Okay, I noticed that this story doesn't really get that much reviews. Maybe I have been going too slow for you guys and you just want me to breeze through it? Details, people… details. I don't know what you guys want from me on this. I will try to update this sooner and all but really, give me feedback. Otherwise, how will I even know if you enjoy this story or not. :) Thank you though to the nine people that had reviewed - this is for you! By the way, I switched this to Vampire Diaries - Hurt Locker because that is where it is right now. The categories will change back to Vampire Diaries - Avengers when we get there. I really hope that you guys like this! :)

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Chapter 5: Here comes the Calvary

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Will had first witnessed what war did to people less than five minutes on his first tour to Afghanistan. He saw the bloodshed, dodged most of the bullets and lived… unlike the best of them that would come home in a coffin. The beautiful red, white and blue covering them as if of protection and safe travel through the other side; the same one that would be specially folded into a triangle and given to their family. He had seen just what bombs did and understood how they operated from a calculative standpoint. That did not mean that he would ever get used to the destructive after effect that came with them.

When the three of them started to make their way to the site where it should have been a green zone, William tried to sort through the after feelings from a certain soulmate of his. What would await him when they finally arrived? This was the question that he dreaded the most, for he was sure that something happened to her. Part of him fought not to tell Sanborn to stop the Humvee but the majority of him wanted to yell at him for driving so damn slow… even when the other soldier was doing the speed limit. He wanted to push the darker skinned soldier out of the Humvee and take off to the sight like a bat out of hell, after telling him to walk because that was what Will was an centimeter away from doing himself.

Will was seriously considering it, that is until they were a little more than five blocks away when he saw it. That heavy, familiar smoke that could only come from a chemical compound. Paralyzed in his seat, William could only stare at it as Sanborn carried them toward the bomb site. It shouldn't be this hard, but the fact of the matter was that it... was. He hadn't felt this kind of fear since he was a young GI, he was human sure but he grew to quickly understand how these things worked. War was hell but it was also addictive; the last bit he found surprising, even though most wouldn't be able to understand. The adrenaline pumping in his veins as he disarmed an IED, pulling out the pin and if it touched the sides? Boom. Nobody really understood his fascination with it and it really wasn't something that he could explain.

"Eight hundred seventy-three, sir." He remembers quickly relaying to the Colonel whose last name was apparently 'Reed'. Will had tried to play it off at first, stating that he wasn't sure of how many times he put his life on the line to disarm an IED like the car bomb he had just defused. He had been quickly - but kindly - cut off with a 'Sergeant, I asked you a question.' Who was he kidding, really? Of course he would count the times when he could have gotten blown up. Immediately, Colonel Reed echoed it with an astounded edge as the soldiers that were with him shook their heads with surprised expressions. "Counting today, sir. Yes."

"That's gotta be a record." Colonel Reed blinked and looked at one of the soldiers with him, as if he had a record book hidden somewhere on him; before turning back to Will and finally asked the question that he seemed to have trouble putting into words, "What's the best way to... go about disarming one of these things?"

"The way you don't die, sir." Will offered after a moment of hesitation, knowing he could have gone into the specifics but it was a dangerous game they all were playing. Not all would make it out alive. Will chose to remain silent when the Colonel claimed that he spoke 'like a wild man' and that it was good. That was a first but then again, according to others, it didn't make it any less true.

It wasn't long until they arrived, Will trying and half succeeding to conceal his gulp of nervousness when they exited the vehicle... stepping into the chaos with a 'USA friendlies coming through'. Will had a feeling it was going to be a longer night than he had first predicted.

He was right; sometimes Will fucking hated being right. It started off with a "Make room, guys. Make room." slipping out of his mouth to the soldiers in front of them that were taking it all in. Much like how Sanborn and Eldridge were doing, but at least they were still moving. First time with a tank explosion? They probably never seen this kind of devastation before. He heard Eldridge try and get Sanborn's attention but what caught his eye first was a man that had both his legs blown off. "Oh, shit!" He gulped and he ran forward in an attempt to help even though deep down he knew that there was nothing he could do. Hell, the most that could be done was stop this man from bleeding out. Still… "Get a medic! Get a medic!"

Someone, standing somewhere, must have translated because there was a flurry of movement towards the guy and as he took a step back to not be caught in their way, he couldn't help but send out a prayer once more. Please God, don't let her be caught in this! Sending out a hand signal to the other two with him, even though it seemed unneeded, they started with the blast assessment. Somewhere a little boy frantically called out for his 'Aba' - a father who seemingly got caught in the blast. A small group of women clad in Islamic black coverings sat together in a circle on the rubble scattered ground, a little way from the fire, and threw their hands upward and cried for the dead.

There was also someone that seemed to be out of place in all this chaos going on. There, standing off to the side and ignored by most of the soldiers, was a beautiful dark haired woman that looked to be Chinese. Hong Kong, maybe? With slanted dark eyes and wavy, sleek hair it was a wonder why people ignored her; not that he would even make a move - having a soulmate now and all - but still. She had this deadpanned expression that seemed permanently engraved on her face, but those observant eyes seemed to have missed nothing that went on around her. The message 'fuck off' seemed to be stamped on her forehead. She was dressed in civilian clothes but Will could easily see through that act of blending in, which he was sure was all that was.

"Move!" A familiar female voice boomed suddenly, and he twisted his head to see Bree's wild curls moving with her as she tried to push through the soldier that was blocking her from the site. He moved forward as quickly as his legs could carry him, and just like that the woman whom was out of place seemed to be forgotten.

"Let her through." William cut off the stoic, but protesting soldier in front of him and watched as Bree was unhanded by one that he outranked. His tone taking on a hard edge with the order, and will didn't have to yell like a drill sergeant to get his point across. He grabbed her arm as soon as she was close enough and all but dragged her away from them before twisting around to look her dead in the eye. There was only one reason that came to him as to why Bree, Lexi's friend that he met less than an hour earlier, would be here. After a few moments that left like centuries, he forced himself to speak. "Please don't tell me Lexi… was here?"

"I… can't do that." Bree, for perhaps the first time since Will had met her, looked sorrowful at him. With pity, as if she could tell just what he was feeling… maybe she could. William James unceremoniously collapsed to his knees, the hard ground that met him shocked him with pain that was welcome at the moment. His heart pounded in his ears, hurting from the inside of his chest in the exact spot where it thundered. No… please. "Hey.." She continued, dropping slowly down on her knees in front of him, not even taking a moment to factor just what was around them. "You used the word was. Who's to say that she isn't still here?"

He hadn't found her, for one. Though the possibility that Lexi could very well be alive made him want to burst into action. His mind and heart said one thing but his body said another. His knees were killing him as William visibly struggled to stand up. Bree let out a sigh in annoyance before grabbing him and pulling him up. Looking at her and her narrowed eyes, Will could only furrow his eyes in confusion before she spoke, "Oh, if you ever grab and drag me like that again? I will hurt you. I understand that you are worried, but don't you ever do that shit again."

He could only blink at her, the softened side from before concealed with that no bullshit personality that Will suspected drew Lexi in the first place. He silently nodded in understanding, before watching as Bree looked around at all the chaos closely until something seemed to catch her eye. "Come on." She directed at him fleetingly before weaving her body through the people around them, both soldiers and medics alike, giving him nothing else to do but follow. "Raven!"

When he caught up with difficulty, this Raven turned out to be someone that looked as young as Salvatore did. With a heart shaped face, blue eyes and the blond hair that was parted right down the middle, she looked to be on her way to high school. He almost said so, the 'aren't you late for you first period class?' burning on the tip of his tongue but then Will realized something. Bree and Lexi were obviously friends for awhile, what were the chances of Raven knowing Lexi as well? "Raven this is William 'Holy fucking shit.. I certainly did not expect you to look like a fucking angel..' James." Bree shamelessly used the introduction that Lexi had used for him, before turning her head to him. "Will… this is sunshine."

His mouth opened gently, his mind working a mile a minute before something clicked. "Sunshine went out a few minutes before you got here. Probably will be back later." That was what Bree had told Lexi and all his mate did was nod in understanding before she responded. What kind of nickname was Sunshine though? Sure, her blond hair was brighter than Lexi's was but.. Wouldn't it be easier just to call her - Ah. Ray… sunshine. I get it.

"Hi. Where is she?" Will responded impatiently and though he understood he was being somewhat rude, he felt like he spent enough time without his mate by his side. Bree wouldn't have led the both of them over here if Raven didn't have some answers as to where Lexi was… or at least he hoped so anyway.

Raven gave him a slow smile, her eyes moving over him in a thorough assessment before nodding at whatever she took notice of. Locking her gaze back on him, she claimed, "Oh… I like this one." before nodding her head sideways to draw his attention to a small medical tent that had been set up, "She's in there. Overall physically, she is fine but mentally… when she wakes up, I think we will be dealing with a different Lexi."

"A… different Lexi?" He echoed after taking a moment to sigh in relief. Overall she was alright, or will be at least. He was confused though by what the teenage looking woman had said. He followed after her, forcing himself to remain calm to the relatively short walk to the tent.

Raven smiled secretively up at him and in that moment he saw her more than just a kid, there were stories untold in her eyes that made Will just all that more curious. As her hand reached to open the flap, Raven asked him one question that cause him to pause; leaving him to stand outside the tent that held his Lexi. "Tell me, Will… what do you know about feral mutants?"

Not a whole lot, actually.

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I hope that you guys liked this chapter. Quiz people: Anyone want to guess who that woman was? Come on, it's not hard. :) Please review and let me know what you guys think? Please? :D