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The water was cold around her. It shocked her entire system; she didn't even have time to figure out what happened.
The mission was already going bad from the start. They were given the wrong intel and despite the mission going smoothly enough with the wrong information, the exfil was far harder.
A snowstorm was running over the mountains and no Heli could come to them, getting there by car or any other way would be unreasonable. So safe house it was. There was one close enough, only 4 kilometers away, but walking 4 kilometers during a snowstorm is her least favorite activity.
Athena kept whining about the weather, not pleased with the cold temperature despite her warm coat. Fionn and Helena walked in front of them, the two the least hurt of the four, leading the way through the snowy terrain. Aleks, Athena and her formed the end, Laras leg fucking her over too much to walk too fast and Alekss head was full of emotions, stuck in all the thoughts he connected to snow.
She was the first one allowed to visit him when his family died. Lasse followed soon after but she was just faster at base. Aleks was stuck in the bed, nose red and still freezing, multiple layers of blankets almost hiding him beneath them all like a small child. She had brought him a stuffed animal he got her when she was stuck to all the machines, making the tired man smile.
He took leave for the rest of winter, warming up alongside her and Lasse while dealing with all the legalities of being the only one left alive in his family. It was still before his sister's corruption scandals came out so he didn't have to deal with the worst of it, but it was bad enough.
They held hands as they walked down the snowy mountains, Helena calling that they were 1 km away from the safe hours before bullying Fionn for being American again. She just smiled at them bickering, continuing to follow them while looking at the snowy landscape. They were walking on hills and mountains, their enemies stuck deep in a valley, no way to flee their botched attack. With their intel now carried by Fionn and Helena, they try to return home.
She can already imagine her home. Her actual home, the house in a tiny village in the north of Germany. A house her family had owned for years. It was smaller than Alekss house by height, but it should be around the same in square meters. It was different, but each of their homes fit them how they needed it, even if Aleks hated the house at the beach.
She could imagine her sweet girlfriend standing in the kitchen, making pasta just the way Lara liked while she made some dish full of spices and taste for herself. They were very different, but the way they were opposites made them fit so much better than if they were the same.
Not like cat and dog, but more like blue and Orange.
Complimentary colors, they shouldn't work together and yet they do.
She can imagine Athena running up to her sunshine and begging for pets and a little treat, her giving the puppy a tiny piece of meat whenever she thinks Lara isn't looking. She lets them, they are all on leave. Athena deserves a little Salami on leave.
She was excited for this leave. The chimney warmed up their living room while they did their 2000 piece puzzle, Both wrapped in blankets while they enjoyed the presences of everyone around them. Her sunshine didn't celebrate Christmas, but she celebrated the time they spent together in december.
The dogs that lie on the heated floor, snoring softly through the house. hushed voices as they all get excited over their gifts, the neighbors kids already making noise from excitement in the house next to them.
For her, Christmas was one of the best holidays. Not only because of the gifts she gets, but also because of the warmth spread amongst the people she is around. Very different to the warmth they experience right now, which is fucking none.
She lets out a heavy sigh at the wind picking up, Aleks joining her as well. Both of them had red noses stick out of their scarves and gear. They were used to cold weather, especially weather like right now, but it still got annoying after 10 minutes of storming. Her leg hurt and it was only getting worse with the wind picking up.
“How long till we are there?” She asked like an impatient child on their way to the amusement park.
“If you ask me one more time, Ich schwör ich raste-”
“.5 kilometers. The safe house is good, it should be quick to warm up and stay warm.” Fionn responded, interrupting an increasingly irritated Helena. She didn't like the circumstances they were in and Lara can't blame her. Helena probably would also prefer to be home right now. “You're in pain?”
She nods, stopping for a moment to feel at her leg. It didn't feel bloody or wounded otherwise, but she could feel the healed scar get more inflamed. walking on it in the cold was not the nicest thing.
Athena whined at her, pushing against her to understand what was going on. “It's bullshit, it hurts so bad for no reason.”
“No reason? I can find enough reasons.” Helena turned on the sport, arms spread to show the obvious. Miles and miles of meter deep snow that doesn't seem to end no matter how much they pray. The valley beneath them didn't seem to end and go on forever, she can't even imagine what it looks like in summer. Mountains were all they saw that wasn't snow. “Do you have anything that reliefs pain?”
The medic nods at Helena's question before putting his hand on Laras Shoulder. She pushed it off a moment later and let out a heavy sigh. “Let's just get this over with,” She shakes off the snow that laid on her “We can get this taken care of when we are in the safe house. 0.5 kilometers is not a lot.” She started stomping forward, not even realising her mistake.
The snow below her feet disappeared and didn't have a chance to grab Aleks before she slid away and onto a now revealed icy area.
The ice scraped against her exposed skin, leaving behind dirt and harsh stripes. It's nothing she never had experienced but she'd much rather have not.
“You’re okay?” Fionn's voice boomed, crows flying away from around them. She nods into their direction, lifting herself up, brushing the snow off of her clothes.
“I'm not broke. ‘m just cold, but I'm okay-” She steps towards them when she slips on the ice again, not used to the feeling of it below her prosthetic leg.
CRACK
And suddenly it was cold.
It took her a moment to even realise she was under the water.
Her muscles seized up at the new sensation, the tides rushing over her aggressively. The only light she had came from the hole, the artificial light of her lamp not bright enough against the dark void.
Almost immediately she noticed she was sinking. Sinking fast.
Her leg was weighing her down, her prosthetic, and like almost every day she cursed herself out for the accident that made this happen. She tried to swim against the current and against the weight of her clothes, trying to stay as close to the light as she could, but only got more and more difficult as the currents got harsher and her air was running out.
Her lungs were burning.
Finally when her power started to go out, she saw movement from the other side as well. An arm was sticking out of the hole, ready to pull her up but when she grabbed the hand, only that her weight seemed to pull them down with her.
No amount of pushing up from the outside saved the poor man as Aleks was pulled into the water alongside her, their combined weight now making them sink. His coat was off so she knew he was just as shocked as she was.
Both were stuck in freeze shock for a moment, stuck by their muscles processing all the new and painful senses they are experiencing. The salt water filling their mouths and noses didn't help either.
Bubbles spewing out of her mouth as she finally let out all the oxygen, chest burning at the feeling of the water entering her mouth even more. Aleks seemed more prepared to hold onto his air, getting as close he could to pull at her leg, realizing the issue she had at hand when he couldn't pull her up on his own.
With a blurry vision and the water fighting against them, she could see him pull out a knife from his pants, trying to carefully cut at her pant leg without hurting her leg, again. It took a bit, the winter clothing thick and almost impossible to cut through in their condition. She started hitting his shoulder to try and get him off of her, so that at least he could survive this, but he just pushed her hand away, finally cutting through the layer of clothing.
It was ripped off with a few simple cuts, The knife being placed again to cut through the silicon that protected her nub from the pressure. After a few frantic nods from her, Aleks finally cut it through, Letting the pressure around disappear as the layers were cut open and tugged at.
Finally, her leg came off and she could feel herself drag up at the weight missing now.
There was a current next to her head and suddenly something grabbed her by her collar, Aleks piercing eyes staring at her even if both could barely see in the freezing water. He pulled them towards the hole again, struggling less now that her leg was gone and not pulling them both down. He pushed her through the hole first, helping her finally escape the void and enter the white snowy land.
Cold air hit her face as she was pushed onto the broken but thicker ice of the lake. The air hurt as it got into her lungs but she could handle this hurt if it meant she lived. There was a splash from the hole again, now revealing a frantically gasping and shivering Aleks. His cold eyes were staring into her soul before he pushed himself onto his knees next to her and grabbed her at the collar.
“ You're not fucking dying in the cold like they did, do you fucking hear me? You're not dying in the cold.” Aleks was dripping, the water streaming down his face and washing down eyeblack slowly. Both were shivering but Aleks seemed to not give less of a fuck about his own condition, dragging her behind himself as he walked towards the coast, Fionn and Helena waiting there with Athena, all three berating him for being irresponsible.
“0,5 Kilometers. Then we are at the safe house. Go.” Aleks barked at them, still dragging her behind him, not even letting her walk. Not that she could with her leg gone but a bit of autonomy would be appreciated.
Athena immediately sprinted over once let go by Helena, only stepping back When Aleks barked at her to keep her distance. Adrenaline was a powerful tool and she knew Aleks was running purely on that right now. Otherwise, she couldn't explain how he was able to drag them both through the snowy mountains and bark at the others to let go.
She could feel him shiver, his coat thrown on top of her so she was at least somewhat warm while he still dripped water off of himself, refusing any warmth the others offered. The only help he accepted was when half way to the house his arm finally gave out and he couldn't drag her behind himself, Helena picking her up instead which was much nicer than getting dragged by Aleks while he spoke angry words.
While she was carried further towards the house she watched as Fionn finally got Aleks to accept a bit of warmth, wrapping the scarf around him and helping him walk the rest of the way while they spoke in low voices. Athena kept running between the pairs, either trying to get close to her owner or rush to warm Aleks at least a bit.
The dog decided to stay with her when they finally entered the cabin and both were rushed into rooms to change. She just let Helena help her get out of her cold and soaked gear and into warm clothes, too exhausted to even try and fight for any autonomy. The last thing she remembered before falling asleep was a frantic call from Aleks and Athena pushing her snout into her face.
She woke up on a couch. It was not comfortable but it was better than the freezing water. She wasn't as cold anymore, but still too cold, her circulation always made her run a bit colder after the chemo, but warmer than in the water. The chimney, similar to the one at home, was heating the house. soaked Gear was hanging close to it, buckets catching any water dripping off of it.
Fionn and Helena were playing some game on the table next to her, both in blankets but dry. Both didn't have snow tainted red cheeks anymore and by the looks of the plates next to them, they had eaten already. The third plate next to theirs was barely touched and she guessed it was Alekss.
Aleks kind of just sat next to her in shellshock, not snuggling but close enough that she could feel the body heat radiating off of him. His eyes were fixed on the news lady's words, breathing heavily as it was all he could take in. The cold always was a sensitive thing for him to experience, or even talk about. It was something known but not discussed in the pmc.
She knows Aleks had told them about his family, considering Helena has told her often enough how much she wants to kill both of the women for doing what they did to Aleks. But never in detail, he doesn't do that. She's just stuck around for so long, she had seen it all already. It's no surprise to her that he is stuck in this state right now.
She lifts a shaky hand to his arm, running her fingers over his revealed scars. It got him out of the trance, first jumping up like a spooked cat before turning to her with owlish eyes. He relaxes once he recognises her, not pushing her hand away like he usually did with people.
“ Moin.”
“Moin, you fucking dumbass.” He laughs at her dumb words, eyes leaving behind laugh lines that have developed over the past few years. “How are you?”
“Cold, but warmer than before. My leg doesn't hurt.” He nods, letting out a heavy sigh.
“Don't do that again. You scared me.” She nods at him, still running her hand over his arm. “ I know you didn't mean to but you scared me when you tried to push me off. Don't do that.” She nods again, letting him have a bit of peace at the moment.
“ What are they playing?”
“Durak, I just taught them how to play it. I didnt feel like playing.” She smiles as Fionn springs up suddenly, full of energy as he runs around yelling about being the Durak after winning. Helena just curses at him in austrian about being a dumb Ami and it reminded her of her brother failing to win the game and getting salty when he didn't win.
“ Well. If you're not playing and just watching then come here, you’re warm-”
“I’m literally below the average body temperature”
“I don't care, you're warm, we're cuddling. cuddles!” There was no more protest as Aleks let himself be pulled down into the cuddle. It was almost Like they were little kids again and they shared bunks on their class trip to the forest. They cuddled closer, trying to warm up a bit as the others started their game again, watching each other like hawks.
She felt warm.
Just warm, cozy and in the comfort of her home, her family since she was young.