Disclaimer: Arg, having to do this all the time is annoying… don't own anything, the characters are Matt Reilly's… just read… and review….
The team trudged through the inky blackness, their steps crunching on the dry earth. Schofield figured a short jog before the briefing would keep the team members awake long enough for him to explain their plans.
"What's with the death march, sir?" Hare asked jokingly.
"Good exercise. Plus it will help you sleep." Schofield replied, grinning. They came to a stop outside the building and stretched.
"Alright, we'll grab something to eat and meet in the office at 2100 hours." Schofield addressed the weary team before they went inside.
Hawk sat down at the small table in the tiny kitchen and glanced around. Rebound, Curry and Mother were sitting at the table with him. Hare, Princeton and Lowe were sitting on the floor with their backs against the wall and plates on their laps while Schofield and Gant were standing up, eating at opposite ends of the kitchen.
"Hey, where's the gray poupon?" He joked. Everyone started laughing and before they knew it, a joke contest had started.
"No, no! I've got one," Curry started over the noise, "A priest, a garbage man and Madonna walk into a bar-"
Hawk rolled his eyes and tuned out the joke. Instead, he noticed Gant staring at Scarecrow. Schofield didn't seem to notice and Gant turned her eyes back to Curry, who was still ranting. Hawk then saw Schofield look up at Gant, who was oblivious and he, after a few moments, turned his attention back to Curry. Hawk watched the two repeat the cycle unknowingly for as long as five minutes before a sudden moaning disturbed his concentration.
"Aw that was horrible!" Mother gagged as Curry grinned.
"Man that sucked. Who's got a better one?" Princeton asked through a mouthful of food.
Hawk saw Schofield put his plate down and leave the room quietly. Hawk followed.
"Scarecrow?" Hawk watched the lean figure that rested against a window.
"What?" Schofield asked, turning.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Shoot."
"It's kind of personal."
Schofield paused. Personal questions were usually about his eyes and he wasn't sure that he wanted to talk about them so soon after his bare-all conversation with Fox.
"What's going on with you and Fox?" Hawk asked, interrupting the silence.
Schofield turned and looked Hawk in the eye, wondering if he had heard right.
"Excuse me?"
"What's going on between you and Fox? And don't lie to me, I can sense these things."
Schofield felt his cheeks heat up at the question. "Nothing." He said after a moment's pause. "She is a member of my team and I am the team's leader. That's it. You know I take care of my Marines."
Hawk put his hands up in a defensive gesture. "I know. No need to get protective. I just saw you guys staring blatantly at each other in the kitchen and was wondering whether there was anything behind those heated glances or what." Hawk snuffed his laughter. The expression on Schofield's face was one of disbelief and surprise. It was obvious that the two had feelings for each other, but were afraid to admit it for various reasons.
"Give it up, Hare. We're just friends."
Hare grinned. "Ah yes. The 'we're just friends' line. Typical, typical."
"Jesus, when we're on leave, everyone gossips like old ladies."
"We can't help it. There's nothing else to do." Hawk replied, chuckling. "Nothing but think and toil in others love lives." He continued seriously. "You've been different lately Scarecrow."
"Different how?"
"You haven't been yourself since the mission in Antarctica."
"Bad stuff happened down there, Andrew."
"You've been too quiet, Shane. Did all that crap really bother you that much?"
Schofield nodded. "Yeah, it did. Two men, Hawk. Two fucking men in my unit from the ICG! Jesus!" He turned away, disgusted. "That's why I'm glad you're here. I'm paranoid that someone here is going to turn out to be involved with the ICG."
"Fat chance of that happening. Most of them are out of service, Scarecrow. 'Pressure from above' I like to call it. Of course, there were a few individuals who were so high up that they could apply some of their own pressure and there were those who flat out denied it and people believed them." Hawk sighed. "What I'm trying to say is that it's virtually impossible that anyone here is ICG. They'd either be gone or I would know it." He grinned and Schofield slowly smiled.
"Yeah… you're right." He clapped a hand on Hawk's shoulder. "Well, time for the briefing."
"Oh joy!" Hawk replied with fake enthusiasm.
"Here's the plan, Marines." Schofield stood behind the desk in the small office; all of his Marines were seated in front of him. "Our orders are to find out what happened to a) the scientists in the SAL and b) the U.S. Navy's ship the Constitution. Hawk will stay here as our radio contact while the rest of us head out to the location of the last whereabouts of the ship. Officer Lowe and Mother will stay on our transport."
"Any reason why, sir?" Mother inquired, accepting the fact that she has to stay out of action. Schofield had addressed her before they left for Chile that because of her leg; she wouldn't be able to get in the thick of everything.
"You'll be watching for any surface action. The most probable explanation for the Constitution's disappearance is an attack. Most likely a nuclear attack. Watch for any suspicious ships, planes, subs, you name it, I want to know about it. To the rest of you- that means six of us have a three-hour dive. I'm pairing everyone up. You are responsible for keeping your partner covered. If one of you is wounded, use your radio to contact Princeton. Oh, that's another thing, do NOT split up at any cost. We don't know what's down there or who may be waiting for us. Be sharp."
Author's Note: I will continue this soon. I am one of those dumb people who writes out things in notebooks and then transfers them onto computer… the story is almost finished on paper, I just need to get around to putting them into electronic form.
