Author's Note: Sorry this took a long time. Please review. And sorry this one is short
It took the three of them two hours to find their way half way back to where they where before Delta squad intercepted them.
"What are you doing Baird? Giving out free piggy back rides?" asked Cole once he saw his friend with SSgt Morg on his back. It was a funny sight though; it would have made a picture perfect moment with two lovers, but they weren't lovers so it was just funny. She clung to his back with her arms wrapped around his neck, and her legs were being supported by his arms. She blushed and slid off him quickly so she could adjust the gown. When they were walking and it was just Baird, Anya, and herself, she had not minded that half of her butt was hanging out through the slit in the gown. Now though, she was so embarrassed that she wished she had died when the helicopter went down.
"Yeah, you want one asshole?" spat Baird tiredly. He had been carrying her for two hours and he was more than tired. She wasn't heavy, but you could only carry someone so long before you wanted to drop to the ground and scream in agony. A silent thanks escaped his lips because he had been so close to doing just that; falling the ground and screaming. Ezra looked at him, and he looked away. He didn't know how to act around her now. One, he was attracted to her and almost acting on that. Two, he was angry that he had to carry her so long. It wasn't her fault that she was in the condition she was in but he couldn't help but think that it was somehow her fault. Ezra was becoming a big burden on him, even though he had told her that she wasn't a burden, in reality, she was.
She was a huge burden to him for several different reasons. But the main reason was because of her current condition.
Ezra opened her mouth to say something to him but then shut it. She knew what they had shared two or three hours ago would not be mentioned, but she wanted that moment again. Lost is how she felt now, wobbling on her uneasy legs with the Delta squad around her, ignoring her. She wanted to be back there in the rubble where Baird had comforted her. Get a grip Ezra. This was reality; war. There was no time for tears, love, or anything other than fighting for your life. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She had let herself go back there and she needed to find herself quickly before she became too lost. She opened her eyes and looked at Baird; who was sharing a private joke with Cole. Her chest constricted and her face twisted angrily.
It was not love she was feeling, that she knew. It was something along the lines of a crush or even infatuation with the idea that there could be love there. It was a cruel joke though to think those things. War and love did not mix well. She knew that, but she felt herself wanting to ignore that.
Finally he turned back to look at her. His face stern, and his blue eyes cold. "Let me help you." he said as he went to pick her up.
"You are tired. I am sure Dom can help me." she said as she looked to Dom.
Dom gave her a knowing smile, and that unnerved her. She would have been better off just letting Baird help her, but she didn't want to feel his touch, his comfort. She needed to take a breather from Baird so she could get her mind back in check. But that knowing smile that Dom wore scared her. She wouldn't get a breather, she realized. She would get cold reality that would hurt worse then her forming scars. "Shit." she muttered as Dom came to stand next to her.
"Have it your way." said Baird and he looked at Dom crossly. She glanced at Baird as he turned away from her and strode in the other direction.
"It won't kill you." whispered Dom as he picked her up bridal style, careful of her stitches and tattered gown.
"I don't know what your talking about." she whispered back at him as she kept her eyes to Baird's back.
"You are fond of him." he said as he started to walk behind the rest of Delta squad, but out of earshot. She turned her head to look at Dom's dark brown eyes. His eyes held so many emotions that it scared her. There was pain, love, hate, and a lot of other wild emotions clashing behind his gaze. This was a man who never gave up on the love for his wife, searched her out in these times of war, only to have to put a bullet in her head to save her. This man had to put his wife out of her misery, because in reality she no longer lived.
Tears came to her black eyes. "I am fond of him." she admitted finally. Once she did it felt like a dead weight was lifted from her body.
He watched as her eyes eased gently. "See, told you it wouldn't kill you." he said with a sad smile.
She smiled back and stated, "Okay, you were right, it hasn't killed me."
"And it won't. There is no reason to fear fondness or even, one day, love." he said.
She looked away from Dom to Baird's back again. She was fond of that man, and according to Dom it wouldn't kill her to be fond of or even one day love him. She made a face at the thought of love. She had only been in love once and that was before this war. But that love at torn her in two, and in all honesty she was afraid it would do it again. Tears slowly spilled down her face as dark memories surfaced. But she didn't bury them. She just let them play their course in her mind.
After reliving those dark memories she felt herself become cold again. She was SSgt Ezra Morg, and she was fond of no one. She had one purpose in life; kill the Locust Horde. Not fall in love and live happily ever after. She gave Baird one last longing glance, and then buried the emotions that she felt for him.
She had to finish exacting her revenge on the Horde before she could ever hope to have a love life.
"If that is how you feel, but I wouldn't suggest it. War gets really lonely." said Dom. She looked at him confused. "Its written all over your face. You want to try and get to know him, but you won't let yourself." he said sadly.
She sighed and looked away. Dom was too wise for his own good sometimes.
