Suddenly, my wrist com alert goes off and OPS announces: "Doc needs you in Medical immediately if not sooner!"

 

I made a world record sprint to Medical and found Doc waiting for me at the entrance. Ricardo, we lost Billy! As the words started to be comprehended in my mind, I felt a sharp pain in my ass and then the whole hallway turned black.

 

I woke hours later restrained in one of Doc's "padded room" with my mouth feeling like all the men of Fort Connor had paraded through it wearing dirty socks. As my eyes started to focus, I could see Rod, Junior and Omoikane all in tears.

 

"Get me out of these damn restraints! NOW!!!" Doc hearing my verbose tone and then my less than acceptable command comments joined my family and only commented it sure took you long enough to return to the living. Just relax and we will all talk as a family once the medication wears off.

 

As my mind began to clear out all of the cobwebs, I vaguely remembering Doc telling me we had lost Billy. Billy is dead? HOW? He was totally normal at lunch.

 

Rod just held my hand and told me once your mind is clear, Doc will explain it to all of us. Doc better damn well keep me in restraints because at the moment I am one very pissed off General.

 

Finally, as the IV fluids started to flush out my system Doc returned and started to ask me the standard stupid questions as to who I am, where I am, how many fingers am I holding up... DAMN IT DOC, WHAT IS GOING ON!

 

Rod was in tears as he told me Billy was playing with our War Dogs and his fellow imps and he suddenly had a seizure and collapsed. I rushed him to medical but it was too late.

 

Doc continued telling me his initial evaluation showed Billy in full cardiac arrest with no brain activity. We put him on full life support and confirmed my initial findings with tests. Billy died of a massive stroke, and I'll confirm my suspicions with his autopsy, but I believe it was the result of damage to a large blood vessel in the brain from the church explosion.

 

Even with nothing showing on the tests I ran after the bombing; the sophisticated tests don't always show everything. We have Billy on life support. When you are ready to accept his death and to say goodbye... it is the decision of you and Rod if and when to discontinue mechanical means of keeping his body alive. The Billy we all knew and loved is already in Heaven with Roger. He earthly body has no brain activity.

 

SecDef and POTUS have been briefed and I'm certain Aaron and Mama Bear have been read in on the situation. When you are ready to accept this as an Act of God, I'll let you out of the restraints and then the five of us can see Billy.

 

Seeing Billy hooked up to a machine, I lost it in grief. He was an innocent... there was no reason for him to die because of me. Doc was being all too clinical. "General, you have lost men in battle, this is no different. This was because of a terrorist attack, and it wasn't the fault of anyone other than the Illuminati.

 

Telling Rod, Junior and Omoikane to take me to our billet and help me mourn the loss of my son. The General is grieving, and he needs the support of those who love him to help him through this ordeal.

 

I asked to stop at the Chapel on the way to our billet... I need to say a prayer to Saint Roger for the eternal soul of my precious Billy. Our ever-stealthy Cardinal Chaplain knelt quietly beside me. Holding my hand, he told me when I was ready to talk, he was available regardless of the time of day or night.

 

I vaguely remember hearing the Colonel authorizing Worthington Actual permission to land. Mama Bear entered our residence and held me in her arms. "No one can even start to imagine the pain you are experiencing. Even with the bombers being dead we all want to dig them up and put them in front of a firing squad. Billy would not have wanted his death to ruin your life and future. Let Doc and the Chaplain help you. We all know they are without equal. I'll stay at Fort Connor for as long as you need me. You are and always will be part of my family."

 

The next morning, we had a family meeting, and the consensus of my family was Billy would not have wanted to "live" hooked up to a machine. We all walked over to Medical and informed Doc it was time to turn off life support. As Rod and I held the hands of our son, Doc turned off the machine and the silence was deafening. Billy ceased any function of life, and we all knew he finally was at rest as Roger led him through the eternal gates of Heaven.

 

Doc quickly did an autopsy and confirmed his original suspicious as to the cause of the massive stroke. All of Alpha Zulu mourned the loss of our wonderful boy and even our Cardinal Chaplain couldn't keep from being emotional during the funeral service.

 

Billy was laid to rest nest to Richard and my parents in our family cemetery plot. It would become the goal in my life and Rod's to destroy the Illuminati which had existed for centuries. The holidays after the death of Billy were almost too much for Rod and me to bear. We celebrated Thanksgiving with the men of Alpha Zulu but when Christmas arrived a delegation of soldiers respectfully knocked at the door of our office and informed us the men wanted Rod and me to celebrate the Christmas holiday with Mama Bear and our Worthington family.

 

Right on que Worthington Actual landed and Mama Bear wasn't taking "NO" for an answer. The Command Sergeant Major had our "go bags" loaded and the men all but put us in handcuffs and leg shackles getting us boarded on Worthington Actual. Little did Rod and I know how the entire Worthington Clan and POTUS had conspired to make this a holiday we would never forget.

 

Mama Bear had timed everything out and her conspirators were doing their part as preordained. The Children of our Extended Family were all over us Generals and even Rod had a tear in his eyes wanting this to be a moment we would have shared with Richard and Billy.

 

Finally, it was time to open the Christmas presents and the young imps literally drug us into the great room in anticipation of what was under the tree for them. Omoikane was again playing the Christmas Elf and Rod and I were kinda shocked when all the presents were gone from under the tree, and we hadn't received anything.

 

Mama Bear looked at us and only commented: "Hold that thought"! Leaving the room, she returned with a precious young imp holding her hand. Rushing to Rod and me, he leaped into our arms and informed us Roger had told him we were the best fathers in the world. We Generals had indeed been set up, there is no way we could disappoint this beautiful little imp.

 

As we hugged and cuddled this wonderful little boy, the entire Worthington extended family welcomed him and agreed with Roger we would make the perfect "daddies" for him. Almost immediately, OPS announced POTUS on video.com for you Generals and your new son. "Et tu brut!"

 

POTUS was all smiles and commenting he wished his schedule would have allowed him to share this moment with two Generals he considered his family. You three will be the guests of Mama Bear for the next two weeks and I expect to meet your new son before you return to Fort Connor. Now I'm transferring this connection to the Mess Hall at Fort Connor because the men of Alpha Zulu want to meet their new "little brother"!

 

The enthusiastic roar and applause of the men scared the little imp as Rod and I held him securely and told him these men are the family that awaits us when we return to our home at Fort Connor.

 

Finally, as we all returned to a normal state of holiday enthusiasm... Mama Bear said our Christmas Elf has a present for our new special family member. As Junior lifted Omoikane high into the upper branches of the tree, Omoikane found one last present and gave it to our son. It was a card addressed to John Landry-Mendez. Opening the card, John asked his fathers to read it to him. "Your present is in the big box behind the Christmas Tree."

 

The little guy almost toppled the tree getting to the present we could barely see. Opening it was the traditional gift to new imps welcomed into this clan. A high-speed gaming computer packed with all the electronic games to turn John into a computer nerd and a computer backpack which was almost as big as he was.

 

The imps hauled John off to the game room to start him on his lifelong addiction and becoming a true computer nerd.

 

Rod and I turned to Mama Bear and the rest of our Worthington Family and only commented she wasn't playing fair. "Tell me you don't love the little imp and I'll adopt him myself!" Rod and I smiled at Mama Bear and assured her she doesn't play fair, but the little imp has stolen our hearts and is ours for eternity.

 

Finally, after we watched the Time Square "ball" drop indicating the start of a new year, the next day we gathered for our last meal together for the holiday and we all left to return to our normal lives and commitments to the Worthington "world".

 

Arriving back at the Worthington Executive Airfield, Mama Bears Armored Limousine met us and we had a mass of security vehicles escort us to the Marriott Penthouse. As the dinner hour was fast approaching, Mama Bear asked John what he wanted for dinner. (What a stupid question to ask an imp!) HAMBURGERS! The rest of us opted for a light salad and plenty of strong black coffee to compensate for all the calories we had consumed during our holiday feasting.

 

After dinner, our son was failing fast. We helped him out of his clothes, into the shower and then into PJs for a night of sleep. Fort Connor had a lottery for the six soldiers who would rotate as our security detail for the next two weeks. Adela was wagging her tail as she entered the Penthouse with the soldiers the following day. Spotting our new son, it was an instantaneous magnetic attraction between imp and Wolf War Dog. Adela didn't need the command to be on puppy duty, she still had her maternal instinct from her litter of puppies who were now waiting to be enrolled in War Dog School.

 

John and Adela were a match made in Heaven and other than giving our furry mooch too many doggie treats (We fathers had to teach John MODERATION) Adela would protect our son with her life.

 

Right after our mid-morning brunch, the director of the Worthington Foundation arrived and with the signatures of Rod and me we officially had a 90 day trial adoption of John. Early in the afternoon, our friendly tailor arrived and measured John for his new suits and dress casual clothes. With the measurements from our friendly tailor, Mama Bears personal shopper arrived a few hours later with enough boxes I doubted if they would all fit in the luggage compartment of Worthington Actual. (And we get to do this all over again in 6 months!)

 

As Mama Bear, John, Rod and I were leaving for John's command performance for POTUS... as we exited the Penthouse elevator and headed to the Executive Entrance and Mama Bear's Limousine, we heard someone yell GUN. Rod and I immediately shielded John with our bodies and Adela didn't wait for the command and went running across the lobby floor and sank her fangs viciously into the arm of an assailant drawing a copious amount of blood and forcing the man to drop the gun.

 

Adela wrestled the man to the floor and then proceeded to stand over him with her fangs barred and dripping blood from her defending us.

 

POTUS was smiling when we finally entered the Oval Office. "Never a dull moment with our Generals." Giving Adela a doggie treat, POTUS commented he learned quickly how to bribe the Secret Service Dogs. Doggie Treats are an essential to fulfilling my role as President. That had all of us laughing and John had no idea of what was so funny.

 

Finally, Rod and I formally introduced John Landry-Mendez to the President of the United States. POTUS smiled, took John into his arms and told John he knew where the kitchen staff kept the ice cream and hot fudge sauce.

 

I don't know who was leading whom, but we had our meeting with POTUS over the prep table in the White House kitchen with all of us enjoying vanilla ice cream with hot fudge sauce.

 

As Adela and John were playing on the rug in the Oval Office Rod and I snapped a few pics of our son and Adela enjoying themselves in the middle of the Presidential Seal. Not as good as the first pic of John hanging naked from the flagpole at Fort Connor but definitely will be enjoyment sharing with his future partner in life.

 

Mama Bear will fill you in on the details, but John is a "military brat" and we take care of our own. I know John fulfills your need for a son and frankly none of us could imagine better parents for him than the two of you.

 

Now, unfortunately, I must return to my job as President although I'd rather spend the afternoon with John and Adela on the rug in the Oval Office. Whatever that imp needs... this country owes his father a deep debt and one we will never forget.

 

When Mama Bear's "shopper" returned with all the boxes of clothes for John... he was a born natural model as he insisted on showing off all his new clothes... sometimes even remembering to put on pants. Oh, these are the moments we fathers will never let our son forget when he has children of his own.

 

After we tucked John into bed and kissed him goodnight... we joined Mama Bear in the Great Room and I knew this wouldn't be enjoyable as she broke out the 100 year old Bandy.

 

John's father was a jet pilot who was shot down providing close air support for a group of special OPS Army soldiers. His mother died in childbirth, and he was basically raised by his grandparents. His grandparents had reached the stage of life where taking care of such an active imp was next to impossible. When they contacted the Worthington Military Help Line knowing they soon would be forced into an Assisted Living Home... the minute I heard of a child needing a loving home there was no question in my mind as to the new parents for this imp.

 

The list of conspirators is endless who cooperated in making this happen. I was serious when I told you two if you didn't want him, I would adopt him. Only time will tell what the future holds for John, but I guarantee you it will be the best future possible for him.

 

As Rod and I settled into bed that night, I turned to my partner in life and asked if we did the right thing in adopting John. Rod looked at me and told me I can be such a dumb and stupid General at times. You love John, I love John, The Worthingtons love John, POTUS love John and the men of Alpha Zulu love John... No one will ever take him away from us.

 

The next morning after breakfast we had another bureaucratic battle to fight. Animal Control wanted Adela confined in their custody pending a decision whether to euthanize her as a dangerous animal. I LOST IT!

 

t Adela is a 1^st Sergeant in the United States Army.

t She is assigned to the protection of high-risk imps.

t She was fulfilling her military responsibilities.

t There are a thousand armed special OPS soldiers that will challenge your right to detain her.

t As Adela was functioning as a member of the US Army, only a military court martial has jurisdiction.

t The only way the Army will relinquish custody of Adela is with a writ from a Federal Judge.

 

When POTUS quit laughing after hearing of Animal Control trying to "arrest" Adela, he signed a Presidential Pardon for her and had the Attorney General of the United States deliver it to Animal Control.

 

The only downside to this entire situation was Adela receiving so many doggie treats from the men of Alpha Zulu she was running extra miles for weeks.

 

Animal Control wasn't letting this go without a battle... if they couldn't do anything in court they would try the world of public opinion. One should learn, you aren't going to win a fight with POTUS.

 

Adela had a command performance at the White House for the White House Sharks. Dressed in her finest light weight body armor, her 1^st Sergeant rank on her chest, the seal of POTUS and the American Flag on one side of her body, the Flag of Alpha Zulu and our six stars on the opposite side. POTUS presented our proud four-legged member of the Army with a Silver Star. And what made it the lead story on every national media outlet that night was a little imp named John with his arms wrapped around the neck of the loveable mutt that saved his life.

 

Animal Control admitted DEFEAT!

 

Adela received a hero's welcome when she returned to Fort Connor and our four legged media star reveled in all the national attention she received. Of course, the Mess Staff made it to the top of Adela's best loved list when they served her a T-Bone Steak Bloody Rare for her Welcome Home meal. (Something is wrong with this scenario. I'm a General being served Beef and Noodles and my War Dog gets T-Bone Steak for dinner! NOT FAIR!)

 

Adela and John were a match made in Heaven. I permanently assigned Adela to John's protection detail feeling secure being more of a father than being an overprotective parent when Adela wasn't around.

 

Finally, Rod and I found a happy medium where we felt John was safe and John had enough freedom to enjoy himself and be part of Alpha Zulu with the men. There were a couple of night that John came home looking like a grease monkey as he spent the day with the men in maintenance. John never shied away from a dirty or messy task. Even when he ended up on Garbage Can Detail... they were spotless and polished till you could see your face in them.

 

It had been over a year since we had an attack on Fort Connor and the protective dome Omoikane had developed definitely has to be given high marks for protecting us. It was fun to be a carefree father again and just when I was letting down my guard...

 

I got up in the middle of the night paying the price for drinking far too much STRONG BLACK COFFEE... I stopped by John's room and entering the room it smelled funny. Touching my son, his bedding was soaked with urine and he was burning up. I yelled at Rod to get his ass out of bed as I wrapped John in a clean blanket and went running across camp to medical with him in my arms.

 

The Doctor on duty took John from me and started to evaluate his patient. One of the nurses went into the supply room and handed me a set of surgical scrubs. In my panic, I had run across camp with John wrapped in a blanket and me being naked as the day I was born. (POTUS would never let me live this down.)

 

I knew it was serious when Doc emerged from his bed to join the on-call staff. Ordering John prepped for surgery... Doc informed Rod and me John had a "hot appendix" and emergency surgery was needed. Hopefully, we can remove it before it ruptures. No one knows why the appendix gets infected but at this stage the only option is surgical removal before it ruptures and really threatens the life of this imp.

 

The thought of losing John sent me into a panic attack. Fortunately, our Cardinal Chaplain joined Rod and me and a little impish Angel by the name of Roger came to me and told me it wasn't John's time to die.

 

The surgery went without incident and Adela was broken hearted when Doc refused to let her visit John while he was in Medical recovering. The most challenging assignment I ever had in the military was when Doc told me to keep John in bed for the next 7-10 days to allow all of his stitches to heal. By the time John could get out and about I was ready for 7-10 days in bed myself.

 

Of course, POTUS had to get his digs in: "What is this I hear about my General doing a naked sprint across Fort Connor?" I just smiled at POTUS and told him be happy it was me and not Rod. That comment had POTUS laughing his ass off.

 

When OPS announced I had a video.com from Mama Bear I accepted defeat graciously regardless of what she would request. "Generals, I'm flying in this afternoon and stealing your son for a few weeks of pampering. Even an imp needs a few weeks away from his fathers occasionally." I approved the request of Mama Bear just so my imp takes his laptop and does his schoolwork. He can play hooky from Fort Connor but he can't play hooky from school. And, you know... it is a package deal. You'll never be allowed off base unless you take Adela also. Those two are inseparable.

 

As much as Rod and I loved John... a few weeks of being two gay lovers sounded absolutely perfect in our minds. We just had to keep from being put on Doc's Sexually Disabled List with a 14 day DO NOT ENTER posting.

 

Rod was an animal in heat and my passion matched his. We never realized how our sex lives were constrained by our son, but we loved our son and would make any sacrifice for him.

 

By the third day John was vacationing with Mama Bear I looked like death warmed over. Doc ordered me to Medical and demanded to know what problem I had. I smiled at Doc and told him it was a problem that every gay man dreamed of having. Rod with his massive black python and if he kills me, I'll die with a smile on my face. Doc just kicked me out of medical with a case of lube and told me to use plenty of it.

 

I swear, Rod and I were having better sex than when we first met. He would send me to Nirvana 5-10 times every night and I was a blithering idiot when he finished fucking my brains out. When I accused him of being a two-legged walking fuck machine, I WAS SERIOUS!

 

DON'T EVER CHANGE!!! I was smiling as I walked around camp like a virgin bride the day after she gave her husband her virginity. I set a new standard for doing the "walk of shame" and I wasn't embarrassed. I'm married to a STUD, eat your heart out!

 

The lull between attacks at Fort Connor was our worse enemy. The men respond better when the ALERTS are real and not just practice drills. Our little imp Omoikane had indeed thwarted many attacks with his new Dome protecting Fort Connor. The potential for this electric Dome saving the lives of many in the Military in combat is unfathomable. The only consideration is the cost and what cost do we put on a soldier's life.

 

Rod and I were taking our usual helicopter from Andrews to Camp Phoenix when suddenly we saw a ground to air rocket coming straight at us. The pilot radioed a MAYDAY as we were plummeting toward the ground.

 

Rod and I only had our 9mm Glock and our 9mm Barretta ankle gun with us. Both pilots were injured upon impact, and we prepared the best we could to defend them and us against a hostile attack we knew would happen immediately.

 

As the hostiles approached over open ground, they were still out of range of our handguns. We suddenly heard the unique sound of an A10 Warthog and its chain gun spitting out rounds as it also launched rockets to protect us. When the chain gun hit a hostile, it literally blew them into pieces. Whoever was behind this attack decided retreat was the better part of valor this day.

 

The sound of the Med-E-Vacs arriving we knew our pilots would be well taken care of. Apache gunships arrived and secured the area. With the firepower present it would be suicidal for any insurgent to continue to attack us.

 

Doc issued the order for a Med-E-Vac to immediately transport us to Fort Connor. Over our complaint that we weren't injured Doc informed us we weren't released for duty until he had evaluated us. We knew POTUS wouldn't overrule Doc so this is one situation where we just had to accept our fate and appreciate an overprotective Doc.

 

After Doc did his thing he commented our blood pressure is a little high but to be expected considering someone was trying to kill you. He wanted us back in Medical the next day to recheck our blood pressure. He graciously cleared us for light duty. I'll monitor your vitals and if you two don't behave yourselves I'll sedate you in MY medical.

 

OK, Doc... we get the hint!

 

Fortunately, the men kept John sequestered from the news of insurgents trying to kill his fathers. We knew we couldn't protect our son from the world, but we felt he was too young to fear losing his father(s) again.

 

POTUS on voice.com for you Generals. To be expected, I guess. "Can't you two stay out of trouble?" Just feel sorry for the poor enlisted men who are out there picking up body parts. Those Warthogs really tear up a body with their chain gun. They will be picking up body parts for days. Right now, I would imagine you are not on their "best loved" list.

 

I've asked the Air Force to assign you two specially modified V-22 Osprey for your short travel junkets. It will have enough firepower to provide you with defense if you are attacked. They should be delivered to Andrews within 14 days. Adjust accordingly and NO COMPLAINTS. I have a few Air Force Generals who want my head right now for giving the Army their new prototype.

 

YOU BREAK IT, YOU BUY IT! BE YE WARNED!!!

 

When the Osprey first landed at Fort Connor and stayed overnight, by morning the men had given them a custom paint and insignia detailing reflecting Alpha Zulu and their Six-Star Generals. The "birds" may have Air Force personnel but to the world they were all Alpha Zulu.

 

Finally, a quiet evening at home and a family night with our son. Popcorn and a movie. We let John pick out the movie from our collection of DVDs. There was no doubt in our mind we'd be enjoying another session of "Lady and the Tramp".

 

Just as we were getting into the movie and John was enjoying feeding his fathers buttered Pop Corn... OPS interrupts and advises Worthington Industries on an Emergency Channel for the Generals.

 

As the video screen lowered, we saw an emotional Luke Worthington as he told us:

 

Mama Bear has been abducted!