Chapter 170: Pass-in-Review
*Eleventh General Order of the Navy – To be especially watchful at night, and, during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority*
Helen and Jolene walked ahead of Jaxon and Dean as they followed the crowd. They were escorted to their seats which were close to the floor. Or, as the sailor called it, the drill deck.
Helen sat in the inside seat followed by her daughter and son. Dean sat at the end and suddenly felt alone and by herself. Jaxon and Jolene had each other and their mother. And Helen had all her kids and Reese.
But who did she have?
She was an orphan. An only child. On what should have been a happy day, grief washed over her.
A strong arm was placed around her shoulders and pulled her into Jaxon’s side. His other hand reached down and lightly grasped her tightly connected hands.
“Breathe, sweetheart.”
Dean took in a deep ragged breath and was only then aware that she had been holding her breath. Letting the breath out, she leaned into his warm embrace.
“That’s it.” He encouraged with a light brush of his lips across the top of her head. “Do it again.”
He couldn’t help but smile as he felt her body relax and her hands loosened under his.
“Thank you.” Dean whispered after a few more breaths as she rested her head against his chest.
“You’re welcome.” He murmured as he shifted to make her more comfortable. “You know that you’re not alone, right?”
“Sometimes, I feel like I am.” She admitted quietly.
He shifted their hands and held her left hand with his and gently moved her promise ring. “That right there says that my brother cares for you enough to claim you as his. That means when he’s deployed, it’s our responsibility to take care of you. Anything that you need, we’re here.”
“Thanks.”
“How did you sleep last night?” He asked as she stifled a yawn.
“Horrible.” She admitted. “My mind wouldn’t shut up and I was nervous and excited. You?”
He grunted before speaking softly. “Be glad you have a suite across the hall. We had Kitten and Sir on one side and Alpha and his pet on the other.”
Dean snickered as she tried to contain her laughter. He continued to talk softly with her until she was too tired to fight sleep, and she dozed off for a while. She stirred as the PA system let the audience know where to find the bathrooms and that the ceremony would be starting soon.
Another announcement was made at 8:45 letting everyone know that the doors were now closed and no one else would be admitted. Exactly at nine o’clock, the ceremony began, just as Reese had said – the Navy waits for no one.
As the emcee continued his diatribe, Dean found herself getting lost in her thoughts again. Watching as all the flags of all the states and provinces and District were paraded out, she wondered what her future would be like with JD. But just as she started to imagine it, the doors at the end of the hall opened and the divisions began to enter.
She caught a glimpse of him in the middle of his group as they walked by. He seemed so much older than he did just a few months ago. Her eyes never left him for the rest of the ceremony. The flags moved over out of the way and then the divisions did a fancy move that placed the division flags at the front.
The guide on. Isn’t that what Uncle O called them? Because the military wanted to make sure that everyone knew where to go. He and Childs had made a few good natured insults about the intelligence of the others branch.
After seeing the guide on flags, she understood his humorous reaction to the tour guide at the science museum with the red flag that she held up the entire time.
Her eyes were still focused on JD.
He didn’t look at her, he didn’t break his bearing. He didn’t move and didn’t smile. The words from the emcee flowed around her unheard as she focused on the man that held her heart.
When the other door opened and the captain from some ship walked in, her eyes flicked over momentarily. But they went right back to JD. Standing with everyone else, Dean lowered her head for the invocation. Her eyes remained open and with a little strain, she was still able to keep her eyes on JD.
Afterwards, the divisions all presented themselves as being all present and accounted for. After the third or fourth division, Jaxon leaned over and whispered “Very well” with the sailor that they were reporting to. Dean couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped.
“You’re horrible.” Dean whispered.
“Very well.” He replied and she laid her head against his arm. The feeling of loneliness was gone and long forgotten. Carefully, he moved his hand, offering it on her lap palm up.
“Very well.” They both whispered as she slid her hand into his.
After they were all declared present and accounted for, they recited the Sailor’s Creed. Dean mouthed it along with them, having learned it years ago when her handwriting needed improvement. Being enamored with her larger-than-life uncle, she had memorized it.
“I am a United States Sailor.” Jaxon squeezed her hand.
“I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America and I will obey the orders of those appointed over me.” With her free hand, she reached up and wiped away a tear.
“I represent the fighting spirit of the Navy and those who have gone before me to defend freedom and democracy around the world.” She smiled thinking of the world map in her mother’s office, she should do something like that JD.
“I proudly serve my country's Navy combat team with Honor, Courage, and Commitment.” There was a light brush of Jaxon’s lips across her hair.
“I am committed to excellence and the fair treatment of all.” Jolene placed her hand over their joined hands and gave them both a light squeeze.
They all stood for *America the Beautiful* and then for the first time, looked away from JD to watch the five-member armed drill team perform their routine with their rifles. Then she sang along, maybe a little off key, to *Anchors Aweigh* and could picture Reese belting it out at the hotel.
The veterans and active-duty members were recognized in the audience. When they had the Marines stand, Jaxon got Dean's attention and pointed to where two people sat towards the end of the stands. One stood and the other remained seated. Both Jaxon and Dean laughed when Childs realized that he had gotten caught up in the ceremony and stood for his hymn.
“He’s so busted.” Dean whispered and Jaxon chuckled.
The awards were presented to the honor graduates. As the recruit was receiving the award for the Navy League, Helen leaned over to get Dean’s attention.
“Didn’t Reese get that?”
“Yeah.” She grinned at the older woman.
They turned back to the ceremony and then they all gave silent applause – the Navy was serious when they said to hold all applause until the end – when JD’s name was called to receive the award from the Military Order of World Wars.
The audience joined in giving the new sailors three cheers.
“I’ve never actually done three cheers before.” Jolene said quietly.
“They’re big on it.” Dean told her.
The guest speaker gave his speech and the only thing that Dean could tell you about it was that it was short. They stood as the fifty plus flags marched out of the hall and then the words that Dean had been waiting for, sitting and standing and waiting for the past ninety minutes, were finally said.
“Liberty call. Liberty call. Liberty call. Now fall out.”
The words were still echoing through the hall when Dean released Jaxon’s hand and took off for JD.
*United States Naval Recruit graduation, Pass-In-Review, is held every Thursday morning at 9 Central Time. You can watch it live on their Facebook – US Navy Recruit Training Command – or their YouTube page – RTC Public Affairs.*
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