"Sonny has landed. The War on Terror continues, boys." Sonny said as he walked into the cages.
"Dude, you reek." Trent commented as he walked past.
"That is the aroma of champions, okay? Two parts whiskey, one part Brittany's cheap perfume." Sonny said turning around and plastering a fake smile to his face.
"You ever take a night off, Sonny?" Clay asked, and Sonny hated to see the actual look of concern on the kids face and knowing that if he were to actually talk he would become a blubbering mess.
"Well, some of us like more action than Crock-Potting and Parcheesi with a Lady Professor."
"What was with last night? You running back to help Jason with that pilot?" Clay asked, pushing Sonny, he knew his brother and knew that as bad as he was hurting he would never just come out and say it.
"Jason's our team leader and he called it in."
"Look, that door was an open threat, man. You know, some mudsucker could've got the drop on us." Trent and Brock quickly saw that Clay was trying to push Sonny the same way Sonny had pushed him and stayed quiet.
"All right, listen, wonder boy, we're playing paintball, not hunting Talimonsters. And because you seem to have forgot that Jason got his bell rung not too far back, maybe I was a little reactive."
"Jason's squared away, okay? Not trusting that is gonna lead to mistakes."
"I do trust that. I don't take kindly, though, - to lectures before breakfast."
"Okay. Just trying to tell you, man. It just could've been, you know, a little cleaner, that's all."
"Oh, I agree. Bravo hasn't fired on all cylinders since we lost our number two." Sonny realizing what Clay was trying to do decided to hit below the belt, regretting it almost immediately.
"All right, who wants to get in the ring with me and throw hands?" Ray said walking in and looking between Sonny and Clay having overheard their conversation.
"You ready to turn those show muscles into go muscles?" Sonny asked walking over and wrapping Ray in a hug.
"Shoulder's 100% Man. Which I can't say for your breath, Sonny. Damn. Training cycle got you crawling the walls again?" Ray looked over towards Clay and nodded, a simple thanks. Ray knew that the kid was good, really good...and had taken on a lot of shit by taking his seat while he had been rehabbing. Knew that the number two spot was only temporary. Ray also knew that as much as Jason had pushed him to get the hours to lead his own team, he was training Clay to be his replacement.
"You know it. The whole world's on fire, and we're sitting around here playing capture the flag." Sonny answered.
"Hey, Ray, when you coming back?" Lisa asked, walking into Bravo's room.
"Ball's not in my court." Ray quickly told her.
"Hey, Ray." Jason said walking in to where his team was waiting.
"Jason."
"How are the wife and kids?" Jason asked, already knowing the answer.
"Um, little man took his first steps the other day." Ray answered, playing along with the charade, they had just had drinks the night before.
"That's great. Special time. You know what? Good that you're around."
"Yeah. Say, uh, look, Jace, I wanted to talk to you about, um" Ray started but was quickly interrupted by a series of dings and pings as Bravo was called up.
"Well, looky, looky. It is about damn time." Sonny sighed.
"All right, bro. Got to go. All right, let's go." Jason smiled to his team as he ushered them out. "Come on. Hey, Sonny. Stay there. Wash up. You smell." He said to Sonny while looking directly at Ray. Got it. Loud and clear. Help Sonny while the rest load up their gear.
"Roger that." Sonny said before being left alone with Ray. "You my babysitter?" Sonny asked as he grabbed his gear and was followed by Ray to the shower.
"You wouldn't talk to Davis. Wouldn't talk to the Kid. You need to talk to someone." Ray told him.
"How do you know about Davis?"
"Club called me. I was at the docs. Called her to get your ass then called Jason."
"Didn't want to go home last night is all."
"Jace said the simulation went perfectly."
"It did aside from the part that the Kid called me out on."
"You think Bravo is ready to be back in the field."
"Yes."
"You think Clay is ready at number two?"
"I don't like it."
"Is he ready?"
"Yes."
"Smart ass is just doing his job...questioning all of you to make sure you are all ready...he has always gotten under your skin...same for Jace... was hoping to be back for this but..."
"He wants to prove his point."
"Something like that."
"You were together last night."
"Got drinks, yeah."
"What was with the show?"
"Jason trying to assert control."
"That is stupid."
"Go into your debrief. I am headed over to Green Team." Ray said, agreeing it was stupid but understanding why he was doing what he was doing.
"Miss you Brother."
"You see me almost every day. Go." Ray said, pushing Sonny out the door.
After the debrief Sonny was the only one who didn't need to leave, who didn't have any loose ends to tie up and he just sat in his hammock waiting for everyone to get back. Which all did about ten minutes before they needed to board the plane. After take off they had a quick debrief before Blackburn told everyone to get some rest.
Already antsy with the new addition to Bravo...a step up from a strap but not quite a tier one guy. Sonny stood watch to see where he rested and when the man laid back on the straps he took a breath...that was until Clay walked up to him, "Hey, Sonny, what you, uh what you said about the team not firing on all cylinders, you really think that Bravo runs better with Ray as number two?"
Why all the insecurity still? The Kid was damn good at what he did and they have told him so enough it should have gotten through by now. "Listen, Clay," He said using his actual name, "I'd kick a hornets' nest with you any day, any time. But don't you forget you are just keeping Ray's seat warm until he gets back. You understand?" Sonny told him, it was nothing Clay didn't know...they have all said it a thousand times.
"Sure." Clay mumbled.
"Dammit Kid." Sonny said as Clay started to walk off, quickly nodding to where they set up their hammocks up on their last flight home. Clay grabbed his and silently followed him over, hooking his hammock next to Sonny's.
"You going to talk to me now or just be a dick?" Clay asked as he sat down on his hammock, "I know you aren't okay."
"I should be dead." Sonny said, surprising them both.
"Excuse me?"
"I shouldn't be here." Sonny repeated. "Been six months since we lost Danny...since we almost lost you guys."
"Need you Sonny." Clay said. "Told you I've got you."
"Didn't want to interupt Stella's schedule." Sonny snapped and when Clay glared at him he sat down on his hammock and looked at the man who had become a brother to him, "Need you too Kid...just miss Ray is all."
"And Danny and Nate..." Clay said.
"Something like that."
"Family sticks together, right?"
"Just with Jason and Ray it just...it itches."
"Emma said that they have gotten together every night this week, fight like brothers love like brothers."
"Emma said that?"
"Talked to her this morning." Clay said, "She is worried about us."
"Why?"
"We have been home longer than Jason has ever been home as long as she has been alive."
"She think we are ready?" Sonny asked, surprised at himself that the opinion of a high school student mattered as much to him as it did.
"Wants us to check in everyday."
"This is just a quick spin up."
"If she had her way she would put trackers on all of us." Clay smirked.
"You talk to her that much?"
"Check in."
"Jason know?"
"Yeah. Emma talks to him about us."
"All of us?"
"Know she has talked about you and Ray. Jason has said things that I said to her and the only way he would know was if..."
"She said them to him." Sonny finished.
"Need you guys to rest up." Jason said walking over and setting a crate on the floor between the two hammocks and sitting down. "You tell Emma you were leaving?"
"Yes." Clay answered, "Why?"
"Instead of my be safe text I got a talk to Clay text."
"Not me you should be worried about." Clay said looking over at Sonny.
"I've known Sonny long enough to know he will be fine once we have a job to do." Jason said, "And he has you to watch out for him."
"I am fine. Just ready for normal again." Clay told Jason. "You going to rest at all?"
"Someone's gotta keep watch." Jason answered.
"Yeah...the pilot." Clay smirked. "Go get your hammock."
After having a face off with Clay, Jason went and did a loop around the plane checking on everyone else before grabbing his hammock and hooking it up on the other side of Clay's. "Happy now?" Jason mumbled as he leaned back, head mere inches from Clay and Sonny's, all of their hammocks latched on the same hook.
"You see them?" Lisa asked Erik as he sat down next to her on the straps.
"I do."
"Clay told him to get his hammock and Jace actually listened."
"We make the right call giving them this mission?"
"Yeah. Just more anxious than normal."
"You should rest up."
"So should you."
"You really think they are ready for this?"
"Only one way to find out. Lay down and get some rest. Got a long flight."
"You going to take your own advice?"
"Want to do some reading...then yes." Lisa smiled at the Commander, "Get some rest, I've got first watch."
Once they were on the boats headed for the oil rig Jason had Clay go with the new guy, Summer, and he kept close to Sonny. It was easy to see that Clay was right, that he wasn't the one to worry about and Sonny was. Scared of sharks, anxious not having Ray...Jason had never seen Sonny as antsy as he was and he was worried about how this mission was going to go. None of them could stand losing another member of their team, not to death or to injury. Failure was not an option.
When they got word that the storm had changed and they were now chasing daylight they all felt the air get a little thinner. When Summer told them the explosives were all individually wired it thinned even further. No ISR and broad daylight they were sitting ducks. When Summer gave word that they had control and he saw the hostage shut down the platform Jason breathed for what felt like the first time all morning. Until he heard Davis tell them they could no longer see the platform.
As they were rushing the group of hostages down to the exfil point through a stream of bullets it felt like they were fighting a losing battle. When Jason heard Clay's screams to move as the RPG's flew in his direction Jason felt like he was going to be sick. "Bravo two? How copy?" Jason asked, terrified of the silence and feeling Sonny at his side radiating anxious energy did not help.
"Bravo One, Bravo Two, Good copy." Clay said, and the team was able to breathe. Until Clay looked around and saw that he had no way down without going through the fire. "Bravo One, This is Bravo Two...I gotta problem up here. Stairways cutoff...yeah, I uhhh...I'm gonna have to meet you at the bottom." He said and Jason and Sonny's eyes darted up trying to get a view of Clay.
As Clay tried not to panic he ran up to the crane hoping that he could drop the line and slide down but seeing the bolt on the door he went to the edge instead. Jumping was the only option and he did not hesitate. "What the hell is he doing?" Sonny mumbled as he saw Clay climb the rail. Top of the Oil Platform... into the ocean. Leaning over and watching as he fell, breaking the water and watching as the bubbles rose the team held their breath waiting for Clay to emerge. They couldn't lose him. Not like that.
Seeing his head break the waters surface with a giant grin Jason called down, "Bravo Two, you good?"
"Texas judge scores you a six point three." Sonny yelled.
"Interesting form." Jason smiled watching as the boat pulled up and they pulled him from the water. "Lets go home." Jason said to Sonny as they led everyone down to the boats.
Seeing the frozen smile on Clay's face Jason was worried, "Look him over." He ordered Trent.
"Nothings broke." Clay told them.
"Want you X-Rayed when we get back." Trent said after poking and prodding him all over and shrugging that nothing seemed to be out of place.
"Will do." Clay said. Once they were away from the oil platform the team visibly relaxed. For Clay that meant his body coming down from the adrenaline and as hard as he fought it the more tired he became.
Seeing the change in demeanor Sonny looked at Jason who nodded and Sonny moved behind Clay pulling the kid back into him. "Did good today Pretty Boy." Sonny said as he held Clay's head into his shoulder and the hot wind dried him off.
"Didn't have another way out." Clay mumbled.
"I know Blondie, I know." Sonny assured him as he felt Clay relax into him as he quickly fell asleep.
"He good?" Jason asked Trent as the two watched Sonny hold the now sleeping SEAL.
"He will be sore from the jump but I don't think anything is broken."
As the boats pulled into the port an hour later Sonny pushed Clay forward, "Need you to wake up enough to get off the boat Sleeping Beauty."
"Just full of the nicknames today aren't you Sonny." Clay mumbled, groaning as he leaned forward.
"Something hurt?" Trent asked, seeing the face he was making.
"If I say everything are you going to freak out?" Clay asked as he climbed off the boat.
Trent stayed back with the rest of Bravo to help sort the hostages and appease Blackburn with the AAR as Jason and Sonny climbed onto the cart with Clay to take him to the med tent. A half hour later Clay had been x-rayed head to toe and cleared by the Doc and they took him back to the plane for the long flight home.
By the time the rest of the team made it back to the plane Jason was standing in the opening, "Do not wake him up." He ordered as he nodded towards where Clay was asleep laying down on the straps, Sonny sitting next to him.
"Not sleeping." Clay mumbled.
"You should be." Sonny mumbled back.
"I am fine." Clay said sitting up.
As the team took their spots around the cargo hold Jason passed around beers from the cooler and Sonny stuck close by Clay. "Great job of keeping our asses out of the fire, boss." Sonny told Jason after the man handed him his beer.
"Game on for a minute." Jason acknowledged.
"Yep."
"Yeah, but we handled it, didn't we?" Sonny and Clay didn't know who he was trying to convince, them or himself.
"Mm-hmm."
"Same as we always do."
"Yeah, it's just been a while since we operated with bullets flying, and without Ray is all." Sonny said, as much as he loved Clay he needed Ray back with them. Everything just felt wrong when they were separated.
"You got some concerns there, Sonny?"
"Well, with pinup girl here as number two, who wouldn't?" Sonny smirked at Clay.
"That's right, pinup girl number two." Jason said hitting Clay in the arm and smiling...something was definitely off with Jason.
"I'd follow you anywhere. And I'm happy we're back."
"Right, we're back."
"We're back."
"Watch it." Jason said as he took a pretend jab at Sonny before walking over towards Summer. Jason knew what Sonny wanted to say and he didn't want to hear it.
"Someone want to tell me what the hell that was all about?" Erik asked walking over towards Sonny and Clay just leaned his head back and stared up at the ceiling, letting Sonny take over the line of questioning.
"We almost lost Blondie and he is freaking out." Sonny told their Commander.
"And Cowboy here thinks we need Ray back and keeps bringing it up." Clay said, taking the last swig of beer from his bottle.
"Got a long flight home Boys. Why don't you get settled in." Erik said, cocking an eyebrow at Sonny before walking over to corner Jason.
"Why are your panties in a twist?" Sonny asked moving over to stand in front of Clay.
"Gee I don't know Sonny...maybe because you keep bringing up Ray every five seconds." Clay snapped back before putting his head in his hands.
"If Ray would have been here you would have been with me instead of on top of that damn oilplat." Sonny told him sitting down next to him. "Much as I miss Ray...I can't lose you."
"And you say you aren't emotional." Clay laughed, looking over with tears in his eyes.
"Come here Pretty Boy." Sonny said leaning around and reaching his arm out, Clay quickly leaning into him and closing his eyes. "Can't lose you Blondie." Sonny mumbled as he pulled his hat down over his eyes and draping an arm loosely over his Brother as the two quickly fell asleep.
"They are sleeping. They are safe. Now you can either sit down right here and talk to me or I will give you something to make you sleep." Erik said, poking Jason in the chest and pushing him down on the straps across from there the two were sleeping.
Jason glared at him before looking around and seeing the two of them were the last with their eyes open and relented. "Almost lost him today. Can't lose him. Really can't lose him." He said, sounding manic.
"You all made it back. Doc said he is going to be sore but didn't get hurt. One hell of a jump from what I heard."
"Just be glad you didn't have to watch it." Jason said, yawning as he sat down next to Erik.
"How long have you known me Jason."
"Why?"
"Do you trust me."
"You know I do."
"Then trust me enough to relax."
"You using Mandy's words now?" Jason smirked.
"May have asked her how she puts up with you."
"I am fine Erik."
"About as fine as the Sonny and The Kid." Erik deadpanned.
"Just cant lose anyone else." Jason told Erik as he laid down across the straps, head nearly touching his commanders leg.
"Get some sleep." Erik told him, smirking when Jason did what he told him to before closing his own eyes only to wake up a short while later with Lisa draping a blanket over him.
"Go back to sleep. Just a little cold is all." She said.
"You get in you go."
"Will mean saying goodbye to these guys."
"Will make sure you end up with the teams."
"You know you can't promise that."
"I know that you are already read in on who is on the teams. There are very few people in this country who have that kind of access. You get in. You go."
"Go back to sleep." Lisa said with a sad smile. "Will wake y'all up a couple hours before we land for debrief."
Clay, Sonny and Lisa all left together. Lisa promising to take them home, not to the bar, and despite some protests that is what they did. Jason satisfied watching the GPS tracker for each of his men before walking into his house. Finding Alana asleep on the couch he loudly dropped his keys on the table. "Didn't mean to wake you up. It's just, this is kind of my bed now, the couch." He said as she looked up at him.
"Oh, Hey." She said, sitting up and stretching.
"Hey." Jason echoed.
"How'd everything go?"
"Great. Everyone's safe. Everyone's good."
"Good. How do you feel?"
"Good, you know? I'm back in the field. Exactly where I belong." Jason tried to convince her.
"Yeah... Chasing a high somewhere else in the world."
"Mm-hmm." Jason said, not sure how to respond and not wanting to fight.
"I..I got to go to bed."
Sighing, "You know, Alana, I think I found a place. My own place. It's close, so it's not like I'm not gonna be around when you need me, or if you need me for the kids. I'm always here for the kids."
"You're operating again, so it's not like you're around anyway." Alana snapped.
"What do you want from me? Look, I'm I'm trying to do everything here."
"What I want...what I want you can't give. I'm okay with that now. I am...I guess what I really want is for you not to die. 'Cause we have kids and they love you." She told him, fighting the tears in her eyes.
"I'm not gonna die." Jason said, feeling the tears in his own.
"I don't believe you." She said as she quickly turned and walked down the hall towards the bedroom.
"Alana..." Jason called after her.
"I love you but I can't do this right now." She quietly told him before shutting the bedroom door behind her.
Feeling the vibration in his pocket he pulled out his phone, 'How you doing Brother?' Ray asked him.
'Alana just...I'm not gonna die.'
'Want me to come over?'
'Nah. Going to get some sleep. Just...fuck.'
'Glad you guys made it home safe.'
'Almost lost the Kid. Double the tower jump.'
'Kid is good.'
'Cant lose him.'
'How is Sonny?'
'Pissed that you aren't 2. Davis brought him and the Kid home.'
'They attached again?'
'Trent said it was a good idea just in case.'
'Need anything, just call.'
'Thanks Brother.' Jason typed before checking the locations one more time for Bravo before setting his phone down on the table and laying down on the couch.
"You still think Jace is okay?" Sonny asked as him, Lisa and Clay lay down on Clay's bed.
"No." Lisa and Clay answered at the same time.
"He was more freaked out than I was." Clay said, closing his eyes and he felt Sonny's arm move so it was against his.
"You guys all made it back and that is all that matters." Lisa tried to tell them.
"Yeah and back to having slumber parties in the Kids bed because we are too scared to be alone." Sonny mumbled.
"Right here Sonny." Clay said as he moved, pulling Sonny's arm so it was now his pillow as his back was against his hip.
"Watching the damn bubbles and ripples in the ocean waiting for you to come up..."
"Kinda glad we didn't have the drone overhead for that." Lisa said as she rolled into Sonny's side.
"I am sore and tired but I am fine." Clay said, feeling the tears fall from his eyes as he tried to push back the fear that he did almost die only a few hours before.
Sonny feeling a tear drip down onto his arm he held Clay just a little bit tighter, "Got you Little Buddy." Sonny mumbled, voice thick with emotion.
When Clay didn't respond Lisa had a feeling she knew why and reached her arm over Sonny and held onto Clay's shoulder. "You are safe now." She said, "Both of you."