Title: Journey to Homecoming Pt. 18/?
Author: Sheila
Category: Romance
Pairing: Clay/Sarah
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: As If
Spoilers: Up through 'Need to Know'
Summary: Clay and Sarah come together during an investigation
Archiving: Just Ask
A/N: This chapter is a little short; but I hope you like it anyway.
Clay's POV
Dulles Airport
Tuesday, June 19th
2300 Hours
"Promise me you will take care of yourself, I'll be waiting here for you to come home." There were tears in her eyes and it was breaking my heart to see her like that. We were standing in line at the security check point and she could go no farther. I pulled her into my arms and we hugged each other with desperation. I pulled back only enough to speak.
"I have a good reason to come home. I'm marrying a beautiful woman next Friday evening." I gave her my best smile hoping it conveyed everything I felt.
"And I am going to be marrying a handsome green-eyed man." She choked out, and I began kissing her with all the love I had in me.
This damn mission could not have come at a worse time for us. Tomorrow we were to supervise painting and wallpapering on the new house, and were supposed to move in on Saturday.
"Honey, I've got to go. I've got to go through more security checks before boarding." We kissed again, and I walked through the scanner. I picked up my case and computer backpack and turned to wave at her one last time. She gave me a forlorn smile and a small wave. I mouthed 'I love you' to her and went down the concourse.
I turned to look one more time and she was gone. I opened up my cell phone and called Morgan. I was betting she and AJ were still out, they seemed like they were going to make a night of it when we left them.
"Hello."
"Morgan, its Clay. I'm at Dulles on my way out of town. Sarah just dropped me off and she is on the way home."
"Are you out of your mind, you're getting married next week!" She was beginning to yell into the phone and I deserved it.
"Hey, it wasn't my choice. I'm still on thin ice at the Agency, and an Op went sour, and the operative in charge can't handle the fall out." It was the truth, but it was still a lousy excuse.
I heard a 'give me the damn phone' and then AJ was on the line.
"Webb where are you going, and when are you going to be back?" At least AJ wasn't yelling, but that was a small consequence.
"Back to Suriname. My reinstatement at the Agency puts me in charge of Central and South America. The chief of station in Paramaribo is out with gallbladder surgery and my replacement has proven worthless, so I'm it. I plan on being back for my wedding if that is what you are asking!"
"OK Clay. Morgan and I will hold down the fort here, don't worry. We'll handle the move and all the details. I guess your bachelor party is on hold, Bud and Ramon will be really disappointed they have quite a night planned."
"Thanks AJ; I don't know how I will repay you. Please take care of Sarah. Will the two of you meet her at the house; I think she will need someone around tonight."
"Will do, be careful."
"I will, look I have to board now, bye." I hung up and boarded the plane. We were in the air a few minutes later and I tried to sleep because I had a feeling that I wouldn't be getting much sleep in the next few days.
Airport
Paramaribo, Suriname
Wednesday, June 11th.
0400 Local
"Webb it's about time you got here! Things are going down badly and we need to get on the solution immediately." It was everything I could do from snapping Allen's neck in two. I was getting married in eight days and had every intention of standing at the alter waiting for my bride to walk down the aisle. We collected my one bag and got into the Agency SUV.
"What in the hell went wrong with the op? Rawlings told me that you were only to support the local authorities in taking out the drug lord, a simple in and out."
Allen jumped when I started yelling, which he deserved. It was a basic operation that he devised and was in charge of, thus he should have been the one to have solved the problem. But, noooo, he screwed up and now I was down here getting his ass out of the fire.
"The operation went south because we didn't realize that there were US Naval personnel involved with the drug running. And that there are arms dealing involved." I thought he was going to duck when my head whipped around to look at him.
"How in the hell did you miss that?" The information about the drug lord was the last thing that had crossed my desk before I officially handed over my position to Allen two months ago. Apparently he didn't do any additional investigation before he gave the go ahead. I should have known better. He was an operative that had been sent here to replace me, thus he probably screwed up somewhere else. I had been so focused on getting out of here that I hadn't done follow up on him and just turned him over to his handler at Langley. So in essence the whole fiasco was my fault!
"Well, you said that it was a drug running operation and I sort of, um, thought that you had done all the investigation not just the preliminary." If he had not been driving the car I believe he would have escaped out of the window.
"Tell me what you know." I was going to kill him any minute and Sarah wasn't here to stop me. I was going to spend my honeymoon in jail!
"On Monday two men showed to meet Timmerline in Apoera with SAMs to pay for the cocaine. I had to call a halt to the op because I didn't know who they were, how many more people were involved and how deep it went. Clay I'm really sorry to call you back, but you know the players down here and were the best one to intervene. I mean you've got connections with the Navy don't you?"
"I know the players yes, and I have connections with the Navy, but what does that have anything to do with it? We had arrived at the Embassy and were walking into the lobby when he dropped his bomb shell.
"We listened in on the deal, and they used their real names. We identified them within minutes as two CPOs stationed in San Diego. We haven't fully traced the SAM's yet but they are probably from the ordinance depot there."
"What's the problem? You report the situation to the command authority and follow through."
"Well, I haven't exactly informed the Navy about my findings yet." I turned to look at him and now I wanted a hole to open up and swallow me.
"Where are these two now? Please tell me they are still here and that you kept track of the ordinance."
"Yes, they're at a private villa on the coast about twenty miles from here. We have surveillance on them now and they haven't budged for three days. They have quite a party going on, drugs, booze and hookers and it doesn't look like it's going to break up anytime soon."
"Now, where are the SAMs?"
"They are still in Apoera. Timmerline made the deal and stored them in a warehouse. Suriname authorities are watching them and Timmerline."
"You failed to tell me how many missiles we are talking about Allen; you do know how many don't you?" I asked quietly because I was afraid of his answer. I wasn't going to last much longer if I had to pull every bit of information out of him.
"Fifteen." He was white as a sheet and was probably going to pass out any minute. I was more than willing to help him.
"Fifteen SAMs!! Has anyone at the depot noticed that they are missing anything?" I was back to yelling.
"I don't know. I mean this just went down early Tuesday and with that many missiles there has to be a bigger fish out there to buy them. I wanted someone with more authority to handle things."
Frustration is the inability to kick the shit out of someone who so richly deserves it. And I so wanted to drop kick Allen out of my life.
"Allen, get out of here, now. I will not be responsible for my actions if I have to look at you one more minute!" He stood there rooted to the spot. "NOW ALLEN!" He ran out of the office and I collapsed into the desk chair.
I didn't know who to call first, Chegwidden or NCIS. Oh hell, might as well make it a conference call and wake everyone up. And after the call I had to talk to Sarah to get my head on straight.
Author: Sheila
Category: Romance
Pairing: Clay/Sarah
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: As If
Spoilers: Up through 'Need to Know'
Summary: Clay and Sarah come together during an investigation
Archiving: Just Ask
A/N: This chapter is a little short; but I hope you like it anyway.
Clay's POV
Dulles Airport
Tuesday, June 19th
2300 Hours
"Promise me you will take care of yourself, I'll be waiting here for you to come home." There were tears in her eyes and it was breaking my heart to see her like that. We were standing in line at the security check point and she could go no farther. I pulled her into my arms and we hugged each other with desperation. I pulled back only enough to speak.
"I have a good reason to come home. I'm marrying a beautiful woman next Friday evening." I gave her my best smile hoping it conveyed everything I felt.
"And I am going to be marrying a handsome green-eyed man." She choked out, and I began kissing her with all the love I had in me.
This damn mission could not have come at a worse time for us. Tomorrow we were to supervise painting and wallpapering on the new house, and were supposed to move in on Saturday.
"Honey, I've got to go. I've got to go through more security checks before boarding." We kissed again, and I walked through the scanner. I picked up my case and computer backpack and turned to wave at her one last time. She gave me a forlorn smile and a small wave. I mouthed 'I love you' to her and went down the concourse.
I turned to look one more time and she was gone. I opened up my cell phone and called Morgan. I was betting she and AJ were still out, they seemed like they were going to make a night of it when we left them.
"Hello."
"Morgan, its Clay. I'm at Dulles on my way out of town. Sarah just dropped me off and she is on the way home."
"Are you out of your mind, you're getting married next week!" She was beginning to yell into the phone and I deserved it.
"Hey, it wasn't my choice. I'm still on thin ice at the Agency, and an Op went sour, and the operative in charge can't handle the fall out." It was the truth, but it was still a lousy excuse.
I heard a 'give me the damn phone' and then AJ was on the line.
"Webb where are you going, and when are you going to be back?" At least AJ wasn't yelling, but that was a small consequence.
"Back to Suriname. My reinstatement at the Agency puts me in charge of Central and South America. The chief of station in Paramaribo is out with gallbladder surgery and my replacement has proven worthless, so I'm it. I plan on being back for my wedding if that is what you are asking!"
"OK Clay. Morgan and I will hold down the fort here, don't worry. We'll handle the move and all the details. I guess your bachelor party is on hold, Bud and Ramon will be really disappointed they have quite a night planned."
"Thanks AJ; I don't know how I will repay you. Please take care of Sarah. Will the two of you meet her at the house; I think she will need someone around tonight."
"Will do, be careful."
"I will, look I have to board now, bye." I hung up and boarded the plane. We were in the air a few minutes later and I tried to sleep because I had a feeling that I wouldn't be getting much sleep in the next few days.
Airport
Paramaribo, Suriname
Wednesday, June 11th.
0400 Local
"Webb it's about time you got here! Things are going down badly and we need to get on the solution immediately." It was everything I could do from snapping Allen's neck in two. I was getting married in eight days and had every intention of standing at the alter waiting for my bride to walk down the aisle. We collected my one bag and got into the Agency SUV.
"What in the hell went wrong with the op? Rawlings told me that you were only to support the local authorities in taking out the drug lord, a simple in and out."
Allen jumped when I started yelling, which he deserved. It was a basic operation that he devised and was in charge of, thus he should have been the one to have solved the problem. But, noooo, he screwed up and now I was down here getting his ass out of the fire.
"The operation went south because we didn't realize that there were US Naval personnel involved with the drug running. And that there are arms dealing involved." I thought he was going to duck when my head whipped around to look at him.
"How in the hell did you miss that?" The information about the drug lord was the last thing that had crossed my desk before I officially handed over my position to Allen two months ago. Apparently he didn't do any additional investigation before he gave the go ahead. I should have known better. He was an operative that had been sent here to replace me, thus he probably screwed up somewhere else. I had been so focused on getting out of here that I hadn't done follow up on him and just turned him over to his handler at Langley. So in essence the whole fiasco was my fault!
"Well, you said that it was a drug running operation and I sort of, um, thought that you had done all the investigation not just the preliminary." If he had not been driving the car I believe he would have escaped out of the window.
"Tell me what you know." I was going to kill him any minute and Sarah wasn't here to stop me. I was going to spend my honeymoon in jail!
"On Monday two men showed to meet Timmerline in Apoera with SAMs to pay for the cocaine. I had to call a halt to the op because I didn't know who they were, how many more people were involved and how deep it went. Clay I'm really sorry to call you back, but you know the players down here and were the best one to intervene. I mean you've got connections with the Navy don't you?"
"I know the players yes, and I have connections with the Navy, but what does that have anything to do with it? We had arrived at the Embassy and were walking into the lobby when he dropped his bomb shell.
"We listened in on the deal, and they used their real names. We identified them within minutes as two CPOs stationed in San Diego. We haven't fully traced the SAM's yet but they are probably from the ordinance depot there."
"What's the problem? You report the situation to the command authority and follow through."
"Well, I haven't exactly informed the Navy about my findings yet." I turned to look at him and now I wanted a hole to open up and swallow me.
"Where are these two now? Please tell me they are still here and that you kept track of the ordinance."
"Yes, they're at a private villa on the coast about twenty miles from here. We have surveillance on them now and they haven't budged for three days. They have quite a party going on, drugs, booze and hookers and it doesn't look like it's going to break up anytime soon."
"Now, where are the SAMs?"
"They are still in Apoera. Timmerline made the deal and stored them in a warehouse. Suriname authorities are watching them and Timmerline."
"You failed to tell me how many missiles we are talking about Allen; you do know how many don't you?" I asked quietly because I was afraid of his answer. I wasn't going to last much longer if I had to pull every bit of information out of him.
"Fifteen." He was white as a sheet and was probably going to pass out any minute. I was more than willing to help him.
"Fifteen SAMs!! Has anyone at the depot noticed that they are missing anything?" I was back to yelling.
"I don't know. I mean this just went down early Tuesday and with that many missiles there has to be a bigger fish out there to buy them. I wanted someone with more authority to handle things."
Frustration is the inability to kick the shit out of someone who so richly deserves it. And I so wanted to drop kick Allen out of my life.
"Allen, get out of here, now. I will not be responsible for my actions if I have to look at you one more minute!" He stood there rooted to the spot. "NOW ALLEN!" He ran out of the office and I collapsed into the desk chair.
I didn't know who to call first, Chegwidden or NCIS. Oh hell, might as well make it a conference call and wake everyone up. And after the call I had to talk to Sarah to get my head on straight.