Operation: Saber Strikes

Confessions

We were out in the middle of nowhere when Eliza brought the car to a stop in a pull off "come on, I wanna show you this" I gave her an odd look but got out and followed her as she walked on a trail. I wanted to ask questions but decided to trust her and just followed. After a couple minutes we came to a clearing on the edge of a lake, I smiled as I came to a stand still.

I heard her to my left "you like it?" I nodded "it's gorgeous" she hit me with her shoulder "come on, I wanna show you something else" I took one last look at the view before following her back into the forest. My scars were starting to hurt as the cold sank in, I pulled up my scarf so it hid everything below my nose as I followed her up the trail. Eliza came to a stop at the edge of the forest and turned back to me "why do you have your scarf up hiding your face?" I sighed "my scars were starting to hurt" she nodded slowly "here, this is what I wanted to show you"

I stopped "whoa, that's... that's a view" she nodded "I come here whenever I want some peace" I stopped "is this where you came when we fought?" She nodded before asking "why did you chuckle when they started singing that kids song?" I sighed "I was laughing because it's a bunch of 30 something year old operators singing songs kids in kindergarten sing, it was funny" she nodded "I guess, I've got a question" I motioned her to go on "shoot" she asked "do you have anyone you're interested in?" I looked at her before turning back to the valley "yeah, I do. She's pretty cool" she seemed to perk up "who?" "You" she reeled "but... but why? You could do better" I shrugged "so what if I could? Are those quote unquote better options the one who's been helping me come back to life?" She slowly replied "no, still there are women that are way prettier" I laughed "I couldn't care less" she sighed "I don't get you" I nodded "most people don't" she chuckled "that's the fuckin truth" I turned to her "Would you be willing to go on a date with me?" She froze in shock before it melted into a warm smile "yeah, I would" I gave my signature confident smirk for the first time in months as we started walking back to the car. We were joking and laughing as we arrived and started driving again. I grabbed her sunglasses and threw them on "how do you like my shades?" She shook her head chuckling "don't lose those, or you'll have to buy me new ones" I sighed "yes mom" as I looked out the window. I turned to Eliza as she spoke "do you ever think about your experience with the military?" I replied "Yeah, what about it?" She asked "like do you ever wish something happened a different way? You met someone different? You made a different choice or?" I looked out at the world passing us by "yeah, I guess I do wish I could change my history." She replied "what'd you change?" I glanced at my watch "how the story began" she sighed "anything specific?" I chuckled before my voice grew softer "my CO was a bit of a hard ass, he didn't like anything out of regulation. I wanted to leave training for a couple days to spend some time with my grandfather since he was in the hospital. The CO denied the request and my relationship with most of my family died, my mom and sister are the only ones I actually have a relationship with, I'd change that if I could." She nodded slowly "my sister and I don't have the best relationship either." I spoke "I think I know what we could do for the date" she cocked an eyebrow and replied "oh? What is it?" I spoke with uncertainty "I'm not too sure how much you'd like it since it's pretty country" she asked "well tell me what you've got in mind" I looked out at the forest "A lot of kids favorite first dates where I'm from was just to hang some lights up in some trees and setting up a table and having a dinner"  she was quiet for a bit, I started talking again "we could always go to a restau...." she cut me off "no, I like the sound of the first one. It sounds more genuine" I smiled "that's it then, I'll start setting it up when we get back" she looked at me "don't put too much pressure on yourself" I chuckled "don't worry I'll have Elias and Marius help me" she nodded happily "good" I reach over and hit the radio. "Hey Liz, do you have an AUX?" She nodded "it's in the glove box, white cord" I opened the glove box and searched for the white cord "Found it" I plugged it in "Any kind of music you prefer?" She replied "Rock, any kind really" I smiled "I've got you" as I searched through my phone "and here we go" as I hit play and the song started.

After a while we arrived at the base and got out of the car I spoke "how does 6 sound?" She looked over "does that give you enough time?" I looked at my watch 12:28 "yeah, I can probably get everything set up by then" she smiled as she nodded "Yeah, 6 sounds good. See you then." I nodded with a small smirk as I set off to find Elias and Marius. I saw Zach and Monika "hey bro, have you seen Elias and Marius?" He paused "Yeah, I'll tell you but I'm return you've gotta tell me why you're happy?" I sighed "I've got a date, where are they?" He asked "Eliza?" I replied "classified, that wasn't the deal" he cursed "shit, fine Marius was in the gsg9 dorm and Elias was working out with Jordan" I nodded as I headed off to the dorm. When I arrived I knocked on the door and Dominic(Bandit) opened it "hey Dominic, can I speak to Marius it's important" he nodded "Ja, let me go get him" he disappeared into the room before Marius appeared "Come with me, I need your help" he nodded as he put on a jacket and followed me as we headed to the gym and made small talk "So what do you need my help with?" I replied "Just trust, I'll explain when we get Elias" he sighed "Alright, I'm not liking where this is going" I chuckled "it's not that bad, it's not even illegal relax" he chuckled as we arrived and walked in "Elias!" He looked up "(F/n)!" He walked over with Jordan I glanced at him "Hey J, alright I need your help." He didn't let me finish as he agreed, "Ja, I will help you" I nodded "okay then, that was easy. Jordan do you wanna help too?" He shrugged "I don't have anything to do, what do you need help with?" I sighed "I....I-uh have a date and I.... I need help setting it up since I'm still recovering" he smiled as did Elias "Eliza?" I shrunk "yeah, can we go now?" They nodded as I spoke again "I need white Christmas lights, a table, chairs, a vase and I can handle the rest" they nodded as Jordan asked "How are we getting all this there?" I chuckled "What do you think? My truck, lets get a move on" they gave a salute and split off to get the decided items. I jogged to my dorm and got everything I'd need. I went to our pantry and then the glass cabinet "just have to grab the wine and the glasses, plate and knife and forks" When I got everything I put them into a carrier and walked into my room grabbing a fishing rod, tackle box and a fillet knife heading to the door I heard my cell phone ringing "Hello?" I heard Eliza "Should I dress up or down?" I replied "Down, just dress comfortably." She chuckled "Alright, thanks" I replied "No problem, I'm gonna go to get everything set up" she sounded excited "Alright I'll let you go, see you in a bit" I couldn't help but smile "Bye, see ya soon" I moved out to my truck putting the stuff in the bed as I heard my phone again as I picked it up I heard Elias "Where are you? We're at your dorm with everything" I replied "I'm in the garage at my truck, you'll see me when you get out here." He replied after a bit "alright we're coming out" I leaned against the truck for a couple minutes before the door opened as they came out holding 2 chairs, a table the vase and some flowers. "Where'd you get the flowers? I was gonna buy some" Jordan chuckled "Just take the flowers, no complaints and these are her favorites" I sighed as they put everything in the bed. I showed the keys "Let's go" as I climbed into the drivers seat. We pulled out and started towards the place I saw on our drive, it'd take probably 45 minutes to get there as I handed my phone to Elias "hit shuffle" he nodded and hit shuffle after connecting it to the Aux cord. I sighed as a song I listen to when I'm down came on, but I sang along all the same.

Eventually everyone in the truck was singing along to songs as we headed to the promised spot. We pulled into the dirt road that leads towards it. We came to a stop as I saw the tree atop the hill. "This is it boys, let me pull up there and we can start unpacking everything" they nodded and I pulled off and up the hill before putting it in park and hopping out. We all grabbed something, Jordan grabbed the table, Elias grabbed the chairs, Marius grabbed the spool of Christmas lights and the small generator before they placed everything at the base of the tree "What're we doing with all this random stuff?" Asked Elias as Jordan smiled "I think I know" I looked at him "the floors yours" he looked at the tree "We hang the lights in the branches in like a spiders web, we set the table and chairs here, you get all the stuff situated on the table and then we go help you figure out what to do for dinner" I nodded "Well done Tex" he smiled as the other two looked confused "It's a southern thing, come on let's get it set. We've got.... 3 hours to figure out what to do for dinner" they got a look of determination as they set it up. I sighed "I hope I don't fuck this up" Jordan appeared next to me "Don't worry about it, she likes who you are. Just be yourself" I looked at him "how can she like me when I hate me?" He shook his head while chuckling "Bro, she agreed to go on this date with you, she's been with you since you got back, she hangs out with you more than she does the rest of our squad, she's your best friend... just trust me she likes you" I sighed "Fine, come on let's finish up"