A/N: This chapter is set a few days after season one. Let me know what you think!

"Please tell me this dinner is going to be better than the last one?" Mandy smirks while sitting down at the table across from Jason.

"I'm oh so sorry I had a concussion." Jason chuckles

"Are you saying I shouldn't hold your brain being scrambled against you?" Mandy jokes.

Jason takes a sip of his beer. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

"I'll think about it." Mandy smiles.

"I think you can do better than that." Jason smiles.

"We will see." Mandy takes a sip of the GNT he had ordered for her. "How have you been? How's the head?"

"Look at you all worried about me." Jason smirks.

"Am I not allowed to be concerned about my friend?" Mandy counters.

"Of course, you are." Jason tells her.

"Answer the question Hayes." Mandy says not backing down.

"Alright." Jason laughs. "I've been good."

"And?" Mandy pushes.

"And Alana is letting me sleep on the sofa." Jason stops mid thought.

"How is that going?" She asks.

"Awkward... Am I allowed to say that?" Jason questions.

Mandy looks him up and down. "Why is it awkward?"

"I'm back in the house, but Alana and I aren't together, but she's taking care of me." Jason explains.

"That's what people who care about each other do." Mandy smiles. "Didn't you tell me that even when she was telling you the marriage was over she told you how much she loved you?"

"She did." Jason nods.

"So, it's not that strange to think that she would help nurse you back to health after all of this." Mandy tells him.

"As always, Miss Ellis, you have made a good point." Jason smirks. "But enough about me, how are you doing?"

"I'm okay." Mandy takes a sip of her drink. "Just getting ready to head to Diego Rivera in a couple of days."

"That's it?" Jason pushes.

"What are you trying to ask me Jason." Mandy says sitting back and crossing her arms.

Jason leans in. "You got kidnapped not long ago."

"What's your point." Mandy says sounding snappier than she meant to.

"Secret Agent Ellis." Jason pauses and looks her in the eyes. "Don't get mad, I'm just trying to make sure you're okay."

"I just told you I was okay." Mandy huffs.

"Yeah, that's right up there with you telling me you're fine." Sonny says shooting her a knowing look.

"It was scary." She says softly.

"I know it was." Jason says gently stroking her hand that laid on the table. "I wish I had gone with you."

"Like I said, I should have known something was up." Mandy lets out a long breath. "But in the end of the day my driver and I were returned safe and unharmed. That's the best possible outcome."

"Are you telling me you're really good?" Jason asks still not completely believing her.

"Yes Jason." Mandy nods. "I really am good. I'm excited for what's next."

"Okay, I believe you." Jason smirks. "How long will you be gone?" He had grown accustomed to having her around and only a phone call away when he needed her.

Mandy shrugs. "Hold on, let me check the detailed and not at all classified itinerary the agency sent me." She says with and eyeroll.

"No need to be a smart ass, Miss Ellis." Jason chuckles.

"But you enjoy it so much." Mandy grins.

"I'm not so sure about that." Jason counters, lying through his teeth.

"I really don't know." Mandy sighs. "At least a month or two."

"You're going to miss." Jason keeps talking before she can answer. "Who am I kidding, of course you're going to miss me."

"If that's what makes you feel better Jason."

"It does." Jason laughs at his own joke.

"Tell me something." She pauses, leaning in.

"Uh-oh." Jason chuckles. "I don't like that look."

"What was that tension between you and Ray on the flight home?" Mandy asks him.

"What tension?" Jason attempts to deflect her question.

"I'm not blind, thank you very much." Mandy snorts. "There is clearly something up between the two of you."

"He lied to me." Jason half grunts, half mumbles.

"Okay." Mandy nods. "About what?" She asks when Jason doesn't provide any further information.

"His shoulder." He grumbles.

"What about his shoulder?" Mandy pushes.

"Remember that last Yemen op?" Jason asks looking her in the eyes.

"Yes." Mandy says returning his eye contact and still waiting for him to her what was really going on.

Jason pauses before continuing. "He hurt it on a takedown that night."

"Okay and." Mandy asks, knowing there was more to the story than he had told her.

"And the reason he wasn't there on that warhead op was because I saw him in PT and the physical therapist said he needed to get an MRI and was probably looking at surgery." Jason flops back in his chair. "Before we deployed swore up and down to me that he was good. That little boy died because of his bad throw because of the shoulder."

"Wait, are you serious?" Mandy asks in disbelief.

"Yeah." Jason nods. "Thing have been tight for him and Naima since the new baby and he wanted the deployment money."

"Be he's one of you closest friends." Mandy states.

"That doesn't change the fact he lied to me." Jason counters.

"No, it doesn't." Mandy pauses. "But it should count for a lot."

"Are you trying to be my voice of reason here?" Jason asks.

"No. I am trying to tell you be mad at him until it doesn't feel good to be mad anymore, but don't go blowing up your friendship because can't see past your own nose." Mandy tells him flatly.

"I thought you were on my side." Jason states.

"I am Jason, I promise." Mandy smiles. "Listen, I have to go home and pack."

"Leaving me high and dry." Jason shakes his head.

"I would never." Mandy smirks as she stands. "Goodbye Master Chief Hayes."

"Goodby Secret Agent Ellis."