LaFiamma? A Marine?
By Etch
Part Six
Lundy was sleeping and R.G. was leaning against the wall when Lucia walked in with news about Joey being injured. She motioned R.G. to come to the door, but when the chick was beyond the mother hen's touch, Levon was immediately awake.
"What's going on?" The blond detective asked sleepily. "Joe okay." Looking at Lucia's tear streaked face, Levon already knew the answer. "How bad?" he asked quietly, pulling himself to a sitting position.
"I ... I don't know. I was in the Emergency Room when the chopper was taking off from the Marriott on its way here. They said an officer had been injured and asked for Doctor Baker. Patient's name... LaFiamma." Lucia sniffled, walking into the room, to the table next to Levon's bed for some tissue.
"Oh, Levon!" She wailed, sitting on the edge of his bed. For the second time that day, Levon found himself comforting one of his partner's lovers. The blond had the feeling that if Joe walked in the room, he wouldn't like what he was seeing one bit.
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"Okay, boss, I'm done with the butt," Warsaw said standing. Looking around the room, he asked, "where's LaFiamma?"
"God ... Pollock, don't you know what just went down here?" Cardinal shouted, totally frustrated with what had happened this morning.
"When I'm concentrating on a job, the world could explode and I wouldn't know about it until I'm done. Why ... what happened?"
Wolf looked at Hummer than back to Warsaw. "Smith attacked Handsome, the medics took him to the hospital. The military police took Smith away. Hummer's in hot water because his job was to protect LaFiamma... and he didn't. General Butterfield ordered us to finish Paddock."
"Well," Jon began, "now is the time to get your frustrations out. Make this man hard so I can finish up what Handsome gave me to do."
"Hummer? Aren't you going to join in?" Jonathan asked, turning to watch Cardinal and Wolf pinch, prod, bite and lick. "Just make him hard enough so I can dust him lightly with this red, no wash-off, no wear-off ink that Mrs. Riley brought."
Instructing Hummer to get a bath towel, Warsaw asked Cardinal and Wolf to each hold a side, telling them to be very careful because this red ink would be on them for life. Then kneeling in front of Paddock, Jonathon cautiously unscrewed the cap and lifted the small brush out of the bottle. Ever so lightly he tapped the brush allowing the red ink to gently splatter over the cock. Taking the brush, he began to make an intricate design around and across the head.
Even Parsley was intrigued by the delicate brush strokes, sweeping here and there around the cock, until Warsaw words sunk into him. "No! Nooo! What are you doing?" Paddock muttered, struggling against his restraints. "You ... you can't do this! Every time I go in someone they will think...! Nooo!"
"What's the matter? The sight of blood that don't wash off bother you?" Cardinal chided, moving away from the man.
Wolf folded up the towel and tossed it onto the round table as he walked to the door. He stood silently at the door as the MP's took off Paddock's restraints, handcuffed the man and asked for his clothes. When the military police were told he was delivered that way, they instructed Hummer to look through Smith's clothes for some pants.
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Wolf, Warsaw and Cardinal paced in the hallway outside the Presidential Suite. They each had had their turn with General Butterfield and Admiral English. Now they feared for Hummer, who was alone with the two officers. Loud, angry voices could be heard coming from behind the double doors.
Hummer heard the words that were assailing him, but what he saw was his Major flat out on the floor ... lifeless. He'd never failed him before, never.
"I blew it," Hummer mumbled through a trembling lip. "I-I'm used to combat ... not this. I never figured Smith would... I've never failed LaFiamma before. Never! I just blew it." Jake Hummerstein replied, grabbing onto his hands to keep them from shaking.
Admiral English gently took Jake by the shoulders.
"Ever since he pulled me out of that muck field in Cuba, I've never failed seeing an attack that was coming his way. Never failed to alert him when I saw he was going to be blind-sided. He's the best officer I've ever served under...." Hummer rasped his voice trembling.
"You're still his protector, son. None of us can protect each other one hundred percent. It's just not possible. Major LaFiamma misjudged Smith; we all did. If you had been closer Smith might have gotten you too." English said quietly.
"I'd rather it was me, sir. LaFiamma's been through hell because of Smith. There were times when we would see Smith walking toward the barracks and everyone would hide. And the Captain, Sir... the Major... LaFiamma would meet him at the door and say that everyone was out. And... and Smith would... would take him and he'd go in our place. Sometimes he'd come back bleeding... sometimes he wouldn't come back till morning, and we'd stay up all night worrying about him. I-I don't know what you're going to do with Smith ... but I hope you put him in a hole and throw away the key."
"Would you like to be permanently assigned to Major LaFiamma?" General Butterfield asked quietly, aghast at the revelation that was being confided to him and English.
"It is a decision that we are contemplating. That you and Shadow be permanently assigned to him. That decision hasn't been made yet. LaFiamma's experiences, how he deals with people, his aptitude for staying alive ... we need that expertise. His knowledge may keep another Marine alive. If two weeks out of every year is all we can get, than I want to make sure he is around to be there." Butterfield said evenly, looking into the hurt filled eyes of Master Sergeant Jake Hummerstein.
"I'm not sure LaFiamma will appreciate us baby-sitting him, Sir." Hummer ventured.
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In a corner of the Recovery Room, Joey LaFiamma slowly regained his senses casually blinking his eyes to get accustomed to the subdued lighting. He had an eerie feeling that he was back on board the carrier and that all his remembrances of Lundy and Houston were just a dream. When a nurse touched his shoulder and addressed him as Major LaFiamma he began to relax. When Smith had shoved him, Joe had had the awful feeling that the whole thing was a setup. A setup to get him back into Smith's bed for life.
"Hey, Doctor Who," LaFiamma's gravely voice croaked, "the lighting gave me a scare ... thought we were back on board for a minute."
"I had a feeling you might have a flashback to that, so put you off to the side. Maybe that wasn't a good idea," Baker who was still in surgical scrubs replied. "How you feeling?"
"Like I was run over by a truck. Make that a couple of trucks. Ribs hurt ... what happened?" Joey rasped sleepily.
"Smith hit you, shoving that mike you were wearing into your ribs right about here," the former Navy doctor answered, lightly touching the middle of Joe's chest. "Took some doing to get it out but..."
"BUT... I hate those buts, doc."
"But ... that was the easy part. The toughest part is yet to come. You've got a bruise forming, about the size of my hand. It spreads across your ribs on both sides. Your rib muscles, tendon took the brunt of the force." Doctor Baker explained, again lightly touching Joe's chest so the man could feel the extent of his injury.
"You're telling me," Joey whispered, a half smile on his sleepy face, "that it's going to hurt to turn around ... hurt to breath ... hurt to move my arms. Can't you give me any good news?"
"Good news is your physical health kept your ribs from breaking, and you're alive. You got nine Marines and half the cops in the city pacing the floor upstairs bugging the nurses to death about your condition."
"You still got contacts in the Navy, Doc?"
"Some, why?"
"Don't know. Just this gut feeling that this whole operation wasn't on the up-and-up. General Butterfield or whoever he is doesn't always answer to being called Butterfield. Admiral English, I remember meeting him. Just don't want my Marines to get in trouble over some Intelligence fiasco, know what I mean?"
"I'll check it out, Joe. We get enough military personnel through here for me to see know some people. I noticed too, that one of the men with General Butterfield called him by another name when they were alone. I know a couple of people I can call. Go back to sleep, we'll be moving you back upstairs soon."
Walking to the Recovery Room nurses station, Doctor Who overhead several nurses talking about LaFiamma, wondering what kind of macho Marine he must be to have designs tattooed on his penis. Baker set them straight, immediately, informing them just how those designs came about.
Doctor Baker looked at the male and female nurses standing around him, "Don't ever make fun or pre-judge anyone until you know where they have walked! I was Chief Medical Officer on the carrier he was deposited on. That man went through hell and was barely alive when he was found. He still limps because of how they had him tied down. And as much as he'd like to forget about what happened ... every time he steps out of the shower he has a reminder that someone hated him enough to disfigure him that way."
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Marines and Houston cops hurdled in the hallway and in Sergeant Levon Lundy's hospital room waiting for word on their fallen comrade. Levon had heard three different accounts of what went down at the Marriott and still he wasn't sure if he knew. The Texan didn't know if the group ostracized Hummer for failing to keep Joe from being hit or if it was self-imposed. But as the Marine stood by himself just inside the door, the detective was keenly aware of the pain the man felt, because he had felt that same pain himself.
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"Damn, Levon," Sergeant Estaban Gutierrez groused, pacing, "it's been five hours since they brought Joe in. They should know something by now."
Suddenly Wolf, growled, "I can't just stand around here not knowing anything! I'm going for a walk. All I see is him - laying on the floor bleeding. I got to get out of here."
"I know... it's my fault. I never failed to warn him before. I just ... just didn't see it coming. Didn't think Smith would go after him." Hummer wailed choking back the tears.
For the first time since they arrived Wolf and Shadow were aware of the pain their fellow Marine was in, deep pain. "It wasn't your fault, Hummer." They said in unison quickly walking to his side. "None of us expected Smith to go after him."
"I - I'm used to combat. Not this... man ... he's not ever going to forgive me," Hummer moaned sorrowfully.
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Hummer leaned against the wall staring at the figure on the bed in front of him. Joseph A. LaFiamma, Major, USMC, lay sleeping under tented sheets, small thin plastic oxygen tubes going into his nose.
[Oh, god, sir, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!] Hummer's pain was acute. In combat he would have known what to do ... how to react. But this morning, in the hotel, never in his wildest dreams would he have thought General Smith would go after LaFiamma. [This man pulled me out of muck when I was trapped up to my waist. Never a thought that we both could lose. He's told me I did great when I was really lousy. Oh god, sir, forgive me, forgive me!]
When Doctor Baker had come into Lundy's room and explained Joe's injury, Hummer had almost lost it. The mike taped to LaFiamma's chest had been pushed through the skin and had become lodged between his fourth and fifth rib. It had taken some delicate surgery to get the pieces and the wire out. Baker gave no indication as to how long Joe would be in the hospital. What hurt Hummer the most was the explanation of the pain LaFiamma was going to be feeling as he recovered -- his ribs, chest muscles, tendons were badly bruised by the blow. Every time he turned, or raised his arms he was going to be in pain. It would be a long time before he was out running again, or weight lifting.
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Joey became aware of someone in the room, and he knew it wasn't Levon. Levon wouldn't have been allowed up yet. Half opening his eyes against the soft light above him, LaFiamma was surprised to see Hummer leaning up against the wall opposite his bed.
"Hummer?" Joey rasped fighting to become more aware, seeing the distress his Marine was under. "You all right? Anybody else hurt?"
"Oh god, Sir!" Hummerstein wailed, walking to the end of the hospital bed. "I'm sorry. I am. I ... I was suppose to protect you. I was suppose to ... forgive me, please forgive me!"
"Jake!" Joey rasped sternly his throat raw from anesthetic. Joey watched Hummer's face change, he had probably only called him by his given name once before.
"There is nothing to forgive. You did your job. None of us knew what was going down. We were going in blind. Don't let this tear you up, please." Joey pleaded, holding his hand out to the man.
Hummer grabbed hold of the hand and hung on, using his foot to bring the hard-backed chair next to the bed. Placing Joe's hand against his tear-streaked cheek, Jake continued his ramblings. "I love you so much, sir. Ever since you pulled me out of that muck in Cuba. You risked your own life to save me. Nobody's ever done that before. The way you hugged me when I was free. That ... that was the first time in my life I was ever hugged. My parents ... nobody in my family ever touched each other. I haven't even been kissed. Not ever ... by anyone."
Joey momentarily closed his eyes, letting all that Hummer was telling him sink into his foggy drugged brain. [The harem is growing. A virgin yet. Who would have guessed.]
"I know I'm far down on the list of those who love you ... of those who have already shared your bed. And ... I don't care if I ever get that far ... just don't send me away. Butterfield wants Shadow and I to be permanently assigned to you. I know Shadow is head over heels in love with you. Has been ever since you took him to your bed on that fiasco in Brazil. He said ... he said it was so wonderful that ... that he's been celibate ever since because he said nothing would compare to those two nights."
"Celibate? He's had no one ... man or woman?" [Harem makes what ... Levon, Lucia, R.G., and Hummer, now Shadow? I ain't plumbed for this.]
"I know he's had offers. He's turned them all done."
"You are wonderful, Jake Hummerstein. Truly wonderful," Joey replied softly, fighting to stay awake. Staring up at his hand still plastered to the side of Hummer's face, Joey slowly, cautiously, moved his fingers down to Jake's mouth. Tenderly Italian fingers stroked across the bottom lip. As Hummer's mouth dropped open, those fingers reached inside to stroke the tongue. "Kiss me, Jake," Joey whispered huskily. "Please, I've wanted you for a long time. Never thought you liked me. Just a kiss, please."
Keeping his arms to his side so he won't hurt Joe, Hummer moved forward drawn by the desire burning inside him. LaFiamma's hand moved from the face to the black curly head of hair, forcing the lips he had so long desired closer. Finally capturing the willing wanting open mouth of Jake Hummerstein, LaFiamma's tongue found its mark and began the assault. Jake's first kiss was intense as Joe's tongue gently stroked the roof of Hummer's mouth, played tag with the man's tongue, teasingly attacked the gums. Jake's whole body quivered. His legs jerked. Moans of pleasure escaped through the corners of his mouth. [Shadow's right. There's nothing like it. Nothing at all.]
A noise in the hall alerted Joe, and he relinquished the mouth he had desired. Smiling to himself, he watched Hummer slide out of the chair and onto the floor. He hoped those that entered the room didn't smell the semen that floated in the air.
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The smell of hot coffee woke the Texan. [Another day in the damn hospital.] He hated hospitals. And this time was worse because his partner was also a patient and he couldn't see him, nor get any information about him.
Hummer huddled with Shadow in the hall outside Lundy's door. The Texan could just make them out. The blond had never seen Hummer so excited. He was surprised when Shadow started laughing and pulled the bigger man in for a hug. Suddenly Levon felt the odd man out. I'm the one that is going to be standing in line, he thought. [Hummer, R.G., Lucia, Shadow, me. How many others are out there?]
Levon turned back to the half open door. He thought he had heard Joe's voice, but knew that was impossible. Still he saw the surprised faces of Shadow and Hummer as they came to attention, saluting whoever it was that was outside the door.
"LaFiamma! What the hell you doing out of bed?" Levon roared as his partner edge slowly into the room, closing the door behind him.
"Coming to see you, what else!" Joey answered with a grin.
Levon watched his partner, his lover move. He could see pain and love in Joe's eyes, and he knew their love was strong in spite of everything that had gone down of the last few days. "You don't have to be here," Levon remarked, touched to the core that his partner would make the effort to be here.
"The doctor know you're here?"
"Told the nurses I was coming with or without their help. Know you been asking questions about me. Had to see you. Let you know I'm okay." Joey said through gritted teeth.
"You don't look okay. Fact you look like you're going to pass out any second. HUMMER!"
Jake Hummerstein burst through the door with such force that the door bounced back against his shoulder. "Sir?"
"LaFiamma got a wheelchair out there? Get it."
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Three days later, Levon was discharged, ordered home on medical leave. He had heard Hummer and R.G. discussing Shadow's role or non-role in Smith's room. The group knew that any other officer would have turned Shadow in for not pulling his weight. No one knew why the Major hadn't asked to see Shadow since the man had been ordered out of Smith's suite.
"Did you ever think?" Levon asked Shadow as he was getting this things together to leave, "that LaFiamma may be wondering why you haven't stopped to see him. Why you're mad at HIM?"
"You mean he thinks... I just left? But, Hummer told him that Butterfield wants us to be assigned here."
"Maybe he thinks you refused, because you haven't been in to see him. He's asked about you."
"He has?"
"If you and Hummer are going to be staying, the first thing you better do is get a bomb detail and thoroughly check out that house Smith gave him. I mean, we had it checked, but your guys are so much better. I'm sure he'll want to move in there when he is discharged." Levon could see Shadow's brain start to work. He thought about asking the man his real name but then figured against it. Like Wolf, maybe he couldn't remember.
"Thanks! Thanks a lot!" Shadow exclaimed, pumping Levon's hand in gratitude. "We won't get in your way. We know ... you're his man."
"Listen boy, I learned long time ago, that nobody owns LaFiamma. He's his own man. He'll have us when he wants us, however he wants us. And we ... I love him enough to take whatever he dishes out. I never figured I'd be standing in line behind a bunch of Marines to have a piece of him ... but if that's what I got to do, I aim to do it."
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Joey was steadying himself against the bathroom doorframe when Shadow quietly entered his room. Immediately the Italian's keen sense of smell, the familiarity of the footsteps told him who it was. "Shadow? You back in town?"
"Never left, Sir. Thought you were mad at me. Didn't dare show my face for fear..."
"Help me, would you?" Joe rasped cutting the man short. "Thought I could do this on my own ... but hurts too much... need to use the john - and shower."
For the next thirty minutes, Samuel "Shadow" Jones, from Poughkeepsie, New York, bathed the man he loved. Soaping him, rinsing him, washing his hair. As the water was turned off, Joey leaned against his caregiver, basting in the warm heat of the shower.
"Thank you. It's nice to be taken care of once in a while." Joey whispered, pressing his wet flesh and especially his hard-on against Shadow's wet skin.
Sam's eyes widen his mouth dropped open, when the Major's penis rubbed against his thigh.
"May I take care of it, Sir?" Sam Jones asked huskily, "I've waited so long to have it again."
"Don't think I can take it, Sam. I want it, but not sure I can..." the words caught in the Italian's throat as Samuel dropped to his knees and took his Major's cock into his mouth. Joe leaned back against the now cold wet tile wall, letting his mind wander, thinking of nothing but the pleasure of the moment.
When he finished, Shadow stood up, a smile on his face from ear to ear. "Guess you got a new job for a while, Shower Man," Joey said, kissing him, sucking some of his own semen into his mouth. "You do good work. I'll need help at home for a while too. You up to it?"
"All I want is you, Sir. Any way I can get it."
Joe smiled, pulling Shadow to him, inflicting on him the famous LaFiamma French kiss. The kiss that melted men and women to the floor. The kiss that lit a fire of desire and passion within that person the likes of which they had never before experienced.
Still naked, Joe opened the bathroom door and called for Hummer, who appeared seconds later saying he would be glad to help. Shadow went unnoticed at first, yet no question was asked about why he was in the position he was in, Hummer knew. There was no resistance when Joey touched Hummer's lips and asked for a kiss. Jake was willing, eager to somehow consummate more of their relationship. As the kiss progressed, Joe unzipped Jake's pants and pulled out the man's penis, working it with his hand. Jake was tipsy when their mouths broke apart. All he could do was nod, when his Major asked to suck him off. Joe stripped Hummer's trousers off, using the man for leverage as he went to his knees. Joe swallowed Jake's cock bits at a time, finally pushing him downward onto the toilet seat. Just as Hummer started to come, Joe's mouth released the penis, then using his hands Major LaFiamma masturbated his new lover, and watched the semen make oily circles in the toilet.
Finding his pajamas, Joey slowly put them on, and stepped out of the bathroom. Looking around the hospital room, he hoped he would be able to convince Doctor Baker to release him. He was almost to the bed when R.G. entered the room.
"Sir, are you suppose to be up?"
"Just had a shower, R.G. Felt great. Only trouble is ... now I got a hard-on big as a horse. " Joey watched R.G. look around the room, and he didn't offer any explanation as to where the other two Marines were.
"I'll take it, Sir. It'd be my pleasure to be impaled on your sword," Renegade offered eagerly.
"My need is bad to be inside ... but hurt too much to even try," Joey replied groaning, his hands gripping the footboard. How was he ever going to make it once he got home?
"Don't have to do anything, sir. Just sit ... I'll do the rest." R.G. replied excitedly, already kicking off his shoes as he unbuckled his belt.
Joe stared at the man's giddy grin. [Hell, maybe I am plumbed for five.] LaFiamma allowed R.G. to slip off his pajama bottoms, and gently seat him on the edge of the bed. Joey watched with anticipation while his sergeant lathered the enlarged cock with lotion. The tattoo glittered in the sunlight coming through the window. The Italian let out a soft moan when Renegade spread his buns and slowly impaled himself.
"Ohgod, Reggeee..." Joey moaned slipping his arms around the man's waist. Then must to R.G.'s surprise, his Major moved with the quickness of a lioness on the hunt, and he found himself face down on the bed. "R.G., R.G., R.G, where have you been? God, I've missed you. Missed all of you." Joe's mouth, tongue, sucked on the tanned back, shoulder, and neck under him, raising hickeys that would last a week.
"Better get into the bathroom and clean up, before someone comes in and see what naughty little boys we are," Joe remarked softly, slowly withdrawing his spent cock from the ass that had been offered to him.
"R.G ... thanks for taking the job at the house ... being gardener, and all," Major LaFiamma said, slipping into his pajama bottoms.
"I'm honored to be asked, Sir. You don't have to pay me ... not with that little apartment and all."
"I'll pay you two ways," Joe said with a grin. "This way," pointing to his crotch, "and this way," rubbing his fingers together. "You got to have money too. Tell the boys, when you find them to stay here. Got something important they need to do."
Joey casually walked to the door of his hospital room as R.G. walked to the bathroom. Sex always did revive him. It was the juice he'd needed all along, better than any vitamin. Emerging from the sunny room into the artificiality light hall, the Marine-detective spotted Doctor Baker. Joe called, "Hey, Doc, when can I blow this pop stand?"
Baker looked at his patient ... barefoot, his open pajama top tied around his waist. "How'd your hair get wet?" The surgeon asked walking toward Joe.
"Took a shower! Getting' bored lying in that bed. So ... when can I go home?"
"Found out some things about our man Butterfield, " Baker said softly, touching Joe's shoulder and steering him back to his room. "You were right. His name is not Butterfield. It's Littleton. He's now in charge of the Marine special units. Because of Smith, recruitment has been down, and when they started questioning people about why they weren't interested they heard about how Smith used his men, and about a certain video he used to keep who he wanted in line."
The three Marines in LaFiamma's hospital room were in several stages of dress when they heard voices outside the door. Quickly they pulled their clothes on and were relatively decent when the door opened and Baker and their Major walked in.
"Gentlemen? You decent?" Joey asked with a smirk and he walked into the room followed by Doctor Baker.
"Hummer, how many Marines are still in town?" LaFiamma asked.
"Ah ... ones still in the Corps, you mean? Once we all knew you were going to be okay ... and Smith's house was cleared - most made arrangements to fly back. Except for Shadow and I. General Butterfield told us we were going to be assigned to you. Though we told him we didn't think you'd care to have Marines watching over you while doing your police work."
"Well, General Butterfield is not who he says he is. Have either of you talked to your base commanders since I was hurt?" Joey questioned, despairing at their nods of no. "I want you both to call your base commanders right now. DON'T give your name! Use my name to get through to them. When you are sure you are talking to them ... then give them your name and rank. Tell them some officer by the name of General Littleton told you to stay in Houston until orders came through for you, but so far nothing had, and you were getting worried. Worried maybe your name might be on an AWOL list because you hadn't reported back."
"AWOL LIST!" The two choked
"One of you can use this phone, and there is an empty room across the hall. You do have the 800 numbers for your bases, don't you? Good. The last thing I want to do is lose my two best sergeants to some ding-a-ling general in naval intelligence. GO!"
Joey paced back and forth in front of the window half-listening to Hummer's conversation. The pacing stopped dead when he heard the telephone number Jake gave to his Base Commander.
First Sergeant Jake Hummerstein hung up the phone, his hand shaking.
"Well?" Baker and LaFiamma asked at once.
"No orders have come through for me," Hummer replied slowly turning, his face ashen. "If I hadn't reported in by today, I would have been reported AWOL. He's going to check on this General Littleton and this phone number and get back to me. I ... I told him I could be reached through you."
"MAJOR!" Shadow screamed bursting into the room. "Soon as I gave my name, the guy said they were tracing the call and I'd be arrested within the day. I've ... been on the AWOL list for a week!"
Joey looked from one to the other then walked around Hummer to answer the ringing phone.
"Major LaFiamma. Yeah. Okay. Got another problem. My second Marine here just found out his base put him on their AWOL a week ago. The same day General Smith put me in the hospital." Joey listened intently, turning toward Sam Jones, he said, "Shadow, give me the number of your commander...the one you just talked to."
Hanging up the phone, Joe's hand went to his side. Doctor Baker watched as Hummer and Shadow immediately were at his side telling him he shouldn't be up.
"Got things to do gentlemen. One of them is to get Shadow out of this hospital before the MP's start crawling through it looking for him."
"Hummer, that number you gave your commander ... did General Butterfield give that to you?"
"Yes. He said if we had any problems to call that number ... why?"
"Because that is a Special Ops number. I used it when I was in the Corps. I'm surprised they haven't changed it. Let's just try our own little diversion here. ...R.G., go down the hall somewhere and call Lundy, don't use the same room Shadow did. They might think you're him. Ask Levon to send Estaban and Joe-Bill here on the double, him to if he's back on duty."
"What if he asks what it's about?"
"Tell him the place is crawling with military police. The phones are tapped, and Joe needs a safe haven for the harem."
"Harem?"
"I don't have time to explain code words, Renegade, now do it!"
"Well, Doc, can you get me discharged from this place?"
"On my way."
Joey waited until Doctor Baker had left the room before reaching for the phone and dialing the number he knew by heart. His two Marines exchanged worried glances.
Joey counted the rings, then the clicks, when the silence started he said. "LaFiamma. Major. Takes two to Tango. Gentlemen, you want me at Quanto you damn well better get my two Marines off the AWOL list! Houston is my territory, Littleton! You come looking for them or me without the proper paperwork, and you'll be cooling your heels in a Texas jail. I want them out with the same package you gave me. They are part of my team. You want me as part of your new training ... then you'd better make arrangements to have them there too...or no deal. I know a couple of lawyers in town that would love to take you on. She has... and she has won!!" With that said, Joe dropped the phone onto the receiver knowing the man or woman on the other end would be saying some words because of the loudness of the receiver falling.
"You better find me some clothes boys, I don't want to leave the hospital in these pajamas."
"Got 'em right here, Joe," Lundy replied walking into the room. "Jeans, shirt, socks, underwear, boots. MP's have been showing Shadow's picture around town all day. Joanne's put every cop in Houston on alert. We all know he's been here with you all week. Figured it was some kind of set up. Also got yellow police tape across your driveway, with an old bomb trailer we don't use any more. Think you can walk through the woods from my place to yours?"
"Yeah, partner. With a little help, I think I can. How about getting me out of here?"
"Got your signed papers right here," Levon answered, waving hospital papers in his partner's face.
"Hummer, the house is safe? You swept the entire house ... under beds, closets, dressers, the works?"
"Under the beds, sir?"
"UNDER THE BEDS! Like Smith's waterbed ... AND that platform bed in the master bedroom. I don't want to lay down and be blown up." Joe could tell by their looks that it hadn't occurred to them to sweep the house. "When is the last time you turkeys did a sweep? You check everything inside the front door remember ... now get on the phone while I get dressed, and have a team on standby! "
Joey stripped naked in front of his harem and began to dress without looking at any of them.
Levon watched the two Marines and R.G., their eyes were glued to Joey, and their tongues were hanging to the floor. It took the Texan a second or two to realize he was probably staring the same way.
"So, is Handsome's Harem ready? Okay, cowboy ... to my apartment. That will be our headquarters until we know Smith's house is livable. For all we know, the whole place may be full of traps. Gerald stopped by yesterday and said he'd found out some information about the house that we needed to know before moving in. God, it will be good to sleep in my own bed tonight."
THE END