A/N: No, I haven't forgotten about this story. But for some reason, all the members of SG10 are being a little reluctant to being written this time so it's unfortunately slow going at the moment. But I do intend to finish this story (I even already know how ;)). However, I would be nothing without my faithful (and resourceful) beta-reader, mac :)

Five

Greenspan

Rain drops keep falling on my head… only ten minutes and I have already forgotten how being dry feels. Trying not to look too disgruntled – I really don’t want to give Evan the slightest excuse to send me back – I follow Evan and Lieutenant Strathen who’s navigating us through the forest while keeping tabs on Maureen’s signal.

That is… until I hear the sound of a suppressed growl from Strathen. Don’t you dare tell me now… “We lost her signal, sir. Again.” Yeah, so what? That happened four times in the last ten minutes. What’s so bad about it?

Evan seems to be thinking the same thing because he just presses his lips together – a sure sign he just this short of urging the Lieutenant to get to the fucking point. As far as I know, Strathen hasn’t been on Evan’s team long and so isn't really good at reading him but before Evan can explode – and I’m sure Strathen would not interpret it as exploding, at least at first – I clear my throat and say, “Is there a special problem with that, Lieutenant?” Come on, take the bridge…

“Not… exactly, ma’am.” God, Strathen, you idiot. And Evan, since when do you take fussbudgets on your team? I give Strathen an encouraging look… which is quite a challenge since I don’t feel very encouraged with all this rain pouring down. But obviously it seems to help since the Lieutenant makes another attempt, avoiding Evan’s eyes. Sorry to say so, Lieutenant, but your days on Evan’s team are already numbered. “But we shouldn’t have lost her right now. The signal only gets broken when the interference from the electric charges in the upper atmosphere…”

“The short story, please, Lieutenant.” Mh. Strathen must do this really often for Evan to get impatient so fast. Usually, he lets his geeks ramble and filters out the important things to build up the story on his own… unlike other officers I know.

Strathen keeps avoiding his eyes. I guess this really was his last mission with Evan’s team. Poor Lieutenant. I’m sure he had potential. “Right, sir. We lost her. For real, this time. Something – or someone – switched the signal off.” Crap. Rimmers found her. Or she found Rimmers.

I look at Evan and he just shakes his head. Is he trying to tell me that we don’t know who or what switched the signal off? “Where did we lose her, Lieutenant?” Finally, Strathen looks at Evan again, obviously gaining back a little of his self-confidence. He gives Evan the coordinates and I can barely hold back a groan. That’s miles away from where we are. And time is of the fucking essence right now.

“Alright.” Evan throws a short look into the round – apart from the both of us and Strathen there’s pretty tightlipped Captain Winslow and Lieutenant Forsberg who’s usually a bag of gossipy goodness but obviously rain is just not his weather – and then nods. “Strathen, you keep watching out for that signal. The rest of you follow me and keep an eye on anything strange. There’s no way Rimmers is alone here and I don’t want any nasty surprises to hit us. Winslow, you take point, Greenspan, a word with you.” He jerks his head and immediately Winslow takes his place and the team starts walking again. It’s obvious Evan wants to talk to me out of earshot of the guys so we fall back a little.

Thankfully we don’t have to keep a lot of distance since the rain and the thunder do a pretty good job of making any conversation inaudible to anyone but the people directly taking part in it. “Alright, what did I do now?” Greenspan… some days it would just be better if you kept your mouth shut. Completely.

Evan rolls his eyes. “Did anyone ever threaten to sew that mouth of yours shut?” I flutter my eyelashes at him, feigning absolute innocence. “Right, that’s what I thought. Anyway… how’s Reece’s psychological condition? How long could she hold it up if Rimmers got her?” What, do I look like Nostradamus? Okay, not exactly the best answer right now. I shrug.

“Depends on a lot of factors. Is she alone? Is Rimmers alone? Is Tom with her? Is she injured? Is Tom injured? She made a lot of progress since we came back from that brain washing thing but she also still has a long way to go. Only thing I can say for sure is that there are no traces from the original brain washing left so we don’t have to be worried about that. Apart from that…” I shrug again.

He nods, not really satisfied. But hey, I’m not her therapist, okay? And even if I was, I wouldn’t be allowed to tell you anything anyway. “Yeah.” Then he looks at me again and something of my worry must have become visible because his face changes to encouraging and understanding for a moment. “We don’t even know if the disappearing of the signal is connected to Rimmers. And we’re gonna find them anyway. You know that.” Yeah… yeah, I know that. Only question is: Will we find them in time?

But he knows that as good as I do so I don’t take the pain to remind him and simply nod. “Yeah, ‘course.” After that, we’re back to silently trudging through the rain and I start to be glad about the rain and the thunder and the uncooperative forest surrounding because fighting against it keeps me from worrying about Tom and Maureen… well, much.

Reece

Yeah, thanks for passing out on me and leaving me alone with that traitor, sir. You know, it’s not like he and his cronies have an account to settle with me or anything, right? I mean, okay, he kind of alluded to something like that but why should I take him serious, with that G36 on his back and the zat-gun in his hand and everything? And of course his strange penchant for hitting you where it hurts most.

Don’t deny it, sir, I think it’s safe to say that this prod against your arm was the cause for your little fainting spell. I’m almost tempted to say “Serves you right.” just for that stupid macho “Let a man handle this.”-comment but yeah… I’m clever enough to realize you were doing this on purpose, to keep me from talking myself into an early grave. Didn’t help any of us much, though… but at least you tried your best.

However… it ended with you leaving me alone with that psycho over there. Can’t he just stop staring and grinning at me? It’s kind of… unsettling. Like he knows what awaits me and draws some secret glee from it. Or maybe he just wants to unnerve me, make me crack easier? Whatever it is, I better not open my mouth again. He seems to be that kind of guy who’s quick with punishments and I don’t want either me or the Major to suffer from any slips of tongue.

Okay.

Right.

That’s something I should have thought of before my lose tongue got the Major knocked out. Doesn’t matter if it was a direct or an indirect consequence. In the end it was my potty mouth that got him the prod on the arm and the succinct pain that most probably was the reason for his fainting. So… yeah… call me “Mountain of Guilt”.

And maybe also “Mountain of Stupidity”. Or rather “Mountain of WTF”? I mean… what the hell happened right before I could pull the trigger and probably rid me and the Major of a very pressing problem? I just know that suddenly I was in some building which looked suspiciously like that good old bio weapons facility and that I watched as some guy got shot in the head. I have no idea where that came from and why it hit me in the moment it did.

I mean, my therapist told me I might have flashbacks in the strangest moments. But to have flashbacks of something I should have actually experienced it, right? And I definitely didn’t experience blowing someone’s head off. My teammates didn’t say anything about it and I’m fairly sure my memories from that wretched mission are complete now. So what…

Oh… wait. Did the Major just stir? And groan? Rimmers seems to think so, at least, since he comes over and crouches down beside the Major. I warn you, Corporal… don’t get violent again, for your own safety. Honestly, there’s only so much violence the Major is able to take before he becomes violent himself. And when he does… it’s not a pretty sight to see.

“I always knew zoomies were pussies.” Idiot. Maybe most of them are – they don’t call it the Chair Force for nothing – but this one definitely isn't. Take it from a fellow Marine. “Honestly, Moore… fainting like a debutante from a little poke in the arm. That’s beyond shameful.”

For a moment, the Major keeps quiet and I’m tempted to reply something but then, as if on cue, the Major saves me from my mouth again. “Whoever said I really fainted? You didn’t even try and see if I was out of it. That’s what I call fucking sloppy, Marine.” Impressive. I’m positive he was out of it and that he’s just guessing. And he guessed right. However… he made one mistake.

“With all due respect… I’d prefer it if you wouldn’t call Rimmers a Marine, sir.” Both heads whip around to me and stare at me, a little surprised. What, am I not allowed to have some Corps pride?

And yeah, judging from the look on Rimmers’ face that wasn’t exactly a clever thing to say but at least it got him off the Major’s back for a few more moments… although I was sorely tempted not to do anything, just for that stupid macho comment from before. But yeah, there will still be time to get back at him for that later and besides… I do feel offended at someone like Rimmers being given the honor of being called a Marine. “Some people, you know, would prefer it if you wouldn’t be called a Marine.” Yeah, great, and here we go again.

Before I can answer, though, I catch the Major shaking his head no, with an even pleading look in his eyes. What the hell? How do you expect me to react to that, huh? And it’s not like you haven’t made similar comments in the past, sir. Granted, not since we came back from the bio weapons mission, but still… I want to open my mouth and say what’s on my mind anyway, but the Major shakes his head again, his face betraying how every movement is filled with pain because of the arm that’s still untended to and I realize that we have some much more pressing problems than my injured pride.

Well then… that obviously means I have to give the whole offended honor thing a rest and focus a little on what’s more important: Taking care of the Major’s arm. It will also hopefully get me off thinking about whatever made me faint. I take a deep breath. “Yeah, maybe. And since you are so proficient in the art of being a Marine, you should also know that Corps honor dictates not to let prisoners suffer unnecessarily.” Mh. That was really brave, Reece. Maybe just a bit too brave, judging from the Major’s exasperated eye rolling.

Rimmers grins at me and that really doesn’t look comforting. “What, you mean I should just shoot the good Major here?” What? No, no, no! Just fucking great, Reece, now look what you got yourself and the Major into.

I take another deep breath and try to stay rational. It wouldn’t do any of us good if I’d panic now. “No, I suggest you let me treat his arm. You know as good as I that he won’t be much of a threat with his arm in a sling but what you don’t know is that he’ll be much easier to be around once the pain he’s in has been reduced to an inevitable minimum.” Mh… I’m not quite sure what that look on the Major’s face means. Either it’s absolute surprise at my sudden ability to take charge in a situation I would have totally screwed up just a few months ago – which would mirror my own sentiments right now – or it’s irritation at the rather casual way I just talked about my CO. Let’s just all hope it’s the former.

Rimmers also seems a little… surprised at my suggestion – that makes three of us, then – and says, “You know, it’s a pity I’m not alone in this.” It is? Would have never guessed. “If I was, I’d just screw your suggestion and shoot the bastard anyway.” The bastard does not look very pleased at being called so by a lowly Marine corporal… ex-Marine corporal. I start to hope for Rimmers’ sake that the Major won’t ever get a chance to get his hands on him. “However, I guess I’d get in trouble with a few people even more unsocial than that guy, so… go ahead, Florence.” He just jerks his head over to the Major.

Now suddenly abandoned by my bravery, I throw a look to the Major and thankfully he realizes that I could do with his approval now as he nods his head, a little resignedly. Regarding Rimmers with wary looks I make my way over to the Major and crouch down in front of him. For a moment, it looks like he’ll give me a wigging for overstepping my boundaries, placing us both in danger with my forwardness and of course for not being able to shoot Rimmers when I had the chance in the first place. But after a moment he just nods and sets his jaw, ready to deal with whatever painful procedure it will need to get his arm braced and in a sling.

I take a moment to get a good look at his arm and wish again Laura was here. Even to my eyes it looks like a complicated fracture that could result in permanent damage if treated incorrectly. But it has to be treated or it will definitely end in permanent damage for the Major. I turn back to Rimmers to tell him I need to go looking for some stick to use as a splint but before I get to do it, the Major manages to tell me during a violent crash of thunder, “Prod the arm and pretend you’re doing some examination.”

What the…? Okay, that’s his “Don’t ask, just do it.”-face and you shouldn’t mess with him when he’s wearing that so I start doing what he tells me. He gives the appropriate groans and glares and when another thunder sounds through the forest, he says barely audible, “Kid… in your pack… emergency radio.”

It catches me off-guard enough that I can’t help staring at him and saying, “Really?”

He rolls his eyes. Typical. And even though he tries to keep his voice down, I can hear the slight irritation, “Yeah. Didn’t think we’d send you out here with faulty equipment and not give you something to call for help if things went down the drain, right?”

Again, my mouth is faster than my brain and I catch myself answering, “Actually… I thought it was more of something along the lines of ‘We trust you to mess it up so we put in precautions.’.”

And then he really surprises me by actually putting his good hand briefly on my forearm and whispering, sounding honest, “Just for the record: We never thought you’d mess up. And up to now… you haven’t.”

At that I’m at a loss for words – not an easy feat to accomplish once someone has managed to break me out of my shell, and despite everything he has managed that – but before I can gather my wits, Rimmers decides to step in again. “Hey, you love birds, get it over with, will ya? We’ll have to move soon, if we don’t want to miss our pick-up.”

Love birds? What the…? Wait, no, shove that out of the way, Lieutenant. Don’t even think about pondering that one.

It’s just… love birds? Honestly… that’s all kinds of stupid and preposterous and just plain… wrong on so many levels. Really…

I feel an unfriendly cuff at my arm and the Major simply mouths “Focus, Lieutenant.” Yeah, right. Focus. I turn around to Rimmers.

“Just asking a few questions I needed for the treatment.” Don’t add “If that is alright with you, your Highness,” don’t add “If that is alright with you, your Highness,” don’t add “If that is alright with you, your Highness.”… I clear my throat and swallow down all the other insolent answers I had ready. “Anyway, don’t freak now. I’ll just move over there to find a splint, right.”

Rimmers doesn’t really look like he actually liked that announcement but he still drawls, “Yeah, whatever. Go ahead,” and gestures with the G36 in the direction I just pointed – the place where he carelessly threw my pack, instead of throwing it away like he obviously did with the Major’s. Why is it that everyone keeps underestimating me, huh? Oh right, because I fainted before pulling the trigger. Yeah. Good point.

Keeping him in my sights the whole time I carefully get up and trudge over to the pack… three steps… two steps… “Hey, keep your fingers off that pack.” Aw, fuck. His face changes from something between bored and irritated to wary and his finger creeps towards the trigger. Suddenly the atmosphere is charged again, and not because of the incessant lightening that keeps going on. Think, Reece, think.

I can’t help throwing the Major a look again and he does not look… happy. Almost a bit like he’s really… worried for me. Fucking cold and fucking rain and fucking lightening making me see things and stuff. Alright, so… how to solve this whole thing? Oh… oh, yeah. “Uh… sorry. I was just… I need to look through it to see if I can use anything in there as a sling or a splint.” Rimmers doesn’t look convinced. Yeah, I wouldn’t be, either. “Look, I may not be the world’s brightest soldier but I am clever enough not to do anything stupid when someone points a gun at me.”

Come on, swallow it. And don’t remember now that you obviously didn’t search the thing since it looks soaking wet but otherwise untouched. Which actually makes me wonder… how could such an idiot like you manage to capture two members of a Black Ops team, one of them top in his fields and a seasoned Black Ops and Special Ops officer?

Anyway… I don’t have any more time to ponder that since he gave me a reluctant nod and I start opening the pack and digging around. Okay, if I was an evil masterm… I mean, a Special Forces Major bent on making a survival exercise as hard as possible for my only Marine team member but not wanting her to actually bite the bullet… where would I hide the emergency radio? I rummage around, wishing the packs were 100% watertight because it’s just… all kinds of icky to dig through soaked clothing, food and equipment… and… jackpot.

Let’s just hope now that the Major and Major Lorne had enough sense of decency not to go for my underwear. They might be grown man in their early thirties but I just know that some guys just never grow up. So… yeah, best snatch the next best thing of clothing you could use as a sling and hide the radio… done. Trying to look totally inconspicuous – and hoping that the radio is more watertight than the pack – I get up again and edge towards the Major again. Well, then, Lieutenant… on to the gruesome task of splinting that fracture… even though the Major will hate you for sure after that.