LOTR RPF AU - WWII chapter 3a
Jan. 17th, 2005 01:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kitsune_writesAuthor: Fox
Rating: Entire series will be a hard R to NC-17 for violence, language, sexual situations so forth and such like. This part PG-13 (at best) for language.
Pairing: Gen for now.
Disclaimer: This story is not to be taken as factual even though there are factual elements to it - it is a fictionalized account and it did not happen. The characterizations are not the real people who's names and images I've used in my story - they are false and should not be taken to indicate any sort of agreement with what I've written. I am not making any money from this, only using my (admittedly) overactive imagination.
A/N: Artistic license is my friend. I've tried to be as accurate as possible but sometimes I tweak history to help myself out. ;-)
Many and repeated thanks to AnneMarie, Julie and![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
pippinmctaggart for the betas and hand holding. Hope it's worth it. Also, while this has been betaed, I am a compulsive tinkerer so any mistakes are mine.
Chapter 1 Chapter 2
29 April 1942, Bath, England
Orlando’s eyes narrowed in concentration as his dexterous fingers unscrewed the faceplate on the nose of the bomb. He lifted the plate and carefully pulled the cap off the metal casing resting inside the cylinder. He laid the cap on the ground beside him, and reached back into the bomb to release the timing pin. There was a second of intense fear when he heard the firing mechanism click, but he managed to get the end of the pin back in place before the connection sparked. He thought he heard someone call his name but didn't look to see. If they were still alive when he was done, then he’d worry about it. He blew out a calming breath and then pulled the pin out again, slower this time. The mechanism stayed in place, so Orlando set the pin down and picked up his wire cutters. With his left hand, he cautiously lifted two green wires with two fingers and pulled down a blue one with his pinkie. He reached in, held his breath, and snipped the blue wire.
Releasing a steadying sigh, he began to dismantle the rest of the warhead and its firing mechanism. Once it was completely disarmed, he stood up to see if anyone was waiting for him. A Guardsman was standing on the other side of the sandbags, staring at him with fear and awe. Orli smiled. “What can I do for you?”
“There’s a Captain waiting for you back at main,” the Guardsman said. He paused for a moment, eyes wide before continuing. “That a bomb?”
“Yes,” Bloom replied as he bent to pick up the metal cylinder. “Right, then,” he said, trying to hand the body of the bomb to the Guardsman.
The young man just stood there, staring at the offering.
“Carry this back, won’t you?” Orli said, pushing the twenty pounds of roughened metal into the other man's hands.
“Uh…sir…”
“I’ve got the trouble.” Orli smiled as he lifted up the detonator and fuses. “You’ll be fine.”
The Guardsman waved a sloppy salute and beat a hasty retreat towards the main tent. Bloom followed at a more sedate pace, shaking his head and chuckling to himself.
*********
Andy looked up as the tent door was flung open. A pale and sickly-looking Guardsman entered and, seeing Andy, saluted. “Lieutenant Bloom is on his way, sir. He had to stop by the depot first.”
“Are you all right, man?” Andy asked, as the pallor of the man's skin did not correspond with the sweat at his temples.
“Fine, sir, I just…he was working on a bomb and I’ve never been so close before, sir.”
Andy nodded. Confronting one’s mortality on the fly was never pleasant. He was about to speak when the tent flap was tossed open. Serkis studied Bloom as the young Lieutenant entered and saluted him before coming to attention. ‘Pretty boy’ he thought uncharitably before addressing his subordinate.
“Lieutenant Bloom, you are filthy,” he said, smirking as Orlando tried to surreptitiously brush the dirt from his uniform.
Orlando barely swallowed his retort. “Defusing bombs can be dirty work, sir,” he answered evenly.
Andy was impressed. Had the situation been reversed, he would have gotten into trouble with his smart mouth, for sure. He knew little about Boyd, Bean and Bloom but he could see how and why they would work well with each other. “Too true, Lieutenant,” he said, giving Bloom’s uniform another pointed look.
Orli somehow managed not to roll his eyes. Why was this Captain trying to bait him? “The Guardsman said you needed to see me, sir?”
Andy smiled, knowing what Bloom was about. “The Crown needs your particular skills, Lieutenant; you are for London tomorrow.”
Orli cocked his head but held his obvious question. Andy was impressed again. Perhaps McKellen needed to recruit a few more men for the Intelligence cause.
“Walk with me,” he said, leaving the office and heading toward his jeep. Away from prying ears, he turned to face Bloom. “What was your question, then?”
“How did you get my name? What do you need with me?”
Andy shook his head. “I haven’t any idea, Lieutenant. They don’t tell me the why or how – only the who and where. In your case, I reckon it’s because you’ve got a reputation for being good with explosives and people – a rare mix, I daresay.”
“You should know that my area is bombs and explosive devices of the like -- mines are a different matter. I can do them, but I’m no expert, sir.”
Andy sighed. “Come with me,” he said, heading back into the main tent. “Sergeant Foote, is there a secure line here?”
“No, sir, closest is High Wycombe.”
“Very good, Sergeant,” Andy said, holding in a deeper sigh. He turned to Bloom. “How long do you think it will take you to pack, Lieutenant?”
“Twenty minutes or less, sir.”
“Bring your bag to the jeep. I’ll wait for you there.”
“Yes, sir,” Orlando said as he saluted and hurried from the tent.
Andy looked over at the Sergeant. “I suppose I should notify the commanding officer that Bloom is coming with me.”
Foote smirked. “Likely, sir.”
Andy snorted. “Be a good chap and get him on the line for me.”
“Yes, sir,” Foote chuckled as he picked up the phone.
*********
High Wycombe
Serkis pulled up in front of the building he’d been in just that morning. Colonel Lee would be so happy to see him twice in one day, he was sure. What really irritated him, though, was that he and Bloom, who’d remained mostly silent on the trip, would have to stay in the Bachelor Officer’s Quarters on the base. He’d hoped to be in his own bed tonight. Such is the life of a go-to man, he supposed. “Come with me,” he said as he climbed out of the jeep.
Orlando followed him into the building, looking around once he was inside. Andy was just glad that a different Guardsman was on duty now.
“Good evening,” he said, walking up to the desk. He pulled out his identification and handed it to the guardsman. “Captain Serkis, MI5. I need a secure line to the number on the back of that card. Ask for Brigadier McKellen and tell him the Prodigal Son is coming home.”
The Guardsman looked at him as if he was crazy but wrote down the instructions and went into the back.
“MI5?” Orlando asked warily.
“Yes, Bloom, MI5. You have been chosen to serve your country in a more concentrated manner because of your knowledge and background with explosives. Unfortunately, I do not have any further information for you at this time.”
Orlando nodded, accepting but not entirely believing what Serkis was saying.
“How did I get so lucky as to see you two times today, Captain?” Colonel Lee asked as he entered the front room. He looked at Bloom. “Ah. You weren’t done stealing men off of our bases yet.”
Andy chuckled. “I’m in need of a secure line, sir, and you’re it. I couldn’t make it back to London today.”
The Guardsman handed Lee the identification and the paper upon which he’d written Serkis’s instructions. Lee looked it over, and a smile touched the corners of his mouth as he glanced back up at Serkis. “Captain, somehow I have no difficulty seeing you as the Prodigal Son. Will McKellen be waiting to welcome you home with open arms, do you think?”
Andy laughed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. He managed to keep his mouth shut, to his great relief. He’d had a comeback hovering just on the tip of his tongue, but he was certain the starchy Colonel Lee would not think as highly of it.
“Come on back,” Lee said, his smile widening. “I’ll get started on the telephone.”
“Yes, sir.” Andy nodded as Lee walked into the back of the building. Then he looked over at Orlando. “You’re with us, Bloom,” he said.
Orlando followed, wondering what he’d just been drafted into.
In the back, Lee was asking for Brigadier McKellen, and being told no such person was at the number dialed.
"What do you mean, no such person? I've been handed this number and name by an MI5 operative."
Andy gestured for the phone, and Lee handed it over with a frown.
"Is that Gretchen or Caroline? This is Serkis, 513926AS."
"It's Caroline, Andy!"
"Hello, love. Ian around?" Both Lee and Bloom looked surprised at a Captain addressing a Brigadier by his first name.
"I'll patch you through."
"Brilliant, love. I'll see you soon."
"Charmer," she said before transferring him with an audible click.
"McKellen."
"Serkis, sir."
"Ah, Serkis. Boyd and Bean have arrived. Have you had any trouble locating Bloom?"
"I've found him, sir. I needed a secure line to talk you, and had to backtrack to High Wycombe. We'll be in London tomorrow."
"What is it that you need?"
"Lieutenant Bloom has been so kind as to disclose that he is less than brilliant with mines. We'll need someone else to pick that up, sir."
Orlando bristled at Andy's words and tone but kept himself from responding to the sentiments expressed. "I know who will be your best option," he said evenly.
"You know an expert in mines?" Andy said, turning to face Bloom.
"Lieutenant Karl Urban, New Zealand Expedition forces. He's on Malta right now, though."
"Karl Urban, sir," Andy repeated into the phone for McKellen. "He's a Lieutenant in the ANZAC, but he's on Malta, sir. You're going to have to fly him off."
"We can do that," McKellen replied. "I'll have something lined up by the time you get back to London."
"You're saying that as if I'll be on the plane, sir," Andy said, chuckling.
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
"Sir, surely you are not flying me to Malta?"
"Bloom as well."
Serkis looked at Bloom, then sighed. "Yes, sir."
"I will talk to you more tomorrow, then."
"Goodbye, sir."
After another loud click signifying the end to the call, Andy handed the phone back to Lee. "Thank you, sir."
"Did I hear correctly? You are going to Malta?"
"Yes, sir. Lieutenant Bloom and I are going sometime tomorrow, probably."
"Why do I need to go?" Orlando asked, belatedly remembering to add "sir" to the question.
Andy smirked. "Obviously, I look too much like a German spy."
Lee chuckled. Bloom did not.
"Look, Lieutenant," Andy began with a sigh when he saw his attempt to lighten the situation had failed, "You will go for the same reason I am. Because we were ordered to go by a superior officer. If that's not good enough for you, please do feel free to discuss it with Brigadier McKellen tomorrow."
Orlando's jaw clenched. "Yes, sir."
Andy turned to Lee. "Do you have space for two weary travellers?"
"I only have bunks left."
Andy nodded. "Bunks will do. We're only here until dawn anyway."
"Very good. I will have Guardsman Brophy show you to the BOQ."
"Thank you, sir," Bloom and Serkis chorused as they followed Lee out to the front desk.
*********
30 April 1942 London, Ministry of Defence
Andy pulled up to the front of the building and parked in a reserved spot. An irritated Guardsman stepped out into the cold wind and marched toward the car. Orlando anticipated Serkis getting a lecture on who got to park where, depending on rank and/or status. When the Guardsman saw who was driving the vehicle, he stopped, saluted and turned to leave. Orlando was intrigued.
They hurried into the building, keen on spending as little time in the biting wind as possible. From there, they were ushered quickly into the elevator. They landed on the fourth floor, and walked down the long hall to a solid wood door. Andy pushed the door open, and led Orlando into a large waiting room.
"Andy!" A small, competent-looking woman came around the desk to greet them.
"Mrs. Woodrich, my love!" Andy exclaimed warmly, grinning as he took her hands in his and gave her a kiss on both cheeks.
"Silver-tongued devil," she replied with exasperated affection.
"And you love it, my dear," he said, chuckling as she smiled. "Mrs. Woodrich," he began, turning to gesture toward his companion, "this is another piece of the Brigadier's puzzle, Lieutenant Orlando Bloom. Bloom, this is the best and most loyal secretary in this war, Mrs. Caroline Woodrich."
Mrs. Woodrich tutted at Andy and smiled at Orlando before going back round her desk to buzz McKellen. "Sir, Captain Serkis and Lieutenant Bloom are here. Shall I show them in?" Pause. "Very good, sir." She came back to stand in front of the two officers. "Follow me, please, gentlemen. Er...you as well, Andy."
"Sweet Caroline, I am hurt!" Andy cried, his hands moving to cover his heart. "You wound me, you do!"
Mrs. Woodrich smiled sweetly as she led them to the closed door at the other end of the waiting room. She rapped twice before pushing it open and letting them in. She closed the door behind them once they were inside.
Andy and Orlando stood at attention. "Captain Serkis and Lieutenant Bloom reporting," Andy barked.
"And it's about bloody time! We've only been waiting since yesterday afternoon," came a voice Orlando was very familiar with.
A smile crossed Bloom's face. "Is that William Boyd, late of the Scots Guard?"
"In the flesh," Boyd replied, standing up and turning to face the two officers. A broad grin wreathed his face as he crossed the room and embraced Orlando.
"He's not the only Scots Guard in the room, y'know," came another familiar voice.
Orlando pulled back from Billy to look at Sean Bean's laughing face. "If it isn't Sean Bean. Where one goes, the other follows, eh?"
"Shut it, you southern bastard!" Bean replied cheerfully as he wrapped his arms around Bloom.
After the embracing and backslapping, the three turned to face McKellen.
"Brigadier McKellen, meet the best explosives and demolitions expert in the war," Billy said, a wide grin still on his face.
"Except for mines," Andy called out helpfully.
Boyd and Bean snickered. They looked from Bloom to Serkis and back to Bloom before bursting into laughter. "He..he..told you...he..wasn't...go...good...w...withmines?" Billy managed to spit out.
Andy's smirk faded a bit in the face of such a reaction. "Yes, sir. He told me just that; it's why we have to pick up Lieutenant Karl Urban today."
Billy and Sean laughed harder at this piece of news. Orlando tried to calm them down. "It's true," he said to no one in particular. "Karl is better than me with mines."
It didn't work. Boyd and Bean kept laughing. Bloom shrugged.
McKellen had had enough. "What's so funny?" he demanded.
Billy somehow managed to control his mirth. "'M sorry, sir, it's just a bit of an inside joke."
"Explain."
"Yes, sir," Billy replied. "I suspect you know that we all worked together in North Africa. Well, Orlando, here, is good with mines, but Karl is a master at them. So it happens to follow that...well, I'm sorry sir, it just really isn't funny unless you were there..."
McKellen looked from Serkis to Bloom to Boyd. "In your opinion, Major Boyd, do we need Urban?"
Billy didn't hesitate. "Yes, sir."
McKellen nodded. "Very well. Our pilot is on the way. Serkis, Bloom, you will be departing at 14:00. Boyd, Bean, make yourselves comfortable in the waiting room until he gets here. I need to speak with these two."
"Yes, sir," Billy and Sean chorused as they walked out of the room.
This is a work in progress so any questions, comments and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated.
X-posted tofoxtales, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
fellow_shippers, lotr_au_fic and monaboyd.
Rating: Entire series will be a hard R to NC-17 for violence, language, sexual situations so forth and such like. This part PG-13 (at best) for language.
Pairing: Gen for now.
Disclaimer: This story is not to be taken as factual even though there are factual elements to it - it is a fictionalized account and it did not happen. The characterizations are not the real people who's names and images I've used in my story - they are false and should not be taken to indicate any sort of agreement with what I've written. I am not making any money from this, only using my (admittedly) overactive imagination.
A/N: Artistic license is my friend. I've tried to be as accurate as possible but sometimes I tweak history to help myself out. ;-)
Many and repeated thanks to AnneMarie, Julie and
pippinmctaggart for the betas and hand holding. Hope it's worth it. Also, while this has been betaed, I am a compulsive tinkerer so any mistakes are mine.Chapter 1 Chapter 2
Orlando’s eyes narrowed in concentration as his dexterous fingers unscrewed the faceplate on the nose of the bomb. He lifted the plate and carefully pulled the cap off the metal casing resting inside the cylinder. He laid the cap on the ground beside him, and reached back into the bomb to release the timing pin. There was a second of intense fear when he heard the firing mechanism click, but he managed to get the end of the pin back in place before the connection sparked. He thought he heard someone call his name but didn't look to see. If they were still alive when he was done, then he’d worry about it. He blew out a calming breath and then pulled the pin out again, slower this time. The mechanism stayed in place, so Orlando set the pin down and picked up his wire cutters. With his left hand, he cautiously lifted two green wires with two fingers and pulled down a blue one with his pinkie. He reached in, held his breath, and snipped the blue wire.
Releasing a steadying sigh, he began to dismantle the rest of the warhead and its firing mechanism. Once it was completely disarmed, he stood up to see if anyone was waiting for him. A Guardsman was standing on the other side of the sandbags, staring at him with fear and awe. Orli smiled. “What can I do for you?”
“There’s a Captain waiting for you back at main,” the Guardsman said. He paused for a moment, eyes wide before continuing. “That a bomb?”
“Yes,” Bloom replied as he bent to pick up the metal cylinder. “Right, then,” he said, trying to hand the body of the bomb to the Guardsman.
The young man just stood there, staring at the offering.
“Carry this back, won’t you?” Orli said, pushing the twenty pounds of roughened metal into the other man's hands.
“Uh…sir…”
“I’ve got the trouble.” Orli smiled as he lifted up the detonator and fuses. “You’ll be fine.”
The Guardsman waved a sloppy salute and beat a hasty retreat towards the main tent. Bloom followed at a more sedate pace, shaking his head and chuckling to himself.
Andy looked up as the tent door was flung open. A pale and sickly-looking Guardsman entered and, seeing Andy, saluted. “Lieutenant Bloom is on his way, sir. He had to stop by the depot first.”
“Are you all right, man?” Andy asked, as the pallor of the man's skin did not correspond with the sweat at his temples.
“Fine, sir, I just…he was working on a bomb and I’ve never been so close before, sir.”
Andy nodded. Confronting one’s mortality on the fly was never pleasant. He was about to speak when the tent flap was tossed open. Serkis studied Bloom as the young Lieutenant entered and saluted him before coming to attention. ‘Pretty boy’ he thought uncharitably before addressing his subordinate.
“Lieutenant Bloom, you are filthy,” he said, smirking as Orlando tried to surreptitiously brush the dirt from his uniform.
Orlando barely swallowed his retort. “Defusing bombs can be dirty work, sir,” he answered evenly.
Andy was impressed. Had the situation been reversed, he would have gotten into trouble with his smart mouth, for sure. He knew little about Boyd, Bean and Bloom but he could see how and why they would work well with each other. “Too true, Lieutenant,” he said, giving Bloom’s uniform another pointed look.
Orli somehow managed not to roll his eyes. Why was this Captain trying to bait him? “The Guardsman said you needed to see me, sir?”
Andy smiled, knowing what Bloom was about. “The Crown needs your particular skills, Lieutenant; you are for London tomorrow.”
Orli cocked his head but held his obvious question. Andy was impressed again. Perhaps McKellen needed to recruit a few more men for the Intelligence cause.
“Walk with me,” he said, leaving the office and heading toward his jeep. Away from prying ears, he turned to face Bloom. “What was your question, then?”
“How did you get my name? What do you need with me?”
Andy shook his head. “I haven’t any idea, Lieutenant. They don’t tell me the why or how – only the who and where. In your case, I reckon it’s because you’ve got a reputation for being good with explosives and people – a rare mix, I daresay.”
“You should know that my area is bombs and explosive devices of the like -- mines are a different matter. I can do them, but I’m no expert, sir.”
Andy sighed. “Come with me,” he said, heading back into the main tent. “Sergeant Foote, is there a secure line here?”
“No, sir, closest is High Wycombe.”
“Very good, Sergeant,” Andy said, holding in a deeper sigh. He turned to Bloom. “How long do you think it will take you to pack, Lieutenant?”
“Twenty minutes or less, sir.”
“Bring your bag to the jeep. I’ll wait for you there.”
“Yes, sir,” Orlando said as he saluted and hurried from the tent.
Andy looked over at the Sergeant. “I suppose I should notify the commanding officer that Bloom is coming with me.”
Foote smirked. “Likely, sir.”
Andy snorted. “Be a good chap and get him on the line for me.”
“Yes, sir,” Foote chuckled as he picked up the phone.
Serkis pulled up in front of the building he’d been in just that morning. Colonel Lee would be so happy to see him twice in one day, he was sure. What really irritated him, though, was that he and Bloom, who’d remained mostly silent on the trip, would have to stay in the Bachelor Officer’s Quarters on the base. He’d hoped to be in his own bed tonight. Such is the life of a go-to man, he supposed. “Come with me,” he said as he climbed out of the jeep.
Orlando followed him into the building, looking around once he was inside. Andy was just glad that a different Guardsman was on duty now.
“Good evening,” he said, walking up to the desk. He pulled out his identification and handed it to the guardsman. “Captain Serkis, MI5. I need a secure line to the number on the back of that card. Ask for Brigadier McKellen and tell him the Prodigal Son is coming home.”
The Guardsman looked at him as if he was crazy but wrote down the instructions and went into the back.
“MI5?” Orlando asked warily.
“Yes, Bloom, MI5. You have been chosen to serve your country in a more concentrated manner because of your knowledge and background with explosives. Unfortunately, I do not have any further information for you at this time.”
Orlando nodded, accepting but not entirely believing what Serkis was saying.
“How did I get so lucky as to see you two times today, Captain?” Colonel Lee asked as he entered the front room. He looked at Bloom. “Ah. You weren’t done stealing men off of our bases yet.”
Andy chuckled. “I’m in need of a secure line, sir, and you’re it. I couldn’t make it back to London today.”
The Guardsman handed Lee the identification and the paper upon which he’d written Serkis’s instructions. Lee looked it over, and a smile touched the corners of his mouth as he glanced back up at Serkis. “Captain, somehow I have no difficulty seeing you as the Prodigal Son. Will McKellen be waiting to welcome you home with open arms, do you think?”
Andy laughed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. He managed to keep his mouth shut, to his great relief. He’d had a comeback hovering just on the tip of his tongue, but he was certain the starchy Colonel Lee would not think as highly of it.
“Come on back,” Lee said, his smile widening. “I’ll get started on the telephone.”
“Yes, sir.” Andy nodded as Lee walked into the back of the building. Then he looked over at Orlando. “You’re with us, Bloom,” he said.
Orlando followed, wondering what he’d just been drafted into.
In the back, Lee was asking for Brigadier McKellen, and being told no such person was at the number dialed.
"What do you mean, no such person? I've been handed this number and name by an MI5 operative."
Andy gestured for the phone, and Lee handed it over with a frown.
"Is that Gretchen or Caroline? This is Serkis, 513926AS."
"It's Caroline, Andy!"
"Hello, love. Ian around?" Both Lee and Bloom looked surprised at a Captain addressing a Brigadier by his first name.
"I'll patch you through."
"Brilliant, love. I'll see you soon."
"Charmer," she said before transferring him with an audible click.
"McKellen."
"Serkis, sir."
"Ah, Serkis. Boyd and Bean have arrived. Have you had any trouble locating Bloom?"
"I've found him, sir. I needed a secure line to talk you, and had to backtrack to High Wycombe. We'll be in London tomorrow."
"What is it that you need?"
"Lieutenant Bloom has been so kind as to disclose that he is less than brilliant with mines. We'll need someone else to pick that up, sir."
Orlando bristled at Andy's words and tone but kept himself from responding to the sentiments expressed. "I know who will be your best option," he said evenly.
"You know an expert in mines?" Andy said, turning to face Bloom.
"Lieutenant Karl Urban, New Zealand Expedition forces. He's on Malta right now, though."
"Karl Urban, sir," Andy repeated into the phone for McKellen. "He's a Lieutenant in the ANZAC, but he's on Malta, sir. You're going to have to fly him off."
"We can do that," McKellen replied. "I'll have something lined up by the time you get back to London."
"You're saying that as if I'll be on the plane, sir," Andy said, chuckling.
There was silence on the other end of the phone.
"Sir, surely you are not flying me to Malta?"
"Bloom as well."
Serkis looked at Bloom, then sighed. "Yes, sir."
"I will talk to you more tomorrow, then."
"Goodbye, sir."
After another loud click signifying the end to the call, Andy handed the phone back to Lee. "Thank you, sir."
"Did I hear correctly? You are going to Malta?"
"Yes, sir. Lieutenant Bloom and I are going sometime tomorrow, probably."
"Why do I need to go?" Orlando asked, belatedly remembering to add "sir" to the question.
Andy smirked. "Obviously, I look too much like a German spy."
Lee chuckled. Bloom did not.
"Look, Lieutenant," Andy began with a sigh when he saw his attempt to lighten the situation had failed, "You will go for the same reason I am. Because we were ordered to go by a superior officer. If that's not good enough for you, please do feel free to discuss it with Brigadier McKellen tomorrow."
Orlando's jaw clenched. "Yes, sir."
Andy turned to Lee. "Do you have space for two weary travellers?"
"I only have bunks left."
Andy nodded. "Bunks will do. We're only here until dawn anyway."
"Very good. I will have Guardsman Brophy show you to the BOQ."
"Thank you, sir," Bloom and Serkis chorused as they followed Lee out to the front desk.
Andy pulled up to the front of the building and parked in a reserved spot. An irritated Guardsman stepped out into the cold wind and marched toward the car. Orlando anticipated Serkis getting a lecture on who got to park where, depending on rank and/or status. When the Guardsman saw who was driving the vehicle, he stopped, saluted and turned to leave. Orlando was intrigued.
They hurried into the building, keen on spending as little time in the biting wind as possible. From there, they were ushered quickly into the elevator. They landed on the fourth floor, and walked down the long hall to a solid wood door. Andy pushed the door open, and led Orlando into a large waiting room.
"Andy!" A small, competent-looking woman came around the desk to greet them.
"Mrs. Woodrich, my love!" Andy exclaimed warmly, grinning as he took her hands in his and gave her a kiss on both cheeks.
"Silver-tongued devil," she replied with exasperated affection.
"And you love it, my dear," he said, chuckling as she smiled. "Mrs. Woodrich," he began, turning to gesture toward his companion, "this is another piece of the Brigadier's puzzle, Lieutenant Orlando Bloom. Bloom, this is the best and most loyal secretary in this war, Mrs. Caroline Woodrich."
Mrs. Woodrich tutted at Andy and smiled at Orlando before going back round her desk to buzz McKellen. "Sir, Captain Serkis and Lieutenant Bloom are here. Shall I show them in?" Pause. "Very good, sir." She came back to stand in front of the two officers. "Follow me, please, gentlemen. Er...you as well, Andy."
"Sweet Caroline, I am hurt!" Andy cried, his hands moving to cover his heart. "You wound me, you do!"
Mrs. Woodrich smiled sweetly as she led them to the closed door at the other end of the waiting room. She rapped twice before pushing it open and letting them in. She closed the door behind them once they were inside.
Andy and Orlando stood at attention. "Captain Serkis and Lieutenant Bloom reporting," Andy barked.
"And it's about bloody time! We've only been waiting since yesterday afternoon," came a voice Orlando was very familiar with.
A smile crossed Bloom's face. "Is that William Boyd, late of the Scots Guard?"
"In the flesh," Boyd replied, standing up and turning to face the two officers. A broad grin wreathed his face as he crossed the room and embraced Orlando.
"He's not the only Scots Guard in the room, y'know," came another familiar voice.
Orlando pulled back from Billy to look at Sean Bean's laughing face. "If it isn't Sean Bean. Where one goes, the other follows, eh?"
"Shut it, you southern bastard!" Bean replied cheerfully as he wrapped his arms around Bloom.
After the embracing and backslapping, the three turned to face McKellen.
"Brigadier McKellen, meet the best explosives and demolitions expert in the war," Billy said, a wide grin still on his face.
"Except for mines," Andy called out helpfully.
Boyd and Bean snickered. They looked from Bloom to Serkis and back to Bloom before bursting into laughter. "He..he..told you...he..wasn't...go...good...w...withmines?" Billy managed to spit out.
Andy's smirk faded a bit in the face of such a reaction. "Yes, sir. He told me just that; it's why we have to pick up Lieutenant Karl Urban today."
Billy and Sean laughed harder at this piece of news. Orlando tried to calm them down. "It's true," he said to no one in particular. "Karl is better than me with mines."
It didn't work. Boyd and Bean kept laughing. Bloom shrugged.
McKellen had had enough. "What's so funny?" he demanded.
Billy somehow managed to control his mirth. "'M sorry, sir, it's just a bit of an inside joke."
"Explain."
"Yes, sir," Billy replied. "I suspect you know that we all worked together in North Africa. Well, Orlando, here, is good with mines, but Karl is a master at them. So it happens to follow that...well, I'm sorry sir, it just really isn't funny unless you were there..."
McKellen looked from Serkis to Bloom to Boyd. "In your opinion, Major Boyd, do we need Urban?"
Billy didn't hesitate. "Yes, sir."
McKellen nodded. "Very well. Our pilot is on the way. Serkis, Bloom, you will be departing at 14:00. Boyd, Bean, make yourselves comfortable in the waiting room until he gets here. I need to speak with these two."
"Yes, sir," Billy and Sean chorused as they walked out of the room.
This is a work in progress so any questions, comments and constructive criticism are greatly appreciated.
X-posted to
foxtales, fellow_shippers, lotr_au_fic and monaboyd.
