The Navy’s Ghost

Dear God, of all of us, why her?

It didn’t matter. Chris had survived. End of story. Magic made sure the morphine dulled some of her pain as they medevac’d her ass home and periodically checked the bandages around her thigh. She’s fine. Stop fussing. But he couldn’t help the checking or the worry.

As she lay dying on the grimy floor of the Nicaraguan warehouse, his feelings for Ensign Christiana Brickman had crystallized into blinding clarity. I love her. He’d ignored the thought in favor of saving her life, but now, with the squad around him and the action settled, it came roaring back into his mind, clear as day. Jubilation mixed with terror settled into his gut. No fraternization within the ranks. Too bad his heart couldn’t remember the rules.

“How’s she doing, Magic?” Retro shouted through the mic to Magic over the rotors.

“Stable for now. High as a kite, but stable.”

“Good to hear. Pilot says back on base in fifty mikes.”

“Roger that.”

“Why do they always use boys’ names for everything?” 

Retro and Magic turned to the woman lying between them and met the clouded hazel gaze beneath the lowered brows. “Say again, Brickman?”

“Boys’ names. Why do they always use them for everything?”

“What are you talking about?” Retro raised an eyebrow.

“You know, Mike for minute, Roger for understood.” Brickman rolled her head to pin Retro with her focus. “Jimmy for futzing with locks. Hey, your name is Jim.” She licked her lips and swallowed. “I like your name, Jim Retro. And I like you, too. You’re handsome.”

“Yep. Definitely high as a kite.” Retro snorted and shot a smile at Magic. Todd tried to smile back, but his gut sank. What if she preferred Jim over him? Get your head back in the game. She’s never shown interest in any of us.

“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure she’s not in pain. With the dosage I gave her, she should be floatin’ on cloud nine by now.”

“You’re my cloud nine, Magic.” The hazel gaze hit him and he tried not to fall into it or the words she murmured. “So sexy and smart and nice. All the Navy bunnies just love you.” Her lips tightened in irritation. “Sluts.”

Magic raised his eyebrows. Don’t listen to her, she’s out of her mind. Except morphine often acted like a weak truth serum, stripping away inhibitions to expose real sentiments underneath. Chris turned her head away to mumble something under her breath as a mild frown creased her forehead.

“Not good enough for you.”

“Say again, Ensign?” Retro leaned closer to her.

“They only want dick, you know.” Her gaze slid slowly back to Jim’s face. “You deserve better, Retro. Mo’betta. ’Cause Bravo Squad does everything mo’betta. They should call it Betta Squad.” She trailed off in a dreamy, sing-songy voice.

“At least she’s got that right.” Retro shook his head, a half smile quirking his mouth.

“Bravo Squad definitely does it mo’betta.” Ghost fixed him with a hard stare. “Just like you, Retro. And you need someone who knows you. You, and Magic, too. Perfect, sexy, tall, and hard. Like bananas.”

“What?” Magic traded looks with Retro.

“Oh, shit. You better knock her out before she says something really crazy.”

“Bananas. You know…” Chris raised one hand, curling her fingers into a C-shape before swaying it back and forth as if stroking something. “Long, hard, smooth, and warm.” She grimaced. “Bananas. So much better than cucumbers. Mo’betta in Betta Squad.”

“Knock her out, Magic.” Retro growled as the other squad members snickered in the background.

Magic curbed his own grin as he shoved another syringe of morphine into her IV. He could understand Retro’s concern, but the thought of Chris stroking his cock made said anatomy salute the idea from his fatigues. Chris yawned and mumbled something more about the virtues of bananas over cucumbers before her eyes closed and her breathing evened out.

“Bravo Squad does it mo’betta!” Petty Officer Killian grinned. “Why? ’Cause we’re the betta squad.”

“Not betta squad, Beta Squad. Second to none.” Seaman Rubenovich laughed.

“Aw, fuck, she’s never gonna live that one down with the squad.” Retro shook his head as he tucked the woolen blanket up to her chin.

“Yeah, but at least she’s gonna live.” Todd surveyed the woman before him and prayed for all he was worth she’d make it out okay. “Okay” meant she’d get to keep her leg, because he had the sneaking suspicion she’d be on the bench for a long time recovering.

“You’re sure of that?” Some of Jim’s concern leaked into his eyes though he kept his face stoic.

“Yeah, I’m sure. I got that artery clamped shut and she’s a fighter. She’ll make it out okay.” Todd didn’t know where the certainty came from, but he held onto it with both hands and his teeth. “We’ll update the docs when we get in.”

Jim grunted and nodded as they settled in to finish the flight. Todd tried not to stew on Chris’s words, but each compliment made his balls tighten and delirious excitement to run around his gut. Get a grip, man. She’s completely high on morphine and terribly injured. It’s sick to think about anything like that. Except he’d been having unauthorized thoughts of seeing Christiana Brickman naked and riding his cock for about a year now, and her slurred words only encouraged them.