I was awake, alert, ready for anything. Dragon asleep by my side, the blood loss fatiguing him greatly, though Meteor was thankfully able to stop most of the bleeding. I was awake, yes, and then I woke up. I woke up to the sound of a struggled gasp and a scream of pain to my right.

I bolted to my feet and turned, Dragon awake and probably wishing he wasn't. Shock had apparently worn off, and he was feeling the full effect of the pain. He was gritting his teeth and trying not to scream yell out in pain, but then he looked down to see his arm, or the lack of, then he didn't hold anything back. It took me a moment to scramble over to him, Meteor of course running up beside me. I grabbed his head and forced him to look at me, his eyes were frantic and he'd broken out into a sweat.

"Step back, let me see him." said Meteor.

I rose to a knee and slid back a step, Meteor immediately taking my place. Nik hadn't stopped screaming yet, which was understandable. We were soon surrounded by the rest of the group, each of which was looked up and down by furiously bolting eyes before they snapped to another member of his audience. I wished then that I could do something, anything to comfort him, but I didn't really know how to help with something like this. I watched Silas looking over his handiwork and making sure that nothing had come undone. There wasn't much in a field kit that would help with shock, but we did have vodka for cleansing. Meteor reached into the kit and pulled out the small liquor bottle, handing him the tiny plastic container of "medicinal alcohol". Nik, being Nik, immediately downed his favorite drink and threw the bottle down on the ground.

"Where has my arm gone." he said in a surprisingly calm voice for the look on his face and the cold sweat dripping down his neck.

Meteor didn't respond, which seemed to disturb him even more, he looked down at the bandaged shoulder in which used to be his arm. His eyes teared up and he knocked his head back against the stone wall behind him.

"Fuck." was his simple, one worded comment.

I rubbed the back of my neck, turning around and opening a comm line with Phoenix.

"Jordan, where are you?" I asked

"We're inbound, ETA 1 mike." he said.

I sighed and looked back to the team, "One minute till exfil." they all nodded.

Hoya stood from his kneeling position with his shotgun, Madsen joining him with his assault rifle, having lost his sniper when he was yanked here. They both walked over to me.

"Thank you, and your girlfriend for coming to get us." he said.

"No problem at a-" I stopped, blushing and looking at him dumbfounded, "hold on, we aren't, like-"

He chuckled a hearty, deep throated chuckle almost like Nikolas's, "Don't worry sir, everyone can already see it, maybe everyone but you."

I was blushing madly at this point and stuttering to find an answer, Madsen and Hoya looking at each other and giving a synchronized laugh.

"You're only proving our point." said Madsen while I was stuttering.

I slapped my hand against my face and attempted to hide the redness in my cheeks with my gloved hand.

"We'll leave you be Chief." said Madsen with a leaving chuckle before walking away with Hoya.

I rubbed my hand into my temple and ground the interwoven fibers so hard against my skull I thought I may be tenderizing my brain. Despite our relationship being forbidden during our service, it was taboo, secret, hell it was embarrassing. But I didn't want to think of it that way. And now not only do i have to deal with a wounded soldier, I have to deal with my own damn emotions. My emotions didn't matter! I could not let my own emotions get in the way of leading this team. I have a duty to uphold! I slapped my helmet over my head and felt it latch itself on. I sighed and blushed in private.

"Sam? You alright? I'm detecting a large release of Adrenaline and Testosterone from your adrenal glands, what's up?" came Sarah's cooing voice.

I streaked my hand over my faceplate and sighed, "Just some stuff that no one else needs to have to deal with." I said.

"Sam, you know that's not true. Anyone's problems are everyone's problems on this team." she responded.

"No, they're my own emotions, not anyone else's burden."

"Sam."

I opened my mouth to respond but promptly shut it. I mulled in my thoughts for a moment. What was I doing when I went into Jasmine's quarters that night? Surely, I wasn't supposed to interfere, but she'd obviously been appreciative of such a gesture. I wasn't supposed to say such kind things to her, but she obviously appreciated the gesture. I wasn't supposed to kiss her, but she obviously appreciated the gesture. Emotions were not something that I dealt with on a normal basis anymore, I tried to bottle them up as best I could, but of course I did let a bit spill out when I unscrewed the cap in that tent with Jasmine. and it felt good to cry, even for a little while, it felt good to feel. I chuckled to myself.

"Sam?"

"I'm good."

"Sure?"

"Positive."

"Well… alright then." and like that, she was gone.

When I looked up the pelican was hovering above the ravine, slowly descending into the exposed rock ravine. It touched down not seconds later, the back slowly descending onto the ground. Grant and Silas had grabbed hold of Dragon and were helping him to the pelican. As they were walking in, Phoenix peeked out the back and looked at Meteor.

"When you're done with that, we need you up front."

Meteor sighed and helped Dragon to a seat then rushed up to the cockpit. He looked at the pilot's seat. I thought for another moment.

Hold on, the pilot's seat?

I jogged to the dropship and up to the cockpit, where there appeared to be an argument going on.

"-m fine, I swear. Go take care of Dragon." came a familiar female voice.

I looked down to my right and saw Jasmine's chestplate and helmet, lying on the ground. Meteor refused and proceeded to produce some gauze and a piece of absorbent cloth.

"A dab of biofoam and… there." he said, satisfied.

As soon as he moved out of the way and turned to see me, he scuttled back to the bay. I walked up the steps to the small cockpit and removed my helmet, meeting Jasmine's eyes when she turned, probably to make sure I wasn't coming.

"Aw shit…"

"And what in the hell do you think you're doing going off like that while you're injured?" I seethed at her.

I gave her the up and down, her forearm and bicep guards tossed haphazardly into the co-pilot's seat, her arms and chest stripped down to jumpsuit, her ridiculously long hair splayed across her back. She had a few bandages over her chest and a small bit of blood soaked through the cloth that Meteor had put in place.

"I'm-"

"Why didn't you say anything? We could have found someone else to drive the pelican!"

"Who you?!" she was getting defensive, but I didn't much care.

"Sure, I'd fly the thing, but next time you don't notify me of an injury I'll have you suspended!"

"Go ahead, try and suspend a SPARTAN unit! Try it I dare you!"

"I can't believe you would risk getting yourself hurt like that!"

"I do it every single day, I'm in the military for Christ's sake!"

I hitched for a moment. I really didn't have anything to come back at that with. I stood there looking at her with a furious look on my face and huffing so hard my breath hit the windshield. The teams behind me, looking on in anticipation, fear, what? I didn't know, I didn't care. I grabbed her by the jumpsuit fabric and yanked her from the chair, pulling her up to stand. I wrapped my arms around her neck and squeezed, pulling her in tight.

"I am so pissed at you right now." I said with a bit let poison on my tone.

"I know." was all she said with a slight chuckle.

I huffed again and released her, watching her effortlessly return to the pilot's seat. Maybe she wasn't as hurt as I thought, maybe I should listen to her more often.

I turned to face the bay, all eyes on me.

"What are you all looking at? Get ready to go!"

People began shuffling to seats and strapping in, and those left were sitting or leaning against walls by the time I'd reached the bay. I leaned against the wall as well and reached into the rations crate, pulling out an apple wrapped in plastic and sealed tight. I tossed my helmet to the ground and ripped the airtight seal off, taking a chomp out of the synthetic fruit.

"All clear for takeoff Jasmine."

"Roger."

The engines of the Pelican hummed to life and the ship began its ascension.