Before long, the briefing would have started and you had followed Rachel's advice by going back to your barrack to change.

In addition to the uniform, you had brought other clothes and what you had under your eyes was definitely for you...
So, you wore a half-sleeved black high-necked top with a pair of black high-waisted cargo pants and combat boots; you adjusted the zig zag headband on your hair again and did a makeup lighter than before...well, after that thing with Jason, your lip gloss was almost completely off, anyway.

Even if you weren't used to such clothing, you had to admit that your appearance wasn't bad and maybe you would like that soldier mode.

Once ready, you went back to the briefing room, which was surprisingly fuller than when you left.
The Mailman 2-1 squad was already there and the first one to see you was Joey, who motioned for you to join them...but there was a moment of silence for Merwin, who took a while to realize it was you. Of course, you couldn't hold back a laugh.

In that moment, Jason and Nick also turned and both raised their eyebrows, clearly surprised.

《Woah, you look like a marine now, Y/n.》  The sergeant said, while the first lieutenant never stopped staring at you from head to toe.

《...what's wrong Lieutenant Kolchek, you don't like what you see?》  You said as you placed your fists on your hips and walked in his direction.

Your words caused the group to giggle, but Jason ignored them, going back to your cheeky attitude.

It was obvious that you were gorgeous, but he decided not to give it to you so easily, especially after you left him in that way.

《More than a marine, she looks like a bank robber.》  Then, the cap boy glanced at your chest, obviously devoid of an interceptor body armor and small supply bags; besides, your pants weren't camouflage and all that black was definitely wrong to him.

You rolled your eyes as he raised his chin with a smug smile.

《...a sexy robber, I'd say, she's definitely better than that other girl, ahaha!》  Merwin came to your side and Jason found himself forced to pull him away from you by placing himself between the two of you. He was clearly tired of seeing the corporal wandering around you.

But you raised an eyebrow.
《Other girl? Who are you referring to–》

At that moment, you saw a trio in front of the giant central panel. A blond man and a brunette girl with a cap next to him was talking to Rachel.

《So, it's him Eric King.》  You said out loud.

《Do you know him?》  Jason asked you after hearing you call the lieutenant colonel with his full name.

《Not personally, I just looked at his profile on the computer.》  Then, you looked at the marine's face  《But I thought he was alone, who is she?》

《His assistant Dr. Stokes. She'll be part of the mission too.》  He just replied and this time it was your turn to be surprised.

《Oh, I see you've all made friends already! The only one missing is me then...》  You said sarcastically and Jason raised an eyebrow, not understanding your reaction.

《Who said you won't come with us anyway, we need a little girl to spank us when make mistakes, no?》

After that, you crossed your arms patiently; he didn't know why, but he found it really funny to tease you...

Then, you answered patting on his arm with some enthusiasm.

《Mpf, don't tempt me, Lieutenant.》

You stared intently into his brown eyes before turning around, when Rachel called her entire team to the center of the room.
There, Eric noticed you and even though he was wearing sunglasses, you could tell he was wondering who you were.

《I'm Y/n Hale, Warrant Officer of US Army and supervisor of the Camp Slayer.》  You took it one step further by introducing yourself, sure to make a good impression.

《Eric King, Lieutenant Colonel of US Air Force and chief nuclear engineer of the Iraq Survey Group...》  Then, you shook hands with each other  《It must be you the right arm of Rachel, you look very young for your position, Officer Hale.》

You didn't know why, but everyone seemed to have something against your age...but before you could speak Rachel intervened.

《I warn you that I don't know a scrupulous woman like her in here and was the only one who organized the new military setup, including everything in this room.》

Those words lifted your spirits, you were glad to know the field officer was on your side and Eric gave a slight smile. He knew another woman who was exactly like that, after all...

《Very good. Let's proceed then.》  In that moment, the colonel stepped in front of the screen  《Dr. Stokes, please prepare the presentation.》

• • •

The brunette one took a stand in front of their personal computer and began projecting some pictures taken over the target; despite Merwin's misplaced comments, the colonel seemed pretty sure he knew what he was doing, especially when explained he had created this satellite program to locate underground structures.

This time, they had a way to retrieve the weapons Saddam had hidden.

You were next to Rachel, listening to the other's explanation; you felt like you wanted to tell her something, but it didn't seem like the right time for that...she was clearly annoyed that she had been forced to hand over the reins to her husband, whom she hadn't seen in a long time and without anyone having informed her before.

《—there's been a change of leadership, but Rachel's operational expertise and local knowledge is just as valuable as ever. She'll be flying with us...》  But then, Eric added looking in your direction  《And the same goes for Officer Hale. We need all the help we can get...any questions?》

Nobody said anything that thwarted his final decision and neither you did, although you were thoughtful about it.

Am I really ready for a field expedition?

But soon, your attention fell beyond Eric's figure immediately, where the girl from earlier was noisily chewing gum; for a physicist, she was quite detached from listening and you started to dislike her carelessness...

But you were speechless when you saw her staring and smiling at Jason and when the colonel finished his plan, you saw her chatting with him.

What the fuck is that...

Well, you had no right to complain and took the opportunity to walk away by yourself...you weren't going to spy on the two of them all day, until you came across the lance corporal, who was leaning against the edge of a table and seemed quite worried.

《Is there something troubling you?》  You couldn't help but notice that he was particularly worried.

《Well, you know, I'd rather sit behind a desk than catch some bullets out there...》  Joey answered and you could just nod to that.

《I can understand you, this is my first expedition and I confess that I'm a bit nervous...》  You replied in a low voice, but then you placed a palm on his left shoulder.  《But I'm sure everything will be fine Joey, your team is very prepared for this.》

At that point, Joey looked up and smiled at you, he was happy to see you trying to cheer him up.

《I trust them, but not him.》

You realized he was referring to Colonel King and that was definitely a minus point...and you couldn't deny the mood had changed since he joined Camp Slayer.

But it was also true the war was over, there was no reason to worry so much...anyhow, there was still some time before leaving and decided to take a look at the equipment that you would have brought.

《...what the hell is this crap?》  Merwin said when he noticed some climbing ropes on the table.

《The colonel requested them for the mission. We must prepare for the eventuality of making some descents...》  You said clearly, checking the other things inside the crates.

In doing that, you knelt with your back to Merwin, who did nothing but watch you, finding that position of yours very provocative; well, you couldn't do much with that, but you would seriously put his ass on the ground if he allowed himself to touch you...

Until a stern voice behind him didn't make you both jump.

《Time to check up somewhere else, Corporal.》

In that moment, you saw Jason standing next to you and with a rifle in his hands. Merwin burst out laughing before returning to his technical equipment.
You said nothing anyway and turned back to the table; you didn't know how many minutes had passed, but it was enough to remember that, a little while ago, he was talking with the brunette girl.

《...any problem?》  He asked, standing next to you and lowering his gaze to look your face.

《No, not really. And he's not that dangerous, so don't worry.》  But you answered without looking back and Jason wasn't sure that was the problem.

Indeed, he didn't like that sudden change of yours; he took his hand off the rifle to grab your thin forearm, blocking your movements suddenly.

《You're lying, it's obvious there's something bothering you.》

Without considering the other people in the room, Jason got too close to you, but no one paid any attention to that, as you were short enough to remain hidden behind his body.

《Do you really want to know what I'm thinking, Lieutenant?》  You looked at him with defiant eyes  《Go talk to that doctor then, it seems you're able to have a longer conversation with her than with me.》

When you said that, Jason took a puzzled expression under the visor.

《Hey, Clarice asked me questions about this place. Nothing special.》  He said casually, but you couldn't bear the idea that he had also called her by name now.

《And it's not true that we don't talk...but yeah, I'd like to spend more time with you, Y/n...I can't stop thinking about your lip–》

《Okay I get it so stop now, what if others hear you!》  You punched him on his padded chest while placing your index finger in front of your mouth.

Jason said no more, but his dimples wouldn't have disappeared so easily from his face, just like your blush on yours...you had to admit you were happy to hear those things from him.

Finally, you went back to what you were doing and Kolchek did the same, returning to his post next to Nick, who couldn't help but stare at all that suspiciously.

《Man, are you really sure there's nothing between you two?》  He asked all of a sudden, although Nick already had some ideas about that.  《You know, it could be a problem, thinking about other things than the mission...》

But Jason didn't answer right away and just finished loading his modified M4A1 carbine; the fact that there might be a chance between you two began to make him take a more serious attitude, both towards himself and yours...

However, he didn't like his friend's intervention.

《I could say the same thing about ya, it's before the briefing started that you've been acting weird, Nick.》  The lieutenant answered the sergeant bluntly. Even if he didn't know what it was, he was right to doubt about him.

But nothing was that simple and, in those last moments of serenity, you finished the preparations...you picked up the gun you chose and put it inside the holster, tied around your right thigh. You were hoping you didn't need to use it.

Then, you put on a black plate armor with multiple pockets and an earpiece with a small light and radio on your left ear, just like everyone else, without missing your aviator sunglasses, of course.

《Ready for the fun, girl?》

You turned to the voice and on the other side of your brown lenses you saw Clarice.
You wanted to ignore her, but decided to answer her with her own currency.

《Well, I'm not used to this hellish heat yet, but I'll do my best to survive till the end. I hope you do the same, doc.》

While you were talking, you put a backpack on your shoulders and grumbled to feel it so heavy...

And she didn't hold back some giggles.

《...according to the previsions of Colonel King and mine, we'll be able to finish before the sun sets. That's great, no?》

Clarice kept talking to you as if you asked her something about it, but you listened to her with patience, somehow...

I suppose scientists always do this, uh.

Finally, the helicopter reached your base and you all headed for it.

The first problem you encountered was the seat belt around your waist, you just couldn't fasten it and as a result your hands began to sweat in frustration.

...fuckin' great, is there something else that needs to happen today??

Anyway, you succeeded before the helicopter lifted from the ground.
You were sitting behind the passenger seat, where Nick was, and inexplicably next to Clarice...apparently, she was the one who had chosen to sit there but you didn't complain about that.

And in front of you was Jason.

You exchanged a couple of glances with him in total silence. Not that you could talk anyway, because of the noises the propellers were making, but besides that, there was the rest of the team around you and you didn't want to put strange thoughts in their heads.

You took a long sigh before looking out the window...it was going to be a long trip, you thought, as you looked at the desert below you.