Usual disclaimers apply.

Author's Note: To those of you dedicated fans of this story (rhnsz, coffeecrzy88, iluvharry, beep…bop, DavyCopperfield, missy-h, DarkGenie, LukeSkywalka:), YellowCard, Anononline, JamesDean, AngelDarkness, SarahSmashie, Goodfriend, SchofieldFan, Busted, Incensio Lady, Kestral, dark1, A.J9), thanks for your patience with my utter incompetence at getting this finished. I've been having issues with time management and trying to get it switched from hand-written notes to the computer. I haven't actually finished the story yet (eep), but I will… eventually… hopefully sooner rather than later. Thank you all so much for reviewing, it made me get off my ass and realize people actually like this.

ICE STATION CONTINUED

Part 14

Thirty-six hours later, the team met in Schofield's office in USMC headquarters. There was a slim, dark-haired woman sitting in a chair to the side that everyone, but Princeton failed to notice.

"This is Abby King of the FBI. She's going to help us investigate the incident in Chile." Schofield replied after Princeton asked about her.

"Actually," King added as she got up from her chair, "I'm heading up a small team of special investigators who are looking into this catastrophe/ You guys can help by telling us about those radio broadcasts that you heard, but we'll deal with that later."

Rebound knew that he would probably be that one to supple that information, seeing as it was he who understood the messages. He took a long, hard look at Abby King. She had shoulder-length black hair and blue eyes. He judged her to be in her late 20s. She was very good-looking and he hoped she hadn't got word of his nickname.

"We'll have to reconvene later in the day as we have some business to attend to." Schofield's voice cut through Rebound's appraisal. King shook everyone's hand before leaving. Rebound watched her leave.

"I've made a decision about informing Mother's ex-husband and her daughter about her death." Schofield began, "I think I'd rather go alone." On seeing his marines' confused looks, he added, "It's less personal if there are seven people there. It will be better if it's just one-on-one." Gant and Rebound made to protest, but he cut them off, "I'm going alone. You are all dismissed."

Five of the marines nodded and left. Schofield sat down at his desk without looking up and glanced through some briefings in a folder before he sensed another person in the room. He glanced up and sighed, shaking his head.

"I already told you, Fox… I'm going alone."

"Permission to speak freely, sir?"

Schofield's eyes hardened slightly. "Denied. I'm sorry, but I've dismissed you. That's an order. Now if you don't mind Fox, I have to go inform someone's six-year-old daughter that her mother died in a 'routine exercise' off the coast of Chile." He got up and started to put on his jacket.

"What? What do you mean 'routine exercise'?" Gant took the folder off his desk and flipped through it quickly before stopping to scan a press release. "You've got to be kidding me." She muttered.

Schofield took the folder out of her hands and put it back on the desk. He reached into a desk drawer and pulled out a folded American flag and what appeared to be a G.I. Joe doll.

"Uh, sir-"

"Now is not the time, Fox. You are dismissed. That is final. Goodbye." He didn't wait for her to move. Instead, he threw open the door and strode out.

Gant's mouth dropped open at his attitude. He was still blaming himself for all the deaths at Wilkes, even though he had told her that he was relatively alright.

"What a hypocrite," She said under her breath. He was pushing her away just after he had stated that he needed her support.

Instead of leaving, Gant wandered around his office, noticing that it was devoid of any personal belongings. There was a small picture of Schofield's mother and father on his desk, but other than that there was nothing… or so it seemed.

She came across a small safe hidden behind a few large books on a shelf. She grinned widely, knowing that she could crack it due to some lessons from her slightly rebellious older brother when she was young.

The last number clicked and she prised the door open. Inside were a number of documents, pictures, small objects that most likely held some sort of significance for Schofield.

There was a picture of him when he had just entered the armed forces, free of his sunglasses.

So his eyes really are blue. Gant smiled.

There were a few more pictures of his early flying days, when he was less serious and had a smile on his face for most of them.

Then she came across an old team photo from what appeared to be the early to mid-90s. Schofield has circled one woman's head with a thick red marker. She also found a picture of the team from last year and saw a similar mark around her head in the same colour. She found herself panicking, wondering if she was about to be picked off bu some sniper involved in a complex triangle of deceit.

There was another copy of the photo stapled to the back and Gant winced. Schofield had put large X's over the faces of the team members who had died at Wilkes. Yet another photo, taken just weeks previously of the four Wilkes survivors and Schofield had ripped Mother out of the photo completely.

Gant stuffed everything back in the safe, not wanting to see any more, or know what was going on in Schofield's head.

As she was leaving, she almost collided with a man in a uniform.

"Sorry," She looked up at his face and smiled, "I didn't see you there."

He smiled back before replying, "That's okay." He continued walking down the hallway. Gant turned away, just realizing he was wearing a pilot's uniform. What she didn't realize was that he was turning around to glance at her every ten seconds as he walked down the hallway.

"I'm just going to ask you a few questions… okay, I'm lying. I'm going to ask you a lot of questions, but you are the only one who heard the transmission that could translate it." Abby King addressed Rebound as he sat in a large chair in front of her desk.

"Okay, shoot." He grinned, but stopped as he saw her serious face. He cleared his throat uncomfortably.

King glanced at him questioningly, then began the interrogation.

"Please state your name."

"Robert Simmons."

She gave him an amused smile.

"I see your call sign is 'Rebound' – believe me, you don't need to explain," She said quickly, as he opened his mouth to do just that, "you were in the S.A.L. on July 6th?"

"Yes, I was." Rebound replied in a serious tone.

"And you head a radio transmission in what sounded like Japanese?"

"No."

Her face showed her surprise.

"No? – but you said - "

"It didn't sound like Japanese. It was Japanese. Believe me, I grew up with a Japanese aunt, not by blood of course, but she married my mother's - "

"Okay, okay, I get it. It was Japanese," She shook her head, "Now what was the subject of this transmission?"

"It basically said that they had released a torpedo and the next thing we knew, our two teammates on the surface were blown to bits!" His voice rose as he spoke, still angry about what had happened.

"And where do you think this torpedo came from?"

He paused before answering confidently,

"Had to be a submarine. Though I don't know many that can stick around for three to four weeks about 1000 miles from their country's base. Another thing I don't understand is-"

"Sorry, Corporal, we're here to discuss what you do understand," She cut him off abruptly, "It came from a submarine. Did they happen to mention the name of the submarine?"

Rebound racked his brain for a few moments, but all he could think about were those seconds where they lost contact with Mother and he realized she was dead.

"I… I'm sorry… I can't – I can't remember."

She sighed, showing her dismay, then she recovered.

"That's alright. Take all the time you need. You can contact me here if you remember anything. You're free to go, Corporal." She stood up and shook his hand, and he left in a daze. She was very business-like. He figured it was such a shock to him because he was always around laid-back soldiers all day.

He was also surprised by her obvious dislike of him. She kept cutting him off and frowning. He hoped he'd never have to talk to her again.