Chapter 16

Mandy was just leaving Lindell's office, she said her goodbyes to him promising she would call him with an answer by the end of the week. Her head was still spinning and Jason had just text. She replied with a meeting place for breakfast, walking head down hitting send on her reply when someone called her name.

"Mandy!" They sounded surprised

Mandy looked up and turned to see Lisa behind her "Oh hey! Sorry, head in my phone!"

Lisa gave her a once-over looking quizzical "Mandy Ellis, disavowed CIA, back on base in a suit and a guest pass" she pointed towards the badge around her neck

"Yeahhhh" Mandy stalled not sure what to say

Lisa raised an eyebrow "Need to know? Say no more!" She laughed

Mandy also laughed "Just… well, nothing quite set in stone and need to make a decision before sharing…" she looked at Lisa smiling "If that's OK?"

Lisa waved away her worry with her hand "Totally get it, all I'll say is any chance of seeing you back here more often, selfishly for me, would be amazing! And if you need someone to talk about it with, just give me a call" Lisa reached out and gave Mandy's had a quick squeeze and smiled

"Thanks I really appreciate it, I can't hang about as I promised Jace I'd meet him for breakfast and you know…"

"Never come between Jason and his food!" Lisa laughs "you don't need to tell me twice! Say hey from me I really miss seeing the guys all the time"

"I know, and I will" Mandy gave her a wave as she pushed through the doors removing her guest pass at security. She thought about what Lisa said, if she knew what she knew I wonder what she'd think. She'd find out soon enough.

When Jason arrived at the cafe it looked like he'd beat Mandy there, so he sat and ordered two coffees and eggs waffles and bacon for them both. Mandy would complain it was too much food but she didn't eat enough, and despite her complaining she would end up wolfing down the lot and stealing some of his anyway.

She breezed through the door a few minutes later, suited and booted in white shirt, jacket, black skirt and heeled shoes. Looking every bit professional but also wow. He was having thoughts about hitching up that skirt and bending her over the table. She must have caught the look and the smirk because she wagged her finger at him grinning back at him.

"What?!" Jason laughed

"You know what! eyes on your coffee Mr, I am not on the menu" Mandy sat across from him as the waitress came over to fill her coffee and top-up Jason's.

"More's the pity" Jason winked at Mandy "I ordered for us"

Mandy blew out a frustrated breath "you ordered me far too much again didn't you!"

"Maybe. Or maybe I just ordered you exactly the right amount and you need to trust me more" he grinned and she couldn't help but smile back.

"So what was the meeting about?" Jason said as their food arrived.

"Oh, actually I bumped into Davis on the way out that's why I was late she said to say hi. She misses working with you guys"

"Yeah it's weird without having Davis there all the time. I mean I'm really happy for her, she's doing really well. But when you find people you trust, it's hard other people living up to them. You know what I mean"

He said it was a statement not a question. She did know what he meant. They had all trusted her, Lisa had partly filled that role when Mandy left. She slowly chewed on a mouthful of food, she knew she hadn't answered Jason's question about the meeting, she was stalling trying to work out what to say.

Jason also ate as he watched Mandy chewing over more than her food. "Out with it then, whatever's got those cogs whirring"

She put her knife and fork down taking a swig of coffee "Lindell made me an offer, I have until the end of the week to give him an answer"

Jason was quiet for a beat "Is the job offer what you were expecting?" Jason was wary, if the job was what they were expecting, why did she look like she had so much on her mind? There was something she wasn't saying.

"Yes and no" she put her coffee down and was tapping her hand on table

Jason didn't push, he could see she was thinking carefully about what she wanted to say next, he drank his coffee and waited.

"Jase, the job itself is pretty much what we expected.. However, since I had the original conversation with Lindell some things have changed. There are changes, things happening that are going to come into effect really soon. Changes that I can't talk to you about, at least not today."

Jason put down his coffee "Can't talk about because I'm not cleared to know?" Jason looked confused and irritated.

"As of this moment, yes." She replied simply

He was no clearer. She was choosing her words carefully

"Hypothetically, there could come a point, say sometime today or tomorrow where we will both be cleared to talk about it" she took a sip of coffee while Jason took in what she was saying

"So hypothetically, I should expect to get called in… soon…Me and the guys?" Jason tilted his head looking at her trying not to get angry at not being able to have a straightforward conversation about their future

"Yes. Hypothetically."

Jason thumped his fists on the table making the cutlery shake and a couple at the next table turn to stare. Mandy smiled at them apologetically as she placed her hands over his fists. He was looking out of the window "Jace…" she tilted her head. "Jace" he turned back to her, he saw her concern and relaxed his hands, taking one of her hands in his.

"This is just so fucking typical. Why can't anything for either of us be straight forward for once…" Mandy squeezed his hand and he continued "… Mandy, whatever this is, that we can't talk about yet. Is it gonna fuck things up for us, be honest?"

Mandy looked out the window thinking it over. "Honestly, I don't know. I don't think anything can really fuck this up for us unless we choose for it to. It makes it a little less simple. It just doesn't make sense for me to even think about giving an answer until we both know the full picture. Lindell wanted an answer by the end of the week, it's Tuesday now and he said I'll have at least a couple days to be able to discuss with you, that makes me think you'll get a call sooner rather than later."

What Mandy was thinking but not saying was that she wasn't so worried for them and their relationship as much as she was worried about Jason and his health. She now knew things were coming… and soon, things she wasn't sure he was prepared for, not right at this moment. The glimmer of hope was they would have the chance to face it together but this was going to be relationship trial by fire.

Jason's phone rang as he was rising from his seat and leaving a tip

"Yes sir, I'll be there ASAP" she heard him say.

She said nothing. He said nothing. There was nothing to say until they were both on the same page, which thankfully looked like it would be very soon. She slipped her hand in his as they left the cafe, he said nothing, his eyes were ahead, his head full of thoughts. But he squeezed her hand tight, a silent gesture that they were going to be OK.