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Unsung Heroes: Mission One	By : RavenLadies Category: +G through L > G.I. Joe Views: 1213 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the cartoon(s) that this fanfiction is written for, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 4
- 5
- 6
Chapter Five

The murmuring voices died down to a hushed silence as Duke called the assembled group to order in the Ready Room. The Joe senior officers and unit leaders, Lifeline and Devil Dog among them, were seated at the large conference table, their attention immediately drawn to the big blonde as he stood.

Duke’s icy blue eyes flicked from one side to the other, taking in the expressions of his fellow officers. The past two weeks had been one of the most trying for Joes in quite some time. As news of a possible contamination by an unknown agent had spread throughout The Pit, a sense of unease had followed in its wake. Tensions had also begun to rise as the quarantine went on, with several altercations breaking out among some of the newer recruits, which were quickly quelled with little fuss. It was the fear of the unknown – of not knowing what, if anything, might have been pumped into the ventilation system; and with stories regarding Billy’s exploits with Umbrella circulating as well, it was no wonder that everyone was on edge.

Duke had been off-base when the device had been discovered, meeting with General Hawk and some of the other high ranking brass at the Department of Defense when he had received a communiqué from Flint informing him of what had happened and his decision to lock The Pit down as a precaution.

The blonde had immediately returned to Utah, using a mobile command station setup just outside the fortified compound’s walls as a temporary base of operations. From there, he had kept in constant contact with Flint and the others as they worked toward discovering just what the device had been emitting and its possible effects on the Joes. He had received a call from Sci-Fi late the night before, informing him that he and Air-Tight had finished their analysis of the machine, sending an encrypted copy of the results via a secured DSL line. Duke had spent the better part of the night going over the report, consulting with both Flint and Lifeline before making the decision to lift the quarantine and re-open the base. His first order of business upon returning to The Pit was to call the rest of his staff together to apprise them of the final findings.

“I’m sure everyone can guess why we’re here, so let’s get to it people. Sci-Fi, you and Air-Tight are up,” Duke said before sitting down and yielding the floor.

With a nod at his commanding officer, Sci-Fi rose to his feet and looked around the table. “Air-Tight and I finished our analysis of the Cobra device.” The dark-haired man nodded at the mixed expressions that greeted him around the table. “Yeah, we’re pretty sure it’s Cobra made. We found their logo on some of the internal components, and some others that looked like they were probably Umbrella-made.”

“How the hell did Cobra get in here?” Beach Head’s southern laced voice questioned aloud.

“That’s still unclear,” Duke responded grimly, his eyes like ice.

“Anyway,” Sci-Fi continued. “Judging from the size of the cylinders inside and the rate at which their contents were being released, we figure that it had been active for three maybe five days max.” That brought a number of murmurs from those gathered around the table.

“So just what was inside of it?” Scarlett asked, her sapphire gaze on the standing Sci-Fi.

“That’s the weird thing,” Air-Tight responded, speaking up for the first time since entering the room with Sci-Fi. “It was really nothing.”

“Define ‘nothing’,” Flint requested.

“Nothing as in nothing harmful,” came Air-Tight’s response. Another round of murmurs circulated around the table. The close-cropped Joe waited until they died down a bit before continuing. “One of them was filled with straight up oxygen – a pretty high concentration, but nothing that could be considered dangerous.”

“What about the other one?” Scarlett asked, her red brows quirked together slightly.

"The other one looked like some kind of chemical compound, but there doesn't seem to be any specific point to it. It's nothing poisonous, so far as we can tell." A table of puzzled looking faces looked back at Air-Tight and he shrugged. “As far as we could determine, it’s completely harmless.”

From his seat, Billy leaned back, frowning as his brain mulled over the possibilities. There was the possibility, he supposed, that the device was a dud of some kind, some kind of experimental bio-bomb or something that just hadn't worked properly.

“But what would be the point?” Scarlett asked, that same question on the minds of several others seated around the table.

It was Sci-Fi who responded as he sat down. “Your guess is as good as ours.” Scarlett’s lips thinned into a frown, obviously not liking the answer while another round of murmurs whispered around the table.

Duke stood once again. “Lifeline, what about you? Did you turn up anything?”

The medic looked over at the blonde. “Nothing. We had some initial complaints about headaches, itchy watery eyes, a couple respiratory things . . .,” he shook his dark head. “Nothing.”

Billy didn't look any happier than Scarlett did as he listened.

“It just doesn’t make any sense,” Lady Jaye intoned as she glanced around the table. “Why go through the trouble of getting inside here and then planting something that essentially did nothing?”

“I know how you feel, Lady Jaye,” Duke answered. “I don’t understand it either. There has to be something more to it, something that we’re missing. Cobra doesn’t do things without a reason. We’re just not seeing it.”

“What if it was some kind of a ruse . . . a decoy of some kind?” Flint mused aloud. “Something to keep our attention off Cobra for a while.”

Duke looked at his second in command, his blonde head nodding. “I had the same thought at first too, but while you guys were here under quarantine, Cobra was as quiet as a mouse. No reports of even one Cobra trooper being caught jaywalking.”

"It's possible that the chemical in the machine didn't work properly. Considering what Cobra's been playing with just lately, they may have thought they were releasing something ugly, but fucked up somewhere along the line," Billy said, speaking quietly. "If they were using something T-Virus based, then it might have been unstable."

Duke looked at Billy. “Devil Dog has a good point,” he said with a nod in the Marine’s direction. “Not a comfortable one, but a good one.” He looked at the soldiers seated around the table, his expression still a bit grim. “Since we found out about Cobra’s alliance with the Umbrella Corporation, it’s no longer business as usual. This is a whole new ballgame people and we can’t take anything at face value anymore. For now, the quarantine is officially lifted, but I want every one of you to keep your eyes and ears open. Got it?” There were nods of ascent around the table. Duke continued on. “Sci-Fi, I want you and Air-Tight to pack that thing up and send it out to the CDC with a copy of your final report.”

“Yes, Sir,” the pair said in unison.

“Flint, I want you to head up revamping security. The fact that a Cobra agent got in here at all pisses me off. I don’t care what you have to do, but I want this place so secure that not even a spider could crawl up the outside wall without us knowing about it.”

“Got it,” came the reply with a nod of Flint’s dark head.

Duke’s icy blue eyes surveyed the table once again. “Anything else?” he asked, his gaze settling on each soldier for a moment before moving on to the next.

"You...may wanna do follow-up check ups on anybody who had any kind of skin irritations or anything," Billy suggested quietly. "It's one of the earliest signs of the virus, so if we're dealing with anything to do with it, it'd be better not to take chances."

“Lifeline?” Duke’s gaze swung back to the medic and Edwin nodded his head. “Will do,” he said, already trying to recall if there had been anyone who had complained of that type of ailment.

Satisfied, Duke looked at his senior staff again. “Anybody?”

“I do have a question,” Beach Head spoke up. “What about leave? With the quarantine, all approved leaves were canceled. With everyone having been cooped up in here for the past two weeks, I know they’re gonna be asking about it.”

Considering the Marine's last few days off had been cut off due to the quarantine, Billy couldn't help but be curious himself.

“Good question,” the blonde said in response, a thoughtful look on his face. “Nothing extended for the time being. With the quarantine lifted, it’s pretty much back to business as usual, but I’d rather have everybody within arms reach if something happens. Unofficially, we’re still on alert until we get to the bottom of this.” Once again there were nods of agreement from those around the table.

“If that’s it, then we’re done here.” Duke’s gaze once again swept over the other occupants of the room. “Dismissed.”

“Your report?” The Baroness’ spoke into the communicator strapped to her wrist.

“Everything went according to the plan,” came the reply, the voice slightly muffled and hushed as it issued from the comm’s tiny speaker. “The quarantine has been lifted and the Joes are as clueless as new-born wallabies.”

“Excellent,” the raven-haired woman said, her crimson lips spreading in a slow smile.

“How much longer?”

“Just long enough to confirm the fruits of your labor and then you can return.” The Baroness answered, her mind already swirling with thoughts of parading her coming triumph in front of Cobra Commander.

“Yes, ma’am. Over and out.” The link went dead.

The Baroness lowered her arm. ‘Mock me, will you Cobra Commander? We shall see, we shall see . . .’

As he unlocked the door and let himself into the condo, Billy couldn't help but feel a mingled sense of elation and frustration. He was going to have to try and get in touch with his son soon and at least check in with the boy. He didn't relish the idea of having to talk to his ex-wife again, however. As he stepped inside, closed and locked the door behind him, he shoved that train of thought out of his mind. He'd worry about it later.

He'd managed to get free of the base earlier than Edwin, mainly due to the fact that the medic had been needed in the infirmary to help finish up some work down there. Lifeline had given Billy the go-ahead to go to the condo and wait for him, assuring the Marine the fridge was still fully stocked with beer, and that he should make himself comfortable. The sentiment had been a kind one, if a bit misplaced.

Billy hadn't said anything to Edwin, but the condo actually made the Marine more than a little uncomfortable sometimes. It was the home of someone who'd been fairly affluent, although admittedly modest about it. But for someone like Billy, who'd grown up in a household where money had been scarce, it felt odd to spend so much time in such a nice place. Billy's first stop had been the kitchen, where he'd tossed some of the fresh produce that always seemed to be on hand. Two weeks, even in a fridge, was more of a shelf life than some of that stuff had. Once he'd finished with that, he'd grabbed a beer, and headed out to the balcony for a smoke.

Lifeline smiled a bit to himself as he parked his Jeep, noticing Billy’s black 4x4 already in one of the visitor’s slots in the lot. The medic had only a brief chance to speak with Devil Dog after the staff meeting that morning before returning to the Infirmary to finish up on some paperwork and reports that had been put on the back burner during the quarantine. He could tell from Billy’s manner that the Marine had been sorely disappointed by the news regarding extended leave. Hoping that he might be able to cheer Billy up, he had invited the other man over for the evening, using the chance to get away from The Pit – where they’d just spent the past two weeks locked down – as a good excuse. Even though they had been quarantined in the compound, the pair of them had only seen each other briefly after Billy’s initial visit to the Infirmary to find out what was going on.

After two weeks away from home, Edwin had stopped at the grocery store on his way home to pick up a few things – milk, bread, some fruit, since he was pretty sure that during his absence what he already had would be ready for the trash bin by now. Turning off the ignition, he unbuckled his seat belt and then slid down from the vehicle before walking around to the cargo area. His hands laden with plastic bags, he started towards his building.

After trudging up the stairs, Edwin set some of the bags down while he fished out his keys, chiding himself for having shoved them in the pockets of the fatigue pants he was still wearing. Pulling them out, he quickly unlocked the door and shouldered it open before reaching for the bags and carrying them inside. The first thing that struck him was how quiet it was. Despite seeing the Marine’s truck in the lot, there didn’t seem to be any immediate sign of Billy. Tapping the door closed with his foot, the medic carried the groceries into the kitchen. That was one of things that Edwin had always found odd, that Billy never turned on the television or the stereo, even when he was there alone, despite Lifeline’s numerous invitations to make himself at home while he was there. Setting the bags on the counter, the medic started to unpack them.

Stowing the last of the groceries away, Lifeline then turned to take a quick flip through the stack of mail that Mrs. Corso, his cleaning lady, had left for him during his two week absence, pulling out the bills and other pertinent correspondence into a separate stack. The rest, mostly advertisements and junk mail, went into the trash.

Outside, Billy couldn't help but smile a little as he heard Edwin bustling around in the kitchen, the sound carrying easily in the otherwise silent apartment. Taking the last drag off his cigarette, Billy crushed out the remainder in the ashtray he'd provided himself with, and headed into the apartment to see Edwin, looking forward to getting to spend a little time with the medic after the last two weeks. Edwin was just making his way from the kitchen and into the dining room, when Billy stepped through the French doors from the balcony. “Hey there, Devil Dog.” The medic couldn’t help but smile as he looked at the brunette. “So that’s where you’ve been hiding.”

"Mmhmm...right where I left me," was Billy's easy reply as he shut the French doors behind himself.

Lifeline’s smile faded just a bit as he looked at the Marine – it was obvious that Billy's mood hadn’t improved much since Edwin had seen him earlier. “It just occurred to me that you never asked if you could smoke in here,” Edwin mused aloud, changing the subject. When he first starting coming over to visit, Billy had left the condo and gone downstairs to smoke outside of the building’s front door before discovering the much more convenient balcony.

"Seems kinda rude, all things considered. I mean, since you're not a smoker and all."

“True,” Edwin said. “But I want you to be comfortable while you’re here. Although sometimes I get the feeling that you’re not.”

'Damn him for being way too perceptive for his own good,' Billy thought, but with no real malice as he gave a neutral, one-shouldered shrug.

“Then I sometimes wonder if it’s this place,” the medic went on, gesturing at the room with his hand. “Or if it’s me.”

Billy shook his head emphatically. "It's not you, Edwin," He said quietly. "Not at all."

“Then what? Are you afraid that someone is going to see you here? There aren’t any other Joes that live in this complex.”

The words brought a faint smile to Billy's lips as he realized that Edwin honestly didn't have any clue. "Humor me, but just how do you afford this place? Just on your base pay as a Joe?"

Lifeline looked at the Marine, it was a few moments before realization dawned on him. “The condo is paid for, so basically its just utilities, groceries, those kind of things.”

Billy nodded a little. "Makes sense..." he offered a weak smile. "I guess I've just never quite hit the point where a place this slick feels comfortable."

“I had – have some money. When I joined the Joes and got assigned here, I figured I was in for the long haul. I bought it as an investment. I really just started living here the past couple years.”

"Special Forces didn't pay too badly, but money's always been tight, even when I was a kid. My folks rented our place, and I used to take on odd jobs or whatever to make a little extra cash." The Marine smiled a bit. "That truck outside is the first kinda frivolous investment I've made in a damn long time."

“My father made a six-figure income; of course that’s not counting bonuses . . . stock options . . . it’s probably obscene when you stop and think about it.” Edwin said softly, almost as if he were a bit embarrassed.

Billy offered another tentative smile. "Dad drove long-haul for a living, and was driving his rig all his life, I think. He didn't make a lot, doing it. But he loved it, so he stuck with it."

The medic smiled a bit, the gesture tinged with a hint of sadness. “I know how that feels. I couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather do for a living either. I suppose that’s one of the things that my father could never understand.”

Billy moved to stand closer to the medic. "It's not you," he repeated, smiling a bit more genuinely this time. "Just my redneck side showing through, I guess."

Edwin’s smile widen a bit. “Some of the nicest people I’ve ever met could be considered rednecks.”

"We may not be worth much, in terms of money, but I like to think we make up for it in other ways."

“True,” the medic said, still smiling a bit as he looked at Billy.

The Marine grinned back a little and then sighed. "I'm gonna need to try and call Robby later..."

Lifeline nodded. “You can use the phone here, if you want. I don’t mind.”

"I'll pay you back for the long-distance charges."

Edwin waved off the offer. “Don’t worry about it.”

"Thanks." Billy slid an arm around the medic’s shoulders.

Lifeline leaned in a little closer to the Marine. “You hungry, or do you want to wait a while for dinner? I stopped at the store on my way home; but truthfully, I’m really not in the mood to cook. I thought we could order something instead.”

"Sounds good to me. Mind if I hijack your shower in the meantime?"

“Not at all,” Edwin responded with a slight shake of his dark head. “Go ahead.”

"Cool." Leaning just a bit, Billy pressed a kiss to Edwin's temple. "And before you ask, no I don't really care what you order in. I can eat almost anything," he said, releasing the medic and heading for the bathroom.

Lifeline was in the kitchen pulling out plates and utensils when the phone rang, having only just finished calling in his order for take out several minutes earlier. Setting the plates in his hand down on the counter top, he moved to grab the cordless handset from its place on the wall. “Hello?” Edwin closed his eyes and sighed as he recognized the voice on the other end of the line. “Aunt Rita . . .”

Billy's shower was quick, and he'd padded out into the kitchen in a pair of cut-off jean shorts and nothing else when the phone rang, and quirked an eyebrow when Edwin answered. “No, I didn’t . . . “ the medic leaned against the counter as he spoke. “I talked to his doctor . . . no . . . I couldn’t have anyway, I was out of the country . . .” Lifeline sighed again. “It was an ulcer, it wasn't life threatening . . .” he winced a little as the voice in the ear rose to a much louder pitch. “That’s not what I meant . . . “ Edwin started, trying to speak.

Closing his dark eyes once again, Lifeline listened to his aunt, letting her rant for several more minutes before he finally spoke. “Look, I’ve been gone for the past two weeks and I just got home and I’m really not up for this right now . . . fine . . . no . . . I’d appreciate that . . . you too . . . Goodbye.” Edwin switched off the phone, closed his eyes and leaned against the counter for a few moments.

Walking over to Edwin, Billy embraced him silently. Edwin never spoke much about his family, and if the current conversation was any indication, the Marine was beginning to think he knew why.

The medic sagged a bit against Billy, soaking up the Marine’s comforting presence. Dealing with his family had been an emotional ordeal ever since he’d graduated from high school and left home, and it usually left him feeling drained afterwards.

Billy's arms tightened as Edwin sagged and he closed his eyes. "You gonna be okay?" He murmured.

“Yeah,” the medic replied softly with an almost imperceptible nod of his dark head. “She just – she just has this way of making you feel guilty about things that aren’t your fault.”

"Sounds like my ex-wife," Billy said sympathetically, nuzzling Edwin gently.

The handset still clutched in his hand, Lifeline slid his arms around the Marine, returning the embrace. Billy ran a hand through Edwin's hair, his heart aching for the medic. "Anything I can do?"

Edwin shook his head a little as he pulled away slightly so that he could see Billy’s face. “But I’m glad you’re here.”

Offering Edwin a smile, Billy nodded. "Me, too."

His dark gaze locked with the Marine’s cool blue one, Lifeline leaned in closer to Billy once more, pressing his lips against the other brunette’s in a kiss. With a soft purr, Billy pulled Edwin close, returning the kiss warmly.

Loosening his hold a little, Edwin reached behind himself and dropped the phone handset on the counter before sliding his arm back around Billy as the kiss continued on, his chocolate brown eyes sliding closed behind the lenses of his glasses. Billy smiled a bit into the kiss as he heard the phone touch the counter, and pulled back enough to nip lightly at Edwin's bottom lip. Lifeline’s breath caught in his throat a bit, a slight shiver going down his spine as his fingers pressed into Billy’s warm bare skin.

The Marine purred at the touch, a shiver going through him as well as he nipped at Edwin's lip again. "Hmm...don't think I'd ever get tired of that," he said softly. Edwin could feel the heat of the faint flush that crept across his cheeks as he leaned in to once again press his lips to Billy’s, the touch much more firm and self-assured, while his hand strayed up into the Marine’s dark hair.

Billy went into the kiss more than willingly, moaning softly as the fingers slid into his hair. He pulled Edwin even a little closer, sharply aware of the minimal barriers between the two of them. The medic made a soft sound in his throat at the press of Billy’s body against his. Unconsciously, his fingers glided over the smaller tattoo on Billy’s lower middle back as his lips parted slightly , a silent invitation for the Marine to deepen the kiss.

A small shudder went through Billy as the fingers ghosted over the ink on his back and his own lips parted, tongue delving willingly into the other man's mouth. Edwin almost seemed to melt against the Marine as their tongues met, his hand tightening slightly in the slightly damp brunette hair. He was consciously aware of the warm tanned body pressed against him and thought that he could feel the beat of Billy’s heart against his chest – Edwin’s soft cotton t-shirt the only barrier between them.

The kiss stretched on until the need for air finally forced Billy to break it and he whispered breathlessly against Edwin's lips. "How long before that call in order gets here?"

“S-Should be any . . . any time,” came the slightly breathless reply. “Ch-Chinese . . .”

Billy nodded and grinned some. "Cool..." he said, and then after a moment. "Dirty pool with the other tattoo, though, you know," he went on.

Edwin looked at Billy, a slightly puzzled look on his face.

"What, forget about it already?"

After a few moments, the medic nodded, “Actually I kinda did until now. It’s not as obvious as the one on your arm. Whatever it was that I did, I didn’t do it on purpose.”

Billy chuckled. "I told you before, my inked skin is more sensitive..."

Once again, Lifeline nodded. It took a few moments before Billy’s words sunk in, pulling yet another soft blush from Edwin. "Y'know, you're way too easy to embarrass sometimes," Billy teased gently, pressing a brief kiss to Edwin's lips.

Lifeline was saved from further embarrassment by the trill of the doorbell, signaling the arrival of dinner. Reluctantly, Billy released the medic, managing to lay another teasing nip on the man's ear before disappearing out onto the balcony for a smoke before they ate.

Dinner was a relatively quiet affair, Billy and Edwin both making an unconscious effort not to talk about work while they ate. Unsure of what the Marine liked, Lifeline had order several different dishes, the pair of them picking and choosing among the opened cartons that littered the table. The medic had even shown Billy how to really handle a pair of chopsticks, having learned from Quick Kick, one of the Joe’s martial arts specialists.

Billy enjoyed the lessons greatly. There was something undeniably nice about being curled up on the couch with the medic with the cartons spread across the table. Once the meal was finished, Billy had forced Edwin to stay seated, and cleaned up the table himself, putting the leftovers in the fridge, and throwing away the empty cartons.

Lifeline stretched out on the sofa while Billy was busy in the kitchen, sighing contentedly. It was coming up on a year since he’d first met Billy, almost running the Marine down on a dark stretch of highway. Since then, both their lives had taken considerable turns that neither one of them could have predicted, with one of the most notable being their mutual attraction to one another. It was something that had clearly unnerved the Marine at first, and rightfully so. Billy had, nonetheless, been willing to give things between them a shot; and he had never regretted that decision. Sighing once again, Edwin’s eyes slid closed for a few moments enjoying the peace of being away from the base and being “home”.

“Home” -- the word never really meant much to the medic. Since joining the army he’d learned to deal with moving at the whim of the military and never really keeping a permanent address. But after two weeks of being cooped up inside The Pit, he’d been just as grateful as everyone else when the quarantine had been lifted.

Although he didn't have anywhere to stay off-base but Edwin's, Billy had been grateful when the quarantine was lifted, too. Tempers had run high, his own unit edgy and nervous. He thought about it as he walked back into the living room and sat beside the couch. He was feeling unusually tired, but figured it was probably just from the time cooped up on base. Lifeline’s dark eyes opened and he looked at the Marine. “You look beat.”

"Maybe a little. Been a busy couple of weeks."

“Yeah,” Edwin said softly as he straightened up a bit.

Billy smiled. "I'll be fine. Just need a little time to recharge after being holed up like that."

The medic nodded. “It’s Friday, and we have a nice weekend – hopefully. Not that we really get weekends off . . .”

"Nope, but there's nothing saying we can't make good use of the time we are getting..."

“What have you got planned?” Edwin asked curiously.

"Thought I’d see if you had any suggestions."

“Me?” Lifeline raised his eyebrow slightly. “I was thinking of just loafing around all weekend and doing absolutely nothing for a change.” The medic smiled a bit.

"Sounds like a plan to me...it's been pretty nice lazing around with you so far."

“If you want to stay the whole weekend, I certainly wouldn’t mind.” Edwin’s voice was soft with no traces of embarrassment or hesitancy as he spoke.

"I think I'd like that," Billy said with a nod and a smile. "Won't really raise any eyebrows, since I don't have a place off-base, and you keep a fully-stocked fridge."

Lifeline chuckled. “I knew it, you’re just here for the beer,” he said jokingly.

Billy laughed at that. "Well, I might be here for other things..."

“Other things, huh . . . well my Jeep could use an oil change – although I’m not really that good at that kind of thing . . . I’ve been thinking of rearranging my office in the other room . . .” the medic ticked things off, smiling as he spoke. Another laugh escaped the Marine and he reached out, poking Edwin in one of the medic's more ticklish spots. Lifeline tried to squirm away, his hands going to protectively cover the spot, but not quickly enough. “Don’t! I just ate, I’ll be sick.”

"Then scoot over and make a little room," Billy said, mock-threateningly.

“Yes Sir, Devil Dog, Sir.” Edwin replied as he moved over to give the Marine room to join him. Billy moved up onto the couch, his arms sliding around Edwin as he got settled, and pulling the other man close. "Much better."

Billy didn't remember falling asleep on the couch. He only knew that he woke up alone. While perplexing, he eventually became aware of the muffled sound of running water. ‘Ah, he decided to shower’, he thought, sitting up and looking around the condo again. ‘I should call Robby now, before it gets too late...’

Standing, the Marine stretched before padding on bare feet into the kitchen and picking up the abandoned handset. He punched in a number he knew well and brought the phone to his ear, silently bracing himself to deal with Heather, if it was she who answered the phone. He really didn't feel like another fight. The last two weeks had been enough of a trial for him, and he wasn't sure he'd be able to keep a hold on his temper if they did.

“Hello?”

A voice came over the phone, breaking Billy from his thoughts and drawing an immediate smile to his face; it was Robby. “Hey, kid, it's your father.”

“Dad! Are you okay? What happened? Why didn't you come out? You promised you would...”

Billy frowned a little, but kept his voice even as he spoke. “Didn't your mom tell you anything?”

“Just that you weren't coming out and wouldn't tell her why. I...heard the two of you yelling at each other.”

‘That bitch.’ “Sorry you had to hear that, Robby.”

“It's okay. I know you two don't get along all the time.” There was a pause before Robby started speaking again, his earlier enthusiasm firmly back in place. “So what happened? Why didn't you come out?”

“There was some stuff that came up, and I wasn't allowed to leave the base.”

“Ohhhh. So...is it Top Secret stuff?”

“Fraid so.”

“Well, that's okay, then. It means you're not allowed to tell me, right?”

Billy felt the tension ease out of his shoulders at that. “Right.”

“So do you know when you can come visit?”

“Might be a little while. But I'll call as often as I can until then. Is that cool?”

“That's cool...will I get to come see the base sometime?”

“Maybe when you come and visit. How's that sound?”

“Cool!”

Billy was grinning like a fool as he walked over to the couch and stretched out on it, pillowing his head on his arm. The conversation then turned to more mundane topics after that, like how Robby was doing in school. Billy still couldn't help but feel awkward talking to his son, painfully aware of how hard he was trying not to say anything that would make him sound stupid. Robby had, in spite of his parents, turned into quite an intellect, and that was something Billy still wasn't quite sure how to deal with.

“Hey, Dad, got a question.”

“Shoot.”

“Who's Edwin Steen? His name is on the caller ID.”

“A buddy of mine who I stay with when I'm not on-base.”

“Ohhh...kinda like a roommate?”

Billy couldn't help but chuckle at that. “Something like that.”

“Cool...um, think he would mind if I wrote his number down, just so I'll remember it? I mean, you know, in case I can't get a hold of you?”

“I don't think he'd mind too much, but I can ask him if you want.”

Ruffling his damp hair a bit with his hand, Lifeline paused in the bedroom doorway as he noticed Billy on the phone. Dressed in a pair of pajama bottoms, his upper body was bare, an olive green t-shirt in his hand. The medic was also without his glasses, having left them on the nightstand before he had showered. It took only a few moments of hearing snatches of the Marine’s conversation for him to guess who Billy was talking to and he couldn’t help but smile at the tone in the other man’s voice. Wanting to give Billy his privacy while he talked to his son, Lifeline retreated back into the bedroom.

"Could you? I mean, if that's not too weird or something."

"No problem." Billy stood with a soft sound, and made his way into the bedroom to look for Edwin, hoping the medic was out of the shower, at least. Stretched out on the bed, pillows piled behind him and the remote in his hand, Lifeline was idly flipping channels on the television when Billy entered. Billy leaned in the doorway, grinning at the picture Edwin made like that, and cupped his hand over the mouthpiece of the phone. "Got a question for ya, Doc." Turning at the sound of the other man’s voice, the medic tilted his head a bit as he looked at the Marine questioningly. "Mind if Robby keeps a copy of your phone number here written down?" Billy smiled a little.

“No, I don’t mind.” Edwin replied with a slight shake of his head.

Billy nodded and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed as he spoke into the phone again. "Edwin says its okay with him. Just do me a favor, and don't give it to your mom unless it's an emergency?"

"No problem. I won't."

"Good boy. Now, behave for your mom and I'll call you again as soon as I can, okay?"

"Okay, Dad! I love you!"

Billy's expression softened. "I love you, too, Rob. Bye." And with that, he hung up the phone. Lifeline couldn’t help the smile that tugged at his lips at the Marine’s parting words to his son. Switching off the television, he set the remote back on the nightstand. Setting the handset aside, Billy stretched out on the bed next to Edwin. "He's a good kid."

“Must take after his old man,” the medic said smiling a bit as he looked at Billy. “Guess everything was okay then?”

Smiling some at Edwin's comment, Billy nodded. "He's better than I was at his age. And I'm not real happy with his mother right now, but I should have expected that kinda crap outta her..."

“You two didn’t argue again did you?” Edwin asked, turning onto his side towards the Marine.

"No, but I don't appreciate her lying to my kid, either..." Billy replied, scowling at the ceiling. "It's one thing to tell him I can't come out, but telling him that I wouldn't tell her what was going on...not couldn't but wouldn't."

Edwin could hear the frustration in the other man’s voice. “At least you got it straightened out with Robby,” he said as he reached out and lightly laid his hand on Billy’s forearm.

Billy visibly relaxed at the touch, and his expression was softer as he looked over at Edwin. "Yeah, and I'm glad for it."

“I’m glad you got a chance to talk to him. I know it’s not the same as seeing him, but . . .”

"It's better than nothing...I told him we'd try to get him in a tour of the base sometime. Once all this shit's blown over, of course."

“I’m sure he’d get a kick out it. Scarlett’s brothers did, and they’re grown.” Lifeline said with a smile.

Billy nodded. "He'll like it..." With a smile he added. "He tells me he wants to go into the service when he's old enough."

“Follow in your footsteps, huh?”

"Apparently so. He hasn't told Heather yet." Billy chuckled. "I doubt she'll be pleased."

”He’s only eleven; a lot can happen between now and then. He might change his mind. He could always pick the Army instead of the Marines,” Lifeline added jokingly.

Reaching over, Billy poked at one of Lifeline's ticklish spots. "That's only okay if he becomes a medic," He shot back. The medic laughed, hands going to cover the spot to try to ward off the Marine. The conversation was abandoned as Billy attacked that spot ruthlessly with one hand, his other hand going to try and block Edwin's attempts to block him.

“No!” Lifeline protested in-between laughs, “Don’t!” He squirmed on the bed while trying to fend off Billy.

Billy laughed at that, eventually pinning Edwin down, their noses only a few inches apart. "And why not?" He asked with a smirk.

“Cause . . . I’m . . . ticklish . . .” Lifeline said slowly, his voice soft, his manner sobering almost instantly as he looked up at the Marine.

"Hmm...Well, maybe if you keep me distracted, I might just forget that," Billy said, his tone still playful, but his expression gentle.

The medic’s chocolate brown eyes were intent on Billy’s deep blue gaze, all the while consciously aware of just how close their barely clothed bodies were, their bare chests only inches apart. Billy said nothing more, and seemed to be looking for something in the other man’s gaze. Whatever it was, it made him nod and he leaned down, pressing his lips warmly to Edwin's. Lifeline made a soft sound and closed his eyes as their lips met, his hand coming up to slide through the Marine’s dark hair and cup the back of Billy’s head. A quiet sound slipped from Billy and he slowly relaxed against Lifeline, lowering his weight tentatively against the medic. Edwin slipped his arm around the Marine’s waist a few moments later, as Billy settled against him. Billy smiled a bit into the kiss, and parted his lips, the tip of his tongue whispering across the medic's in silent question. Another faint sound escaped from Edwin, his mouth flowering open in answer.

Billy's head tilted to the side, sealing their lips more firmly together as he plundered that now familiar mouth enthusiastically. The hand in the Billy's dark hair tightened as Lifeline returned the kiss with just as much passion. A small shiver shot through Billy and he moaned quietly at the heat Edwin was returning as his eyes fell closed and he let himself revel in the contact, sharply aware of every inch of skin pressed against his.

The arm around the Marine’s waist slid down a bit, Edwin’s fingers brushing over the tattoo on the small of the other man’s back as the medic answered Billy’s moan with one of his own. Shifting a bit, he moved his leg, slipping over it over the back of Billy’s. The kiss grew more intense as the touch eased over the inked skin and it was only finally for the need of air that Billy broke the kiss, nipping at Edwin's lower lip. Lifeline’s breath caught in his throat at the nip, a slight shiver traveling down his spine. His dark eyes still closed, the medic sank back into the pillows a bit more as he tried to catch his breath. Relaxing against Edwin, Billy nuzzled the medic's jaw line, pressing tiny kisses to the medic's throat. "God, Edwin..."

Lifeline’s fingers traced lazy circles over the inked flesh of the Marine’s lower back, Billy’s gentle attentions bringing forth another soft sound from the medic. “Billy . . .” he murmured the name softly, almost breathlessly.

Tiny tremors went through Billy's muscular frame and he smiled, as Edwin‘s hand slid from his hair and down between them to the Marine’s chest, fingertips tracing over the scar there – the scar from the wound that Billy had received at the hands of the Tyrant in Doctor Mindbender’s lab when he had accompanied a team of Joes to rescue the medic before he had officially been offered a place with them. Billy's breath hitched at that, and he opened his eyes to look at Edwin again, smiling a little. "It was worth it...in case you ever wondered..."

“I was never so happy to see someone in my whole life.” Lifeline said softly. “Waking up in the Infirmary and seeing you in the bed next to me . . . the only thing better is waking up in the morning and seeing you here.”

"All I saw was that syringe...I knew what they were gonna do...couldn't let it happen," Billy murmured back, nuzzling Lifeline affectionately. "With the Tyrant...well..." he shrugged. "Couldn't let you guys get wasted..."

Edwin’s hand once again returned to Billy’s dark locks, his fingers gently combing through them, conscious of the press of the Marine’s body against his. "...You were pretty important to me, even then..." Billy whispered, pressing his lips to Edwin's throat. Lifeline’s breath hitched, a small sound escaping from his parted lips as his eyes slid closed. “And you're definitely important to me now." The words were whispered against the medic's skin, Billy smiling a bit.

Lifeline felt something in his chest at the Marine’s words. “You’re one of the most important things in my life, Billy,” the medic said softly. “There isn’t much that I wouldn’t do for you.”

"...Then can I ask you to do something for me?" Billy pulled back enough to look Edwin in the eyes. Edwin tilted his head a bit as he met Billy’s gaze, noting the more serious look in the Marine’s dark blue eyes. "If...anything ever happens to me...just...help look out for my boy?" Billy's words were soft.

The medic looked at Billy silently for a few moments, his dark eyed gaze softening as he raised his hand to the side of the other man’s face. “l will,” he said quietly. “You have my word.”

"Thank you..." Smiling, Billy leaned in again and pressed his lips gently to Edwin's.

Lifeline met the kiss, his hand pulling away from the other man’s cheek before coming to rest on Billy’s tattooed bicep, the medic’s fingers closing over the warm tanned skin.

Their first kiss had been a hesitant, tentative thing. This time, however, that hesitance was burned away as the final walls between them crumbled. A desperate kind of urgency overcame them as trembling hands fumbled with buttons, zippers and drawstrings.

When finally they lay exposed to one another, there was another moment of indecision. As before, it was swept away by need. Passion, lust, love; all of these surged back and forth between them, a powerful force that they could barely keep contained between them. It stretched on forever, and yet only seemed to last the span of a few breaths before reality shattered and only the two of them were left.

They lay together in silence in the aftermath. Words were unnecessary; the sound of their hearts beating in tandem and the uneven rhythm of their breathing spoke in a wordless language both understood perfectly. There was an absolute understanding in the warmth of their bodies pressed close to one another. Lips pressed together without hesitance now, without uncertainty, without desperation. Only with the need to reassure and seek reassurance, a silent give and take to ease minds and souls, as well as cement the bond between them in an irrevocable promise.

Cuddled together in the middle of the bed, Billy and Edwin laid quietly together in what could only be described as sated lethargy. Somewhere along the line, while the two were making love, it had started to rain, the gentle patter of the drops tapping on the glass of the window only adding to the dream-like feeling that permeated the room. Billy lay in a pleasant haze, silent and content. He didn't have any words, nor was he sure there were any needed. It simply felt good to hold another in his arms after a bout of love-making. Edwin’s fingers lightly glided over the tribal-style tattoo that covered Billy’s right arm, the tips idly tracing over the dark swirling words that were somewhat visible, courtesy of the faint light spilling in through the open door from the living room.

Billy pried one eye open and gazed silently at the medic. Feeling the gaze upon him, Lifeline’s fingers stilled on the Marine’s inked skin as he raised his head and met Billy’s one-eyed appraisal, a faint smile on his face. Billy returned the smile with a lazy one of his own, his arms around the medic tensing a little in a kind of hug. He was too relaxed to do much else. Edwin was grateful to see that smile. Despite Billy’s acceptance of their feelings for one another and his willingness to see where those feelings led the two of them, Lifeline had always been afraid that when the time came that things became intimate between them, the Marine would change his mind. As he looked at the other man, the medic felt all of his doubts fall away; leaning in closer, he pressed a soft kiss to Billy’s lips. When the kiss broke again, there were a few moments of silence before the Marine spoke. "So...no regrets?"

Edwin’s chocolate brown eyes regarded the man next to him for a few moments before he spoke, his voice soft as he shook his dark head slightly. “No . . . not one. You?”

"Not a one..."

Slipping his hand from the Marine’s arm, Lifeline brought it up and cupped the side of Billy’s face before once again leaning in to kiss him, the last of his lingering doubts dissipating at the other man’s words. Billy returned that kiss lazily, a low purr rumbling in his chest as his eyes slid closed.

His hand sliding from the Marine’s cheek as the kiss lingered on, Edwin slipped his arm around Billy’s waist, his hand reaching around to lightly settle on the other brunette’s back. After a few moments, the medic broke the kiss and gently touched his dark head to the Marine’s, his eyes closed as the two held each other.

As the silence stretched between them, Billy gradually relaxed against the medic as sleep tried to pull at him again. As he shifted a bit, something pulled and twitched slightly in the man's back, causing the skin to shift somewhat. Like the man next to him, Lifeline was drifting towards sleep when the unexpected movement under his hand caused his eyes to flash open in surprise as he instinctively pulled his hand away. ‘What the . . ?’

The hand jerking away from Billy's back drew the Marine out of his groggy state. "Hnnn?"

“N-Nothing . . .” Edwin replied, sure that whatever it was must have been his imagination or the beginning of a dream. His arm still around Billy, he resettled his hand on the warm skin of the Marine’s back. “Go back to sleep,” he said softly, the medic’s own eyes falling closed once again.

Billy grunted softly in reply, settled down again, and pulled Edwin closer. The medic’s lips curled up in a faint smile, his arm tightening around Billy as well. Sighing slightly, he listened to sound of the rain as it tapped against the glass, letting it lull him back towards sleep. Sleep drew Billy into a place where there were no nightmares and no demons. Just warmth and darkness and he rolled over onto his side, baring his back to Edwin for the first time since they'd met. Feeling the shift, Lifeline pressed a bit closer until their bodies were spooned against one another, the medic’s chest pressed against the Marine’s back while his hand slid forward to settle on the hardened expanse of Billy’s stomach.

One of Billy's hands moved to cover Edwin's and he pressed back against the medic. Another slight shift brought another odd twitch, and Billy made a quiet sound. Lifeline’s eyes opened at the subtle shift, feeling the movement against his chest and knowing that this time it wasn’t his imagination. “Billy?” he called softly, as he lifted up slightly. “Billy?” he called once more, his voice a little louder when he didn’t receive a response the first time.

"...Hmmm?" Billy said, stirring again at the sound of his name.

“Are you okay?” Edwin asked.

"Yeah...why?"

“I thought I . . . never mind,” the medic said with a slight shake of his head.

"...Are you okay?"

“I . . . yeah, I guess I must be more tired than I thought.” Lifeline replied as he resettled himself back against the Marine. Bending his dark head a bit, he was just about to lay his cheek on Billy’s bare shoulder when once again he felt that subtle shift, almost as if Billy’s skin were rippling against his chest. Pulling away, he sat up and looked down at the Marine. That prompted Billy to roll over onto his back, looking quizzically back up at the medic. “You can’t tell me you didn’t feel that.”

"What, that muscle twitch?" Billy shrugged. "Kinda, I guess."

“Muscle twitch?” Edwin asked, his brow raised slightly. “That wasn’t like any muscle twitch I’ve felt before.”

Again, one of Billy's shoulders raised in a slight shrug. "Feels kinda odd, on this end of it, but it doesn't hurt or anything."

Lifeline’s brows knitted together as he looked down at the other brunette. “Did you do something – something to aggravate your back?”

"Not that I remember..." Billy replied. "But, y'know, after everything I've been through, I quit keeping track of the aches and pains." Then he smiled a little. "And besides, my back got a workout it hasn't had in a damn long time...wouldn't surprise me if I overworked something."

Lifeline blushed furiously which unfortunately left the look he shot at the Marine quite ineffective. “I suppose you think that was funny?”

Billy did his best to look innocent, but there was a gleam in his eye that blew the whole image. "Not at all."

“I’m trying to be serious.”

The Marine's expression sobered as he nodded a little. "Okay, okay. Honest answer. I don't think I did anything to aggravate it."

“Let me look at it,” Edwin requested.

"What, right now?" Billy raised an eyebrow.

“Of course right now.” The medic replied. “Why not?”

Sitting up, Billy reached out and wrapped his arms around Edwin, pulling the man back down onto the bed gently. "Uh-uh. In the morning...the bad back'll keep til then, okay?"

“Billy . . .” Lifeline started to protest.

"Edwin, put the medic back in his box for the night," Billy said firmly brushing his lips along his lover's forehead to counterbalance his tone. "I appreciate the concern, but it can wait."

Edwin opened his mouth to speak before closing a few moments later, finding himself silently agreeing with the Marine. The two of them had just consummated their relationship, and instead of basking in the proverbial afterglow, here he was, on the verge of treating Billy like a patient. Reaching up, his fingers toyed with a few locks of Billy’s dark hair. “You’re right, I’m sorry.”

"No big deal. Now c'mon, let's get some sleep?" Billy murmured, his eyes falling closed as the medic's fingers slid into his hair.

Leaning in a bit, Edwin brushed a kiss over the Marine’s lips before settling back down in Billy’s arms again. Billy pulled Edwin close, and nuzzled him gently, swallowing a yawn. The medic couldn’t help smiling to himself as he looked at the other brunette for a few moments before closing his own eyes.

There was a low rumble of thunder, the sound bass-heavy and vibrating. The gentle rain that had helped lull the two men cuddled together to sleep had turned into a downpour, a steady drenching that the dry earth seemed to soak up almost greedily. It was the thunder, however, that roused Edwin and the medic blinked his eyes as he became more fully awake. The brown-eyed man could hear the rain as it pounded on the roof, like someone had turned a faucet on full blast and left it.

Another deep roll of thunder sounded, this one lingering on a bit longer than the previous one. Looking at the man next to him, Edwin couldn't help but smile. Billy's face looked more relaxed than the medic could remember ever seeing it. The fact that the former Special Ops operative had not been awakened by the thunder was, Edwin hoped, due to the fact that Billy was comfortable and at ease with his surroundings.

Reaching up, Lifeline brushed a few stray locks of dark hair from the Marine's face. From the dim light spilling into the room from the still-burning lamps in the living room, Billy's face looked a bit younger, some of the lines a bit less noticeable and blurred, his usually serious expression smoothed away. That faint smile still lingering, Edwin leaned in and lightly brushed his lips on the other man's forehead before pulling back again.

The Marine was lying on his stomach, his face still toward Edwin as he slept. And as Edwin pulled away, it was easier for him to see the muscled expanse of Billy's back and the tattoo that graced the small of it. The medic had been there with Billy when the blue-eyed man had gotten that particular tattoo - the Marine insignia with the words "Semper Fidelis" in flowing script around the bottom of it. It had been Billy's way of celebrating his freedom, his reinstatement, and his new post with the Joes. The Marine had tried to talk Edwin into getting something done as well, but the medic had been steadfast in his refusal. The tattoo artist in the shop had then made a point of telling Lifeline that they also did body piercing if tattoos weren't his thing; a statement which had elicited a furious blush from Edwin and a hearty laugh out of Billy.

As Lifeline looked at Billy's back he could see that there were a few light bruises here and there, but they didn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary; it wasn't uncommon for the Marine to get banged around a little during combat training, or doing any of the hundreds of other tasks he did in a day. The flesh didn't seem swollen, and nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. But as Edwin moved back, Billy shivered a little, and something just under the skin moved again, almost slithering like a snake as it formed a small lump under his skin, and then was gone as quickly as it had come.

Lifeline blinked and his dark brows crooked together. ‘Man, my vision must be getting worse.’ He thought to himself. ‘Now I’m seeing things.’ The medic gazed at Billy’s bare back for several long minutes, watching the rise and fall as the Marine breathed, but nothing more happened. Chiding himself for having an overactive imagination, Edwin settled back against the pillows and closed his eyes once more while he listened to the sound of the rain on the roof until he eventually drifted off.
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Unsung Heroes: Mission One