My gosh! I don't think I can take another lovely review!

Actually... I think I'll give it a shot ;)

Seriously, thank you guys! I cannot express in words how glad I am that you are liking this story. If I were with you right now I'd give each and every one of you a HUGE hug!

I think I'll dedicate this chapter to SolarLunar. We had a discussion about amalgamations of names after she said she loved the Meckty- Matt/Becker/Bounty. SL then managed to make Lennabeckattiluttennty. 8 ARC staff members and Bounty. I was impressed! Can *you* name them in order? Can you make a better one?

Enjoy!

"Okay, Honey Bun."

Matt and Becker stood at the edge of the shooting range. They had really taken to using terms of endearments when talking to each other; it was annoying Lester no end.

"You're not going to be any good at fixed targets as, well, you can't tell where they are. So, you've now got the task to get back into the game in the deep end."

Becker sighed at Matt's words. This was going to be hard, it was difficult enough trying to hit a moving target when he had sight. It had taken him years to learn when he was younger. The idea of him going from not shooting in over four months to trying to hit moving targets was ridiculous, disturbing and downright terrifying. He could do some serious damage if they weren't careful.

Matt saw the expression on his face. "Trust me, Becker."

So he did.

-/-

Weeks passed as Becker and Bounty made their mark in, not only the ARC, but also in their local community. Many of Becker's acquaintances had been curious when he had mysteriously stopped showing up around the place. The young women, in particular, had been worried when he disappeared. They knew he was with Marianne but it never stopped them dreaming.

The sudden return of him, along with his new guide dog had caused quite a stir, everywhere people were impressed with the way the blind man was overcoming the hurdles and getting on with his life.

What they didn't know was how difficult he was finding it.

-/-

"Hey, Becker!" Jess's chirpy voice approached with her heels, then they paused and the man heard her laugh. "Umm… Becker?"

"Yes?"

"You… umm… you missed some of your face when shaving today."

He could picture the exact expression on her face, the one where she raised her eyebrows and tilted her head forward. He just hoped she had a clipboard pressed against her chest to compete the image. Inwardly he smiled, glad that in his minds eye he could see her.

He was, however, concerned at her words.

"What?"

"You… um… have half a beard…" There was a smile clear in her voice.

Becker pulled an un-amused face, rubbing a hand over his cheeks and finding out Jess's words were true, he had patches of stubble covering separate areas of his face. "You'd have thought that having spoken to five people already today, one of them would have warned me."

Jess laughed. "Maybe they're just scared of you. Come on." She took his hand in her own. "I'm sure one of the guys has a razor somewhere."

-/-

"God, Parker could shoot better than he can."

Becker's eyes narrowed as he heard the whispered words on the other side of the hall in which they were practicing. He didn't recognise the voice so it must be one of the new men. Yes, it had been weeks since he and Matt had started to try and get Becker back into shooting but that was no excuse to say such things. Becker wasn't going to stand for insults to either himself or the girl.

A second man laughed. "Ha! Can you imagine what a disaster that would be!"

Becker's hands tightened on the EMD.

"I know right! I mean, she's made every other mistake there is."

"FOCUS BECKER!" Matt's voice broke through. "You just missed three in a row, you didn't even try to hit them!"

The ex-soldier listened for the next object to be thrown through the air, but also paying close attention to the other men. As the missile flew he lifted the EMD and shot twice.

A slick sadistic smile spread over Becker's face as he heard two shouts of surprise followed by groans.

Then, he carefully schooled his expression.

"Woah, Becker! You can't hit something three metres in front of you but you can hit two men at fifty?"

"Umm… Woops?"

He could practically feel Matt's glare.

"What did they do?"

"Whatever do you mean, Matty?"

"Becker." There was ice in his tone.

"It was a total accident!" He raised his hands in a innocent expression.

"They had their comms in. Lucky that Jess is on her break at the moment."

Becker's expression hardened again as he realised that the men didn't even care enough about Jess to worry what she might think if she heard their words. Matt sighed and spoke in a soft tone.

"I know you care about her, we all do, but there's no need to shoot people. I need every member we have for incursions. You may not have noticed but we've been short staffed since you left."

I can't remember why I decided to go on a shooting spree in this chapter!

But hey. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do! :)

You are intelligent people - that's why you're reading this ;) - you know to hit that review button by now!

Thank you!