Elizabeth dropped onto her bed with a groan. Everything in her body hurt. Becky was on her own bed, reading again when the door opened and the rest of the girls came in. One had a blonde pixie cut, another blonde hair and blue eyes, and the third, a pretty brunette who had a tattoo of a wolf on her forearm.
"Who's the new girl?" The first girl asked.
"Oh this Elizabeth! This is Meg, Lilith and Madison."
Elizabeth nodded to the group and waved, Meg and Madison looked alright, Lilith on the other hand was watching her narrowly. Not that it really mattered; she didn't expect to make friends with every person there. It seemed everyone wanted sleep as soon as they could, Becky being the last to turn off her light of course. However, it seemed as soon as Elizabeth closed her eyes that she was jerked awake again by the sound of a bugle.
"One day I am going to snap that thing in half." Someone mumbled, getting up. All the girls donned their uniforms quickly and shuffled around, brushing their teeth and hair.
"What do we do now?" Elizabeth asked Madison.
"We go and salute the flag, breakfast is handed out, and then we are sent on our way with our troops. Who do you have?"
"Harvelle." Elizabeth said.
Madison burst out laughing, it sounded like she probably hadn't gotten enough sleep which made it that much funnier to her.
"What's so funny?" Meg asked.
"She's got Dean Harvelle." Madison replied, still giggling.
"Well that sucks!" Meg said laughing too.
"Thanks." Elizabeth muttered shortly grabbing her pack and heading out the door behind Becky. So that was Commander Harvelle's name.
"Oh I stayed up too late reading." Becky said yawning and stretching, "But one of the brother's bodies had just gotten possessed by Lucifer and I had to find out what happened."
Elizabeth gave her a sideways glance. Nothing that had come out of her mouth made any sense. She chalked it up to lack of sleep.
Everyone in the camp had gathered under the flag and she could see Harvelle with the rest of the officers. He was one of the taller ones. The salutation of the flag was only a few minutes before everyone was expected to file through the line quickly. Elizabeth grabbed a cup of coffee gladly, downing it and wolfing down one of the breakfast burritos as Harvelle shouted orders for them to assemble.
He began to pass out large metal weights.
"Put three in your pack and you will begin with a run along the path." He was dressed in the same gear as the rest of the team today, rather than his usual uniform.
The metal weights were an easy twenty five pounds apiece and they fit into little designated loops in the packs.
"Get moving." Harvelle said as he began to lead them along the windy path through the woods. Elizabeth's muscles protested at the activity but she kept at it. She was gratified when she passed Adam who gave her a little smile and wave. She kept going, moving up a few more spots. However they were about halfway when she began to slip back down the line. If she could only take those damn weights out.
"Curran!" Harvelle shouted as they came to a clearing for a break. Elizabeth looked behind her and saw she dead last.
"Yes sir." Elizabeth replied, doing her best to ignore a stitch in her side.
"If that is your best then you can expect an all-expenses paid trip back to where you came from!" Harvelle said.
"I don't want that sir." Elizabeth said in response, apparently she had said something wrong.
"Did I give you permission to answer?" Harvelle snapped, he was soaked in perspiration from the run and humidity, his shirt sticking to his chest and hair plastered to his forehead.
Elizabeth wasn't sure if she should answer.
"Answer that question." Dean said his voice quieter. Maybe he was out of breath.
"No you did not sir." Elizabeth said.
"No I did not! Now get your packs. Curran if you want to stay you better pray you don't come in last!" Now he was shouting again.
Elizabeth adjusted the pack on her shoulders and groaned. She grabbed a sip of water before they began to run again. She ran hard but she found herself last again. This was not how it was supposed to happen! Everything hurt and she was tired, and hot. Her eyes focused on Dean I-am –a-total-douche-bag Harvelle's back. And suddenly she had an outlet for everything. She concentrated on his back and began to tell herself to see how close she could get. She just had to pass a few people. All of her anger was concentrated and sent through her eyes and onto the back of his head. It was a wonder he didn't burst into flames.
His head was far away but getting closer and she wasn't last anymore, she had three other squad members around her and at least one behind her. She just had to keep a little ahead of him. Finally, they reached the end of the path and Harvelle stopped running. The pounding of feet ended as they reached him. He had turned back and watching the back of the line narrowly. Elizabeth looked around and found she in fact had three men behind her. She looked over at him and almost shot him an unfriendly smile.
"Good work." Harvelle said.
"Now get to building D. You'll begin your lectures on battle tactics by Captain Ash. I'll meet you back at armory for artillery. That last one there is going to demonstrate to all of us personally what a hundred pushups feel like."
They were dismissed and hurried to building D.
"You did good." Adam said catching up with her.
"Not at first." Elizabeth said shooting a glare at Harvelle's retreating back.
"Well looks like you proved him wrong." Adam said giving her a nudge.
"We'll see." Elizabeth said rolling her eyes.
There were rows of desks inside Building D and Elizabeth took a seat next to Adam.
"Mind if sit?" Meg slid in next to Elizabeth.
"They combine troops so Ash only has a few lectures a day and we circle classes. In a few weeks we'll have a different professor for a different topic during this time."
"Alright dudes, settle down." Elizabeth looked up.
Redneck, was probably the only way to describe Ash despite his uniform. He had a clear mullet and his scrawny frame looked more suited for indoors than on a battle field. The computer flickered on.
"Alright, so this is my class and you are my students. I think we can have a pretty chill time, as long as do what I ask." Ash said. He went over to the computer and began to click away at the screen. A battle simulation pulled up.
"Alright so here you have your troop. You are on a mission, you are trying to be stealthy and then suddenly an ambush happens from the north east, east and south east. What do you do? That was not a question for you to answer because you don't know that yet so put your hand down."
Adam sheepishly put his hand down.
"We'll have more fun with simulations in a few weeks but for now, you get to learn battle plans, so start taking notes." Ash pulled up a power point and began to point.
"Someone told me he was a computer genius." Meg said, obviously disappointed.
"We've got a month, just wait." Elizabeth muttered back.
Despite the lack of technology Ash proved himself to be good at what he did. They were dismissed after the hour and a half and Elizabeth and Adam made their way to the artillery field.
Harvelle was standing next to the building that held the weapons.
"Sometimes, I can be pretty easy going." He said after shouting at them line up. Elizabeth suppressed a snort.
'When?' she thought.
"But here, I expect nothing but the utmost respect and responsibility from you! If I catch one of you goofing off, pointing a weapon at a fellow troop, or anything that could endanger anyone, you will be dismissed."
"Any other ways we can go home?" Elizabeth muttered. Adam heard her and gave a small snort.
Unfortunately that caught Harvelle's attention. He strode down the line.
"You think this is a laughing matter?" He said looking down at Adam.
Unwilling to let Adam take the fall again, Elizabeth spoke up "Sir, it wasn't him. It was me, I said something and he laughed. Sir." Harvelle's attention was successfully pulled away from Adam and he rounded on her, focusing his eyes intently on her.
"And what was so funny? Share with the class Curran!" Harvelle said.
"I, I um asked if there were any other ways for us to get kicked out sir." Elizabeth said quietly.
"I didn't quite hear that, again! Louder!" Harvelle shouted.
"I asked if there were any other ways for us to get kicked out sir!" Elizabeth said louder.
"If you keep talking like that, you'll find out which way will work for you." He leaned in close, "We are very accommodating that way, Curran. Now get down and give me one hundred! Everyone else into the armory!"
Elizabeth felt tears sting her eyes as she got up close and personal with the grass and the dirt. Her arms trembled as she began the process of lifting and lowering her body. It took her long enough that when she finally finished, everyone was filing back past. She had missed the armory and the explanation of the artillery field and was now behind. She got up and wiped her hands on her pants and began to follow the troop.
"Curran!" Harvelle shouted at her retreating back. What the hell did he want now? She turned and walked back to wear he was. His hands were behind his back as she walked up.
"Sir." Elizabeth said.
"You missed the guide to the artillery. I can't have you out here tomorrow and not be briefed like everyone else." He turned and walked towards the armory. Elizabeth stood still for a second and then hurried to catch up. He held the door open for her as they walked in. There were rows and rows of guns with ammo in boxes on the shelves and she allowed him to get past her in the narrow space so he could walk ahead of her. The brief second they were very close and face to face. Elizabeth could see just how green his eyes were and she quickly dropped her gaze.
"You have your automatics, semi-automatics, and handguns." Harvelle said pointing out the rows. He grabbed an M11 pistol and showed it out to her keeping the barrel pointed to away from both of them.
"Always point it down range when on the field." He said grabbing some ammo from a box.
"These are the bullets that go in. Have you ever loaded a gun?" He asked.
"A shotgun sir." Elizabeth answered.
"How about a handgun?" Harvelle said holding up the gun slightly.
"Never a handgun but I get the general idea." Elizabeth said.
"You'll need to know more than the general idea." Harvelle said. He began to take the magazine out and filled it with a few cartridges.
"Now you try." He said handing the gun over to her. It felt cold and very solid in her hand. Her hands were shaking slightly for some reason as she slid the magazine out and took a bullet to load the gun. Unfortunately she put it in the wrong way and it slipped out of her fingers.
"I'm sorry!" She said quickly bending down to retrieve it. Harvelle had bent down to retrieve it as well and their skulls collided.
"Sir, I am so sorry!" Elizabeth exclaimed again shooting up.
"Hey, it's alright." Dean said rubbing his head. "Should've seen you coming." He had the bullet in his palm. "Here, try again."
Elizabeth took it from him and loaded it correctly this time. Then she took another bullet and another until the magazine was halfway full.
"Good job. We'll start timing on firing, reloading, and dismantling and putting back together a gun. The armory is open for practice during rec hours."
"Thank you sir." Elizabeth said looking up at him.
Dean didn't know what it was, maybe it was the way her blue eyes looked as she tilted her head upwards, or the way her hair kept stubbornly escaping from under her cap, or the way she had a small smile and he felt like he would like to keep that smile on her face. But, as she brought her head up to thank him he suddenly wanted to kiss, very badly.
Elizabeth saw his head lower and all she could focus on were those very full very beautiful pair of lips which were coming towards her. She closed her eyes, and leaned in.
"Dean?" It was a woman's voice that Elizabeth recognized as Captain Ellen Harvelle, Dean's mother.
That broke the spell. Dean quickly took the gun out of Elizabeth's hand and began to empty the bullets from the magazine into the box. His back to her.
"In here." Dean said and Ellen appeared in the doorway. Elizabeth was trying to wrap her head around what had just happened and automatically gave a salute that Ellen returned absentmindedly.
"Campbell wanted to start the meeting earlier so we wouldn't keep her as long; I figured you wouldn't be busy."
Dean set the ammo box down harder than he meant. "No, I don't mind. Let's go." He said with a smile. He turned to Elizabeth and she could see he was trying to find something to say. It was way too cute.
"Um, Curran, you're in your study hour, so I suggest you go hit the books." Dean said and he walked out. Ellen raised an eyebrow and shot a sidewise glance at Elizabeth before following him out.
"What was that?" Ellen asked.
"What?" Dean said as they walked to the main building.
"You're more on edge than a lemming, what happened back there?" Ellen said.
"Nothing." Dean said.
"Don't nothing me boy, are you trying to get that girl kicked out? What the hell do you think her chances are if they find out something's going on with her commander, it'd be bad enough if it was with a fellow member."
Dean held up his hands.
"I am not doing anything Ellen. Nothing happened, and nothing will happen, you know why? Because, I know better, and you know I know better."
Ellen still didn't look convinced. Dean decided he should throw in some truth for seasoning.
"I'll admit it, I think she's attractive, but I know what the risks are. Hell, you can be the first to tell me what happens when there are shenanigans in a troop." He said taking the focus off of him.
Ellen's face remained impassive but she knew that he was referring to her late husband.
"Fine, but Dean, if anything happens, I would strongly suggest you move her to another troop."
"Scout's honor." Dean said smiling his charismatic smile. Ellen knew he was teasing but that didn't mean she didn't love what a charmer he was.
"Come on you idiot." Ellen said. She and Dean walked into the technology facility. The elevator stood open for them. As it went down Dean felt like he had dodged a bullet. What he could have done was stupid. If she wanted to get kicked out and leave on her own terms and failures then that was good, that was okay, but, if she got kicked out because a board of pretentious publicity officials decided their conduct was improper than that was on him.
The doors opened and he and Ellen stepped out immediately into a conference room. Everyone was already seated around the conference room and there was a dark haired girl next to his empty chair.
"Hey Olivia." he said gently sliding next to her. Despite him being careful, she did jump a little.
"Hey Dean." She said smiling. He could see in her eyes that she knew about the massacre Sam had carried out and it killed him inside.
"Alright, we can get started." Samuel Campbell said at the head of the table. He flicked on the TV screen. Raphael's face appeared.
"Mr. President." The room murmured.
"Gentlemen, Ladies," Raphael said. "So, General Campbell has told me that you are close to hacking the program that would give us access to layouts of the North's high profile facilities; even President Roman's bunker."
"Yes, Ash has been working on it and he tells us he is close to breaking the firewall." Campbell said.
"Excellent, now there is something less uplifting. We all witnessed the massacre that Sam Winchester has initiated; there are many undercover people whose lives are in danger. Do we know of any who could become potentially compromised by this onslaught?"
All eyes turned onto Olivia. She straightened the papers in front of her and only Dean could see that she was trembling.
"There are some family units, brother and brother and father son that sort of thing. There have been several deaths of at least half of a family unit. Sam Winchester likes to target families, he knows he will most likely get a reaction from them, one that he will enjoy and will prove positive. I have a list of people that need to get out now and it has already been sent out."
"Thank you Miss O'Malley. Your work is always important to us." Raphael said. Olivia nodded.
The meeting continued on, and once the clip of Sam Winchester was shown. He looked directly into the camera. Dean felt a jolt in his stomach; that was not his brother anymore.
The meeting was dismissed and Dean caught up with Olivia. She was trying to get away before anyone could say anything.
"Why do they even need me here?" Olivia asked.
"You know him better than anyone else now, including me. I know the old Sammy." Dean said. He took her hand and felt the tremor.
"I thought your shrink gave you pills for that." He said.
"He's not my shrink, but yeah he did, unfortunately it's not working anymore, and he told me if he gave me anything stronger it would be for a horse."
"Bet this doesn't make it any easier." Dean said looking around at the room.
"Nope." Olivia said, "I got to get home now, I just have to think."
If by think she meant have a panic attack Dean would say that was spot on. He didn't want to leave her on her own but she insisted.
"Samuel, why the hell does she still have to come here?" Dean asked Campbell later. "She can analyze Sam somewhere else and send the information in. She doesn't have to sit through this."
"Raphael likes to have her on hand and besides, she can still catch something."
"Well aren't you just a heartless dick." Dean said.
"Watch it boy." Samuel said his black eyes looking beadily at him. "I pulled you out of that hell on earth of a country and I can shove you back just as easily. Now get out of my way Dean Winchester."
"Sir." Dean fairly spat it out to him.