"Emily looked beat," said Ray once they were all inside the locker room.

"She sure did," replied Jason. "I think the last time I saw her this tired it must have been when she was with the team and we were in Afghanistan."

"I wouldn't want to be in her shoes right now," added Lisa, who like the others was waiting for Eric to return with instructions and their next steps.

"At least she knows how to reassure those who need it," said Sonny as he sat down in his cage.

"Yeah. Tim has never liked Syria and I can't blame him. It isn't my favorite place to be either, but I don't know for Tim it's like worse than hell itself," replied Jason to Sonny's comment. "Tim trusts Emily, they've known each other even longer than we've known her. They were in BUD/S together from day one, so if anyone can do it, it's her. She has the ability to read people well and her instincts about people hardly fail her."

Eric walked into the room. "Alright, everyone gear up, we're going to run a joint exercise with Romeo and Sierra team, meet me in the hangar in 15."

They were just finishing one of the exercises when Ray saw Emily join Eric on the catwalk above them.

"Guys, we've got eyes on us," he said addressing himself to all three teams.

"Can't remember a time when Emily came during an exercise," said Arthur.

"I think everyone is feeling the pressure from this," replied Tim. "I was here at five this morning and she was still up, on the phone with Torres. When Goodwin says she staid up all night, he meant it."

Sonny sneaked a peak up at the catwalk at her. He had arrived at 6, which meant that she hadn't been asleep for a long time, by that time.

"How's it going?" asked Emily as she looked at Eric. Richard and Mark were down below with the guys, giving them new scenario information.

"OK," replied Eric. "It's been a while since Romeo team has worked with any of the other teams. They need to find their bearings."

"True. Sierra and Bravo were in Abidjan together, it wasn't that long ago. I'll raise this up with Goodwin, I believe that every month we should organize inter-team exercises and trainings. It leaves less room for improvisation out on the field."

Eric looked at her. "If you can get Goodwin to sign off on that, I'm sure I won't be the only one coming to thank you."

She saw that the teams were getting into position down below. "Mind if I stick around for a while?"

"Not at all, always good to have an extra set of eyes and constructive feedback."

"I couldn't agree more," added Mark as he and Richard joined them.

Eric blew the whistle and the exercise started. It was a fifteen-minute scenario with multiple entry points, assailants, blowing charges, using a cutting torch for tactical thermal breaching… it was rather complete. Even Cerberus had his moment of glory.

As the exercise neared the end, Emily placed her hands on the railing and tightened her hold.

"Endex. Endex." yelled Eric and all the men put their weapons down and took a more relaxed attitude as they spoke to each other about the exercise.

He then turned to her. "What did you think?"

"Still needs improvement on Romeo side. They are still a step behind. I suggest a two-team ex. First Bravo and Sierra, let Romeo see how they are harmonized, then again with Bravo and Romeo and then Romeo and Sierra. Once they are clockwork, bring them back all in together. It should majorly improve. Also, Jason needs to communicate more with Arthur and Tim."

Richard, Mark, and Eric looked at each other.

"You should stop by more often", said Mark.

"Let's go down and give them the feedback," said Richard at Mark.

"I'll leave you to it," responded Emily as she looked at Eric, indicating that she was going to return to her office.

She let go of the railing even though she knew she shouldn't have.

The room started to spin again, more than it had during the exercise, and she felt her knees buckle. The temporary relief, she'd had from the earlier onset, had been to hold the railing and focus on the exercise.

Eric saw her lose her balance from the corner of his eye and secured her with is firm arms, just in time. Still holding her, he looked down in the hangar. "Rick, get up here, I need you."

Everyone looked up and saw that Eric was holding Emily between himself and the railing.

Sonny looked straight into Emily's eyes, but she was staring into oblivion.

Richard reached them, he helped Eric sit her down on the ground, and then grabbed her hand and took her pulse, it was fast.

"Hey Em, can you tell me what date we are and where we are?"

Slowly regaining her composure, she set her eyes on him. "We are June 10th and currently in one of the exercise hangars at Virginia Beach."

"Let's get a medic out here," said Eric not letting her go.

"I don't need a medic. I'm fine," she protested.

"Em, how much sleep did you get in the past 24 hours?"

"One hour and a half".

"And when was the last time you ate?" asked again Richard being very thorough.

"This morning."

"What did you eat?"

"A blueberry muffin."

"And when was your last meal before that?"

She looked at him. "Is this really necessary? I can tell you right now, I'm sleep deprived and haven't eaten enough in the past 48 hours. I'm fine."

She then looked at Eric. "You can let me go. I'm OK. I can stand up. I'll head over to the mess and eat. It's not like we haven't had conditions like these in the past."

"Yes, but you've been through a lot physically these past couple of months, you need to be careful."

She knew he meant being held captive and the surgery, that inevitably had taken a toll on her physically.

He let go of her but still helped her stand up, with Richard.

She stood and grounded herself as the three seal teams looked from below.

"Eric, why don't you go have lunch with Emily, Rick and I will handle the next three scenarios, then send them off to lunch?"

"Thanks Mark. I appreciate it," replied Eric before escorting Emily out of the hangar with him.