Andy sat down and watched Milo out of the window. A younger woman walked up to Andy's row.

"Is this seat taken?" The woman asked Andy.

Andy shook her head, and motioned for the woman to sit down. She did, and turned to Andy, sticking out her right hand.

"I'm Lieutenant Olivia Stabler," the dark haired woman replied, smiling.

Andy shook her hand. "Colonel Andy Campbell. Nice to meet you."

They both sat back in their seats as the plane took off. Andy waved to Milo, and watched as his figure got smaller, and smaller, until it disappeared. She started to tear up, and pulled out a picture of her family that had been taken a few days earlier after Milo had come home. She looked over at Olivia next to her, who was crying as well.

"Does it get any easier?" Olivia asked Andy.

Andy shook her head. "I'm afraid it just gets harder. I haven't been on active duty for seven years…" she said sighing.

Olivia nodded, and blew her nose. "You have a beautiful family," she said, pointing to the picture Andy was holding.

Andy smiled. "Thank you."

"Is that your husband?" Olivia asked.

Andy shook her head. "It's my fiancé. I've known him for five years…" she added, tearing up again.

Olivia looked shocked. "And you still haven't gotten married?"

Andy laughed. "It's a long story. Milo and I were dating, but he had to go into the WPP. Long story short, he's back. These are our sons, Patrick and Richard. They are three. And my daughters, Jesse, who is 16, and Lizzy, who is 14."

Olivia nodded, and pulled out a picture of her own. "This is my husband Elliot, and our three year old daughter Mariska. This is my first time on active duty leaving a family behind."

Andy nodded. "Handsome family. It'll get better…as time goes by, you start counting the days until you go home. But everyone's in the same boat, so we all help each other out," she said, patting Olivia's hand.

Olivia nodded. "Thanks Andy. What platoon are you in?"

"I'm the general surgeon for platoon 6. You?" Andy replied.

"I'm in platoon 6. I guess we'll be bunking together," Olivia said smiling.

Andy nodded. "Get some sleep while you can. You'll need it when we get Iraq," she advised Olivia, while pulling out a blanket and pillow for herself.

Olivia nodded, and did the same. They closed their eyes, and didn't open them until the pilot announced their arrival in Iraq, about 17 hours later.

Andy yawned, and looked over at Olivia, who was still sleeping. She placed her hands on Olivia's shoulders, and shook her gently. "Olivia, it's time to wake up. We've arrived."

Olivia opened her eyes, and rubbed them. "Already?" She asked, not believing that she had slept that long.

Andy nodded, and stood up to get her bag. They exited the plane together, and walked across the base to their barracks. They would be staying on base for a week or so before being sent out into the desert. Andy and Olivia were going to bunk together, being the only women in their platoon. Andy sat down to write an e-mail to her family before dinner.

" Dearest family,

I've just arrived here in Iraq. Our platoon will be staying on base for a week before being sent into the desert. The plane ride was okay. I met a younger woman, Lieutenant Olivia Stabler. We're the only two women in our platoon, so it's a good thing we get along! She has a three-year-old daughter named Mariska, and her husband is Elliot. This is her first time being a mother and wife and having to be deployed. It's rather hard on her, but I can't say that it's easy for me either. We slept most of the 17-hour trip over here. That will probably be the most sleep we get in a while. I miss you guys already. I've got pictures of you tacked up around my bed, so your faces are the last thing I see each night, and the first thing I see each morning. Take care of each other, and be good for your father. I promise to stay safe, and come home as soon as I can. I'll write as often as possible. I love you.

Love, Mommy."

She pressed send, and then changed into her fatigues before going to dinner with Olivia.