Scream stood outside, with Smoke and Angel, looking at the smoke rising on the horizon. They said nothing, but nothing needed to be said. They all knew that he was dead. Mrs. B and DoubleWide stood with them, trying to keep from crying. Captain Callahan looked down at the small fire team. He heard from Captain Baron about how close they were and from his vantage point, he could see it.

Mrs. B sat on the deck. "I can't quite believe that we're not going to go out there again and he won't be there."

Scream sat next to her. "I know." He fought the tears. Angel, Smoke, and DoubleWide joined the circle. "The question is how to tell Dim."

Angel wiped a tear. "It'll kill him."

Smoke was through playing it tough. "I promised him I wouldn't let him die." The tears flowed down the former gang member's face, washing dirt and soot away.

Smoke held Tariq's hand, quietly assuring the young Soldier that he was going to be okay. "When we're home, I'll take you out for a drink, Ahab."

Tariq got used to Smoke calling him 'Ahab'. It became their inside joke. Through the blood and the pain, Tariq smiled up at Smoke. "My name's Tariq." His eyes stared up at Smoke, but saw nothing. His labored breathing stopped and his hand suddenly laxed, falling out of Smoke's grip.

Smoke lost it. He started pounding on his friend's chest. "Don't you die! I told you I wouldn't let you die!"

The medics carefully moved Smoke to the side and did what they could for Tariq. Scream watched as their efforts were in vain. As they landed in Baghdad at the hospital, he felt every emotion in his body leave as they covered Tariq.

Captain Callahan watched from the roof as the entire group surrounded Smoke. "Close group, aren't they?" Captain Callahan jumped at Captain Baron's voice.

"Yeah. The one that was DOA, was he a valuable member of the team?"

"Translator." Captain Baron wiped a tear as he looked down at the group. "He replaced one guy from the team who lost a limb to an IED. According to Staff Sergeant Silas, Tariq fit in almost immediately. He was their most valuable asset."

"He have a close friend in the group?"

Baron nodded. "The one going to Landsthul tonight. Frank Dumphy. Silas said those two bonded immediately." Baron sighed. "This will kill Dumphy."

Dim's too still. Angel thought as he looked at his friend. The explosive did its best to kill Dim. His face was black and blue from where he was hit. The monitor he was connected to showed a slow and unsteady heartbeat. Scream stood next to Angel and noticed Dim's continuing battle to breathe.

"How do we tell him, Sarge?" Smoke asked quietly.

Scream sighed. "Very carefully."

"What's the first thing you're going to do when you get back?" Dim smiled as he put a pair of aces down.

Tariq laughed and threw down his cards. "I don't know. Maybe sleep for a week straight and then eat some real food. You?"

"Take my step son to Disneyland. Work on my marriage." Dim gathered up the toothpicks they had been using as chips in this makeshift poker game. "What about you, Smoke?"

Smoke sighed as he shuffled the cards. "Go see my moms. Take care of her. Take her shopping and get her some nice shit, ya know? Angel?"

Angel sighed. "I don't know. There's so much to do and I'm not sure where to begin. Maybe start off with a visit to my great aunt's grave and tell her that, despite how she felt about war, I still loved her."

Tariq cut the deck and smiled. "You're an example to follow, Angel. I think that if the world tried to be more like you, we wouldn't have wars."

Scream took Dim's hand and looked up at Captain Callahan, who nodded. The decision was made to tell Dim that Tariq had died on the helo while he was still in the hospital because medical care was right there if there was an adverse reaction. Scream sighed and his voice quivered. "I hope you can hear me, Dim. You're a damn good Solider, even if you are a little idealistic. We could certainly use more like you in the Army. Maybe then we wouldn't have to fight wars and lose our closest friends." Scream paused a moment, trying to gather his thoughts.

Angel put his hand over Scream's. "You have to come back to us, Dim. This fire team, Sarge, me, Smoke...we all need you. Eddie needs you. You're not just a friend, Dim. You're a brother."

Mrs. B and DoubleWide put their hands on top of Angel's. Smoke put his hand on top last. Captain Callahan fought tears as he watched this. Captain Baron stood behind Scream and put his hand over the groups. "They need you, Dumphy."

Scream looked up at Baron. "Thank you, Sir."

Baron wiped a tear. "He's my Soldier too, Sergeant."

Baron sat in the sunshine, trying to figure out his next move. He knew that normal protocol called for an Officer to not mingle with Enlisted, but Private Frank Dumphy was really no ordinary Enlisted. He had the smarts to be an Officer and a degree from Cornell.

"Your move, Sir." Dim smiled.

Baron smiled back. "Private, I think you may have me beat on this." He tried to hold back his laughter, but the smug look on Dim's face defeated any resolve he had to maintain a straight face. "Chess was never my strong suit."

"No, Sir, but being a good Captain is." Dim laughed with the Captain.

"Why do you say that, Private?"

"Sir, there are times we forget you're a Captain. We can talk to you, Sir, about anything and even..." Dim moved his piece. "Beat you in chess and not feel bad."

"So, that why you all call me 'Duke'?"

"It's better than a Baron, Sir." Dim grinned his usual smug grin.

I KILLED TARIQ! But, what of Dim? More later!