but it appears it doesn't apply to him and her."
Big Dan weighed up his reply as he briefly considered what Jamie said. "Fair enough, fella. And you don't need to tell me about selection partners, because you were mine and you know that I worship and love you to bits," he said, pointing at Jamie.
"The feeling is mutual, mate," Jamie said instantly.
Big Dan nodded, then said, "You also know me well enough to know without me even saying I'm not best pleased with how he's been behaving towards her, or towards Chuck for that matter either. His actions towards her in the car alone have got on my wick today. However, I must say, while your stance is more than justified, you're sure a lot more annoyed than usual. Is it the fucking lockdown, fella?"
"Nah, mate," Jamie said instantly, shaking his head. "I'd have pulled him over it the same way regardless of if I was feeling my very best. I may not be the smartest kid on the block, but I can detect when someone is behaving like a jealous rat towards someone and what's really getting under my skin is the way he's going about it, and that she was his partner long before they passed selection."
Big Dan nodded. "Fair enough, fella," he said. "Due to Sarah not pulling back any punches today, it's clear she's starting to have enough of it very quickly and that's where I draw the line because she's my mate, your mate, and everyone else's. If we continue tormenting her over it, then it stops being a ribbing, and crosses over to bullying, which isn't you, nor I."
"I agree, which is why I've had enough of Speedy Gonzales doing it. I sent her a text yesterday telling her teasing people's love lives isn't my style although everything else is fair game so long as it's in good spirits, and maybe a tease or two about her and Chuck from time to time also with the lightest of intentions to break the tension when necessary. However, there's nothing light about his teasing, nor does he know when to stop. So, I think it's time someone has a word with him once and for all and warns him to keep out of what Sarah and Chuck do together once and for all."
Big Dan nodded. "So will it be you, or I, or both?"
"I'll do it," Jamie said. "You can have a word with John and tell him to keep out of it as well if he doesn't know when to stop 'cause he's quickly becoming a twat just like Speedy Gonzales."
Big Dan nodded. "Fair enough, fella. And if they don't heed our advice, we'll have to prey on them with our attacks instead, won't we?"
"I'll be doing a lot more than putting Speedy Gonzales in his place verbally if he carries on, mate," Jamie admitted. "I let bygones be bygones and shook his hand after he blabbed his mouth off using my name to tell the entire fucking squadron about her and Chuck. But I'll only allow water under the bridge so often before I give him this," he said, curling and raising a fist to emphasize his point.
"I won't be far behind you in that action either, fella," Big Dan said, nodding. "I'll see you in a bit."
Jamie nodded. "Catch you soon, mate."
Big Dan turned away from Jamie to collect his possessions before he departed the changing area to return to his room, and Jamie did the same.
Entering his room, Jamie left open his door, as was customary in 22 Regiment.
Walking deeper into the room, he discarded the towel from around himself and spent the next few minutes changing into civilian clothing.
Once he was dressed, Jamie took out his phone to check for any unanswered calls or texts, but his phone had never been so quiet, not that he was surprised to learn of that development.
Since joining 22 Regiment, most of the people who called or texted Jamie were his teammates who had spent the whole day in the company of anyway so each of them had no reason to text him. In addition to Red Team, and infrequently some members of Blue Team, the only other people who called or texted him was Emily—of recent, until he messed things up with her so soon after meeting her—his younger brother who was a serving member in the British Army just like Jamie and was presently on deployment in Afghanistan, his older sister, and his mother and father, who was a retired Royal Marine.
Jamie took a moment in thought until he decided he would send Emily another text, unwilling to let things end so soon after meeting her without at least making one final try to apologise and explain himself even though he couldn't get into detail about the Red Alert with her because he'd known her for less than a month.
Navigating his way to Emily's contact details, Jamie composed a text message reading: Hi, Emily. I hope you haven't blocked my number 'cause I'd be devastated if you have. I know I lied to you, but that was only because I can't reveal the nature or details of my job.
Can I please have another chance with you? I thought we clicked and gave each other a great time in the brief time we've spent in person together before my job got in the way, which it may well do a lot. I'm not going to lie to you about that. But if you give me another chance, I'm willing to try and make it work.
So, what do you say? Jamie x
Once Jamie hit send, he paused for a short moment until he heard Chris MacDonald call from the hallway, "Who's up for a curry?!"
"Yeah, why not?!" Jamie said back.
"Me too, fella!" Big Dan called out.
"I'm in!" Jamie overheard Chuck call from his room.
"And me, fella!" John Murray said.
"I'm heading for an English!" Sarah called out.
Jamie started to chuckle and overheard numerous other teammates doing the same when Bryce said, "I'll join you for a curry!"
And Cole soon stated, "And I'll go with Sarah for an English because I'm still recovering from last night and no one in this outfit gets left on their own!"
"Amen!" Jamie led the chorus of multiple teammates each agreeing fully with Cole's remark.
"Outside in ten minutes!" Chris called out.
"Don't be late, old timer!" Big Dan said back.
Big Dan's latest remarks towards Chris set off laughter inside the personal accommodations of the unit for a short moment until things quietened and returned to normal.
Jamie received a reply from Emily soon after which read: Ok, Jamie. But please don't lie to me anymore. Otherwise, it will be a block next time. I won't ever lie to you. I'm just asking for the same in return. xxx
Jamie grinned, soon suppressing laughter as he rubbed his hands excitedly together.
Once his joy over his newfound good fortunes calmed, he composed a reply which read:
I never wanted nor intended to lie to you, Emily, but that's part and parcel of the secrecy surrounding the job I'm in, which I love. And the reason I'm saying this to you now is because you've asked me not to lie to you, so I won't. Your friend clocked me, the lads, and Sarah at Jim's pub, yes, but we shouldn't have been there because we're all locked in a dangerous and tense situation right now, and we sneaked out of base without approval from command. I can't tell you anything more than that, which is why I told you we were all busy training because that will always be the line here. I wanted to at least give you something, rather than ghosting you, which would certainly have led to you moving on, which is the last thing I want. xxx
Once Jamie hit send, he couldn't contain his excitement. He entered an instant cheerful mood, believing he was getting back in Emily's good books.
Emily soon replied: Naughty boy ;)
Jamie promptly replied: I'll call you later x
As did Emily: Ok. x
Now knowing his assumptions were spot on, Jamie's excitement significantly intensified, and he soon started to chuckle aloud for a long moment as he rubbed his hands together in immense approval of his change of fortunes.
"Smooth, Jamie, very smooth! We're back in business!" he said to himself before he finished his outburst of excitement by slapping his hands into both thighs' multiple times.
Jamie then put away his mobile into the pocket of his jeans and departed his room, whistling away as he did so.
He was about to head for Bryce's room to have a strong word with him before they left when he was alerted to another text message.
Pausing in place, he took out his phone again, expecting Emily to have messaged him again.
However, the sender of this particular message was not Emily. Instead, it was Jamie's younger brother, Adam Hughes, who had sent Jamie a picture of himself and his friends in a place Jamie recognized all too well because he had been there with most of Red Team less than a year ago: Sangin, Afghanistan.
Jamie chuckled in approval of the picture: he always enjoyed seeing his brother's progression in the British Army, just like both brothers enjoyed seeing pictures of their father in the Armed Forces when they were much younger.
Accompanying the picture was also a message from Adam, which read: Alright, Jamie? I'm just checking in with you during some downtime after a patrol. I hope everything has been going smoothly for you and your mates since we last talked. We've had a few contacts here recently with Terry (Taliban). We did catch news while out here of the stuff in London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Was that you and your lot? If it was, I hope all of you came out of it unscathed and please do give them all my best regards. You certainly got the business done anyway if it was you! I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I'm proud of you. You've always been my role model and looked out for me on the streets where we grew up. Love you, mate xxx
Jamie smiled at the device in his hand for a long moment, feeling great fondness towards his youngest sibling, a bond he valued as much as he felt towards his sister, Chuck, Dan, Cole, Sarah, Chris, John, and Bryce, well, for the latter, sometimes, at least…
With a huge smile still on his face, he replied: Yeah, it was us, Adam. All of us are unscathed, except for some mental fatigue, but that's part and parcel of the job, which you should know by now. But as for you, I recognized that backdrop of Sangin without you needing to say anything. I can't wait to show the lads my end the photo, they'll all draw the same reaction I did! Keep your head switched on out there and your eyes open at all times when on patrol. As soon as the time is convenient for both of us, we'll catch up in person. Love you too, brother! xxx
Hitting send, Jamie looked at the device for a final brief second until Cole exited his room in Jamie's line of sight.
Jamie shared a warm gaze with Cole and he said, "Come and look at this, mate."
Cole nodded as he approached Jamie.
Once he arrived, Jamie showed Cole his brother's picture with great pride.
Cole studied the screen briefly until he said, "Sangin! Tasty!"
Jamie and Cole shared great excitement as they started to chuckle together.
Cole continued studying Adam's picture for a few seconds until he shouted towards Cole's room, "Chuck, come and look at this!"
Chuck exited Cole's room after a brief second and closed the distance between Jamie and Cole, where he studied Jamie's phone on arrival.
"God, that brings back memories! It feels ages ago since we were all out there together with Ben and Neil, but it's not even a year," Chuck said with a loving gaze, rotating his glance between Jamie's mobile, Jamie, and Cole.
"You're telling me!" Cole said back. "How long has he got left out there, Jamie? Another four months if I remember right?"
Jamie nodded. "Yeah, spot on, mate, four months exact."
"Give Adam our best regards for us when you next speak with him, mate, yeah?" Chuck asked.
Jamie nodded. "I will do. He's already said the same towards all of you. I'll probably bring him over here anyway and have you all meet up with him as we've all done a few times anyway."
Chuck and Cole grinned at Jamie.
"I'll see you both outside. I need a quick word with Speedy Gonzales first," Jamie said.
Chuck and Cole nodded before the three teammates parted ways, and Jamie continued to Bryce's room.
Arriving outside, he promptly entered inside, his gaze connecting with Bryce standing in the room.
Putting his game face on and his friendly demeanor to one side, Jamie said, "Bryce, I need a word with you."
Bryce nodded. "Sure, Jamie, what's up?"
Jamie turned and closed Bryce's door, not wanting anyone privy to what he had to say.
Once he closed the door, he turned his attention back toward Bryce. "I'm unhappy with your conduct towards Sarah. And before you try to feed me with bollocks that you haven't done anything, instead, I'll tell ye what you have done," he said, his tone firm and commanding, his gaze unfriendly.
Bryce nodded and waited in silence for Jamie to continue.
"You're lucky I've just had some good news from Emily, and a message from my little brother out fighting in Afghanistan. If I hadn't, you'd be in for a lot more than you're about to get!" Jamie warned but paused to allow Bryce to register that Jamie wasn't here to play games or beat around the bush. "Sarah is becoming a very good friend of mine, she's new to the Reg, the first fucking female in it, and you're on her back constantly over her personal life like a fucking gobshite, instead of giving her your full support as her teammate! I'll always tell you how it is, so that's what I'm going to do now. Chuck is a big lad and can hold himself and give back far more than he can take. He could probably wipe the floor with all of us in either a physical fight, or a verbal one as well, so I'm not here to speak up for him, he's more than capable to do it for himself even though you're constantly taking the piss out of my closest mate who I and everyone else in this unit except you and Sarah fought in Afghanistan and Iraq with. However, and I do mean: HOWEVER, Sarah is clearly more reserved than he is!" he said, drawing out a sigh to try and control his rising frustrations.
Bryce nodded in concession. "All of what you've said is true, yeah."
"So why the fuck are you always on her back?!" Jamie asked, extending his arms out in query. "She was your selection partner for fuck's sake, mate! You've both started in a new Regiment, a strange place, with intimidating faces and personalities all around you! You're in the best fucking Regiment in the entire world! You should have been having each other's back, not poking the needle at her! So fucking what if she doesn't want to climb into bed with you? If I was her, I certainly wouldn't want you either! Looks wise, you're better than Chuck in that department, but that's all you have going for you! From what I've seen, you've done nothing but treat her with bitterness and resentment. There are a lot more women in the ocean and you need to move on from her. And by the way, that's not a request!" he said firmly, giving Bryce a hostile unrelenting stare.
Bryce held Jamie's stare, soon nodding affirmatively at Jamie's demand.
"Ability-wise, you can match anyone on the team, but at the same time, you're the only one starting beef with the team, which makes you a liability. I won't take you with me before we head out to Iraq without hesitating to give you a good kicking first if I need to, neither will Dan, and Cole, and neither will anyone else. Mate, if you can't tame yourself in the ribbing towards Chuck and Sarah, then keep out of it and leave it to people who can control themselves and know the time and place for it! There comes a point when it's time to stop the teasing, and when to start supporting them as your mates, which, as it so happens, everyone is doing except you," Jamie stated, his tone unequivocal and unrelenting.
Bryce nodded again, holding his hands up. "You're right, Jamie, clearly I'm only making things worse for myself in doing it. I'm best staying out of it, and if I don't from now on, I'll be happy for you to remind me or anyone else there and then."
"If you do that, then that's all everyone is asking of you. No one has any other issues with you. I'm not here right now to question your worth and ability as a soldier. The only thing that's in question with me and you at this moment is your behaviour as a teammate, which needs to change," Jamie said.
Bryce nodded. "It will. Starting from now. I won't bring up what Sarah and Chuck do, and if I do, it will be more infrequent than the rest of you."
"That's all I'm asking for, mate, for you to be a good teammate to all of us, including her," he said. "But we'll leave it there now you know where I stand because we'd best be off before Chris has us."
Bryce nodded, and the two teammates soon departed Bryce's room to join up with their remaining teammates at their personal vehicles….
X-X-X-X-X-X
18:45 hours
Jamie exited his car with Big Dan, Sarah and Chris, and they moved to link up with Chuck, Cole, Bryce and John Murray, who departed Chuck's car.
"Right, let's be off for a curry then," Chris said.
Jamie, Big Dan, Chuck, Bryce and John Murray nodded while Cole said, "And Sarah, let's be off for an English."
Sarah smiled at Cole in reply.
"We'll all meet up at the cars and eat together around them?" Big Dan suggested.
Jamie entered consideration with most of his teammates while Chuck gave an immediate reply and said, "Sounds good to me."
Everyone nodded before the unit split into their two groups, and Jamie joined Dan, Chris, Chuck, Bryce and John as they entered the Indian takeaway restaurant together.
"Same as usual for us all then?" Chuck suggested.
"Yeah, mate," Jamie said.
Everyone else nodded.
Chuck returned the gesture before he turned and started to queue up with John Murray, and they entered a conversation amongst themselves.
Meanwhile, Chris and Bryce did the same, leaving Jamie and Big Dan, who moved to another side in the takeaway and entered conversation themselves.
"So, did you manage a word with him then, fella?" Big Dan asked, nodding at Bryce.
Jamie nodded. "Yeah, I laid it out to him how it is, and he said he'd be a changed man starting from now. He'd better be, mate, 'cause as I told him, I've had enough of it."
Big Dan nodded. "I had a word with John too and he's agreed to tame it in. He admitted he probably crossed over the line but didn't do it intentionally with any malice."
"That's good, mate, 'cause it's hard enough for her as it is, being the first female in the Regiment, as I told Speedy. Carrying that mantle is unenviable for anyone in the world no matter who it is when she's alone and the only one equal on the base to hundreds of men. It's our job as her teammates to look out for her interests and back her all the way so long as she remains professional at all times and doesn't cross lines," Jamie said.
Big Dan nodded as he crossed his arms. "I agree, and not only is she the first female in the Regiment, she's also the first tier-one in all of NATO. So, from now on, my teasing about it will significantly lessen also. I will, of course, poke the odd jab from time to time, but only when we're all having a good time or if I see something between them when we're off-duty worthy of teasing. However, like you, Chris, and anyone else, if they lose their professionalism and bring it to work, then I'll be the first one on their back, fella, and I don't give a fuck if it happens tomorrow, next week, next year, or in five years. My stance will never lesson in regards to that, no matter how much time passes, and how long I've known them for."
"I couldn't agree more, mate. My stance won't lessen about that over time either. Off-duty even if they decide to get married one day I'll support it, have a massive fucking grin and cheer them off at the altar, but if it ever comes into work, I'll be down their throats I can assure you of that."
Big Dan nodded.
"Oh, in other news, I got a text from Adam a little earlier. He sent me a snap of him in a place we all hold close to our hearts," Jamie said gleefully.
"Well, fella, don't keep me bursting in suspense, let's see it," Big Dan said.
Jamie chuckled as he took out his phone and jabbed away at a few buttons until the text from Adam appeared on the screen.
From there, he showed Big Dan the screen, who closely studied it for a long moment.
"Sangin, ey?" Big Dan said as a smirk escaped. "I very much approve of that, fella!"
Jamie continued to chuckle. "I thought you would, mate. I could see it in your eye!"
Big Dan nodded as the teammates shared a final glance until Big Dan turned to look at the rest of his teammates and said, "Did you all see this picture of Jamie's little brother in a place we all know so well?"
Chuck, John Murray, Chris, and Bryce all paused their activities to focus on Big Dan.
"Yeah, I have, but I'll look at it again anyway," Chuck said.
Chuck, John, Chris and Bryce all moved towards Jamie and Big Dan, where they studied the picture on display on the device.
"How could we ever forget our wee little vacation for a few months with Terry Taliban and 3 PARA in Sangin?" John Murray asked, grinning.
"Give me Sangin any day than back here with the wife," Chris lamented his misfortunes of a shit marriage.
Snorts erupted amongst everyone present as Big Dan also pointed in endorsement at his team leader.
"That's not a bad shout, fella! I think I'd much rather Sangin than the battles on a daily basis inside me own fucking house as well!" Big Dan replied, snorting.
Much more intense snorts instantly broke out from six-eighths of Red Team, but they failed to hold in their laughter, which they shared for a long moment.
They eventually managed to bring their laughter under control when suddenly, an almighty loud bang erupted and filled the air just outside the takeaway restaurant!
All six were instantly alert as they reached for their sidearms and shot their gazes around, looking for any immediate threat to the unit.
"What the fuck was that?!" Bryce exclaimed in shock as adrenalin built up amongst the entire six teammates.
"I don't know, but we're sure bloody well going to find out, Laddie!" Chris replied as he scanned around, his hand itching to unholster his sidearm and enter immediate armed combat with any adversary to reveal themselves. "Let's get out there and check on the immediate status of Cole and Sarah!" the SSgt commanded.
Everyone nodded as Jamie exited the Indian takeaway with his five teammates, all of them with their hands at the location of their sidearms, ready to unholster and engage.
As soon as they arrived outside, the six teammates scanned their glance all around the vicinity.
During the assessment, they quickly came in contact with Cole and Sarah, who had also exited their takeaway and with their hands over their sidearms.
Now knowing that every teammate was unharmed, the unit scanned around for potential threats and the instrument of the noise.
However, neither Jamie nor any of his teammates could see anything out of the ordinary.
The only change in the street was a skip that had just been delivered, which Red Team knew because it wasn't there before. In addition, two of the workmen belonging to the skip company were in its proximity.
Soon satisfied that the noise, which sounded to the entire team like an almighty explosion, was just a skip delivery in the immediate proximity of the unit, Red Team relaxed slightly.
"Christ! I almost drew!" Cole shouted to Jamie and the rest of Red Team outside the Indian takeaway.
"You and all of us over here, mate! Fucking hell!" Jamie shouted back, his tone loud enough for Cole and Sarah to hear him as he started to laugh. "We nearly entered the O.K. Corral, all for a fucking skip!"
Snorts erupted, which quickly transcended into full-blown laughter, and the crack SAS unit relaxed further.
"I fucking shit meself!" Big Dan exclaimed once the laughter started to calm.
"You did?!" Sarah shouted back.
Big Dan and Sarah's reply set the laughter off within the team again.
"This lockdown needs to end ASAP before one of us ends up dead!" Chuck exclaimed, shaking his head. "I'm not sure my stomach can take this Vindaloo after that! It's already unsettled now after THAT!"
Chuck's comment set off another round of laughter amongst the unit.
"Come and join us for an English then!" Sarah encouraged.
"I might just do that!" Chuck shouted back.
"Come and join the dark side, Chuck, you know you want to!" Cole further encouraged, chuckling away.
"I'll even pay for what you want if you change your mind?!" Sarah shouted.
Chuck entered the briefest of consideration. "What about the curry I ordered?!" he shouted back.
"I'll be having that, Chuck, fella!" Big Dan quickly said. "I'll share it with Speedy Gonzales!"
Bryce nodded, suppressing laughter. "Is right, mate!"
"Fair enough!" Chuck said quickly before he bolted towards Cole and Sarah's position, leading to a mixture of jeers and cheers from both parties until they soon disappeared and entered both takeaway establishments.
X-X-X-X-X-X
A few minutes later
Jamie exited the Indian takeaway with a tray of vindaloo and a fork in his hands. Walking along the sidewalk, he moved to the agreed meetup place at Red Team's two cars, where he was joined one by one by the rest of his teammates until everyone arrived.
"Right, let's get stuck in!" Chris said in excitement.
The team leader's excitement was matched by his seven teammates as they all got stuck into their food.
"God, it's lovely!" Sarah soon moaned in delight as she took a bite of her English cuisine.
Jamie joined the rest of the team with chuckles of approval as the unit broke bread, and they relaxed and reveled in each other's company to enjoy their food.
Mini conversations continued amongst the whole group until the next one broke out when Sarah said, "So, what are we going to do for the rest of the night?"
Red Team mused over the question until Big Dan said, "There's not much we can do, Sarah. But at least we had a day of reprieve in Manchester before returning to this never-ending snoozefest."
"We need a live op, mate," Jamie suddenly suggested.
Everyone turned to look at Jamie, and most of the team proceeded to wince.
"Usually, I'm all for a live op, Jamie, but after Sizewell just over a week ago, I say be careful what we wish for because the last time we wished for a live op, we ended up with the most intense one of our lives! I hope any of us won't forget any time soon having to lump Plutonium hundreds of miles in a convoy with renegades and turncoat soldiers waiting to slot us!"
The entire team suddenly grimaced in sync before they exchanged mutterings in agreement throughout the whole team.
After a long moment, Chuck said, "I think we should keep our desires smaller this time and just settle for more training. Surely nothing can go wrong with that as a suggestion?"
"Yeah, another bout in a five-star hotel wouldn't go amiss, ey, ey?!" Cole said back, nudging Chuck as he did so.
The closely bonded team shared additional intense laugher as they ate and talked until they finished their food.
A short while later
With all of Red Team now finished eating, the unit disposed of their rubbish in a trash bin until they returned to their vehicles and entered them one by one.
Jamie was the first to enter his car, where he paused in wait, and he couldn't help but observe an out-of-earshot conversation between Chuck and Sarah, who were sharing a laugh and a joke close to each other and enjoying each other's company.
Jamie continued to observe as their conversation came to an end, where they snuck a brief touch of each other's arm before Chuck soon turned to enter his car as the driver.
However, Jamie continued to observe Sarah with a keen interest, who remained paused for a brief period, her gaze fixated right at Chuck, a burning glance straight towards him.
Jamie could only continue to watch on in gaping curiosity, while feeling slightly guilty as if he was intruding on the private moment between them. However, he couldn't help it because his two friends looked joyful together and that was all that mattered to Jamie. As long as his mates were happy and having a good time, he was too, and he would ensure to go out of his way to facilitate it, not just for Chuck and Sarah either, but for the rest of his teammates and their happiness as a whole.
Fair play to them! And anyone who thinks what they have between them is wrong is a jealous little rat or a pompous ass if it's an officer! Jamie thought to himself.
Sarah finally started to turn away from facing Chuck, and as she did so, she met Jamie's glance.
Jamie smiled at her, and Sarah returned the warm gaze.
Sarah promptly moved to enter Jamie's vehicle, as did Big Dan, who broke from a conversation with Cole.
With all of Red Team now in their two vehicles and ready to depart, Jamie said, "Right, let's be off back to our prison then and hope to god that we're all free to do whatever we want out here once more very soon, and once we are, we'll have a massive party!"
Big Dan, Sarah and Chris erupted in hysterics in approval, and Jamie soon shifted the gearbox of his vehicle and set his car in motion closely behind Chuck's….
End of Chapter
AN2 I hope you all enjoyed the first massive insight into Jamie Hughes as a character. I enjoyed it so much that I will absolutely do it again, but maybe not for a whole chapter unless I delve into Big Dan next time or I see a personal arc that requires it for one of the team.
AN3 Did you enjoy the chapter today? I hope so. As always, I would love to hear from you if you would be so kind as to leave a comment. Reviews were a little low last chapter, so I would certainly appreciate more faces today :)
AN4 Next chapter: Lockdown concludes in a three-part trilogy as we arrive at back-to-back assignments for Red Team!