Chapter 13

Traeger's internal alarm woke her at a quarter past 4 in the morning. She didn't grumble or complain, she simply rolled upright and got out of bed. Ford who was such a light sleeper that she woke at the slightest movement from Traeger, got up also and the two set about making their beds before slipping off into the head to make themselves presentable. They were joined by Carter who had also been woken by Traeger's alarm. The submarine stumbled into the head bleary eyed but awake. "Did you sleep at all?" Traeger asked her. She remembered seeing the sub's eyes flashing in the darkness a few times. "If I did I don't remember." Carter washed her face in the sink then wiped her eyes dry. "I think I've gotten more sleep in the last few days than I got the previous two years. Sleep's kinda hard to come by on patrol." She added with a smile. She looked at Traeger who was watching her closely. "Relax yeoman, today's Monday I'm a free sub!" "Only for 15 minutes at a time." Traeger was quick to remind her of LLD rules. "And don't try and pull a fast one because I've seen all the tricks." "What ever happened to me giving you orders?" Carter asked with an exasperated sigh. "I'm a medic. I outrank you!" Traeger purred and Ford stifled a snicker. Carter shot her a look and the carrier knew she was about to make good on her promise to 'beat the living shit out of this division for when the next recruit tries to baby me.' That had happened Saturday night. Orlando had offered, albeit jokingly, to read the submarine a bedtime story if that would get her to sleep faster. Carter had swiftly called foul and promised the beating to end all beatings on Monday and the day of reckoning had arrived.

Carter made the division sweat as she waited until 1900 to spring the workout on them. The announcement came over the intercom. "Division 335 commence ITE." "Alright rugrats you heard big brother. Get to it!!" "Aye senior chief." "Curl ups begin! 1, 2, 3..." "1 senior chief!" This was different than the first and only time Carter beat her division for they could all hear the amusement in her voice and Carter's eyes held a friendly twinkle in them she wasn't even trying to hide. The division shared her lighthearted mood and it ended up being the most enjoyable 'beating' they'd ever had!

2 days later and they were closing in on the final stretch. Everyone had just taken and passed their final PRTs and the only thing standing in their way to become real sailors was battlestations. As no one really knew what battlestations would be like until they actually performed it each member of the division put her talents to good use in an effort to prepare them all. Carter let them do as they pleased, supervising their activities just to make sure nothing or no one got broken. It would be heartbreaking to come this far and be sent home now. Carter had yet to send even a single recruit out of the division, a phenomenal testament to how well these recruits had rallied around each other, rallied around her. She would be slagged before she ever admitted that she enjoyed their coddling over the 5 days she was SIQ. She still got 'coddled' from time to time but since it was usually Traeger Carter took it in stride. With the occasional snipe and sharp comment just to keep the destroyer on her toes.

Currently Traeger was in discussions with Ford over how to perform the casualty lift. In this case performed using dummies on a stretcher. The problem? "We're out of dummies." Ford said. "How is that possible?" Traeger wondered. "330 must've broken the last couple. They were in poor shape anyways." Ford said. "Well that's just grand. We're gonna have to improvise I guess." Traeger's tone turned thoughtful and Carter definitely did not like the look she was giving her right now. "Hmm, yes that'll work." She said. "What will work?" Carter wondered. Ford was grinning now and she and Traeger both had a twinkle in their eye that made Carter quiver. She remembered now why she got along so well with her RPOC and yeoman. They all had the same twisted sense of humor...

"There will be beatings for this!" Carter lay on her side next to a stretcher listening as Traeger explained to the division how to perform the casualty lift. The submarine was being used as the stand in for the dummy. "Why didn't I just pull rank and say no?" She thought. Well, Traeger had a deadly pair of destroyer eyes and Ford offered a valid explanation which between them, left Carter with very little choice but to mutter "if it helps you learn" and agree to their evolution. Traeger had finished with her prebriefing and turned to Carter. "Thanks for agreeing to this." She whispered. "Hmph, if you make me look any more soft I would be a cupcake." The sub grumbled. Traeger chuckled and rested a wire over the sub's shoulders being mindful of the scars behind her sail. "Now there's a couple ways to get the patient into the stretcher. One way is to roll her." She put her nose to Carter's flank and pushed. Carter dutifully rolled onto her back, fins pawing at the sky. There were a few coos at how adorable that looked that were quickly silenced by Ford's growl. The carrier was taking this evolution seriously. "Continue please Traeger." She said. Traeger nodded. "Another way is to try and get the stretcher underneath the patient. Ford if you would." Traeger lifted Carter's head up as Ford pushed the stretcher close to her. Traeger nodded and she stopped. Traeger looked the division and then looked at Carter and the submarine was visibly unnerved by the grin on her face. "Or, if you're large enough and the patient small enough you can just do this." "Traeger don't. Don't you da-hey!" Despite Carter's protests, the destroyer nimbly scruffed Carter and lifted/dragged her into the stretcher setting her down perfectly. The submarine glared. "How bout a little warning next time?" She huffed. "Oh so you admit that you like it hmm?" Traeger teased. "Wha-why you little..." Carter's complaints were stifled as Ford strapped her in. "Now I need five other ships to take positions for lifting." She said. Each ship took their station, three per side. "On the count of three, 1, 2,...."

"ATTENTION ON DECK!" Zumwalt's shout caused everyone to immediately snap to, leaving Carter where she was strapped into stretcher to groan. She knew who it was. Sure enough Fitzgerald entered the room. "As you were." She said. Traeger picked up right where she left off. "You seem to have a good grasp on the casualty lift but what about field triage. After all, you never know when you might be stranded with an injured buddy and there's no medic immediately around." She removed the straps around Carter and Ford handed her a roll of bandages instead. "Oh please no!" Carter groaned as Traeger scruffed her again and lifted her clear of the stretcher, then gently set her on the ground. Carter instinctively got her fins under her and Traeger brushed her muzzle across her back to keep her relaxed before continuing with her presentation. Carter groaned again and put her fins over her face. She could feel Fitz's gaze on her and she knew without looking that the destroyer captain was very, very amused. She missed the conspiratorial grin that she and Traeger exchanged. The two had pre-planned this somehow. Most likely through Roberts. Carter was grateful it was just Fitz here. If the frigate had come too, Carter could not show her face in the mess hall for months! She felt herself being lifted and removed her fins to see Traeger and Ford wrapping the bandages around her midsection. "And then you tie it off like this..."

Eventually the sub was set down and was forced to meet Fitz's very amused gaze. "What an adorable bunch of recruits you have Carter." She said. "I think you mispronounced abhorrent." The sub growled. "I meant what I said." "Tch spare me." Fitz knew the sub was only putting on a facade so she decided to push just a little further... "You two make such an adorable couple." Carter blanched. "Shut your whore mouth! Traeger's still young and innocent!" "Too late, I heard everything!" Traeger purred and Carter slapped her which did nothing to lessen her shit eating grin. Suspicions confirmed, Fitz made a mental note to tell Roberts the bet was on! Current odds were 3-1 in favor of Traeger coming clean first. "Will there be anything else ma'am?" The young destroyer asked. Fitz shook her head. "No I got what I came for." Carter gave her skipper the best glare she could manage considering she was all wrapped up in 'field bandaging'. "There will be repercussions for this!" She hissed. Fitz was not intimidated in the slightest. "I'll take my chances." She deadpanned. She turned to go but paused, looking at Ford. "RPOC, your division has a lone wolf in it. She needs a pack. Are you the pack?" Ford to her credit caught on immediately and led the chant. "We're the pack! We're the pack! AHROOOOOWWW!!!" Fitz left, hearing Carter's voice ring out demanding they all get on the towline. A beating was forthcoming but even she, now halfway down the hall, could see through the annoyance and hear the laughter in the sub's tone.