Chapter 26

WE GOT RENEWED FOR SEASON 6! YES! I'm so happy we're getting another season even if right now they're saying it's only ten episodes. Dave will hit another 100 episodes show too! I know season 5 in recent weeks has begun airing internationally and I can't wait to hear what everyone thinks. It was such a good season even if they stopped our hearts with that ending lol. I'm assuming filming may start early summer, but we'll see. I'm sure more will come out as we move forward. Thank you to everyone for helping with the renew campaign as well. Now enjoy a new chapter!

After Mandy left, Bravo team continued to hang out at the Bulkhead. They all kept sparing glances towards Newson. The man sat at the bar for about a half hour after Mandy left. He nursed his drink seeming to contemplate something before he reached for his phone.

"Guy's phone is ringing," Clay said glancing at Newson as he setup his shot on the pool table.

"By the looks on his face, it's not a good conversation," Ray added.

"Didn't look like he and Mandy had a friendly conversation either," Sonny commented.

"Guys, Mandy is good at what she does. She knows what she'd doing," Jason said confidently while taking a sip of beer.

"Wow," Ray said with raised eyebrows.

"What?" Jason asked.

"You're telling me you're not concerned at all about what could be going on? Especially with Mandy?" Ray pushed.

"Of course, I'm worried but I know she can handle it. Seems like she has good team around her too," Jason shrugged.

"It's different seeing her in action this way," Clay commented. "Reminds you there's more in this world than just the war we fight."

"There's a war to be fought everywhere you go," Sonny stated.

"Wow, listen to the that coming from Sonny of all people," Jason replied.

"If you ask me, Mandy taking bad guys down again is a good thing," Sonny added.

"Why do you say that?" Clay asked.

"Cuz having her on our side means we get to rid the world of a little bit of terror," Sonny replied. "She's also pretty damn good at it."

"Seems different stateside though," Ray said. "I heard they're after a woman from the Navy. Word is she tried to accuse General Hansen of rape. It went to trial, but the case fell apart. Now she's taking justice into her own hands it seems."

"How's it fair the victim became the fugitive," Clay shook his head.

"Mandy never liked Hansen," Jason stated. "Always got this look in her eyes whenever someone talked about him, or he was around."

"You think he pulled a move on Mandy," Ray asked seriously as the rest of the team stopped to look at Jason as well.

"Don't know," Jason shrugged.

"She'd say something though, right? If any lines were crossed," Clay said.

"Mandy can handle her own," Jason answered.

"Doesn't mean she should have to though," Ray said as everyone agreed.

Joe pulled up behind Sarah and Jessica's car, which they parked a couple houses down the street. They didn't want the situation to escalate if April was already there. Mandy and the guys got out of the car and went to the trunk to grab vests as Sarah and Jessica approached.

"Haven't seen any movement on the house since we got here," Jessica reported.

"Any sign April is inside?" Ryan asked.

"That tan sedan up ahead is the only vehicle that has a different address than around here but it's hard to tell if they're visiting another home," Sarah answered. "Also, no one in Amy's house is picking up. Not sure if she's home. Don't see a car outside but could be in the garage."

"Alright, Joe and Jessica take the back while the rest of you are with me," Mandy said as she opened the back door to the other SUV to get Ace. "Hey, buddy. You ready to work," Mandy greeted as Ace barked back.

The team split as they approached the house. Mandy walked up the front stairs behind Ryan and Sarah with Ace. They banged on the front door to announce themselves before forcing entry in. Mandy led with Ace looking for a trail. They cleared the front side as Joe and Jessica cleared the back. Mandy let Ace go up the stairs as she and Ryan moved to clear the upstairs.

"House is clear," Ryan called out from the top of the stairs.

"No car in the garage," Jessica said joining the team in the living room.

"Sarah-," Mandy began.

"Try tracing Amy's phone. Already on it boss," Sarah finished. "Looks like she's on the move. I just hacked her phone and looks like she got a message to go to yoga with a friend. It's not a part of her routine."

"Wait, April was casing the yoga studio right," Ryan stated.

"Yeah," Mandy confirmed.

"What if she wasn't just casing to see Amy but also to see who she interacted with. She gets close enough she can grab a phone and lure Amy out to her. April is smarter than she looks and knows we're on to her. Also, she'd have more ways of escape near by a business than here," Ryan concluded.

"Let's head for the yoga studio. I'll call it in to local PD to send some back up there as well," Mandy said as they rushed back to the cars.

As the Mandy's team pulled up near the yoga studio. They could see some people running out the front entrance.

"Looks like April is here," Mandy said over comms. "Everyone watch your six. We don't know what we're walking into."

Just as they all got out of the cars, shots could be heard going off. Instantly, the team all had their guns drawn and were approaching the front entrance.

"Back up is still fifteen minutes out," Ryan updated just as another gunshot went off.

"That's it, we're going in," Mandy said as Joe took the lead and she followed.

As they entered, a few more scared people were ushered out to safety. So far, didn't seem like anyone was wounded.

"April LaGrange! FBI!" Joe called out.

"April, we just want to talk," Mandy said from the doorway.

"You all work for him!" April cried out as she waved her gun towards the doorway.

"There's a body," Joe said looking in from his point.

"Listen, I'm going to put my gun away and just talk okay," Mandy said holding her gun in the air and moving to stand in the doorway. "See, I'm just gonna holster this."

April stood there near the back entrance with her gun pointed at Mandy.

"Look, how about you turn yourself in and we get this whole thing straightened out. I'm not gonna lie, things aren't good for you, but we can still-," Mandy tried negotiating.

"Stop!" April yelled. "You don't get it. This is the only way I'll get justice," April said.

"That's not true," Mandy tried to reassure her. "I can help you. I can-," Mandy pleaded.

"Yeah, help. Just like everyone else tried to help," April scoffed. "I'm not falling for all that," April said before pulling the trigger and a shot rang out.

Before Mandy could react, the bullet hit her towards the bottom left of her rib cage. The breath was knocked out of her and the force of the bullet hitting her caused her to stumble backwards. Everything seemed to slow down before Mandy fell to the floor.

"Mandy!" Joe called out as he held his gun up looking for April who had fled out through the back entrance. "Ryan, on me!" Joe commanded as Jessica stood guard as Sarah went down to check on Mandy.

"Mandy? Mandy, talk to me," Sarah said as she undid Mandy's vest to check for the bullet. "Vest stopped the bullet," Sarah breathed a sigh of relief.

"Roll an ambo," Jessica began calling in their location. "We have an agent down."

Mandy couldn't breathe. She kept trying to take breaths, but they were small. It felt like she'd had the wind knocked out of her and she knew a bruise was going to form where her ribs were. Mandy tried to get up, but Sarah pushed her back down.

"No, no, stay down boss. We got this. You just focus on breathing. No talking," Sarah ordered.

"Ryan. Joe. You got anything?" Jessica asked over comms.

"No, we lost her," Joe said angrily before running back into the studio.

"How is she?" Ryan asked worriedly as they came over.

"Vest caught the bullet," Jessica said with relief. "Hopefully just some bruised ribs. Ambo should be here any minute."

"Hey," Joe said kneeling down towards Mandy, who tried to talk. "Hey, no talking. You just focus on getting your bearings back okay. April is gone right now. Abby is gonna kill me for you getting shot, you know?" Joe joked as Mandy laughed and then grimaced. "No jokes," Joe said as the paramedics arrived and took over.

The guys were just outside the Bulkhead laughing as they wrapped up the night. They were laughing and ribbing each other about one thing or another. Everything was normal until Jason's phone went off. He didn't recognize the number but stepped away laughing to take it.

"Hello," Jason answered as he watched the guys. "What? What hospital?" Jason exclaimed catching the guys attention.

"Jace, everything okay?" Ray asked worriedly.

"Yeah, I'm on my way," Jason said quickly and then took in a shaky breath. He started heading for his truck quickly.

"Jason!" Ray called out as he caught up to him with the team trailing.

"I have to go," Jason said urgently.

"Jason, talk to me. What's going on?" Ray blocking Jason from getting in his truck.

"Mandy," Jason breathed out. "She's been shot," he said losing a breath and Ray's eyes went wide.

"Okay, I'll drive," Ray took charge.

"We'll follow you," Clay said watching Jason worriedly. "It's gonna be okay, boss."

"I hope so," Jason whispered after getting in the car. "I can't do this again, Ray."

"Just gotta believe, brother," Ray tried to comfort.

Abby walked into the emergency room of the hospital. She spotted Ryan, Sarah, and Jessica sitting in the waiting area. They all looked to be okay. A little shaken up, but okay none the less. They had phones and tablets out still working the case. Seemed they were a little more motivated to catch the fugitive on the loose now that they took a shot at Mandy.

"Hey," Abby greeted them. "How is she?'

"Joe is in there with her right now," Jessica answered. "Vest caught the bullet. Hopefully, she just has some bruising from what we could tell on scene."

"Oh, thank god," Abby breathed out putting a hand on her pregnant belly. "This part never gets any easier. How are you guys?"

"We're fine," Ryan said tensely.

"No, you're not. Your boss and good friend just got shot in front of you and you're a little rattled. Hungry for catching the bad guy too," Abby raised an eyebrow.

"Now you sound like Mandy," Sarah smiled.

"Hang with her long enough, you pick up a few things," Abby shrugged, glad she could break some of the tension. Before she could get another word out, a commotion could be heard by the ER's front desk.

"Mandy Ellis, I need to know where Mandy Ellis is," Jason could be heard asking loudly.

"Sir, I need you to-," a nurse tried to calm him down.

"She was shot. Just tell me-," Jason pushed.

"Jason," Ray warned. "This isn't helping. You need to calm down."

"Jason," Abby said calmly walking over.

"Abby, where's Mandy?" Jason asked with wide eyes.

Instead of answering, she pulled him into a hug. She kept repeating Mandy was okay until she could tell his breathing was back to normal. Glancing behind him, she could see all of Bravo team had come with worried expressions.

"Vest caught the bullet," Abby said pulling back. "Joe is back there with her and we're waiting on an update. She's okay. Just breath with me okay," Abby said putting his hand on her belly to Jason to focus on something.

"How are you so calm?" Jason choked out with a smile.

"Between Joe and Mandy, this is not my first rodeo unfortunately," Abby smiled. "Don't worry, I'm freaking out on the inside though."

The doors to the exam room hallway opened and Joe came out with Mandy. You could tell she was in some pain but was pushing through it.

"Where are we at with the case?" Mandy asked immediately as Joe helped her put on a jacket on top of her new vest.

"Of course, you ask about the case," Abby rolled her eyes.

"Abby? What are you doing here?" Mandy asked confused and then looked past her. "What are all of you doing here?"

"Well, seeing as Jason and I are your medical contacts," Abby said as she walked up to her friend and did a once over.

"I'm fine," Mandy tried to reassure her.

"I know," Abby breathed out and then hugged Mandy tightly. "Stop scaring me like this."

"No promises," Mandy laughed and then grimaced.

"Now go reassure him. He's a wreck," Abby whispered into Mandy's ear and then stepped back as Mandy went over to Jason.

"You didn't have to-," Mandy began before Jason swept her into his arms.

Jason held her for a moment letting himself feel relieved that she was okay. It could've been a lot worse. Mandy wrapped her arms around him as well and murmured she was okay as well.

"Not that I'm not appreciative of you or the guys for being here, but I need to get back to work," Mandy said into his shoulder.

"You were shot," Jason said pulling back.

"Fugitive is still out there," Mandy shrugged. "You know how it goes. Plus, she shot me so now I really need to catch her."

"I'd say be careful but that didn't seem to work the first time around," Jason smiled.

"I promise to try. Got a fairly good bruise on my rib cage so I'm not sure how much running after criminals I'll be doing the rest of this case. These guys probably won't let me either," Mandy said looking back. "I gotta go," Mandy said squeezing Jason's hand. "Talk later?"

"Yeah," Jason nodded. "You better make it back safe cuz I'll be right here waiting."

Mandy smiled remembering those exact words she said to him when they'd been hunting down Echo team's killers in J-Bad just before he left for the mission.

"Gonna treat me to breakfast this time," Mandy asked.

"Anything you want," Jason smiled with his Hayes charms.

"Well, guess I have something to look forward to then," Mandy said leaning up to kiss his cheek and then walk off with her team.

"You two have it bad for each other," Abby said standing next to Jason. "Remember, you hurt her, and I'll murder you. They'll never find the body either," Abby added as Jason laughed.

Jason was done waiting. He was gonna take the leap of faith and start living his life with the girl he loved and hopefully she returned the same feelings back. He shot a prayer up to all the higher beings to bring her home safe to him.