Things had settled down and ran smoothly; Chris had managed to fully train his new Alpha team in a matter of three months. He was impressed with the teams work even with the bumpy starts everyone was getting along. Chris had decided since it was Finn's birthday the next day he was giving the team the weekend off. Skyla was sitting outside against the tree enjoying the sunshine when Finn came up and sat down beside her.
"Hey Finn, Happy Birthday," Skyla said to him.
"Thanks Skyla," Finn squeaked and blushed.
"How is your birthday going so far?" Skyla asked.
"Actually that's why I came here to talk to you about. I was...Uh...I was wondering...if you would...Um, if you wanted to come out for drinks with us." Finn strung the last half together.
"Us?" Skyla asked.
"It's going to be me, Cowboy, Ryan, and Keaton," Finn tells her.
"Sure Finn," Skyla smiled.
"Great! We are leaving at 7:30," Finn said getting up.
Skyla nodded to him, she leaned her head back closing her eyes feeling the sun's warmth on her face.
"Hey," she heard next to her.
She opened her eyes and looked to see Piers staring down at her. Skyla she pushed herself off the ground and nods to Piers.
"Hey," Skyla replies.
"Going in already?" Piers asked her.
"Starting to get a little warm out here," Skyla replied.
"See you around," Piers replied slightly disappointed.
Skyla going inside and checks her phone, she finally sees she got another email from her sister again. She checks to see when the last one had come in and noted it had been about two months.
'Either mom and dad have found out she is emailing and she is sneaking around, or maybe she is starting to hate me for abandoning her. Hopefully, she understands I am doing this for her,' Skyla thinks to herself.
She replies to her sister's email and puts her phone away.
Skyla went to the bunks and grabbed some clean clothes and headed to the shower. She decided on denim short shorts and ruffled spaghetti strap tank and ankle high boots. Skyla stood in front of the mirror and drying her then started straightening her hair. Jill passed by the showers and sees Skyla in front of the mirror.
"Going out?" Jill asked her with a smile.
"Yeah, Finn invited me to go out with him and the boys," Skyla replied.
"Want some help?" Jill asked.
"Sure," Skyla replied with a smile.
Jill came up behind her and grabbed the straightener. Skyla stood there quietly while Jill straightened the back of her hair.
"You have pretty hair," Jill commented.
"Thanks," Skyla said looking into the mirror.
Piers walked past them towards the showers. Skyla watched him in the mirror. Jill gave her a knowing smile. She had done the same thing so many times to Chris in the past.
"All done! You look really nice, have fun." Jill told her.
"Thanks Jill," Skyla replied.
Skyla started applying makeup, she watched Piers come out of the shower with a towel wrapped around his waist and droplets of water running down his body. Skyla swallowed ant tried to not to think about that. Piers made his way to the lockers watching her out of the corner of his eye; Skyla grabbed her stuff and walked out. She met with Finn and the rest of Alpha team at the front. There were cat calls as she walked up on the guys. They decided to walk over to a local bar, so they didn't have to worry about a designated driver.
The team found a table and started ordering drinks. They were determined to get Finn drunk. Skyla was sitting beside Finn talking to him when the door of the bar opened, and Chris and Piers walked in. Piers locked eyes with Skyla as she took a long drink from her beer.
She slammed the bottle down making Finn jump a mile high.
"Round of shots on me," Skyla announced standing.
The group of males got rowdy as she walked over to the bar. Chris and Piers looked in their direction, and Chris shook his head with a smile, she leaned onto the bar and flashed the bartender a smile.
"7 double shots of tequila and some lime slices please." She asked.
"Sure thing sweetheart," The bartender said to her.
"Having fun Skyla?" Chris asked with a smirk.
"Yes sir, thanks for the break," Skyla replied with a smile.
She handed the bartender her card to pay for the drinks. The bartender gave her a tray full of shots and lime slices.
"See you around sir," Skyla winked at Chris.
"Behave please," Chris told her over his shoulder.
"No promises," Skyla called over her shoulder.
Piers watched Skyla worriedly as she arrived at the table with the shots. Finn looked at the tray and groaned seeing the tequila.
"Did you forget how to count?" Cowboy asked Skyla.
"No, two double shots for the birthday boy." Skyla smiled deviously.
"No way Skyla!" Finn yelped.
"Fine, I'll do two." Skyla shook her head at Finn.
Skyla took her seat beside Finn and picked up her shot. The rest of the team followed suit. Skyla took her shot and quickly grabbed the other shot and threw it back and bit down on her lime.
"Skyla up for a game of pool?" Ryan asked her.
"What are the stakes?" Skyla asked.
"$20, the loser has to buy a round of drinks and..." Ryan leaned in and whispered the last stipulation to her.
Skyla bit her lip and then nodded,
"Okay," She agreed.
"Really?" Ryan asked her.
Skyla shrugged and nodded.
"What are your stipulations for me?" Ryan asked her.
"The $20, the round of drinks and you have to be my slave for a month," Skyla said.
"Shake on it," Ryan put his hand out.
Skyla rolled her eyes and put grabbed his hand.
"Shall we then?" Ryan asked her.
"Right now?" Skyla asked.
Ryan nodded; Skyla got up and followed him over to the pool table. The game was close the whole time. It came down to three balls. Skyla made her shot and but accidentally knocked the eight ball into the right corner pocket.
"No!" Skyla cried out.
Chris and Piers turned to see what the commotion was about.
Skyla pulled out $20 and handed it to Ryan. He raised his eyebrow. Skyla walks up to the bar noting Chris isn't up there with Piers. Piers was talking with the bartender when Skyla gets up there.
"Hey there, another round of tequila shots?" The bartender asks.
Skyla flashes a smile and nods, sitting at the bar waiting for her drinks.
"Actually can I get a whiskey sour added to that as well," Skyla says after a minute.
"Sure thing sweetheart, any whiskey in particular?" The bartender asked.
"Jameson," Skyla responded.
"Hey," Piers said to Skyla.
"Hey Piers," Skyla replied.
As Skyla was about to pay Piers waved his hand.
"Put it on my tab," Piers said.
Skyla looked over at him.
"Don't even think about it Piers, I owe them a round of drinks, that's not your responsibility," Skyla told him.
"They won't know, plus didn't I hear you buying them a round of drinks when I got here." Piers replied.
"I lost the game, my problem. How about another drink later?" Skyla smirked at him as she handed the bartender her card.
"Are you going to be up for that?" Piers looked at her worriedly.
"I'm not a light weight," Skyla smirked taking the tray of drinks back to the table.
"You know each other?" The bartender asked Piers.
"She's in the BSAA, she's in Alpha team with me." Piers replied watching her hand the drinks out.
"You like her?" The bartender asked.
"Yeah, wait what?" Piers asked looking back at the bartender.
"Here you go Ryan; here is your stupid drink," Skyla said handing the male team member a shot.
"Hey, Skyla want to dance?" Cowboy asked shaking his hip suggestively at her.
"You mean do I want to grind on you? Nah thanks, I'm good." Skyla said taking her shot.
"What's the matter Skyla scared Piers will get jealous?" Ryan whispered in her ear.
"Tch," Skyla swatting Ryan away.
Ryan had caught her once staring at Piers during workout and then after the shower incident anytime he could he busted her chops about it.
"At least dance with Finny," Ryan circled around to her other ear and whispered.
"Poor boy might blow a load in his pants." Skyla leaned over and replied in Ryan's ear.
"You caught on to that huh?" He asked her.
Skyla smiled sadly at him, she knew painfully well Finn had a crush on her, but he was so innocent she saw him as the little brother of the group.
"It is his Birthday Skyla," Ryan whispered to her.
Skyla rolled her eyes, this was going to encourage his crush, but Ryan was right.
"Hey Finn, want to dance?" Skyla asked him.
"What?!" Finn squeaked nervously.
"Do you Finn want to dance with me?" Skyla smiled at his shyness.
Finn looked over at Ryan and Ryan raised his eyebrow for encouragement, Finn nodded to Skyla.
Skyla walked over to the jukebox and put on a song, nothing that was too suggestive but something that she and Finn could have fun with. Skyla walked over to Finn who looked at her nervously. Skyla smiled at him and grabbed his hands putting them on her hips.
"Don't be scared, it just a dance," Skyla told him.
Finn nodded, Skyla swayed her hips to the rhythm of the song and put an arm around Finn's neck.
"Thanks for coming out tonight Skyla, it was nice of you," Finn said trying to stay in her rhythm.
"Don't mention it, thank you for inviting me," Skyla replied.
Skyla could feel eyes on her, she looked up to see Piers looking over his shoulder watching them dancing. The song was over in no time. Finn went back to his seat. Skyla sat down and talked with Keaton and finished her Whiskey Sour. A waitress came by and sat a new drink in front of Skyla. Skyla looked up at her and gave her a questioning look. The waitress nodded at the bar. Skyla turned around and saw Piers talking nonchalantly with Chris and the bartender.
"Tell him thanks." She whispered to the waitress and handed her a small tip.
The waitress smiled and nodded to her. Skyla finished her new drink and sighed pushing the glass away.
"What's the matter Skyla?" Ryan asked her with a smirk.
"I will be right back boys," Skyla said getting up. She walked towards the bathroom.
"Hey there beautiful, are you here with anyone?" A male stopped Skyla.
"No I'm not, but if you would excuse for just a second, I need to use the ladies room," Skyla replied.
"Of course," The male replied.
Skyla smirked and walked past the male, she couldn't help but feel creeped out by him. She entered the bathroom and did her business. She was starting to feel a little drunk; in her head, she started counting the number of drinks she had at that point.
'One too many," Skyla smirked in the mirror.
She had lost count, she exited the bathroom and was walking down the hallway when she was stopped by the male again.
"We meet again," He said to her, he had a dark smile.
"Apparently so," Skyla replied taking a step back.
"So you said you weren't here with anyone, can I interest you in a drink?" The male asked taking another step towards.
Skyla took in a breath and took a step back her back hitting the wall.
'Shit,' Skyla thought.
"Actually I was thinking of heading home, maybe another time?" Skyla replied.
"It's just one drink, one more can't hurt." The male said to her taking another step towards her.
Skyla noticed the distance between them was getting smaller and smaller, and this was already a confined space. She was starting to panic slightly, normally she could take this guy on, but as intoxicated as she was, she wasn't so sure. She carefully reached into her back pocket and panicked. Her phone was at the table.
"I really appreciate the offer, but I think I should get back to my friends," Skyla replied.
The male closed the distance between them; he ran a hand through her hair. Skyla turned her head away from him.
"Oh don't be so shy," The guy said to her.
He leaned down and pressed his lips roughly against hers, Skyla attempted to push him. But because of the alcohol, she didn't have her full strength. She bit down on his lip, earning a hard slap across her face.
"You bitch!" The male yelled at her.
The guy attempted to kiss her again shoving his tongue into her mouth. Skyla shoved against again him trying to get him off her. After a minute the guy broke the kiss and looked her in the eyes holding her shoulder so she couldn't move.
"You taste so good," The male told her.
He attempted to kiss her again, but she kneed him the stomach and tried to get away. They guys shoved her against the wall.
'God doesn't anyone pee in this bar.' Skyla pleaded in her head.
"Gah, get off of me," Skyla half pleaded with the guy.
"Skyla?" A familiar voice was sounded behind the struggle.
Skyla whimpered and attempted to look up around him, the male grabbed her throat and pinned her so she couldn't see.
"Walk away, you don't see anything here boy." The male told whoever had walked up on them.
"I think you need to let her go," The voice told the male more sternly.
Skyla struggled more, but it didn't do her any good the male tightened his grip and chuckled at her struggle. A punch was thrown, and the grip was off her.
"Skyla, are you okay." The familiar voice asked her again.
She was pulled against the body of the savior; she looked up to see it was Piers.
"Thanks to you," Skyla said.
Piers leaned Skyla against the wall, he walked over to the guy and started punching him in the face repeatedly.
"Piers!" Skyla called to him.
Skyla attempted to pull him off of the guy but she couldn't.
"Piers stop, it's not worth it." Skyla pleaded with him.
Piers turned around his eyes dark, he turned back to the guy and started pummeling him more
"Shit," Skyla said.
Skyla ran out to the main part of the bar and looked around the bar finding Chris laughing with the bartender. She ran up to him.
"Chris come with me now," Skyla said to him.
Chris nodded and followed her down the hallway. Chris saw Piers hovering over the guy and ran to him and pulled him off.
"What are you doing Piers?" Chris yelled.
Piers looked at Skyla, and his eyes softened.
"What the hell is going on?" Chris demanded.
"He attacked me, and Piers walked up on it. I couldn't get Piers off of him, so I came and got you." Skyla said looking away from Piers gaze.
"Piers, take her back to the compound. Take her to Jill's room; I don't want her in the bunks with all those males tonight. I am going to call Jill and deal I'll deal with this." Chris told him.
Piers nodded, he walked up to Skyla. Skyla looked up and met his gaze; he wrapped his arm around her shoulder protectively bringing her against him. He walked her out of the bar.
"I'm sorry Piers," Skyla said to him finally.
"Why are you apologizing?" Piers asked stopping them.
"You were out having a great time with the captain, and I ruined that," Skyla responded.
"Stop it, don't you dare do that. You were almost raped back there." Piers replied to her.
"You're blowing that way out of proportion Piers," Skyla said looking away.
"Skyla, I watched him watch you and then stop you on the way to the bathroom. Then I watched him go down that hallway, I should have known, I could have stopped it before he had you in that position. When it took you longer than what felt right to come back down that hall, I knew something wasn't right." Piers replied.
Piers wrapped his arm around her protectively walking her back to the compound; Jill met them at the double doors. She led them down to her room.
"I laid out some clothes you can change into so that you can sleep Skyla. I'm going to go check on my team, make sure they are not getting into any trouble. Good night Skyla," Jill said leaving.
"I better get going," Piers said getting up and heading towards the door after a few minutes.
"Will you stay?" Skyla asked him shyly.
Piers turned and looked at her.
"Are you sure?" Piers asked her cautiously.
"Yeah," Skyla replied.
She walked over to the bed and found the clothes Jill was talking about. Skyla was about to change when she remembered Piers was in the room. She turned to him.
"Can you turn around for a minute?" Skyla asked him.
Piers gave her a confused looked, so Skyla held up the clothes. Piers blushed and turned around so she could. She changed quickly so that he didn't feel too awkward.
"It's safe," Skyla told him once she was done.
Piers waited a couple of seconds to turn. Skyla was already sitting on Jill's bed. There was a chair beside it, Piers walked over and sat in it.
"Are you sure you wouldn't rather be alone? Or maybe I can get Jill?" Piers said.
"Piers if you're uncomfortable you can leave," Skyla said turning away from him.
"I'm not uncomfortable, It's just I didn't know that you would be comfortable with me here after what just happened," Piers replied.
"Piers I asked you to stay didn't I?" Skyla replied
"Why don't you lie down and get some rest." Piers told here after they sat there quietly for a while.
Skyla nodded and curled up on the bed, it was long before it was apparent that she was asleep. Piers noticed there was a couch not far away, he walked over and laid down, facing so that he could watch Skyla to make sure she was safe. After a few hours of sleeping Piers heard whimpering, he sat up and noticed it was coming from Skyla. He walked over and noticed she was drenched in sweat, after a moment of noticing that she wasn't stirring on her own he decided it was best to wake her. He gently ran his hand over her hair, this causing Skyla to bolt up.
"It's okay, whatever was happening it's over," Piers whispered to her.
Skyla buried her face into his shirt clad chest breathing heavily, Piers sat with his hand on her back. He wasn't sure what to really do, he knew what he wanted to do, but he was fighting with himself. He knew he was fighting a losing battle. He was developing feelings for her but didn't know where she stood. As far as he knew she just considered them friends. It wasn't long before he felt her breathing even out and he was breathing was pretty sure she was asleep again. He attempted to lay her down, Skyla clutched his shirt. He looked down at her to find her looking up at him.
"Stay here?" Skyla asks him sleepily.
Piers nods and lies down on the bed, he was too tired to even attempt to argue with her. Skyla lies down next to him and falls asleep almost instantly. Chris runs down to bunks and wakes everyone but notices Piers bunk is empty still, he frowns. He just got a call from headquarters, there had been an attack, and they needed his team to suit up and move down to scout the area. Chris ran down to Jill's room to wake Skyla, he knocked lightly but didn't get an answer. He opened the door to quite the surprise. He found Piers in Jill's bed with Skyla, his arms wrapped around her. Chris smirked with a slight snort. Chris knocked louder at the door frame causing Piers to jump and unravel his arms from around Skyla almost falling out of the bed. Skyla rolled to see Piers, then Chris and froze in fear.
"Mission briefing in 30, be geared up and ready to go," Chris told them with a smirk.
Alpha was flown to a building about 6 hours away via helicopter. Skyla chose to sit as far away from Piers as she could, which amused Chris highly because Piers would steal glances at her while he talked to Chris about the briefing about the mission.
"You know you should probably talk to her," Chris told Piers.
Piers looked at Chris totally confused, and Chris shook his head.
"Don't end up like Jill and I did," Chris kept going.
"You don't know what you saw Chris," Piers said to him.
"I know what I have seen," Chris replied.
Piers looked over to Skyla, then back to Chris and shook his head.
"Alright here is how it going to go, Ryan, Marco, and Keaton you three are with me, we are going to check the East side of the building. Piers, Cowboy, Skyla, and Finn, you guys, check the West side. " Chris advised the team.
It wasn't long before their got split up by B.O.W.s.; Cowboy and Finn were attempting rescue civilians they were cornered and had to find another way to regroup.
"Shit," Piers cursed as his gun jammed.
Skyla shot the bio-weapon while Piers unjammed his gun. Piers nodded his thanks to her when managed. They turned and ran trying to find a way to get back to Finn and Cowboy.
"Piers watch out!" Skyla called out.
There was a piece of a jagged pipe sticking out just ahead, Piers turned to look at Skyla missing the point of her warning entirely. The pipe scraped his head, blood running down his head.
"Shit," Piers said grabbing his head as he noticed infected up ahead.
The infected turned their heads up in the air and sniffed and went ravenous. They turned and started running at the two Piers started firing at the infected. A few went down, but it seemed for every one he shot two showed up.
"Piers we got to move," Skyla told him grabbing his arm.
They continued to shoot their way down the hall, Piers would reload when Skyla was shooting and vice versa.
"Damn it, I am almost out of ammo," Piers told her when reloaded.
"Let's head down here, we will figure something," Skyla told him.
"If we go down there we get further away from the team," Piers told her.
"Piers we don't have much of choice, we are low on ammo, and we need to regroup," Skyla told him.
Piers looked at her and nodded knowing she was right. Skyla and Piers ran as fast as they could through the B.O.W.s; Piers had run out of ammo and Skyla's ammo was scarce.
"Piers, there is a door up ahead check it, I'll cover you!" Skyla called to him.
Piers checked the door and sighed in relief the door was unlocked. Piers ducked inside, and Skyla made her way to him; she fired her last shot as she ducked inside.
"Now what do we do?" Piers growled.
"I'll try to reach the Captain; barricade that door, so nothing gets in," Skyla told him.
Piers nodded to her, he found a solid barricade and slid it to over the door. The room was small and very tight.
"Captain this is Matthews do you copy?" Skyla said into her earpiece.
She waited a moment; there was slight static then Chris voice could be heard shouting. Skyla and Piers sighed; it sounded like he was in battle, but at least they weren't cut off from their team completely.
"Matthews! Where are you? I want your location and status stat! Have your seen or heard from Piers?" Skyla heard in her earpiece.
"Captain, I am in the west-southwest corridor with Nivans. We are locked in a room and surrounded by B.O.W.s on the outside with no ammo." Skyla replied.
"Are you guys okay? You both went dark on me, why isn't Piers answering?" Chris asked worriedly.
"We were in a scuffle, and his com was severed. We are fine he got a scrape on his head that's bleeding that I am about to look into but otherwise everything okay." Skyla replied.
"Send me your coordinates; as soon as we can, we will get to you guys out of there," Chris told her.
"Copy Captain," Skyla said.
"Piers let me take a look at that cut," Skyla said looking at him.
"It's fine; it doesn't bother me." Piers replied.
"Piers you're bleeding, those things can smell blood. So let me look at it." Skyla replied.
Piers nodded, there was a makeshift cot he made his way to it and sat down. Skyla laid out her first aid kit next to him and pulled out her flashlight; she walked to where she was standing in front of him. Piers gulped, realizing her chest was eye level and attempted to avert his eyes.
"I don't think it's deep, but still it needs to be cleaned," Skyla told him looking at the wound a little better.
Skyla reached over and grabbed some gauze and applied some antiseptic to it. Skyla looked down at Piers and frowned.
"This may hurt," Skyla told him lifting his face up so she look can look at him a little better.
Skyla lightly dabs at the cut on Piers' head. Piers attempted to jerk his head away from the offending sensation, but Skyla grabs his face again and glares at him.
"Quit being a big baby," Skyla told him.
"It hurts," Piers mumbles.
"I told you it would stay still and I can do this quicker," Skyla replies.
"Tch," Piers sat there.
Skyla smiled at him and gently dabbed at his cut. She grabbed another gauze and dabbed gently, glancing at Piers facial expressions making sure wasn't hurting him.
"It's not deep at all, just hit one of those bleeder spots on the head," Skyla said reaching for a small butterfly bandage.
"I told you it wasn't bad," Piers smirked at her.
"Yeah well those things were sniffing us out because of you bleeding," Skyla replied putting the last bandage over the cut.
She leaned down and kissed the little area she just bandaged. A blush ran across Piers' face, but he looked up at Skyla. Skyla went to step back, but Piers put a hand on the small of her back effectively stopping her. Skyla stares down at Piers; she bit down on her bottom lip slightly. The close quarters and the tension that had already built up between during the night and throughout the mission wasn't helping. Piers used his other hand to reach up and bring her face down to his; there was a slight hesitation before Piers connected their lips. The kiss was slow and gentle at first, they were testing the waters. It started as them just moving their lip against each other, Skyla applied a little more pressure making the kiss heated. Piers ran his tongue across her bottom lip asking for entrance that Skyla granted; as soon their tongues met it became desperate and all the tension that built up over the past few months poured out into the kiss. Piers pulled Skyla down into his lap wrapping his arms around her waist, she wrapped her arms his neck.
"Matthews, Piers are you in there?" Chris could be heard from the other side of the door.
He was trying to be quiet, which meant there was still some infected on the other side.
"Yeah, we are in here," Piers said in his ear piece; breaking the kiss.
Piers groaned, Skyla went to stand up, but Piers hadn't let her go. She smirked at him, leaned down and placed a kiss just below his jaw causing him to moan and tilt his head back.
"We got to get back to the team," She whispered in his ear.
"You're killing me," Piers told her.
Skyla leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on his lips before standing up and walking to the door and started unblocking it.