Howdy All!
I get the feeling you all want a follow-up to 'Hold on, I'm coming'.
But first, this request fill.
"Wait, say that again." Stella held her hand up. "I can't have heard you right…..did you just say, you're home for two weeks? No jobs, no missions? No chance of being deployed? None? At all?"
Clay nodded, breaking into a slow grin.
"No training? No going to the base? No work at all?"
He nodded again. She squealed, ready to fling herself into his arms for a huge hug, but he put a hand up.
"But," he grinned. "Only for one week. One week vacation. Second week, yeah, I'll have to report daily to base, but I'll be home every night." Now he let her launch at him, catching her and falling back over the arm of the sofa. "That make you happy?"
"YES!" she snuggled close, content to just lay with him on the sofa. "Can I ask why?"
"Sonny's got the flu or some infection, Jason's nursing a sore back, Ray came up with a bum ankle, Trent left to attend a wedding and Brock's away in training with Cerberus."
"Wait, someone other than you got hurt on a mission? Really?" She pushed up to look down at him. "I checked, you didn't even come home with a bruise this time."
His team had said the exact same thing.
"So, you're given two weeks home because your team can't deploy?" She mused.
"I suppose I could tell Eric I'll run with another team." He teased. Jason would never allow it, but it was fun to tease her.
"Don't you dare! Not only do I deserve to have you home, you deserve a break!"
Wasn't that the truth!
"Can we go away? Go to the mountains maybe? Off-grid? No outside communication?"
"That we can't do." He told her, pushing her hair out of her face. "No, no." he laughed, seeing her face fall in disappointment. "We can go away, we can go to the mountains. But," he kissed her nose. "Me going off-grid with no outside communication on a vacation isn't ever going to happen." Not as long as he ran with Bravo anyway.
"Why not?" she pouted, but without anger.
Because Jason would never allow it.
"Do you want five big guys and a pissed off dog kicking in doors and breaking through windows on your romantic getaway?" he teased.
"We'll tell them where we are." She argued, laying her head back on his chest. She was quiet. "You're serious, huh? They would do that?"
"If they tried to reach me and couldn't? Yeah. Yeah, they would." Clay twirled her hair around his fingers. "This time, we're all home for the same amount of time. But there's gonna be times where one of us is home on vacation or leave or left behind due to injury and if anything happens, if something goes wrong with the guys on a mission…"
"I get it." She said. "I do. And I understand. You're going to want to be on the retrieval team that is sent to find them. Yeah, even now, when you're all home and two of you are out of town, if there was an accident, or anything happened, you'd want to be there."
Did she understand, Clay wondered? Did she get it? Because it wasn't; he'd want to be there. It was; he would be there.
Leaving her whenever, wherever would be her life, not all women could hack it. Commander Blackburn's wife was one who could...had for more than thirty years. So far, Ray's wife was holding on, but Jason's wife….well, she'd thought once Jason had put in enough years to retire, he would. But he hadn't and didn't have any intention of doing so. And their kids were still young. Not as young as Ray's, but young enough to have several more years at home and Alana wanted to be a family of four, full-time.
"It's just, do I ever get you all to myself?"
"Sure you do."
"Until your phone buzzes." She pushed up. "Can we really go to the mountains?" She didn't want to get her hopes up, but if they stayed here at the apartment, someone would be by or call and invite Clay out for drinks or to shoot pool. Sure, most of Bravo was either down or out of town, but sore backs and bums ankles did not mean 'restricted to bed'. Huh. Didn't matter. Someone from one team or another was always in town. Alpha, Echo, Bravo support, guys Clay had teamed up and servied with before…it was the Navy, someone was always home.
"Do you have a destination in mind?"
"Just jump on the Blue Ridge Parkway and stop where we feel like it. Maybe Roaring Runs Falls? Rent a cabin or camp out under the stars."
Why not?
"Okay." Clay agreed. "Cabin though. We can watch the stars from its porch. Let me call Jason while you decide where we're staying so I can let him know." He set her aside and got up.
She felt a flash of irritation, but shook it off. She wanted to be spontaneous, not plan the trip down to every detail, but she'd gotten her way, they were going. She watched him move off, the ever present phone pulled from his back pocket. It did cross her mind that Jason might say no. He really didn't have the right to do so, but that didn't matter. If Jason Hayes, Clay's boss, didn't want Clay to leave town, then Clay wouldn't leave town.
Ugh!
***000***
Though separated from his wife, the separation was amicable and rather than staying with Ray on the sofa, driving his wife crazy with two invalids, an infant and a five-year old, Jason had accepted his wife's invitation to recuperate at home. The kids were happy, accepting that Dad would be staying with them while home for two whole weeks, this time.
He thought it odd to be getting a call from Clay, the kid had been given a week off. He was on free time, what could he want? He motioned to Mikey he'd be right back and stepped out onto the patio to take the call.
"Here you are."
Jason sat at the table, forgetting his promise to return to his son and continue their game of checkers. Alana had eventually wandered out in search of him with two glasses of iced tea. She set one down in front of him and took a seat across from him with the other.
Jason was quiet. He wasn't happy. Oh, he didn't like this. Didn't like it all. The kid being across town, out of his sight was one thing. Driving with just the girlfriend out of town was quite another. But the kid had been given the week off and he didn't need Jason's permission to go. He was an adult who, before joining Bravo, had managed to live his life and stay alive just fine.
"Hello Jason." Alana teased with a smile. "Hey there. Hi."
"Huh? Oh, yeah." His mind was racing over the possibilities what kind of trouble Clay might find in the mountains of Virginia. He sighed, he needed to find a way to let this go.
"What's going on?" She curled her legs up in the chair. "Someone in trouble? I didn't see you call anyone after you hung up." Like Eric. "Everything okay?" She offered him sugar.
"Yeah, sorry." He used the straw to dunk the slice of lemon beneath the ice, stirred in a spoonful of sugar. "That was Spenser. He's, uh, going away for a few days with the girlfriend."
"Is that a problem?"
"No." But he didn't sound certain. He shook his head. "No."
"Did he call for your permission or to tell you?"
"To tell me."
"But if you had said no, he couldn't go, or you'd rather he didn't, would he gave gone anyway?"
"No."
"Could you have stopped him had he said he was going if you'd told him no?"
Jason shrugged. "He was given the week off, he can do what he wants. I can't stop him."
"But as team leader, his boss, had you said no, he wouldn't have gone, right?" Alana pressed. "Some team leaders would abuse that power. You can make his life hell, he disobeys you, but you can't punish him for doing whatever he wants to on his free time. Am I right?"
"It's not that." Jason tasted the iced tea, added more sugar. "It's just, I don't know how the hell he managed two tours in Afghanistan, how he completed training. I've talked to some of the guys he served with while on those deployments. I've beat Adam up over drinks and dinner, grilled him how the kid did in training and everyone tells me the same thing. No injuries, no incidents."
"But you don't agree?"
"I let him out of my sight and he's hurt or lost or kidnapped. All this grey? Ain't from you."
She smiled. "He's young Jason. Reminds me so much of you."
"I can handle young. I can handle reckless and daring and cocky. I can handle dumb choices and stupid decisions. I can beat those traits out of him. What I'm having trouble with is this gut-feeling if we let him go off on his own, we're gonna hafta go get him."
"I know I don't have to point this out, but…..you can transfer him out of your unit."
"The guys would revolt." He sipped more tea. "I've thought about it, talked it over with Eric, just can't bring myself to do it."
"Because he'd just go to another team who might not care as much as you do? Because you're worried about what will happen to him? Or because you don't want to? You thrive on looking out for someone Jason Hayes. You like being needed. It's why you put up with Sonny."
"Sonny's a good guy."
Alana grinned. "He is. You know I adore him."
"Clay is still learning, still makes mistakes, but dammit Alana, he's got grit and determination and no matter how badly he's hurt or how often it happens, he never takes advantage of it." He fished the lemon out of the tea with his straw, squeezed it against the side of the glass. "He'll lead one of the best teams out there someday. I want him to learn from me and Ray, the right way to lead, you know? That make me vain?"
"No." She patted his hand. "It's why you have the best team out there. Want to soak in the hot tub before dinner?"
"What are we having?"
"Sushi." She laughed at the face he made. "No? How about spaghetti?"
He perked up. "With garlic meatballs?"
"With garlic meatballs." She got up to go over and turn on the jets on the Jacuzzi tub. "Still on those muscle relaxants? They make you sleepy, don't go and drown on me." She teased. "Hop in, waters hot. Supper in an hour."
***000***
"I'm sorry." Stella set two mugs of mulled cider on the small table inside their rental cabin. "I had no idea it had rained so hard out here."
Had? Clay looked out the window. Still was.
It was after 10 o'clock. The drive had been easy, no traffic, but they'd run into rain an hour out from their destination and it hadn't let up.
"It'll be better in the morning." She said. "I hope. We can always go home."
"Or spend the next three days holed up in a cabin with a wood fire, mulled cider and nothing to do."
"Well, put that way…"
Morning came, but dawn didn't.
Clay woke up to heavy rain, grey clouds and windy conditions. He was showered and dressed before Stella stirred, rolling over.
"Time is it?" She asked sleepily.
"Almost 6." He picked up his car keys. "I'm running into town, coffee and breakfast, gimme an hour."
She was snug in bed and had no desire to get up and go out in the rain. "Bring back something we can cook for dinner."
"Will do." He gave her a kiss, pulled his hood up and went out the door.
Stella fell back asleep. 6 a.m. was early to be awake on vacation, but Clay's military clock didn't stop ticking because he wasn't at work or on a mission. Nope. Every day. 5 a.m. He was up and ready to go.
She woke up at 8, expected to hear Clay watching TV or smell breakfast, but nothing. The room was dark and quiet and empty. She didn't worry, got up to shower and get ready for the day. It was still raining, so no hiking to see the Falls. Maybe they could go into town, catch a movie and dinner or go bowling.
9 a.m. - He was more than two hours late coming back with breakfast.
10 a.m. - She tried calling him. Call went directly to voicemail.
11 a.m. - She pulled on a rain poncho and headed down to the rental office.
Noon. - She was beyond hungry and annoyed. She was worried.
1 p.m. - She knew what she was supposed to do when he was more than six hours past his time to call in or return.
()
"Jason?" Alana called. She hated to wake him up, he hadn't been sleeping well since being home. And it wasn't because he was staying in the guest room. "Jason?" Better he get up and walk into the kitchen and see what was in her hand then to wake him up, leaning over him with it.
He came into the kitchen, rubbing one eye with the heel of his hand. He yawned, took a glass out of the dish drain, filled it with ice from the fridge dispenser, added water.
"Time is it?" He stretched his back, stopped with a wince. "Shit."
She held out his flip phone. The burner phone that couldn't be tracked or traced. The phone that only 6 people had the number to. And those 6 people didn't include his wife or kids.
And there it was. The gut-gnawing began as shivers traveled his spine.
"Who?" he set the glass on the island, and made a fist to quell the shaking before it could start. "God Alana, what?" her look told him, she didn't have to say the words. "No fucking way." Jason breathed, bumping his forehead against the door frame. "Not happening. We're home." He pulled his phone out of his pocket, thumbed a number but didn't hit send. "Jesus Fucking Christ! We just got him back!" He took the flip phone from Alana. "Stella?"
Alana got up. She didn't know if she should step out and give him privacy or stay and offer emotional support. She looked down at the phone in Jason's other hand…Eric. Jason snapped his fingers at her, gestured for her to pick up her own phone. She sat back down and dialed Clay's cell phone number.
Eric was surprised Jason was calling him. His wife looked over at the familiar ring tone. She knew the CCR song identified the caller as Jason. Eric shrugged. He was enjoying his week off as much as Bravo was.
"Jason." Eric answered. "What's up? You're supposed to be resting."
"Dam busted on the Roanoke River, National Guard was sent in. Who can you contact for information?"
"Mmmm, flooding, yeah." Eric agreed. "Wait, what? That doesn't have anything to do with us."
"Spenser's in Eagle Rock with Stella. Left the motel this morning at 6 to get breakfast, never came back."
Eric was silent, then waved at his wife, snapped his fingers to get her attention. "Betty!" He hissed, she finally looked up. "Where is Eagle Rock?" He whispered.
"30 miles or so north of Roanoke." She replied. "Oh-oh?" She questioned. "Oh." She saw his face. "Oh no."
"What is he doing there and why didn't I know about it?" Eric asked calmly, taking the second cell phone his wife handed him. "Have you heard from him?"
"No."
"Any reason to suspect something happened?"
"Other than it's Spenser?"
"Right." Eric handed the phone connected with Jason to his wife, dialed the other cell phone and moved off.
"Hello Jason." Betty chirped. "How's the back? PT's going well, good to hear that."
Jason was quiet. He shouldn't be surprised his Commander's wife knew things she shouldn't. He knew Eric shared more with her than was 'allowed', but still, it always stunned him when she talked about things he didn't think she knew about.
"Just a bruise." Jason replied finally. "Getting plenty of rest."
"So, what's going on? Eric's calling the Pentagon."
Jason winced. He hadn't asked Eric to do that!
"Uh, it's on the news the National Guard was sent in to assist with flooding from a busted dam near Roanoke."
"Lot of rain in that area over the last week. The fools should have opened gates and let the water out, but nope." She sighed. She knew everything that was on the news. That was her job, to keep current on the news, so she could keep her husband informed. "So, which of your men is in the area?"
Damn, she was quick.
"Clay Spenser?" She guessed. Jason tended to be a bit over protective with that kid. She didn't blame him. Apparently the kid was the cause of everyone's grey hair. "Is he okay?"
"I'm sure he is." Jason lied.
"Liar."
Jason sighed. "He's been missing since this morning. He's not answering his phone, but service is spotty." Stella had no issues connecting with service from the cabin, but she couldn't reach Clay's cell either.
"Sat phone?"
Jason was quiet.
"You know Jason, as often as that boy is, uh, misplaced, you should order him to travel with a sat phone." Betty said gently. "I'd tell you not to worry, but you will, so don't fret with a bottle." She advised. "Here's Eric."
"Hey Jason, yeah, not much news. A lot of small towns in the area and a lot of campsites and remote resorts. There is severe flooding, but no reports of any injuries or deaths. I'll keep you posted with any updates I get."
"Thanks Eric, sorry to bother you, but…"
"But it's Spenser and if there's a way to get buried in a mudslide or drown in a flood, he's going to find it." Eric said. "I know Jason."
"Yeah." Jason hung up. Debated whether to call Ray or Sonny, just to talk, but no sense worrying them over what was probably nothing. If he needed to talk, he had Alana and Eric. He could call numerous friends that didn't know Spenser and wouldn't panic over the fact the kid was five hours away from them and apparently, possibly missing. Still, he'd feel a hell of a whole lot better, when he heard from the kid.
Eric hung up, sat down on the sofa, both phones on the coffee table in front of him. His wife curled up next to him, laying her head on her shoulder.
"What?" She said after a while of silence. "The boys?"
"We've been out of the country, got back two days ago. Thought he'd rest at home this week." He meant Clay and she knew it. "That kid..." he sighed. "He should be home.
"Aren't Brock and Trent out of town?" She asked. Whatever was really bothering her husband had something to do with being out of the country, but she'd yet to put her finger on it. "What is this really about Eric?"
"We just got back, no one watched the news, Spenser wouldn't have known about the rain or potential flooding."
"Aaah, but you feel Stella should have known."
"You did."
"Of course I did." Again, it was her job to know what was going on at home, no matter where or what or in what state. "Now Eric, that young girl did not deliberately take your man away to a dangerous place. That's nonsense."
"If she had told him about the weather, the potential of flooding, he wouldn't have gone."
"I'm sure he told Jason where he was going."
"Jason is medicated."
"Alana would have known. So blame Jason for not telling Alana where the kids were going." Betty chattered on, trying to bring Eric out of his cranky mood. "Stella is young, their relationship is new, she'll learn, you need to give her time. If you're willing to be patient with Clay, you can be with his girl as well." She sat up. "I'll help you pack."
"For what?"
"The drive to Roanoke." She rolled her eyes. "You can't possibly believe for one second, Jason's not driving out there."
"He…."
"Is medicated," she repeated. "You really want him to drive?"
()
Sonny rolled over, fumbled for the phone, knocked it off the nightstand, and of course, it had to hit the floor, not the mattress. Hanging off the side of the bed on his belly, he felt around with his fingertips until his head swam then oozed out of bed, slithering to the floor in a sweaty heap.
"Yo." He yawned, rolling onto his back, phone to his ear. He realized it was upside down and clumsily turned it right side up. "Yo."
"Sonny."
Boss? Sonny felt his beard, he'd been in bed with a sinus infection, a cold, the flu, something, so he hadn't showered in a day or so.
"Howdy, uh, Boss." He sniffed, reaching over his head for the box of tissues. Dammit, it was a huge ass box! How could he find Chap Stick and cough drops, but not a huge ass box of tissues?! "What's up?" Oh, wait, the box of tissues was on the bed.
"I wake you up?"
"Uh, yeah, probably. Maybe." He sat up, slumped against the nightstand, switched hands to hold the phone and yanked on the sheet to pull the box of tissues close enough he could snag one. Good God, if Jason had called just to see if he was sleeping, he was hanging up and turning off the phone.
No, no wait. He did that, Jason would either come over or send guys from their support team to check up on him.
"Get dressed." Jason said. "We'll pick you up in an hour. Enough time?"
"Uh…..um…...we?" He sneezed. "Time for what?"
"Eric's driving."
"For what?" He repeated, coughing into his shoulder. He blew his nose, dropped the tissue onto the floor. "To get dressed? Guess so." The Nyquil was messing with his head. He hadn't had time to sleep it off. He really should take Dayquil during the day. Duh. "Uh, why?" Wait, their commander was driving? The fuck?! "Who's driving us where?"
"We're going on a road trip."
"We are?"
"Spenser's missing."
Sonny blinked, knocked his head with the heel of his head to unblock his suddenly blocked ears because it sounded like his boss had just said their kid was missing – again.
"Say that again?" Sonny crawled around the bed, headed to the bathroom where he pushed to his feet and splashed cold water on his face. "Cause it sounded like you said our kid was missing, but I heard wrong, right? Cause we're home. We're home Jason. You don't go missing from home."
"He's not home. He and Stella went away, a dam broke. National Guard was sent in. Eric's getting updates from DC, but communications are spotty, Stella's fine, she's safe, but his cell goes straight to voice mail."
"Dammit." Sonny looked at his reflection in the mirror. "Okay, come pick me up. I'll be ready in thirty."