Web found Jack just inside the grounds, laid on his side tugging at his leg cursing loudly in between bouts of haggard coughs. One of the walls had tumbled over from the impact, it looked as though the blast had sent Jack reeling into the crumbling mess and one of his legs was trapped under the small pile of brick. Announcing his presence Web ran over and quickly began pushing the concrete away as Jack had been, not looking out for any hostiles; they would be shocked by the bomb and looking for survivors inside the destruction barely a hundred yards away.
Once free Web helped Jack up, pulling his arm around his neck to help him stand, his leg was injured; he didn't know how badly and now wasn't the time to examine it.
"Come on," Web urged angrily when Jack didn't move with him; instead he was trying to move towards the heaps of rubble; shouts and screams were coming from the chaos; Web could smell smoke too.
"I need to find Mark," he snapped, looking into the distance of the mess through the goggles, breathing heavily through his anger.
"We need to leave before this mission is totally compromised," Web snapped back angrily, trying to move again, but Jack wouldn't be budged.
"I lost two men," Jack roared, pushing Web away, "we got caught up in our own blast and we can't contact our God damn rescue team! Tell me how this can get any worse," he yelled, throwing his hands up in the air in frustration.
He could see how Web flinched when he shouted, if they could hear shouts the shouters could hear them. He was nervous of being caught of killed. Jack signed, feeling even worse about this situation they were trapped in as he ran his hands through his hair. He ignored the sharp jagged throb in his leg as he put all weight onto it; unwilling to submit to the pain.
"I'm sorry," he said, quieter, "you go; but I can't leave Mark here."
"Jack Mark is dead. He wouldn't want us all to die because of him, and neither would Chris. We need to leave now, Michael and Scott are waiting for us. We're putting them in danger too."
Sighing Jack nodded, glad for the terrible conditions and equipment they were wearing; the man wouldn't see his watering eyes.
"Okay… but I'm not leaving Chris."
Web nodded, relieved; they had to leave soon or they would be caught, the voices from earlier were slowing down - the initial shock had worn off - now they would be wanting retaliation. Running over to Chris' body Web threw him over his shoulder and began to move South to the extraction point, Jack keeping up with him, limping on the leg but not letting it show. Web knew better than to question him, they needed to get out of there.
Both men slowed there run down to a jog as they entered the thick woods again, although it would slow them down it would also provide cover. The once hard mud was now slippery and soft, there feet sinking into it with each step, causing them to stumble up and down the sloping land. Jack tried to get through to Walsh on the second channel on the radio. Still static, Jack threw his radio at one of the trees in anger, knowing he shouldn't leave anything behind but not caring. He was leaving a man behind; what was a piece of equipment?
This was the route the men would have taken; one they were originally planned to take together. He could make out sloppy boot prints in the mud where the brush was sparse. He felt relieved knowing they were his men's footprints - two sets - they would be safe by the choppers landing point.
The rain started to fall harder and so Jack ripped the goggles from his head tossing them on the ground, his own eyes were better in the darkness than the smeared vision they were giving him. Web did the same when they stopped for a minutes rest as Jack checked there location on the PDA, they were on the right track. They pulled themselves back into standing positions, Jack brushing his sopping wet hair back away from his head as he helped Web pick Chris up, both carrying the man together. Webs radio burst alive just as they set off again, it was Scott.
"Web!" The voice yelled, border lining on hysterical.
"I'm here talk to me," he said, his heart pounding in his chest. Oh God please, not another complication…
"Where's Jack his radio isn't answering me, is he okay?"
"He's fine, he lost his radio - what's up?" He could hear the panic and pain in the mans voice, if he hadn't been soaked through his worried sweat would have been visible.
"I'm hit, Michaels down," he yelled, trying to make himself herd over the wind. Jack sensed the sound of detachment in his voice, it was cold and hard - he was in survival mode.
Was Michael dead? Web didn't dare ask. "Where are you now?"
"I'm.. I'm about one click from the evac. point. I took one of the men out a few kilometres back, when I lost Michael. I was chased, there were two left, I ran to lure them away from Michael," he gasped, "one of their shots hit me - they left after, circling back."
Jack and Web looked at each other, these men could be anywhere.
"Try get to the chopper Scott, keep moving all right?"
Scott nodded, not having the strength to talk anymore, before rolling over and stumbling back to his feet. Jack was looking at the ground. He finally spoke, his voice quiet and distant as Scott's had been.
"You need to get Chris to the chopper, I'm looking for Michael."
"What! No way Jack - Mike could be anywhere Jack, and think about this - two men are out there somewhere, maybe more - I can't face them alone with Chris to take back too."
"Fine," Jack snapped, grabbing Chris again with Web as they moved onwards. Jack didn't voice his intentions to go back to find Michael and Mark once Web and Scott were safely back in the chopper. 'Never leave a man behind,' he thought to himself, he wasn't leaving without all 5 of his men. Even if that meant he would be leaving in a body bag himself. He would leave nobody behind.