Chapter 12

The humidity was awful but such was the thing when it came to places that were near the tropics. Hesh wiped the sweat off his forehead as he waited for Logan and Harris to get back. He looked at Skye who was looking like she was waiting for the bus or something and couldn't help but give a slight chuckle. Skye looked at him and said, "That sounds nice."

Hesh stopped his pacing and looked at Skye and replied, "Now you're teasing."

"No. It's nice. You should do it more often."

Hesh shot Skye a look that said that she was being a pain in the ass. It had been a back and forth ever since they got to the beachhead that he and Logan had washed up on. It was a side trip but it was also out of the way since they wanted to avoid being spotted by the other Tier One team since technically they weren't supposed to be on this mission.

He and Logan had everything planned out down to even commandeering Skye's helicopter and making it so that it wouldn't bring too hard a repercussion on the team. They would be the ones that would get the punishment since they were the ones going AWOL. Skye invited herself along and Hesh ended up teasing Logan about not being able to resist a pretty girl. They ended up scuffling for that and it left Hesh a bit irritable to the point that Skye asked him who the fucking pilot was.

It was going to be the three of them and Hesh was waiting on any news that would affect their timetable… Not that they had one. They ended up getting lucky. They were lucky because they were actually given clearance but it was not openly acknowledged. A lot of 'I don't know what you are talking about' was going around.

It was Merrick who gave them the go ahead and in not so many words. Hesh had gone to find out information playing on his role as a field commander and sticking his hand in the pot so to speak. Merrick walked up to him and asked, "How are you feeling Hesh?"

Hesh had known what he was referring to. Merrick was no fool and it was Carol's obligation as the medical officer to report the health statuses of the team. He had put a lot of effort into not getting pissed off with her when he was grounded for the last op. With his worst one when they viewed the feed would not have gone unnoticed no matter how much he disguised it with a different behavior. He replied, "Fine."

"Good because I would hate to have to orchestrate an op a man short." Merrick looked at Hesh with a serious expression but there was a lot behind them.

"So we're going out?"

"The Federation may have been crippled but they are still going strong. They are regrouping," Merrick replied and gave a slight indication that he was just giving the company line. "Everyone is needed to hold the lines. We have the advantage so we need to take it."

"Agreed," Hesh replied a bit cautiously. He and Logan knew that while they had been keeping their plans under wraps, it was no secret that everyone on the team wanted to get back out as soon as possible to find their lost teammate. It wasn't a secret that he and his brother were the obvious candidates and their suspicious compliant behavior had been a beacon for something going on. He ventured, "So where are we heading?"

"Back to the beach… where we found you. It's a starting point," Merrick replied. He waited until Hesh was full on looking at him before continuing, "The mission is to scout for Federation outposts but we are also to keep an eye out for anyone that has been MIA… like a pain in the ass."

That was the cue that they were going 'Hawk hunting' as Logan put it. Hesh nodded and started to leave the room. He was called to a halt by Merrick who said, "There is another doing the same thing. They don't play too well with others."

Hesh relayed everything to Logan and they made their final plans to deploy, bringing in Skye since she was determined to fly them in or at least have her chopper get them in. It would have been the three of them but Harris decided to go along and Kick, Keegan and Neptune were going to be dropped in a different area to start their search. So they would have two teams on the ground and that gave some good odds against the team that Command had sent in.

Now they were actually back where it all began in terms of his love being taken. They had found the nearby coastal city that was near that beach. Logan and Harris had gone to inquire a few things since their Spanish was better than his and Hesh didn't feel like he could ask questions without jumping the gun on a few things and possibly compromise the group. Looking at Skye who was sitting on a boulder, he turned to look at the waves lapping at the shore. His lip twitched when he heard Riley give a slight whine and he knelt to pet the dog. With Riley around, if and when they found her, the dog would be able to pick up her scent.

"Do you wish you could have done things different?"

Hesh twisted to look at Skye. How could she ask that? Of course he wished it. He replied a little terse, "All the damn time." He turned and continued to look out at the ocean. It was like watching a high definition replay. He could see the boulder where Logan had propped him up to give him first aid. He could see Rorke beating the crap out of both of them. "I wish I didn't do what I did… to her. To Hawk."

Skye watched as Hesh continued to kneel by the dog. She heard the German Shepherd give a slight whine. Studying Hesh's form, she noted that he was virtually still, like he was caught in a trance or something; it was similar to how her cousin would wait patiently no matter what the occasion was. She asked, "What did you do?"

"I put her in a cage." Hesh was well aware that he wasn't making too much sense. He explained, "I kept her from being on the train with us. I restrained her, refused to let her come." He twisted to look at Skye and said, "Hawk is not meant to be caged."

Skye watched as Hesh turned back and stood up. He went back to pacing while in thought. She checked her watch to do a time check. Their transport was to be secured from a small town and they were to move forward. Her attention was turned back to Hesh. She noticed the tomahawk that was hanging from his belt.

Before they had deployed, Keegan had pulled Hesh aside to talk to him. Skye hadn't been privy to that discussion but Hesh had come back with the tomahawk and with a thoughtful expression. Whatever the elder Ghost said to the younger one made some sort of impact. She also suspected that Keegan knew that they would more likely be the ones to find her cousin. Occasionally she caught him rubbing his fingers over the head of the weapon thoughtfully. Logan had a similar weapon and she had seen him work with it when they were recuperating.

"She wouldn't be here," Hesh was saying as he looked around. "Rorke would have taken her out of here."

"It's a place to start," she offered knowing that he was right. "Besides we want to get in before it occurs to the other team that there are others doing the same thing."

"I know," Hesh replied looking at Skye. He sighed and looked down and added, "We're pretty much on our own."

Skye would have said something but the sound of a jeep coming up caught her attention. She had her hands ready on her rifle and Hesh did the same. Riley was alert and looking in the direction of the road. He gave a bark and started forward. It was Logan and Harris.

Hesh lowered his weapon but still held it ready to bring up. He teased Logan, "You're late."

"Bite me," Logan replied with a slight grin. "Had a little issue with Feds. Nothing too big but we should get moving."

"Don't have to tell me twice," Hesh said as he climbed in beside Logan. Riley was between him and Logan and Skye and Harris were in the back. "We're good."

Logan started the jeep and gunned the engine down the coastal road. He glanced at Hesh and then said, "Contact said that our best bet is the airstrip in Antofagasta. We should be able to find something to get us to Venezuela."

"Good. We have the money," Hesh replied. "Of course if it doesn't work…"

"Yep and the kind of thing I'd like to avoid."

"You and me both."

"What are you two talking about? Why are we going to Venezuela when we're here?" Harris peered at the brothers as they talked in the front. He noted that their conversation was very clipped. They didn't need to elaborate on the details like they would with others. He was aware that they had mission parameters and voiced them, "We're supposed to scout and mop up here."

The Walkers shared a look. Harris was the new guy and in their view, the issue of trust was a crucial one and that needed to be earned. To get it on a mission that was essentially under the cover of a larger plan and not actually sanctioned… It was another story and one they weren't sure about him even though he had been identified with Echo Three's team. It was Logan that came to the decision and he gave Hesh the nod. Hesh then said, "That is what Command is having the other teams do."

Harris looked at Hesh when he turned in his seat to look at him. He understood now what they were up to. He nodded and replied, "I see. Then maybe it will be a good idea if me and Logan do all the talking since our Spanish is better."

"No problems there," Logan replied since Hesh had begun studying their intel.

The drive had been silent. Hesh had studied Logan's compilation that they had kept hidden from everyone. His lip twitched in pride at his little brother's thought processes. Venezuela was their best bet since the most recent sightings had been there. The last on had been in a seaside city called Maracaibo. The mission that Logan and Kick and Keegan went on was to a small dock that was shipping some sort of chemicals.

The latest intel that was indicative the Federation was trying another approach was that they had scientists working on some sort of explosive or weapon that could be given to a foot soldier. Apparently since their pride and joy aka LOKI was dismantled, they were going to go a different route and work smaller. What the actual plans were still had yet to bear fruit so that was what they were to find out while they were Hawk hunting.

Hesh absently scratched Riley's head as he studied Logan's notes. He had read them before and a hundred times before that while they were making last minute plans. He knew every word on the page so what he was doing was redundant. It was also his way of keeping bay the anxiety of what they might find if and when they finally found her.

He didn't tell Logan but before they left, Ashford sought him out again. Apparently she was able to pick out her best chances. From his view, it was picking out the weakest link. He could admit that he was the obvious one; his feelings were worn on his sleeve even though he had tried to hide them. Most people associated them with guilt and he didn't try to dissuade them of that since he did feel guilty. No matter what people said… he was to blame.

Ashford again warned him about Sequoia not being who she was. He wanted to just ignore the woman or tell her to go away but she had to go and grab his arm. That time he didn't get 'huffy' about it. He could she was being serious with the look on her face. He took the time to listen.

Ashford said that the whole thing about Sequoia seeing captivity as a game was for real. She hinted that certain liberties were taken and sort of implied that there were things done that were too dark to contemplate. She talked riddles, as it seemed to Hesh, until he demanded that she stop it. It was then that she said that Sequoia's case when she went through Freefall was unique. She said that she was skilled at talking but not telling and had a profound ability to read people to the point where she could convince them of their worst fears if needed to. She also told him that Sequoia was not easy to intimidate.

It was nothing new to Hesh in most things. Still he could understand why Ashford told him. He had been in hostage situation before, watched his dad die… he got it that things like that could change a person. Sighing he looked up and nudged Logan's arm and gave a look. When Logan nodded, he passed the stack of notes to Skye with a warning that she wasn't to lose them or there would be hell to pay. Skye merely said, "Yeah and we'll see who comes out on top."

"Who is the fucking pilot her? Me or you?"

Logan backed away with a slight grin on his face as he kept his hands raised in the surrender position. He was sitting in the co-pilot seat of the plane they managed to get. The how was a mystery since they really didn't have friends until they received a letter signed L. Ash along with the missive that if they broke it, they were screwed.

Logan immediately teased Hesh saying, "Looks like the doc took a liking to you big bro."

"Fuck you," Hesh retorted, not amused.

They had a ride to Venezuela and the clearance to go. The problem was currently in the cockpit. Logan was trying to be 'helpful' and ended up annoying Skye. Hesh decided to break it up and said, "Hey, save it for another time. Skye get this thing in the air and don't mind the pain in the ass. It's a gift of his."

"I may be a pain in the ass but you're a bonehead," Logan retorted.

Skye actually was glad the brothers were getting along but this was getting out of hand. "Alright, shut up and let me do my thing or I'll string all three of you outside and you'll feel a real takeoff."

"What did I do?" Harris had stayed out of it by sitting next to Riley. Now it seemed that he was getting punished for it.

"You're here that's why," Skye said as she slipped on the headphones and did her preflight check. "The only one that is cut and adorable here is Riley."

Riley barked in agreement as he panted happily. He accepted the scratch from Hesh who wasn't put out by the threat. He had learned his lesson on the chopper on the way there. He leaned back and commented, "At least I know who shares my opinion."

"The opinion of a squash head," Logan muttered loudly while Skye chuckled.

"Says the pup," Hesh countered with a grin. He caught Skye's backward glance and gave her a wink. He was well aware how much she liked his brother and he knew his little brother. It took him away from his own thoughts.

Nothing more was said as Skye maneuvered their ride out of the small city and headed north to Venezuela. Hesh watched in amusement when Logan suggested he take over and give Skye a break. She ended up slapping his hand for that one. He looked at Riley who was looking at him like he was supposed to break it up. He rubbed the dog's ears.

"So what do you intend to do when we get to Venezuela?"

Hesh looked up to see Harris sitting across from him. He glanced over at Logan and Skye. They were busy flying and Logan knew better than to interfere unless it was necessary and would ask about it later. He studied the corporal and replied, "Follow orders. Find Hawk."

"And then what?" Harris had been quiet the entire time he had been assigned to the Ghosts. He was brought on by recommendation of Carol the medic since they were short and he agreed. When it was obvious that Hesh and Logan were going to be fine, he started keeping an eye on them but mostly Hesh. Now he was curious about their intentions. It was obvious they had been planning something for quite some time.

Hesh studied Harris. He picked up that something was up behind the questioning. He figured it had to do with when they first met. After all Logan knocked him out and he tied Sequoia up and she knew Harris when she commanded her own unit. He could understand the feeling but he wasn't sure about liking where this might go. He replied, "Bring her back."

"And if she refuses?"

It was an odd question but Hesh answered, "I will understand."

"So you're not going to tie her up again?"

"That was a mistake," Hesh admitted. "I didn't know what else to do."

"Letting her come wouldn't have hurt," Harris countered, not noticing the narrowed look that Hesh was getting.

"No if it didn't involve things that could have done worse than kill her." Hesh adjusted his position while continuing to pet Riley. It was a controlled movement and anyone who knew Hesh knew he was working on keeping his temper.

"Better than what you did."

"Not really."

"It was at the time." Hesh looked at nothing and then glanced over to see Logan looking at him with the headphones on. His little brother was listening and assessing the situation and would come in if he needed him. Hesh hadn't gotten into a fight with anyone lately with his short temper and more likely Logan was thinking that effort was going to get thrown out the window. He looked back at Harris and stared at him full on. "At the time the only options were to leave her behind or… what I did. I chose the lesser of two evils."

"Still could have let her come. That would have been better. Less of a chance of her getting pissed at you." Harris was aware he was sounding gruff but he didn't understand this guy or his brother. If they were his old CO's friends, they should have known better than to do what they did. Then they wouldn't be in this mess.

"As I said, there were things going on at the time that would have done worse than kill her."

"Sounds like a poor excuse to me."

"Think what you like. I've done it enough…" Hesh shuffled a bit trying to get comfortable. He added, "And still regret it."

Harris looked at Hesh as he maneuvered to get comfortable. He hadn't stopped petting the dog and dismissed it as a means of calming the animal down. He didn't consider that it was the other way around. He wasn't satisfied completely and he was well aware that he was holding a dislike for Hesh. The elder Walker was more likely to blame since he observed that when he gave an order Logan followed. He would work with him but that didn't mean he had to like him. He was there to find his old friend and do whatever it was that they were supposed to do.

Logan had been observing from his position and quietly watched what was going on. He figured Harris would still be pissed about what he did to him to prevent him from what Hesh did to his friend. It made sense since they were supposed to be on the same side and to have a fellow soldier knock you out… Then again Hesh would do the same thing to him. Logan could understand the feeling though and figured that Harris wanted to find out what Hesh's intentions were.

He had been concerned when Hesh started petting Riley in a controlled manner that was deliberate. His brother was trying not to work himself up into a temper but he could also see the guilt that flashed for the briefest of moments in his older brother's eyes. He hoped that this wasn't going to cause problems on this since technically they were to stay in Chile with their bullshit orders.

"You worry too much."

Logan turned away and back to the instrument panel he was sitting in front of and found Skye looking at him. He replied, "Kind of have to."

"Why?"

Logan didn't say anything at first but checked on his brother and found that he was making himself comfortable. He was wary since Harris looked ready to tackle Hesh while he was drifting off. He looked back at Skye and replied with a shrug, "He's my brother and he's always worried about me."

"Fair enough," Skye replied. She knew this and she knew other things.

Logan turned and narrowed his eyes at her. He saw the sort of innocent look on her face and said, "Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"That," he countered as he pointed at her face. "The whole innocent thing."

"I'm not doing anything," Skye countered, thoroughly amused at Logan's ability to catch her intentions. She was also amused that he could look like a complete child even though he was a grown man. "I merely said that…"

"Don't go there," Logan countered. His eyes were still narrowed but he caught the playful expression on her face. God she was as bad as her cousin but the difference was she was more obvious about it. Sequoia had the maddening ability to make you squirm until you screamed out like a madman and had everyone look at you like you were nuts. His gaze softened a little as he added, "Because I can see you coming."

"Really?" Skye raised her brow at that.

"You're good… but Hawk is better." Logan gave a slight smile and turned to looking absently at the control panel. He really didn't know anything about flying and only made a fuss to tease Skye. He still liked her. Just with everything going on they hadn't had much opportunity to talk. At least until she started coming by where they were recovering and later Merrick found an excuse to keep her on the Dakota.

Skye shrugged like it was nothing. She looked at her own instrument panel and replied, "Well I did go 'white man' on her. So I didn't practice as much."

She looked when Logan said nothing. He was staring out at the sky and he appeared to be deep in thought. It was quiet in the back and she stole a look to make sure that they weren't killing each other or already did the deed. It was fine so far since Hesh was dozing but no doubt that man would jump to defend himself if needed and Harris was pretty much sulking. That was how it looked to her.

"I don't know what's going to happen, Skye," Logan said absently as he crossed his arms over his chest. He was useless as a pilot anyway. "When we do find Hawk… what she will say. She was pissed with what we did."

"I don't think it matters now," Skye offered softly after thinking about her response. She could remember a story her mother told her once but she doubted that either Walker would take it well. They might not understand the meaning behind it. She continued, "She would have understood."

"Hope you're right… for Hesh's sake."

"Yours too."

A/N: Hesh and Logan along with Skye and Harris are in Federation territory and are beginning their search for their friend Hawk. Looks like Harris has a few problems. Stay tuned for more of The Hunt...