Strawberry Red

Chapter 3 Buck

Buck was sitting in a booth drinking his coke. Bucky ran off a couple of minutes earlier to speak to a woman, he saw at the bar. He was currently dancing and flirting with her. Tomorrow Buck would be without Bucky on base for the first time until he followed Bucky to England. Buck wasn't a religious man, but he silently prayed that Bucky stayed alive. He knew Bucky wouldn't just sit back and watch as other crews went up in the air. Bucky would fly with them no matter how dangerous the mission was.

"Next round is on us", offered one of the other pilots. He handed Bucky a drink. "A toast to Bucky. Our new Air Exec."

"And to all the drunks in the hundred," said his brunette friends next to him.

"Someone's got to make a nest for the rest of you, dodos." Bucky grinned at the group and turned around to go over to Buck.

"Good luck, Sir," wished the present pilots. Bucky thanked them and slid into the booth bench opposite of Buck.

"So, this is it." Bucky look at Buck with a fading smile.

"This is it," repeated Buck. "I'll see you in a few weeks."

"If I don't die first," said Bucky with a grim undertone.

"I hate to break it to you Bucky, but you are the hundreds air executive now. You're not going over there to fly mission." Deep down Buck knew even his position wouldn't stop him from flying. He'd find a way to fly out.

"Look, I had a conversation with the CO over at the 389th and I'm flying with those boys until you guys show up. I'll be an observation pilot," explained Bucky.

"You son of a bitch." Bucky'd done just what Buck thought he would. He endangered himself unnecessarily.

"Well, someone's has to taste a little combat, to tell you what's really like up there."

Buck took a deep breath. "Don't you die on me before I get over there."

"Don't count on it."