Chapter 1: Shake It Off
Clay ducked behind the truck as bullets reigned down around him. Sucking in a deep breath, he drew upon his training to get a handle on his heart rate, understanding the need to be in control if he were going to take out the sniper trying to kill him and his brothers. Blowing out a quick breath, Clay lifted his rifle and using his scope began to sight the sniper.
The impact threw him on his back, blackness surrounding him.
"Clay?" Fear gripped Ray as Spenser fell. "Clay!" With Bravo covering them, Ray dragged Clay to the truck and leaned him against the side for cover. "Man down."
Sonny growled as he maintained firing at the building across the street. You don't get to shoot the Kid and live. He prayed Clay would be alright.
A peek through the windows, and glass shattering around him told Ray he needed to find a better spot for the shot. Shifting to the bed of the truck, keeping low, he swiftly sighted the sniper and released a round. A sigh of relief escaped when the pink mist enveloped the man's head and he went down and the bullets coming their way ended.
"Clay? Clay!" Ray moved back to the kid's side to check for a pulse. His stomach dropped when Clay listed to the side.
Trent surged forward, helping Ray lift Clay from the ground and pull him back into the alley. Running through all the possible injuries Clay could have sustained. Cerberus and Brock took point. All were cognizant of the four-minute window for Clay and quickly searched for a safe space to assess him and regroup.
"Get him into cover," Adam instructed as he closed the door behind them
"Bravo One, this is HAVOC. Sitrep. Your advancement to the university seems to have stopped." Blackburn's voice over the radio demanding Adam's attention.
"HAVOC, this is Bravo One. Man down, how copy?"
"Copy Bravo One, standing by." Blackburn blew out a long breath as Davis and Mandy eyed him. They observed the situation unfolding on the ground from the feed, but the words 'man down' made their hearts skip a beat as they worried who was injured.
Ray lay Spenser on the ground and shoved a hand under the kid's armor, searching for where the bullet impacted. Not finding an entry wound relieved him only slightly. He turned to Trent. "He took a round directly to his chest plate. No entry or exit wound. Didn't penetrate. Got a pulse but he's not breathing."
"Alright, impact must have paralyzed his respiratory system." Trent dropped to a knee beside Clay with an epi-pen in hand. Hopefully, this works. He injected the adrenaline into Clay's chest then rubbed his sternum trying to get a response.
The tension hung thick in the air as they waited for the adrenaline to kick in. Trent continued his ministrations until Clay sucked in a breath, coughed, and his eyes shot open. Relief surged through all of Bravo at the sound.
Trent sighed in relief. "Let's get him up."
Clay's eyes opened as he sucked in air, his chest on fire.
"At least we know his body armor is not made in China," Sonny quipped, more relieved than he wanted to admit that Clay was alive.
"Alright, yes or no questions only." Trent shone a light at Clay, keeping a close eye on the youngest team member. "Are you in Virginia Beach?"
In a world of pain, still trying to gain his breath back all Clay could manage was a slight shake of his head.
"Are you in India?"
This time he nodded yes. Man, breathing hurts.
"Am I better looking than Sonny?"
Clay's eyes sought out Trent's and he couldn't help the grin and slight laugh at the thought.
"He's fine."
"Goldilocks is obviously concussed." Sonny's serious response to Clay's answer brought comical relief to the team. Glad he's alright.
"Bravo One, this is HAVOC. Give me a sitrep. Students aren't going to be able to hide forever." The tension in the embassy rose with each passing moment, not knowing who was injured or how badly. Blackburn hated pushing the men with one down, but they had civilians in imminent danger.
"We're all up, HAVOC. Bravo Two took a round to the body armor. He's ambulatory. We are Charlie Mike." Adam relayed that Clay was good to continue the mission. "Any new information on the student's location?"
Clay barely heard the conversation between Adam and TOC as he fought to regain his breath. After Ray helped him up, he slid his hand under his armor as another wave of pain coursed through his chest. Bending over he winced, fighting the urge to stop breathing if only to ease the pain. Still struggling for breath, he raised his hands over his head, noting Trent's watchful eye on him.
Ray continued to watch Clay, ensuring he wouldn't fall over from shortness of breath, while Adam got an update from Blackburn and Ellis. When it appeared the mission would proceed as planned, he passed Clay his rifle. Squeezing Clay's shoulder once he gave him a slight nod. You can do this, kid.
Clay accepted the weapon and looked it over. His breaths still rapid and his heart racing from the additional epinephrine he silently prayed he wouldn't be a burden to his team.
"Clay, you stay close to me. Ray, you're on point. The rest of you, fall in to patrol order." Adam approached Clay. "How you feeling?"
"Uh …" Two more shaky breaths in. "Like the weakest link. Like I slowed us down."
"I'd rather lose a little time than my 2IC. Shake it off."
"Not so easy." Clay resisted the urge to return his hand to his chest where he was sure spectacular bruising was forming. He still struggled to get his breathing under control.
"Not so hard." Adam eyed him as his instructor's voice came out. "Shake. It. Off."
"Roger." Clay lifted his rifle and prepared to follow the guys. Pain flared in his chest from the movement, but he pushed it down. Intent on following orders and rescuing the hostages.
Moving down the street towards the University, Bravo was on high alert. More so after Clay being shot. No one wanted a repeat performance.
When TOC indicated forces headed their direction Adam instructed two on point as they prepared to defend themselves. All shifted behind cover when the bullets started flying.
Clay was focused on the gunfire in front of him when he heard Adam's yell. Adam's movement to the back of the group to change his clip didn't even phase him. What did catch his attention, however, was Adam's yell."
"S vest!" Unable to reload in time to kill the suicide bomber, Adam ran for the man. Protecting Bravo his only mission, he tackled the man.
Clay watched in horror as Adam launched himself at the man with the suicide vest. The explosives exposed on his chest. Turning to run for Adam the force of the blast staggered him back a few paces. Adam's body, engulfed in flames, was thrown from the man. Clay's breath caught with a different kind of pain as he made his way to Adam.
When the last of the insurgents fell, Bravo turned towards the direction of the explosion. Noting Clay stood frozen in place, his gaze transfixed on Adam's charred body.
"Bravo One, this is HAVOC. What did we just see?"
Ray ran past Clay, his heart racing after the explosion. "What happened?"
"Um … Adam ... he, uh … he just …" Clay couldn't speak, he couldn't breathe, he didn't even know if his heart was still beating in his chest.
Ray knelt beside Adam and searched for a pulse, his gut already telling him he would find none.
Davis and Ellis watched with bated breath as Blackburn kept calling for a sitrep from Bravo One. The screen showed the guys gathered, but no one answered.
"Adam's gone."
Ray's words plowed into Clay as if he had been hit by a semi.
When TOC called for a response again Trent looked to their second in command. His voice soft as his mind caught up to Ray's declaration. "Clay, answer."
Clay recognized everyone looked to him. He was 2IC, leading the team now fell to him. But instead of speaking, his eyes shifted back to Adam. Barely able to breath much less speak.
Blackburn began pacing. With no response and only the live feed to go on, they had no idea what just happened. He was relieved when he heard Ray's voice over the comms.
Recognizing no one else was able to respond, all at a loss for words, Ray stepped up. "HAVOC, this is Bravo Six. We read you Lima Charlie. I pass Fallen Eagle."
Davis' heart skipped a beat. No, this can't be happening.
Blackburn noted the room descended into silence at Ray's words. "Bravo Six, say again your last." Please let me have heard him wrong.
"Six to base, I say again, fallen eagle. We lost Bravo One."
Mandy dropped to her seat and covered her eyes, forcing herself to keep her tears at bay.
Lisa immediately began searching for a way to get the boys out while Blackburn spoke with Ray.
Clay could only stand and watch. Hearing the conversation between TOC and Ray as he forced himself to breathe, his chest aching with every inhale and exhale. He glared at Ray and Sonny when they suggested they leave Adam and move on to the University. "I'm not leaving Adam."
Ray stood and faced Clay, noting the blank expression on his face. "Adam's not here."
"THEN I'M STAYING!" The words yelled at Ray took all his breath away and he winced at the pain in his ribs.
"Clay, you staying here is not an option, okay. It's either we all stay or not." Ray forced his voice to remain calm despite the emotions fighting their way out. He grabbed the front of Clay's vest to force the kid to look at him. "Now let me tell you something. As hard as this decision is, Adam would have made the same damned one because he knows those kids need us more than he needs us."
Clay swallowed hard and peered down. Even Ray shaking him couldn't tear his attention away from his friend.
"Hey. We'll be back." When Clay didn't acknowledge his words tried again. "Look at me! We will be back."
Forcing himself to acknowledge the truth in Ray's words, Clay nodded. Still not liking leaving Adam here alone, but understanding they needed to complete the mission.
"HAVOC, this is Bravo Six. That's a negative on the CASEVAC. We are Charlie Mike to the university."
Trent, Ray, and Clay made quick work of shifting Adam's body to some cover. They rigged a tarp to cover him and disguise the fact a body lay beneath.
Recognizing the of the signs of shock, and realizing that time was their enemy and not a luxury, Ray discerned Clay's frame of mind was in no position to take over command and began issuing orders. "Trent, on point. Sonny, take rear security. Let's move out."
Noting Clay's state, Sonny stopped in front of him and grasped his arm. "Hey, now ain't the time to mourn. Time for payback, alright. Let's go."
Clay stared at the tarp for a long moment, hating leaving a brother here alone. Sucking in another deep, painful breath Clay forced himself to move out. They're going to pay for this.
Bravo moved through the streets of Mumbai at a quick pace, understanding the longer it took them to arrive at the university, the less chance the students would have at survival.
Keeping pace with the rest of the guys, Clay forced himself not to give in to the urge to stop and curl up into a ball. His chest burned with every breath, and his hands tremored slightly with the adrenaline coursing through him. He was relieved when they passed through the rear entrance to the university and found the Indian military waiting for them, even if they had weapons pointed at them to begin with.
After meeting up with the lieutenant in charge, they spread the blueprints to the building on the hood of a truck and began to formulate a tactical plan. Forcing his mind to engage, Clay started at the map.
"The main entrance, is it a lobby or an atrium?" Ray asked, searching for their entry point.
"Both", the answer received.
"Let's not go that way." Sonny voiced what all were thinking.
"The side entrance right here." Clay pointed to the location on the plans. "Is it locked?"
"It's an emergency exit. It shouldn't be."
"Check. We're headed there." Ray was relieved Clay seemed to get his head back in the game. Spenser was a heck of an operator and they needed him present. "Trent, on point."
"I got it."
Clay's statement drew the attention of every member of Bravo. Each wondering what the kid was thinking.
"You took a round to the chest, brother." Ray understood Clay's decision but needed to ensure he was good to go.
"I shook it off." Clay met Ray's gaze, determination in his eyes.
"Alright."
Moving to their entry point, Clay forced his mind back into mission mode, pushing down the pain that came with each breath, and the emotional pain of losing Adam. As he reached for the door handle it swung open and a blur rushed past him. When a young woman almost collided with Ray, they moved back to learn if she had any useful information.
Trent checked the woman's arm and rigged a temporary sling while she relayed what she knew. Giving the team the details she could. Unable to remember where the study lounge was, Brock instructed Cerb to jump up and catch her scent.
Upon entry, Cerberus led the team through the library and straight to the lounge where they found thirteen students, eight American and five others, huddled in fear. As Sonny spoke to the group, Clay leaned against the wall, the pain in his chest shouting at him.
"Bravo Six to HAVOC base. Preparing to extract the students." Ray joined Clay at the front of the group before they entered the stairway. "Bravo Six to HAVOC, we are Charlie Mike."
When they reached the bottom of the stairwell Clay pushed up against the wall, the muzzle of his rifle pointing into the main room of the library "Movement." He whispered to the team. "I've got tangos between us and our exit point."
"Trent, take the high ground. Kairos, keep them in the stairway. Hold security." Ray instructed.
The guys, trained to react to orders instantly, moved to gain their positions.
"Way too many places for them to hide out there. We need an advantage." Clay kept his focus on the men between them and the door as Ray spoke with HAVOC, asking them to turn the lights out.
When the room went dark, Clay and Ray led the way into the library. They moved systematically through the room eliminating targets.
Turning a corner they encountered a man who began firing at them. As Clay squeezed the trigger on his rifle, sending the man to the ground, pain flared in his right bicep and he grunted. Filing the pain away with that from his chest, Clay kept moving. Only pausing when the room was clear and the lights came back on.
"That's payback." Sonny peered at his teammates, each giving a nod in return. When his eyes landed on Spenser he groaned. "Hey, kid. You're hit."
"What?" Clay's brows furrowed, only remembering the pain in his arm when Sonny grasped it. "Must have gotten clipped clipped."
Trent jogged down the stairs and immediately approached Clay and inspected the wound. "Through and through. Will need a few stitches to close it up but you should be fine."
"There are ambulances waiting outside." Brock let out a slow breath.
Ray nodded and led the way. First Clay took a round to the vest, then Adam killed, and now Clay is shot again. I just want this mission over so we can go home.
Once outside Trent guided Clay to one of the ambulances, explained the situation, and kept an eye on the paramedics as they cleaned and closed Clay's wound. Ray stood nearby and checked in with Blackburn.
"HAVOC base, this is Bravo Six. The students are en route to your position along with local partner force. Where is our ride to Bravo One?" Ray's eyes met Clay's as he waited for an answer.
"Trying to get you one, Bravo Six. Could take a beat." Davis wished transport was waiting on them, but the situation in the city proved a challenge.
Blackburn paced. Although Bravo was safe, they were not back yet.
"Whoa, what's that supposed to mean?" Clay pushed up from the bumper of the ambulance as the medic attempted to wrap his wound.
"Hey, Clay. I got this." Ray placed a hand on Clay's left shoulder and pushed him back down so the EMT could finish his job. "
Clay listened in as Ray and Blackburn spoke. When it was evident they weren't getting a ride anytime soon, and Ray accepted the answer, his blood began to boil. After exchanging a few heated words with Ray he found a truck, climbed in, and started the engine.
Unable to allow Clay to leave on his own, and desiring to ensure Adam returned home to his family, Ray motioned for the guys to load up. The ride to Adam was spent in silence. They were taking Adam home with them.
Clay wound the strap and lay it to the side on the floor of the jet. The flag-draped-casket to his right driving home the loss of a teacher, mentor, and friend. If only I hadn't slowed us down. Ray's words to the contrary did little to ease his guilt. Part of the SEAL creed ran through his head, the words Sonny spoke over Adam on the flight … he struggled for breath.
My Nation expects me to be physically harder and mentally stronger than my enemies. If knocked down, I will get back up, every time. I will draw on every remaining ounce of strength to protect my teammates and to accomplish our mission. I am never out of the fight.
We demand discipline. We expect innovation. The lives of my teammates and the success of our mission depend on me … My training is never complete.
We train for war and fight to win. I stand ready to bring the full spectrum of combat power to bear in order to achieve my mission and the goals established by my country. The execution of my duties will be swift and violent when required yet guided by the very principles that I serve to defend.
Brave men have fought and died building the proud tradition and feared reputation that I am bound to uphold. In the worst of conditions, the legacy of my teammates steadies my resolve and silently guides my every deed. I will not fail.
One hand on the handle of the casket, Clay looked to the opening in the jet. A lone silhouette growing larger as the sun streamed in behind him. As the figure drew closer Clay rose, recognizing Jason as he approached. The expression on his face, and the glistening in his eyes conveying to the team his deep ache at the loss of Adam.
When Jason stopped in front of Bravo, his eyes lowering to the casket, his heart clenched. They returned home, but not whole … because of him. Blowing out a breath he stepped forward, thankful Kairos stepped away and Ray shifted back, allowing him to help bear their burden.
Clay grasped the handle and lifted with the rest of Bravo. His chest screamed at him, but he ignored it. Instead focusing on the task before him. Marching off the jet with his brothers, Clay managed to assist in moving Adam to the transport awaiting him.
When the truck pulled away Clay swallowed hard, the pain in his chest overwhelming and his arm throbbing with each beat of his heart. He gasped for air.
Jason heard Clay's labored breathing and turned in time to watch the kid collapse, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. Catching him before impact, Jason lowered Spenser to the ground. "What the hell?"
Trent dropped to their side, reaching to check Clay's pulse. "Took around to the chest. Body armor caught it, but he's bruised pretty badly. Then took a round through the arm. His body must have just given out on him."
"Get medical out here pronto!" Jason ordered.
Ray knelt beside Jason. "He thinks Adam's death is his fault. Clay went down, and shortly after Adam. Kid thinks if he had been up to par Adam would still be with us."
"It's not his fault any more than it's mine for not being there."
"You needed to be home with your family. We all understand that. Jas, don't put this on your shoulders. It was Adam's time."
Jason met Ray's gaze and held it for a moment, nodding once before peering down at Spenser. "Kid gonna be alright?"
"Once he wakes up he should be good to go home unless something broke and shifted. Should just need rest." Trent looked up at the sound of approaching vehicles.
Jason assisted the medics in lifting Clay to the gurney. As they loaded him for the short ride to the base hospital, Jason turned to the rest of Bravo. "Go home, see your family, rest. I'll stay with Clay and make sure he gets home."
Even as the words crossed his lips he knew the guys would not be going anywhere until they had an answer about Clay. As one they headed for the base hospital to await word on the youngest member of Bravo.
AN: I just couldn't leave the last episode alone! Anyway, I would love to hear if you enjoyed the story in a review.