Rescue Mission - It's a TRAP

[notjustaface]

Leaving Canada was about the hardest thing he'd done yet - harder still knowing that they were all flying into heavy enemy territory where not only would there be insurgents breathing down their necks there would almost certainly be a US Military ambush to capture them.

The mission itself was straightforward, two non-combatant civilians (reporters, Hannibal thinks) were captured three months before and being held in a camp a few miles outside of Baghdad. Three teams had already been sent in to extract them; two came back wounded and empty-handed, the third didn't come back at all. By Hannibal's reckoning the problem was that they were sending in too many people and taking the small compound through a single strategy - the first by air, the second full frontal, the third undercover. The real trick - and the trick to getting out of the trap - was to divide forces.

Hannibal goes in undercover, giving BA just enough time to create a nice explosive distraction for Face to set up with a sniper rifle and start taking out anyone that stands between the prisoners and the gates - no matter whose uniform they're wearing. Murdock had the most important job of all; air support. He'd have to wait undetected as close as possible before coming in and laying down enough cover to get everyone safely in the chopper before getting them the hell out of there... while being shot at.

"Think we can pull this off?" Face whispers quietly as they load magazines together in the relative privacy of their tent - less than two hours before going in.

Comments

[notthatcrazy]

He's still disappointed they had to leave the plant behind. He hopes the neighbors whose doorstep he'd left it on are taking care of it.

"Sure, man. We've pulled off crazier missions before."

Granted, that was with the full backing of the U.S. Army, but Hannibal's pretty much always done things his own way regardless of authority.

For his part he's pretty used to being back-up, but somehow the stakes feel a lot higher now.

[notjustaface]

He can't think of a crazier mission himself - not only not having any chance of backup, but having the high probability of being ambushed by American troops - but he takes the reassurance for what it's worth.

"I feel better knowing you've got our backs."

[notthatcrazy]

Admittedly, his perception of crazy might be a little off. He offers a somewhat pale imitation of his usual easygoing smile.

"Always have, always will."

He's taking every possible care to make sure their weapons are prepped as they should be. The last think they need is for something to go wrong when they need them the most.

[notjustaface]

For his part, Face is in the process of strapping as many mags as he carry with his body armor. He knows he'll have to make a climb, but the last thing he needs is to run out of ammo before it's time to roll.

"I wonder, though, if this whole thing isn't a setup."

[notthatcrazy]

"Feels that way, doesn't it?"

He sighs, handing him another mag

"If it ain't, they must be gettin' desperate to get these guys outta here."

[notjustaface]

"Boss says we're the fourth team in." He responds, clearly a little bit doubtful of the information; "First two took heavy fire, third didn't come back at all."

They've seen a good deal of time in the middle east, and a lot of really hard situations, but a camp protected well enough it's taken more than one special forces strike team to get the job done? Questionable at best.

[notthatcrazy]

"Well, there's two ways I can see it," he says quietly. "Either it really is an extremely desperate rescue mission... or it's a convenient way to get rid of us."

He's sure Hannibal's considering both options.

[notjustaface]

Pretty much, and Face isn't sure he really like either of them.

"And you're fine with us walking into a death trap, because that's what I'm seeing here."

He shoves bullets into the last empty mag one by one with a fast click-click-click as he tries to focus on the mission without that little nagging voice in his head telling him something is really fucking wrong with the whole thing.

[notthatcrazy]

"What are you suggesting we do? Pull a mutiny and tell the old man we're not goin'? Cause I can't really see that going well."

[notjustaface]

That really is the crux of the problem, isn't it? There's no way around it, they came back - they're stuck with the job.

He half-shrugs and then frowns, shaking his head.

"Just good to know I'm not the only one who thinks this is fucking suicide."

[notthatcrazy]

"I ain't gonna let that happen and neither is Hannibal."

He scoots a bit closer. He knows he really can't back up that statement, but he's gonna do the best he can.

"You guys are family to me, you know that."

[notjustaface]

He knows he's not exactly the one with the most to lose - realistically if he does his job right nobody will even see him until it's time to catch his ride back stateside - but he can't shake the riskiness of it all.

Face doesn't move when Murdock slides closer, but his speed slows on clicking the rounds into the high-capacity mag.

"I know that, we are family. Just... you know how it is when you got fate breathing down your neck again."

[notthatcrazy]

That's not going to stop him from worrying. About all of them, really.

"Yeah, I know."

He loops an arm casually around his shoulder.

"Look, if anything does happen... no regrets, right?"

[notjustaface]

He looks back up at Murdock with serious eyes that are only amplified by the sheer amount of black gear and ammunition he's sporting.

"If something happens there won't be anything but regret."

It's a simple enough statement, and one that won't be swayed by any means.

[notthatcrazy]

He scoots even closer, unable to find an adequate response to this.

"How much longer we got 'til we go in?"

[notjustaface]

Turning his wrist to check the digital display he sighs; "Little over an hour. We should report soon. How's the helicopter?"

It was salvage when they picked it up, but if anyone can keep a rustbucket in the air, it's Murdock.

[notthatcrazy]

"As ready as she's gonna be. I managed to patch her up enough that she'll get us there and back."

It's obvious that his fondness for the old and well-loved extends to his passion for flying.

"Assumin' we don't take too much fire, which is always a possibility."

[notjustaface]

"You might wanna tack on some extra panels, we're gonna take fire."

Set up or no, there hasn't been a job yet that hasn't ended up on at least plan B. He'll bet a month's worth of chores they'll be taking fire.

[notthatcrazy]

"BA's already workin' on it."

You know shit's getting real when he doesn't even make a fuss about flying.

"I'll hold the thing together with spit and baling wire if that's what it takes."

He leans over and brushes a quick kiss against his temple.

[notjustaface]

His mind's in the game, but the gentle brush of lips on his sweaty brow is enough to draw his attention back to his partner and how close he is.

And how even when he smells like engine grease he's still pretty sexy in the way that only Murdock can really manage.

"One of the many reasons I love you." He smiles slightly, the corners of his eyes barely creased with the weariness of a bad night's sleep.

[notthatcrazy]

He does have a sort of quirky, off-beat charm.

"I love you... no matter what."

He moves his arm to his waist, leaning against him as he tries to offer whatever support he can.

[notjustaface]

Shifting his shoulder to let him fall into a more comfortable position, he lets himself sigh and then leans in to kiss him properly. They won't have much chance to do that for a while.

He doesn't let himself think it might be the last.

"Good times."

[notthatcrazy]

He's refusing to even accept the possibility that that might happen.

"Always gonna have your back. That's a promise."

[notjustaface]

"I know," he kisses him gently, letting his teeth graze Murdock's lower lip.

"I trust you."

[notthatcrazy]

He lets the kiss linger a while before pulling away reluctantly. Can't go getting too excited when they have to move out soon.

"I promise I'll do anything I can to keep you safe," he whispers. "Anything."