The door opened as she continued ducking and weaving at her reflection in the mirror. She stepped up her footwork, throwing out jabs and crosses as Kevin slowly made his way into the room and began to work out with the free weights. Meredith sighed as she finished her routine and began to stretch out on a mat.
When she finished, she just laid there, arms outstretched and toes pointed. She felt him lie down on a mat next to her, stretching his muscles to let them cool down. When he didn’t move after he finished, she looked over to find him looking at her.
“Something on your mind?”
He looked down at the mat, pressing his finger into the floor for several seconds before he looked back.
“I’m sorry about yesterday.”
She didn’t say anything, just rolled onto her side and propped her head up on her elbow to mimic his position.
“And?”
“And?” He was confused by the question.
“Did you learn from this experience? Because if you didn’t, you’re going to find yourself in that chair an awful lot.”
He rolled onto his back and exhaled loudly. “I can’t help it. I’ve been taking care of things for so long, it’s second nature.”
“They’re not children you have to protect anymore, Kevin. They’re adults. And as you’ve seen, they’re perfectly capable of making their own decisions, even if they aren’t exactly fond of the consequences. You’ve got to let them screw up so that they can learn. What happens if they don’t, and you’re not there to bail them out?”
He nodded slowly. “I know, I know. I’ve watched them grow up, and for so long, I was the only one they trusted to look out for them.”
Meredith hesitated for a moment, then laid her hand on his arm. “You did a good job raising them, but now you have to let them spread their wings and fly. It’s time to kick them out of the nest, Daddy.”
Kevin’s grin was lopsided. “But aren’t I supposed to be looking out for them, being second in command?”
“Providing guidance, yes; doing it for them, no. They can handle themselves, and if they can’t, it’s my job to kick their asses until they can.”
He sat up and wrapped his arms around his knees. “It’s really hard for me to let go of that role.”
Looking up at him, Meredith nodded. “I know. Between letting go with Irene and with my trainees, I’m very familiar with that feeling. I’ve had to work hard to learn to trust myself and know that I taught them everything I could. The rest is up to them.”
Kevin sighed, then stood up. He leaned over and gave Meredith a hand off the floor.
“Thanks for the pep talk. I’ll work on letting go, and I’m sure you’ll make sure I learn the lesson.”
She grinned. “I’ll do my best.”
They parted ways in the hall, each heading for a shower to get ready for the day. When she finished getting ready, Meredith started knocking on doors. Nick looked properly chastised that morning, returning her “good morning” with a quiet one of his own. Brian was also quiet as he walked by her, giving her a soft apology for his actions the day before. She patted him on the shoulder and told him she appreciated the sentiment, but she’d be happier if he kept the lesson in mind the next time he decided to talk during a lecture. He nodded before heading for the kitchen.
She knocked on Howie’s door, opening it when she didn’t hear a response and heard the shower running. She closed it again and moved towards AJ’s door. Almost immediately after her knuckles left the wood, he opened the door, dressed only in his pants.
“Just checking to make sure you’re awake.”
He grumbled a “morning” at her before pulling on a t-shirt. She nodded at him before turning and heading towards the kitchen. Howie was the last one to arrive, only popping in long enough to grab some toast before they had to leave for the base.
Meredith parked the SUV in her usual spot and got out. The rest of the men followed, Howie bringing up the rear. She waited for them to enter, pausing when he touched her arm.
“Yes?”
“I apologize for throwing my weapon down, but not how I feel about the whole gun thing.”
Meredith looked at him. “I told you I understood your feelings, and that you don’t have to do anything more than what’s required. I won’t tolerate disrespect or insubordination when it comes to this training, Dorough. It’s my job to make sure you’re well prepared to handle any situation you might encounter, even if I have to break you to do it.”
He was taken aback by her statement, but nodded to let her know he heard her. Whether he agreed was another matter, and that was something he’d have to work out in his own mind.
Another day, another run as the two teams lined up. Curran looked at the group of men and shook his head as he stood next to Meredith. “I feel the love.”
She just looked at him, quirking an eyebrow before turning back to the group in front of her and starting them on their run. They took yet another route to the training field, running about four miles. She planned on staggering the distances each day to give them a little variety.
Again, Ramos put them through their paces with more calisthenics, and Meredith used the repetition to let her mind calm and focus. It seemed as if no time passed before they were attempting the obstacle course where they hit a wall…literally.
On the previous runs, they’d managed to get over the wall with no problem. Today, that was not the case. All of them struggled with it, barely making it over as individuals, and completely failing as a group. She watched them argue over the right way to do it, each of them getting more and more pissed off. Meredith and Curran looked at each other before Meredith stepped forward to stop the bickering before they came to blows.
“All right, that’s enough!”
Five heads swiveled to face her. “What is your problem?”
Kevin ran a hand through his sweaty hair, closing his eyes for a moment to try and figure out what had happened. “I’m not quite sure.”
Hearing Kevin’s uncertainty reinforced the strangeness that surrounded them. They looked at each other, then turned to Meredith. She motioned for them to join her away from the course, gesturing for them to sit so they could talk.
“Richardson, what are you feeling?”
He looked down at the ground, twirling a piece of grass in his hands. “Disconcerted. Disconnected. Like we’re two steps off or something.”
“Carter?”
Nick looked at Kevin, then back at Meredith. “Like I’m not sure who’s supposed to be doing what.”
She nodded and turned to Howie. “Dorough?”
He sighed and rubbed his temples. “Angry and frustrated.”
“Littrell?”
Brian pressed a finger to his lips as he filtered through his emotions. “Unbalanced and uncomfortable.”
Meredith turned to the last man. “McLean?”
The brown eyes never broke their stare. “Alone.”
She sighed. “I was kind of afraid of this. You’ve been together for a long time, doing what you do. Now, you’re in a totally unfamiliar situation, and that constant of what role you’re supposed to play is not valid anymore.”
Meredith looked around at the group as they thought about her words. “When you’re the Backstreet Boys, you know who does what, when, and why. You’re not Backstreet Boys here. You each have different strengths, and you’ve got to figure out where you fit into the team.”
She stood up. “Let’s table the course for now. Littrell, you’re with Leary. McLean, Singleton. Richardson, Brown. Dorough, Ramos. Carter, Lane. While you’re talking about your specialties, talk to them about teamwork. They’re pretty good at it.”
Meredith left them scrambling to their feet and heading off to talk to their respective counterparts. Curran walked up and stood next to his friend. “Trouble in paradise?”
She grinned ruefully. “Not yet. Yesterday kinda blew their perceptions of me out of the water. Not being able to rely on each other this morning has them seriously troubled.”
“They’ll figure it out. They just have to learn how to define themselves as a team outside their career.” He nudged her gently with his shoulder before walking around and talking to the pairs of men.
Lunch was subdued, introspection being the order of the day. They sat at the table, and other trainees at surrounding tables noticed the silence.
“Maybe they spent the morning counting pencils or something?” Justin wasn’t particularly loud when he made his observation, but Meredith picked up on it. Her gaze rose from her plate, pinning the young man with its intensity.
Joey saw the look and quickly pushed Justin out of his seat and towards the door. He looked at the young man. “J, you’d better learn to shut the hell up around them. She’s gonna take you down hard if you’re not careful.”
Justin looked back at the table, once again catching Meredith’s eye. He shivered slightly. “Glad I’m not with her. She doesn’t look like fun.”
Lance rolled his eyes as he listened to the conversation. “Like we’re having the best time.”
Justin shrugged. “At least he pretty much leaves us alone. The Boys don’t look as if they’re enjoying their time too much.”
JC opened the door and followed his friends outside. “Let’s just get back before Watson comes looking for us. I really don’t want to run around the airfield again.”
The five men were fairly quiet as they walked back to their station.
Meredith watched her team pick at their food, staring at their plates or off into space. As she let her mind wander, she tried to think of something that could ease their worries for just a little while---at least long enough to give their minds a break and let them come at the problem from a fresh perspective.
“Time to go, gentlemen.” She stood and gathered her tray, followed by all five men.
Stepping outside, they took a moment to adjust their clothing and covers before following her back to her office. They were surprised she didn’t have them heading to the range or back to the obstacle course. The six of them walked inside and settled into Meredith’s office as she logged in to check her e-mail.
A grin spread across her face as she read one message, a possible solution popping into her head. She quickly printed the e-mail, then logged out and shut down.
“Let’s go.” She hustled them out the door, not answering their questions.
She quickly made her way home, ushering them inside and directing them to change into shorts and t-shirts. Meredith told them to meet her back in the hall in twenty minutes, and she hurried off to change her own clothes.
Within half an hour, they were heading back to the base, bypassing her office and on their way to the park. They arrived to find a group of children playing in the park. AJ groaned at the thought of fending off fans, and Meredith looked over at him.
“Trust me.”
He looked at her for several long seconds before slowly nodding his head. She climbed out of the Land Cruiser and headed across the parking lot, making her way to a group of adults who were watching the kids.
“Hey, Joan.”
The older woman turned around in surprise. “Meredith! I wasn’t expecting to see you, but I’m so glad you came. The kids will be delighted to see you.”
Meredith hugged the other woman. “I’m glad I could make it, too, and I brought some friends.”
She turned around to find the five men standing behind her, looking a little uncomfortable. “This is Kevin, AJ, Howie, Brian, and Nick. I’m training them for a few weeks.”
Joan shook their hands, making no reference to their celebrity status. “Welcome. I’m glad you could be here.”
She turned back to Meredith. “Want to surprise them?”
The young woman nodded and grinned before turning to look at her team. “Let’s go, guys.”
She took off across the field, heading straight for the kids laughing around a picnic table. She snuck up behind one girl and placed her hands over the child’s eyes.
“Guess who?” The giggly, sing-song voice was a surprise to the men, who remained several feet away.
“Barbie!” The girl’s voice was filled with laughter.
“No, silly.” Meredith removed her hands, and the girl turned around to be enveloped in a hug.
“Miss Merry!”
With the shout, Meredith was suddenly surrounded by children, their arms reaching around each other to hug her. She spread her arms wide and hugged as many as she could.
“What are you guys doing?” Her question was answered with the various activities that they’d already done, as well as events for the afternoon.
It wasn’t long before Nick felt a tug on his hand. He looked down to find a girl looking up at him. She motioned for him to crouch down, and he obliged.
She leaned close to and whispered loudly. “I know who you are.” A toothy grin followed the statement.
He couldn’t help responding to the smile. “Well, how about you tell me who you are, then we’ll be even.”
She giggled. “I’m Beth.”
“Hi, Beth.” Nick smiled at her, and she wrapped her arms around his neck.
Surprised, he wrapped his arms around her by instinct. She kissed his cheek, then wiggled so he would let her go. She stepped back, smiled again, then took off for the group surrounding Meredith. Nick remained in his crouch, his arms resting on this knees as he watched the children laughing with Meredith.
Even though they’d all done the hospital and children’s group thing, they hadn’t had much experience dealing with children with Down’s Syndrome. There was such love in the air there, laughter ringing loudly and often.
Meredith looked up to find Nick staring at her. Disengaging herself for a moment, she told them she’d be right back, then walked over to the guys.
“I want to introduce you guys to some people.” She ushered them forward and introduced them to the kids, who greeted the men with happy smiles.
Beth came and stood beside Nick, taking his hand. He looked down at her and grinned.
“Do you want to paint with me?” In her innocence, she had hit upon a common ground, and he quickly nodded.
Beth pulled him to the table and got him some paper and watercolors. Three other children joined them, and the fivesome set out to create a masterpiece.
Brian noticed several of the children were playing with a basketball, and he wandered over to them. Crouching down to be on the same level, he smiled at them. One of them held out the ball to him.
“Wanna play?”
He nodded and let himself be led toward one of the courts.
AJ felt a brush of fingers over his arm and looked down to find a little boy tracing one of his tattoos. The child looked up at him.
“Why do you have paint on your arms?”
He thought about the question for a moment. “Because I like to look at it.”
The boy nodded. “Can you paint me?”
AJ was at a loss how to answer this one. Meredith came to his rescue and pointed towards one of the adults. “I think Lydia has some temporary tattoos.”
AJ grinned and took the little boy’s hand. “Let’s go see what we can find.”
Checking with Lydia, who did have some temporary tattoos, he settled himself at a table with the little boy who said his name was Pete. In no time, five other children were gathered around the young man, clamoring to have themselves “painted”. This segued into hair when a little girl with extremely curly hair allowed AJ to play with it. He created pigtails and braids for the girls and settled for just tattooing the boys.
Howie looked around at the children, amazed at their ability to just enjoy life. He noticed two little girls huddled over a doll, and it looked as if they were about to cry.
He knelt down to look at them. “Hey, hey, hey. What’s going on here?”
One little girl looked at him, tears gathered in her blue eyes. “My dolly.”
He looked at the other little girl, who looked like she was about to cry as well. “Her arm fell off.”
Taking the doll and smoothing its hair, he looked back at the two. “What are your names?”
The first little girl sniffed. “I’m Lisa.”
The second little girl spoke up. “I’m Annie.”
He turned the doll to face them. “Lisa, what’s your dolly’s name?”
Lisa reached out and touched the soft hair. “Her name’s Baby.”
“Baby’s very pretty. Let me see if I can fix her, okay?”
Lisa looked at Baby, then Annie, then Howie. She nodded slowly, watching as Howie carefully reattached the arm that had come off. When he fixed the doll and straightened out the clothing, he looked back at Lisa, who smiled. Taking hold of Annie’s hand, she reached for Baby, and the two girls walked off to play with the doll.
Joan had come over to find out what was wrong when Howie stepped in to help. She laid her hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently.
“You handled that very well.”
He looked up into the kind face. “Thank you.”
Standing, he followed Joan as she moved from group to group, helping settle everyone. He ended up back with Lisa and Annie as they sang “Itsy, Bitsy Spider”, their fingers clumsily following his as he motioned along with the song.
Meredith watched the four younger men settle into the groups of children, relating to them through a common love or a common bond. Turning her head, she studied Kevin as he looked around at his friends. Before he could move, a boy and a girl each grabbed one of his hands and pulled him over to the swing set to help push them. In moments, she heard his laughter underscore theirs as he stood between the swings and pushed them toward the sky.
**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**
It was a happy group of children and adults who kissed and hugged and laughed and waved goodbye later that afternoon. As she climbed into the SUV, she looked around at the guys and recognized the peaceful expressions on their faces. Grinning herself, she started the vehicle and headed home.
When they arrived at the house and were settled inside, she walked toward the kitchen to think about dinner. Howie followed Meredith into the room, grabbing a bottle of water and leaning against the counter as he watched her gather some items to make stir fry.
“That was quite effective.”
She looked up at his comment, quirking an eyebrow. “What was?”
“Showing us the meaning of being part of a team, of working together.”
Bending over, she grabbed a pan out of the cabinet. She smiled as she did it, being careful to wipe the smile from her face when she stood back up and he could see her face.
“Want to help with dinner?” Her voice was calm, but he could detect the slight note of satisfaction in it.
He took a sip of water and set the bottle down. “Sure. What do you want me to do?”
Howie ended up chopping the vegetables while Meredith quickly sliced the steak and chicken. Nick made his way into the kitchen, and she put him to work making the rice. Before long, everyone was in there, either helping with dinner or staying out of the way.
As they sat at the table eating, the guys talked about the afternoon. AJ looked over at Meredith and smiled.
“How did you get involved with the kids?”
“Through Joey.” She took a bite of her stir fry.
“Joey?”
Kevin spoke up. “He’s a bagger at the commissary, and he knows Meredith.”
“I met him there, met his mom, learned that the group needed volunteers to help out with some of the activities. It was about a year after Andy died, and it always made me feel good when I spent time with the kids.”
“They were pretty cool.” Nick agreed with a smile. “Did you see they way they helped Nina when she fell down during the race? All of them went back to help and made sure she…”
She could almost hear the light bulb click on, and she looked at him, her eyes wide and innocent as she met his gaze. He just looked at her for a moment, then continued.
“…finished the race.”
Turning back to her dinner, she took a few more bites before looking up. They were all looking at her, understanding evident in their eyes.
“Do they teach you that in intelligence school?” Brian smiled at the woman in front of him.
“Nope, comes naturally.” She winked at him.
Brian cleaned the kitchen as the rest of them settled in the den to watch a movie. When he finished, he joined them. They enjoyed the quiet time until it was time for bed. As they separated, each man took a moment to say thanks to Meredith.
Looking at the five guys in front of her, she felt a lot better about their confidence in themselves and each other. “Goodnight. Pleasant dreams.”
They bid her the same.
Table of Contents
Chapter Eight