Spots: No One Expects

A Web Serial by M.C.A. Hogarth

57. Boss.	59. I See What You Did There.

58. No One Expects

Two days later. Base Office. Peaches and Gunny are both at desks, going through paperwork.

"I know I shouldn't be asking... but what do you think of him, Gunny?"

"The new lieutenant?"

"Yeah."

"That would be talking, ma'am."

Peaches narrows her eyes, taps a finger on her desk. Then: "Gunny?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"How would you characterize the condition and morale of our relief forces?"

Unseen by Peaches, Gunny grins. His voice shows no sign of it, though. "Despite their recent defeat, they're holding together well. Their training sessions and patrols show consistency and discipline."

"So even though they should be slacking off or coming apart, they're not."

"Yes, ma'am."

"That's... a little weird, isn't it? Have the medical personnel said anything? The chaplain? Anyone using the counseling service?"

"I haven't seen any reports of them utilizing any of those services, ma'am."

Peaches frowns, thinking. "Any advice?"

"Ma'am?"

Peaches. "They just got decimated, Gunny, and I think I'm only off by a few people when I use that word to describe what happened to them. Their previous base didn't have any staffers offering support services like this. At least one or two of them should be seeking counseling. Right?"

"We're talking about only twenty people or so, ma'am. That's a pretty small sample size. Maybe they're all emotional hardcases."

Peaches. "Maybe. You sure you don't want to tell me anything about the new LT?"

Gunny. "That would be talking. If I may, ma'am... why are you asking?"

Peaches. "Because I'm about to take him to see the Fiddler and I want to know if I'm about to walk into an emotional IED."

Gunny hesitates. Then says: "I haven't heard anything, ma'am."

Peaches sighs. "Yeah, I didn't think so. No one expects the land mine. It's like the Spanish Inquisition that way." She sleeps her computer and rises. "Wish me luck."

He waits until she's gone to laugh.

57. Boss.	59. I See What You Did There.