Third Person - Complete

Omission

Lewis sat in the desk in the Mag Area, half-dozing thanks to her full belly after lunch. She was drifting in that pleasant area between sleep and awake, where she could hear what was going on around her, but her body was full of that warm, tingly, heavy feeling she'd learned to enjoy. She was slumped down in the chair, legs out and relaxed, softcap pulled down over her eyes, arms folded under her breasts.

The *thump-drag-thump-drag* of Stillwater's lurching walk came closer, and Lewis opened one eye, unfolding her arms and pushing the brim of her cap up.

Stillwater stood there, staring down at her, wearing his eye-patch. His face was grimmer than usual and Lewis saw that damaged nerve jerking the left corner of his mouth up.

"Get up, Private, and follow me," Stillwater growled.

It wasn't his normal raspy growl, it was lower pitched, and something in it made goosebumps rise on Lewis's skin.

"Something wrong, Sergeant?" Lewis asked, getting to her feet. She pulled her softcap off and jammed it in her right thigh pocket.

"Not here," Stillwater growled, pivoting on his good leg, the braced leg dragging as he turned. "Follow me."

The soldiers of First and Second Magazine Platoon that had gathered up in the Mag Area had gone silent, staying hushed as Lewis followed Stillwater into Near Hammerhead Hall. As soon as the heavy door boomed shut the soldiers left behind began wondering what was going on, the buzzing of softly spoken conversation filled the Mag Area.

Stillwater stayed silent as he walked, his left boot leaving streaks in the wax as he slowly walked down the hallway.

"What's going on, Sergeant? Did I do something wrong?" Lewis asked.

"Save it. We'll figure that out in a moment," Stillwater growled.

They were silent until they pushed through the double doors. Lewis expected him to go right into the Middle Stairwell, instead he pulled open the door the second floor laundry room, leading her inside. Once inside, Lewis saw that Sergeant Bomber and Sergeant Nagle were inside. When the door shut, Stillwater gave a nod and Nagle pressed the button on the dryer she was sitting on. It began to thump loudly and Lewis realized that someone had thrown a pair of  tennis shoes or boots into it.

"Sergeant Bomber and Sergeant Nagle are here to act as witnesses," Stillwater growled.

Lewis felt sweat break out on her lower back. It looked more like a tribunal than anything else Lewis had ever seen.

"I'm going to talk to you. I cannot compel answers under the UCMJ, but I advise you to be completely fortright with me," Stillwater continued. He tapped under his eyepatch. "Just a word of friendly warning: Don't lie to me. Not now, not ever. Especially in times like right now. I will have your back one hundred percent, I will argue your case and your side to our superiors and will fight for you by bringing everything I can to bear for you."

Again he tapped the eyepatch as Lewis swallowed thickly. "Do. Not. Lie."

"Yes, Sergeant," Lewis said, her voice quavering slightly. She knew she was sweating, thick oily feeling snakes of fear sweat, but couldn't stop herself.

"Did you lie on any of your paperwork filed in Reception, Basic Training, AIT, or during inprocessing here at Second of the Nineteenth Special Weapons Group?" Stillwater asked.

Lewis felt fear knot her stomach.

He knows...

"Yes, Sergeant," Lewis said softly. "Well, not exactly."

Stillwater nodded. "Was your lie a lie of omission, Private Lewis?"

Again, Lewis nodded. "Yes, Sergeant."