York/Carolina Fan Fic Chapter 1:

It was quiet. Nobody said a word on their way back to the Mother of Invention. They all knew what had happened. Tex had shown up unexpectedly, the Director had fired a MAC round at the building they were in, endangering their lives... Something didn't seem right, but York just couldn't put his finger on it. Although nobody said anything, he knew they were all thinking the same thing.

They arrived at the Mother of Invention, and as soon as they landed in the hangar, the Pelican door opened. Although she was all the way in the back of the Pelican, Carolina was the first one to get out, quickly walking angrily out of the Pelican and towards the Freelancer's living quarters. She obviously had no intention of going to the Director for the debriefing. York couldn't blame her.

They all got out and went to the bridge, where the Director would be waiting for them. The first thing York saw as he walked in was Tex standing next to the Director. He couldn't say he wasn't surprised, what with Tex being his favorite now. They lined up, and the Director took a quick look at them before saying:

"And where, might I ask, is agent Carolina?"

"She's in her room and she won't come out. Locked the door and everything," said York, besides not having actually checked up on her. "I even tried pretty please, but that obviously didn't work."

"And you, agent York, being our infiltration specialist, didn't even attempt to unlock her door?" asked the Director. York could tell he was mad.

"It didn't occur to me to try that" he replied, but in reality, he just didn't think he should have disturbed her.

"Dully noted... and agent Maine?"

"In the medical bay," replied Washington, who sounded very worried.

"That is to be expected," said the Director, "Not even a soldier of his caliber could survive injuries like those without medical assistance. Now, for the reason I brought you here: thanks to agent Texas, the Sarcophagus and the briefcase have been successfully recovered. You all did a fine job assisting Texas in this difficult task. The Sarcophagus will be very important in the days to come; very important indeed..."

The Director seemed lost in his thoughts for a moment, but then he continued.

"Although I cannot tell you what purpose the Sarcophagus will serve, it will be a key element in your training. For now at least, you have all earned some rest. Counselor, update the board."

"Yes Director," he said.

With the push of a button, the board went into a frenzy, organizing the top six Freelancers in a new order, and the results were the following:

Texas
Carolina
York
North Dakota
South Dakota
Maine

"Dismissed," was the last thing the Director said, before turning around to talk to Texas.

Well, it seems Maine finally won himself a place on the board. The guy deserves it after all he did for us on that highway.

York was pretty certain the mission would have been a disaster if Maine hadn't been there for them. He saved both him and Carolina as they were falling down the side of the building, he kept on fighting after getting shot in the throat several times, and he saved Carolina from a sniper shot. His heart skipped a beat at that last thought.

Maine saved Carolina... If not for him, she wouldn't be here right now...

York didn't know why that thought occupied his mind so much, but he knew he was grateful for it. He would have to remember to thank Maine as soon as he left the medical bay for saving her life. First he had to figure out why it mattered to him so much, so he decided he'd go pay her a visit.

Although York had never been to Carolina's room, it wouldn't be a problem finding it, considering that their names were written in big bold letters on the doors. He walked through the corridor, walking past the doors, until he found the one. Written in big bold letters, he saw it:

CAROLINA

He didn't if she would still be mad, so he took a moment to gather himself, and he knocked. As soon as he knocked, Carolina yelled as she said "WHAT?!"

Yep… still mad.

"It's me, York."

"Oh … come on in."

He tried to open the door, but found that it didn't open.

"It's locked!" he said.

"You're the infiltration specialist York…"

"Right… You mind telling me why you can't open the door for me?"

"I'm in the shower…"

"Oh… well… I'll be right in then."

York got down on one knee, and got started on the lock. It was open in five seconds. He walked in, and took in his surroundings. Like everybody else's room, Carolina's room was a small square room, about ten feet from wall to wall. It also had a bathroom, currently occupied by Carolina, on the right as soon as you came in the room. There was a dresser for clothes directly in front of the door on the opposite wall, with the bed placed next to it against the corner. He walked to it and sat down.

Right in front of him, was a desk with Carolina's personal computer open, displaying her music library. He got curious, and stood up to get a closer look. Her music library was filled with some of the oldest rock bands in history. The Beatles, The Police, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin… York never thought she'd be into that kind of stuff. What surprised him even more was the stack of books on the left of the computer. There were seven in total.

Wow, these must be centuries old.

He picked up the first one and read the title: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. The other six were classic novels such as Hamlet, War and Peace, Paris in the Twentieth Century, Romeo & Juliet (which really took York by surprise), The Portrait of Dorian Gray, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. He picked up and opened Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, put his nose in between the pages, and took a deep whiff.

The musty smell of the age old paper was intoxicating. It was like nothing he had ever experienced. He couldn't believe books had been discontinued in favor of electronic books on data pads and personal computers. Holding a book in your hand felt like holding a relic of the past that, if not for people like Carolina, who apparently collected them, would have been forgotten along with the old world they had left behind once humanity took for the stars. It was a magical sensation. While he was distracted looking at the cover of "War and Peace", Carolina came out of the bathroom, and saw him holding the book.

"What the hell are you doing York? Put that down!"

"Whoa, calm down, I'm not gonna break em," he said, slowly putting it back.

"I know, it's just..."

While she said this, York saw the one and only picture she had on her desk. It was one of her with her parents back from when she was a kid.

"They belonged to your parents?"

"It's all I have left of them..."

York knew what she was talking about. She was living a happy life with her parents in Sigma Octanus IV until the Covenant attacked the colony. They didn't succeed, but that didn't mean there weren't any casualties. Among those were Carolina's parents. She had told him about how she had joined Project Freelancer to get revenge on those alien bastards; not that York blamed her for it.

He looked at her and was amazed at how beautiful she was. She had her towel wrapped around her like he supposed all women did after a bath. Her red hair was draped over her right shoulder, even darker considering she had just stepped out of the shower. Her bangs covered her right eye, making her look like a sweet, innocent girl, which York knew was the complete opposite of what she was. It also emphasized the pained expression on her face. He knew he shouldn't have brought up her parents.

"Sorry I brought em up then," said York.

"Don't worry about it, but... do you mind? I need to change."

"Don't worry, I'll close my eye," he said, and proceeded to close his only working eye. Carolina had once joked about York always being able to joke about anything no matter how serious, and the fact that he just made a remark on his lost eye, after having lost it the previous day probably proved that. Another thing that proved it was the laugh that followed, which he found oddly satisfying to hear.

"You can open your eye now," he heard her say, and so he did.

She was now wearing a gray tank top and some blue cargo pants; the only clothing allowed for the female agents, and the only one provided. That's not to say that the male agents wore anything all that different. They wore the same blue cargo pants, except they had a gray t-shirt.

"Don't tip-toe around it York, just tell me why you're here," she said, as she made her usual ponytail.

"Nothing really, just checking in to see if-"

"If I'm still mad at the Director?" she cut in angrily. "Of course I am! Why the hell shouldn't I be? The Director sent Texas, as if we weren't capable of accomplishing the mission, and not only that, but he also destroyed the building where the Sarcophagus was located, while we were still there!"

"I know all right? I was there too."

"And not to mention your eye."

"What about my eye?"

"Oh come on York, really? He let Maine and Wyoming bring live ammunition into the training filed, and even a grenade! Look at what it did to you! It cost you your eye! You're never getting it back! And not only did it happen, but he yelled at Washington for pointing out what they had done, and Maine and Wyoming were left untouched!" York saw a tears forming in her eyes. "God damn it York, you're the only friend I have here. I can't lose you."

"And you won't. Besides, Texas isn't all that bad. If it hadn't been for her I would really be dead."

"But that wouldn't have happened if the Director hadn't let them bring live ammunition to the training field!"

"Since when have you ever been mad at the Director anyways? Isn't that CT who usually accuses him of being the bad guy?"

"Yeah but..."

"This isn't about the Director is it? It's about Texas. You're actually mad at her."

"All right York! I'm mad at Texas! Happy? I'm mad at her because she won. Not only did she get the Sarcophagus into the Pelican, but she got the briefcase too! AND I WAS THE ONE WHO GOT IT FROM THE INSURRECTIONISTS, NOT HER! All that bitch did was grab it after I took it back."

"What matters is that you know you did it."

"No York! That's not it! Don't you see? The Director doesn't care about that! And it doesn't matter if I really did it, because in the end, all he'll hear is that she recovered the briefcase, and she'll end up going up the board."

"Yeah about that..."

"She already did didn't she?"

"Number one..."

As soon as York said it, Carolina's eyes filled with rage. Her arms tensed, and she turned towards the wall, screaming as she punched it, leaving a dent on the wall.

"Whoa, careful there, you're gonna hurt yourself without your armor."

"I'm not the scared little kid from Sigma anymore... I know how to take care of myself York."

"I know you do, but you can still hurt yourself by punching a titanium wall."

"I'm well aware of that."

"Sure doesn't seem like it."

And in spite of everything, in spite of the Director, Texas, the mission, and the anger, they did something completely that took them both by surprise: they laughed. Laughter was a rare novelty in the world they lived in, so it was a nice feeling. They enjoyed every moment of it. They laughed because they were tired; tired of the Director pushing them around; tired of Texas showing off; tired of the war; tired of the endless fighting... They laughed together, like two old friends sharing a drink at a bar, remembering the stupid things they would do as kids.

"You really did always know how to cheer me up," said Carolina.

"Hey, it's one of the reasons you can put up with me isn't it?"

She laughed harder, and so did York. When they finally stopped laughing, York was the first to speak.

"Well I hate to break up our little party, but the Director promised us some rest, and I plan on cashing in. I can't even remember the last time we were given time to rest. I guess I'll be seeing you."

He turned around to leave and walked towards the door. As soon as he stepped out the door, he heard Carolina calling him.

"York, wait!"

He turned around, and to his surprise, she hugged him.

"Thank you... for everything," she said.

For a moment, York didn't know what to say or do. He just stood there with his arms to the side, confused. Three seconds later, he hugged her back.

"You're welcome," he said, and they broke apart.

The last thing he saw before the door slid closed, was Carolina smiling, and thinking that he had made her smile made him smile.

Carolina smiles? That was definitely an interesting thing to see.