Summer & Winter

Chapter One

Neither of them knew when it happened, nor did they care. After years of doing countless missions together they fell in love. But didn't realize how each other felt until they almost lost them forever.

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Loud noise assaulted Charlie's peace and quiet. His drunken eyes lifted from their position on an empty whiskey glass. Blue clashed with a dark, furious brown. Before he could react a heavy blow to the face knocked him backwards. He blinked stupidly up at the towering man, that was seemingly speaking, as few words actually reached his ears.

"Thief... My whiskey... Gonna pay." That got the Scotsman moving.

Charlie tried to crawl away before the man picked him up by his shirt. A sloppy grin crossed Charlie's face when another blow came crashing down. The man pushed him into the bar and pounded into him. Charlie raised his leg and kicked the man backwards a step. Taking his chance, Charlie shot under the man but underestimated his own drunkenness. He stumbled over his feet and went head first towards a table. The tall man recovered quickly and pulled Charlie up just to hit him in the face. The punch sort of spun Charlie off balance and sent him crashing to the ground.

"Okay buddy, time to get up," a familiar voice broke through the fog. Charlie struggled to get his eyes open. Blue eyes clashed with brown once again, but this time all there was was concern.

"Come on Charlie," another voice spoke.  Blue hit blue and he paused at the momentary unfamiliarness of them.

"Sameer, get him up." Charlie watched the, growingly, familiar figure walked towards a table. He turned his head back to see a very familiar Arabic that brought a smile to his face.

"Sammy... Is that Steve?" Charlie slurred as Sameer pulled him up.

"It is indeed Charlie. Now come on, you're okay." Sameer lead the drunk man over to where Steve and a beautiful woman sat. Charlie plopped down in the chair unceremoniously and ordered two whiskeys.

"I don't believe you need any more to drink." Steve said while watching him closely.

"M fine, Steven. Just need some whiskey," Charlie laughed. He downed bother drinks before ordering more.

"So, what were you fighting about?" asked the mysterious woman. Charlie took a moment to really look at her before answering.

"Mistook his drink for mine. It happens sometimes."

The woman leaned closer to Steve and whispered, "This man is no fighter." Charlie would have bristled at that if he wasn't so drunk.

"Charlie is an expert marksman," Steve replied. "Means he shoots people."

"From very far away," Sameer added.

"They never know what hit them," Charlie laughed. He leaned hard on the table for support.

"So how do you know who you kill if you can't see their face?" The woman asked. Charlie stopped for a split second before continuing.

"I don't. Trust me, it's better that way."

"You fight without honor," she countered.

"Who gets paid for honor?" Charlie asked with a straight face. He frowned slightly at his words. Sameer shot him a glance before turning to Steve.

"So what's the plan boss?"

"Uh, two days tops. We need, uh, supplies and passage to Belgium." Steve answered. He looked unsure of himself but hid it very well.

"And what's the going rate?" Charlie interrupted.

"Better be a good a pay." Sameer interjected.

"Yeah, well, here's the thing. Um, I told you it was going to be quick, an-and there's a lot to be gained by this. So, it's for a great cause... uh freedom, friendship, uh... ending the war, friendship." Steve started to repeat himself.

"Okay, you have no money." Sameer said. Charlie narrowed his eyes and downed the last of one of the glasses.

"Uh, no." Steve stated. Sameer turned away in favor of speaking to the woman in a different language.

"What?" Sameer laughed with uncertainty, barely keeping a smile on his face. "What is this?"

"We're gonna drop her off at the front." Steve explained. Charlie watched the exchange with unfocused eyes.

"Dropping her off?" Sameer repeated.

"Yeah." Sameer started laughing and turned away.

"Listen, sweetheart, I'm not gonna get myself killed helping a wee lassie out of a ditch. Know what I mean?" Charlie asked, turning away from her.

"Here's the little thief now! We don't need your kind around here." Charlie slowly turned with his hands up at the sound of a pistol cocking.

Before Charlie knew what happened the new woman was up and had the man disarmed. She tossed him across the bar with one arm and turned back to their table. Charlie swallowed down the rest of his other glass of whiskey.

"I'm both frightened and aroused," Sameer confessed. Charlie almost kicked him in the leg but held back. He bumped their feet together instead with a short smirk. Sameer glanced at him, noticing the smirk he chuckled a bit. The woman and Steve sat back down without a word.

"Oh, here they are! Sorry I'm late." Etta bounced over to their table with someone trailing behind her.

"Sir Patrick?" The woman questioned.

"Yes, that's what I was going to mention." Etta rambled slightly.

Everyone stood up but Charlie. Sameer sighed and pulled him to his feet. But as Patrick waved them down, he put Charlie back in his seat.

"Please, gentlemen, sit. Miss Prince, sit. I assume you are here planning something that is either going to get you court-martialed or killed." Patrick stated.

"And I assume you're here to stop us." Steve countered. Charlie went to drink his whiskey but put the cup down when he found it empty.

"No. Not at all, in fact. Well, look. I was a younger man, once. And, had I been in better health, I'd like to think that I might do the same." Etta hummed. "It's a very, very honorable thing you're doing. Therefore, I'm here to help. Unofficially, of course. What's your plan?" Patrick asked. Steve looked down in thought before answering.

"If there's another weapons facility, find it and destroy it. Along with Ludendorff and Maru."

"In that case, to allay suspicion, the charming Etta here could, uh, run the mission from my office. Also," Patrick reached into his pocket and placed an envelope on the table. "There's enough here for a few days."

Steve took the envelope and opened it under the table. Charlie glanced at Sameer to see he wore a confused expression as well.

"Thank you sir." Steve said.

"You're very welcome. Take great care, all of you, and good luck."