I peeked my head out from behind the rock, observing my surroundings. Good. Nobody here.

Cold sweat crept down my neck and I breathed heavily, supporting the wounded soldier by putting his arm over my shoulder. He couged out blood. I knew he would be only a memory if I didn't get him back to base.

Taking one last look around I shoved a magazine into my gun, shifted the weight of my comrade in order to walk and readied my self for the base I could see a good distance away.

Go.

I jumped out from behind the rock, half supporting, half dragging the fellow soldier. "Why am I doing this?" I thought. He abandoned me earlier which is why he got into this mess... I shook my head to rid myself of the thoughts. No. If I don't save him the thought will haunt me forever... I can't leave this man. I can't become like.... him.

A shudder ran down my spine as I thought of my father. I ignored this and continued dragging the wounded man to the tent.

Suddenly, a gunshot went off, I dived for cover throwing the man down beside me into the dried out shrubs. I readied my gun and looked round, trying to see who had fired the shot. Then, he was there. I could see the man, quite a young fellow, a few years younger than me possibly...

I put away my M14 and took out the desert eagle from my hip holster.

I took my gun up and aimed at the enemy, right between his eyes. I could see the worry in his face, almost smell his fear.

I fired.

I looked into my friend's face.

"You able to walk?" I asked. He coughed and his lips were once again covered with a new layer of blood to replace the sand that had blown into his face.

"A--Aye..." He said in a broad Scottish accent. I nodded and looked round once again.

"You're... You're a brave man Jonathan..." He whispered. "I could never get the courage to do the same."

"Don't talk" I spoke coldly, "Save the energy for moving."

He nodded and moved onto his legs.

Jonathan. The name I had adopted. I couldn't remember if it really was my own name anymore... I had gathered so many over the years.

I searched the landscape for movement.

"Was that?" I thought I saw a glint. I looked again. Sure enough, after a few seconds the glint reappeared. We had the sun behind us, a tactic I had made sure to deploy previously when we first made the advance on the enemy hours ago.

The man beside me hadn't seen it yet. He was growing tired, I could see it in his eyes... that glazed look. I didn't expect him to notice, this is the time a soldier can make mistakes. I searched for my binoculars.

Shit. I'd misplaced them.

"Can you give me those?" Pointing to the man's binoculars I looked into his eyes.

"Sure" His lips seemed to struggle to form words. I needed to hurry.

He handed me binoculars and in return, I gave him my water bottle.

"Thanks" The water was gulped down hungrily.

I gazed through the binoculars, sure enough, there were some soldiers, only these were allies. From my own unit. Normally I would have been overjoyed at this prospect, but I knew the fucking shit-heads were the ones that left me for dead as they ran to save themselves only 3 hours ago.

I handed the man back his binoculars.

"I'm going to go ahead and meet those guys, you stay here. You'll just slow me down." A nod showed he understood. I got on my stomach and began crawling over to my comrades over scorching hot sand.

"I hope they look before they shoot at moving targets..." I thought.

Finally, one of them saw me, he spoke to the others then waved his hand at me.

He's going to get spotted; waving his hand round like that. I tapped my head and pointed at him to show I saw him too.

Eventually, I reached them. They had a jeep hidden under a sheet stolen from the enemy.

"John?" One of them said, "We thought you were dead!" He looked surprised and happy.

I clenched my fists, knowing he was lying. He didn't think I was dead before he abandoned me miles away.

However, anger had to wait.

"Liam's injured, he's back there." I pointed to the shrubs. "Can we drive out? He can't walk fast..."

The men looked at each other. I didn't read minds but I could tell thoughts of betrayal were running through each of their heads. I sighed.

"You." I pointed. "You come with me. And you" I pointed at another man, hair black and shaggy looking. "You act as look out, if anyone shoots... shoot back... make sure they don't shoot again." He gulped and nodded violently.

I removed the sheet from the car and got into driver's seat, laying my M14 on seat beside me. Mark, the man I had told to come with me, sat behind and took out his gun, fumbling with the supporting strap.

"Wish me luck." I started the car and drove round waiting for Shaggy to give the all clear. He gave me the signal. I drove out, managing to keep vehicle under control despite the difficult terrain below the wheels.

We arrived at Liam, he looked at me through semi-closed eye lids. He smiled, I didn't return it.

"Get him in" I said to Mark. Mark jumped out and helped Liam into the back, laying him down out of harm's way. I turned car round quickly and began the short journey back.

Fffftang! A bullet hit off the Jeep's bonnet.

"Shiiit..." I lifted the M14 just in case but remained driving. I looked round for Shaggy. He was either hidden extremely well or he'd done a runner. A shot rang out. Good. He was still here then. I increased the speed of the vehicle, willing it to get over the last dune...

Finally, we made it. I moved the M14 and signalled for the rest of the team to get into the car. They got in and we made it back to base.

--------------------------------------------------

"Jonathan, you saved me the other day." Liam spoke. I jerked upright at the sound of the man's voice, it dawned on me I'd fallen asleep by his bedside.

"John, I-I wouldnae have been able tae save you... I'm too weak. But you. You are different. You are a hero, John... a brave soldier. If there ever comes a chance... I'll save you." He looked down at me in admiration. I yawned and rubbed my eyes.

"Just glad to see you are okay." I muttered, got up and left the medical tent.

I returned to my sleeping area and crawled into my sleeping sack.

That was the day I gained the codename - Snake - from my comrades.