Hudson and Reed looked at each other.
"Did you?—"
"Yeah."
"He just?—"
"Yep."
They both shook with silent laughter again, and Hudson had to bury his face in his arms to keep silent. This was the worst surveillance mission ever. Or the best. Hard to say.
Later that night,the barracks buzzed with an unusual energy. Some people slumped around, reading books, or listening to music. Others busted balls and made stupid jokes that made the space erupt with laughter.
Hudson collapsed onto his bunk, every muscle in his body protesting. Three hours lying prone in the dirt turned out to be way harder on your body than any of the running or hand-to-hand combat drills they used to complain about.
Reed dropped onto the bunk next to his with a groan. "I'm gonna feel that tomorrow."
"Yeah, no shit."
Novak sprawled on his bed across the aisle. Fernandez sat on the edge of his, slowly unlacing his boots. Theircorner of the barracks settled into that kind of easy rhythm that comes from living in each other’s pockets for weeks.
Further down the aisle Shaw lounged, book propped against his knees, looking like he hadn't spent the entire day on some grueling assignment.
"So, how was recon?" Novak asked, his voice tired. "You two see anything interesting?"
Reed and Hudson eyed each other and burst out laughing.
"There was a guy doing yoga," Reed offered. "Downward dog, no less. Spent the rest of the exercise on his phone."
Fernandez paused mid-bootlace. "Seriously?"
"Really kept America safe,” Hudson added.
Novak laughed, shaking his head. "Sounds like you two had a real challenging day."
"It was very serious military business," Reed deadpanned. "Super professional the whole time."
Hudson cracked up again. Jesus. Too tired and too giddy to stop himself.
“What’s the first thing you’re doing when you get out of here?” Novak said, changing the subject.
“Eat real food.” Fernandez didn’t hesitate. “My abuela’s cooking. I don’t care what it is as long as she makes it.”
“Dude! I’m gonna get the biggest sandwich from this deli in Brooklyn,” Hudson said. “Like, absurdly big. The kind where you can’t even fit your mouth around it.”
“That’s what she said,” Reed muttered.
“Jeez, get your mind out of the gutter,” Novak retorted, being all grown up and shit.
Hudson snorted. “What about you, Novak?”
Turning, Novak pulled out a photo from under hispillow. It showed a little girl with dark curls and a huge smile, holding a stuffed dinosaur almost as big as her. “This is Emma.”
“Shut up, man. You’re a dad?” Fernandez exclaimed
“Yeah. She’s two. I’m gonna take her to the zoo or something when I get back. She’s obsessed with dinosaurs right now.”
“She’s cute,” Fernandez said. “Must be from her mother.”
