The more time passed, the more you would never have imagined that you would have a lot of fun! This place was certainly different from the academy, including all the people you had known; sure, you didn't imply that life would have been easier, but certainly much more rewarding.

And you could see that when you were in the company of those noisy marines; well, not all of them were and you were looking at the only one just as was drinking his beer.

You barely knew him, as your relationship was only superficial to your assignment at the camp, but you were sure Jason Kolchek was the most badass in there and that was definitely attractive...or it was just the alcohol in your veins which was talking.

《Don't you drink, Y/n?》  Nick caught you in the act and you turned your gaze in his direction, beside.

When he called you by your first name, you didn't say anything, as you started calling them the same way too.

《Of course Nick, I don't say no to a fresh glass!》  You answered by pouring the beer from the bottle to the glass and surprisingly left those present speechless.

《Noo you can't have done that...》  Nick put his hand in front of the face not believing what he had just seen.

Jason had also stopped to watch the scene and began to laugh repeatedly.

《What, I prefer to drink like this, what's wrong with that??》  You couldn't understand why both of them were looking at you with those weird faces and that made you drink your beer faster.

Not that it was your favorite, but was the only drink of the camp; moreover, you decided not to refuse it when the sergeant invited you to drink with them.

《Just too classy for us.》  Jason broke in, tired of hearing just the two of you talking.

《Eeh, that's not true and everyone knows that drinking from the glass makes beer more enjoyable, in addition to being able to clearly see its color in all its nuances...》  Then, you raised an eyebrow as you slowly crossed your legs in front of him, making your legs uncovered more.

《Don't be so silly, Lieutenant Kolchek!》  And so, you reached the table to fill yourself another glass of beer.

Maybe, the alcohol was making you talk like that, but you didn't notice at the time and Jason stared at you, crossing his arms as he sat with his legs apart on the chair.

《Stop doing that or you'll end up getting really drunk, little girl...》  He made a face and returned to focus on his half-empty bottle, after realizing you were making fun of him.

《Mmm, I think I'm not so little now...I don't need you at the training camp anymore, hehe.》  You gave a little laugh, obviously amused.

But Jason didn't seem very happy with that and had various reasons for calling you that; not only because you were younger than him, but also you were as tall as your shoulder and it was amusing for him to see you try to stay on his level, in a way, when you reached out to him...

Actually, it wasn't so bad to spend time with you, as long as you didn't bring out your worst and extremely proud side...that was what ruined everything.

Nick stood looking at both of you, he was happy to see Jason joking with you and that situation was the same one he felt when he exchanged glances with Rachel in the last period; honestly, he didn't really like others called her The Queen Bitch because of her position.

However, that peace came to an end when Jason glanced at his wrist watch.

《The break is over Nicky, we have to go now.》  The squad leader ruled rising from his chair and gestured to the friend doing the same.

《Do you have to go somewhere?》  You asked as you stood up with them and put away your glass.

《Some checks at the green zone. Nothing special.》  Sergeant Kay answered by shrugging as if it were an easy job for him.

And maybe it was so.

He preceded in going back to prepare his things, but while the other was about to follow him, you stopped Jason by touching his shoulder.

He turned almost immediately leaning slightly towards you.

《Yeah, Miss Marshal?》  He forgot you told him not to call you that.

《I advise you not to stay away for too long or I'll end up stealing your team.》  You said mischievously.

Well, you didn't expect that surprised face, not from him.

But he accepted your challenge.

《Mpf, are you really sure you can do that? Because you look really confused now.》

Maybe, it was coming naturally to him to smile with you and, before you could answer, he patted your head gently, catching you off guard.

W-what!?

When you backed away with amazement in your eyes, Jason's smile widened making the dimples on his cheeks show up.

《See ya later, little boozer.》  The marine said in a deep voice and with his usual southern accent.

He was joking, of course, but when he left after the way he called you, you were speechless.

You pressed two fingers against your forehead, you couldn't believe you had allowed him to give you such confidence in making contact with you, even though you started doing it first.

Then, you gave a last look at the beer on the table.

Tsk, it's all your fault.

• • •

Later, you and Rachel were working on something together. It was about Saddam's weapons and this explained why Nick and Jason had been sent to the checkpoint, to prevent any suspicious person from leaving the country with material dangerous.

Suddenly, the picture of the Twin Towers appeared on the screen.

《...we cannot allow such a thing to happen again.》

She was right, now that you were there, all of you had a chance to stop those terrible people...

For the sake of America and the whole world.

Rachel looked up at you, standing in front of her.  《Have you read the report of First Lieutenant Kolchek and Sergent Kay, Hale?》

But you shook your head.

《No ma'am, they haven't returned from the checkpoint yet.》

It was certainly strange. One, two, three hours had passed, until the sun went down. You had a feeling that something had happened and the quietude vanished inside you.

To make sure everything was fine, you were planning to do a check with a group of soldiers but Rachel didn't let you.

You clenched your fists and started pacing nervously back and forth, how could she not be worried about the men on her team, they were her responsibility, after all...

But your attention suddenly fell on the door when you heard a knock.
Rachel answered and, to your surprise, the figure of Kolchek appeared.

《Leave us alone now.》

The CIA woman added and although it wasn't clear to you the reason, you had to do as she ordered.

Jason stood still and silent, with his arms crossed behind his back and when you passed him he didn't deign to look at you.

What the hell happened...

You thought to yourself as you closed the door behind you. Not very far from you, you met Joey and Merwin and when you asked them about the checkpoint, they couldn't answer you, since they hadn't been there.

《Nick looked pretty out of sorts, anyway, they met someone suspicious in the green zone?》  Joey added earning a weird look from the corporal.

《Ah! I'd be glad I filled one of those bastards with lead.》  As a result, you made a face in front of his excessive ways, just like always.

And Jason was also quite serious; he hadn't let any emotion show through, but it was clear that something was wrong and now he was talking privately with the field officer.

I see, I'll find out for myself later.

Then, you came back to your office to tidy up your things, before reaching to the barracks, but you were lost in thought...

A few hours earlier, you had seen a side of Jason you weren't expecting, but now he looked so cold and detached.

Even if he was posing in front of Rachel, there was no need to ignore you like that. Anyway, you snorted several times and got more nervous when you noticed that you had badly folded your papers because of him...

Other than smiling at him, I should have punched him in the face, asshole!

You took your bag and walked all the way to the other building, you were planning on going to the showers before going to sleep, but when you reached the door, you heard a loud noise. It came from one of the other rooms.

In the past, you had often had to check the dormitory during the night and you hated inspections, especially when it was obvious what they were doing in there. On the contrary, you were too upright and honest to walk into a guy's room, let alone have a relationship with one of them. Because of that, you didn't like ordinary soldiers and thought the Marines were even worse than them...

Or you assumed it was up to then.

But you refrained from knocking when you noticed that was the first lieutenant's barrack.

Aside from you and Rachel, there were no other women in the Camp Slayer and that noise definitely belonged to something that had been thrown to the ground with force.

《Hey, is everything okay in there?》  You said trying to knock softly, but got no response.

You waited a moment before leaving, but that sudden silence left you perplexed. What if someone got hurt and fainted?

Eventually, you tried to turn the handle and luckily the door was unlocked.

The room was dark inside, but you saw a silhouette sitting on the bed.

《...Lieutenant Kolchek?》

You dared to turn on the light and you saw him there, sitting on the edge of the bed with his elbows resting on his knees and his head down. You noticed he wasn't wearing his partial Marine uniform anymore.

《I didn't tell you to come in.》  Although he turned to you, he didn't look at you and his tone was annoyed.

《I know, but I wanted to make sure you were okay.》  You said quietly  《Well, how did it go there?》 

Of course, you were referring to the checkpoint...but Jason shook his head.

《Sorry, but I don't want to talk about this now. I'm tired.》

It seemed to be something else and he didn't want to tell you and instead of leaving, you approached him.

《So, why are you still awake? It's obvious there is something tormenting you...》  Then, you put your hand on his left shoulder.

《Would you like to talk to me about it?》

You heard him sigh and this time he stood up.

《...really, it's nothing you should worry about.》  He said looking down at you and noticed your worried expression. Well, he felt better now that you were there with him.

But then, you thought he needed to be alone for real, whatever happened there must certainly have upset him...and if he didn't want to talk to you about it, you would have accepted without insisting.

《I see, it's better I go now. Have a good night, Lieutenant.》  You finished with a smile.

But before you could turn to the door, he grabbed your arm.

《Yes!?》  You thought he needed something.

But he seemed to linger in that moment and was loosening his grip to avoid hurting you.

《You don't need to call me that every time. Just Jason is fine.》

You looked him in his brown eyes. They were tired and thoughtful, as if he had a thousand thoughts on his mind, but you could only understand a few of them.
The truth was, you wanted to avoid being rude to him by calling him with his name...

《Really? I haven't heard you do the same to me, anyway.》  You smiled but turning the other cheek with your sarcastic answer.

Then, you backed up to the door, but the more you did, the more Jason shortened the distance by taking another step towards you...that situation was becoming too awkward and, with your hand, you searched for the handle.

《Well, I go now–》

Your mouth stopped talking when your face was inches from his; Jason had leaned over your figure and now was looking at every part of your face.

《Uhm, do I have something on my face?》  You asked without noticing that you were in the middle of him and the door, with no way out.

The other leaned against the wall behind you with one hand, before answering that naive question of yours.

《Not really, I was just thinking it was attractive.》

Then, Jason pursed his lips in a smirk, a little forced perhaps, as if there was something else was troubling him.

《W-well, you're not bad either without the cap.》  Despite that, you returned the courtesy with a joking tone, but you had to admit he looked good with his short brown hair in sight.

Suddenly, your heart raced as his broad chest touched yours.

《I'm serious Y/n, you're the most beautiful woman I've ever met.》

The situation was getting out of hand and you would have completely lost it, if he had said or done something else...

No, it can't be that the first lieutenant is interested in me that way!

《You are tired Lieutenant, you should rest now.》  You avoided calling him by name as he asked you, so as not to make things worse, brushing a little his bare forearm.

And fortunately, Jason walked away but without hiding disappointment in his eyes.

《I see, go away then.》  He said turning his back and you did it, closing the door silently.

You didn't want it to end up like this, anyway.

Once back in your room, you threw yourself on the mattress making your face sink into the blanket. You were sad, even though it was you who pushed him away...

You didn't really want to believe that, since you had never been fond of anyone before.

And no one ever told you were beautiful.

What do I do now?

The next days were looking more challenging, you thought, just like that unexpected night and you couldn't sleep at all.