A/N: From now until near the end of October I decided to do a small horror AU multi-chapter fic. This was also suppose to be one big one-shot but decided against it, which is why you're getting two chapters today. I hope you enjoy!

Things haven't been the easiest for one Sergeant and Lieutenant of Task Force 141. Being betrayed by one of your superiors wasn't something you get over. Getting shot point blank, then being dosed by gasoline and set a light were what nightmares are made of. It was a good thing Shadow Company didn't stick around to see if they finished the job.

Simon was still conscience enough to help save them both. In the end both Simon and Gary survived, but were riddled with a lot of third degree burns throughout their body. It was weeks before they were both out of the infirmary, making Simon hate not going with Soap and Price to kill that traitorous bastard.

By the time Simon and Gary were discharged from the infirmary, Soap and Price had already killed Shepherd. After that they all decided to take leave. Price went back to Hereford, Soap went back to Scotland to visit family and then was going to spend the rest of his leave with Price. Gary decided that he needed to do something to clear his mind, which mean't for him going on a cross country car trip. Starting in California to his hometown of Stratton, Maine.

He asked if Simon wanted to go with him, saying he would love the company. Since Simon had no family left and most of his friends gone, he obliged and went with him. The little vacation was exactly what they both needed, it was also a plus that Simon had never been to the states, so Gary stopped at all the cliche tourist attractions just to show him. For the most part Gary stopped at all the national parks, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Sedona Red Rock country, The Grand Canyon, and Carlsbad caverns.

The one place Gary really wanted to take Simon was Disneyland. No matter how much begging and pleading Gary did, Simon would always say no. He dropped the subject once they drove through Florida. To Simon's own dismay, he was having a good time. Seeing new places and not having to worry about a future op for the time being made him feel at ease. And he had a cute blonde sergeant with him too.

Though his feelings for the vacation changed once Gary got them lost in the middle of a back-road in Massachusetts. It's the middle of fall, the leaves were all colored orange, red, and brown. Making for beautiful scenery. Massachusetts was known for having the best foliage during fall and Gary wanted to take it slow going through Mass.

Everything was fine in the beginning, they were on I-95 headed through Mass, then Gary thought it would be a good idea to detour to look at more scenery. The sun was still high in the sky so Simon obliged. A few dozen side roads later they both find themselves on the side of the road, with no gas and no signal. And to make things worse, a forest was surrounding them and it didn't look like anything was close by.

The sun was already gone and temp was going down too. Gary was trying to get a signal on his phone and was walking around outside with his arm raised towards the sky. Simon stayed in the car to look through the glove box to see if he had a map. All he found was the cars manual and a few napkins. He sighed and closed it. A few minutes later Gary got back in the care shivering.

"No luck. Did you find anything?"

"No, cause some numpty didn't bring a map. Or get a gps."

"Well I'm sorry, I didn't think we need one."

Simon crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes. "We go on a cross country road trip and you don't think it's wise to buy a bloody gps? You know, just encase we get lost. Like now."

"Okay I know this is my fault. Let's just try and fix the situation and get on the highway."

"Okay. First we need to get gas or we'll freeze out here...and no! I'll get the gas. With my luck you'll get lost and I'll be out here all night."

Gary scoffed and shook his head. "Fine. Good thing we past a gas station a few miles back. I'll man the car."

"Good. Pop the trunk."

Gary pressed the button so the trunk would pop open, then they both got out of the car. The cold wind and night air made them both shiver. It was a good thing their coats were in the backseat. Simon walked to the trunk and opened it. He let out an annoyed sigh, closed his eyes and tilted his head back.

When Gary got to the back of the care with both of their coats in his hands he saw Simon with his hands on his hips, eyes closed and head looking up at the sky. He arched his brow and walked over to him.

"Uh, you okay?"

He opened his eyes to look over at Gary. "You don't have a jerry can?"

"Yes I do."

Gary threw their coats at Simon to look in the trunk. It was filled with most of his stuff from base that he wanted to bring home. He fumbled through the mess to see if he could find it. But couldn't. He groaned and sat on the bumper.

"It has to be here Simon, I swear I got one when we got the car."

"Here. Put your coat on before you catch a bloody cold. I'll check the backseat."

Simon tossed Gary his gray coat and put his black one on. Then he walked to the side of the car to look in the backseat. The backseat was looted with trash and empty bottles, and most of Simon's belongings. And still no jerry can.

"Not back here either." He shut the door and walked back over to Gary. "It's fine. The gas station will have one I can borrow anyways. I shouldn't be more than an hour, stay with the car please. And put the hazard lights on so the car doesn't get hit."

"Yes Lieutenant."

Simon chuckled and shook his head. "Cheeky bastard."

"Be careful."

"Yes mum."

Gary shook his head and shut the trunk. He sat back down on the bumper and watched Simon fade into the darkness. Once he was out of sight Gary put on his coat and got back in the car. He turned the hazard lights on like Simon said, it was a good idea he didn't need the car to get hit before sun rise. The only issue is that he couldn't keep them on for long. Not wanting to drain the battery.

He sat in the drivers seat twiddling his thumbs. There wasn't much to do, it was dark, there were no lights anywhere near where he was. He reached around the seat to grab the small backpack he left in the back seat. Unzipping the front part to retrieve his flashlight.

He clicked it on, the light illuminating the car. Gary unzipped the bigger part to grab one of the books he brought with him. There wasn't anything else to do but wait, so why not do so by reading. He tossed the backpack back into the backseat and opened the book.

Gary could only read so much, his mind occupied on his friend. He tossed the book aside, shut off the flashlight and sighed. Sitting in a dark, cold car wasn't what Gary thought he'd be doing right now. He would prefer to be on the highway heading home. If only his love for autumn leaves didn't hinder that. All because of him, they got lost in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by woods and with no gas.

He was thanking his lucky stars that Simon had decided to join him. If it wasn't for him, he would be out here alone.

Since he couldn't concentrate on his book, he pulled the seat back a little and closed his eyes. Maybe a small nap could help.