Pandemonium broke out. Men, women and childrenwere on their feet screaming and yelling themselves hoarse.
He still sat though. He didn't want to tirehimself until he could actually see Ryan. So he sat, yelling at thetop of his lungs.
Sandy and Katie were behind him doing enoughyelling that the whole crowd could disappear and it would stillsound like a million people were cheering.
The Color Guard stood in front and slowly thesoldiers began to march forward. The Stands were gonna bust. Peoplewere standing, pounding and in general making more noise than at a‘Dallas Cowboys’ football game. Phillip slowly stood, leaningheavily on the cane that he’d brought with him.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I'm going to keep thisshort and sweet. We're back. I had the greatest pleasure servingwith each and every one of these men. I would do so again in aheartbeat. Charlie Troop!”
“DISMISSED!”
“SCOUTS, LEAD THE WAY!”
Etta James's smooth, sexy voice filled thearea.
At last, my love has come along. My lonelydays are over and life is like a song.
Patrick helped Phillip walk towards the platoon.Phillip smiled when he heard Tory's loud, shrill shriek.
“Alexander!!”
He watched as the woman ran toward her husbandand threw herself into his waiting arms. There was something to besaid for that first hug and kiss. It was like falling in love allover again.
He looked around and still hadn't seen Ryan.This time he was the one chewing on his lips.
Oh, yeah, at last the skies above are blue.My heart was wrapped up in clovers…
He blinked as he scanned every single soldier.Where the fuck was Ryan?
He felt Patrick hit him on the shoulder. Helooked up at the guy and saw he was pointing.
The night I looked at you I found a dreamthat I could speak to. A dream that I can call my own I found athrill to rest my cheek to. A thrill that I have never known.
Phillip's hazel eyes fell upon the sight he hadbeen dreaming about since he said good-bye to Ryan after hisR&R. . . His gaze gobbled the other man up. He stoodstock-still, leaning on his cane. He couldn't move. Ryan was rightin front of him. It was slow motion. It was poetry. It was everysingle, fucking, sappy thing he ever heard about. He started tocry.
Oh, yeah when you smile, you smile…Oh, andthen the spell was cast
A slow, happy smile began toblossom on Ryan's face. Phillip slowly began to walk toward him.Ryan began to move too. He dropped his duffel bag and slowly,inches at a time they met until they were a breath apart. Phillip'shand came up and caressed the whiskered, rough cheek of his lover.Ryan leaned into the touch.
“I love you, Ryan,” Phillip said, his voicerough with emotion.
“I love you too, Phillip,” Ryan replied.
Their lips met and for a split second everythingin the world was right. Everyone else disappeared. They were theonly two that existed in the world.
And here we are in heaven For you aremine…At last
Epilogue
Carol Harris blew her bangs out of her face. Shewas told shakedown sucked and she was starting to believe it. Theyhadn't met all of their Drill Sergeants yet but she knew it wascoming.
So far she had been able to control herself,mostly because the Drills themselves were scarier than hell.
Drill Sergeant Krutz called them to attention.Something was going on. She thought maybe that Drill SergeantGrabowski was coming. They had all been warned about him. He wascrazy as hell. She worried her bottom lip when she heard a doorslam open.
She heard him before she saw him.
Soft rocks crunched under sure footsteps and sheknew it was someone important. She looked forward and prayed thatthe guy wouldn't look like Igor. But she almost prayed he did. Itwould otherwise upset her belief in the delicate balance of justiceand injustice.
