War of Hearts

Chapter Six - Blowing Off Steam

The stillness of the base was unbearable. Laswell had contacted the Las Almas special forces to intercept Hassan before he made it across the border, knowing if he made it to the US, they would not be able to keep him in custody without starting a war with Al Qatala's host nation. The Cartel smugglers were already moving him, there was nothing they could do but sit around and wait. Price looked around to his team. Ghost was silent, leaning up against a wall deep in thought and clearly distressed. Gaz was pacing furiously back and forth by the table he and Laswell were using as a desk. Hex was right outside the door with Soap trying to bring him back from the edge of snapping after having to beat the intel out of the unnamed Cartel man. Price sighed; he couldn't stand seeing them like this. "Alright listen up." Everyone snapped to attention, ready for their orders. "We are in a hold. Right now there is nothing we can do, so you're all gonna take a little trip and blow off some steam, yeah?"

Confused expressions met his, definitely not following. "Look, it's gonna be a long night. No sense sitting around torturing ourselves. Go grab a drink. All of you. Together." Ghost groaned and was about to speak up, but Price gave the final word. "That's an order."

This was certainly new. They've drank together at bases a handful of times, but usually in pairs or when they knew they'd be off duty for days. Being ordered to go out drinking was ...different. Hex wasn't sure what to make of it. There were some confused grumbles, but everyone slowly made their way to get ready. Ghost went up to price and whispered something, she couldn't make out what but heard Price reply quietly, "after the shit you tried to pull today, you're lucky to still be on this damn task force. We look out for each other here, not sneak around behind each other's backs when we don't like a decision. Got it?" Ghost nodded and stormed off. Price caught her staring. "Don't worry about him, I set him straight, he'll get over it. Always does."

"Can I ask what happened?"

"I think you already know." He sighed, "Hex, you did good out there today, no matter what anybody else might say. I'm glad we're moving you into fieldwork."

She smiled at him, "thank you, sir."

He nodded and crossed his arms, "keep an eye on those boys for me, alright? I really think you all need this..." he paused, there was a gentleness to his voice, but then continued more sternly "but try not to let them get into any trouble. I'm counting on you."

Her smile widened. She understood then why he was doing this. He was right, they were all tormenting themselves just waiting for the news of if Hassan had been captured. No matter what happened, there was nothing they could do until morning. "Mandatory fun, you've got it, sir."

He rolled his eyes and let out a soft chuckle. "Right, get a move on, yeah?" and nodded towards the door.

She didn't want to waste time, quickly throwing on a pair of jeans and her boots with a sweater she borrowed from Laswell, who was still glued to her phone. Everyone was quietly gathered outside by the car. Hex took a deep breath, it was not going to be easy, trying to get them to have some fun at a time like this, but she would give it all she had. "Come on assholes, I'm driving." Gaz let out a soft, ingenuine chuckle, Soap tried to match but could barely let out a weak smile and avoided eye contact, and Ghost stormed over to the car without a word. It was one of the first times Hex had seen Ghost without his full balaclava, he instead had on a black gaiter and his hood pulled up from the black sweatshirt he was wearing, a bit of eye black still smudged around his face.

The car ride was quiet and awkward. She was about to burst out of her skin struggling to find the words to get things off on the right foot. She looked in the rearview to Gaz, who was probably doing the best out of all of them, though that wasn't saying much. He sensed her struggle and wanted to help. "This thing got an aux cord or what? We should get some music going." She heaved a sigh of relief, thank God for Gaz. She glanced to the dashboard and by some small grace there was. "That's a great idea, here." She passed it back to him, "you got your phone?" He smiled, "Yeah, but I think I wanna know what our driver's got on deck," and swiftly lurched forward swiping her phone out of the cupholder, plugging it in. "Oh that's probably not the best- "