the fact that you are one of those DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY guys. I knew this from the first day we met and what's more-you always will be. Thank god you are. You will never change. It's one of the things that I love and admire about you. I'll even wager that you will re-enlist when the time comes."

"Bull shit! That's all bull shit and besides it's not true! Damn it! You always think you know me?" Joseph shouted. "If you think I'm not the only one who has been putting his job ahead of our relationship, then look at yourself! Didn't you just put 'Duty, Honor, PLAY' ahead of us?"

"Yes I did and maybe it's crunch time. Time for the both of us to realize that our jobs really mean more to each of us than we do to each other...." He said as his voice trailed off as the shock of what he had just admitted began to sink in. "Oh God, Joseph, I really did not mean that! It did not come out right. My god, I think we are having our first real fight."

"Sometimes in anger the truth comes out. You did mean it! And, I guess we have reached that time and place."

"Joseph, please, I don't want to fight with you over this. It is not that important right now." Richard said trying somehow to defuse the situation.

"Are you serious? Not that important? What we are discussing here is our future life together, not something like-what are we going to do tonight or what to have to eat for supper." Joseph almost screamed. "We are down to basics here. It's 'Love Relationships Class 101', and I think we are both failing the class."

"What I meant was that this whole trip might just be a meeting whereby the President will thank you for what you did." Richard tried to explain. "Barns told you a while back that the President had told him that when this was over he wanted to meet and thank you in person, didn't he? Well maybe this is his way of doing it? I just think and I want you to wait and see what he has to say before you 'jump ship'."

"Jump ship? Where and from whom did you learn that from? That's Navy! Have you been screwing the Navy now?" Joseph asked in a joking way. "My god have I turned you into one of those...those service whores?"

"I'm glad to see your sense of humor is returning." Richard picking up and continued in the lighter vein. "However, just to clear the air-you are the first and last serviceman I have ever picked up. There was just something about you that attracted me to you. Although those sailors do look sexy and hot in those skintight white pants they pour themselves into. But then who wants to undue all those damn buttons."

"I'm sure they have no trouble undoing them when the need arises!" Then turning serious again the soldier said, "But Rich, what if for some reason he wants me to continue this business?"

"We will just have to face that when we come to it, but I was serious about my commitment to the play. Just like you, I pledged myself to see this thing through and I'm going to do it and so are you!"

"Okay, I understand and in a way I am glad we got this out into the open." Joseph said. "Now we both know what it