AN1 I have released a mature-rated standalone piece that picks up events between Chuck and Sarah immediately after the conclusion of Chapter 18. If reading just how Chuck and Sarah became lovers when they did interests you, then you can visit my profile where the standalone piece is waiting. It contains strong sexual scenes so be warned.
AN2 Lockdown is taking longer than I had anticipated and wanted, really. But I could not ignore the Bryce Larkin/G Squadron issues because otherwise, it would have been detrimental to the underlying romance arc. Luckily, this is the last chapter related to those issues.
AN3 I understand that most Chuck readers are not interested in this fiction. It's a military story, written in the Queen's English, set in the United Kingdom, and most Chuck readers are from the United States. With all of that said, I know I won't pull outstanding numbers for this fiction. This is why it's important for those who do like the story to remain vocal about it with me.
Who Dares Wins
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Lockdown: Part Six: A Score to Settle
Monday, 5 November, 2007
Red Team stepped onto a grass playing field on their base to begin training in preparation for their football match against Blue Team tomorrow night.
"Right, I want no injuries nor any of us out of action before we have a chance to give Blue Team a good beasting tomorrow night, so go easy on each other," Staff Sergeant MacDonald cautioned, glancing around the team with a football placed between his hands.
The unit nodded in acceptance.
"We'll do four-a-side with each of us playing in our respective positions, except John, who will be a goalkeeper," the SSgt said.
"Why am I the odd one out?" John Murray laughed.
"Because you jinxed our time off work, fella, that's why," Big Dan said, pointing at him.
Red Team promptly muttered their agreements.
"Exactly," Chris confirmed his reasoning.
"Och, I don't need the practice anyway. I'm the best player on the team," John Murray said smugly.
Red Team scoffed in warm spirits.
"In your dreams, Sunshine," Chuck retorted.
"No long-distance shooting, ok? This is a full distance pitch, so me and John will almost have to play in midfield," Sarah stated.
Everyone nodded.
"We'll have Chuck, Sarah, Cole and myself on one team. While Dan, Bryce, Jamie and John are on the other one. Let's do this," Chris said as he dropped the ball, and Red Team split off to take their positions around the field to begin their training. They were each eager and excited to practice, because they each had a thirst and complete desire to beat Blue Team tomorrow night.
Once everyone was in place, Chuck kicked off the practice as he passed back to Sarah, who was playing sweeper-keeper, and himself, Cole, and Chris advanced into opposition territory.
Sarah brought the ball out into midfield, where she passed to Chris, who was being squared up to by Bryce.
Chris skipped past Bryce with ease using fancy footwork, and he chuckled away as he kicked a long ball to Cole.
Cole raised his foot to bring the ball out of the air, and he expertly brought it down under control. He was immediately confronted by Jamie, who moved in to tackle him, but Cole steadied himself, and he got rid of the ball, passing to Chuck, who was waiting to receive it.
Now in possession of the football, Chuck turned, and he advanced at Big Dan, who was making himself big and smirking excitedly at Chuck.
Chuck suppressed laughter towards Big Dan, and arriving at his position, he attempted to sidestep him, but he was barged off the ball, and he tumbled to the floor.
Chuckling away and now in possession, Big Dan passed back to John Murray, who was ten yards outside the penalty box.
Glancing ahead of him, John Murray sought out Bryce, who was in a forward position, and he kicked a long ball towards him.
Bryce prepared himself to jump into the air to bring the ball down into his possession. Once the trajectory of the ball's flight was close enough to his position, he jumped into the air to receive the ball.
However, Bryce was suddenly fouled as Cole Barker came sliding under him. Cole had made no attempt to play the ball, and Bryce somersaulted in the air, and he landed sharply on his back, now in agony from what was bordering physical assault.
Chuck, Sarah, Chris, Jamie, John, and Big Dan, who all saw the dangerous tackle, strongly winced at its fierceness.
"I said go easy on each other!" Chris shouted out in frustration, shaking his head towards Cole, and he pointed at him in contempt, feeling slightly pissed that his instructions had been ignored.
Red Team paused their activities as Cole picked himself off the ground, and he moved to stand over Bryce, who was dazed.
The backbreaking tackle had sucked the air from out of Bryce.
And he was wheezing to regain his breath.
Cole moved to help pick Bryce up from the ground. With them now on their feet, Cole moved into Bryce's proximity with an intimidating look towards him, and he said in a tone muted enough for nobody else to hear, "I went easy on you just now out of respect for Chuck. Actually, Chuck wanted me to not get involved whatsoever. He dropped what happened between you both as soon as he knocked you out. But if you ever embarrass my best mate again, the next time won't be easy, and I'll make you sorry you ever joined this Regiment. I hope I'm making myself clear?"
Bryce nodded, and still struggling to regain his breath because of Cole's crunch tackle, he said, "Yeah. I deserved that. I know who he is to you."
Cole held his stern glance. "See that you remember it," he cautioned.
"I will," Bryce said.
Cole finally eased his hostile glance, and he offered out his hand.
Bryce smiled, and he moved to shake Cole's hand, and Red Team quickly continued with the rest of their training…
O-x-O-x-O-x-O
Red Team stepped off the playing field with their football training for the day at an end.
"Well, Sarah, lads, that was a good session. Another one tomorrow, and we'll be fit to go," Chris said.
"Yeah, if Cole doesn't take anyone else out before we get a chance to get stuck in," Big Dan said, shaking his head in frustration towards Cole.
"It's all part of the game, fellas. No hard feelings on my part," Bryce said.
Chuck nodded. "Yeah. Jamie's tackle on me wasn't the best either, but I couldn't care less."
"Sorry about that, mate. I was a bit too eager and imagining that you were Joe Lewis," Jamie laughed out.
Chuck nodded, suppressing laughter.
With the conversation at an end, the unit departed the open air, and they made their way to shower after their intense physical activities.
They departed the showering facilities dressed in civilian attire sometime later, feeling more refreshed than when they had entered.
"So what shall we do for the rest of the night?" Chuck asked. "It's too early to retire."
Red Team mused over Chuck's question.
"There's not much we can do, fella. This lockdown is pissing me off. I feel like a captive," Big Dan complained.
"You and me both, Dan," Cole said.
Red Team nodded in agreement, each feeling the same. The lockdown was now starting to take its toll on the unit.
"Maybe we should all get one big place together?" Chuck suggested. "I'm sure no one would be stupid enough to try and nab us if there was eight of us living together."
Red Team entered immediate contemplation of Chuck's proposal.
"That's not a bad shout, fella," Big Dan soon said, pointing at Chuck in approval.
"So long as Blue Team aren't invited, I'm up for that," Jamie laughed.
The team chuckled together.
"Anything is better than being caked up in here, even if I have to live with all of you," Sarah joked, glancing affectionately around most of the team except Bryce. "Being confined to that small tin room is causing me to have nightmares."
Red Team shared a consoling glance towards Sarah.
"I've been getting a few nightmares myself," John Murray soon admitted.
Sarah and the rest of her team glanced at John Murray over his admissions.
"No nightmares here," Chuck said. "But I haven't been sleeping too well."
Cole, Jamie, Big Dan, and Chris nodded.
"I'm used to it because I've been living here for a month now," Bryce said.
Red Team now turned their glance towards Bryce.
"Any joy in finding your own place yet, fella?" Big Dan asked.
Bryce shook his head. "I like it on here. But I know I'll need to find somewhere eventually."
Red Team muted laughter.
"I'd gathered that you liked it here. I can see it in your face," Chuck said.
"Yeah. He's the only one of us that does like it here," John Murray added in.
Chuck, Cole, Big Dan, Chris, Jamie nodded, while Bryce nodded too, but he smiled at Chuck and John.
"Well, when you do find your place, Bryce, if you need a hand, don't hesitate to ask me for help if you need it," Chuck said.
Bryce held his warm glance towards Chuck.
"Or you can come to me if Chuck's busy," Cole followed on.
Red Team minus Sarah promptly voiced their agreements and invitations.
"Thanks," Bryce said, glancing around the team.
"Right, let's head out for a curry?" Chris suggested suddenly. "There's not much else we can do."
Red Team nodded, and they promptly departed the base in the company of each other…
O-x-O-x-O-x-O
Tuesday, 6th November, 2007
Sarah entered the canteen on the base for breakfast. Her arrival caused her to receive whistles from G Squadron once more. However, they were much more manageable, and nobody from Mobility troop was whistling towards her any longer, which is all that really mattered, as the different troops of G Squadron seldom underwent operations together.
Walking deeper inside the facility, she met Chuck's gaze. He was seated with Cole, Bryce, Big Dan, and Jamie.
He smiled at her, motioning her towards him by nodding next to him.
Sarah nodded affirmatively as she walked in his direction. Arriving close to him, she came to a stop.
"Hi," he said with a friendly grin, gazing right into her eyes.
"Hi yourself," she said back, returning his loving gaze. She needed to see that smile from him right now. She'd had nightmares again last night, and with the whistling on her arrival—which had now stopped—she needed his comfort. Actually, she needed a lot more from him right now than just a smile. But for now, at least, she'd take it because there was nothing else they could do in the presence of thirty people anyway, nor would she even if she could, because they were on duty, in a military installation, and they were consummate professionals.
Sarah moved to take a seat next to Chuck.
"I ordered for you, Sarah. I hope you don't mind. I just wanted to help," he said.
Sarah held her affectionate glance on toward him. "Chuck, it's ok. I appreciate it a lot, thank you."
He held his grin towards her, and they paused in silence for a long moment until Sarah broke their intimate gaze, and her glance lowered towards the coffee, pastries, and fruit that Chuck had acquired for her, and she promptly began her breakfast.
A short while later
Sarah remained in the canteen with the full complement of Red Team. Chris and John Murray had arrived together a few minutes ago.
The team were paused in relaxing silence as they continued their morning together when Blue Team suddenly began to approach their position at one of the three large benches.
Coming to a stop in front of Red Team, Blue Team hovered over them, and both teams glanced at each other.
"You're sure eating a lot there, Jamie," Joe Lewis started the latest exchange between both teams, "Don't worry, all of us understand why. You'll be needing all the strength you can get if you hope to have a chance at beating us tonight."
Red Team scoffed sharply, shaking their heads, while Blue Team laughed out in approval.
"There's only one reason I'm eating this much, Joe, and it's so I can twat you all over the field tonight, mate," Jamie said back with glee, clapping his hands.
This time it was Red Team's turn to laugh.
"As Jamie said, the result's already a given, fellas. We're just taking on the carbs so we can all give you a good beasting," Big Dan declared.
The chuckles amongst Red Team intensified.
"We'll see about that tonight," Kyle Rogerson said back, grinning.
"Yeah. We will. You lot are sweating already," Cole said, pointing at all of Blue Team.
"In your dreams, Cole," Adam Carter said before turning his attention to Bryce. "So, have you decided which team you'll be playing for tonight yet?"
Bryce nodded. "The team that's going to spank you all over the park and then head to the pub to get pissed with your money."
Heartily laughter erupted among Red Team for a long moment.
"Whereabouts is this pub? 'cause I've been thinking about going with the lads myself tonight once we have pocketed your wager," George Russell said back.
"We'll take you to it tonight, and you can all buy us an extra round each in addition to your twenties as a thank you for our generosity!" Chuck fired back, snorting to hold in his laughter.
However, once his team erupted with a latest salvo of laughter, Chuck quickly joined them, and Sarah broke from looking at Blue Team, and she gazed very affectionately towards Chuck.
Suddenly, Bryce stood up from his seat on the bench.
Red and Blue teams turned their attention towards him to inquire what he was up to.
Glancing around the canteen, Bryce shouted, "Football field tonight at half-past five if anyone's interested in watching this lot get spanked!", and he pointed at Blue Team.
Excitement erupted inside the canteen over Bryce's declaration.
"Entry tickets cost a fiver. You'll want front row tickets for this show!" Big Dan shouted out, which caused laughter.
"Yeah, and make sure you pay your entry to us and not that lot!" Chuck added in.
"You greedy bastards!" Joe Lewis shouted back at him, furthering Red Team's laughter.
"Well, we'll be off. See you tonight," Blue Team leader Staff Sergeant Williams said.
"Looking forward to it, fella," Big Dan said, and he extended his arms out in excitement.
The two teams shared final sly glances towards each other before Blue Team turned and departed the canteen.
Glancing at each other, feeling they had gotten the better of Blue Team once more, Red Team chuckled together.
"A few more minutes in here, and then we'll be off for training," Chris said once the laughter calmed.
Red Team nodded.
O-x-O-x-O-x-O
Bryce made his way to the football field with his team for training, but he stopped walking once his OC, Captain Wallace, flagged him towards him.
Red Team paused in wait as Bryce made his way towards Captain Wallace. Arriving in Wallace's person, Bryce said, "Boss?"
"What's your tasking for today, Trooper Larkin?" Captain Wallace inquired.
"Football training for tonight's match, and whatever Chris has us do in between, Boss," Bryce said.
Captain Wallace took a moment in thought. "On completion of training, please stop by my office. I'd like a few words."
Bryce nodded. "Boss."
With the discussion at an end, Bryce returned to his team.
"What was that about?" Chris asked his team member.
Bryce shrugged. "I'm not sure. He wants to see me after training."
Red Team frowned before they put it aside, and they started training for tonight's match...
A few hours later
Bryce arrived outside his OC's office. Knocking on the door, he heard his officer shout, "Come!"
Bryce opened the door, and he entered inside.
"You wanted to see me, Boss?" Bryce asked, stopping a few yards from his OC.
Captain Wallace nodded. "Your face, Trooper," he stated. "Is there something I should know about?"
Bryce shook his head. "I slipped on the soap in the shower, Boss. It's nothing more than that," he deflected dismissively.
Captain Wallace raised a hand to his chin, and he frowned. "Tripped on the soap in the shower, huh?" he asked inquisitively.
Bryce nodded affirmatively.
"I also noticed Corporal Bartowski with markings of his own. I suppose he tripped too?" Captain Wallace asked.
Bryce shrugged. "I've got no idea about that, Boss. You would have to ask him. But as for me, I was with some of the lads when I tripped. Ask any of them. They'll tell you the same thing."
Captain Wallace continued his inquisitive gaze. "I may well do that, Trooper. Because assault is a serious thing, and if a complaint was to be made, we would have no choice but to investigate, with a potential court-martial at the end of it."
Bryce nodded. "I know that, Boss. But nothing happened, the lads are all in great spirits, there are no issues amongst us, and we're looking forward to getting the better of Blue Team tonight."
"If that's your final stance?" Captain Wallace inquired.
Bryce nodded. "It is, Boss," he said.
"Very well. Then we'll leave it there. May the best team win in your match tonight," Captain Wallace said.
Bryce nodded…
A few minutes later
Bryce returned to his team, gathered outside their barracks, and awaiting his return.
Stopping in their proximity, Chris asked, "So, what was it about then?"
Bryce glanced at Chuck. "He asked about the fight."
Every one of his teammates looked at him.
"And what did you say?" Big Dan asked.
Glancing around the team one by one, Bryce said, "I told him that I tripped on the soap and that you were with me when I did. He also asked about the marking on Chuck's face, and I told him I had no idea how he got that."
Red Team processed the information before Big Dan moved into Bryce's proximity. Big Dan nodded at him, and he said, "Nice one, fella," and he extended his hand out.
Bryce nodded, and he smiled at Big Dan as he moved to shake his hand.
Big Dan was followed by Jamie, John Murray, Cole, and Chuck doing the same thing.
Chris never moved to shake Bryce's hand because it was his job to remain impartial and to act as the mediator if and where necessary in disputes between the team.
Sarah was the only remaining Red Team member to not shake Bryce's hand, and everyone knew it.
"Sarah?" John Murray suggested suddenly, and he nodded her towards Bryce.
Sarah shook her head dismissively.
"Sarah, come on. Let bygones be bygones," Big Dan encouraged.
"I don't want to," she said sternly. "If and when I want to, then I will do it in my own time when I'm ready to move on from what Bryce did to me, and it's not right now."
Bryce nodded, and he smiled with remorse at Sarah. "It's ok, fellas. I know I have a lot of work to do to earn Sarah's friendship again, and I intend to do it because I want a good relationship with everyone on the team."
Sarah nodded in acknowledgement at Bryce.
"Right then, let's get ourselves ready to kick the shit out of Blue Team then," Cole said.
Approving laughter broke out amongst the team…
O-x-O-x-O-x-O
Red Team stepped onto the football field, and they entered a huddle together. The game against Blue Team was just minutes away, who engaged in a huddle themselves. A member of Mountain troop was acting as the referee of the match this evening.
"Right, I want us to be very aggressive and robust. Clear the grudges you have with those fine gentlemen in Blue Team, and leave it all on this field. Once the match is finished, I want no further lingering issues from any of you towards them. Otherwise, Wallace will get involved," Chris cautioned his team.
The whole team nodded in agreement.
"Joe Lewis is mine," Jamie reminded everyone once more.
"And Kyle is mine," Sarah said, pointing at everyone.
"How will you even get him, Sarah?" Cole asked with interest.
Smiling with glee, Sarah said, "You'll see."
The team chuckled approvingly at her words.
"Don't let us down, lass. Put him on the deck," John Murray encouraged.
With a sparkle in Sarah's eye, she said, "I will."
"Right, let's win this match and put them in their place with the beasting they deserve," Chuck said.
"Come on! Let's fucking have them!" Bryce shouted encouragingly.
Red Team laughed excitedly as they left the huddle, and they took up their respective positions on the field.
Now in place, they stretched and prepared themselves for kick-off.
Blue Team soon departed their own huddle, and they moved to take up their positions.
Once everyone was in position, Mountain troop member Sergeant Riley prepared to kick the game off.
He blew his whistle after a brief pause, and the game began.
The first few minutes passed by quickly, with little activity as the teams felt each other out, and neither team had broken into the penalty box of either team.
Red Team were presently in possession of the football in defence. Big Dan promptly kicked a long-ball to Cole Barker.
Cole took possession of the ball and advanced inside Blue Team's half.
Now in opposition territory, Cole was quickly confronted by Joe Lewis, who slid in to win possession of the football, but with quick feet, Cole shifted the ball over to Jamie Hughes a few yards from him.
Jamie advanced as Chuck and Bryce ahead of him continued to make runs to open up space for themselves to receive the ball, while Joe Lewis hurriedly picked himself off the ground, and he sprinted in the direction of Jamie, who got rid of the ball, and he passed to Chuck.
Chuck advanced with the ball until he was squared up to by Adam Carter close to Blue Team's penalty box.
To his right, Chuck spotted Bryce making a run a few seconds ago. He quickly released a pass in his direction, and he skipped past Adam Carter to reposition himself to receive the ball once more.
With Bryce now in possession and entering the penalty box, he nutmegged George Russell standing his ground and squaring up to Bryce.
Advancing past George Russell, Bryce was now through on goal, but Staff Sergeant Williams, who was between the sticks, rushed out to Bryce.
Not feeling confident enough to take on Staff Sergeant Williams charging at his feet and keeping the ball in play, Bryce passed left to Chuck, and Chuck finished the move by passing the ball into an empty goal.
Chuck and Bryce quickly rushed to celebrate with each other.
"Nice one, Bryce, mate!" Chuck shouted in immense approval, and they rushed to jump at each other in celebration.
"You too, mate. Let's fucking have them!" Bryce shouted in excitement.
Chuck nodded as they fist bumped and shook hands with each other.
The rest of Red Team quickly made their way to join in the celebrations, but Jamie Hughes made a brief detour along the way.
Arriving in Joe Lewis's proximity, Jamie shouted into his face, "Have some of that!"
With his ridiculing at an end, Jamie joined up with the rest of the team, now high-fiving each other as the unit erupted with joy and immense laughter over their cohesive move, and having broken through Blue Team.
Red Team soon moved to take up their positions in their half of the field again, and the game promptly resumed.
Now in defence, Chuck and Bryce chased down and harried Blue Team on the ball to not give them a minute's space, but Blue Team was able to pass the ball around and keep Bryce and Chuck at bay.
With Chuck and Bryce out of the equation, for now, Blue Team's midfield brought the ball deeper into Red Team territory, and they passed it around themselves to keep Cole, Jamie and John Murray at bay.
The football quickly found its way to Kyle Rogerson. However, no sooner than he received possession, he was flat on his back and in agony because Sarah had raced out from the position she occupied. Arriving at Kyle's position, she slid in hard as she took Kyle out from behind with a strong two-footed tackle. It was unquestionably a horror-tackle, and one full of malice.
Sergeant Riley instantly blew his whistle for a foul.
Unhappy with the aggressive challenge, Kyle quickly rose to his feet to confront Sarah, who also picked herself up.
Moving towards her, but limping from the assault, he pushed her with one hand in anger. "Fuck off!" he shouted at her.
Sarah scowled at his actions, and she was about to step into his face, but she paused because Chuck came storming in to their proximity.
"No, you fuck off!" Chuck shouted as he arrived in Kyle's vicinity, and he unleashed a forceful two-handed shove onto Kyle, which sent Kyle tumbling backwards, and he crashed onto the floor several yards away from where he was formerly positioned.
Sergeant Riley started blowing his whistle multiple times as Red and Blue team members arrived in the vicinity, and they all began to push and shove at each other as frustrations boiled over, and things threatened to kick-off.
Kyle Rogerson once more, for a second time, quickly rose to his feet, only this time, he stormed into Chuck's proximity, and the two of them squared up to each other, their foreheads touching as Chuck snarled aggressively into his face.
"I'll fucking have you, you twat!" Kyle shouted into Chuck's face.
"I'll have you too, you misogynistic bastard!" Chuck shouted back at him, and with their foreheads still touching, Chuck used his forehead to push Kyle a few paces forward in anger, and Kyle tried to push him back in the other direction with his own head, but Chuck was too strong for him.
Chuck and Kyle were soon disturbed as Chris MacDonald and Neil Williams, their respective team leaders, separated them from each other, and it took a minute for frustrations to subside…
O-x-O-x-O-x-O
Halftime
"Right, we're one-nil up. We clearly have the advantage so let's keep it up and try and get a second," Chris said as the team all took in water.
"Yeah, they're there for the taking," Chuck said.
The team nodded.
"There's no way we're losing this, fellas," Bryce added in.
"If we did, then I don't know what I'd do with myself, mate. I'm not letting Joe get one over on me," Jamie said.
Red Team muted laughter.
"I've not seen anything physical between you both yet," Cole said.
Jamie laughed. "Not for want of trying, mate. He's running away from me every time I get close."
Red Team shared the laughter with Jamie.
"And fucking hell, I knew Sarah was fast, but I didn't know she was that quick. The way she went in on Kyle was like thunder," Big Dan declared with a massive smile.
Chuckles erupted among the team.
"That was an inch-perfect tackle, Sarah, and no less than what that prick deserved after what he did to you yesterday," Chuck said.
Sarah smiled at Chuck. "Thanks. I told you all that I'd get him," she said with pride, glancing around the team.
The laughter continued among the team.
"You did, mate," Jamie said, and he moved to pat Sarah. "I'll be having Joe in the second half too."
"Right, let's get back to the game," Chris said.
Red Team nodded.
A few minutes later
The second half was underway, and the score was still 1-0 to Red Team.
Blue Team were on the attack, and Kyle Rogerson was in possession. Skipping past Chris MacDonald, he had clear space to unleash a shot from twenty yards at Red Team's goal.
Setting himself, he unleashed a volley that travelled towards the goal's top right.
However, performing a diving fingertip save, Sarah prevented his attempt on goal.
With the save completed, she rushed to recover possession of the football, and she collapsed on top of it and promptly took it into her hands.
Both teams reset themselves, and Sarah waited for her teammates to take up positions until she kicked the ball long in the direction of Jamie Hughes, who was being marked by Joe Lewis.
Jamie and Joe jumped to contest the football, and now faced with the perfect opportunity to stick on one Joe Lewis, Jamie promptly discharged an elbow that connected onto the chin of Joe Lewis with force, and Joe Lewis crashed to the floor.
Sergeant Riley promptly blew his whistle for a foul, and Jamie Hughes excitedly clapped his hands together, and he chuckled away, glancing down at Joe Lewis on the floor, who was holding his face in discomfort from the elbow.
"Unlucky, mate," he said, as he continued chuckling away at Joe's expense.
Twenty minutes later
The match was midway through the second half, with the score still 1-0. The game so far had been an extremely physical encounter, and the referee had already blown his whistle for more than a dozen fouls committed from both sides.
Red Team had possession of the ball. It was in Sarah's hands. She had just a few moments ago tipped a long-distance attempt from Joe Lewis over the bar, and she had rushed out to collect a subsequent corner kick from Blue Team into her hands.
She was playing out of her skin.
Setting herself, she waited until her team advanced further up the pitch, and she kicked the ball long to Chuck.
Chuck leapt into the air to head the ball down towards Bryce, who took it under control, and he passed it back to Jamie Hughes.
Jamie brought the ball forward, but Joe Lewis dispossessed him as he slid in on him.
Attempting to attack Red Team, Joe Lewis advanced, but he too was quickly possessed by John Murray, and the Scot passed to Bryce.
Now in possession, Bryce advanced into Blue Team territory, and he played a neat one-two with Chuck, and the teammates broke close to Blue Team's box.
Being squared up to by Adam Carter, Chuck paused stationary over the ball, and he performed a few stepovers to entice Adam Carter to challenge him and make a mistake.
The Blue Team member soon lunged towards Chuck, which Chuck was waiting for all along.
Preparing himself, Chuck backheeled the ball in the direction of Cole behind him.
Bringing the ball forward, and in open space, Cole fired off a volley from twenty-five yards, which crashed into the goal, with Staff Sergeant Williams rooted to the spot because he had no time to set himself due to the pace of the shot.
Chuck instantly rushed to his best friend, and he jumped into his arms in extreme joy, and Cole picked him up.
"Nice shot, mate! Chuck said excitedly with pride.
"Nice moves yourself, Chuck," Cole said, grinning at his best mate as he put him back onto the ground, and the rest of Red Team arrived to celebrate the goal...
O-x-O-x-O-x-O
Fulltime
The heated contest between Red and Blue teams came to an end. The final score was 2-0 to Red Team, thanks to goals from Chuck, assisted by Bryce, and Cole Barker, assisted by Chuck. Sarah had also made multiple crucial saves, which had helped seal the team's win.
Red and Blue teams started to approach each other for post-match handshakes, with their issues with each other seemingly now at an end.
The teamed shared handshakes and nods with each other, and they were about to go their separate ways when Bryce spoke, "Good game, fellas. I'll be having that money off you soon, Adam."
Blue Team immediately groaned in frustration, while most of Red Team laughed, shaking their heads.
"You bastard!" Adam Carter said with venom.
"Don't give out what you can't take back. You've been on my back saying what team I'd be on tonight, and now you know," Bryce said back.
"He can't resist poking in the needle, can he?" Joe Lewis asked, shaking his head in frustration.
"He's right, though," Jamie started, "You lot did make those comments towards him after all."
"Yeah, and a bet is a bet," Cole added in.
Red Team nodded.
"One day, you fellas will learn not to bet against us. Because as I told you, you will never get the better of us," Big Dan said, grinning from ear to ear.
"But hopefully, it's not anytime soon that they stop!" Chuck said as he erupted with laughter.
Red Team quickly joined the laughter, and they chuckled away at the expense of Blue Team, and the teams soon went their separate ways as Red Team headed to shower together...
AN4 Next chapter, Red Team sneak a brief period of R&R for a few hours which they massively needed, and Charah get even closer as they have a conversation and discuss why Chuck did what he did to protect her with Kyle this chapter. After then, the story goes nuclear (literally).
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