"Chris, WINGS is on the ground and headed to help. Ezra has given his head set to Lieutenant Tanner, but he isn’t talking to me. I’m giving him directions, and he appears to be following, but I can’t be certain."

"Just keep giving them, Kid."

"The foreman is bringing a jeep around. Says he can get me out there."

"Alright, but keep monitoring the situation."

"Yes, Sir.

"What’s Nathan’s ETA?"

"About twenty minutes. Josiah’s is about forty and I would guess that you are a good hour, Sir."

"Yours?"

"About the same as you."

"Get me Kane’s frequency. I want to talk to that bastard."

"I’m on it, Sir."

**********

 "Sir, they’ve split up. And Tanner just took out Hawk B."

"Forget the other man. Cut Tanner down and bring him to me. He’ll pay for this," Kane shouted. To his knowledge, he’d lost seven. Tanner would pay for that.

"You still want him alive, Sir?"

"YES, I &*%@ing want him alive. If one of Larabee’s men is here, then the others won’t be far behind. Tanner may be the only chance we have of getting out of here alive!"

**********

Ezra watched the soldiers on the bikes dump their transport and dart after Vin on foot. None of them had given Standish a second look. Circling back to the right, Ezra moved in to offer whatever assistance he could.

The minutes dragged. There was silence in the brush, every sound taking on a life of its own. The Hawks were pursuing Vin with stealth and competence. They knew the skill of their quarry.

Vin stopped and scanned the area around him. Amongst the trees he could neither see the mountains nor the sun to give him his bearings. "Where now?" he demanded. It was the first thing he had said into the headset.

"You need to circle back to the south. Help is coming. One of our men should be there any moment and there are four others on the way."

"Only four!"

"Four of the best."

"There’s a whole damn army out here! You think that six of you will be enough..."

Vin hit the ground as bullets started dancing around him. Pulling himself up onto one elbow he sighted the movement and fired. There was a grunt of pain. Tanner jumped to his feet. Before he could do anything, three soldiers burst out of the underbrush. Vin fired once. Twice. There was a shot. The third soldier fell. Vin snapped around to spot Ezra.

"Go, go, go!" Ezra shouted. Vin nodded and took off. More soldiers from out of nowhere. There were too many of them. Abruptly Vin found himself surrounded. One of the men raised his rifle.

"Vin, look out!"

Vin Tanner froze. This time it wasn’t the name - it was the voice. A bullet hit the sharpshooter’s arm and spun him to the right.

"NOOOO!" Buck screamed leaping out into the clearing and cutting down the solider who’d fired the bullet. Vin was hit. The bastard had shot Vin… Vin who was alive!

"Buck, get down!" Ezra shouted. Wilmington did. Unfortunately, Ezra’s shouted warning gave away his position. To Buck’s horror, there was a rifle shot - Ezra’s body catapulted backwards. "FIVE?" Buck shot a look in Vin’s direction but the sharpshooter was long gone. "FIVE, respond!"

"Lieutenant Tanner has Ezra’s headset," J.D. shouted overhearing the command. There was no way Ezra could respond… besides, they were only connected to J.D.

"Dammit! J.D., Ezra’s down and Vin’s hit!"

"How bad?"

"I don’t know. Vin must be okay because he’s taken off." Buck made his way through the dense brush searching for Ezra. He found his companion, lying on his back, his hand clamped over the wound to his shoulder. "Hang on, mate."

"Go after him," Ezra insisted. "I’m okay."

"You’re bleeding all over the place," Buck argued, kneeling beside his fallen partner.

"Buck, he can’t hold them off on his own."

"You don’t know, Vin."

Ezra stared up at Wilmington. "He needs your help."

"I’ve got a mate right here who’s gonna bleed to death if I don’t stop that bleeding so shut-up and just lay there. J.D?"

"Report."

"Ezra’s taken a shot in the upper right shoulder. It’s gone straight through, but it’s bleeding a whole hell of a lot. Gonna have to stay here for a bit and stop the bleeding."

"Nathan’s just reached your section. Turn on your homing transmitter and I’ll direct him straight to you."

**********

"Colonel, Ezra’s hit. Buck’s with him and Nathan’s less than ten minutes from them."

"Bad?"

"Shoulder wound. Buck’s trying to stop the bleeding. According to Buck, Vin’s been hit too but he got up and kept running. Unfortunately, until Nathan gets to Ezra and frees Buck, Lieutenant Tanner is on his own."

Chris cursed. "J.D. open all channels except Vin’s." It was time his men were able to communicate with each other, though Vin couldn’t afford to hear them. Not yet.

**********

Vin kept running. His mind was operating on automatic. There were men crashing through the brush behind him. He had to find somewhere to stop so he could open fire. Ahead, he spotted a fallen tree.  “Perfect.”

**********

Nathan burst into view.

"Buck?"

"Yeah, he’s gonna be okay. Lost a bit of blood though," Buck cried, leaping to his feet and disappearing in the direction taken by the Hawks.

"Talk to me, Ezra," Nathan ordered.

Ezra’s eyes fluttered open.  "And just what would you like to discuss, my friend?"

Nathan smiled. His friend was lucid. "Buck’s done a good job of this."

"Yes, Captain Wilmington took great pains to share that with me." Ezra winced as Nathan began probing the wound.

The medic bandaged the injury and injected something Ezra decided must be for his own good.

"All right, let’s get you up. You feel strong enough to walk leaning on me, or do I need to carry you?"

"If you are offering to carry me, I certainly wouldn’t be so rude as to deny you the experience," Ezra forced out through gritted teeth as Nathan dragged him to his feet, slinging his good arm over his shoulder.

"You okay?"

"Where are we going?" Ezra panted. The pain in his shoulder was easing, a result of the injection.

"We can’t stay here. Besides, the action is up ahead. Men are going to be getting shot. Reckon I might be needed."

"Then leave me and go. Sit me down with a rifle.  I will be fine, I assure you."

"Not the way we do things, Ezra and you know it. Now come on. Colonel, Ezra and I are headed after Buck and Vin."

"Ezra’s condition?"

"He’s going be sore tomorrow but he’s okay. Bullet went straight through."

"Oh yes, Colonel," Ezra shouted, so that his voice could be picked up Nathan’s headset. "I’m doing just peachy!"

"Josiah’s just arrived in your section and I’m only about fifteen minutes away."

"I’ve seen quite a few dead Hawks so I’m not sure how many are left."

"Kane?"

"No."

"J.D.,have you found me that frequency yet?"

"No, Sir, but..."

"FIND IT!"

**********

"Sir, most of the S.T.F.1 are in the area."

"Damn."

"Do you want us to pull out?"

"Not until I get Tanner!"

"But, Sir..."

Kane spun around. "Are you questioning me?"

"No, Sir," the other soldier stated quickly. He knew this was personal. He’d been there the day Tanner had threatened Kane. He’d known then Vin Tanner had signed his own death warrant. It was only a matter of time.

"Tanner’s here somewhere. Spread out and circle around. We’ll get him in between us. And don’t forget, I kill him. Lieutenant, contact Hawk C. We’re going to need air transport out of here."

**********

Monitor everyone.

Provide Lieutenant Tanner with instructions.

Direct Nathan to Ezra, and now Larabee was demanding the Hawks’ frequency.

 J.D. shook his head and struggled to keep his computer level as he bounced along in the back of the jeep. He no longer had aerial pictures being sent by Buck so he couldn’t inform his team where the Hawks were. He just had to hope now most of the boys were together, they would be able to look after each other.

"Colonel, they’re jamming me," the youth reported.

"Well unjam it."

J.D. rolled his eyes. "Yes, Sir."

**********

Vin detected movement.  There were people moving all around him. He was being encircled.  It was time to reload.

"I’m hidden behind a log and I’ve got soldiers all around me. They don’t know I’m here - yet." Vin reported into the headset.

"Just sit tight. The boys are on their way."

Vin grunted. He hoped ‘the boys’ could shoot as well as the soldier who definitely was no soldier. Vin, look out! The voice echoed in Vin’s mind. He couldn’t place it. He could almost see a face. Consciously, the sharpshooter forced the thoughts away. He remembered what the other man had said. You’ve lost your memory. If I give you further triggers you will experience another memory rush as your memories try to surface. So that was what had been happening recently. His memories were trying to come back.

Vin’s eyes narrowed. Movement. Should he shoot, or do what the voice had ordered and ‘sit tight’ until help arrived?

**********

Buck couldn’t believe it. He’d seen Vin. He’d actually seen him. It had looked like Vin. A little thinner, but it was Vin. And he’d been wearing that damn buckskin coat. Despite the fact Buck was in a war zone, a smile claimed his face.

Just wait until the others saw that coat. Just wait until they saw Vin.

"Lieutenant Tanner is pinned down, but hidden behind a log. I’ve told him to sit tight," J.D. reported.

"About as much chance of that as you gettin’ rid of that stupid hat," Buck whispered. He was now moving low. He could detect sounds around him, indicating he was in among the Hawks. It was time to try and focus, but he couldn’t. Vin - Vin was alive. Buck swallowed. "I’ve seen Vin, boys. He... he looks exactly the same.”

"Focus on the job at hand," Larabee ordered. "Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by anything. Your own life, and that of the rest of the unit depends on clear heads." The words were an automatic response. Chris Larabee was a leader - a damn good one.

**********

A mile away…

Despite his own advice, Chris couldn’t clear his mind of Buck’s words. I’ve seen Vin, boys. He... he looks exactly the same. 

**********

Doug Kane sensed, rather than saw or heard, any tangible evidence of Larabee’s team. He cursed. Tanner was so close, but the Hawks’ leader had a motto that had proved invaluable - ‘he who lives and runs away, lives to fight another day.’ It was time for him to pull out despite his overwhelming and insuppressible need to reap revenge against Colonel Chris Larabee and his smart mouth sharpshooter.

"Hawk 3, come and get us."

‘His’ boys would hear the chopper and retreat. The other ten, who had joined the Hawks since Katinda, wouldn’t. They were dime a dozen mercenaries. Kane felt no loyalty toward them. They simply made up the numbers. Good men to have in a fight, but not in the class of ‘his’ boys. The mercenaries would hear the chopper, but wouldn’t realize it was time to pull out without direct orders from Kane. Only the original or ‘real’ Hawks would. So the mercenaries would stay and fight - and that was just fine. It would cover Kane’s retreat.

"I copy, Colonel. Hawk 3 out."

**********

"Colonel, I’m in place. I can see the log. I’m guessing that’s where Vin is, but I can’t see him." Not that that was surprising. Vin Tanner was a professional. Josiah’s anxiety rose sharply. Not anxiety associated with the upcoming battle, but with seeing his mate again - a young man Josiah had left behind in Katinda. All of the guilt and grief he’d felt the day Chris ordered the end of the search for Vin resurfaced. Josiah could only imagine the emotions Chris was going through. "There are Hawks everywhere," the Sergeant reported, pulling his mind back on the job.

"Buck?" Chris demanded.

"Yeah, I can see the log." Buck Wilmington’s voice was hard and calm. Like Josiah, he had pushed emotions aside. Right now, getting Vin back safely depended on E.M. 6 doing what they did best.

"Nathan?"

"Ezra and I are moving as fast as we.... shut-up Ezra. I already told you that I ain’t leavin’ you."

******

"I’ve reached the trees. J.D., which direction? Wait a minute! We’ve got a third chopper coming in," Chris stated, watching the aircraft approach. Kane was pulling out. Thank God! "Hold your positions, boys. The Hawks are pulling out. Don’t engage unless forced."

Chris fought the urge to rush to his team. He needed to stay here. He was the only one with a visual on the chopper. It was important one of them be in a position to report what was happening.

**********

Vin Tanner squinted into the foliage around him. He heard the chopper. There were men retreating. A trick? Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a dark skinned man. He didn’t really see him, he had sensed his approach.

A deathly click.

"Nathan, look out!"

Vin fired at the hidden Hawk. The confused sharpshooter heard a voiced cry and only once he had eliminated the threat did it register that it was his own voice. He had yelled the warning? Who the hell was Nathan?

Lead peppered the log. Vin dived for cover, but not before one bullet found its mark.

"Vin’s hit!" Josiah shouted, leaping to his feet and opening fire on the remaining Hawks. Buck and Nathan did the same.

*******

"How bad? HOW BAD?!" Larabee yelled. He was running. "Nathan get to him! J.D. can you contact Vin? Is he alright?"

"He’s not responding, Colonel," J.D. replied.

Chris Larabee had just entered hell. This couldn’t possibly be happening!

**********

Vin slammed his eyes shut. He didn’t feel the pain of the bullet that had ripped through his upper arm.

Vin’s hit! Vin, look out!

Those two phrases.

Those two voices.

The dark-skinned man.

Half comprehension. He knew them. Fuzzy images filled his mind. Vin felt sick to the stomach.

Around the fallen sharpshooter, the battle raged.

"Where the hell is Kane?" one of the Hawks yelled.

"The bastard’s pulled out!"

The remaining mercenaries turned and retreated. Not only had their leader and half of their team left them, but their opponents were extremely skilled. They weren’t prepared to die for any amount of money.

"Let’s get out of here!"

That was all the encouragement Nathan needed. The medic leapt to his feet and raced to the log.

"Vin!"

Laying flat on his back, his rifle resting loosely across his chest was the STF1 sharpshooter. For a split second, Nathan froze. He honestly thought he would never see his young friend again. Dropping down beside his former  teammate, Nathan swallowed. Vin was alive. A quick examination of Vin’s wounds revealed nothing serious. Nothing physical, at any rate. A bullet graze and a wound that looked like it still contained the bullet. Nathan could dig that out in a moment. Right now, he had to deal with whatever was going on in his friend’s head.

The young sharpshooter’s eyes were tightly squeezed closed. The medic had listened carefully to all of Josiah’s warnings and advice and knew the last thing his patient needed was for his eyes as well as his ears to be sending him ‘triggers’.

Gently, Nathan reached out and covered his friend’s eyes with his hand. "Easy. Easy, you’re okay." Vin jumped at the touch, his rifle lifting. "You don’t need that. I’m a friend. I need you to keep your eyes closed. I want to get a look at your arm. Looks like you’ve taken two hits today."

"God," Vin muttered. He was finding it difficult to breath. The images had stopped and now his mind was racing in a vacuum.

"Relax. You’re okay. Your memories are trying to come back," Nathan explained. Buck and Josiah appeared on either side of the log. Buck opened his mouth to speak, but Josiah gestured for silence. One voice from his past was enough for Vin to deal with.

The three former members of the STF1 stared down at their lost mate – all wanting to do nothing more than touch him... hug him... tell him they were sorry...tell him…

"WHERE IS HE? Larabee roared bursting out of the dense bushes. He spotted Josiah and Buck motionless on the other side of the fallen tree, their faces white, their eyes wide. "CHRIST, IS HE OKAY?"

Vin’s body stiffened.

That voice.

Before Nathan could react, his patient shoved him so hard he lost his balance. Vin was on his feet in one movement. Josiah and Buck backed away.

Vin’s eyes darted in the direction of the voice that brushed his soul. He knew that voice. His soul was linked to that voice.

Larabee came to an abrupt halt. He stared across the space that separated them. For a split second nothing happened. Vin stood, his eyes huge. Chris could see through those expressive blue pools Vin was trying to make sense of what was happening. Tanner stepped forward, his face an image of confusion.

****

"Chris?" It was a hollow whisper "God."  Vin froze, mesmerized by the sight of his Colonel - then ‘it’ started. Chris standing facing him in fatigues... Chris in dress uniform. The bush around him... the jungles of Katinda. Images of people and places began to flash in his racing mind. Voices coming from all directions. A gun firing. An explosion to his right. Trees, faces, guns, chopper, orders, Chris’s voice, explosions, trees, shooting, faces... Vin gasped for air. He was drowning in a raging flood of memories.

"Chris!" This time it wasn’t a question - it was a cry for help. One file tab had been restored. A connection was made. Chris - his best friend… a man he trusted his life with. The color drained from the sharpshooter’s face and before he knew it, he was falling.

Chris Larabee caught him before he hit the ground. "It’s okay, Vin. Hang on," the colonel ordered as he lowered the younger man to rest on the grass.

"Ohhhhh, God. Chrisssss!" What the hell was happening to him? Instinctively, Vin began to fight against the invisible enemy attacking him from inside his head.

"I’ve got you," Chris reassured, grabbing Vin’s hand as the sharpshooter’s body thrashed around. "Hang on. For Christ’s sake hang on. Nathan!"

"Tell him to relax. Tell him not to fight it," Josiah shouted as he, Buck and Nathan rushed across to offer whatever assistance they could.

"But?" Chris started.

"He can’t stop the memories. Tell him to just let them come."

"You hear that, Cowboy? Relax. Calm down. Don’t fight it. You hear me?" Chris felt the grip on his left hand intensify. "We’re here to mind your back," the colonel assured. To reinforce this claim, Larabee gripped Vin’s shoulder with his other hand. It was something he’d done in Katinda. Vin always awoke with a start. Many a time, early on, he’d almost taken one of the others’ heads off when they had attempted to wake him to take his turn on watch. And so Chris, and Chris alone, was the only person who ever attempted to call the sleeping sharpshooter to his post – and to do so, the colonel had gripped the young man’s shoulder to rouse him. Vin soon learned pressure to his shoulder meant it was Chris, thus he had nothing to fear.

"I’m here. You’ve nothing to worry about.  Just relax, that’s an order." Chris watched Vin’s body writhe on the ground for several moments before he became still.

"Stuff your order, Larabee" the young man murmured. Immediately, the pressure on Chris’s hand fell away and Vin’s body went limp.

"NATHAN!"