"If I did, I'd have to kill you." He said, dead panned, then grinned. "That was a joke, a bad joke I know. Um...
extraction, infiltration, snatch and grab, assassination, securing of perimeters, hostage take overs, HALO/HELO,
SCUBA, LRRPs. I just spent five days in the marketplace following some supposed bigwig around. He was grabbed
shortly after. One less scumbag as far as I'm concerned." Of course, the retaliation wasn't good, lost a man, some
Rangers, and poor Clancy wasn't looking too good.
"Two weeks ago we shadowed a convoy of refugees just to make sure they weren't messed with, and of course they
were. They don't know it yet, cause we stepped in and took care of it." He said. "So, utterly shocked and shaken
yet?" He asked, watching her reaction carefully.
She followed his words carefully and still didn't understand some of the terms he used. Others she guessed at based
on what she thought the word should indicate. But she thought she understood the general concept much clearer
now.
They were the shadows. The soldiers that went into the world and disappeared into it. Or mostly so. It sounded as if
they were the ones expected to fix the things throwing a platoon of Marines at couldn't. Smaller, delicate, quieter
work.
He was watching her as if her opinion mattered to him. And so she should ask about some of the terms she hadn't
understood or the refugees or one of the other, safe things she was interested in. But there was one question out of
all of them that bothered her and she didn't want to ask it. Except it would be in her mind if she didn't and behind her
words. So she met his eyes when she softly asked.
"When you assassinate someone - who makes the decision that they should be killed in the first place?" Because the
fact that someone had that right originally scared her.
"My superiors, who usually get their orders from others, like the Joint Chiefs, or Secretary of State, the VP, the
pres..." Hector said and shrugged. "Warlords, drug lords, slavers....people like that. If I come to your doorstep in the
middle of the night, chances are you did something reprehensible to bring me there. Politics and all that bullshit,
doesn't interest me. Because it doesn’t matter. When the bullets are flying by and you're trying to avoid land mines,
politics are the last things on your mind." He met her eyes.
"Every job has something not quite tasteful about it. You're a doctor. Ever have someone beg you to help them die?
What would you do?"
It was a serious question and so Andi didn't joke 'hit them on the back of the head and tell them to get back to work'.
She could dance around the answer, give the rote response. It would have been easier. But - meeting his eyes she
gave a soft exhale.
"I don't know." She gave the slightest movement of her shoulder and barely shook her head. "I started doing this
because I wanted to save lives." She'd been raised to believe all life was sacred and worth fighting to the bitter end
for. And she was too old and had seen too much to not believe in miracles, both scientific and divine. "I've seen
people who should have died a long time ago, still fighting to draw just one more breath. And I've seen people who
should have gotten better just give up and die. I can't -" She ran a hand across her face, absent. Looking tired.
"People here fight so hard. Just to live one more day. Even though tomorrow, and the rest of their lives, don't
promise to be any better. But - sometimes... sometimes you just want to let them go Home..." And at least someone
else made the decision where he was concerned. She shifted fingers restlessly around the water bottle. "I'm not
supposed to kill people. I'm supposed to save them. Sorry." She shook her head. Looked back at him with a crooked
upward twist of her lips. "You were making a point and I went down a tangent, didn't I? I think I understand.
Sometimes you do things because they're your job and someone has to. I won't lie and say it doesn't scare me that
killing someone seems to be the best answer we can come up with as a species. Maybe some day that will change."
Though she didn't think so. "But I understand until it does that you do what you're asked to. Is that what you meant?"
"More or less. At least you answered the question. A lot of people wouldn't you know." He said. For they were
squeamish, or wouldn't think about it, or would turn it into a joke to avoid the question, dancing around the subject.
"It’s not that I think life is trivial. Actually, quite the contrary, you'll find most of us hold it more precious than the
average person. We're not war junkies who get off on this stuff. Those type of people wash out and never get to
where we're at." Which was perhaps one of the most elite teams in the military. "But I've watched these people
struggle, a mother go up against an armed militia to get that milk for her child, a man refuse to give up the crops he's
managed to raise because his family needs them...and we've cleared the way a lot of times." Caused enough chaos
sometimes within a sect to allow the people a moment's peace. Even if it was a never ending battle, and one a lot
thought the Americans shouldn't be putting their noses in. But he didn't choose where he was sent. "And I've
completely managed to ruin a perfectly pleasant lunch, haven't I?"
She softened at that, shoulders relaxing and gave him a smile.
"I think the food managed to do that." She joked softly. Eyes smiling. She rested her hand on the table between
them, palm up and fingers slightly curved.
"I want to understand. You're also here because these people need help." She shook her head slightly and met his
eyes. "And I don't think that's always easy." Hard enough that he and his friends went out to kill and be killed. Harder
still because she knew his reception here and perhaps at home, would be no warmer. "So I'm glad you took your time
and my questions seriously. You didn't have to. Thank you."
"You're welcome." Hector said. "I mean, I'd love a world where I'm unnecessary. This just isn't that world yet. So until
it is, I'm here." He shrugged a bit then grinned. "So, enough about the whole ugliness of life, we both see far too
much of that. Is anyone going to show me around this camp or do they really want a Delta finding his own way?"
"As if you haven't already?" She remarked, standing up since he was long done with his food. How he'd managed to
eat it all, she wasn't quite sure. "Come on," she picked up her tray. "I'll show you around the place by daylight."
He laughed at that. "Okay, maybe a little." he admitted reluctantly as they ditched their trays. "After all, I had to find
my way to the tent, then to the shower, then to the med tent, all on my own. Didn't do too bad." He said as they exited
the tent and he slipped his sunglasses back over his eyes. "But give me the full tour anyway."
So she did.
She put on the entire 'proper English tour of the museum' attitude complete with reminders to 'not touch anything'
and 'stay with the group' and gave him a complete tour of the camp. Including everything. Because she didn't know if
he'd ever need to know where the extra parts for the generators and water pumps were or if it would ever come up
that the tents they sorted and stored their medical supplies in were near Sam's office. But she would rather he did
know and never needed to than needed to and couldn't be sure. Mostly she just hoped he never needed to know.
The same way she hoped he never once had to reach for a weapon while he was here. And she introduced him to
different people as well. Seeming to just happen to cross paths with them as the tour spooled along. But they, like
the places, were all people would could either be sympathetic or helpful to him. If he needed them. It seemed
important that he have too much information and help rather than not enough. Even if Sam would not share that
same line of thought.
"And that concludes the visiting military part of our tour." She concluded as they finally found themselves back at her
med tent. "Our next one will start in half an hour and our gifts shop has some lovely parting items to remember your
visit to the Red Cross camp by. Please don't forget to fill out the comment cards if you've enjoyed your tour." She
gave him a smile and asked: "Think I missed anything?"
As she gave him the tour, he was looking at different things. Places to stage ambush, hide patients, secure tents,
things like that. Just as she was showing him things for every contingency, he was thinking of solutions to problems
he hoped wouldn't come up. But if they did, he had a pretty good idea what to do.
Problem was this camp was too spread out, hard to secure. Easy to infiltrate. He shook his head, he shouldn't think
things like that, because if he did, he had this weird idea she'd notice and he'd have to tell her.
He chuckled at her finishing statement. "You did well, and I suppose donations are voluntary but completely
appreciated, right? I have some gum." He joked.
"Not quite out of chewing gum then?" She asked with a smile, referring to one of the movie line quotes of yesterday.
She'd enjoyed herself. She spent so much time locked in a single routine, and route, that she sometimes wondered
there wasn't a path worn in the packed dirt between four tents and nowhere else. Being anywhere other than the
clinic or the mess tent during the day was a bit of a surprise for her. She rather hoped he had no idea why she'd
shown him every little detail of the camp and just took her for an overzealous tour guide but she had appreciated the
complete attention he'd given everything. It didn't leave one with the impression he'd forget anything.
She wondered if he'd remember her and then told herself she must be more tired than she'd thought to be thinking
that way.
"I've shirked long enough, I'm afraid. I do need to get back to work." She told him. Gave him a soft smile. "Mark is, no
doubt, disobeying doctor's orders somehow for instance. I - I did enjoy your company. Even if my detective abilities
are apparently lacking. Thank you for the attempt to wipe out my taste buds. It was really very thoughtful of you
considering the meal."
"Mark wouldn't be Mark if he didn't give any one a hard time." He said with a note of sympathy, knowing how his
fellow soldier could be. Oh Mark would be perfectly friendly but he'd definitely give the medical staff a run for his
money, especially when the antibiotics kicked in and he started feeling better.
"But I'm the only guy around here without an actual job." He said, since, again, he was the known Delta. "So anytime
you want to entertain me and keep me out of trouble, feel free." Or he'd just have to stalk her!
She looked up at him, forgetting the joke she'd been about to make about siccing Suzette on restless patients. She
couldn't see his eyes behind the reflective surface of his sunglasses.
"I doubt I could keep you from trouble." She answered with a soft smile.
She liked talking to him and she liked the way he teased and made her laugh. She liked his company. Possibly too
much. Friendships quickly became precious and lasting to her.
She was going to worry about him once he left in a few days, she realized.
"You can still use my bed. The offer stays open." One of her pale hands shifted at her side, palm upward. Unsure of
what she was doing, and whether she should be, she added: "If you stop by tonight to see Mark I will be here too. If
you had any more questions or felt like talking. It would be nice." She finished. Fairly sure that wasn't the wisest of
things to be doing. But - how many people outside of his unit - she thought things might be a bit lonely for him
outside of his own unit.
"I do need to go." She stepped back. "But it was a nice lunch. Thank you." She flashed him another smile and then
turned and disappeared into the clinic.