Author's Note: Hey, I'm back already! Were you worried about me? Maybe? No? Okay. Well, thanks to anyone who's reading this!

Thanks 1 and Doublej43 for your favorites and follows and stuff!

Doublej43(1):Thanks, I haven't gotten to read yours yet, but I'm interested.

0600 Hours, September 18, 2525 (Military Calendar)/UNSC Destroyer Pioneer

En route to Planet Reach

"What's wrong with you?"

The question took Fred by surprise.

"What?"

Isaac glared at him from across the table in the Mess Hall.

"What's wrong with you?"

Fred still had no idea what Isaac was talking about. He cocked his head and looked questioningly at his friend.

Isaac sighed and rolled his eyes, "You've barely said anything since you got back. You've just been sitting there twirling your fork around the...food...for five minutes."

With some measure of surprise, Fred looked down and realized that he had been doing exactly that. There was now a thick coating of dietary substance on his plastic utensil. He pushed the tray away from himself.

"Nothing's wrong with me. I've just been thinking."

"Does it hurt?" Will asked as he elbowed Fred jokingly in the side. Fred took the food-encrusted fork and hit Will upside the head, leaving a mark where the food landed. Will almost fell backwards from the surprise of the hit. He grabbed a napkin and started to wipe the stuff off while thinking of ways to get back at Fred.

"You two are morons." Isaac said as he rolled his eyes. "I'm going to work out; if you two get done being children, feel free to join me." Isaac stood and left the mess hall.

Someone's cranky. Will mouthed at Fred.

Fred shrugged and stood up. He grabbed his tray from the table and quickly ate the remaining food. He put the tray on the sanitation counter and left the mess hall moving toward his bunk. On his way there he thought about visiting John - the SPARTAN leader had taken a few shots during their mission. Fred mentally shook his head and decided that he would go check on the Chief later.

He made his way to the quarters provided to the SPARTANs and quickly changed his clothes into a shirt and sweatpants. He saw Kelly sitting on her bunk, and moved over to her. He stood there in a silent invitation. Kelly looked up at him and he said,

"Gym." Kelly nodded, and stood to walk with him. They entered the Rec Hall and Kelly, typically, immediately headed for the track. Fred scanned the room and noticed Sam lifting weights and Lee practicing in a lower gravity environment. Isaac and Will were sparring in the ring.

Fred moved over to the weights and was starting on the Chest Press when Kelly came over.

"Couldn't get anybody to spar with me. You're always dumb enough for a fight." Fred rolled his eyes and nodded at Kelly. She stood from her stooped position with a predatory grin and offered him a hand up from the seat he was in. Fred took it and let Kelly haul him to his feet - grinning silently as he pushed against her slightly. Kelly got him mid-way up and dropped him. She walked over to one of the other rings.

Fred stood up and followed her, ducking under one of the edges and entering the ring. Kelly bounced on the balls of her feet, with her fists up. Fred put his fists halfway up, then dropped them and charged Kelly.

She stepped away from him far earlier than he could have ever reached her. He knew it was worthless, but he reached out as he passed and hit her shoulder with his fist. Kelly spun around and brought her foot up in an attack, but Fred fell backwards and out of range. Kelly backed away, and Fred could see a dangerous glint in her eye even from the distance.

Fred took a half step backwards before Kelly suddenly leaped at him. He tried to spin out of the way, but she pushed a fist out and hit him in the face. He spun slightly, but turned back and took another step backward. Kelly was on the ground now, and swept his feet out from under him with a sweep of her legs.

Fred hit the ground hard and rolled, only to have Kelly land on his midsection with her elbow. He spun over and threw her off her balance, then grabbed her shoulder and pinned her to the ground. She threw her feet in the air and completed a backwards somersault and wrenched herself out of Fred's grip.

She regained her feet and spun around, catching Fred in the chin with a right hook. Fred stumbled before catching himself and charging forward. Kelly blocked all of his hits on her forearms and kicked at him. He lifted his leg to block the hit and Kelly took the opportunity to get some hits in. Fred hunched over and hit Kelly in the stomach, then backpedaled away.

Kelly jumped forward, rolled in the air and landed with both feet on Fred's chest, propelling him backward and into the cords around the edge. He rocketed forward faster than his feet could travel before tripping up and landing on his face.

Kelly quickly stepped forward and knelt on his shoulder blades. He tried to rock his feet over his head to dislodge her, but she grabbed his foot and threw it back down. She held his legs down by the ankles and pinned him.

"Give up?" She asked slightly out of breath. Fred growled and shook his head. "Okay." Kelly responded more smugly.

Fred refused to admit defeat for another five minutes before John finally jumped in the ring and said,

"Fred, you lose. This match is over."

Kelly grinned and stood up off of Fred. Fred groaned as she stood and sucked in a large gulp of air, the rolled onto his back. Kelly offered him her hand again and she hauled him to his feet.

"I still didn't lose." Fred muttered good-humoredly to her.

"Sure, Hotshot." Kelly said and hit him lightly on the shoulder as they left the ring.

When Fred got down, Will and Isaac laughed at him for a moment, then they all left the Rec room and made their way back to their bunks.

Author's Note: Yay! There it is! I finally got a chapter written out. Did you enjoy it? I hope so. Leave a review and tell me what you think!