"Sorry, I just... yeah." Brutus came over. It was the first time anyone in uniform had used his first name, and from this woman's mouth it sounded a lot better than it normally did to him.
The room was a bedroom, with a full sized mattress on a steel frame, a dresser, and nothing else. The bed wasn't even made, and the pillow looked about as helpful as yesterday's newspaper.
On the bed were his clothes. "You guys already got them?"
"Our central supply warehouse doesn't always have what's necessary, this is a small base. And they're closed on Sundays," Castellanos explained. "So our choices were to have you come in on Friday and then have nothing for you to do over the weekend, or get it for you. We got your numbers from... someone-"
"Probably my agent, Keith Stone."
"-and we picked them up for you. You'll be happy to know that you can keep these after you're done, you bought them."
Brutus went over and picked up a pair of camo pants, looking them over. "They look like they'll fit."
"A hint." Castellanos tapped a box on her end of the bed. "These are your combat boots. While they're easier to break in than the old fashioned black boots, at least that's what I've been told, they're still new boots. I suggest wearing them around the barracks today, get them to start breaking in. Did you bring athletic shoes?"
Brutus nodded, and pointed to his feet. "These will work, I assume? Shoe contract."
"They're running shoes, right?" Castellanos asked, and Brutus nodded. "They'll be fine then."
Looking at Castellanos, he continued, "Castellanos, if you're cool here, I'm going to head out. Do you need anything?"
"Ah, quick question on the pillow situation?" Brutus asked, holding up the pillow. "Is there anywhere I can snag another one?"
"I'm sure we can scrounge up something, if in doubt one of your couch's arm cushions works reasonably well," Orkin said. "Make sure you get Townie up to speed on the morning protocol, and I'll see you in the morning."
"We're good. See you tomorrow Sarge." Castellanos turned her attention back to Brutus. "Now, your uniform will be a bit different from everyone else's. First off, it's in an older pattern that's no longer current. That's on purpose, so that everyone knows that you're not a trained soldier. If you compare those pants to mine, you'll see the difference."
Brutus looked, and saw what she meant. His pants looked a lot 'grayer' than hers, which had stronger green and brown tones. "Okay."
"Second, you will not be wearing any rank, name tapes, any of that. You're not a soldier, even though you need to behave in a soldierly manner," she said. "Think you can do that?"
"I can try," Brutus said, but in his mind all he could think of was how Castellanos looked nothing at all like what he expected a soldier to look like.
"Good. Remember, I'm going to be the first person in the chain of command. So if you have problems, you come see me first," she said. "Jumping the chain is not something you want to do. Also, I happen to live in the barracks as well. I'm in the other corner unit at the end of the hallway. You know where to find me if you need anything. Don't forget to knock."
"Ah, two things," Brutus said. "First, what's this about dinner?"
"The DFAC, that’s the dining facility, is just down the street," Castellanos said. "If you want, I'll swing by myself at dinner time and walk you down. You'll need to be in your uniform to do it, so at least have your workout clothes on."
"You sure?" Brutus said. Pressing his luck, he asked, "There isn't a boyfriend or someone that'd be upset you're taking me to dinner?"
He thought he was being subtle. But the truth was, subtlety had never been his strong point, especially when it came to women. And seeing Castellanos's face, he saw that his question had gone over badly. The woman looked pissed.
"Listen up," Castellanos growled, her face hardening. "You might want to get it through your head that for the next seven days, I'm not a woman to you. I'm something frightening, a creature with no mother, no father, no heart or soul. I'm a new soldier's deepest nightmare, and their guardian angel all at the same time. I can make you, and I can for damn sure break you. I'm a sergeant. Got that?"
Brutus swallowed, but at the same time was turned on. "Yes... Sergeant."
"Good," Castellanos said, her demeanor relaxing a bit. "Then I'll be here at seventeen thirty, that's five thirty your time, with your pillow. Be ready to go, I suggest ACU - that’s Active Combat Uniform - pants and boots with the long sleeved undershirt to go with your parka."
Castellanos walked past Brutus, and for a moment he caught a whiff of her perfume. It was... spicy, and exotic, and sent a surge down his spine and to his groin. Sergeant... she's a sergeant... she's a...
"Welcome to Cranked, Townsend," Castellanos said at his door, giving him an unsettling look with those gorgeous eyes. "Good luck."
Seven days, he reminded himself as she closed the door behind her. For seven days, he could be professional.
But on the eighth, he was going to remember that he was a single man... and she was a very beautiful woman.
5
