The battlefield was where Medic felt comfortable. As surprising as it seemed, the sound of gunfire, explosions, and screaming calmed the doctor and he felt at peace when he was in a not-so-peaceful environment. So when the next week's battle rolled around, Medic was eagerly awaiting his chance to relax. The other men had gotten ready and were waiting by the metal gate to the outside area which would soon become a war zone.

Only this time. . .things were different.

As the RED mercenaries were gathering their weapons, the sound of static blared across the whole base and then the Administrator's voice boomed over the speakers.

"Attention, mercenaries! This match shall be rather different to what you are used to. Due to some rather lackluster performances from both parties, the BLU and RED mercenaries will be fighting. To the death."

That made Medic stop in his tracks, staring up at one of the speakers in shock. To the death? The Administrator couldn't possibly pit the men against each other until they died. Permanently

Of course, she could. And she most definitely would.

"You heard correct. To. The. Death. You will fight until a few people die or whenever I feel like it. Then maybe a few personal deaths will make you all take your jobs more seriously in the future. That is all."

Then the static crackled again and the Administrator's voice cut out, but her words didn't leave their minds. Some of them weren't coming home from this battle, but there was only one question on everyone's mind.

Who?

X X X

Medic and the rest of the team waited, watching as the timer counted down to zero almost too quickly for their liking. Medic was sitting by himself in the far corner of the small room when he felt a shift of weight on the other side of the bench. He looked up and saw Heavy had joined him. He gave the larger man a smile.

"Hello, Mikhail."

"Are you ready, Doktor?"

"Ready as I'll ever be? You?"

Heavy nodded, his face a grim mask of seriousness. "I will take as many as I can before I fall. You will not be harmed."

Medic was surprised by Heavy's blunt and depressing reply but shook it away along with the fuzzy feeling he got when Heavy said he would protect him.

"Heavy, I. . .Thank you."

"Da, Heavy knows you would do same for me."

Suddenly a siren blared before Medic could reply as they watched as gates opened. It was time. The duo got up and together went out into the bright and hot battlefield, Medic's heal beam on Heavy as the lumbering Russian marched forward, destroying a few BLU sentry guns on the opposite side of the field. Explosions sound all around them as the other fought harder than they ever fought before. The REDs were winning this fight and everything seemed like it was going to be alright.

Then white hot pain exploded in Medic's chest. He looked down in shock as red began to seep into his coat. He stared up at Heavy, who also looked shocked. Medic crumpled to the ground as his vision started to turn dark.

The last thing he saw was Heavy's face, full of despair as he held the German man in his large hands.

"Stay awake, doctor. Heavy will fix you. Heavy. . ."

Heavy stopped talking when he realized Medic's face relaxed and he couldn't hear him anymore.