A/N: As you can see the chapters are getting a little longer.

Chapter 03: Remember When

A few months later

"Who did it?" Elizabeth was furious someone's idiocy had managed to get Sonny injured and she wasn't having it.

"White Willow, calm down," Charles put his hand on her shoulder as she sat with Sonny in the corner of the room of the house that they had managed to hide in. "She's right how did they find out that we were here?"

"Liz," Sonny muttered his head resting on her shoulder from the amount of pain that he was in.

"Shhh," Elizabeth kissed the side of his head and looked around the room. "You're awfully quiet there Rookie. Did you actually think we were joking?" she hissed looking at directly at the younger man.

"White Willow, go over their and calm down," Jason pointed towards the wall – figuring it would be best to have her stand away from her husband before things got out of hand.

All eyes moved to Clay who shrunk into the back of the room. After what had happened to Sonny in an instant that them fighting back when it should have been an easy extract. Elizabeth went to stand up but Sonny had grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back down with him. Jason nodded at Sonny before he walked over to Clay and took him by the scruff of the neck.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Jason growled at the young man as Alex, Bob and Ray took point at the window keeping watch. "You want to get us all killed?"

"No..." Clay answered, as Bob motioned with his arm for them to quieten down. Charles and Joe moved to their mission – the family of an US delegate.

"Cool Breeze what is it?" Elizabeth and Charles questioned at the same time, Charles looking up from the family and Elizabeth moving away from Sonny.

"Three snipers, up on the roof adjacent," Bob answered, handing her the binoculars so that she could see for herself. "Rookie, you take over here – you watch and do nothing else, Green Goose you're with us,"

Elizabeth grabbed the sniper rifle from the floor and slowly made her way from the room – and up the stairs to a room that had a clear view of the opposing roof. Bob and Alex followed close behind each of them with their sniper rifles. Elizabeth motioned for them to get as low as they could although the blinds were shut they still had to get to the windows.

"Green Goose go the far window, I'll go the middle and Cool Breeze you know what to do," Elizabeth nodded, before doing as she had said she would.

"White Willow, you sure about this?" Alex questioned, though they had all seen what she could to a non-moving target he wasn't quite sure about the moving ones. "Never mind," he muttered as Elizabeth fired and hit one of the targets. Bob and Alex firing the next shots at the same time.

"Never question, just do," Bob said as the three of them stood and rejoined the others. "Dirt Diver, how's the extraction looking?"

'Cool Breeze, we'll have an extraction team 5 miles to the right of your location at midnight,' Mack answered looking to Lisa who nodded, she had been left at the 303rd Logistics with Mack as Sergeant Kayla Medawar was on leave.

"Copy that," Bob answered, now they had to work out how to get everyone there. "Betty Blue, is he good to move?"

"Sonny, slow breaths," Elizabeth whispered, as she went back to him and set next to him again.

"Should be good to go once we can put a stop to the bleeding," Charles answered, as he worked to patch him up some more. He had managed to stem the bleeding coming from the upper chest, however his back was another story. "Pops, need you over here," Jason walked over to where Charles, Elizabeth and Sonny were situated.

Elizabeth and Jason held Sonny upright while Charles worked to patch his back, the bullet had just missed his spinal cord – that was one thing they were certain of. Jason looked between Sonny and Elizabeth wondering just what they told the children they left behind when one or both of them was injured. Ray looked out the window noticing that it was getting dark and that they still needed to find a mode of transport.

"Check the garage," Bob told Joe who nodded with Ricky following him to ensure that there was nothing there.

"There's a van in the garage, and one in the back," Joe said as he and Ricky walked back into the room. "Both seem to big enough," He and Ricky had inspected both vehicles and found they had been big enough for the delegates family of four, and the ten of them.

"Good, get them ready," Bob answered, Joe nodded and motioned for Ricky and Ray to follow him, both men did so as the family looked at them, realising that they didn't know their names just that they were saving them.

"When I tell you to do something you do it," Elizabeth said, as she looked to the delegate as she spoke ad then directly at Clay who nodded. "Sir, Madam everything will be okay,"

Twelve hours later and they were back on US soil with Sonny having been operated on the moment they had landed. They had all left Elizabeth's side, albeit reluctantly. Jason, Ricky, Ray and Bob had gone home to their wives and children, while Charles had gone to his wife but not before depositing Clay with Mack.

"Liz, he'll be okay," Alex was sitting beside her, they had been talking about when he was a kid and she'd been his baby-sitter.

"I know...just didn't think I'd be there when it happened," Elizabeth sighed resting her head on the younger man's shoulder. "What's this I hear Dharma living with you now?"

"Her mother keeps leaving her with me...Liz she's a seventeen year old girl," Alex told her, honestly he didn't know how to deal with the teenager.

"Fuck...need to call the ex-father-in-law to ask if he can keep the kids a few extra days," Elizabeth exclaimed, as Mack walked into the waiting area. "Mack? What are you doing here?"

"How's your old man? Kids are with Tiffy," Mack told her, before explaining that Justin had dropped the kids with them days earlier.

"He's still in surgery," Elizabeth took a deep breath before she spoke again, standing up to hug Mack. "Thanks Mack. Before you ask I used to baby sit Alex," she laughed as Alex rolled his eyes at her and extended his hand to the older man. "This nearly ended like Hector," Elizabeth whispered in Mack's ear.

"I heard, Ryan's got the kid in lock down until his superiors get here," Mack told her, as the three of them sat down again. "What made you decide to join the SEALS?" Mack questioned looking at Alex, he wanted to know his motivation. "And you, you call your kids,"

Elizabeth nodded, pulling out her phone to call Tiffy and Mack's residence to so that she could talk to her kids. Alex ran a hand through his hair and looked to Mack taking in that the older man just like the rest of them hadn't shaved in days. It seemed to be a common occurrence by men in their line of work.

"Hey Tiff, the kids awake?" Elizabeth questioned, looking to Mack who nodded. "How are you?"

'Hey Liz, I'm good. How are you doing? Sierra just went to have a bath, I'll grab Jack for you,' Tiffy said, she could hear the the younger woman was slightly distressed – sounding similar to when her kids were taken. 'Hey Jack, your mom wants to talk to you,' Tiffy found the young boy sitting on the back deck looking up at the stars.

'Hi mom, when are you and dad coming home?' Jack questioned, he was straight to the point he wanted to know what his mom knew.

*Flashback*

'You never have to worry about going home alone again,' Elizabeth kissed Sonny the moment she saw him walk in the door. She had said that to him not long after they had their first date. Sonny walked in the door of his apartment after returning home from a successful mission of capturing/killing the people who murder Echo Team. He grabbed a glass of whisky chucked his mail on the counter and pressed play on the answering machine. "Babe, sorry I'm not home. I know I told you I'd be there but something came up. I'll be home soon, the kids are staying with my parents for the time being, Love you and miss you," once the message ended Sonny found himself staring at the off television before him so much that he didn't notice the front door opening or the sound of footsteps.

"Sonny," Elizabeth was quiet as she spoke, she didn't want to startle him. "I'm sorry," Elizabeth sat down beside him and wrapped her arms around him.

"Liz," was the only word that left Sonny's mouth before he kissed her and pulled her close to him.

*end flashback*

"Hey bud, I'll be home soon I promise," Elizabeth took a deep breath and her eyes went wide as she realised that she didn't know what to tell the twelve year old. "Mack...what do I tell him?" she mouthed looking at Mack and then at Alex. "Soon. How was it at your grandpa's and did you see your dad?"

'Boring! He doesn't let us do anything fun,' Jack whined, in a way he was glad that his mom hadn't told him when exactly they would be home. 'Wait...Are you with Uncle Mack?'

"Yeah kiddo, I am. I have to go now, but I'll be home soon. Love you and your sister," Elizabeth paused briefly before she laughed and spoke again. "You can tell me all about it later, I have to go. Be good for Aunt Tiffy,"

'Fine, okay mom. Love you too,' Jack grumbled handing the phone back to Tiffy.

"Hey Tiff, if they're too much trouble...Thank you," Elizabeth told her as Mack rolled his eyes and then motioned towards the doors of the operating theatre. "I have to go," both her and Tiffy hung up the respective phones with Elizabeth pocketing hers before she stood up.

Elizabeth had stood up as the operating theatre doors had opened and she was hoping that it would be something to do with Sonny. Mack and Alex stood up as well, and the three of them walked over to the doctor. The part that Elizabeth was most worried about was the fact that'd been shot in the back.

"Elizabeth Quinn?" the doctor questioned, Mack looked Elizabeth who shrugged – sometimes she used her married name. "Sorry, Elizabeth Reynolds?" the doctor looked briefly at the notes he'd been given by one of the nurses.

"Yes, that's me...how is he?" Elizabeth questioned, grabbing Alex's hand and pulling him with her.

"Ma'am your husband's quiet lucky as the bullets had lodged in his upper right ribcage and his lower back missing vital organs and his spine," the doctor paused briefly before continuing telling them that Sonny would be out of action for the next three to six months. "His back is what will take the longest," as the doctor finished talking Elizabeth tried to take everything in but was finding it hard as she still wanted to kill Clay as it was his fault it had happened.

After the surgeon walked away Mack and Alex looked at one another and then at Elizabeth who they noticed was staring at the clock on the wall. The clock read 7AM meaning that she'd been awake nearing twenty-four hours. Elizabeth glanced at Mack and then towards the theatre doors, they'd be bringing Sonny through them shortly, sure enough an hour later and they were wheeling him through the doors to recovery.

"How's he doing Liz?" It was Jason he hadn't been able to sleep since they'd gotten home - and now they were all back at the base hospital one by one.

"Just out of surgery," Alex answered, Elizabeth had gone silent all of a sudden. "Liz, he's okay you know,"

"Mmm," Elizabeth muttered not looking at anyone until Brock forced her to look at him.

"Lizbeth," Brock started to say but was cut off by Elizabeth growling at him. "He's alive you know that right?"

"Uh huh," Elizabeth nodded before Jason took her in his arms and pulled her towards him.

"Liz, take a deep breath," Jason told her, glancing to the others as he hugged her. "Just stop and think for a moment," Elizabeth nodded a little before sighing. "How about we give her a little room?"

Jason led Elizabeth away from the others and sat her down on one of the chairs in waiting room before he rejoined the others. Brock looked towards his sister and then at Mack and Alex wondering what the doctor had told Elizabeth. No one really understood what was going through her brain as they hadn't been put in the situation before.

"What did the doc's say about Sonny?" Jason asked, looking to Mack and Alex as the group of men stood around.

"He was lucky, the bullets were lodged in his rib cage and his lower back just barely missing his spine and vital organs," Mack answered, pausing a moment as he thought of what he still needed to tell them about Clay.

"Doc also said that he'd be out of action for up to six months," Alex added, that was when it clicked that, that was what had freaked Elizabeth out.

Brock walked over to Elizabeth and sat beside her wrapping an arm around her shoulder pulling her close. One by one the others joined the siblings standing around the two of them until they were given the okay to go in to Sonny. Brock kissed the side of his sisters head keeping her close as they all started to talk to her.

"He's one stubborn son of a bitch," Ray told her, they all nodded – it was true, Sonny was one of the most stubborn people they knew.

"Tell me about it," Elizabeth said all of a sudden before she started laughing. "Sorry just remembered an argument we had – neither of us won...we just gave up,"

"What was the fight about?" Ricky questioned, they were all a little curious but at the same time they weren't. Anything to take Elizabeth's mind of what was happening.

"It was just after we'd both been out of country...about what show to watch, trivial I know but we couldn't agree," Elizabeth answered pausing as she looked up at all the men surrounding her. "If you're wondering who settled it, the kids did they put some movie on and then took the remote,"

Meanwhile Clay was being spoken to by Brigadier General Tom Ryan and Lt Commander Eric Blackburn they wanted to know exactly who he had spoken to regarding the mission after specifically being told that they were not to talk about it. Clay was vehemently denying telling anyone, Tom and Eric were at the point where they were about ready to let Elizabeth and Jason on to him.

"Spenser, who did you talk to?" Eric questioned, Clay was sitting in Tom's office with both the older men sitting/standing in front of him. "What was the one rule that Master Sergeant Grey told you all when you agreed?"

"I didn't tell a soul, I swear," Clay huffed, he knew that he shouldn't be getting so worked up if he wanted to keep his job.

"Then how the hell did they know that you were there?" Tom paused briefly his voice had made the wall shake slightly by how loud it was. "You nearly got a member of your team killed! And his wife is ready to do the same to you, and to be honest I would not stop her. Blackburn, how about you?"

"I'm with you on that. Spenser who did you tell," Eric was calmly boiling on the inside as he stared at the younger man.

"How do you know it wasn't one of the others?" Clay questioned back, glaring at the older men before him.

"By others are you referring to Master Sergeant Quinn?" Eric answered, Elizabeth had decided to finally go by her married name, the paper work involved in changing from Reynolds to Quinn was what had put her off for so long. "You were told the risks, you were told that no one was to know what went on," Elizabeth's name would be one to throw them for a while.

While they had been talking Jason took Elizabeth to Eric and Tom, they had received word from Kayla that they wanted them to talk to Clay. Jason wasn't sure whether it was a good idea or not. Jason and Elizabeth walked from Jason's car, Elizabeth reluctantly as she hadn't wanted to leave the hospital.

"Liz, he'll understand you know he will," Jason told her, looking directly at her before they both stepped foot into the 303rd Logistical Studies building.

"I know, I'm actually kind of grateful that I got to leave. Hospitals give me the creeps," Elizabeth replied, not sure of how she was actually feeling at the time. "If I lose my temper you know what to do,"

"It won't come to that, it will be one of us," Jason answered, nodding to Eric who was waiting for the two of them outside of Tom's office.

"Liz, Jason, do I need to be in there?" Eric questioned, looking at the two before him. He'd been told stories about Elizabeth that he wasn't sure he believed.

"No, I'll just be the angry pissed off wife," Elizabeth laughed, even though it was true. Once she calmed herself down she looked to Eric again. "What's he said so far?"

"Denies telling anyone anything," Eric answered, as the door to Tom's office opened behind them.

"Liz, Jason, come in," Tom said motioning for the two of them to enter his office. "Close the door behind you,"

"Clay, I already know that you told Stella," Elizabeth said calmly, she had done a little digging while talking with Alex over night. "How I know doesn't matter, you just need to tell us the truth,"

"Elizabeth?" Tom questioned raising his eyebrow at her as he watched speak.

"When you put an angry, and or upset wife in contact in a hospital with nothing much to do she does a little bit of research," Elizabeth spoke quickly before Jason took over realising what Elizabeth had done. "It was meant to be a simply in and out no one gets hurt mission like all the others but something went wrong and I need to know why and how,"

"She talked to Stella, Stella said that Clay told her about the mission because she asked him," Jason answered, watching as the tension rose in Elizabeth's eyes and Clay moved to stand up. "Stella told her mother but she didn't know what her mother was going to do,"

Clay looked bewildered at everyone before him, not believing that Stella would do such a thing that she knew could hurt him.