by Crystal Rose
“At least you didn't rub your eyes. That really fucking hurt,” Kenneth groused.
“You didn't run into Command Sergeant Major Oak either, Kenneth.” Brendon sighed. “And how did Grabowski stay in that place so long? When he came out he looked bored as hell.”
“They live to make us look like asses,” Ryan muttered. He looked over at Patrick and laughed. “What's wrong?”
Patrick had a funny look on his face. “Dude, I puked in King's house,” he said, making everyone laugh again.
***
That night after mail call Drill Sergeant Connelly stuck around and bullshitted with them. Ryan had to give the guy credit. He was funny as hell. He was telling them stories from his first tour in Iraq.
It was personal. It made every single one of them feel like they were not just recruits. They were finally soldiers.
Ryan laughed when Connelly started talking shit about ‘Scouts.’
“Fucking crunchies, they think they are cool as shit,” Connelly said, using the term 'crunchies' as a derogatory name for the ‘Scouts.’
There was a snort from the doorway and all eyes turned to Phillip Grabowski.
“We are cool as shit.” He grinned. “So fucking cool that when you take a tanker out of his tank and into a Humvee, they cower behind the big boys and pray we don't leave their asses behind.”
“Oh now, see you gotta dis a man's wheels,” Connelly said sadly.
“That's it? That's all you could come up with?” Phillip asked, his grin widening to its most maddening brilliance.
That fucking smile sent Ryan back in his own mind. That mouth should be illegal.
“NO!” came a roar from his left that brought him back to the present. He looked at Brendon who was staring wide-eyed at a letter in his hand. The paper fluttered from the blond's fingers. He rushed out of the room, barreling into Grabowski without even noticing it.
Both Drills looked startled but Grabowski recovered first. He took off after Brendon.
Ryan rose.
“Sit down, pretty boy. Big Daddy will take care of your girlfriend,” Connelly ordered.
Ryan didn't want to follow that order but he did. He sat back down and picked up the letter. He opened it while Connelly began another story.
Dear Brendon,
I know this is a horrible way to do this but I don't have any other choice. I fell in love with someone else. I know I promised that I wouldn't do this but I couldn't help it. He's here and you’re not. I need someone here, Brendon. Not someone hundreds of miles away. I hope you understand.
Sophia
Ryan bit off a curse and looked at Patrick.
'Broke up?' Patrick mouthed.
Ryan confirmed it with a short nod of his head. Patrick frowned and nodded to Kenneth. They all wanted out of the room so they could check on their friend.
Connelly sighed and grabbed Ryan's attention. He thumbed his head toward the door. Ryan stood up and walked out of the door.
He slowed his gait and stood outside of the room. He was surprised to hear Grabowski talking.
“Murray, this happens all the time. When we were deployed to Iraq several guys had wives file for divorce. I can't tell you how many guys had girls breaking up with them during the middle of the tour claiming it was too hard to deal with.” Grabowski said. His voice was so soft and soothing. Ryan couldn’t believe he was the same man who barked orders at them all the time.
“But why now? Why couldn't she wait?” Brendon asked. Ryan could hear tears in his voice.
“It's better now, Murray. Trust me. You don't want to be out in the sandbox and get that sort of letter.” There was something tingeing Grabowski's voice that told Ryan that Phillip had lived through that.
Ryan scooted closer to the door, just in time to have a face full of Grabowski.
“Freckles,” he greeted him, a small smile on his lips.
It was the closest Ryan had been to the Drill since 'the kiss'.
“Drill Sergeant Grabowski,” Ryan said. He knew he should be in there with Brendon, and right after he memorized the brunette’s smell he would be.
The Drill left without another word. Ryan walked in and looked at Brendon.
“Hey buddy,” he said softly. “Sorry about your girl.”
“I don't care,” Brendon said, the sound muffled by the pillow he was holding over his head.
“It sucks but after you get all buffed up she'll be crying because she can't have you, dude,” Ryan said. He really sucked at comforting anyone.
Patrick and Kenneth came into the room a few minutes later.
Kenneth pushed Ryan aside and sat down. “Know what? Fuck 'em. Girls like that chick are a dime a dozen. Brendon, we're gonna go out after basic and fuck the first girl we see. Then we're gonna toast to that bitch of an ex of yours,” he said, bitterly.
Ryan nodded his head.
Kenneth snorted at Ryan. “We'll find you a guy.”
Ryan flipped him off.
Patrick just laughed. “She's not worth it.”
Brendon took the pillow off of his face. “Guys, not right now, okay? Just… not now.”
All three sighed and nodded. Quietly they all got ready for bed.
Chapter Five
It had taken Brendon a few days to get himself back to so-called normal. The Drills didn't let up until the only thing Brendon could think of was getting squared the fuck away to get the Drills off his back. Ryan felt sorry for the boy but hey, the Drills seemed to know the right thing to say and do. By the second day Brendon didn't even mention Sophia again.
That morning Patrick and he pulled KP duty. To Ryan's way of thinking it was great. They got up and dressed. Once in the Chow Hall they noticed who was in charge. It was none other than Drill Sergeant Grabowski.
“Aww, fuck. I was hoping for someone else,” Ryan said low under his breath.
“Hell, I just want people to see how fucking crazy he is so they don't think I'm insane when I tell them,” Patrick said, watching the others as they looked at the reputedly crazy Drill.
“Bet they have no clue how insane he is,” Ryan said back.
“Fall in!” Grabowski shouted.
All of the soldiers reporting for KP duty fell into formation and awaited instructions.
“My name is Drill Sergeant Grabowski. I know most of you like KP duty because it's so much fucking fun. Well I am here to change your mind. Today I expect this place to run smoothly. Is this understood?”
“Yes, Drill Sergeant!”
Quickly they were all assigned to different duties. Ryan was working with a guy from Delta Company. It was all he could do not to roll his eyes at the bastard. He was a fucking moron.
“So, dude, what's that guy like?”
“He's a Drill Sergeant,” Ryan said tiredly. He was going to kill someone. The guy hadn't shut up since they began to peel potatoes. Patrick came in carrying a pan of scrambled eggs. He snickered when Ryan made eye contact.
“No, I heard he killed a guy!” Matt or Mark said.
“I think that's a rumor,” Ryan muttered. He really wasn't sure if it was a rumor or not but it kinda pissed him off that another soldier from a completely different fucking unit was saying shit about HIS fucking Drill.
“They say he's a real bastard. We got lucky and got Drill Sergeant Davis. He's cool as fuck.”
Ryan bit his lip to keep from defending the guy who had made his life a living hell so far.
“I'd hate to be stuck with a crazy fucker like Grabowski.”
“Dude!” Ryan said, staring at the guy. “You don't fucking know him.” Not that Ryan did either but still. “So shut your fucking mouth.”
“Not enough work, Privates?”
Just fucking great. Ryan sighed. They both snapped their mouths shut.
“Private...What the fuck? Private, you'll answer by No-Name because that is the world's most fucked-up name.” Grabowski said, looking at the soldier that Ryan was talking to. “Y'all want to tell me what you were talking
about.”
Private No-Name blinked and shook his head. His eyes widened and Ryan felt like giggling. His Drill Sergeant hadn't even warmed up yet.
“Freckles, wanna tell me?”
Ryan could either tell him or not. It was a no-win situation. On one hand he could stick with the Drill Sergeant and tell him what the soldier was talking about or he could lie.
“Let me guess. No-name here wanted to talk smack about the Drills?” Grabowski said knowingly. “Hear that I'm a crazy fuck, No-Name?”
Ryan let out a breath of air. Grabowski didn't make him answer the question.
“Yes, Drill Sergeant Ga..Gask..”
“For fucks sake! Freckles, No Name sounds just like you did.” Phillip exclaimed. “ Gra-bow-ski. Say it with me, No-name.” He repeated his name and the Private said it with him. “Fucking recruiters, they send the dumbest fucks they can find here,” he groused.
“Drill Sergeant Grabowski, after all he is from Delta Company,” Ryan said and froze in shock that he’d opened his mouth without being asked to.
Phillip burst into laughter. “That he is, Freckles. Only fucking morons get sent to Delta Company. Are you a fucking moron, No-name?”
The private flushed and didn't answer.
“Come on, No-Name. What's the answer?”
Ryan figured this was one of those no correct answer things.
“No, Drill Sergeant Grabowski! We are not morons!” The private finally answered.
“Then you think Charlie Company are fucking morons?”
Ryan had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing. It was a Catch-22 when answering these sorts of questions with Drill Sergeant Grabowski. Nothing that was said was ever correct.
“No, Drill Sergeant Grabowski.”
“Your Drill Sergeants got a fucking wiener when you arrived, didn't they, Private?” Phillip blew out a disgusted breath. He turned so he was only facing Ryan and the other private couldn't see his face. He winked once and then threw up his arms. “Fuck it! Finish this shit up.” He stormed off.
Ryan looked at the bewildered soldier. “Yeah, he's crazy but he's ours.”
They finished the potatoes, and were all sitting around bullshitting. Grabowski was actually pretty laid back on KP. Ryan kept sneaking looks at him when he could. It was a damn shame that he was crazy as fuck. He really was an extremely beautiful man.
“Has anyone asked you about Grabowski?” Patrick asked.
“Are you crazy? Everyone is asking if he's insane. He nearly had that Matt guy in tears.”
Patrick snorted. “Does it piss you off when people talk shit about him?”
For Ryan this was a loaded question. He looked at Patrick and thought about it. It did piss him off. Not because he had a big ol' crush on the man but because no matter what he was THEIRS. “Yeah, I guess it does. It's like he's ours to……defend.”
Patrick nodded. “I just about decked that guy over there. He called him a fucker.” He hissed. Ryan got slightly angry too. Maybe he and Patrick were both going insane.
“We get to call him a crazy fucker, not anyone else.” Ryan growled.
“Exactly!” Patrick agreed. They both looked disgruntled when they were told to get up and serve the incoming soldiers.
Ryan marveled at the ‘Us versus Them’ mentality they were both supporting.
***
There was a difference in Grabowski during KP. He watched over Ryan and Patrick like a father would. Patrick had nearly gotten into a fight with a guy who was fucking around. Grabowski appeared out of nowhere and stopped it.
Ryan was damn near ready to stab No-Name with his peeler if the young private didn't shut up. Grabowski would come and interrupt them just to stop No-Name's rambling.
“Drill Sergeant Grabowski, may I use the latrine?” Ryan asked just to get away from the still-jabbering Private.
Phillip waved him off.
Ryan strolled into the bathroom, thankful that he was away from that stupid asshole who still thought he had the right to trash talk Grabowski. He had barely been in the bathroom for a minute when the door opened.
“Freckles,” the Drill Sergeant said.
Ryan decided that being yelled at was a vast improvement over holding his dick when the Drill talked to him. He looked up and he recognized the look in Grabowski's eyes. God, that was fucking hot as hell. His hazel eyes were full of smoky, unspoken promises. Ryan had no doubt fucking Grabowski would be an experience of a lifetime.
It took him a moment to realize that Phillip had entered the Soldiers’ bathroom. Of course, as a Drill he had the right to go anywhere he wanted. “Drill Sergeant Grabowski,” Ryan answered.
He finished and moved to wash his hands. Their bodies brushed lightly and Ryan thought for sure he heard Grabowski groan.
“Sorry, Drill Sergeant!” Ryan said and beat a hasty retreat.
On his way out he heard a breathy whisper.
“Me too.”
***
Basic was flying by. Ryan couldn't believe that they had already been there six weeks. The past two weeks had gone by in a blur. They were currently sitting around watching the Drills show them different maneuvers during the hand-to-hand phase of their training.
Once at the training area they were told to take everything off their uniform, empty all of their pockets and take off their belts. Ryan was slightly worried over that. His uniform wasn't as tight as it used to be; without the belt he was worried that it would fall off completely.
If Ryan heard Phillip mention 'mounting' one more time, he was fairly certain he would fucking kill something, probably Patrick who was his battle buddy and his practice dummy. The word itself was funny to fifty percent of their class. But for Ryan it was funny in a whole number of ways, because he could really see how mounting would be a whole helluva lot of fun with his Drill.
Patrick punched him in the shoulder. “Dude, he's been calling your name for like ten minutes!” He hissed.
Ryan looked up and blushed.
“Freckles, come on. You're the honorary dummy,” Phillip drawled.
“Yes, Drill Sergeant!” He popped up and hoped his hard-on wasn't noticeable.
Phillip leaned in and smirked. “Don't think this means we're dating, Freckles.”
Ryan blinked but wisely didn't say a word.
“Now this is your chance, Freckles. You get one freebie. If you hit me, you're golden,” Grabowski said, and that fucking smirk was pasted on his face. “If you don't, well, you're in a world of hurt.”
A freebie? Seriously? He glanced around and knew that everyone was thinking the same thing. If he managed to hit Grabowski, would he be killed right away or would he take his time and savor Ryan's blood as it hit the ground?
Drill Sergeants Connelly and King looked on half amused.
“For fucks sake, Freckles, what are you fucking waiting for? Should I send out engraved invitations?” Phillip tormented him.
That was it. Ryan moved quicker than he thought he could and made it to the other man just in time to see the sky and sun beat down on his face, a position that should have been physically impossible since he was standing on his feet. A sudden flip and he had a face full of wood chips and a heavy knee in his back.
“Now, does anyone know where Freckles fucked up?”
Ryan knew where he fucked up. He fucked up when he decided to join the Army and got assigned to Drill Sergeant fucking Grabowski.
After Phillip went through all of the things Ryan did wrong he stood up and settled with his back on the ground.
Ryan rose slowly and stretched out his back. That kinda fucking hurt. But the picture Grabowski made caused Ryan's mouth to drool. The man was put together better than most gods and Ryan wasn't stupid enough to deny that fact. He had just gotten himself under control when he heard Grabowski speak.
“Alright Freckles, mount me.” Again with that stupid, freaking smirk.
Ryan blinked, then blinked again. He couldn't believe he heard that. Of course the smirk on Gra
bowski's face made him want to run back to the barracks and barricade himself in.
He slipped over the bigger man's body until he was settled against hips and stomach. Good God! He wasn't a blushing virgin by any means. He could do this. His hands were grasping the other man's shoulder. He figured it probably wasn't a good idea to really want to feel the flesh under his hand but damn, it was firm.
“Got a good hold, Freckles?” Phillip asked.
Ryan wasn't a small man by any means but having his body on top of Phillip made him feel like a shrimp. He was completely annoyed with that fact. Green eyes clashed with hazel.
“Yes, Drill Sergeant.”
“Are you sure?” he asked again. Ryan could practically taste the skepticism.
The bastard was toying with him.
His grasp hardened and he held on tight. “I'm sure, Drill Sergeant Grabowski.” Ryan smirked. He should have known better.
“The object of this exercise is to get your opponent off of you in a timely manner. This is the trap-and-roll,” Phillip explained. “So Freckles has me down, he's trying to keep me down.” His hips bucked forward and he grinned when Ryan's eyes widened.
This was not the kiss but it damn well could have been. He could feel every hard plane of the Drill’s body. His hold was strong and the bucking didn't cause much to happen.
“You will want to lift your back up and buck has hard as you can.” He proceeded to show them. His back lifted off the ground and Ryan was pitched forward.
Ryan's hands were pulled off Phillip so easily he felt like he was a child getting caught in the cookie jar.
“With one hand, grab their wrist tightly.” As he explained he demonstrated to them. “The other hand will come up to the opposite shoulder and grasp it lightly. You won't need a firm grip.”
The way Ryan lay he could smell that musky scent that was solely Phillip's. He nearly whimpered when the smell went straight to his dick. This was so not good. Rolling around with the man he was secretly lusting over did not make Ryan feel better. I am a fucking twenty-two-year old man who can and will control his dick. With that thought he steeled himself for the next movements.
