"Oh, that...well you see..." Nick starts to stutter.
Suddenly the boat rocks to the one side sending Nick and Helena into the wall. He tries to protect Helena from the wall and throws himself in between her and the wall. he hits the wall hard and the extra weight from her makes it worse but he just wince a little. He then feels a sharp pain in his shoulder and realizes that the bullet wound has opened again.
"Are you okay?" He holds her by the shoulders "Yeah, thank you" He put his hand on his shoulder and then see blood on his hand.
(Damn)
"What's going on with the ship?"
He looks in her eyes "Baby, it's very serious, The Admiral will speak to you soon but I have to go now, I'm sorry"
"Oh god! Okay, yeah, of course, go" He walks towards the door and then turns around. "Helena, be safe, okay?"
"Yes, I will" He walks out the door, almost running.
KIM'S POINT OF VIEW
You're walking through the corridors on your way to sickbay. Suddenly the ship rocks. You fall against the wall, slamming you to the floor. You get up slowly and something inside you know, that's not supposed to be happening. You didn't hear a shot and you're definitely no under attack. That must mean that....that the ship is sinking.
"Oh god!"
You run to the sickbay and Nita meets you halfway.
"Kim! We have to get our stuff, we're evacuating. Take only what you can carry, also, get some clothes on that you don't mind wearing for a long time"
"Where are we going?"
"I don't know. The Admiral is still going to talk to us, we must meet him outside the ship after we get our stuff. Now let's go"
She takes you by the arm and you run to your room. You first run for your picture of your family. Then you get dressed in something usable. You grab all the important belongings and you head up to the deck. Everyone is gathered and the Admiral lifts up his hand to quiet them down.
NICK'S POINT OF VIEW
"Okay guys, let's get to the boat we are going to have to move quickly. The Admiral just let me know that we have to evacuate in less than 5 hours. So we have to find a place for the people to be safe. So, let's get in the boat"
Nick and his team get in the boat and they ride to the island close by. They are on the lookout for any suspicious activity, stopping just short of the island, they get into the water into shooting position. They slowly walk in the water towards the beach. Everything looks quiet and they make their way on the beach.
Nick takes the lead and then he hears something. He holds up his hand and makes a fist. His team stops dead in their tracks. He shows with his fingers that two of the team should follow him. He walks slowly around a corner and aim immediately but all he sees is a rabbit. He smiles at his fellow teammates. He then orders the rest of the team to clear a perimeter by showing a few hand signs.
They walk further into the bushes when he hears a familiar "click" sound. Everyone stops and they all look at their teammates. It's easy to see who everyone should look at, the fear on his face is unmistakable and everyone knows that there's no way out of an anti-personnel mine. They all gather around him.
Nick walks up to him "Mike..."
"Just go, sir"
"Mike, it's not sir, it's Nick. Now let's have a look at this mine" Nick bends down and slowly removes the dirt around the mine. What he sees, shocks him to his core.
"Just don't hide anything, please. What is it?"
"It's a bounding mine. It's a CR-38"
All Navy Seals are trained in every possible bomb threat there can be and Nick knows that when you hear the word CR-38, there's no way of getting out alive. He slowly stand up.
"I think you should just get out of here"
"This doesn't change a thing Mike, not a single thing. I'm going to excavate around the mine and then I'm going to render it safe"
Nick bends down and move more of the dirt away from around the mine. He looks closer to inspect the mine. He knows deep inside him that Mike wouldn't make it but he won't give up.
"Master Chief, sir. Could we have a word?" John calls Nick aside.
Nick turns around and looks at John, then stand up and walk to him. "Yes?"
"Sir, Mike's leg is shaking, his muscles are going to spasm, and when that happens..."
"No! We're not leaving him! He's got a wife and an unborn child for god's sake!! No!!"
"Of course! Yes sir!" Nick goes back to Mike. "Sir!"
Nick ignores him and bends down again to look at the mine. He can't face what's about to happen.
"Nick!!"
"What?"
"Tell my wife-"
"NO! No, Mike!"
He lifts his hand in the air to stop him to speak. "I'm sorry, Nick, but you have to listen to me now"
Nick sees the tears running down his face and Nick turns away from him with his hand massaging his forehead. Then he walks closer to Mike. He whispers to him, clenching his teeth.
"Fuck, Mike....why did you do this? Fuck!" Nick can't help the tears falling from his eyes. He looks at him.
"Listen to me Nick, please listen to me"
"I'm here Mike. I'm right here"
"Now, please fucking please, tell Lillian that I love her so fucking much, tell her that my heart only beats for her and that I loved her for a thousand years. Tell her that my love will never die and tell her Nick..."
He sobs so hard that Nick can't help crying with him. He lightly holds his shoulder, making sure not to move him.
"Tell her that I love her and that I love my unborn child. Fuck! Tell her, if love was enough...Dammit! Tell her to live and have a happy life. Will you do that Nick....will you do that"
Nick can't stand it anymore, his entire being and reason for living wants to crash into the ground. He wants to trade places with Mike, he wants to give everything he can to be the one on the mine. He wants Mike to go home to his wife and child. He struggles to get the words out cause it's just too unfair. He doesn't deserve it.
"Yeah, Mike *sobs* Yeah, I'll tell her man, I promise"
"Thank you, thank you..."
Then, John pats Nick on the shoulder. He knows what that means, radio silence. They look around and see someone moving in the bushes. They all move in position. Nick looks at Mike.
"Go, Nick, I'll cover you"
"I'm not leaving you, Mike. We can figure something out"
The enemy is closing in and Nick knows what needs to be done but he can't seem to get himself to move.
"Fuck! Move, sir!!"
He shouts at the top of his voice, attracting the enemy to him. Then he opens fire and Nick moves like a speeding bullet opening fire to cover Mike...