Chapter ten

Ana couldn't sleep, Baby Grey deciding he was going to play footballer again. She was almost certain she was expecting another little boy, the thought making her smile as she looked at her precious coppered haired son sleeping beside her in Reynold and Craig's double bed. She pulled the bedsheets over her little cherub and then climbed out of bed, glad the mattress was high enough that standing wasn't an issue for her like her own bed back on the Sound.

Gosh, she couldn't believe that the media had actually circled around their mansion looking for the story. Welch had brought in more security, their fence around the property live for the first time since they'd moved in. Ana had been furious when Jason had given the go-ahead to have an electric fence put around their property but now she understood the necessity. Likewise, Welch had brought in trained guard dogs according to Luke, which were being used as a deterrent for any members of the press who miraculously made it past the fence.

Heading downstairs, she went into the kitchen to get a pot of tea to try and lull herself to sleep which was when she bumped into Craig and Reynolds sharing a moment. Craig was sitting on the counter, Reynolds stood between his man's legs kissing him softly whilst Craig draped his arms loosely around Reynold's neck.

It was strange to see the men in their jim-jams, Reynolds in shorts and a t-shirt, Luke walking around topless in lounge pants. Gail had gone to bed wearing one of Jason's t-shirts and a pair of his shorts which really were more like three quarter trousers on her. It made Ana realise that, like she and Christian, these people had their own lives and relationships. It was often forgotten when they were always working around the family.

"Sorry," Ana coughed, Reynolds and Craig looking over. Reynolds went red but Craig just smiled, "I was just looking for a pot of tea."

"Oh honey, don't worry, you're welcome in this house," Craig chuckled and jumped down, wearing a friggin' onesie. Ana had to smile and made a mental note to buy one for Christian this Christmas for when he sat in his office late at home. "Take a seat, I'll make you a cuppa. Earl Grey okay?"

"That's perfect," Ana smiled, sitting at the breakfast bar and watching Reynold's scratching his bald head and watching his boyfriend, "Sorry to interrupt."

"You weren't interrupting anything," Craig told her, Reynolds still caught between being formal and informal, unsure how to talk to Ana/Mrs Grey, "Reny was just telling me how he book us a weekend in Iceland for the holidays."

"Really?" Ana smiled, speaking to Craig so Reynolds didn't worry about being professional, "That's amazing."

"I know!" Craig grinned, "I'm a lucky one, aren't I?" he looked over at Reynolds then and winked, Reynolds just blushing and remaining quiet, awkward, "Have you ever been before?"

"Yes, actually," Ana nodded, "Christian wanted to go see the Northern Lights. We took a husky dog ride and he ended up discovering he got motion sick. It was so cloudy that we saw nothing. Jason was with us actually; he ended up getting snow burnt from the sun reflecting on the glacier? It was a disaster for us," she laughed, "But we laugh about it all the time. Christian hates dogs. I've no idea why he thought he'd be okay doing a husky dog tour."

"Oh honey, no, we're just going to relax in the blue lagoon and maybe do a little retail therapy," Craig said firmly, waving his hand over his face, "This is not the face of a man who likes adventure holidays. Sun, sea and hot men serving me cocktails; yes. Attempting to see the northern lights via husky dogs? Oh hell no."

Ana laughed at that, "Where's the best place you've ever gone?"

"Rome," Reynolds smiled, "I'm a history freak."

"He's not even lying," Craig laughed now, "We've got a full suit of Roman armour in our bedroom. He spent…how much was it, Reny?"

"An entire month's wage once you add in the importing fees," Reynolds smiled, relaxing a little, "Worth every penny."

"Oh but you did love Krakow," Craig reminded him, "You loved seeing Auschwitz."

"I don't think 'love' is the word," Reynolds shrugged, "But yeah. The place is…out of this world. I would recommend it to everyone. Just the sheer size of the place was…there's honestly no words to describe it, Mrs Grey…I never loved the place but I loved learning about it, seeing it for myself. It's…Krakow is probably been my favourite holiday actually. It was so harrowing but worth it."

"I cried like a baby," Craig admitted as he got the milk ready, "It's probably the most interesting place he's ever dragged me."

"Liar, you loved learning about the Geneva Convention," Reynolds interjected.

"No, honey, I loved shopping in Switzerland," Craig argued, "And seeing the Alps. You loved the Geneva convention," he said then looked at Ana, "I don't even know that the Geneva convention is really. I just took him to see it so he'd let me buy a cute jacket."

Ana couldn't believe how different the two men were, shaking her head and just smiling. Reynolds was always a calm and quiet presence. Teddy didn't really like him because he wasn't honestly animated enough to keep the toddler's attention like Luke or Ryans, Craig was incredibly eccentric and loud in both his appearance and personality. They were a cute couple but odd for sure.

"How'd you both meet?" Ana asked as Craig poured her a cup of tea. She added her own measure of milk then stirred.

"Speed dating," Craig said as Reynolds squirmed silently, so bashful over everything. He wasn't even sitting at the breakfast bar with them, instead standing at the back drinking a glass of milk, "We actually went to the same high school in Virginia. I was an art student, loved drama and music. He was a jock, did track and soccer and bullied 'fags' and 'queers'," Craig said with an obvious bitterness. Ana saw Reynolds squirming more now.

"I apologised," he said, "I mean, I was just a kid."

"You made my high school life hell," Craig pointed out, then looked back at Ana, "So I went to a college here in Seattle, started making make-up tutorials and reviews, made a name for myself online and started my career. Two years ago my friend, Andrew, who owns a Gay night club downtown, told me he was organising speed dating for the Community and,"

"You hate Andrew," Reynolds interrupted.

"Eh sh sh shush," Craig said, silencing him as he continued speaking to Ana, "so I sit down and look who sits at my table?" Craig said, pointing to Reynolds. "Drinking a beer, wearing an ugly suit, so awkward. He really didn't want to be there."

"What did you do?" Ana laughed, amazed that the two men, mortal enemies at high school, would find each other again in the same state, the same city in the same bar. To her, that seemed like fate.

"I apologised," Reynolds said before he was interrupted again, "I apologised, Craig threw his cocktail in my face and stormed outside."

"I was so mad," Craig admitted, looking at his boyfriend with a strangely shy smile, "I mean, I believe in destiny and to me that was destiny. But I had made a life in Seattle and it felt like Reny over here was haunting me, and seeing him reminded me of how much I hated my life when I was a teenager."

Reynolds squirmed again and Ana could see he was guilty still.

"He followed me outside," Craig continued, "tried to apologise and then he asked for my help. He was scared," he said and Ana watched as Reynolds came over and placed his hand on Craig's shoulder, Craig taking the hand and squeezing it too, "He was scared, he didn't think he was gay, he didn't want to believe he was. I couldn't leave him so distressed; I was sure he'd jump off the Space Needle with the way he was acting so we went for a Mcdonalds," Craig laughed, "Double Cheeseburger, medium fries. This weirdo then starts dipping his fries into his milkshake. Cretin."

"I've had enough of reminiscing. I'm going to bed," Reynolds said then, "Goodnight, Mrs Grey."

"Goodnight, Reynolds," Ana smiled, seeing the slim bodyguard in a new light.

"I'll be up in a second, baby," Craig promised, kissing his boyfriend's hand before he walked away, "He lost his father when he came out. He was the only son so it was a huge shock for his family. His boss, Jason Taylor? He's not been as supportive as he should I don't think. Reny would argue that he's been fine but I don't like how Reny feels he can't be himself around him. Especially when-

A scream.

Ana jumped and Craig laid a protective arm out over her.

"Gail?" Ana called worriedly, hearing the woman gasping and crying hysterically upstairs. Slowly, Ana stood, Craig following her up the stairs as fast as she could waddle, "Gail? What's happened?"

Gail was crying hard into Luke's chest, having a complete panic attack whilst Reynolds rewound the television to see what had scared her so much.

"Fucking hell," Luke gasped, watching the clip that the News were reporting; an image of the American embassy being blown up. It took Ana a moment to realise that, seconds before the Embassy was struck by the first rocket missile, she was watching Roz running through the street, Taylor crawling after her before they were both consumed by the dust cloud caused by the explosion.

'This was the moment that the American Embassy was attacked by rebels-"

Reynolds rewound and paused, staring at the two before letting out a curse and grabbing Luke's phone off the cabinet. He knew Luke's password, dialling a number whilst Luke did his best to comfort Gail.

"That was Jason," Gail choked, "That was Jason. He was in the explosion."

"No, he's fine, Gail," Luke promised, "He wasn't in the explosion, just the residual. Come on, honey, deep breaths."

"Where was Christian?" Ana panicked now, Craig placing an arm over her shoulders, "Luke, why wasn't Christian with Taylor?"

"He was probably with Ryan," Luke told Ana then, wrapping Gail up in his arms, the petite woman in his lap sobbing and panicking.

"Think of the baby," Craig whispered calmly and Ana nodded, stroking her stomach gently, remembering the importance of keeping herself calm.

"Welch, what the fuck?" Reynolds shouted, "I just watched Roz and Taylor on the news right outside the Embassy as it blows up. I thought your fucking source said they were alive and well?" he growled, listening to what was being said, "Are you sure? You trust your source that much?"

Gail looked over at Reynolds with eyes which were almost begging for her husband to be alive. Luke glanced in Ana's direction to make sure she was alright, Gail needing him more in that moment though.

"Give us a warning next time," Reynolds snapped, "Thanks, Welch," he concluded then hung up, slumping on the bed, "Welch's source made a positive ID on Jason, Grey and Ryan leaving the Embassy courtyard alive after the explosion. Welch assures me Jason survived that explosion, Gail, he's swearing by it. Jason is alive. As is Mr Grey and Ryan."

"Why didn't Welch's source stop to help them then?!" Gail shouted then, the last few hours finally catching up with her and causing her outburst.

"Because Welch's source is an undercover operative who makes money reporting out of that country," Reynolds explained, "He or she doesn't just work for Welch but is contracted out to hundreds of others. They did Welch a favour by telling him that Grey and co are alive for free," he tried to explain.

"The source should have helped them!" Gail continued to argue, "What human doesn't help another!?"

"I agree, Gail. They should have helped. It's a moral obligation I believe," Reynolds nodded, "But moral obligations don't feed mouths."

"What Reynolds is trying to say," Luke explained, "is that Welch's source is an individual who relies on their cover. They could be pretending to be a local with a family and if they were seen helping our boys their cover gets blown and so does their safety." Luke said, squeezing Gail's arm, "The source has ID'ed our boys as alive after this explosion so don't get upset. They are going to be fine. Welch is sending in a team of investigators; they'll find them."

"I just want Jason home," Gail sobbed, "I want him and Ryan and Mr Grey home and safe with us."

"I know, Gail," Luke said softly, comforting her tenderly. He looked directly at Ana and spoke again, "We'll get them home."

.

Meanwhile…

Jason woke with confusion, running his hand over his stubbly jaw and yawning. He was surprised to find Christian was practically humping him, his boss having wrapped his arm tightly around Jason, his leg hooked over Jason's hips. Of course, they were attempting to conserve body heat, the small room still cold through the night even with blankets. Ryan had been doing the same to Grey, the businessman the most snug out of them all. Still, Jason found it awkward, especially when he'd wrapped his arm around Christian's shoulder through the night so they were literally cuddling now.

Fuck this was queer, Jason thought.

Christian moved and Jason blanched when he felt the guy's morning wood against his thigh. Fuck, Jason was glad he didn't have a hard on too. He usually did, it was how he liked to wake Gail, but given the current situation and the fact his side was agony still, he was glad his own body had gotten with the program.

God, how was he going to wake the boss without this looking like they'd been cuddling? Did he just nudge him and wish him 'Good morning'? If he did that he was as well fixing him a little smile and a kiss because that idea was as queer as Reynolds. Maybe he could stretch and wake Christian by accident? Pretend he'd not been awake for the last hour watching the boss sleep as he tried to figure out how the fuck to move him.

"Mmmm," Christian mumbled, tightening his grasp and smiling in his sleep, "'mornin' Ana," he yawned, lowing his hand to Jason's abs and halting instantly, no doubt wondering where the hell 'Ana's baby bump was. Coward that he was, Jason closed his own eyes and pretended to sleep, feeling Christian carefully prying himself from Jason –thank fuck- and rolling over so his back was to Jason's side.

It was almost tempting to roll with him and spoon him as payback for overstepping the line between sharing body warmth and post-sex snuggling.

But instead, Jason stretched his back and scratched his balls at long last, yawning loudly. He sat up and cracked his back before shoving Christian, "I'm going for a piss."

"Sure," Christian grunted, pulling the blanket over himself and sleeping some more.

With effort, Jason walked unaided, feeling heat from his wound. That wasn't a good sign at all; warmth meant it was infected and infection out here was serious.

He headed outside and walked a short distance from the small house to an open spot of dirt, coughing a little to clear his lungs before unzipping his dick. He knew he should go into the outhouse but he could smell the bastardly thing from where he was standing there.

"Ah," he mumbled softly, widening his stance as he pissed.

"La!" the Niesha's mother snapped, hitting him hard, "La!"

"What?" Jason winced, having to stop mid flow and put himself back in his trousers quickly. He crossed his thighs and huffed, the woman continuing to hit him, "Niesha?!" Jason shouted.

Niesha appeared with Ryan in tow and Christian. They looked concerned for a millisecond before Ryan and Christian started to laugh at the desperate Jason and the angry little Arabic lady.

"Use toilet," Niesha said firmly, translating what her mother was yelling at him, "Dirty man."

"I," Jason huffed, making a dash for the stinking outhouse. He groaned in relief, glad to not be disturbed once more. The stench was horrible and he struggled not to gag as he hurried things along then stepped outside.

"Sorry," Jason said to Niesha then turned to her mother, "Asif."

"American," the mother huffed, shaking her head and then shouting something at Niesha to translate.

"My mother cook bread," she said, "You eat."

"Sure," Ryan smiled, following them back inside like the goody good he was. Jason followed too, ignoring Christian's smirk as he entered the kitchen, greeted by the smell of fresh bread.

It smacked his senses and he paused by the door, Christian shoving pasted him.

Instantly, Jason was back in the cottage, rain hitting the window panes and Gail humming to herself as she kneaded a ball of dough to make her own bread for the hundredth time. She wasn't great at it, baking bread a new skill she was practicing so he and the other men would end up with various dough snacks through-out the day. She'd hum away to herself, dancing and swaying her hips in her own little world and all he could do was sit at the breakfast bar and watch her. Then she'd look over her shoulder and fix him a playful smile that she'd caught him staring like a voyeur, and he'd go back to writing up reports for Grey and Welch.

He'd get up for another hot chocolate and she'd squeeze his ass, leaving a print of her little white hand on his suit pants as she looked at him expectantly. Instead of taking her mouth with his or placing flour on her breasts as payback, he'd dance with her in the moment. In the privacy of their home, where the other guards couldn't see, he'd take her hand and waist and they would muck around attempting to do the tango they'd been learning at a class downtown together. Gail was a natural, had danced all through her younger years. Jason was like an ox and clomped around hoping not to stand on her feet. He never felt sexy when he tried the tango, but Gail's smile and laughter was all the encouragement he'd need.

"Jay?" Ryan called, Christian clicking his fingers in front of Jason, "Do you want cheese?"

"Huh?" Jason frowned, realising he wasn't in his warm little cottage. Fuck, he'd tears in his eyes, the others could see it, "Sure, whatever."

"Missing Gail?" Ryan said, insensitive like always.

"No," Jason replied with as much sarcasm as he could. Christian placed a hand on his shoulder as he sat for breakfast. He wasn't hungry though. He wanted Gail's bread, even if it was raw in the middle or brick hard. This bread looked perfect but he didn't want perfection; he wanted his Little Woman's.

"Oh," Ryan continued, "I miss Gail's cooking. She'd always cut off the crusts of my bread because she knows I hate that bit. And she'd ask how-" Christian kicked Ryan under the table, Ryan frowning then realising he was being insensitive. The Kid was a genius on paper but the reality was he lacked so badly on common sense. "Sorry Jay. I didn't mean to keep going on about home. You must be missing her bad, huh?"

"Ryan, buddy," Jason laughed in exasperation because it was that or cry, "Kindly shut up."

"Roger," Ryan nodded, saluting him then turning to speak to Niesha, "Your English is really good."

"Thank you," Niesha smiled, blushing a little. Apparently she'd taken a shine to the boy scout, Ryan's adorable face and freckles making him seem a little younger than he actually was, "You Joey."

"Joey?" Ryan questioned, sipping a glass of water.

"Yes. I learn American," Niesha explained, the pointed at Ryan, "Joey," she pointed at Christian then, "Chandler," before nodding towards Jason, "Ross."

What the fuck?

"I learn American," Niesha said and stood, going through towards the television then returning with a video of Friends, "We were on a break!"

Ryan choked on his water and Christian's jaw hit the table. This young woman was trying to better herself…by watching Friends. Jason felt a lump in his throat again, what the fuck was wrong with him? He looked and saw Grey was looking exceptionally humbled, not able to eat any more.

"Wow," Christian finally said, "You think I'm Chandler?"

Niesha nodded then laughed. She patted her own chest and smiled, "Phoebe. Smelly cat, smelly cat. What are they feeding you?"

"Smelly cat, smelly cat, it's not your fault." Jason sung back, Niesha grinning big and clapping her hands.

"Yes, Ross!" she laughed.

Jason smiled back, "You like Friends?"

Niesha nodded, "I love New York. I save and go for Central Perk."

"Christ, Ana loves watching Friends," Christian laughed, "We put on an episode just after putting Teddy to bed."

"I remember when I requested a night off on my first year of working for you so Gail and I could watch the series finale," Jason said with a laugh, "'I got off the plane'. Gets Gail every time."

Ryan shrugged, "I never really watched it," he admitted, "I'm more of a Family Guy person."

"Jenifer Aniston though," Jason pointed out, taking a bite from his bread, "Her tit-" he stopped when he realised Niesha was watching intently, big brown eyes excited to have real life Americans in her home. She and her mother were no doubt putting themselves at terrible risk by harvesting them.

"Jason," Niesha smiled, "You hurt more?"

She was asking how his wound was, Jason realised. Just like that he felt the warmth of his wound and remembered he'd need to look at it. It felt infected, his bandage was damp, but he didn't have time to really worry about that. He had to get Christian Grey home; that was his job.

"No," Jason said, and shook his head, "La. It's good."

"Good," Niesha nodded, then looked at Ryan and Christian eating with curious wide eyes. They ate awkwardly, smiling and speaking basic sentences for the young woman to follow. Jason could see that Grey was particularly struggling; as a young woman, Niesha no doubt had never been to school, or not a good one. The fact she was teaching herself English, through mimicking Friends, was humbling and inspiring. Grey wouldn't leave her like this that was for sure.

Heck, Jason was already mentally counting how many Benjamin's he could leave her. However, he also knew he needed to keep his money until he'd gotten Christian Grey safe. That may mean buying horses, transport, fake passports. Sadly, Niesha's struggles were secondary to Jason.

The mission was to get Grey home safely. Once a marine, always a marine; Jason would not stop until he'd completed that objective.

.

Next chapter; formulating a plan to get Grey home.