Half-Pint looked at Shark. "You alright? You seem a little saddened tonight."
Shark smiled. "I was thinking of an old friend."
"What's going on with you and Scream?"
"It's a long story and I just don't feel like talking about it." Shark sighed.
Suddenly Scream popped his head in the tent. "Let's move it! Got some enemy action ahead and there's a bunch of my brothers out there getting their asses shot at."
Shark and Half-Pint grabbed their gear and ran to the Humvees. Half-Pint looked at Shark. "I thought they wouldn't let women NEAR combat." She joked.
"You're not." Scream shouted. "You're merely hauling our asses there and then you're returning to base camp.
"Shit." Half-Pint sighed as she started the Humvee. "How come guys get all the fun?"
"You think this shit is fun?" Scream retorted. "Watching all your friends die and get maimed…you think it's fun?
"That's not what I meant, and you know it, Scream. I just had sitting on the sidelines." Half-Pint knew Scream understood. She grew up with Staff Sergeant Christopher Andrew Silas being around. Shit. When I was 10, I had this crush on him. He was my first official crush. She laughed in memory of writing in her diary "Courtney loves Chris" with a heart drawn around it. She even planned their wedding. Scream knew this and he thought it was cute that Captain Baron's only daughter had a crush, but it was just that: A crush. The more Half-Pint got to know Scream, the more she wondered if he was really human or just some half-man/half-android without emotion.
Without warning, the Humvee was suddenly hit by an IED and knocked on its side. Again, the goddamned déjà vu shit! Scream hustled out, hoping to find everyone okay. "Sound off, assholes!" Scream shouted.
"Angel."
"Smoke."
"Dim."
"Spitfire."
"Twig."
"Warhorse."
"Shark."
"Half-Pint."
"Double Wide."
"Mrs. B."
Silence. "Goddamnit, Tariq! Fucking sound off." Scream shouted. Half-Pint could see in her mirror a Soldier motionless. Without thought, she rushed to him. "Dammit, Half-Pint! Stay low!"
She gently shook the shoulders. "Come on, Tariq. Come on, buddy. Open those lovely dark eyes of yours." She could hear him breathing so she knew he was alive. "Scream!" She yelled.
Scream ran over to her. "What is it?"
"Tariq, Staff."
Scream looked at Tariq. "He's okay, right? Tell me he's okay!" Scream seemed frantic. This shit is just how Kev died. Tariq, if you die, so help me God, I'll fucking kill you!
Half-Pint looked at Scream. "Yes, he's fine. He's alive, but he's been knocked hard. We've got to get him back and have Major Black look at him to make sure there's nothing serious."
Scream knew she was right, but he hated the thought of letting Tariq go back. He looked at her. "Fine. Get in Washburn's Humvee and take him back." He walked back to Shark. "Tariq was hit. He's fine, but you and your girls are going to get your wish. You get to see fucking combat."