You're Here, I'm Here-Chapter 1
Starting a mini one-shot series. Inspired by the SEAL Team 6x02 and the whole Mandy got a new job and will be leaving. Gonna be some moments of them a part, together, and maybe some angst. I believe jandy is solid for season 6 and since Jessica is still a guest star, they had to write some sort of reason as to why Mandy wasn't around all the time. It sucks we're seeing Jason's support at home go but hoping for the best and payoff at the end per DB. Anyways, enjoy.
It's been a couple of days since Mandy had told Jason about her new job. Things had suddenly become different. A part of Mandy felt guilty for taking the job since he seemed okay, but she could see the cracks in his armor. They were enjoying themselves but there was this air of awkward sadness hanging around them. She wanted to stay but Jason kept saying he was fine. Another part of her knew that for Jason to really make progress, he needed to see he could do it himself and with the help of his brothers.
Mandy had finished packing up her things. She needed to get back to her place and prepare for traveling in a few days. Jason had taken Cerberus out for a walk. Though Mandy seemed fine on the outside, she too had her own trauma and guilt to work through. Taking this job in Afghanistan to help females was her way of trying to atone for her sins. After twenty years, so many had been left behind who had helped them in this war.
Suddenly the door opened, and Cerberus ran in followed by Jason. Cerberus ran towards her excitedly and Mandy smiled. Jason glanced over and saw her bags packed as he went to grab some water from the kitchen.
"Leaving already?" Jason asked.
"Yeah, gotta get back to mine, pack, arrange my affairs," Mandy said gathering up a few last items.
"Arrange your affairs?" Jason asked concerned.
"Yeah, make sure my place is being taken care of and what not," Mandy said vaguely. What went unsaid was making sure things were in place should anything happen to her out there.
"Right," Jason breathed out knowing what was not being said.
Jason was worried. He'd relied on Mandy a lot over the last few months. She'd been his rock. She kept tabs on him and pushed when needed. He also knew that despite Mandy taking care of him, he hadn't stopped to think about what her aspirations or demons were. He knew Mandy understood the job like him and had just as much of a guilt complex as him.
He thought back to Burkina Faso. What if she was taken again? Would anyone know? Who'd go looking for her? Or worse, what if she was killed being in the wrong place at the wrong time? He knew since pulling out of Afghanistan, things were a mess over there. He also knew what it was like to miss the action. Mandy had admitted she was jealous. He knew Mandy wasn't like Stella or Naima. She couldn't sit at home and do nothing.
"Well, I think that's all of it," Mandy sighed, zipping up her suitcase.
"Uh-huh," Jason replied. He was frozen in place. He didn't know what to say or do.
"Gonna miss you buddy," Mandy said kneeling down to Cerberus. "I'm gonna get a head start before evening traffic," Mandy said standing up to look at Jason.
Both were looking into each other's eyes trying to find the right words to say, but nothing was coming out. Mandy leaned up as Jason leaned down and they shared one last kiss. She wanted to ask if he'd come say goodbye or if this was it. Neither wanted this to be their last moment, yet both were frozen over this single moment.
"Right," Mandy said taking a breath. "I'll see you around."
Jason cleared his throat, "Yeah. Be safe."
"You too," Mandy smiled sadly as she turned to head for the door.
Jason sat down as Mandy left and rubbed his face. Mandy saw him as she turned to shut the door. Suddenly, everything felt different.
A couple of evenings later Jason was at the Bulkhead hanging out with everyone. They were all having a good time, but everyone noticed Mandy was absent and a little bit of sadness in Jason's eyes. Ray decided to be bold and ask.
"So where is your better half?" Ray joked. "Mandy tired of hanging with us?"
Jason froze, "She went back to her place."
"Why do I feel like there's more to what you're saying?" Ray asked raising an eyebrow and getting concerned.
"Mandy got a job," Jason sighed.
"Okay, so the spook got a job. What's the big deal?" Sonny asked.
"A friend of hers started an NGO to help females," Jason answered.
"Sounds like something Mandy would do," Ray beamed.
"In Afghanistan," Jason sighed as the whole team stopped to process.
"Still sounds like her," Ray commented. "So, you broke up with her?"
"What? No," Jason defended himself.
"So, when's she leaving?" Ray asked.
"Late tonight," Jason answered taking a sip of his drink.
"So let me get this straight, the woman you love took a job in a war zone we no longer occupy and you're sitting here instead of saying goodbye to her claiming you haven't broken up with her?" Sonny asked. "You two are way more alike than either of you like to admit."
"You know, in the last few months, Mandy has been there for you and all of us," Ray stated. "She's held it together for Stella and even Naima. Mandy isn't them though. She's not someone to sit around at home and wait. And just like the rest of us, has her own trauma to work through."
"Is she going to rescue another asset?" Trent asked.
"No," Jason answered. "I don't think I'd have made it these last few months without her. You know she said she'd stay. Said she'd already said no a couple of months ago. How can I tell her not to go?"
"Then show her you support her," Ray said. "Let her know she's got something to come home to."
"You're lucky boss. You got a woman who's stood by you through this war who knows firsthand what's happening and have a chance to be together. It'd be ashame if you threw that away," Sonny said giving Jason a look.
Jason quickly parked his truck in the first open spot he could find and then hopped out with Cerb following him. He clipped Cerb's leash and started walking towards the exit of the parking garage. Jason's phone buzzed as he walked into the terminal area from a contact he had. Jason walked over to one of the airline check in counters. He got a ticket and quickly made his way through security.
Mandy was sitting outside her gate waiting to board her plane. She looked around as people got ready for their sections to be called. Her phone was in her hand, and she looked at the open text message she had. Mandy knew once she'd told Jason about the job offer things would change. She'd seen the shift in Jason that night. They'd sporadically talked since she'd left, and things just seemed like they were up in the air.
Maybe she should turn around and go back. Jason had said he'd needed her. Fact was, she needed him too, but she wasn't someone to sit around at home and just wait for Jason to come home. She knew he'd spin out being alone. She'd seen it firsthand. She'd offered to stay but he said no. He'd said it was who they were to run into danger to help people. Truth was, Jason wasn't the only one harbored with guilt and trauma from this war. She had her fair share of it too.
Mandy stared at her phone again and Jason's name. The picture was one of them on the beach recently. Mandy was smiling trying to take a pic with Cerb when Jason joined in to kiss her cheek while Cerb looked up to lick her face. She'd somehow taken the picture on her phone and Jason demanded he have a copy of it. It was so carefree and open. Both of them letting go of the weight of the world they held on their shoulders for a moment.
"This is crazy," Mandy muttered as she shook her head and got up. She grabbed her things and started turning to walk away from the gate.
"You're getting on that plane," Jason said suddenly, causing Mandy to look up in shock.
"What are you-," Mandy asked confused as Jason walked towards her.
"Cerb wanted to say goodbye," Jason tilted his head as Cerb barked.
"Cerb?" Mandy raised an eyebrow.
Jason sighed as he leaned down to give her a kiss and lean his forehead against her, "You need to get on that plane."
"Why? I could find something else more local to do," Mandy said.
"Yeah, you could," Jason shrugged. "But you'd always be wondering what more you could've done. You're trying to find another way to serve. It's what you and I do."
"So just ask me to stay," Mandy said looking into his eyes. "You're here."
"I'm here," Jason said grabbing her hand. "Look, it's not gonna be easy. I'm not gonna ask you to stay cuz I know you. You want to help those women. And like I said, if you don't go, you're always gonna wonder. You've been in my corner all these months and it's my turn to be in yours. So, you're gonna go and you're gonna come back home to me here."
"Home?" Mandy tilted her head. "Cerb wants me to come back home here?"
Jason chuckled, "Yeah, Cerb."
"Just be careful," Jason said giving her a kiss. "Don't want to have to come save my damsel in distress again. And don't do anything I'd do."
"What exactly should I do then?" Mandy said against his lips. "You better come home too. This is a two-way street."
"Guess we both got something to fight to get back to," Jason whispered against her lips.
"Never out of the fight," Mandy said looking into Jason's eyes.
"Never out of the fight," Jason said before he kissed her senseless again and then hugged her tightly.
"Okay, guess I'll see you later," Mandy sighed.
"Yeah," Jason smiled. "I expect some phone calls."
"Definitely, I won't make you wait either," Mandy smiled back as they gathered her things and Jason walked her to the gate.
With one final kiss, they parted ways with the promise of coming back to each other.
