Author's note: So I tried to upload this yesterday, but fanfiction's doc manager was down, so apologies for the delay. The good news is since it was down, I used the time to get the next chapter started and have already made considerable progress. As always, hope you enjoy.

What Will It Take?

Chapter 4

Over the next few days, Ela and Meghan didn't say much to each other, although it was mostly on Ela's part. Meghan couldn't help but notice the girl was more closed off than usual, which was saying something. She finally found an opportunity to talk to her, about her injury. Currently, they were in Ela's room, Ela had her shirt up as Meghan was examining. She noticed the bruising had gone down considerably and Ela could move around without wincing.

"How does this feel? Any Pain?" She asked as she applied pressure to one of Ela's ribs.

"No, it feels fine." Ela responded.

"How about here?" She poked at another spot.

"Nothing."

"Good." Meghan noticed there was only one spot left to check, under the girl's bra strap…

"Um, how about here?" She asked as she gently slid her hand beneath the undergarment, both of their faces turning red.

"N-no, it feels fine."

"That's…good."

The two stared at each other, faces burning red, Meghan either not noticing or not caring that her hand wasn't moving away.

"So…I think you're officially healed now."

"That's good news…"

"Hey Meghan, Ela, would you like to…oh my god!" Monika had walked in and was shocked at the sight in front of her.

"Doesn't anyone in this place knock?" Meghan asked to no one in particular. Ela pulled her shirt back down, she was surprised that she hadn't passed out from all the blood flowing to her cheeks instead of her brain. "What do you need Monika?"

"I was going to ask if you two wanted to join Eliza and myself tonight, but I can see that you have other plans." The German said, half-jokingly.

"Monika it's not what you think, I was giving her a medical exam."

"Under her bra?"

"Well…yes."

"Meghan, I'm just joking with you, you can both relax."

Both Meghan and Ela breathed a sigh of relief. "I think you've been spending too much time with Eliza."

Monika giggled. "Well that tends to happen when you're dating someone, something you should look into."

"Now I know that you've been spending to much time with her."

The German laughed again. "Seriously though, we're going out tonight, would you two like to join us?"

Meghan had completely forgot that today was Friday and they were free for the weekend. Normally, she would have agreed to go out with the couple, but she still had to find a way to get through to Ela, and she doubted the green haired girl would want to hang out in a group.

"Thanks, but I think we're going to do our own thing tonight." Meghan answered, Ela looked at the blonde, slightly confused.

"Okay. If you change you minds, just let me know." Monika turned to leave.

"Thanks. And Monika." The German turned around. "If you mention a word of this to Eliza, I'll have to kill you both."

Monika said nothing, she simply offered a smile and a wink before leaving the room.

"So, what exactly are we doing tonight?" Ela finally asked.

"I don't know, I just don't think we could hang out with them without it being awkward, especially after what she just saw."

Ela figured she was probably right.

"So, it's your first weekend in England, what would you like to do?"

"I'm not one for going out, I prefer to keep to myself in my free time."

"But you've been stuck in this building all week, you don't want to at least get out? When's the next time you'll be able to see a place like this?"

"I didn't join to see places Meghan, and I didn't join to make friends."

Meghan sighed, Ela was closing herself off again, and she had to find a way to make it stop. "Even if you didn't join for those things, why not take advantage of the opportunity?"

Ela only shrugged. Meghan was about to keep pressing the topic, but then she looked at her watch and realized what time it was, "Crap, I have to go." Meghan got up and was about to leave when she tuned back, an idea in her head. "I'll tell you what, I'm going out to a little place tonight. If you would like to join me, meet me in the lounge in a couple hours. The choice is up to you."

Ela was curious but simply nodded in agreement. With that, Meghan left the room.

Meghan went down stairs to the lounge and noticed it was empty, which was perfect. She took a seat at one of the tables, her phone in hand. She was apprehensive to make this call, but it was necessary, and a long time coming. She wasn't sure how long she sat there, the number typed in, her finger hovering over the call button.

Finally, she pushed it, after a few rings a voice answered on the other end. "Hello?"

"Hi mom."

Ela lay on her bed, Meghan's offer still ringing in her head. Normally, she wouldn't even consider such a thing. She hated going out, she hated being in public, she hated being around people really. She had always preferred to keep to herself, but the decision she made earlier about thanking her friend kept poking at her. She still hadn't thought of a way to show her appreciation for all the help she had given her, and taking her up on the offer might provide an opportunity to do so. At the same time, not knowing exactly what the blonde had planned raised some red flags. She didn't think Meghan would hurt her or anything of that nature, it was just a natural reaction for her. Unknown factors meant danger, years of being on the battlefield had integrated that mindset into her head.

Ela let out a frustrated sigh, deep down she knew she had to break out of this bubble she kept herself in. After going back and forth for what seemed like an eternity and getting nowhere, she decided to take a different approach. Perhaps instead of looking at this from a tactical perspective, maybe she should think about this from a regular perspective. What would a normal person do in this situation?

"Since when do you know anything about normal?" The voices were back, this time she couldn't even tell who's it was. "You said it yourself, you're far from it, chaos is your world, you do a good job of making sure no one can escape it. But I wonder, can you even escape it?"

She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the torment.

"Let's face it, there's no hope for you, you didn't belong as a PMC, you didn't belong in GROM, and you sure as hell don't belong here."

"Stop."

"Everything you try, you are destined for failure, if you track record is anything to go by."

"Please."

"I will admit, I'm kind of surprised, she see's something in you."

"Leave me alone."

"I wonder, what will it take for her to realize that she's wasting her time?"

"Shut up."

"What will it take for her to notice that you're going to let her down, just like you do everyone else?"

"Who are you?"

"What, you don't recognize me Bosak? Come on, it hasn't been that long, only ten years."

"…Nelson."

"There you go."

"What do you want?"

"What? I can't say hi to an old friend? Oh wait, you don't have any friends."

"Why are you here?"

"I was going to ask you the same thing. Look at where you are, this isn't you."

"It was a better path for me."

"Was it? Or are you just running like a coward?"

"I'm not a coward."

"Remember Bosak, I'm in your head, I already know the real reason why you left GROM."

"Well then, get out of my head!"

"Ha, and there it is. You push everything and everyone away. That's why you're scared to simply be alone with her."

"Please just go away."

"Is that what you're going to say to her, when she gets too close?"

"…"

"You can keep pushing all of us away Bosak, but you're going to have to face all of us eventually. Are you going to start with her, while she's still alive? Or are you going to wait until you fuck up and run again?"

"So, she actually blew up your door?"

"Yes, and I'm not the only one."

"She sounds like a fun person to be around." Meghan's mother laughed.

The two had been talking for a while now, the conversation had been slow and awkward at first, but eventually they were able to get the ball rolling. Right now, Meghan was talking about what life was like at Hereford, and the people she worked with. She made sure not to give away anything secret, only first names were allowed to be said, and absolutely no talk about operations.

"Yeah, Eliza is quite the character. She can be a headache at times, but I love her to death, I couldn't ask for a better friend."

"Well, I'm happy to hear that you enjoy the company of your coworkers."

"I trust them with my life." Her mother got quiet. "Mom?"

"Sorry, it's just…I worry about you, you know."

"I know."

"I remember how devastated you were when you found out you couldn't compete in the Olympics. I wasn't sure what you were going to do, and then you came home one day saying that you wanted to be a Navy SEAL. At first, I thought you were being overly ambitious, or maybe you were just trying to prove yourself after you were told you couldn't compete. I never thought you would spend the next thirteen years fighting wars."

"I want to serve my country and do some good. You know that."

"I know, I know and I'm so unbelievably proud of you Meghan, I couldn't even describe how proud I was to see you get your trident. It's just hard, not knowing when I'm going to see you or hear from you again…or if I'll get the call."

"I understand. But it's part of the life I chose."

"I know, but are you happy?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean are you truly happy with where you are in life?"

"Of course, I don't regret anything."

"Not regretting and being happy are two different things."

"I…"

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."

"It's alright."

"Now I'm just thankful to hear that you friend's like Eliza looking out for you."

"Yeah, she and her girlfriend are pretty remarkable."

"Girlfriend?"

"Oh right, she's dating another operative here in Rainbow, they've been together for about two years now."

"Good for them…so, what about you?"

"Mom…" Meghan rolled her eyes.

"You're thirty-one, I just thought maybe by now you might have found somebody."

"Well, I'm not exactly focused on that at the moment."

"Fair enough, but you're not getting any younger."

"Mom!"

"Your body won't be in its prime forever, and it won't be easy once all you have is your dense personality."

"MOM!"

"I'm just saying, if you want to settle down one day, you can't wait forever."

"You and Eliza would get along great, and that terrifies me."

"I would certainly like to meet her one day, if possible."

"Definitely." Meghan again looked at her watch and noted the time. "Hey, I've got to go, I have plans tonight."

"Of course. It was nice of you to call."

"It was good to hear from you too."

"Don't be afraid to call more often either."

"Of course."

"I love you sweetie, take care."

"I love you too mom, talk to you soon."

With that, the call was ended. Meghan wasn't sure how that conversation was going to turn out, but now she regretted waiting so long to make the call. It had been the first time she had talked to her mother since she had left to join Rainbow over a year ago. When she had first decided to become a Navy SEAL, her mother was apprehensive. Yes, she was incredibly proud of her daughter, but no parent enjoys worrying about getting a call that their child was killed. There was a lot about the past thirteen years that she kept hidden from her mother, because she knew it would destroy her to know the things she had seen and done.

Overall, she was happy she made the call, but the part about her being happy confused her. The answer should have been easy, yes, she was happy where she was, but when she was asked, she couldn't say it. Was she not happy where she was? No, there was no way, true there were many downsides to her lifestyle, but that comes with any path she could have chosen. But maybe it wasn't so much as she wasn't happy, as much as something felt like it was missing.

"Hey Meg." Meghan hadn't noticed Eliza and Monika enter the room.

"Hey. You two heading out?"

"Yeah, we're going to a restaurant we've wanted to try across town."

"You're still welcome to join us." Monika offered.

"Thanks, but I've got my own plans tonight." Meghan responded.

"Suit yourself." The two turned to leave.

"Siu isn't going?"

"No, James took both her and Liu to some theme park he always likes to go to."

"Sounds like a fun time."

"Well, he is a thrill seeker, anyways, we should get going."

"You two behave yourselves." She called as they walked away. Eliza merely turned around and winked, she then wrapped an arm around Monika's waist. They definitely were not going to behave themselves.

Meghan checked her watch one more time, it was bout that time that she gave Ela to meet her here. There was no sign of the Polish girl, Meghan honestly knew she shouldn't be surprised. She sighed, put her phone in her pocket and began to walk out of the building.

"Meghan."

The SEAL turned around, and saw the woman currently occupying her thoughts. "Ela, hey!" She was filled with happiness now that her friend hadn't stood her up. "You ready?"

The girl nodded, "Where exactly are we going."

"A small place not far from here."

Ela was still clearly apprehensive but followed Meghan out of the barracks.

"I'm really glad you decided to join me."

As usual she simply nodded in response.

"We're not doing anything crazy Ela, you don't have to worry.

"I'm not worried." It was a lie, she didn't know what to make of the situation, and it terrified her, but there was no way in hell she would let Meghan see that.

"Okay, good. It's not far so we're just going to walk there."

Soon both women left the gates of Hereford base and were on their way to whatever activity Meghan had planned for them. Ela was just hoping that she wouldn't regret this.

Author's note: So this chapter got kind of too real for me, part of that phone call was based an actual phone call I had with my mom a couple years ago. Anyways, we will finally see a lot more bonding between Meg and Ela in the next chapter. As always, hope you enjoyed and feel free to leave a review. Until next time.