Thank you so much for being patient! I was in the process of house hunting and moving to a new Army Post. For all you military brats, you know the feels.

AND thank you so much for the reviews! I honestly did think my story would be up to par. Thank you so much for reading!

Lt. Lucky "Crow" Adair

Task Force 141

Fire Base Phoenix, Afghanistan

Journal 1

I have no idea what to do... I saw some of the guys playing basketball, god knows I'd just embarrass myself. The first day here I experienced a big haboob (intense dust storm) right away. Same old Afghanistan. I had finished my run in the pit, with a score of 18.6 seconds, it was good… but I could've done better. Anyway, Roach brought me to the mess hall with him; introduced me to some of his mates. I met the famous Meat, still can't get over the name though; makes me think of him walking up to a girl saying 'Wanna touch my meat?' Well… That's all I'm writing for today… Who does this shit anymore?

I sat on my bunk drawing in my little journal; it took me a few minutes to realize I needed to get laid. I had been drawing a naked woman for the past hour or two which somehow I was completely oblivious to. Didn't bother me though, not to be a bit self-absorbed… but I draw damn good, almost Marvel Comic-esque. I'm proud of the jugs I drew on the lass. And to give it a little humor I wrote 'Draw me like one of your French girls.'

"Hey, Lucky… What'cha doin'?" Roach asked.

"I think I'm drawing porn…" Archer jumped up from his bed and grabbed my journal. Ghost chuckled a little.

"Ah! Look at the bristle cities on this bird!" Roach joined him in a gander.

"She your girl?" Roach smiled.

"Don't have one." I frowned playfully.

"Good… So I can wank to this?" I got up to grab my journal back.

"No… I don't want sticky pages in my journal." I smiled.

"Let me see." Ghost tilted his head. I reluctantly handed it to him with a confused look. "Damn man… You're an artist. And a pervert."

"Says the man who was reading a bloody erotica book the day I got here…" He handed it back smirking.

"Touché." He laughed.

I looked at my watch, I didn't want be pent up inside so this would be a good time to get some running in. "Hey, I'm gonna go for a run." They nodded and continued there day as usual. On the way out of the door I realized I forgot my headphones. As I turned around Ghost was standing there with my headphones entwined around his fingers with a smirk on his face.

"Music is useless without these." He threw them at my hands and I caught them; oblivious to the plug in as it whipped my fingernail.

"Thanks." I smiled back and walked the way I was going. As I was out the door I put in my ear-buds, not minding the stairs that were on the left; I stepped down forward but instantly regretted it as I face-planted into the gravel. I heard a few cackles from the people around. Fuck… Captain MacTavish was leaning against the building letting out a long drag from his cigar, slightly chuckling. Way to go…

"Don't worry. I did the same thing when I got here." MacTavish had a shitgrin the suddenly squinted his eyes at me. "But… I didn't bleed… You might want to wash your face, kid." I felt a warm trail of liquid running down from my eyebrow. I brought my left hand up to touch it. My hand was now covered in splotches of blood. All because of a step… It had no rails though! I walked back inside with my hand over my eyebrow so I wouldn't bleed all over the place… I grabbed the handle to the room with my other hand and quickly rushed inside so they wouldn't see but the door came to a sudden stop. It whipped open and Ghost walked out from behind it holding his head. Shit…

"Fuckin' hell, I thought you were gonna—" He stopped mid-sentence. "Oh nice… Let me guess, wrong side of the stairs?" I nodded. "Tavish, Roach, and Toad did it too. I'm starting to think they removed the rails on purpose."

I walked to the bathroom and Ghost followed while grabbing something on his desk. "Let me see it." He removed my hand. Smiling he shun a light at my eye, blinding me, but then put it over my eyebrow. "Damn… How hard did you hit the ground? You need stitches."

"I don't kno—" My legs felt like noodles and I began to fall landing on Ghost's white shirt. It had to be white… Didn't it? I slid down before he threw his hands up to stop me from hitting the floor. I passed out a second after I heard him say 'Gary. Get MacTav—'

I rubbed my eyes and propped myself up, but instantly laid back down because I felt light-headed. "Hey, you're up."

I was confused and looked to my right; Ghost was sitting in a rolling chair with blue gloves on with a shitgrin plastered across his face. "Shit… What happened?"

"You don't remember?" I nodded slowly. "Oh, you passed out. Looks like you have a concussion! Already!"

"Please tell me you are takin' the piss…"

"Sorry, mate. You postponed your first mission with us." He frowned. "Be careful with your eyebrow, I had to give you three stitches."

"You? Do we not have a medic?"

"We do but, almost everybody took the Combat Life Saving course… Who knew three hours would be so helpful." He smiled. "I'm takin' the piss mate; I actually learned this shit from experience. You never know when you are going to need it." It took me a moment to realize I was lying on my bed with a sheet over the pillow; my guess was so it didn't get stained with blood.

I heard a tap on the door frame and MacTavish walked in. "When I fell I didn't pass out." He smirked. "How're you doing? So much blood…"

"Speakin' of that… I'm gonna change it." He walked to a dresser.

"I'm good… A little light-headed… But good." I watched slightly as Ghost took off his shirt. I don't know why, but it intrigued me what was under it. A few quote tattoos on his ribs, tribal across his chest… Mostly stereotypical things soldiers get when they join. I looked away when I saw MacTavish snap his fingers.

"Must've whacked it pretty hard… You were dozing off. You should get some rest…" He patted my shoulder before walking out.

"Alright…" I looked at Ghost again, this time he watching me and our eyes met. I broke it off first because his icey blue orbs were piercing, but to my surprise I saw him grin slightly as he put on another shirt; this time blue. Roach walked in rather happily grinning like no tomorrow.

"Just think of it this way, at least you didn't get shot." His grin grew. "But that's a lame way to go down."

"Give him a break. You did the same damn thing Gary."

"I know… but I at least caught myself. Kitty reflexes."

"So you truly are a pussy." Ghost said.

"…I am what I eat…" I haven't heard that comeback since I was a little poppet; gave me a sense of nostalgia and I couldn't help but laugh. Ghost only face-palmed with a smile.

"Am I ever going to have a serious conversation with you, Roach?"

"Don't count on it." Roach winked.

I propped myself up with my elbows. "So… Did I make a fool of myself on my second day?"

Ghost chuckled. "They'll talk about it for two days maybe… It'll stop when someone else does something. Don't worry."

"Want'a get to know each other better since we're gonna be roomies for quite a long time?" Roach asked as Archer walked in the room and sat on his bed.

"Sure…" I answered. I kinda liked Roach, reminds me of how little brother would be, though I've never had a brother, I felt like he could be.

"Alright… It's gonna sound a bit sleep-overish but… 20 questions? With more than 20, of course." Yes… Definitely little brother material.

Ghost turned around smiling and walked over to sit on his bed. "I'm in." He looked at Archer.

"What?" Archer glared and Ghost just stared back. "…Fine… I'm in…"

"Alright… Oldest here is Simon, so you go first." Simon?

"Alright… Um… Why did your parents name you Lucky?" Ghost asked… Oh, he's Simon.

"I am the result of a broken condom… and I escaped birth control…"

"Me too." Archer smiled.

"Aww… Look, you're bonding over broken condoms. How adorable." Ghost chuckled. Archer flipped him the bird. "Lucky, your turn."

"Um… What're all of your names?"

"I'm Gary." Roach smiled.

"Simon."

"I'm Alfie… Alright my turn… When is the last you got laid?" He said with a smile.

Ghost chuckled. "Four weeks ago, cutest little petite Russian woman."

"…Two months ago, my love back home." Roach said with a shy smile."

"…Literally four days ago…" It was the truth; my ex-girlfriend was feeling rather lonely and wanted to be touched… I hated her guts… But who can deny a free fuck?

"Lucky bastard…."

The game went on four almost the whole night to Gary's surprise; the guy thought we would've gotten bored halfway through it. I learned a lot about the lads though. Simon can tie a cherry stem with his tongue. Gary can use his feet like hands… as he ever so kindly showed us by pinching Archer's arm. And Alfie used to be in a band called The Merry Band of Midgets; the guy wasn't short though… He's roughly 6'0 which all made sense when he said it was a band full of girls that stood below 5'3 and him. We all somehow ended falling asleep leaning on our beds.

Sorry the chapter was short, kinda had a brain fart. The next one will be longer. I SWEAR.