Fic: Sparkling Stars IV: Turn, And See (1/1)
Title: Sparkling Stars IV: Turn, And See (1/1)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters: George 'Christy' Christopher/Virgil Edwards, Chuck Parker, Willy Moss, Joseph 'Happy' Haines, Harrison 'Tinker' Bell, Lester Gruber, Fuji Kobiaji
Fandom: McHale's Navy
Genre: Angst, AU, Drama, Historical, Slavefic
Rating: NC-17
Warnings:
Spoilers: None
Summary: Virgil has lost one family. Has he gained another?
Date Of Completion: August 6, 2022
Date Of Posting: August 15, 2022
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, Universal does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1997
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
The entire series can be found here.
Turn, and see
Your family.
Those you chose,
Those you know,
They'll never
Turn away,
Tomorrow,
Or another day.
Cecilia Simon
"Chosen"
1936 C.E.
Virgil picked up the loose change from his dresser as he got ready to meet his buddy Tommy down at the malt shop. A shriek caused him to drop the coins that clattered on the hardwood floor. He ran out of his bedroom and down the hall to the living room, sliding to a stop as he saw the tableau.
A man dressed in a dark- blue suit was flanked by two police officers. Virgil's mother was crying, his father holding her close. The man was holding an official-looking sheaf of papers. Virgil felt himself go numb. No, no, no!
"Virgil Edwards?" Virgil could not get his tongue to work. "You tested positive for the FH factor. You are now the property of the Federal Government."
The room began to tilt. Cold constricted his breathing as he managed to say, "There must be a mistake."
Was there pity in the agent's brown eyes? "Your positive results required a second run of the results. No mistake." The agent signaled the officers. One policeman grabbed Virgil's arm and turned him around and the other snapped handcuffs around his wrists, binding his arms behind his back.
"No, please, there has to be a mistake," Virgil begged, the first of many pleas in the days ahead that would be ignored. "Mom, Dad, help me!"
His father turned away with his arm around his sobbing mother, Virgil struggling as he called out to his parents. As the policemen dragged him away, his father threw a look over his shoulder. Shock drained the color from Virgil's face as he saw the disgust and contempt on his father's face.
"No, please! It has to be a mistake." He couldn't breathe as the front door closed behind him as he was forced outside.
& & & & & &
"No, please!"
"Virg?" Christy asked, roused out of sleep by his lover's cry.
"Sorry, Christy." Virgil gasped for breath.
Christy was spooned up behind Virgil, his arms banded around his companion's chest. They were in the slave hut after Christy's claiming of him last night.
"You're shaking."
"Bad dream."
"Sorry." Christy didn't ask for details, for which Virgil was grateful.
Virgil grabbed Christy's arm. "Please...stay."
Christy nuzzled Virgil's ear. "Don't worry, we still have fifteen minutes before 0:700." Christy gently caressed Virgil's stomach to try and calm him. The trembling worried him.
Virgil took deep breaths. He wished the dream (nightmare) would fade away like most dreams. The nightmare was clinging to him like cobwebs hanging from a haunted house. Pain broke his bones and shortened his breath as he tried to shake it. He couldn't stop shaking as he felt icy-cold inside.
"Just rest. I'm not going anywhere." Christy kissed his companion's shoulder. "You're safe."
Virgil's racing heart began to calm down. He just needed the light of day to dispell the lingering effects of the nightmare.
The two men stayed on the bed, until Virgil's watch on the nightstand read 7:00.
"I'll take care of you this morning," Christy whispered. "Always."
Virgil squeezed Christy's hand. "I know."
Christy kissed Virgil's back and encouraged him to bring his knees up as he entered him.
Virgil wished his nightmare away as he was loved. He grasped Christy's hand and felt the old familiar joy of his touch.
Love banished the worst of the nightmare, at least for the moment. Virgil allowed the pleasure to blossom through his body. Christy's literal possession of it was pushed aside as he absorbed his lover's lust/love.
Christy's final thrust brought him to the brink of tears but he was strong enough to come out the other side with a smile instead. Christy kissed the back of his neck as he slid out.
"That was...amazing," Virgil said.
"You are amazing." Christy fetched the thermometer and helped Virgil sit up. "Open up." He stuck the thermometer in his companion's mouth. He smiled as he watched the time on Virgil's wristwatch he picked up from the nightstand.
Virgil tried to regulate his breathing. The nightmare lurked at the edges of his mind and he wanted to push it away. Concentrating on Christy helped.
Christy removed the thermometer and declared, "Fine." He went over to the storage cabinet and retrieved the blood pressure cuff. He affixed the cuff to Virgil's arm and took the reading. "Perfect." Christy kissed him gently. "Let's shower and dress."
"Right." Normalcy, that was the ticket. That would drive away the remnants of the nightmare. He jumped off the bed. "Let's go."
& & & & & &
The morning went by in a whirl of chores of both the crew and slave variety. The crew were horny today! Virgil put his heart into his service. The nightmare was fading.
Lunch was a pleasant pastime of joking and gossip. Gruber always picked up the best tidbits.
It was after clean-up that Mr. Parker called, "Mail call!" The men came running and nearly bowled the ensign over. "Hey, watch it! Okay, first one: Bell!"
Chuck knew that he had to be quick and parceled out the mail rapidly. The men hurried back to their barracks and started reading their mail. Virgil hung around the doorway. The only mail he ever received was Amazing Stories magazine, and there was no new issue this mail call.
"Ma says the Homerlys got word that their son Ben is alive. He was lost in North Africa but finally turned up in an Italian prison camp," Willy said.
"Glad the kid turned up," Happy said. "My dad says my kid brother wants to join the Marines."
"A jarhead?" asked Tinker.
"Ha." Happy resumed reading his letter.
"Hey, NY niece just won an essay contest," Gruber said. "She's gonna be published in The Brooklyn Messenger."
"Hey, that's great, Grube," said Christy.
"Can't wait to read it," said Tinker. "She's a bright kid."
"Oh, brother!"
Other men besides Tinker groaned, too, and Gruber laughed.
Virgil quietly slipped out. Usually he enjoyed listening to the guys' news from home, but not today. He went to the dock and sat on a piling close to the PT-73, his legs swinging back and forth. He watched the play of sunlight on the water.
"You tested positive for the FH factor. You are now the property of the Federal Government."
Tears stung his eyes and he tried to breathe. Damn! He just couldn't shake his nightmare.
His father's expression of contempt and disgust was burned into his brain. He wiped his eyes. The hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach was sadly familiar.
"No, please, there has to be a mistake."
No mistake. No amount of pleading worked. No one would help him.
He let the tears flow.
& & & & & &
The crew laughed at Gruber's latest quip. Happy looked around. "Where's Virg?"
"He left," McHale said
"How come he never gets mail from home?" Happy asked. "Slaves must be allowed to receive mail. He gets his magazine."
McHale set said his own letter. "Slaves can't receive mail. Seamen can."
"So why doesn't he get any family letters?"
McHale considered what to say. "His family won't send any letters or baked goods or anything."
"Why?"
"Because Virgil doesn't exist for them anymore," said Gruber, saving McHale the pronouncement.
& & & & & &
"Ah, Virgil-san, mail call kind of tough," said Fuji sympathetically as he sat on the piling next to Virgil. He saw the sailor's red-rimmed eyes but made no mention of it.
"Yeah, usually I enjoy listening to their news from home, but today was..." He shrugged, fresh tears brimming in his eyes.
"Yeah, sometimes it good just to sit by ocean."
Virgil nodded and they sat in companionable silence.
& & & & & &
"Huh?" Happy was confused.
Gruber took a drag on his cigarette. "As soon as the Govs dragged him away, his family began erasing him."
Chuck was as shocked as Happy.. "Erase him?"
"Gruber's right," said McHale. "Once a son tests positive, the family no longer acknowledge him."
"They just toss him away?"
"They do, otherwise they'll be shunned."
"What?" Happy said.
"They get cut dead by society. Any siblings are affected as well as the parents. For their sakes, they no longer acknowledge their FH son "
"How can parents just turn off their feeling like that?" Chuck sounded devastated.
"Oh, some of the parents don't like it, but they have other children to consider, not to mention their social status."
"I know whatcha mean," Willy said. "Back in Frog Holler, there was a family name of Slocumb. Their boy Jacob tested positive and the Govs took him. No one ever spoke his name again, includin' his family. If they hadn't erased him, they woulda been shunned fer sure." Willy shook his head. "As it was, they were kinda suspect."
"Suspect?" Happy asked.
"They was always looked at a little suspiciously. Heard that Mrs. Slocumb did a lot of cryin', but Mr. Slocumb would never even allow Jacob's name to be spoken within the family. He was plain disgusted and furious that he sired a..." Willy looked toward the doorway to make sure Virgil wasn't there. "Well, you know "
"That's right," McHale said. "Some parents feel it's a stain on them to have brought an FHer into the world."
Christy's eyes were suspiciously bright. He said nothing but was clearly upset.
"That's really fucked up," Tinker complained. "A kid tests positive for FH, yet he's the one blamed for it, like he's got a choice." He shook his head. "I can't figure people out."
"You're right about that," McHale said. "Virgil doesn't even know if he can be buried in the family plot someday."
"What do you mean, Skip?"
McHale rubbed his chin. "Depends. The family has to register acceptance with their cemetery. If they do, he can be buried in the family plot. His name won't be etched on the gravestone, but his bones will be welcomed."
"And if they don't?" Chuck clearly dreaded the answer.
"Then the slave's remains go to a slave field run by the Govs."
Silence hung heavy in the hut.
& & & & & &
"Guess I'll head back," Virgil said to Fuji. It had almost been an hour of quiet companionship.
"Me, too. Maybe Gruber's mother sent chocolate chip cookies."
Virgil smiled. He took a last swipe at his eyes and put his arm around Fuji as they walked back to the barracks.
Willy was at the doorway. "Hey, glad you guys are back. Have some of my ma's gingerbread. Best in all of Tennessee!"
"Thanks, Willy," said Fuji, sampling a square, and Virgil murmured his thanks. "Mmm, good. Hey, do I smell chocolate chip cookies?" Fuji made a beeline for Gruber's bunk as Willy and Virgil exchanged grins.
"Is Lester charging his usual rate?" asked Virgil.
"He's feelin' generous today. All free."
"Wow."
Virgil and Willy went inside. Gruber waved Virgil over for a cookie. Everybody seemed in good cheer and Virgil felt a little better. The men noticed his red-rimmed eyes, but like Fuji, they made no mention of it. If ever a grown man had a right to cry, it was Virgil.
Virgil and Willy moved to a small table and sat down.
"Hey, I got my latest copy of Astonishing Stories," Willy said.
"Yeah?" Virgil enjoyed sharing his magazine with Willy. It had been a delight to learn of their mutual interest in science fiction. They swapped magazines and talked about the stories.
"Mail call's good," Virgil said a little wistfully. "Makes everyone happy. Lots of sharing."
"That's what family does for each other," Willy said.
"Family?"
"That's what crew as family does for each other." Willy smiled. "Especially those of us who serve on our little tin cans."
Virgil looked around the room. The men were laughing and joking as they shared their goodies and news.
I'm part of this. They...they won't turn their backs on me.
He smiled at Willy, who looked happy.
The nightmare? It was fading, at least for now.
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