Sunday Snippet: Everyone Has a Skill

Well … my youngest is pretty much officially a graduated senior. She got to walk outside—the weather cooperated—and received her diploma in a socially careful ceremony. The entire thing will be shown next week on the scheduled night of commencement. I'm scared and excited for her future. Times are weird, what else can I say?

Semi-decent week of television viewing. Still haven't finished up the third episode of Picard but hope to get to it this week.

Caught an episode of Gargoyles and remembered this one. I like it when they dive into the mythology of the show.

Watched four episodes of Danger Man. I'm enjoying the longer format of the second season. I also really like the black and white episodes. I think the show moves to color in the next season.

Caught another episode of The Witcher. I love this show! The fluid timeline can be a little confusing but I'm staying pretty clear on what's going on. Based on what I've read, by the end of the season, the timelines converge. Here's hoping that's actually the case.

Finally watched the season finale of Murdoch Mysteries. I'll honestly say I'm pleasantly surprised by the way everything unfolded. Not sure I'm keen on Violet getting a second chance but I'll see how things go. I do believe the moral quandary of not always being able to go by the book comes through in a terrific way. It's also quite nice to see William understand things can't always be firmly put into one column or the other. I so love this show!

Started a new episode of Blue Heelers but didn't get very far before I had to pause. I'll try to finish it up this week.

Also in the middle of a Strike Back episode. Quite happy with how they've moved the timeline forward but we still get to see what happened to Mac play out. That was a massive cliffhanger at the end of the previous episode.

And that's pretty much it for television this week. Tonight's post is from Everyone Has a Skill, a bonus scene featuring the characters from All Jacked Up.

Here's the mini-blurb:

A bonus scene where our heroes are trapped behind enemy lines and only one paid good attention during survival training. The other had more fun memorizing the armory's weapon selection.

And a sneaky peek…

"I'm not leaving you, dumbass." Lita North crouched behind the overturned vehicle and laid down some covering fire. "Get the fuck out from under that rack and get moving. I'll be right behind you." She emptied her clip and reloaded.

Oliver Tulver growled and grasped onto one of the rungs on the back of the Humvee. "Dammit, Lita. Our window for exit will close soon. We'll be stuck behind the line." He grunted and hefted himself out from under the twisted mass of meshed steel.

Lita moved back to his side. "Yeah, well, no one expected an ambush for this operation. We're supposed to be under a truce." Hooking her arm under his shoulder, she helped drag him clear of the rubble.

The shooting stopped and Ollie's gaze scanned their surroundings.

Lita took the opportunity to scrounge through the scattered supplies. She grabbed a first aid kit, several boxes of ammo, and two backpacks. Carrying them to Ollie's location, she dumped the items then went back for more.

Ollie started filling the cases. "You should've left me." He flinched when she tossed a radio unit at him.

She sent him a scathing look. "Well, I didn't. Get over it." She pointed to her left. "Safe zone got moved. We've got five clicks east and another ten north to get back on our side. Make yourself useful and try to get a message out before they jam the signal." Grabbing more supplies, she clenched her teeth to keep from blasting him more.

She stomped back to Ollie and dumped the rest of the equipment at his side. "Give me your leg. Let's see if you need a quick triage." She snagged his boot and shoved his pant leg up.

An angry red gash covered three inches of his shin and the surrounding muscles swelled with a contusion. She flushed the wound with some water then doused it with antiseptic. The sharp hiss from Ollie filled her with perverse satisfaction. Served him right for being a dick about her staying behind.

She wrapped the wound with a pressure bandage to keep it from bleeding then stood up and helped him finish packing up the backpacks. He maintained stony silence and Lita let him brood. He had to suck it up and get with the program but he didn't have to like it.

Gonna be super chilly at night with no fire and a cold man to deal with.

Yeah, well, better a pissed-off Ollie than a dead one.

Grabbing one of the packs, she slid the straps over her shoulders. "You gonna be able to carry one and keep your weapon handy?" She tucked the radio into a side flap, not that it would do them much good.

Ollie got to his feet, wincing when he put weight on his injured leg. "I'll manage." He hefted the backpack up and unholstered his sidearm.

After giving her an inscrutable look, he headed east, shoulders squared with rigid tension. Not even the limp ruined his perfectly executed, nonverbal fuck you.

Lita sighed and fell in behind him. "And he thinks I'm a pain in the ass."

I like this duo. They're fun to write because neither is afraid to call the other one out. Or do what's for the other even if it lands them up shit's creek.

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

ML Skye