Connelly and King came out and flankedGrabowski, staring at them all with unrelenting disgust.
For the first time in Ryan's life he didsomething no one expected. He broke ranks and joined Brendon on theground. Patrick followed closely behind and he was followed byKenneth. The four of them faced their platoon in a show of supportfor their battle buddy. No matter how fucked up Brendon was he wastheirs, therefore all the punishment he got they would taketoo.
The three cadres turned as one and watched thebattle buddies ready to suffer for each other. A small smile playedon Phillip 's face as he commanded them to get up.
“Maybe there's hope,” Phillip said, looking atthe others. “The four of you will report to me tomorrow morning forextra PT. You broke rank from a formation,” he said, as hedismissed them to go back into the formation.
***
That night, all four men lay in their bedsthinking about the days’ events. Brendon had cried when he gotback. Ryan sat on Brendon's bunk and tried to console him but therewas nothing doing.
“My father was right, you know. I'm nothing buta fuck-up. He told me when I joined that I'd be nothing more than abig fat loser who couldn't hack it,” Brendon sobbed.
Patrick sighed and looked at the boy. “Well,fuck him too, Brendon. You don't need that shit any more. You gotus.”
Somehow in the space of two weeks the four hadforged a bond. It wasn't like the bond they had made with theirfriends in high school. It was deeper, stronger, one that wouldlast the test of time.
Ryan nodded. “I joined in the middle of mysophomore year in college,” he offered. “I finally told my parentsI was gay. They didn't take it well and yanked my support. So mychoices were to drop out of college and get a job at a fast foodjoint or join the military and get my degree that way. Here I am.”He said it quietly, waiting for the explosion. When it never came,he was grateful for the friends he had picked.
Kenneth just smiled. “I joined because I'm MajorRobert Roslin's son and I fucking hate the old man. I decidedinstead of being an officer I was going to be an enlisted man andgive my father the finger as we march past,” he admitted. “That andI didn't want to hear how I fucking got promoted because of who mydaddy was. I know I let y'all think I was all about Daddy, but notreally. I don't get why I did that the first day.”
Patrick looked at Kenneth. “You were scared.It's easy to fall back onto the things we know when we'rescared.”
“What's your story, Patrick?” Brendon asked,quietly.
“It was either stay, kill my father and go toprison, or join the military. I chose the military. Killing in thename of your country is better than killing your father because hewas an abusive bastard.”
“You’re gay, Ryan?” Brendon asked.
“Yeah.” He sighed, waiting for Brendon to saysomething stupid.
“That's cool. At least Kenneth and Patrick won'thave to fight with you over the girls. I think you'd win.”
Everyone looked at Brendon and then burst intolaughter.
“LIGHTS OUT!”
The men sighed and turned out the lights. A fewminutes after the lights dimmed soft sobbing could be heard fromBrendon's bed. No one said anything but if they were to check theother three men, they would’ve found their eyes were as wet asBrendon's.
***
The next morning all four battle buddies wentout to the exercise field and met SSG. Phillip Grabowski. He seemedslightly different today. For one, he was dressed in PT clothingand Ryan thought there wasn't another man who filled out theclothing more perfectly. And, two, he was actually grinning.
“So, Gandhi, Rosy-Ass, Furry and Freckles, youshowed up. Color me impressed,” Phillip said.
He began to lead them through stretchingexercises. Once he figured they were warmed up enough he took themon a short run. It wasn't nearly as bad as Ryan thought it wasgoing to be. At the end of the run they walked for a bit.
“What you four did was what I wanted the wholeplatoon to do,” Phillip said, suddenly. “I'm proud of the fact thatyou four actually realized that the man next to you is dependent onyou for their survival.” He stopped, causing all four to stop withhim. “Now, head back to the barracks and get dressed. The Platoonwill be back in forty-five minutes. Blouse your sleeves today. It'sgoing to be hot as a motherfucker.” With that said he took off backtoward the area where the platoon was out and shouting about'Liking and loving it.'
All four men blinked in surprise, and none ofthem talked on the way back to their bay.
***
Everyone was standing in formation when DrillSergeant Grabowski called them to attention. “Toad, front andcenter!”
Justin looked around but quickly did as he wastold. He stood in front of Phillip and frowned when the Drillcalled Ryan up with them.
“After last nights’ piss poor performance andthe inability to control your squad you’re demoted. Freckles,you're the new squad leader.” He ripped off the band aroundJustin's arm and fastened it onto Ryan's. “Dismissed.”
