Chapter 72 Hardly back before throwing money out of the window

For Luke, it was only a year and a half, but it seemed like an eternity. He had a bag of things he had accumulated in that time, and the commander had sent him home. Everything looked so unchanged.

He held the bag in his hand and walked towards the front door. He tried to go in and was grabbed by the collar.

"Wait!" came from Liz.

Luke turned and smiled at her.

"Hi, Aunt Liz."

She looked at him briefly with slit-like eyes. 

"Your mom told me you're away for an internship, right?"

" Um yeah..."

" Good, then explain this to me" She tapped his uniform."

" Ehm, well..." 

She looked at the unit badge he was allowed to pin on. 

"That's all for 1st? "

"They don't take civilians."

Liz saw him and stroked his head. "Luke, you would have asked if I'd taken you."

She scrutinized him.

" At least they gave you something to eat and kept you moving. What rank and insignia don't I see on you?" 

" Not yet..."

" Bullshit... DAD!!! Luke's back!"

Alex didn't take long, came to him and scrutinized him.

"Where are your badges? You've had lessons."

"They said I can't do that, not even the badge the guy at the end with the rags gave me."

He reached for his cell phone and dialed a number. "Tach, yes I know, he's just arrived, yes. Why empty? Aha, a spelling mistake. Give him my regards. Yes, next time we meet he should bring a beer. yes... good thanks." He hung up. 

Liz fished his things out of the breast pocket of his uniform and began to attach them to his BDU. 

"Now it looks normal and finally," she gave Alex the rank he gave her. 

"I don't understand why Lieutenant ..." He looked at the beams.

" Remember that test you wrote at the beginning? "

" The one before the med exam or the one after?"

" The one after ..."

" Well, all the stuff I've had to listen to from you guys since I was little."

"John, gave the officer an examination sheet, he wanted to test it on you." 

"I see...and it was accepted?"

"Yep." "And then..." he was pulled to the ground, landed on the grass, saw two familiar blue eyes shining at him, saw Saskia's face, her long hair was gone, she had an undercut. 

"Gotcha, the two witches gave me 30 minutes." 

" Huh?" 

He looked to the jeep where he saw the two mp grinning.

" 6 months of celibacy." 

Luke looked at them. 

"But we agreed that you would ..." 

" Luke. please..." she looked at him pleadingly.

He sighed, she beamed. Helped him up and stormed into the house.

They made it to his room, where she frantically tore off his clothes and pounced on him.

20 minutes later, she scurried into the shower to wash herself. She returned evenly and got dressed, he had dressed in the meantime and was lacing up his boots. 

Saskia sat down on his lap.

"I'm bringing dinner tonight, what would you like? "

He reached for his cell phone and looked at the list.

" How about some pasta? ? " he called out.

"Pasta, then I'll have the one with cheese sauce and herbs."

He clicked it on, then the same for himself and drinks and ordered."

" Hey..."

He took a selfie with her.

He gives her a kiss. "You pick it up. "

She looks at him for a long time. "Okay." 

A horn honked from outside. She gave him another kiss and hurried out. He got up, changed the sheets and towels, stuffed them into the washing machine and turned it on. He took new things out of the wardrobe and covered everything. 

He went downstairs to check the fridge and was just coming down the stairs when his mother came in. She was busy on the phone.

"Hi mom, I'm back."

She looked up and beamed, hugging him tightly and squeezing him.

"Mum... you're hugging too tight..." 

She smiled sheepishly and felt his face.

"You've grown and built up a bit." She saw a scratch and pushed his shirt up.

"And Saskia's already found you."

"Uh yeah, the washing machine's already running."

Sue got a can of spray paint out of the cupboard and sprayed Luke's back, he felt a cold shiver. 

"You know, Saksia's not having an easy time at the moment, her aunt is causing trouble, the Hydras scouted her out during basic training and poached her. She ended up right in their rookie program. "

"I see," he tucked the T-shirt back into his pants. 

" Luke, you have to be careful. "

Luke looked at his mom. "Watch out? Watch out for what?"

"Of the Hydras, Luke. They've accepted Saskia into their sisterhood. "

" Ah, hence the tattoo on her shoulder. " 

" They scared off all the guys where Saskia was letting off steam. " 

" Then they can see the handprints and the hickey on her now."

He grinned. 

" Just be careful, yeah? "

He nodded. 

" Good, what do you have for her birthday? "

"From who?"

" Saskia ... Luke, she had last week ..."

"Hm, because she came to my class after her birthday and I never asked her about her birthday ... " He looked at her stern face.

"Okay, I'll get one, can I have your caboose? I have my rag." 

"I've got something better, you can have my old car."

"Mom, the engine is over there..."

"I asked George to have a look at it. Four months ago. He put a new, better one in. You can use it, darling."

"Really? You don't need it?" 

She smiled. 

" No. I'm happy with the little one. "

"Thanks mom," he hugged her. 

They went outside and Sue pulled away a tarp to reveal her old car underneath, a 2019 Ford F-250 in matte black. Luke had many childhood memories of the car.

"And buy yourself something nice, Luke. "

" I will. " 

He got the keys and got in, started the car and the engine gurgled deeply. He put the car in reverse, turned, accelerated and the engine howled. He grinned, put it into gear and thundered off. He decided to drive home, he didn't feel like meeting other classmates. 

He had to stop and fill up at the next petrol station, and as he paid at the pump with his fingerprint, he saw Lina and Lisa in petrol company uniforms. Lina was stocking shelves and Lisa was wiping the tables. They hadn't seen him. Luke got in and sped off, destination Honolulu. 

As he drove, he wondered what he should get. When he finally arrived, he parked in the nearest parking lot and looked around the stores, eventually coming to a high-end clothing store. 

 He looked around a bit, found a cashmere turtleneck sweater, took a slightly larger size so he could snuggle into it, and shuffled to the checkout. The cashier gave him an irritated look.

"Uh... " she began. 

Luke smelled something coming from her direction, it was the same smell he had smelled at Saksia's, even today, though it was very faint today. 

"What kind of perfume are you wearing?" he asked. 

She looked at him, then it clicked for her.

"It's called Rouge, it's a house brand. "

" I'll have a bottle. "

" Uh, I'd have to ..." She hurried off and came back with an elegantly dressed older woman who looked Luke up and down. 

"We don't sell the perfume to just anyone."

"Really? Too bad, my better half always smells like it, I wanted to cheer her up. Well, and I forgot her birthday," he grinned sheepishly. 

" You're now the second person to want the perfume. "

"Oh, you mean the bubbly blonde from a few months ago who was broken up because her credit cards were canceled. "

Luke pulled out his cell phone and showed the selfie.

"This one?"

The woman looked at the picture. 

"Yeah, that's her, and she smells like perfume?"

"Yes. She's cut her hair."

He scrolled to an older picture. It showed Saskia in her outfit for the day in front of the mirror and she was wearing something."

The woman looked at the picture.

"That's our brand. And you want to buy the sweater? "

" That was the best I could find. " 

" May I show you some of the things she was looking at? " 

" Okay " He followed her, looking at the T-shirts, pants, blouses, etc. 

He pondered. She looked at him scrutinizingly. 

"If it's too expensive ..."

Luke looked up. 

"I mean, do they have clothes? I mean, ones you can wear to dinner and to a wedding? My aunts are getting married..."

She signaled to the cashier and led Luke to the dresses. Luke looked at her tensely. He had no idea what would suit her. He heard a throat clearing behind him. 

He looked behind him, Jannet suddenly looked at him in surprise and hugged him tightly.

"Oh, not so tight." 

Jannet let go of him. 

"You're back again? "

" Yup. Arrived today. "

" So, and then throw money out of the window. " 

" What do you think, which dress would suit her? " He looked thoughtfully at the dresses again.

Jannet looked at him.

" This one, suits her eyes and complexion, but then you have to " she picked up lingerie.

"Get this to match." 

" I have no idea what size she is ..."

" You've already touched her breasts..."

" Yes, but I didn't think about the size..." 

Jannet looked at the woman.

" the one in 33b please."

" You are? " she replied. Jannet smiled.

"My husband is his grandfather, patchwork family. "

Luke looked at Jannet. 

"Which ones would suit the three of them?"

Jannet looked at him. 

" You want to give your aunts sexy lingerie for their wedding?"

" Yes, why not ... "

Jannet grinned. Went off and purposefully pulled out three pieces.

"These here." 

Luke looked at her.

"Okay. Then I'll take the four as well, please write the name on the three."

The woman nodded, took the items and went to the checkout, picking up a key ring with a golden cat on it on the way and adding it.

"I'll take this for my mom."

Everything was scanned. "Pay cash, credit card..."

The elderly lady puts down the finger scanner.

"Please put your finger on it, the system still has to recognize it." she began.

Luke put his finger on it and his name, rank and confirmation that payment had been made appeared on the screen.

He looked at the receipt 49000 points. He put it in his pocket.

He was handed bags, which he took in his hand. He looked at Jannet, who was looking at the items.

"Would you like to buy something too?" the lady asked.

Jannet looked up.

"Not now, but I'll be back with company, I need some time here."

She looked at a set.

"I need something like this for a pr meeting," she pulled herself together.

"I'll be back." 

Luke came out and walked beside her.

"It's noticeable when you walk around in half a BDU."

Luke looked down at himself.

" Oops, I was in a hurry." 

She grinned.

"I heard from Mom that Saskia was recruited by the Hydras." 

"Is that her?" 

He nodded, heard her punch in a number.

"Gitte. Tomorrow morning Saskia will be outside my office, tell your girls they can pick her up for training if she's free. .. Exactly, do you know how rarely my department gets people who are interested? Exactly, so do me a favor, as compensation we'll go shopping... Yes, I found a store... Yeah good stuff." she grins. 

"Yeah, they have your boob size too, yeah... how do I know. Well, I saw something in my size. Well I'll come and see you later."

Luke had arrived in his car

car and got in. He looked at Jannet.

"Do you want to come with me?"

"Hm, that saves me having to call the car service."

Luke got in and Jannet made himself comfortable in the passenger seat. He started the car and drove off with the engine roaring, cutting off other cars and accelerating. He skidded to a halt at the barrier to the base, the guard approaching.

"Yo Luke! Are you finally off on your scooter?"

"Yeah man, I'm here to say hello to you from your brother, I had him with me in basic training, now he's joining the flying squadron. He says he's lost your number."

"Thanks, call him right away."

He looked into the car, saw Jannet sitting there comfortably, clicking away on her cell phone.

"Ma'am, I've been instructed to let them know the meeting is canceled today. Stomach bug."

Jannet looked up. "Thanks Carl."

Luke was waved through and roared to a stop on the driveway in front of his house. 

Sue got out and looked at him. Luke switched off the engine, got out and hugged her.

"Runs 1 A mom. Oh yeah, I've got something for you." He went to the loading area and rummaged in one of the pockets, took out the fob and gave it to her.

Sue looked at the key fob.

"Have you got this for me?"

"Yes."

She hugged it and hung it on her key ring. "And now I have to go to work, darling. " She hurried to her car and drove off. 

Jannet got out of the car.

.

"Thanks for the ride," she said and walked towards her grandfather's house, swaying a little. He took the bags and went inside. He put the bag with the wedding presents in the cupboard. He put the other bags on the table in the living room. 

He put the receipt in his receipt folder. He went downstairs, opened a beer and went outside. He sat down on the counter and lit a fag. He had gotten used to them playing poker in the evenings and drinking beer. He drained the beer, put the fag in and threw both in the garbage can. A service van arrived and Saskia got out with a bag and a six-pack. She came over.

"You look in a good mood," Luke said.

"Yes, I can finally go to the PR department." 

They walked in, Saksia stopped when she saw the bag.

" You were with my mom ... "

Luke grinned, sat down and patted next to him.

" No. I went to Honolulu. I didn't know your mom sold anything like that."

Hesitantly, she sat down and put the food and beer down. 

"Well, now I've missed your birthday. " He lifted the bag, you couldn't tell there was much in it.

"I brought you something. So store where I ended up after wandering around."

She looked at him.

"You really didn't go to my mom's store?" 

He stroked her hair.

" If you had, your brother would have written to you by now. "

" He doesn't talk to me anymore, he's not allowed to, and mom and dad don't either." 

" You just sleep with me and put your things in the next room. 

"

" But that's still in the dorm... Bill sent my things there... My aunt put pressure on me, she wants to force me to crawl in here." 

Luke hugged her to him.

"We'll go there now, get your things and then we'll make ourselves comfortable here for the evening."

" I don't have a car Luke..." 

" I'll drive you, come on." He got up and walked with her to the car, which she stared at.

" That monster is your car?" 

Luke grinned and got in. Saskia sat inside.

"We waited a moment. "

He hurried inside to grab his jacket, then sat down. 

"The dorm is where?"

" By the canteen and the military hospital."

Luke started the engine and thundered over there, parked across 2 parking spaces and got out. He put on his jacket and beret.

"Good thing Jannet reminded me. "

They walked in, it was an all girls dorm. Saskia first.

" Hey Kia, you're back, did 0 number huh?" came from one. Luke followed. The spokeswoman turned pale when she saw Luke's rank. 

" And where's your room? "

Saskia led Luke through the corridors and arrived in front of the common rooms. The door was open, inside it looked like a pigsty. 5 female soldiers were lounging around on their beds. Luke went inside. They stood up and took up their positions.

"Ei jei jei, here it is. "He looked at Saskia's bed, which was messy. 

"Now, the sergeant will take her things and load them onto the truck bed. "

A female soldier with the rank of sergeant major came running up.

"Sir, this is a women-only house! "

Luke looked at her.

"I'll just make sure the sergeant here packs his things. "

She looked at Saskia, who was still packing up her things in shock. 

"But she's got nothing, sir."

" Something has come up"

She picked up her tablet.

" Sir, then you need to fill this out. "

Luke didn't care, he filled out the form and pressed his finger on it. It was confirmed.

"Hey Kia, don't you want to clean up your corner," came from a female soldier.

"Ah, I see someone has signed up for cleaning duty. " The female soldier stared at Luke, Luke looked at the first sergeant.

"You heard the lieutenant, Kerrig."

" Kiss my ass " came barely intelligible.

Luke walked over. Looked at her. 

Saskia was slowed down by the two Mp who looked at her questioningly, then looked at Luke. 

"Floor cleaning," he looked to the sergeant. 

" Can you take her downstairs to the van, she's moving." The Mp took the rest of the clothes and led Saskia out. 

The female soldiers stared at the scene. Luke walked to the door, his cell phone buzzed, he looked at it.

"There."

"I just got a request that a certain Lt. Akim was transferred by a certain sergeant," came from Alex.

"That's right, I've just had a look at the room, it's a mess."

"Is that how they did it?"

"Yep, some cheeky private got cleaning duty."

"I can tell you enjoy having the rank. So she's staying with you? "

" Yep. Until something better comes along."

" Okay, but Luke. I'll be the contact, understand? Her family can't do anything that way."

" Got it."

" See you later, come by later."

"Will do."

He hangs up and puts the cell phone away.

"Uh, sir...?" 

Luke looked at the sergeant.

"He was my superior. All right. Sergeant's not here from now on and it's cleaning duty."

He heard a grumble and walked off in a good mood. Out to his car, where the two MPs were waiting for him.

"Well, well, well, so this is your car."

Luke grinned. 

"I don't like that grin, he hangs out with his aunts too much, it's peeling off."

"And where are you taking Kia?"

" She's staying with me now, I've sorted that out with my grandpa."

They looked at each other.

"Then at least she's safe."

"And what's she doing upstairs?"

"Floor cleaning service." 

They both looked at the building.

"Do you know how big it is?"

" Well, I'm not interested either. "

" So bad, George has spoiled it ... " 

Luke got in the car. Saskia was still sitting on the passenger side. The two Mp hugged her. 

"We'll come and see you and take you to training, okay?"

She nodded and got in.

Luke started the car and drove off, not realizing until they had both put their things in the spare room.

"What's your mom going to say? "

He hadn't thought of that, he pulled out his cell phone. Sue had texted him.

"She has to help with the housework." 

"Well, you'll have to help out here." 

He hugged her.

" Come on, let's eat." They went downstairs and sat on the sofa. Then he handed her the bag.

" Luke... I don't know... you already do so much for me..."

" Hey, I was told as a child that you should take care of other people. Your aunt gets passed on to my grandfather if she's annoying. "

She hung her head.

" She has influence Luke, I can't get a job at any network..."

" You'll finish your internship at Jannet first and since we're committed for 6 years after school anyway. Maybe you can work there."

The patio door was yanked open and Liz came stumbling in, sipping her beer, shuffling to the bag of food and taking something out. 

Luke looked at her.

"Hi?"

 Liz munched on Luke's noodles.

 "George is at parents' night, I'm hungry."

Luke sighed.

"Enjoy it then."

Liz stroked Saskia's hair.

"Cheer up, I just heard from Dad, your sweetheart put a corporal in charge of cleaning 280 rooms + hallway + showers and toilets." 

She giggled.

"What parents is Sarge with?"

Liz pointed at Saskia.

"We were with my dad when he got the request. George downloaded the reports from the dorm, including the videos. Then the documents and so on. He was furious. "

She burped, taking Saskia's pack and gulping it down.

"So not at you Luke. "

She opened a beer and washed it all down.

"Great, can I order another?"

She grinned.

"No. You two go over and eat like humans at a table. "

" But I wanted to give her her present ..."

" She can open it over there, come on!"

A little harried, the two of them went over, accompanied by Liz. They entered and Saskia was pushed by Gitte. 

" Oh, why didn't you tell us..."

"I was scared..." she said quietly. 

Gitte looked at Luke.

" What? I can't let them treat her like that..."

" Luke, please tell us next time, okay?"

" Okay..."

Jannet hugged him.

" And now he already has a reputation. The two of the mp's told April that Luke is worse than George and John put together." 

Alex came out of the kitchen with a pan and put it on a board on the table. 

"Why don't you both sit down and eat?

"Saskia was still unsure. Alex went to her. 

"You're going to stay with us for a while. Now eat something. "

Liz looked out of the window.

"Oh, George is back."

" Luke turned around, the sergeant had a loaded look on his face, he looked at them, straight at Liz and then pointed at the house. 

Liz grinned like a cat.

"I have to go," she hurried to the door.

Gitte looked after her.

" Where to?" 

" Raw sex mom and then cuddling in the bubbling bathtub."

She stormed out. Gitte looked at Alex.

" Don't look at me like that, you didn't want a bubble bath back then." 

"I'm going to do something with Jannet tomorrow ..."

Alex gave her a kiss.

"Don't forget that you'll have fun tomorrow too, I want you to like it too. I'll put you in baggy clothes too. " 

Jannet laughed.

Luke looked at the bag, then he pressed it into Saskia's hand, she swallowed it a little and looked at him confused.

"Yes, happy belated birthday." 

Jannet smiled.

"He really went to a lot of trouble with the selection."

Gitte pushed her towards the sofa. There, Saskia tentatively opened the bag and immediately started crying at the first item of clothing.

Luke sat down next to her.

"Thank you," she hugged him.

Then she took out the other items and blushed as she held the underwear in her hands. 

 Jannet smelled the perfume.

"Well ..."

Alex clapped her hand. 

"There, now it's time to eat. "

Everyone sat down, and at some point Min joined them.

"Have you heard the latest gossip? The dormitory where the new girls are, they're scared. The sergeant major there, he told me. A lieutenant had one of the girls taken away by two MPs and ordered loudmouth to clean. 

Now all the floors started cleaning because the girls were afraid he'd turn up again. They saw the girl being loaded into pitch-black cars, the Mp's looked after the disgusting roaring car and said something on the radio and then drove off themselves. "

She spooned up her plate. She looked up, looked at everyone.

"Do you know who the lieutenant is?" asked Gitte."

Min grinned. 

"Yes, that one," she pointed at Luke. 

"John, bug me about this. Luke, you're lucky you're already deployed somewhere. He's just waiting for you to fail pilot training."

Luke had something in his mouth and looked at her questioningly.

"John will find a way, even if Luke fails."

He finished his food, holding his stomach afterward.

"Wow, am I full." He looked at Saskia, who was still eating, not understanding how she could eat so much.

When she had finished, he stood up.

"Thanks for the food, shall we go then?" 

Gitte nodded.

"Saskia, I'll pick you up in the morning. " Jannet said. 

Min burped, she looked at Luke and Saskia.

"That's a good idea for her to go, because she" pointing at Jannet " and she" pointing at Jannet . " Are you going to pull that one " she pointed at Alex " into bed, cuddling at the end on the left side this time ".

" Are you going to do that?"

Min nodded. 

" Gitte lost at cards and you lost at skittles."

Gitte grinned. Good, I'll take the middle."

Saskia took the bag and they walked over. It was quiet.

"What are we going to do now?" she asked. 

"How about going to bed? "

She nodded. Luke turned off the light and they went upstairs. Luke was just tired. He set the alarm and lay down. It was unusual to be in his room again. Saskia stood next to the bed and looked at him. 

"Come on."

" I snore ..."

Luke sighed.

"I know, I've heard you snore before when you fell asleep studying. "

She lay down next to him and cuddled up to him. Luke was amazed at how quickly she fell asleep and then started snoring. He grinned, closed his eyes and quickly fell asleep too. He was used to Baracke's snoring, and the fact that he was allowed to touch Saskia's hair worked wonders.