WARNING: The following story contains violence, coarse language and mature subjects. Readers discretion is advised.

Disclaimer: Roses are red, violets are blue. I don't own Twilight, so please don't sue!

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Here I sat on this uncomfortable plastic chair in the middle of this sweltering hot office, my t-shirt sticking to my back and my hand rubbing my face again before dropping my sunglasses back on my nose. Being sweaty was something I hated but it came with the job especially when you were stationed in a country like this one where there were hardly any clouds let alone rain. Only the fan above my head and the open doors gave myself and the receptionist any relief from the heat of the morning sun.

I had to admit the woman sitting behind the desk was very pretty. But being in a country where most women covered their bodies and faces might be a reason why I was checking her out. She was slim with tanned skin and large brown eyes that shifted up to look at me a few times. She was of middle-eastern decent but instead of covering her face she only had a colourful scarf wrapped around her head, showing her small, pretty features. It was a damn shame she was wearing a suit jacket and pants. I could really go for a look at her long legs that she crossed under the table…

The honking of a horn made me wake out of my lust filled stupor and focus on the traffic outside the doors. I could see the gates that locked us inside the SEALs headquarters from where I sat. The building we used was once a radio/television station but it went out of business a few months ago so the building went up for sale. If you listened quietly you could hear the talking from upstairs. Our Intel centre was on the second floor of the two story building where the people with desk jobs went. They had God damn air-conditioning for 'the computers' but the first floor didn't. Commander John Highland's office was on this floor, behind the pretty receptionist, as well as a small clinic for those SEALs with minor wounds. Luckily I had yet to visit that office or the cities hospital.

Port Italia, the capital, wasn't a very busy city when you really thought about it. Hell, isn't wasn't any Chicago but it was the most populated place in Tembo Bara. Located right on the Red Sea it was an important port and the place where the wealthier of the population lived. Buildings up to fifteen stories held many cramped apartments and the skinny streets always had some kind of traffic with cars and bikes running into one another. The place literally didn't sleep and horns and shouting could be heard all night long. It was a huge difference from the little village my team had just left yesterday.

That reminded of the guys waiting outside by the Jeep we were given for transportation around the deserts. We'd treated the last mission as a victory when our back up arrived and collected the weapons we'd discovered. They'd been taken to safer place and put under constant guard. Maybe they'd discover what was up about those blue cell phones. But anyway, it was out of our hands now. It was time to move on to a new project.

Suddenly Emmett's jovial laughter rang out over the traffic outside and I immediately wanted to go out there to see what was so funny. But it seemed the bunt of their joke walked into the room, her dark hair flying everywhere and her glasses falling down her nose as she struggled to keep a hold of the folders and papers stacked in her arms. I got up to help her but she shook her head stubbornly and moved the stack to her hip, making it a little bit easier for her to hold. "You sure you don't want help?" I asked, holding out my hands to catch anything if it fell.

"I'm…fine, Masen," she puffed, sweating bullets as her hands continued to slip. "I got this…handled."

"I can see that," I chuckled. "But come on Angie. You don't ask anybody for help, do you?"

She shifted the bunch to her other hip. "What can I say?" she said. "I'm independent."

Independent was definitely a word to describe Angela Weber. I wouldn't say she was a feminist but she did love to get down and dirty just like the guys. She hated the desk job she was given by the Commander as Intelligence. Angie was someone who loved action and always wanted to be apart of it. It was a damn shame Highland didn't think the same thing about her. I was pretty sure he still saw her as an innocent little girl but she definitely wasn't. Well she was a woman and a very beautiful woman at that with long dark hair, navy blue eyes, tanned skin and an athletic build. She was one to make the men drool although she acted more like a guy than the prissy little princess they all painted her as in their minds. But me and the guys only saw her as a sister, plus she was engaged.

Ben Cheney was an airplane mechanic and spent most of his time in cold places like Alaska or Antarctica, repairing or flying cargo around. It was how Angela found her love of flying helicopters. She demanded he teach her and before long she became pretty fucking rad with a chopper. She'd talked to Commander Highland over and over again, asking for a job as chopper pilot but she always got turned down and driven back to her desk job. I felt bad for the girl. She obviously wanted some kind of adventure in her life but she hit a brick wall everytime she tried.

"So I heard you guys found a gold mine," she said, trying to fix her glasses while holding the papers.

I laughed and rubbed the back of my neck. "Yeah. I guess you could say that. Any luck with the Commander?"

She rolled her eyes and let out a depressed sigh. "Negative," she muttered. "I swear he's sexist! He probley thinks I should be at home with five fucking kids and a vacuum in my hand 24/7. And God forbid I even go near a chopper! The world will end!" She growled to herself for a moment. "Sometimes I just wanna -"

With that the office door opened and I immediately spun around, yanking off my sunglasses and shoving them in my pocket as Commander John Highland came out to meet with me. He was a tall man with large shoulders that could rival Emmett but an infectious smile with bright white teeth that were known to blind people. He flashed me that smile and I made sure to keep contact with his grey eyes rather than blind myself. "Lieutenant!" he cried. He extended his large tanned hand to me and I shook it with a smile of my own. You couldn't help but feel good around the man. "Good to see you."

"And the same to you, sir," I replied respectfully.

Angela quickly and quietly excused herself before running up the stairs to the second floor.

Letting go of my hand he motioned me into his office before following me inside and shutting the door after himself. I dropped into the chair across from his but he went to the open window where a small, electric fan whirred in the background. Tugging at his tie he sighed as he stared into the street. "Hot today, wouldn't you say Lieutenant?" he asked me although the motion he just did looked more nervous than a reaction to the weather. I was on edge and sat up straight, gripping the cushy chair I had dropped into, my senses heightening and trying to locate a threat.

"That it is, sir," I said, narrowing my eyes at his side profile as he avoided my gaze.

Clearing his throat and flattening his shirt he continued on. "Well, first I'd like to congratulate you and your team on your last mission." He paused, swallowing heavily so his Adam's apple bobbed. My grip on the leather of the chair increased. "Excellent job on finding those weapons. A great achievement."

"Thank you," I answered, still keeping my eyes on him.

He turned, meeting my eyes and looking away before going over to his own chair behind the oak desk. I swivelled in my chair to watch his every movement as he sat rigidly, folding his hands in front of him. There was a pause before he opened his mouth again. "I suppose you're wondering what your next mission is?" Highland asked, eyeing me.

"Yes, sir," I said. "That would be the plan."

He nodded before sitting back in his chair and rubbing his chin. "Yes, yes," he mumbled before looking up at me again. "Well I have your objective." I sat forward, on the edge of my seat as I clasped my hands in front of me. "There's been a few sightings of suspisious characters hanging around a local village. We believe they might be collecting followers and we need your team to just…patrol it. Try speaking with the people maybe, ask them if they've seen anything and report back tonight, 2100 hours* at the latest. I need your team here and rested for the presidents landing."

I nodded, understanding what he meant. Due to the backlash of the people, Tembo Bara's president decided to skip out to another country until it could be resolved. Only the higher officials knew where he was. All we knew was that he was coming back tomorrow and he needed protection. It was stupid and made me feel like a damn bodyguard rather than a SEAL. But this was an order that we had to follow. If it meant the end of this civil war then I'd do it.

"Yes, sir," I answered. "We'll get down there today and return this evening."

"Perfect," he said, reaching into a file drawer and pulling out a map. Laying it out on the desk he beckoned me forward and drew a route to the village for us to follow. He pointed out the places to steer clear of and looking at it's location it would mean at least an hours drive across a desert terrain. Jasper could be navigator like always. I could trust him. Emmett would tell me the wrong directions just to fuck with me. It was always a joke with him.

"I'll see you this evening, then, sir," I said before folding up the map and turning to go to the door.

"Ah Edward," he called me back and I looked back at him with confusion. He was all nervous again and I had no idea why. "Just…one more thing before you go." He motioned for me to sit and I hesitantly lowered into the chair again. "I have another member to add to your little – ah – troop." I frowned, wondering where he was going with this. I had enough men as it was.

"A new…member, sir?" I questioned, almost forgetting to add the 'sir' on to the end.

He took a breath and I swear he didn't let it out until he quickly finished the next few words. "Yes, she's from one of the news agencies back in the states."

"She?" I asked, picking up on it right away. A girl, on my team? That wouldn't work at all. Emmett wouldn't be able to work straight on anything. Knowing the media I bet she was a busty, blond like Rosalie and wouldn't he have a field-fucking-day with that little minx? I needed my men focused, not gallivanting off after some little reporter.

"Yes, she," he answered before lifting the small phone on his desk. Pressing one of the numbers he waited a moment before speaking. "Ah yes, Gianna." The pretty receptionist was most likely on the other line. "Could you send in Miss. Swan? Thank you."

It was only a few seconds after he put the phone back down that the door hesitantly opened with a soft tapping on the wood. "Miss. Swan!" he cried out, already on his feet and grinning that blinding smile. "A pleasure to see you again. Please, come in."

The door closed and the clicking of slow, careful heels was heard on the floor. I didn't look up from the map crushed in my fist but I could feel her stop to my right. Get ready for breasts and bleach blond hair, my mind warned me.

"Miss. Swan," the Commander said, waving his hand towards my slouched form. "This is Lieutenant Edward Masen. Edward, this is Miss. Isabella Swan."

I knew that was the point I had to be polite and at least welcome her nicely. Sighing inwardly I lifted my gaze and froze.

She was short and slim with a posture that screamed innocence even though her skirt and shirt said otherwise. Her skin was pale white and glowed in the small amount of light, almost like a halo. The chocolate hair fell in waves over her shoulders and around her heart shaped face, her cheeks a light shade of pink. With her full bottom lip between her teeth and her tiny hands picking at her nails she looked at me. I met her large, brown, doe eyes and I felt myself swallow heavily.

Shit. I am so fucked.

I looked away before I jumped up and attacked her right then and there. Rubbing my fingers together I could almost feel her soft skin. Not good, I thought staring up at the Commander's almost smug expression, or was I seeing things? He was planning to make me fail, wasn't he? He knew my weakness was brown eyed, brunettes!

"Isabella is here from the Seattle news paper," he went on with the smile still on his face. "So you two will be working together and with Edward's team. Miss. Swan will be documenting the lives of those in a war zone and you'll be looking after her."

What could I say to that? It was an order and I can't go back on it. I eyed Isabella again but she was looking out the window, her lip still between her teeth. God damn it! Didn't she understand what that did to me? Shifting uncomfortably I faced the Commander again and saw him staring at me, all serious now. I sighed before nodding. "Yes, sir," I mumbled, getting to my feet to see how much shorter she truly was than me. The top of her head just came to the bottom of my chin and I flexed my hand, trying not to reach over and touch her.

Commander Highland grinned and let out a breath of relief. "That's great!" he announced, standing and holding out his hand to me. "I was a bit worried you'd put up more of a fight." Ah, so that's why he was nervous. He shook my hand. "Good luck, Lieutenant." Turning to Isabella her shook her small hand as well and smiled what I supposed was to be a charming look. "Not to worry, Miss. Swan. You're in good hands." I inwardly groaned at the double sense in those words before turning and passing by her for the door. She stepped back but I could still feel the heat of her body when her shoulder brushed my arm. I needed to get out of there. Now.

I made a bee line for the doors that led out into fresh air, fumbling to put on my sunglasses and ignoring the flirtatious looks Gianna was giving me from behind her desk. I was almost there, just a few more steps and I'd walk out into the sunlight…!

"Lieutenant!" a soft voice called from behind me and I froze, the shivers running up at down my spine. I knew who it was even before I turned around to face Isabella. She was wobbling in her heels and I fought the urge to run over like a fucking puppy dog and help her stay balanced. My fingernails were going to be imbedded into my palms by the time this was all over.

"Yes, Miss. Swan?" I asked her through gritted teeth.

She flinched and stopped a foot from where I stood before looking at me nervously. "I was…" she trailed off, staring at me and falling silent. I waited a moment before raising my eyebrows and rolling my wrist to get her talking again. She seemed to snap out of it and turned red in the face. "I'm sorry but I just…might I be able to change before we leave?"

I made the mistake of looking her up and down. I meant to look at the pencil skirt and blouse she was wearing but my eyes lingered on her legs and the small amount of cleavage she had showing. Clearing my throat I tried to stop my blood flow from heading south. This was not the time to fucking get turned on.

I waved her away, unable to use my voice and watched as she stumbled off to change. Shaking my head repeatedly I turned and strode out the door and into the African heat. I desperately needed to clear my head before meeting up with guys. No doubt that I would never hear the end of this if I stalked over to them with my pants tighter than they should be. God, and I was worried Emmett would the one who got distracted. I had to learn to control myself around Miss. Swan because having a distracted Commanding Officer meant everyone was fucked. I couldn't let my team down.

After a few deep breaths a stepped out of the shadows I was standing in and walked briskly over the guys. The Jeep doors were all open with Moony and Newton sitting inside and Em and Jazz leaning against the hood. They looked up as soon as I came into sight and Jasper frowned. Jazz knew me too well and could read my emotions like an open book.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing," I said quickly as I came to stop in front of the group. "I need you guys to know we have a new member. She's a reporter back in the States."

They all looked at one another with unreadable expressions, all except for Emmett who was grinning widely. "A girl?" he laughed. "It's my lucky day!"

I grinded my teeth together and glared at him. I knew it was a joke but my ugly side suddenly reared it's head. "Back off, Em," I growled.

They all looked surprised before Emmett held up his hands. "All right, all right," he said. "You got dibs." I snorted in disgust before crossing my arms over my chest. "Geez, Ed. What's up your ass?"

I brought my hands up to my face and sighed while rubbing my temples. "I'm fine," I said after a long breath. Opening my eyes I stared each of them, trying to get them to trust me.

But Emmett was looking over my shoulder with interest. "Is that her?" he asked.

Everyone looked and I turned slowly to see Isabella jogging towards us. Her outfit had most definately changed, from one Alice would have approved to one she would be disgusted of. The teasing outfit was no more and instead she had cargo shorts and a white t-shirt with ratty running shoes and a baseball hat that held the Seattle Mariners* logo. Her brown hair was tied back into a ponytail and a pair of sunglasses covered her eyes. She looked more comfortable than she was in her skirt and blouse and she wasn't stumbling which was a relief but if she did it again I wouldn't be able to stop myself from acting like Prince Charming.

She stopped beside me and smiled shyly. "Sorry," I muttered.

Before I got too carried away with my thoughts I cleared my throat and turned to the boys. "Guys," I started, waving toward her. "This is Isabella -"

"Bella," she corrected me before she ducked her head and played with the strap of her duffle bag.

"Bella," I said before continuing. "She's going to be with us for a few days."

They all smiled at her and I noticed Moony had hopped out of the Jeep to grin kindly at her and give me a knowing look. I grimaced back at him before motioning to Emmett. "This is Petty Office Emmett McCarty, our weapons specialist." He grinned at her and she smiled back timidly. I moved on to Jazz. "This is our XO and navigator Lieutenant Junior Jasper Whitlock."

She looked up at me, confused. "XO?" she asked.

"Executive Officer," Jazz informed her while shaking her hand.

"He's basically my second in command," I finished before moving on. "This is our Chief Medical Office Mamun Iman." Moony smiled warmly at her again and shook her hand gently.

"Nice to meet you," she murmured as he released her and stepped back.

"And this," I sighed as Newton jumped out of the Jeep. "Is Ensign* Michael Newton." I wanted to add that he was the lowest in my team and he was useless but I kept my mouth shut as he shook her hand and held it for a little too long. Would I lose my job if I smashed his head with the Jeep's door?

She smiled shortly at him before taking her hand away and covertly rubbing her palm against her shorts. I couldn't help but smirk.

"So CO, what's the POD?" Emmett asked while he rubbed his hands together.

Bella looked at me for an explanation again. "CO means Commanding Office, that's me," I said. "POD means 'plan of the day'."

She let out a small 'oh' before turning away again. I pulled out the map and motioned for Jazz to follow me. Spreading the folded map on to the hood of the Jeep I pointed out everything the Commander had showed me, explaining it to him in detail. He nodded a few times before taking it from me and heading around to the passenger side. Jasper was practically always shotgun.

Mamun tossed me one of the bullet-proof vests and I strapped it on over my chest. It was uncomfortable but could ultimately save your life. I decided to leave the desert camouflage jacket off since it was hot as Hell and just have my vest for all to see. I watched as Moony showed Bella how to put on her own vest, which was bright blue and said 'MEDIA' in big block letters. She looked so innocent and confused as he chuckled and spun her around to strap the thing in place. I couldn't be angry with Mamun. He was acting more fatherly towards her than anything else. Why I should care about that was confusing me.

After suiting up, I went around to the driver's side watching as Emmett jumped into the very back seat. He liked it back there since he said it was bumpy like 'the last car of a rollar coaster or the back of the school bus'. Mamun, being the English gentleman he was, helped Bella into the Jeep and waited until she was sitting before crawling into the back with Emmett. I was a little pissed off when Newton sat his ass down beside Bella, sitting a little too close to her for my liking. I'd have to kick his ass if he got any closer. Jesus. I was acting like she was my fucking territory or some bull shit like that. I growled to myself before sliding into the driver's seat and starting the engine.

"We can go out the same roads we came in on, but go north instead of south," Jazz informed me while staring at the map. GPS was crap when it came to Jasper. The guy could track anything but I guess that's what growing up on a ranch and chasing after horse's does to you.

I nodded and put the Jeep in gear before pulling out of the parking space with Emmett "wah hooing" in the background and my eyes constantly going to the rear view mirror to watch Bella rummage through her bag.

Man, this was going to be one long day.

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Slang:

2100 hours – 9:00 pm

Seattle Mariners – Seattle baseball team. Don't ask me if I'm a fan because I know absolutely nothing about sports. Except soccer, cause it's awesome. The only baseball game I've been to was when I was about ten and that was for the Toronto Blue Jays (they lost that game by the way).

Ensign – junior officer

Locations:

Port Italia – Capital of Tembo Bara. On the Red Sea. Busiest city in the country and very crowded. Ever seen a major Indian city? That's kind of how I picture it.

Author's Note:

1. Actually my old Travel and Tourism teacher (yes I took a class called that), her husband is an airplane mechanic and we heard plenty of his stories of Alaska and Antarctica. She told us one time in an Alaskan town everyone had to stay inside because a polar bear had found it's way into the streets. Whoa. And Angela's hobby will come in handy later on.

2. I actually got the idea for the radio/television station for a SEAL base from a movie. Behind Enemy Lines (2009) was completely cheesy and predictable beyond belief but it gave me some SEAL information so thank you. Lmao. I get most of my SEALs info from the internet and books in case you're interested.

3. I forgot to dedicate this story to my Mom! Since she loves Navy SEALs, I had to do a story about our Cullen boys in the military. So this ones for you Mom! And my first novel…whenever that comes out.

4. The music for this story is going to be listed on my profile and pretty much it will only be classic rock since it's awesome. Fuck rap. It's crap. But one song I'd recommend right now is Black Strobe - I'm a Man. Awesome song.

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