Chapter 26

"You know how this will look."

"I know."

Hesh looked at Sequoia as they sat on the root of a tree. It had been a lot to take in. As it stood her status was that of a soldier but on a short leash. There was still the issue of what the Federation was going to do and Command wanted her to give them everything she knew to take them down and help but not give her what she needed to do it. Then there was Logan.

Sequoia knew that she had crossed a line somewhere. She probably crossed it the day she made the choice to do what she had to do to survive. It wasn't much different from when she would lead her team to sweep the Wall and hunt down the traitors but it was. She was willing to disregard everything just to save one man and hunt a hunter. She looked down at her hands and sighed, "I know I crossed a line somewhere Hesh. But… the day we start disregarding life, killing our friends…" She shook her head.

"I want to find Logan too, Hawk." Hesh was in agreement with her. "But…"

"I know. I think what the Fed has will bring more trouble in the long run. By all tactical means it is the best mode of attack."

"You're not wrong either and it's not because you're…"

Sequoia looked at Hesh and could tell that he was trying not to be insulting. He had learned quite a bit from when they first met but she hadn't made things easier. She had been the one to show she cared but keep it at arm's length then. Then he walked into her life and being with family… it brought out what she had long buried. "I know I am the best reason for why women shouldn't be serving. Too damn emotional."

"Makes you human." Hesh reached out and took her hand and held it in his on his lap. His fingers traced the contours of her hand. "And… I know what I've heard about Echo Three but I could read between the lines. And… I talked to Harris… when we weren't fighting… and…"

Sequoia couldn't help but give him a kiss on his cheek. "You're sweet."

Hesh gave a slight chuckle, "Huh. Not exactly the kind of thing I would like to be called but…" He planted a kiss on her head. "I'm not arguing. Just being here with you again…"

Sequoia leaned against Hesh in response. He had her back and that was more reassuring than anything but even she knew that he didn't want her to disobey orders like that. It was why she depended on him. He had been a steady influence when she was tempted a couple of times to just be reckless. The exception was when they were on exfil from Vegas and she essentially screamed at Feds to shoot at her to draw them out. He was that to her and she regretted he didn't know that. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Just… being you." Sequoia continued to lean against Hesh, drawing in his warmth, barley noticing that he had wrapped his arm around her. "I have to do this, Shappa. He won't stop and… it would kill me if Logan had to suffer because of me."

"He would do it for you like I would but…" Hesh paused. He knew that Rorke had wanted his brother and her and it seemed the bastard figured it out that she would chase him if he took something she would fight for. It didn't make sense to him since none of the others mentioned her relationship to his dad but… Then again if Rorke saw what Hesh did in her… then that was all the more reason. "I get what you're saying Hawk. Rorke is using Logan to get you both. It was obvious he wanted you both but… we thought you were more important."

"No one is more important…"

"You are to us. To me. To be honest, I wished I could take your place. And I still feel guilty that I couldn't stop it."

Sequoia was going to say something but didn't. They would just end up going around in circles. She could keep telling him that she never blamed him and her first thoughts were always of him and Logan but love was a two way street. The more she thought about it, the more she realized he looked out for her more than he had to and maybe it was because he had a hard time saying no to a challenge or didn't like it when he was bested, but he did. Logan did the same too.

Hesh noticed her being quiet and looked down at her. He didn't want to make her feel guilty about his feelings and everything. He felt like an idiot. "Look… I'm not… I meant what I said in that I'll stick by you. I meant it but… I don't want you paying a hard price for it. Logan wouldn't want you to do that either and… we kind of like having a Ghost that can make a Fed piss in his pants."

Sequoia couldn't help but chuckle, "That will never go away."

"Nope. It was just one of the little things that makes you special to me." Hesh tightened his grip slightly around her. "We'll find a way to get Logan back and take down the Federation. We did it before."

Sequoia hummed at that and leaned into Hesh's embrace as they watched the sun starting to sink. Nighttime fell fast in the jungle but it was still a sight to see and being a soldier you didn't get that many moments like this. "Yeah. Thing is… I'm afraid, Hesh. I'm afraid that my time with Rorke and what we did… that it made things worse for everyone."

"You did…"

"I did things Hesh. Maybe not the full force of it but I did them. And to people who didn't deserve it at all." Sequoia looked straight on, not able to bring her gaze to meet his. She sat up, moving away from him and clasped her hands together in her lap. "I… I tortured people. I was good in Freefall because I knew things that my father taught me and he didn't teach anyone else. Cesar… he insisted I do what I had to do. Because he said that I needed to be set free." She made a slight snort. The wild bird must be set free… Yeah right.

Hesh looked at her. He didn't like that she pulled away and while it could be easy to be hurt by it, he wasn't. He ached for her. "Ashford said something like that when she tracked me down. And as I said before… you don't have to tell me and I get that. I still love you."

Sequoia looked at Hesh and saw the truth in his eyes. It was like a calming balm the reassurance he gave. "You do realize that if I do help take down the operation… they'll take me away, do you?"

It wasn't something he liked to think about. But it was the truth. Hesh nodded, "Yes and I still will be there for you."

It was silent for a moment as they looked at each other. Hesh got that despite her emotional declaration of getting Logan back and ridding them of Rorke, she was still a soldier and do what had to be done. He also knew that they would find a way to kill two birds with one stone. It was something a Ghost knew how to do. He would still be there and if that meant the end of his career, then so be it.

Sequoia looked at Hesh. She knew he was loyal; it was evident in his relationship with Logan and vice versa. He didn't give it lightly though and by giving it to her… It was a promise. Tentatively she reached out with her hand and held his in hers. She looked at him with thanks and love in her eyes.

"Knew I'd find you up a tree, Hawk."

Sequoia tried to snatch her hand away but it was held fast by Hesh. She was going to glare at him to let him know that he was being foolish but to anyone it looked more like a friend reassuring a friend and because it was Keegan… She didn't want to cause more trouble. But Hesh wasn't going to let go so she let him and turned to look down at Keegan and reply, "What do you expect, Ohanzee?"

"Hawk."

"You're gonna gripe at me about that now?" Sequoia couldn't help but give a slight smile at the man. She could tell he wasn't annoyed since she had called him that in front of the others and they accepted it since she referred to Hesh and Logan by the names she had given them.

"You know about our agreement," was all Keegan would say about the matter. He shuffled on his feet slightly before continuing, "I'm here about…"

"Gonna warn me or punish me for insubordination?"

"Quit that. No."

Sequoia stopped what she was doing since it was agitating Keegan and he was one of the few people she would not want to hurt in terms of feelings or agitate. Still she was putting things into perspective by saying that since it was a reality now. She had made it clear when she declared her intentions and Reed wasn't going to let it go that easily. "It's the reality of things."

"I'll admit you didn't make things easy with that declaration of yours and losing your temper didn't help either Hesh."

Hesh merely shrugged at that. He didn't regret giving Reed what he thought. He did feel bad if it was going to make things difficult with regards to Sequoia. Sequoia on the on the other hand looked down at Keegan and said, "I do mean it Ohanzee. I'm going to get Logan back and kill Rorke. I just…" She looked away.

"Which is why I'm here."

Both Sequoia and Hesh looked down at Keegan and then at each other. Sequoia was the first to ask, "What do you have in mind?" There was a tint to her voice that indicated she was listening and up for a plan.

Keegan looked up at the pair. He had a chat with Merrick and Kick and they all agreed that there was room to look for their own. They just had to come up with a plan and they had pilot and one of the old Echo crew. They agreed to a plan and all that was needed was to get Colonel Slayton on board and the man readily agreed. Keegan suspected that he wanted his interrogator back so badly he would let her commit mutiny for the sheer hell of it. It only confirmed that there was a lot to their Hawk than they knew about. He didn't care about that since she was a teammate and a friend and she was into Hesh and vice versa.

Sequoia managed to pull away from Hesh so she could turn around and completely face Keegan even though she was still sitting on the root. Hesh had done the same. She looked down and repeated, "What gives Ohanzee?"

"We still have to find out what the Federation is doing. Even though we need to take it down, we still don't know much about it even though you gave us quite a bit."

"Meaning that Reed doesn't want me involved at all and doesn't trust my word." Sequoia saw the look on Keegan's face. She knew the man well since he was agreeing silently with her assessment. "Well fuck Charlie Leader."

Hesh stifled the chuckle and it turned into a cough while Keegan cleared his throat. It was Keegan who said, "As much as Reed laid down his protests… Command knows we need every available resource possible on this. I won't lie and say that you are off scott free Hawk. You are walking a tightrope on this. I need to know that you won't fall off the grid."

"I'll get the job done. I always have."

No one could say otherwise. Keegan looked up at her and said nothing. He suppressed the grin that threatened when Sequoia jumped down from her perch. He watched as she gracefully landed with a dull thud and stood up straight and proud assuming the attention position of a soldier. He nodded, "Alright."

Sequoia nodded and assumed at ease when given leave as she was joined by Hesh. "What's the plan?"

Keegan started walking and the pair followed while he spoke, "The plan is to attack where they are manufacturing whatever it is they are while at the same time sneaking through to look for Logan. We are assuming that they are at the same place. Correct?" He glanced at Sequoia for confirmation, any information she may have.

Sequoia made a slight face as she remembered. "It is. Much like a laboratory/warehouse. And where the 'rehabilitation facility' is too." She looked at Keegan. "All in one place."

It was what Keegan needed to hear even though he didn't like pulling it out of her. He nodded, "Okay…"

"Maybe you should take a double barrel twelve."

Sequoia chuckled as she finished loading up the magazines for her primary weapon and pistol. She put them in the pockets in her vest and looked over her person to make sure nothing was in danger of falling out. "I actually have a shotgun. Hesh gave me his."

Skye looked at the equipment that was remaining to be attached to Sequoia's person. It was a full kit and she could just imagine what Reed had to say about that. Yet he couldn't argue with Command and her cousin's service record spoke for itself. "I'm surprised," she teased, "Thought that thing was attached like another limb."

"It has sentimental value to him," Sequoia admitted. She ran her hand over it, remembering how she spent the evening before taking out LOKI cleaning it and prepping it for him. "Much like how this," she pulled out her tomahawk, "is sentimental to me."

Skye nodded as she watched as Sequoia paused and ran her fingers over the polished and carved wooden handle and then the head of it. "You always were good with some of the old ways, Tahatanskah. You taught me and I… pretty much threw it in your face."

"You were young Wamblee," Sequoia replied in a gentle tone. She knew that Skye was of a different generation and things were different. Her personality was different. She long ago had forgiven her for any perceived rudeness. "Water under the bridge."

"True but… guilt does linger," Skye replied as she slid objects for Sequoia to grab and put into her kit. She observed her cousin as she kitted up. "I'm just glad that I am able to make things right with you."

Sequoia looked up at her cousin. She knew full well what it was like to live with a regret of not telling someone you loved how much they meant to you before they were taken away from you. She knew that well. She put her hand over Skye's and gave a reassuring squeeze. "It was made right the day you made your choice of what to do. That is what we are all taught at home."

"What one choice made affects us all," Skye replied with a nod as she put her other hand on top of Sequoia's. "We fight because it defends everything we stand for and for our people, our home." She couldn't help but give a slight smile and added, "But it isn't just for them."

Sequoia couldn't deny it. It was out how much she was going to do. "Just one more thing worth fighting for, cousin."

"Bullshit. You chased after Hesh and Logan knowing that it might be too late."

"And look what happened, Wamblee." Sequoia finished what she was doing. "I took the place of Logan and set the team on a path of near destruction. And in that process…" She looked away and sighed. She ran her fingers through the loose tresses of her dark hair. She felt the tears prick at her eyes and she wasn't ashamed of them. The men weren't there.

Skye saw the tears. She realized that people forgot her cousin was not just the badass Echo Three they had heard of who ate Feds for breakfast; she was a person too, a woman with feelings. It was doubly hard because Sequoia was also considered a born warrior of their people, the kin to the eagle and hence her name. Skye knew that Sequoia tried to be what was expected of her but she needed her moments of being a person.

Sequoia knew that her tears were not becoming of a warrior born as the kin to the eagle but… she was a person, a woman. Sometimes a good cry was needed and what she wanted more than anything was to be comforted by Hesh. She wanted to feel his strong arms around her but she had been watched carefully since she agreed to this. She was lucky Skye had been allowed to come. At least she had family around her.

"You couldn't know everything that would happen and… I know that you wouldn't willingly give the enemy anything. What you did… you did what someone under deep cover would do. They'll see that. They have to." Skye knew that some words needed to be spoken and she went with what she was certain or rather believed would happened. She had faith that things would work out and believed that if one believed it, then her cousin would and things would work out.

Sequoia looked at her cousin and gave a slight smile. "You have grown up Wamblee. I am proud of you. Now I know that things will go as they will."

"We believe you, believe in you." Skye paused a moment to think about what she wanted to say next. Finally she said, "Logan believes in you."

"You aren't just saying that because of… me and Hesh."

"You're the best friend of Sungmanitu," Skye countered, using the Lakota names that had been given to the Walker boys. "The hawk and the wolf, two separate beings have become friends. The hawk tames Shappa…" She drifted, not sure if she should continue since Sequoia was looking at her with a stare that could become uncomfortable.

Sequoia listened to her cousin's words. There was wisdom in them. It brought her back to a time when her father for once had decided not to teach her another thing in his training regimen for her. It was back after their discussion on love.

It was a sunny day, clear and bright. They were in the fields looking for her totem since she was getting stronger and improving. She had been walking with her father in silence as they walked through the fields, pausing every so often to look around. Sequoia knew that he was going to leave again. He always stopped his training when he had to report back in but she didn't say anything about it.

Suddenly there was noise and her father put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. Sequoia paused but looked ahead while her father moved slowly to look around. She frowned as she squatted while her father walked away and prepared to wait. She kept her eyes and ears open, looking around.

Out of the brush came a wolf, a young one and it looked startled. Sequoia watched it with wide eyes as it came out and stopped to look at her. She heard the rumble of a growl start but she merely stared at it. She wasn't afraid and could see it wasn't. Even though it was growling, she held out her hand in friendship.

It was about a few minutes before the wolf took a tentative step forward. Sequoia held still while continuing to stare until they were face to face. The wolf let her pet him while he sniffed and gave her a lick to the cheek before he took off. Her father had returned then with her totem and she looked up at him as he looked at her with a peculiar look…

"You can do this."

Sequoia looked at her cousin and smiled, "I'll do what I can." She put a hand on Skye's shoulder as she picked up her rifle. "Thank you cousin."

Skye smiled in return. Now it was time to give her request. "Please bring back Sungmanitu."

Sequoia realized what Skye was asking. She had suspected it when they first met back when they were going on their mission. The way how Skye and Logan connected… she would approve. In her way, Skye was deferring to an elder member of the family for approval. She was the only one available and they were family so it was perfectly fine. She nodded, "I will do what I must."

Skye knew that she was asking a lot. There were specific parameters that Sequoia had to follow. After all she was still under suspicion about what happened before this. She nodded, "I know. Just like I know that this will work."

"Your confidence is most inspiring Wamblee."

"One learns much from Tahatanskah."

The pair shared a look just when the flap opened and Cesar said that they were ready for her. Sequoia nodded and gave her reply before straightening up into the soldier that she was. She checked her weapon before walking out and waited for Skye to follow. She would take the comfort and encouragement as it came.

They walked through the camp to where the departure was supposed to be. Keegan and Kick were already there and Harris came up with his SPAZ 12, living up to his call sign. She looked at them and lastly lit on Keegan. She gave a sigh and a shrug, "I guess I'm ready."

Keegan nodded. The plan was risky in the first place and it was treading on a thin line and Reed was not making his life any easier. "Take it slow once you're in."

Sequoia gave a slight twitch of her lips. "I highly doubt that it will happen but I'll do what I can Ohanzee." Her expression sobered and she looked like she was going to break down.

"Hey Hawk," Kick said, "We got this. You do your part and we'll be there."

"That I don't doubt Kick," she replied. She took a breath and sighed. She looked back at the camp. They followed her because they believed that she could set them free. She was no stranger to hero worship and every time she saw it in action… She looked back at the team that she had come to know and would fight for till the end with and for. She schooled her features to be what would be worthy of a warrior. She was of Lakota Sioux and she was a warrior and a hunter. "We'll get it done."

At that moment Hesh appeared. He had hung back since he had already said his piece to her before leaving her alone to kit up. He didn't like this part of the plan but even he had to admit that this was the best thing to do. He just didn't want to lose her again. He stood there and locked his gaze onto hers, his pine green eyes meeting her reddish brown ones. Nothing was said between then but the silence and gazes said much.

Hesh believed in her. She had always had his back since the day they met and he had done the same for her. They would get his brother back and take down the Federation. He gave a slight nod while his eyes expressed much more.

Sequoia nodded as well. She reached out and rubbed Riley's head. When this was over… there would be time to make things right. She gave one last look to her friends and family. "See you on the other side," she said softly but firmly before turning and started walking into the jungle.

The team watched as she disappeared. Reed came up and said, "You better be right about this."

Keegan glanced at Hesh who wasn't bothering to react to that, much to his relief, and turned towards Reed, "It'll work. Come on. We've got a job to do."

A/N: Looks like a plan is in the works and looks like it will involve Hawk going solo. Check out next time on The Hunt...