Ryan looked alarmed. “Is she okay?”
“She broke her arm. I need--”
“Call the platoon Sergeant. Tell him I'll go getthe guys in Austin,” Ryan replied easily.
“You--”
“Don't. Just do it. I'll call Patrick and havehim bring my truck over,” Ryan said while he dialed. “Hey Patrick,we have an emergency. I need someone to bring me my truck. We're atthe Roadhouse. Yeah. Thanks.” He hung up and smiled at Phillip, whostared at him. “He's bringing my truck. Now call Sgt. Almonz andtell him I'll go get them. I'm not on call tonight. Alexander is,so our guys will be taken care of. And Staff Sergeant Veas won'thave to be called. I think his kid has a recital or something.”
Phillip nodded and called the Platoon Sergeantwho agreed. “Ryan, you're just….thanks.” Phillip leaned over andkissed Ryan gently. “Call me when you're back on post.”
“Will do.” Ryan said. He waved off Phillip, whogot into his truck. As far as first dates went this one kind ofsucked, but he was willing to help Phillip out.
Chapter Eleven
Patrick brought his truck and he was off. Oncehe made it to Austin it was easy to find the police station. Itwasn't odd for them to have to go and pick up the errantdrunk-assed soldier. He got there and waved to Paul. It was a sadfact that he was on a first name basis with the guy.
“Damn, Sgt. Gracin, want us to give ya adesk?”
“Hell no. Just give me my kids and I'll be outof your hair. Drunk driving?”
“Public intox.”
“Go figure.” Ryan sighed. When two of the newestguys were led out he sighed. “Not the best ‘hello’, guys,” he toldthem. He signed the paperwork and led them out to his truck.
Ryan called the platoon Sergeant and let himknow they were on their way in. Thirty minutes from post Phillipcalled.
“Hey, I can do this, ya know,” Ryan said by wayof answering.
“Didn't your momma teach you to say hi? Bad,bad manners, Sgt. Gracin.”
“I'm a bad, rude man.” Ryan grinned. “It wasSmith and Welson. They thought it would be fun to drink and thentake a walk. Nah, everything is cool; they have a fine to pay butotherwise it's good.”
“Yeah? Do you need me to meet youthere?”
“Taken care of. How's Miss Katie?”
“Clean break. Sore but not as bad as it couldhave been. Sandy says she's sorry for interrupting our date. She'llmake it up by making you the world’s best steak sandwich when youget back in. She's sticking around for a bit until we know howKatie's medication is going to affect her.”
Ryan heard a scuffle and then a soft, drawlingvoice came on the phone.
“Oh my god, Ryan...you don't mind if I callyou that right? Anyway, sorry about the whole interruption.Children are the world’s best cockblocks. .So...I totally owe you asandwich. When you’re done, come over to Phillip's. I'm not stayinglong, just long enough to make sure Katie doesn't have a badreaction to her pain meds...and the whole concussion thing...God,I'm really sorry.”
Ryan blinked and then laughed huskily. “It'scool, I swear. You must be Sandy.”
“Phillip! You didn't say he had a killervoice. He talks about you constantly. Phillip! You hit me againI'll kick your oversized ass.”
This had to be the weirdest conversation Ryanever had.
“Anyway I insisted you come over so I canfeed you. You have Phillip's address, right?”
He did. Phillip had given it to him on the slipof paper he slipped into his pocket. “Yeah. I'll be over in aboutan hour.”
“Alright, I'll have them made.”
The woman hung up on him. He smirked at himselfand whistled as he drove the two back.
Once back at the Enlisteds’ Barracks he signedthem in. “They are under house arrest. No drinking. No partying.And they don't go anywhere without Sgt. Grabowski's orders.”
