The alarm clock blared at five in the morning and startled Will and Billy who had to shake the cobwebs out of their brain before realizing where they were and recalling the glorious evening of sex they had enjoyed with Rod.  They both had morning woodies and a compelling urge to empty their bladders.  They scrambled out of bed and rushed to the bathroom.  Rod was not far behind.  The three stood around the toilet with their arms around each other and playfully crisscrossed their steams of piss.

“You have to be at the Base at 0700?” Rod asked.

“Yes!” came a duet reply.

“Does that leave time for a quickie?” Rod asked.

Agreement was immediate and eager.  They hurried back to bed, arranged themselves in a triangle, and began sucking.  Will took Rod’s cock since Billy had it to himself the night before.  Rod brought Billy back to full erection.  Billy worked on his lover’s cock.  Within fifteen minutes, all three horny men achieved climax amid a chorus of moans.

They would have preferred to cuddle for a long, blissful time but regretfully got out of bed.  Billy and Will rushed through dressing but Rod only slipped on a robe.  By half past six, the two sailors and the former sailor stood at the front door to say goodbye.

“It was a delight having you here, guys,” Rod said.  “Especially last night.”

“We all enjoyed last night,” Will grinned.  “And we’re grateful for your hospitality.”

“You know, of course,” Rod said, “that you’re welcome any time.  I know you’ll be shipping out soon but maybe if you get back and have some leave we could get together.”

“That’d be wonderful,” Billy gushed.

“Between now and then,” Will said with a note of sadness in his voice, “Billy and I will have to endure being on the same ship but not together ... if you know what I mean.”

Rod frowned and said, “It will be tough, I know.  But be careful.  One mistake and you’re doomed.  The bigots — especially the brass — won’t tolerate any infraction ... or even the suspicion of an infraction.  Above all, never forget your love for each other.  That will make your lives more difficult because you can’t express your love but take the long view.  Your Navy days will end and you can be together for the rest of your lives.”

The advice was unnecessary.  Both Billy and Will had given a lot of thought to surviving the frustration of not being able to be intimate with the man they loved.  Since discovering their mutual love, however, neither of them had dared to bring the subject up; both had chosen to live the current moment to the fullest.  Unknown to the other, each had been haunted by the chorus in a song that aptly describes the misery ahead:

So close.

Yet so far away.

(Lyrics by Rick Giles, George Green, Daryl David Hall)

<><><><><> 

Will and Billy boarded the Brighton just after ten in the morning.  Loading the hold with more supplies and heavy equipment for Vietnam would ordinarily require about ten hours but an additional delay was caused by the need to secure and load a launch to replace the one that had been destroyed while searching for the downed airman on the nameless island near Guadalcanal.  Departure was scheduled for midnight.  The first thing the two secret lovers did was to go to their lockers and change into regulation uniforms.  They hadn’t been aboard for an hour when they got a message from the Captain ordering them to report to him immediately.

“I s’pose he’s wantin’ to explain why we lost the launch,” Billy said.

“No doubt,” Will replied.  “All we can do is tell him what happened and hope he doesn’t hold it against us.”

“Think he will?” Billy asked anxiously.

“Hard to say, Billy.  But I have a hunch he’ll believe us when we say it was unavoidable.” 

“You wanted to see us, Sir?” Will asked when he and Billy arrived at the Captain’s office.

“Yes.  Come in.  Sit down.  I have some questions for you.”

The interview took more than an hour during which the Captain took notes for the paperwork he would have to submit to the Admiral.  Two things in the description of the mission seemed to be of particular interest to the Captain.  The first was sighting and attempting to avoid the mine.  The second seemed less relevant to the report he would have to submit: foraging for food on the island and the treatment of the wound without proper medical supplies.  By prior agreement, Will and Billy said nothing about Sean’s fatalistic attitude nor about his apparent resentment over being subordinate to a less senior seaman.

The only unexpected information came when Will said, “I suppose you’ll be talking to Wilcox ... for additional facts and to verify our account.”

“Unfortunately,” the Captain said, “I can’t do that.  He’s been detained on Base for psychological evaluation.”

Both Billy and Will were surprised at the news but Will managed to ask without thinking, “What’s the matter with him?  He seemed okay when we last saw him.”

“I don’t know,” the Captain said.  “And if I did, I wouldn’t tell you ... because of patient confidentiality.  His duties aboard the Brighton will be taken over by a new member of the crew.”

There was an air of finality in the Captain’s response so Will did not probe any further.  But both he and Billy were curious and a little concerned about their shipmate even though he had been a pain in the ass during the mission.

“I think I have the information I need,” the Captain said.  “But there’s a personal matter that I need to discuss with you, Benson.  Simpson, you’re dismissed.  And thanks for filling in the blanks for me.”

Billy rose, did a smart about-face, and left.  Will was left to wonder what the personal matter might be.

The Captain grew as visibly nervous before saying, “I’m going to do something that I’ve rarely done during my career and that’s to intrude into the personal affairs of those under my command.  I try very hard to restrict my dealings with subordinates to things that are clearly relevant to their military duties.  But I’m between a rock and a hard place.  First of all, let me assure you that what I’m about to say in no way influences my assessment of your abilities or your future in the Navy.  Secondly — as I’m sure you’re aware — the ‘old boy’ network is as important and useful in the Navy as anywhere else.  That’s a long and maybe confusing introduction to what I want to say so let me get right to the point.  I’ve received a message from Captain Williamson at Great Lakes.  I served under him once and he was instrumental in getting my promotion to command a ship of my own.  I owe him a favor ... several, in fact ... this is one of them.  He’s asked me to talk to you about an apparent estrangement with your family.  Apparently, your father is worried about you because he hasn’t heard from you since you enlisted.  I’m guessing this is more than the typical concern of a father for his son.  For Captain Williamson to ask that I speak to you, it must be a very serious problem.” 

Having exhausted the excuse for bringing the subject up, the Captain paused.  Will said nothing.  He was too busy trying to quell the anger that seemed to engulf him and fighting the urge to lash out at his autocratic father.  It maddened him that he couldn’t escape his father’s compulsive need to control every aspect of his son’s life.  But prudence prevailed.  He had made the mistake of voicing his anger to Captain Williamson in Basic Training.  It was either that or his father’s continuing interference that got him assigned to the engine room of a cargo ship.  It was a mistake he vowed not to repeat.

“Anything to say, Benson?” the Captain asked.

“No, Sir.”

The Captain was not about to drop the subject and asked, “Is there a reason you haven’t been in touch with your parents?”

The phrasing of the question did not allow for evasion.  “Yes, Sir.  But I’d rather not discuss it.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m grateful for the things my parents did for me as a child.”

“You’re not a child anymore but you’re still their son and always will be.  And ... forgive my meddling into your personal life ... but they are naturally concerned about your welfare.  Don’t you think it’s fair to let them know you’re all right?”

Will was conflicted.  He had to agree with what the Captain said about parents’ interest in their children’s health and happiness.  But he still resisted the temptation to explain why he had consciously distanced himself from his family.  Hoping the conversation could be ended, he replied, “Yes, Sir.”

“Then can I assume you’ll contact them?”

It was not an order but the situation and the tone of the question left only one conclusion: it was clearly an emphatic request.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Good,” the Captain said.  “That’ll be all.  For now.”

Upon leaving, Will complimented himself for not saying, ‘I’ve rejected their lifestyle and values because of their snobbery ... their disapproval of my every action ... their obsessive need to control me and shape me into their distorted image of perfection ... and their constant demeaning of my individuality.’  The Captain’s assessment of the conversation was quite different.  His initial objective was to do a favor for a colleague.  That he did.  But he also had other motives: to restore family bonds and to mentor an extremely promising young man who — he hoped — would become a valuable asset to the Navy.

In the meantime, Billy had been worrying over why the Captain wanted to speak with Will in private.  Was it a discussion of Will’s potential and possible promotion?  That would no doubt mean separation from his lover.  Was it an assessment of his behavior and competence on the mission?  His Southern roots and relative lack of education may condemn him to menial duties for the rest of his time in the Navy.  Or was it something else?  He just didn’t know.  So as soon as he saw Will return, he asked, “What’d the Captain wanna talk to ya ‘bout?”

Will replied, “If anybody else asked me that question I wouldn’t answer.  But you’re special to me.  I promised you I’d always be honest.  That’s important.  It seems my father is continuing to take advantage of his network to keep tabs on me.  He sent word through his connections to the Captain that I haven’t contacted my family since enlisting.  My father claims to be worried about me, which is pure bullshit.  It infuriates me, Billy.  The bastard is still trying to control my life.  In the process, he’s involved people — like the Captain — as his henchmen to make me toe the line.  You know how I resent my father’s dictatorial ways.  Now he’s poisoning the opinion of people around me, people who have no need and no right to know about my personal family troubles.”

“Ya said ya would always be honest.  I will, too.  I haven’t said this before but I think ya oughta at least write t’say yur okay.  First off, yur dad may really be wonderin’ and worried ‘boutcha.  Second, it’d maybe stop him from pesterin’ ya by churnin’ the waters ‘round ya.”

Will took a moment to digest and process what his lover had said.  His first conclusion was a reaffirmation of his respect for Billy’s character and wisdom.  He had to agree with the logic of his argument.  Speaking softly so as not to be overheard, he said, “Thanks, Billy.  You’re right ... as usual.  If we weren’t aboard the ship I’d give you a hug and a kiss to show you how much I appreciate and love you.”

“I’ll collect later,” Billy grinned.  “Count on it!”

To be continued...

Iatia’s inspiration and editing cannot be ignored.  Thanks, my friend.