Page 19 of Be With Me
Mooney nodded. “We know. Let Cassidy help you and I’ll be talking to your husband Monday.” They watched Cassidy lead the Johnsons out of the ballroom. Mooney turned to Debbie and started to apologize. “I am so sorry that you had to witness that tonight. I’m—”
Debbie raised a hand and stopped the word flow from Mooney’s lips. “You have nothing to apologize for. You handled the situation quickly and quietly without embarrassing that poor woman. I think I should be the one apologizing for jumping in where I didn’t belong.”
“Oh no. If I don’t have to apologize, neither do you. You gave her the support she needed,” Mooney said before teasing, “Exactly something a NCO’s wife would do.” That had Debbie laughing.
“Come on you luny. Dance with me.” Debbie lead him back onto the dance floor.
§ § §
Mooney wasn’t sure how many songs they had been dancing to after he’d had to deal with Johnson but as this one came to an end, Mooney whispered in Debbie’s ear, “Are you ready to leave?”
“God, yes. These shoes are now officially killing me.” Without pausing a beat, Mooney twined his fingers with Debbie and escorted her from the ballroom.
Mooney came to an abrupt stop when he heard his name being called. “Luna!” Damn it, it was the sergeant major. He turned to face the direction of his voice, still holding Debbie’s hand.
“Sergeant Major Dubbs,” he addressed the man as he approached. When Mooney saw Command Sergeant Major Hall right behind Dubbs, he sighed quietly. Shit, he really wanted to go spend some quiet time with Debbie.
“Staff Sergeant Rafe Luna, meet Command Sergeant Major Hall, Special Warfare Center,” Dubbs introduced them.
“Command Sergeant Major,” Mooney said with a nod. “May I present Miss Debra Hansen.” Debbie held out her hand and shook both the sergeant majors’ hands. “What can I do for you, sergeant major?”Look at him being all polite.
“I asked Rick to introduce us as I wanted to thank you,” Hall said.
“Sergeant major?” Mooney couldn’t figure out what he was being thanked for. He’d never met the man.
Hall chuckled. “I see I’ve stumped you. Not something that happens often from what I’ve been told. Your assistance in not allowing the Delta NCOs to hurt the soldiers during the incident at Sports USA was vital. Those two could’ve hurt them severely without breaking a sweat and knowing those two? They would’ve enjoyed doing so since they were protecting a woman.”
Ah, that’s what the sergeant major wanted to talk to him about. Mooney could feel Debbie’s eyes on him, trying to figure out why he hadn’t told her about the incident. “I would love to take all the credit, sergeant major, but the staff at Sports USA did have the situation under semi-control when myself and Specialist Cassidy arrived on the scene.” Look at him giving Cassidy some credit. The boy needed to know that someone had his back, even if he wasn’t there. Maybe it would get back to Top?
“Dubbs said you’d divert the attention from yourself and give credit,” Hall paused and seemed to be looking for something behind Mooney. The sergeant major whistled then called out “Downey” before turning back to them. “Benefits of the wreath and star. I’m hearing you’ll have them one day if you keep up how you’re going, Luna.”
“Sergeant Majors Hall and Dubbs.” Top came up next to Mooney.
“We were just talking to Luna here about the incident with the Delta soldiers. You were completely correct in that he deflected the attention off himself and gave a boost to the specialist.” The sergeant major reached into his pocket and pulled out a challenge coin. “I’m a man of my word.” He held the hand with the coin out to Top and shook his hand. Then reached back into his pocket and pulled out another, shaking Mooney’s hand giving him a coin.
“I see your curiosity, Miss Hansen,” Sergeant Major Dubbs said to Debbie.
“I am curious, Sergeant Major?” At his smile, Debbie continued, “I’ve learned quite a bit about military traditions this evening. Rafe has been guiding me along.”
“Jason just presented Luna and Downey with challenge coins that represent his command position with the Special Warfare Center. Each unit has their own unique design encompassing something in the unit’s heritage. We present them to soldiers…” He winked at Debbie. “…or spouses… that have shown outstanding efforts on behalf of the command, soldiers or family members. It’s a special way for us to acknowledge that we have noticed their actions without all the paperwork. And sometimes? We give them because we can.” He finished by removing a coin from his jacket and handed it to Debbie.
“I think we’ve kept these two long enough, don’t you think, Jason?” Dubbs slapped the sergeant major on his shoulder before saying to Top, “Interest you in a drink with us, Downey?”
“Lead the way, Sergeant Major,” Top responded.
“Oh I’ll leave that to our Pathfinder here. Jason?”
“On it. It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Hansen.” Hall nodded to Debbie before heading to the bar on the opposite side of the room with Top and Sergeant Major Dubbs in his wake.
Mooney let out a breath before turning to Debbie. “Okay, wow. Umm, coins aren’t given out lightly even though the sergeant major teased as he gave you yours.”
Debbie’s gaze snapped from her hand with the coin to his. “Is he going to get in trouble?”
He chuckled, looking at the Special Forces coin in his hand. “No, as he said, he can present them as he sees fit. You must have somehow impressed him. Now, we were on our way…”
“To the room to relax together,” Debbie finished.
“Sounds like the perfect ending to the night. As you wish.” Mooney lead the way to the elevator and their room. If he was hoping for something more? Who would blame him?
