Fear, ch. 4

Summary: Things come to a head between Grif and Simmons.


The tension between Grif and Simmons continued as time continued to pass in Chorus as the colony attempted to re-establish itself.

Safe to say it was driving everyone nuts.

Every time Grif and Simmons were in the same room there was an odd awkwardness that hadn't been present before Simmons' surgery. It usually resulted in an argument between the two.

Grif was also beginning to get sick of it because he didn't know what it was they were even arguing about most of the time. It was way too taxing for the lazy soldier and he just wanted things to go back to how they had been before. He could handle Simmons bitching at him, he had done for years but the constant arguing was ridiculous.

He sat in one of his napping spots and took a drag of a cigarette.

What was going on with Simmons was bothering him more than he let on. Not that he showed it openly. He hated that he was out of the loop and had no idea what was really going on. As a result he'd started to avoid Simmons in an attempt to avoid the inevitable fight they would have.

Little did he know that keeping his distance was making things worse.

Simmons on the other hand was continuing to freak out. 'Why does it bother me so much that Grif has feelings for someone?' He thought feeling like pulling his hair out. No matter what he did those thoughts kept coming back.

Deep down he knew why it bothered him but he would never admit, not even to himself.

One thing he was willing to admit was that Grif was one of the few people he could say he was close to. Even if they had been forced together through circumstances and Grif wasn't someone he ever would have become friends with otherwise. The Red Team had developed dynamics that Simmons was comfortable with and he didn't want that to change. Throughout the years and even with the time they had sent apart their dynamics had largely remained the same.

And Simmons hated change.

But he also knew it was unavoidable, not that he had to like it.

Deep down he feared losing the few friends he had made. He'd struggled making friends as it was and he really didn't want to have to try and make a new best friend. But then knowing Grif he wasn't sure that Grif would actually put in the effort to make a move on whoever it was he had feelings for.

The thoughts messed with his head as he made his way to the armoury.

He stopped suddenly when he saw that the only person in the armoury was Grif. The orange soldier turned around at the sound of footsteps, "Sup?"

Simmons took a shuddering breath and headed towards the desk. "What are you hear for Grif?" He asked, it coming out much harsher than he intended. Grif braced himself for yet another argument and crossed his arms.

"What the fuck is your problem Simmons?" Grif asked exasperated. Simmons crossed his arms and glared at Grif but their visors got in the way so Grif couldn't see it, "What the hell are you talking about Grif?" Pretending he didn't know that he and Grif had arguing lately which had been mostly instigated by him.

"Cut it out Simmons" Grif barked. The orange soldier really had had enough of whatever was Simmons' problem. Simmons took a step back feeling the anger radiate off of Grif. An occurrence so rare he couldn't remember the last time it had happened.

"Wha...what...I mean...I don't know...I..." He stammered trying to form coherent sentences. Grif ignored him and walked around the desk and stood right in front of Simmons.

"Seriously Simmons. I'd liked to be informed of what it is exactly that you seem to have a problem with. You've been picking fights since you were released from hospital and I'm sick of it. So let me ask you again. What. Is. Your Problem?" He argued.

Simmons had never liked to be called out on his bullshit as he felt his own anger flair up. "Me?! What the fuck is your problem? You're the one that argues back. Besides it's not normal for us." Simmons argued attempting to deflect. He felt like it was hitting too close to the issue and knew if the argument continued for much longer he'd end up saying something he'd probably regret.

Grif barked out a laugh and shook his head, "You're the one that starts the arguments nerd. Seriously I'm sick and tired of it. It's getting real boring just arguing all the time and is cutting into valuable napping time."

Simmons glared at Grif again, lost in the intensity of the argument and yelled, "Real surprise there! It's all you ever do! But I'm not the one that changed things! You are!"

Grif felt more confused than before and yelled back, "Oh really! How did I fucking do that huh?! You've been avoiding me when you've not been yelling at me so I don't see how I'm to blame for this!"

Simmons turned around and grabbed the clipboard ready to actually start his job. "Yes really. It's all you. You're the one that changed things. Or at least they will once you're with the person you have feelings for." He said fuming as he looked down at his clipboard.

In that moment Grif felt like the wind had been knocked out of him and his anger all but disappeared. "What?" He asked meekly. His mind reeling from what Simmons had just said.

Grif cleared his throat as Simmons noticed the lack of shouting and tensed up, realising what it was he had just said. "What do you mean 'the person I have feelings for'? Where did you hear that? Simmons?" He inquired reminding himself to not get his hopes up and the direction of this conversation.

Simmons remained frozen in place and refused to look at Grif. He could barely get words out of his mouth, mortified that he had let that information slip.

"I mean...I don't...It wasn't...Nowhere." He whispered hoping Grif wouldn't push it further.

Grif tilted his head in an attempt to get Simmons to look at him. His mind buzzing trying to figure out where Simmons could have heard that he had fallen for someone. Well, someone other than him. He felt his breath stop for a moment when he realised...the only place Simmons could have heard anything like that.

The hospital.

The conversation between himself and Tucker in Simmons' room.

Grif felt his heart begin to race realising that Simmons must have been waking up when that conversation had occurred.

He wondered just how much Simmons had heard.

He took a deep breath and asked, "How much of the conversation did you hear? Between me and Tucker I mean."

Simmons' spine went rigid and he felt panic rising in him. "Umm...well...uhh," Simmons really didn't want to have this conversation. Emotion was something that red team members didn't do. At least not so explicitly.

He looked around searching for a way out.

Grif sighed as Simmons cleared his throat, "Umm, well, you know, I think I hear Jensen asking for me. So, yeah, I'm just going to..." He stuttered and fled the armoury, his voice squeaky.

Grif bowed his head and sighed before picking up one of the guns from the table in front of him. "Yeah. Real convincing there Simmons." He said knowing Simmons couldn't hear him.

"What. The. Fuck. Just. Happened?" He asked himself shaking his head as he left the armoury. Grif dreaded what he knew was going to come next. He was going to have to make a choice. Either try and ignore what was going on and convince Simmons he had it all wrong. Or he was going to have to figure out a way to confess.

'Fucking great. Just what I need. God. Fucking. Dammit. This is taking up way too much energy. Time for a nap.' Grif thought as he made his way to one of the few remaining undiscovered nap spots he had. He certainly had a lot to think about.


Reviews welcome.

Not entirely sure I'm happy with this chapter but I've had a bit of writer's block on where this story is heading but I think it came out alright.