Mike and the reporter

The morning dew was on the leaves, the flowers were beginning to bloom as Mike walked into the courtyard that Saturday morning.  He had no idea how the events about to unfold could or would ever affect him in the future.

 

People were pulling in and exiting their cars the long lines meant there was going to be a big audience for this event he was going to have to be awesome today.  So many people brought about added pressure and then he saw the cameras.

 

He hated the damn cameras they always meant stupid questions from ill mannered reporters who were there to either bring others down or make him look like a fool.  He snapped out of it, straightened up his uniform “Let’s go troops.  Look alive we got a job to do.” he snapped walking toward the small mass of soldiers.  “Knock off the grab ass or pay the consequences.” He barked as they came to attention.

 

He led them silently into their positions one group at a time, the pall bearers, the honor guard, the firing squad.  He walked back into position his boots shining from the early sunlight as the dew glistened on his high polished boots.  He watched impatiently wanting to get this over with he hated the big crowds and even more the tears.

 

The ceremony went off without a hitch, the well trained squads did their job brilliantly and Mike didn’t cry went he presented the flag to the widow.  She was a small woman with baby blue eyes and golden blonde locks.  It tore him up inside but, he had to avoid the tears.  “No emotions, Mike damn you.” He said to himself deep inside. 

 

He had saluted said his lines presented the honor flag and walked away.  It happened as fast as he fought to overcome the emotional tugs at his heart.  The soldier he just buried was only 23, leaving behind a young widow with a set of twins on the way. 

 

There was no other family on his side; the soldier was an orphan who grew up in the foster care programs throughout many states.  The long crowds were mostly well wishers who wanted to pay their respects for a local woman’s dead soldier.  Flags and Veterans were there shaking hands afterwards with everyone.

 

Mike was standing off by himself as the emotions began to rage inside him.  The anger and frustration of these deaths was killing him inside.  He felt like he was becoming soft, after all these years the hardened soldier was going soft. “Shit.” he mumbled.

 

“Thanks Sergeant that’s the nicest way anyone has talked to me in months.” the female voice said politely.  Mike turned around and there she was a 5’8”, curvy brunette with blazing brown eyes that burned through Mike’s hardened soul.  “My apologies, Ma’am   How may I be of service?” he tried to regain himself.

 

He braced himself for another round of stupid and arrogant questions from the reporter ignoring his attraction to her.  She ran through several normal questions he usually gets then, she asked him one he never expected.  “Sergeant, do you cry after each funeral?” she said with a tearful look in her beautiful brown eyes.  “I’m sorry Ma’am?” he asked coyly.  “You heard me Sergeant.  Off the record, do you always cry afterward?  Please tell me the truth.” she was really crying tears running down her cheeks now.

 

Mike couldn’t help himself he reached up and wiped away a tear as she moved back from him.  “Ma’am you ok?” “Yes, will you answer my question please?”  Mike stood there for a minute watching his troops load onto the bus to head back to the duty office. “Yes.” he walked away handing her his handkerchief as he left.

 

“Thanks.”

 

The ride back to the office was rather quiet for all the troops.  Something wasn’t quite right as Mike was usually yelling orders about cleaning weapons, taking care of uniforms and the like.  He never made a sound as he sat staring at the floor the entire hour ride back to the offices a single tear soaking into his uniform staining it as he wept.

 

After all of his duties were done for the afternoon and all the troops had departed for the barracks Mike settled into his desk.  He sat there for a while just looking at pictures of lost brothers he once knew.  The ones who were gone for him now, died on some foreign soil in a place he couldn’t pronounce if he wanted to.  The silence was deafening.

 

“Sergeant Thomas.” the silence was broken.

 

“Sir?” he replied getting up from his desk his arthritic knees tugging at him as he walked.

 

Captain Taylor was sitting at the conference room table as Mike walked in.  “Sit, Mike.” he said calmly.  Mike sat in compliance like the good old soldier he was.  “Mike, some of your guys said you were crying on the bus are you ok?” the captain asked knowing the answer already.  The funerals were taking their toll on the entire crew.

 

“Yes, sir.” Mike got up to leave.  He didn’t want to talk about this now.

 

“Your not dismissed Sergeant Thomas.” the Captain ordered in a gruff tone.  “Now sit down.”  Mike complied regrettably.

 

They chatted about what was going on and how hard it was like two buddies at a bar would discuss their family troubles.  There was just something different in the way Mike was dealing with this issue this time around.  He finally broke down.

 

“She was pregnant with twins.  And then the reporter began crying when she spoke to Me.” he just blurted out uncontrollably as he wept.

 

“I know Mike but, you have to let this go.  It will ruin you if you don’t.  You already know that don’t you?  What was the reporter’s name?”

 

“I don’t know. I don’t think she ever gave it to me.” Mike replied wiping the tears away.

 

“What did she look like, Mike?” the captain asked with an obvious intent.

 

Mike spent the next 5 minutes describing her, what she looked like, what she was wearing, where she walked to and from while he saw her.  The captain sat quietly and looked at Mike.

 

“Mike that sounds like Lt. Pike’s sister.  She was a reporter somewhere.” the captain said.

 

Mike turned and got up walking into his office slamming the door behind him.  The captain didn’t even try to stop or follow him.  If this was true Mike was going to have to deal with this one alone.

 

Mike sat at his desk and opened the bottom drawer pulling out the full bottle of Jack he hadn’t opened.  He never wanted another drink till now the memories of Lt. Pike flashing in his head.  The screams of pain, the blood, the begging to be killed to ease his pain Mike began sobbing again as he opened the seal on the new bottle.

 

An hour later he had the bottle lying on the floor empty as he stood looking at clippings in a plain manila folder.  The headlines read “Sergeant cleared in death of Officer in local crash.” Mike dropped to the floor as his door opened.

 

“Sergeant Thomas no one was at the desk out front.”  She stopped in mid sentence as she saw him tear stained and stinking drunk.  “Was it true?  Are you still drinking? You bastard!” he screamed as the captain rushed in.

 

“Miss Can I help you? Why are you in here these offices are off limits to the press.” he said coldly trying to protect his Sergeant.

 

“Yeah, the Army takes care of its own right?” she said slapping the captain’s face.

 

“Stop.” Mike mumbled.  “It wasn’t his fault.  I was driving.”

 

That stopped her in her tracks she stood there staring at Sergeant Thomas.  “Did I hear you right?  You were driving my brother?  Did you kill him? You son of a bitch?”

 

Mike fell onto the floor all the way passed out.

 

The captain picked Mike up and put him on the couch.  “Mike didn’t kill your brother.  Mike only had a shot of whiskey all night.  Your brother wanted to drive home drunk and Mike stopped him by driving him.”

“Why did you cover it up?” she asked.

 

“There was no cover up.  They told you Mike was driving and he was.  Your brother died of his injuries as Mike laid there listening to him unable to get to him as your brother bled out and begged for his life.  Mike was pinned under the steering wheel.  The semi-that hit them was driven by a driver that fell asleep.”

 

She sat down next to Mike on the couch, wiping his tears from his cheek.  “Why didn’t he just tell our family?” she asked.

 

“He couldn’t bear telling you how he was unable to save him.  Mike was dying inside trying to fight the pain inside.  When they got him out from under the steering wheel he had only a couple of scratches while your brother was dead.  It didn’t even want to go near the funeral.” The captain said quietly as a tear ran down his cheek.

 

She sat with Mike the rest of the night after they moved him to his quarters at the NCOs barracks.  She kept putting her hand on his face to make sure he was breathing.  Mike was out cold but, he was barely breathing.  Suddenly he started panting hard and twitching; she thought it was a seizure. 

 

Mike screamed out. “NO!  Help him not me damn you! Get him out first!”

 

“Shhh it’s going to be ok Mike.  Lie still now and rest he’s better now I promise you. Please rest now.” she said softly as she kissed Mike’s cheek.

 

When Mike woke up in the morning she was sleeping on the couch his head in her lap.  Her hand on his forehead holding onto the damp washcloth she used to cool his head.  “Miss, Ma’am are you ok?” he asked as he got up from her lap and kneeled on the floor in front of her unable to look her in the eyes.

 

“Mike, its ok I know all about the truth now.  The captain told me I am so sorry you had to keep that inside you for so long.” she said wiping the tears and tired from her eyes.

 

Mike got up quickly and snapped.  “You need to leave please; I have to be at work in an hour and I need to get ready.” As he walked into the bathroom slamming the door.

 

When he got down with his shower and shave she was gone all he found was a business card with a note on the back.  “I’m Victoria Pike 555-3434, is my private cell phone number call me please we need to talk.”  “Shit.” he mumbled.  “Now what have you gotten into Mike?”

 

He went on about his day when he got to the office no one said anything and the bottle was still on the floor next to his desk empty and open.  The half finished glass left where he sat it down before he fell to the floor.  He dumped into the plant behind his desk like he always does.

 

“Sergeant Thomas if you are going to feed my plant whiskey could you at least buy it some dinner first?” Specialist Timmons asked.

“What do you want so early in the morning can’t you see me and the plant had a late night of partying.” he replied trying to blow it off.

 

“Sure you take it out and get it drunk and I have to live with its moody behavior after you never call again, thanks a lot.” she laughed.

 

“Fine, Timmons.  Now get out of my office and take your plant with you.” he sniped.

 

Captain Taylor called out again but at about half the volume as usual knowing the now hung over Sergeant deserved a break.  “Sergeant Thomas, would you come into my office?” 

 

“Yes sir, I’m on my way. He replied his head pounding at normal loud response to the request.  “Shit.” he mumbled again.

 

He walked into the Captains’ office and stood at attention saluting.  “Sergeant Thomas reporting as ordered Sir.”

 

“Sit down Mike.  Damn.” with a quick salute.

 

Mike sat and they went through the usual scheduling issues and reporting about how the detail went the day before.  They discussed his absence from PT that morning and how the captain would hope that wouldn’t happen again. 

 

“It looks bad Mike after you yell at them every Monday morning.”  Mike nodded in agreement.

 

They moved onto to more pressing matters regarding the upcoming funeral details and who would be scheduled to attend.  Mike liked the team he had in place but, the captain thought maybe they needed a break.

 

“They are tough Captain they can handle this stuff after what they have been through it might seem like a respite.  A way to say goodbye for them to those they didn’t have time to do it for when they were over there.” Mike responded.

 

The captain nodded and moved on when they finished Mike went to his office and finished his day like always.  Yelling at the troops, inspecting things, filing out paperwork after all a soldier’s work is never done.  He kept thinking about Victoria throughout the day and ignoring the thought of calling her.

 

What could I possibly say to her about what happened after driving it from my mind?  How do I ignore the questions and try to put it out of my head if I call her?  These questions kept nagging at him the rest of the day into the evening and all night long.

 

 

 He didn’t sleep well that night thinking about her and the questions she must have for him. How much she must hate him for not calling a cab at the very least instead of driving her brother home at all.  What the hell was I thinking?  He kept asking himself inside his head the thought repeating all night long.

 

He called her the next morning early waking her up, “Hello Mike, its 5 am I don’t have to do P.T.” she said with a giggle wondering why he called so early.  “I know but, I need to see you can you meet me for breakfast somewhere?”  She invited him to her place for breakfast he hated the idea of intruding her residence with this issue looming on his and her mind but, he went along.

 

He arrived by 0700 wearing his uniform as he still had to go to work that day but, had called the captain explaining what he was going to do.  “Mike, your overdressed.” she snickered as she opened the door still in her robes her hair done perfectly as he had seen the day before make up on and all.  “Sorry, I have to be at work in a while but, I thought we should talk.”

 

She led him into the kitchen and sat him at the bar as he poured him some coffee pointing out the sugar and cream on the counter next to him.  “Shit.” he stammered under his breath.  “I’m sorry you don’t like my civilian creamer Mike.” she giggled at him flipping her head slightly away from him.

 

“It’s not the creamer.  I have to ask you if you have any questions about your brother?” he stammered in a different softer tone than usual a tear ran down his cheeks. She wiped it away for him, “Not now maybe later ok?” she replied handing him some eggs, bacon and biscuits covered in gravy.  “Here’s the hot sauce, sarge.” as she slid the hot sauce bottle to him.  “Thanks.”

 

They sat quietly eating breakfast, drinking their coffee all the while he wanted to talk to her not knowing how to talk to her.  How to tell her he wanted to bring her brother back, if he could he most definitely would have.  “I’m so sorry.” he said quietly.

 

“Mike, its ok.” she replied wiping a tear from his eye and one from hers.

 

They continued to sit quietly till his cell phone began ringing.  “Sergeant Thomas.” he answered in his normal voice like nothing was wrong. “Yes sir, I will be right in.” he said as he stroked her cheek before walking out the phone still pressed to his ear. “I got it.” was all she heard as he drove away.

 

The next time she saw Mike it was six months later and she was just devastated.  “Oh, Mike I wish I had told you how I felt that day.” was all she said talking to his flag draped coffin.  “I loved you too.”