Without A Thought
The front gates of the base opened, and the battered, dusty armored car slowly rolled through. The six men inside remained silent, so quiet they could almost hear each others breathing. To say that this mission had been stressful would be an understatement. It was infuriating. They had been after this man for months, but every time they got close, he somehow managed to slip from their grasp. Today was no exception.
They filed out of the back and made their way towards the tack room to put away their gear. Clay wiped the sweat off his forehead and pulled his helmet off.
"Well well well! If it isn't the beloved Bravo team! How'd the mission go? Did you catch your guy yet? Probably not!" A man said, walking towards them. He had a slender build, but still muscled with dark brown hair and a beard to match. Jason narrowed his eyes in annoyance and kept walking. He knew exactly who the voice belonged to, and knew not to pay him any mind. His name was Gavin Banks, a fellow SEAL who had graduated alongside Clay. He may have been skeptical of Clay at first, but this kid? He was a whole different ball game.
"Who am I kidding? With Spencer on your team, it's a wonder you all got back alive!" Banks yelled after them. Ray shook his head as he saw Clay clench his fists and start to turn around.
"Don't. He ain't worth it kid." Sonny said, putting a hand on his shoulder and turning him back around. Clay pursed his lips and followed the rest of the team across the common area.
"He's a real piece of work." Clay muttered. Sonny nodded. He had a point. Banks had had his eye on Bravo team for the last two years, but every time selection came around, someone else had been drafted, and he was nothing if not bitter.
"How'd you pick him Jason? Did he tell you he'd write a book about you? You know That's the only reason he's a SEAL, right? All so he can show everyone how much like his father he really is. He's just here for the glory!" Gavin said. Rage boiled in Clay's veins.
"Let it go Clay." Jason said, but it was to late. He turned just in time to watch Clay land a solid left hook to the man's jaw.
"Ohhh, big tough guy! Your daddy teach ya that?" Banks yelled, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, then caught Clay by surprise with his own punch, and a fight ensued. The sting of the punches he was giving and receiving was dulled by the anger that filled him. Ray quickly grabbed Clay by the back of his vest and yanked him away, forcing him backwards. Clay rushed back after his opponent, but was blocked by Trent and Sonny, who put a hand on his chest.
"Take a walk! Go!" Trent said, and Clay spit out a mouthful of blood then stormed off, spiking his helmet into the Afghan dirt. Gavin tried to go after him, but Jason stepped in and shoved him backwards.
"Get outta here!" He said.
"I think he broke my tooth! Where's the captain? I'll have his head!" Gavin said.
"One more word out of you and so help me god I will make you swallow it!" Jason said through his teeth, his face inches away from that of Banks. The younger man looked around and saw Ray, Sonny, and Brock standing behind him, and finally realized he was outnumbered. He huffed, and made his exit.
/
Sweat dripped off Clays skin and pooled on the floor under him. He danced around on the balls of his feet and set off another furious round of punches into the bag in front of him. I'm nothing like him! If I have to be here for the rest of my damn life to erase his memory, so be it! Clay thought, putting everything he had into the bag in front of him. He changed the angle of his fists, and the next hit he landed sent a shock wave of pain that started in his knuckle, shot up to his elbow before settling back in his knuckle. The combination of the fierce pain and exhaustion dropped him down to one knee. He pulled it in tight to his chest with a gasp of pain, then stood back to his feet and shook it out in an effort to dissipate the stinging.
"Spencer." Clay looked up when he heard his name, but looked away when he saw who it was. He slowly unwrapped the tape from around his hand, and turned his back.
"If your coming to scold me, save it. That asshole got what he deserved. I hope I broke his jaw." Clay said, picking his bag off the bench and walking out. Before he could get to the door, Jason stepped in front of him, blocking his path.
"We're going to talk about this whether you like it or not. I know that he's had it out for you since the minute we drafted you. I know he picks you apart and tries to play on your nerves. You can't let him in your head! Think of what they put you through back in Sere training. If you can get through that, you can damn sure keep this guy from getting to you!" Jason said.
"He brought family into it. They didn't. How would you even know anything about that?!" Clay said.
"More than you think. In any case, go get that hand looked at." Jason said, thinking about the divorce papers that were sitting on the desk in his cabin.
"It's fine." He said, pushing past Jason.
"That wasn't a suggestion. Just talked to Davis, and she said we have Tabul's location. We're moving on it in a few hours. If you come back and it's not wrapped up properly, your not going. That's an order." Hayes said, then watched him leave, and shook his head. He made a mental note to call home and talk to Mikey as soon as he could. After all, there are few bonds in this life more important than the one between father and son.
Later…
Clay pulled his laptop open with one hand without looking at the screen. His feet hung over the edge of his bunk, and his attention was stuck to the weapon he was cleaning.
"Hey. You alive or am I talking to a picture?" Stella asked jokingly. Her expression changed when he finally looked up, and she caught a glimpse of his battered face.
"Ooff…. How's the other guy look?" she asked.
"Hi. Probably the same." He said dryly.
"Oh. Is this a bad time?" she inquired.
"No. No it's actually a good time. It's just… it's been a rough few weeks. The guy we're after right now seems to ghost every time we get close. Then there's the thorn in my side." He said with a loud sigh, and set the gun across his lap.
"Banks? That guy you told me about that's always trying to take your spot?" she asked.
"That's the one. He said it's a wonder I haven't gotten anyone killed yet. Then he brought up dad. Said I'm only here because of him." He said.
"Well he sounds like a Class-A jerk." She said, not really knowing how to help him. She knew that he and his dad hadn't gotten along for a while, and that the book had put Clay in hot water with a lot of people. She paused for a moment, trying to think of how to respond, when she heard a buzzing noise from the other end of the video.
"Sorry babe, I gotta go." Clay said, looking at his pager. Saved by the buzzer.
"Duty calls! Go save the world, We'll talk more when you get back. Love you." She answered.
"Sounds good. Love you to."
Later…
"I can't believe we have to do this with you guys." Gavin said from across the truck. Sonny rolled his eyes. This kid again?
"You shouldn't even be allowed to go on missions. You'll probably mess up our luck! We could've handled this on our own." He continued.
"When the General says we have to get this guy, and to do it you need extra guys, you listen." Wells said.
"Well why'd it have to be us?!" Banks complained.
"Hey Banks, do us all a favor and shut up!" Clay said. Jason glared at him, and he sat back into the seat.
"What'd you say?!" Gavin said, puffing his chest out.
"You are really testing me today Banks! Sit down!" Greg Wells, Gavin's team leader said. Gavin huffed, and sat back down.
The green light flashed, and the next two soldiers jumped from the plane, and soon deployed their parachutes. Once they were all on the ground, they dropped into line and crept towards the building where their target was located.
"TOC this is Bravo one, how we looking up top?" Hayes asked.
"Bravo one, you've got some company in the hills above you. Approach the target with caution." Commander Blackburn said.
"Copy that TOC. We're moving." Jason said, and then relayed the information to the men behind him. They moved as one across the dimly lit desert as one. At the speed they were going, they would be in the house in just a few minutes. They moved as one, and silently at that, ensuring their position would be safe from the enemies on the hills around them.
"Alright boys, turn all lights off. TOC we're about to cross the hill. How're are friends doing?" Jason asked.
"TOC to Bravo one, the forces have multiplied. This is one highly paranoid man!" Davis said, looking at the multitude of heat signatures in front of her.
"Yea well his worst nightmares are about to come true." Sonny said, said switching off his nods. The team moved forward, everything going smoothly, when suddenly an alarm went off on Banks Apple watch, bringing with it a flashing light.
"Dammit Banks turn that thing off!" Wells yelled, looking around them. Gavin stopped, frantically fumbling with the watch trying to silence it. Clay looked around, and caught movement out of the corner of his eye.
"Everybody down! We've been made!" Clay yelled, just as the ground around them was peppered with enemy bullets. They all hit the ground except Banks, who's reaction time wasn't as fast as everyone else's. Clay saw it, and lunged at him without thinking twice, taking them both down and over the slope of the hill. The rest of the team followed, returning fire.
"No way he hasn't heard the commotion. We gotta keep moving before he ghosts again!" Ray yelled over the sound of gunfire. The two team leaders nodded their agreement, and moved with their men towards the house. Jason noticed Clay was looking a little pale, but he knew they didn't have time to stop to check. And besides, he seemed fine...right?
"TOC, we're making entry." Jason said.
"Affirmative Bravo one. Be advised, your ex-fil is about 10 minutes out. Any mishaps?" Commander Blackburn asked.
"None other than boy genius forgot to turn his watch off and nearly got us all turned into Swiss cheese! No biggie!" Sonny said sarcastically, glaring at Gavin.
"Lucky for him Spencer got him out of the way before they blew his head off!" Trent added.
"Alright then. Just get Tabul and get out of there!" Commander said, looking at the people around him who made up the rest of the Top Of Command.
The men strategically took out the guards out front, and cleared the building room by room. They burst into the last one with a blaze of bullets and lots of yelling. Once the man was in cuffs, they stood him up and all took a moment to breath.
"TOC, how far is exfil?" Jason asked.
"Bravo one, their about three minutes out." Davis said.
"Copy that. We have the package!" he said.
"That is great to hear Bravo one!" Commander said as cheers erupted back at base. Jason looked around with a smile and shook Greg's hand. Then he looked across the room to where Clay was standing. He moved closer when he saw the young soldier put a shaky hand to his side and pull it away. He looked at Jason with a strange look on his face. It was a mixture of pain and annoyance with a slight hint of fear. Jason followed the kids eyes down to his hand, and saw that it was covered in blood. He quickly looked past it, and saw he source of it, and the main supply that was flowing from a hole in his side. He was still trying to piece it all together when Clay stumbled forward a few steps, reaching for the chair, but didn't get that far. All eyes were drawn to him when he very ungracefully hit the dirt floor.
"Hey! Spencer! Talk to me man, what's going on?!" Ray asked, the first one to the younger man's aid.
"I…..I think...I got shot." Clay said, as the adrenaline fully left his body and was replaced by pain stabbing into his side like a knife. He tried to catch his breath, and focus on which one of the faces swirling above him was the correct Ray.
"Uh, yea. You sure did. The little bastard should be in your vest! How'd that happen?!" Jason asked, kneeling to look at the wound. Then he thought back to moments ago, and the situation with the watch, and how Clay had warned them all, and then tackled….
"What's going on? What's wrong with him?" Gavin asked with a confused and annoyed voice. Sonny had put it together already, and the red hot anger made itself known by the flushed color at the base of his neck.
"He took a bullet for you, you jackass! All that shit you gave him earlier, and he was still willing to save your sorry life! You s.." Sonny's nose was inches away from that of Banks, shoving him backwards. He was about to go after him when Jason stepped in between them, pushing Sonny away.
"Not now. It's not gonna help anything." He said.
"It'll help my hand to hand combat." Sonny said, still glaring at him, then walked away.
"TOC, this is Bravo one, we've got a situation. Bravo three took a bullet." Jason said. He pressed harder onto the already blood soaked cloth in his hand. Clay groaned at the pressure that felt like his entire body was being crushed. He took a deep breath to slow the pounding in his head. Come on man this is nothing. Not like you haven't been shot before. This is easy. He blinked a few times, clearing the fog from his vision.
"Copy Bravo one. You'll have to do a hot ex-fil. Their right outside, but the enemy forces aren't far behind." Commander Blackburn said, all the happiness leaving the room with the words that one of their men was shot. What was worse was that he didn't know where, or how bad.
"Alright boys, let's move!" Hayes ordered, and the men took their positions. Clay pushed himself into a sitting position with a grunt, and then to his feet despite the protests from Ray and Trent.
"What part of take it easy do you not understand kid! I meant that!" Ray said with an exasperated tone. He threw the soiled bandage on the floor, and looked to where the blood had begun to seep from the wound even faster.
"I'm...ok." Clay answered.
"Oh really?! The bullet is still in there!" Ray said, annoyed. He waited while Derek replaced the bandage and wrapped it tightly, then pulled his arm over his shoulder. They ensured that Clay was in the middle of the group, and quickly made their way towards the door. Once outside, Clay tried to run, still trying to pull his own weight. He quickly stopped when the movement sent waves of pain to the hole in his side and the surrounding area. He grimaced, all the muscles in his abdomen tightening against the pain. He started to hunch over.
"Hold on kid, we're almost there!" Derek yelled, noticing the grimace. When they got to the chopper, half the team piled in. Wells and Trent sat on the other side, guns ready for any opposition. Jason practically threw Tabul into the chopper, then hopped in behind Brock and Sonny. They turned around, and Clay felt their strong arms lifting him off the ground and into the bird. He clumsily took his helmet off, and then laid back onto the floor while they lifted off.
"How's he doing?" Jason asked over the sound of the propellers, still scanning the area below them for trouble.
"Looks like he got lucky. The round didn't hit anything major, but it's still a bleeder. I can see the bullet. I'm gonna get it out, save the docs back on base some time. It'll hurt." Derek warned.
"Just... do it! I'll be fine!" Clay said. Derek nodded, then carefully stuck the tweezers into the wound. Clay dug his teeth into his bottom lip and squeezed his eyes shut. The small metal tweezers felt more like a thousand tiny needles shooting into side.
"Hey! Quit holding your breath, you're gonna make yourself pass out!" Brock said, shaking Clays shoulder lightly.
"It's out! You can relax now. You'll need a few stitches when we get back but other than that, you'll be fine!" Derek interjected.
"I told you I would be!" Clay said, releasing the breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding and looked over at Ray.
"Shut up!"
Later…
"Good lord Spencer, please just answer the thing already! It's getting annoying!" Jason said.
"I think she can wait 5 minutes till I'm not in this hospital gown anymore. She'll freak out anyway." He replied.
"Kid, take it from me, she's gonna freak out more if you don't answer. Besides, it's actually not serious!" Jason said.
"Yea but she won't believe.. hey!" Clay said, giving him an annoyed look when the older man grabbed the computer off of his lap and opened it.
"Hey Stella!" he said.
"Oh… Jason. Uh, hi!" Stella said, surprised and confused.
"Clay's right here, don't worry!" Jason. Said, and handed him the laptop. As soon as Clay was stuck, he slipped out to leave them alone for their conversation.
"You know typically when people say they'll finish a conversation later, it doesn't end up with one of them in a hospital bed. What happened?!" She asked worriedly when she saw the tube under his nose and the pale blue hospital gown.
"Funny story actually." He said watching her face contort.
"I caught a bullet pushing Banks out of the way."
"Wait, what?! You got shot saving the life of the guy who taunts you non stop? Wasn't that the same guy who keeps comparing you to your dad?" She asked, her confusion growing.
"Yep. Truthfully, it all happened really fast. My brain just kinda went into autopilot." He said.
"Sounds to me like your being to humble! You saved the guys life! Your incredible." She said lovingly. Clay smiled.
"So where's the new scar? How bad was it?" She asked with a smile of her own.
"A little above my waist on my side. It actually really wasn't a big deal. Derek said it was stuck in the muscle. He took it out on the plane ride back to base, so this little stay has been easy." Clay answered.
"He took it out on the plane!? You guys are insane!" She said, though it didn't surprise her. The couple talked for a while longer, catching up on everything. The doctor came in and set the paperwork on his table, gave him a few instruction that he had heard all before, and left.
Later…
Clay walked out into the common area near the fire pit. He felt something wet nudge against his hand, and looked down. He smiled and stroked Cerberus. The dog sniffed him over, focusing on the spot on his left side where the bandage sat. After he sniffed a little longer, he returned to Brock's side and laid down.
"Looks like he's finished his exam." Clay said with a smile. Trent handed him a beer.
"Well the last time he saw you, you were laying on the floor in front of him bleeding. He just likes to make sure his pack is safe and healthy!" Brock said. The group laughed, and chatted casually.
"What'd doc say?" Silence fell over the group when they looked up and saw who was talking. Clay pressed the bottle to his lips, deciding how or if he wanted to answer. He look a slow sip, sloshing the liquid around in his mouth, purposefully dragging the moment out longer so he could chose his next words wisely.
"Bullet didn't hit anything major. I'm good." He said.
"Well it seems like you aren't gonna make this any less awkward, and I don't blame you. Look, I didn't mean what I said this morning. I let my ego get the best of me, and maybe even a bit of jealousy. It was childish of me. I'm sorry man." Gavin said, shifting his weight back and forth. Clay nodded his understanding.
"Fact of the matter is you took a bullet meant for me. I don't know man, seeing someone else go down because of something you did…. If that's not a reality check, I don't know what is. How 'bout we put this behind us?" He said, sticking out his hand. Clay returned the gesture, and the two shook hands.
"Water under the bridge. We're good." Clay said.
"So ya need me to smash that 'ol watch a yours, or did you figure out how to work it?" Sonny asked, cutting the silence.
"Really? That's your concern?" Clay asked with a scrunched brow.
"You might be fine with gettin' shot, but I ain't! Far as I'm concerned, I've gotten my share of bullets!" Sonny said, the group laughing.
"Yea, I disabled it. Don't worry." Gavin said with a smirk. The two sat down on the lawn chairs around the fire pit, talking happily. After the madness of the day, but also the big victory that was finally having Tabul in custody.