Stella tried to choke a gasp as the men rounded the corner of the building on the other side of the fence. She didn't succeed entirely, and Naima looked her way.

"Sorry…" she blushed and looked down.

"No…" Naima chuckled a bit, "Don't worry about it."

"It's just that… Don't get me wrong now, but…" Stella shrugged sheepishly, "They look so pretty when they bleed?"

Naima chuckled a bit, "I think it's like that for all of us 'wives'… Not sure if it's because something in our lizard brains thinks it's very masculine, or if it's the possibility that we might have them at home an extra couple of weeks…"

"You're probably onto something there…" she nodded and fixed her eyes on the seven guys walking their way.

Jason looked tired and walked stiffly, but that was everything about him. He had one big backpack on each shoulder, carrying both like a high schooler who didn't bother to use both straps.

Ray had a rectangular bandage taped across the right side of his forehead, some of it had been bled through. Otherwise he seemed alright.

Sonny seemed okay, he had some blood smeared across most of his shirt, but it didn't seem like it was his. He was carrying one backpack on his back, and was carrying a second one by the strap.

Trent seemed fine. Blood on his left sleeve and his knees, but didn't show any signs of it being his.

Brock limped a bit, but not much.

Clay had his left arm in a sling, and the collar on his right side was stained brownish-red, probably from the same wound which colored his blonde hair. But he was smiling and laughing along.

Full Metal was not carrying his own backpack, nor was he stepping down properly on his right leg. He had his right arm draped over Trent's shoulders, using him for support.

SEAL TEAM

"What happened to you?" she asked after the mandatory welcome home hug and kiss was finished.

"Split my head open…" he shrugged his good shoulder, "Dislocated my shoulder…"

"Oh my…"

"It's not as bad as it looks. It's just really sore…" he winked, "…And Trent stitched up the gash in my head."

"You're caked with blood…"

"Yeah. I plan on hitting the shower pretty soon." He sighed.

She nodded, she wasn't going to offer to join him while they were still there in the parking lot, but she would later.

"How has these last couple of months been here at home?"

"Been missing you…" she pressed her lips into a thin line, "Glad you're home."

He nodded a bit.

"What happened to you guys? Did you get hurt on the same OP, or?"

"Ray, Metal and I did…" Clay nodded, "Jase is just old, he'd kill me if he ever heard I told you that. Brock twisted his ankle about a week ago…"

"And Ray and Metal, how are they?"

"Ray's got a few nicks and scrapes." Clay smirked, "Full Metal probably broke the thin bone in his leg."

"Probably? Haven't he had x-rays yet?"

"No, we barely made the plane back…" Clay shook his head.

"That means you haven't had x-rays taken either…" Stella tilted her head, "Are you sure it's only dislocated?"

Clay nodded, "Not the first time it's happened… And it slipped back easily…"

She sighed, "You should get that shoulder looked at…"

"Okay, okay…" he nodded, "But not right now… It can wait until tomorrow, I want a shower and to cuddle up together with you. Deal?"

She rolled her eyes a bit.

He stepped closer and pulled her tighter to him with his good arm, "Deal?"

"Okay…" she sighed.

"HEY KID! I'M TOSSING YOUR BACKPACK IN THE BACK OF YOUR TRUCK!" Sonny called out over by the vehicles.

He raised a thumb in return.