Summary/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of Hunter and Soldier. Enjoy the 1200-word chapter. I don't own Halo, Microsoft, and 343 do.

(2526, April 9th UNSC Medical station Sanitarium, 01:30 PM)

Cal tilted her rifle and looked down the scope. She squeezed the trigger and felt the weapon kick against her shoulder. The weapon could put a hole straight through covenant armor plating, yet it was lightweight. Most people would be deafened by the crack of the weapon, but she was a Spartan.

Cal lowered the weapon and looked around. She had noticed Gram leave 10 minutes ago after testing out his magnum. He was much quieter than before, and Cal could tell he was deep in thought. You didn't stop talking if you were Gram unless you were serious and focused on a mission.

"Gram?" Cal questioned as the spartan emerged from the doorway. "You good? You haven't talked all morning." Cal stated, placing the rifle down.

"Define good to a Spartan?" Gram asked as he approached her. "Good is having enough ammo for a 50-mile hike. Good to me is being able to nail an elite from a kilo away." Gram stated as he hummed and looked around.

"Good is also having the team chatterbox talk." Cal joked while Gram rolled his eyes. "I am serious, though. You are never quite unless you're either serious or scared… Which is it? I haven't gotten shot yet." Cal put in as Gram shrugged.

"Got a lot on my mind considering we're not in the field." Gram stated and shook his head. "I'm just a bit on edge. Whenever I'm in the field? I'm at ease, I know where the enemy is. I can fight, I can plan, I can focus on things other than all the garbage in my brain. Now? Now I have to focus on things I don't want to… Like how many people we've lost, how many we're GOING to lose before we hit back." Gram stated, shaking his head to himself more than anything.

Cal could understand the sentiment. A spartan without a mission was like a gun without ammo. Spartans thrived on the battlefield. They were trained to be good killers. Without something to fight? They didn't focus on things they wanted to.

"You ever talk to the doctors about it?" Cal asked, walking towards Gram who shrugged.

"There isn't a shrink qualified to dig around in my head." Gram stated while clenching his fists. "You've been here as long as me. Do you ever picture that being a smart idea? Are you putting a fresh bullet in the chamber? You're a hunter, I'm a soldier. We both have different ways to kill when it comes down to it, you know." Gram added, looking out one of the windows in the room.

Cal hummed to herself and nodded before pausing to look around.

"Heard anything about Arthy yet?" Cal questioned as Gram crossed his arms.

"Not really, what about you?" Gram said while Cal shook her head. "You know, you question why I'm as protective of you as you are with me… And yet you forget we've been partners for years. I've always been having your back and you've always got mine." Gram said while he and Cal walked towards the window.

"It's what being a team is," Cal stated as Gram nodded. "We're going to be deployed within a few days. I'd get ready for it." Cal added to Gram.

"I and Solomon have been ready as soon as we heard." Gram replied, looking at the stars. "And we're family pretty much… Spartans stick together. You think I'm going anywhere anytime soon, your out of luck." Gram added while closing his eyes.

"You know next mission sounds like a suicide run," Cal responded as Gram hummed.

"Every Silver Team mission is a suicide mission." Gram put in which Cal didn't deny. "Still? The UNSC is still standing? Then we're still in this fight, it's just going to be a little different currently. Admiral Stanforth hasn't said anything else about what happens next, yet." Gram said and watched Cal turn towards him.

"Things are going to change soon enough," Cal said while the duo began the walk back to their room. "Without Arthur or with him? We still have a war to fight… And he'd want us to fight it." Cal said as Gram turned to look at her with interest.

"Your well aware that the next fight might be us against an army, right?" Gram asked which got a nod. "We're ready to move at a moment's notice, but we've still not got mission details. I don't know what the hell we're dropping into. That's why I'm partly on edge at the moment." Gram stated and cracked a smile.

"You're still planning to fight them anyway," Cal responded as Gram shrugged and looked at the ceiling.

"We're Spartans, we might question orders… But we don't disobey them all." Gram said and blinked. "Why are you still at the firing range anyway? You never miss a shot; the only reason Linda is the best is because of those trick shots." Gram added, gazing at his friend a moment later.

"If you don't train? You get rusty and cocky." Cal answered while Gram hummed.

"When do you ever get cocky when it comes down to it?" Gram questioned his friend.

"I'm talking about you, not me." Cal put in as Gram chuckled to himself. "I do want to point out you're getting a bit cocky out on the battlefield," Cal added to which Gram rolled his eyes.

"No, I handle making sure you have a clear shot at the enemies when it comes down to it." Gram stated as he paused and looked at the hallway in front of them. Do you think the admiral knows something we don't know? Because I'm starting to think he has something else in mind besides the mission. I don't know what he's planning." Gram added while he put his hands into his pockets.

"We don't know what he's doing at the moment," Cal stated as Gram hummed once more.

"I'm curious what the admiral is preparing," Gram responded and started walking towards their room.

"Maybe, but we have things to focus on at the moment," Cal added to which Gram shrugged.

They had plenty to do before the next mission was done. Plenty to prepare, plenty to work on, and plenty to believe in.

Gram simply shared a look of agreement with his friend as the duo slowly marched to their quarters, eager to deploy. They were Spartans, Spartans were better in the field, not being placed in a medical facility where they had no idea what to do, what the mission was, and what came next.

"Silver Team is still waiting on your orders." Gram stated before they came to their door.

Author Notes

Phew. Another chapter is done! I want to point out that the next chapter will be longer and such. The next chapter will show them going on a mission and set up more bonding and a flashback. The next chapter will be in 2-10 months and will be 900-3500 words or such. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!

P.S: Next chapter might be delayed.