Title: Fleet Week: Meet Me at Midnight

Author: Leenie!Hopper

Summary: (Sequel to Fleet Week) Toby is a sailor, Chris is a marine. They met each other in Hawaii, while on leave from their respective branches of the military. A hot, sex-filled weekend ensued...and as Toby was about to leave, a promise was made:
“Now, don’t you flake out on me there, Beecher. We have a date. New Year’s Eve, 1956. You and me, right?”

Toby nodded. “It’s a date.”


********

December, 1956
Camp Pendleton, California

********

It had been months since Chris last saw Toby in Hawaii…yet, the memories of the short time they spent together stayed with him. He thought of the blonde constantly…and found it hard to focus on much of anything in his day to day activities on the base. Shortly after Toby’s fleet left Hawaii, Chris had returned to Camp Pendleton…and a letter from Toby was already waiting for him.

As he now sat in his room in the barracks, Chris stared down at the worn envelope in his hands. He had folded and unfolded the letter that lay inside probably a hundred times, rereading it over and over again. He had spent hours studying it intensely, even noting the way Toby wrote in very small, clear printing. Chris chuckled at the stark contrast to his own chicken scratch…and found it endearing. He wondered if Toby was so precise in everything he did…and he imagined that Toby probably was. Lying in bed every night gave Chris time to envision how Toby was on the ship. He bet Toby’s compartment aboard the ship was as neat as a pin, even though Toby had mentioned he shared it with his buddy, O’Reilly.

Chris remembered meeting Ryan O’Reilly in Hawaii. A loud and outspoken mick, Chris pegged him for a slob. Picturing Toby nagging Ryan and picking up after him in their compartment amused Chris. He couldn’t forget however, that each time he had seen him, Ryan had dames on each arm. Knowing that allayed any worry Chris might have had that O’Reilly would put the moves on Toby, being that they lived in such close proximity.

Then he wondered if he really had any say in the matter.

Again, Chris silently read Toby’s letter:
Dear Chris,

Hey pal, how are you? We’ve been back at sea for a few days and since I have some time to kill, I thought I’d write you.

Chris still didn’t know what to think about that last line. He didn’t know whether to be insulted or if Toby was just being facetious. Chris read on:
I had a lot of fun with you in Hawaii. That Halona Blowhole was a real blast. (ha ha)

Chris always snickered at the lame joke. ‘Ok, so maybe Toby *had* been joking.’, he thought.
I’m not sure if I’ll be back anytime soon though. We’re supposed to be on the ship for a few more months, so my next leave is going to be a long time coming.

Ryan O’Reilly sends his regards. Well, actually he just asked me who I was writing to, and called you a Jarhead when I said I was writing to you. I think he meant it as a compliment. I’m sure he meant it as a compliment. Wait, he just said he didn’t. Don’t worry, I’ll toss him overboard for you.

Hey, I have a few good jokes for you. Ryan is the ship comedian, and he always has a good joke or two. Ok, here you go:


How can you tell if there's a fighter pilot at your party?

He'll tell you.

How can you tell when your date with a fighter pilot is half over?

He says, "But enough about me... Wanna hear about my plane?"

Even though he had read them before numerous times, Chris still laughed at the jokes.
I’m enclosing a picture that I thought you would like to have. O’Reilly took it of me…I wish I had a better one to send, but this will have to do for now.

Well, I have to go…time to go up to the mess deck for chow. I hope to see you again sometime. Maybe we can meet up, liked we discussed before I left.


Sincerely,

Toby

Chris pulled the small Polaroid he stored in the envelope and read the back:
Here I am, goofing off. O’Reilly had just told me a great joke right before the picture was taken…but I’ve already forgotten what the hell it was.


Regards,

Toby
Chris turned over the picture and smiled. In the photo, Toby was practically doubled over with laughter, his head thrown back and mouth in a wide smile. Toby had said he wished he could have sent a better one…but to Chris, it was perfect.

In his letter back to Toby, Chris had rambled on about the things he did on the base, his roomie, Augustus, and random Navy jokes he had heard, thinking Toby would appreciate them. He felt awkward mentioning anything about what had happened in Hawaii, since Toby had danced around the issue as well.

It wasn’t until the end of his letter that Chris told Toby how he’d love to be able to see him again, and that he was holding him to his promise. Chris knew he couldn’t say much, for fear that someone else would get a hold of it and their secret would get out…so he had hoped Toby would read between the lines.


********

September, 1956
USS Oswald, Pacific Ocean

Toby stood in line for mail call, bored and antsy. He had already received a letter from his family, but since this was going to be the last mail flown in for a while, he hoped for something…anything…to break the monotony of the drudgery of being out at sea.

“Beecher!”

“Right here! Ya got something for me?”

“Hmm…sure, here you go.” Toby was handed a letter and when he saw the return address, his heart nearly jumped out of his chest. He quickly scurried away to find some privacy.

“Hey, Squid! Where ya going? I thought we were going to play cards!” Ryan shouted out to Toby.

“Later, later!” Toby yelled back. He made a mad dash for his compartment and sat on his bunk, tearing open the letter.
Dear Toby,

Thank you for your letter. It was nice to hear from you…and to know that you haven’t forgotten about me.

Toby was saddened to think that Chris would think he could forget about him. Toby knew that would never happen. Toby read on, devouring the letter. Chris talked about working in the School of Infantry and spoke favorably of his roommate in the barracks, a fellow by the name of Hill. Toby felt a twinge of jealously at the roommate, wishing he could bunk with Chris instead of Hill. ‘I’m sure we’d have a *lot* of fun,’ Toby thought, amused.

Toby laughed at the navy jokes Chris sent, and made a note to read them to Ryan later on. He could see the letter was almost finished, so he slowed his reading to savor every word:
I’m pretty worn out so I guess I’d better get some sleep.

I am going to hold you to that promise you made, Toby…I just want you to know that. I hope you’ll be able to keep it.

I miss you, Toby. Be safe.



Warmest Regards,

Chris…AKA ‘Jarhead’
Toby laughed out loud at how Chris closed the letter, but felt an overwhelming sadness because he missed Chris so much. He knew he should have said so in his first letter, but he chickened out.

Suddenly Toby realized that any outgoing mail had to be turned in within the hour, so he scrambled for some paper and quickly wrote his reply:
Dear Chris,

I could never forget about you. I miss you too…and if I have any say in the matter, I will definitely keep that promise.


Yours truly,

Toby
Toby raced back to turn in the letter, making it just in time before the helicopter lifted off.

“Wait, wait!! One more letter!” He stuffed it into the top of the sack of letters going out, just as the bag was about to be tossed in the ‘copter. Relieved, Toby went to find O’Reilly.

********

As the helicopter lifted off, a gust of wind off the ocean made it wobble for a moment. The bag of letters fell to it’s side, the contents spilling out on the floor of the helicopter.

“Hey, Jonesey, get that damn door shut!” the pilot bellowed.

“Aye, aye!” Jonesey shouted as he pulled the small door shut and locked it.

But it was too late. Neither man noticed as a small, white envelope fluttered down to the ocean below.

********

December 30th, 1956
Camp Pendleton, California

Chris sat alone in the mess hall, poking at his dinner. Not many other Marines were there; practically everybody was gone. Either they were lucky enough to have an extended leave so they could go back home and visit their family, or they were out on the town, taking advantage of the 3 day leave they got for New Years.

A fragrant Douglas Fir still stood in the corner of the hall, left over from Christmas a few days earlier. It was decorated with shiny red and gold balls and dripping with silver tinsel. Green and red metallic garland was draped from beam to beam, and festive music played on the tinny speakers overhead, but Chris barely heard it.

Even sitting amongst all the reminders of the holiday season, Chris’ mood was low. He had never received word back from Toby. He wasn’t even sure if Toby had ever got his reply…because the letter that was waiting for Chris when he got back from Hawaii in August was the first…and *only* time he had heard from Toby.

He didn’t know what had happened. Chris felt horrible, thinking that Toby may have just wised up and realized it was just a fling, a one night stand. He knew it was too good to be true.

Chris then heard the song that was playing from the speakers:
“Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight, when it’s exactly twelve o’clock that night…what are you doing New Years, New Year’s Eve?”
“Oh, fuck *you*,” Chris cursed under his breath. Quickly getting up so he could get away from that depressing song, Chris dumped his tray and hustled outside. Figuring he had nothing better to do, Chris wandered over to the post office on the base. Checking his slot for mail, he could see it was empty…just what he expected.

As he was walking out the door, he heard someone call his name from inside the building.

“Hey buddy! Wait! You’re Keller, right? Chris Keller?”

Chris stopped, his face bunched up in confusion. Turning back he saw a clerk running out after him. “Keller, right?”

“Yeah…who wants to know?”

“This just came in for you.”

Chris stood puzzled, as a slip of paper was shoved into his hand.

“Sign here.”

Chris mindlessly signed his name, and finally looked down at the slip of paper. It was a Western Union telegram*.
GREETINGS CHRIS - stop-
COMING HOME FOR VISIT –stop-
LAYOVER IN CALIFORNIA –stop-
MEET YOU AT MIDNIGHT –stop-

“Oh my god…Toby!”, Chris shouted to himself. A young man walking by stopped to gape.

“What are you staring at, Private?! You never seen a man get a telegram before?” Chris hollered.

The young man darted away and Chris laughed. His mood just went from depressed to thrilled. Then he realized…’Wait! WHERE is he going to meet me? Oh shit!”

********

December 31st, 2006
8:00 pm


Chris spent the whole day stressed, pacing the floor of his room in the deserted barracks trying his hardest to figure out where Toby expected him to be that night to meet him. “Here? The USO? WHERE? The airport?!” he yelled aloud in frustration. “Damn you, Toby…ya couldn’t have forked out the extra dime to tell me WHERE?”

As the hours passed, Chris became more nervous. He had to make a decision on where to go. He didn’t think Toby would try and find his barracks, so the only logical place was the local USO. There was a party already underway, with the Marines who stayed behind and other local servicemen living it up, ready to count down to the New Year.

Chris got dressed, slipping into his winter green uniform. He stood dusting off his sleeves, and took one last look in the mirror before hurrying out into the cold night air.

He walked briskly to the USO hall, and was glad to get inside and out of the cold. The place was packed, with everyone having a good time drinking and dancing. Chris strained his neck, looking across the crowd for any signs of Toby. He saw a few sailors, but no Toby. Chris’ stomach was in knots. It was almost midnight and Toby was no where to be found.

“Keller!”

Chris spun around, and was slapped on the back by a hand.

“Hey Keller, I thought you weren’t gonna come tonight!” It was one of his commanding officers, Sean Murphy.

Chris quickly saluted. “At ease, Keller, at ease. Relax…no ranks tonight. We’re all just here for the party,” Murphy said smiling, drink in hand.

Chris forced a laugh, but didn’t have the time to be chatting. “If you’ll excuse me, sir…”, Chris mumbled as he rushed away.

The crowd was getting more and more rowdy, and Chris knew it was almost midnight. He pushed through the crowd, and made it to the corner near the hallway by the door so he could breathe. He had given up all hope of seeing Toby. ‘Why didn’t he just tell me where…damn it, Toby…”, Chris said sadly.

“OK everybody, here we go!!!” The lights went down and the crowd began to chant: “10...9…8…”

Chris stood defeated, and shivered as cold air blew from behind him. Party horns blared and noisemakers spun around in partygoers hands.

“…7….6…”

His heart pounding, waiting for the inevitable, Chris felt a hand on his shoulder.

“…5…4…”

Chris was about to turn around when he was forcibly pulled back into the dark hallway.

“What the hell?!” Instinctively, Chris started to fight off the hands that grabbed him. He could hear the heavy breathing of a man who was out of breath.

“…3…2…1!”

The breathing got closer until it was in his ear.

“HAPPY NEW YEAR!” the crowd roared.

In between the heavy breaths, Chris heard it:

“Happy New Year, Jarhead.”

Warm lips covered his and Chris’ head was swimming…but even in the dark, he knew that taste…he knew those lips...

“Toby…” he gasped breathlessly in between kisses.

As the crowd began to sing "Auld Lang Syne", the two men hid in the hallway, kissing each other deeply, both groping and grasping the other.

“I told you I’d be here,” Toby whispered, his hot breath tickling Chris’ ear.

As the crowd finished singing, the lights in the hall slowly began to come back on. Chris pulled back and grabbed Toby by the face.

“Yeah, but you didn’t say WHERE, you asshole!”

Toby threw his head back and laughed, just like in the picture he had sent to Chris. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I was in a hurry!”

Chris shook his head, and laughed. He shoved Toby further down the hallway so they wouldn’t be seen. Chris pushed Toby up against the wall and covered his mouth with his. Chris worked his tongue into Toby’s wet mouth, and pressed the length of his body up against the sailor, feeling Toby’s hard cock through his dark blue wool uniform.

Reaching down to wrap his hand around the bulge, Chris whispered roughly, “That for me, baby?”

Toby panted. “Well, it ain’t for Uncle Sam, fella.”

Chris laughed and squeezed firmly.

“Oh shit…Chris…”

The lights had fully come back on and Chris knew that there would be people coming around the corner at any moment. He let go of Toby and stepped a distance backwards.

“Wait…Chris…”

“We can’t do this here, Toby,” Chris whispered, just as a group of partygoers came around the corner, headed for the door.

“HAPPY NEW YEAR!” one very drunk Marine shouted.

Chris laughed nervously. “Yeah, Happy New Year to you too, pal.” He waited until they passed, and then grabbed Toby by the arm.

“Outside…now.”

They raced outside and around the side of the hall. Chris grabbed Toby and pulled him close, suckling on his neck, and biting gently as they sought refuge in the shadows between the buildings.

“Oh geesus…” Toby moaned. “Wait…can we go somewhere?”

“How long do you have?”

“Only a few hours and then I have to get back to the airport.”

“Where’s your stuff?”

“A buddy of mine is flying with me, he’s back at the airport watching it.”

Chris thought quickly. “The barracks.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah…they’re empty. Come on, Popeye!”

Both men laughed and raced back to the barracks, Chris keeping alert to make sure no one saw them go inside. Just as Chris had said, the barracks were empty. He was the only one from his floor who hadn’t left the base for leave.

Fumbling up the stairs, they made it to Chris’ room, slamming the door behind them. Chris turned the lock, and shoved his trunk up against the door for good measure. “That oughta be safe,” he joked.

Turning to Toby, Chris finally got a good look at him. Toby stood in his dark blue uniform, blonde curls peeking out from his white cap, his face flushed from running.

“Oh my god…Toby…”, Chris gasped.

“What? What is it?” Toby asked nervously.

“You’re…you’re even more beautiful than I had remembered.”

Toby ducked his head low, and Chris rushed to him, tilting his face back up. “No…don’t hide that gorgeous face. I wanna see that face…”

Toby looked up timidly, suddenly embarrassed by the praise.

Chris continued. “Look at me Toby.”

Toby’s pale blue eyes met his. “Chris…”

“Don’t stop looking at me, Toby.”

Toby obeyed and kept his eyes on Chris, even as Chris knelt down.

Chris watched Toby’s reaction as he slowly unbuttoned the man’s slacks.

Toby swallowed hard as his slacks were pulled to the floor and hands tugged at his underwear. A moment later, those were at his ankles as well. As promised, Toby kept watching Chris.

Looking up into Toby’s eyes, Chris reached around and squeezed his ass. Toby gasped and titled his head up.

“No…look at *me*.”

Toby quickly looked down, meeting Chris’ stare. After a pause, Chris flicked out his tongue and ran it along the shaft of Toby’s already leaking cock. Toby hissed and closed his eyes without thinking. Chris pulled back.

“Open your eyes, Toby.”

Toby opened his eyes and watched as Chris’ mouth enveloped his cock and pulled it in deep.

“Oh fuck…CHRIS!”

The corners of Chris’ mouth raised in a smile, but he didn’t stop sucking on Toby’s dick. It took all of Toby’s strength and resolve to not close his eyes and melt away into the feeling…but watching Chris suck him off was even better than he could have imagined.

Chris kept his eyes trained on Toby, enjoying watching the feelings of pleasure play across his face. He could see Toby was getting close to coming, so he pulled his mouth back.

“No…don’t stop…”

Toby was interrupted by Chris rising up and slowly unbuttoning his own uniform. Toby stood speechless as Chris dropped each article of clothing, piece by piece until he was standing naked in front of Toby.

“Fuck…” was the only word Toby could utter.

Chris smiled devilishly. “Now you.” He turned around and sat on his bunk and waited.

Toby stood, his pants around his ankles, somewhat embarrassed by the state he was in.

“Come on, Popeye…strip.”

Toby giggled at the nickname and finally removed his clothes completely. Chris reached out to him with his hand and Toby edged close to the bed, taking Chris’ hand in his. Chris pulled him down to the bed, with Toby lying on top of him. He ran his hands up and down Toby’s back, relishing the softness and the feeling of Toby’s body against his.

“Toby…I missed you…”

Toby bent his head down to kiss Chris. “I missed you too, Chris…”

“Why didn’t you write to me?” Chris asked quietly.

“What? I did…you didn’t write back,” Toby quickly replied.

“Yes I did! I wrote back after the first letter, but then I never heard back from you.”

“I wrote you…I sent a letter the same day I got yours. I don’t understand…I thought…I thought you changed your mind about…us…this…”

Chris pulled Toby down into a passionate kiss. “Are you crazy? Us…this…it’s all I could think about, from the moment your ship pulled away in the harbor.”

“Really?”

“Yes…really…I don’t know what it is about you Toby…”

Toby suddenly felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders. All that time…all that time he had thought Chris had forgotten about him…all the time he was thinking about Chris…Chris was doing the same thing. Toby kissed Chris with everything he had, tongues fighting, teeth clashing.

“Chris…I need…Chris…”

Toby didn’t have to say it, Chris already knew. He swiftly turned over, Toby now beneath him. Toby started to roll over when Chris stopped him.

“No…I want to see you…”

Toby complied and lay back on the bed, his eyes never leaving Chris’. Chris ran his hands across Toby’s chest, and down his stomach, feeling the bristle of hair as he neared Toby’s cock. Toby’s breath hitched and Chris reached under his pillow for a small tube of cream.

“You keep that under there?” Toby asked..

Chris laughed. “Of course I do…I’d rub my dick raw if I didn’t, jerking off every night while thinking about you.”

Toby laughed. “Smart boy.”

Chris winked. Toby’s smile faded and he trained his eyes on Chris’, and never looked away as he felt Chris’ slippery fingers work their way into him. Toby winced, and Chris continued slowly so as to not hurt him.

“Feel good, baby?” Chris asked, the moment he hooked his fingers on Toby’s prostate.

“Oh fuck!” Toby cried out.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Chris chuckled.

Chris pulled his hand back and slathered his rigid cock with the cream. Placing himself between Toby’s legs, Chris slowly eased himself in. Toby’s eyes grew wide and his face flushed red, but as promised, he never took his eyes off Chris.

Chris slowly began to thrust his body, sliding in and out of Toby, all the while watching Toby’s face contort, his pale body writing in ecstasy beneath him. It was all that he had dreamed about…and more.

“Toby…oh fuck…I can’t…last…much longer…”

“Chriiiiiiis…” Toby moaned.

“Grab your dick, Toby…”

Toby did as he was told.

“Make yourself come for me, baby,” Chris said between heavy breaths.

Toby pumped his own dick in his hand, his hand coated in the pre-cum and saliva from earlier. Chris watched Toby’s hand, and looked up into his eyes.

“Now, baby…now…”

Toby began to shake as his orgasm started rolling throughout his body. Chris arched his back and thrust one last time as he came inside Toby.

“Oh god…TOBY!” he shouted, and then collapsed on top of the blonde, Toby’s own cum coating their skin.

Toby was no longer looking at Chris. His whole body was limp and he was gasping for air. “Geesus christ, Chris!” Out of the blue, Toby began to laugh.

Chris laughed a bit, wondering why Toby was laughing. “What’s so funny?”

Toby was still laughing, trying to explain himself. “I’m sorry,” he laughed. “But that…that was so fucking GOOD!”

Chris started laughing with him, as he rolled off Toby, lying next to him in the small bunk. “Yes…yes, it was…” Chris took Toby’s hand in his, linking their fingers together as they lay there, recovering from the lovemaking.

Chris savored having Toby near him, and tried hard to save the memory, taking note of the smell of Toby, the feeling of Toby’s hand in his, seeing the curls that stuck up above his ear from being soaked with sweat…all of it, Chris wanted to imprint into his mind.

“What are you thinking?” Toby finally asked.

“I’m thinking…of when the hell I’m gonna see you again.”



THE END


-----
*You would be surprised to know, that it was only THIS past year (January 27, 2006) that the last telegram was delivered! Who knew you could still send telegrams?! It was the end of an era!

Please Send Feedback

Return To Fic Index