Jason's POV

Blackburn left 20 minutes ago to go and get the kid, I can only assume that he hadn't told her about what was going on and had to talk to her. Clay was bouncing his knee, which was beginning to piss me off, and Ray had his elbows on the desk and head in his hands. Trent and Brock were talking quietly and Sonny was petting Cerb. I sat looking off into space for I don't know how long just thinking about how we can make this kid feel comfortable around us and about what Eric said about her past.

I looked up when I heard the door open and saw Blackburn standing with his hand on the shoulder of a young girl..

Eric's POV

I was waiting outside the bathroom for CJ, she had asked if she could go and put some makeup on to cover her bruises, I had said no at first but then relented when she said I want them to treat me like a normal teenager not a piece of glass about to break. I felt so bad for her, I wanted to know what I could do to help but I didn't think we were there yet. Then the door opened and she came out, I could tell she was wearing makeup but with the light of the cave and the fact she was wearing her hood up I doubt anyone would notice, but these operators werent anybody's, they were the best of the best, trained to pick up on the smallest details and that's what made me nervous.

CJ POV

I looked down at my forearms and traced my fingers over the scars fighting the urge to cut again, fighting the urge to let that bastard I called the House Master win. He told me I was worthless, pathetic, useless, nothing. I couldn't resist any more and i grabbed my blade and dragged it across my arm a few times letting the blood drip into the sink, I stopped after 5 or 6 cuts and washed up the sink. I bandaged my arm and put my hoodie back on, wincing as I pulled it over my bruised shoulder. I grabbed my makeup and covered the injuries I had on my face. I combed my fingers through my hair and in a last ditch attempt to take some of the attention off of my face pulled up my hood to try and cover up the fact I had a wound on the back of my head. I took a deep breatn and walked out with my backpack slung over my shoulder. I walked out and Eric looked at me and I knew there was no going back now. He smiled at me and bent down to my level which was pretty low beacuse I was 4"8" and he was like 6"3" he put his hand on my shoulder and spoke gently,

"You ready?" I couldn't trust myself to speak so I just nodded "Come on let's go."

He straightened up and led me to what he called the 'cave', he turned and gave me a reassuring smile and opened the door. I took a deep breath and looked up and suddenly all eyes were on me. I didn't know what to do and the thought of being alone in a room with these men scared me to the point were I could feel myself on the edge of a panic attack, Eric noticed I had tensed and rubbed small circles on my shoulder with his thumb in an attempt to calm me down, and when he realised i wasn't going to speak up he did for me,

"Guys this is CJ you're new Bravo 8."

Everbody smiled at me when the one with a heavy texan accent spoke up, "Why is she Bravo 8, shouldn't she be bravo 7?"

A dog growled at him and a guy who I'm assuming is his handler spoke up with raised eybrows and a look that was almost daring him to disagree, "Cerberus is Bravo 7 Sonny."

I giggled at that and the dog who I now know as Cerberus came up to me and nuzzled his face into my hand I flinched sharply but quickly straightened up thinking it had gone undetected, but when I looked back at the team they all had concern etched into their features, I took a deep breath waiting for the conversation I had been dreading the most...

Jason's POV

She flinched, to say I was concerned was an understatement, she hadn't spoken once and I can only assume because it was because she was scared. I looked at my brothers and we all made a silent agreement to let it go for now as she looked like she was going to break down any second, but we would come back to it.

"I'm Jason Hayes, Bravo 1." I spoke gently but still with authority.

All the boys followed my lead and introduced themselves one after another,

"I'm Ray Perry, Bravo 2."

"I'm Sonny Quinn, Bravo 3."

"I'm Trent Sawyer, Bravo 4 and the team medic."

"I'm Clay Smith, Bravo 6."

"I'm Brock Reynolds, Bravo 5, and this is Cerberus, Bravo 7."

She spoke up so quietly if we weren't waiting for her to speak we probably wouldn't have heard her, "I'm CJ."

Taking the lead again I stuck my hand out for her to shake and she took it gently, "Welcome to the team kid, it's great to have you here."

"It's nice to be here." She spoke a little louder this time but still quieter than I would have liked.

Just as I was about to say something else Mandy and Lisa walked in and introduced themselves to her, she seemed more comfortable with them here, it made me think about what she could have gone through to make her so scared of men, but I honestly didn't even know if I wanted to find out. She laughed at something Mandy said and it made me smile, I knew she was going to fit right in with us and that we had to protect her no matter what... Blackburn's voice brought me out of my thoughts when he clapped his hands together and spoke,

"Right, I think it's time for me too take you to you're new home you've had a long day." He rested his hand on her shoulder and looked down at her.

Confused I spoke up, "Where is she going?"

He looked at me and answered, "She is going to be staying with a foster family about a half hour from here," I must have still looked confused because he continued, "None of us have foster licenses and they take about 6 months to be processed regardless of how much we argue she needs to be protected with her being a military asset, believe me I tried to get it put through faster but it didn't work, she's a minor so she can't live on base unless she's with her guardian, and technically we only have custody of her when she's in the field. Then even when she's in the compound she's not going to be able to walk around alone for her own safety one of us is going to have to be with her at all times."

I saw fear flash through her eyes at the mention of a foster family and her breathing quickened, I looked to Blackburn but he was already knelt on the floor next to her, he was trying to calm her down and explain what was going on to us but he couldn't do both so he just looked at Trent and said,

"She's having a panic attack."