Mike rolled his shoulder as he walked out to the court. Basketball a steady, unconscious dribble as he took in the
surrounding area. Saw the Delta waiting for him. Watching him with the same type of eyes he was watching the Delta
with. At least that kept things even. What happened between them here wasn't going to surprise either of them. Mike
preferred it that way. He gave Hector a nod and tossed him the ball. Accurately enough to make a point about his
abilities and hard enough to make it a warning that he wasn't going to play gentle. But not hard enough to do any real
damage. The last thing he thought either of them needed was having to drag their sorry asses back to Andi for
stitching after this. She'd never forgive either of them. Settling into a defensive position between the Delta and the
hoop Mike casually commented:
"So you'll be leaving soon."
Hector caught the ball when Mike tossed it to him, getting the hidden message in it and almost smiling. But he nodded
and checked the ball to Mike. "I'll be going." He said, changing the phrase. He had been moved some place down
deep, and he really didn't think 'leaving' was an option, or even anything he wanted to do. "Once Clancy's cleared to
go to Germany." Where he'd be discharged and sent home for further recovery.
"Leaving and going aren't the same." Mike commented. He caught the ball and moved toward the net with a mental
shrug. They weren't here to score baskets but he still couldn't help but be curious as to which one of them could sink
more. He hadn't played since his days in the service. Mostly because he didn't want to risk hurting anyone. Since it
wasn't a concern now...
"Yeah I know." Hector said, moving in on Mike and blocking his shot, he had a few inches on him, and took the ball for
a lay up after wards. "After Clancy is ready for transport, I'll be going," he emphasized that word, "back to camp." He
caught the ball out of the net and took it back to the faintly spray painted line and threw it to Mike when he, too, went
back.
Mike caught the ball and moved in right away.
"She deserves better than you." He stated factually, as he put some muscle into getting around Hector. Bulk to bulk
the Delta might have a bit on him. But since they were both trained they knew it was a matter of leverage, not weight.
Mike pivoted and shot the ball. Looked at Hector.
"And you know it."
Hector nodded. "You're probably right. But then who does deserve her? You?" He asked, calling the ex soldier on what
this was all about. He wasn't one for really beating around the bush or walking delicately around a subject as he took
the ball roughly from Mike.
"You and I both know it’s not what we deserve, which is probably shit." Mike stated. Covering Hector hard enough to
keep him from getting a clear shot without some kind of physical repercussions in exchange. "Its about what's good for
her. Which is probably some Swiss banker or earnest young missionary or some doctor that actually lives in a house
and doesn't think of dogs as 'back up grub'." He blocked a shot and got the bruise to prove it. "She deserves someone
that's not going to up and disappear on her one day."
"I have a house." Hector said with a shrug as Mike took the ball again and he was back to blocking. This was going to
be a rough game, whether they liked it or not. "And I don't think either of us should really have a say in which direction
she heads in, do you?" Of course, it was easy for Hector to say that, he had the advantage in that category.
"Easy for you to say." Mike stated without rancor in his tone. "You're the one she's kissing. Bastard." He added with
reluctant humor. He shifted one way and then the other looking for an opening. Used an elbow but got one in the ribs
in return so it was fair. "And when you either get yourself shot full of holes or just decide you're bored, she's the one
that's going to be left behind to deal with it."
Hector let out a grunt when he was elbowed. Didn't tickle, but no permanent damage. He got his pay back by roughly
checking him for the ball and took the shot. "Okay. Guarantee me the Swiss banker won't get in a car accident or
plane crash, or that the missionary doctor won't get sacrificed by natives he pissed off." He said pointedly. "Dude, no
one can predict where they'll be in a year. I don't know where I'll be. I hope I'm alive and happy. I hope she's alive and
happy. Hell, I hope you're alive and happy."
"Nice theory." Mike stated. Catching the ball when it came down and jostling Hector. Tone dry as he added: "Because
people shoot at that banker every day too, I'm sure. Look, you want Andi for fun or are you thinking permanent?"
"I don't get shot at every day." Hector said with a shake of his head. "You of all people should know my job isn't as
dangerous as everyone likes to think it is." He still hadn't figured out what branch Mike had served with, but he knew
he had served somewhere. "Everyone just hears the bad stuff." In 'real life' he was just as closed off as Andi when it
came to other people. Friendly and approachable enough, likable enough, but what was going on inside his head and
his heart was usually reserved just for him. And definitely not for Mike. So he avoided the question. "You gonna take
the shot or are you just gonna pansy foot around?"
"Pansy foot." Mike supplied but the blow he gave Hector with his shoulder stated otherwise. He had to roundhouse the
ball but he put it up anyway. Looked at the man next to him.
"I'd rather see you break her heart than watch her eyes when she finds out you've gone missing or gotten yourself
killed." He stated quietly.
Hector took the ball off the net and brought it back. "Your opinion has been noted." Hector said just as quietly. "I don't
want to do either. Frankly, you guys stand just as much a chance of getting snatched as I do. You know how many
militia we've kept quietly off your ass?' He didn't know if Mike knew, but Hector knew. It wasn't part of their orders, but
they certainly weren't going to stand back and watch the only hope these people here had get chased off and
harassed.
"Yeah." Mike agreed and let Hector take the shot, rubbing absently at a forming bruise on his chest and breathing
hard. His body didn't work quite as well as it once had. There was a reason he'd been discharged after all. Most of the
time, now being no exception, he liked to ignore the fact he was missing half a lung. "Just another thing I like to let
keep me up at night worrying over. I can't get the numbers anymore but I know something's going on out there. Not like
you're the only time I've ever worried about her." And then, because he respected the guy, he added: "First guy I've
ever had to worry over her over. Usually its just situations she gets herself into. Think I prefer the situations."
Mike moved forward and caught the ball, taking it back to lay up a shot.
"I'm going to worry anyway." He stated calmly. Looked over and met Hector's glance. "But it helps that you say that
anyway. The 'ever' part - " he shook his head with a reluctant smile. "I can't tell if that worries me more or not."
"Well, you never know. She still has a say in this...thing. Who knows? I might be the fun and good bye to her." He said,
taking the ball, noticing Mike's breathing. "Thanks for the game."
Mike gave a chuckle. He might not be a fit as the Delta but he knew he still had enough miles in him.
"You're just afraid I'm going to keep kicking your ass." He stated. "And don't think for a second Andi knows how to say
goodbye." He shook his head. "Won't be so worried about you if she did."
"So how come you never tried anything with her?" Hector asked, grabbing the water bottle. "Or did you and you got
shut down?" Both men had enough bruises to have 'bonded' over this game, and Hector swore his left kidney was
never going to look at him the same at this rate.
"Not going to admit I was kicking your ass, huh?" Mike asked but he got his own water and ran a hand through his
shaggy hair. "Andi's an amazing friend. She'd do anything for you." He took a swallow of his water and looked back
toward the tents. "She uses it like a shield. Only lets you get just so close and then you hit an oblique wall. Nice,
friendly wall but that's as far as you're going to get." He shot a look at Hector. "Obviously not a problem for you. Which
I don't get. You should have hit that wall before now, you know."
"I was one up on you for your information." Hector said with a chuckle. "I don't know why. I guess...its hard to explain.
Just something..." He shook his head, he knew how to explain it, but he and Mike were getting along so well, no out
and out physical fight.
Mike's eyebrows went up mildly.
"Haven't hit you yet." He commented then shrugged and the edge of his lips tips upward. "Not without a fake excuse at
least. Bounce it off me." He sat down on one of the park tables that had gotten dragged out here years ago to attempt
some semblance of recreation. Eyes earnest, he asked: "Because I really would like to know."
Hector rolled his eyes and sat at one of the tables with his water bottle. "You're just looking for an excuse, aren't you
though?' He joked with a smile. "Okay, let's see if I can have this make sense in areas that are outside my head." His
brow furrowed a bit as he thought. "You know, how you can go through life, and just kinda go through life. Just floating
on along, and them bam! You run into someone that not only grounds you, but makes you feel like a real person? And
not just someone passing through time?" He sighed. "I have no idea why I'm telling you this, other than you almost
beat me. Because I just might be that wild adventure she's taking before the Swiss banker arrives to sweep her off her
feet."
Mike took another swallow of his water. Watching the sky. Damn it. He really hadn't wanted to like the Delta.
"You're so screwed, you know that." He commented calmly, shooting Hector a look that was almost sympathetic and a
crooked smile. "Okay," he hunched his shoulders forward to rest his forearms across his knees, water bottle danging
from his hands. It was classic 'Mike' stance and something anyone he'd served with would have recognized as the
beginnings of a planning session. "I'm still not your friend," he clarified. "I like her too much. But I've never seen her the
way she is now and I'm a sucker for seeing her happy. I can't tell you what's going on inside her head but I can tell you
what I've noticed. Friendships are serious business to her. And she'll never let you know if you've hurt her. I will." He
stated. "But she won't." He looked at Hector and asked curiously: "You going to fight that Swiss banker for her if he
comes through?"
"If that Swiss banker turns up," Hector said to Mike. "Then I feel really, really sorry for him. Because he'll have to deal
with me. And you just on principle!" He chuckled at that. "You know us military types, sky high egos. And if I don't think
I'm worthy of her, ain't no way in Sam Hell some schmuck in a suit with a fancy accent is."
"Wasn't too fond of the Swiss banker idea myself." Mike admitted with a chuckle. "But yeah, since I'm being relegated
to 'big brother' status in this whole thing, I'll bring the mop, I suppose." He paused and then looked over at Hector. "So
- how long do you think we can manage to hide these bruises from Andi?"
He shrugged. "Who says we have to? She's already seen the results of one of my basketball games, Vasil skinned a
knee. She knows basketball can be a rough sport. We're both walking and breathing, we'll just tell her it was all in good
fun. Just a couple of American boys kicking back and playing some ball." He said with a chuckle. "Better than hiding
them and then having to explain them later if she finds them. We just won't show them off."
Mike just looked at Hector and grinned. Wondering if he really thought Andi would fall for that or if he was just
managing some wistful thinking. Since most of his bruises were on his torso he wasn't too worried about her noticing
on him. Thanks to the scars he didn't take his shirt off in company anymore. Short of noticing some stiffness he was
safe. Hector had a nasty discoloration starting to show on his bicep though. Which was as far as Mike was willing to
think about Andi seeing any skin on the guy went. He shook his head and tapped his water bottle against Hector's
before taking another drink that finished the water off.
"Here's to American basketball." He commented.
Hector chuckled at Mike. "Here's to basketball." He said, returning the toast. "So let's go take our showers so you can
go back to work and I can return to my vigil." For until Clancy was out of the woods, he would be at a vigil, taking turns
with the other guys. Because somehow he knew the staff would object to a whole chalk surrounding his bedside, and
might sic Sam on them. But showers were needed. It was a rough, frenetic game, and both men worked up a sweat.
Mike pushed himself off the table and nodded.
"I'll swing by about dinner time to check up on Clancy myself." He met the Delta's gaze. "He'll pull through. I'm his
doctor. He dies on me I told him I'd beat the living shit out of him. And we all know how intimidating I am." His lips
twisted upward at that and he gave a casual salute before heading off. Showers sounded about right.
Hector took his shower, the warm water easing some of the punishment his body had taken at the hands of Mike.
Standing by the mirror by the sink drying off, he spied that bruise on his bicep. "Holy shit." He said with a chuckle. The
only way to hide that sucker was long sleeves, which he wasn't going to do. He poked at it and winced. "He's gonna get
it." He said to himself as he redressed and headed to the tent where Clancy was and relieved the Delta that was there,
after getting an update. A cycle that would repeat itself when his relief came. So he sat there, borrowed a book on bio
ethics from one of the doctors (the case studies were interesting, but the actual point of the book was a little beyond
him, but it was something to occupy him.) and sat by the bed, his feet on the other chair, really not paying much
attention to the book. Or, this was horrible to say but true, Clancy for that matter.