Crawford slid into the seat next to Melvin and leaned in. “Welcome back,” he whispered.
Melvin nodded. “Feels like I never left.”
“That’s the trick,” Marcus said. Then quieter. “You look rested, though.”
Melvin didn’t answer. Baxter clapped once. The room quieted fast.
“Alright, listen up,” Baxter said. “Shift in patrol assignments effective now. First Platoon heads to Fallujah for four days to support local IPs. Third Platoon perimeter and north gate overwatch through the week.”
Melvin straightened. So did Sergeant Bennett, already scribbling.
“LT Hayes. You’ll coordinate with Diaz on the handoff. Rotation starts tonight at zero-three-hundred. Be sharp.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Lieutenant Carter, XO duties stay stacked. You’re managing the new convoy teams. Expect longer hours.”
“Understood, sir.”
Melvin glanced at Mac long enough to catch it. The clenched jaw. The too-still hands. Nobody else would notice. But Melvin did.
“Dismissed.”
Chairs scraped. Boots shuffled. Soldiers filtered out.
Crawford stood but lingered. He looked between them. One at the front. One by the door.
“Y’all good?” he asked low.
Melvin blinked. “Yeah. Just back to work.”
Marcus nodded. “You need anything, I’m around. Both of you.”
Then he left.
The sun was already up, burning through the last of the morning chill across the motor pool as soldiers prepped vehicles for the afternoon route checks. Boots ground over the gravel while tools clanked against metal. The smell of grease and dust hung in the air.
Melvin was bent over a gear checklist at the hood of his Humvee. Mac stood a few feet away double-checking dispatch logs with aclipboard balanced in one hand. They didn’t speak much. Just that quiet rhythm they fell into when things felt normal.
Too normal.
Kessler’s voice cut in. “Productive trip?”
Melvin looked up.
Kessler stood nearby, arms crossed, expression neutral in the way only practiced men managed. Not quite friendly. Not quite confrontational.
Just watching.
Mac kept his eyes on the page. “Everything went as planned.”
Kessler nodded slowly. “You two come back tighter after leave,” he said, eyes on Melvin now. “It’s noticeable.”
Melvin straightened. “We’re squared away, Lieutenant.”
“Didn’t say you weren’t,” Kessler replied. “Just reminding you the rest of us are watching. Not everyone likes surprises in the chain of command.”
Mac glanced up long enough to lock eyes.
