A/N - this story is set in Season 3, but exists mostly in the same universe as Home and Journey North (I adjusted the timeline to fit the show better so the stories don't quite line up). Some of the material here may be familiar as there is some overlap but I thought that Cruz deserved his own story. As usual, I cannot think of Cruz as a "Javier" so he is Javier "Teylor" Cruz. XOXO - tmtcltb

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Chapter 1: Paracel Islands – June 2016

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Teylor thought it was a mosquito, raising his hand to slap it away. Only after he felt the gushing blood did he realize that the brief, sharp pain on the side of his neck hadn't been a bug at all, but a bullet grazing his carotid artery. That damn sniper. The man must have been aiming for Teylor's spine, planning to drop him soundlessly the same way he had the others, but missed his target, most likely because of an unexpected gust of the wind.

Almost as soon as the thought registered, Teylor knew that the small error wouldn't matter. This wasn't like Gitmo, where Doctor Scott performed a miracle, sewing him up as he bled out on the beach. This time the woman who had saved the world was far away, safely back in St. Louis. Teylor fell to his knees, his body already starving for oxygen. He groped for his radio, but his arm failed to cooperate, leaving him unable to call for help. In the part of his brain that was still desperately trying to live, he thought he heard someone shout his name, but couldn't respond, his voice no more than a whisper.

He was going to die here. And he wasn't ready. Not ready to die here on this god-forsaken island. Not without knowing if their mission was a success. Not when he had so much to live for.

Caroline...

Teylor didn't know how long he lay there blinking up at the sky before Danny Green - his commander, his friend, his brother-in-arms, and his brother-by-marriage - appeared at the edge of the small clearing where he lay. If Teylor didn't already know that he was a goner, the look on Danny's face would have told him everything that he needed to know.

Danny was on the radio calling in the helo within seconds of seeing Teylor, the man's strides lengthening until he reached Teylor's side, shifting the pack off his back to grab the first aid kit as he moved. A useless endeavor, but one that Teylor appreciated nonetheless. This way Danny could tell Caroline that he tried everything to save Teylor. That might make her feel better.

Even as the thought occurred to him, Teylor knew how ridiculous it was. Nothing about this would make Caro feel better. Recalling her threat upon the Nathan James' departure from St. Louis, Teylor wondered whether she really would chase him to the gates of hell, just to kill him again, for having the audacity to die on her.

"Hold on T. We've got you. Just hold on..." Teylor let his eyes drift closed, not wanting to see the desperation in his friend's face. "Patch me through now, damn it!"

"Think about your wife, son, your family." This time it was Master Chief Jeter speaking and Teylor forced his eyes open just enough to confirm that the man was actually present, that it wasn't Teylor's oxygen-deprived brain playing tricks on him. At the sight of the Master Chief, Teylor felt a small measure of peace. They had succeeded. They had found Takehaya, had rescued the kidnapped sailors, had reunited the crew. If he had to die, at least he did so saving another's life.

"Tell Caroline that I love her." The words were a croak and Danny, who was still working feverishly on Teylor's neck, scowled. Then Green shifted and, for the briefest of moments, Teylor could have sworn that he heard Doctor Scott's voice.

"Tell her yourself you damn bastard! Don't you dare die on me. Cruz! Cruz!"

But Teylor wasn't listening, spending his last few seconds of consciousness picturing the face that he would do anything to see one last time.

Caroline...