BD snorts again. "'Course they have, there's just too much shit to do throughout the whole department."

Issy frowns before nodding. "I think that's it for tonight. See you all tomorrow."

Everyone says their goodnights before Issy is left in the common room, staring blankly at the wall, completely lost in her thoughts.

Thursday felt weird without Milo there and the trainees felt it too with only three of them remaining. On Thursday all of squad 226 joined the trainees through drills and exercises, putting everyone through the wringer. The trainees saw the squad at several different moods they hadn't seen during the previous weeks of training.

Friday still felt weird with only Lani, Elliot and Soren standing in front of the squadron. They frowned at the ground, knowing that today would be their last day working with 226, as they packed the truck for another short patrol.

As Issy leans her rifle against her bike, Lani stops next to her. "Milo wanted me to tell you he says thank you. Harrison visited him in the infirmary on your request and talked about where Milo could be placed next. He really didn't want to go back to being a store manager."

"Where's he going to be placed?"

"I think something about patrol route planner or something? Once he's healed, Clark will run him through the basics."

Issy laughs suddenly and Lani frowns at her. "That's good. Clark's a great man." At Lani's confused expression, Issy explains further. "Clark was my captain before I got promoted."

"Oh!"

"He's in safe hands." Issy reassured her before her eyes scanned the garage. Her eyes narrowed at a soldier standing by the hallway leading to the common rooms. She was sure he was a part of Eric's squadron. When he turned and saw her eyes on him, he flashed her a grin and waved. His cockiness told Issy his knew that she wouldn't go to Eric and ask if he's set soldiers to follow her.

"Captain!"

Issy turned her head to see BD waving at her, hanging out of the truck. Issy turns to Lani. "Go on, better start this day off." Lani runs to the truck and slips into the back. Issy waves BD off, and he starts to pull out of the garage, knowing that Issy will catch up with them. She slips her rifle on her back and pulls her helmet on. She glances back to see the soldier still standing there. He salutes her, a grin still on his face. Issy glares at him before climbing onto her bike and driving off to catch up with the truck.

xXx

The patrol route was close enough to Dauntless to call for aid and get it in time, but far enough that the trainees could experience what a normal patrol would be like. Harrison didn't want them going too far with her trainees not officially patrol members even if they are soldiers. It didn't last long, only around five hours. It was longer than what either Elliot, Soren or Lani were used to, but shorter than what 226 were used to having for a single shift.

It felt weird walking by the side of the truck. After being posted at Amity and the chaos that followed, Issy thought there was something different about just walking, watching. Something felt wrong…

It felt too simple.

Her thoughts had her frowning throughout all of the patrol and when they got back to Dauntless, Issy dismissed the trainees after they had helped put the spare rifles and packs away. Just as Billy goes to leave too, Issy grabs the back of his collar, pulling him to a stop.

"Oh, come on, Cap!" He groans as Issy pulls him around and lightly pushing him in the direction of the common rooms. "I want to go home!"

Issy shares an unimpressed look with Rainbow as she comes to stand next to her. "And you'll go home, once we've written placement reports for Harrison."

Billy groans again dramatically and the guys laugh, jokingly pushing Billy between them like a pinball as they walk towards the common rooms.

"Fucking boys…" Issy sighs, watching them behave like children.

Rainbow snickers, matching Issy mocking tone. "So much testosterone…"

Issy snorts, bumping her shoulder with Rainbow's, before following after the rest of the squad.

xXx

Hours later, Issy knocked on Harrison's office door and waited. Her eyes kept darting to Eric's office behind her nervously, like he may just randomly appear and continue to ignore her. Issy didn't know whether she'd ignore him back and ask if he's really set his soldiers to follow her around the compound.

What trouble could happen in Dauntless? Other than the rebound attempts from victims of the twin's pranks…

Harrison's frazzled voice called out for her to enter, and Issy slipped into his office.

His office, which normally held some organisation, had towers of folders around the room. Several bits of paper was coving his desk and Issy could make out names of the squadrons posted on the front lines and pencilled numbers she guessed was meant to be a new rota. Harrison shifted a pile of paper from the chair so Issy could sit, putting it on the floor next to the desk.

"Sorry about the mess, I –" Harrison ran a through his hair as he sat down, eyes darting around. "I'm a bit busy with everything that's going on."

"It's okay." Issy says. She's never seen any of the Leaders this stressed out before. "I've got the placement reports for the trainees that don't make the squadron."

Issy hands them over and Harrison reads through the reports. He frowns before placing them both of the desk and compares them, his head turning from one to the next. He's still frowning when he looks up to Issy. "Are you sure?"

She nods. "We've thought long and hard about it. Normally you'd spent about six weeks picking teams but now you don't have to, you just have to put them under an officer to train." Issy shrugs. "It means you don't have to take time out to train them and you get more time in here, sorting this out."

Harrison smiles at her. "Thank you."

"No problem."