Work Text:
Jason:
“Teach you to mess with a marine.” I say as I push whateverthehelljustattackedme’s corpse off of me and getting up. Holy fuck. I cannot believe I just did that. Oh god, what have I gotten myself into. I look around and see no one. Not even Nicky.
I walk for a little bit, through the dusty dark corridors of wherever the hell I am. Fuck man. I stop. The checkpoint comes to mind. I- why. I try to shake the thought away but I can’t. No. No no no no no no. Why did I let that happen? Why couldn’t I have found a way to get her attention through something else? I was the one in command and I let an innocent life be lost. It was my fault. She probably had a family.
My vision is all blurry. The tears start coming. I drop my gun and slide down the wall. The others are probably dead and it’s all my fault for letting myself get dragged away. I pulled my knees to my chest and put my head in my crossed arms. Trying to minimise myself as much as I can. I’m not that pretty of a crier. I really hope no one comes through here. Or even searches for me if they are alive. “S-semper fi fucking much.” I mutter through tears.
Salim:
I barely got out of there alive. Allah. I pull out a lighter as I walk up a set of stairs. I hear.. Crying? I stopped. Is it an American? Of course it’s an American there’s no one else down in this hell hole. I approach with caution, what if they attack me? No, I doubt they are that irrational.
“Are you okay?” I ask the man sitting on the ground.
Jason:
“Are you okay?” I look up. The blurry figure of a person stands there. The voice not one I recognise. It’s an Iraqi.
“What do you want..” I mumble.
“I mean no harm. I heard crying and came over here.” The older guy said. “I’m Salim.” Salim then sat next to me. I tensed up.
Salim:
I moved to the side, he looked uncomfortable. We sat in silence for a moment.
“She had a family.” He spoke quietly. Looking down with tears welling up in his eyes.
“What?” I asked.
“I..” I can see a tear fall.
“There was this…” He paused. “I.. I made a mistake.”
“What kind of mistake..?” I don’t mean to push.
“One that cost a life.” He said, tears falling.
“Nick and I, we were caught in traffic.. The checkpoint had been hit before by suicide bombers.. And.. There was a woman..” His head’s in his hands. You can hear him sniff.
“.. She was carrying a bag.. Fuck..” The poor guy is shaking.
“Hey, it’s okay.” I said softly. Putting my hand on his shoulder.
“I.. I had ordered for her to stop. Loud and clear, but she didn’t. She just kept on walking.. I.. I had to make a call. Nick… He shot her dead..”
“.. What was in the bag?”
“Groceries.” He said.
“Oh man..” I said.
“She didn’t stop because she couldn’t hear me. Had headphones in.”
He moved closer to me. Soon enough hugging me and crying into my shoulder. I rubbed his back and told him that mistakes happen.
“She had a future and I took it from her.” He muttered through tears.
“You did what you had to do.” I said, stroking the back of his head.
God he’s really been through it. I feel so bad for him. Literally an hour ago I wouldn’t have known this had ever happened. Allah.
“What’s your name? You know mine but I don’t know yours.” I say.
He pulls back from the hug to look at me. His eyes are red and you can still see the tears running down his cheeks. He raises his arm wiping away the tears.
“Kolchek. Lieutenant Jason Kolchek.” He gave me a weak smile.
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