February 2018

Grace stood, leaning against a three sided shelter that had been built to prepare and serve food out of, watching several Somalian children and many of the marines were playing a game of soccer.

Grace laughed and smiled at the game. The children loved it.

All of a sudden, a woman came running towards her. "Miss Grace! He-hel-help," the woman said, trying to pull Grace with her.

"Ok ok," Grace followed her, curious and a little worried.

She followed the woman into her tent. I small child about 2 years old laid on the floor, obviously sick. Grace didn't know what to do.

The translator entered the tent.

"Someone saw you following her and told me," she said, before Grace could even ask.

"Thank you," Grace said. The translator set to work

"She says, "her son woke up this morning with a high fever and she doesn't know what to do."

"Why doesn't she take him to the medical tent?"

"Her back," the translator said,"she can't carry him. She went to the tent to get help and someone told her they'd be over as soon a possible but they didn't know when they could make it over here."

"Why didn't she ask someone earlier, like some one who could understand her?" Grace asked, picking the child up.

"She doesn't know anyone, she felt she could trust you," the translator repeated back.

"I'm going to take him to the medical tent," Grace said, leaving with the child in her arms.

::

Grace left the tent, in a daze. 2 hours, 2 hours was all it took and he was gone.

All she could hear were the mother's cries.

"Grace?" Adam asked, "are you ok?"

"No... No I'm not," Grace said, shaking her head as the tears came out. "He was here... And then he wasn't... It was just so fast and... and..."

"Grace," Adam sighed, pulling her into a hug.

"Adam?"

"Yeah?"

"I feel a little... a little light headed," Grace said, as she passed out.

Grace woke laying on a cot, saline running through an I.V.

She sat up and ripped the I.V. out.

"Hey," Adam said, coming over and handing her a bottle of water. "You were dehydrated."

"Why was this thing in me?"

"Because you were dehydrated," Adam said, slowly.

"I know that," Grace rolled her eyes and took a sip of the water. "but they should of saved it for someone who needed it."

"You needed it," Adam said.

"I would have been fine," Grace replied, trying to balance as she stood up.

"Here, let me help you," Adam said, touching her arm.

"I don't need help," Grace snapped, pulling away. They both went quiet and looked at each other.

"Well then, I'll get going," Adam said, turning to walk away.

"Adam, wait," Grace said, "I'm sorry I'm just tired and an emotional wreck after what happened earlier. I didn't mean to snap at you. Some help would be very nice."

"You're a very stubborn woman Gracelyn Callen," Adam said helping her balance.

Grace looked at him weirdly.

"What?"

"My name, how'd you know it was Gracelyn and not Grace?"

"You told me," he replied.

"Rule number one: never lie to a federal agent, it's dumb."

"Is that really a rule?"

"No, rule one is never screw over your partner. Well that and never let suspects stay together. There's two rule number ones."

"What are you talking about?" Adam asked, "I think you're still dehydrated."

"Never mind," Grace shook her head,"so how'd you know?"

Adam failed to answer, "you got my file, didn't you?" Grace said.

"I may have requested..."

"I can't believe you," Grace said, swatting his arm with a playful glint in her eyes. "If you wanted to know about me, you could of asked."

::

The two sat on the edge of the camp, right next to Grace's tent, as the sun went down, talking. The temperature kept dropping and before long Grace went to grab a blanket but returned shortly. They talked for another hour or so.

"I should get to bed," Grace sighed, standing up.

"I guess I should too," Adam replied, joining her.

"Well... Goodnight," Grace said, awkwardly.

"Goodnight," he smiled. Grace waited for a minute and then she turned to go to her tent. "Grace?"

"Yeah?" She asked, turning to face Adam again. He waited a couple seconds before grabbing her hand and stepping closer.

"I may have a little crush on you," he said, before leaning down and kissing her.

Grace smiled, "the feeling's mutual."

"Goodnight," Adam smiled.

"Goodnight," Grace blushed, walking to her tent.