Adam sat at his desk, enjoying the happy cacophony of his team, reacquainting themselves after a six month hiatus. They hadn't seen each other all together since the team debrief after the Alex Hoffman fiasco, though Adam had visited both Preach and McG at their stateside homes during their extended leave. Amir had gone to Lebanon for the entire time but had kept in touch with his captain via email and phone calls.
And Jaz ... Adam's eyes drifted to the little sniper that he had hoped this leave would clear the crazy, confusing feelings he harbored for her. But it appeared six months without seeing or hearing from her had only made his heart grow fonder. He found himself wondering the details of her time off and noticing — admiring — the dark streak of purple in her dark hair, a new necklace around her neck in the shape of a shell, the darker tan of her already olive skin. A shimmer of white teeth flashed as she laughed at something McG said and Adam's breath caught at the radiance of her face.
Amir opened his arms in greeting to McG and Preach wrapped them both in a bear hug. Jaz opened her arms with a pretend look of offense. Preach reached for her first, tucking her under his big arm and giving her an affectionate squeeze. McG stepped up next and unexpectedly picked her up, twirling her in an exuberant circle. Her eyes lit up in laughter until he set her down.
Jaz turned to Amir and Adam was surprised to see him place his hands softly on her shoulders as they exchanged a meaningful look before drawing her into his arms in an embrace that seemed ... personal. Too personal. Too lingering. Adam's eyes narrowed as they broke the hug but maintained contact, Amir's hand casually around Jaz's shoulder and hers around his waist.
"Your eyes are looking a little green, there, Top." Preach's deep voice was quiet but piercing.
Adam jumped at Preach's proximity and shook his head, trying desperately to clear it from the confusion of the obvious closeness between the two that had had such a rough start.
"Don't even start, Preach," Adam warned.
There was no time to pursue it further, even if Preach wanted to, because the all-too-familiar beep beep beep of the secure communications link to DC interrupted the reunion.
Adam clicked into captain mode immediately and clicked the video call to see the home team looking grim through the monitor. "What's up, Deputy Director? We have a case already?"
"I'm afraid we do, Adam. We've intercepted more intel from Rainer Booth's bug. There's an arms deal going down in Saudi Arabia tomorrow afternoon led by Ibrahim Nazari. He's never been seen in public before but apparently this deal is too big for his right hand man to handle. Here's the catch, he's bringing his wife and he's apparently notorious for being, shall we say, overtly affectionate, with her. I want your honest opinion on this Adam. Do you think Amir and Jaz are up for the intimate aspect of this undercover op? I know they had their share of difficulties when Amir joined the team."
Preach's eyebrows shot up at the whole situation and he couldn't wipe the snarky smirk off his face as he glanced at Adam, making sure to stay out of the camera frame.
"If it's not going to work, we will have to fly in another woman, but it's always harder when you don't know the person you're working with, especially in circumstances as potentially dangerous as this could be." Patricia's voice covered the silence as Adam brooded.
During her last comment, McG, Amir, and Jaz had realized a call was coming through and wandered over to listen in. Adam's eyes darkened almost imperceptibly as he caught site of Amir's arm around Jaz's shoulder again.
"Well, it looks like I have my answer," Patricia noted the friendly stance between the two in question. "Adam, brief the team, and I'll expect you wheels up in two hours. You'll get meeting details as they have been arranged as soon as you land in country. Amir and Jaz, you'll need to ensure you pack at least one outfit that would work for a formal dinner."
And with that, Patricia ended the call and the screen went blank. Adam whirled around in his chair and took in the questions in the eyes of his team. He forced himself to snap out of his jealous reverie to brief the team. They hadn't really had time to settle in yet, so they needed every available moment to prepare before they left the country.