"Nines! The alarm!" Nines looked up from the hand he was wrapping as Connor popped his head into the tent. He was right. The alarm was sounding. He cursed softly as he continued wrapping, loath to leave a task half done. Connor seemed to understand as he hurried off, only to return just as Nines was leaving. He handed Nines his medic jacket. The heavy woollen one he wore on the front. The darker colour made them harder to spot through the smoke. He tugged it on and accepted the helmet Connor held out. He wasn't sure if they'd go over the top or not, but it was always best to be ready.

"Any idea what happened?" They weren't due to make another assault, not while they were still waiting for recruits to join them. They stopped to grab their supply bags. Emergency packets of gauze and bandages. Things to stem the bleeding and keep their men alive long enough to get back to camp. Knives and pliers to cut them loose if they were stuck. A saw to cut through bone, though that was rarely used. If it was that bad, they were often considered to be no-hopers and left behind, especially if there were less injured men close by.

"I don't know, but it can't be anything good…My guess is that they're on the move." Nines nodded his agreement. It hadn't been long since their last assault. Their lines were still poorly manned, and he couldn't help but wonder if they'd found out somehow. Connor heaved himself into the truck before reaching back and hauling him inside. The ride seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, and they were there. Jumping from the truck with a stretcher between them and hurrying into the trenches alongside the other medics.

It was already chaos as they approached. The trucks had to back off as soon as they were dropped. The earth rocked with shelling. Men tripped and cowered against the sandbags. Yells rang out. Gunners fired. The closest men to the parapets looked over to aim pot-shots at the oncoming wave of men. Nines reached out to steady him as Connor lost his footing. A shell shook the whole mound above them, sending dirt falling on their heads. They both looked up as they heard Sixty's cackling and Captain Allen bellowing orders.

"Sixty!" Connor yelled over the chaos, waving towards their brother. Nines nodded his agreement. It was their usual ritual to find Sixty and remain close, working with his men. They hurried through the crowd, coughing and wincing as smoke and gunfire filled the air. Nines grabbed Connor and pulled him down as a whistle sounded. Heat scorched his cheek as the earth rose around them. He heard men scream as they were tossed like rag dolls, some of them coming apart at the seams. He did his best not to look or think about what had just splattered his uniform.

"Connor!" Nines looked down at him and sighed at the small nod. He was fine, if a little deafened by the blast. Nines nodded his understanding. He was a little deaf himself, the world muffled and hazy. It had been close. Sixty! He looked up worriedly at the chaos ahead. The crater of earth had already been filled by medics and fresh men. He sighed in relief as he saw Sixty still on the parapet, hauling Connor up to keep moving. They had to reach Sixty.

"Gunners!" Sixty yelled over the gunfire and wailing men. Someone must have heard. The rattling of the gunners started up again, though it was weaker than before. "Connor! Nines!" He hopped down to greet them, hugging them both as if it may be the last time. Nines and Connor held him tightly, all three of them ducking as another shell struck the earth above their heads. "Hold the line! Hold the line!" Sixty didn't have time for more as he jumped back to his post. Nines looked around. He couldn't hear Captain Allen's voice anymore.

"Nines! Help me!" Connor called as he knelt beside an injured man. It was a young one, with a nasty shoulder wound. Nines dropped and pulled his kit open. If they could bind him quickly enough, he may be able to limp to safety himself. Connor was already tugging his pack and jacket off. Nines handed the bandages to Connor as he pressed the gauze down. His heart was pounding, hands shaking. He was scared, but it was mostly adrenaline pumping through his system at this point. Connor nodded as he tied it off and started helping the man to his feet.

"Phck! We're getting our asses handed to us!" Nines' head snapped up at the familiar grouse. He heard Sixty cackle a reply, but he couldn't focus. His heart lurched in his throat as he stumbled to his feet and raced to the parapet. It was Gavin. Gavin was there! Why was he there? Gavin had been sent to England months ago! He was supposed to be safe! He was supposed to be out of it! Nines felt bile rise in his throat as he took in the bloodied, tattered leg of his uniform. How is he standing? He was aiming over the top at Sixty's side, but he was standing on one leg as the other dangled by a thread. It was bleeding. He should be dying! He should be rolling in the dirt screaming in agony!

"Gavin! You're hurt! Gavin!" He tugged his clean pant leg, shaking as Gavin looked down with a wolfish grin. Sixty whooped and cackled as he reloaded, hazel eyes blazing. "Gavin, please come down…" Gavin frowned as he looked at Sixty, who shrugged. It was up to him whether or not he stayed up top. Gavin remained standing on the parapet, using the hastily nailed wood and sandbags to lean on as he crouched.

"Hey-hey, what's the matter? Look at me! I'm here, I'm fine!" Gavin spoke softly as he knelt. Nines whimpered as he gripped the high ledge he was now kneeling on, looking at the bloodied, tattered remnants of his leg. Why can't he see it? Why is he acting like it's normal? Ice trickled down his spine as he looked at it. Gavin didn't look. Gavin didn't see. He was looking at him like he was worried.

"You're not fine! Look at your leg!" Nines exclaimed, tears burning his eyes as he reached out and tugged his bloodied pants. Gavin looked confused at first until he turned his head and actually saw it as if for the first time. He let out a cry of shock as he fell back on his ass and lifted his broken leg. He moved it this way and that, looking at it with a sick sense of curiosity.

"Hey, Sixty! You see this shit?" He didn't sound bothered at all. It was more like he was inconvenienced than grievously wounded. He should have been on the brink of death! He'd lost enough blood that he should have been deathly pale and cold to the touch, but even through his pants, Nines could feel his warmth. Sixty looked down from where he'd been firing across the line. Nines wasn't sure whether it was surprising or horrifying that he immediately cackled.

"You look like a fucking pirate!" Nines stepped back a little as they both howled with laughter. What is wrong with these idiots? A better question was why were they getting on so well? They usually bickered and argued to hell and back.

"Gavin! You're going to bleed to death!" Why isn't he taking me seriously? Gavin snorted as he pushed himself up on his good leg and leaned on the parapet, already aiming over the top.

"Patch me up later, alright? I'm a little phcking busy right now!" Nines' chest swelled with hurt at the dismissal as Gavin returned to shooting over the top. The shelling seemed to have stopped, which would usually be a good thing. Unfortunately, during an assault that meant the enemy forces were over halfway there. "Where the phck are our gunners?" Gavin yelled as he looked around. Sixty joined him, looking up and yelling for reinforcements.

"No!" Nines yelled, throat raw as he watched Sixty's head snap back. He fell from the parapet, hazel eyes wide as blood pooled on his forehead. Nines dropped to his knees, tears clouding his vision as he examined the deep crater. Blood spilled over the edges, trailing in a river of red down the bridge of his nose and around his right eye. Nines just about had a heart attack as his eyes blinked and he sat upright. They looked both up as Connor appeared beside them, lips quirking as he gave Sixty a hand up.

"Well…that's an improvement." He let out a chuckle as Sixty punched his shoulder and glared. "I mean it! People will be able to tell us apart now." Nines remained on the ground, stunned and sickened as he watched Sixty wipe away the stream of blood. Connor, too? He might reason that Gavin and Sixty were complete idiots with no sense of self preservation, but Connor was a medic! Why wasn't he dragging them away and making them rest? Why were they still on their feet like nothing had happened?

"Fuck you, Connie!" Connor glared at the old nickname as Sixty poked his tongue out and returned to the parapet, accepting Gavin's hand up. "Hey! Which one of you assholes did this? Fucking show yourself so I can blow your fucking brains out!" he yelled as he looked over the edge and fired blindly at the oncoming wave. Gavin laughed, joining him in firing over the edge. Nines felt sick as he watched them, crying and clutching his head. This isn't right! It isn't right! Everything was wrong! Sixty should be dead. Gavin should by dying. Connor shouldn't be laughing and joking at a time like this.

"Nines, come on. There are men who need us," Connor said as he crouched in front of him. Nines shook his head, sobbing quietly as he curled up further. What the fuck is wrong with you? They should go and help other men? When Gavin and Sixty were bleeding to death? "Hey, don't cry!" He leaned against Connor's chest as he knelt and held him. He cried harder as Connor hushed him and laced a hand in his hair the way he had when they were children.

"Fucking idiots! Watch the fuck out!" Sixty yelled as he looked down at them and fired over their heads. Nines looked back with a gasp and saw the enemy soldier fall. How did he get behind us when we're facing the front? They were jumping the parapets now. The fighting had made it into the trenches. His vision was still blurred as Connor hauled him to his feet and shielded him, holding him against his chest.

"C-Connor?" Connor's body jerked as a rifle fired. He staggered forward against Nines' chest. Nines grabbed him, holding him up as something warm and wet coated his hand. "N-No…" Nines whimpered as he drew back to look at Connor's face. He was wincing and breathing hard as he bent over, gripping Nines' shoulders in a painful grasp. Despite his obvious pain, Connor did his best to put on a reassuring front.

"D-don't worry…I-I think-I'm okay…" Nines guided him to the ground and tore his shirt and jacket open. The bullet hadn't torn all the way through. Either it got stopped by muscle or it ricocheted on his ribcage. He cursed quietly as he turned him over and lifted his shirt. There was a hole between his shoulder blades, and another slightly lower down. Connor hissed and whined as Nines' fingers pressed the bleeding holes. Shit! He was bleeding too much. He panicked more as Connor coughed and spluttered blood down his chin.

"C-Connor! Con! Hold on!" Nines wasn't sure what he could do at this point. If he was coughing blood already, then at least one of his lungs had been punctured. Blocking the holes on his back would stem the flow, but it wouldn't fix that. "Sixty! Help me!" He cried harder as Connor started convulsing in his arms, unable to breathe through the blood in his throat. Nines let out an anguished cry as Connor stilled, hazel eyes dim and vacant. "C-Con…" Shaking him did no good. He sobbed quietly as he pulled him closer, ignoring the blood that smeared his uniform.

"Phck…I don't…I-I don't feel so good…" He looked up in horror as Gavin slid down the sandbags. He was shivering and breathing heavily, skin rapidly paling as blood continued to pour from his leg wound. Nines set Connor on his back before hurrying to the parapet and reaching for Gavin. A whimper caught in his throat as he took in his vacant green eyes and deathly pale skin. He gripped his hand, recoiling as he found it cold. Cold as if he'd died a few hours ago instead of a few seconds. He trembled as he backed away, tears of denial running down his cheeks as he stared at Gavin's body. I-I was here, I was right here!

"Oh, shit…Sorry, little brother…I think I might be out…" Nines let out a shrill wailing sob as Sixty's gun clattered to the parapet, and he fell forwards. Nines caught him against his chest, shaking and sobbing as he fell to his knees.

"N-no! Don't go! C-come back! Please…" Sixty remained silent. Nines felt bile rise in his throat as he cried.