Later that morning after two car chases, three drug busts and busting some idiot's nose that drew a weapon on Kono, I was busy back on the floor catching up with the information that had been delivered from JSOC. They had been pretty clear that they were willing to help, but they wanted the honour of bringing the disgraced SEALS in; I told them that was fine with me, but I got to see them first when they were getting interrogated.
They agreed, if any of them survived.
It was after 2 o'clock when the door opened and Kono walked in and invited me to lunch, I was onto something with the research and didn't want to break my stride so I asked her to just bring me some apple juice back if she could grab some. About twenty minutes later Danny sat down in front of me on the floor and handed me a huge pizza box and bottle of apple juice, he closed the lid of the laptop and grabbed a slice of pizza, shoved it on a napkin and handed it to me.
"You know my ex-partner kidnapped my daughter and tried to force me to kill my ex-wife's husband, not that I would ever want to kill someone deliberately, but I came really close that day for what he put my family through. Thankfully, and I pray to god for this daily, that this team takes everything that happened to you past and present to heart and wants revenge as much as you do; and will use every means to ensure it happens. Steve has probably told you what we have had to do in the past, just because you had an argument this morning, that's not going to change anything." He said gently.
I blushed and put my pizza down, my stomach still wasn't settled and I took a drink instead to calm the butterflies.
"Underneath all that Navy Seal bravado, he is a fucked up, emotional wreck who had to listen to his father being murdered on the phone – he blames himself for everything and since you arrived, we're seeing a different side of him and it makes us all happy that he has found someone who causes him trouble as he needs to face his own demons while helping you!" he continued.
I looked at him and sighed, more than embarrassed about what's been happening recently and then the public argument this morning.
"Danno, I am a fully trained combat medic with full weapons and close quarters training, put me in a situation on a battlefield I will know what to do immediately. I have never worked in this type of environment before and feel like I am screwing everything you have worked so hard for up. I don't know US laws and regulations, I…..I'm trying to learn on the job, but I'm scared in case I'm just not worth the hassle. And the public argument this morning, that was – I don't know what that was – I don't have experience in relationships – at all!" I whispered back honestly.
Danny blinked and then smiled kindly.
"Hey, let me tell you something! When Steve arrived here to lead the new task force I thought I would kill him by the end of the first day, he saved my life twice that day, once by getting me shot and blasted out backwards through a window; the second time by beating this guy to a bloody pulp with his ninja skills. He thought he was only going to use the task force to find the killer of his father, he did that. He continued on because he learned the ropes, just as you will. Don't be so hard on yourself, this isn't a race, we learn on the job and we make mistakes…..but we are all there for each other. Chin, Kono, everyone, we all know what has been done and what you have been through; we may hopefully never experience it for ourselves, but when one of us is hurt, we all feel it and it motivates us to find those responsible. Now, I know you have more advanced training that your telling Steve, its noticeable in the way that you move during take downs….It might be a good time to claim that free pass now and come clean about what exactly happened during your training."
I sat there and groaned, I hadn't really thought about it as it was ingrained in me on how to move, feel and think during situations that evolved during missions…..how long had he suspected?
"How long have you known?" I asked him blankly.
"A few days, more noticeable today after you went to JSOC with Steve. Your whole body language just relaxed and went with the flow of the take down, I have never heard of a female SAS though, experimental?" he replied blowing out through his teeth and leaning against the table.
"Danny, you cant…." I started freaked out.
He raised his hands and shook his head.
"It won't go past me until YOU have told Steve!" he promised.
I ran my hands over my hair and face and sighed.
"I can't give you any details, but yeah, experimental. I found out about it via Thompson, he wanted me to go for the selection test so he trained me with my close combat and got me up to the required fitness and Scuba requirements to complete my RD training. I was one of six females chosen, transferred to the base in Iraq, put on missions with the actual teams and then scored and focus trained on weak areas. Everything was fine until the mission I was given lead of…" I slurred off as my nose started bleeding heavily.
Grabbing napkins I stood up and leaned over the bin to staunch the flow, handing me more napkins, Danny sat on the chair and just watched as I cleaned up.
"Okay, what the hell caused that? You feeling alright?" he asked looking at the blood stained napkins in the bin.
I nodded and looked in the small mirror I pulled from my desk.
"That was what memory recall does to your brain if you have my issues. I'm fine as long as it doesn't happen again but I'm going to have to go to the hospital on base for a check…..doctors' orders." I replied grabbing some water.
Danny nodded and grabbed his keys from his pocket.
"Alright I'll drive you over, no way are you able to drive if your brains making you bleed over your office!" he said grabbing my arm and guiding me out the office.
An hour later I was sitting on the chair opposite my neurologist's desk when the door opened and Steve came in, waving him in I pulled up a seat.
"What the hell happened? Danny said you were talking and then your nose just started bleeding. You alright?" he demanded.
"Yeah I'm fine. The doctors just away to double check the results. Basically I had a memory unblock and it caused a sharp rise in my blood pressure, should be fine as long as it doesn't happen a lot - just waiting to get the all clear!" i replied.
"Okay, desk duty for the rest of the week unless urgent - can't risk your health - what would have happened if you had been driving?"
I looked at him and smiled.
"I'm alright Steve, Danno got me here in time and i was checked out, come join me and wait on the doctor!" i replied.
A while later after the doctor had cleared me to leave; we headed along to the highway back towards the office and the research I had left before the chat with Danny. Grabbing my gear I was passed a message from one of the officers at Dispatch and headed upstairs to use the phone.
"Corporal McGregor, thank you for calling me back so soon, I do realise this is quite difficult to arrange due to distance and family connections. I have arranged everything as requested by the family back in Dundee and you have full authority to manage any of the affairs in relation to the army and property in Hawaii. The USMS has granted permission for him to be interred at the Military cemetery in two days' time, all funding has been provided and the service will take place at 11am."
"Thank you Father, that's good news and I really appreciate everything you have done for my family; I have been asked to pass messages of thanks from everyone. Least we know that Robert will be buried somewhere he loved." I replied.
"I will see you in two days then Lieutenant, if you have any concerns then please feel free to contact me at Hickam."
Half an hour later I was busy uploading all my research onto the SkyDrive we had set up for research into Bravofourniner from my office and also fired an email off to Max to allow him to release the details to JSOC regarding any details he had found during his autopsy. I had the next two days off, mainly to prepare any last minute details required and to get some rest as ordered by the neurologist to ensure that no residual issues were lingering. The rest of the team were busy questioning the haul from this morning and doing background checks on any known accomplices that Thompson or his squad could be using; we had hit zero on that search but everyone was looking at it from different angles to ensure all the bases were covered. By the time we had fully completed what could be done without JSOC getting back to us with more information; it was well after midnight and all of us were exhausted. My car had been fully cleaned and serviced by HPD and I was delivered the keys around 9pm, but I still couldn't face driving it quite yet…..not till after the funeral was dealt with. Chin had guessed I would feel like that and HPD had rented a 4x4 for my use for the next couple of days.
Grabbing my bag again, I headed down to the car park and drove down the highway before deciding to go to the beach instead and relax for a little while. Parking up outside the house I went around the garden and found Steve sitting there with Danny enjoying a beer. Smiling at them laughing I realised the partnership Danny was taking about earlier that afternoon was very much based on trust and respect for each other…I must be going nuts as I started to contemplate telling him about the SAS training.
"Hey boys….any beer left?" I said heading towards them.
Both of them turned around…Shit!
I drew my weapon at the man I thought was Danny and stood back; Steve had stood up immediately and held his hand up.
"Wow Sadie…..what the hells the problem?" he demanded.
"Bravo Tango!" I shouted to him.
Within seconds shots had been fired at both Steve and me, we hit the deck and ran for cover. The man had disappeared and I checked the area with Steve watching my back before collapsing on the sand bank. Staring at him I just laughed in complete amazement at what had happened.
"Are you alright?" he demanded checking me over.
"Yeah I'm fine thanks, how about you….no injuries?" I replied back checking him for any signs of wounds.
"My blood pressure just shot up twenty points but I'm good…do you want to explain that manoeuvre?" he demanded.
"How do you know Lucas Mitchell?" I asked quickly.
"Former team mate…..why did you bravo tango on him?" he demanded back.
I stood there shocked to the spot. He was team mates with one of the men who was hell bent on killing me?
"Cause he is one of the members who died in the ambush, and I have a guess that they were here to scope out how much I was aware of and what we had been doing with JSOC. I safe worded as I saw him draw his weapon behind you….." I tried to explain before getting stopped by the police sirens.
Running round the corner came Danno, Chin, Kono and half of SWAT….well…at least we knew that the listening spots where working. They all sighed in relief at finding us both alive and unhurt. I walked over and gave them a description of what had happened and thanked the SWAT leaders before standing them down. We all agreed they would stay close, but we all also knew the men wouldn't try anything again for a few days since we had them on camera this time.
"This day has started shitty and ended shitty….im going to bed!" I said waving to Steve.