“He doesn’t want to go back to Alabama. He said the environment there is not conducive to good healing.”

Rick barked out a laugh. “Was that the word he used? Conducive?”

“No, he used words like single wide and man of the month.”

“That sounds more like it.”

“He doesn’t want to go home. He wants to go to Germany, and he mentioned Bethesda and Walter Reed.”

Rick nodded. “He and Ozzy will both go to Germany first. That’s kind of the staging hospital. I’ll ask Colonel Jenkins if there’s a way to let Bill stay in Germany then rejoin the mission.”

“Do you need me to write anything medically?”

“I know you want to help, but I don’t think you’d carry any kind of authority over the docs here or in Germany. He needs what, eight weeks? I don’t see them needing to send him home for that. But I’ll ask Jenkins and let you know if you can help.”

Her coffee had started to cool. “Where’s Ozzy from?”

“Miami.”

“Does he have a support system in place there?”

“That would be something for Ozzy to say, wouldn’t it?”

She raised her eyebrows. “Sorry?”

“Bill talked to you and gave you information. Ozzy did not. There is a difference.”

She pressed her lips together and nodded. “Fair enough.” When he opened his mouth, she held up her hand and said, “That wasn’t sarcasm. I understand, Rick.” She paused. “What does the rest of your day look like?”

He drained his coffee and crushed the cup. “Take care of my men. I need to secure washing machines and get the men access to computer terminals. We have weapons to clean, gear to replace. They’re meeting me in the ready room in about twenty minutes.”

She gave a soft smile. “Thank you for the coffee.”

He pulled a slip of paper out of his shirt pocket and slid it across the table. “That’s my cell number. If you need anything, call me. Don’t text me. I really hate that.” He stood and picked up both their cups. “See you later, Doc.”

The smell of gun oil, known as CLP for cleaner, lubricant, and preservative, filled the room. Rick’s team pulled tables and chairs from other offices into the room, and each of them found a spot to disassemble their M4s. Rick also cleaned Bill’s. Waller had joined the team and took care of Ozzy’s. After Rick examined his bolt carrier and made sure it had no cracks and the spring to ensure it moved well, he used a brush to clean the inside, then rubbed a thin coat of CLP onto it.