The sterile, dimly lit room buzzed with quiet intensity as Ryan stood by the large map pinned on the wall, his brow furrowed in concentration. The briefing room in CIA headquarters always had a cold, clinical feel to it, and today was no different. You sat across the table from him, reviewing the file in your hands, knowing the weight of the mission looming ahead. It wasn’t the first time you and Ryan were partnered together, but something about this mission felt heavier, more dangerous than the ones before.

Ryan exhaled sharply and broke the silence. "This one’s going to be tough," he said, his voice measured but tinged with concern. "We’ll be going deep into enemy territory. The intel’s not as clean as we’d like, but it’s all we’ve got."

You glanced up at him, sensing the tension beneath his professional exterior. Ryan always tried to stay calm and focused, but you could tell the uncertainty of this mission was getting to him. He paced for a moment, his eyes still fixed on the map.

"We’ll be flying out in 48 hours," he continued. "Infiltration’s going to be tricky—security is tight, and there’s no room for error. You and I... we’ll be on our own for most of it. No backup."

His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken risks. It wasn’t the first time you’d gone on a mission without backup, but something about the way Ryan said it made the reality sink in deeper. There was no safety net this time. Just you and him.

Ryan sat down across from you, his eyes scanning your face for a reaction. "You ready for this?" he asked, his voice quieter now, almost personal.

You met his gaze, and for a moment, neither of you spoke. You knew the stakes. You both did. There was no point in pretending otherwise.

"We’ve handled worse," Ryan added after a pause, trying to ease the tension. He gave a small, reassuring smile, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. You could tell he was already mentally preparing for every possible outcome, weighing every risk.