For Grif to say that the kiss made things a mess between him and Simmons would be wrong. The situation had already been a mess between them. The fact that the kiss ended with him smiling sadly expecting Simmons to push him away after; Only to have Simmons grabs his arms and kiss him again, well that was a happy surprise. They were kissing and this time there was no Sarge they had to hurry to report back to, their was no drinking or late night partying involved, no temple of sex magic activated to increase their urges.
It was just him and just Simmons. Just orange and maroon. He giggles and Simmons pulls away quickly.
"W-what's so funny?" He looks hurt, offended, but grif knew he was just nervous.
"I never thought you would kiss me back." Grif admits with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Ah, don't think too much of it!" Simmons shouts.
Grif's face fall. "Oh, okay. No problem I won't." He turns his back to Simmons and begins to storm away.
"Grif! Wait, Grif! I didn't mean it like that." Simmons pleads.
"Then how did you mean it?" Grif shouts throwing his arms up. "I've told you everything Simmons! I have been nothing but honest. Forgive a man for taking a chance, and then you got my hopes up because you kissed me back. I thought you felt the same, but since I'm not suppose to think too much about it then I guess I won't think about it at all!" He doubles over, resting his hands on his knees to keep himself up.
"Grif," Simmons whimpers placing a hand on the orange armor clad, soldier.
Grif pushes his hand away. "I saw the videos. They were recording everything you guys did for security purposes. The UNSC has the videos. I saw everything that happened before they went out. You kept talking about me. Even Sarge asked where their Grif was. I thought maybe you all really did care, and I missed you more than I would care to admit now."
"Grif I do care. I just," The lazy man raises his hand to stop Simmons.
"I think we just need to stop talking for now. Once I catch my breath we'll find Caboose. I will contact the UNSC and then my job is done."
Simmons slips his helmet back on so Grif would not see the concern in his eyes. It bothered him, how worried he was if he had actually hurt Grif. They had been hurting Grif for years. None of them cared, why was he feeling guilt now? Simmons grows frustrated with the pain in his chest and the feelings he was experiencing.
The walked in silence for a few miles before hearing shouting. Simmons was quick to react, his gun aimed in the direction he thought the sound was coming from. Grif was tossing his head back and forth, not even bothering with the giant weapon on his back let alone the ones on his hips.
They stand frozen in place until there was more shouting.
"This way." Grif orders charging full head in the direction of the sound.
"What? Why?" Simmons questions, falling into step beside Grif.
"That sounds like Caboose."
"Why would Caboose be shouting i the middle of nowhere?" Simmons questions. The two look at each other. Helmets covering the look Simmons thought they were sharing.
"Yeah, you're right. Dumb question." Simmons admits.
"Hey!" That voice was definitely Caboose, but Grif saw him no where as he looks across the desert. "Stop!" Was he in danger? Who was he telling to stop?
"Grif!" Simmons calls out. Grif gradually comes to a stop in his running. Or what you could call running for him.
"What is it Simmons?" Grif asks turning around to see Simmons leaning over, looking down.
"We've got a problem."
"What is it?"
"Come look." Simmons motions him over with a hand. His gaze never moves from whatever was on the ground he was staring at.
"Simmons what could possibly so interesting about sand?" Grif asks huffing as he came along.
"It isn't just sand. See?" Grif leans over to see what Simmons saw. There wasn't just more sand in front of them. There was a huge cliff, covered in sand. So much so that it just seemed like it was all part of the endless desert. Grif suddenly felt grateful that he had not walked in this direction before. If he had he would have fallen straight down to clif all the way to the bottom before anyone could have done anything to save him.
"Simmons! I knew I would find you again."
That voice Grif knew it. His heart skips a beat as relief floods his nerves. Quickly looks down to spy a small shape of blue at the bottom of the cliff.
"Grif! You're up there too! I've found you guys! Yay!" He cheered, jumping up and down as he waves his arms about. "Don't worry guys I'll save you!" Caboose says as reassurance. "Somehow." He adds. Grif smiles as Simmons chuckles.
"I think you are the one that needs saving buddy." Grif calls back down.
"What?"
Grif cups his hands around his mouth. "Just stay there Caboose! Someone is coming to get us! All of us!"
"Is Tucker with you?"
Grif hesitates. "No, but he's waiting for us. Don't worry Caboose, you'll see him soon!"
Simmons sits down in the sand next to Grif. "How are we gonna get him up here?"
"We aren't?"
Simmons looks back and forth between the two. "What are you going to do?" He asks as Caboose kept shouting up at them about the new friend he had.
"I'm working with the UNSC remember? All I have to do is call them and explain that I have everyone. They'll find a way to get Caboose out from down there."
"How do you think he got down there?" Simmons asks leaning his body over the edge a little in order to glance down.
"Who knows? Maybe he slid down the cliff, or he just fell. He is the strongest person i've ever met. So he could have climbed down for all I know. Or there is a way down and he walked all the way down there." Grif offers up his few ideas as he decides to sit as well. He lets his legs dangle over the edge freely.
"Yeah." Simmons agree his mind travelling elsewhere.
Grif watches him. Simmons fingers were twitching, and he was just staring off into the distance. Grif begins to wonder if there was something on his mind when Simmons finally spoke.
"So does that mean this is done?"
Grif shrugs. "I found everyone. Everyone still alive that is. My part is over. The UNSC will retract all of their forces within orbit after extraction. They will no doubt have questions for you guys. Not sure how long that will take or what they'll decide to do after."
"Grif that's not what I," Simmons grunts. Arms failing to his head as he groans. "Listen what I mean is, well is that all? You know, with us?"
"With us?" Grif asks growing a little upset. "What us Simmons? I think you've made it pretty clear how you feel."
"Grif,"
"Stop talking. Please. I don't want to talk about this anymore." To show that he really was done Grif opens up his communication. It did not take long for him to reach the commanding officer and inform her on their whereabouts. ETA was forty minutes. Grif swears in his head wishing it would be less. He wasn't sure if he could last that long here.
The silence lasted for about thirty two minutes. The longest a silence had ever sat between them.
"Years?" Simmons tosses the question into the air.
"Years." Grif admits.
"W-why didn't you say anything?"
"Well that time we spent in the shade I had thought made it clear." He answers spitefully. "How was I supposed to tell you I like you when I didn't even know if you liked men. So I figure if I made you a proposition to help us both blow off some steam or entertainment it would reveal if you did or not. You didn't take the bait, not really."
"Then the temple."
"The door was locked. I didn't lock it though." Grif states in his defense.
"I know you didn't." Simmons says smugly.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah Sarge did. He came up to me afterwards and asked me why you weren't dead. Said that was the whole reason he had locked us in there."
Grif groans. He squeezes his head with his arms. "I did not need to know that."
"What?"
"That the first time we had, ugh was because of Sarge."
Simmons laughs. "I guess it is just something I'm going to have to thank him for later." Simmons replies before he remembers. "Oh, nevermind I guess."
"Oh yeah." Grif says as he remembers the news. "You would thank him?" Confusion hits him.
"Yeah I would." Simmons answers.
"Guys! Look! Birds!" Caboose is shouting as he points off towards the sky.
"Those aren't birds Caboose! It's a rescue!" Simmons informs him as the UNSC helicopters come in closer.
"We're saved?"
Simmons nods before realizing Caboose probably couldn't see the movement. "Yes Caboose! We are saved!"
The scream of joy that tore from the blue's throat was one Grif had never heard him make before.
