Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Panic and everything else that comes along with it.

Light of Dawn

Chapter 1: Dim Light

It was late in the evening, Sgt. Kurz Weber and Sgt. Sousuke Sagara strolls along the halls of Mithril's base, the one that docks Tuatha de Danaan. Down the corridors they set off to their rooms after another day of work. Sgt. Sagara, stoic as ever, marches on, but Kurz was being his usual self and kept on pestering his fellow sergeant.

"So what did you talk about, Sousuke? Come on, am I not your friend?" Kurz asks with his impish grin and a glint of his mischievous light blue eyes that went along with his light blonde hair that he kept untied. "Have you asked Chidori to be your girlfriend? Huh?" he naughtily inquired.

"Nothing. Stop it Kurz. It was just a phone call." Sousuke replied, his gray eyes still looking ahead, his steps in a formal even rhythm.

"Yeah right, Sagara…" Kurz rolls his eyeballs, still unbelieving and unsatisfied. "O my Sousuke I miss you so much!" Kurz putting on a girlish voice to compliment his acting skills as he puts a hand on his chest and the other one nearby his ear holding an imaginary phone.

That definitely got Sousuke on his toes.

"Cut it out!" Sousuke now proceeds to wrestle Kurz. Like two small boys at play, trying to get the other in a headlock, empty halls filled with their laughter.

"I give up, I give up!, man can't you take a joke?" Kurz sarcastically declares, feeling up his throat.

"Hey you started it," Sagara retorted in a friendly way.

"Sergeant Sousuke Sagara! the ladies man!" Kurz proclaims as he poked his buddy in the ribs. His tone that of a game show host announcing the winner.

"Cut it out, I told you already… nothing much." Sousuke spoke in a softer tone, a small grin began to betray his face. His own thoughts recall a familiar face with a distinct long navy hair, and a smile like… like sunshine.

"She just said hello and asked about how we were doing," Sousuke went on. "She asked how Melissa was recovering, then about you, the Captain, the crew…." Sagara narrated, Kurz was unusually listening, rather surprised of his friend's change of mood.

"I told her Mao was doing fine, she's tough as nails. Not even out of her bandages and already out bossing the two of us around…. And then she asked if you're still the same airhead that you are."

"Hey…" Kurz pretended to feel hurt.

"Kaname also asked how Capt. Testarossa….

Both of them stopped in their tracks. Someone they didn't expect to be out in the halls this dead of the night suddenly got their attention. Looking ahead, both of them recognized the small figure just a couple of meters away.

"Captain?…" Sousuke and Kurz gasped.

There in front of the vending machine, Captain Teresa Testarossa continued to stare blankly at the display of cans. Her beautiful long hair was untied from its braid; instead it cascaded in waves like soft silk around her small frame. It serenely glistened like silver against the faint glow of the machine she faces. Tessa stood like a limp doll, her eyes rather deep and sad. She didn't seem to mind the darkness, much more, notice that Weber and Sagara both turned up.

Tessa… Sousuke thought. He took a small step with the urge to approach his superior but immediately stopped. However, Weber looked directly at him, motioning him to go on.

After several steps, Sgt. Sagara reached the machine, but something inside him just gave a crazy jolt. And the young captain remains oblivious of his presence.

All he could do at the moment was look at her.

This had just been like a month ago. Chidori and I both saw her in the same state as she is now, lost in her own thoughts, almost drowning.. The incident was too much for her, a burden she carries within herself.

She looks frail and delicate… so lost… I could almost feel her pain…

I remember I stood on the same very spot, with her in my arms, crying her heart out, letting every tear flow until she felt tired.

Sousuke moved even nearer and with a soft low voice he said, "Good evening Te… I mean Captain!" the sudden raise of tone in his voice as he fumbled for words snapped Testarossa out of her reverie.

Tessa gasped. She immediately looked to were the voice came from and found Sousuke looking down at her. In a quick moment, she stepped back away from him. Almost like as if she was afraid. She noticed he wasn't alone either, as she saw Kurz in the distance.

Sousuke was about to say something, maybe to ask her if anything was wrong but the captain was first to speak. And Sousuke did not expect to hear it from someone like Tessa.

"Sergeant Sousuke Sagara, and Sergeant Kurz Weber! Are you not supposed to be inside your personal quarters already at this time? You are unduly loitering around military premises. Please proceed to your rooms immediately or face the consequences" Her words were toned with command. "I have to leave now." this time in a softer tone. With that, the sadness came back to her eyes. Without a word, she turned her back and went away.

Sagara was left standing beside the vendo. Kurz went up to him and said. 'Come on, let's go."

They reached the quarters and flopped down into their own beds. Kurz, still sensing that Sagara was worried and concerned, told him:

"I know that it is hard seeing our captain like that, it's hard for all of us. Do you think the people around her can't see that she is having some problems? Of course they do. But we have to put our faith in her. I know that you know that she is stronger than what she seems. Remember her fight with Mao?" Kurz stresses, trying to remind Sagara the point in time when Tessa defeated the feisty Melissa Mao in a duel. "Don't worry Sousuke, Tessa will soon be okay," Kurz yawns, turns up his covers and falls asleep.

Sousuke Sagara stares at the ceiling, his head resting on his arms.

Kurz has a point. The captain is strong… but…I just … I just hope that…she will be alright soon. But seeing Tessa like that for the second time… It seems that…

Sousuke feels his eyelids close, allowing his sleepiness to take over. A final picture of the ethereal glow of a vending machine escapes his thoughts…

Author blab: This is my very first fanfic that I posted. Please take time to read and give out your much welcomed reviews. This is a fic for Sagara and Tessa fans like me. I wonder how many are we out there…