** 20 **

The crate lid locked into place as Stokes' omnitool lit up.

'Stokes, we've got a problem.'

He looked through the open doorway to where Anderson stood, talking to a group of civilians who wanted to stay. Taking a deep breath he hurried towards him, avoiding those darting from one spot to another, rushing to pack.

'Sir,' he stopped beside him and almost smiled at the relief on the admiral's face. 'Reigler's on the com.'

Anderson stepped away from the group, finding a quiet spot. 'Talk to me Reigler?'

'They've turned around, sir. They stopped and appeared confused. Vanderson told them to turn around and now they're coming back.'

'They can't reach this camp, is that understood.'

'Yes, sir.'

'Stand by, Reigler.' Anderson whispered a curse. 'Stokes with me.' He marched towards the now partially packed infirmary where he grabbed Doctor Wainwright. 'Doctor, I've got a group of about fifty indoctrinated people on their way back to this camp. I need to know if there is any way to save them. Before you answer know that if you can't my men will be forced to kill them all.'

Wainwright gaped at him before closing his eyes and shaking his head. 'We have no way to help them right now.'

'Thank you, doctor.' Anderson went to leave.

'Wait,' the doctor's eyes were wide as he called them back, 'we might be able to do something without killing them all.'

'I'm open to suggestion.'

'What about if we sedate them, move them somewhere else.'

'There are fifty men out there doctor, my men can't sedate them individually.' Anderson pointed to where his men waited for orders. 'Is there any point to it anyway, can a person who's indoctrinated be saved?'

'We don't know, we haven't had enough time to study it. But killing all those men … .'

'Maybe we don't have to sedate them all,' Stokes interrupted and they both turned towards him. 'Maybe we can just take out Vanderson and the others will lose their way.'

'And what if they don't and turn on the men out there?' Anderson tilted his head and looked at him.

'They were dead anyway.'

The truth was uncomfortable but undeniable. They might be human but they were the enemy now.

'Doctor, give me something to knock out Vanderson, make it powerful, he is under Reaper control. Also something to kill him quietly if we need too.' The doctor hurried away. 'Stokes I need - .'

'I'll take it sir.'

Anderson's stare bored right into his soul but he didn't flinch. He knew exactly what he'd volunteered for.

'You give it to Reigler, understood.' Anderson waited for him to acknowledge the order, 'go see the doc.'

Stokes watched the admiral walk away and didn't envy him the task of continuing his argument. Making his way through stacked crates he went in search of the doctor. He found him with two syringes in his hand.

'This one will knock him out.' He handed it to him, the second he hesitated over before dropping it into Stokes' open palm. He'd marked it with a red X. 'This one will kill him, quickly and quietly.' The guilt in his voice made Stokes frown.

'It's them or us, doc.'

'I know, I just … I took this job to save lives, not take them.'

'That's exactly what you're doing.'

'Doesn't feel right to kill someone who isn't in his right mind.'

'They made the choice to side with the Reapers.' Stokes pointed out and the doctor stared at him.

'So we kill them for bad choices? Did they really have a choice?'

'Doesn't matter. We kill them to save the rest of us.' Stokes took a deep breath, it was not the time or place to get into an argument over moral decisions. 'Do you think this is easy for any of us? Do you think Admiral Anderson enjoys giving those orders? We're Alliance marines and we will defend this planet and you until our dying breath, but it's never easy to kill our own. We do it because it's the only way you and those with us will survive.'

'You're right, I'm sorry. I've never been in a war before.'

'That makes two of us, doc.' Stokes closed his hand around the needles, 'thanks for this. You'd better get packed up, the shuttles for the Alenkos are leaving soon.'

'I'm not going to the Alenkos.' The doctor ran a hand through his hair, the shake in his fingers easily visible. 'I'm going to London. They already have medical personnel at the Alenkos. I think they'll need doctors in London.'

Stokes had to admire those who willingly put themselves in the line of fire, but the doc was right, they were needed. After updating Anderson he headed out. He caught up with Reigler's teams fifteen minutes after leaving camp as they were working their way back, ahead of the indoctrinated. Following silent instructions, a nod of a head, a toss of a thumb or a shift in a line of sight, he found Reigler crouched beside a tree.

Dropping to one knee, he looked out through the gaps in foliage to see Vanderson and his motley collection of lost souls pushing through the long grass. With no emotion on their faces, no movement other than the shuffling of feet and no obvious clue that there were thoughts in their heads they could have been recreating a scene from a horror movie. Stokes thought of all the times he watched those vids and thought how ridiculous they were. Now he wished that's all it was, a stupid horror movie.

'What have you got for me, Stokes?' Reigler spoke softly but his eyes never moved from their observation.

'Sedative,' he handed over one of the syringes, 'kill shot.' The second needle changed hands. 'There's a chance that if you take down Vanderson the rest will lose their way. We can herd them somewhere else.'

'And if they don't?'

'Anderson's order stands.'

'Understood.' He said, still not taking his eyes from the group in the field. 'If we don't kill Vanderson what do we do with him?'

'Move him, try and get him out of range of control. We might be able to move the whole group if they go quietly without Vanderson.'

'Maybe they'd be better off dead.'

'I think Anderson's hoping we can bring them back, once this is all over.'

'Don't like his chances.' Reigler huffed a soft laugh. 'Alright, let's do this.'

Talking quietly into his com Reigler gave his orders, waiting until his people were in position before standing and walking from cover. Stokes followed. They were almost in front of Vanderson before he saw them and came to a stop. The man frowned, tilting his head as if listening to something before turning towards them.

'Greetings my friends,' the man had not lost his politician's voice even under indoctrination. 'Are you lost?'

'Yeah,' Reigler made nice, getting close and placing his hand on Vanderson's shoulder and ushering him away from the pack. 'I couldn't remember where you told me to go,' he slid his arm around the man's back, pulling him in close like an old friend.

Vanderson laughed but made no effort to move away. 'We will lead you back.'

He raised his arm to point and Reigler pushed the needle in deep. Vanderson didn't struggle, he looked from where he'd been stabbed to Reigler. His eyes glazed over but the sedative only made him drowsy.

'You have made them angry.' He grabbed at Reigler's arms, fighting the man and the drug.

'Shit.' Reigler jabbed the other syringe into Vanderson's neck.

Stokes raised his rifle, watching the others as Vanderson finally gave up the fight and slumped into Reigler's arms. He placed him gently on the ground, keeping his fingers on Vanderson's neck and waiting until he felt no pulse before getting to his feet.

A primal moan rolled across the field. As one the pack shuffled forward, arms outstretched, reaching for them. They were so much like husks Stokes shivered.

'Damn it.'

Reigler dragged him sideways, spinning on his heels and bringing up his gun. His men stood from where they'd been lying in the grass and opened fire. Stokes didn't hesitate as several of the indoctrinated headed towards them. He did the only thing he could as they closed on their position; he took out their knees. As they stumbled he and Reigler killed them easily with head shots. The line of marines made quick work of the others, calling the all clear as the last of the indoctrinated fell.

There was nothing good about walking among the dead. Anger and frustration got the better of some as they cursed everything Reaper while ensuring none of this group survived. They hadn't signed up to slaughter humans but more and more it's what they were doing. They might be blue, tainted or horribly changed but they had been human at one time. Seeing the bodies in the grass only drove home that fact.

Stokes looked down at a man who looked about his age, dressed in tattered clothing, dirty and malnourished. That could have been him. If he hadn't been with Anderson, if Buckner hadn't found him on day one, if they hadn't been able to find food and shelter, if … too many ifs. A hand on his shoulder made him jump.

'Head back and let Anderson know what happened here.' Reigler said, taking a deep breath and looking towards the horizon. 'We'll take care of the bodies.'

Stokes trotted back to camp. Anderson closed his eyes, blew out a breath and dropped his head at Stokes' report. They were dying slowly. Every time they pulled the trigger on one of their own kind, every time an order had to be given that drove them to that point and every time they saw the despair and grief in the eyes of their comrades life seemed to slip away. The Reapers were winning by pushing them into dark places where it became harder and harder to find the light. But they couldn't give up.

'Thank you, Stokes,' Anderson lifted his head, defeat pushed out by determination as he looked at him. 'You'd better finish packing.'

Stokes wandered back to his makeshift office to find that his team had dismantled and packed most of the equipment. Only the QEC remained. He crouched behind the console and set to work disconnecting the pieces.

'Matt.' He looked up to see Tracy, Buckner and Sam standing in the doorway. 'We're about to leave.'

The time had come much too soon. Maybe if he stayed still, kept working and ignored their presence they might not leave. It might not tear his heart open if he didn't have to say goodbye. But that wasn't their reality. Standing up he stepped towards them.

'Sam,' he reached out and shook the young man's hand. 'I'm trusting you to be Tracy's right hand man, take care of her for me.'

'You bet. Wish I was going with you though.' His hand trembled in Stokes and his eyes shone.

'They need you and I need to know you're safe.' He pulled him into a hug as Sam's bottom lip quivered, pleased that Sam returned it. 'We'll see each other soon.'

He felt Sam nod before he pulled back. The younger man wiped his eyes as he turned away, seemingly embarrassed by his show of emotion. Buckner gave him time to pull himself together by hobbling forward and wrapping his arm around Stokes' shoulder.

'You'd better not die on me, Stokes. I think I like you.' He grinned as Stokes huffed at him. 'And don't worry about these two, I'll look after them.'

'I know you will.' Stokes stepped back, surprised to see Buckner's eyes shining and moist. 'You take care of yourself, I'd hate to lose you too you ass.'

Buckner laughed and placed his hand on Sam's shoulder. 'Come on Sam, help me get to the shuttle.' With a final wave they walked away.

Stokes watched them go before turning his gaze to Tracy. The colour had drained from her face and she bit her bottom lip as she tried to control her emotions. It didn't work. Tears rolled down her cheeks and Stokes gently pulled her into his arms. He buried his nose in her hair, inhaling the scent of her, feeling the softness against his skin. His fingers clenched in her jacket as he tightened his grip, holding her so tight she gasped for breath. She wrapped her arms around him.

'Matt, I can't – '

'Don't.' He pulled back and cupped her face, meeting her watery eyes as tears ran from his own. 'This is not goodbye. I am coming back and we're going to be together, forever.'

She opened her mouth to speak but she was too upset for words. He kissed her. It was hungry, passionate and full of the love he felt for her. He wrapped her in his arms, desperate to have her body against his, to taste her and keep that memory locked away for when he would need most. She responded with a hunger and need of her own, clinging to him as the salty tang of mingled tears invaded their kisses. But their moment had to end.

'I love you.' He placed soft kisses on her cheeks, forehead and nose.

'I love you.' She ran her fingers gently down his face, along his jaw and across his lips.

Claiming her lips for the last time he gasped as they came up for air and held each other close.

'Please don't come to see the shuttle off,' she whispered against his neck and he squeezed his eyes closed. 'I don't know that I could leave if I saw you standing there.'

He nodded and she sucked in a breath before pulling back and meeting his eyes. With a fleeting kiss she left, and he had never felt so alone.

He went back to work, unable to ignore the sound of the shuttles leaving and taking a piece of him with them. A few minutes later a shadow fell over him and he looked up to see Anderson standing over him.

'Stokes, are you doing okay?'

No. His hands shook and he had pain in his chest worse than anything he'd ever felt before. Every breath hurt and he wanted to scream and toss everything around him against the wall until it shattered. One look at Anderson told him he wasn't alone in that.

'Fine, sir.' He said and Anderson grimaced.

'Why don't I believe you?' Anderson glanced over his shoulder before continuing. 'Once the shuttles return from ferrying everyone to the Alenkos we need to be packed and gone. I want to be in the remains of the bunker tonight so we can do a last sweep. Tomorrow we head to London.'

'Yes, sir. We'll be ready.'

'You're a good man Stokes and an excellent soldier. It's an honour to have you with me.'

Anderson walked away before he could respond. His heart might be breaking, fear gnawed at his guts and the shake in his hands had him clenching his fists but right then, in that moment, pride pushed everything else aside. Determination stepped up right behind. With renewed energy he crouched behind his console and went back to work. The quicker he got this done the quicker this war would be over and the quicker he would get back to Tracy. It sounded good – in theory.

A/N: Did you notice the new cover art ;p The awesome pic of Stokes and Tracy were gifted to me by vorchagirl and tlcinbflo who are wonderful ladies and fantastic authors. Go check out their stuff it's amazing.

A larger version is on my Deviant page - link in my profile - if you want a better look.

I'd like to take a moment to thank everyone reading this, I never expected it to gather the interest it has but it's great. Thank you all for making me feel more confident about my work.