Chapter 11

Dr. Halsey raised an eyebrow at me and started talking with the other doctor. They left the room and the screen panel moved back over it, leaving me in the room to think.

I leaned my head against the back of the chair. I took a few deep breaths and thought hard. What is going to happen next? God, this isn't going to be good no matter what. I heard a click and looked back, John stepped in.

I jumped up and hugged him, I needed someone. John held me against him and I pulled back. "John, what is going to happen now? What did you say?" I asked him fretfully. John sighed and let go of me. He walked over to the side of the room and leaned against it.

"Darn it Liz, why did you have to be so beautiful." He remarked with frustration.

"Sorry, my looks aren't exactly something I can choose at birth." I retorted, now I was getting frustrated, though I was flattered.

"Sorry it's just that none of this would have happened if you weren't so beautiful, none of it." He said as he took off his helmet. I looked at his blue eyes and moved towards him.

I placed my hand on his chest plate and looked at him with a loving expression. "John, I'm not the only one here with good looks. I'm not shallow but looks help someone fall for someone else. And you definitely have good looks."

He smiled at me, and wraps an arm around me. He pulls me into a half hug and kisses my forehead. I look up into his eyes and kiss his lips. It feels so good here in his arms. But then a thought crossed my mind. If I could see James's room, then maybe he could have seen me if they set it right. What if they are in another room and can see us.

I pulled back from him, he looked at me confused, and I spoke quietly. "John, I could see James in the other room, but he couldn't see me. Through a screen covered with a panel. Well what if they can see us right now?"

John pulled me back to him with his strong arms. I looked at him like he was insane. "Liz, even if they can, it won't change a thing now. Besides, we just hugged and kissed, they've seen it all." He said with a sly look on his face.

"You're right John; it's a little too late to change things now." I held his face in my hands, and he looked at me with loving eyes. Then a thought returned to my mind, one that kept doing so. John or James, I have to chose, but which? I still can't decide.

I brought his face to mine and felt his soft lips against my own. My body felt so alive with the sensation of his body against mine. I leaned on him as he pulled me closer with his hands on my waist. My armor and his clicked and clacked, but we only heard each other's heart beating so close to one another.

I felt something rise up in me, a definite and true emotion. I pulled my face away from him, only to say these few words. "I love you." He smiled wide at me and moved his hands up and down my back; even through the armor I felt it, the sensation of someone's hand going down your back. I sure do like that feeling.

He looked at me, "I love you Liz. From the moment I fought you." He smiled out and we began to kiss once more. I moved my arms from his face and to around his neck. His foot slipped and we fell down on the floor. I moved my arms up in time and took the impact on his head for him. "Thanks Liz." He said with loving blue eyes.

"Always John, always." I pressed my lips to his and realized that I was on top of him. Then I heard a click, the door was opening. I pushed off of John and quickly helped him up, slipped on my helmet and handed him his. We had our helmets on and were apart in a few quick moments.

Dr. Halsey was standing there, with a very shocked expression. "Well now, that's not what we expected. I thought you to would just talk, not end up on the floor kissing." A couple other doctors were watching us with similar expressions.

"We were watching from the other room, and frankly. This is not what we ever thought possible between Spartans." She continued with a few doctors coming closer to me. John stepped in front of me, his arms spread out. I stepped back, and took a deep breath.

I placed a hand on his arm, and he looked at me. I shook my head and slid my hand down to his. We held hands; I took strength from his presence. Maybe it's John, without realizing it, maybe it's him? But I don't want to betray James. We've already seen what he will do if that's how he feels.

I spoke to her with courage,"Doctor Halsey, I know no one meant for us to fall in love. But we have, the way we feel is part of how we are still human. I wouldn't be surprised if you wanted us apart. But even if you separate us, we'll find a way back together. Love works that way. It gets stronger together, and apart."

Doctor Halsey laughed, I was shocked by that. "No, just the opposite, you two are going on a mission in two hours. Go to debriefing for the point of the mission, we think you two will work better together, then with anyone else." She turned and they all walked out.

I looked at John and he shrugged and we walked out and towards debriefing. I saw James on the way; he was punching the crap out of a training bag. I hid behind John, a slight pang of guilt in my stomach.

"Hey, it's ok Liz. Were ready for missions, I guess James just isn't." He said to me with a steady voice. I nodded and we entered the debriefing room.

"Alright, this is the mission. We have to intercept a covenant flag ship from regrouping with the rest of its squadron. It just bombed an entire planet and we need to prevent it from sharing some data that was on the research facility we know they investigated before the bombing. This data is the location of Earth. We have to keep them from sharing this data or this war might already be over." Our captain spoke.

Then a hologram of the covenant flag ship came up in the center of the room. He pointed at the engines, "First step, it to disable it from retreating. After we do that we will breach the ship through a top side hanger. It's got shields to keep air in, but it can't keep people out. Once were in," He moved his hand from the engines to the top side where the hanger is and then to the center.

An additional hologram showed up, it showed the interior view of the command center. "Here is where we set off the bomb, and recover the data. But, before we do that, Halsey wants us to recover any useful data we can. Ricardo, you're in charge of data recovery and extraction. Elizabeth, you're leading this assault. You move out in one hour, be ready." The marine left the room and John placed his hand on my shoulder.

"Nice Liz, you're in charge. Don't let it go to your head though." I took my helmet off and smiled up at him. I wasn't expecting to be put in charge. Better do this right.

I gave John a quick kiss on the his visor then I placed my helmet back on and walked in front of the other four Spartans- John included- and took a deep breath. They watched me, John gave me a subtle nod and I began. "Alright, we know what our mission is. But we need to be ready, I need to know your strengths so we can do this right and minimize possible injuries, so tell me."

Ricardo was a short-for a Spartan-man with an operator helmet spoke up. "Electronics ma'am is my thing." I nodded at that.

Next was John, "Give me a gun and I can provide cover-fire for Ricardo and anyone who needs it." I smiled, and was glad no one could see through my visor.

Then another man, with grenadier issue armor. "Samuel, my skill is heavy weapons ma'am."

And lastly, "Matthew, I'm a skilled pilot ma'am. I can handle the engines while you guys go on in." He said with pride.

I shook my head, "No, even if you're skilled we need as much man power on the inside as we need to take out the engines. I'm glad to know someone is highly skilled with fighter ships. I am Liz, skilled infiltrator."

They nodded and I saw why we were chosen for this mission. We had the skills needed. I looked at the clock. "We have about fifty minutes till we go. I want everybody to do whatever they need to and meet back here ten till, dismissed." I spoke clearly and moved back to John. "Anything you need?" I asked him.

He wrapped his arms around my back and pulled me close to him. I didn't refuse, and he spoke with a hint of seduction in his voice. "What I need is to find a closet or something for the next forty or so minutes."

I laughed and took his hand. "My room is actually nearby here. I think it's better than a closet." I said with enthusiasm. When we reached my room we had thirty-five minutes left till we had to be back in the debriefing room as I had ordered.

I opened the door and we both walked in. I was laughing at a joke John had told me, and I turned my head. Sitting on my bed was a note. I stopped laughing a picked it up. It said, to Liz… on the cover. I opened it up and began to read.

Dear Liz,

I'm sorry for my behavior.

I wish I had a better control over myself.

But I don't and it's tearing me up.

I see you and John together, so happy and lovey-dovey.

And I feel like I've lost you.

Has John won your affections?

Does that night mean nothing to you?

I hope you remember what I said to you.

I know I remember what you said to me…

Love from

James

I read it over, and could tell what the crossed out words were. I'm hurting him so badly, but I don't mean it. John moved over to me and before he could read it I close the note and place it in my dresser.

John took off his helmet. "Liz, are you alright?" He asked with evident fear. I nodded my head and removed my own helmet. I decided I wanted him to feel my skin for real, not just my face and lips. I began to remove my armor, this took him by surprise.

"Liz? What are you doing?" He asked nervously. Did I hear hopefulness in his voice? Does he want me in such a manner as well as what I do know?

"I want you to actually feel my skin, not in that way. It's just that you've only felt my face and lips, not the rest of me. I want to feel your hand down my back, and without armor between." I said with longing.

John nodded and started to remove some of his armor as well. Once I had my armor off, he saw my usual under-armor attire. This was a pair of underwear, short-shorts, bra, and a rather low cut undershirt. His face reddened as I turned back to him after placing my armor on my dresser.

He was wearing an undershirt, and some long shorts. I looked him over and walked over to him, took his armor and placed it on my dresser as well. I turned around and he was about a foot away. "Well hello handsome, when did you get there?" I remarked with sarcasm. He blushed and then before I knew it, had my lips against his.

I relaxed in his grip and led him to my bed. I lay down and he followed suit. I ran my hand down his back, only a piece of cloth between us now. I press my head closer to him, and he wraps his arms around me. I started to groan slightly, the sensation of his skin so close to mine, was so overpowering.

I open my eyes as he pulls back, then I notice what he's staring at. My chest… I grab hold of his shoulders, and pull him back to me. "No no, that's still off limits." I remarked playfully. I heard him huff and then we returned to kissing. I ran my hands down his back and felt an icy fire in my palms.

I pull back from him, only to catch my breath, he does the same. I look up at his beautiful blue eyes, and then I realize, he's on top of me. His legs are around my waist, and then some alarm goes off in my head. I suddenly feel scared and push him off me and jump off my bed and across the room. He got pushed over and was dumbfounded, "What Liz?" He asked me very confused.

I didn't know how to explain. "Sorry," I quickly covered. "It's just; we need to get back to the others…"

He rose and took his armor and began to put it back on. "You could have just told instead of pushing me off like that." He mumbled. I got dressed and waited for him to be as well before we moved back out. We arrived with a minute to spare.

The others greeted us with salutes. Is being squad leader get you respect like this? Or have I earned this among them? I wondered; as I saw even John saluted. I swallowed and then cleared my throat.

"Alright, let's get to the fighter ships." I ordered and turned around and marched out. They followed behind me and we arrived at the hanger. We got into our ships, started up the engines and turned on my com channel. "This is Spartan 297, anyone copy over?"

A buzz sound and then, "Spartan 117, I read you loud and clear 297 over." John…

"Spartan 028, I hear ya 297 over." That sounded like Samuel.

"This is Spartan 165, your clear as a bell 297 over." Sounded like Ricardo.

"This is Spartan 188, your transmitting 297 over." That had to be Matthew.

We lifted off and I transmitted one last time before we set out. We were maybe twenty feet off the ground now. I looked out my window and could see John, he saluted to me and I saluted back. "Alright boys, let's take out a covenant flag ship!"

They all transmitted at the same time. "HOO-RAH!"

The engine kicked in and we went into slip-space, and were well on our way to the covenant flag ship. To finally meet our enemy, what we were trained for. What we were taken from our homes and conditioned for several years for. Why we were augmented and had surgeries performed on us for. What we were born for.