Sasha parked her car in the first spot she could find and headed to the park. She was nervous, she wasn't technically a member of the Nathan James crew but they treated her as one. When the invite for Tex's birthday was given, it was hard for her to say 'no'.

Now as she saw the party in the distance, people and their kids enjoying themselves, she was regretting she came. She didn't know how to be 'normal' after over a year of being anything but. She didn't even have a partner to hide behind. These people were practically strangers, just work colleagues. She normally didn't cross those boundaries yet the crew seemed intent on pushing them.

I should leave before they see me, she thought as her nerves got the better of her, she turned to leave and saw Wolf and Miller behind her.

"Hi guys," Sasha said awkwardly as she was caught. "I was just leaving, I got a ton of paperwork-" she didn't get to finish her sentence when Wolf lifted her up onto his shoulders in a fireman's carry. "Hey! Put me down." Sasha complained as she frantically grabbed at Wolf's singlet so as to save herself from being dropped. Wolf caught her left hand in own and secured her to him.

"No, can do. Captain Slattery said attendance was mandatory as we all needed some revelry. So, you can't bail." Wolf told her.

"Not when he's looking this way." Miller pointed out, "HEY EVERYONE!" Miller shouted as he and Wolf waved at the party a hundred meters away. Much to Sasha's mortification, people waved back and a couple rose their beers in greetings. She was not getting out of this now.

"You guys are assholes." Sasha told them, she smacked Wolf's back in a vain attempt to make him let her go. But he just laughed as he held on tight. She just wished her left hand was closer to his nipple as she would've pinched him hard.

"We're loveable assholes." Wolf said, they made their way to the party.

"Hey! We brought beer and Cooper!" Miller announced, he held up the slab of beer he brought with them. Wolf lowered Sasha to the ground and gave her an unapologetic smile.

"I'll grab you a beer." Wolf said before he disappeared, the only saving grace he had was the audience as she sorely wanted to kick him.

"Love the entrance, hopefully you won't exit the same way." Tex said with a smile as he was the first to greet her.

"Me too, it was a bumpy ride." Sasha said as she righted herself.

"Well, we're glad you came." Tex told her.

"It's not everyday a man turns 30." Sasha said, she slightly frowned in amusement at the balloons attached to one of the picnic tables.

"My daughter told me they were the only balloons available." Tex said before he grinned. Sasha highly doubted that was the truth but then Tex liked a good joke.

"Of course." Sasha mused.

"Anyway, relax, enjoy some beer and some food because we're going to play pass the parcel soon." Tex told her.

"Seriously?" Sasha asked incredulously, she thanked Wolf for the beer he gave her and took a sip.

"Yes, Ma'am, I got twenty on it being a basketball in the middle. Everyone has to play, Captain's orders!" Tex said excitedly as he pointed to an oversized package sitting on one of the picnic tables.

"It's not an order!" Mike shouted from the barbecue pit as he corrected Tex's statement to the party.

"He's lying, everyone! it's an order!" Tex announced loudly, he leaned in close to Sasha "and Slattery is very excited to play it, don't let him make you believe otherwise." Tex said in a low voice. Sasha snorted a laugh, Tex smiled as he pulled back, "Now, I gotta save my ribs from his so called cooking skills. Mingle and enjoy yourself." he added, he left her and returned to Mike's side where the two started to bicker in a friendly manner.

Sasha looked around and could see why the crew worked so well together. They were family.