The mission had been simple enough. A goodwill mission, Lieutenant Coolson said. "A shit mission, but a goodwill mission, nonetheless." The young Lt. smiled. Lieutenant Coolson had just graduated from West Point a few months earlier. Scream had his hesitations about the young Lt., but at least this was one Lieutenant who was willing to listen to the veteran Soldier.

Tariq sat next to Dim as they headed out to their mission. They had often teased that one day one of these missions would be their last. As they joked about it, Scream barked at them to knock it off. Scream was a superstitious character when it came to war and talking about death before a mission, even in jest, was, as he saw it, a precursor to it.

There was no change in Dim's breathing or heart beat. The group stayed by his bedside and a Chaplain leaned in to talk to Dim. Scream shifted uncomfortably in his seat as the Major spoke to Dim. "Your friends are here. They want you to pull through, Private. It's apparent you're loved deeply by all these people here. You have to make it for them."

Angel watched as Dim moved his right hand slightly. He looked at Captain Callahan. "Does that mean anything?"

Captain Callahan checked Dim's vitals again. "Everything seems to be okay."

"Do you think that the words of Tariq's death have affected him?" Smoke asked. "Did he hear us?"

Captain Callahan nodded. "He heard you. While everything is normal and he should make it, he's still fragile. He has a 50/50 shot right now."

Smoke looked down at Dim. They could never be classified as best friends, or friends for that matter, but when Smoke needed Dim, he was there.

Smoke just wanted to sleep. Yet, Dim was talking to him about what happened. He got information about what the stroke Smoke's mom had and was passing information down. Tariq and Angel stood at the foot of his bed, also offering up help.

Smoke was so struck by the fact that they were willing to come to his aid, despite his apathetic attitude to them that he started to let his guard down around them. Their actions and willingness to help Smoke only served to strengthen the bond between the men.

Smoke took Dim's hand. "You was there when I needed you and now, I'm here for you, Dimwit." Smoke wiped a tear. "You gotta pull through pal. Who else am I going to beat at chess?"

"I beat you! America, I beat you!" the little boy held a box above his head.

Unsure of what the box contained, Scream yelled for him to put it down, which Tariq translated. They hid behind the safety of the Humvee, while the lady yelled at them. Dim aimed, fired, and watched as he blew a chess set to shit. He hung his head as the little boy walked rejectedly away, sorrowfully saying "I beat you."

A couple days later, they found themselves back at the orphanage to once again serve papers and help the orphans prepare for a move. To make up for the lost chess set, Scream gave the young man his travel chess set.

Dim received permission to play the young boy a quick game of chess. Smoke was giving Dim a hard time about being a geek in college and Dim smiled about it, as though he were proud of it.

Tariq kept an eye out, noticing a Volvo driving past a couple times. Suspicion aroused, Tariq and Dim checked it out. An explosion tore through the alley.

Dim and Tariq ran back to the orphanage, hearing Scream yell, to see the young boy badly burned. Despite efforts, the young boy died, leaving the game unfinished. Dim memorized the board as it was left and carefully packed it away.

Upon returning to base, Dim set it out and stared at it. Smoke sat across from him. "He was going to beat you, wasn't he?"

Dim nodded. "Yeah. I was going to let him." Something glimmered in Smoke's eyes and Dim leaned forward. "But I won't let you win."

An hour into the game, Tariq and Angel came out to tell Dim and Smoke they needed to pick up Scream. Comments were made and Smoke made his move, leaving Dim shocked as Smoke laughed and said, in a high pitched voice "I beat you, America!" Tariq and Angel laughed. Dim only shook his head, trying to figure out how Smoke beat him.

Smoke smiled at the memory and noticed Dim's eyes fluttering. "Sarge!" He tried to contain his excitement. "He's waking up!"

Scream and Baron looked. Baron ran out. "Kevin! We think he's waking up."

Callahan followed Baron in. He coaxed Dim. "Come on. Open your eyes." Dim's eyes merely fluttered. Callahan continued coaxing. "You're doing well. Come on. Open your eyes."

Slowly, Dim's eyes opened. Mrs. B and DoubleWide fell to the floor, crying. Dim's hand slowly reached over and touched Mrs. B's shoulder. She stood up and looked at him. "Welcome back, Dim." She smiled.

Dim's eyes showed no emotion. He looked around at the group and his heart monitor showed a quickened beat as he looked. He looked at Angel and Angel knew what Dim's question was. "Tariq died on the helo, Dim."

Tears filled Dim's eyes and his vitals spiked. Scream held the young man's hand. "We miss him too, Dim. We can only imagine how this affects you."

Dim closed his eyes, a flow of tears falling from behind his closed lids.

"So you have a nickname?" Dim sat behind the wheel of the Humvee as he stood roadblock duty.

"Nah. No one ever gave me one." Tariq smiled.

"The guy you're replacing always asked about nicknames." Dim and Tariq got out of the Humvee as a truck approached. "So, why'd you join?"

"9/11." Tariq replied.

"Yeah, me too." Dim smiled back. Dim knew that this new member of the fire squad could prove to be valuable. He had always been good at that. He also knew that he had found someone, other than Angel, to talk to. He had found his best friend.

Baron put his hand on Dim's shoulder. "Don't close your eyes, Dumphy. We just got you back and we don't want to lose you."

Callahan stood back and watched the small fire team talk to Dim. Lieutenant Coolson entered. "Sir, how's he doing?"

"He opened his eyes, but I'm afraid with the death of his best friend, well, LT, the will to live is in his hands and his hands alone. No matter what we do, if that Soldier doesn't want to live, he won't."

GASPS! What is the story doing with Dim? I know we ALL want to know! It's funny how I can be the writer of it and not know shit about it, right? This story has already killed off Tariq (stupid story!) but will it also claim Dim? Now, I'm worried!