The morning promised to be a good one. It was a clear and bright day… at least from where Nicolette could see from her cell. She had to admit that this outpost was nice about her quarters considering she was technically a prisoner. They could have put her in a cell that was like the box. She had seen that happen and she had practice in interrogation. They could have really gone barbarian old school and interrogate her in a shack in the middle of the boonies. Certainly that happened with a few agents she had read about.

As she sat in her cell, waiting to be transported, she contemplated on Said's query about Alex Mason. She suspected he had asked it to get her to a sort of peppy state and tell him more about the story she had volunteered to tell. Another part had her thinking that he was interested in her personal project regarding what her contact/client Section thought was his father training her at the farm. It certainly was intriguing.

Nicolette looked at her hands and thought about it. She also thought about the story she had told thus far. Price had said she had the silver tongue and a wicked sense of humor. She certainly didn't hold back when she talked as bad as him and he was the one that got her into the habit of smoking when she needed to think. She hummed a bit and thought, Old man, you gave me a lot of bad habits but none of which I regret.

"Hey, you're up."

Nicolette looked at the guard and her escort. She took her time standing while slowly stretching. She teased, "You're late. Usually it is the crack of dawn that I'm on my way to the box."

"Get out."

Nicolette gave a mock sigh, "Okay, okay. No need to be grumpy. Certainly makes it seem you got a stick up your ass."

The escort merely grunted, not at all amused by the comment. She twitched her lip in a smile as she moved through the halls. It seemed that she was being given a lot of leeway with this. It was probably not a good idea to push but she couldn't help it. It wasn't like she was out to make friends with them and they were adults meaning that they could restrain themselves.

The walk was the same as it had been previously. This time though she was curious as to why Said waited a whole day, maybe two to summon her back to the box. She was well aware that he would spend his time comparing what she had told him to what was the official record. That was a time consuming event in of itself. And she used to the analyst.

Even after all this time that joke never got old. People still couldn't believe that she had been pulled from behind a desk and made into a field agent. Certainly she never really acted like an analyst and she had taken to being a field operative naturally. Maybe that was why Said asked his question about her project. He probably wanted to see if there was a connection. Well she was in the dark with that. What she knew now was that Said was ready to hear the rest of the story.

She was led into the box and ended up passing Pope. She couldn't help it, "Still waiting to see if you can do better?"

"I can do better. Said is soft on you," Pope replied with a venomous look in his eyes.

Nicolette raised her brow and countered, "Really? I figured it was because he knows how to get information out of prisoners that are immune to the bad cop routine."

"If I were in there you'd be singing everything, bitch."

"Ooo. That one hurt."

Pope growled and would have lunged at her but had been held off by a look at the escort guard. He was already in hot water from the beginning of this. He was not going to screw this up but he was pissed at the arrogant bitch they were getting answers from. What made upper management think that she had anything of value? Maybe she did have value but you didn't get what you needed by being the nice guy especially to the enemy. That was what got them into trouble so many times; making deals and compromises to the bad guys. What ever happened to not making deals with terrorists?

Pope watched through the window as she was led to her chair that she greeted like an old friend. He crossed his arms over his chest as if it would prevent him from getting too aggressive. He sighed as he watched her sitting there calmly and waiting for Said to enter the room. He couldn't get this one. It was frustrating and he wondered if it was going to screw with his plans royally.

Nicolette sat in her chair, aware that Pope was staring at her. She knew that she shouldn't goad him like she did but her methods gave her answers. There were reasons for her methods of madness and she was playing a hunch at the moment and since she was already seen as a pain in the ass with him there was no reason for her to change that and try to win rapport. Said on the other was intelligent and could sense if she was trying to 'woo' him over.

"I see that you're early with the insults Agent Walker," Said's voice filled the room as he entered. "One of my men looks like he is about to break a molar since he's grinding his teeth so hard," he added as he sat down in his seat.

"It's fun pushing buttons when you know you can," Nicolette offered in a near nonchalant manner. She slouched in her seat slightly as she said it and made a sweeping gesture. It was almost mocking but such was the rapport she had built with Said. "Not my fault that some people don't know how to take a compliment. MacTavish had a better sense of humor."

"I can imagine that. People need a sense of humor to deal with you," Said countered with a slight smirk. She was unusually playful and figured that the one day off did a lot of good. Part of it was that he did have a lot of material to go through and the other was that he figured she needed some time to mull things over. She had told him some pretty heavy stuff the other day and it was considering that it was emotionally charged.

"Which is why I had the guys I did," Nicolette replied as she put her elbows on the table, folding her hands like she was posing for a picture. "We may have had our disagreements but… good times."

"I can imagine." Said pulled out his file and opened it to the new section. He also pulled out the digital recorder and put it on the table, positioning it so that all he had to do was to push the record button. "You never really answered some questions the other day."

"Such as?"

"Such as what happened to Riley and Sanderson." Said was prepared for an evasive answer, since he had come to expect it from her. He also suspected that there was something she had been holding back. True he got the impression that maybe they were retrieved since she admitted that she was the one that sniped Shepherd in the arm. He just wanted to make a few things clear.

Nicolette mused for a moment in a thoughtful manner while taking in Said's expression. She knew that he was going to be persistent on a few things. She had hoped that he would take her hint the other day but it seemed that it wasn't going to be. Nodding slightly she replied, "As I said before. They were ambushed and then betrayed. What more do you want from me on that Said? Isn't irrelevant to your investigation?"

"You implied that they retrieved and quite possibly by a medivac on your call. Plus things that you said before you went into your one man assault into Hotel Site Bravo." Said counted off on his fingers as he named the points.

Nicolette watched him with a bemused expression. She sensed that it was driving Pope mad with what she was doing. Yeah it was annoying as hell since she had done it to her friends and MacTavish, Roach and Ghost had gotten back at her at some point. Still she took it like a man, for a lack of a better expression, and it just cemented the unit's opinion of her.

She had to admit that Said was good at what he had picked up. He really was a good interrogator and no wonder he was considered the best. It had her curious about whether or not Jensen had his eye on him. She replied, "Good points but… Shepherd betrayed us. He tied up his loose ends."

Said was not convinced but he was not going to press. He got the feeling that he may get his full answer through the course of this next story. Besides if he pestered her now, she would tell him flat out that he would get his answers all in due course. So he decided to try another question, "Alright then. What about my question about Alex Mason?"

"Hardly relevant I think," she countered smoothly. On the surface it looked like she was pouting and being a petulant child about things. A closer look revealed that she was being difficult because she saw no point to the question and she thought it was more for Said's own idle curiosity. "That is merely the product of a request since my primary skill set is research."

"I find it relevant. During the course of the last story you brought up several references to that operative and specifically his actions during Vietnam and Noriega."

"Sounds like a history lesson."

"Walker, you brought it up for a reason and from what I know about you and what I have observed is that you have a purpose when you choose to reveal something." Said had stood up by this time and had moved into what could be called the 'bad cop' mode. He didn't want to shout at her since that wouldn't do any good but he wanted clarification. "What reason could you have for bringing up Alex Mason and your work on that?"

"Aren't you satisfied that it was a series of events that coincided with what happened with the 141 and Shepherd?" Nicolette looked questioningly at Said and intently trying to gauge his demeanor and reasons for his query. "I was there for the gunrunner that ultimately led to the connection with Allen and the request fell into my lap after he sought me out."

"But you met again during the course of your assignment."

"Perfect timing on both ends as well as flexibility." Nicolette moved her head to peer at Said. "Does that answer your questions?"

"No, but it will have to do," Said replied in resignation. He wasn't going to get much.

"This is new for you. You usually are more persistent," Nicolette jested.

"But you are the one that is making it difficult. I learned that you have a way of revealing things that you previously refused to answer. So… I'm going to wait."

Nicolette studied the man across from her. He was a quick learning; she would give him that. She wondered how he would take it with the next story she was to tell. "You are pretty good Said. I knew that as much but it is like you said that everything had a purpose."

Said checked to make sure that the recorder was on. He had turned it on the moment he got it ready since it was all part of the interview. "Alright then… will you share?"

"Let me ask you something Said," Nicolette replied as she leaned back. "Have you ever been in a position where you had to truly reach down and find what you are made of?"

"I like to think that I have met most challenges and come out stronger for it," Said replied after thinking about it for a moment. "Why?"

Nicolette shrugged her shoulders slightly, "But do you truly know what it means to push forward and fight for a cause that you believe in even though you are perceived of as the enemy?"

Said shook his head, "I can't say that I have."

"It's a whole different feeling. It is convenient and inconvenient at the same time. Things that you once had access to… You find that you have taken the little luxuries for granted." Nicolette paused a bit and continued, "You feel that you are alone even when in the companionship of friends."

The world we knew it was gone. The question became one of asking ourselves how far we were willing to get it back. Shepherd created a war and in the process we were burned and Makarov was allowed to do as he pleased. But there were men and women that remained; men that were willing to stand against the tide in this awful hell of war. Together we banned to finish what we started…

Scars of Duty: Tides of War

Chapter 1

Her legs were asleep. She knew that the moment she had sat in the chopper the way she had. She had little choice and she had little now but at least some reprieve was coming. Nicolette looked out her side of the chopper as the landmarks of the village that hid the safe house came into view. She blinked at the sight and prayed that they weren't too late.

There was a slight squeeze on her wrist and she turned to look down at the source. MacTavish was still holding fast to her wrist; he had held on ever since he clamped his large hand around it in Afghanistan and not once had loosened it. He was breathing but erratically and trying hard to keep his grunts of pain to a minimum. The field bandage was holding but Nicolette knew that he needed proper medical attention.

As they got closer, Nikolai radioed in that they were coming in and they needed a gurney standing by. He had spoken in Russian since it was technically one of his bases that he had established when she had recruited on her Operation Contingency plan. She had given him access to resources to get what he needed and to ensure that the people of the village were compensated for their aid. As he relayed his requests, she felt a slight wave of relief that something may be going their way.

"Don't cry lass… can't stand it," MacTavish's thread breaths caught her attention surprisingly over the loud noise the rotors were making.

Nicolette looked down at the man staring glassily up at her. She had never injected the morphine since any movement of her captured wrist made his grip tighten. She was certain that it was going to leave a bruise. She knew he didn't mean it and that it was a product of his trying to make sure her appearance was real and it was a source of comfort. Perhaps he was recalling when they had been thrown together five years ago. She didn't know for sure but she was going to be there.

Giving a slight smile she leaned over so he could hear her say, "A girl has a right to cry. You aren't always the cause of it… bloody muppet."

"Don't lie. I'm sorry Nico."

"Don't apologize you domkoff." She couldn't resist calling him a dumbass in German. It helped alleviate the emotions that threatened to overflow. "You know that it can be seen as a sign of weakness. And I know you're not weak."

"Now you're teasing." MacTavish managed to grin at her. "That is my Nico."

Nicolette smiled as she watched his eyes close. He had been opening and closing his eyes on and off. It was his way of trying to stay alert even though his abdomen was killing him. She could tell because when Nikolai made slight jolts with the chopper because of wind sheers and such he made a slight grunt of pain. She looked ahead, her wars listening to Nikolai relaying his approach and orders. She put her free hand over the hand that held her wrist and gently patted it and looked down to see MacTavish was out of it again.

Price looked back at Nicolette. She hadn't moved ever since she clambered in and nearly pulling her arm out of the socket because MacTavish hung on. Still she was trooper just sitting there and he was damn glad she was alive. On the flight to wherever Nikolai was taking them she kept tabs on MacTavish's vitals and let him know when he asked. It helped to alleviate some of the worry he had for his man considering the knife wound was really bad. Looking at her, he decided she didn't look too good either.

She had not been afraid to get into a fight with Shepherd. She tackled the bastard and made every punch count. Her face reflected that with a slight cut that made her lip look fat in the corner of her mouth. There was a bruise and cut over her right eye and a scrape of sorts on her left cheek. Her hair looked stringy and… Price inwardly cringed at the slowly appearing handprints that ringed her neck from where Shepherd tried to strangle her. He knew he wasn't looking pretty either but the four plus ones on her neck… they were terrible.

One minute Little Nico.

Copy that, Nikolai. Nicolette adjusted her position to get the pins and needles feeling out of her legs. She ended up squatting but she was ready to go. And not a moment too soon it seemed since MacTavish's hand gripped her wrist, squeezing it tightly but not to the point of hurting her. It wasn't like when she tried to free herself earlier. The tightening was a result of pain and she did a one handed field inspection of his vitals.

Nicolette removed her headphones with her free hand. It certainly felt like a contortionist act since she only had the use of one hand but she made it work. Even though she was sore and starting to feel it, she was grateful for her flexibility from her gymnast days. She crouched in the chopper, aware she looked ridiculous but she wasn't going to try and force MacTavish off unless she was going to be in the way.

Grabbing onto a strap as Nikolai began his descent, she adjusted her feet. Her legs no longer felt asleep and she started feeling the rush of adrenaline coursing through as she prepared for jumping out of the chopper. She felt MacTavish tighten on her wrist slightly as they touched down and she caught a glimpse of the village. She knew they were in India even though she had never really seen this safe house. As she had told Nikolai once when they started OP Contingency, everyone was allowed their secrets in this game.

Waiting for them was a gurney and a couple of Nikolai's men. It was easy enough to get MacTavish onto the gurney. The hard part was what to do then since she was actually going but there was the risk that she could be dragged along since she was limited if they had to adjust for speed or anything like that.

She solved the problem by hopping onto the gurney, straddling MacTavish's waist and started shouting in Russian to get moving while Price shouted to get him inside. She felt MacTavish's grip slacken slightly as soon as she was on the gurney but his hand was still wrapped around it like she was his lifeline or something. It helped a little but it was hardly reassuring as she checked his pulse and noted how thread it felt. She tried not to panic when the jostling opened the wound and it was bleeding. It was pretty much a continuation of the nightmare.

It was a one handed act as she grabbed what was in her vest and put pressure on the wound and put her left to hold it. She shouted at Price and Nikolai that they needed to get moving. MacTavish was not looking good and it didn't help that they had to run a bit of the way. It had Nicolette gritted her teeth since the ride was not comfortable and what she wanted to do wasn't going to be easy with one hand.

Trying to pry her left off, MacTavish only tightened his grip and she felt her hand cramp. She muttered to herself, "Stubborn bastard. I'm not leaving you."

You know why I hold you at night? Sometimes I am afraid you won't be there…

"Stubborn ass," Nicolette muttered to herself as she tried pinching on the nerve on MacTavish's wrist to get him to let go. It had worked before but it seemed that this time he was not going to cave in. He only gripped her tighter.

"The safe house is up ahead," Nikolai was pointing out.

Nicolette wasn't paying attention since she was trying to keep pressure on the wound with her left while she reached into her vest once again with her right. It was hardly the time or the place to do a field test but it would help… sort of. Fine time to be playing sci-fi tech nerd when the man she loved was in critical condition.

Channel your gift to making something useful. Always will need med kits.

Yeah and I did it to humor you Jolly, Nicolette thought as she used her thumb to turn it on and then lean over to press a button on her watch. Definitely not ideal to play like she was a tech from the future. She put the device she had pulled out onto the finger of MacTavish trying to be fast while deliberate since she only had one hand.

The beeping sound of vitals being calculated sounded like a digital watch alarm and she tilted her wrist to take a look. She was getting a clear read from them. She said, "Keep moving, blood pressure is low."

It seemed to put some extra life into both Price and Nikolai's legs and they sped in. Nicolette meanwhile kept pressure on the wound. She ended up having to duck when they went through the door otherwise she would have hit her head. It felt awkward being in a position that was similar to the intimate ones she and MacTavish had previously considering the circumstances and to be honest she wasn't even sure what he was going to do in his state.

It was actually a bit dizzying since she was going backwards on the gurney. It was why she hated the seats facing backwards on trains. She took a deep breath to steady herself and not get green in the face. She probably had a concussion from being slammed into that piece of junk of a car but she was more focused on getting MacTavish getting help. She looked at her wrist at the vitals and then turned to look behind her and it relieved a bit of the dizziness. She could see people jumping to get out of the way in the dimly lit hallway.

"Out of the bloody way! Get a doctor!" Price was shouting and waving a hand.

Nicolette felt her lids lower as if trying to shield them. It was more reflective of her weariness and she slowly turned back to keep her gaze on MacTavish. His eyes had opened and he was looking at her. His hand squeezed her wrist in reaction.

"Keep pressure on that wound, Nico!"

Nicolette blinked as she heard Price. She looked down and reapplied the pressure that she had slacked off a bit. She had a little help from Nikolai but it was mostly her. She really didn't like going backwards. She looked down at MacTavish and muttered, "The things I do for you."

"Hang in there my friend."

It was relief when they stopped and she heard Price being gruff with the doctor getting him to the gurney. She let herself get off and tried once more to pry her wrist loose from MacTavish. She gave an extra hard pinch to the nerve and he finally let go. She rubbed her wrist and looked at the vitals. She said, "He's in v-fib!"

"Charge. Three. Two. One...," the doctor shouted as Nicolette backed away rubbing her wrist. She watched them get to work and said, "Be the bastard you are," before leaning against the wall trying to prop herself up.

A/N: And here we go where we left off. Price, Nico and MacTavish seek refuge at the safe house in India and now it is a matter of saving Soap's life. Keep watching for more on Tides of War...