A/n: Surprise waiting for you on my profile. Enjoy. And I also have a second surprise courtesy of a friend. It's not ready yet, but soon. Sorry for the lateness, roommates distracted me with Tony Stark drinking game. You'll get two chapters today to make up for it.

-brittsis

"Recruits welcome to Team Week." Pickard announced. "For the next couple days you'll be broken up into smaller teams and assigned tasks to strengthen your team work. But first your Corporal has arranged a little treat for you guys. Shepard!"

Rae stepped forward, saluting Pickard before taking his spot. She grinned at her squad. "We're having a little field day. But not any field day. Marines stationed here on base are competing against us. They intend to show us what being a Marine truly means but we will be the ones that show them. For weeks we've trained, for weeks we've sweated and bleed and now is our moment. Recruits we will rise up and show that we are the best damn squad to make it through boot. OOH-RAH!"

"OOH-RAH!"

Rae grinned. "Platoon, report to the mess for breakfast. Platoon leaders, stay behind."

"Squad dismissed!" Pickard commanded and departed for the mess. Everyone but the leaders left, happy to get some chow. The leaders stood at attention and awaited her orders. "At ease, we're equals today."

The three of them relaxed and moved in closer. Rae pulled some papers from her pocket and handed them each one. "Here's a list of today's activities. Each recruit must participate in at least one event and each event must have a group of three or four. Today is a test of your leadership more than anything. You must choose from your platoons who you think will work best."

"Do we have to stay within our platoons?" Merchant grunted as he examined his list. "It says here that during the treasure hunt they've got to remain undetected and Livingston be perfect but Diana from my platoon would also work well."

Rae nodded, "The squad is a hold today. As long as their corresponding platoon leader agrees with you they can work together in a team. Freeman do you agree with him?"

Charles grunted in agreement before turning to Washington. "McDonald is a fast runner and strong, he'd be perfect for the last leg of the relay race."

Washington grinned, "And Baker is light on her feet, perfect for the first leg."

"Get together with one another during breakfast and get the teams together."

"What about you Shepard?" Merchant asked, looking up from his paper. "You're not participating?"

Rae grinned wide, teeth flashing. "I'm heading the paint ball team. Merchant I'll need Wright. Washington, Evans. And Freeman, I'll need you."

The recruits had pulled the offset and won the treasure hunt. Although the Marines had home ground and knew the best locations to find the objects Livingston was able to hide in the shadows and Diana grew up on Earth with sticky fingers. Combined with Mitchell's fast talking the three of them were able to steal and charm all of the items before midday meal. The recruits won the relay race as well, even if it was only by inches. It had taken McDonald a while to switch all the gear from the third runner onto his back. The Marines won the tug-o-war and was currently winning the drill contest.

Rae stood at the back of the group with her arms crossed. The Marines had used their drill team for the contest and she had considered calling them out on it. The team that the platoon leaders had put together had practiced all morning to give their competitors a run for their money. But it wasn't enough, the Marines were to much in sync and had years of routines available. Rifles went flying and the Marines did a round about before catching them and snapping into attention. Rae decided to give them this one.

Turning from the competition, Rae wondered over to where camps were being quickly built. Each team needed to set up a ten person tent, start a fire, retrieve water enough to last three days, and other various tasks. The team that completed it the quickest and most efficiently would win the event. The recruits were winning so far but the Marines were shortening the gap.

Her event was due to start soon so she headed for the barracks. Rules were similar to the game of man hunt she used to play except that once you were hit you were down. Each team had four players and their objective was to eliminate the enemy before they got them. Simple enough, except they'd be in an old air craft hanger filled with shipping crates, fashioned like a maze.

Rae entered the room to find her team waiting for her, eyeing the boxes in the middle of the room. "Good our gear arrived." She pulled the knife from her boot and tore the boxes open, revealing the gear they needed. "You guys ever play paint ball before."

Wright nodded and grabbed the long rifle from the box, checking its load mechanism. "Where'd you get this baby?" He stroked the rifle intimately, causing Rae to chuckle.

"I've seen your scores Wright. You were able to hit the five hundred mark from standing position without a second thought. Figured you'd enjoy the role of our sniper."

"You thought right Corporal." His teeth flashed as he grabbed the rest of his gear.

Rae pulled out two paint knives and turned to Evans, presenting them to her. "I had a friend that could do wicked things with these and never thought I'd meet her rival. Then I watched you during martial arts training. I have a pistol for you as well, but thought you'd deal the best damage with these."

The girl took the knives and weighed them in her hands. "These will do."

Rae turned to Charles and found him standing at ease, eyes forward. "What role will this recruit play Corporal?"

Rae winced at his tone, missing the carefree smile he use to give her. "Wright, Evans give Freeman and me a minute."

The two gathered up their gear and left the room, giving the two of them confused looks. When the door and closed, Rae sighed and sat down in one of the chairs. "There's no need to be so formal today Freeman. As I said, today we are equals."

"You made it evident that all you want is to be my superior officer Sir." Charles answered.

"God damn it Freeman what do you want from me?"

Charles looked down at her, "How about the truth? Not the lie you tell yourself and everyone else. I want to know the real Raegan."

She frowned and stood from her chair, walking away from him. "You have no clue what you're asking."

He walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Tell me."

"Everyone I've cared about dies." She blurted out. "You know where I come from and I'm sure you know about the attack. What I didn't tell you is I was there at ground zero. I fought the Batarians, fought for my family, my friends and I failed. Everyone that I lo…" Rae choked on the word. "Anyone that gets close to me dies Freeman." She looked into his eyes, mouth setting into a firm line. "Yes, I admit there's something here but it can't be. If something where to happen to you."

He pulled her into a hug, holding her tight. "I'm a Marine Raegan. They're training me to be the best." He pulled away slightly and smiled at her. "Tell me what you need me to do."

Rae nodded and pulled from his embrace. She went back to the equipment and pulled a rifle from the box. Tossing it to him, she gave him a nod. "I need you to watch my back, be my voice of reason. Keep me out of trouble."

The lights had been turned off, only emergency lighting giving a dull glow. Crates had been arranged through out the hanger, forming a maze full of dead ends and long corridors. Rae studied what she could see from on top one of the crates with a frown. There was more than a few choke points where their opponents could be laying in wait. Emerald eyes darted from corner to corner, looking for anything she could use to their advantage.

'Put Wright as high as you can. Maybe have him strap himself to the roof.' Bodie spoke beside her, pointing to the rafters above them.

Rae nodded before climbing back down. She studied her team with a critical eye, weighing their strengths and weaknesses. All of them had been trained how to fire rifles, all put hours upon hours into honing their skills. However she was the only one with live fire experience. Wright had played the game growing up on his colony but their opponents were a well oiled team. They'd have to be cunning to win this.

"Wright," Rae turned toward him then pointed to the east corner. "Get your ass up there and strap in. Don't move from that spot. You're my eye in the sky. Don't give your position away unless is absolutely necessary. Report any movement."

"Sir yes sir!" Wright saluted her then jogged off, climbing up the side of the building.

"Evans, you're recon. Stay a yard out circling around Freeman and I. Don't go charging in. Radio any contact with three clicks, pause, then two. I'll answer with one click, pause, then three clicks."

"Freeman," Rae turned to him. "You're on my six. We're search and destroy. Radio silence unless needed from here on out. Let's not give our position away."

"Sir yes sir." Evans and Charles called out, dropping into their positions. Evans slid through the shadows, entering the maze.

"You've done this before." Charles whispered to her, checking that his rifle was loaded and ready.

Rae grinned at him. "You have no idea."

Lowering her body into a crouch, she headed in the direction Evans went in. She moved forward slowly, senses on high alert. Her and Charles took turns moving down the corridor, checking corners and hidey holes. The deeper they went the darker it got, the dull emergency lighting was unable to pierce the shadows. Rae refused to turn on her flashlight as it would give away her position as if she'd sent up a flare.

"In position Corporal." Wright's voice crackled over the coms. "I've got movement on the north side. To dark to tell numbers or what they're doing."

Rae nodded, even though she knew he probably couldn't see her, and turned a corner to head north. It was several minutes later when Evans gave her signal. She responded back and held her fist up to halt Charles. They knelt down in the shadows, rifles pointed opposite directions to cover each other. Evans slid from the shadows and knelt besides Rae. "We've got one gunman up ahead. He appears to be alone but he's staying in the dead end, playing at being ignorant."

"A trap then?" Rae asked, even though she already knew the answer.

"Your orders?" Charles asked quietly, not looking up from his sights.

'You could spring the trap.' Bodie called out from above them. 'They're expecting you to come right through the single entrance.'

Rae looked up at him and grinned. "I've never done the expected."

"Sir?" Evans raised a brow then followed Rae's eye sight.

"We're going up. Get your asses on top of the crates. Move quietly." Rae shipped her rifle, backed up and ran at the crate. She pushed off it and grabbed the top of the one across it. Lifting herself up, she unshipped her rifle and peered over the edge at them. "Move it."

The two of them blinked at her, stunned at how quickly she had climbed up. Charles shipped his rifle and motioned to Evans, cupping his hands. The girl ran at him, placed her foot in his hands, and was pushed up. Rae caught her hand and hauled her up. Charles touched his shoulder to the sides of his head and backed up. Gritting his teeth, he copied Rae. He grunted as his chest collided with the crate, his fingers just barely grabbing the top of the crate. Evans and Rae both grabbed an arm and pulled him up, trying to suppress the grins on their faces.

"Haha very funny," He grumbled and stood up. "Can we get this over with?"

"Follow me." Rae turned north, stepping lightly. The moved silently until Evans tapped her shoulder, signally that the soldier was just a few feet away. Getting down low, Rae inched closer until she could spot the man. He paced the large opening, weapon lax at his side. There was only one opening, a small corridor that could only fit one of them through at a time. This was obviously a trap but what was the bullet?

"Guys they're not going to fall for it." The soldier called out, scratching the back of his neck. "Rumor says their leader isn't as green as she seems."

Rae thought he was talking over their coms but something moved in the shadows. Bright white flashed and a black mass separated from the wall. "Their recruits soldier. Haven't even graduated their field training. Stop your bitching and start making come noise."

Another black mass separated from the wall as well, a chuckle coming from its chest. "Quinn's just nervous. He's afraid he's going to get his ass kicked. Come on little piggy squeal for us."

Quinn, the bait, growled and punched the man in the shoulder. "Let's just go hunt them down. I want to watch the Zero-g Ball match."

"Silence all of you!" The fourth mass lifted from the far corner. "Back into your positions. We're sticking to the plan."

Rae grinned wide and inched away from the edge. With some quick hand signals, Rae gave her instructions then whispered into her mic. "Wright, can you take out the lone man?"

"Well I don't know sir. It's an aweful difficult shot. He's only standing out in the middle of no where with no protection." Wright spoke with a laugh in his voice.

"Wright," Rae growled then heard a cry of pain behind her.

"Done sir, bogey down."

Shaking her head, Rae clicked her coms and watched Evans drop down her knife flashing against one of the dark shapes. A gun fired and caught Evans in the side but the woman provided the distraction her and Charles needed. The two of them dropped, rifled targeting the last two men. It was done in seconds. The lights turned on and a voice came over the speakers. "Team Shepard wins."