I pulled into the RPD lot just after eight, mentally prepping for my appointment with Kim Reynolds, the department use of force shrink.

Time to air this out.

The session went well; once she had it figured out that I wasn't gonna go batshit and jump off a bridge, she asked me if I had any other concerns. I couldn't tell her everything, but I told her about what she had in my file, disappearing into CIA for ten years, only to wash up in Raccoon. She advised starting cognitive therapy to deal with the flashbacks, and I walked out, feeling like I had a jump-off point to put this behind me.

The most significant part of this that we have to conquer is not that these events transpired, but effectively curb your response to the memories, building healthy responses to suppress those knee-jerk destructive ones.

Her voice echoed in my head as I crossed the parking lot and straddled my bike. I was ready, and she was willing, good times all around. I turned the key when my phone vibrated; I knew it was Jill before seeing the message.

Hey Tiger, how'd it go?

I smiled behind my helmet, fingers flying across the keyboard.

It went well, babe, really well; I'm gonna enjoy working with Kim. She's already got a few ideas on where to start. How's my girl?

I drummed my fingers on the gas tank, not having to wait long.

See for yourself—three o'clock.

I turned, and there she was, standing on the curb, sliding her phone back into her pocket and picking up a drink carrier's worth of coffee for the boys, no doubt. I swung my leg off the bike, pulling my helmet off. Her smile warming me to my toes as I jogged over.

"Hey, you." I smiled back, keeping a respectable distance between us in case anyone was watching.

Almost.

"Hey, yourself, listen, Chris is talking about grabbing a drink after work tonight if nothing comes up. Jay's sound good?"

I nodded, "Definitely, what time is he thinking?"

"Around seven, I've gotta run, but I'll see you later." She looked around before stepping in and letting her free hand brush over mine, "I can't wait. Miss you already."

"Neither can I, sweetheart, be safe."

"I will."

I took a long ride around town, killing time before heading back to the apartment. With nothing to do but wait, I watched T.V, got in some time at the gym; the highlight came when Mom called me that afternoon.

I answered the phone with a smile, "Hey, Ma."

"Hey kiddo, how's everything? You don't call, not even a postcard."

I winced, "Yeah, about that, I'm sorry, things have been…weird."

I could hear her "mom senses" kick in, "What's wrong?"

I took a deep breath and filled her in on everything; minutes turned into an hour as she let me vent, rant, cry a little, and finally laugh when I told her that Jill and I were together.

"Jesus, Mikey, I had no idea."

"Well, that's not your fault mama, I did a pretty good job of keeping it to myself, but I went to see a shrink today, gonna work on that."

"And Jill? Does she know everything?"

"For the most part, Can't begin to tell you how happy I am about that."

I heard the smile in her voice, "I am too, she's a nice girl with her own baggage, but you guys carry each others well enough it seems like. About time too."

I laughed, any anxiety about how the family felt about Jill, and I washed away.

Mom and I talked for another hour; it felt like it had been so long since we'd just had a conversation about nothing. With how close I was with my parents, it was almost criminal. I ended the call with a promise to call, later on, hopping in the shower before stretching out on the couch; talking to Kim had taken a lot out of me, but I slipped into a comfortable nap with no nightmares, no screaming bloody death waiting around the next corner, and that was good enough.

"So he says, Sergeant, I swear the dog was already here!"

The table erupted in laughter as Barry finished another story from his days in the Air Force. The planets had aligned, and we had all of Alpha, minus Wesker and Vickers, packed around the table. Jay's was rocking on a Friday night, the music playing loud and the drinks flowing.

"That's fucking outstanding," I muttered, wiping tears from my eyes; we'd pushed two tables together, sitting around, regaling each other with our craziest stories. I'd kept my mouth shut for obvious reasons. Jill had picked the seat next to mine, and as the drinks kept coming, she'd gotten closer; currently, she was rubbing my thigh under the table. I smiled over at her, in a little too short skirt and a sky blue tank top that was a touch too tight.

Focusing was a chore.

Joe had been eyeing me across the table for the better part of the night, and he finally had enough liquid courage in him to ask the question that I knew everyone was dying to know the answer to, "So Mike, what's your story anyway? Ya kinda came outta nowhere, and next thing we know, you take down a house, solo. Makes a guy wonder."

Jesus Frost, don't bother easing into it or anything.

Jill tensed, Chris gave him a glare, but the guy was drunk, no harm done or intended, I was sure.

I leaned back in my seat, glancing around into the expectant faces of my team, "I was in intelligence for about a decade, got started early. After that, I went private for a bit, decided to get back into the public sector, which led me here with you fine people."

Barry looked thoughtful for a moment, "Intelligence? What agency?"

"I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you," I said with a deadpan stare.

The big man laughed, "Shit, fair enough, Kelly."

I couldn't keep up that cringe shit for one more second; I burst out laughing, "Whatever outfit you're thinking of, you're right."

Joe smiled, "Shiit, so you were a spook, then?"

I gave him a grin in return, "Nah, mostly paperwork."

"Horseshit." But he held out his beer, and I tapped mine against it, "Glad you're on our side, man."

"Me too." Chris chimed in, "I've got enough problems."

I chuckled, "I feel like that's a fair fight, bud, I'd hate to have you after me. Might break a sweat."

"OH shit!" Joe shouted, "Them's fighting words!"

Chris just shook his head, laughing, "You guys want some more drinks?"

A round of affirmations and the farm boy was off, picking his way through the crowd.

Jill leaned in, her breath hot on my ear, sending chills shooting down my spine, "I can't wait to get you home." She whispered, pulling back with a Cheshire Cat grin on her face.

Woof.

Chris came back with the drinks, and the conversation carried on, Barry talking about his kids, Chris keeping us up to date on what his younger sister Claire was doing at college. Joe was telling us about his new girlfriend when a familiar song started to play on the jukebox.

Without thinking, I grabbed Jill's hand and pulled her to her feet, to quizzical looks from around the table, but I was drunk and wanted to dance with my lady. She gave me a questioning look but allowed herself to be led to the dance floor, and soon we were surrounded by couples, slowly swaying to the beat. I pulled her close, and her perfume invaded my senses, gently rocking to strains of Skylar Grey.

Am I sober enough to be doing this?

Hard no.

Am I going to anyway?

You bet your ass.

I grabbed a hand and slowly twirled her, leading gently, before pulling her back to me, going through the steps as I remembered them. Doing my best not to step on her feet. She stared into my eyes, a blush working its way across her face as I guided us both through the motions. The song built, and I got a little more complicated, whirling us around the now strangely empty dance floor, I paid it no mind; my whole world was the beautiful, blushing woman in front of me.

I heard the end of the song coming, timed it, and dipped her low, pulling her leg high on my hip and kissing her soundly, not caring who was watching. When I broke the kiss, her eyes were closed, gently fluttering open in my lips' absence. She gave me a million-watt smile, blushing, and breathing hard.

"WHOO!"

Fucking Frost.

I pulled her back to her feet, smiling, and we made our way back to the table; Chris had an odd look on his face, Barry was chuckling, Joe was positively beaming. I pulled Jill's chair out for her and slid into my own; Chris still looked like someone had walked over his grave.

"Penny for your thoughts, Redfield?"

He didn't answer me, just slapped a hundred on the table, followed by his forehead.

"Thank You!" Joe crowed, snatching the bill, "Next round or three is on Chris!"

"Oh, oh fuck," Jill laughed, holding her stomach as she cracked up, followed by Barry and me. We howled like idiots, Chris pulled his face up off the table, looking despondent as Joe skipped off to buy drinks, it only made us laugh harder.

And just like that, the team knew, and they had no issues; surprisingly, I think they knew what the score was from day one; Jill and I were the only ones not smart enough to cotton on to the fact.

We ended up shutting down the bar, minus Barry, who had a family to get home to. I slapped a fifty on the bar for Clint, (always, always, always, take care of your bartenders.) Two o'clock found us on the sidewalk, thoroughly sloshed, waiting on our various cabs, Joe was off to the side on the phone, talking to his girl in hushed tones, Jill and I were smoking, joined by Chris.

"I'm really happy you two finally figured it out; Joe bet me that cash that you two were already together; I didn't have the kinda faith, still hurts." He said with a hangdog look.

I chuckled, "Well, brother, I really appreciate it; I'll buy next time, gotta make it up to you somehow."

"Nah, finally, seeing you two being honest with each other is enough."

I was touched; Chris was a truly good guy, "Means the world man, really."

Jill chimed, "Yeah, thanks, partner."

He gently socked her in the shoulder, "Happy for you, partner."

We sat there for a few minutes more until the cabs began to pull up; we said our goodbyes and headed out. Jill dragged her nails up and down my back as we drove, I was tempted to kiss her, but the cabby seemed a little fixated on how lacking Jill's skirt was; I couldn't blame the guy.

A short ride later and we spilled out onto the curb in front of my apartment. I passed the driver a fifty, and he smiled, but not before taking one long look at Jill's ass as she stretched.

Lucky, I'm in a good mood, shitbrick.

We stumbled up the stairs, laughing at nothing, I fumbled with the keys, her teeth on my ear didn't help any. Seconds later, we crashed through the door, kissing furiously and shedding clothes as we made for the bedroom.

Neither of us got much sleep.

The next two weeks of my suspension was like a blissful dream, Jill and I could barely keep our hands off each other, and it showed. I'd never been this happy, and my sessions with Kim were progressing, the therapy finally allowing me to slow down and enjoy what was happening. I got the phone call I'd been hoping for; I was cleared by the shooting board and slated to return to work. Jill had done the happy dance in the kitchen when I told her.

In her underwear.

We got nothing done for the rest of the day.

The outside world wasn't as kind or forgiving; murders had rocked the community, linked, it seemed, to the double murder Jill had told me about. As the deaths continued to rise, STARS got closer and closer to getting involved; when RPD mentioned a cult possibly being responsible, and the cannibalism that marked each victim, it took it to another level. A month into it, RPD closed the access roads, trying to stem the tide of bloodshed, and STARS was sent out to do what we did best.

Wesker had me partner with Joe and immediately sent us into the Arklay's to keep an eye on the backroads and sweep campsites, looking for any sign of the "cult." Jill, Chris, and Barry went further East. Bravo took the North. Each time we came back empty-handed, we got word of another murder; it felt like we were playing whack a mole with these fuckers, more than once someone suggested burning the mountainside and smoking them out.

I might've been one of them.

We were all tired, worn down from the constant dry-holes and violence.

Then Wesker called us into the briefing room one balmy night. Bravo was already assembled as Alpha slogged in the door. We nodded hello to our buddies and settled in. Wesker stood at the board regarding each of us.

"I've decided, and Captain Marini has concurred, that more aggressive measures are to be undertaken to bring this problem to a close. Bravo will deploy in force tomorrow evening, overflying the Arklay's, paying special attention to the area where the murders seem to be concentrated, when and if they spot something from the air, Alpha will be spun up to assist." He looked at each of us in turn, "We will end this, one way or another, rules of engagement have been relaxed, if you perceive hostile intent, you are to shoot first."

Rumbling agreement rippled through the small room.

Finally.

Wesker continued, "Briefing in full at 1700 tomorrow, rest up Alpha. Dismissed."

We filed out, followed by Bravo, Forrest nudging Chris as they fell into step, "Looks an awful lot like Bravo's gonna be kicking ass out there, maybe I'll leave ya something if ya ask real nice."

I rolled my eyes and chimed in, "I dunno Speyer, with the way you shot the last time you and Chris faced off, I'm not sure it's up to you."

Chuckles all around answered me, as Forrest smiled, "Oh, har har. Real funny, Kelly."

"You love me, and you know it, you friggin' hillbilly."

If I'd have known that was the last time we'd be joking like that, I'd have come up with something better.

Jill and I collapsed into bed after a shower, too tired to do much but cuddle into one another, I lit a smoke, and we passed it back and forth.

"Do you think Bravo's going to find anything?"

I shrugged, "I hope so, this shit has to end."

"Nervous about getting back into it?"

"What? A real fight? No. I'm tired of dead civvies, sick to death of crime scene photos, while those fuckers are still out there getting their rocks off eating little kids."

Jill took a drag, "Amen."

In a breath, I broke a long-held taboo, "Just keep your head on a swivel, baby girl, that's something I couldn't take, okay?"

She curled tighter against me, "Don't worry, it's gonna take a lot more than some batshit crazy cult to get me away from you. But you too, huh?"

I took the last drag and stubbed the smoke out, "I will, baby, got your back all the way."

She yawned cutely, "All the way is right, I've got big plans for you, Kelly, can't have you deserting me now."

I smiled into the darkness, my eyelids getting heavier by the moment, "Wouldn't dream of it."

And just like that, I slipped off to sleep, with the love of my life in my arms.

I got up before Jill, a little after ten, padding my way through the apartment, dragging my old black ASO bag out of the closet, I used it to carry extra gear in case things ever got hairy, and they just might. After making sure things were where they were supposed to be, I zipped the bag back up and stowed it, setting about making breakfast for Jill and me.

The rest of the day was filled with anticipation; by the time Jill and I rolled into work, it had built to a dull roar. You could see it in every member of Bravo Team's eyes save for their newest addition in Rebecca Chambers, the kid looked downright scared, but resolute all the same, they were itching for the fight too.

Dead kids have a way of motivating people.

The briefing ended, and everyone knew their jobs; Bravo was an hour from step-off and feeling mean as hell. The entirety of STARS was a sight to behold as walked into the arms room, ready for some payback on behalf of every innocent person that had fallen victim to these animals.

An hour later, Alpha had helped Bravo check and re-check their gear, and we were all satisfied that the things that were meant to go boom would, and the stuff that should remain intact did. We saw them to their helo, and with final words exchanged, good luck wished, and a couple of jokes fired back and forth, Bravo lifted off and banked into the night.

Vickers went off to man the radio with our buddy checks done, the rest of us headed back to the arms room, loading magazines and checking our rolling gear. I slid my plate carrier on, an old tic from days gone by, making sure the magazines I kept loaded were seated securely in their pouches and going over the rest of my personal kit.

The ASO bag sat by my feet, full of everything I hoped I wouldn't need, a ton of medical supplies, and some more illicit items, chief among them my supply of detcord and some slap charges that I'd gotten through an old contact. Along with my medical jump kit that STARS had provided, I also had a spare AR pistol folded neatly at the bag's bottom. It added up to a lot of gear, but I'd be damned if I was going to get caught flat-footed. All my loose equipment went into a three-day pack, along with a few extra magazines and spare batteries for my NOD's. My centerpiece was a rifle I'd built from the ground up, 14.5-inch barrel, Vortex 1-5 scope since we were gonna be running around the mountains, all my parts sourced and meticulously assembled.

I thought I was ready for anything.

I checked and re-checked, in my own little world, when Chris nudged my knee, "We've got this."

"Fuck yeah, we do," Joe added, checking the light on his shotgun and stowing some more double-ought buckshot on his vest.

I smiled, "Hell yeah, man, these freaks aren't gonna know what hit them."

Barry was racking speed loaders for his wheel gun, "Bravo will get it done, and all this shit will have to go back in the box, just you watch."

I chuckled, "I hope not, some of this shit isn't coming back out of the bag. Tactical Tetris was in full swing."

A chuckle swept our small group; Jill loaded a tenth mag for her Beretta; those "Samurai Edge" custom jobs were shit hot, I just never like the M92, but there was no denying that Kendo knew his business, "If Bravo rolls up the bad guys, I'll buy dinner."

Chris grinned, "You heard it here first, Jill's buying."

I was about to reply when Wesker all but kicked the door open, "Alpha, bullpen, now!"

I didn't like the sound of that at all; I was up in a flash, my rifle slung and my three-day pack looped over my shoulder as I followed the rest of the team, our boots thundering on the wood floors as we raced up the stairs.

I could hear Vickers from down the hall, "Bravo, Report!"

We hooked into the room, Wesker calling out to Vickers, "Have they responded?"

Brad shook his head, looking a little green, "No, sir, nothing since the last transmission."

Wesker sighed, about as close as he could get to an emotional outburst, "Alpha, the situation is as follows, Bravo is out of contact, their last message indicated something wrong with the bird, they may be down hard. We're not waiting, we're going after them, this is now a CSAR operation. Vickers, kill the radio and go spin up the helo, we're out of here in five minutes, no more."

I felt my blood run cold, a helo crash was a nightmare, and the thought of Bravo having KIA was enough to set my teeth on edge.

"Oh Jesus," Jill whispered.

"Fuck," Chris affirmed.

Barry was silent, no doubt thinking of Marini, one of his closest friends next to Chris.

Joe had gone pale.

Vickers was up and out the door, we followed close behind, bursting out into the night air of the secondary helipad. Vickers had the bird warmed up in no time; we ducked under the rotor blades and strapped ourselves in. Wesker climbed in, gave Brad the nod, and strapped in.

Seconds later, we were airborne.

Hang on, guys, we're coming for you.