Lee groaned, his head pounding and his body aching. There was hissing and grinding and other noises coming from their damaged vehicle. He realized before long that he was upside down, which meant the jeep had landed on its roof.

He swore softly, getting his wits back about him. He turned his head to see Sara and Sid unmoving on the roof of the jeep. It hit him hard to realize they hadn't been buckled in.

"Sara," he said, his voice hoarse. "Sara!" She didn't answer, and he felt a finger of fear down his spine. Sid gave a groan and a whimper, which made him feel a bit relieved.

"Hang on, kid," he said, pulling out his knife to cut himself loose. He hit the roof of the jeep and crawled to where Sid was trying to sit up.

"She's hurt," Sid said, pointing. Lee saw the blood and prayed it wasn't anything too serious.

"Come on," he said. "Let's get you out first."

"What about her?"

"I'll get her. I promise." He found it sweet that this boy cared about Sara without even knowing her name. He kicked out the remainder of glass in the window and crawled out first, helping Sid out next. He looked around to make sure they were alone. They'd rolled down quite a ways before hitting the bottom, so they were sheltered from anyone looking down at them for the time being. Lee figured even if anyone was coming for them, it would take a while to hike down this far.

"Sit tight," he told Sid. "If anyone comes, you tell me."

"Okay."

Lee got back down onto his stomach and went back for Sara next. He pulled her out, settling her on her back and checking her vitals.

"Come on," he murmured. "Don't give up on me now." She was bleeding from some cuts, none of them deep enough for stitches. It appeared she had simply lost consciousness upon impact. He patted her cheek, trying to rouse her back. "Hey, come on now. Wake up."

When her eyes opened and found his, he'd never felt so relieved. He released the breath he'd been holding and involuntarily smiled at her.

"Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty," he said, and she groaned and pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead.

"What happened?"

"We went for a little roll down the hill, but we gotta keep moving," he said. He could hear some voices up above and didn't want to be found.

"Sid?" she asked, scared suddenly.

"Right here," Lee promised, and she propped herself up onto her elbows to look for herself. Sid gave a small smile and wave at her.

"Thank God," she said. Then she looked around at the bush surrounding them. "Now what do we do?"

"We're in for a long hike," Lee answered, going back to pull out the backpack of their supplies he'd tossed in the backseat. She groaned again, and he helped her to her feet. Once she was steady, he began to lead the way with Sid in the middle of them.

"So, you know I'm Sid," the boy said after a moment. "Who are you guys?"

"I'm Sara. That's Lee." Sara gestured to Lee with her hand.

"Thank you for rescuing me."

"Sorry it's not the smoothest rescue," she replied, laughing a little.

"Could be worse. I could be dead," Sid reasoned, making Lee unable to help himself from chuckling.

"Keep up that sense of humor," he advised. "It'll get you through a lot of tough times."

"Why else am I still standing?" Sid asked. Lee just gave a half smile and surged on ahead. He hoped that Barney wouldn't leave them stranded, that he'd wait a bit to give them a fighting chance. They'd agreed on 24 hours if they got split up and went missing. After that, they were on their own.

Lee just hoped that wouldn't be the case.

...

Barney didn't like to show his nervousness, but when they'd lost Sara, Lee, and the boy, he felt very nervous. He was with the others at the rendezvous point, and when it became apparent that Sara and Lee were not joining them, he knew they'd gotten separated.

He really didn't want to leave them behind, especially when they had the boy, who was the point of this entire mission.

"Eagle to base," Billy's voice said. Barney rolled his eyes. The kid liked to use terms like this on jobs.

"Go ahead," he replied.

"I can track them. They got into an accident, but they're alright."

"Go for it," Barney advised. "We'll meet you after you find them."

"Got it."

"I really hate sleeping in a truck box," Caesar complained. Toll gave a snort of laughter while Yang sat there silently. Gunner was staring out into the growing darkness, quiet too.

"Suck it up, Caesar," Barney said as he started to drive. He hoped to find Lee and Sara soon. He didn't really fancy sleeping in a truck either.

...

Sara was feeling very worn out by the time darkness fell. They stumbled upon a cabin that appeared abandoned, and she waited with Sid while Lee searched it to make sure.

"Do you rescue a lot of people?" Sid asked her curiously. She admired his energy. Even after all that walking, he was still asking questions.

"Sometimes," she answered.

"Is Lee your boyfriend?"

"Oh, no," Sara answered, wrinkling her nose. "He's marrying someone else."

"Do you wish he was your boyfriend?"

"I think that's enough questions for today, Sid," she said, giving him a look. He gave a sheepish smile back in return before turning to look behind him. Sara watched as Lee came back to them, his gun holstered.

"It's good," he advised.

"Come on," Sara said to Sid, tugging on his sleeve. He followed them to the cabin, and she pulled out some of her dry food to give to him. She was no stranger to a growling stomach, so she didn't mind sharing. Lee was biting off some sort of power bar as he pulled off his body armor with a groan.

"Hey," she said, noticing. "You're hit."

"It's nothing," he insisted, but she was already there examining it.

"Someone tagged you," she advised. "Blade didn't go too deep, but you still need a stitch or two."

He made a face, and she grabbed his shirt to pull him to the bathroom. It was very dusty in there, so she didn't think anyone had been here in a long time. Lee watched as she sifted through their first aid kit for the tools she needed. She gestured for him to take off his shirt, which he did. She didn't like seeing the trails of blood down his chest from the wound, which was on his shoulder; she wet a rag and threw it at him to wipe off and waited for him to finish before getting to work.

"Hrgh," he growled as she poured alcohol onto the wound to clean it. She handed him the bottle after, and he took a big swig while she started.

"Shouldn't a doctor be doing that?" Sid asked, peeking around the doorframe at them.

"Close enough," Lee answered, and Sara chuckled.

"Why don't you get some sleep?" she said to the boy. "It's been a long day."

"Shouldn't I keep watch?"

"That's our job," Lee replied. "Take the room at the back. It's quieter."

"Okay." He shuffled away, and Sara finished stitching Lee up. He turned his head to examine her work the same time she leaned down to bite off the thread. His lips brushed her cheek, and she froze, trying to breathe. She turned her head towards him, and he was still right there. There was something in his eyes, and she was trying to think of words to say when her impulses took over. She kissed him softly, holding his jaw with her hand lightly. At first, it seemed like he was going to kiss her back from the way he opened his mouth against hers, and she shivered from the heat of his breath on her lips, but then he pulled back.

"Sara," he started.

"I'm not sorry," she interrupted, giving him a level stare. "But I know what you're going to say, and it's fine. Don't worry about it." She patted his good shoulder and tidied up, keeping her back to him. She did feel a bit foolish that she thought maybe, just maybe, he'd come to his senses...that he'd see her for what she could offer him. Although, if she was honest, she wasn't entirely sure what she could offer him because she was technically a disaster, but she just knew it was better than Lacy.

He stood up behind her, and she watched him the mirror as she waited, thinking that he'd possibly cup her waist and turn her back to face him while claiming her mouth with his and then tossing her up onto the counter...

"I'll do first watch," he said instead, pulling his shirt back on.

"Okay."

So that was how it was going to be. He was just going to pretend it never even happened. Well, she could too.

...

Lee played with the rock in his fingers as he sat by the door. Sid was sleeping in his room while Sara slept on the couch. His fingers tightened around the rock as he thought about what she'd done to him earlier. The worst part was what he'd wanted to do back before he'd come to his senses. He was engaged to another woman for crying out loud. He should not be wanting to do things to his work partner that were not professional.

He knew under her tough exterior she'd been hurt by his rejection, but what had she expected from him? He wasn't going to jeopardize their working relationship because her kiss had taken his breath away. He felt a little bad for not being able to talk to her about it, but what could he say? He couldn't tell her what he was really thinking.

Sara gave a sigh in her sleep and shifted, making him involuntarily look at her. It wasn't like he hadn't thought about it, what it'd be like to love her. Ever since he'd met her, she'd tugged at him in a way no one had before...Lacy included.

Footsteps made him sit up straight hard and fast. He raised his gun, stuffing his rock into his pocket and standing up to look out the window. Sara was awake too, and she came over to his left, gun also raised. He signaled for her to go be with Sid, and she gave a nod before slipping away. Lee watched the shadow out front move as the intruder went along the perimeter. Lee sidled up against the wall, ready to aim and fire through it where the person was going to be standing in five seconds when:

"Please don't shoot me. It's Billy."

Lee sighed hard and lowered his gun. He called for Sara to come back and pulled open the door to reveal an exhausted looking Billy.

"I've tracked you from the crash site," Billy advised, coming in. "I was watching the whole time. You're lucky to be alive."

"Thanks," Lee said, not hiding his sarcasm.

"Barney's waiting for us. I let him know I'd found you."

"We leaving now?"

"That'd be for the best. Lots of people are combing the woods for you."

"I got him," Sara said, knowing Lee was going to tell her to wake up Sid.

"You got a ride?" Lee asked Billy.

"No, sorry. Barney's waiting not too far from here, though."

"Shit, we were that close to the road?"

"Yea."

Lee shook his head, annoyed with himself. He should have trusted his gut and kept going. He looked as Sara returned with Sid, who looked half awake.

"Hey, bud," Billy said to him with a smile. "You want a lift?"

"Sure," Sid agreed easily. Billy crouched, and the boy climbed onto his back. Sara took the sniper rifle from him and slung it over her shoulder while Lee grabbed the backpack, and they exited the cabin single file. It was growing lighter outside, but it was still very early hours in the morning. Lee kept scanning around them as they walked, but they arrived to Barney's cargo truck safely and without any issues.

"Thought we were gonna have to leave you behind," Barney commented through his cigar as they approached. Billy climbed into the back with Sid and Sara while Lee got into the passenger side of the truck. Everyone else was in the back as well.

"You know I'm better than that," Lee retorted, buckling up. He resisted looking back at everyone through the hole in the cover. It was dark back there anyway, save for a flashlight shining around to help Sid get comfortable.

"Everyone's in one piece?"

"Yea."

"Glad to hear."

Lee rested his face against his hand as they kept driving. He was tired, but he couldn't fall asleep entirely. He knew he would on the flight. They were going to drop off Sid and then head home. He couldn't wait.

...

Sara turned on the shower and stood under the stream of water, her hands resting against the cold tiles. She couldn't stop replaying the mission in her head, especially when they'd handed Sid over to his parents. He'd stuck to her like glue until he saw them, and she'd felt so much jealousy that they got their son back.

She was beginning to despair that she'd never see hers again.

She started to cry, going over the last conversation with Cid. He'd been talking about something he'd been "fixing," and she'd been distracted, which had ended in a fight. He hadn't talked to her all that night or the next morning, and then Joe had come. Aside from Cid screaming for her, his last words to her had been "I hate you."

She finished her shower and stood looking at herself in the mirror. Sometimes, she didn't recognize herself. Sometimes, she had flashbacks to memories of her past life, the one where she'd been high or drunk in order to forget...the one where she'd worked for a gentleman's club and had experienced all sorts of different treatment. Most men were just in it for sex, some were nervous and shy, some were mean, and some were chatty. Sara was lucky enough to not get too many of the mean ones, but she hadn't escaped them entirely. She unconsciously rubbed her wrists, remembering.

"Hey," Toll's voice said on the other side of the door after he banged his fist on it. "Don't hog all the hot water!"

She opened the door with a yank, giving him a dark look.

"Whoa, you okay?" he asked, looking concerned.

"I'm fine," she answered. She knew Toll had a little bit of a crush on her, but he never said anything about it. She wondered if he could tell she was stuck on Lee. Maybe they all could. Except for Lee.

"If you ever need to talk, I'm here," he offered.

"Thanks, Toll. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

She gave a small smile before going down to her room. Her thoughts went back to Lee and her kiss. She brushed her hair after getting dressed, thinking about how soft his mouth had been against hers. He was the only man her heart had ever fluttered for, and she had no idea what to make of that. She threw on a green hoodie and made her way downstairs where the others were hanging out. Yang was picking on Gunner as usual while Caesar was playing pool with Barney. Lee had left to be with Lacy, of course. She hated to admit that she missed him when he was gone. She hated that both of them were too afraid to talk about her kissing him.

"You feeling okay?" Tool asked when she sat down next to him on a barstool. He was doodling again on a napkin, his pipe resting on the bar top, unlit.

"Of course," she lied.

"Sounded like a rough job."

"It was fine." She shrugged.

"Well, I'm glad you're back in one piece."

She smiled at him and reached to pat his hand fondly. Then she turned her attention to what everyone else was doing, trying to get her mind off of everything.

But she just couldn't.

...

Lee was drinking a beer and relaxing on his front porch when a truck he recognized pulled up his driveway. He wondered what Barney wanted when the truck stopped and turned off and the driver hopped out.

Sara.

A gentle rain started to fall, and he gripped his beer bottle a bit tighter as she put her hands into her hoodie pocket and walked towards him, her hood up. He was glad he hadn't invited Lacy over, having decided he wanted a night to just relax. He wasn't sure why Sara was here now, though.

Well, that was a lie. He had some idea.

"You ran away," she commented, coming up the steps and sitting down in the chair next to him. She shook her hood a bit before taking it off her head. He took another sip of his beer, buying time for a response. She waited him out.

"I just wanted to be alone," he said finally.

"I see."

"You okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Rough job," he commented, and she made a face of agreement.

"How's your shoulder?"

"Fine," he answered. She nodded slowly. Then she exhaled carefully.

"Are we going to talk about it?" she asked. He knew exactly what she was referring to, but he had no idea what to even say about it.

"What's there to say?" he countered, putting it back on her. They both sat and listened to the rain for a moment until she cleared her throat.

"I meant it," she said softly. "Every second of it." She looked at him, which made him look at her, and they held each other's gaze for a moment.

"I know," he said back quietly. He picked at the label on the bottle with his thumbnail, his heart going a bit faster now.

"Did it mean anything to you?" she asked, and he felt his chest tighten. Of course it did, but how could he say that out loud when he was engaged to someone else? He worked his jaw slightly, knowing he could hurt her a lot in this moment and ruin the relationship they did have.

"Not the way you want it to," he replied finally, and he heard her slight, sharp inhale. He didn't look at her because he knew she'd spot the lie and call him on it.

"You're lying," she stated. Apparently, she did anyway.

"Sara, I'm marrying someone else," he said firmly, looking at her again full force now. "I know you don't like her, but I do, and it's happening, so I'm sorry if you thought you could change that, but you didn't." He felt his hands slightly trembling when he was finished. He hadn't meant to sound so hard. He looked at her, and she was watching him carefully. Then she got to her feet carefully without a word. She went down the porch steps without a word. She didn't bother to pull her hood back up to shield from the rain.

"Sara," he said, but she didn't turn around or stop. "Sara!" She kept going, and he felt angry suddenly. Why was she doing this to him? He set his beer down on the table beside his chair and chased after her in the rain, which was harder now. He caught her at Barney's truck and grabbed her arm to spin her around.

"What?!" she yelled.

"Don't act like I'm doing something wrong!" he shouted back. "I'm not! And you bloody well know it!"

"You're the one who is lying!" she cried, taking her arm back. "You claim you love Lacy, but I know you don't! I don't understand what you're doing, and I don't expect you to just drop her to be with me—you don't need to be with me at all! What I want for you is to realize that you're worth more than what she is giving you! That she's wrong for you!"

"So you don't want to be with me?" he challenged, and she made a growl of frustration in her throat.

"This isn't about me," she insisted. "It's about you. I just want you to be sure you're doing this for the right reason. That's all."

"I am," he advised, although he wasn't entirely convinced. He knew she sensed it too.

"When I kissed you," she said after he didn't speak, "did you feel something?"

He stared at her. Was this a trick? He didn't understand.

"I don't know what you're getting at," he said.

"If you felt something, then you shouldn't be with Lacy," she told him. "If you felt nothing, then congratulations, you're meant to be with her."

"I...I don't know," he said. "It happened so quickly..." He looked at her, and she did exactly what he thought she would do. She reached to snag the nape of his neck and pulled him into her, her mouth finding his and giving him a kiss that left him breathless.

He let her have it back. He caught her arms and pushed her into the truck before pressing against her, running his hands over her as he kissed her deeper and more intensely. Her fingers were digging into his head, his neck, his back, before her hands disappeared under his shirt and smoothed over his skin. He gripped her jaw with one hand and traced her exposed skin with his fingers on the other hand, breaking the kiss for a moment as he tried to catch his breath. Their parted lips grazed as they stood there still pressed against each other. He imagined if she looked this dazed, then he did too. That spark between them was still there, but he couldn't admit it. He just couldn't.

"Lee?" she asked, her hands now on his shoulders on the outside of his shirt, and he swallowed before saying the biggest lie he'd ever say to her.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't feel anything." Such a lie. Biggest lie in the world, but he couldn't say yes because if they did this and it fell apart, he was losing her forever, and it terrified him to lose her. He knew he was being such a coward, but the intensity of this...it did scare him. He'd never felt like this before, and he didn't know how to handle it. And what of their work? How would they even do jobs if they were involved? Emotions did not belong in the battlefield.

"I know you're lying," she whispered, touching his face. He clenched his jaw, trying to keep himself from blurting out she was right. He held his ground.

"I think you should go," he said.

"I don't know why you're lying, but I only hope that you stop sooner than later because there's nothing like being with the wrong person and having a very shitty life. Don't do that to yourself, Lee. You deserve so much better." She smoothed her thumb over his cheek before taking her hand away. He took a step back, and she opened the truck door before getting in. He said nothing as she gave him one last look and then pulled the door shut. He backed away as she started it and reversed into the turn around. He turned and went back to his porch, not watching her leave. When she was gone and he was sitting again, he bit his fist and closed his eyes, releasing a groan of despair.

Why was he such a coward? He didn't have the answer, and he didn't think he ever would. He wanted to correct her when she said he deserved better than Lacy. In his mind, he didn't. He definitely didn't deserve someone like Sara. She was better off without him.

He stared out into the darkness and the rain and hated himself just that much more.