me: Alrighty, in the beginning of this chap Max is in Iraq.

Angel: This should be interesting.

Total: Let's see what idea Sam gave her!

me: Yep! It's interesting. I came up with it laying in bed. How come all my ideas come to me either in bed or in the shower? And like I said, I'm sorry if I get army stuff wrong. I'm thirteen. I don't have older siblings. The closest army man in my reach is my retired ex-step-grandfather. Don't ask. It's complicated.

Angel: Who knows.

Total: I know the plan! She -

me: *covers mouth* Let them read! Enjoy!

-line-

-Max POV-

Army camp.

Wow.

Who would have known? When I arrived no one was there but a few guards. Were they in battle? The thought sent shivers down my back. I knew these guards couldn't stop a camp bombing. This was where Fang was 'killed'. I even saw the black explosion mark where his tent had been. The sight made my heart hurt for him.

I slowly sneaked past the guards and slipped inside a tent, hoping no one was there. Blankets. That's all there really was. Pictures of loved ones from back home stuck in a few of them. But surely someone left extra uniforms around! There was a pack in the corner.

I hate stealing. Always have. But I had to, for Fang. I slowly walked over and opened it. It was obviously a woman's. All the pictures were of a man and kids. It was packed neatly. Guys would have just thrown everything in. Slowly I moved the things, trying to set them back in place. At the bottom of the back was an extra uniform.

This was too easy.

Slowly I pulled it out and changed, taking note of the rank. Fang had shown me the army ranks. This woman had a rank one, which was an arrow pointing up. Good. Just what I needed. I pulled out the two extra caps, black and camo. I peeled off my clothing and slipped on the uniform and boots, my perfect size. I put on the black cap.

Fang's friends would still recognize me from pictures. What could I change? My hair. People always say I look different with my hair cut. Major cut, and maybe they won't recognize me just by pictures. I found a knife and slipped out, running to the side of the tent. With a deep breath I hacked my five-year growth of hair to an inch above the shoulder.

Maybe I had camouflaged myself. I put the cap back on and stepped into view.

"Hey!" one of the guards yelled. I jumped and turned. He walked up to me. "Why aren't you with your group, Rank A?"

"Um..." I hadn't thought of this. "I...was just sent her. The president sent in more more soldiers."

He put his hands on his waist. "I was not told about President Obama sending in more troops."

"He didn't send us. We were sent by... another president?"

"So you're a spy! I knew it." He growled under his breath. "I told these soldiers not to leave uniforms in packs." He shock his head and grabbed my wrists, spinning me around. "The Chief will like that I caught a spy." He laughed.

"No! I'm not a spy!" I sighed. I wasn't going to get past him without the truth. "Let me turn around and I'll tell you!"

He slowly released my hands, but kept me within grabbing distance if I tried to run.

"Okay, you know Nick, right? Killed in a tent bombing a few weeks ago?"

"Nick? Yeah. He and I were good friends." He took off his cap and put it to his heart.

I did the same. He frowned at me and put his cap on, looking at me suspiciously. I quickly put it on. Had I done something wrong? Slowly he realized something. "I know you!" he said, pointing at me. "I've seen you from Nick's pictures. You're not an army man! You're his wife, Max."

I sighed. "Okay, yes. But look. Me and Nick have known each other wince we were kids. We have this...connection. He's not dead. His body was never found, right? Because he didn't die. He's in hiding. And I'm going to find him. So please, let me pass."

"And this was your plan to find him? Steal an army uniform and masquerade as a new recruit?"

"I met an old friend on the way over here. His wife was killed here. He said this place was huge, with tons of places he could hide. He said finding and getting information from his friends would be my best bet on finding him. Look, I have three kids at home. And two of them are only in kindergarten. Don't make me come back and tell two five-year-olds their father was killed."

He sighed. "I have a five-year-old daughter. I get it. I'll cover for you. Just stay here and get to know the camp while I explain to everyone why who you are and why your here."

"You can't tell them I'm Fang's wife! They won't tell me anything!"

"Okay. You - Who's Fang?"

I felt my face heat. "That was my nickname for Nick," I said quickly. "He was bit by a snake when he was a kid, and he was obsessed with them after that. So we started calling him Fang. But his real name is Nick." Great excuse, Max. Snakes.

He frowned but nodded again. "Okay then. I won't tell them you're Nick's wife. But you have to cover yourself a little more. Nick had better friends then me, if I realize who you are, they definetly will. Just, slap dirt of your face. Take the rings off. And the necklace. Don't make your hair so neat."

I took off my rigs and necklace and put them in the uniform pocket. I bent down and got dirt on my fingers, smearing it on my face. I took off my cap and flipped my hair, tangling it. He smiled. "Am I so recognizable?" I asked, turning a circle for him to see.

"Not, not as. Alright, when everyone gets back, ask around for Mark. Wait - Mark died in the explosion. Too bad. He was Nick's best friend. Then ask for Sampson. He was Nick's good friend. He will know how to help you. As long as he doesn't recognize you, you're fine."

"Thank you." I smiled and let him return to his job, while I started to look around camp.

-Ella POV-

I watched as Andie and Andrew played in the sandbox. Katrina sat under a tree, writing a letter to her friends back home. I wondered what Max was doing now, or if her plane crashed or she was shot down at the border. I pushed the thoughs out of my mind. No. That couldn't happen.

My hand inched towards my cell phone. But Max wouldn't answer her phone. If she was alive, she'd be in Iraq looking for Fang. She would call me if she needed me. But I picked up my phone and went to contacts anyway. I pressed Iggy before I could Max. I wanted to call him anyway.

"Hello, dear," he said.

"Iggy, guess what Katrina gave us?" I didn't wait for his answer. "A Visa card for a date tonight. She said she would take care of Andie and Andrew."

"Awesome!" We started to discuss date ideas.

-Katrina POV-

I threw myself over my bed. Aunt Ella and Uncle Iggy were still out, watching a late showing of the Splice. Andie and Andrew were in bed. And I had time to think.

Mom told me about Omega. The original Omega, not Omega Jr. She told me about their first meeting. So why did Mom rent property from him? And why would he give her such an easy deal it would take sixteen years to pay off the house? And -

The phone rang. My hand shot out and I answered it. "Hello?" I said sheepishly.

"Hello, Katrina. It's Omega."

My head shot up. "Omega! But I gave you a wrong number!"

"I know, and I forgive you. The house will still be paid for while your mother is gone. And I'm not going to use that pickup line again, under one condition. But I knew you were staying with Ella Martinez, and her number was in the phone book." He chuckled to himself.

Of course it was. How could I have been so stupid? "Okay then, but I really don't care if you use the stupid pickup line again. As long as the house is safe and ready for me and my siblings, I don't care if you use it to all the girls you meet. You'll get slapped, and declined, but I don't care."

"No, under one condition will the house be safe and ready for you guys."

"Fine. What is it?"

"You come with me to a double date."

My jaw clenched. "Omega, I gave you a fake phone number. What makes you think I'm going to go on a double date with you?"

"The fact that you'll still have a house when your mom gets back with your dad. Please, Katrina. I told my friend that I had a really cute girlfriend. And he challenged me to take her to the movies tomorrow with him and his girlfriend. You don't have to really mean it, you just have to fake it."

"That's blackmail. But okay, I'll do it for the house. But I'm faking it. What do I have to do?"

"Dave's Cinema at seven tomorrow night. A few hugs, shared popcorn, a few kisses."

"The hugs and popcorn I'll do, but not the kisses."

"Eh, okay. I'll still save your house if you don't kiss me. Even though it would help." He paused, as if he wanted me to agree. "Okay, so Dave's Cinema at seven. Don't forget. Cause the punishment will be loosing your house. Remember." He hung up.

I growled. He didn't have to be a jerk.

-line-

me: Peace, Love & Movies!

Angel: ...Omega Jr?

me: Omega had a kid. I know, shocker.

Total: That's what I thought the first time you mentioned him. May I ask, how?

me: REVIEW!