"We won't be able to save her.", he said while following the helicopter that was about to land with his eyes.

With your arms crossed in front of your chest, you leaned against a stack of boxes and left out a hum of agreement.

"She's clearly a beginner.", you said. "Otherwise she would have known that Americans don't fuck around with terrorists."

"She's American."

"They'll make her disappear from any register. Birth certificates, medical records, education. Maybe even the family will have to go. They don't leave crumbs. At least they never did the times I know about."

Agreeing, he hummed.

"Then let's be faster than them, eh?", he gifted you his passive aggressive smile again, but it was a lot softer this time.

Somehow, seeing the smile reach his eyes made you smile softly as well. You liked this look on his face.

"You know, I appreciate your professionalism, beanie.", you said and gave him a bump to the shoulder. "Wasn't disappointed yet."

He curled his nose.

"Well, yeah, I can give that back."

"I thought you're fed up with me already."

"Sure am. But that doesn't change the fact that you're a good soldier. And I appreciate people who get the job done without caring about getting blood all over themselves."

A snort escaped you.

"I've had worse all over myself..."

He groaned.

"My bad.", you chuckled.

"Piss off.", he sighed and turned away.

But after a few steps he stopped out of the blue, threw a glance over his shoulder and eyed you for a moment.

Curious, you tilted your head and gifted him an expecting look.

His eyes fell shut.

He took a deep breath, so deep, that his stomach flattened and his chest started to swell.

"Join me.", he finally said and moved on.

Shrugging, you remained motionless.

"What for?", you called after him.

He stopped again.

"I'm not asking."

His gaze was as hard as his face, but the way he said it made clear that he wanted you to listen. It was almost as if he insisted on your company.

A wave off heat chased through your head.

Why did it please you so much that he wanted you by his side?

Even thought you would have liked to stay back just to tease him a little, your legs started moving on their own as he moved on again.

Quickly, you joined his side.

But you didn't say a word.

In that moment he looked calm, walked slowly and relaxed, while his hands were still supporting the collar of his vets.

You loved to annoy people, but you weren't an asshole.

It was clear to see that he was satisfied with the situation at the moment.

You wouldn't ruin that for him. At least not right away.

Wrapped in silence, the two of you walked through the camp.

Annoyed eyes looked each of you up and down as if you were the terrorists. It was clear to see they didn't like outsiders. Especially not the ones who were of high authority.

Amused, you allowed yourself to have some fun with them and winked at one or two to make them turn their eyes away in shame or annoyance.

Price noticed.

His face didn't move, but a shimmer grew inside his eyes.

He didn't like what you did.

He didn't know why, but it bothered him to see that you messed around so much. If it were for him he'd ask you to stop. Preferably leaving him alone as well.

Blind to his unspoken desires, you just kept going until all of the soldiers had had it and ran off even before you could reach them.

Crossing your arms in front of your chest, you chuckled.

"Bunch of dipshits...", you snarled.

Price didn't answer, but let out a hum of agreement.

In the distance, the helicopter landed.

A huge cloud of dust filled the air. Half of the camp was swallowed.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Price turned to the side to dodge the sand.

You just slipped behind his back and used his huge size to your own advantage. It was as if a wall cut you off from getting buried alive.

The wave of air softened.

A shadow jumped out of the helicopter.

It didn't take much to notice that it was Laswell.

With her head lowered she crouched through the storm while giving gestures for the pilot of the helicopter to turn off the engine.

The dust cleared.

Laswell's blonde ponytail appeared. And immediately she looked displeased.

Like a mother who was disappointed with her children, she walked up to you and Price.

Smiling sheepishly, you spread your arms to greet her.

"Katie!", you said cheerfully. "Long time no see. Ah, let me guess, you're here because you missed me. Don't worry sweet cheeks, I'm all yours."

She ignored you. Her eyes fell onto Price.

"I assigned you two partners so that a situation like this wouldn't happen.", she said in a disappointed manner.

Unimpressed, he shrugged and tilted his head towards you.

"Yeah, well, let's just say I'm not good with babysitting.", he grinned.

The wrinkles on the sides of his eyes appeared.

You huffed.

"And I'm not a baby. But I can be your baby..."

Angry, she turned to you.

"You took a hostage?"

You pulled a face.

"As you do.", you frowned.

She shook her head.

"American citizens aren't hostages."

"She's a terrorist."

"She's American."

"So that means she can't be a terrorist, eh?", Price asked out of the blue. "Hate to tell ya' Laswell, but everyone can turn out a cunt."

There was a hint of cockiness hidden in his words. He found it just as amusing as you that Laswell clearly believed this was something impossible.

An American terrorist. To her that was about as realistic as the existence of unicorns.

"Look, Katie...", you stepped into her field of vision so that Price didn't have to take the crossfire all by himself. "I'd sell my firstborn and bet you my right eye, she's American. Southern, but not hardcore."

Her expression darkened.

"She's for the White House to handle now.", Laswell insisted.

With a smirk, you exchanged a glance with Price.

He huffed, almost chuckled, tilted his head and stepped to the side.

"She's all yours.", he said and did a gesture to invite her.