You had no idea how red your eyes got, but you still tried to ignore the itch, focusing on the more important things now.

And so you tightened your grip on your pistol with both hands, now held in the rest position; it was the same one you had stolen from the dead soldier and which had proved useless against the creature, except you had your flashlight tied to it.

But having one made you feel safer anyway. And who knew, maybe you could have used it to fix someone's ass, as well as his empty head...

From your position, you could see Lieutenant Kolchek fixing a camera in front of a passage inside a wall, while Nick placed some explosive charges right there.

《Fire in the hole.》

Just then, a bang caused the stone to collapse to close that large and dark hole permanently. In the meantime, you turned your head around to make sure the noise hadn't alerted anyone.

《...that's the last one. Should at least slow 'em down.》  Nick said turning to his friend, who in the meantime had joined him.

《Yeah long enough to spot them on the cameras.》  Jason just said, silencing himself immediately after.

And Nick took the opportunity to ask him.

《You know, you should go talk to her. To resolve whatever happened between you two–》

《I don't want to talk about this now.》  Jason refused to listen to him and headed for the main corridor, where you had been waiting for them.

Although he passed next to you, you didn't dare look at him, turning in the direction of the darkness that spread in front of you.
On the contrary, Jason stared at you out of the corner of his eye, but said nothing and let you and Nick follow him to the next room.

Well, the place was getting pretty stuffy and it wasn't just because you were who knew how many feet underground...the tension between you and the cap boy was mounting and still neither of you two had decided to break the silence.

《Hey.》  Suddenly, Nick caught you off guard, you didn't even notice that he was close to you.  《Are you 'kay Y/n?》

《Yes, I suppose.》  At least you stopped sobbing, but you had avoided saying it; however, Nick noticed your sad expression...and the wet line running down your cheek.

《I don't want to meddle, but this situation's too weird...》  Nick continued without being heard by Jason, who walked in the front row.  《And I know it's his fault, but you need to know that he spends more time with that rifle in hand than with someone of the opposite sex.》

When he said that, you barely held back a chuckle and Nick smiled too.

《At least it was like that until he met a charming, young girl and now he doesn't know where to turn his head anymore...》

You stared at the sergeant before looking at Jason's back, without noticing that you were blushing...now that you thought about it, it had been almost a month since you had left for Iraq, changing your life in an instant...and since you had met that young marine, definitely the last man you would have found handsome, but he was the only one who hadn't stopped making you beat the heart so much.

Well, if you and Jason had argued it was also your fault, but how could you imagine that Salim's presence would piss him off like that...

《I think he's lost interest in me now, especially after I've tried to help someone he considers his enemy.》  You explained while Nick listened to you.

《That Iraqi soldier doesn't look that bad after all...》  Finally, someone agreed with you and you were relieved of that.  《But yeah, if he'd caused Rachel's death, he'd been a dead man now.》

Nick's tone echoed menacingly inside the tunnel, but you definitely noticed something else in the way he said it, as if thinking about Rachel made him feel sick.

At this point, there was nothing wrong with asking him.

《Nick...by chance, you and Rachel...》

《Yeah I was seeing her. Been three weeks.》  The other preceded you by staring at the floor under him, letting the hat hide his distressed expression.

But then, he felt you gently placed your palm on his shoulder to try to comfort him, ignoring the fact that he had intruded on a married couple...well, you felt more sorry for him than for her husband.

《I miss her too...she's been like a friend for me during this last month. I'm so sorry Nick...》

But all of a sudden, you thought hopefully that wasn't the case.

《W-wait a moment, what if she's not really dead?》  You dared to say catching Nick's attention again  《She may have gotten lost...we can't know until we're really sure about it!》

There, Nick interrupted his footsteps and you with him, to make sure he had received your words, but he just left a faint smile.

《Mmph you're an amazing girl Y/n. Hope Jason gets his head back and realizes the mistake he made.》

However, he answered by setting aside the subject about Rachel, before returning to follow the lieutenant and you didn't insist further.

• • •

Later, when you three reached the new destination, you heard Jason speak first as he paused to stare at the entrance.

《We should reset that tripwire. Give me a hand.》

Of course, Jason was talking to the other marine and both of them bent down to work together on that, while you stood exploring the umpteenth scriptures on the walls and statues.

《We've been in some fucked up situations before...》  Nick said suddenly and you couldn't help but overhear.

《Never as fucked as this.》  Jason replied almost sure he had never seen anything like this before.

《...if I gotta fight these things, there's no one else I would want by my side.》  When the sergeant said those words, you understood exactly what he meant and hoped the lieutenant was in the right mood to give him a decent answer.

In the meantime, Jason stand up with the wire in his hands, making sure it was long enough to reach the other side of the wall.

《You know I've always got your back, buddy. Come what may.》

There, you saw him smile genuinely. As you thought, they weren't just brothers in arms, there was a really deep friendship between them, despite everything that was happening.

And you were hoping your relationship with Jason wasn't completely broken...

After placing the tripwire, Nick crossed it first; you tried to do the same, until your hand remained suspended in the air, in contact with a larger and rougher one.

There, Jason had grabbed you before you could do that alone.

《Don't be in a hurry or ya'll end up straining that leg.》  He said sternly, but observing every move of yours. Anyway, you stayed silent and let him help you until you got over the trap completely.

《...thank you.》  You said in a surprisingly softer tone and that took the marine's breath away for a moment, until he noticed that your face was slightly swollen and flushed.

And the fact that you didn't turn to look at him confirmed his suspicions.

He had to say something to make things right, but he feared that you wouldn't listen to him or that you wouldn't accept his apology.

《Uhm, you can let me go now.》  You said awakening him from his thoughts and Jason did as you asked.

This time, he stood behind you...and his breath on you made you more nervous, what if he had something else to tell you to make you suffer again??

Fortunately, Jason's earpiece lit up and the colonel's voice began to speak at that moment.

《Mailman Two-One Actual, this is Dropkick. Request update. Over.》

Please sir, fuck off. You had it on the tip of your tongue, but in the end you kept it to yourself...you didn't forget that he was the one who started all this.

《Two-One Actual, receiving. Cameras are green and the holes have been demolished. Over.》  Jason answered with a firm and calm tone without stopping walking, as if nothing had happened.

Orders come first, right?

《Good work, Lieutenant. Sweep through the eastern corridor and be on your guard. Over.》

While listening to the colonel reluctantly, you returned in the main hall of the temple. Apart the echo of the ruins around you, there was nothing else to disturb you, almost as if they were gone.

And that was a good reason to be worried about it...

《I hear you. Over and out.》

Meanwhile, the footsteps behind you began to get heavier, until you saw Jason almost beside you.

You couldn't help but tease Eric after he talked to him.

《How's his date going, I guess he's having a lot of fun with one of those things...》  Soon, his brown eyes were immediately on you  《It must be hard for him to admit it wasn't just a miscalculation of his valuable program...》

But Jason didn't seem happy with the way you addressed Eric at all, although he hated him too.

《If there's anything we can use against them, good for us.》  Then, he looked down at you with a slight grin  《It's strange you didn't ask for the Iraqi soldier. Not worried about him anymore?》

Of course, that was surely a trick and so you relaxed your arms from the gun, finally returning the gaze.

《In this moment, I'm worried about finding a way out of here. For all of us.》  You said seriously by totally changing the subject, now tired of still talking about that with him.

Why does he keep insisting on this?

But suddenly, you heard Nick calling. He was standing in front of a huge door, full of large bullet holes.

There was no doubt, those belonged to the machine gun that you had seen before, still pointing in that direction.

《Those things must have come through here in force, whoever manned that weapon took a stand and held them off...》  Jason said confidently after doing a quick analysis of the whole situation, but he was distracted by the other's answer.

《Yes, before they got massacred from behind.》  Nick added, getting a snort from the lieutenant.

Apparently, Jason seemed unable to leave Nick the last word.

《These creatures aren't dumb. They're predators. Bet your bottom dollar, if they came this way before, they could come again–》

《Hey! You should come and have a look here instead of bickering like two kids...》  You suddenly yelled at them making them both turn towards you, inexplicably on the other side of the door.

Nick said nothing, he seemed amused indeed, but Jason was definitely confused to see you there, wondering how he hadn't noticed you.
In a couple of seconds, Jason joined you on the other side, skilfully climbing over the sand dune that had barred the entrance, with the help of a single arm...

But instead of finishing like any normal climber, he stopped a few millimeters in front of you with altered expression.

《Don't ever fucking do it again.》  Jason pointed a finger at you  《What if there was one of them back there? You must know, I won't fix your leg if you get hurt again, clear?》

Nick tried to calm him down, but was completely ignored, as the other was focused just on you.

《Hey, these creatures feed on blood, do you really think there's still something down there that can increase their hunger? I don't think so...》  You said crossing your arms  《And I'm not so stupid to injure my leg again...you must know, I didn't just sort out sheets during my academy training, Lieutenant.》

Jason stayed with pursed lips as he watched your frown. No matter how pissed you were, it was hard not to find you adorable even that way...

Without warning you, he hit your forehead with two fingers making you back away in pain.

《W-what the heck–》

《Stay on my ass, little girl.》

When Jason said that, Nick tried to hold back his laughter as you were dumbfounded.

《No way, I can do it even without that...》  You placed a fist on your hip by tilting your head slightly to the side, pointing out that you were still armed.

Of course, Jason hadn't forgotten that, but his attention was definitely on your rosy lips that moved with every sound of your word; you looked with a puzzled look, not noticing any response from him, as if he were absent...seriously, he wanted to shut them up instantly.

But then, he focused on what he really needed to do there and without saying anything else, Jason pointed the light at the stairs on his right, before going down, followed by you and Nick.

Right there, you looked down at the lieutenant's buttocks and tried to hold back a snort of satisfaction in your mouth.

Well, he has a nice ass anyway...

• • •

That place looked like catacombs; however, the countless bones that laid beneath your feet were there for another reason, you thought as you looked around with a worried expression.

Nick paused to stare at what appeared to be some kind of mass grave, while you began to study some pictures engraved in the stone, but it was useless to try to understand the meaning imprinted on it.

...is this the House of Ashes that Salim told me about?

As you continued to watch the rest of the wall, you saw Jason kneeling in front of what looked like a woman's skeleton and walked over to take a look.
You wondered if she belonged to the team of archaeologists you met in the picture.

《Fuck'd she do to deserve that?》  Jason thought aloud in seeing that bad show.

Both of you had noticed a metal stake implanted in her chest, straight to the heart...in the same way you saw Salim kill the vampire.

《Pretty sure those creatures didn't do this.》  Jason pulled hard to detach the stake from the corpse.

《That's definitely something I've seen done before...》  You explained in a confused way  《This situation is really getting more and more surreal, every step we take is as if we're moving further away from the exit! I hate to admit it, but it's frustrating.》

Jason got to his feet and at that moment you would have liked to lean against his chest, but you didn't know if he would let you do it...
Instead, he took your hand and placed the small metal stake on your palm, leaving you with a puzzled look.

《...why are you giving it to me?》  You asked looking him in the face, believing he was still mad at you.

《I'll stick to the rifle, it's all the same.》  He said with a slight smile.  《And I think this fits better in your fingers than mine.》

There was an awkward pause and Jason cleared his throat nervously when heard you giggle a little in front of his messy words...

《I see. Thanks for this.》  After that, you tied the stake with one of the pants belts, so that you had it close at hand.

Anyway, Jason didn't seem to have finished talking and took another step towards you.

《I don't need to say it, but I was a jerk to act like that. I'm sorry Y/n.》

He looked down at the floor hoping his poor speech was enough to convince you not to hate him.
But then, he felt a caress on his arm.

《Yeah I know you are.》

But before you could withdraw your hand, he grabbed and brought it to his face.

You held your breath when you saw him leave a kiss on its back.

《Let me fix things properly, 'cause I don't want it to end like this.》  Jason said that in an almost hoarse voice due to his accent, but it was enough to leave a chill on your skin.

Not only he was apologizing, but he was also asking you for another chance. Really, you didn't expect someone like him to do that.

《We'll see, Lieutenant...》  You answered by looking away at his body armor, still with your hand in his.  《It's the least you deserve after all.》

You added with an amused smirk. Jason sighed deeply, rubbing his face with some fingers, no one had ever cornered him like you were doing now.

《You know, should seriously stop teasing me sweetheart. Don't tell me I didn't warn you.》

But you didn't stop smiling in front of his desperate tone and finally Jason was able to enjoy that beautiful sight.
In that moment, your fingers intertwined with his, dropping your weapon down your side to focus on that man who had messed up your thoughts up to this point.

Gosh, how can I be mad at him if I want to kiss him already...

But then, you forced yourself to break away, also because Nick had finished touring that place a long time ago...

《L-let's keep looking then.》  You said turning away, ignoring that you were about to trip over some bones, but you clearly heard a short chuckle behind you.

《When is the wedding?》  Nick joined Jason so that he was the only one to hear, immediately earning a glare from the cap boy.

《You know buddy, should just shut that fucking wide mouth for once.》  Jason pointed out with a wry smile and Nick just did that.

《Okay not anymore.》  The sergeant shrugged before walking into another corridor with him.  《But remember to invite me when the day comes.》

Now that he seemed to have settled things with you, Jason looked more confident than usual, but when he heard his friend's jokes something made him think...of course, the idea of dating you had already crossed his mind before he had left on the mission.

But now, it seemed that only God knew what would happen in that Hell from now on...

• • •

As always, Jason didn't understand a damn, or maybe he did that on purpose to piss you off, just as he did while you were watching with interest at a strange cylindrical object on top of a wooden chest.

《Mmm this has nothing to do with all that stuff scattered around the temple...it must have belonged to someone else, maybe someone who resided in this place...》

《Or that's just more crap...nothing that's gonna get us out of here anyway.》  Jason stopped behind you and stretched his eye over your shoulder at the object you were holding.  《Right now, I couldn't give a shit even if it was the crown jewels of England.》

《But you have to admit this place's a lost gem of ancient history! Well, if only those monsters weren't here, of course.》  You said placing the small cylinder where it was.

But the cap boy seemed little interested in that place, as his gaze remained fixed on you, fully.

《The only gem I see here is under my eyes.》  He concluded with an arrogant smile and with dimples on his cheeks, catching you by surprise.

...maybe I haven't heard right.

But the blush on your face didn't disappear even when he left to head for the door at the end of the path.

《...this looks like a good chokepoint. Any of those freaks coming up from below are sure to pass through here.》  Right after that, you heard Jason talking to Nick normally.

《Set some charges then?》  The other asked, looking around for strategic points.

《Yeah...we plant them to the side of the hall.》  Jason finished and Nick nodded in response.

《I'll stay on guard at the entrance while you two do that.》  You added, exchanging your last glance with Kolchek; after all, surveillance was your strong point.

《Good. But stay in the hall and notify immediately if you hear any noise.》  Although it wasn't the first time you did this, Jason warned you to be careful, but you already knew you were, definitely much more since you went underground.

With a metal stake on your side and the gun in your hands, you wandered around that place alone, also behind the pillars, to make sure no one was behind them, hiding in the darkness.

Apparently, it took them a while to place the explosive charges, as you started hearing them talking to each other until their discussion got more intense.
You didn't know if it was right to interrupt them, but from the way they talked, it seemed like was something that had nothing to do with your situation now.

When you approached anyway, they didn't notice your presence.

《—I just want the truth, Jason.》  Nick started again  《Shooting that woman messed with my head...are you seriously going to tell me it didn't mess with yours?》

Jason was silent for a second, clearly annoyed with the subject; definitely, he had other things on his mind so he didn't want to face that again with Nick, who still seemed tied to the past.

《Those demons down there will kill you, but the demons in here will eat you from the inside out.》  Then, Jason took a step forward, as he hammered his head with a finger  《You gotta let it go, man. I'm serious.》

You had already seen this thoughtful look on Jason's face, exactly after he returned from the checkpoint in the green zone.

I don't understand, why are they talking about it right now??

Anyway, Nick seemed of another opinion, as well as disappointed by his answer.

《Oh. So, that's you. All moved on...》

《Yes, I have. I sure as hell have!》

Jason raised his voice to such an extent that echoed throughout the room and this time you decided to intervene.

《C-calm down guys, please, this isn't the time to argue!》  They both turned to you when suddenly heard your voice.

《Fuck Nick, you know that checkpoint was a prime target for suicide bombers. We had to act in the moment, we had to make a call!》

It was useless how much Jason tried to persuade him, Nick seemed to reject any of his justifications.

《Well, it was the wrong call.》  But then, the sergeant turned to you  《As you can see, everyone just makes up bullshit to get by and now he's doing it too. I warn you to be careful Y/n...》

When Nick said that to you, Jason slammed his chest into Nick's.

《Don't you dare fucking involve her in this.》

Although that warning came from his superior, the sergeant didn't flinch and neither of them moved away from that position.

You had no choice but to intervene to stop them, this time raising your voice more.

《Stop yelling at yourself that's your fucking fault! You're right Nick, that woman's death is unfair, but nothing is fair when we're at war, right? How are you going to do it differently next time if you keep thinking about what has been and can't be undone? Please, come back to your senses and remember that you two must think about saving your lives now!!》

When you finished, you started to finally catch your breath. There was a dull silence, they definitely didn't expect you to scold them that way...

Nick looked at you for a while longer before walking back without saying more; just later, you realized Jason was staring at you intently.

Because of that, you turned red like a pepper.

《...maybe I exaggerated. Sorry for that.》  But Jason's facial features relaxed again.

《It's alright. Just a matter between him and me anyway.》  Well, that conversation was over with no deaths, thanks to you.

《But yeah, we'll face up to that if we make it out of here.》  Suddenly, Jason added raising his head towards a skyless ceiling  《But if we die down here, well, maybe it's what we deserve–》

《Don't try to say that Jason, or swear I'll give you a stronger one in your face.》  At that moment, you beat him just above the chest, those cursed words really made you feel bad.  《None of us will die below, okay?》

Although you were serious and threatening, Jason couldn't help but smile and before you could walk away from him, he wrapped his free arm around you.

《Copy that, Miss Marshal.》

You didn't know why, but you felt so much better when he hugged you.

And when he made you feel so protected.

Of course he didn't say it, but Jason Kolchek would have done anything not to lose you.