Morgan was settling back into her own house. Her own space, her own hospital and doctors. The treatment plan, physical therapy, and pain management information had gotten to her doctors before she made it across the country to follow them.
Her former team, all except her former commanding officer, helped her. She tried to pretend it was simply as former teammates, friendly, or like the family she'd adopted and who adopted her back. If Morgan could pretend that was the ONLY reason they hovered near her, she could breathe a little easier. Otherwise, she became the weak one. The one that needed protecting. And honestly, she'd had enough humiliation to last a goddamn lifetime.
Clay stayed away, but he got regular reports. Sort of. Jensen always looked uncomfortable to tell him anything that went on during his time with Morgan, and if Clay ever considered the other man a viable threat to the relationship he wanted with Morgan it may have been an issue. But Jensen? Really?
Roque glared through his debriefings. Usually reminding Clay that this was entirely his own fucking fault. If he'd only told Mo from the get go what was going on, but no, and now he had to shake down the rest of the team for every tidbit of information he could garner. And then came the sarcastic reporting. What she ate, how often she went to the bathroom, what she was watching on DVR. Shit that had Clay gritting his teeth at his second.
Pooch and Cougar played along, but Clay could see it was chafing his men to keep this up. He tried to make them understand. That Max was most definitely a threat, which meant that Aisha had to be kept in the loop so she would share intel with them. And since he'd admitted that he killed her father, that meant that Morgan was still in danger. It made sense to them, and it was true, but he knew being stateside meant that they should be able to make contact with their loved ones. Especially now that Jolene was in the home stretch of her pregnancy.
Morgan loved being home. She was moving more easily, thanks to physical therapy. She wasn't in pain. She had even started at the hospital that had been so set on having her. It was the same hospital that Jolene was scheduled to deliver at, and she'd giddily told Pooch that Jo had asked her to attend the birth. That would make getting him in and out a bit easier, if they could manage to get him past the front doors and security.
At work, more peaceful than Germany by MILES, she was easing back into her work. Rounds, but no surgery just yet. Consultations, and second opinions. It was work, though, and it felt amazing to be back. The guys were still in and out daily. She was sure that they were also keeping an eye on the hospital, but if she couldn't see them, then she could pretend they weren't there.
It was easy to be lulled back into the feeling of security. The sense of safety that rolled around her while she was in her own house, or her own hospital. Her car, her yard, the places that she'd made her own. And she was NEARLY at full strength.
Morgan didn't ask how the hunt for Max was going. She wasn't a part of that life anymore. She was a civilian now. A regular run of the mill doctor who eventually would be back in the scalpel again. And she looked forward to the time when she could get back to real physical training. Her body was feeling too loose for her liking. And she nearly threw a fit when the guys had handed her a multitude of self defense sprays, whistles, and other things that screamed "weak female".
"You do know I own multiple guns," she reminded Cougar as he dangled a sparkly can of pepper spray in front of her face on a keychain. "And multiple cans of actual police grade mace. And tasers, I have a dozen." She glared at the bedazzled canister. "What the literal fuck is this? Is it a stripper when it isn't trying to defend one?" She took it and shook it. "Ew my eyes. Seriously, Coug, does it come with matching pasties?"
That got a smirk out of him. He raised an eyebrow and that was that.
Morgan tossed the offending thing into a bowl she'd started to collect the other useless shit they'd brought her. "My collection grows," she muttered, hearing Cougar's leaving as Jensen walked in. "Hey, you!" She called, still glaring at the bowl full of girly bullshit. "Did you bring me more of this?" She asked, gesturing to the bowl.
He laughed, and shook his head. "Nah, I brought you this-" He pulled out a shopping bag and sat it on the table. "Trust me, you'll like the contents much better than- What is the pink thing that glows?"
"Which one?" She offered carelessly. Pulling the bag toward her, she peaked in and a grin spread across her face. "Holy shit." She pulled out the full collection of Disney Princess DVDs and movie sized snacks, all her favorites. "Movie night?" She almost squealed with delight, but decided on a bear hug instead. "This is why you're my favorite, Jen."
After the fifth movie, and ordering pizza in, they collapsed on the couch and laughing at the fact that two highly trained and efficient killers could enjoy Disney movies with as much glee as they did. "Beauty and the Beast." Mo answered the most important question of movie night. "Hands down, the best."
Jensen shook his head. "Nah, doesn't hold a candle to Little Mermaid." He tossed the crust of his God knows how many slices of pizza back in the box. "This was a lot of fun, Mo."
"Are you quitting on me, Jen?" She asked, holding up the remaining movies. "Hell, tomorrow's my day off, if you pull an all nighter, then the next babysitter gets one too." She grinned at him and he stretched. Good God, did they not make clothes loose enough to hide ALL of him? Man must be hard as stone, she thought.
"It's not that," he checked his watch and a dawning suspicion fell on her. "It's just-"
"How often?" She asked, trying to not get pissed at him, since she knew exactly who was to blame for this. Clay, that freaking control freak.
"How often?" He repeated, raising his voice slightly and trying to look completely ignorant.
Rolling her eyes, Morgan started collecting the garbage from their night. He followed her, helping with cleanup. "You can cut the act, Jen. How often do you have to debrief on our visits?" She tossed the plates in the skin and leaned against the counter to watch him get rid of the garbage. She waited, she was good at that, waiting for the target to give her the information she wanted.
He sighed, and mimicked her posture against the kitchen island. "He usually wants one before the end of the day, unless we get overnights." Jensen looked uncomfortable, and she knew it wasn't his idea. "It's nothing too invasive, that we share, I mean."
Raising her eyebrow, she smiled at him. He was so sweet and awkward at times, but lately, since he'd rescued her that was almost gone. She gave him a nod of understanding, and walked him to the door. "Are we finishing movie night tomorrow?" She asked, thinking that at least they could enjoy her guard duty.
"If you still want to," he sounded uncertain, and she felt bad about the slight interrogation.
"Of course I do, Jen." She stepped forward and hugged him to her. How could all those muscles still feel so damn soft? She pulled her head back to look up at him and smiled. "Tell you what, Jensen, let's give Clay something different during your report." And before he could blink, she pulled his head to hers and kissed him. Not only to fuck with Clay, not even close. Because when their lips met, she felt something. It wasn't all consuming, it was sweet and pure.
He pulled back and had the softest look on his face. And then it fell. "Was that only because you're pissed at him?" He asked, his eyes trying to decide if he was hurt or elated.
"No," she whispered, cupping his cheek. "That was just because you're you, Jake Jensen."
