Missing in Action

Chapter Twelve

"I wasn't in a coma though was I Private Henson?" I said as I turned to face the plump man. I towered over him.

"I h-h-ave n-n-no i-idea w-w-w-w-hat y-you're t-t-talking a-a-a-about," he stuttered.

"You're a liar Private Henson, nothing but a prattling lying b******," I stated calmly.

I was furious with this man and everyone in the room knew it. No one bothered to stop me as I advanced towards him. James suddenly became aware of the gun on my belt as he looked like he was going to tell me to stop, but he never did.

"You're a liar Private Henson, because all you have done over the past week is have me sedated over and over again whilst you told everyone on this ship that I was going to die," I continued.

"Private Henson, is this true?!" Staff Sergeant Harris demanded.

Private Henson began to shake more as the 6.5ft man came to stand just behind me. Harris' face became a picture of pure rage.

"Well?" Harris barked.

"N-n-n-n-no s-s-s-sir," Private Henson chocked out.

"I don't believe you," Harris replied. "So I'm going to ask you again: did you sedate Lieutenant Cassidy Davis?"

The room had gone deadly silent as they waited for an answer. My hands had balled into fists. I was willing to beat the truth out of the cowering man. Private Henson still didn't answer.

"You're new to this ship Henson, so I'm going to tell you how we work on this ship," Harris began. "On this ship, if you hurt one of our crew, you get you kicked out of the Navy. That is, if you live that long," the words affected everyone in the room. They understood that it was a silent order to make this man's life hell if he was found guilty.

"He asked you a question Henson," James growled. "Did you sedate Lieutenant Davis and lie to the crew?"

"Yes, I sedated her," Private Henson gasped out. "But-"

"Take him to the brig!" Harris called over everyone.

Private Henson was dragged from the room. Of course, Harris was not a commanding officer, but we would have a have given the order for him to be sent to the brig.

Suddenly my anger faded and I realized how exhausted and hungry I was.

"Thank you," I said to Harris.

"My pleasure girl," he replied. "It's good to have you back Cassidy".

I smiled at him. After a while everyone resumed devouring food. It felt good to just be sat in a normal room with people in it again. I finished the meal in seconds.

"Slow down Cassidy!" Ben exclaimed.

"Anyone would swear you were some sort of animal!" Henry joked earning him a slap on the arm.

"I'm hungry," I muttered.

Eventually, we fell back into rhythm and nothing else was said about the infirmary. Everyone else went back to normal, everyone except James.

He looked distant, almost like none of us were here. I glanced at him a few times, but he never seemed to notice.

I began taking part in a conversation with Henry and Ben who were arguing over the best football team again. Henry always argued that Liverpool were the best whilst Ben always argued that Everton were the best whilst Peter just sat quietly with a smile on his face. I rolled my eyes at them.

It was only then that I noticed that James had gone. I looked around the room, but he wasn't there.

"I'll be back," I told Henry, Peter and Ben, but I was just waved away by them.