There were times when leave was worse than RRTS and Reaper would find himself back in the barracks before his schedules time. It never bothered him. He had the barracks to himself for at least a day, maybe more. It gave him time to enjoy the quiet and catch up on work he'd missed. Empty barracks, empty showers, empty hall, that was what Reaper was expecting. Not two officers on Goat's cot back from leave ahead of schedule.

Reaper blinked in surprise as he entered. "What, did everybody cancel their leave?"

Goat and Mira looked up in surprise. Mira took a quick look in his direction but turned her head. But she turned too late and Reaper caught sight of Mira's face. The left corner of her lip was split and purple. The skin just below her eyes was slightly swollen and blue. Anger surged through Reapers veins. He marched to Goat's cot to get a closer look at Mira. "What the hell happened?"

"Now's not a good time, John." Goat said.

"Not a good time?" Reaper repeated. "Someone tried to beat her and you think now's not-"

"DIMITROV!" Sarge bellowed furiously. His tone was one neither Reaper nor Goat had heard in years, causing both men to jump to attention. Even from the top of the catwalk Reaper could see the fury in Sarge's stature. "GET YOUR ASS IN MY OFFICE NOW!"

Mira stood from Goat's cot. "Nice knowing you boys." She walked past them and hustled up the stairs.

Reaper watched as she and Sarge retreated down the hall toward Sarge's office. The door slammed behind them, echoing down into the barracks. Even through the door, Reaper could faintly catch the sound of Sarge's yelling inside. Beside him, Goat lowered his head, mumbling a quiet prayer. Reaper turned to him. "Just what the hell is going on?"

Goat met Reaper's gaze. He said nothing for a moment, but shifted his eyes toward the catwalk. He sighed and returned his gaze back to Reaper. "Mira and her husband got into a very violent domestic dispute last night."

Reaper blinked once. "What?"

Goat said nothing. He watched Reaper slowly digest the first bit of information.

"Mira's...she's married?" Reaper asked.

Goat only nodded.

"She never said-"

"It's not something she's proud of." Goat answered. "I don't know the circumstances of their marriage. I only found out last night, myself. But from what I've heard and seen, it wasn't a healthy marriage."

"I'll say." Reaper muttered. "Black eye and a split lip. That's more than any of us managed to land on her. How the hell'd he manage that?"

"The only way someone can." Goat said. "He took her by surprise."

Reaper caught the undertone in Goat's words. "Is that all he did?"

"From what Mira's told me." Goat answered. "He's in the hospital. That jump what all he got before she fought back."

Reaper sighed. "Thank God for small miracles."

"I have." Goat replied.

Reaper watched the catwalk. He could still hear Sarge screaming at her. "Guess all we can do now is wait."

Goat nodded and sat down on his cot. Reaper sighed heavily and walked to his cot. He dropped his pack and fished out his weapon from his locker. He dropped into the chair at the work bench and started dismantling his weapon.

Mira stood alone in the training room, beating into the defenseless, one hundred and fifty pound punching bag. The bag barely gave with the force of her fists, fueling her anger further. She pounded into the bag again and again. Using her anger to fuel her strikes. Sweat and tears ran down her face as she fought against the bag. Not once did she make a motion to wipe either away. Her fists were clenched tightly, raw from the extensive use. Her hair hung messily from its bun. Loose strands clung against the skin of her back, shoulder's, and face.

Reaper slowly left the safety of the doorframe and exerted the training room. Mira continued her assault against the bag, oblivious to Reapers approach. He watched her strength slowly deplete as he drew near. As her strength lessened, her anger rose. Her strikes grew harder, sucking more of her strength until, in the end, she relented and swung a roundhouse kick into the bag. He came up behind her.

Mira spun around just as he'd predicted. She brought her arms up in defense. Reaper brought his arms up, catching Mira's right arm against his. He held her gaze, looking deep into her hurt violet eyes. She was barely hanging on...and she knew it. What was more, she knew that he knew and she knew what he was about to do about it.

Reaper pushed her arm from his and swung his left arm at her head. Mira ducked the swing easily and rose up to her feet, bringing her left knees up with her. Reaper blocked her knee with his arm. He pivoted and swung around, driving his elbow into her back. Mira cried out and dropped to her knee. Reaper watched her closely as she knelt on the ground. Mira cast a look over her shoulder and spun around on her knees. She launched her leg out, trying to sweep Reaper's feet out from under him. Reaper managed to leap over her sweep. He threw a roundhouse kick at Mira. She fell back against the floor in order to avoid Reaper's leg. She brought her hands up to the floor beside her head. She launched her legs into the air, launching her body up into a crouching position. Mira stood quickly and attacked. Her arm came at Reaper's head. Reaper caught her wrist and moved out of her reach. Mira tried again, only to have Reaper move once more.

Again and Again Mira allowed her fists to aim for Reaper, and every time Reaper evaded her. It occurred to Mira, that Reaper wasn't even trying to win. He was simply stalling her, angering her, driving her toward her breaking point. Focusing all her strength where it wasn't needed, diverting her attention from where it was. He'd taken control of the situation the second she attacked him. And she'd fallen right into his hands.

Acting quickly Reaper knocked Mira's tied arms to the side and planted a steady kick to her chest. Mira was thrown backwards onto the ground. She landed on her back, her head snapped against the ground. Reaper relaxed his body as Mira lay on the ground. Her hand drew from the back of her head to her face. She covered her eyes as the tears she held back began to fall. Reaper knelt down beside her and gently lifted her off the ground. Mira sat up and wrapped her arms around Reaper, surprising him. He expected this reaction was saved for Goat, not for himself. Mira held onto him tightly, as if her life depended on him. Reaper held her in his arms until she stopped crying.

Mira slowly released her hold on Reaper. She ran her hands over her face, wiping the tears from her cheeks. She took several deep breaths and rose from the ground. "Sorry." She stood up and headed toward the locker room.

Reaper rose and followed after her. "For what? Acting human?"

Mira said nothing and continued toward the locker room.

Reaper followed. "A little humanity never hurt anyone, Mira."

"I beg to differ." she snapped. She walked toward the sink and turned on the water. She cupped her hands, collecting the cool water before splashing it over her face.

"Why's that? You show your husband some humanity and he hits you?" he demanded.

Mira turned off the water and set her hands on the sink. Reaper watched her face through the mirror's reflection. Her eyes stared at the wall in front of her. "Da."

Reaper lowered his head. "What happened last night?"

Mira took a deep breath and turned toward him. She grabbed the closest towel and patted her face dry. "Only the usual. I came home on leave and he wanted yebat' menya. Most of the time I don't stop him-"

Reaper's head snapped up quickly. "Why the hell not?"

Mira looked up at Reaper. "He's my husband, John. A wife is not to refuse her husbands needs. That's how I was raised in the convent."

Reaper shook his head. "Doesn't make it right."

"Which is probably why I refused him." she replied.

Reaper walked closer toward Mira. "What'd he do?"

"He hit me and knocked my unprepared ass into the coffee table." she continued, touching her jaw. "Syn Suka managed to get a good kick in before a broke his ankle."

Reaper nodded slowly." He got off lucky."

"Oh, I didn't stop there." Mira replied. "And that's where I royally OFP the situation."

"What do you mean?"

"Self defense ends once the perp is disabled." Mira explained. "A broken ankle is disabled. I continued to dislocate his knee, break his fibula, and his metatarsals. He won't be able to walk for a month at least."

"So?"

"So now I'm under investigation. not just For the assault against my husband, but for any other infractions I may have done." she continued. "You don't need me to tell you that I have infractions against me since I joined Unit 6. They'll discharge me and then ship my zadniste back to Russia!"

"How long have you been married?"

"Ten years, what does that-"

"You're safe." he answered. "You've been a citizen for ten years, they won't deport you."

"No, they'll just discharge me." Mira replied. She sighed heavily. "Bastard screwed me over one last time."

"Why'd you marry him?" Reaper asked before he could stop himself.

Mira lowered her head. "I needed a way out of Russia. So I signed up with an agency...as a mail order bride."

"Shit." he muttered.

Mira nodded. "I was desperate." She turned and headed toward the barracks.

"Vera!" Reaper called.

Mira turned around.

"It'll work out." he said. "You're the only hardass worth keeping with RRTS. They won't kick you out."

"I wish I could believe that, John." She replied.

okay so the rest of Mira's backstory. I know I mentioned she was married back in my reprise of Doom, here's how and why. Yeah, her life has been anything but easy. next chapter will be more fun.

translations

da: yes

yebat' menya: fuck me

Syn Suka: son of a bitch

zadniste: ass