Chapter 33: Winners Stick Together

“He has good instincts.” Teresa commented about Rick’s performance earlier in the day. “He has no real fighting experience and it shows, he only reacted to what he saw and fast at that. Yet, he’s also knowledgeable. Every single one of his blows were perfectly aimed at areas meant to cause debilitating injuries and give an opportunity to make a quick kill afterward. His fighting style philosophy is close to mine. Overwhelm the opponent quickly right from the start and move on after the kill.”

Ethan Hunt nodded as he was watching for the fourth time Rick’s third spar. His time wasn’t anywhere close to the 59 seconds he achieved in the first bout. “He’s learning. While fighting you and at an unbelievable pace.”

Walker answered with a nod. “He does, sir.”

“I’m both terrified and ecstatic by this. He doesn’t care about the time, he cares about getting more tools to survive. Still a long way to go, though.”

“I believe that within the week, he’ll have enough experience to last. I’ll have to adapt my fighting style. It would help if I knew better what he is capable of, sir.”

The Major nodded. “I was thinking of being present while Mia is examining him more thoroughly. I just got a glimpse of what he could do and I think it’s time we know more. What about Sergeant Foley? She’s the one who had the best time after Wald.”

“She paid attention to the goal of the exercise and found an excellent method to go about it. The way she moved told me she knows a lot about avoidance. Unfortunately she didn’t display any real ability to dispatch a threat.”

A sigh escaped Ethan. “Let’s hope the other test will reveal more of the candidates. So far only two fit what the Team needs and it’s worrying, especially since only one of them is an actual soldier. We got a bully, a careerist, a follower…” He wiped his face with his hand. “I was told that these people were the best by each officer that recommended them. I only see disappointment.”

Teresa reminded him of the state of things. “A few had been recommended for political gain and connections, sir.”

“Politics,” Teresa's reminder about the political recommendations did little to improve his mood. He massaged his temples. “You can go, Teresa. I’ll write the report, have a good night.”

The Captain took her leave and let Hunt finish writing a report for every candidate in silence. In another part of the basement, things were not as quiet however.

“Why?”

Rick was facing Rachel, blocking the entrance to his room. The woman in front of him was carrying a duffle bag. She had made the decision to bunker up with him but he couldn’t quite figure the reason why.

“Winners have to stick together.” Her reply was truthful he could tell but just like him when he usually answered questions, it was far from the whole truth.

He stared at her for a moment, unblinking. A sigh finally went through his lips and he moved back to his desk.

“Don’t bother my sleep, don’t bother my study time. If the Captain says anything it’s on you and you alone.”

“Yes!”

The blonde fist-pumped the air and went to take the free bed. Quickly the closet was filled and her empty bag was put at the bottom of it. She lounged down on the mattress and pulled out the same fashion magazine she had been reading earlier.A thought crossed Rick’s mind.

“Wait.” He turned around. “Isn’t there a gender separation or something?”

“Depends on your leadership.” She flipped a page without even looking at him. “Some care, some don’t. When I arrived I wasn’t assigned a room and just told to take one and that I would have to share with someone else so I suppose they don’t here.”

Rick kept his eyes on her for a few more moments before he turned back to his book. It wasn’t his business and he needed to focus if he wanted to learn the insane amount of garbage he was reading. Easier said than done when said book was 800 pages long.

Around half an hour before lights out, he gave up for the day. His brain was about to explode or melt from overworking. Folding the corner of the page he was reading, he closed the book and began to prepare himself for bed. He removed his boots, sock and pants then his tank top. Now only in his underwear, he got under the sheet and closed his eyes.

His objective, like every night since he had come back from Antarctica, was to not think of Claire. A tall order as his ex was always on his mind when his mind wasn’t focused on something else. The first few nights at Jill’s had been a nightmare because he couldn’t think of anything else.

“Already going to sleep?”

Rick opened his eyes but didn’t look at Rachel, preferring the ceiling instead. “What of it?”

“Nothing wrong with that,” Her tone was still curious. “It’s your free time, you use it however you want. I’m just wondering why you don’t do something else.”

“I would if I had something else to do. Unless you’re not scared of possible statutory rape and want to have sex?”

Her snort was followed by a good laugh. “Tempting but no thanks. Try again when you’re not a kid anymore. I might change my answer.”

“By that time we may not be in each other’s life anymore.”

“Majority is that far off?”

Rick turned his head to look at her. She had put down on her chest the magazine and was staring at him. “A bit less than six months.”

“Then we’ll definitely be in each other’s lives at the time then.” Rachel picked up her reading material.

“Confident, are you?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”

Rick was not of the same opinion. “If you were, you wouldn’t have come to my room to buddy up and potentially increase your chances.”

“Oh, no.” She denied. “I came here because you broke my roommate earlier, which between us is a blessing since he was an ass. I’m also curious about you. You’re the only intriguing one among the candidates. Besides, we’re going to work together soon; there is nothing wrong with getting to know each other better before that.”

Inwardly, Rick conceded that it was possible. Rachel was either a particularly very good actress or she was very genuine with her answer. Not knowing didn’t really matter at the moment. With time he’d come to know which it was, so there was no hurry for him to find out now.

Rachel wasn’t done with her questions. “So, no divertissement?"

“None since the US Government nuked everything I owned.” Rick replied non-chalantly.

That took the wind out of her sails. She hadn’t expected such an answer. Was he telling the truth? She couldn’t tell and that disturbed her. Lies were something she was really good at seeing through. Much like him, she decided to let it go for now and simply observe. Her fashion magazine found itself back in her hands. It snatched back her attention and kept it until it was time for curfew.

“Don’t stare too much, huh?”

Rachel spoke in a teasing voice. After putting away her fashion issue, she stood up and went to her locker. Once again her hips swayed rhythmically and in a hypnotic manner while doing so. Rick had to give it to her, despite how unflattering the military pants were, the blonde rocked them to hell and back. The thought of Claire in those was chased away when he focused back on her blonde hair.

Even the way she undressed was teasing. It was as if she was doing a strip tease which from what he knew of the woman so far, fit her character. What surprised him was how big her chest was. Her tank top was strained up to the limits. So much that he was able to tell she wasn’t wearing a bra. The outline of her areolas confirmed it.

'Damn! They’re as big as Jugs.’

“Never saw a big pair before?” Rachel asked as she removed her pants while leaning forward. The movement gave him a nose bleeding view of her cleavage and Rick secretly acknowledged that he would like very much to put his face in it. Or slide his cock.

“I saw bigger,” Her smile faltered a little at the confession. “But I was looking at your dog tags. Made me think of mine and when I’d get them.”

Rachel purposefully stretched, hand behind her back, and put her chest forward making her breast even more formidable. “They’re usually given to you within the week.”

She smirked when her eyes caught Rick’s body having a natural reaction under the sheet and in front of a knockout woman. Her tongue was kept in check however. Calling him out for it would be, in her opinion, crossing a line. They didn’t know each other enough to joke about it yet. She got a reaction out of him and that was enough.

Her silent teasing didn’t stop however and she made sure to take her time and put her panties-clad ass on display when she got into her bed.

“Have nice dreams, kid.”

Unknown to her, her teasing backfired completely. The prospect of dreaming was like cold water poured onto him. He hadn’t had a good night of sleep for a while now. Only the nights when Claire had drained him dry and cuddled up to him had been relatively devoid of nightmares and it wasn’t always something that had happened with their huge difference in stamina.

Closing his eyes, he tried to think of something nice.