Chapter 7

He was starving, that was Jason's first thought as he woke, aware of daylight through the blinds.

He was happy, that was his second thought, as he became aware of the body spooned against him and the scent of Mandy Ellis. He stroked his hand along her waist, remembering the last time he had Mandy like this inside his arms. That time he'd had to leave before it was light, he'd had to stop himself from pulling her close again. He'd had to stop himself from feeling all the things he wasn't ready to admit that he felt.

But that was then. And they were both in a different place now.

As his stomach growled at him he realised that again, he would have to pass on waking up Mandy with sleepy morning sex because he was going to pass out if he didn't eat something.

Mandy was out for the count and she needed the sleep so he moved as carefully as possible out of bed, pulling on some shorts and headed for the kitchen grabbing an apple to stave off the hunger pangs while he looked in the fridge. He smiled. Emma had filled the fridge with essentials when she was here yesterday, he was suddenly grateful that thanks to her he could actually provide Mandy with more than left-over Chinese food for breakfast.

Mandy was a little confused when she woke and it took her a minute to work out where she was, Jason's place, Jason's bed. She smiled. A smell of food from the kitchen piqued her interest and she pulled on a fresh T-shirt that Jason must have laid on the bedside table for her

Mandy came up behind him, "Morning" as she slipped her hands around his waist. "Well morning sleeping beauty… should have known the smell of food would wake you" he put down the spatula and turned to give her a kiss before Mandy shook her head and covered her mouth "Chinese food morning breath" Jason laughed and planted a kiss on her forehead. "I honestly wouldn't mind but if you want to go freshen up while I make breakfast, pancakes ok?"

"Sounds good" Mandy said as she makes her way to the bathroom

"There's a spare toothbrush in the bathroom drawer" Jason shouts after her

Jason hears the shower as he starts on a second batch of pancakes.

While Mandy is still in the bathroom there's a knock at the door. He opens it to Emma, looking at him and the spatula in hand. "You're cooking?" She says surprised.

"You're knocking?" He replies sarcastically

"Well I thought since you might have company that I should stop just letting myself in" Emma grins "pancakes?" She says before she looks around.

"She's in the shower" Jason says to her unspoken question

Jason walks over to the bathroom, knocks, opens it a crack and tells Mandy that they have company, she laughs at him "What?" He asks

"Afraid I was going to walk out there in my birthday suit?" Jason grins and winks. "You can do that later"

Emma does her best to not overhear the conversation and laughs to herself.

"Thanks for the lift last night. I just came to pick up my car anyway…" Emma says as she looks like she's going to leave.

"You don't have to go, I've made plenty. Stay for breakfast" Jason says as he puts plates and pancakes down and sits himself in a chair. He gestures for her to take a seat in front of one of the plates.

Emma looks unsure "look I don't want to intrude on your breakfast together…"

"You won't be…" says Mandy as she walks into the kitchen. She's wearing last nights jeans with one of Jason's t-shirts tucked into them and her hair loose. Jason wonders if every item of clothing in his wardrobe looks better on her.

"… there's plenty and you're never intruding" she smiles.

"OK, if you're sure, they do smell amazing, Dad you haven't made pancakes in years"

"These actually look good" Mandy says as she comes up to the table.

"Why do you sound so surprised?" Jason mocks being insulted

"Well, I wasn't actually sure you knew how your oven worked" Mandy and Emma both laugh and Jason pulls Mandy into his lap "I'll have you know I have many hidden talents" he says as he kisses her on the lips

"Such a catch" Mandy laughs as she gets up and pours herself a coffee and sits down to eat

"When are you picking up Cerb?" Emma asks in between mouthfuls of pancakes.

"Ohhh, I did wonder where he was Jason" Mandy asks

"He's been staying with a friend while we were on our last op, he's an ex team guy and the company does them both good. To be honest I think he might prefer him. He might not want to come home"

"Not even for me?" says Mandy faking shock.

"Actually, you might be my secret weapon to tempt him back..." Jason looks like he's thinking then says "second thoughts, I don't think I'll introduce you to Theo, I don't want the competition" he grins at Mandy.

"Oh well now I have to meet him" Mandy teases.

Emma laughed, thinking to herself that there was really no competition. The way Mandy looked at her Dad, she only had eyes for him. And her Dad, well he looked like the kid who just got the hottest girl in school to go to prom with him.

"So what's your plans Mandy? Are you still based in DC?" Emma asked as she took a swig of orange juice.

Mandy looked between Emma and Jason, a bit unsure of what to say. Her and Jason hadn't really had the chance to discuss it. Jason looked curious too, but he reached his hand out to hers, a reassuring gesture that whatever she said or didn't say was fine.

"Well, it's all been a bit of a whirlwind. I'd packed up my place in DC and was travelling a bit before I decided to..."

"go rogue" Jason added laughing.

"Yeah that." she laughed too. And then after I was rescued..."

Jason coughed "daringly rescued, by me"

"Yes..." Mandy smiled "...After I was so daringly rescued by your Dad I had to spend some time being debriefed. And then I came straight here."

"Wow" Emma says "That was a whirlwind, so what? You have no place?"

"Nope" Mandy replies simply

"What about your stuff?" Emma asked and Jason suddenly looks at her too

"Shit, I didn't even notice, where are your bags?"

"No, just me. I didn't take much with me to Africa anyway, but things tend to get lost in transit when you're taken captive" Mandy shrugged

Emma looks annoyed at Jason "Dad! Mandy has no things here! Haven't you been to pick her up some things, some clothes?"

Mandy laughs as Jason holds his hands up "I didn't know... I gave her a toothbrush!... and my t-shirt" he shrugs. "We'll pick her up some things"

Emma stands up giving her dad a stern look. "You are the worst person to shop for anything, I couldn't even get you to buy a new toaster when yours was broken, I had to sneak a new one in while you weren't looking. I'll take Mandy shopping." She turns to Mandy "You'll thank me later, he's a horrible shopper, you won't want him there"

Mandy looked amused "Looks like we are going shopping"

Emma nodded looking triumphant before giving her dad another stern look.