"WHAT?"

Ellie bites on her lip. "Can I have your number?" When he continues to stare at her with a blank expression, she adds a hesitant, "Please?"

"What do you want my number for?" he asks.

"So I can text you. You know, about work things."

"You and I haven't been separated since October."

"We could be separated one day, Ghost," Ellie replies. "We can't spend every day together."

"And when we're apart, you're gonna text me?"

"Yes."

"About work?"

"Sure." She pauses. "Among other things."

His brown eyes roll behind the mask as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a black phone, tossing it in her direction. "Be quick about it, yeah?"

She smiles as she goes to put her number in. "So, this means you have to text me first. Since I'm putting my contact in your phone."

"I know how the device works, Ellie."

"You better text me, Ghost."

"You don't give orders around here," he retorts quickly, snatching his phone from her. "I think this was a bad idea."

She raises her eyebrow at him. "You're the one who wanted to spend all night in a tent with me. Trapped in a storm. Remember that, Lieutenant?"

"Yeah," he mutters. "Starting to regret it."

"No. You aren't," Ellie replies quietly, calling his bluff.

He meets her gaze and doesn't say a word. He knows she is right. His eyes say it all. The wind has to be picking up now, it being heard through the tent walls. The shelter even shifts slightly under the intense weather. Ellie looks around, checking to make sure it's still secure.

"Don't worry about that," Ghost tells her.

"Too late," she replies.

"It's time to get ready for bed, Ellie. Get finished up and under the covers. Lights out in 10 minutes."

She finishes her food and throws the packs away in one of the spare bags Ghost has, her getting under the layer of blanket she has set out. He follows suit and turns off the lantern. It leaves them in the dark. It's completely quiet except for the muffled sounds of the wind. Ellie hates how the tent shakes. Multiple terrible scenarios go through her mind.

It's been about five minutes when she feels a buzz in her pocket, Ellie looks at her phone under the covers.

UNKNOWN

💬 Go to sleep.

An immediate smile spreads across Ellie's face. She adds him to her contact list.

S.

💬 Go to sleep.

💬 Just couldn't wait, could you?

💬 Don't.

💬 😏

💬 I'm serious.

💬 Wait...
💬 I thought you were Simon?

💬 Ellie...

💬 Wow! You're named Ellie too?
What are the chances?

💬 You know who I am.

💬 I thought you died in the
7th book?

"Ellie."

Ghost's stern voice makes her close her phone, pulling the covers off her head and seeing him looking at her, shining his phone light in her direction.

"Yes?"

"Knock it off. We need to get some sleep."

"Yes, sir," she sighs, putting her phone to the side. He turns his off.

As they lay there, a loud crack of thunder rumbles, Ellie jumping at the sound. Now she's worrying about lightning striking their tents.

"Lay down, Ellie," Ghost says from beside her. "It's just a storm."

"What if we get hit with lightning and the tent catches on fire?" she asks him.

"Since when do you worry so much?" he retorts. "Haven't you cheated death?"

"Yes. Now I take life seriously and I think about the end way too much."

He mutters some curse words and Ellie hears the shuffling of his sleeping bag. She stills when she feels him beside her. Ghost is going to sleep right next to her.

"I'm here, Miller," he sighs. "Now lay down."

She listens, lying down under her blanket again. More thunder sounds off and Ellie shuts her eyes tight.

"Remember to breathe."

She nods even though he can't see her. Ellie lets out a big breath. There's a small rustling and then she feels his warm hand on hers, lightly squeezing it. And that's how they fall asleep and wake up in the morning — hand in hand, side by side.

They're perched atop a bushy hill, ghillie suits on, sniper poised and ready. The other boys have already surrounded the perimeter. Ghost and Ellie wait for further instructions. He is looking through the thermal scope down at the three-story house the troops wait outside of. He leans away from it.

"What do you see?" he questions, letting Ellie come closer, watching her as she looks through the scope.

She hums in thought for a moment. "I see five hostiles."

"Good." She feels his hand rest on the small of her back. "Anything else?"

Her train of thought is getting derailed. "I think there's hostages." She pauses. "I can't tell."

Ghost clicks the radio on his shoulder. "Price. What's the status on hostages?"

Ellie narrows her eyes as she listens to Price's response, moving the gun to see past the building. A small orange and yellow dot appears on the roof of a few houses back. Ellie pulls back from the scope.

"Sniper," she says hurriedly, moving out of the way for Ghost to look. He confirms what she saw.

"Got a sniper a few houses back. Neutralizing the target at your ready, Price."

There are a few moments of static before Price responds, giving the go-ahead. Ellie stays out of the way for Ghost to take the shot. But he never moves up to the gun and Ellie turns to look at him, confusion written across her face.

"What're you doing?" she asks.

"Go ahead."

She shakes her head slightly. "I'm not a good sniper. You know that."

"If I recall, I taught you how to aim and shoot long distances. Remember that?" he quizzes.

The memory of that intimate moment comes back to her.

"How could I forget?" she replies shakily. She fights the chill up her spine. "I can't mess this up, Ghost."

"You won't. Aim."

She obeys his command and positions herself against the gun, looking through the scope. She's breathing in and out slowly and deeply.

"That's right, nice and easy," Ghost says softly, Ellie feeling the warmth of his body as it presses against her side. His hand moves up her back. "Head down just a little," he tells her, gently moving it down.

"Can you check? Make sure it's right?" she asks him nervously.

"No, you've got it."

"What if-,"

"If you keep asking me hypothetical questions, I'm gonna not-so-hypothetically kick your arse. Now shut up and aim, love," he commands, voice low. "Remember what I told you? Release a deep breath then squeeze the trigger. Slow."

She shivers then. Ellie fights to keep her focus. As she does what he says, his hand rests on the small of her back, a gentle pressure. Reassuring. I'm here. Even if it all goes wrong, I'm here.

Ellie squeezes, the suppressed shot ringing out, kickback from the gun making her jolt a little. After the shot, the warm body falls in her scope, not getting up. Ellie pulls back from the gun in surprise.

"Did you see that?" she whispers in excitement to Ghost, his eyes trained on her. "Did you see that, Ghost?"

"Good girl," he tells her, patting her on the back before he talks over the radio. "Sniper neutralized. All clear up top."

"Affirmative. Keep eyes on. We're moving in," Price responds. Ellie moving away from the gun when Ghost gently slides her over by her shoulder.

"You're shaking," he remarks, all-too-observant eyes always noticing the little things. He's aloof as he watches the group through the scope.

Ellie looks down. Her hands are shaking. Whole body trembling, actually. "Must be the adrenaline," she replies, coughing nervously.

"Right."

Dang it, Simon. You're doing this to me, she wants to confess to him. His praise makes her feel like she could float to the moon. She must have a problem. It shouldn't make her feel that way when her Lieutenant compliments her. It's a part of the job. Ellie then jumps when Ghost fires off three shots, it pulling her from her intrusive thoughts. Ghost is packing up the gun before she knows it.

"Give me a hand, yeah?" he asks, pointing to some gear lying beside her. She quickly hands him the parts for him to get in the case. "Ellie," he says, getting her attention.

Her head snaps to him. "Yes?"

He points to the corner of his mouth, Ellie's brows furrowing in confusion. "Got some drool there."

Ellie glares at him, punching him in the shoulder. "Cocky Brit," she hisses.

As she is getting her pack on, she hears him laugh lowly, his quiet retort spreading electricity through her.

"Brat."