AAHHHH! It feels like I haven't updated in forever when in fact its only been sixteen days… Short chapter but there's gonna be a looong A/N at the end.

"Issy?" Red asks. She surprised he didn't say Beta or even Cap'n. Its be a while since any of them – excluding Hector – had called her Issy. "What's a matter?"

"We're being pulled from the rota, like many other squadrons, for a month to train the new recruits that have chosen us." Issy fights back the tears threatening to spill. She will not cry. Life just wasn't being fair. Issy pushes the side of the pile until it's all spread out like a fan.

"Oh shit!" Someone hisses but her eyes are glued to one name in particular.

Emmett Henley

Numb is the only feeling that Issy can name right now.

Out of all the captains Emmett could have chosen, it had to be her. Whether it was because of his own fucked up reasons or simply because he wanted to piss Eric off, Emmett kept on training to worm his way into whatever squadron 226 were doing as they prepared for the upcoming training.

Currently, Issy was hiding out in their common room trying to shake of the stupid nerves that continuously grip at her. Soon, everyone that had chosen squadron 226, will be starting their training. All eleven of them will be standing in front of the squad while Issy goes over what the plan for the upcoming weeks is.

A few days before, Issy and the rest of the squad had gone through the files of each trainee to see how they scored in their basic training and had drawn up ideas who will showboat it all, who won't try at all and those that will be tough competitors.

Issy doesn't pause her pacing when Hector walks into the common room. He watches her pace back and forth a few times before he moves into her path, causing her to stop.

"Issy." Hec sighs when she looks just over his shoulder. "I know it's a stupid question but are you okay?"

"I can do this."

"That's not what I was asking Issy. No one is questioning that you can't."

Issy looks at him then and sees the worried expression on his face. "I'm –" She bites her lip. "I'm excited to train members for this squadron, I'm just nervous I guess for having Emmett there…" Issy ducks her head down. "Back in Erudite he was such a lovely lad and at one point he meant a lot to me but now I've seen him in Dauntless, he's a completely different person and it's enough to give me whiplash."

"He's through a tool in the works?"

"It feels like it." Issy runs a hand through her hair. "If he was still the same lad maybe I wouldn't care or even be affected but it feels like Emmett is always there."

Hector growls lowly. "He's stalking you?"

"What?" She blinks in surprise. "No! I – I don't know. It's probably just my insecurities talking."

"Issy, I think you need to tell Eric."

She shakes her head. "I can do this."

"Issy!" Hector throws up his hands with an angry huff. "It's not whether you can or can't do this, it's about telling your other half that you don't feel safe."

"Yeah, and then Eric will beat Emmett into the ground more or less unprovoked. That could lead to him getting arrested and maybe even getting his leadership stripped."

"That wouldn't –"

"It would and I'd look like I need Eric to fight my battles for me. I got this."

When Hector opens his mouth to rebut her statement, the door opens to reveal Bulldozer.

"It's nearly time for people to be arriving Beta – oh?" BD pauses, his eyes glancing from Issy's neutral expression and the deflating rage on Hector's face. "Is everything okay?"

"Yup!" Issy smiles but it doesn't reach her eyes. "Ready to ruin some sleep patterns?"

"Yeah." BD glances to Hector and Issy misses the unsure look they share. "Positively excited."

So, Issy's trying to pretend everything is fine but how long do you think that will last?

Anyway, I don't know if any of you have noticed but I'm a bit funny about simply leaving A/Ns without any story content with it. I could have left you all with an A/N and nothing else but I don't think that's fair. What I want to say is that I don't think I'm going to update for a while – could be a couple of months, I don't know… Starting in September I'm going to start my first year in university. That's a big step for me and I don't know if I'm going to have time to write while I'm getting settled in a new city.

Don't worry though, I'm not going to stop writing GF and Eric's Outtake is still in progress so you may get that soon and, as always, Eric's Outtake is going to be a long one.

Until next time! ;)