Ok guys - I have written another story.
No I have not edited it or corrected grammar as yet but if I wait until I have done that I will never get it out.
And ok... it has a touch of the "days of our lives" to it but here it is just the same.
The importance of paperwork. “So what’s your point?”
He looked across at Tris with a touch of confusion.
“My point,” she continued with the air of exasperation that so fitted her “is that Rev is a risk taker and this time his recklessness cost us a squad member. If that door had have been kept closed for just 30 seconds longer then perhaps G’n’th’r would still be with us.”
Cash rolled his eyes slightly and took another swig of his drink trying to ignore that attractive little scowl she got when she was annoyed.
“Look Tris it is done, finished, ended. Cloak did the investigation and found that there was no problem. Thirty seconds, hell, thirty minutes would not have made a difference. It was an ambush damn it! G’n’th’r was always going to go in first, he was always going to take on more than he was able to and there were always going to be too may of them. I mean shit Tris, there were 7 guys in the room even before Rev opened the door. He was never going to make it. You know it and I know it.”
“Oh the investigation... yes...” the sarcasm crept into her voice “as long as allt he right forms are filled out no one need be responsible. It’s a shame, it’s all very sad but it’s no one’s fault. The release form says so.”
“Leave off about the paperwork for once will you. It was there to protect G’n’th’r as much as us. Without it we would all be a clearance level lower, several hundred creds in debt and we would still be down a squad member. Be rational about this please. Just be thankful it was not you and me”
Tris’ eyes flicked up and fixed him with a level gaze as if she was going to say something in response. Obviously she decided against it and smiling, simply leaned back in her seat, watching the liquid in her glass as she swirled her drink around with one hand. After a pause she across the table at him again.
“So... what would you have done Cash?” She was trying to make it sound like a casual question but did not quite pull it off.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, would you have opened the door?”
“I don’t know Tris, probably. We weren’t in a position do anything else were we? Go in, destroy suspect Dark Night communications centre, leave. That was the brief, the communications desk was behind the door, hence...” he let the words trail off and shrugged slightly. As far as he could see it was self explanatory.
Tris leaned forward and leaned on the table resting her chin in her hand. A wry smile slowly crept onto her face.
“What if it was me?”
Inwardly Cash felt the knot form in his gut. He had suspected that the conversation was not really about Rev or paperwork. This was going to be bad, without a doubt. He knew she would be trouble the minute he laid eyes on her... the minute he.... He closed his eyes and prepared for what was bound to come next.
When he opened them a moment later he was holding that smile waiting for his answer. Damn she was cute. He locked his eyes on his drink as he spoke, raising it to his mouth.
“Not relevant.” he said as he took another swig, “You never take first line. Your place is next to me.” He placed his drink down and looked back at her and realised he had made a mistake.
The smile widened and she reached over to lightly run a finger along the back of his hand.
“Really...” she looked at him with ‘those eyes’, the ones she used to get her slot in the squad in the first place. “I cannot think of a place I would rather be...”
“Yeah me neither” Cash grinned back. “after all I did promise your *husband* that I would look after you.” He held the grin, just to make sure she got the message.
In an instant her face darkened and she pulled her hand away. Cash wiped the grin from his face and downed the last of his drink.
“Nice to know you care” she snapped. “Suppose when it’s my turn you will hide behind the paperwork too.” She stood up and knocked back the last of her drink.
“Don’t be like that Tris...” Cash shook his head “You know it is not like that. You know I... we care. We all cared about G’n’th’r. Just because there was a Release doesn’t mean we don’t care. Rev feels really bad, he’s not hiding behind anything”
“Whatever.” With that she turned and walked out. Stopping at the door her parting comment. “Call me if you need me. For work that is.”
And she was gone.
Cash looked down at his empty glass. How was she going to make him pay this time.
“I don’t need this... Hey barman! Can I get another?”
“Want to tell me about it?”
“There’s not much to tell really” Tris sat next to him on the couch and wrapped her arms around her husbands waist. “We went in and with all the gunfire the gas cylinder next to him got shot... exploded.”
“That’s awful. Have Cloak looked into it?”
“Yeah... they think that the cylider was shot out by a SLA gun but two of the DN there were carrying black market stuff so it was probably them.” She sighed and pressed her head into her husband’s chest.
“I feel sorry for you love. I know you always liked Cash. Good squad leader too.” He stroked her hair and she held him”
“Hmmm...”
“It’s ironic isn’t it. He was always going on about that paperwork that you hate so much. If he hadn’t have pushed it so hard with you guys you could be in alot of trouble right now.”
“Yes.” Tris closed her eyes “Ironic...”
Comments to Megan Leggo