Decode | "Alex"

Part III

The next day, after no sleep, they started getting ready at the crack of dawn. Alex and Gabby said nothing to each other as they began preparing their weapons and more. Farah and Hadir took notice of this. Anyone would. They normally wouldn't stop talking to each other and flirting with each other. Gabby was glad he wasn't flirting with her anymore, but she wasn't sure that was exactly what she wanted. The siblings figured something must've happened between the two last night, and hoped it didn't affect their fighting. If they weren't communicating, they wouldn't have their normal chemistry that got them through this mess. That was the last thing they needed. "The hospital is at the end of the road."

"Half a klick." Hadir added. The four of them were sitting in the back of a truck which had delivered them as close as they could get to the hospital without looking suspicious or drawing fire.

"I'll be hoofin' it with the Marines." Alex told them regretfully. They knew how Farah felt about this.

"And her?" Farah asked, gesturing towards Gabby. He usually spoke for the two of them. Alex didn't even glance over at her as he waited for her to answer for herself. She was quick to do so.

"Yes'm." Gabby nodded.

"Echo 3-1, Echo 9-4?" A couple of Marines approached them.

"Sergeant Griggs." Alex nodded to him.

"All day."

"Call me Alex." He insisted.

"Gabby." She introduced herself, reaching out to shake their hands. They did so. Griggs directed his attention to Farah and Hadir, giving them a frown.

"No locals on this one. Not my call." He paused, then looked directly at Farah. "You Karim?"

"All day." She replied, and Gabby smiled slightly at that. She was glad that everyone respected Farah for the strong leader she is.

"Nice work hitting the Russians."

"We share friends and enemies." She looked to Alex and Gabby, then. Griggs nodded in agreement.

"Good luck." Hadir told them as they stood.

"You too." Gabby returned.

"See you soon." Alex hopped off the truck. His natural instinct was to help Gabby down, but he knew he couldn't. So, he kept walking, following after their fellow Marines. When Gabby hopped off the bed of the truck, Farah grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"I don't know what is going on between you two, but do not let it affect your dynamic." Farah warned. Gabby just nodded, not sure how she noticed that there was anything wrong between them. She was right, and Gabby didn't plan to let it affect anything. She followed Alex and the rest of the Marine team, the Demon Dogs.

"Let's roll, you two." Griggs said to them. "Demon Dogs, time to take this shit to the fan!" They turned the corner and started heading down the road. "You'll find this a target rich environment. Watch the windows."

Gabby shot a couple of men down easily. Once they got closer to the hospital, that's when things got insane. People were shooting at them from all angles, grenades and rocket launchers weren't shy, and it was hard to think with everything coming at you all at once. She and Alex were separated. They hadn't shared a word the entire time. It was weird, and she knew they worked better together. That wasn't what was happening, though, which meant Farah's proclamation was coming to light. Gabby sighed. She was stubborn and irresponsible as she wasn't going to be the one to fix things. She thought he was being immature for letting anything affect what they did in battle, but it took two. At the moment, though, she was just trying not to get killed. Alex was doing the same, but since they were separated, both of them were worried about the other. Through the mess, neither of them could spot each other. But, they didn't want to say anything through their comms, either. They were being stupid, and it was going to cost them.