Sunday Snippet: Night Watch

I hope 2018 is off to a great start for everyone. For myself, it's like an arctic tundra in Ohio but that gives me time to write, edit, and catch up on lots of television. Unless it's three a.m. and the dog has to pee… then it takes fifteen minutes to bundle up to go outside so we don't end up coming back in as popsicles. LOL

As mentioned, I watched Passionflix's The Trouble with Mistletoe last week and thoroughly enjoyed the movie. Honestly, the adaption hit all the right emotional notes. There were moments that felt a little rushed, but I have to give props for being able to convey small story beats so masterfully.

Also got caught up on Riverdale. The winter finale tied up the black hood storyline… I think. That new janitor dude is very sketchy-looking so, yeah, not sure. I am looking forward to new episodes to see what new fresh hell Hiram has planned for Riverdale.

I'm almost halfway through season two of Chicago Fire. I'm still not wholly down with the entire McLeod arc. The resolution, while satisfying—watching Isabella shut Gail down was a thing of beauty—didn't exactly make up for not knowing why she had it in for station fifty-one. Her bonus notwithstanding, I didn't quite buy the whole vindictive nature.

I'm looking forward to the return of my regular network fare in the next two weeks, especially Arrow.

That's it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Night Watch, a novella that started with a two-word prompt of "jump off".

Here's the mini-blurb:

Aisley Diehl and Thad Saunders pull a shift of night watch on the hangar deck. They're tasked with keeping their junior pilots from being drunk and disorderly when they'd much rather be spending the evening doing something more enjoyable—under the covers.

And a sneaky peek…

Thad heaved a sigh. "C'mon, Hamp. Let's get you into a cold shower then pour you into your rack." He dragged the staggering pilot out of the hangar deck and down the corridor.

He'd definitely get Aisley back for this one. Sticking him with full babysitting detail counted as a total bitch move. Not her usual SOP.

Hampton followed along, his head craning around looking at the causeway lights. "Hey, hey, um, captain… you got something going on with the lieutenant?" He stumbled closer, leaning and pitching his voice low. "'Cause I gotta tell ya, I'd totally hit that." His lips twisted in a drunken leer.

Thad bit back a harsh retort. What he had with Aisley stayed between them. They didn't share publicly… with anyone. The urge to punch Hamp would subside—probably as soon as Thad shoved the other guy into a shower.

Hampton nudged Thad. "You think she'd go for me?"

Thad rolled his eyes. "Right now? I think she'd cheerfully shoot you." He guided Hamp around a corner then directed him toward the head. "If I were you, I'd stay the hell out of her way for a while."

Hampton stopped outside the hatch. "Why? What did I do?"

Ha. He asked the one question guaranteed to send Aisley running. The dreaded "are you two an item" one. Thad didn't like to put labels on their relationship either, but Aisley freaked out when anyone tried to pin her down.

Thad clapped Hampton on the back. "Buddy, let's just say she's had about enough of pilots needing babysitters. You'll get your chance to play Mom and Pop one of these days." Thad reached into a stall and turned on the cold water. "Until then, make this your one and done and she'll eventually forgive you." He shoved Hampton under the spray, clothes and all.

"God damn! That's freezing." Hamp shivered under the deluge.

Thad cracked a grin. "Let it be a lesson, Hambone."

Hampton wiped the water from his face. "How long do I have to under here, Sir?"

Thad lifted a shoulder. "Until you learn to stay away from the hangar deck when you're drunk."

He'd give the pilot another two minutes then pour him into his rack.

Then he'd head back to the hangar deck. He had no doubt Aisley would be there, keeping a vigilant watch.

Thad's definitely going to have a story to tell Aisley when he gets back to the hangar deck.

That's it for this week. Catch everyone on the flipside.

ML Skye