#ive already had to shelve one of my sledgefu week fics

[detectivecutiepantsandhisbabyfox]

I said I’d post a snippet of the next chapter of my Sledgefu WIP a month ago 🙈😬

I have no excuses that this chapter is still in progress, other than homeschooling, teaching online, charity raffles, Sledgefu week, building work meaning we had to move out and the mental exhaustion that the last few months have brought. I apologise. This fic is in no way abandoned, and will be finished.

In the meantime have some anxious Gene (what’s new there?)

That’s the way it’s gonna be little darlin’

“Sledge” Eugene felt a weight on his shoulder, shaking gently. Looking up he saw Burgie’s friendly face; wet hair plastered to his forehead, drops rolling down his smiling cheeks.

“You really can sleep anywhere huh?” he grinned.

“Somethin’ the Marines taught me, thats actually useful now” Eugene smiled back. As long as it’s not nighttime anyway, he thought.

“Is it rainin’ outside Burgie?”

Burgie snorted and pushed on Gene’s shoulder. Don appeared at the door, removing his hat and shaking himself off like a dog.

“Ooh somethin’ smells good in ‘ere!” he smacked his lips and approached the boys.

“Well it ain’t Eugene” Burgie joked, cackling at Eugene’s annoyed face.

“Some of us have had other things on our minds” Eugene muttered, and Burgie’s face softened, gripping Eugene’s shoulder again and squeezing softly.

“Let’s all get cleaned up before lunch then eh?” Don made his way to the stairs, “C’mon I’ll show ya’ where ya’ staying.”

The inside of the house was eerily still as they made their way up the large staircase; only the sounds of their footsteps on the wooden steps and the almost continuous rolling thunder breaking the silence. Sledge followed slowly behind Burgie and Don, peering at the multitude of horse paintings adorning the walls.

The rain pelted against the large window at the top of the stairs, blurring the view of the sprawling fields behind the house. Eugene could see a few stable hands running to a large barn; now a red smudge in the distance.

Eugene felt a pang of jealousy; had those boys shared bunks with Snaf? Listened to him regale stories of being in the Marines? Had they been witness to Snaf’s habit of walking around half naked? Shared his smokes? His beer? Had they seen him gentle and peaceful as he slept; a complete opposite of the Snafu that was crude and sneering during the day?

Eugene swallowed thickly.

Did they know about him?

“Eugene?” Don was looking at him carefully as he tore his eyes away from the rain drenched fields.

“You comin’ son?” Don tilted his head towards the long corridor; Eugene could see Burgie heading into one of the rooms, shouldering his bag as he went.

Eugene stared at Don. Should he be here? He was beginning to worry what sort of mess he might have got himself into. Or what Snafu had gotten them into.

“No........no one knows.........’bout me.....right” Eugene’s eyes slid back to the window, Don’s following, and understanding dawning on him.

“The boys? Nahhh. Merriell wasn’t stupid”

Don realised his mistake as soon as it was out of his mouth “.....isn’t.....stupid. He isn’t stupid,” he corrected himself, watching as Eugene frowned at the window.

Link to WIP here:

https://archiveofourown.org/works/20342155/chapters/48233881

#i love this story #i wish i had the energy to finish this today #but not likely #ive already had to shelve one of my sledgefu week fics #disaster writer right here huh #fic #my fic #thats the way its gonna be little darlin’