Page 52 of Metal & Mud

Sabby laughed, and sipped her own wine. "Don't worry, his tongue's also more than adequate."

Jess rolled her eyes. "Bitch you did not find a guy with dick who can also go down on you right, did you?"

"And he can flick the bean like a champ," Sabby said smugly. "Face it Jess, I got me a triple threat."

Jess smiled, shaking her head at her sister's luck. "Yeah, but still... dick. Ewwwwww."

They both laid back, laughing. Sometimes, laughing about dick was more therapeutic than anything a doctor could provide.

* * *

24

LOGAN

"So you really want this to be your last thing?" Sergeant Nichols asked as he and the rest of the squad approached the front doors of the bowling alley. "All the shit you could do you want to spend it hanging out with our stinky asses?"

"Yeah." Bron shrugged. "Gonna miss you guys. This paperwork is nothing compared to knowing I won't see your dumb faces every day."

Logan clapped Bron on the shoulder. Bron had been relatively quiet most of the week when he'd been around. Logan guessed it wasn't like he was trying to be reserved or pull away, but more like the compact bruiser of a man didn't quite know how to put into words the emotions he was feeling.

He could understand. He didn't really know what to say to the man, having only known him a few weeks compared to everyone else. But when Bron said in the morning that he'd like to skip work in the afternoon and hang out with the squad, Sergeant Nichols took it to heart. A quick conversation with Lieutenant Parker later, and suddenly Sergeant Nichols had managed to get their training excused for the afternoon.

Logan wasn't going to argue. It was a hell of a lot better than painting the walls of the barracks, which was what they had been doing. He was thrilled to escape the pointless task of painting the already pristine barracks walls. He'd much rather be bowling, especially since Sabby would be there.

Opening the door, Logan wondered how he'd act around Sabby. The topic of her and him being a couple had never been discussed with the rest of the squad, and he wasn't sure if they knew about it. He'd consciously avoided discussing Sabby on duty, he didn't want to put Sergeant Adams in a bind.

Hell, he didn't even allow himself to think of her as Jess Adams when he was on duty. So this was going to be new for him, being in uniform while his girlfriend and his fire team leader were in the same room, and the rest of the squad was present.

"Uhm, got a minute Sarge?" he asked her as the rest of the squad reached the door. "A question."

"Sure," Adams answered, waving the others on. "We'll catch up. Grab me some shoes, would you? I'm an eight women's." When they were alone, she turned to Logan. "What's up?"

"Uhm, how do you want to handle Sabby being on shift behind the counter?" Logan asked. "I don't want to put you on the spot."

Adams inhaled, then exhaled. "Obviously Nichols knows about it, but I feel you," she said. "Okay, here's what we'll do. I'll go in, avoid Sabby. You go get your shoes, and when she gives them to you, you be the good boyfriend and apologize, explain the situation. Nobody'll say anything about me ignoring her, I'm a bitch on duty, remember?"

"You're not a bitch," Logan said.

Adams smiled. "Awww."

"You're that bitch," Logan finished, and Adams laughed hard.

"Damn right I am." She punched him lightly in the shoulder. "Come on, let's go bowl."

But inside the bowling alley, there was already a situation. Instead of getting their shoes or picking out balls for their lanes, the squad was gathered by the counter. Sabby was there too, and while Logan was initially happy to see her, the look on her face told him that something was up.

He quickly saw what it was. In the cafe area, near where the karaoke stage was normally setup, was a group of officers in their blue service uniforms. The 'dress blues,' as Logan's old drill sergeant called it, was actually a pretty decent looking uniform, and Logan liked it more than the green service uniform. But he knew the 'blues' were only for ceremonial occasions, and doubted he'd wear his more than one or two times a year.

The officers looked like they were having a party, and as Logan approached, he could hear Sabby explaining to Sergeant Nichols what was going on. "...I put up a sign on the door saying the alley was reserved, but..."

"Come on Sabby, you know nobody reads signs," Nichols said teasingly. "Okay then, so what's the schedule?"

"Well, they're supposed to have their party wrapped up in the next half hour or so," Sabby said. "I know you guys were looking to hang out with Bron here, but maybe..."

"I thought I rented this place exclusively," an officer in blue interrupted them, approaching the counter. "What are... oh. You."

Logan looked, and saw that it was now-Captain Ambush, as he thought of him. He was looking at them with disdain and a little bit of anger in his face, his eyes mostly on Sergeant Adams, who was obviously easy to pick out.

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