I sat in the back of the truck that was to take us to our next destination, this town on the other side of this short stretch of trees. They were told it was going to be about a five minute drive. I sat, my head down looking at my feet studying every crack in the drying dirt. I thought hard about how after I had kissed James we barely talked, I don't know if it was because of the fact that we had been caught, not that we had been trying to hide either, probably would have ended better if we had, or the fact that there was something seriously wrong in our relationship. I thought forward to how tonight could go, now that we were going to be staying up for watch, oh God, this could go even worse for multiple reasons.

I felt eyes on me and lifted my head to see Carlos staring at me as if he were trying to read my mind, for all I knew he was. Even when I locked eyes with him he didn't look away, "What?"

He shook his head, "Nothing, just thinking." What the hell?

"About?" I tried to prompt.

"You," He paused, I felt James snap up to look at him and I saw Logan turn to him with a questionable look that most likely reflected the one of mine and James' faces, "and James."

Before I could say anything Logan beat me at it, "Why?"

"Because," He groaned, "They are being retarded," Thanks Carlos, that means a lot. "Look at them," I looked at James, who looked at me with a quizzical glace before we both looked at Carlos, "They were so fuckin in love when they got together now, I don't even know, their like robots." Nope, we weren't sitting right here listening to every word he was saying, "I mean seriously? They say 'I love you' but it doesn't sound as sincere as before, they cuddle at night but they don't talk. Today was the first time I say any sort of love between you two," Thanks for finally talking to us!

Before Carlos could continue James spoke up, "Carlos, what are you talking about? I love Kendall very much." I felt my heart flutter, damn; I wasn't a 15 year old. He wrapped his arm around me and pulled me close to him, "It's not like you and Logan have fucked in a while, no one had had a chance." Was I the one who was imagining things and then acting on them because I felt like we were growing apart? James seemed quite confident in his love for me. I silently thanked Carlos for pulling this awkward conversation out, though I would never tell him thank you to his face.

I laughed when Logan seemed to freeze and his face went from pale as a ghost to beet red in mere seconds. "Oh, you don't know what happens when both of you are sleeping," I scrunched up my face in disgust, "There is a thing called qu-OW" Logan elbowed the Latino hard in the ribs.

"Shut up!" He hissed through his teeth.

"Oh, God," James said shaking his head; I'm sure trying to rid his mind of horrible mental images as I was.

"Yeah, right, Carlos not a screamer!?" I commented knowing no way in hell.

James laughed beside me and Logan threw back his head, Carlos had a silly grin on his face. It took me a moment then I caught on, "Carlos tops!?"

We all laughed when Logan mumbled a "Fuck you all."

"Nope, I will be the only one fucking you!" Carlos said into his ear causing Logan to bite his lip.

"Ok, please not in a closely confine are with us in it." James said rolling his eyes.

Carlos giggled and Logan groaned sinking farther into his seat.

A minute or so later the trucks came to a stop and we all hopped out quietly. I threw my hand over my mouth to stop my non-existent breakfast from coming back up. What the hell was that smell?! I took in my surroundings finding the backs of multiple buildings on my left side, the trees that we had just emerged from on my right.

"James," I looked up at my beautiful brunette who had his mouth and nose covered just as I did.

"What the fuck is that?" I heard Logan swear behind me.

"I'm not really sure, but I'm pretty positive I'm ok with not knowing." Carlos said his shirt pulled over his face.

The trucks began pulling away and we gathered, our Sargent whispered to the 7 of us that had been brought here, leaving the rest back at the makeshift camp to get choppers and evacuate the troops that had gathered there. I looked around me noticing that everyone but the man talking to them quickly and quietly about how they were going to move quickly and quietly, guns ready and single file, had their faces half covered to block out the offending smells.

It's probably some of us…we haven't had a chance to properly bathe in about a week. Gross. I looked at James who had his eyes narrowed while watching the older man. I took his hand and he squeezed mine. I watched as a soft smile reached to his eyes, though not looking at me.

Within a minute later we were in a single file line. James, Carlos, and Logan were in front of me, in that order. We crouched against the edge of the building before being signaled forward. I pulled my gun close to my body as I felt myself begin to shake in anticipation and fear, first, I could be shot, that was pretty fucking scary, second, I didn't know what we would find when we got to the other troops, there could be more wounded and dead, or close to dying. It could get quite gruesome. I pushed these images out of my head when I saw Logan motion me forward.

I reached behind me motioning for the last man in line to follow me. There was no way in hell I was going to be last. Sure, call me a pussy but it wasn't going to happen.

When I rounded the corner I took in the deserted streets of the obviously evacuated town. There were a few deserted cars in the middle of the road, doors open. I saw how doors had been left open to the shops and/or houses that line the streets. I felt my heart tense when I saw a chard teddy bear. These were homes and business' that had been destroyed. I looked at James' back making sure that he was ok. He turned slightly and I could see how his brow was brought together and his eyes looked darker than usual due to the helmet he was wearing; he looked just as distressed as I felt. Fuck, I just wanted to go and hug him.

The oldest man of the group turned to the 7 much younger males and silently split them, knowing that he better put James, me, Carlos, and Logan together or he would get all sorts of hell later, and told us to move back across the street, what was the freaking point in coming over here in the first place? We were to move back to where we came from though move down the street three houses and watch this side of the street while the others moved down their side, going back and forth until they were at the end of the street, they would figure out how to navigate that when they got that far.

I rolled my eyes earning a glare from his dark eyes. James turned me to face the street. I pouted before looking around the corner both ways making sure nothing had changed or looked strange, not that two minutes could really change anything that much.

I nodded, locking eyes with all three of them. I was about to move before I turned back around and pressed my lips to James' in a passionate yet sloppy kiss before quickly moving across the street crouched, gun at the ready. I reached the door of the building across from the others and waited for my boys to join me, yes my boys don't worry about it. I turned to check on Carlos who had just slammed himself roughly against the concrete of the building when I heard the sound of a gun and particles of the frail building crumbled down on top of me. I felt my heart pound in my chest and my body began to shake, where the hell did that come from? I heard another gun and a screech from my right. I grabbed James' shirt and pulled him behind me as we dove into the alley between two buildings. I didn't stop or let go of him until we were both against the dead end of the alley. Fuck!

I turned when I heard a scream of pain and Logan scream for help. He was pulling Carlos into the confines of their little hiding spot while my best friend tried to hide his screams through gritted teeth. I grabbed beneath one shoulder while Logan took the other to make sure that we were hidden as well as possible. I ripped off me and Carlos' backpacks before laying him down gently.

James crouched at Carlos' head, me on his left, and Logan on his right. "James, morphine," I said not even trying to hid the shake in my voice and hands. I heard Logan begin to sob reaching forward to touch Carlos' cheek. I took in his face. He had tears in his eyes and sweat plastered his to long hair to his forehead. "Carlos, its ok buddy, we are going to help you."

I looked down at his uniform that was now turning burgundy with blood. Oh, Carlos, you have to be ok. I can't lose you. I bit my lip as I slowly unzipped his jacket, not being shown the wound I grabbed my pocket knife and cut open his shirt. He let out a scream that was muffled by the lip he was biting drawing blood from that to.

"Carlos, hold on baby." I heard Logan coo as I finally pulled the sticky fabric from the tattered flesh.

"Logan. I want my mom." Carlos was sobbing his voice cracking on the words. He held tight to my thigh his other hand clasped by Logan's. I felt tears begin to form in my eyes though I didn't bother to hold them back.

I blocked out what Logan was saying, it would only break my heart more. I looked up at a shaking James who was just now drawing the medicine. Before putting my pocket knife away I cut a hole in the Latino's sleeve to reveal a spot to give him the shot. I reached out for it when James had drawn the dosage him placing it in my palm, "Alright, 'Los. This is gonna make you feel better. Hang tight."

I gave him the shot before looking back down at the hold on the right side of his chest. It was low and I knew that it would have hit his lungs. Just to be sure I leaned down and pressed my ear to his chest, feeling his warm blood cling to my cheek, sure enough, he was gurgling with every rapid breath. I wrapped his clothes around him to keep him warm, he was already getting cold, and you don't last long when you are bleeding into your lungs. I looked at James who was watching me. I nodded and he knew exactly what I meant. James moved to put Carlos' head in his lap as he smoothed back his bangs from his big dark eyes.

His breathing was slowing from the medicine and the pain was subsiding. I listened to Logan speak soft words to Carlos through his sobs. He was telling the elder boy that it would be ok and that we were all here for him and we loved him. Logan bent down and placed a gentle kiss on the Latino's lips before pulling away, whispering a I love you.

I didn't bother whipping the tears that were running down my cheeks. I knew there was nothing we could do. Even if we did get a chopper in here they wouldn't make it in time. I reached out and stroked Carlos' tan cheek and whispered, "I love you 'Los. You're my best friend." The last word was choked off as the lump in my throat made itself known. Carlos was looking up at me his eyes filled with tears though he didn't look scared.

"I love you guys so much. Thank you for everything you were to me." I watched as he took his hand from me and placed it on James' cheek who was leaning over him, neither said a word but I didn't think that James could. The brunette threw his head back trying to send the tears back to where they came from before they could fall. I watched his chest stop moving as he held his breath, willing himself not to cry.

Suddenly Carlos dropped his hand on his stomach and began to convulse, his lung reaching its breaking point. We both backed up giving him space before he went limp. Logan threw himself down and I stood in anger, James staying on his knee's head held low. I just lost my best friend! Sure I wasn't Logan who just lost his boy-. James. I sat next to him and pulled him to me, his larger body leaning into me. He was suddenly sobbing uncontrollably. I didn't know what to do so I sang, I sang the song that he had sung the first time I heard his amazing vocals.

"I know inside your feeling so hollow, and it's a hard pill for you swallow, yeah, but if I fall for you, I'll never recover, if I fall for you I'll never be the same." That's all I could get before my voice began cracking, causing a small laugh to leave James. Now was not the time to be laughing, but I couldn't help but let one out either. I think we are in shock. I broke away from James and crawled around him to Logan who was watching us. I pulled him into a tight hug and whispered to him, "It's ok, I've got you. We are here for you, you're gonna be alright." I was hoping what I was saying was right. When he hugged me back I guessed that I was doing alright.

I looked to my left and saw Carlos' once energetic body again and suddenly I was pissed. I stood pacing back and forth in the small space we had. I had to get out of there. I just needed to get out. I didn't know how yet without getting myself shot. There were windows lining this side of one of the buildings, I busted one with the butt of my gun before I threw it into the small room with a clang. I turned to the other two with me to tell them to come on, though I never got a chance due to an explosion that erupted inside the house.