Walker Brigade - Book of Incidents

"What? Oh, nothing, just going over the events of last night, trying to figure out what to ask you first."

"Oh."

Her eyes lowered to the table between us and a frown creased her brow. She was beautiful even more beautiful than her mother, I had to admit. I did love her. No wait, I loved Becky Latham, not Rebecca Manning although they were the same person. When I was younger, I had realized that Rebecca was a beautiful young girl. It was true I had stolen a kiss from her before my father had been shipped out, in fact, several kisses. We had spent that afternoon kissing, as I didn't really know what to do other than that and neither did she. In the days and nights to come after we left, the memories of her lips and the warmth of her body next to mine had fueled many a dream.

"Where did you get the name Latham?"

"What? It was my mother's maiden name, only no one knew that except my father and me."

"As I remember it, it wasn't only me that stole a kiss in that tree house that afternoon."

"I know, there was so much more that I wanted you to steal, but I didn't know how to ask or what to do. I would have let you do whatever you wanted to me that afternoon. I will submit to whatever you want to do to me now. I love you, Max Jones. I am yours to do with as you please."

I was stunned by her admission. By her revelations of that afternoon, if I would have only known then what I found out six months later, although maybe it was a good thing.

"How old are you really?"

"I'm thirty-two years old."

"And you still want to marry this old man sitting in front of you?"

"Yes. Yes, I do. And you are not old."

"I am and don't contradict me, young lady."

"Yes, sir."

"Why?"

"Max, I fell in love with you that afternoon in the tree house. I have been in love with you since then, waiting for the day that you would be in love with me. I so desperately wanted you to be in love with me, but I would have settled with you just loving me, making love to me. You not only stole a kiss that afternoon, but you also stole my heart. It has been yours for twenty-two years. It has waited that long for this instant in time. It is now the happiest heart in the universe."

"Damn, that's going to be a lot to live up too."

"Max, I am yours. You don't have to live up to anything. I love you just the way you are."

"Becky, I love you too."

"And what about mother?" she asked slyly.

"Whatever do you mean?" I was so shocked by her question I had no answer.

"Will your feelings for my mother get in the way? If chance presented you with the opportunity, would you, you know, make love to my mother?"

"What a question to ask, my god Becky."

"Would you?" The look on her face was blank. I got no read on what my answer should be.

"Yes. Your mother is a beautiful woman, as are you, who I have loved and fantasized about for a very long time. Does my admission disappoint you?"

"No. There is nothing you can do to disappoint me, Max. I know mother instilled those feelings in men and boys a long time ago. And I'm not surprised by your admission. I may just have to set it up to see if you really mean what you say."

"You wouldn't?" I found myself not surprised by what she said.

"We'll see."

"I forbid you."

"Okay, I won't."

A weight suddenly lifted from my shoulders. A weight I hadn't known existed until that moment. Although Becky still had a sly, wicked smile on her lips as she searched my eyes.

* * * Becky Latham

I was sitting across from Max in a quiet club just off base. We had been talking about the discovery that I was the girl who used to live next door to him when he was fifteen. We had talked about that afternoon before he had left and that first kiss he had stolen, a kiss that I just as quickly and whole-heartedly stole back. The rest of the afternoon, I don't think our lips parted for more than a second or two. That afternoon I fell in love with a boy named Max. So deeply, that I had followed him into the Army to become his wife.

"I promise not to set you up with mother without your express permission," I told him.

We had been discussing my mother, who Max, along with every male and a lot of female viewers, had fallen in lust with. That she had lived next door to him only made it worse. To this day, he still lusted after her and believe it or not, I didn't mind. I knew he loved me where he just lusted after mother. I knew it was all a boyhood fantasy...but I could set it up for him...maybe as a wedding present. I would have to talk to mother.

"You better not young lady, you just better not. I could just see the headlines, Army Major caught in bed with Senate Majority Leaders wife, really pretty, for me and your father."

"Do you think me daft? I would never set it up so you would be caught, sweetheart. It would be private and intimate, and I would stand guard outside the door to the bedroom. No one, not even my father would get past me, I assure you."

"No Becky, I will not participate in an act such as that. It's..." he sputtered to a halt.

I was looking at his crotch as he squirmed in his seat. He had an erection. He was thinking about it, it was turning him on thinking about my mother and him with me standing guard. Now I had to talk with mother. I'm sure she would be happy to make Max's dream come true. My mother was like that, an empathic, caring, giving person. I'm sure she loved Max from the way she had looked at him all night at dinner. Or maybe it was because he lusted after her that she sympathized with his plight.

"No..." I laughed as his face broke into a smile.

"I will now, no matter what you say. You just won't know when or where it will happen, you liar."

"No..." Again, the smile crossed his face.

"Is there anything else you want to ask me or can we go back to the barracks?" I winked at him and his discomfort increased.

"No, nothing more, I do love you, not for who you were, but for who you are. Chief Becky Latham, squad leader of Echo Squad. Becky Latham the woman who will be my wife. As far as I'm concerned, Rebecca Manning is still sitting in that tree house I left so long ago. You are not Rebecca Manning; you are Becky Latham my wife to be."

I had tears rolling down my eyes as he said that. My heart was hurting so much I thought it would burst. I was deeply in love with Max Jones. To me, he was still that fifteen-year-old boy who had stolen that kiss so long ago. He was also this big hunk of a man who sat across from me in a quiet club and watched me cry with a smile on his face.

"I love you too, Max Jones," I whispered. Tears rolled down my cheeks onto my blouse. I was so happy at that very moment I thought I would die.

"Come, let's take a walk in the cool night air," Max said rising from his seat and offering me his hand. Taking it, I pulled myself up to stand beside him.

He led me to the door and out into the night air. The cool air caused a chill to run through my body. It also dried the tears on my cheeks. As we passed a dark alleyway, I pulled Max after me and he immediately engulfed me in his arms. Our lips met in a passionate kiss, a kiss that sparked memories of so long ago. I melted into his arms, him holding me up and kissing me at the same time. I was on the verge of passing out from happiness, excitement, lust, and love.

Max picked me up in his arms and carried me back to the main gate. He placed me in a transport climbing in behind me. He punched the barracks code into the control pad and the transport took off. I was in his strong arms again, him holding me against his warm muscular body. I was in heaven, as I knew it to be.

10.21.0093/8

* * * Michelle Santos-Tomas

I was waiting outside the Major's room to give him his checkup. The weekend for me had been very relaxing, spending most of my time with Phinn on the Nightingale. I had even been involved in a particularly tough surgery on Sunday morning, to Phinn's surprise. I don't know how the Major's weekend had gone and I wanted to check him over before duty required us to be working. I knocked on the door and waited.

"Come in Michelle," Max said loud enough for me to hear.

How he knew it was me was beyond me. I opened the door stepping in and closing it behind me. Turning toward the bed, I saw Max sitting with Becky lying beside him. I stopped in my tracks and started to turn to leave.

"I'm sorry I've come at a bad time..." I said with my hand on the knob.

"Stop!"

The shout frightened me to stillness. It was Becky who shouted the stop, not Max. Letting go of the doorknob I turned back toward my two friends. Becky was smiling and Max was laughing.

"Get over here Doctor and check out my fiancé."

My jaw dropped as what she said sank into my befuddled mind. The thoughts flashed through my brain. He had finally asked her to marry him. They were getting married. Oh my god, they were getting married. I was almost jumping up and down as Becky climbed out of bed and came to me and hugged me, kissing me soundly on the lips to boot.

"He asked you? He finally asked you!" Was all I could say as I bounced up and down with Becky.

"Yes, he did. Now go congratulate him too," she said as she pushed me toward Max. He gathered me in his arms and kissed me, a long slow passionate kiss, a kiss that would burn in my mind for a long time to come.

"Congratulations," I told him as I stepped back from him, clearing my throat.

"Thank you Chelle," Max said winking at me.

"Yes, thank you Chelle," Becky told me, her smile beaming.

"Well," I bent, picking up my bag, "I might as well check you over, although you look much better than you did on Friday."

"On Friday I was going to meet her parents."

"Oh. That would explain it then. Well, let's get to it then."

I proceeded to check him over with all the instruments at my disposal. It would appear that the weekend had turned the trick, he was in good spirits and his energy levels were much better than on Friday. The only thing that I had a problem with was the healing of his wound. It was coming along fine, but there looked to be some micro-stress marks, where it had been pulled a little too hard. Maybe in the throes of lovemaking, he had turned the wrong way or something.

"I hate to say this at a time like this, but it may be better if you sleep alone for the next couple of days. I don't like the look of the tissue around the edges of your wound."

"No problem Doc," Max said as Becky shook her head yes. "We'll be far too busy to be rolling around in the hay, so to speak."

I smiled at him and winked at Becky as I put my equipment away. Becky grabbed her clothes and started to get dressed. Max went to his closet and pulled on shorts and a clean uniform. I shook my hands out as I closed my bag.

"See you at breakfast," I said as I left his room. I leaned against the door as I caught my breath wondering why he did what he did to me. Pushing off from the door, I shook my head to clear it and headed for my room to drop off my bag and then on to chow.

* * * Max Jones

We were sitting in the conference room waiting for Admiral David to enter so we could get the scheduled meeting going. I had elicited a promise from Michelle at breakfast not to tell anyone, as I wanted to make the announcement at this meeting. She sat there tight-lipped next to Jolene who kept pestering her about something unrelated. Michelle just sat there staring at Becky and me at the head of the table, a twinkle in her eye. The door opened and the Admiral entered.

"Attention!" I shouted as I snapped to attention. The rest of the squad was only a milli-second behind me.

"As you were," Admiral David said quietly. Everyone took their seats except Becky and I. "I said as you were, Major."

"Yes, sir. I would like permission to address the squad before the meeting starts if you wouldn't mind sir."

"Of course not Major. Proceed." The Admiral took his seat. Becky came around the table and stood at my side.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I would like to announce that I have proposed to Becky, Chief Latham and she has accepted."

A cheer went up from the squad and before I knew what was happening I was being slapped on the back by the guys and soundly kissed by the women. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Becky was likewise being congratulated. The last person to congratulate me was Michelle, her second time today, with a kiss that curled my toes. As I looked around for the Admiral he was still seated and shaking his head, muttering something under his breath.

"What was that sir?" Becky asked as she squatted next to his chair.

"I said it's about damn time. That's what I said," he stood wrapping Becky in his arms. "You two should be together."

The Admiral kissed Becky gently on the cheek. She smiled at him grabbing both his ears and kissed him square on the lips. His eyes got big as Becky waited for him to relax into the kiss. It took several seconds but he finally relaxed and enjoyed her lips. As their lips parted, Becky hugged him whispering something in his ear. The look on his face was of shock.

"Humph. Well, congratulations. I wonder if you would let an old man, don't you dare Chief, perform the ceremony?"

"We would be honored sir," Becky hugged him again. When she released him, I took his hand and we shook on it.

"Very well. When may I ask is the happy event to take place?"

"The first day of our leave in two weeks sir."

"Then you will only have a week for your honeymoon. I think I can arrange it so you all have that week off and you two the week after that so you can have a proper honeymoon. Don't thank me yet. It's not cast in stone yet."

"Aye sir," Becky and I said in unison.

10.23.0093/21

* * * Jolene Akers

I was walking down the corridor where our quarters were. As I passed Becky's room, I saw that her door was open and she was sitting at her desk reading. I stopped, turned and knocked. She spun around in her chair looked at me as if I was crazy.

"Come in silly. You don't have to knock if it's open. Just cough or something so you don't scare the crap out of me," she said.

"Right. Mind if I sit?"

"Please. What can I do for you, Jo?" She was so beautiful, so open, a good friend and a great soldier.

"I just wanted to congratulate you again and wish you all the happiness in the universe."

"Why thank you, Jo. Now, what else, come on, I can see it in your eyes. Spill it."

She saw it all right, my love for her and Max, but mostly her. I was happy for her and Max, I truly was, but deep down inside I was hurting like I did when I lost Fletch. That's what she saw in my eyes, the pain.

"Nothing Becky, nothing at all."

"Bullshit Jolene, now spill it." I couldn't hide it, not from her.

"Becky you know how much you and Max mean to me?"

"Of course, you mean the same to us."

"No. No, I don't. When I first saw you, I thought another one who slept her way to where she is. Then you proved yourself to the others and me. Then when Fletch bought the farm, you showed me a tenderness I thought you didn't possess. That's when it happened. A part of my heart will always be yours."

"Why Jo, I have known that since we met. You too will always be in my heart darling." She leaned forward and gently kissed me.

She placed her hand on the back of my neck, as she looked deep into my eyes. My heart was beating so fast, so hard, I thought it would jump out of my chest. I stared back into those dark pools of liquid carbon and saw all my dreams come true in an instant. Her lips pressed against mine again, her tongue brushed my lips as she backed away.

With the door open, I knew it would go no further and she made no move to close it. I sighed as I caressed her cheek. She smiled at me as she leaned her forehead against mine.

"I will always be with you, just because I'm marrying Max doesn't mean I won't be here for you. Do you understand Jo? Do you really understand that I will always be here for you?"

I did now. In a blaze of light behind my eyelids I knew, knew deep in my heart that she would be with me always.

"Yes, I do," I whispered. "I do."

"Good, now get along and get some sleep. We have a rough day tomorrow."

"Aye Chief." I rose, turned to leave and she rewarded me with a smack on my ass.

10.31.0093/7

* * * Becky Latham

The last two weeks had been the most hectic in my entire life. I was glad I had the help of Jo, Michelle and believe it or not, Nadia who was the most amazing organizer I had ever met. Once she took over the plans just fell into line, one after the other, neat as you please. Today was the day. The day I became Missus Maximillian Q. Jones Junior, Max wouldn't tell me what the 'Q' stood for. It was the second happiest day of my life, the first being that day in the tree house twenty-two years ago.

I had just stepped out of the shower, headed back to my quarters when someone swatted me on the backside. I spun around to confront my attacker and there was Chris.

"Hey Chief, why aren't you dressed for chow yet?" she had a wicked smile on her face as she asked that question.

"Because I just got out of the shower," I said turning back toward my room.

"Okay, I'll wait for you."

It was a statement, not a question. She followed me into my room and closed the door after her. As I dropped the towel from around me, her arms embraced me and her lips gently kissed my ear.

"I just want to congratulate you again," she said and released me taking a step back. I turned smiling at her and pulled her lips to mine.

"Too bad we don't have more time," I told her as I turned back to my wardrobe and started to get dressed.

"We will, we will," she whispered in my ear. A shiver ran up my spine at the thoughts suddenly appearing in my head.

I didn't answer her, as I got dressed. As I finished and turned to the door, Chris was right in front of me, her eyes burning with passion. I shook my head no, as I caressed her cheek. She stepped aside and the passion in her eyes ebbed. She smiled taking my hand and we walked to the mess hall. The squad was waiting for us.

It was a wonderful wedding breakfast. All my friends were there and we had a great time, but it was soon time for me to go get ready. The transports were to pick us up at eleven hundred hours. Michelle and Jolene accompanied be back to my quarters to help me into my wedding dress. I had debated on whether to wear my dress whites or the dress, Max had made the decision for me by demanding I wear a white wedding dress and carry daisies for my bouquet. How he knew they were my favorite he wouldn't tell me.

* * * Max Jones

It was the biggest, best day of my life. It was a day that I had never thought would come, me, getting married and to the most beautiful girl in the universe. It was a wonderful day. My heart was in my throat, beating a cadence that I could march too. My palms were sweaty, my eyes were burning, my throat was parched. Last night had been my last day as a bachelor and the guys had thrown me a shindig to end all shindigs. There was music, food, and drink. I don't remember most of it, but I do remember the women that Hathcock had lined up, enough said about that the better.

On Wednesday, the women held a bridal shower for Becky. They held it in a lavish hotel meeting room in downtown Pacifica. I was required to attend. Becky's mother was there. I was shaking in my shoes the whole night. When the shower broke up it was Becky, her mother and me. Her mom winked at me and got in an elevator. Becky pulled me into the bar and bought me a drink.

She told me how much she appreciated my being there and how wonderful it was to share these moments with me. We sat for a while just talking about nothing and everything. She handed me a card key and said I should go get some rest that she would be up shortly. I was a little leery but did as she asked. If it was going to happen and she wanted it too, there was nothing I could do to stop it from happening. I got in the elevator and pressed twenty-seven. The ride up was smooth and fast.