AUTHOR'S NOTE: You can tell I love writing a story when you get daily 24-hour updates to it! I'm still getting just a few reviews for this story, though. Which really is deflating. I know I'm sounding like a broken record, but every author who takes the time to write free content deserves at least something in return, even if just a thank you :)

Who Dares Wins

Chapter Five: Amongst Comrades and Friends

Thursday, 11 October, 2007

Sarah collected her drink from the barman inside of a pub in Hereford with six of her new teammates from Red Team in attendance. Only Bryce was the missing member from their team tonight on their first official off duty gathering as a team. Her chosen drink was a Steamboat cocktail, which was a mixture of Southern Comfort, Lemonade and Lime. Sarah wasn't really a beer drinker. She wasn't behaving awkwardly and the odd one out towards her teammates, it was just that beer didn't really agree with her, and it usually caused her to get stomach cramps whenever she would drink it. The rest of her team, however, did all have beers, but they are also all guys, so... The arsenal of beer for the team was ranging from Guinness to Stella to Fosters and finally, Carling.

And true to his word, Staff Sergeant Chris MacDonald had purchased the first round. The entire group were all stood side by side at the bar together after having just received their drinks.

"Cheers," Staff Sergeant Chris MacDonald said as he raised his pint of Guinness into the air, and he glanced to the left and right of him at each member of his team.

"Cheers," Sarah replied along with the rest of her team as the group of seven began to engage in numerous conversations with each other. Sarah's present conversation partner was Trooper Daniel Thomas, or as the rest of her teammates called him, Big Dan.

"You sure scrub up well, Sarah," he paused to nod approvingly before adding a further comment, "Don't worry. I'm happily married. I'm just being friendly."

Sarah smiled at her new teammate for his compliment. "Thank you. What about the rest of the guys?" she inquired.

"Chris is married. It's not a happy marriage, though. He'll tell you that himself," Dan paused, and Sarah watched on as Big Dan glanced to the left of her "Oi, Chris!" he paused, until the SSgt looked at him, "Sarah was asking about your marriage."

Sarah shifted her glance to the left of her to meet her gaze onto the Staff Sergeant, who breathed out a deep sigh and he shook his head.

"My marriage is hell. There is only one reason we're still together, and it's because of our two kids. It ended a long time ago, and my wife will probably turf me out soon."

Sarah smiled with sympathetically at her team leader.

"He's been saying that for the past two years," John Murray joked earning laughter from the small team.

"And what about you, Sarah? Is there a Mr. Walker?" the Staff Sergeant asked.

Sarah laughed a suppressed laugh as she shook her head whilst looking around all of her team who were gazing at her. "Nope. I'm single, actually," she informed her team, and she watched in amusement as her entire team shook their heads in disbelief at what they had just heard.

"No way!" Cole said in complete amazement.

Sarah laughed. "Yep. I guess I have always put my career before my private life ever since I joined the army," she admitted with a faint smile.

"Wow!" Jamie Hughes said in complete amazement, and Sarah glanced around her teammates who were looking at her in shock like she had four heads.

"Now that I have told you all about my private life, what about the rest of you?" Sarah asked as she shifted her glance between Chuck, Cole, Jamie and John, and she smiled at them.

"Cole is engaged to be married to a lovely English lass. We've all been fighting over who's to be the best man," Jamie Hughes joked which earnt approving laughter from the team once more.

"Yes, we are fighting over that responsibility. Jamie and John are both single. And I have a long-term girlfriend that doesn't want me in the army, and she is always down my throat trying to get me to leave it when I have no intention to do so," Chuck joked tongue-in-cheek.

Sarah's gaze immediately shifted away from Chuck and her gaze sunk down at the bar briefly as she began to get slightly fidgety, and she played with her arm. To complete her actions, she puffed out a small sigh under her breath.

I don't screw the guys I work with anyway. Pull yourself together, Sarah.

"What will happen to Bryce?" Sarah asked in a change of topic.

Some of Red Team immediately tensed up.

"It's fifty-fifty. They will either return Bryce to his unit, or he'll stay on the team. Personally, I'm not too comfortable with him staying on the team, and I would prefer he be RTU'd, but it's not up to me," Chuck said, and Sarah watched most of the team nod their heads.

"I feel terrible now that I may have ruined his career," Sarah admitted as she moped her head down once more.

"Sarah, don't feel bad about it. He's brought it on himself," Jamie Hughes said reassuringly.

"You were spot on last night, Sarah, and we all know it. If he had done his job properly, he wouldn't now be in the mess that he's in. It's his fault, not yours," Staff Sergeant MacDonald chimed in accompanied with a nod of his head at Sarah.

"Too right!" John Murray said in complete agreement, and Sarah watched as all of her teammates nodded, and they gazed warmly at her.

-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-

A short while later

Still at the pub on their first off duty gathering as a team, Red Team were seated in a corner of the pub together, laughing and joking away. Chuck was completely right in his suggestion to her earlier, as this had definitely helped to ease her distress that she was experiencing back on base after returning from their mission.

"So, what was your life before the army, Sarah?" Chuck asked her from where he was seated facing her.

Sarah smiled at Chuck, and she looked around where she was sitting briefly at her teammates who were glancing at her before responding, "I have always loved running. I am or was a very successful amateur runner. I thought about turning professional for quite a while."

"No way!" Jamie Hughes and John Murray replied whilst Cole said, "No kidding, huh?"

Sarah nodded at Cole, and she glanced around her teammates, and she smiled at them once more.

"So that's where you got your endurance from," Staff Sergeant MacDonald stated.

"Yeah," she replied while smiling at her team leader.

"You should have turned professional, Sarah. That would have been so cool," Chuck said, and she smiled at him.

"What about all of you?" Sarah then asked as she glanced around her teammates once more.

"It was always the army for me," John Murray responded with a smile.

"Same here," Big Dan said.

"Same," Jamie Hughes also stated.

"I always fancied myself as a model," the Staff Sergeant joked with a wink which earnt him roaring laughter from Sarah and the rest of her teammates for a good twenty seconds.

"I'd pay good money to see you in a bikini, Chris," Cole joked, causing the laughter to extend for another prolonged period.

On the laughter quietening down once more, she gazed at Chuck opposite her, and she asked, "What about you, Chuck?"

"The brains of the team. Chuck is probably the smartest guy in the Regiment and quite possibly, the entire army. None of us can understand why he skipped university and becoming a billionaire to sign up as a squaddie instead," Cole said as he affectionately put his best friend under his arm.

Sarah smiled at her new teammate's words about her other new teammate in addition to the warm glances from the rest of her team.

"It's kind of like a scale. On one end of the scale, I had the full weight of my dad and granddad screaming down my ear about how good and great the military is. But on the other side of the scale, I had my mum and sister screaming at me about my potential and the things I could have done with my life instead," he paused to smile at her which she returned. He then continued once more, "Though if I hadn't have joined, then I'd have never met any of these guys, and I love every one of them," he declared affectionately, and John Murray joined Cole in also placing his arm around one of his best friends.

"We love you too, you beautiful bastard," John Murray stated endearingly. He then moved in to kiss Chuck's cheek despite strong resistance from Chuck which caused more roaring laughter and camaraderie between the seven teammates as they all continued to revel in and enjoy each other's company…

-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-

A short while later

Sarah took a sip from her drink from where she continued to remain seated inside the pub. She was now feeling very relaxed as she sat alone, and she was enjoying her own company while occasionally smiling at and glancing around at her six teammates. Jamie and John were both playing pool together, while Chuck, Chris, Dan and Cole were all playing darts.

There was a TV fixed to a wall just above Sarah. And she was disturbed from glancing affectionately at her teammates, as she adjusted herself to look up above herself to listen to the news on the TV.

"This is BBC News at ten. We are still live with you from London as tributes continue to pour in, in response to last night's devastating terrorist attacks just twenty-four hours ago. We have live footage to show you right now. This is the Eiffel Tower turning its lights off as a show of solidarity with the UK. There have also been messages of support from the President of the United States. The President had stated that the United States stands in complete solidarity with its closest and most cherished friend. The President had also made further remarks that an attack on one ally is an attack on them all and they would defeat the scourge of terrorism side by side. In other more distressing news, in the wake of last night's attack, there have been numerous reports of several backlashes having taken place against several mosques in the United Kingdom, which have come under attack by angry citizens in response to the Islamist attack..."

Sarah sighed deeply to herself in distress, and she immediately moved to stand up from her seat, and she quickly headed outside for air as she couldn't stomach to hear any more about the attack and the operation she was involved in. She had heard and done too much for one day...

A short moment later.

Sarah was disturbed from looking down at her hands on a bench outside of the pub, where she was getting air as she noted as Chuck began to exit from the pub. Once outside, she glanced at him as he moved to sit opposite her at the bench, and he grinned at her.

She returned the smile in a lesser, faint way.

"Is everything ok?" he asked softly.

Sarah sighed for a short moment before responding, "It's too much for me for one day, Chuck. I was just sitting at the table, and a news report came on covering the attack. I can't hear any more about it before my head explodes," she admitted.

He held his grin at her, though it creased in shape slightly. "I'm sorry you're experiencing the distress you are. Do you regret joining the Regiment?"

Sarah shook her head. "No, Chuck. Because I wanted to see if I was capable of it," she admitted.

"And do you think you are?" he asked in a soft tone as he continued gaze at her.

"I'm not sure," she admitted as she returned his gaze.

"Do you want my opinion?" he asked.

She nodded. "Sure."

He began to take a moment in pause. "Sarah, you're one of the best soldiers I've seen. And you're also extremely caring. Seriously, I don't think I have met many people as nice as you in my life, and that's even without the army."

She attempted to dismiss his praise, "That's too kind, Chuck," she said dismissively, and she watched him shake his head.

"No, Sarah, it's not. The only reason this is eating at you right now is because you couldn't help all of those casualties on the street. It's not because of the terrorist you killed because that's what she was, a terrorist. But the operation is eating at you because of all of that death and carnage that you saw. Sarah, it eats at me too, believe me," he stated as the two teammates continued to hold their gazes onto each other.

"What do you do to get over it?" she asked him.

"I don't. I bottle it up, I guess. I don't have anyone to talk to. I love my mates inside that pub, but they aren't the type to be sharing deep conversations about feelings with," he admitted with a faint smile.

"You can talk to me, Chuck," she responded without hesitation, and she gave him a warm smile, which he returned to her.

"I might just take you up on that one day," he said as they continued to hold their gaze.

"Please do," she replied, holding her friendly smile toward him.

"So, in lighter news, how about a change of topic from everything that happened today?" he suggested.

She nodded. "Ok."

He smiled. "Have you found anywhere to live yet?"

She shook her head. "Not yet. I haven't had time. I've been so busy," she admitted.

He nodded. "So do you need any help with it?" he asked, sincerely.

She shook her head once more, and she gave him another warm smile. "I'll be fine," she said softly as the teammates continued to gaze at each other.

"Ok. But if you need help, then don't hesitate to ask me," he said, sincerely.

She held her smile. "Thank you. But I'm sure you're busy outside of work to help me what with your relationship and other things."

He shook his head. "Nonsense. I'm never too busy to help my teammates and friends, Sarah, that is if you want to be my friend," he joked, causing her to laugh.

"I can think of worse people to be friends with," she teased.

He grinned at her playfulness. "Is that a compliment or an insult?" he then asked in a playful tone of his own.

"A compliment," she replied as her smile and gaze towards her teammate held.

"Oh, thank you! You don't know how happy I am to have such a beautiful lady compliment me. My dream has come true. I can die happy now," he laughed, and she emitted a suppressed laugh.

"What about your girlfriend? Surely, she compliments you?" she asked as the two teammates continued their stare.

"Jill?" he asked.

"If that's her, yeah," she said.

"I met her while out with the lads at a bar in Hereford. It just started as a bit of fun, but then she moved in. She's quite controlling, and the relationship isn't going places, and I kind of miss my own quiet space," he admitted with a faint smile, and Sarah smiled sympathetically at him.

"So, you don't like the leash or any kind of restraint, huh?" she then teased, causing him to laugh and she smirked.

"Exactly! I mean look at my neck, the restraint is so big that I'm choking to death!" he said, and she watched him as he put a hand up to his throat and he imitated choking to death which quickly caused her to burst into laughter.

"You're funny," she declared affectionately.

"Actually, I'd say I'm quite silly and still a child at heart, and I never take myself seriously," he admitted with a wide grin.

"Chuck, that's not a bad thing in a guy," she said with a loving smile, and he gave her one back...

-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-

Ten minutes later

Sarah and Chuck were still outside in the company of each other when their teammates all began to exit the pub. Averting her glance away from Chuck, Sarah glanced up as Chris, Dan, John, Cole and Jamie all exited, and she smiled at all of them as they began to stroll into the vicinity of Sarah and Chuck.

"We thought you'd both bailed on us," Staff Sergeant Chris MacDonald declared with a grin.

"Nope, I was just getting some air," Sarah said, rotating a smile between her other teammates.

"Yeah, me too" Chuck said.

"We're going out for a curry now. Do you both fancy coming?" Cole asked, glancing at Sarah and Chuck.

Sarah shook her head. "No, thank you. If I eat that then it will make me throw up again as I did on the way back to Hereford earlier in the day," she declared humorously which caused her team to laugh.

"Oh, you get that too, huh?" John Murray asked.

She nodded. "Yeah."

"I still get it too and Jamie," John Murray said with a sympathetic smile.

"I know. Cole told me," Sarah admitted with a loving grin.

"Oh, did he? The traitorous bastard!" John laughed as he got Cole into a headlock, which caused the team to laugh together for a short moment.

"What about you, Chuck, do you fancy one?" Big Dan asked one of his best friends.

"No, thanks. I'll have to pass too, guys. I have to get home before Jill starts a manhunt looking for me 'cause I'm home late," he paused to laugh, and the whole team burst into laughter once more, "Plus, I'm on driving duty anyway, and Sarah probably wants to head back to base now."

Sarah gazed at Chuck briefly before she shifted her glance back at her other teammates, and she nodded once more. "Yeah, I do. But thanks guys, really though. I enjoyed tonight, and it was lovely to get to know you all," she declared with a loving smile to all of her teammates.

"The pleasure was all ours, Sarah," Staff Sergeant MacDonald replied, and Sarah glanced at her team, and she watched them all nod with Chris's words, and she smiled at all of her team once more.

"Well, goodnight both of you. Sarah, I'll see you in a few days. Chuck, if you want to do anything, give us a ring," Cole said to his best friend.

Chuck began to nod. "Will do."

Chuck and Sarah then moved to stand, and they began to shake hands with each member of their team before the team departed, leaving Sarah alone with Chuck once more.

On being alone once more, Chuck continued their earlier conversation, "I'm glad you enjoyed tonight, Sarah. Because I remember my first days on the team too."

"You don't seem like the shy kind of guy, Chuck," she declared warmly.

He began to laugh. "Oh, I am, I can assure you. Don't get me wrong; my eight years in the army have made me very confident. But outside of my work, I'm quite reserved, and I just love to watch a good movie. I love, and I idolise all five of those lads, but I'm definitely not the biggest socialite."

Sarah gave him a loving smile. "You sound a lot like me."

He began to shake his head. "A woman as beautiful as you shouldn't have confidence issues. I sincerely hope you meet somebody soon. We all deserve to find that one person. Though I guess it's none of my business and I should shut my mouth."

She laughed briefly, and she shook her head dismissively. "No, Chuck, it's fine. Maybe one day I will," she said as she continued to gaze at him before she felt a sudden urge to yawn come along, and she began to yawn away her tiredness.

"Tired, huh?" he asked.

She nodded. "It's been a long twenty-four hours."

He nodded. "Ditto. I'll drop you off at base now. I don't know how the rest of the lads still have the energy to go out for a curry because I'm exhausted," he laughed.

"Me too," she said as she gave him yet another smile...

A short while later

Chuck pulled his car to a stop outside of G Squadron's accommodation section of the base. "Well, here we are. I'm sorry that you're the only one not to have somewhere to stay off base, Sarah," he said, sincerely with an apologetic smile.

She returned her teammate's smile. "Thanks. But it's only short term. Plus, Bryce is probably here if he's still in the unit."

He began to nod in concession. "True. Well, goodnight, Sarah."

"Goodnight, Chuck," she said, and she smiled at her teammate a final time before she was about to depart from the car, but she paused in place when he began to speak to her again.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Is it ok if I write you my number? I know you said you don't need help, but if you do need my help for anything in the next three days before I see you again, then you can ring me. You can also tell me to shove off if you wan..."

She interrupted him before he could finish. "No, Chuck, that would be nice. Thank you," she finished with a smile which he returned, and she then waited in pause as he began to write down his number before he handed it over to her.

"Ok, goodnight then," he declared on handing her his number.

"Goodnight," she said as she departed from out of the car, and she stood idle to wave her teammate off.

She watched as he waved at her before he began to drive off and put some distance from her. He quickly disappeared from view, and she took this as her cue to promptly return into the barracks, and she entered into her quarters. Sarah then moved to sit on the bed in the room as the demons of taking a life and everything she saw, heard and did in London twenty-four hours ago overwhelmed her and she spent a large portion of the rest of the night in a tearful state of mind.

-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-

Chuck stopped his car, an Audi A4, on the driveway to his home that he was mortgaging in Hereford. He took a long moment in pause inside of his vehicle. After a difficult and challenging mission, spending time with his friends and teammates was and is everything that he needed to get over an intensive operation. The only downside to tonight was that because he was driving, he could only have two pints of beer. If he weren't driving, he probably would have consumed a dozen.

Making sure that he had collected everything from the vehicle, he departed the car, and he locked it before walking up to his door. It was pitch black out in the street, and he couldn't see what he was doing as he began to fiddle with the lock for a moment until it clicked open. On entering into his property, he closed the door behind him before turning once more. His gaze connected onto his girlfriend, who had appeared from out of the living room.

"Hi," she greeted him softly.

"Hi," he replied in an exhausted tone.

"That was you on the news and in one of those videos, wasn't it?" she asked him.

"Jill, you know I can't talk about it," he responded with a sigh.

"Chuck, you always say that to me. I should be entitled to know where you have been for the past two days," she responded with frustration.

"Jill, you knew what you signed up for once we got together. I don't want to get into yet another disagreement with you about the topic. I am so tired and exhausted, and I just want to shower and just go to bed," he said with another sigh, and with that, he departed away from Jill, and he headed to his bathroom, and he quickly jumped into the cold shower mentally and physically exhausted...

End of Chapter

AN2 Don't be put off by Chuck already in a relationship :) It's clear it's not a happy one.

AN3 And now for the writer's usual requests for you to give something back and to leave a helpful lovely review :)