Chapter 22 – Black and Blue

Cait was the first to return downstairs to the rest of the team with a sheepish looking Heather following a few seconds later. Whilst the team were spread out around the main concourse of the station, busying themselves with one task or another, as soon as they spotted Heather, they turned and started to give their newest team member a round of applause. Heathers cheeks blushed almost as red as her now covered backside had been.

"Now that's the best welcome to the team I have ever witnessed!" Valkyrie walked up to Heather and put her arm around the blushing girl's shoulders.

"Mon Dieu, that sounded impressive, even from down here." Curie joined in the congratulations.

Piper, who had stayed back from the gathering melee around Heather, stood up from where she was sat near the cooking fire to join the rest of the team. "Yeah, that was definitely one way to make an entrance, I'm impressed."

Heather looked around to her new teammates and was unable to contain her grin as she was roundly congratulated for having taken a spanking. "You guys are completely nuts you know that." She laughed.

"Says the girl who just asked one of her teammates for a pretty good spanking just because she wanted to know what it felt like." Nate joked as he also came up to join Heather. "So, is this you telling me you are fully part of the team then?" He asked as the rest laughed.

"Do we get to see?" Valkyrie asked as they all made their way to the campfire and some trail stew Curie was warming up.

"Hang on," Piper interjected, "you didn't tell her about that bit, did you." She asked looking at Valkyrie.

"Tell me what?" Heather asked, looking nervous.

"That these two," Piper pointed to Valkyrie and Cait, "get to ogle your poor punished backside whilst comparing notes." Cait and Valkyrie began to protest.

"Well Cait got to see the damage she caused, and …." Heather paused, obviously weighing something up in her mind, "Oh fuck it, why not!" she exclaimed as she spun to offer Curie her collar to unlock.

Whilst the rest gathered around Heather to help her strip and to admire the marks Cait's spanking had left on her, Cait moved over to where Nate was stood, watching the girls welcome their newest team member.

"I wish you were there." Cait looked up at Nate as she slipped an arm around his waist.

"Oh, I was…" Nate smiled down at his girlfriend. He then pointed into the ticket office behind him and up to the ceiling.

Cait turned to follow where he was pointing. "You sneaky bastard!" she exclaimed and playfully slapped his shoulder.

"Well, Piper noticed the sound coming from it and so I thought it would be great to see how my pupil was getting on." Nate smiled. "And from what I heard you were superb, really professional."

Cait scowled and then beamed. "Why thank you kind sir," she bobbed a little curtsey, "I had a blast you know, this spanking thing, I think I could get used to it." She grinned.

"Oh no you don't, Cait Murphy, you can get your mind off that straight away." Nate shook a finger at her.

"What?" Cait feigned surprise, "I was just saying …"

"You were just getting rid of any idea that you will be coming anywhere near me with your newfound topness. Spank V all you want, any of the girls, but I am definitely off limits." Nate insisted.

"Not even if I asked nicely?" Cait pleaded.

"Not for all the tea in China." Nate stated emphatically.

"I'll have to think up a bet or something, it was such a rush, do you always feel that?" Cait asked excitedly.

"Erm, no you will not get me making anymore bets, yeah I am sure it was, that was really something you did up there, and, as far as whether I always feel that type of rush, that's a long conversation for another time." Nate patted his girlfriend on her behind as he headed off to join the remainder of the team.

"It's a nice pink." Valkyrie said appreciatively.

"Pink!" Heather exclaimed, trying to crane her neck to take a look at her own, now bared bottom. "It was a blazing red when Cait had finished attacking me up there." She stated pointing up the stairs.

"It has died down quite a bit, but that is natural for the type of spanking you received. If the capillaries under the skin are not broken, then there won't be any long-term marks." Curie stated, running her fingers over Heather's still warm bottom.

"See, I was gentle, so what's all the fuss about?" Cait moved up to the fire and sat down.

"Gentle!" Heather exclaimed, "you were many things Cait but one of them wasn't gentle." She rubbed her bottom as if to make the point.

"I for one am very impressed by your commitment to the team already," Nate only half joked. "Your desire to be part of the team and to fit in is really appreciated."

"Even if you are completely mad for asking for a hiding to impress us." Piper laughed.

"Well, for me it worked, I am impressed, and as far as being mad, well she will fit in perfectly around here then, won't she." Nate smiled as Cait threw a small piece of rubbish at him. "Oh, we have a second spanking coming in the same day, do we?" He asked as he locked eyes with Cait.

"No, sorry," Cait stood and stuck her tongue out at her boyfriend, "too busy for all those shenanigans, we've got night patrols to organise."

The team soon formed a huddle and began setting out their plans for their intended reconnaissance of the area, in order to fix the safest way to the General Atomics Factory site.

The next morning the team were up and ready to set out by 08:00. Having spent the previous night exploring the area, they had a good idea of the route and obstacles they would encounter on their way to the factory. The target building was at the end of a large wharf that contained a number of industrial units, some of which looked abandoned and some of which were very much occupied. The largest structure, and the one directly in front of their target, was an unfinished construction site, and it was clear that it was occupied. Meat bags and the bodies of humans and animals alike decorated the outside of the building and from their patrol the night before, the team had identified at least eight Super Mutants guarding the site. This was to be their first target of the day.

Nate moved the team off in a patrol formation, each team member spaced a few meters apart in a long line. They patrolled in single file up to the wharf and then split into their two teams. Piper, Cait and Curie headed up some fire escape stairs to the roof of an apartment building to be able to offer fire support. Nate, Heather and Valkyrie continued on until the massive building came into sight.

Viewing the structure from one of the shorter sides, it was unfinished with its steel frame still showing through part finished walls. There were two upper floors, but these were also unfinished. The Super Mutants had set up a large fire and boiling pot on the ground floor and Nate could see two Super Mutant Hounds patrolling the small area in front of the building. This patch of grass housed a crane and a small construction cabin.

"Engage when ready." Nate ordered.

"Standby." Piper responded.

There then followed a series of pops, indicating silenced shots from the top of the building Piper and her team were on, and three of the Super Mutants fell. This was followed by a howl from one of the hounds and cries from the other green skinned abominations.

Nate was up and signalling to Heather and Valkyrie to move round to his right and follow the back of a small garage, enabling them to sneak past the entrance to the building. The girls' moved first and Nate followed.

"Fuck," cried Valkyrie as she unloaded her weapon into a Mirelurk who had sprung out from some cover and surprised her.

"You ok?" Nate asked as it looked like the creature had reached out and grabbed Valkyrie's arm.

"That fucking hurt," she said, breathing hard and rubbing her arm. "It didn't rip the suit, but it got my arm." Valkyrie dropped her weapon as she clutched her injured bicep.

Seeing Valkyries situation, Heather stepped in and shouldering her own weapon, moved past Valkyrie to take up watch, looking around the corner of the building they were hiding behind. Nate slung his own weapon over his back and spun Valkyrie around to unlock the collar on her Sirius Suit. "Let's have a quick look." He stated.

"I'm fine, really, it has just gone dead a bit." Valkyrie lied through gritted teeth. From Nates view the creature, an oversized crab with a massive set of claws, had grabbed Valkyries right arm in one of its pincers.

"You will let me take a look, young lady, or a few bruises from a Mirelurk will be the least of your worries." Nate snapped back. Despite only being half serious, Valkyrie obeyed, slipping out of the top of her armour she began examining her arm. She did have a very impressive purple mark across the thickest part of her bicep muscles.

"Keep them busy, Piper, V's injured." Nate ordered on the radio.

"Do you need me?" Asked Curie on the intercom.

"No, you just keep them away from the small rusty garage we are hiding behind to your right." Nate responded.

"Got it." Curie confirmed as it wasn't long before Nate and his team could hear the rate of fire pick up from their teammates location.

"That should keep them busy for a bit." Nate returned his attention to Valkyries arm. "Grab my hand and give it a squeeze will you." He asked.

Valkyrie did as she was told and grasped Nates hand in an arm wrestlers grip. She squeezed and although she grimaced and felt her muscles protest, she could apply enough pressure around Nate's hand to reassure him that she hadn't broken anything.

"Ok, that's good, it will hurt like hell, but nothing broken. Can you hold a weapon?" Nate asked.

"Yeah, I think so. Maybe I'll go to the back when we enter the building." Valkyrie offered a weak smile, the pain still evident in her face.

"You know what, shoulder your weapon for the moment, and we will shout if we need anything. Just stay close behind Heather, ok?" Nate made more of a suggestion than an order, but Valkyrie nodded.

The three moved past the building they were using as cover and up to the wall of the construction site. There was an incomplete section that they would use as their entry point. Following their drills the team flattened themselves up against either side of the opening. Nate peered into the gloom and was rewarded by a shout, nearer than he was ready for, from one of the Super Mutants.

"Ha, little sneak!" came the cry.

As soon as Nate pulled back from the gap, Heather shouted "Grenade" and threw one into the gap and towards the now approaching Super Mutant. The team ducked and faced away from the explosion as they were shielded by the outside wall. The Super Mutant wasn't so fortunate and by the sound of the cries, neither was one of his friends.

"The roof is clear." Piper confirmed on the radio and Nate and his team headed into the structure.

The team carefully cleared all the rooms on the ground floor before making their way up to the roof. Just before appearing on the top floor Nate radioed to his fire support team that the building was clear and that they were to join him.

Ten minutes later and the full team were formed up and ready to continue their patrol towards the General Atomics Factory. Just before setting off Nate and Cait went back up on to the roof to have one last scan of the area, whilst Curie took a look at Valkyries arm and gave her a stim pack.

"You dropped this." Piper reached down to pick up a grenade that she nearly stood on and handed it to Heather.

Heather blinked, blushed and then thrust it back at Piper. "I used mine, if you had been paying any attention. Go give it to whoever really dropped it and stop trying to get me into trouble." She growled.

"Just trying to help, but then, if you were really in this team, you would know that's what we do for each other." Piper bit back.

Whether it was the adrenaline of the fight or the fear from seeing Valkyrie getting injured, Heather snapped and as Piper turned to look back out of the building, Heather landed a punch on the back of Pipers head, causing her to stumble forward.

"HEY!" Piper cried as she regained her footing and turned to face Heather. Anger flashing in her eyes, she took hold of the barrel of her weapon and using it like a club, swung it at Heather.

"Hey, Hey!" Shouted a very angry Nate as he and Cait ran towards the fighting pair, Nate grabbing Piper's weapon from her before it made contact. He then dragged Piper back and towards Cait, as he stood in the way of the two combatants. "Enough, both of you!" He barked with a voice that demanded immediate compliance. Nate looked from Heather to Piper and back again several times, to ensure they had taken his command on board. Whilst Heather's stance was still aggressive, as she stood staring at Nate, Piper's shoulders drooped in defeat as she let the rage wash out of her.

"I just picked up her grenade for her." Piper said softly.

"It… wasn't… mine." Snapped Heather in reply.

"Whatever," Piper responded.

"What the absolute fuck are you two playing at?" Nate asked in a steady but extremely angry tone. Piper began to speak. "No!" Nate held up his hand. "I don't care." He looked at both girls. "Let me introduce you to a simple truth about the situation you guys are in, and I want you to listen and take on board what I am saying. All of it." Nate then locked eyes with both girls to ensure he had their undivided attention.

"You two have, so far, earned yourself one hell of a spanking when we get back home after this patrol. I am going to blister both your backsides with my ebony hairbrush, with no warmup, no gentle easing in. What you are going to receive, I can guarantee you now, will make you cry and will turn your backsides black and blue." Nate paused to let his description of their impending punishment sink in. "What I want you both to do is to picture that in your minds. I want you to imagine what that will look like and more importantly what that will feel like. Have you done that?" Nate looked directly at Piper, who nodded sheepishly. "And you?" he turned to face Heather who was looking at the floor. "Heather!" Nate barked, making her jump but also making her raise her eyes to look at Nate. "Yes, sir." She finally responded.

"Right, but I'm old, and my memory isn't as good as it once was." Nate continued, drawing a very slight smile from Heathers lips. "And as a result, I am sure I can be made to forget about this stupid little spat you two just had, and instead return home looking forward to a celebratory dinner and an evening of sharing war stories."

"Over a whiskey or two." Cait added.

"Exactly, over a whiskey or two." Nate agreed. "But what will spoil that evening is if two of the team aren't invited to sit around the table and join in the fun, as they will have their noses firmly pressed against the wall with their freshly spanked and very sore backsides on display for all to see."

Nate continued as Valkyrie and Curie quietly rejoined the team from the other side of the ground floor.

"So, in order to ensure that we are all going to have a safe remainder of the patrol and a happy and convivial return home, how about I suggest this. You two," Nate looked at both girl in turn, "get over whatever the fuck this nonsense is and start working as a team. You are both in a team, right?" He asked looking first at Heather and then Piper who both nodded. "Then start acting like it and don't make me regret not kicking your arses both out onto the street when you first started your little squabbling."

Nate turned to Cait and signalled for her to keep a watch at the entrance to the building whilst he continued his scolding.

"If you guys can act like grownups, work like the professional looking soldiers I know you can be, then we will forget this ever happened. If, on the other hand, I hear a single word from either of you, said in anger towards the other, then I will add a further minute to the five you already have. And I promise you there will be no upper limit to how long I can spend blistering your well deserving backsides. Let's just say it is something I have wanted to do for some time now. So, if you want to keep scratching at each other, then I accept the challenge and I will look forward to our date back home. If, however, you want to be able to sit sometime in the next month and want to pass up on my offer to turn both your hiney's black and blue, then you know what to do. OK?" Nate looked at both girls in turn, "We all good?" Nate asked, as both girl's nodded and mumbled their acceptance. "Right, then, speak to each other now, sort it out and we leave in five minutes. The rest of us will stand over there," Nate then headed outside the building and signalled for the other girls to join him.