Chapter Three: Gaining Respect

Their moment of amusement did not last long. Alex, Fox and Snake caught up to Wolf and Eagle easily, but the tension between Wolf and Alex began immediately after.

Wolf made an obvious show of not looking at Alex, and Alex tried to ignore him. As it was raining, Wolf could not retrieve the map from his backpack, but he was also too bloody stubborn to admit he needed to look at it. The direction they had chosen to travel in was not an easy path. The trees were sparse, but bushes and other thick undergrowth more than made up for it. Every few minutes another thorn would dig into Alex's cargo pants and then into the skin underneath.

Eagle eyed Wolf's backpack with sadness, but their leader did not seem inclined to stop for the night anytime soon. While the rain had stopped, it now seemed that the sun was ready to retire for the night. However, Wolf was not. They hiked in moody silence until Snake interfered.

"Wolf, don't you think we should set up some sort of camp? We'll be out of sunlight soon, and we don't have any torches…." He trailed off.

Wolf snorted, "I know where I'm at Snake, of course we don't have torches, and I'm surprised they gave us matches…we do have matches?"

"If they're not wet we do," Fox said and leaned Snake against a tree.

Wolf sighed. "Wonderful, fine you sissies, we'll stop here."

"Food!" Eagle said happily and practically ripped the backpack off Wolf.

"God, Eagle," Wolf muttered, "how did you even make it past interrogation training?"

Eagle had his arm in the backpack but frowned at Wolf, "That was work, this is play."

"This is stuck in the woods with barely any food or water," Wolf snapped and grabbed the backpack from Eagle. "No meals tonight, wait until the morning, that's when you'll need them."

Alex tried to ignore their babbling and looked for a place to sleep. It seemed Wolf was going to listen to Snake. If they were even allowed a tent, then it had burned along with the helicopters cabin, so they were stuck sleeping on the cold ground.

"Wolf's going to starve us and eat all the food himself," Eagle whispered to Alex as he walked past him towards Fox and Snake.

Alex bit his lip in amusement and looked for a dryer spot to drop the two bags he carried.

There was no dry spot on the ground so Alex found a low limb and balanced the bags on it. Taking off his heavy, army green coat, Alex hung it on a nearby tree.

It was colder now; the rain had made the temperature drop from warm to cool and with their wet clothes it made it that much worse.

"I'm cold," Eagle spoke up and in so doing, he said just what the others had been thinking.

Sighing, Wolf looked up at the sky as if searching for something.

"Our copter was shot down, and not by accident. They may come back and check to see if we're all dead…. Should we make a fire, or do you think it would be too dangerous?"

Wolf looked at the others for their opinion, but they looked uncertain as well.

"If they wanted us dead, don't you think they would have hung around after the helicopter crashed? I don't think they were really concerned about us, they just wanted to shoot us down. Someone probably pissed off someone else and that was their way of revenge," Snake said.

Wolf tapped his foot and stared at nothing for a moment, and then he turned and opened the backpack he had carried and started sifting through it.

"I've got matches," Wolf mumbled as he looked at said matches.

"Are they wet?" Alex asked. Wolf did not answer at first.

"They're mostly dry, but they could have gotten wet then dried and they still won't work if that happened. Let's make a fire pit anyway, maybe they'll work, and if they do, I only want to use one. We only have the one box," Wolf said.

"Er, you think we'll actually find dry wood?" Snake asked as he looked up and saw the leaves on the trees still dripping with rain water.

Shrugging, Wolf left their area and headed off in was not much help as his ankle was still swollen and Fox had demanded he stay off it as much as possible.

Leaving the job of collecting the bigger logs to Wolf and Fox, Alex went looking for some kindling. He'd need something light and flammable to get their fire started--that is, if Wolf's matches worked.

He managed to find some dry pine straw and fragments of wood under the boughs of a large leafed tree. Gathering up as much as possible, Alex headed back to their campsite where Eagle had finished digging a small pit with a large set his kindling inside of it just as Wolf came back with several medium sized logs.

Squatting down, Alex watched as Wolf arranged some of his smaller logs in a teepeeformation above the kindling. They all watched in anticipation as Wolf brought out the matches. The sun had mostly set and everything was in shadows.

Alex shivered as a low wind rustled his hair and chilled him. Wolf held the matchbox up to strike the first match, there was a swift sound--and nothing happened.

They traded glances and Wolf, not ready to give up, brought out the second match. When it failed to light as well, Wolf's solution was to glare at the matchbox.

"Why don't they make these damn things waterproof?"

"Actually," Snake said reluctantly, "they do, but you left that box back at camp…."

"Shut up, Snake," Wolf grumbled. "Well, there goes that plan. I'm going to bed."

He flopped down onto the ground not far from there failure of a fire and the others slowly did the same.

"Well, I knew this was going to suck, but I didn't think it would this bad," Eagle said.

Fox snorted, "Don't like camping, Eagle?"

"Not hardly," Eagle said and Alex looked over in time to see him shiver. "Me and my older cousin went when I was ten. He put a snake in my sleeping bag."

Wolf burst into laughter. Straightening up, Eagle's faced flushed, "It's not funny Wolf, it could have bit something down there!"

That only fueled Wolf's laughing fit, while Snake looked rather appalled. "Were you bit?"

"No, he said it was harmless when I freaked out. But after that, do you really think I wanted to go anywhere near the woods?" Eagle finished sarcastically.

Alex smiled at his story. However, Fox was the one that commented.

"No worries Eagle, we'll protect you from the snakes. But does he count?" Fox asked pointing at a smirking Snake.

Eagle looked irritated at himself for even saying anything in the first place, but he gave Snake a considering look. "Not as long as he doesn't start hissing…or somehow wind up in my bed," at the last part he gave Snake a leer.

Snake rolled his eyes and sniffed haughtily, "Like you'd have a chance with me."

Laughing in surprise, Eagle grinned but tried to look serious. "You're not my type anyway," he said in a mock hurt voice. Alex ignored them and their inappropriate words. Instead, he reached behind his back to try and remove the stick that was digging into his back. He hand met damp earth and weeds, but no stick.

Lying back down, Alex felt the pain again and frowned.

He sat up entirely this time and looked behind him. It was dark so he let his hand feel the moist earth for the source of his discomfort. His hand rubbed against his back pocket and brushed against something, frowning more prominently, Alex reached into the pocket--and surprise crossed his face.

The box of matches he'd picked up that morning was still with him.

Not saying anything, Alex brought them to his face while Wolf made a crude joke about Eagle and Snake.

He could not read what was written on the box. Not wanting to raise anyone's hopes, but knowing that he had to try or spend the rest of the night cold, Alex quietly went to the fire pit. No one noticed Alex as he stuck a match.

Then, a tiny flame brought light to their dark world, and all eyes turned to him. The surprised silence made the crackling flame seem loud in their ears. Alex gently lowered the match to the kindling. K Unit watched as the kindling caught fire and they could suddenly see each other's faces. Still not saying anything, Alex scrambled for more pine straw to keep their delicate fire alight.

"Get me some smaller sticks," Alex ordered, and surprisingly both Wolf and Eagle got up to do so. Choosing the smallest and drier sticks, Alex poked them into his flame and they caught fire. A minute later, he sat back in satisfaction as the fire reached the larger logs.

"How'd you get the matches to work?" Snake asked finally and they all looked at Alex. He held up his box of matches that had not gotten wet.

"It's a different box, I forgot I had them," he said with a shrug.

Wolf scowled and threw up his arms dramatically. "You could have told us sooner, we're sitting here cold and you had freaking dry matches the entire--"

"Bloody hell," Alex muttered and mirrored Wolf in standing up. "I said I forgot about them, do you know that word? It slipped my mind, and I'm not surprised it did after all that's happened. You've got fire now cave man, so shut up and be grateful!"

Wolf's eyes widened.

"You'll soon be grateful if I leave any part of you un-bruised," he growled and walked toward him.

Alex took a step back, but Fox and Eagle quickly latched onto Wolf's arms.

"You'll be kicked out, Wolf," Snake warned. "He's a minor, we've talked about this. He's here for a reason, and it's not to annoy you!"

This seemed to calm Wolf down. Or at least, he gave Eagle and Fox a look and they released him, both of them looking reluctant and ready to latch back on if he tried anything.

Alex watched him with guarded eyes. His feet set apart and ready to defend himself if necessary. But Wolf just ran a hand through his hair and got a grip on his anger. The fire crackled and warmed Alex's side. But the coldness he felt come over him could not be thawed out by the flames.

"Why are you here anyway?" Wolf snapped. He still seemed frazzled, but his curiosity got the better of him.

Alex felt that the man would not attack him and looked away. "I don't know if I can tell you that," he said without any bite.

Wolf frowned and seemed to stiffen a bit. Fox took control with a warning look at Wolf.

"We're your unit, you have to trust us. If you don't, then who can you trust?" He asked with a shrug.

Alex's eyes looked them over slowly, "You've given me no reason to trust you, and until then, I'm not telling you anything."

His words seemed to make them all uneasy and surprisingly, a few of them looked ashamed. They had brought this upon themselves, and they knew it.

Though he had been blunt, Alex had also been truthful. What had any of them done to earn his trust? It was not given away easily. Even as a young child it had been two weeks before he'd started getting close to Jack. Without another word, Alex went back to where he had been lying and sat back down.

Gradually, the others started doing the same and Alex stared at the treetops. Smoke, as well as ash rose from the fire and made the leaves above them shift, the shadows lessened as the rest of K Unit settled down. It was not too long afterward, that Alex fell asleep.

……………………………….....

The uncomfortable silence that had descended on them last night after Alex's announcement, had been reduced the next morning, but not by much.

Eagle had been given the job of cooking a very light breakfast while Fox, Wolf and Snake were gathered together looking at the map.

Alex did not know what to do to help, and asking what to do would have been too awkward. So, he left their campsite and started walking through the woods. It would be surprising if anyone missed him. Eagle was busy drooling over the food, (with any luck, not literally) and Wolf was trying to figure out where the hell they were. With this in mind, Alex pushed aside some ivy and carefully stepped over a fallen tree.

The woods were surprisingly untamed; he had expected something a little more--orderly. Although, perhaps they were in the wrong forest and not in the one surrounding Brecon Beacons at all--which would really, really suck Alex thought with only a bit of amusement. As he avoided a patch of poison sumac, Alex wondered if he should be more worried then what he was.

Wasn't this what he had trained for though? Difficult situation where it seemed he was doomed? Of course, the manuals and instructors had not mentioned being stuck with Wolf, having a shortage of food and water, or the possibility of someone out for their blood….

But it is a lovely day, Alex thought hysterically. A moment later he laughed at himself. Really, what would Ian say? He'd trained him to have more confidence than this.

If nothing else, he could stay positive to annoy Wolf. Alex smirked, and then spotted something that made his smirk turn to a delighted smile. A large stream ran in between two trees. It bubbled over large and small stones.

Kneeling down, Alex took off his backpack and searched for the water purifying capsules they had been given should then run low on water. He found them in a small, decomposable pouch. Standing up, Alex put the pouch back in his backpack and carefully headed back toward camp. Every fifteen steps or so, he had bent small overhanging limbs to help him stay on track. Using the bent limbs as guidelines, Alex quickly made it back. Alex saw them before they had caught sight of him, and seeing them talking, he made sure to walk quietly and slowed down so he could hear.

"When did he leave Eagle?" Snake was asking as they ate out of the pouches of food that Eagle had prepared.

Shrugging, Eagle finished off his breakfast. "I'm not his keeper."

Snake looked annoyed and Fox looked slightly worried. "He wouldn't head off to camp on his own would he?"

Alex came up beside them and answered, "That would rather idiotic, wouldn't it?" he asked and picked up the only untouched food packet.

Eagle, who was the closest, jumped slightly and the water in his canteen sloshed over his shirt. Alex raised an eyebrow, and then looked into his food pouch with disinterest.

"Great, there goes more of the little water we have," Wolf said as he took the canteen from Eagle and capped it. "Now that you've wasted more of our supplies, care to tell us what you're doing sneaking around?"

"Sneaking!" Eagle said in a scarily close impersonation to Golum. Laughing, Alex did not notice their surprised looks as he ate.

"I walked up ahead, just in a different direction than where we were heading. There's a stream up there," Alex gestured to the right and sat down beside Snake. "We've got some purifying tablets, if you know of something large enough to hold the water, and then we can refill the canteens." It was probably the only time Alex would ever see Wolf at loss for words.

He soaked it in happily, but did not let his emotions show. Knowing that Alex was pleased with Wolf's reaction might make the man irritable, and at the moment, Alex did not want that.

"Well…good," Wolf said shortly.

He stood and put out the fire with handfuls of slightly wet dirt. Backing away from the small dust clouds, Alex quickly finished his breakfast with a few more bites, then buried the empty packets with help from Fox. They were made of the same decomposing material as the pouch of purifying tablets, even the eating utensils would eventually rot."Did you get a basic idea of where we are?" Alex asked Fox as flattened the ground back down around where they had dug the hole.

Fox nodded but to Alex's disappointment, he did not say anymore.

"Let's go," Wolf said and slung a backpack over one shoulder. "It's around eight now, no reason to wait." Just like he had before, Alex adjusted his backpack, picked up the duffel bag and Fox helped Snake walk.

"Even though I'm only supporting one side, you're still heavy," Fox grunted. Grinning in a way that seemed to say he was having too much fun in his current situation, Snake grinned.

"It should be better by tonight. I can walk already--"

"You can?" Fox squawked and looked at Snake in a betrayed fashion.

Snake shrugged, "I'm not supposed to, but I can if I have to." Fox frowned and continued up the down trodden path Wolf and Eagle had already made. Alex brought up the rear of the small party.

They cut off to go in the direction Alex had pointed out. Pulling up beside Wolf, Alex led them to the creek.

When they reached it, there was the problem of finding something large to hold the water in so the purifying tablets would work.

Kneeling down, Wolf cupped the water in his hands and sniffed it. He then walked up the stream much to Alex's bemusement, and then came back down to where they stood.

"Er, what are you doing?" Alex finally asked and felt of flare of irritation when Wolf gave him a superior look.

"I wanted to make sure there wasn't something lying I the water upstream, like a dead animal of some sort--"

"Like in the fable," Alex interrupted, his eyes innocent, but his voice betraying amusement.

Wolf turned slightly pink and glared. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he said stiffly.

"The fable of the king and his hawk," Alex explained.

Wolf gave his a glance that insinuated he was insane. "Whatever. I've decided that we'll drink the water without using the tablets since we have no pans or anything to hold the water in except for our canteens, and they aren't large enough for this."

"It's okay then?" Fox asked doubtfully.

Wolf shrugged, "I tasted it, and I'm not dead yet."

"So reassuring," Eagle muttered. They filled their canteens and backtracked.

The sun was bright yellow, and it caused the dark green leafs of the oak to glow. Caught up in gazing at the sky, Alex ran into Fox who gave him a half irritated, half amused look.

"What areyou doing?" He asked and continued walking.

Alex shrugged and went back to looking around.

"The trees," he explained. "I'm trying to name them all."

"Snake knows most of their names," Fox said with a nod at Snake beside him. "Being a bookworm and all that."

"They catch you reading once and suddenly you're a bookworm!" Snake muttered to Alex. "But yes, I think I can name most of them. That big one there, see how the twigs are hooked and tipped with black buds as if it were giving you the come-hither with a finger ending in a filthy nail."

Alex smirked and traded a look with Fox as he came up to walk beside them. "Yeah--although I would not have gone into that much detail…bookworm."

Fox gave a short chuckle and Snake rolled his eyes at Alex.

"Anyhow, that's an ash tree. The oak is king of the forest, the beech is queen of the woods, the sycamore is pretender to the throne and the ash lords over the lot….And just so you know, those aren't my own words. Read it in a newspaper, the words stuck with me."

Snake seemed to realize he'd just brought more taunting onto himself, and looked at them warily. Fox smiled slowly.

"Oh, the horror, a bookworm with a great memory. Next you'll be quoting from a Sherlock Holmes mystery, or--" he was cut off.

"I was more so thinking Dr. Seuss," Alex said musingly, barely hiding a grin as Snake gave a tortured moan.

"I've changed my mind. I don't care if I hurt myself, I'll walk on my own!" Snake said hurriedly.

Fox laughed as Snake detached himself and walked with only a slight limp.

"I do not like green eggs and ham, I do not like them Sam I am!" Alex called out the famous Dr. Seuss quote toward Snake's back. Fox was already grinning at Alex's statement, but he burst into laughter when Snake raised his right hand and lifted his middle finger in Alex's direction. It was a sign that needed no words.

Grinning, Alex made no comment as they carried on into the woods.

Authors Note: The next chapter is a bit suspenseful, want to know why? Check out my Yahoo Group, link is in my profile and it has the fourth chapter's teaser!

I'm going to be away for a while, just for four days though. I'm going to the beaches of Alabama, which are usually less crowded and always beautiful. I haven't been to the beach in five years, and a hurricane chased us off the last time, literally! ^_^ It sure would be nice to see some reviews when I get back….(innocent grin).

Thank you for reading! Your thoughts and constructive criticism are very much appreciated!