Chapter Four

"Gaily they ring

while people sing

Songs of good cheer

Christmas is here!

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas!

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas!"

After a thorough search of the area, the civilians were ushered into the living room. Ralph swept most of the debris off the floor and furniture so everyone could sit and passed around coffee and strong alcoholic drinks. The Marines had grouped together and found that as well as Sanchez's minor injury, Rebound had been grazed by a bullet too, Checkmate had a cut on her cheek from flying glass, and Book II had jarred his back a bit jumping out of the line of gunfire.

Apart from some minor cuts and bruises, everyone had fared alright in the end. It was one of Schofield's most successful missions, it seemed.

Schofield and Knight had remained outside, while most of the other Marines retired to the house. Mother was surveying the damage from the back deck and Rufus was picking his way around the yard.

'Well,' Knight said and adjusted his amber-tinted glasses. He gave Schofield a smirk as he said, 'That was fun.'

'Oh, goddamn amazing fun,' Ralph grumbled from beside Mother as he looked over his destroyed backyard. 'Look what you did!'

'Ralph, this stuff tends to happen around the Scarecrow,' Mother told her husband. 'And Knight.'

'Hey, I didn't mean for this to happen,' Knight said and slotted his handgun into the back of his pants. 'I was doing a job; you know, grab a guy, hand him over, get some money, and then I'd be gone. But noo, Schofield here has to fucking piss off the French over and over again until they're so annoyed they start a firefight in the middle of fucking suburbia just to kill him.'

Schofield was looking over the damage- the dead bodies, the blood-stained snow, the shattered windows and walls and back deck- as Mother said, 'I'm used to it, Knight. With the Scarecrow, even Christmas turns into a firefight.'

'What exactly are we going to tell the police?' Ralph questioned.

'The truth?' Book II tried. 'The captain has pull with the President, we shouldn't get in trouble, right?'

'We were defending ourselves,' Astro added.

Mother just smiled and started heading into the house.

'Where are you going?' Schofield asked.

'Calling the cops,' Mother called over her back. 'You know, if the neighbours haven't already. Bunch of nosy fucks.'

Schofield nodded and watched as Ralph, Riley, and the rest of the team started filing in. He stayed standing in the middle of the yard with Knight while Rufus started searching the French soldiers.

When Schofield looked at the pilot, Knight said, 'Waste not, want not.'

Schofield rolled his eyes and headed for the picnic table that had survived the fight mostly unscathed... you know, besides the bullet holes and all.

He pulled it up until it was sitting upright again and fell to sit heavily. Schofield groaned, pushing his silver Oakleys up to rub his eyes. How the hell had Christmas turned into this?

'I thought you'd be used to this by now,' Knight commented.

Schofield didn't look up, but he could feel Knight sitting next to him. 'Usually if I'm in Antarctica, or some remote government facility, yeah,' he nodded. 'Not in Mother's backyard.'

'What about the whole bounty hunt thing?'

'Don't remind me.'

Knight snorted and leaned back against the table, his legs stretched before him, arms dangling either side. The two men were silent as they slowly let what had happened sink in, as the adrenalin rush that came with fighting for your life petered away to be replaced by numbness.

'Thanks,' Schofield said suddenly.

Knight cocked his head. 'What for?'

'Coming to warn me,' Schofield said and turned to face him. Knight was regarding him from behind his amber-lenses. 'You could have left, but you didn't.'

'I helped you out before, didn't I?' Knight said. 'Not like it's the first time.'

'Mm,' Schofield said and rubbed his eyes again. He leaned back too, his arm brushing against Knight's. Neither moved or even mentioned it. 'Still, thank you.'

'You're welcome,' Knight said.

They fell into silence again as they surveyed the damage and watched Rufus pick various weapons from the dead soldiers and from the ground. Inside they could hear the rest of the Marines and their spouses talking about what had happened. Schofield knew his team could handle themselves, it was the civilians he was worried about. Nobody deserved to have this thrown at them, especially on Christmas.

'It's not your fault,' Knight commented.

'How isn't it?'

'You were doing your job each time you pissed of the French,' Knight told him. 'It was you or them. And every time you killed them, but they failed to kill you. Just like this time. Don't blame yourself, Shane.'

Schofield turned at the use of his first name and Knight gave him a smile.

'What? Doesn't anyone call you Shane?'

'My nan,' Schofield said and Knight snorted. 'So I can call you Aloysius?' Schofield asked.

'Don't start,' Knight growled.

'No, I think this is a step forward in our relationship,' Schofield grinned. 'We can hang out, get some beers, talk about the time bounty hunters came to kill me-'

'Twice,' Knight interjected.

'- and how through it all we retained our friendship,' Schofield finished.

'And how I saved your ass twice,' Knight added.

'Mm,' Schofield nodded.

'Anyone ever tell you you're an odd man?' Knight asked.

'A few,' Schofield chuckled and stretched. Knight's eyes followed the movement but he looked away when Schofield said, 'A fair few, really.'

'Well you are,' Knight said.

'I got that.'

Once again, silence descended. Schofield and Knight both found that the silence between them was comfortable, nice; like they didn't have to fill it with awkward small talk. The two had been through this before; people had shot at, stabbed, and tried to blow them up. Schofield knew exactly what Knight was feeling and vice versa.

Schofield found it slightly comforting. Knight was someone he didn't have to explain things to. Like him, Knight preferred the quiet. He preferred to keep his emotions inside where he could dissect and study them himself. Schofield would always love his team, but even Mother wanted him to hash it out and talk about what he felt. And while sometimes that was helpful and made him feel better, most of the time Schofield was a man who preferred the quiet.

Thankfully Knight was the same.

The silence wasn't broken until Rufus padded across the snow, arms and pockets loaded with weapons. Knight looked up at him. 'Find anything good?'

'Lots,' Rufus smiled and looked at Schofield. 'Captain,' he said with a nod.

'Rufus,' Schofield nodded back. He looked at Knight. 'You leaving?'

'Yeah,' Knight said and stood. Schofield stood too. 'I might not be a wanted man in the States anymore, but I don't want to be around with the FBI or whatever turns up.'

'Just leave me to deal with the mess?' Schofield asked as they started walking.

'It's what I do best,' Knight smirked and Schofield chuckled.

The three men headed across the yard, through the blown-apart gate, and out onto the street. There were sirens in the distance, and they could see people peeking through their curtains staring at them.

All in a day, Schofield mused as the three reached Knight's SUV.

'So,' Schofield said as Rufus started loading weapons into the back. 'I guess I'll be seeing you at the next French firefight?'

'Maybe,' Knight said. He leaned against the black car and folded his arms, giving Schofield an appraising look. 'Or I could see you next weekend at the bar around the corner from your base.'

Schofield raised an eyebrow.

'What?' Knight shrugged. 'Cold beer, friendly chats about all the people who want us dead; what's more to want?'

Schofield blinked at him before smiling. 'Yeah,' he finally nodded, 'I'd like that.'

'Good,' Knight said. He suddenly looked awkward as he unfolded his arms and stood. Before Schofield could say anything, Knight had leaned forward and pulled him into a one-armed hug. Schofield felt his face flush and patted the other man's back awkwardly. Behind them Rufus grinned to himself as Knight and Schofield broke apart.

Before Schofield had a chance to say anything, Knight was kissing him again. It started off chaste; just a gentle brush of lips, a hint of what could come. But Shane didn't want chaste. He grabbed Knight by the face and tugged him closer, crushing their mouths together as his lips started moving.

Aloysius was frozen in shock before he eagerly returned the kiss, fingers groping at Shane's hips until they found purchase. Shane tilted his head to deepen the kiss and moaned softly when Aloysius' tongue ran across his lips. He opened his mouth, accepting the other man's tongue, and the two once again exchanged heated breaths, soft moans, and even softer licks.

Finally they broke apart, Shane with his eyes closed, Aloysius licking his lips as though to savor Shane's taste.

Loud cheers and catcalls came from behind them and Shane turned just enough to see Mother, Checkmate, May and Book II watching from the front door.

'This isn't a show!' Shane shouted and the three marines, one civilian, just grinned and whistled again before going back inside.

At least I don't have to "come out", Shane mused to himself.

'Well,' Knight said and Schofield looked back at him. 'I'll see you then.'

Schofield let him go and said, 'You haven't given me a time or date.'

Knight smirked, pulling the driver's side door open and sliding in. He slammed the door shut and wound the window down so he could be heard.

'No, I haven't,' he nodded.

'So...'

'I'll see you later, Shane,' Knight said and started the SUV.

Rufus waved to the Marine and climbed into the passenger side. Schofield blinked rapidly, still confused, but raised his hand in farewell.

'Seeya later... Aloysius.'

Knight gave him a smile before he was pulling away and driving down the street. He passed three police cars, an ambulance, and a fire engine as he went.

Great, Shane thought with a groan as the emergency vehicles sped towards him. He brushed a hand through his slightly-damp hair and turned to look at the house. Bullet holes littered the wooden structure, and there was glass and debris all over the snow-covered lawn.

Shane started walking back to the house. He could hear Mother and Ralph arguing about who was going to clean the mess up, as well as Astro and Riley fighting over who killed more French bounty hunters. Checkmate and May were discussing Shane's kiss and giving him sly looks. Shane smiled as he climbed the steps up to the veranda.

This has to be the weirdest Christmas I've ever experienced, Shane mused as he leaned against the wall, waiting for the cops to get out of their cars and question him. Then he thought about Knight, the way they'd fought side by side, the looks and the brief touches and the plans they had for next weekend.

Then Shane remembered the kisses, the heat, the pure lust that surged through his body when Knight kissed him.

He touched his cracked lips, fingertips soft as they ghosted over them. He can't help but wonder what it's be like to kiss Knight again; to drag the bounter hunter down until their bodies were melded together.

It wasn't so bad, Shane thought as he let his fingers drop. And maybe, just maybe, drinks at a bar with Knight won't be so bad either.

Shane couldn't help but smile.

Merry Christmas to me, he thought.

{THE END}

Author's Note: And thus ends my very first Matthew Reilly fic. I hope you guys enjoyed it, including those who don't use yet read this (if there's any of you). I really appreciate the support :)

I have to give a shout out to Bastetian for getting me to write a Matthew Reilly fanfic. She's written some amazing stories, and told me all about the Facebook group, as well as encouraging me to give writing an MR fanfic a try. Also a special thanks to Black666Hunter for your continued support of this story. You guys are awesome and thank you so much :)

Anyway, happy holidays.

Cheers,

{IBegToDreamAndDiffer}