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“So pay it,big daddy,” Ricochet teased. They had all just found out a few weeks ago that Maestro had a child, surprising them all.
“How’s that sister of yours?” Maestro taunted, giving the other man a sly smile. “Single? Pretty? I bet she’s some sensuous, seductive young lady just waiting for a…”
Ricochet shot out of his chair, climbing onto the computer tables and halfway over the partition before they began to move into action. Maestro was laughing with delight, having gotten a rise out of the cool man.
Jax, however, realized that the temperamental man fought just like he flew – EVERYWHERE!
“Whoaaaa! Whoa! Whoa!” Sparky snapped, grabbing at the belt of Ricochet’s coveralls.
“Hang on, boys… not the computers!” Inferno snapped, going for Ricochet’s collar and arms, tugging him backwards. “Off the desks, buddy!”
“I told you before, loudmouth, that she’s way out of your league…”
“Time to batter up…” Maestro grinned, leaning back in his chair and putting his hands behind his head. “I’m gonna knock it outta the ballpark if I ever meet a sweet, young, hotMissBriscoe…”
“Maestro, knock it off,” Ghost whispered hotly, hoping no one heard the commotion. “I do not want to lose computer privileges. Ricochet, Inferno is right. It will take forever to get new computers if we destroy these. Remember, the Army guys only have one they have to share…”
“Man, that would suck…” Sparky muttered openly.
“Right? I don’t want that to happen to us,” Ghost said firmly. “So, can you two please take it outside and leave the poor PC’s alone?”
“My sister would take one look at you and laugh, Maestro…” Ricochet goaded. “You aren’t her type – unless she’s slumming and desperate.”
“Desperate girls need love, too.”
“Is that how you got some girl knocked up?”
Sparky and Inferno cursed at once, moving for Ricochet… as Ghost dove for Maestro almost immediately. The two of them were angrily yelling things at each other, snapping hotly, mouthing off, as Reaper appeared in the doorway.
“Knock it off – NOW!” Reaper said bluntly, crossing his arms over his chest. “I don’t want to know what happened, nor do I care, but I will tell you this much – ifIlose my computer privileges and cannot talk to my Sophie? I’ll put you both in the clinic with blunt force trauma… am I clear?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I can’t hear you…” Reaper whispered, cupping his ear pointedly.
“SIR! YES, SIR!” All five men shouted in unison, snapping to attention.
“Good…” Reaper acknowledged. “Now, Maestro - not sure if you have heard, but Reilly is a real piece of work. That miserable man will cancel your leave at the drop of a hat if he gets mad. So, try not to act up before you fly out Friday? Ricochet, you too - your vacation starts in two weeks, so try not to blow it before you get a break from the worst sandbox in the world… okay?”
As they all filed out of the computer room, Reaper lay a hand on Ghost’s shoulder, stopping him.
“Congratulations,” Reaper said quietly, smiling slightly. “I hear you two really hit it off. My wife said Mary is an absolutely sweet woman and I’m very happy for you, my friend.”
“She’s my world,” Jax admitted, feeling his throat tighten with emotion.
He’d put in a request for the next available five days off, and was discouraged to see it was nearly five months from now. Time was going to drag by, and he didn’t have the heart to say anything yet, because if it was denied, the next spot was much further away.
“Keep your head in the game and try to stay busy. It helps with the loneliness. Buy some phone cards at the exchange. I keep a stash that I brought with me so I can call every Saturday for ten minutes at a time. We joke about it being our date night.”
“I like that,” Jax smiled. “Thank you.”
“Anytime, my friend… just keep your head down and away from those to hot-heads.”
“Will do.”
* * *
That evening,Jax took Reaper’s advice and bought several calling cards, locking them in his footlocker, except for two. He was calling his parents to tell them about Mary… and then he would end his day with the sweetest sound ever – talking to his beloved wife.
