From the moment you knew you were going to Poland with your team, you haven't spoken a word to Jordan. Because you are pissed off at him, because he "forgot" to tell you. And because he lied to you, because he lied to the General. Because he made it look like YOU were the idiot, and the General yelled at you. Because you didn't have your men prepared, you were at home because you supposed to be on vacation. You have been surprised as Thompson called you and screams at the phone to you, that you was afraid, he couldn't talk for days.
At least now you know what's planned, and you can prepare for it, even if you don't have much time left. But thanks to Wolfe, who always has your back, everything will work out the way it's supposed to. He's the one everyone trusts, he can be an ass but he's the good soul that's there for you when you need him. The father who you can cry to. The protector who gives his life for you. In addition, you have been pleased to hear that a good companion will also be with you. Even though you haven't seen him yet, you are looking forward to working with him again.
When the general has told you that Dixon will also be coming along, a smile has crept onto your face. Not only is it always funny when Wolfe and Merle are together. No, he's one of the men you trust the most. Grinning, you remember that Jordan watched very angry at you as he watched your joy.
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And then he gave you the final reason that same night to finally get away from him, to leave him, to escape from that cage.
But luckily you have a sanctuary, a home, where you feel comfortable. Where you could go as you packed your bags willingly and moved out four days ago.
For as long as you can remember, your home has been here, in the barracks, with your men. Where even the biggest power holder treats you with more respect than your own husband.
Once again, there were so many things that now finally solidify you in your decision that you can't go on living like this. You know very well that if you had continued this marriage like this, it would have broken you at some point, this being with this reckless, selfish bastard for whom the term slut was invented.
But you have to block that out now, not think about it. He'll be on this mission too, and unlike him, you're capable of acting professionally. To separate your work and your private life. Jordan has never been able to do that. Just the fact that you wanted to keep your last name annoys him to this day.
In the last few days he has accused you of many things. That you want his job, that you don't respect him enough, that you don't make him feel like a real man. And that it's your fault that he has to look for confirmation with other women, because with them at least he has the feeling of fucking a real lady.
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When you then slapped him in the face, he really started to yell at you. You even feared that he would be all over the place, but luckily that didn't happen. He just came up to you and started spitting his words at you. And the whole truth finally gushed out of him. All the things he's been hiding since your wedding.
That he is only with you because you are the colonel's daughter and he hopes to gain an advantage through you. That you disgusted him from the beginning, and that he only had sex with you because he didn't want you to be suspicious. All just to move up in the rankings because he couldn't do it with his own performance. That you had better spread your legs for Wolfe and Merle. That you would have made it to nothing if the Colonel wasn't your father.
Now, as you look out of the General's building at the blonde bitch with her bright red lips, you feel sick to your stomach at the thought that your husband has been fucking her for months. You knew he was cheating on you, but you didn't know it was the General's typist. This snobbish beast, who you always would have loved to smash the keyboard in her face. Because she thinks she's something better, because she has a special status here in her high heels and short skirt. The epitome of sex, always ready for a quickie, available for anyone who is bored on this area. Oh yeah, she attracts everyone's attention, and as soon as she's visible, you can hear whistles coming from every corner, and she's enjoying it. Every single moment.
Tears of anger come to your eyes as you stare after her while she demonstratively wiggles her ass as usual. It's a wonder she doesn't drop her papers and bend over to get even more attention.
Your anger is abruptly dispelled by a firm smack on your shoulder, and just as you're about to turn and start yelling, you see Wolfe behind you with a friendly smile.
"Don't let it get to you like that, Cap. Brooks is an asshole, you don't deserve this. HE doesn't deserve you. " you know his words are meant to be comforting, that he's speaking to you as a friend, not as a soldier.
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But unfortunately, you don't manage to do more than give him a tired smile.
"Collins, fucking hell. Did you finally quit that asshole? Hell, it's about fucking time! "a voice booms loudly and a moment later you can already spot Merle coming around the corner to you.
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"Tact still isn't really Merle's strong point...the prison didn't change that..." Wolfe chuckles and greets his old friend with a handshake. But just as you're about to greet him as well, to tell him how glad you are that they finally let him out of that damn cell, you're interrupted. By your oh-so-loving husband.
"A little more respect for your captain, gentlemen!" he scolds in a serious tone, and your eyes widen as you can feel his hand on your waist. In disbelief, you turn your head to his face, recognizing his smug grin, for which you'd like to smash his teeth in. It was clear that on the outside he would try to keep up the facade as long as possible. But fortunately, by now he has the credibility of a Wikipedia entry in your squad. Since the last mission that almost cost him his job, the guys have actually been making fun of him. And you know that's exactly why the general won't send Jordan out alone with the troops, and wants you to be there at all costs. God knows why he hasn't been suspended to this day.
With a forced smile, you push his hand away from your body and take a step back. His gaze is questioning, and he snorts angrily as he hears Merle and Wolfe chuckling.
"What's so funny?" he asks pissed off, wanting to take a step towards you again, which you deny him with a shake of your head and demonstratively take another step to the side with your arms crossed.
"I don't think we should discuss this right now, Lieutenant!" you tell him in a firm tone and fix him with your gaze. You expect him to try to get close to you again, but surprisingly he doesn't. Instead, you can see his face getting redder and redder, and the vein on his neck clearly showing his elevated pulse. But he doesn't freak out, he doesn't scream.
"Meeting at the General's in 10 minutes.And don't forget that again, Cap-tain!" he orders you, emphasizing the word Captain extra, before he turns away from you, panting, already making his way into the building to the General.
"Shit, if he wouldn't be the Lieutenant, I'd beat the shit out of him" Wolfe remarks as he glances after Jordan. Everyone here knows by now that you're back here at your home, everyone knows you two broke up, but not why. Except for your closest people. You haven't even told your father anything more specific.
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"Ask me..." laughs Merle with a pained smile and you know exactly what he means. Jordan was the one who screamed the loudest for them to lock him up, without mercy. He convinced the former general that Dixon would be a danger to everyone else here. When in fact, he was the one who saved a hell of a lot of people's asses a few weeks earlier at the time.Because he didn't follow a lieutenant's orders, he listened to you, which the rest of the team followed. And that got Jordan so fucked up, he was just waiting for that opportunity to kick Merle's ass.
" Other stuff... How's Teddy? Is he still that nervous?" you ask Wolfe, frowning. You know Wolfe is his primary caregiver, a father he's never had. And you know he's scared as hell. Even if it's a fairly innocuous mission.
You've already tried to calm him down, explained to him that the chance of getting shot or injured in such a mission is very small. That you are there just to help the people. To control the deliveries of the technology, to assist if necessary, if helping hands are needed. No more and no less. And in less than eight weeks, he would be home again. Safe, and able to concentrate on his studies again. Because that's the only reason Teddy joined the Army in the first place.
He didn't have anything, no real home, no degree, no way to make something of his strengths. Because without a degree, no one would hire him, no one would want to train him. But he has strength of will, he has talent, and he's a hell of a learner. The Army was the only way for him to make something out of his life. Like for so many others here.
Even though he had his enemies here, just as he always had before. Jordan hates Teddy, but that's no wonder, because Jordan has a problem with quite a few people. But he has a special problem with Teddy openly admitting to being gay, and because of that he avoids him as if he were the plague itself.
However, you can't take away his fear of Jordan and his stupid sayings and hateful comments. Even if you know that you won't tolerate it, and as so often before, you will put your still-husband in his place. But so much time together with him and his hatred against him will be difficult. Fortunately, he has the support of almost the entire team.
"Well, how should the boy be? He's scared, still wet behind the ears, and I'd rather leave him at home than babysit him," Wolfe shrugs and Merle chuckles again.
"He'll piss his pants if just one rat walks through the camp..." he laughs up and Wolfe just shakes his head laughing. That the two don't give each other a high-five is all.
"Shut up now! Remember when you were his age!" you scold, stunned at what jerks these two could be sometimes. While Wolfe calms down pretty quickly again and only clears his throat when you look at him, Dixon almost can't get out of laughing.
"When I was his age? Well sweetie, I was ready when I first arrived here!" he laughs, but when you take a step toward him, standing just barely in front of him and looking at him from below with a stern gaze, the laughter fades from his face pretty quickly.
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" You're still a dick! Not everyone grew up in the woods and had to hunt their own food as a school project, Dixon! I've told you this before: the way you treat others is the way I treat you, my friend. I think prison made you forget how things work for me! If I hear any more of that kind of bull crap, I'm gonna kick your ass. You got that, Dixon?" You don't yell at him as your finger taps his chest again and again. You don't have to give him any more explanations either, because he knows exactly what you mean. He himself has had a hard time with the fact that the troops, and Jordan in particular, have viewed him as trash. He knows those mean things, knows how much they hurt.
You've been the one to set the record straight, to help him gain respect in the squad. Who showed him that things can be played differently.
Fixing his gaze, you can see that he's sorry. That he simply reacted, as he so often does, instead of thinking first. He is a full-blooded bastard, and he will never be able to completely shed that, but can work on himself, he had already proven that.
"Yes, M'am," he finally says small-mouthed, and swallows hard, while Wolfe just watches the two of you and has to stifle a grin.
"Good, and now... see to it that you get ready. Tomorrow in the morning we're heading off to Europe" you pat him on the shoulder with a smile. Unlike Jordan, you're able to not go into days of bitterness when you're annoyed. You told him what you needed to say, and that's that.
You know that's what your team respects about you, and that's one of the reasons they would follow you anywhere.
You realize that again when Merle and Wolfe salute you with a friendly smile and head to their barracks as requested.
Taking a deep breath, you look after the two of them. You are glad that they will be joining you, for you, for the crew, and most of all for Teddy. After another glance at your watch, you curse up, because you're already almost late for the meeting. But maybe you could convince Thompson to at least put you and Jordan in separate camps there.
