Hi All! Usual disclaimers. I own nothing but my own original characters. Please enjoy
Chapter 1
Evy could feel the change in atmosphere the minute her plane touches down. Jalalabad is not a sought after vacation location for anyone. This is a war zone. A place where bombs and bullets are normal. The airfield is buzzing with chaos as she steps off the plane towards the pick-up location.
" ?" A soldier asks as he stands next to the car waiting to take her to her accommodations.
"Yes." His brown eyes are kind but his whole appearance is stiff. She can tell he is still new to this world but has lost the innocence that all new soldiers enter with.
"Right this way ma'm." She sighs slightly, feeling gross after such a long flight. Her long brown hair is pulled up into a ponytail while she is sure her green eyes are bloodshot with exhaustion.
Sitting in the truck, she watches the life at the FOB move along. Soldiers and base personnel are moving through their typical day. It can be jarring to a person the first time they see this. These people are in the middle of a war zone and yet they are playing a game of pick-up basketball.
After twenty minutes the driver announces their arrival. She grabs her bag that is sitting next to her and heads into the building. Moving through the twist and turns, she finds the room she is looking for.
She hears a muffle "come in" when she knocks on the door. Station Chief Tim Belding is sitting at the desk looking worse for wear. She can tell he is stressed so she tries to break the ice with, "You look like shit."
His eyes snap up and give her a look over before leaning back in his chair. He responds with, "You try dealing with Mandy on your own. She's so far up my ass, I think she's almost able to pick my nose."
"Well she is a pitbull. Once she hooks her teeth into something it will take the Jaws of Life to get her off of it." Belding is the CIA station chief for this FOB. He is also a former colleague of hers.
"Yeah well it doesn't help that Hayes is biting too. It's like a one-two punch with those two. When I get one off my ass the other takes a shot." He is exhausted and is unable to hide it.
"Ahh, yes that is why I did not go the management route." She replies trying to lighten the mood.
"How are things? I know you can't give me specifics, I know for a fact I am not on the list but everything going as smoothly as possible?" He always did have a soft spot for her.
"Yes, everything is going as smoothly as possible. I am lucky Evan allows us a wide range of freedom. I don't really have to check in with him or the team. I get a lot of leeway to get shit done." His eyes look directly into her own and then soften when he can see she is telling the truth. She decides to ask, "Any movement on who took out Echo?"
"Not yet, but Mandy has one that she is sure about. I'm expecting to see the target packet on my desk any day now. People will not be happy about it." She is not surprised by his statement. Mandy is never one to shy away just because of politics.
"Well I better get going then. I don't want to delay that process. I'll see you around." She states as she stands and as she turns she feels a smile grow on her face. "I do have perfect timing."
Walking towards them is Mandy herself with what Evy can see as a stuffed envelope in her arms. "Mandy!"
"Evy!" Mandy greets with a smile on her face and continues 'Hope I am not interrupting anything."
"Nope, I was just heading out to find you truthfully. Figure we could get some coffee and catch up." She glances back to Belding with a smile on her face.
"Yeah, that would be great. Give me one minute to talk with him and then we can go." Mandy steps forward as Evy steps out of the room and closes the door.
Muffle talk is the only thing she can hear. She only has to wait a few minutes before Mandy reemerges with a smile on her face. It's smug and makes Evy giggle slightly as she catches Belding's face contorts in disbelief.
"I do feel bad for that man." Evy states as the Mandy gives her a smile before pointing to the direction they need to go in.
"Why? I do all the work and he gets the credit for it." Mandy gives her a look before the two of them exit the building.
"Trust me, he probably deals with enough and then add you and Bravo on top. I would have probably quit by now." The noise of the outside world hits their ears and she makes a point to stay close to Mandy.
"Come on, I have a meeting with the team in 10 minutes. I'll read you in on what's going down. Your name was just added to the list." Mandy explains while following the familiar path through the base.
The minute they are inside the war room, Mandy is able to give her the full breakdown of what she thinks happened to Echo Team. She includes the info about Saleem Hakan and what she just submitted. "I am sure Jason is just chomping at the bit to get this guy."
Seconds later, Davis and Blackburn enter the room. Evy can't help but smile as she greets both of them. Davis askes, "How are you?"
"I'm good. Just working a bunch and traveling?" Evy responds and can't help but smile. "How are you? I heard from a little birdie that you have a new guy in your life?"
"Doing as good as can be and yes his name is Danny. He's a former Seal, disable out. Use to be on Team 4 with Sonny." Lisa's face cracks with a smile. Evy knows immediately this is something serious.
"That's good, at least he understands the job. How are the boys? Getting their asses into shit and expecting you to help fix it?" She can't hold back the giggle as Davis' face contorts in annoyance.
"Yes, they are the biggest pain in my ass. Having to keep on top of them the whole the whole time." Lisa's smile always has a slight bit of mischief in it. She's an all knowing woman and Evy is always drawn to that energy. It's why they've always gotten along.
"How's the new guy doing?" Evy had heard a new guy had been chosen. She could only imagine how much torture the team had put him through.
"Spenser, he's keeping up. The guys are starting to warm up to him but it's always a process." She says but can't go further as they are interrupted by the door opening.
"EVY!" Sonny is the first one through the door and immediately runs over to give her a bear hug.
"Sonny! I can't breathe." She states as she can feel her air supply being cut off by his tight embrace.
"Just a few more seconds. It's been months since I've seen you so just deal with it." Sonny demands while waiting a few more seconds. "You are free."
"Thanks." Evy smiles at him while moving on to Trent and Brock to give them both a hug.
She can't help herself when she sees Cerberus and leans down to give the dog all the love she can possibly give. Cerberus just lays down and takes all she gives. "Hello pretty boy."
"Ah, Evy, you need to meet Golden Boy himself." Evy looks back at Sonny in confusion before looking at the door where she is met with the face of the new Bravo 6. "Evy this is Clay Spenser, also known as Princess or New Guy. Clay this is Evy Landon."
Clay pauses for a second before reaching out his hand in greeting and says "It's nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." She says as she shakes his hands lightly before looking over at Sonny.
"Evy here is one of our favorite Spooks, no offense Mandy." Sonny pauses for a moment looking back at Mandy.
"None taken." Mandy responds while she rearranges a file with a smile on her face. Evy rolls her eyes and leans down to pet Cerberus again. "How is my favorite Bravo team member?"
Just as she is about to touch his fur she feels a wet finger enter her ear and she stands up straight ready to fight. She turns around and is met with Jason Hayes who is grinning at her with a smug smile and says, "Hi Evy."
She waits a second and punches him in the shoulder and states, "You are so gross."
"I missed you too." He smiles down at her and grabs her in a for a quick hug while she declares she missed him as well. Once they pull away he asks,"I thought I was your favorite Bravo member?"
"No, you must be confused. All those head injuries are starting to take effect. I could never choose any of you over Cerberus." She gives him a simple shrug and seeing Ray over his shoulder distracts her. She moves around Jason to give him a hug.
"Hi Evy." He has a bright smile on his face as he greets her.
"What brings you to our neck of the woods? I thought you were mostly roaming Europe nowadays?" Jason asks as he walks towards his place at the table.
"I am but you know the job. You go where you are needed. Plus I can never pass up a visit to Jbad." Evy leans against the side table watching the team interact. "Gives me an excuse to catch up with you guys."
"Well we are glad you are here." Ray gives her a kind smile as Blackburn, Davis, and Mandy approach the group.
"Alright, good morning everyone." Mandy interrupts and Ray makes a snarky comment directed at Jason. "As of a few minutes ago. The Saleem Hakan package is officially in the pipeline."
"How did Belding take it?" Jason asks as he throws the football towards Sonny.
"He's pushing it through. Lucky for us, his favorite, Evy, had buttered him up before I gave him the request."
All eyes shot towards Evy who just shrugs and she responds with, "I'm not on his shit list, currently. That will probably change."
"Keep in mind it took over 200 days for the Bin Laden op to be approved." She continues her speech on Saleem and Evy can feel the room's energy start to turn. They are ready to take this guy down.
"All that's left to do is wait, wait, wait." Jason replies while Sonny complains about being another cog in the wheel.
Blackburn takes over the conversation and starts the talk about the Congressional Delegation schedule for the next day. Mandy and her glance at each other once the team starts talking. She has a smirk on her face when she hears the complaints start to fly.
"Do you have anything to do with this?" Jason directs at Evy with a light-hearted tone to it.
"Sort of. I'm here as an extra set of eyes. They just want to make sure this goes as smoothly as possible and have some extra eyes on the whole situation. I just happened to have a trip already planned." Evy explains while looking at her watch realizing the time. "Well, as great as this has been boys, I need to head out soon. Mandy could you show me to our quarters?"
"Of course. Come on. See you guys later for introductions." Evy waves at the group as the two of them head out.
"Mandy, what do you think would happen if the bosses found out an agent slept with an operator?" Evy questions as Mandy points towards the direction to their shared sleeping quarters.
Mandy's head whips towards the other woman and asks, "Why are you asking?"
"Because I slept with Spenser the night before I went into clandestine training." Evy shrugs as she responds realizing how complicated this all just became. "We never spoke again and honestly I am sure he doesn't even remember me."