Some of you may remember me from my many smut stories but this one is much more tame. I got inspired by some other stories I read and so I hope you all enjoy.

Bullets ripped through the wooden barricade, sending splinters and dust across the room. I ducked for cover behind a fallen dresser and released the bolt of my gun. Staticy voices whispered crackled from my radio.

"Kapkan, more heat signatures are popping up all around the building. You and Valkyrie are gonna have to hunker down. Give 'em hell, Maxim." JÓ“ger's voice cut.

Footsteps pounded on the floorboards to my right. I spun and rounded the corner to face the white mask. His eyes popped behind his mask as I drove my knife between his ribs. His corpse collapsed and I returned to Valkyrie who put her phone back into her vest pocket.

"How many left," I asked.

She clicked the safety on her shotgun. "The cams show nothing. What did Evac say?"

"More hostiles approaching the perimeter."

"Guess we're not out of the woods as soon as we expected."

I chuckled. "We've got a few minutes to reinforce. Keep watch. I'll be back."

Meghan gave me a thumbs up and I skipped down the staircase. I snatched an EDD from my belt and mounted it to the bottom of the door frame. After a few minutes, I had trapped the majority of the entries to the house. Frost would be proud of my work. That though caused a grin to pull at my lips under my wrappings.

Back in the bedroom, Valkyrie was peering out the window.

"They're coming from the back garden. Here, hold this." She handed me her Spas-12 and walked across the room. With her heel, she smashed a small hole in the thin drywall.

"Why the hell did you do that?"

Instead of replying, she drew another black eye and mounted it on the other side of the wall by reaching through the wall. She stood and took her gun back. "Can't be too prepared."

Our conversation was cut short by a sudden explosion from below. Someone was bellowing orders. More explosions came, giving me knowledge that my traps were working. Gunshots tore at the still air. Valkyrie and I returned fire and a fight ensued. There was plenty of heat, blood, and cursing.

Suddenly, it felt as if a viper had sunken its fangs into my gut. I ducked back under cover and glanced down at the blood spot that was growing.

I woke with start. A thin layer of cold sweat sat on my bare chest. Damn, how did the dreams capture the experience so perfectly? Bandages were wrapped around my abdomen and thighs like duktape on child's broken toy. My left shoulder was wrapped in white cloth as well.

The bleaching infirmary light bore down on me while I laid in the hard bed. I tried to sit up but sharp pain flared up.

"You are still recovering, Maxim."

I recognized that voice. It was Gustave, the medic. "How long am I going to be here?"

He gave an amused puff of air. "A week or two. Perhaps three. You suffered a lot of wounds from you last mission." He set down a syringe filled with red liquid and walked over to a screen which he pulled over so I could see. It showed two x-ray images. One of my shoulder and the other of my lower body. "See these marks?"

"Bullets," I answered being questioned.

Doc nodded. "Six. Two in your left shoulder, one in your abdomen, and three in your right and left thighs. You're lucky, friend. That one bullet almost pierced your intestine but settled centimeters to the side."

I grumbled. Knuckles rapped on the door. He went to it and I was glad to see Valkyrie was on the other side. They exchanged words that I couldn't hear but Gustave left and Megan entered.

"You look like hell," she teased as she pulled up a chair to my bed and sat on it backwards.

"I've been through worse."

"Really?"

"Siberia is much less forgiving than ill-trained terrorists."

She laughed and I too chuckled. "So three weeks you'll be stuck in here?"

"Don't remind me."

"Ha, I'm almost jealous of you. You get paid to sit here and do nothing while we still have to save the world and whatnot."

"Trust me, I'd rather be doing something."

"Don't beat yourself up over this, Maxim. This wasn't your fault. Just get some rest and give your body some time to heal." She gave me a friendly punch on my good shoulder and stood to leave. Her hand reached for the handle but before Meghan left, she turned to me. "Hey."

I looked up.

"You really gave them hell. Don't forget that.

She left and I was now alone to my own thoughts, pain, and the all too real dreams.

-I'd appreciate it if you could all tell me all if you'd like me to continue this story. :)