Chapter Nine : That's Our Girl
Anyone who has spent half an hour in the company of Theresa Kane can tell you that she's a hothead. And most people get an immediate dislike in her because of that. Captain's, Admirals, Chief's and Commanders alike has all felt the burn of her lashing tongue but as long as Jason Hayes - and later on Eric Blackburn - kept her from putting a higher ranking officer in the hospital, the cake eaters at CentCom decided Theresa Kane was worth much more than the occasional bout of trouble she caused and the complaints they received as consequence.
What rarely anyone to no one knows about the female Seal, is that when she isn't being a hothead and she considers you a friend, you will never find a greater friend anywhere on this Earth. Not many people bothers looking past her outspoken and cold attitude or her ability to kick ass.
And when Theresa first joined the Navy, no one every bothered to get to know her. Her fellow Seal's in training and later Green Team members looked down on her and later envied her when they heard that if she makes it through Green, then she would be put on Bravo Team and nowhere else.
So, all in all, Theresa was alone the two and a half years she spent training to become a Seal. Then she met Brock, and he didn't judge her and he didn't make assumptions and before she knew it, he was her best friend. And in the three years she has been on Bravo, they have never really fought. Arguments that was more playful that anything else could be heard at least once a day but other than that, they were the best of friends.
Which is why Theresa was currently walking to Bravo's equipment room to apologize to him. After their mission briefing and planning, the female Seal jogged around the base three times to get rid of her anger. Exercise helps to get rid of her anger once she is pulled out of the flaming haze of fury. Today, she had gotten so consumed in her anger that she took it out on the one person that didn't deserve it. And okay, maybe Spenser didn't deserve it either, but she didn't deserve to be called intimidating either.
"Can we talk?" She asked, clasping her hands behind her back to hid the fact that they were shaking. The rest of Bravo made a point not to look at the best friend duo, but that didn't stop them from eavesdropping intently.
Brock nodded and followed her out of the equipment room. They walked in silence. The canine handler still didn't know what to do with all Theresa's anger - even after three years of friendship.
"I'm sorry." She eventually breathed. They were walking outside, Cerberus having followed Brock out when they left the equipment room.
The words took him aback because he had never heard it uttered from out of her mouth. "It's okay."
"No. No, it's not." Theresa shook her head firmly. Then she let out a sigh,"Brock, I'm sorry. I just . . . I was so angry when you agreed with what Spenser said and seeing as I would never hit you on purpose, I lashed out verbally. And for that I'm sorry. It wasn't fair."
The canine handler staggered back in shock. "Wait a second, this is about Clay?"
"No," Theresa frowned. "Well, not really. I mean, he told me I'm intimidating after Syria and then when I asked you, you said yes. Then I got angry."
"So, this all started because Spenser told you that you're intimidating?"
"Stop saying it like that." Theresa snapped, her cheeks heating up from his incredulous tone, eyes looking at her knowingly. "And yes, it did."
Seeing that she going to bolt from this conversation at any second, Brock tried another tactic. "Why don't you explain it to me? Cause I'm not sure I understand."
"It's really stupid." Theresa sighed heavily before she started talking. "After Syria, Spenser, uh, he called me intimidating. And then when I asked you, you said yes and I don't know why, but it bothers me. I know, that's what I just said, but I can't explain it otherwise."
"Does it bothers you that I think you're intimidating or that Spenser thinks that?" Brock asked gently, knowing that if he pushed to hard, Theresa would slam shut. Just like she scoffed everytime he mentioned her and the blue-eyed blonde in the same sentence.
Theresa opened her mouth then she promptly closed it as she really thought about the question.
"Well, Spenser." She eventually answered, albeit looking like it physically pained her to admit that. "I mean, if it really bothered you that I'm intimidating then our friendship wouldn't have lasted this long. Ergo, it doesn't bother me that you think that."
"But it bothers you that Spenser thinks that?" Brock pressed. Partly to clarify, partly to try and make her see what was really going on here. He didn't have much hope for the second part, but a man could dream.
Theresa huffed in frustration, her cheeks suddenly feeling flaming hot, crossing her arms over her chest. "Didn't I just say that?"
"Look, Tessa, I have known you for a long time. And in all of that time, you've never cared what anyone thinks of you. You brush of their comments and return one that's three times as vicious." Brock himself didn't understand what it was exactly about Clay Spenser that made his best friend care so damn much, but he was pretty sure it had to do with the major organ in her chest that she likes to pretend doesn't exist.
"Do you have a point?" The female Seal gave him a sideways frown.
"My point," He started, waiting until she looked over at him before giving her a sharp, yet serious, look. "Is that maybe you should think about why you care so much what Spenser thinks of you."
"I don't care, it just bothers me." She retorted immediately.
"Bullshit." Brock said before he came to a screeching halt right in the middle of the walkway. It took Theresa three seconds to figure out he stopped and another second to spin to him.
"Excuse me?" She asked, with raised eyebrows.
"You've been moping around for the last week because of what Clay said to you." Brock pointed out.
Theresa pulled a face, "I have not been moping."
"Yes, you have, but that's besides the point." Brock waved her off, not wanting to get off topic. It was never very hard for them.
"Oh, you have more than one point." Theresa gasped in mock surprise, widening her eyes for effect.
"Theresa," Brock started warningly. She would work on his nerves sometimes as much as he loves her. Which is a lot. Theresa just sighed in resignation, the fight leaving her, knowing she was being purposefully difficult.
"You care what he thinks. For some reason." Brock insisted firmly, holding up a hand to silence her when she opened her mouth. "You care so much that you picked a fight with me when I ageed with what he said to you."
Theresa opened her mouth to object for the second time that they've been walking. Then promptly shut it as quickly as she opened it because she came to the terrifying realisation that, holy shit, her best friend is right. For some reason - that she really didn't know why - she cares what Clay Spenser thinks of her. She cares a whole bunch.
Her heart beat sped up up and her stomach churned. Theresa reached her hand out to Brock to steady her, gripping his arm tightly. "Brock, I think I'm going to throw up."
"What?" He looked at her worriedly. "Did you eat something wrong?"
"No," She shook her head. "Just, my stomach feels all funny."
The worry vanished from his face and amusement took its place, the corners of his lips tilted upwards. "Does it feel," The canine handler paused, searching for the right word. "-fluttery, by any chance?"
For a moment, she had a 'what the fuck' expression on her face, but then she nodded hesitantly. "Yeah."
Brock couldn't contain his grin if he tried.
Across the building on another walkway, Jason came to a halt when he saw Brock and Theresa talking . When he stopped mid sentence in explaining about Nate's burner phone that Alana found, Ray whirled his head around to see where what his best friend was looking at.
Ray snorted at the sight, not even the slightest bit surprised that the two had already reconsiled. As far as he could remember, those two never could be angry at the other for to long. Or at all, if he was being perfectly honest. "I so pity the dumbass that tries to make her choose between him and Brock."
"What are you talking about?" Jason frowned at his second-in-command.
"Tessa's future boyfriend."
"Oh, no." Jason shook his head firmly, if a bit frantically. "No more boyfriends for her until she's thirty, or fourty. On second thought, I think fifty would work better."
Ray snorted a laugh, "You do realise you can't stop her, right?"
"No, not her." The Master Chief conceded. "But I can stop the boyfriend."
"Jason," Ray chortled, very amused with his best friend's antics. It was rare to see the ever controlled and legendary Jason Hayes loose his cool composure. "-she will kick your ass."
"I'd rather have my ass kicked than see her crying her eyes out over some idiot that was never worth her time in the first place." Jason deadpanned seriously. Those words made Ray paused for a moment before his mind exploded with questions. The most important one being: when did Theresa have a boyfriend?
"What happened?" Ray asked curiously. In the time they've worked together, the female Seal has never had any romantic interests. Sure, he doesn't know what she does in her time off, but he's sure Theresa would have mentioned a boyfriend by now.
"He left her right after prom because she didn't want to sleep with him." Jason's jaw clenched just at the mere memory.
Ray's eyes narrowed, his fingers suddenly itching for somethingto shoot. "Please tell me you had a chat with him."
"No, but when she came home, the knuckles of her one hand was split." Jason grinned at his best friend.
"That's our girl." Ray smiled in approval. He looked back over at Theresa and Brock , clearly in thought. "You know, she doesn't look like the prom type."
"Oh, she wasn't. Didn't want to do it, but Alana and my then eleven year old daughter, convinced her."
SEAL TEAM
"You hungry?" Brock asked out of nowhere, wanting to change the subject. There was no way that he was going to be the one to tell Theresa that she likes Clay Spenser in a romantic way. Not happening in this lifetime. Or the next one, for that matter. She's one of the smartest people he's ever met, if a little emotionally stunted, but she could figure it out her own. He's sure of it.
Might take a while though.
The female Seal eyed him suspiciously for a few seconds, wondering if she should push the subject. Then she shrugged internally. If it was really bad or life-threatening, Brock would have told her. So, what ever the reason is that she cares so much about what Spenser thinks, can't be that bad if her best friend isn't freaking out.
"Nah, you and Cerb go ahead." Theresa smiled, leaning over slightly to give the canine a quick pat on the head. Brock and Cerberus left, going into the direction of the cafeteria. Theresa was making her way back to the equipment cages, when her phone rang. Pulling it out, worry immediately spiked through her heart and she instantly picked up the call, blood rushing in her ears.
"Is something wrong?" She asked, forgoing a proper greeting.
A warm laugh came through the phone. "Everything's okay." Alana assured her and Theresa sighed in relief, her worry disappearing immediately and her heart starting to slow down.
"Oh, good. For a moment there you had me worried." Theresa admitted easily. Alana Hayes was someone that is in almost everyone of her childhood memories. Well, the ones that matter. It seems stupid and disrespectful to put up a front to someone who helped raised her. "How are you?"
"I'm good. You?" Alana asked, her gentle voice a comfort to Theresa.
Theresa shrugged to herself, "Eh, you know how it is. Same old, same old."
"Yeah." Being a Seal's wife, Alana did know. "So, are you busy? With like a mission or something?" And being a Seal's wife, she also knew not to ask to much unless the information was volenteered.
"Uh, no. We're waiting for an op to be greenlit, but until then we're home. Although, that probably won't be for much longer seeing as how there's hostages involved." Theresa immediately cursed herself, smacking her palm against her forehead. "And, I shouldn't have said so much. I'm sorry, Alana."
"Hostages?" Alana asked, sounding rightfully horrified. "You know what, it's okay, I'm just going to pretend I never heard that."
"That would be awesome." Theresa smiled to herself, feeling a little relieved. "Not that I mind one bit, but is there any reason in particular that you called?"
"Is there any chance that you could come to the house? Like, right now. I want to ask you something. In person."
Theresa frowned. That was an unusual request. It's not so much the request to stop by as it is the timing. Alana usually asked her to visit in the mornings - like when she has something to do and couldn't take Emma and Mikey to school and Jason was otherwise occupied, which was a rarity, or when Theresa wasn't to spend some time with her unoffically adopted siblings, which was the case more often than not - or to stop by in the evenings - for dinner.
It doesn't really matter what Alana's reason is since the female Seal didn't think twice about her answer. "Yeah, sure. I got nowhere else to be."
Twenty minutes later, Theresa pulled up in the house she lived in for six years. She wanted to move out immediately after graduating from high school, but Jason and Alana convinced her to stick around until she finished with her Seal training. Theresa agreed - not that it was hard to stop her in the first place, she loves Alana's home cooking. So, she had lived with the Hayes' until shortly after her twentieth birthday and six months before joining Bravo.
The door opened two seconds after she knocked and Alana hugged her so tightly that the breath was nearly knocked from her lungs.
"Nice to see you too." Theresa laughed as she hugged the blonde woman back.
"I missed you so much." Alana squeezed tightly one last time before letting the younger woman go. She knows that Theresa doesn't like physical contact for extended periods of time. The only person she was truely comfortable around and didn't struggle against when trying to restrain her, is Jason. "The last time I saw you was at Landon's communion."
Theresa winced at the accusatory look Alana gave her. "We've been so busy, that I comepletely forgot to stop by."
"Mikey asked when 'Tessie' was going to stop by." Alana teased with a light smile, making Theresa glare half heartedly. "And even Emma wants to see you. Although her way of admitting that was more her claiming that she was right when she said that you would just leave again like you did when you first got here."
Theresa frowned, clearly troubled by Alana's words.
"If we're home on Saturday, I'm taking them both for the day." The female Seal said determinedly. She never wants Emma and Mikey to think that's she's leaving them forever. Because she wouldn't. Not until her last breath. "But don't tell them, in case we're not here."
"Okay." Alana smiled warmly at her, something around her heart easing. She too, even after Theresa has been a Seal for three years, worries that one day the brunette would disappear out of their lives like she did for the first year she lived with the Hayes'. "Come on in, I still have some left over pasta from last night."
Theresa's eyes brightened at the mention of food. She wasn't lying when she told Brock that she's not hungry, but she'd never pass on Alana's food.
Five minutes later, Theresa was sitting on a chair by the kitchen island, shoving forks full of food in her mouth, making noises of appreciation and approval as she did so. Alana watched her in amusement. When Theresa noticed her staring she just swallowed her mouthful before sticking her tongue out at the blonde woman.
"Don't judge, I can't make it as good as you." The Seal defended herself before going back to her almost finished meal.
Alana let out a hearty laugh, her chest warm with happiness. Feeding her oldest daughter - and yes, that is what she thinks of Theresa as, not that she'd ever tell the Seal - was always something that left her feeling overjoyed. Especially given the fact that Theresa rarely to never lets anyone take care of her. When Jason first brought her home, Theresa was so independant, it was painful.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it." Alana said after Theresa was done eating. The Seal quickly washed her plate and dried it before putting it in it's rightful place in the cupboard. Figuring that's she has given Alana enough time to think about what it was she really called Theresa here for, the brunette turned to her expectantly.
"So, you finally gonna tell me what's bugging you?" Theresa raised an eyebrow at the blonde.
Alana let out a startled laugh. She didn't even know why she is surprised. Theresa has always been quick on the uptake. "What did you think about Nate?"
"Uh," Theresa stammered, caught completely off guard. While talking about Nate wasn't a taboo subject, it still wasn't done. Or more like, it was avoided. Maybe some day, years from now, Bravo could sit back and talk freely about their fallen brother. They could share stories and laugh in remembrance. But until then, until that aching and raw wound starts to close, no one was going to poke at it.
"Why do you ask?" The female Seal eventually managed, avoiding her helicopter mother's gaze. She needed to get herself, her emotions, under control before she could look at Alana. If she didn't, Theresa might just break down.
It's not that she didn't trust Alana enough to let her walls down and allow herself to be vulnerable. Quite the opposite, in fact. Alana has witness her break down over her mother and comfort her as much as Jason has.
Now just wasn't the right time. For one, she could receive the mission greenlight any second. And for two, Alana had clearly called her here to discuss something.
"Just wondering." Alana shrugged. Theresa eyebrows rose and she gave her a skeptical look. She knows the only woman much better than to just take that answer. Alana finally caved underneath her stare with a sigh. "Did Nate seem like the cheating type?"
That threw Theresa for loop. "Come again?"
"It's just, you knew Nate. You spent three hundred days of the year with him for three year. So, you must have picked up something." Alana was half begging, half hopeful. Begging that Theresa would answer her and hoping that the female Seal would not stone wall her like her husband had.
"No, he didn't seem like the cheating type. I mean, sure, he disliked me at first for being so young and seeing all of the ugly and horrible things in the world, but other than that, he was good." Theresa answered honestly, brows furrowing slightly.
"He's not the only one." Alana muttered to herself, but Theresa heard it all the same.
"Care to elaborate on that?" There was no heat in her words, just mild curiousity.
Alana hesitated for a few seconds. "When you first told me that you were going to inlist, I was so terrified. Terrified that you would become just like Jason, that you would shut me out or that I would loose you."
"Alana . . ." Theresa trailed of thickly, rocks forming quickly in her throat.
"But I was wrong. You didn't shut me out or fall into the darkness that can come with being a Seal. Instead, you shined. You shined so brightly and brilliantly and you grew to be such a beautiful woman. It was like, like you were finally in a place where you could fully be yourself. You could fight for what you want without holding back or being scared of hurting those around you with what you can do." Alana smiled and Theresa smiled back. It was watery and small, but it was there and Alana's heart swelled with love and pride.
Theresa had come so far from the stotic fourteen year old that threw once heck of a punch before running away.
However, before Theresa could respond, her phone buzzed. Half dreading to look at it, the female Seal knew she had to. No matter how reluctant she was.
"It's okay. Go ahead." Alana gave her a sad smile.
With her reassurance, Theresa finally took her phone out of her jacket pocket and looked at the text. The message just confirmed what she already suspected. She swore a little when she saw that the vessel was missing.
"I gotta go." Theresa gave her an apologetic look.
"I know." The blonde nodded in understanding. "How long until wheels up?"
"Uh," Theresa glanced back at her phone, reread the message. Greenlit. Centarus missing. Go time: ASAP. Which means . . . "We're taking off as soon as the whole team is on board."
"Timeframe?"
Taking into account flight time plus the time it would take to complete the mission, Theresa said, "Two days, max."
"Be careful." Alana pleaded.
"Always am." Theresa grinned at her before giving her a tight hug.
Alana watched her walk away with a heavy heart. She has done this for twenty years with Jason and for three years with Theresa and still, it never gets any easier.
SEAL TEAM
Theresa walked up the hanger of the C-17, her backpack slung over her one shoulder and a takeaway paper cup in the other one. Taking a look around, the female Seal snorted in amusement. She stopped at Starbucks on the way here, swung by the equipment cages to get her backpack, and still made it before Brock, Sonny and Trent.
Out of nowhere, Cerberus shot past her legs and Theresa turned around. And there was the missing three members of Bravo. She waved the trio before turning back to the inside of the plane. Theresa walked past the crates that Jason, Ray, Mandy, Eric, Lisa and Dr. Roberts where standing around.
"Hey guys." She nodded to them as she put her coffee down inbetween Ray and Jason, and got a chorus of greetings back. Remembering the conversation she had with Alana, Theresa made a mental note to asking Jason about it. Alana wouldn't have come up with that question by herself. She quickly set up her hammock next to Jason's, Cerberus laying by her backpack, head leaning on the bag. When Theresa finished with her hammock, Cerberus stood up before looking at the hammock and then at Theresa.
Smiling fondly, the female Seal nodded. She gestured to the hammock with her left hand, "Go ahead, Cerb."
With lighting speed, the canine jumped on the hammock, eliciting a low laugh from Theresa. She pushed her hands into her jeans pockets before walking back to the makeshift desk. She was still in her civvies and would change into her khaki's later on.
"Looks like the pirates have finally figured out how to disable the Centaurus's GPS." Mandy said as Theresa reached the table and picked up her Hazelnut Cappuccino. Knowing that both Jason and Ray dispises anything cappuccino related, they wouldn't have touched it. And Lisa, Mandy and Eric just doesn't have the guts to touch her drink. She is also pretty sure that the piracy expert wouldn't dare to pick up a Seal's coffee. So, she didn't feel the slightest bit worried about leaving it unattended.
"Can't say I'm surprised. Pissed, but not surprised." Theresa grumbled before taking a sip of her favourite drink ever.
"Last known position was here." The CIA Agent drew a mark on a paper map with a red pencil. "By now, they could be anywhere within this circle." She drew a big circle around the 'x' mark spot as Sonny arrived at the crates they were standing by. Theresa glanced around and saw Trent and Brock hanging their hammocks. "And by the time we get you over there . . ." She trailed off, drawing a circle that took up most of the map.
Theresa let out a low whistle as Jason spoke, "I'm sorry. Excuse me. How big is that area?"
"About the size of the continental United States, give or take Ohio." Mandy answered grimly.
"There is no way we're going to be able to find them. Not in time to get to those hostages, anyway." Theresa noted, gesturing to the page with her free hand.
"Yeah." Mandy nodded in agreement, as tense as the rest of the group.
"Well, we have the entire flight to try and figure it out." Eric said before splitting from the group to go and give the order for take off.
Everyone went in their own directions, but before Jason could escape to his hammock for some sleep - like everyone on his team was going to - Theresa grabbed him by the back of his flannel and pulled him to a part of the plane where there wasn't any people around for the disguse of privacy.
"What's up?"
"So, I had a very interesting conversation with Alana before we got called in." Theresa started nonchalantly and Jason's interest was piqued. But when she crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a hard look that reeked of nothing but determination, his stomach dropped and he immediately knew what their conversation was about.
"Oh yeah? About what?" Jason decided to play dumb, trying to by himself some time.
"She asked me if Nate seemed like the cheating type." The female said bluntly, not wanting to play this game any longer. She wanted answers. "You know where she got an idea like that?"
The Master Chief considered lying. He really did, but decided against it because Theresa would know and the only thing it would accomplish is a pissed off Theresa. "Probably because of the burner phone she found."
"Burner phone?" Theresa frowned at Jason. "Jace, what burner phone?"
"She found it in Nate's toolbox when she was cleaning out their garage." Jason explained to the brunette.
Theresa took a slow breath, silent as she processed his words. "You know, I find it hard to believe that Nate would have cheated on Molly. He was reckless and managed to somehow at the same time be uptight, but he was not an adulterer."
"Yeah, me too." Jason agreed with her. "But Ray and I looked at the phone and Nate's nav. The same days he made multipule calls to the only number on the phone, he went to Norfolk."
"What's in Norfolk?"
"Got called in before we could find out." Jason shrugged, just as clueless as her.
"Well, I'm sure there is a reasonable explaination." Theresa said confidently, no doubt in her eyes.
Jason gave her a soft look, "Of everyone on this team, I never expected you to defend him. It's no secret that you two never really got along, differed on everything. Sure, you worked together, had each other's six, respected each other but you always argued about even the smallest things."
"Differences or no, that doesn't change the fact that Nate was a good man and for all intents and purposes, he was my brother." Theresa shrugged before she admitted. "And I really do miss him."
"I miss him too." Jason sighed, pulling her closer for a hug, his chin resting on her head when she hugged him back. "What if it's a woman?" He whispered, dread in his tone.
"Let's cross that bridge when we come to it, okay?" Theresa squeezed him tightly.
Jason smiled somewhat nodding against her hair. "Okay."