Yesss. A prompt chapter, guys! :0

This was a fun chapter to write. It's intense. Thank you to my regular reviewers, including all you anonymous guys that I can't send a thanks to.

The opinion is actually sorta tied on who should take on the POV in the next chapter. I'm narrowing this down to RED Scout or Medic! I think I have it picked out, but there's still time for you to express your thoughts in a review! :3 Disclaimer: Gaaaaaben owns the characters, goyz.


"When the blameless and the righteous die, the very gods for vengeance cry." – Vlad Taltos

Pain and hate. It does unimaginable things to a person. It wraps its vicious grip around your spirit, crushing and draining all humanity from it in a wildly malicious manner. Pain is the precursor of hate, its cousin if you will. And there is no good in revenge except to fuel the hate and numb the pain. But sometimes- just sometimes- justice warrants vengeance. Justice must ask vengeance to hold its hand through battle, to push it to a powerful level, just as the REDS and BLUS linked skills to fight the common enemy. Sometimes you must fight a merciless and cruel battle to get things done.

And get things done is exactly what we were trying to accomplish. It had been four hours since the start of this violent battle, and though our spirits had not dampened under the pressure of a screaming thunderstorm, minds and thoughts were winding down to the barren wire. Our bodies were crying for rest. As you know though, resting was not an option tonight.

I'd never seen such a storm. It must have been magic, whatever brought this soaked atmosphere over the deserts of New Mexico. Our boots smacked against the puddles made deep by the earthy scars of battle, and the explosions sent waves of thick mud over us. I'd never seen any of us so drenched, so covered in dirt that even the rain couldn't completely wash off. Every once in a while I would spot Spy, who had long ago discarded his ruined vest and dress shirt, for once in his life no longer caring about how dapper he appeared. He looked like a true mercenary, a gritty foot-soldier of Team Fortress in his blood-stained undershirt. I wished he wasn't cloaked so often. I feared the thought that he may be dead somewhere on the dark battlefield.

I was mindless: the anger that laced my actions caused me to act recklessly, nearly costing my life two or three times throughout the night. The visual of Pyro's corpse was seared into the few thoughts I had left. It drove me, pushed me past limits I'd never crossed. And though my fighting wasn't always smart, I had caused more destruction than I thought ever capable of myself.

The team didn't approve of my behavior, but no one dared argue, not even Soldier. They knew what I was going through. They knew I wasn't me.

The battle had grown dangerously close to the edge of the base. The robots were forcing us closer to the walls with every wave that dispersed from that wretched tank. They hadn't come close to the main gate yet, but one of the sentry busters had managed to blow the entrance open. It was only a matter of time before we had to disperse in order to protect the other side of the base. One of the Engineers had already went through the passage into the sewers to set up his buildings on the other side in the case that a few metal Scouts strayed from the frontlines.

Sniper was still on his perch, blasting away at anything that emerged from the enemy vehicle. I hadn't returned to my position by the stairs since Pyro had... left us. Now, I was down in the dirt, firing away with my SMG with the force and determination of a Heavy. I'd even kept the BLU Demoman's grenade launcher, though explosives weren't my specialty. But in a situation like this, against such a vast opposition, it was basically point and fire, as quickly as possible. My arms were incredibly sore, but I didn't have time to take a break.

"SENTRY DOWN!" Cried the BLU Engineer nearby.

I turned just as the metallic-clad Spy attempted to escape while the turret exploded. I walked towards it, eyes fixed in a fiery wrath as I sprayed bullets into the heart it lacked. No mercy. The robot fell over with a familiar cry of false pain before I gritted my teeth, kicking its head off its shoulders forcefully. I bent over and began gathering up the broken metal pieces, carrying them to the Engineer quickly. He thanked me hastily, taking them from my arms before he quickly began setting up a new sentry.

I turned back around, and suddenly cried out angrily as a bullet tore into my shoulder. Looking down and breathing harshly, I spotted the BLU laser trembling over my chest. With sudden force, I was knocked off my feet before the opposing Sniper could take the kill shot. Heavy, my savior, picked me up again when I was behind cover, warning me to be more careful. I responded with a nod and I gathered myself as best I could.

Before I could reach back down to pick up my gun, someone behind me pulled me back up by my good shoulder. I looked around angrily, demanding an explanation.

"No lass, you needa get to the Medic. Yeh bin' takin' shots all night long, and haven't been tah see 'im once." Demoman stated in serious tone, his good eye glancing from me to the spot he'd placed his stickies, in case an enemy treaded over them.

"No. I don't." I growled in response, bending back over to get my SMG. And again he jerked me back, only this time he grabbed my wounded shoulder, causing me to hiss in agony.

He kept his hand there, squeezing warningly. "Now."

My eyes lingered on him hatefully for one more moment, but I obeyed. I walked quickly to the respawn room and opened the door, slamming it shut behind me, muffling the gunfire outside. Medic left the window he was staring out of when I entered. I stood in the center of the room, clenching my fists like a pouting child. "Fix me, doc."

He half-smiled at my 'I-hate-going-to-the-doctor' face. His grin was not entirely genuine though. We were getting beaten back out there, after all. He gestured for me to sit down while he swiftly gathered what he needed to lessen my wounds before he used the medi-gun. I sat down on the bench, my right shoulder hanging limply. The doctor kneeled before me, still having to hunch a little, as I wasn't very tall. I didn't speak as he wiped away what blood the rain hadn't washed off already. My eye flinched from the pain, but I remained quiet, staring blankly ahead of me. My ears were ringing from the constant sound of shots being fired around me for hours on end.

I wouldn't admit it, but it felt nice to be in a somewhat quiet area for some amount of time. I had killed plenty of people, been around all types of weaponry, but never had to fight this hard for such an extended period of time. To be totally honest, I never focused this much during our battles against BLU. I always got paid at the end of the week, regardless. This must have been what those in the war felt like, constantly in fear of losing their life- no respawn.

"I need you to lie down, Freundin." The Medic murmured, pulling me out of my silent stare.

I obeyed, quickly lying flat across the bench, staring just as quietly at the ceiling. I wanted him to get it over with. I wanted to get back out and tear more of those bastards apart. He began to disinfect the wound and I couldn't help but knit my eyebrows together at the stinging sensation. I felt him glance up at me, more than once. At first I ignored him, but then I slowly turned my head to meet his gaze questioningly. I tried not to look angry. It was difficult.

He watched me for a few seconds before sighing and looking back down at his work. "I'm just worried about you. We all are."

I stared back up at the ceiling before muttering, "What else is new?"

The doctor didn't respond for another moment as he continued to clean the bullet-hole. I huffed, looking around the room, before I finally got impatient.

"You gonna rub the bullet outta there or something, doc?"

"Nein."

I expected him to become irritated with my sarcastic remark, but he merely kept his eyes lowered patiently, softly. For a moment, he looked like my father and the dead stare on my face was replaced with one of mild awe. That gentle look in his eyes, yet with dark hair disheveled from stress. Just like dad in his office. I quickly averted my eyes, swallowing and scanning above me for nothing in particular.

"You need to rest, if only for a few moments. Just be grateful for it. You may not get anozzer chance."

He was right. My arms ached from reloading and swinging my kukri all night, not to mention fighting off the multiple Scouts that had thrown themselves at me. If I lived through this, I may wish I was dead when I woke up sore for a week straight. Even the medi-gun couldn't cure everything. It was mainly good for healing major burns and cuts, but other wounds would sometimes linger for a few days, even bruised muscles.

"How are you?" I was again startled by him.

I exhaled as I spoke, "My shoulder hurts, if you can't guess."

This time he did give me a stern look. "Not vat I meant."

I didn't respond at first, but he waited patiently. I seemed to be one of the only team members he was tolerant towards. I didn't know if it was because he felt sorry for me, or because I'm a woman. I took my time, closing my eyes again and sighing.

"You know how I'm doing, doctor."

"Ja." He agreed. "I just…vish you vould be more careful out zere."

I swallowed. "Yeah…yeah, I know."

He looked up at me once more. "Alvight, I'm going to take a look at ze bullet now. Hold still. It vill hurt."

I nodded as he sifted through his things, searching for something beside him that I couldn't see. I preferred not to look at what he was going to be sticking inside of me though. An explosion sounded outside, fairly close to us and I jumped, eyes widening. Medic quickly placed a gloveless hand on my chest to keep me from moving. He stood up and took a few steps back, leaning to peer outside the window. I watched his face eagerly for any sign of shock or fear. To my relief though, he returned with a somewhat calm expression. "All is gut. Zey must haff destroyed a sentry buster before it got too close."

He kneeled back down beside of me, picking up whatever it was he was about to use on me. I turned my head away, breathing a sigh of relief. Then I couldn't help but nearly cry out when I felt him push something into the hole in my arm.

"Strange. I figured ze bullet would haff went straight through-"

"Doc?" I cut him off, still looking away.

He paused, to my discomfort as I felt the metal piece linger in my arm. "Yes?"

After a moment of thought, I continued. "You remember when you told me that…agh!... Spy may see me as a trophy?"

He looked down, placing a hand on my shoulder as he looked around in my bloody mess of a wound. He sounded mildly uncomfortable by my sudden intimate change of topic.

"Ja."

I wasn't sure if I should continue or not. It was hard to tell whether he was uninterested, or didn't want to seem too nosy. I stared at him, my eyes unsure.

"Do you…do you think he really feels that way?"

I asked him this, because of all people, I felt he could read others the easiest. He was just as observant as I was at times, noticing mannerisms and behavior better than most. I don't know what I wanted him to say. I don't know what was appropriate at a time like this. Spy was a hard man to read, and I could never be sure if I was merely his plaything or if there was actually something there.

The doctor looked at me, caught off-guard by my question, his lips slightly parted. It was as though he were trying to interpret my thoughts, to figure out what was going through my mind. I suddenly felt embarrassed and I lowered my eyes shamefully. Maybe this wasn't the right time to talk about things like this.

He cast his gaze back to my shoulder as he spoke. "Do you vant my honest opinion?"

Meeting his eyes again, I nodded. Of course. Would he tell me otherwise?

He shook his head slightly. "I don't know."

I tightened my lips and watched the ceiling once more. It was a mistake to ask him such a question. I had only set myself up for more disappointment, more than I had already felt tonight. I winced when he pulled the instrument out of me and picked up another. This time, he slowly slid what looked like a pair of tweezers or small tongs into the wound, being careful not to press it too hard against the tissue inside my arm.

"Here goes."

I held my breath and clenched my jaw. With a sickening noise, he slid the metal piece out and I stifled a yell. It was over, just like that. I heard the bullet clink against the floor tiles as the Medic stood up. I exhaled deeply, and my upper arm throbbed. He wiped the excess blood from his hands before turning to get his medigun from the opposing wall. "You can sit up now if you like. Do you have any more serious wounds?"

I sat upright, gingerly touching the skin beneath the opened wound. "No, nothing too bad, a few cuts and bruises." I rolled my eyes, recalling Demoman's exaggerated observation.

Medic approached and took a seat beside me on the bench. With a few clicks, he powered the medigun on, and pulled back the crank as rays of red light flowed from the end, immediately sensing my body heat and carrying over my skin. Respawning was never a fun experience, but I always liked the warm caress of the medigun, though sometimes the feeling of skin reattaching itself stung.

He rested the gun in his lap as we both watched the ground solemnly, muted gunshots emitting from the door to our left. It was depressing, the numbness of death that surrounded all of us, the thought of Gray Mann swelling in pride at every casualty he inflicted. How I longed to be sitting in the cafeteria, on a Saturday evening while Spy, Soldier, and Engie played poker, and Demoman drank obnoxious amounts of Scrumpy. I remember when the kitchen caught fire while Pyro attempted to teach Scout to make fillets. Thank god Heavy appeared with the fire extinguisher while the Medic stood behind him, screaming German insults at Scout, furious with the fact this damage would be drawn from all their paychecks. I couldn't help but smile halfheartedly, temporarily void of the bleak disposition I held only moments ago.

Said doctor's words startled me. "It is done."

I looked down at my shoulder, eyeing the fleshy scar that now brandished it. "Thanks."

"You look more and more like a mercenary every day, Freundin."

"Yeah." I stood up from the bench, stretching my limbs. "Thanks, Doc."

This time he really smiled, nodding. "Doing my job."

I turned for the door, and had it pushed open just as he spoke up behind me once more.

"Be careful. I am sure he would like to see you live through zis."

I couldn't help but look back at him, verifying his sincerity. His face was earnest. That would have to do, I suppose. Though nothing he told me yet had the reassuring effect I longed. I nodded, closing the door behind me to yet again face the shimmering battle in the night ahead. A Sniper's bullet barely missed my shoulder.


Two hours had passed since my doctor visit. I prayed with everything in me that it was close to the end, and I speak for all of my teammates. We were visibly sluggish as compared to the beginning of the dragging conflict. I was constantly out of breath, exhausted from the effects of dodging, running, enduring the recoil of the occasional monstrous guns I was forced to use for an hour or so while Engie worked on those that became damaged or overheated. The BLU Engineer suffered from several broken ribs after a sentry buster had sent him flying into the side of the base, scaring all of us greatly at the sight. But that was the extent of the damage, miraculously.

We were hanging on by a thread on the frontlines and would have to make a run for the back soon, fighting them off at the same time. It would be difficult. I was gathering ammunition from the blue dispenser when it's creator approached me, fingers hovering over his injured side. I was surprised he wasn't bleeding internally.

"Listen, you needa git back there, go through the tunnel. They'll figure it out at some point, and you can pick 'em off if they try ta come in."

I looked at him, surprised. "And when will you be going through?"

The southerner peered behind him at the chaos, unrelenting and painfully consistent. I tried to see his face, indifferent towards the idea of bailing on everyone right now.

He turned back to me. "Someone's gotta stay up front to help thin 'em out."

"Engineer-"

"Can you do that?" His face was set, and I imagined he was as tired as I was.

I bit my lip, looking down at the bullets gleaming in my hand. Then I proceeded to nod, shoving them into my back pocket and watching him sympathetically. The sentry behind him fired at a constant pace.

"I'll see you back there." I murmured, never looking away from him as I waited for him to confirm my statement. He didn't.

I pinched the bridge of my nose in anguish and irritation, and turned to approach the exit hurriedly, without another word. I had to keep my mind off of it. I took one last look at everyone around me, counting the mercenaries and hoping to count the same number when we were all in the back of the base.

I closed the heavy door behind me, listening for the click before stepping down into the disgusting water. The dim lights that ran across the tunnel flickered pathetically, most likely due to the weather. No one had been in this part of the sewers in years. The walls were less than sanitary, and the catwalk beside of me was corroded. The smell wasn't too nice either.

I pulled out my kukri and sloshed my way down the tunnel, wary of anything dripping on me and giving me the plague. I ducked under a broken lighting fixture and picked a dark shadow to crouch into, lifting my rifle to sit in in my lap. I eyed the door some thirty feet ahead of me. The occasional muffled explosion could be heard, but for the most part, the sewers were soundproof. I was agitated, unable to sit still while I could hear the faint cries of my teammates outside.

The boys will be fine, I tried to convince myself.

Nothing terrified me more than the thought of Scout exploding from an ill-timed leap into the path of a rocket, of Engie, alone and stabbed to death by a stray Spy bot. What made me cringe the most was the familiar image of Spy's lean body crumbling as a Sniper's bullet tore through his skull. After I had spoken to him like a child. Guilt washed over me in a wave and I sighed heavy-heartedly. At least I felt something other than nothing for a moment. I'm sure he would be okay.

I thought of my family, of where they might be, and where they guessed I might be. Did they even wonder? I'll never forget my mother's screaming when I had told her I had killed people. I'd never forget the fear on my brother's face. And most of all, I could never possibly forget the look of despair in my father's eyes. It crushed my heart to see his trust and faith in me falter in a mere instance, the blink of an eye. My family hadn't spoken to me since, and I'd been living in the regret for years now. However, it was something I only got better at, as my family continued to push me away, ignoring all attempts at reunion- even when I offered to give up guns for good.

I shifted uncomfortably, still staring dead-eyed at the door. I'd hoped I wouldn't need to be down here all night, it was hard telling when the end would come. It left too much time for me to think, to recall the dark things that had happened. The sound of running water was almost high pitched within the echoing walls of the sewers- it grinded my nerves.

Then I heard something else that made me jump. I held up my kukri as the rifle in my lap fell into the water, quickly floating away from me. There, at the end of the short tunnel that branched to my right, stood the BLU Spy.

"You." He growled.

I lowered my weapon, exhaling deeply. "You scared me. What the fuck are you doing down here, spook?"

He was different. It hit me that I hadn't seen him thoughout the battle- not even once I believed. He looked- bloodthirsty almost. His eyes were wild with what looked like rage and stress. He began to step toward me, and his breathing was ragged, as though he had been running.

"Spook. What happened to you?"

I leaned back suspiciously. He was making his way over to me slowly, and he was much less graceful than usual. I continued to search his eyes in confusion, trying to place what was happening. Then something familiar clicked. His face could've mirrored my own when I left Pyro's corpse in a newfound mentality. Thanatos.

"You. You…did zis." He said accusatorily, his voice hoarse like he'd been screaming. This sight almost frightened me.

"What are you talking ab- AGGGGHH!" I roared in pain as he shot me in my bad shoulder with his revolver. I hadn't expected this at all. I knew he hated me, but I was confused as to why he was attacking me, rather than the obvious threat outside.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?!" I sat up from the foul water, clutching my arm tightly, trying to push myself away from him as he continued to approach me, gun in hand. He was under a spell was the only way I could describe it. Something had happened to him since we had argued during the party. I sucked in air through my teeth as I continued to push myself back clumsily towards the door. I wasn't moving very fast. My heart rattled in fear.

"You did it. You're ze one who ruined everything."

Was he crying?

I looked at him incredulously as he towered over me. "Listen, Spook- you gotta tell me what the hell you're saying." Blood was pouring profusely from my shoulder now, as the old wound had been reopened as well. He kicked the kukri from my hand, reached down and jerked me up by my shirt, making me cry out again. His reddened, malicious eyes bore into me, seething in hatred. I could only gape at him as he fumed before me.

With sudden clarity, I jerked my knee upwards, nailing him in the stomach. He stumbled back with a grunt as I fell to the ground. I twisted back and began to reach frantically for my blade that only rested a few feet behind me. Before I could grab the handle, I heard the sickening noise of metal grinding and looked up. I gasped, jumping for the kukri before I felt the horrifying impact of the Spy's new weapon. He crushed my tibia easily with the metal pipe he'd wrenched off the catwalk railing. I screamed in blinding agony, paralyzed by the pain in my leg, as my attempt to gain my weapon failed.

My breathing was reduced to desperate gasps now as my eyes stayed glued to him warily. My body was shaking now and I tried to prop myself up.

He squatted over me and clutched the back of my hair, pulling me up towards him as I whimpered.

"You killed her!"

"I-I don't-", I stuttered quickly, "Who are you-"

"MY DAUGHTER! YOU WERE ZE ONE WHO MURDERED MY DAUGHTER!"

At that, I stopped my nonsensical rant in confusion. I panted, staring at him with wide eyes, his fingers never letting go of my hair.

And then I realized what he had just said. Suddenly, I felt nauseas as my face dropped in disbelief.

"Yes." He hissed. "You remember now."

I didn't know what to say to him, my expression becoming more and more horrified at the thought. The realization that this was the father. This entire time, I had been fighting the father. I had never felt so empty in my entire life as I shook my head slowly, not out of denial, but of shock and regret. All of this. It was all for nothing. I'd come to the wrong place after all.

He pulled his knife out and swiftly cut a deep gash across my chest and I inhaled sharply. He was going to kill me slowly. Violently.

"Spy…" I barely whispered as tears began to fall from my eyes, my face twisted in anguish. "You have no idea- how sorry I am."

"YOU'RE SORRY?!"

He shoved my face around and down into the water, my skin dragging across the disgustingly slick surface of the sewer floor. I flailed my legs and arms but he quickly had them pinned. I spat out nothing but bubbles as I attempted to scream. I was becoming desperate for air and his grip tightened in my hair painfully. "YOU'RE SORRY?"

He pulled me back up as I gasped and began to sob pitifully. I wasn't crying merely out of physical pain, but intense emotional regret as well, the images beginning to flood my mind again. Of the dead child, the desperately destroyed mother- this man's wife no doubt. I had ruined this man's life, his family, and he had found me- rightfully. I could do nothing, couldn't even blame him for wanting to kill me. I would have probably done the same in his situation- eliminate the problem. Allow the darkness to get its vengeance. As I said before: vengeance and justice.

He was leaning down in my face again, knife pressed against my jugular threateningly. "You took away my family, destroyed my marriage, and you expect me to forgive you?"

"No!" I shook my head and squeezed my eyes shut dishonorably. "No, I don't ever expect that."

He spat before backhanding me harshly, never letting go of the back of my head. "WHY? What possessed you- to murder a child?"

"It wasn't ever supposed to happen." I replied quietly, my voice cracking.

He didn't believe me, and I doubt he cared to try. The muted sounds of battle echoed down the passage as he crouched over me, causing me pain every second I lie beneath him. He swiveled the knife upward, leaving a cut up my jawline. This time the corner of his mouth twitched. There came the psychotic side that hid inside every mercenary, that didn't always come out. Blood dripped down the side of my neck, onto his bare forearm, staining the white cotton at the crook of his elbow. I winced, still refusing to meet his eyes miserably.

"You know", he breathed, holding the metal pipe in front of him, "I'm glad I didn't kill you. Because now I can do it ze way it was meant to be done."

He jerked me upright so that I was sitting in the filthy sewage with my legs stretched out before me. I began to sob helplessly. There was no way I could even stand up, if I wanted to. He stood between my legs, the bottoms of his slacks stained and soaked as water pushed past us. All seemed too quiet again. That's always when I could tell a fatal mistake had been made. He reached for something in his back pocket, but I didn't look up to see what it was. I was numb.

"I hope you burn in hell, you useless brat. Tell Redmond and Blutarch I said hello."

Slowly, he smirked and twisted the pole behind his back, preparing for a fatal crack to my temple. This was it, sudden and pathetic. I squeezed my eyes closed again, breathing through my teeth and apologizing to my family silently. I opened them just in time to see the pipe swing down, but also to hear a gunshot sound off behind me. I fell sideways, blinded by the trauma as the sounds around me began to disappear gradually. I heard a splash, then someone crying out for a Medic in a panicked tone. It felt like I was vibrating, or someone was shaking me, or maybe I was just trembling again. Either way, everything was gone in a matter of seconds. I didn't know if I was dying or not- but I certainly didn't mind it those last few seconds. Perhaps I had deserved it.


Who was the "someone"? I dunnooo...