Nina woke up tangled in the sheets with Hunter. He had his arm around her waist and their legs were intertwined. She stared at him while he slept. She wondered how someone who appeared like the scariest, deadliest, and strongest person ever could look so calm, innocent and beautiful at the same time. She couldn't help the thoughts that constantly crossed her mind. What was going to happen when she rescued her father? Was she going to stay with her father and leave her new family behind or was she going to leave her father and live with the man she loved? 

Hunter's eyes fluttered open.

"Hey," he smiled.

His morning voice did things to her.

"Morning," she smiled now too.

"You okay?" he asked, his brows furrowing.

"Why do you ask?" 

"I know you Kitty, you bite your thumb nail when you try to hide your emotions."

"I do not," she frowned, but she knew he was right. It was her nervous habit.

He laughed and kissed her forehead. "Tell me Nina."

He used her real name, she thought it must be serious.

"What's going to happen after we find my father?" she asked, voicing her fears.

"Of course you're going to live with... you should be with your father, he's your family," he looked away, his jaw was clenched.

"You're my family too," she admit with a soft voice.

Hunter forced himself to look at her again. She could see the storm in his eyes. The pain.

"But he's blood."

"Stop pushing me away Hunter," Nina begged.

"What do you want me to say?" his voice was tight.

"I..." she stopped talking, she knew if he asked her she would stay and she was afraid of betraying her father.

"I want you to stay, but I will not watch you lose your father again," he shook his head.

"I don't want to lose you either," she mumbled, feeling her heart break at the thought. They had just found each other, she didn't want to lose him.

"You know he can't stay here," Hunter reminded her.

"I know," she sighed. It was a secret location, her father was not an agent. Hunter's hands were tied.

"Whatever you decide, know that I support you," he mumbled into her hair, as he pulled her closer to him.

Nina craned her head up and kissed him. It was a slow and passionate kiss, as if they were savouring every moment they could get.

***

The whole team looked at Nina as they were beginning to land.

"You ready?" asked Doc.

She nodded. It was on, she was going to rescue her father. 

They had split into two groups. Nina was part of the group that was dropped off at a busy market.

"This is the notorious black market?" asked Nina. "It's an actual market?"

Sketchy looking guys were sitting behind carts and stands selling all sort of everyday things.

"Don't be fooled sweet cheeks," said Sky, giving her a small pat on the back.

"Yeah, it's sort of funny and smart. It's like here, buy this apple along with the location of your purchase of C-4," Shadow chuckled to himself.

"Come on, Rock and Fox are already setting up our cave," said Wolf impatient to get back to his girlfriend.

"Come on," Hunter gestured with his head to follow him. Nina gave a small jog so she could walk beside him, their hands brushed slightly sending tingles down her back. She tried to remain as neutral as possible, she didn't want the other team to know about their relationship, especially not Sky. Hunter linked their pinkies together, but didn't look at Nina. Way to play it cool, she thought. She had to stop herself from smiling like a schoolgirl.

Fox ambushed Wolf as he walked through the door, and he returned it by kissing her deeply.

"Let's go um unpack," said Wolf. Fox bit her lip and nodded.

Hunter and Nina looked each other then looked away.

"They're so getting it on," said Sky, which Shadow replied by a supporting fist bump.

"Sorry about those two," Rock shook his head in disappointment. 

"Do you think they'll ever find someone that likes them like that?" Doc asked looking at the two men quizzically and in deep thought.

"Shadow will probably find a girl on some online dating website that likes Star Trek as much as he does and Sky will probably find a way to marry himself," said Hunter.

They all started to laugh.

"We heard that," frowned Shadow from behind a screen.

"Is it actually possible to marry myself?" Sky turned to them with all seriousness. They all laughed harder. Everyone started to walk away to do their own thing.

"Two hours and we regroup," Hunter yelled after them. "I want to get a feel of the city, Kitty do you want to join me?"

Nina bit her lip nervously, looking around to make sure no one eyed them differently. She stepped up closer him to make sure no one could hear her. "Fine, but I won't do it for free. You owe me a kiss."

Hunter smiled mischievously heading out before her, once Nina stepped out he quickly grabbed her and had her pressed on a wall and kissed her. It was deep and breathtaking. 

He pulled away slightly and smirked. "Am I still in debt?"

"A little," Nina bit her lip in anticipation.

Hunter chuckled before he bent down to kiss her again, but before their lips could touch a loud oomph stopped them. The whole crew had tumbled out of the door.

"Oh hey guys, we didn't know you were still here," Doc hesitantly laughed, pushing his glasses back up his nose.

"Well, it's about time you guys," Sky threw his hands in the air.

"Wait-- you knew?" gasped Nina, shocked.

"Kitty, I'm not the brightest, but I'm not blind either," he answered. Nina smiled apologetically, but Sky shook his head as if to say it's okay.

"Alright Rock you win," said Wolf pulling out a hundred dollar bill and handing it to him. Everyone groaned and did the same thing.

"Wait, did you bet on us?" Hunter growled, his eyes burning in anger.

"I don't know why you're mad, I could have bought some nice boots with that," pouted Fox.

"You guys are outrageous, what was the bet?" Nina asked, curious.

"How long it would take you guys to get together. Fox said one week, she's hopeless. Rock said three months," Shadow explained the terms.

"We'll since you all seem in such a great mood, why don't we get a head start on the mission," smirked Hunter. They all groaned. He was getting them back, by not giving them any free time. The team didn't disappoint and got everything ready. Tomorrow, they strike.

***

Hunter gave Nina the go by pointing his index finger. He interlocked his fingers together and she placed her foot between them so she can use them as a boost. Hunter helped throw her until Nina grabbed the bar of a broken ladder. She winced as she dangled from one hand putting pressure on her shoulder, she finally got a hold of the bar with her other hand and jolted herself to the roof. Once Nina got there, she tied off a rope to the top of the ladder so that Hunter could climb. Meanwhile, Wolf, Rock and Fox went through the back. 

It was an abandoned two story research facility. It wasn't too big to make it hard to find their way around nor too small to easily get captured. Hunter opened a latch that showed a ladder and a metal caged floor. He went down first then signalled for Nina to go down after. Before they went on the mission to save Nina's father, he constantly reminded her to stay beside him, how he had to be the first one in the face of danger every time they moved an inch. They argued over it but Hunter won. Nina crept behind Hunter until they got to the center of the building, bright lights shone in the middle while the sides remained dark, proving to be an advantage to the team. 

Standing in front a large machine surrounded by men in guns, was Nina's father. He looked thinner and older than the last time she saw him. He looked so unhappy and stressed that it broke her heart. Nina wanted to run to him, but she knew it'll risk all their lives.

"Dr. Delmar, this is taking you way too long," Slade let out a tsk as he walked in from the shadows. Nina couldn't help but scoff at the theatrics.

"You can't rush a masterpiece," Dr. Delmar sighed.

"But you know what we did rush? The capturing of your daughter, but there seems to be a problem. You see my men have been living in isolation for a long time and your daughter is very pretty, these men have needs and I can't stop them all," Slade smirked knowing his threat struck a cord.

"You gave me your word!"

"My word, not theirs," Slade emphasized.

"You bastard I'll-"

"Ah, ah, ah, Nina would not like it if she knew her father caused her suffering," he reminded him.

"Fine! I'll have it finished by the end of the week," Dr. Delmar caved in. He looked broken. Nina wanted to kill Slade herself.

"The end of the day, and that's final," threatened Slade.

Nina looked at Hunter with big eyes and he nodded. Finally, she thought.

"Beta, are you in position?" asked Hunter through his ear piece.

"We're in position. Alpha you are okay to go," said Wolf on the other end.

Hunter shot the first tranquilizer, they tried hitting the target that wouldn't be noticed so they could limit their targets before getting noticed. Nina held a guy in a lock using him as a body shield as she shot down her target, the other's did the same of had each other's back. Hunter signalled that he had her back as she ran to go to her father. Unlike last time, she actually reached him.

"Nina!" Her father flung himself at her. Hugging her tightly, taking in her smell. Then his body tensed as he pulled back. "Nina you can't be here! Why do you have a gun?"

"There's no time to explain dad, let's go!" she tugged his arm, pulling him along with her.

"Wait!" he said running to fix a few things on a machine.

"Dad leave it!" she urged him.

"I'm almost done," he said, playing with a wire in a remote. "Got it, let's go."

She started to retreat with Fox, then Rock, now Wolf, and finally Hunter.

"Is that a detonator?" Rock asked Dr. Delmar, looking at the device in his hands.

"Yes, their not getting anything of that machine."

"Blow it," ordered Hunter. They started running faster as a loud boom erupted. They flew forward and lost hearing in their ears. Hunter winced as he got up and made sure everybody was up and moving before he started to retreat with them.

"Sky is out back with the escape vehicle," said Shadow through the earpiece. 

"And Doc?" asked Hunter.

"With him."

"Good," winced Hunter holding his chest, the place where the bulletproof vest did not cover.

"Holy! Hunter you're hurt!" cried Nina.

"He's not hurt, he's shot!" Fox yelled.

"Both of you shut it and run," he said.

Wolf covered for them as they got into the truck. Doc immediately started getting to work on removing the bullet.

***

Hunter winced as he woke up in a bright room. He looked around to find himself in the infirmary back at HQ. Doc wasn't in there. He got up and winced at the sudden pain in his chest before remembering what happened. He started making his way or rather dragging himself to training room hoping to see his team there. He hated infirmaries and needed to get away from there. He found the team all seated in the dining hall laughing to a story Sky was saying.

"Hunter! You need to stay in bed," ordered Doc.

Wolf and Rock rushed over to help him sit down.

Nina came barging into the room breathless. "Guys Hunter is missing! I went to the bathroom for once second and... he's here."

"You worried me sick! I looked everywhere for you," she frowned.

"That's one way to greet the sick," teased Sky.

"Come here," Hunter gestured for Nina to come sit beside him. He gave her a kiss on the top of her head. "You're still here."

He thought she might have left to be with her father.

"Of course! I wasn't going to leave you," she blushed, her small nose scrunched in anger as if his words were absurd.

"She literally has been by your side the whole time," Fox informed him.

Shadow came into the room with Dr. Delmar. "You guys have to see the upgrades Pops did-- Oh Hunter, how long have you been up dude?"

"We didn't know what to do, so we let him stay until you got up," said Doc when no one else spoke.

"He's been a lot of help around here, he fixed all our broken appliances and gears. He says we're pretty delayed in the weapon and gadgets industry, he's shown us a few designs," Wolf tried to sound convincing.

"He's a great cook," said Rock.

Sky jumped in. "And he-"

Hunter waved his hands getting them all to stop talking.

"I get it, you all want him to stay." 

"How come I can never finished my sentences?" mumbled Sky, looking a little deflated.

They all ignored him, which made him more mad.

"If I really am a bother, I can leave. Nina can stay, I won't force you two apart," said Dr. Delmar looking back and forth between his daughter and Hunter.

Nina looked at Hunter with sad eyes. He looked around him to find his team pleading with their eyes. "What was it they called you? Pops was it?"

They all broke out in cheer and congratulated Dr. Delmar on joining their team.

"You see Pops, as in father, since he's also like a dad to us-"

"Sky we still don't care what you think," Fox rolled her eyes, which had the two starting a new argument.

Hunter looked at each one of his team's face and couldn't help, but match their smiles. 

He realized that even though he lost his family, he had one all along.

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The end!

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