Page 22 of Metal & Mud

"That could have been painful," Parker commented, and Logan shrugged. "Did you sing?"

"No sir. I can, but wasn't in the mood," Logan said. "But one of the singers, she got booed by a trio of asshats at one of the tables. The girl blew it off, but it was pretty rude. So I went over to her, told her that I thought she sang well. She did, by the way."

Parker nodded. "Hmmm. And then?"

"The three guys pushed the issue," Logan continued. "Thought it'd be funny to come up to a girl after she'd already finished and tell her that her music and singing sucked. All three smelled like they'd had more beer than I had, but weren't falling down drunk. Just asshole drunk. When I told them to back off, one of them tried to get in my face. Wanted my name and rank, tried to flex on me. I told him fine, I wanted his in return and we could go talk to the IG about it."

Parker lifted an eyebrow. "Are you a barracks lawyer, Goodman?"

"No sir, but I know enough to understand I was off duty, this guy was in civvies too, and that we weren't doing anything related to our military status." Logan's jaw tightened with the memory. "Even if someone wanted to pin disrespecting an officer on me, I had a strong claim against him for sexual harassment, bullying, maybe conduct unbecoming. That last one would hurt his career a lot more than anything would damage mine."

Parker chuckled. "Continue."

"The trio backed off after my threat, and I thought that was the end of it. So I went back to my night, stuck around because the alley's a lot more interesting than the barracks on a Saturday night. I finished my burger and my beer, played a bit of pool. To be honest, sir, it felt good to not be called Hollywood for a few hours, or to have my failings described in detail."

"Are you saying Sergeant Adams is being too tough on you?" Parker asked, and Logan shook his head. "Good."

"Sergeant Adams and I have an understanding... I think," Logan said, recalling their conversation in the laundry room. "Sir, I hung out in the alley and stopped drinking around ten o'clock. I was steady and sober by the time I left. Then when I went outside, the guy was there, alone. And he wasn't sober, he'd still been drinking. Where he got the beer I don't know, but he tried to start some shit with me. I told him I didn't want any trouble, but he threw an empty beer bottle at me, and threw the first punch."

"You swear you did not throw the first punch?" Parker asked, his voice deep and intense. "Goodman, if you're lying, and I find out, the JAG Corps is going to be the least of your worries."

"On my personal honor sir, I didn't throw the first punch. I decked him in the solar plexus and tried to walk away. He then tried to jump me from behind and I hit out blindly..." Logan winced. "That was a low blow."

"I see now," Parker said, amused but also shaking his head. "You wounded more than his pride, you literally took his manhood."

"I didn't start anything, sir," Logan said, not proudly but not ashamed, either. "And no offense to you, I know you're an officer and that means something. But if I had to do it over, I'd have put him down again."

Logan knew he was hiding information. First and most importantly was Sabby. Defending her might have been okay, but having sex with her on top of a pool table wasn't. He didn't want to cost the girl her job because of one drunk stupid National Guard officer.

"Then where'd you go?" Parker asked. "The alley closes at eleven, you didn't get back for three hours. Where'd you go?"

"I walked, sir," Logan said. "Cooling off, you know? I wanted to just listen to my own damn head without any other influences for a bit."

Parker nodded. "Last question. The Guard lieutenant, you said he threw a beer bottle at you. Are you sure he was drunk?"

"He slurred his words, and the bottle he threw was a brown beer bottle. But I'm not a breathalyzer test." Logan took a deep breath. "So what now, sir?"

"Nothing, yet," Parker said. "Things are still informal since nobody at garrison HQ officially knows who you are. They called battalion because they're checking with all the units on post. Luckily it was caught while I was up there and my buddy pulled me aside. So I'll keep my ear out, see what develops. But if something formal comes, there could be an Article 15 involved."

Just the thought sent a shiver down Logan's spine. Loss of rank, pay, a stain on his record that would follow him for years.

"I understand, sir."

"Okay then," Parker said, sighing and rubbing a hand through his hair. "For now, get back to work. I'll see what I can work out. My unofficial opinion, you did the right thing. They leave it to me, and I'd give you a counseling statement that would stay within the platoon. But I can't say what others above my pay grade might want to do."

Logan saluted and returned to work, where Carter was about halfway through the checklist on the L-ATV. But before he could do much more than ask where the rag was to check the oil, Sergeant Adams came over. "I just heard."

"What can I say, Sergeant?" Logan asked, a knot forming in his stomach. "The guy was being a harassing dickhead. Rank or no rank."

Adams sighed, and looked down at the ground, shaking her head. "Jesus Hollywood, you're giving me gray hair, you know that?"

"I don't mean to, Sergeant," Logan said. "But I won't apologize for protecting myself. Or sticking up for someone being bullied."

Adams nodded, and took a deep breath. "Yeah well, you might have just set the record for the fastest fuckup of anyone in the company. So watch your ass from now on. You fart sideways and someone's going to be coming for your ass, and I'm not just talking about me."

As Adams walked away, Logan leaned against the L-ATV, rubbing at his head.

"So what happened?" Carter asked as he came around. "I've never seen Adams like that before."

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