Duke found the sergeant in charge of the Third and asked for Pulaski.

    "Steeler? He’s yours. About time someone took that moody bastard off my hands. Great tank jockey, but a pain in the ass, if you ask me."

    Duke raised his eyebrows, but said nothing. He’d read Pulaski’s psychological profile. It hinted at something roiling under the surface. Still, he’s managed to function pretty well despite whatever was bothering him. Pulaski had some admirable qualifications. Besides, thought Duke to himself, what experienced soldier doesn’t have demons? How many times a night do you wake up in a cold sweat, Hauser?

    "I just saw him on the pay phone down that hall a half hour or so ago. Probably still on it. He’s stuck on some girl in town. Just this side of jailbait, if you ask me," the sergeant waved vaguely off to the right.

    Duke made his way down the indicated hallway and found Pulaski, as promised, in front of a bank of payphones.

    "I’m not lying to ya, babe…You’d better believe it…You know I wouldn’t say it if it weren’t true. You get that basket packed, and we’ll have on of them picnics you see in those movies…yeah...well… I don’t know how private it’ll be, babe…sure…from now on, I’ll have way more time for you, I promise." Pulaski laughed and scratched the dark stubble on his chin. He didn’t notice Duke’s approach.

    Duke cleared his throat and saw Pulaski start.

    "Hang on a sec, babe," Pulaski put his hand over the receiver and turned to face Duke. His eyes narrowed as he took the stranger confronting him, "how can I help ya, Top?"

    "Wrap up you call and read this, soldier," Duke handed over the now-familiar envelope of new orders. Pulaski nodded and returned the phone to his ear

    "Babe, can I get back to ya?" he continued to stare at Duke thoughtfully as he spoke. "Really…As soon as I can…you bet, babe....Babe?..Well, I’m not exactly alone here…no…no…you know how I feel…fine…fine…all right, already! I love you! There! Happy now?…I figured…well, bye!" Pulaski blushed and grinned foolishly.

    Duke shook his head. Silly to get tangled up in a woman that way. A picture of Scarlett popped unbidden into his mind. Duke growled to himself and fought to banish the redhead from his mind as Pulaski tore the envelope open and roughly yanked out the contents. Inside, he wondered what kind of fool he had looked like last night. Bear was probably laughing himself silly. Duke could only imagine. Hauser, stuck on some woman! At least Dragon would be discreet.

    "Of all the…Shit! You’ve gotta be kidding me!" Pulaski’s face went slack in disbelief.

    "No joke, soldier. You’re mine, effective now. Go get packed and say your goodbyes, we’ve got less than an hour to get some grub and catch our flight."

    "But that takes me all the way up to New York State!" Pulaski glanced back at the phone.

    "The faster we get there, the happier I’ll be. Move," Pulaski slammed his fist into the wall next to the phone, leaving a substantial dent. Duke grabbed the man by the shoulder and whispered angrily into his ear, " Don’t even think of pulling that kind of tantrum on me, soldier. That wall’s going to come out of your next paycheck. Deal with it like a man. Go pack, now!" Duke’s voice was dangerously low. Pulaski’s foul response combined with his acute awareness of his own personal frustration had cut his temper short, " If you wanted to settle down, you shouldn’t have signed enlistment papers," Duke tried to straighten out Pulaski and strengthen his own resolve. Love and the service dwelt on mutually exclusive plains of existence. Any fool knows that. Any fool…

    Pulaski stalked off to his quarters to pack, leaving Duke alone with thoughts he’d rather not deal with.

***

    It was a quiet trip into town. Pulaski sat brooding, and although his eyes were locked on the window, Duke doubted the man was aware of the scenery flying by. Packing hadn’t taken long; Pulaski had little in the way of personal belongings. The subsequent phone call, however, had threatened to drag on for hours, No explanation of sudden upheaval could ever really satisfy loved ones not familiarized with the oft nomadic way of the professional soldier. Duke himself could remember being made painfully aware of that in his own youth. He had come to grips with a certain lack of romantic stability. Pulaski would figure it out soon. Eventually, Duke had to cut the man short and order him off the line. Not a word had been spoken since.

    They pulled in at the Bullseye a few minutes after five. Pulaski, lost in himself, didn’t seem to notice. He came to when Duke got out and slammed the door.

    "We’re meeting O’Hara here. I figured we could all grab a bite before we go to the airport," Duke waited at the door for Pulaski to catch up, "A steak would probably do you some good, soldier."

    Pulaski just grunted.

    Scarlett was there waiting for them. She sat in a booth by the window, head bowed over a book. Duke found himself smiling as he lead Pulaski over to where she sat.

    "Has Spencer solved the mystery?" Duke expected her to start. She didn’t. Comforting thought-anyone trained for covert ops needed to develop a constant awareness of their surroundings. Duke’s grin widened-Scarlett was good.

    "Not yet. He’s still annoying the suspects," she let the book drop and smiled up at them, "you seem to have succeeded, though."

    "Oh yes, mission accomplished and all that good stuff," Duke slid into the seat across from her, "Sergeant O’Hara, this is Sergeant Ralph Pulaski, one of the finest tank jockeys in the country."

    Scarlett stood up and shook Pulaski’s hand warmly, "Call me Scarlett. From what I understand we’re not going to stand much on formality."

    "Not as long as discipline is kept up, anyhow," Duke nodded.

    The dark cloud dissipated from Pulaski’s face, "I usually go by Steeler. Nice to have a few ladies in the ranks. Whaddya call it? Refreshing."

    Scarlett laughed, and Duke felt his stomach flip involuntarily. "Steeler, its nice to hear you say that. I don’t know too many grunts who would."

    "People tell me I’m one of them modern thinkers,"

    "I would agree. Sit down and lets all get something to eat. I’m starving."

    Steeler sat down next to her. Duke tried to ignore the urge to growl. He was surprised at the jealousy washing over his gut. "It’s going to have to be quick," he glanced at his watch.

    "Don’t worry," Scarlett’s blue eyes twinkled, "I can bolt my food with the best." A waitress arrived and handed out menus.

    Steeler chuckled, "My kind of woman."

    Duke tried to ignore that as well.

    Scarlett kept her promise to keep up with the men and they all easily made their plane on time. Together they took up a row, giving enough of a nod to formality to offer Scarlett the window seat. She had buried her nose back in Spencer before the landing gear was up. Steeler stared across her out the window and disappeared once again inside himself. Duke stretched his long legs into the aisle and wrestled with his feelings.

***

    "So, Duke, two more brought into the fold." Hawk’s chair creaked as he leaned back.

    "Yes, sir."

    "And you tied up your own loose ends at Benning?"

    "No problem there, sir."

    "Good. How are O’Hara and Pulaski fitting in?" Hawk’s fingers ran absentmindedly through his hair.

    "Pretty easily, although Pulaski had me worried there for a while. Almost had to cut phone privileges. Those calls back south were getting expensive."

    "Hmmm. Well, he seems to have calmed down. I have to say, although I’m one of the biggest promoters of a co-ed unit, one of my least favorite things is to see my soldiers wrapped up in relationships. Cold as it is to say it, that kind of thing gets in the way and is more trouble than its worth."

    Duke thought of Scarlett. "Yes sir. A difficult thing to enforce, sir. We’re only human."

    "That’s true, Duke. But you’re also soldiers. If you wanted to settle down, you should never have enlisted. Am I right."

    The phrase echoed through Duke’s brain mockingly. His heart sank, "Yes, sir, you’re right. Absolutely." He walked over to the window and stared out.

    "Good, sergeant. Carry on."