Aaron was getting ready for a bed after a night of telling Ben everything that she learned from Isaac and how she was planning to see him her next leave. Now ready for a long night's sleep after reading some of her book. She pulled the covers back on her bed and opened her dresser drawer to pull out her book only to find it gone. Confused, she closed the drawer and looked around her room for it when she remembered she took it to the rec room the night before. "Damn it." she cursed as she pulled her hoodie on and slipped into her boots. She couldn't fall asleep without reading a few chapters from her book to make her tired. Annoyed that she had to walk to the middle of the base to get her book, Aaron walked out of her room and outside.

The night air was cold and made goose bumps rise on Aaron exposed legs. Zipping up her hoodie she walked faster to the rec room. Once she got to the building she rushed inside and closed the door behind her. Turning around she noticed the light was on. She walked into the room and found Soap writing in a journal with his legs stretched out on the couch. "Soap?" she questioned. He looked over at her and sat up. "What are you doing here?" Aaron asked.

"What are you doing here?" Soap replied.

"I asked you first." Aaron responded

"Couldn't sleep…now you."

"I came to get my book." Aaron told him looking at the table where she left her book. She walked over and picked it up before looking at Soap again. "What's keeping you up?" she asked sitting on the table in front of him.

"Too many thoughts." Soap answered tucking his journal away. "Why are you still up?"

"I can't fall asleep without reading first." Aaron explained holding her book up.

Soap smiled and ran a hand through his Mohawk. "How'd you get that scar?" Aaron asked. "The one on your eye?"

"RPG…blew me back." Soap explained. "How'd you get the one on your leg?" Aaron looked down at her leg and saw the one he was referring to…it was on that went up her right calf. "Humvee accident." She explained. "While I'm here I wanted to thank you."

"For what?" Soap asked.

"For being there for me." Aaron told him. "Ben kinda gave up when I shut everyone out, but you stuck around and got me to talk. And had you not I probably would still be burying myself in my work." Soap gave her a smile. "You don't have to thank me. I'm just glad you're okay."

Aaron smiled. "Oh and something else…" she said. "Price told me you were really determined on finding me and the others in Russia…why was that?"

"You went out on a really long limb to save my life in Prague. If you hadn't done what you did I would have died. I just felt like I owed you something."

"You didn't need to do that though Soap. Saving your life was just something a soldier would do."

"But you nearly died saving me and had I not gotten to you when I did you would have died in that prison. And if you would have died I never would have gotten to know you."

Aaron blushed and looked in his icy blue eyes. "You're something else MacTavish you know that?" she teased standing up to leave. "Is that a bad thing?" he asked with humor in his voice. She looked at him. "No." she answered before walking out of the rec room.

OOOOO

The next morning at breakfast Aaron was looking through some folders when Soap sat down next to her. "Don't you ever take breaks?" he asked. She chuckled and closed her folder. "No." she answered when Price walked in with a familiar Russian. 'Nikolai!" Soap called out. The Russian looked up and smiled. "My friend you're still alive!" Nikolai teased walking over with Price.

"Very funny Nikolai." Soap replied as the two men sat down. "Ah my lady," Nikolai said referring to Aaron. "Price told me you'd be here. It's good to see you again."

"You too Nikolai." Aaron responded with a smile.

"I was just giving Nikolai a tour of the base before he got settled." Price explained. "But Soap I need you at the office in an hour to talk about something."

"Alright see you then." Soap told Price.

Price and Nikolai got up and left the mess hall leaving Soap and Aaron with one another. "Where's Ben?" Soap asked.

"Working out. He's very dedicated to getting back into the shape he was in before Russia." Aaron informed him.

"How come you didn't go on leave with Ben?" Aaron looked at Soap with a confused expression. "Why on Earth would I go on leave with Ben?" she questioned.

"You two just seem close and I thought you two were…you know." Aaron started laughing uncontrollably. "You…you thought…you though me…and Ben were a couple?" she asked.

"Why so much laughing?" Soap answered.

"Ben and I are not like that…I mean he swing for a different team." Aaron told Soap.

"He does?"

"Yes but don't tell anyone…I'm the only one who knows."

"Alright the secret is safe with me."

Aaron took a sip of her coffee and looked at him. "Well I am heading over to the gym. See you later." she said standing up and walking out.

OOOOO

Soap didn't have anything to do while he waited around to go to his meeting with Price and decided to go over to the gym for a quick workout. In the locker room he changed into a pair of shorts, a t-shirt, and Nike sneakers before walking into the room. He literally stopped in his tracks when he saw Aaron was still there, in shorts and active muscle shirt, kicking the crap out of a punching bag. He saw she had her headphones and could hear the music playing.

Walking up behind her he put a hand on her shoulder which must have startled her because she turned around sending a fist his direction. Luckily he was able to grab her fist and her face fell when she saw it was him. "Shit Soap don't sneak up on me!" she half laughed as she took her headphones out and paused the music.

"Turn your damn music down then." He replied. Aaron rolled her eyes. "I thought you had to meet Price." She said.

"Not for another half an hour." He replied. "Don't you have to go do something with Parish in the technical building?"

"In twenty minutes. I was just about to go shower." Aaron told him.

"Good you smell." Soap teased.

"You are such a smart ass."

Aaron began walking off to the locker room when Soap stopped her. "That's a good look for you." He commented. She stopped and turned around. "What sweaty ponytail and shorts?" she questioned.

"Maybe not the hair but the shorts are definitely working."

With a blush and a smile and blush Aaron went into the locker room, but stopped when she reached the showers when she replayed what he said last night and just now. Was he…flirting with her?