A/N: Thanks to MiniCinnamon99 for the reviews. They've really made my day :)
The Expendables had spent the entire day out at the firing range, exhausting all of their resources to find a half decent sniper.
"I can out shoot them and I'm supposed to be the damn medic!" Molly said disgustedly.
"You may just have to be a sniper for this next mission, Booker, if this next guy isn't up to par," Barney pinched the bridge of his nose.
"What's his name?" Christmas wondered. Molly glanced at the list Tool had bestowed upon them that morning.
"Billy Timmons. He was military," she noted.
"That him?" Caesar pointed to a lone figure walking up from the cabin. A black rifle bag was slung over his shoulder.
"If I were a betting woman, I'd say it is," Molly nodded.
He had to be around her age, with blue eyes and brown hair. He had a scruffy beard adorning the lower half of his face.
"You Barney Ross?" he asked, stopping before them. Barney stepped forward.
"I am. You're Billy Timmons," they shook hands.
"Yes, sir," Billy nodded once.
"Alright, show us what you've got."
He was good. He was damn good. Even Molly looked impressed. But skill wasn't all you needed to hack it.
They had to make sure that Billy Timmons would be a good fit for the team, so they invited him back to Tool's for food and beer.
"He's good," Molly said slowly, watching as Billy interacted with the others.
As usual, she was in the back, making her quiet observations. Molly noticed a lot more than she ever let on. Nobody was more aware of the team dynamics than she was. This was the reason Barney was consulting with her.
"He fits in well with the others, he's respectful, he's a helluva shot..."
"But?" Barney pressed, never looking at her, keeping his eyes on the team the whole time. Molly took a deliberate drink of her beer.
"He's green, Ross," her words were blunt.
"He was in the military just as long as you, Booker," Barney was a little miffed that she was being so judgmental.
"I'm not talking about military experience, Ross, almost every man in this room has got that. Mercenary work is a whole different ball game," her voice was sharp, "And he's never been through that shit. There's no government to back you up, and if you die, your family doesn't get your medals or a letter, saying how you died a hero."
"You saying you don't want him on the team?" It had to be unanimous. There couldn't be any sort of dissent amongst them on a mission.
"I didn't say that. I'm saying that Billy's got a romanticized idea of what being a mercenary is like, and I don't know how well he'll cope when we're in the field," Molly turned icy eyes onto him.
Personal experience, Booker? Barney didn't say that, though.
"Not everybody's as cynical as you are, Booker," he didn't shy away from her gaze.
"We'll get back to you in the morning," Barney told the young man. Billy nodded and shook his hand firmly.
"Yes, sir. Thank you. It was nice meeting everybody," he offered the team a smile.
After he left, Barney turned to the team.
"Thoughts?" he asked.
"He's a good kid," Gunnar spoke up.
"That's not in question, Gunnar. Does he have what it takes to handle this mission? Booker's worried he's too green."
"He's seen hell," Christmas stated, "he'll do fine. He's got my vote."
Barney's eyes shifted over his team members. They all nodded their assent. Then, only Molly was left. Her lips were pursed in contemplation.
"I think...that he'll do fine."
Barney nodded once.
"Good. We'll get him back here tomorrow morning, fly out in the evening. Everybody get some sleep."