A/N: Long drawn-out adulation and debauchery in this chapter, but there will be story elements, so skip the sex, stay for the plot.

We parted, coming up for some much-needed air, surrounded by her boys, shell casings, and bodies.

Out of the corner of my eye, Alex stepped up next to Boris, holding his hand out. Boris sighed and reached into his pocket, pulling out a wad of cash and slapping it into Alex's hand.

I smiled as the adrenaline burned off; Balalaika stared into my eyes, the fire still burning for a moment before she called out.

"Sergeant? Abrego?"

"Got away Kapitan; he had a vehicle waiting."

"No matter, we got what we came for, his days are numbered. Call the exfil, let's go home."

Boris nodded, keying the radio, "All units, fall back to exfil and RTB."

Balalaika dug her nails into my neck; I hissed a little at the pleasure and pain of it.

"I hope you didn't have any plans for this evening, because tonight? you…" Her voice took on an edge that thrilled me, "are mine…"

I grinned, "Lead the way, Captain."

She unwound her arms from my neck, the genuine smile on her face replaced by the steely-eyed look I'd fallen in love with in the first place.

"Men! On me!"

I snapped the M4 to my shoulder and flanked her, Boris on her right, Alex covering the rear as we re-cleared the building and jogged to the waiting vehicles. I advanced and popped the door, Balalaika climbed in, and I followed, Boris and Alex got in front, and we peeled away.

I eyed my sector, distracted by the nails creeping up my thigh. When I glanced over at her, she was staring straight ahead, but her hand kept roving. I smiled, a little afraid of what was to come as I returned my eyes to the window, shuddering and shaking under her touch all the way back to the Hotel.

Our little convoy pulled up, and we piled out; the guys crowded around me, guys who didn't know I had other things on my mind. Balalaika watched and smiled as I vanished under a tidal wave of back-slapping and bearhugs.

Their relief at having me back safe was infectious, and I couldn't help but smile widely at the outpouring.

I loved these guys.

But business is business.

Balalaika caught my eye, crossed her arms, and huffed, looking away before grinning at me. I smiled right back, catching her meaning.

This is nice and everything…but…

"Gents! It's good to be home, but if you'll excuse me. I need a shower."

Someone laughed, and they released me; I fell into step next to Balalaika as guys fell to congratulating each other on an op well done, lighting smokes and relaxing.

It was hard to keep my pace even or my hands off her as we walked through the lobby. But she seemed keen on keeping it low-key for now; only Boris and Alex knew what was up thus far and if she wanted to keep it that way? Fine by me.

So I followed her lead, smiling and nodding at the guys who hadn't taken part, fielding a few handshakes, but I never took my eyes off her swaying figure as she headed up the stairs, reaching the landing and throwing a sultry look over her shoulder.

I cleared the crowd and took the steps two at a time.

Once we turned the corner and found the hallway clear, her movements became almost playful, I'd speed up to get a hand on her, and she'd dance out of my reach when my fingers ghosted over a shoulder or a hip.

I saw something new here, and I reveled in it.

We reached her door, she opened it, and I followed her into the dark, expecting the lights to snap to life; what I got was the whisper of cloth as her silhouette ditched her field jacket over the back of a chair, shadows danced as she pulled her shirt off, hands running down her body to untie her boots before working her gun-belt. I couldn't move, rooted to the spot by the show she was giving me. The moonlight caught her face as she glanced over a naked shoulder, her pants hitting the floor.

"I need a shower too…join me."

It wasn't a question.

I pulled my bloody shirt off, tugging at my belt as she swayed towards the ensuite bathroom; the light clicked on, and I caught sight of her bare back before she vanished, the shower kicking on a moment later. My jeans puddled around my feet, and I damn near tripped, trying to get out of my shoes. My heart pounded in my ears, my breath came in short choppy bursts, the adrenaline of the fight was still burning off, and I knew exactly what to do with all that energy.

I finally ditched my socks and stepped out of the snarl of discarded clothing; the shower was steaming as I hooked into the bathroom, steam drifted out to meet me, and I caught her silhouette.

Game time.

I swept back the curtain, and my throat ran dry.

She had her back to me, humming softly as she ran her hands all over her perfect hourglass figure, blood, carbon, and grime sluicing down the drain, revealing alabaster skin as she scrubbed, showcasing the muscles in her back and arms.

My mouth was hanging open, and I couldn't care less.

She shot me a sultry look, "You've let the cold in, remedy that?"

I nodded dumbly, all that aggression faded in a flash, and I was putty in her hands.

I stepped onto the scalloped floor of the shower, and my hands started to shake.

"Could you wash my back?" I could hear the smirk in her voice, she had me, and she knew it. An elegant finger pointed at the bar of soap resting in the dish.

I snatched it up and closed in, rolling the bar in my hands, working it into a lather; the closer I got, the more I saw.

Scars crisscrossed her entire body, most from the burns ISIS had inflicted, others from the wars themselves, a starburst exit wound marked her right shoulder, just above her shoulder blade, a long mark from something sharp scored her left hip, running right over the curve of her ass. She brought me out of it, reaching back and pulling her waterfall of hair away from her neck, holding her mane off to the side,… a silent command for me to get to work.

My hands made contact, and I almost fumbled the soap; her skin was so soft, my fingers sinking into her shoulders a scant amount before I met hard muscle, I couldn't tell which one of us gasped, and I didn't care.

I worked my hands lower, exploring every inch of what she gave me… she'd given me the go-ahead, and I'd be damned if I wasn't going to acquaint myself with every one of her curves.

She spun suddenly as my hands reached her hips, dropping her hair and grabbing my face, kissing me so hard I tasted blood. When we parted, I took her in, from her smiling face down to the old dog tags nestled between her perfect breasts, scar tissue running over her cleavage, washing across her collarbone.

"You're beautiful…" I breathed.

And down my gaze went, over her toned stomach that hadn't been spared by the fire.

She slipped a finger under my chin, guiding my gaze back to hers, kissing me softly, breaking it a moment later.

"Hurry."

I nodded jerkily, blood pounding in my ears, she stepped out from under the spray, and I took her place, hissing as the hot water made contact with all of my cuts, rolling the soap over my chest, washing away remnants of the last few hours. A hand slipped into mine from behind, wiping the soap; a moment and some movement later, both of her hands rubbed across my shoulders. I stiffened in more ways than one from her touch and the meaning I could feel behind it.

I grinned into the water, feeling like a conquering hero as the Valkyrie behind me wordlessly scrubbed the blood of our enemies from my skin.

Her featherlight touches receded, replaced by lips nipping at my ear.

"Follow me." She whispered.

Like I had a choice.

She went first, stepping into the steamy bathroom; I followed, watching drops of water sliding down her back.

I needed her like I needed air.

She toweled off quickly, pointing at another hanging towel as she wordlessly headed for the bedroom.

I whipped the towel off the rod and dried myself with shaking hands. I was still drying my hair as I walked into the dimly lit room, and there she was…

Holy.

Shit.

Her blonde hair fanned out across the pillows that propped her up, she was still completely naked, and every curve made my mouth water; one long leg lay flat, the other bent at the knee, throwing a little arch to her hips.

A cigar glowed softly in her left hand; her right was tucked behind her head as she stared me down, blue eyes beckoning me in. The towel slipped from my hand as she patted the mattress at her side, dropping a small bit of ash and ember onto the sheets…It took all I had to move, but my legs eventually responded, and with each shaky step, I was closer and closer to being overcome…

She ground the cigar out as I slid onto the sheets next to her, and in one smooth motion, she rolled on top of me, pinning me to the bed. I'm strong… but her grip was like iron,hard-edged, and rough like the warrior she was.

But when her soft lips met mine, I could feel the woman underneath it all.

"You're mine," She whispered, "I hope you're ready."

I knew what she was asking, so much more than if I was ready to make love to her. My voice sounded like someone had rubbed my vocal cords with sandpaper, rough and barely there.

"As I'll ever be Balal-"

A kiss shut me up.

Her voice was the same confident tone that had centered me since I arrived all those months ago, but her words leveled me.

"Sofiya…" Another kiss and I could feel the need there. "Call me Sofiya…

Her hands roamed all over me, stoking the fire threatening to burn its way out of my chest. I was beyond hard, beyond ready to finally make her mine…the emotional whiplash of it all, from fighting side by side, to the tender moment in the shower, to right here, pinned under her, as she robbed my senses one by one with a level of bewitching seduction that I hadn't known she was capable of.

I loved her, and it hurt how raw it was in that moment.

We held eye contact for a moment, blue and smoky versus green and misty.

"I'm ready…Sofiya…"

Her roving hands slid up my thighs; she leaned back… lining us up…

My breath hitched…

And she sank down to the base of my cock in one go, eyelids fluttering as we connected.

"Fuck…"

She was beyond any woman I'd ever been with; the tight molten heat that was wrapped around me brought the expletive rolling off my tongue before I could stop it.

I was absolutely, unequivocally, fucked.

I could see her smile in the dark, broken by the shuddering moans that slipped past those perfect lips. I gave in, running my hands all over her body, capturing her perfect breasts, her hands ran up to cover mine, pressing them into her soft flesh, and then she started to move…

She rolled her hips like a bellydancer, precise movements that ground my length against her silken walls, driving me crazy with it. She gasped and moaned softly, riding me at a languid pace that was slowly picking up speed.

I slid my hands over her shoulders and down her scarred back, digging my fingers into her ass, pulling her hips against mine. She leaned forward, brushing my face with a curtain of blonde hair, and increased her pace, kissing me and stealing my breath.

She never stopped moving, using the added leverage to switch up the angle, drawing a moan from her throat and another muttered curse from my lips.

Faster and faster, she moved, wholly dominating the encounter.

I was beginning to lose myself to it when an idea cut through my lust and love addled mind. I smiled against her lips and moved, popping my hip off the bed and rolling us over, capturing her lips in a deep kiss. A moan slipped out of me as I bottomed out again.

Everything was her… time and space didn't exist; only this warrior in my arms and the heaven and hell that passed between us.

My thrusts were slow initially, dragging my dick over every inch of the inside of her. Her slitted eyes shone up at me with the same lust that threatened to burn my soul to ashes.

I sped up, and her body jerked from the impacts, her perfect body that was all mine now. The thought was intoxicating, heady in a way nothing ever had been before. I slid my hand over one perfect breast, down her stomach to where we were connected, my fingers brushed her clit, and she hissed out a curse, so I did it again, and she broke, moaning to the ceiling as the combined assault brought us back to level ground.

Another curse and she locked up, every muscle in her body tightened, her eyes fluttered and rolled back in her head as she soaked my cock and the sheets, shuddering gently. I kept touching her, plundering her boiling depths with every inch I had… I wanted her to ride it out, to see stars when I was done. She was so beautiful in that moment; she seemed to shine as she came beneath me…Her nails dug into my arms as she shook quietly; a long moment later, relaxation made her beauty glow as her eyes slid open, staring into my soul.

"I need you…Zack… more, please…"

The words spilled from those beautiful lips and spurred me on; I leaned down and kissed her, worming my arms underneath her and switching us up, pulling her into my lap and rocking her hips against mine. We stayed like that, moving against one another, soft moans and gasping breaths echoing off the walls; her nails bit into my shoulders as my fingers sank into the coiled muscles of her back.

I pulled away after what seemed like forever and looked into her eyes.

"I love you…"

It slipped out, crossing the distance between us before I could catch it.

She didn't respond but kissed me hard, her tongue begging entrance that I allowed greedily. She took advantage, exploring every inch of my mouth, moaning as she went… her arms tightened around my neck, and she clamped down on my cock with every muscle at her disposal; a flood washed over my legs as she shook, coming almost violently against me.

If that was my only answer, I could live with it.

Feeling the tension building inside me, I pulled back, pressing my forehead to hers and staring into those blue pools.

"I'm close…Sofiya… I'm close…"

She simply smiled and captured my lips again, rocking her hips from side to side, egging me on wordlessly. She bit my lip as she pulled away and whispered…

"Prikhodi za mnoy."

Come for me…

The tension inside me snapped gloriously.

"Oh…fuck…" I growled; she grabbed my face and forced my gaze to hers, eyes widening in time with the ropes of cum I unloaded deep inside her. She whispered sweet words of encouragement in Russian as I lost myself to it.

"Day one to…Lyubimiy…"

Give it to me,…Darling.

I sagged against her, finally spent; my lips and teeth nipped her shoulder as I caught my breath, drawing soft chuckles from my own personal goddess. I smiled against her skin as the reality of what just happened sunk in deep.

"Zack?" She whispered, running a hand through my hair.

"Yeah?"

"If you think I'm through with you… you're wrong."

Oh Lordy…

Morning came way too soon; we'd spent all night catching up on lost time…collapsing in a tangled mass of sweat and satisfaction just before dawn.

I woke up leisurely but alone; a pack of my smokes and a lighter sat on her pillow. Somehow I knew she'd be busy, but I knew what I was getting into, so I grabbed the pack, flipping a lucky and screwing one into my lip, propping up on some pillows.

Last night had been everything I thought it would be and more.

I pushed myself off the bed, heading for the shower; if this was low-key, it wouldn't do to go walking around smelling like her, even if that was all I wanted to do…

I felt lighter than air as I pulled on my jeans and ratty Salomons; a few minutes later, my shirt was crispy from the dried blood, but I couldn't give a single shit; images of Sofiya flashed through my head as I straightened out the bed.

She was gonna be the death of me, and I was fine with it.

I slipped out the door and headed for my room; a quick change of my shirt and I headed for the lobby to see if Boris or Alex needed anything; the smile never left my face. I was in love again, like finding water after wandering in the desert, and that was all that mattered.

Alex smirked at me as I descended the stairs, waiting until I was close to speak.

"You madman. You're my hero!"

I laughed, "Does anyone else know?"

He shook his head, "Only me and the Sergeant. But the Captain won't want to keep this a secret; she has no secrets from her men."

I nodded, "I figured, have you seen her?"

"The Captain and the Sergeant left for a meeting with Chang. We've been given the all-clear to do what we wish with the day; I say we drink! To you and the Captain!"

I nodded, "That's a plan; when were you thinking?"

"Now. I'll go get Pyotr, and we can head out."

"Sounds good, oh hey, I need another piece, fucking Colombians took it. Speaking of dead assholes, what happened to my car?"

"It's in the shop for the broken window, should be ready soon, we can swing by. Go get your weapon and meet me here; it will be fun, my friend!"

My smile matched his own, "I can't wait, buddy."

I pulled a .45 and a few spare mags from the armory and met them at the door. Pyotr smiled at me, and Alex was still grinning.

Drinks with the boys after the night I had?

Can do will do.

"So then he looks the Sergeant dead in the eye and goes, "I swear Sarge the yak just wandered in!" Sarge had him on latrine duty for a month!"

I laughed like a dope at Alex's story, already a few beers deep.

I knew he was a good dude, but the stories he had up his sleeve… mother of god.

Pyotr went a step further, throwing his head back and cackling even though there was no way he'd never heard the story before.

"Gets me every time!"

We were situated in a bar that primarily served Hotel Moscow soldiers. Alex had wanted to stay inside the territory after the dust-up with Abrego; I agreed; someone was gunning for our collective asses.

Heh, Communism.

The point was, it was a small joint where we could get shit-mixed and watch each other's backs.

My thoughts kept drifting to Sofiya, the small thrill that shot through me at the realization that I was the only person in the city to be able to call her by her first name paled in comparison to how acrobatic we'd gotten.

Curses spilled past her lips in Russian; she got more vocal as the night went on; I could almost feel her loosening up, becoming more comfortable; by the end, I pulled more than one shriek from her perfect lips.

She also rode me so hard that my back was still sore, slapped me a couple of times, and I winced every time my shirt made contact with the long, deep scratches she left in my back…

I was so deep in my besotted reminiscing that I never saw the van pull up out front, so caught up in the excellent time with my boys that I didn't see the panel slide open, revealing the three men with belt-feds.

But when the firing started, the music stopped.

The bartender took five in the chest, the mirror over the bar shattered, liquor bottles exploded as he pitched forward, taking a final heavy round to the face as he fell, his ruined face slamming off the bar.

Alex caught two high, spilling him out of his chair, blood already spraying.

Pyotr crumpled across the table; he'd been lunging for me when around caught him in the back of his head, spraying his brains all over my face.

A round caught me low, punching a hole in my side as I dove for cover, my .45 flying out of my waistband; I didn't even look as I fired the whole mag at the front door. The rounds kept coming, tearing the bar to pieces; it felt like someone hit my right hand with a bat, the whole thing going numb, and my .45 dropped to the floor.

My mind slowed down, and worked on the problem.

Roll it over, bang that empty out, between your knees, new mag in.

I racked the slide off my boot with my left hand.

Back in the game.

The screeching of tires greeted my ears, and I popped out from behind the heavy oak bar, leading with my 1911; I ran for the street just in time to see the van tear around the next corner and roar off into the night.

Alex…

I spun on a heel, hauling ass for my fallen friend.

He was still breathing, holding pressure on the wounds in his chest.

"Pyotr…"

He's gone, Alex, he's gone…"

The big guy closed his eyes, tears leaking onto the floor, "Bastards…Zack…I'm cold…"

He was already going pale, shock edging in. I eyed his wounds, helpless fear rushing through me; the location and his color meant his heart was involved, slight abdominal distention told me that his aorta was bleeding into every space it could find.

His hand reached for mine weakly, and I grabbed it tightly.

"It's alright, Alex; I'm right here, man." I was watching him die…

And there wasn't a damn thing I could do for him except hold his hand.

"Zack?"

"Yeah, bud?"

"Take care of the Captain; she cares for you. Tell Boris…Tell him he was…the best friend a soldier could ask for…"

"I will…I will man, just hang on…"

I was crying now, tears mixing with our blood on the floor. He smiled, his hand squeezing mine, almost like he was trying to comfort me. My friend took one final, rattling breath and fell still.

"Alex?" I whispered, "Alex?"

He was gone. I gently laid his bloody hand across his chest; ever since my first day here, he'd gone out of his way to be kind, make me feel welcome when he owed me less than nothing.

And now he was gone.

I felt the sobs start, before long, they were ripping out of me; I just sat there on my knees amid the broken bodies and blood that used to be my friends; I wailed to the empty bar, horrible screams of loss that I couldn't control.

My voice failed, fading into soft sobs, and I tasted blood from my abused vocal cords.

The wound in my side flared as I cried. I spared a look at it; a neat hole punched clean through the meat, more of a graze.

Disregard

My hand started to hurt, the pain becoming hard to ignore; I looked down numbly shrapnel from a round was buried in my palm. If I caught the whole round, I probably wouldn't have had a hand left.

I grabbed a bar towel rubbing it in some spilled booze before slapping it over my destroyed hand, barely registering the pain.

A car screeched to a stop outside, and the .45 was in my off-hand and aimed at the door before I could track the sights.

"Blue!"

Boris…

I let the barrel drop, not aiming it at him, but not aiming it away from him either.

Something was fucked up around here, and on the souls of my friends laying around me, I was going to get to the bottom of it.

And someone was gonna fucking burn.

A/N Part Two, The Revenge: Shorter chapter this time out because I'm gonna be busy. Zack and Balalaika get athletic; RIP Alex and Pyotr.

I wanna hear in the reviews what you think is happening here; best guess gets a cookie.