by Kris Jacen
His brain finally engaged and Carter tried to open his eyes. Tried to answer… the first sergeant? What happened? He remembered pacing and trying to remember… Audie Murphy? Audie would be so disappointed in him. He hadn’t defended himself at all. He was a failure.
“May? Come on, answer me,” Redmond demanded.
“Top?” Carter finally got out. He hurt everywhere. He needed to remember what happened.
“Yeah, what happened to you? I’ve seen MMA fighters look better after a fight.” Carter tried to sit up but Redmond stopped him. “Oh no, you don’t. You aren’t moving anywhere until cleared by Doc.”
“Doc Mac’s here?” Why was Doc Mac here? He should be in North Carolina with Top Glenn.
“Doc Mac? Don’t know who that is. Doc Temple’s on his way.” Carter heard someone enter the… bathroom? Felt like tile under him.
“Top? MPs on their way. Wanted to let you know ahead though there was some sergeant major observing them today.” Carter wasn’t sure who was talking but why would the MPs be coming. He was hurt; he needed a medic and some Tylenol, not a cop.
“Son of a bitch. What’s my luck that it’s not Sergeant Major Luna?” Top was mumbling. “Thank you, private.”
Carter drifted a bit, waiting for the doc to arrive. Christ, he hoped he’d get here fast. This fucking hurt. He could tell there were several people in the room with him but he was too battered to care. Suddenly a voice broke through the haze.
“Carter! Someone better tell me the fucking details right fucking now!” Why was Mooney here and could he please stop yelling?
“Mooney,” Carter groaned.
“What the fuck happened?” Mooney demanded.
Carter heard the first sergeant start swearing under his breath. “Knew my luck wasn’t that fucking good,” he paused before continuing, “Sergeant Major Luna, I’d like to say it’s good to see you again but not under these circumstances.”
“Want to fill me the fuck in?” Mooney asked. Oh yeah, Carter never wanted to hear that tone toward him… ever.
“Sergeant Major, I’m not disrespecting you at all as I say this. Please back off and let me get my soldier taken care of. I understand you have a friendship with May but I don’t answer to you. I need to get him under the care of the doc and brief my sergeant major and commander. You are welcome to accompany me to that or go with May.” Wow, Carter was impressed by the control the first sergeant showed.
Carter could hear Mooney breathing hard before he spoke. “Apologies, First Sergeant. Yes, I do have a friendship with May and seeing him like— shit. Has anyone called Siah?”
“Eeerggghhhh…” Carter wasn’t sure what that sound was that he just made but he needed their attention. “Noooo…”
“Carter? What?” He felt Mooney kneel down next to him. “What do you want?”
“Don’t call. Send someone… wife, Randolph… no phone, please,” Carter begged.
“I’ve got it.” Mooney squeezed his hand. “First Sergeant, if you have no objection, I’ll call my wife and have her go notify May’s partner?”
There was a pause before Redmond answered Mooney, “That would be helpful, Sergeant Major. I don’t know that we have contact information for his partner but it sounds like Randolph does. He’s on a detail today that I can’t pull him from.”
“I’ll call Debs and have her bring Siah to… where?”
“The quick triage I did suggests that he’s going to need some stitches, has a concussion definitely and maybe some broken ribs? Think Doc will have him sent to Walter Reed’s ER for evaluation.”
“Debs will get Siah there. May, don’t worry. No phone calls for Siah,” Mooney assured him so Carter relaxed back onto the floor and passed out again.
§ § § §
Today was going good. The kids were all listening and were really interested in the module they were doing on wind speed and distance. Hopefully the weather would be good next week or they’d be throwing footballs in the hall.
Before Siah could call the kids’ attention back to him from their reading, a knock sounded at the door and Mr. Flowers was standing in the opening.
“Excuse me, Mr. Kent, please step out into the hall for a minute,” Mr. Flowers said. “Children, continue your reading quietly. I’ll have the door open to observe.”
Siah couldn’t think of anything that had happened that would require Mr. Flowers to pull him out of the classroom. What was going on? When Siah got into the hallway, he was surprised to see Debbie standing there. He turned to look at Mr. Flowers but before he could say anything, the principal cut him off.
“Mrs. Luna has some immediate information for you.” He nodded at Debbie.
“Siah, Luny was over doing an inspection on Myer-Henderson Hall when a call came in for the Old Guard area. He figured he’d observe how the patrol answered the situation. When he got there, Luny was shocked. They found a soldier beaten on the floor of the bathroom near the conference room.”
“Did Carter stop the attack or something? Why are you here?” Siah couldn’t figure out why Debbie was telling him all this. Carter would tell him about it tonight.
“No, Siah,” Debbie paused and looked away, chewing on her bottom lip. “Carter was the one attacked.”
Siah couldn’t have heard Debbie right. Carter was doing the Audie Murphy thing today. He’d helped Carter study endlessly last night. No matter what Siah said, Carter didn’t believe him— Not rambling time.
“Uhhh, he— what?” Siah knew he needed to get his shit together and now.
“Carter was attacked and he is being brought to Walter Reed,” Debbie answered.
He took a few breaths before turning to his principal. “Sir? I know this is out of the normal but I need to leave immediately.” Siah barely waited for his response before he rushed into the classroom to grab his bag.
“Mister Kent? I don’t understand—” one of the girls in the class started to ask Siah a question but he cut her off.
“Mandy and everyone else. Mister Flowers will have someone in here to supervise for the rest of the day. Please make notes of any questions on what you’re currently reading and we’ll review them tomorrow. Your homework is listed on the board.” Siah grabbed his bag and jacket off his chair and walked back out into the hall.
Siah slipped into his coat and turned to Mr. Flowers. “Thank you, sir.”
“Let me know how he’s doing, Siah. He made a good impression on the children and staff last spring.” Siah nodded to the principal and turned to Debbie.
“Take me to Carter.”
Chapter Nineteen
Not one place on Carter didn’t hurt. Okay, maybe his big toe didn’t hurt but that might be it. He didn’t remember much after Mooney promised him Debbie would notify Siah. He vaguely remembered Mooney in the ambulance with him but he wasn’t 100 percent. Could have made it up.
“Sergeant May? You have a visitor. A Josiah Kent?” a nurse asked from next to him.
“Siah. Please?” Carter mumbled.
“Oh Carter, what happened and whose ass am I kicking?” That was his Siah. Small but fierce. Carter held out his hand for Siah.
“Please?”
“What do you need? Mooney’s in the waiting room with Debbie. Said that Wells, Tank and Randolph are on their way and the MPs need a statement from you.”
“Bright.” Why were lights so bright in hospitals?
“You want the lights dimmed?” He saw Siah look around before he reached for a button. When a nurse appeared, Siah said, “Can the lights be dimmed in here? He said they’re too bright.”
“Yes, sir. The doctor needs to review the CAT scan and the X-rays before anything else can be done or we can give him anything for pain but I can dim the lights.”
“Thank you.” The lights dimmed and Carter sighed. “Better?”
“Much. Tell the guys to go home.” They didn’t need to come here. He was fine. “Tell Mooney and Debbie to go have dinner with their boys.”
“Debbie
already said she was going to leave soon to get the boys but wanted to make sure I didn’t have any problems getting to you. Like I would let anyone stop me.” Siah rolled his eyes which made Carter chuckle then suck in a breath.
“Don’t make me laugh. Hurts.”
“I’m sorry. Mooney told me that I’m supposed to call your first sergeant as soon as I know what’s going on with you. I guess they had a run in?”
“I’m not sure. Remember Mooney going all drill sergeant on Top and Top impressing me but nothing specific?”
“Can you tell me what happened?” Siah pulled over a stool and sat down, never letting go of Carter’s hand.
“I don’t really remember. I remember pacing in front of the conference room then I… went to check my uniform? Pushed open a door then… No name tape and a shemagh… A lesson maybe? Don’t deserve a uniform? Gotta protect my head. Fucking hurts,” Carter broke down in tears. He could feel Siah pull him onto his side, wrapping him in his arms.
Something started beeping erratically. Carter didn’t know what it was but he hoped Siah would stop it.
“What’s wrong with Sergeant May?” a voice demanded.
“He remembered some of what happened. Please get the sergeant major from the waiting room,” Siah demanded. “And shut that off.” The beeping stopped then Carter heard Mooney.
“What’s wrong, Siah?” Mooney asked not long after.
“Carter’s remembering. You said the MPs needed to talk to him? You’re an MP, can’t you just ask the questions?”
“I can’t be objective so I can’t take a statement. Whatever happened, we need this done above reproach and by the book. I think I scared the MP first sergeant today. She’s here personally to take the statement. Let me go get her.” Carter heard Mooney walk away.
“Siah? Please don’t leave me,” Carter asked.
“I’m not going fucking anywhere until you do and even then? You’re coming home to my condo.”
“Sergeant May?” a female voice asked from the curtain.
Carter turned his head and looked toward the voice. A quick glance showed him the MP on her shoulder and a diamond. “First Sergeant?”
“First Sergeant Holland. Sergeant Major Luna said you remembered what happened?” she asked politely as she entered the exam area.
“I guess? I don’t know. I remember pacing in front of the conference room then I think I went to check my uniform. I remember pushing open the door…and going flying into the counter then to the floor. Looked into the mirror when he pulled my head back and saw no name tape and a shemagh. Then I remember hearing him say something about a lesson, not deserving a uniform and something not fucking likely. Thinking I had to protect my head.” Carter’s breathing was erratic when he finished.
“Do you remember seeing anything different? Hear them say anything else?” It was obvious she wanted Carter to remember without her prompting something.
“Them? No, it was only one guy. He kicked me in the side.” Carter knew there was only one. Something was trying to come to mind but he couldn’t think much more passed the pain.
“Okay, Sergeant. I’m going to give my contact information to your friend here. If you remember anything else, please contact me. Sergeant Major Luna, I’m sure he’s going to be following our investigation on this. And I know for a fact your first sergeant, captain and battalion command are quite… interested in our outcome.” The first sergeant handed Siah a card, nodded at them and left the area.
“You rest now. I’ll be here.” Siah leaned over and kissed his forehead. “By the way? When you’re healed from this? Yeah, you’ll be joining me at the academy for some training. No way I’m letting you get hurt like this when I can help prevent it.”
Carter thought about that for a minute and then nodded. “You’re right. I always thought now that I was bigger, and in the Army, that I could defend myself.”
“I’ll go update Mooney and the guys and be right back. You close your eyes.”
§ § § §
Siah stepped outside the curtain and paused, taking a few deep breaths. Oh yeah, he needed to meditate before he went off on someone. He didn’t remember Carter saying anything about having issues but apparently he was and Siah wanted blood.
Christ, if he was like this and could get to Carter when he was hurt, what would he do if Carter deployed and got hurt? Something for Siah to think about. If they moved forward, could he handle a deployment? What about moving every few years and losing his seniority? Finding a new school to teach at repeatedly? Deeper thinking than he had the time or energy for right now.
He pulled it together and walked out to the waiting room. It took him a minute to locate Mooney and the guys. The waiting room as a bit full. As he got closer, Wells looked up and smacked Randolph on the arm. They all stood up and surrounded him. Siah leaned his head against the closest shoulder. He wasn’t sure who it belonged to, he wasn’t sure he really cared. He just needed the strength right now.
“He going to be okay?” Tank asked.
“They’re still waiting for the doctor to review the tests and haven’t been able to give him any pain meds. I don’t know if they’ll want to keep him yet. He remembered some and talked to the MP first sergeant.”
“Who the fuck did this?” Randolph was pissed, Siah could hear it in his voice without even looking at him.
“I asked the same thing. I want blood too.” Siah held out a hand to Randolph. “Ranny, we can’t do anything.”
“Fuck that shit! I’m kicking someone’s ass. And I bet I know exactly where to start.” Randolph started to move away but stopped sharply when Mooney spoke.
“Stand down, specialist. As much as I’d like to let you go with your instincts and go handle this, I can’t let you. Siah is correct. We, and I do mean we, me included, can’t do anything. The MPs are extremely competent here and will get to the bottom of this. Of that I have no doubt.”
“You don’t understand, Sergeant Maj—” Randolph was going to try and argue this. Oh that couldn’t be good.
“Oh I understand better than you think. You remind me of my heptad. We’ve been together for way too many years to mention and have kicked a lot of ass for each other. I need you to listen to me and Siah and just let things proceed. If, and only if, nothing is handled in a timely manner? I’ll let you go all cowboy justice with my blessing. But considering I scared the MP first sergeant today while doing an inspection and I was the first on scene and not her? Oh yeah, I can guarantee she wants to do this to the book as fast as possible because that would mean I would finally leave her alone.” Mooney was smiling a wicked grin when he finished.
“Why do I have a feeling that isn’t a good grin?” Wells asked.
“Would you appreciate a sergeant watching over your shoulder? Questioning every move you made?” Mooney shot back.
“Yeah, I don’t think so.” Wells was shaking his head.
Randolph was almost vibrating as he stood there listening. “Fine, I’m going to wait. For now. But if someone isn’t held responsible fucking quickly? I’m not holding back.”
“Something that no one has taken into consideration? This was done by a coward,” Mooney said. “Knowing the psychological profile of people who act in this manner, I can guarantee with a high degree of certainty that he’s not going to keep his mouth shut. This seems to be a personal attack against Carter so he probably knows his attacker. Eventually he’s not going to be able to not brag about what he did. I’d suggest keeping your ears open and if you hear anything, anything at all, report it to your first sergeant and captain immediately. Don’t do anything yourself. Bringing it to command’s attention can have bigger consequences than you kicking the guy’s ass, even though that would give you more satisfaction.”
Siah looked at the guys and Mooney. How did he and Carter get so lucky? A few months ago, Siah had a few acquaintances but now he had a circle that would be there for him whatever he needed. Just as that thought came to mind, he was grabbed from behi
nd. As he braced to react, he looked down at the arms around him and realized he knew who was holding him. Bree moved around and into his arms; Barbie and Jack were right behind her.
“Looks like your reinforcements have arrived. I’m going to go home and update Debbie. Anyone have any questions before I leave?” Mooney asked.
“What’s a shemagh?” Siah asked.
“It’s like a scarf we wear over in the desert for protection,” Mooney answered. “Anything else?”
Tank started to raise his hand then lowered it and asked, “Yeah, what’s a heptad?”
Chapter Twenty
It took five hours before they let Siah take Carter home. Since his uniform had been taken into evidence, Tank had run out and grabbed him some— what Tank called PT gear— looked like shorts, T-shirt and flip-flops to Siah. Actually, the T-shirt looked pretty comfortable. Siah might have to have Carter grab him one. There’d been time for Siah to let his thoughts go while he sat there, good thing he didn’t go anywhere without his iPad. He even got some grading done.
The doctor had wanted to observe Carter for the concussion. He’d talked about wanting to do another CAT scan if Carter showed signs of something. Siah wasn’t too sure what he’d talked about. Yes, Siah had a master’s degree but he wasn’t up on all the intricacies of the brain. Sue him.
Whatever they were monitoring, Carter must have passed because they finally gave him some pain meds and let Siah help him into the PTs. It’d been at least another hour before all the paperwork was processed to discharge him. As they got out to the waiting room, Siah pulled out his phone to order an über.
“Who are you calling?” The question had Siah spinning around. Randolph was standing there, looking like shit.
“Why are you still here? I told you to leave with the others when Tank got back.” Siah looked over to where the orderly had Carter in a wheelchair.
“We knew Sergeant Major’s wife brought you over and Carter’s car is back at the battery so we decided one of us needed to stay to drive you home.” Randolph shrugged as he finished.
