Chapter 27
“Captain. I was asked to let you know you are wanted in the briefing room now,” Lieutenant Nash said.
“Thank you Lieutenant, I'll be right there,” I said.
They couldn't even send one of my men to get me. They should have known the surprise was gone, I knew what they were up to. Would it be possible to do what none of them thought possible? To go in and see each of these men without them having any idea I was there?
I had nothing to lose by trying. I slid my jacket on and placed my service cap on making sure it sat just right. How many of these men were my equal when it came to hiding in plan sight?
I walked through the room not trying to be invisible yet knew none of these men could see me. That they didn't know I was there became obvious when Mac and Curtis went to talk to General Wentworth about having no idea what was taking so long.
Everyone of my men were there in that room, all wearing the White Rose unit patch. The only unit patch allowed to be worn even if another unit patch was worn. Being a member of White Rose meant you were the best, and gave you a respected status throughout the rest of the military. Only a handful of men would ever wear that patch, and everyone of them had proven multiple times they were worthy of wearing it.
I noticed that several of the men involved in the test were now wearing one of the company patches from the companies under General Talbot's command and smiled. Only the best were allowed the White Rose. There was a slight difference between my White Rose and Major Jacobs Rose company, both the most dreamed of unit and company in the training center.
“Major Jacobs is a great commander Captain, you should feel honored to be wearing his company patch,” I said.
He looked around his eyes going past me as though I didn't exist. I noticed he had started to say something, stopping just short so he wouldn't look like he was talking to the air.
“Captain when you see Major Jacobs I have something I want you to give him for me.” I put the White Rose patch that had been laying on my desk in his shirt pocket. “I want you to give him the patch I just slipped in your pocket and tell him I'm waiting, that the White Rose and the Rose will always be one in heart.”
From there I went over to Mac and smiled as I realized he knew I was there but couldn't see me.
“You should have known how well I would take this Mac. I hope you know, you owe me a dance now,” I said.
“Since when does a brother take his sister dancing?” he asked.
“Since you insisted on making sure if I came in here any other way I'd be embarrassed,” I said.
“You aren't going to let everyone show you how much they love you? Sam nothing else could have gotten some of these guys here. You want me to take you dancing then let them wish you the best for your future,” he said.
“I hate you sometimes, you know that?” I asked.
I stopped trying to hid myself and heard everyone around Mac and I gasp. I looked over at the Captain this party should have been for and saw him reach up to his shirt pocket to see if what he thought he dreamed was real. The look he gave me said more than words ever could have.
I spotted Kathy and Brent sitting alone to one side of the room and started over in their direction.
“Captain, I have a strange feeling that you let me finish as well as I did,” the Captain said.
“That patch is for your commander Captain. I hope you'll give him the message as well,” I said.
“Dare I ask what the message means?” he asked.
“Always dare Captain, but when it comes to me don't always expect to get an answer. If you'll excuse me I really need to talk to my oldest sister,” I said.
I continued in Kathy's direction and had a couple of my men stop me long enough to wish me the best life had to offer.
“I'm surprised you don't have the kids with you sis,” I said.
“They wanted to come, but I didn't think you'd be very happy about this party as it was and I had no idea how well these men would behave,” she said.
“I hope they've made you feel welcome though with you standing over here not interacting with them I get the feeling something is wrong,” I said.
“Nothing is wrong Sam, I just feel a little out of place among all these people. You have to remember neither Brent or I are around military people very often,” she said.
“Is there any chance of you helping me tomorrow? I have a date to go out dancing,” I said.
“Why were they all acting like you weren't here a little while ago. I noticed you made sure you didn't bump into them, but it was kind of comical to watch,” she said.
Now I was confused. How was it all these men from my unit hadn't been able to see me yet my sister who didn't have the training to be so observant had watched the whole thing and seen me the whole time.
“They all know how much I hate surprises and I haven't seen some of them since I came home. I think they were just trying to let me think I haven't lost my touch,” I said.
The party broke up and I gave each of the men a hug thanking them for being here for me. For some reason none of us understood a hug just felt right and if I didn't offer fast enough they did.
Each of us had tears in our eyes wondering if we would ever see each other again, knowing chances weren't good for most of us ever getting together again.
Mac and Curtis along with Kathy and Brent were the last to leave.
“Seven o'clock tomorrow Mac, I'll be waiting,” I said.
“Is there any chance of your sister Sarah going with?” he asked.
“Did you forget, she's married?” I said.
“I take it that means no,” he said.
“I'll talk to her, but I don't think the chances are very good, besides only Kathy in my family knows about that side of me,” I said.
Curtis gave me a dirty look that said he had no clue what we were talking about. Mac and I both started laughing and I figured Mac would either tell him later or make him wait until they picked me up to go dancing, and either was up to him.
After everyone else was gone I looked around my office trying to think of anything I still had there I might want to take with me. I had a small box of personal items, but otherwise everything belonged to the military. I flipped the lights off on my way out not bothering to lock the door since I had given my keys to Lieutenant Nash earlier that day.
I set the box of personal items in the trunk of my car and sat there staring at nothing. I knew what I was doing was the right thing to do, at least for me, but it didn't make it any easier. All the men I left behind still fighting a war that made no sense, when I had come here, and now all the men who had gone through my classes, but still weren't ready to take their place among the best of the best. How many lives had I touched in my short stint in the Air Force? How many men were still alive because I insisted on doing things my way rather than the way that was easy? I knew my way of doing things wasn't as easy, but they did put fewer lives at risk and that to me was what was important.
Sleep seemed something that was going to be illusive this night since it marked a big change in my life. I lay there on my bed trying to force sleep to come and would find myself wanting nothing more than to hold the man I loved with all my heart. To have those two beautiful little girls that called me mom come running up and throw their arms around me and tell me how much they loved me.
After the fourth time of the dream that wasn't a dream playing through my mind I got out of bed and turned on the TV I never wanted in the first place. I flipped through the different channels finding all of them trying to sell me on something. There was the religion channels selling their standard spiel trying to convince people to send them money to support the extravagant lifestyles they've grown accustomed to. Then there were the channels trying to sell things to make life easier that once you bought it found it either didn't work the way they showed on their programs, or actually made things harder not easier. Of course there were the news channels that were spinning the news so tryin
g to get a clear unbiased idea of what was happening was impossible. Would it have really been so hard for them to give the facts without their spin on what those facts meant?
I came across a channel that supposedly showed the wild life of the war area and found it so full of commentary that made no sense to me. Had the people that made this ever really been there to know how those animals lived? From what I knew of the animals and the area I was sure they hadn't. Even the terrain they were showing and saying was the natural habitat of these animals didn't look right. Sure the plants they showed did look like the plants from that area, but where they showed their idea of a picturesque garden anyone who had actually been there would know many of those plants didn't belong together.
I turned the TV back off finding nothing worthwhile on it and decided to instead get dressed and go for a run.
I remembered my neighbors telling me when I first moved in that this was a rough neighborhood, and sure enough having a group of teenagers try stealing from me the first night I went out for a run. Since then however it has been so quiet, like those boys let all their friends know I wasn't anyone they wanted to mess with.
I headed out of the apartment complex and turned toward base figuring on going down to the motel Mac had been staying in that night and back. By the time I got to the motel I still felt like I hadn't done anything so kept going. Before I realized how far I had gone I was at the main gate to the base.
I wondered who was on duty in the guard house and turned stopping short of reaching the shack. Would they still salute me, or even recognize me. It wasn't often I had been on base at this time of night, unless I was doing an all niter trying to get everything ready for a survival class.
“Something wrong Captain?” the guard in the shack asked.
“You can call me Sam, Sargent. Yesterday was my last day as Captain,” I said.
“I was kind of hoping you'd be around long enough for me to qualify special forces,” he said.
“How long have I been standing here Sargent?” I asked.
“I'm not really sure, but I'd guess about an hour. That's why I came out to check on you,” he said.
An hour and I felt like I had just gotten here a few minutes ago. Something was wrong, but trying to put my finger on what, was beyond me. Until last night I had always been able to hide in my work, but now that was gone and as much as I wanted to have it there still I knew it was time for me to find something else. The war wasn't going to last forever and even if it were they wouldn't let me back on the front lines again.
“You don't think I should have resigned, do you Sargent?” I asked.
“You have to do what's right for you sir,” he said.
“It would be nice if I knew what that is. About the only thing I know at the moment is its time for me to find a life outside the military,” I said.
“What did you do before you joined the Air Force, sir?” he asked.
“Graduated from high school. A week after my high school graduation I left for boot camp, I didn't even take leave for my first two years. The first time I took leave I was stationed on the front lines and my company commander had been killed in combat. Since I had been forced into taking command they felt I should take some time off while they found someone else to command the company,” I said.
“You're not even as old as I am, are you sir?” he asked.
“No Sargent I'm not. Most of the men I commanded were older than me by five years or more,” I said.
“How did you become an officer so young?” he asked.
“I was selected for OCS out of basic training. I graduated OCS in under a year and they sent me on to special forces training. When I completed special forces training they gave me Captains bars and for the next three years I was Captain Sam Waters,” I said.
“Well sir if everything is okay I need to ask you to move along it won't be long and we'll have cars lined up here trying to get on base,” he said.
“I need to get going anyway. Thanks for checking on me,” I said.
“Any time sir,” he said.
I headed back toward my apartment and stopped at the motel trying to see if any of my men were staying there. I didn't recognize any of the cars, but did notices several were rentals and wondered if by chance any of them might have been rented by any of my men. It didn't really matter the chances of seeing any of them again was slim at best.
Mac was there to pick me up right on time, but then I knew he would be. I was wondering what he would say if I wasn't ready, but figured he knew I wouldn't be, after all in girl mode I was a girly girl and it always seemed to take me longer to get ready to go than I ever allowed.
“Feel free to watch TV or something while I finish getting ready,” I said.
“You know Sam this going dancing was your idea,” he said.
“And you should have known I'd be late getting ready. How many of the guys are going to be there?” I asked.
“As far as I know all of them. You didn't say anything about it being just you and me,” he said.
I spritzed on a little perfume and strolled into the living room.
“Whenever you're ready,” I said.
Everyone of my men were there when we arrived at the club and I wanted to die. How could I be so reckless as to let them see me this way. I was supposed to be this big tough Air Force Captain and here I was a good four inches shorter than any of these men, and I had to have been at least fifty pounds lighter than the smallest.
“Mac told us you'd have a surprise for us Sam. He didn't tell us it would be this though,” Curtis said.
“Curtis, you are such a sweetheart sometimes, why spoil that image and be an asshole now,” I said.
“I didn't mean that in a bad way ma'am. I just didn't think it was possible for anyone to look so good that is able to kick my ass as easily as you can,” he said.
“Why don't you buy me a drink then and I'll forget all about how insulted I could have been,” I said.
I loved everyone of these men and wished I would have time to dance with each of them. I did intend to give each another hug and this time a kiss to let them know how much I loved them.
They all wanted to buy me a drink and I looked at them and started laughing. Was it that they hoped to see if perhaps I was fully female? Everyone of these men had known me in the field of battle and knew I was male just as they were, or was I? Dressed this way I felt fully female, even my voice was female as far as I could tell.
I danced at least one dance with each of them willing to dance and for those not willing, I flirted insatiably just to see how much respect they had for me. When we were getting ready to call it a night some Marines came in looking like they wanted to raise a lot of hell and I knew my men weren't in the mood to have anyone fuck with them.
It had been four months since the last of them had come home and I had no doubt this group of Marines were no match for any of them individually, let alone as a group.
“Hey gorgeous how about having a drink with some real men,” one of the Marines said.
“Real men Corporal? Everyone of my men are better men than any of you jarheads,” I said.
“Yea, right, you make it sound like they're from that reconnaissance team we've heard tell of, some girly group called white tulip or some shit like that,” he said.
“I think you mean White Rose, and calling the men of the White Rose anything short of men would be a mistake on your part. You and your buddies here if you ever manage to see the front lines should only wish the White Rose were still intact if you needed help getting out,” I said.
“You sound like you have a thing for this White Rose team. I think they're nothing but a bunch of pussies, and their commander is the biggest pussy of the bunch,” the guy said.
“Sam they aren't worth it,” Mac said.
“You heard what they said Mac,” I said.
“I heard as did everyone else. We know the truth and if these boys want to think we're a bunch of pussies I'm glad they'll ne
ver have to have us bail them out, I'm not sure if we were ask I could,” Mac said.
I looked around at all of my men and smiled confirming what I was sure each of them were saying to themselves. These Marines didn't know what it was like on the front lines, nor what each of us had been asked to do time after time.
“Corporal I suggest you and your friends find another place after the insult you just paid to a group of heroes. You're not welcome here, The White Rose will always be welcome,” the club owner said.
I turned in the direction of the voice speaking. I had no idea who this man was, but he obviously knew who my men and I were.
“Captain Waters and his White Rose saved my son from certain death, or a POW camp. I'm not sure which would have been worse,” the man said.
“You're telling me these men are the white rose?” the Marine asked.
“No, they aren't the White Rose, but I am,” I said. Everyone of these men followed my orders and together we saved more lives than we can remember. You ever get on the front lines and talk like you have here and you're likely to get killed. Even the enemy would panic when they knew we were called into the fight,” I said.
Each of my men stood there in their uniform with the White Rose patch standing out prominently on their left sleeve, and I was dressed in my uniform with my Captains bars on my shoulders and the White Rose emblazoned under my name on my right breast pocket.
“Now Corporal if you really want to know what hell is like I have no doubt any one of my men would be more than willing to show you. Since I resigned my commission yesterday afternoon I'm more then willing to forgo your disrespect of me as an officer. However, I'm not sure you or your buddies there really want to try taking this to the next level,” I said.
“I heard you were all talk and no action. It seems what I heard is true,” the Marine said.
I drew back to hit this ass and he was laying on the floor.
“Corporal I suggest you take yourself back to base now. Let this go and it can stop without anyone getting hurt. Push it and you'll find yourself in the hospital along with your friends unless they're willing to stay out of it. The bad part for you Corporal is that if you do continue not only will you find yourself in the hospital you'll also be facing charges for conduct unbecoming a Marine,” I said.
“You really think I'm scared of you Captain Waters?” he said.
“Mac if you hit this ass again I'll see you find yourself in a hospital bed as well. That goes for all of you this ass insulted me not you. It's time he learn a few manners, but I would hate to damage this establishment so Corporal I ask if you really think you have enough to try me we step outside,” I said.
I walked out the door and knew this wasn't going to end until this man was in the hospital, I just hoped I didn't kill him.
He and his friends came out into the parking lot and started circling me trying to find a weakness even Mac hadn't been able to find. The two behind me came in reaching to grab my arms and went flying into the men on either side of me.
“If you men have even half a brain you'll stay down,” I said never taking my eyes off the Corporal that started this, thinking because of his size he could bad mouth anyone he chose. “Corporal I'm giving you one last chance to apologize and walk away. My men won't step in to help me, but they might to keep me from killing you.”
He had fear in his eyes, but rage in his demeanor. I hoped the fear would win out, but since he thus far seemed to think simply because he was twice my size he could intimidate me into backing down, feared it wouldn't.
“Corporal I do suggest you reconsider what you're doing here. I am Captain Waters of White Rose, and while a lot of what you may have heard about me likely as not is just stories there are very few people in this world that would dare challenge me in a combat situation and for very good reason,” I said.
“I ain't scared of you Captain Waters,” he said.
“I'm glad to hear that Corporal, but your eyes tell a different story, so which should I believe? There is no disgrace in walking away from a fight you have no hope of winning, but I will tell you now if you're stationed on this base with the hope of becoming special forces your hope is in vain since in the morning I will be calling General Wentworth and letting him know he has five Marines that were out looking for trouble tonight,” I said.
“I ain't scared of you Captain. I am worthy of special forces and if the only way I can be special forces now is by kicking your ass then we might as well get at it,” he said.
I couldn't believe what I was hearing from this fool. He knew who I was and no longer cared that he had no chance of winning against me. Mac and the rest of my men backed off forming a circle leaving me and the five Marines in the center. The four Marines I had already knocked off their feet were again standing and starting to circle me again.
I took a deep breath releasing it slowly lowering my head waiting for these fools to make their move.
“Sir, they're only kids,” Curtis said.
“They think they're men Curtis, and it isn't me who started this. If they want to act like fools I have no problem showing them what happens when they won't take an easy out when it's offered,” I said.
“Sam this is wrong we could walk away now, and these kids won't be broken up and worthless to the Marine Corp. If you don't walk away then you're as responsible as they are for what will happen,” Mac said.
“So you think I should just let them get away with calling you all a bunch of pussies, Mac?” I asked.
“We know the truth sir, that's all that really matters,” Mac said.
The corporal charged and I side stepped him wondering why everything seemed to slow down so much. Every move these Marines made looked exaggerated and in slow motion. Every advance they made seemed to take forever to take place. When he over committed I gave him a small push and watched him go sprawling scraping his knees on the gravel in the parking lot. The Marines with him tried rushing me even before he hit the ground. I caught the first in the solar plexus and sent him flying backward, stopping the charge of the others.
Kevin (my unit medic) was there with the man I hit almost before he hit the ground to make sure I hadn't killed him. The corporal was back on his feet still trying to recover from his spill, while the rest of the Marines were waiting to hear whether or not their friend was alive or dead.
I stood there knowing I hadn't hit the man hard enough to kill him, but with more than enough force to make his recovery very slow and painful. Curtis called the base telling them they were going to need to send medics if they didn't get here fast to get these foolish Marines that thought they could challenge the White Rose.
I spotted the flashing lights even before the sound of the sirens could be heard.
“Corporal as it stands right now one of your friends is going to have a painful recovery, it's going to take weeks for the scratches you have to heal and the MP's are on their way. I really hope this has gone as far as it needs to and you are willing to apologize to my men,” I said.
The fear that had been in his eyes was replaced with rage now. Even if I did try walking away there was no way this foolish kid was going to let it go.
He came at me again and I hit him in the ribs feeling two of them break from the force of the impact. He went down again this time the rage completely gone as he realized another hit like that and he'd be dead.
The Hidden Rose Page 75
