Chapter 2

Bellamy is sitting on his cot, reading the latest letter Madi sent him when Murphy stumbled into the tent, kicking off his combat boots and tossing his propper onto his own cot until he was left standing in just his light brown under shirt.

"I thought you and Reyes were on patrol tonight," Bellamy commented lightly, glancing up from the letter he had been reading to see Murphy sit at the computer table, telling him it was time for his weekly call.

"We're heading out after my call. I haven't spoken to my sister and niece in over two months Blake. My sister is a doctor, next time I'm State side she will literally skin me alive. She's informed me of the many creative ways she would bring me back to life just to kill me herself if I die over here," Murphy explained gruffly, running his hand over his classic cut and tousling his hair. Bellamy knew Murphy only spoke gruffly when he was fighting his emotions.

He collapsed into the chair, tuning to face the monitor and dismissing the rest of the conversation. Bellamy exhaled a sigh before he returned his attention to the letter once more when he heard the familiar ring of a Skype call, glancing up at an excited squeal.

"Uncle John! Mom didn't tell me you would be calling today," Bellamy took in the teen aged girl, who couldn't be older than thirteen filling the screen. Her dark espresso colored strands were pulled back into a tight French braid, her hazel green eyes were wide with excitement and Bellamy could clearly see the freckles splattered across the bridge of her nose and cheeks. Murphy's soft chuckle drew Bellamy's attention, surprising the older man considering it was something everyone in the unit was unused to hearing.

"Cause I didn't tell her Little Hobbit. It's a surprise call. What have you been up to? Keeping those grades up? No fights this semester? Have you been listening to your mom and Uncles? What about Aunt Emori?" Bellamy blinked, surprised by all the questions his teammate was able to fit in one breath.

"We're doing this project in school, it's joint for two classes, History and English. We're writing to soldiers who are deployed as a pen pal. It's been really interesting, especially the one I got. He's funny, with mom's sense of humor that most people don't get. And he's been really patient with me. Yes I'm keeping my grades up and I've only gotten in to like two fights this semester. Yes I'm listening to mom, Uncle Wells, Uncle Monty, and Uncle Zeke. Aunt Emori is doing okay. She misses you a lot though, spends three nights a week with mom and me," Bellamy watched as the teenaged girl finally paused to take a breath, parting her lips to start again before a new voice interrupted her.

"Don't believe everything you hear from this one Little Brother. She has gotten into no less than five fights this semester, but she didn't want you to know. Little Mouse, why don't you go get started on your homework so I can talk to Uncle John," Bellamy heard some grumbling before the sound of a chair scraping hard wood floor and a quick 'bye Uncle John,' before a beautiful blonde filled the space of the screen.

"How's work?" Murphy questioned, and Bellamy watched as the blonde simply shrugged her slender shoulders.

"Work is work. How's wherever you are?" she retorted casually and Bellamy noticed how relaxed their relationship was, how they teased each other, something he and Octavia couldn't ever really have.

"Kinda sandy, hot, explosive," Murphy replied, his lips curling upwards into a smirk before he leaned back against his chair. Bellamy noticed his sister had mimicked his posture, and that was when he realized they were in the middle of a standoff before the blonde's shoulders finally dropped.

"Ask it. I know you're dying to," Bellamy heard Murphy's tired exhale of breath before his shoulders tensed.

"Talk to Mom recently?" Bellamy could hear the exhaustion that was clearing in his teammate's voice, but knew better than to pry into his personal life, a mistake Lincoln had made when they were first introduced as a unit. Murphy's sister hummed lightly and he watched as her head bobbed up and down for a few seconds.

"Few days ago actually. She still refuses to check into rehab. Claims she doesn't have a problem, that it's under control and she doesn't need help," she answered, and Bellamy noticed the way Murphy's shoulders dropped, the way he leaned back in his chair and shook his head. His sister had mimicked him once more, leaning away from the screen, but glaring at something in the distance where Murphy's jaw was clenched.

"Damn it. I honestly thought she would..." Murphy trailed off as his voice became thick.

"Hey, no, no John. This isn't your fault. You know as well as I do just how stubborn she is. She won't get the help she needs until she hits rock bottom. And she won't hit rock bottom until both of us stop trying to coddle her. I told her she could no longer see Madi. That she lost one mother to that type of addiction, she wasn't about to witness losing her grandmother as well. I hung up before she could argue the point," his sister spoke softly, and Bellamy could see just how close the two of them were.

"I'll try to call you next week. Give the Hobbit a hug for me. Tell her I miss her and only two more months left," Murphy sighed, and Bellamy noticed the soft look that crossed his sister's features as she nodded her head.

"Two more months Little Brother, than you'll be State side and this is it, no more tours," she whispered and Bellamy glanced away, recognizing a private moment when he heard one.

"Don't," Murphy started once the call ended, but Bellamy only held up his hand, his amber orbs focused intently on the words in front of him.

"I understand you not wanting to talk about your personal life. Most of us try to avoid those topics. You have my word, I won't breath this to anyone," he promised, watching as Murphy watched him for a moment before offering a sharp nod and pushing to his feet before he began getting his things together for the week long patrol he was required to go on.

"Be careful out there, you and Reyes both. I... I have this gut feeling something is going to go wrong but I don't know," Bellamy spoke after a few moments, watching as Murphy paused at the tent's opening. He watched as the younger man's brow pulled down into a frown before he glanced over his shoulder.

"Usually your gut doesn't lie Blake," Murphy commented, watching the way his unit leader shrugged his shoulders before glancing at the letter between his hands.

"Just have each others backs out there," was all Bellamy said before Murphy nodded and left him to the quiet the desert offered.

Bellamy,

That feels so much more natural than Dear Bellamy Blake. That was really responsible of you to join the army to take care of your sister. My Uncle John did the same thing, kind of. Not really to take care of my mom, but to help her I guess. He's never really explained why he joined, only said it was because of Mom. I miss him a lot, but I can't wait until he returns. His tour ends in two months, and I know mom is really excited, she hasn't seen my uncle in person in almost two years.

My Uncle Zeke was a pilot in the air force, he was injured in an air strike where he lost control over the jet he was flying and just barely stopped it crashing into a major city. The air force discharged him and he says he couldn't be happier. I know he misses flying though, but he has his Harley which he uses whenever it's his turn to pick me up. He practically flies on his bike. It's the greatest feeling in the world. I know mom would freak if she knew, but it's amazing.

I hope whenever you're State side, we get a chance to meet in person. I think that would be awesome. You remind me of my mom, with your sense of humor. Most people say hers is to morbid for them. She always tells them that if she didn't laugh at death, she would probably lose her mind since she sees it so often. They always stop talking after that. I know she isn't actually talking losing her patients. She always gets a tattoo for everyone she looses. It's a line of black dots down her spine. She only has nine, and I know how guilty she feels over not being able to save those nine lives. She always tells me how she's a doctor, what's the point of having all this knowledge on how to save lives if when the time comes, she fails. I always tell her to think about the lives she did save, to think about the father who gets to walk his little girl down the aisle when it's time for her wedding. Think of the mother who will get to hold her first grandchild because she saved that infant's life. Usually that helps her. But when I can't talk her out of it, Uncle John calls and he... He bullies mom until she's angry with him instead of herself. I hope one day to have a sibling, to have the type of relationship mom has with Uncle John.

Anyway, I think this letter is long enough to entertain you. I can't wait to hear from you Bellamy, thank you for being a hero.

Madi

Bellamy couldn't help but smile at the thirteen year old's words before he refolded the letter and placed it in his trunk with the other letter he had received from her before pulling out a note pad and pen, deciding he would get started on his letter to her before the feeling in his gut got worse. He knew something bad was going to happen, and he was certain it had to do with Murphy and Reyes being on patrol this week. Inhaling a breath, he sat back on his cot and started his letter, a slight smile curling his lips as he thought about what to tell the girl who rambled in her letters.

A/N: Hope you liked this chapter! Next Chapter might be slightly intense for what I have in mind! Feel free to let me know what you thought!