Even the shallowest of dents in the road made for some decent speed bumps. The car would hit one and it would jostle its occupants, but didn't do much to bother them. It simply served as a reminder to Farid to stay in the present. Stay with what was happening now.

It was a few days now since Menendez's official arrest. The fires were dying down, and repairs were starting on the decimated city of Los Angeles. It almost didn't matter to him though, because here and now he had an issue of his own to handle.

Though an official funeral service would not be for some time, they still needed to handle the formal matters concerning Harper's death. That included informing the family.

At this day and age, it seemed a little bit of a waste in time driving out to have a sit down with the family and let them know exactly what happened to their dead relative. Actually, it wasn't done much anymore. But David had insisted on it; he refused to let that close with a long Email or a phone call to express their sympathy for their loss. And Farid couldn't blame him for that.

In all honesty, Farid wished dearly that he hadn't insisted on his attending as well. David's reasoning was that perhaps knowing the full story would help. But he neglected one thing, Farid still hadn't worked out the problem in his own head. How was he supposed to tell these people what happened when he still couldn't bring himself some nights to admit that Harper was gone.

That was another thing... the nightmares... Why bring him when the shadowed features and dulled eyes gave away his exhaustion and guilty conscience? This was supposed to be formal and professional. Something he couldn't provide with his current insomnia and depression.

Put that to rest now. Let it go. You need to be strong for them. He scolded himself.

In his lap was a small box of things pulled from Harper's cabin and off his person - possessions the family would probably want. It wasn't much. A couple small notebooks with photos taped inside, a few letters, his dog-tags, a couple CDs, his phone, and a rusty locket were the main things inside. There were other things as well; papers, a letter of condolences... the usual things they throw in.

The car pulled up in the parking lot of an office building and they got out to attend their meeting. For it, the two were in their best - David had a formal uniform, however, Farid was provided something a little better than the camouflage pants and T-shirt he had been wearing.

No one spoke to them as they walked through the lobby and to the elevator, and rode that up a few floors to an office room where the meeting was planned to be set up. As they approached, Farid felt his stomach tie in knots with nervousness. David gave the security guard a quick tap.

"Make sure we aren't disturbed. And again, sorry I can't promise a definite end time."

"No need to apologize about that," the security guard said with a shrug. "You gotta do what you gotta do."

David nodded in response and entered the room, with Farid just behind him. Inside sat five occupants. An older couple, a man with buzzed hair, and a woman with a small child asleep in her arms. David went ahead and shook hands with them in turn, with a calm, "Thank you all for coming." before everyone pulled some seats out. Farid put the box on the table and stood near the door, he didn't think he had the right to sit down. "Mr. and Mrs. Harper. Nicole. Josh. You all have my sincerest regards."

The elder, Mr. Harper put on a sad smile, "We should be thanking you, boy. I thought they stopped doing this sort of thing. It's very kind of you. And brave. Not many people can face the family of a dead man."

"I have nothing to hide," David said, "Mike and I were good friends and worked together very often. Honestly, I think I owe him my life a dozen times over. It's just as much a shock to me that he's gone."

Josh, who had a hand running over the very short hair on his scalp, asked, "Did he go out like a soldier? Die fighting like he always said he would?"

With a sigh, David looked down for a moment. "I wouldn't know. The VTOL he was in got shot down, and by the time I arrived with reinforcements, he was dead."

"Someone had to have been there with him, right?" Mr. Harper insisted, "It'd be damn stupid to send him alone."

Here a choice was open to Farid. He could tell them what happened, or stay silent and let David answer. He took a deep breath and said something in an almost inaudible voice.

Everyone glanced up at him, and David asked, "You say something, Farid?"

"I was there," he repeated. "He did die fighting."

"How did he die then," Josh questioned, sitting up straight, "how'd Mike die?"

Their eyes all came to rest on him, and there was suddenly the feeling of his heart ripping and his throat jamming in on itself. David stood up and pulled out a chair to sit him down, and he didn't protest. He was too busy hearing it all play through his mind - the cheers and screams. David went on to explain to the relatives.

"It's been hard on him," he said, "try and understand, he couldn't do anything in his position at the time. He hasn't even talked about it much since it happened."

"That's okay," Mrs. Harper said. "Death isn't an easy thing."

Farid put his face in his hands. "No. No. You deserve to know what happened. I owe all of you that much at least."

Nicole held her child a little closer and regarded him with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"I was the one who killed him," he said lowly, and raised his head up to look at them all with a tired look. "I killed Mike Harper."

There was a silence. And then Josh leaned forward. "You killed him?" His voice was lower now, with a daring edge to it.

Farid nodded slowly. "I was undercover, looking into the Cordis Die uprising. That morning, when Harper died, was our first attempt to capture Raul Menendez. I could not blow my cover. Mike had been talking to me over communications that entire time, reminding me to be careful and not draw suspicion to myself. I was to meet Menendez in the citadel of the town, where the Seals team was supposed to capture him, but instead I found him on the street with a lot of his followers. They shot down Harper's VTOL and dragged him out."

"And you killed him?" Mr. Harper concluded. "To maintain that cover?"

Another nod. "Menendez knew I was a mole, and he found the best way of testing me. He told me to shoot Harper..." His slamming heart was starting to remind him of the scene. His fingers curled into the fabric of his pants and he tried to breathe, but he found it hard and painful.

"Do it, Egghead. Do your job."

"NOW, Farid!"

"Do it, man! Come on! You don't got the fucking stones to shoot me! Come on, Egghead! DO IT!"

"Farid, hey..." David had a hand on his shoulder. His stare serious. "You gonna be alright?"

He hadn't realized it, but his face had taken on the same deer-in-the-headlights look it had when the actual event occurred. "I..." He felt his choking only worsen. No. No, it needs to be said. "I'm sorry. This is all my fault. He should not be dead. I should be." He didn't dare look up at the relatives, he didn't want to see the hatred and anger that was probably in their eyes.

But David, a hand still on Farid's shoulder to calm him down, did look face to face to see their reactions. Nicole was absolutely heartbroken, holding onto the infant in her arms a little tighter now. Mr. Harper was very stoic, a considering look on his face. Josh was glaring, his hands curled in fists, but his sharp stare was towards the floor, as if he could make a hole to the ground floor. And Mrs. Harper, she was watching them both and met David's eyes when he looked to her. There was no malice there, only a sort of understanding behind the tears that had slipped. A sort of silent message was there as well, an urging "help him."

"I'm sorry," David said, mostly to the other relatives, "do you mind if we step out a moment?"

No one protested against it, so he pulled Farid up and left the room with him. But before he let the door shut he threw in a quick notice that the box had Harper's things inside and they were welcome to the contents.

That moment, he felt as though the world was moving in slow motion as he backed away and watched the two men flip Harper's head back - glassy eyes staring off and mouth hanging open.

"Farid," David said to him, taking notice of his wide, distant gaze. "Farid, come on. Snap out of it, okay?"

The distance left with a few blinks, and his stare fell on David. He took hold of his sleeve, needing something to hold onto. His throat was squeezed tight enough to turn coal to diamond, and he couldn't breathe, let alone speak. It was that same suffocating pain he felt when he saw Harper's body.

"Hey," David took hold of his arm, "come on. Take a deep breath, okay? Do you want to stay out here and calm down? I'm sure they'll understand."

"I-I'm sorry..." Farid forced out, it was hard to say, and yet it seemed like the only thing he could say. "Please... Tell them I'm sorry."

"I will." David promised, and patted his bicep before turning to reenter the room, and check on the family.

"Anyone can give up; it is the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone would expect you to fall apart, now that is true strength."
― Chris Bradford

There was a letter in that box. One that, in everyone's haste to pack up what Harper left behind, was placed with the other possessions that were to be given to the family. It had been Nicole who found it, and gave it to David, pointing out how it was addressed to Harper's team, not his family - though he left them one as well.

It seemed like Harper had been more prepared to die than most. Because writing a letter to your loved ones in case of your death, you're accepting the reality that it just might happen. Most soldiers tried to get by, praying to heaven that they'd be able to see tomorrow morning. But Harper didn't bother with praying. He just did what he had to do and only blamed himself when things went wrong.

David went over the letter himself beforehand, and then called up everyone the letter was addressed to - with the exception of Salazar for obvious reasons. He now, as he looked face to face, explained what the letter was and that it was written shortly before his death. Letting that prior knowledge sink in, he started to read it.

"To everyone who's been with me all this time, through the thick of everything and back, I just want to say one thing. Thanks a lot. I know I've never been much the letter type - not really a doom and gloom guy either - but I guess this has got to be said. We're going after Menendez soon, and I've got to be honest, I'm actually kinda scared.

Ain't that a thought, right? It's been eating at me for some time, and now that we're going right in to get him, I'm actually not feeling too hot about it. It only just seems to be sinking in now that this guy's dangerous, and he's got enough supporters for a descent sized army. Things might not work out well for me, and if I happen to wind up dead soon, then I don't want to leave without one last thing to say to you.

I want all of you to know that I'd rather be the one dying, much more than any of you. Keep that in mind if you happen on my dead body somewhere. Don't you dare feel bad about it, because I probably died for someone's sake and I wouldn't have it any other way. Don't wish it were you, because I swear, if I ever see you again then I'm smacking you so hard that you'll be seeing stars. I know you guys are all strong enough to handle my death, and keep going on like the soldiers you're supposed to be. But me, I don't know if I could. I don't think I'd ever be able to deal with any one of you guys dying.

David (or 'Section', but I don't know which I should refer to you by in this case), you keep these guys together. Got that? Keep being tough as nails like your old man and Woods. But please, for everyone's sake, learn to drive. No need for any more roasted faces, right?

Salazar, I know we get under each other's skin on a lot of things. We're like polar opposites, and I get that. Loosen up a little.

Crosby, I hope you learn some caution. Because I won't always be there to tell you to get your ass to cover. Other than that, don't lose that sense of humor you got, and good luck with the girl.

Admiral Briggs, I'm not even sure what to say in all honesty. Thanks? You've been there to give a lot of men a spine, and I owe you so much for it.

Chloe Lynch, I know I don't know you very well, but good luck.

And Farid, I know that tomorrow we're on opposite sides. I don't know what could happen, if we'll even see each other, but you're the one I'm worried about the most right now. I know it's something neither of us would like to think about, but if the reason I died is because you killed me, and had no other options, I want you to know that I will never hate you for it. Actually, I'd rather you get out alive a lot more than me, so even if that means pissing you off to do it then I hope you can forgive me in the end.

Everyone, try not to cry too much about it. Try and remember the good times. I hope not soon, but we'll see each other again someday. Whether we'll know it or not remains to be seen.

Really, that's all I have to say.

Goodbye,

Mike Harper"

There was a sobered feeling in the room as David concluded the letter and folded it up again. He had nothing to say, and he didn't dare shed a tear over it. He owed it to everyone to keep strong so that they had one less person to worry about.

Farid noticed after a moment that tears were prickling at his eyes, and he blinked them away. Harper yelled at him to shoot... not to scare him off, but to encourage it? In some strange, twisted way he was sacrificing himself to save his skin, and it worked. To his surprise, he didn't cry about it. He was just too dumb with shock. While he seemed completely emotionless for once on the outside, his mind was tripping on itself trying to comprehend it all.

You idiot, he thought, you fucking idiot...

Yeah, I wasn't too sure what I was going to do here. I mean, I knew I was going to have the family involved, but then this idea of Harper's last words came to mind and I just had to put it in.

I'm sorry this took me a while to update. I got caught up in another story, and before that I just didn't feel the motivation to write another chapter. I started this one, and then I stopped for a time because I wasn't sure if anyone really liked it. Well, the couple of reviews I received really kicked my ass into gear again. So thanks a bunch to those who have. :)

Thanks for reading guys, and don't forget to leave a review.