Chapter 35

So, with the premiere, to all who have left wonderful comments, THANK YOU! I know the premiere has got many down but like I said, I'm keeping faith. Some of you have reached out and I'm so happy to talk to other fans. Know this, you're not alone on this ship and I'm gonna be captain of it! I will continue to write my story and hopefully start some more. Now, let's continue on.

"HAVOC, this is Bravo one, status on QRF," Jason asked as the team continued to take fire.

"Bravo one, this is HAVOC, helos are one click out," Lisa responded as she watched the ISR.

"Copy HAVOC," Jason replied. "Six, start pushing them on overwatch, helos are one click out," Jason ordered. "Everyone pushes towards exfil."

"Half click out," the pilot of the helo called out to Mandy, Blackburn, and everyone on board.

"I'll take that," Mandy said to one of the guys with a sniper rifle.

"Uhhh ma'am, you need to be trained," the guy questioned as Blackburn gave Mandy a curious look as well.

Mandy held out her hand for the gun. The guy gave it to her and then watched with raised eyebrows as she cocked it and got it ready for use. "I think I got it," Mandy smiled sweetly.

"Anything else you're hiding?" Blackburn asked.

"So much, but I gotta keep you all on your toes. I'll start out on overwatch and work it from there. You're Flyer 2. You're in charge on the ground," Mandy commanded as she numbered off everyone else.

"Yes ma'am," Blackburn saluted.

"Don't call me ma'am," Mandy said seriously.

Jason looked up from his hiding spot to fire back at the enemy and saw the helos coming in. The enemy had started to realize they were being flanked on both sides and was just beginning to falter.

"Push, push, push," Jason ordered.

Mandy got to the opening of the helo and got her rifle ready for firing. She looked through scope, took aim, and fired.

"Bravo six, this is Flyer one. Take the east, I got the west," Mandy called over comms.

"Copy Flyer one," Clay responded as focused in on the targets to east. Right as he fired at a target, the target launched a rocket that ended up missing the helos.

"Bravo one, this is Flyer two, flanking the other side of the enemy. Sit rep," Blackburn called out as he and the other guys made way on the ground.

"Flyer two, this is Bravo one, making our way towards you. Prisoner still in custody," Jason said looking over at Junior with Ray and Full Metal.

Mandy continued to take shots until the high ground looked to be clear. "Bravo six, how's the east looking?" Mandy asked.

Clay was in the middle of taking a shot before he responded. "We're clear, making way towards the others," Clay answered.

The helos continued to hover in the area waiting for the all clear to pick up the guys.

"Incoming!" Mandy yelled as she saw a rocket launch towards them. She quickly grabbed onto a strap and railing as the pilot maneuvered to avoid contact. She hung on for dear life as she was nearly tossed out of the helo.

"Bravo one, this is Flyer two, we need to move," Blackburn said watching Mandy dangle from the chopper.

"Copy Flyer two," Jason replied. "Everyone ready on Bravo team," Jason called out getting acknowledgements back. "On three" Jason said over comms. "One, two, three. Execute."

Both Bravo and Flyer team advanced on what was left of the enemy from both sides. Gunfire and explosions went off for a few more minutes before both teams met in the middle.

"Everyone good," Blackburn asked.

"We're good," Jason said as they started to head towards the clearing.

The chopper started their decent down finally. Mandy kept watch for any unknowns popping out. She jumped out and waited for everyone to arrive. So far everything was quiet. Just as the guys were getting to the area of the helos gunfire went off at Mandy. One bullet hit her shoulder, but the vest stopped it. She knew she was gonna be sore though. She felt a little winded for a few seconds before one of the guys on the helo started returning gunfire and made sure she was okay. The guys hearing the gunfire started to pickup their speed and rush towards the chopper.

"Flyer one, status," Jason called out over comms. In less than a few hours his heart was beating at speeds he never thought possible. "Flyer one!"

Cerberus sensing something was wrong started barking at tugging at his leash. As they got closer, he ran for the gun man and took him down. The guys followed and secured the gunman. Full Metal and Sonny took Junior to one of the waiting helos and secured him inside while they waited for the rest of the team. They didn't want Junior to see Mandy or Basheera's cover could be blown.

Jason ran over towards where Mandy stood by the helo. He saw her taking some breaths and nodding at Trent's questions.

"Mandy," Jason let out with relief. "I swear you're gonna be the death of me."

"What a way to go," Mandy joked back as Jason continued to give her a once over. "I'm fine, just gonna have a big bruise and some soreness later. We gotta get going. Put that guy with us. We'll arrive back to base after you've secured Junior."

"You come home," Jason said seriously.

"That's the plan," Mandy smiled back as Jason helped her back onto the helo. "See you later."

Jason headed to the other chopper with Bravo team and got on to head back to base.

"No more scares," Blackburn said to Mandy as their chopper started to take off as well. Mandy nodded back in acknowledgement as she tilted her head back and regarded the second prisoner they had in custody. "Nice job back there," Blackburn complemented. "Where'd you learn all that?"

"SEALs daughter training camp," Mandy smirked, and Blackburn chuckled.

Bravo team landed back on base with Al-Hazred Junior. Sonny roughly pulled him out of the helo, and others came to secure him.

"No breaking out this time," Sonny called out as he was taken away.

Jason took off his helmet and started walking for the weapons bunk. The guys all entered and started taking off their gear and re-arranging their gear.

"Treat for a good boy," Brock said as he gave Cerberus some treats and a bowl of food. Cerberus quickly ate his food. He jumped off the table and paced in front of the door. Periodically, he would stop to look out as if he were expecting someone to show up. Cerberus kept stopping to look at the guys then out the doorway, almost like he was asking for permission to leave.

Jason watched out of the corner of his eyes and had a feeling he knew what, or rather who, he was waiting for. Jason finished what he was doing and went to kneel in front of Cerberus. Jason gave Cerberus a good rub before Cerberus barked at him.

"She's coming, okay," Jason said as Cerberus continued to whine and pull Jason out the door with him. "Okay, buddy. Okay. Mind if I take him? He seems a little anxious."

"Yeah, no problem," Brock answered.

"C'mon buddy, I know just the place we can go," Jason said as Cerberus followed him out. "I'm anxious about her too," Jason said to Cerberus as they headed across base. "But she's tough and before you know it, she'll be back." Jason wanted to take a shower and wash the grime off, so he went for Mandy's hooch. He opened the door and Cerberus went straight for the bed and plopped himself on one of Mandy's shirts.

"She has no idea how special she really is," Jason said looking at Cerberus and thinking about all the new surprises he learned about his girlfriend in the last twelve hours. "But you and I are gonna fix that," he said scratching Cerberus behind the ears before taking a shower.

Almost an hour later Jason, Cerberus, and the team were all hanging out at the makeshift bar when they overheard a chopper coming in. Cerberus jumped up and started barking while running circles around Jason. Jason had been the first to jump up and start heading for the landing area. He saw the prisoner and other guys come off. Blackburn then jumped off and then turned around towards Mandy to help her down. Her shoulder was starting to throb some.

She and Blackburn started walking towards the team who all started hooting and hollering at the two like they were superstars. Mandy looked up at the commotion and saw the team all there to great her. Her eyes then landed on Jason and the two just stared at each other before Cerberus jumped up on her and Blackburn caught her from falling.

"Hey there buddy. Good job out there," Mandy said as she hugged him and ruffled his fur.

"Really Cerberus? Going after my girl again," Jason joked as he approached, and Cerberus barked back an affirmative. "Hey," Jason said looking at Mandy with those charming Hayes eyes.

"You gonna stand there or give me proper greeting, sailor," Mandy asked as she started to close the gap between the two.

"I don't know. I already showered and really don't-," Jason began to tease before Mandy grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss.

"I've been thinking about that for twelve hours," Mandy said as Jason tried to get his bearings back. "Now I gotta shower before getting to work. Come on, Cerberus," Mandy stated as she started walking towards the other guys but turned around to give Jason a wink.

"One hell of a firecracker, you got their Master Chief," Blackburn laughed at Jason.

"If it isn't Wonder Woman in all her glory," Sonny exclaimed.

"Or Xena," Full Metal commented.

"How do you know about Xena," Trent asked Full Metal as the team chuckled.

"Were you ever planning to tell us that you could give us a run for our money," Ray asked as he hugged Mandy and then noticed her wince. "You good?"

"Yeah, took one to the vest on the shoulder," Mandy replied.

"Pretty good shots from a helo," Clay commented.

"Thanks, it was nothing," Mandy said with a wave of her hand as Jason came up behind her and placed a hand on her back.

"Look at her, being so humble," Jason said.

"Something you could learn from her," Ray teased back as the guys all laughed.

"Now for the most important part, do we get the good stuff tonight?" Sonny asked seriously.

Everyone looked at her with pleading eyes. "You guys earned it," Mandy caved and the guys all cheered. "I'm gonna go get cleaned up and then take on Junior."

Jason and Mandy started walking off towards her hooch without saying too much. The team watched on as even without words so much was said.

"I think you lost your dog Brock," Trent smirked as they saw Cerberus trailing after them as well and Mandy occasionally petting his head when he came close to her.

"Mandy, you should put on the sling," Jason argued as they walked up the stairs to her hooch.

"Jason, I'm about to go interrogate Junior. I can't walk in with sling. It'll give away our hand. He can't know it was me out there," Mandy argued back as she walked through her doorway Jason had opened. Cerberus barked in response. "See even Cerberus agrees," Mandy said going down to the floor to play with the dog.

Jason watched on as she and Cerberus gave each other kisses. "Really buddy, in front of me? Do you have no shame in stealing my girl?"

"Cerb took down the bad guy so he's my knight in shining armor," Mandy said looking up at Jason with a twinkle in her eye.

Jason shook his head and pulled Mandy up from the ground as Cerberus went to her bed. He started undoing her vest and helping her take off her gear.

"So, when did you train to be a SEAL?" Jason asked as they continued to take stuff off.

"Like I told Eric, I went SEALs daughter training camp," Mandy said and winced as she lifted her shoulder where she took the bullet.

Jason reached for her shirt and lifted it up over her head to take a look at her bruised shoulder. Mandy was left in her bra and pants. He softly ran his hands over it, then across to her heart, down her chest, and finally down her stomach to her waist. He took his other hand to cup her neck and then leaned down to kiss her passionately. Mandy's hands ran up his arms and naturally her hands wrapped around his neck as she kissed him back just as hard. After breaking the kiss, they both leaned their foreheads against each other savoring the moment.

"For all the scares you gave me, I'm so damn proud of you," Jason said looking into her eyes. "You tell me everyday that I'm something special and I want you to know that so are you. I know I said a lot to you over comms, but I want you to know that I meant every word."

"I said a lot too," Mandy smiled back. "You got me through it all."

"And I plan to be there for whatever comes next," Jason responded as he pulled her in for a hug.

"Me too," Mandy replied followed by Cerberus barking in acknowledgement as well. "You too buddy. I'm gonna shower. You watch our kid."

Jason laughed as Mandy walked into the bathroom and he went to snuggle up with Cerberus. "Hear that buddy, you're our kid," Jason smiled as Cerberus barked back. A few months back he had told his therapist that when he looked into the future, he didn't see anything, but now he saw one thing. Mandy.