You ran through the base with a blurry vision. You made it to the hallway with your room when you bumped into someone. You tumbled back and wiped your eyes.

"I-I'm so sorry! I didn't mea-!" You started to apologize while rambling.

"Oit's alroight Sheil- why are you in your Scout outfit? Wait, are those tears? What happened?" Sniper bent down with his arm outstretched, but you started to crawl backwards.

"I-I'm fine. I'm fine."

"No, you're not, let me help you up so we can talk." No, I don't to talk. Just let me leave.

"ZHERE YOU ARE! SNIPER, GET STRATEGIST!" Medic called, thundering around the corner towards you. No no no!

"Whot? Hang on, why do ya-"

"JUST DO IT!" Before Sniper could though, you jumped up and started running yet again. Now with two pairs of feet now fading away under the sound of your heavy breathing, you burst through the living room hearing confused voices and someone talking quickly. Once you reached the outside, you felt someone grab you. Your muscles immediately tensed up and you started trying to yank free.

"Leetle girl must calm down!" Heavy told you, trying to calm you down while fighting to keep you still. He's right, what are you doing? You're the wild animal now. Your legs stopped kicking and you became still. You hung your head with your muscles still tense and ready to lash out. Slowly looking up, you saw Medic, Sniper, and Demo looking at you with worried faces. Medic's was much more angry than worried though.

"I-I'm s-sorry. I don't e-even know w-what happened. I panicked and... um," You stuttered, Heavy patting your shoulder, letting go. "I'm just really sorry."

"Whot made ya run off loike that? Ya scared the piss out of us," Sniper asked. You were silent.

"I'm too drunk for this, but lass ya already made the mistake. Tell us what's bothernin' ya," Demo chimed in. You nodded. Lie to them. You shouldn't. It'll only make it worse if you lie. Don't let them in! Do it! Tell them!

"I-It's my Dad...," you started, speaking softly. "He... blocked all communication with me and that doesn't sound as terrible, but he told me he never wants to see or speak to me unless I leave Teufort behind completely. I can't, because I'm in a contract... so that's the problem." You shifted a bit from Heavy. "Then h-he made me realize the decision I-I made. Where during the excitement and convincing of my mother, which I still have Spy to explain her behavior, didn't allow me to think fully about what I was doing. I'm here alone with a bunch of at least eight grown men, who knows about Pyro, and I've only known them for like three hours. It was like all my common sense left me, it was embarrassing, and I literally ran from it. I let you all down by collapsing when I should have been able to keep myself together. I'm sorry." You managed to explain despite that not being all you wanted to say.

No one said anything for a long time. It was if they were still trying to connect your terrible actions to your explanations. Looking for lies. It made you feel like crap. You hugged your arms and stared at an ant on the ground.

"Zhat's it?" Medic asked and was elbowed by Sniper. "Ow!"

"I know it sounds stupid...," you mumbled.

"Lass, it's not stupid," Demo tried to comfort you. You looked up when the ant crawled away.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Exactly, it's not your fault Medic's tiny brain can't understand complex emotions," Sniper said with a goofy smile. You snickered.

"Hey!" Medic snarled and slapped Sniper. "I'll get jou back for zhat!" Sniper shook it off and laughed. You smiled.

"What do ya mean ya should 'ave been able ta keep yourself togethah? Ya were under a lot of pressure," Demo asked.

"Well...," you tried to come up with an explanation for your ramblings.

"Yeah, it's not entirely your fault, especially aftah whot Medic did ta getcha ta run off loike that," Sniper added.

"I guess...."

Medic mumbled something.

"What?"

"I said I'm sorry for... pressuring jou, but jou should have been able to just tell me!" He said in a near shout.

"I-I'm sorry. You're right. I've should have been able to tell you and I wasn't. I wasn't ready to open up to anyone. I didn't want to and I kinda still don't want to." He didn't say anything and folded his arms.

"So... how ya feelin'?" Demo asked gently.

"A-Alright I guess. Not like I'm going to run off or anything," you laughed, "But I do feel better yes. I guess we should tell the others?"

"For one: See? All ya had ta do was talk to us. And two, well it's up to you," Sniper said.

"Good." You gave a small, awkward smile.

Heavy silently pulled you into an awkward hug and you timidly accepted it.

"Oh I need a drink after this," Demo complained and laughed. You giggled and he came and joined the hug.

"Whot the hell," Sniper said, joining the hug.

"Join us doktor!" Heavy called to Medic.

"No thank you, I'm fine right here," Medic declined.

"Tiny brain...," Sniper sang. Medic huffed and begrudgingly joined your group hug between you and Sniper.

"Ve vill talk about zhis later," Medic whispered into your ear. Oh great.

When you pulled apart, you all slowly entered back into the base and into the living room. Scout and Engie were sitting on the couch.

"Where have ya'll been?" He asked, looking directly at you.

"Outside," Sniper stated and Demo nodded.

"Doin' what?"

"Just outside. I'm gonna get a drink," Demoman answered and sauntered off into the kitchen.

"I'll be in zhe Medbay. Don't disturb me unless jou're dying," Medic announced and walked off. Heavy silently sat on the other couch and Sniper layed in the recliner with a serious expression staring at the ceiling.

"Hey Strat, wanna have a race?" Scout asked.

"Actually, Scout, do ya mind if Ah talk to her a bit first?" Engie asked. Scout slowly nodded, looking confused. You saw Heavy and Sniper both glance your way. He turned to you. "Do ya mind if we talk?" Yes I do. I do very much. There is no describing the amount of "I do mind" that I can conjure up and tell you. I just had a good moment and I don't wish to deal with anymore.

"No, I-I don't mind," you answered and he stood.

"Good, follow me." He lead you back outside. In silence you two walked back into the supply building. Engie checked around for anyone and opened the door for you to go in. You walked in and he followed you, closing the door. "So. What did ya do outside?"

"Demo told you. W-we were just-"

"Now that is the dumbest lie Ah've heard you say." You do lie a lot. You need to fix that.

"Right... right. I lie a lot don't I? Um, so I hurt my ankle rocket jumping with Soldier. Medic took me back to the Medbay and healed it with what he called a medigun. Then... he told me I couldn't leave until I explained what was wrong. In hindsight, it was more of a thoughtful, concerned gesture than I originally took it. To be honest it was kinda odd to have Med- I'm rambling. So after he told me that I couldn't leave, I ran. Like a wild animal. A useless, wild animal. Heavy caught me and pulled me to my senses. He made me realize how crazy I was acting and then everyone talked me through what I told you last night. Um, the pressure got to me. I didn't want anyone to know. I don't really want to tell you this. I'm sorry. It's just, people with knowledge are people with power y'know?" You were hugging yourself, trying to keep that good feeling you felt moments ago. He didn't speak for a long time like the others.

"Ah get it. Ah know what it's like to not trust anyone.... That's how I felt when I first joined, too.... Though, my father didn't disown me, but what kind of father is that?" He said slowly. You looked up and he had his hat in this gloved hand. You silently nodded and avoided eye contact. "It's true ya made a mistake and ya overreacted, but it was wrong for Medic to force you into a situation like that. Ah think the best thing to learn from this is to just know that we're here for ya. If ya need a girl ta talk to, Miss Pauling could maybe find time in her hectic schedule. If it's not a girl, there's anyone else. Heck, you could tell Pahro if ya didn't want anyone to know." You both laughed and you nodded.

"Yeah. T-Thanks, Engie. This had been an emotional rollercoaster of a day," you met his gaze and smiled.

"No problem darlin'. Want to go back now?" He put his hat back on.

"Yeah, I do." He nodded.

"Let's go." You both headed back to base.