Tariq sat still. He didn't know what he had just heard, but it scared the shit out of him. "What do you suppose it was, Angel?"

Angel shrugged. "Don't rightly know." Just then, a fireball light up the night. "SHIT!" Angel ducked.

Scream came running out with Shark behind him. "What was that? Everyone all right?"

Tariq laid on his back, staring at the stars. It was too close for comfort and knocked the wind out of him. "I'm fine, Sarge. Just a little breathless."

Scream raised his weapon. "Goddamnit! Angel, you come with me. Shark, you take Tariq where it's safer."

Tariq stood up and Shark watched Scream and Angel creep away. "Half-Pint! Spitfire! Get your asses out here! NOW!" The two young ladies ran to their Sergeant. "Go with Scream and Angel. Take care of them. They're going to need it."

Scream heard footsteps behind him and turned around. He lowered his gun when he saw it was Half-Pint and Spitfire. "What the fuck do you two want?"

Half-Pint bit her lip. She had this habit of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time in attempts to lighten the mood. "Shark told us to help you."

"Do we look like we need help?" Scream looked at Half-Pint.

"INCOMING!" Spitfire yelled and the group hit the deck. The RPG missed them by a few yards, but it sprayed sand all over. Spitfire stood up and looked at Scream. "Don't need help, do you? Would you have seen that RPG?"

"If I wasn't talking to you I would have, you Dumbass." He retorted.

"You have a problem with my Private, Staff?" Half-Pint challenged.

"No, with you, Specialist."

"I see." Half-Pint looked at Spitfire. "Maybe we should leave the macho men alone to do what it is that macho men do. After all, we all know that women are totally incapable of handling shit and protecting themselves." They walked off.

"Stop!" Angel yelled. "After your shot today, Half-Pint, it looks like you're the one protecting us." He looked at Scream. "They should help us out."

"Whatever." Scream walked off.

Half-Pint caught up. "What's your problem with me?"

Scream huffed. "You're lying."

Half-Pint stood still. "Lying, Staff?"

Scream faced her. "You don't learn shit like what you showed from watching The Discovery Channel and a hunter father. You learn it from experience."

"Did I ever say what type of hunter my dad was?" Half-Pint challenged. "All I said was he was a hunter. Never once said he hunted animals."

Scream looked at her with disbelief. "You mean to tell me that your father was…"

"A Green Beret." She headed off to the East, where she thought she saw some movement.

Scream followed. "Again, I say bullshit."

"Shut up, Staff!" Half-Pint softly yelled. "There's an insurgent over to the East." She raised and steadied her gun.