C. Brown - Compromising

“Sergeant Cruz, I’m Captain Hedlund. Come on back.”

I turned at the sound of his voice, then followed the short man back to his office. It was decked out in Marine Corps paraphernalia, his college degrees, and what looked like college football pictures.

“So, you understand why you are here today?” he asked, taking his seat.

“Yes, sir.”

“Since you are being charged with assault and fraternizing, my job is simply to minimize the damage and save your career. The fraternizing, from what I have been briefed on, is out in the open and confirmed by you. The assault…well, there are a few ways we can handle that.”

“Sir, as I told First Sergeant O’Hara this morning, I’m not afraid of what will become of me and the fraternizing charge. She wasn’t just some student who I slept with. I love her, so the assault charge is stemming from that.”

He stared at me then swallowed hard. I guess I had placed him in a pickle, but it worked because he dropped the formalities and sat back in his chair.

“The rules are the rules, Sergeant. We all know them, and it is our duty to follow them. Now, with that being said, the fact that you and Pfc. Bennett have something more, could work in your favor. It could play on the judge’s human side, even for a second, and I fully intend to use that. I will tell you this, though. First Sergeant O’Hara is out for blood. He is a scorned man, and he wants the gauntlet dropped on you. Major Godinez will be trying your case, and he has a ninety-two percent success rate. I’m going to need everything I can get to try and combat that.”

I wasn’t sure what he wanted—the deed had been done, and the dirty laundry had been aired. It was unclear how he would fight for me because a blind man could see I was guilty of what they were charging me with, but nonetheless, I listened to what he had to say.

“When did you first come into contact with Pfc. Bennett?”

“It was at a bar on the Friday before I picked up my new class.”

“So you did not know that she was to be a student of yours?”

“No, sir.”

“What happened between you two that night?”

“We danced for a while, that dance turned into a kiss, and probably would have turned into more if I hadn’t had to leave.”

He studied me for a minute. “So, just to be clear, have you actually slept with Pfc. Bennett?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And when did that first occur?”

“It was once she was my student.”

He blew out a breath. It wasn’t what he wanted to hear, but I wasn’t about to lie about it. There was no need.

“And this was a consenting encounter?”

“Yes, sir, and I think you should know that Cassie is now my fiancé. Like I said, this isn’t some fly by night sexual encounter because I just wanted to sleep with a student. This girl is going to be my wife.”

Captain Hedlund seemed placated by my words, nodding his head, putting me at ease. “Okay. I’m going to ask that the no contact order be lifted. I see no need in banning you since you are not the predator that First Sergeant O’Hara has painted you to be.”

There was that word again… predator. It burned my ears just listening to it. I hated the fact that, with one little word, my entire being was set ablaze. It was a derogatory word if I’d ever heard one, and it certainly didn’t fucking fit me.

“I’d appreciate that, sir. Can you tell me how she’s doing?”

“I understand she’ll be released from the hospital within the next couple of days. She is still attached to the schoolhouse, awaiting orders to a unit here on this base. She’s needed for the investigation into the assault against her.”

I nodded my head, feeling so much better after hearing that she was okay.

“I’m going to try and salvage as much of your career as I possibly can. From everything I’ve seen in your records, you are an exemplary Marine, and I am going to do my best at keeping it that way.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“You can head into work now. I’ll call you if there is anything I need to discuss with you.”

“You’ll have to call the duty, sir. I don’t have my phone.”

“Where is your phone?”

“It was taken away from me.”

“Hmm…All right, I’ll contact the duty if I need to speak to you this evening.”

I stood and shook his hand, then turned and walked out of his office to my awaiting babysitter.

++++

Staff Sergeant Mitchell took me to the schoolhouse, where a sudden rush of unease washed over me. The fact that First Sergeant O’Hara, a man I found to be pathetic in his own right, would be lurking around, was unsettling. I also didn’t feel like answering the shit ton of questions that I was sure would be heaved at me. This was probably the last place that I wanted to be.

I walked into the instructor lounge and found Gunny Chavez inside. He looked up from his morning coffee and newspaper reading, and motioned for me to come and take a seat with him.

“Good morning, Sergeant Cruz. How are you this morning?”

“I’m all right, Gunny.”

“Good to hear. I don’t think this comes as any surprise to you, but you will no longer be instructing. First Sergeant O’Hara had you removed from my instructor docket, so I will be placing you in Admin until all of this is settled.”

I couldn’t have been more pissed. A desk bitch? Gunny Chavez always seemed so level-headed, so unless this assignment was coming from O’Hara, Gunny Chavez was about to be categorized right along with him. “Was this your decision, Gunny?”

“No, I take my orders from First Sergeant.”

I sat quietly, stewing on the inside. It seemed every which way that I turned First Sergeant O’Hara was doing something to make my life a living fucking nightmare.

“Look, Alex. Fraternizing, as you already know, carries a heavy burden. I don’t pretend to know what I would do if I were in your shoes, but First Sergeant is pissed. And if anything, I would try and lay low, do what’s asked of you, and ride it out. I’ll do whatever I can to try and help you.”

“I always do what’s asked of me, Gunny, and I’m ready to take my consequences. So whatever happens, happens.”

He rubbed his hand over his mouth, looking over to me like I had somehow lost my fucking mind with no way of getting it back. “All right. Well, you’re to report to Admin. Stay out of trouble and ride it out.”

“You’ve got my word.”

I tapped the table then stood and walked out of the building. My heart stopped as I looked down the corridor and watched as the influx of students stood outside with the instructors, practicing for graduation. As much as I had gained by winning over Cassie, this part of my life was a painful loss. Not being able to see my class through to the end was a slap in the fucking face—one that stung badly.

“Hey, Alex, I heard about Pfc. Bennett. Glad to hear she’s okay.”

I was ambushed by Castillo as I was about to enter the Admin office. Not only was pushing papers not up my alley, but working in close proximity to her was just another reason to hate life at the moment. I couldn’t be sure that she wasn’t the loose lips who’d spilled the beans to O’Hara.

“Pfc. Bennett is just fine.”

I grabbed the door handle and turned, but she stepped closer and placed her hand on the door. “I know shit went down with us, Alex, but I’m not cold hearted. I was mortified when I heard what had happened to her, and I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”

“Well, thank you, but like I said, she’s fine.”

“And what about you? You can’t be fine with all of this.”

I turned and looked at her, ready to tell her to piss off, but once again finding the strength to refrain. “I’m just fine, Leti. I knew what was at stake, and I carried through. Now I’m dealing with the fallout, and I’m okay with that. If you’d excuse me, I need to check in so that I can get to work.”

She placed her hand on my arm, keeping me from making my way inside. “I’m worried about you, Alex. First Sergeant O’Hara pressed us hard when he questioned us. I don’t think he’s going to let up on you.”

“Leti, let me explain one thing to you. The only thing that matters right now is Cassie and her well-being. As long as she is doing better, I don’t really see a reason to worry about the negatives. Now if you’d excuse me, I have a fucking boring, paper-pushing work day to get started on.”

I removed her hand from my arm, then opened the door and made my way inside. The Admin Chief greeted me, then took me to a filing area where a mountain of files were waiting to be filed away. “Have at it, Sergeant. Holler if you need me,” Gunny Rawls said before leaving me to the most boring thing that they could have assigned me to.

This was worse than sitting in my barracks room—my prison cell. At least there I didn’t have watchful, prying eyes, looking and judging. And I knew that some stupid motherfucker was just waiting for the opportunity to ask me questions that were sure to set me off. No one was genuinely concerned about Cassie; they just wanted in on the breaking scandal that was unfolding before their eyes. I needed to get lost in this idiot’s job and keep to myself. Making my way back to Cassie was the only thing on my mind, and if I had to avoid other living souls to make sure that happened, I was hell bent on doing it.

Getting out of the hospital had become my focal point. I hated the constant back and forth from the nursing staff, the vital checks, and the horrendous food. But most of all, two things bothered me most: my mother’s impromptu visit and missing Alex.