Teammate

"This one. Ellice. I want him."

"...Are you sure, sir?"

"'Course I am. Is there a problem?"

"No, sir. Not at all. It's just... Ellice is deaf."

"Completely?"

"Almost. Sir, if I may-"

"Sergeant, your job is not to "may". Your job is to sit there and listen while I choose who I want on my team. Understood?"

"...Yes, sir."

"Good."

There was a lapse in conversation as the captain looked over Ellice's file. "He's ex-CIA, was stationed as a sleeper agent all over Europe and the Middle East. Speaks English, Arabic, and Russian, and he knows both American and British sign language... I'm impressed. Was he born deaf?"

"No, sir," replied the sergeant. "He lost his hearing in an explosion. Are you sure you want a deaf man on your team?"

"Sure, I'll give him a non-combat position. He can be my clerk, do all the paperwork I don't want to do."

"Sir-"

"Hush. He has the skills. Drop him a line for me."

With a sigh, the sergeant stood up and left. He knew there was no point in arguing.