More Than A Mission | Harrison Osterfield AU [Complete]

Chapter 2. The Secret Weapon

Some people say they can't pinpoint the exact moment they fell in love. You had heard it multiple times, the old "I don't know when it started" and the "It started long before I even realized" family and friends always seemed to say that about the people they loved. But for you? For you it wasn't like that. When it came to Harrison Osterfield, your feelings were like walking down a long hallway with old and new memories hanging from the walls until you reached a dark room. Its too dark to see anything at first and you're too unsure and afraid to move until something happens and switches the lights on to reveal your best friend in front of you. You see him there smiling and the ground underneath you crumbles because that smile had never made you feel like that before and you love it. In that moment you let yourself fall and you love him.

In reality, it didn't happen in a dark room and there was no hallway, there was only a hostage extraction simulation and guns with paint balls in them.

"Lopez, Richards, I need report on the first floor." You spoke through your earpiece as you ascended the stairs to the third floor of the building. The paint was chipping from the wall on your right which made tiny pieces of paint fall on your shoulder  and the wood under your foot creaked loudly with your next step making you wince. "Johnson, Davis, second floor report. Guys, skip this step." You spoke to your team over the earpiece before addressing the ones behind you as you continued to move.

Four pairs of footsteps followed you upstairs, guns ready and ears sharp for any sounds. After clearing the first two floors and coming to the conclusion that the hostages must be on the third, you had left parties of two behind to keep you updated and took the rest of the team with you to finish the mission. Harrison was right behind you and behind him in a neat line was Nadia Rodriguez, Tyler O'Connor and Stephanie McDougall. The five of you had been together since you started the academy so you trusted each other to complete this mission and pass the simulation.

"All clear in first floor, exists covered."

"Second floor secure, Davis is guarding the stairs."

"Good, now Lee, I need eyes on the third floor. What are going up against?" You held your hand up for your team to stop as you heard movement down the hallway. The dark blue walls had concrete spots where the paint was falling and there were lighter rectangles on them from the paintings that must have been hung up there before. Sunlight streamed from a hole in the ceiling and small particles of dust could be seen floating in the air as everyone held their breath and stood still. You lowered your hand once the movement subsided and continued to walk down the hall only to stop when it split into two separate ones.

"The two paths lead towards the same room according to the blueprints." Lee spoke on your earpieces, "There's a door to the right and one to the left. There are heat signals coming from inside so that's where the hostages should be."

"Thanks Lee. Keep me posted." You lowered your gun and turned to your team, "Alright guys, we're almost done so here's what we'll do. Osterfield, you and Rodriguez come with me to the right and O'Connor takes the left with McDougall. We'll go in through the right first and the left team enters on my signal. All of you copy?"

Your eyes met Harrison's and you knew right away that he could read how nervous you actually were, if this went south it was mainly on your head but everyone else would fail because of you. He gave you a nod, his gaze reassuring and his lips moving upwards to form a barely perceptible smile. No one else would've seen it but you were best friends, so you noticed small things like that. "Copied." They all replied in unison and took their place on each side of the wall before stepping into the next hallway.

"Stay alert for any movement." You turned your head for a second to address everyone before you were shoved to the right at the sound of a gunshot. A perp had been guarding one of the doors and had aimed his shot at you but there was no paint on your vest, Harrison's however was decorated with a blue stain in the middle of his chest.