A/N

Hey y'all! Guess who's back! Anyway, here's another chapter, and like I promised, it's longer than the last two or three have been. Though, I'm sorry about the ending, it didn't really go as planned. I hit a huge brick wall of just writers block so now I'm trying to get outta it. And I think I know how... Anyway, onto the next chapter! :)

Eleven

Tai couldn't breathe, it felt like the air was being ripped from her sore lungs. Technically it was. The Elite was standing behind her, holding her up with just the crushing grip around her throat. Her vision was starting to go black and she couldn't move her limbs anymore. It was like they'd gotten glued together with all too heavy concrete.

She felt like her eyes were playing tricks on her. She wouldn't be surprised if they were, considering the fact that she wasn't able to get any more air than the small lungful she'd gotten just before the Elite literally came into the picture. How had Tai not seen him coming? She was trained in espionage herself, she was meant to be able to sense things like that. The Elite had practically appeared outta nowhere, its black armor glistening in the red lights of the New Hope.

The teen couldn't help but let her eyes wander over the people in the Hangar Bay. Frederic was standing closest to her, most likely trying to find a good opening to get her away from the Elite. Kelly was with Linda, the heavy weaponry lying beside the blue armored female. Linda looked pretty pissed (all three did) if Tai's brain was supplying the right word. She didn't think it did.

Tai barely knew these Spartans, having only befriended them maybe a month or so ago. Or, maybe it was longer than that? Time was on the back burner of her befuddled brain right now. And with good reason, thank you very much. Either way, as her eyes skipped over each Spartan, her bleary mind did register something. And that something was technically someone.

The Master Chief was nowhere to be found within the Hangar Bay. And, sure, the Hangar was pretty damned big, but it wasn't that big to where a seven foot something Spartan could just disappear.

A small, tiny sound made its way to her ears. She couldn't shift to look, but she felt a presence behind her, only this time, it was friendly. Although, it had a simmering undertone of pure, unadulterated rage. And that rage was directed entirely at the Elite who currently had its clawed hands wrapped around her throat.

Mustering up as much of the left over strength as she had left in her, Tai kicked out her legs before swinging them back and hitting the Elite in its stomach. The kick didn't do much, not having as much power as she would've liked, but it did manage to slightly slacken the Elites hold over her throat.

The air that was suddenly invading her lungs made her vision go completely black, and her lungs felt like they were tearing themselves out of her body. Who knew that suddenly getting a life sustaining substance back would make everything hurt so damned much. Just as she thought the Elite was about to reclaim its tight hold on her throat, she was suddenly dropped. Tai didn't even have the will power to glare back at the alien for holding her as he had.

The drop to the floor hadn't been even the slightest bit graceful on her part, and she blamed it entirely on the Elite. Like, dude, why'd it have to hold her so far above the ground? A three foot drop from the average height of a full grown Spartan was no light fall. Especially when the air had been stolen from your lungs and you were literally dying inside.

But, hey, being dropped to the floor suddenly was better than being taken out by the fury of one Spartan in army green MJOLNIR Armor. Tai couldn't help but watch as the Elite in black armor was taken to the ground by a flash of green. The Chief was fucking furious. And it showed.

The Spartan was quick to get the Elite away from her, practically dragging it away. As they launched into a fight between giants, the other Spartans quickly made their way to Tai, forming a protective circle around her. They wouldn't let anyone else get to her like that again if they could help it.

Between the Spartans, they had to admit that seeing Tai hung up like that, like she was literally in the gallows, had terrified them. Though, they couldn't exactly tell as to why. They were soldiers, born and raised for war, nothing was supposed to scare them. And yet, the thought of the girl being killed had unsettled them, greatly so.

Somehow, within the little time they knew her, Tai had managed to worm her way into the hearts, bringing about something in themselves. Something they hadn't ever truly been allowed to focus on. Their humanity. This teen had managed to show them what it was like to have someone outside their group care for them, and they refused to let someone as fresh as that get killed while they could do something.

Frederic was glad the Chief had managed to get the drop on the Elite. If the giant of a man didn't, well, he didn't think he wanted to know the outcome of that day.

The fight between the Chief and the Elite had lasted for a couple of minutes before the Chief threw the alien onto its back. The Spartan was quick to draw his Magnum, aiming it for the Elites head. However, before he could get a shot off, a different bullet rang through the Hangar Bay, striking right into the Elites head.

Looking over, he saw that the culprit was none other than one Tai Hover. The teen had managed to snag Kelly's sidearm and had fired off a shot with no hesitation.

"That's whatcha get for trying to fucking kill me, bastard." She stated in a low voice, her vocal chords not agreeing with her speaking.

With one last glance at the Elite, the Chief made his way over to the rest of his Spartans, the trio in a small group around the teen who had pulled herself to sitting. Tai was in a bad way, multiple bruises littering her smaller frame. The worst was by far the bruising on her neck from the grip of the Elite, its claws leaving trails of red on her throat.

The teen grumbled as she rubbed her sore throat trying to make the pain fade slightly. She had been hoping to not get seriously hurt during this encounter, not really having an excuse to give the Woods', but that plan went down the drain as soon as she stepped into the open Hangar Bay with little else but a metal bat as a weapon. Looking back on it, Tai had to admit that it wasn't her smartest plan.

With a huff, Tai hauled herself to her feet, trying to not sway and grimace as little black spots overtook her vision. For a minute, she had to remind herself to breathe, damnit, it's important to breathe. She felt someone wrapping an arm around her midsection before most of her weight was taken from her form. As her vision came back to her, she looked over and saw Linda by her side, the female's arm around her. She gave the woman a grateful look before she started to make her way to the doors of the Hangar Bay.

The rest of the Spartans took up position around the teen and Linda, making sure they're weapons were pointing out, each member of Blue Team knowing where the others had their guns aimed at. It was just how they worked. They took up familiar positions, the Chief in front, Kelly following behind in front of Linda, and Frederic taking the rear. Kelly had let Tai keep the sidearm for now, deeming the girl able to guard her flanks if the need arose.

Finally, after a pained and slightly uncomfortable journey through the New Hope, the Spartans and Tai made it to the infirmary. And it looked like the teen wasn't the only one in need of medical aid, however, she was one of the worst by far. The doctor who was stationed on the battleship looked up at the sound of the doors whooshing open and closed and gasped slightly as she took in the sight of the four massive Spartans. However, the awe and slight confusion was whipped off her face when she saw the much smaller body being cradled against the side of the blue armored Spartan.

The doctor quickly ran up to the group before slightly pushing at Kelly to give the teen to the doctor. For some reason, the Spartan was slightly unwilling, until the doctor promised the Spartans they could stay near the girl, so long as they were out of the way.

According to the doctor, once everything was settled and treated, Tai had managed to hide quite a few more injuries than the Spartans had originally thought she held. Four cracked ribs, a fractured wrist, a slight concussion, and of course the swelling and bruising of her throat. The Elite had managed to pierce into the teens throat and had hit a vocal chord. The Doc was worried that it wouldn't heal properly because it was such a volatile organ.

However, about a month later, with some much needed bed rest, the teen was being released back into the care of the Spartans. Which, come to think of it, was strange. From what the Doc knew about the Spartans, they weren't ones to let strangers into their innermost circle. Sure, they had acquaintances and were friendly enough with the Marine on the warship, but the Doc had never known the Spartans to take in a new presence. Especially not the Blue Team.

The Doc watched as the group of five walked out of the med-bay, the Spartans surrounding the teen. Tai was still being forced to wear bandages on the worse of her wounds, like her neck and a stab through her shoulder blade, so she had heavy wrapping in those areas. And she was very clearly not pleased.

The rag tag team of Spartans and their normal compatriot left the med-bay in good time, and the Doc couldn't help but let a small smile grace her dark features. Perhaps Doctor Halsey was wrong about the Spartan program. Maybe they could make friends with those outside their groups and still be a functional team for the UNSC. However, as she watched Tai shove Frederic for whatever the male Spartan had said, she couldn't stop the voice in the back of her mind from thinking that something bad was gonna happen.

And that it would make the Spartans abandon everything. All to save the smaller of their family. The Doc hoped it wouldn't come to the worst, but if it did. Well, let's just say she did have a backup plan. Though, it wasn't technically for her.