Fear, pt. 3

Summary: Simmons' new cybernetics and the tension grows between him and Grif.


"So your new cybernetics are made out of a prototype that Sarge and I were developing. Increased strength and dexterity, more durable and made out of a lightweight material that should make it feel just like the real thing. Exciting, right? I suspect it'll take a while for you to get used to the upgrade but ultimately you should be fine." Dr Grey explained to Grif and Simmons.

Grif watched the doctor before shifting his gaze to Simmons who was again examining his arm.

"Wait, what about the internal cybernetics?" Simmons asked as he snapped his gaze to Dr Grey and put his arm down.

"Well funny you should say that. I had to complete replace them. How you had survived with those for so long was a miracle. How it even functioned was a mystery. Anyway, getting side-tracked... your internal parts are made of the same material as your limbs and should make breathing and digestion that much easier. How neat!" Grey answered as she picked up her scanner.

"Anyway, I should get going. Always more patients to treat and if you have any questions I'm sure to be around." And with that the young doctor turned to leave the room.

Simmons looked down at his body.

His head snapped up and stammered, " Wh...what about the plating on the new parts. What is it?"

Dr Grey turned and looked at Simmons for a moment, "Oh right." She said as she shook her head and headed back towards him.

"I had to replace the original metal plating and instead used the prosthetic metal and polymer mix that we normally use here on Chorus. It's still metal but it has a protective layer to enhance its strength. It has improved durability and is waterproof. It should make life much easier. And it will look much better after your skin fully heals. So is that everything?" Dr Grey asked.

Simmons nodded his head and looked down into his lap.

With that Dr Grey nodded, "Okey dokey. As I said if you have any issues I'll be around. See ya." Her high pitched voice sent an unpleasant shiver through the two men as she left.

Silence stretched out between the two as processed the information they had received.

Grif finished the oreos and threw the wrapper onto the counter next to Simmons' bed which grabbed Simmons' attention.

"Seriously, fat-arse. You couldn't wait to eat. And eating now. Really?!" Simmons exclaimed, although he wasn't sure what else he was expecting from Grif.

Grif flipped him off before gulping down the last oreos. "Hey cut me some slack. It's been a stressful time for me okay?" Grif replied. Simmons couldn't believe what he was hearing, "For you?! It was stressful. For you." The maroon soldier rolled his eyes at his teammate and sighed, "Whatever fat-arse. It's not like I was the one that just went through surgery or anything."

Grif stopped. The teasing mood changed in an instant and Grif felt guilt run through him again. The orange soldier also remembered the fear he'd felt during Simmons' surgery. The fear of losing him had petrified Grif.

'So yes I am eating. Especially now I know you're going to be okay, arse-hole.' Grif thought as he glared at Simmons.

"Are you forgetting we just came back from defeating Hargrove?" He questioned nonchalantly, trying to hide how much he was affected by the situation.

Simmons shook his head and decided to drop the subject. He didn't want to be arguing with anyone right now. He knew, if anything, it would agitate his injuries and he really didn't want to stay in hospital any longer than was absolutely necessary.

He laid back down intent on resting. He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Grif settled into his seat with no intention of leaving Simmons' side.


It was a week before Simmons was released from the hospital. Much of the madness around Hargrove's defeat had died down. The people of Chorus now had turned their attention to rebuilding.

Everyone had been called upon to do what they could in the aftermath.

Simmons had been given inventory to do as he was still recovering from surgery. He sat there trying to concentrate on matching the Armoury's inventory to the records. Kimball had wanted to make sure that the supplies they had matched the records.

But he was having a hard time concentrating and the task was taking far longer than it should. 'What is wrong with me? Why can't I do this? I'm supposed to be good at this.' He thought, frustrated with himself.

The truth was the conversation that he had overheard between Grif and Tucker hadn't left his mind. It just kept replaying in his head throughout the week, throwing off his focus.

Simmons had been watching Grif's interactions with others to try and figure out who he could be in love with. The only issue with that approach was that Grif hadn't changed his interactions with anyone. Or maybe it was that Grif's interactions with the person he had fallen for had changed before Simmons had begun paying attention and now he couldn't tell.

Simmons felt like tearing his hair out in frustration. 'It shouldn't be affecting me this much! Who cares if Grif has fallen in love. It's not like our friendship has changed at all' Simmons pondered as he stared at his clipboard for a solid 5 minutes.

"Something interesting in those notes Simmons?"

"AHH!" Simmons yelled, spinning around to face the newcomer.

Grif stood in front of him. The maroon soldier took a few deep breaths trying to calm his heart rate.

"What are you doing here Grif?" He asked, his voice squeakier than normal.

"Dude you alright?" Grif questioned as he approached Simmons. Simmons swallowed, "Yeah, totally. Why wouldn't I be?"

Grif raised his eyebrows under his helmet at the question. "Because the pitch of your voice has changed which only happens when you're hiding something. But instead of saying what's wrong you're avoiding the issue which will inevitably lead to a fight and I'd rather avoid that. Too much hassle." He stated as he crossed his arms and stared at his maroon friend.

Simmons stared back at his orange friend as he felt his nerves go haywire.

'Should I tell Grif that I overheard his conversation? No I can't do that! That is such an invasion of privacy. Maybe he didn't want me to hear it. But then it did take place in my hospital room where there was a chance that I would hear it. Oh my god I can't be worrying about this. It's just Grif...' Simmons was so absorbed in his own thoughts he didn't notice that Grif had approached him.

"Hey dude. You sure you're alright? Should I get Grey?" Grif asked, concerned that the surgery had done some unseen damage that was only appearing now.

"WHAT?!" Simmons practically screeched as he jumped noticing how close Grif was to him.

"No!" Simmons squeaked.

He cleared his throat, "No. I'm fine. I mean why wouldn't I be? Grey fixed me up fine. Yep. Totally fine."

Grif stood in front of his friend confused, "Okay..." He hadn't seen Simmons like this since the makeshift base back in the crash site when he'd accused him of stealing his toothbrush.

Simmons felt himself getting increasingly flustered, "So anyway I should get back to checking inventory. Okay. See you later."

With that Simmons escaped into the storage room of the Armoury. Grif was left standing there more confused than he had been in a long time. Simmons hadn't acted that way around him since the beginning of their friendship back in basic and the early days in Blood Gulch. 'What the hell has gotten him so flustered?' He wondered.

Shaking his head he left to find a good napping spot deciding it was better if he just let Simmons work out what was bothering him alone. The other option was too much work for Grif's liking.


Grif sat at the table shovelling food into his mouth. The incident with Simmons earlier that day kept replaying in his mind. He was confused about the entire thing. Why was Simmons acting that way? What had happened between them? Had he done something?

Tucker sat down in front of him interrupting his thoughts. "Dude what's with the look?" The aqua soldier wondered aloud as he set his tray on the table and began eating.

Grif swallowed and replied, "Don't know what you mean." Moving to grab food off of Tucker's tray.

"Don't pull this bullshit with me. You look like someone just told you oreos were no longer being produced." He said as he pulled his tray away from Grif's grasp as the orange soldier attempted to steal some food. He raised his eyebrows at Grif as he glared at him. Grif crossed his arms and leaned down on the table and sighed.

Silence passed between the two as Grif was reluctant to talk about his feelings. He shifted uncomfortably as Tucker continued to stare at him. "Come on dude. Did you and Simmons already have argument or something?" Tucker said chuckling. The look on Grif's face said it all, "Dude, seriously. How can you have had an fight already?"

"I don't know. I saw him earlier and he was acting weird. Tried to start an argument for some reason." He answered. Tucker simply blinked at Grif. "So. Isn't that normal for the two of you?" He asked curious as to why Grif was so concerned about yet another argument with the maroon soldier. Grif gave him an incredulous look and shrugged.

At that moment Simmons came into the mess hall. Grif watched as Simmons got his meal. "Dude you are so fucking obvious." Tucker chuckled. Grif turned his attention back to Tucker and flipped him off.

Simmons arrived at the table, "Am I interrupting something?" He asked as he took a seat.

Tucker and Grif stopped and turned towards him. "No. Been alright since surgery?" Tucker questioned as he took a bite of his food. Simmons felt annoyance run through him at the obvious friendliness between the two soldiers.

'Could Tucker be the one that Grif has fallen for? Wait...what am I talking about? He was telling Grif to tell someone else how he feels. It can't be Tucker.' He thought as he realised just how much he didn't want Tucker to be the one that Grif had fallen for.

"Hey!" Simmons heard as he became aware of a hand being waved in his face. "Dude you alright?" Tucker asked as Grif stared at him. Simmons did notice a glance occur between Grif and Tucker.

"Um, uhh, yeah. I mean yes." He replied focusing on his own tray. Grif's eyes hadn't moved away from Simmons.

Tucker switched his between the two Red Team members and shook his head. 'They are so fucking obvious. I wish they would just sort their shit out already.' Tucker practically despaired.

Tension and awkwardness filled the air as the conversation petered out and they ate their meal in silence.

'What the hell is going on with Simmons?' Grif thought as he finished his meal and kept sneaking glances at Simmons. Although he'd never admit out loud but he was worried about his best friend.

His confusion heightened at the turn in Simmons' behaviour towards him since his surgery. He couldn't think of anything that had happened between the two that could have caused the change in behaviour.

He didn't know where it had come from. But dealing with it took more effort than he was willing to exert. He just hoped that it resolved itself quickly so that they could move on from whatever Simmons was going through.

Little did the Red Team pair realise that the tension between the two was driving everyone else nuts and they too hoped that the situation would resolve soon.


Reviews welcome