Warning: Rated [MA] Mature Adults only. Contains strong m/m sexual scenes, violence, coarse language and adult themes.
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Warning: (MA) Mature Adults only.
This is probably more in the Book Universe than the Video Series Universe and takes place shortly after Sharpe meets Hogan at the end of Rifles[Book] I know that Hogan was a Captain in Rifles but I've chosen to make him a Major as that is the way most people know him
This was inspired by Harper's famous line "It's a good thing he's got me to look after him now." and Sharpe's dislike of tents.
Rating: MA ? [pretty tame really]
An Offer Too Good To Refuse
By Minerva
"Bloody Tents!" muttered Lieutenant Richard Sharpe as he tugged the flap of Major Hogan's tent closed behind him and strode off into the darkness absently rubbing his mouth. It was cold outside after the warmth of the tent and for one brief moment Sharpe wished he was back inside. Wrapping his arms around himself he pushed that thought away. Major Hogan had not invited him to stay and Richard Sharpe had not asked.
He was always wary of being asked into an Officers tent as it rarely boded well for him and this time had proved no exception.
Major Hogan seemed a decent enough fellow. He had congratulated Sharpe on bringing his small group of Riflemen to safety and hinted that word of it would reach even Wellesley. Hogan had shared his dinner with Sharpe, all the time apologising for the simpleness of the food. After living hand to mouth for most of the winter Sharpe had thought it a feast. It wasn't until Hogan brought out a fine bottle of French brandy that the Major finally came around to what he wanted.
"You'll need someone to bring this to Wellesley's attention, someone to speak up for you. I could do that." Hogan began as he sipped his brandy.
Yes,thought Sharpe, here it comes. Hogan had moved closer and finally said almost apologetically "We're a long way from home, Richard, all alone and its damned cold. Would you keep me warm for a while?"
Sharpe hadn't been surprised..not really..he told himself. Hell, he should be use to it by now. It was a part of army life after all. But there was a difference between something shared between friends and something that Officer's expected from men in the ranks. Hogan was expecting the latter.
Dammit, he wasn't in the ranks any more, he was an officer too, and part of him was disappointed the Hogan had so little respect for him. But Richard Sharpe had long ago learned the hard way never to say no to an officer, so he had complied with Major Hogans requests, quite simple really, and when he was finished the Major had dismissed him and turned him out into the cold again.
"Bloody Tents" Sharped muttered again and tried not to think about how lonely he felt at that moment. He wasn't accepted by the other Officers as he wasn't a Gentleman and he was no longer part of the ranks, kept at a distance by the men whom once he would have called his friends. Sharpe thought of himself in a kind of limbo. Caught between the two camps, not knowing where to turn.
He was shaken from his thinking by the large figure of Sergeant Harper looming up beside him.
"So what did Major Hogan want with you Sir?" asked Harper.
"What do Officers usually want!" snapped Sharpe, unconsciously wiping his mouth again. "Yer wouldn't have any tea would you Harper?"
"Ahh sure Sir, just over here. We've got a little fire hidden away. Not enough to warm a body but enough to make a cup of tea. Come along this way."
Harper led the way to a little hollow where Sharpe could see the dark shapes of the Riflemen curled up sleeping on the ground. Some had tattered blankets covering them, others just huddled together to keep warm.
The sight brought back memories of nights long ago spent laying beside Tom Garrard. Ahh Tom, now there was a true friend. Someone to trust, to have a little fun with, to share a drink or a little comfort...Sharpe smiled to himself. It was a long time since he had a friend like that.
Sighing sadly he sat down by the small fire. Harper was right. The fire was not big enough to warm a body and Sharpe wrapped his arms around himself and shivered.
"Here you go Sir" said Harper as he dropped a blanket around Sharpe's shoulders. " I'm guessing it was cosywarm in that tent of Major Hogan's and you'll be feeling the cold now that your outside again. The tea won't take long Sir."
"And just where did yer get this blanket Harper, yer didn't steal it did yer?" asked Sharpe as he wrapped it further around himself.
"No no Sir" replied Harper as he fussed around the fire. "I asked Sergeant Reynolds who is with Major Hogan if he had one to spare and he gave it to me. It's a pity he didn't have any spare tents."
"Bloody Tents!" cursed Sharpe "I hate bloody tents! You always know you're in for trouble when they call you into their bloody tent."
"It's your pretty face, Sir, that's what's the problem." said Harper matter-of-factly.
Sharpe looked up at the tall Sergeant too shocked to answer for a moment.
"And just what would you know about it Harper?" he asked angrily.
Harper continued on with the tea making as calmly as if he were discussing how to load a rifle.
"Well Sir, I've been in the army since I was a lad and I wasn't always this big or this ugly so I know what some Officers can be like. But if you'll excuse me for being blunt Sir, they give up mighty quick when a lad learns to stand up for himself or finds someone to do it for him."
Sharpe looked at Harper and didn't know whether to laugh or to blush.
"You're an Officer too, now Sir," continued Harper. "You don't have to put up with that any more. I've seen the way you fight, the way you lead the men into battle. You'll get ahead without licking up to other Officers. It won't be easy but if anyone can do it, it's you Sir."
Sharpe felt a sudden warmth flow through him. He was pleased and more than a little surprised to discover that Sergeant Harper thought so highly of him.
"You need to find someone to back you up though,Sir,someone to look after you. Someone who will make an Officer think twice before he tries to put the hard word on you. Now, how do you like it Sir?"
"What !!" asked Sharpe feeling his face go hot. "Like it, like what?" My god was Harper propositioning him.
"Your tea Sir, " said Harper seemingly unaware of the discomfit he was causing. "How do you like your tea. Is it too strong, should I put a little cold water in it?"
"No, that's fine, thank you." Sharpe accepted the battered mug from Harper, glad for the moment to have something warm in his hands. He glanced again at the Sergeant, trying to understand what the Irishman was saying.
Patrick Harper was certainly a man you would think twice about before crossing. He was six foot four inches tall and strongly built. A man you would be happy to have stand beside you in a fight. Ugly? No, Sharpe decided, not ugly. He smiled to himself that his Sergeant thought of himself as ugly. His Sergeant, bloody hell, where did that thought come from!
He knew that, as an Officer, he would need a Sergeant he could rely on and trust, but was Sergeant Harper that man?
Their eyes met across the small camp fire and Harper flashed a big smile at Sharpe who smile back, unable to resist the infectious charm.
"It's different with women Sir," began Harper again, "they're too flighty. Can't make up their minds what they want. And no matter what you do, it's always the wrong thing with them.
Sharpe nodded, happy that conversation was turning to more familiar ground.
"Sure they have their uses" said Harper pressing on " but sometimes the price you have to pay is just not worth the trouble that goes with it if you know what I mean."
"Yes, I never have much luck with women." Sharpe replied " It never turns out the way I thought it would."
Harper nodded. "They might be warm and soft Sir,but they'll take either your money or your heart or both and they always let you down in the end." he said softly.
"Now with men it's different. I'm not talking about one of those prissy Officers who just wants you to bend over for him, I'm talking about a man you march into battle with and fight side by side with. When you share that with someone it makes everything else so simple. You trust each other and you come to understand and respect each other. You watch out for each other and keep each other's backs safe and warm. No fussing, no false promises just whatever feels right at the time.A man needs to know who he can turn to Sir." Patrick Harper paused and looked directly at Richard Sharpe, waiting.
Sharpe was suddenly aware of the silence all around them. It was very late and the rest of the camp, except for the picquets, were sleeping.
"So what exactly are yer saying Harper?" he asked blankly.
Harper just shook his head and smiled, "You should be in bed Sir. Major Hogan had no business keeping you up so late."
"Aye, yer right Harper. Thank you for the tea."
Sharpe stood up, stretched and turned to leave. "Oh, and Patrick," he said turning back "if yer would like to come and keep my back warm yer'd be welcome."
Patrick Harper smiled at his Lieutenant and replied "Yes Sir, I'd like that."
~ Postscript: Later That Night. aka Sharpe's Trousers ~
Richard Sharpe hovered on the edge of sleep, the warm bulk of Patrick Harper pressed up against his back keeping him warm.
His minded drifted back over their conversation earlier that night. What was it Patrick had said..."watch his back and keep it warm" or was that "wash his back and keep it warm?" Sharpe smiled as he drifted further into sleep.
"The trousers will have to go Sir." Harpers soft voice and warm breath tickled his ear and Sharpe jumped, not sure if he was dreaming.
"What did yer say Harper?" he said trying to wake up.
"I said you'll have to get rid of your trousers Sir." said Harper a little louder.
Sharpe's eyes snapped open and he rolled over quickly to face his Sergeant.
"Bloody Hell Harper, the grounds half frozen! If I take off my trousers I'll freeze my bloody..."
"No, no Sir," interrupted Harper calmly "What I mean, is that you'll have to find another pair. Those ones just aren't ...right."
Sharpe was shocked. He loved his trousers. A good pair of trousers that fitted well was hard to come by and Richard Sharpe had killed a man to get these. Dammit, they meant something to him!
"What's wrong with m'trousers Harper. They're the best fitting trousers I've had."
"That's just the trouble, Sir, they fit too well. I'm going to have a hard enough time watching out for you without you walking around in those trousers showing off everything that can be found inside them. Surely you've noticed the way you're looked at Sir? "
"Are you saying I'm a tease Harper?" said Sharpe wondering why he had never noticed the looks before.
"Well maybe not intentionally Sir, but you are giving out a certain message with those trousers, the way they cling to your calves, your thighs, your.."
"All right,all right Harper, I understand. I'll get rid of them. But I'll have to wait until I can find some others. Now shut up and go back to sleep." With any luck he might not find another pair that fit until the war ended! Sharpe rolled over on his side again wondering just what he was getting himself into. Now what had Harper said about washing his back.....
Harper was surprised that Sharpe had agreed so easily. He knew his Lieutenant was deeply attached to his fancy trousers. Sharpe hadn't taken them off since he first put them on. Well maybe he had in Major Hogan's tent earlier that evening but Harper preferred not to speculate.
They must be as high as a kite by now thought Harper as he snuggled down into the warmth again. He inhaled deeply and his nose was assaulted by many varied smell. Stale sweat, dirty hairy, a slight whiff of brandy and that wet smell their uniforms had when they were damp. Finally Harper was able to distinguish the smell he was searching for, that faint rough spicy smell, the unmistakable odour of Trouser Musk! Yes, the sooner he got Lieutenant Sharpe out of those trousers, the better, Harper thought to himself.
Richard Sharpe would be a much happier man without his trousers and Patrick Harper would was going to make sure of it!
~ The Next Day...or... How Do You Like It? ~
Daniel Hagman caught up with Patrick Harper as they marched along through the bleak landscape.
"So Harper what did you find out about Lieutenant Sharpe last night?" Hagman asked, as much from boredom as from any genuine interest.
Harper smiled down at the aging Rifleman glad to have someone to pass the time with. "Oh I found out a lot Hagman, a lot. Made him a cup and we sat and had a nice long talk. Did you know he has trouble with women. Yes, he said he never had much luck with them and it never worked for him." Well he'd said something like that hadn't he, thought Harper.
"Really ," said Hagman, raising his eyebrows, and listening a bit closer.
"He told me about all the trouble he has with the other Officers and how they still treat him like he was in the ranks. Its wrong what they still expect him to do."
"Oh I'm sure it is." Hagman said, his imagination providing him with a few thought provoking images.
"I told him he needed someone to watch out for him, look after him, do little things for him like make his tea and keep his back warm."
"You did?" said Hagman slightly surprised at Harper's forwardness
"Yes," Harper continued, " and I found out just how he likes it. Careful there Hagman, watch you're step."
Hagman righted himself and walked on. "Bloody Hell Harper how did you find that out?" he said struggling to keep his voice even.
"Well I asked him and he just told me. No mystery there." replied Harper wondering what was up with Hagman today. The man just didn't seem himself.
Curiosity was getting the better of Hagman and as Harper seemed to be in a talkative mood he thought he'd press his luck.
"So just how does Lieutenant Sharpe like it Harper?" enquired Hagman trying not to sound too eager.
"Really hot and strong" said Harper with a slight smile remembering back. "It made my throat sore just watching him. But he doesn't rush it, none of this gulping and gasping. No, he likes to take his time,he does. Sort of savour it if you know what I mean?"
Hagman thought he knew what Harper meant...not from any personal experience he reminded himself, but the army had given him an education if nothing else.
"Oh aye Harper, I take yer meaning." he said.
Harper continued on, his voice becoming softer, almost reverant.
"He even thanked me afterwards, like he really appreciated it."
"So you're going ta do it for him again Harper" Hagman asked, wondering if he really wanted to hear the answer.
"Oh yes" said Harper with one of his big grins, "as often as he wants. He won't have to worry about that now that he's got me to look after him."
"Well I'm happy for you Harper, truly happy, just watch out for those other Officers." replied Hagman. Bloody hell, he thought.
"Oh don't you worry about me Hagman," Harper confided, "I won't have any trouble with Officers once I get Lieutenant Sharpe out of those trousers of his! Here Hagman, are you all right? Maybe you should sit down for a while and catch your breath." Hagman's getting to old for all this marching, Harper thought to himself.
"I'm fine Harper," I'll just rest here for a while. You go on along now." and he waved Harper on glad to put an end to their conversation.
Riflemen Harris and Cooper flopped down beside Hagman concern clearly showing in their faces.
"Are you all right Hagman, you look all done in?" asked Harris with concern.
"Just a little shock lads, that's all. I was talking to Sergeant Harper and you'll never guess what he told me......"
The End.