Designated (Book 1): Designated Infected
Page 29
'I would just like to say a toast to our distinguished commander, without whom some of us would not be sitting at this table. I would also like to toast his lovely wife, whom we all know is the real boss here.'
A ripple of laughter rolled along the length of the table as Rawlings carried on with his speech, the words becoming increasingly slurred with each glassful. Baker watched with a soft smile playing across his face as amusement at his comrades' upcoming embarrassment danced in his eyes. Janet looked at her husband as he and everyone else watched Rawlings fall ever deeper into his self-imposed inebriation.
'I would also finally like to say a deep heartfelt thank you to whoever brought this, 'cos it's bloody lovely.'
Baker laughed as Rawlings was dragged back down into his seat, his cream white teeth sparkling under the glowing lighting above them. Janet curled her fingers through her husbands as she leant her head against his shoulder.
The table slowly bubbled up into sporadic conversations. Glancing down Baker watched as Janet subconsciously ran a hand over her burgeoning bump. A soft teasing smile tugging at her lips as she continued to lovingly run her hand over the dress covered bulge that was her unborn child. Pushing himself away from the table, Baker stood planting a small kiss on Janet's cheek as he whispered in her ear.
'I want to get Johns answer to what we talked about darling, be back in a few minutes.'
Nodding, she turned, entering into a giggle filled conversation with Anastasia. The Russian scientist glanced to her left as Davies pushed himself away from the table and followed after a beckoning Baker. A curious quirk of her eyebrow followed his departing form before she dismissed it and turned back to her conversation with the glowing mother to be.
****
'What's up?', Davies pulled a packet of cigarettes from his trouser pocket. Cupping his hand around the end of it as he lit it from the guttering flame of his black Zippo lighter. Snapping it closed he looked fondly at the grinning image of a stylised devil before slipping the small black square into the breast pocket of his jacket.
Baker moved over to the small dividing wall and perched on top of it. Watching Davies walk over slowly, he mulled over the best way to ask what was dancing through his head. Sighing internally, he bit down hard on the proverbial bullet and decided to be as blunt as possible.
'We want you to be our child's godfather.'
Davies almost choked on his cigarette as he drew in a sharp breath, the brown paper filter bouncing off the roof of his mouth as he tried to extricate the still burning stick of tobacco from between his rapidly singeing lips.
Flicking the ruined fag away he watched as the glowing ember tip spiralled through the star-lit air to land with a soft hiss on the frost bitten lawn. Dragging his hand through his hair he blew out a heavy breath and plonked down next to Baker.
'Why me?' Baker smiled at the obvious question and let his mind whirr up to speed as he pulled forth his already prepared answer.
'It's plain as day where your relationship with Anna is going, and before you ask, Janet is asking her now; as to the reason for you and Anna well, God forbid should anything happen to myself or Janet, or the both of us, but we want a stable family environment for our son or daughter, whichever we are blessed with.
'Kingsley, Rawlings, and Bolton all know that we've picked you two and agree on our reasoning. Besides, I don't particularly feel that any of those three would make stable parents, they've been bachelors for far to long.'
Davies subconsciously ran his hand through his hair again as he stared wide-eyed at the floor. Stuttering he managed to croak out an answer.
'Well, if it's what you guys want, then I guess I don't have a choice.'
Baker smirked as he listened to the defeated tone in Davies voice.
'Well yeah, you could tell me to stuff the request up my arse, but then we both know I would have you on latrine duty for the next twelve to eighteen.'
He trailed off leading Davies into a question laced finish of his sentence. 'Months?'
'Years.' Baker said his grin widening at the look of appalled shock on his subordinates face.
'You could always make it an order you know.'
Baker nodded as he sat in the crisp evening air. 'That I could, but then what kind of godfather would you be after I have croaked and the order no longer stood.' Davies smirked as he pushed himself to his feet and held out his hand to Derek.
'I would be honoured you daft bastard, of course I'll do it.' Baker pulled John into a brotherly hug, before they turned and walked back into the building. 'Let's go get pissed.'
Davies chuckled as Baker surged forwards disappearing around the corner to relay the good news to his wife.
They sat down, the steam rising from their plates as the waiters and waitresses deposited them around the table. Baker lifted his fork, the thick piece of slow roasted pork glistening slightly as he brought it to his lips.
As he opened his mouth, the heat from the meat filling his senses, a rapid beeping vibration echoed up from beneath the table. Grimacing, and with a grunting sigh of agitation, he set the food aside and lifted the encrypted mobile phone from his hip.
Glancing around the table he watched the expressions shift on the faces of his comrades. Nodding he pushed away from the table and rose to his feet. Leaning down he softly kissed his wife on the cheek before walking to the door.
Thank you, not only for reading, but for making this authors dream come true. For news and information on the next instalment in the Designated series or any of my other upcoming projects go to any of the web addresses listed in the front of the book or drop me an email and feel free to message me on my page with any questions or just for a chat.
See you next time.
Rick.
Table of Contents
Copyright
Acknowledgements
1 Afghanistan: 2004
2 Panjshir Valley Four months ago
3
4
5
6 Russia The Omega site Exact Location Unknown
7
8
9
10
11 London, Gatwick, United Kingdom, 2005
12 Baker residence. North East London
13 Broadhead barracks. United Kingdom. January sixteenth. 2011.
14
15 The Village
16
17
18 Broadhead Barracks
19 United Kingdom, June 28th 2009, Eight P.M.
20 Lunda Norte Province. Fucauma Diamond Mine: Angola 14: 30 local time
21 Lunda Norte Province, Fucauma Diamond Mine. Outer entrance: Angola 14: 50 local time.
22
23
24
25 Goodmayes. Outer London. England. 10: 30 A.M local time. February second. 2012.
26
27
28
29
30 Broadhead Barracks
31
32
33 Broadhead Biological Studies Division Lab One
34
35
36
37
38 Dreamers Night Club First Floor
39
40 Broadhead Biological Studies Division Lab One
41 North East London
42 Central Middlesex Hospital North West London
43 NATO Training Exercise Location Unknown
44
45