A few days passed by and Bobbi fell into a routine. Get up, go through training and classes, shower, go to bed. Occasionally hang out in the med bay. She'd drift by the door and spend time with Ratchet, despite the fact that they never really spoke. Eventually he'd come to leave a chair by the door for her to sit in while she spent time there. Bobbi would sit there quietly, basking in his presence, until she had to leave to go to bed.
Before she knew it she had been at the base for a total of two weeks.
"Hey Bobs!" Bobbi scowled at the nickname, and glared up at John who was sitting across from her, "Their gonna let us go home in about a month to visit our families. You know, that every two month thing. One week of family time…" The redhead ignored her glare and mused dreamily, then snapped back to reality, "Anyway, I was wondering… do you have anyone to go back to?" John questioned excitedly, leaning forward on the table.
"John!" Tammy hissed and elbowed his side,
"Whaaaaaat?" He whined, pouting and holding his 'injured' side,
"That. Was. Rude!" She scowled at him,
"But- but! I wanna know!" Evan joined Tammy in leveling the hyper man-child with evil glares.
Larry just sighed.
Bobbi snapped her fingers twice in a fast manner to catch their attention. Once she was sure they were looking at her, she looked pointedly in John's direction- knowing they couldn't see her eyes due to her helmet- and nodded firmly. "Really?" He beamed, "What kinda family do you have? I've got an older sister- she beats the hell out of me." He sniffled, "And then an awesome older brother that I SO wanna be!" que the million watt grin.
The mute thought for a moment, thinking. Then, carefully, she removed her helmet.
The Irishman's eyes widened as Bobbi carefully handed him her helmet and pointed to the inside. "Oh wow. You're the oldest, huh? Must be tough. I'm the youngest so I wouldn't know." The other's leaned in curiously, huddling around the redhaired devil to see the picture. Finally, he handed her the helmet back and she smacked it back on, buckling it firmly into place. "You look really happy in the photo." Tammy smiled, but there was something sad about it.
"What about you, Tams, have you got family?"
"I… do." The blonde said slowly, her usually bubbly and happy demeanor souring,
"Tell me about 'em!" John beamed, not knowing he had just stepped on a landmine and not really noting her emotional state. Tammy inhaled slowly and exhaled heavily, leaning on a fist, her elbow braced against the table in the mess hall, carefully not to put it in her breakfast.
"We… don't get along very well. I'm adopted, and so there are some serious issues there. So, I'll probably spend my week at a friend's house or something."
"You can stay with meeeee!" John squealed, hugging her tightly to him, grinning widely, "We can stay up late, and watch movies, and eat popcorn- I can make pancakes in the morning!" He continued to chatter on as he squished poor Tammy, not giving her a chance to reply let alone breath. Bobbi shot her a sympathetic look.
At long last, Tammy was released from John's clutches with the help of Evan, and she took a moment to breath. "Oh! What about Evan? Do you have family?" The redhead grinned up at the man currently grabbing onto him to keep him from accidentally killing Tammy in his excitement.
"No." Evan stated coolly, "They all died in a car crash when I was a child. Stop asking stupid questions." He dropped John on his rump, on the floor.
The table got quiet. "Oh… I'm sorry for your loss…" Tammy tried to extend her sympathy- she too had lost her family, but had never known them. It seemed that Evan did, if the spark of agony in his eyes was anything to base that off.
"It's fine. It was years ago. Larry, do you have family?" The blackette skillfully turned the attention around on someone else.
Everyone turned in interest to the anti-social man, realizing they knew very little about him. Bobbi, however, continued to keep an eye on Evan. Trauma like that stayed with you your entire life. Evan, however, seemed fine for the most part. "Family? No." Larry shook his head with a sad smile, "I'm afraid not."
"Did something happen…?" John questioned softly,
"I… don't want to talk about it. What are you all going to do on your week of freedom?" And like that, the question was avoided and the conversation started up again in earnest. Bobbi frowned, she and John had families, Tammy did as well but didn't have good relations with them it seemed, and Evan and Larry had nothing.
It made Bobbi feel very grateful to have what she did. Most were not as lucky.
The conversation continued, light and happy, until it was time to head to their classes. As the mute moved with her friends, her unit, she found herself reflecting on each and every one of them. Their personalities, likes, dislikes, and habits. Unexpectedly, her mind turned to Ratchet. Strong and caring, compassionate and accepting, yet firm, stern and calm. Warmth spread over her cheeks, and before Bobbi knew it, she had run into Larry's back. He looked back at her in amusement, "Alright there?" He questioned jokingly.
Embarrassed, knowing her face was likely red, Bobbi nodded quickly.
They were starting to file into the class. Shaking her head, the mute followed them. Bad Bobbi! No thinking of sexy medics! Oh but he was very se- NO!
Mentally slapping herself, the field medic hurried to follow her squad closely. 'Stay focused!' the silent scolding seemed to help.
Classes had improved. Now they were learning to actually fire the new guns instead of simply disassembling and reassembling them. They were, however, somewhat safe. Instead of their targets erupting to molten flames, the guns would, instead, simply lob ammo out the front, like small round lead balls, but the guns still had the same realistic kick and aim as they would normally, making the practice effective if a bit safer.
More than once, Bobbi was thrown on her ass from the sheer force the gun's jump from the blast. She was the only one. Her small size made it very hard for her to shoot it. Still, she tried- and repeatedly got tossed back on her ass. The instructor, however, was too busy roaring with mirth to have mercy on her. By the end of it all, her rump was very, very sore.
Bobbi scowled angrily as her teammates laughed, snickered, and chuckled at her expense. She shook a fist at them in mock anger, silently threatening them and telling them she knew where they all slept. John merely wrapped an arm around her, tears streaming down his face and choking on laughter, "Bobs… I'm so sorry… you just… it was so adorable! And hilarious!" He choked and laughed between words as he hugged her from the side and cackled. Bobbi punched him in the chest lightly and shoved him off with a roll of her eyes. That was so not funny. Her ass freaking hurt!
Bobbi got to silently laugh at John in the next class: Computers. Well, it was essentially computers, but it had another name. A big, long, complicated other name that she didn't bother in remembering. She grinned as she watched the redhead stare at the screen in front of him in horror. Hacking, programming and finding information in a database was not his forte. Tammy could at least find information.
By the end of the day, everyone was ready to just go to sleep. It had been long, and trying. Tammy, Evan and Larry had already headed to their rooms. Bobbi was just about to head to the med bay for an hour or two, when John stopped her. "Hey… I've got… a favor to ask…" He awkwardly shifted. John was a pretty happy-go-lucky guy. He didn't ask for much and he put forth all of his effort in everything he did. The redhead was surprisingly very independent. He didn't like asking for things in the slightest. The fact that he was asking her for a favor was surprising to say the least.
Curious, Bobbi turned towards him and raised an eyebrow in question. "Would you… uh… mind if I borrowed your pen? Please? You can have it back in about an hour! I swear! Please?" John clapped his hands together pleadingly. Bobbi waved a hand in a gesture of a question, confused, "I… I lost mine. The plane taking the letters to the mainland leaves tomorrow too, and I'm almost done with my letter to my family! Please? I promise you, you'll get it back before tonight is over with!" John's expression was heartbreaking.
Besides, could Bobbi really say no to him writing to his family? Not at all. Sighing and rolling her eyes with a smile, the mute reached into the breast pocket of her uniform and held the black mechanical pencil out to him. "Thank you so much! I owe you big time! Now I can write back to my mom, sis, bro and dad!" The redhead gleefully took it from her, "I'm off to finish up! I'll get this back to you in no time!" he raced off with her favorite pencil. The one that had a perfect grip, swooping motion when writing, and was just all around flawless.
Sighing and shaking her head free of such thoughts, Bobbi smiled and headed to the med bay. John was a good guy, he'd hold true to his word. So, the tiny woman didn't worry about it as she took up her usual spot in the chair by the door. Ratchet briefly stopped what he was doing to look at her, but then went back to his work, seeming to relax a great deal. The mute smiled and stretched before settling back to relax and maybe catch a nap in before she had to go to bed for the night. Naps were amazing.
Hours passed, and a pricking feeling started up in her chest. Like an annoying needle kept sticking her in the breast. Frowning, she shifted in her chair again. No matter what Bobbi did, she couldn't go to sleep. Sighing heavily through her nose, her eyes wandered to the time. Eight o'clock. Might as well check on John and see if he was ready to relinquish her pencil.
Putting her hands on her thighs carefully, Bobbi worked her way to her feet, knees popping violently. Grunting to herself, she stretched and headed out the door, unaware of Ratchet's worried gaze. He could feel something was off.
Walking down the hall at a steady pace, the silent woman ducked and wove in between other soldiers, computer analysts, and anyone else she came across. As she got closer to the barracks, and John's shared room, things started to calm down, and there were less people. Pleased with the lull in traffic, Bobbi sped up. She was just about to turn the corner and go to the middle door that was her objective- when a familiar sound reached her ears. The sound of a gun going off, and a body hitting something.
Panic unlike any other seared through Bobbi's body. Speeding up, she tore around the corner- and froze. John laid against the wall, a splatter of blood to the side as he clutched his bleeding torso. He was gasping, wheezing weakly, dying. It didn't register. None of it did. Larry was standing over him, gun in hand. A little pistol that was required for all soldiers to carry in case of an attack. This time, the attack had come from within.
"Stupid kid… shoulda minded your own business… going through someone else's stuff brings trouble. Too bad you won't learn from your mistake." Larry hissed down at him, one hand holding that cold hunk of metal, the other clutching his bleeding right shoulder- Bobbi's pencil poking out of the flesh like a sore thumb. "Trai… tor…" The slow, wispy words left the redhead's lips painfully, blood following soon after in a gushing flow over his lips and chin, splattering over his chest. Bobbi's lips trembled, rage unlike any other beginning to flood through her.
"Really?" Larry scoffed with a laugh, "I was never on your side. How long did you all believe me? Six, seven years? Maybe more? And I'll get away with so much more." He hissed, leaning in, "Because they'll believe the enemy snuck in and killed you. They'll believe me, like they always have." The man grinned, an insane glint in his eyes. John's head fell to the side, and he looked right a Bobbi, determined and grim. He knew he was going to die. There was no helping him. His wound was far more serious than Bobbi's chest wound had been on the battlefield.
"Get… 'im… Bobs… Don'... let… 'im… fool… them…" The Irishman wheezed painfully, darkly, "Pro… mise… me…"
Larry's head shot to the side to see her, "Shit. Well, looks like there'll be two victims, hm?" he raised the gun. Bobbi shot forward, ducking down a millisecond before the gun went off, all thanks to her small size. 'I. Fucking. Promise.' The thought was reinforced with the punch she sent to Larry's jaw. Straight up, like a rocket. That clenched fist drew in, now bruised from the excessive force that came with her rage, and the other whipped out to smack the gun from his hold. It skittered across the floor.
Larry stumbled back, stared at her wide eyed for a split second- then turn and ran. Bobbi chased him. She would hold her promise. Larry would die. Behind her, she could hear Tammy screaming for John, and could almost see her falling to her knees to cradle the dying man's head in her lap. Could taste her tears, her sorrow, her broken heart. Tammy had loved him. She had loved him like no other. And that just pissed Bobbi off more, because Larry took that from Tammy. He stole John from them. Without remorse, without guilt. And he would pay for it dearly. With his blood. Bobbi would make sure of it.
She chased the traitor into one of the minor hangers. Filled with spare gear and lined with army Hummer's and other vehicles. Bobbi stepped into the near pitch black space without fear. No, she couldn't feel fear at the moment. Only hate. And rage. Red clouded her vision, her breathing intensified, and she clenched her jaw and her fists. Stormy brown eyes, darkened to near black, scanned over the dark, silent room. He was here, she could feel it. But he was hiding, like a coward. Oh, how she wished she could taunt him!
Angrily, she settled for stomping her boot down, sending shockwaves of sound through the room. For John. This was for John. Tammy. Evan. All of them. This was for them. Bobbi let out a silent scream, grabbing a table filled with ammo, flipping it on its side to clear it off, and flinging it across the room hazardously, hoping to draw Larry out, or at least cause him to make a noise. Nothing. The table clattered loudly over a few vehicles before crashing to the ground and rattling. Eventually laying still.
"Hello darling." Bobbi whirled around to come face to face with the barrel of a rather large gun, a darkly grinning Larry as its holder. Throwing herself aside, she narrowly avoided getting shot, and rolled under a vehicle deftly. Cover. Cover was good. It would keep her safe.
Army crawling as fast as she could, Bobbi drug herself out from under it, exiting at the back, and took off quickly. Hearing Larry gaining on her by following the sounds of her footsteps and having longer legs, she grabbed the nearest gun she saw and- hoping it was filled with ammo- she whirled around and pulled the trigger.
Flames filled her vision. An agonized scream filled the metal room, echoing off the walls and searing her ears painfully with how loud and high pitched it was. The scent of burning flesh and hair was all she could smell. Dropping the heavy gun, she darted for the exit. He would follow her. She knew it. After all, she had pissed him off royally.
"YOU. BITCH!" Oh yeah, he was pissed. It was too bad for him; so was Bobbi.
Smirking, she barreled around a corner and shot down an empty hall, forcing her small body to go faster. A shrieking, burning, slightly on fire Larry chased after her. Bobbi hoped no one was around. She hoped everyone was away. And she prayed they wouldn't get in her way or try to help.
Larry was her's. He was going to die by her hand. No one else's. Their wishes be damned!
Sliding quickly around a set of huge, double metal doors, she barely had time to note that she was in the main hangar before she rolled behind the silver Porsche. She had to hide for now. Just until she could get that gun away from Larry. She'd be no good if he shot her dead. Bobbi needed to be alive to kill him slowly and painfully and extract her revenge. And that required the gun be gone.
As the half burned man stumbled in, teeth bared and gun at the ready, shrieking in pain, misery and hateful anger, a set of fiery, gleaming eyes peered from the shadows.
Bobbi was going to make him suffer.
(Ack! Its done! HAHAHA! YEEEEESSSSS! :D
Okay, so, a lot of you guessed right- I've had the mole planned from the beginning- so I really need to hide my moles better...
Um... IT NEEDED TO HAPPEN! I AM SO SORRY!
Yes... John is dead... but its all part of the story line! D: I feel SO. FRIGGIN'. BAD! John was one of my favorite! My FEELS! All of them! OWWWWW!
Q_Q Don't worry, there are tissues in the corner for you all to use.
Please leave me a review with your thoughts and feels?
Okay, now I'm off to go have tea with Satan and discuss my next move with him.)