This was suppose to be the first story posted but it went a bit awry & needed fixing for the beginning to match the end, I think I've got it worked out finally so I'll post it now as an apology for the dismally depressing first story! We are still on season 2 here so it won't be in keeping with season 3

Clay shifted, fidgeting at the trickle of sweat running down his spine, the slow build of the morning sun beating down in him.

"Bravo 2, 6, this – 1, -, coming - you"

Clay fidgeted again, twisting his radio as if it would clear the odd crackling, this was only his third spin up since coming back and so far each mission had been a cake walk, hell last time he had come back without firing a single shot.

Frankly Clay had been pretty sure no-one needed to overwatch that mission. He sighed, he was starting to feel like he was just something else for Bravo to look out for, more hindrance then help. It hadn't taken him long to figure out that 'how are you?' was code for 'how's the leg or can you do this?' and he would have to be blind to miss the pointed looks between Jason and Ray that followed him everywhere, it hadn't been until the long hike through the rainforest to this lonely encampment that he had become aware that the looks were directly related to a new, sub-conscious habit he had picked up of bouncing a few times on his leg before moving off. Sonny's latest nickname of hop-a-long made a lot more sense and stung a little harder after that.

He heard Ray both faintly behind him and in a crackle over his radio.

"Cop- 1, exfil -out cle-"

So much for his triumphant return, looked like once again his only addition to the AAR's would be to comment on an intermittent crackle to transmissions in & out of his radio.

The had been assured by, what was his name? the skinny, nervous kid, new Davis, that the radio had been checked out and was fine but the last message had crackled, he was sure of it, the radio was bad ju-ju.

Great, now he even sounded like Sonny.

Speaking of, Clay lowered the barrel of his gun as his best friend jogged into view, towing the 3 bedraggled aid workers they had been sent to free behind him.

If you had told him 2 years ago that the hard edged, short tempered Texan would be Bravo's go to man to guide civilians through warzones and gunfights he wouldn't have believe it but Sonny's ability to find the joke in the worst of places gave a confidence to even the most shell shocked victims.

The rest of Bravo come into view, scanning around them as the thump of a helo settling came from somewhere over his shoulder.

He waited until Trent, bring up the rear, had trotted past him before he pushed himself up, took a last look around and moved off, his radio crackled again, this time too distorted to distinguish anything, he looked up to see Trent swinging into the helo as all hell broke loose.

Clay broke into a run, seeing the guys in the chopper laying down cover, the chopper had started to lift, gaining air as the bullets tinged off the metal, he jumped in feeling the blast of an RPG behind him & the chopper raising.

"NO," screamed Jason next to him, " go down, GO DOWN, I've got a man down there"

Clay twisted round, through the smoke he could see Ray laying motionless in the dirt.

The chopper was 9, now 10, 14 feet off the ground.

I can make it.

The thought wasn't even complete & Clay was in the air, dropping out the side of the helo like a stone, in the instant before he touched down a second though rushed in - My leg! - then he hit the ground & rolled, rifle hugged to his chest.

Fire, move position, fire, repeat until he reached Ray, grabbed the back of his collar & dragged him behind a frankly poor excuse for a boulder.

Fire. Fire. Fire.

Where the hell had they come from, where the hell had Havoc been?

His radio popped & crackled.

The helo was high now, turning, leaving, the last image of it is Jason, leaning out, mouth open.

The gunfire picks up again, emboldened by the helos retreat.

Mag empty, no time to reload, he throws everything he has at them, frag, flash bangs, smoke before he does the only thing left to him, he pulls Ray over his shoulders & runs, sprinting for the trees.