Title: Back To Barak, Chapter Two

Disclaimer: "Over There" and all its characters belong to FX Networks and other entities that may have been involved with its production. No infringement of copyright is intended. This story was written for personal enjoyment and to share with other "Over There" fans.

Summary: When Lieutenant Hunter volunteers the squad to infiltrate and capture Iraqi insurgents, all hell breaks loose.

Warning: Be warned that this story does include depictions of war; these depictions may describe consequential injuries and death, and while not over graphic, they may cause some readers discomfort. Please read at your own risk.


Still seething, but having regained his composure, Silas strode quickly toward the large tent that housed his squad, and stuck his head thru the entrance flap.

"Fire Team Death Street!"

The squad, one or two still in various stages of dressing, all turned quickly at the sound of his voice.

"Let's go! Up and at 'em! "

"What? No good morning?" quipped a barely awake Dim, causing the rest of the squad to laugh under their breath.

Silas stepped into the tent, his eyes narrowing. "You are to get yourselves to the mess hall, and get yourselves back here within the next hour. Upon returning, you will join Sgt Malatucci's squad loading two vehicles with supplies. When you've finished, I expect you geared up and ready to move out by 0-1300 hours. And I mean at exactly 0-1300 goddamned hours! You got that Dim?" he screamed.

"Yes, sergeant! " Dim replied, quickly jumping to his feet.

"You all got that?" Silas asked, looking from man to man.

"Yes,Sergeant!

"Yes, sir!"

"And don't call me sir, goddamned it!" he snapped, then turned quickly on his heel and stormed out of the tent, leaving the men to look at one another and shrug.

"Fuck!" said Dim, looking at his squad-mates. "Who peed in his Wheaties?"


The Humvee rolled down the uneven half-paved and dirt road, bouncing up and down like a yo-yo, jostling the five passengers in the rear of the vehicle. They'd been sitting on the hard wooden benches for the past two hours, occasionally reaching out a hand to prevent themselves from falling over onto the deck.

"Yo, Mrs. B!" – Smoke yelled out.

"Don't call me that!" came a plaintive wail from the front seat.

"You got ta find every pothole in I-raq!" Smoke called. "Got-damned roads here make the roads in Compton look like-"

"Zip it, Smoke! I've had about all the Compton comparisons I can take today!" Scream snapped testily, before rising from his bench. He reached one hand up to hold onto the flimsy camouflage covering overhead, and made his way to the area behind the front seat where Mrs. B and Doublewide were sitting. Leaning forward behind Mrs. B's head he said," Keep your eyes open, we should see signs for Barak about a mile from where we are now."

"Got it Sergeant!"

"Doublewide, keep your eyes open for any movement; you see anything, you tell me and get ready to shoot it! I'll watch Mrs. B's side." With that he sat down behind the driver's seat and pushed aside the camouflage covering enough to create a small window to watch thru.

"Yes sir, sergeant."

Meanwhile the rest of the squad watched what was going on in the front of the vehicle. Dim leaned forward and the rest of the men followed suit.

"I don't know what has the Sergeant so pissed off, but I have a funny feeling, and that's not good." Dim whispered.

"Shit! All you got to do is take a look behind us and you don't got ta wonder no more." Smoke hissed back, gesturing with his hand at the smaller vehicle behind them which contained several more soldiers. Lieutenant Hunter was up top, manning the M2-machine gun with a smug look on his face.

"Nah…." Tariq whispered back, shaking his head side to side." Dim's right. There's something's bothering the sergeant and I don't think it's just Underpants. I think something's' up with this mission and he's not happy about it."

"What mission? We don't have any idea where we're going and that's not -"

"Maybe next time you should all whisper so I don't hear you." Scream commented, standing no less then a foot away and catching the men off guard.

"Uh…" Dim began.

"Sergeant?" began Tariq, who was the closest to him. "We were wondering why you hadn't told us exactly where we were going and what we'd be doing. You usually let us know what's what. And with Lt. Hunter along for the ride, well……."

"It's about the mission, isn't it, sergeant? Angel asked." Something's bothering you."

Silas exhaled forcefully and sat down on the bench beside Tariq. He removed his helmet from his head, and shook it out of force of habit; he then removed his I-COM as well, and ran a hand over his close cut hair. He motioned for them to lean forward. "Seems we can thank our old friends Colonel Ryan and General Downer again for this. The word is battalion was looking for a team to go into an area where there's been a lot of insurgent activity. I heard it was between us and another platoon and apparently Underpants jumped up and volunteered us; not because he thought we could do the job, but because he thought it would earn points with Ryan."

"Geezz….Another shit mission?" Tariq said glumly.

"We seriously need a new specialty." Dim quipped

"Got that right Dim-wit…I'm about tired of shit!" Smoke responded. "So what's so bad about this mission?"

"Our job is to infiltrate the Iraqi lines around this town, then find and apprehend the group of insurgents and take them into custody. He paused. "We're heading towards Barak."

"Barak? Dim asked, clearly agitated. "He volunteered us to-"

"What? What's in Barak? That raggedy-ass town where we had road block duty?"

Smoke interjected, now clearly concerned.

"Yeah," Angel answered. "'Cept now it's overrun by insurgents who've been bombing our troops and our supply trucks; they bombed a US journalist and his crew, too…Good lord!"

Tariq looked at Silas. "Anything else you worried about Sergeant?"

"Why? That's not enough for you?" Silas retorted, turning to look at Tariq.

"What's bad about it is that I don't trust that Lieutenant Hunter's made sure we'll have enough coverage and support to do this thing right. Captain Baron says battalion swore to him that we'd have plenty of troops going in with us, and back up support, ground, and air. I want to believe that's true, but if he hasn't-"

"We're shit outta luck" Dim replied.

"Detroit looks so good just now……" Tariq quipped.

"Anywhere else looks good right about now." Smoke replied.

"Our friends, Ryan, Downer and Hunter…" From Dim.

"You mean Moe, Larry and Curly?" Angel asked.

"That about covers it, Angel." Silas said nodding.

"Sergeant?" Mrs. B. yelled back. "I just saw the first sign for Barak!"

There was suddenly a loud squelching sound beside Silas and he realized it was coming from his ICOM, which he grabbed and placed back on his head.

"Rawhide Six, this is Rawhide One, "he heard Hunter call.

"Rawhide One this is Rawhide Six. -" Silas screamed into the microphone, feeling a small surge of glee as he watched Lt. Hunter wince at the volume of his response.

"Rawhide Six, pull over!"

"Didn't anyone ever tell this guy, it's not a good idea to pull over on a deserted road, in the middle of a war?" asked Tariq?

"Hang back a minute, Rawhide One," Silas answered back, gesturing for the vehicle behind him to slow down and give his vehicle room. The driver of the smaller vehicle saw it and gave him a nod, before slowing.

"Should I be pulling over Sergeant?" Mrs. B asked.

"No! Just slow down enough for Dim and Smoke to get out." Then turning toward the two men,"Check for any signs of IED's or anything that could be a bomb, or anything that looks suspicious. If its okay, we'll stop right here!" He yelled.

"Doublewide! You check out your window, anything looks suspicious, you yell!"

"Right Sergeant, she replied as Dim and Smoke jumped carefully from the back of the truck. When they were certain there was nothing suspicious, Silas had them stop on the road and ordered everyone out, reminding them to be careful.

Lt. Hunter's vehicle had followed and stopped about 10 feet behind them. As soon as Hunter exited his vehicle, he began to yell at Silas. "Sergeant, I gave you a direct order to pull over-"

"Which I followed, once I ascertained that there were no signs of IED's, as I'm sure you expected me to. Wouldn't do to have us all blow up, sir! "Silas replied.

He heard a soft snort from behind him and recognized it as having come from Dim.

Hunter was momentarily at a loss for words; thinking that he had in some way been belittled, he responded rather sarcastically, "Yes, Sergeant of course that's what I expected! I shouldn't have to remind my people how to do their jobs!"

"Now, we'll be heading onto this road here," He said pointing to a small meandering road, "and entering Barak via the bridge. Intel says the bridge has not been compromised, so this is where we will take cover and hold up until nightfall. Now-"

"Excuse me, Lieutenant," Sergeant Malatucci asked. "What about the road leading to the bridge? Do we know whether or not it's controlled by the insurgents? And if so, will we have additional support? It's not just us, am I right Lieutenant?"

Hunter stood taping his foot impatiently while Malatucci was speaking, and then responded as though speaking to child who lacked the sufficient mentality to comprehend. "We have exactly all the support we need right here, sergeant! Obviously any ground or air activity would give our position away!"

"Well, that answered that question." Mrs. B whispered.

"Now as I was saying," Hunter began with a seething look at Malatucci," we will take cover at the bridge. Sergeant Malatucci's team will go in and scout the area; then at sometime before dawn, we will proceed into Barak on foot and prepare to make our stand."

"Dear Lord, not another stand, "whispered Angel, who was standing behind Silas.

"What I want to know is if we're Custer's troops or the Indians," Dim cracked, standing beside Angel.

"I think we're the Indians." said Tariq

"Who won?" Smoke asked.

From behind him "Not the Indians," hissed Doublewide.

"Shh!" Said Silas under his breath.

"You all have your orders. Sergeant Silas your vehicle will follow behind mine and the Sgt Malatucci's will fall back behind you. Move out," He yelled and headed back to his own vehicle.

"You heard the man," Scream yelled. "Mount up!"