Title: Journey to Homecoming Pt.23/?
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
Sarah's POV
CIA Jet
0245 Local
Gulf of Mexico
The Admiral, Gunny, and some CIA operative were forward in the cabin discussing the upcoming operation and I was curled up on a couch pretending to rest. More information had been gathered on Allen, and it seems he had recently come into a large sum of money. Not only was the man incompetent he was overwhelmingly stupid. The embassy in Paramaribo had been contacted and Allen was no where to be found which wasn't totally unexpected. The two embassy Marines had been sent on recon to the beach house and should be transmitting their Intel soon. After we landed in Suriname we were to be transferred to the Watertown around 0430 Local. With Allen AWOL there was no reason to divert to Guyana and it would save us precious time. The SeALs and Gunny would then be in position between 7 and 0800 Local, and I would finally have my spook back in my arms sometime later this morning. I looked up and Vic mouthed 'go to sleep' to me. I nodded and closed my eyes and remembered the events of earlier this early morning.
When I read the e-mail from Clay any semblance of control over my emotions had collapsed. I had been gradually falling apart since he disappeared in June and I only held onto my sanity with the help of Morgan, AJ and Vic. I never knew which one of them would be waking me up from my nightmares.
It was ironic; away from the office I naturally called the two men by their first names. Our relationships had changed drastically since my engagement to Clay, AJ's engagement to Morgan, and Vic's TAD to the CIA. For all intents and purposes AJ had moved into my home, and Vic stayed there most weekends and one or two nights during the week. I don't know how to describe my new relationship with AJ; the closest I can come to is comforting big brother at home. He still maintained his gruff CO persona at the office and I didn't expect that to change. But the schizophrenic connection we shared was going to have to change when he married Morgan. He was talking retirement but Morgan and I were doing our best to talk him out of it. Stubbornness was a trait the three of us shared in equal measure and there was no telling who would win this war of wills.
Then there was Vic, my rock. If AJ was the big brother I never had, Vic may be my twin. We worked alike, we thought alike, hell we were both Marines. I know if regs had not been there something may have developed between us, but it never had, and now it never will. But I would give anything to have Vic with Clay, the two of them had formed a bond in Afghanistan that was extremely rare, something like Harm and I shared. Clay had never had a full time partner, because as he put it, he didn't play well with others. But he and Vic clicked, and he convinced him that his investigative and military skills would be as asset to the CIA/Military relations. Clay pulled some strings and Vic went through the Farm, the CIA academy. He had completed his training in May and Clay was doing the whole mentor thing with him. And Vic was going through ten kinds of hell because his partner was in deep kim-chee without him.
"Mac, if you don't go to sleep I'm going to slug you into unconsciousness then Clay is going to have to kill me, then think how guilty you'll feel." I opened my eyes and Vic was squatting down next to me giving me wide smile.
"If I sleep I'm going to have the worst nightmare of all time, and I don't want to frighten the CIA weenie." I whined and his smile got broader.
"He's not a weenie. He's a good guy, and Clay trusts him. He and Lynne are the only two that fed information to Clay on the sly during his exile. And you can count the number of people Clay trusts on your two hands. Now are you going to sleep?" He brushed my hair out of my eyes when I shook my head no.
"Sit up." When I did he sat down and pulled my head down in his lap.
"Now go to sleep. I'll be here and I'll wake you at the first sign of a nightmare. OK?"
I closed my eyes and fell almost instantly asleep.
Victor's POV
"She asleep?" The Admiral whispered as he settled on the couch across the aisle. Davis was monitoring the radio waiting for the Marine Intel.
"Finally! God, she is so damn stubborn. She had gotten to the point she fought off sleep to avoid the disturbing dreams.
"You know the drill as well as I. She fights going to sleep nightly, and Morgan practically arm wrestles her to take a sleeping pill, but even that doesn't always work. If she doesn't have a nightmare, I go in there and check on her. Morgan and I have gotten to the point of sleeping in shifts. If you weren't coming over we would never get a full nights rest."
"This is going to end today Sir. Clay will be home and the nightmares will stop." I was sure the nightmares would go but how would their relationship work out. Apparently the Admiral had been thinking along the same lines.
"Oh, I'm sure they'll stop, but she and Clay will need some help. I'm going to insist on counseling for both of them when he gets back. He's going to be on a guilt trip from hell and she is going to have to forgive him. She has a lot of buried anger she doesn't realize yet. I don't want to see their relationship crumble over something he had no control over." He said with a weary smile. This was the no-nonsense; take no prisoners Admiral that had broken the spook's nose a few years ago? I was in the Twilight Zone for sure now.
If someone would have asked me a year ago if I could imagine myself in this situation I would have told them they were out of their freaking minds. But here I was with my former CO discussing his Chief of Staff while she slept with her head in my lap. Life was indeed strange. JAG had been a sort of family before, but introduce one spook, shake not stir, and the family grew beyond anyone's imagination.
The Corp had been my life. I had left it for a while, but had come back to it. Now I had left it again, but not entirely. Clay had talked me into working with him and it was a good fit. Things in the Middle East may be warming up, but South America could not be ignored. This episode with Clay was a case in point.
0400 Hours Local
"Victor, Intel coming in." Davis called softly. Even he was aware of Mac's need for sleep. With the help of the Admiral we managed to get her settled down without waking her and moved to listen to the report.
The Marines were talking directly to the SeAL team on board the Watertown, and we were listening in on their frequency. They knew we on line with them and would be speaking up when necessary.
"We count twenty-three, that's two-three targets surrounding the house. We count at least five more inside the house. All appear to be of mid-eastern descent. We just saw Allen drive up and enter the house. There are three guards posted at a door leading to what we think is a cellar. All targets seen are armed with semi-automatic weapons. No heavy armament seen. There are five semis on the property approximately 100 yards from the east side of the house. Ten of the guards are stationed there, two to each. Remaining guards are patrolling in pairs of two, always in sight of the one before and after.
"Gentleman, this is Victor Galindez. The three guards are without a doubt guarding a cellar which is where they are likely to be holding our assets. Those assets have information critical to national security and have got to be retrieved alive. Do I make myself clear?"
At their affirmation I continued. "You have the floor plans and the layout of the compound. Make your assault plans accordingly. Watertown we will rendezvous with you in sixty, I repeat six-oh minutes. We land in Paramaribo in thirty and will chopper to your position. Assets will more than likely need medical attention. Be prepared to receive The JAG and his CoS."
Ten minutes out of Paramaribo I woke Mac. She was a bit miffed that we had not woken her when the Intel came in, but the Admiral gave her THE LOOK and she gave in gracefully. The winds were calm and the transfer to the Watertown went smoothly. The Captain, Doug Addison, greeted his 'guests' and escorted the Admiral and Colonel to the bridge while I met up with the SeALs. I wasn't too sure how they were going to accept a hybrid Marine/spook in their midst, but I was going after my partner with or without their help.
AJ's POV
Doug Addison and Mac had worked together a few times on cases and had formed a reasonable working relationship. I knew the man's professional reputation and it was stellar. He would be up for Admiral soon, if I didn't miss my guess.
"Admiral it's good to meet you at long last. I've had to deal with you officers on more than one occasion, unfortunately not all of them pleasant. Colonel, it's good to see you again. Is one of the 'assets' we are retrieving your partner?" Open mouth, insert foot Captain, you're on your own with this one. Mac's eyes lit with fire. I shook my head and glanced at the XO standing next to me, and whispered to him, "Stand back out of the line of fire, it could get nasty."
"Captain Addison, my partner is safely located back at JAG HQ, however, my fiancé; the CIA Assistant Director of Central and South American Operations has been deep undercover for over two months. He was sold out and he and his NCIS partner have Intel essential to this nation. At this moment we don't know if they are dead or alive, so I would kindly suggest you get this tin can moving so we can get them THE HELL OUT OF THERE! And if your SeALs get him on board safely I promise you a dance at my wedding. Permission to be excused Sir?"
"Permission granted Colonel. I suggest that you go give a pep talk to the SeALs. I think you will be all the inspiration they need. Dismissed." She executed a perfect about face and left the bridge. As soon as I was sure she was out of earshot, I couldn't help at chuckle at the expression on Captain Addison's face.
"Admiral, respectfully, you could have warned me." He said then slowly smiled. The rest of the bridge crew I saw were holding back smiles. It wasn't often that a captain was dressed down by a junior officer, and that junior officer escaped unscathed.
"Gentleman, like the lady said let's get this tin can moving." He gave a series of depths and speeds and coordinates and I felt the boat begin to move.
"Admiral, would you join me in my ready room. We will arrive at the debarkation point in one hour-fifteen." When we entered the cramped room, he poured me coffee and we sat to discuss the situation.
"Admiral what's going on, if you can tell me." I knew he was asking for more than an explanation for Mac's out of character explosion.
"Like the Colonel said, Mr. Webb and NCIS Agent Ramon Gutierrez have been working undercover without a net for over two months. They went into the operation without notice and have been involved in an arms-for-drugs operation involving thirty ordinance depots. We have worked like hell keeping them uncompromised while they gathered intelligence on the buyers. Last week they hit pay dirt and we had them coming home on the 18th. But we received notice last night that they had been compromised. We were able to fix their position, and here we are."
"That's half the story; now tell me why I didn't just reprimand a junior officer."
"I think that comes under the definition of self preservation Doug. Her fiancé went AWOL eight days before their wedding. She's handled it pretty well up until the last two weeks. But the lack of sleep combined with nightmares has made her a bit on edge. I can't apologize for her, but I will ask you for understanding."
"I can understand. I don't think my wife would have stood up to the pressure as well. She has continued to work?"
"Hasn't missed a day and her won/loss ratio has been phenomenal. Her partner wants the fiancé to come back so he can win a case." We shared a laugh, he knew Rabb only too well.
"And my fiancée is almost the same shape." There was something about Doug Addison that made you automatically open up. The man should have been a shrink; I suppose on a sub he wore many hats.
"Why would your fiancée be in the same shape?" He questioned almost gently.
"Morgan and Clayton Webb are first cousins; they grew up practically as brother and sister. When I marry, I'll be retiring. The conflict of interest would be too much for naval regulations."
"Isn't there another way Admiral? That would be a great loss to the Navy." He said the same things that Morgan and Mac had been saying for weeks. I was at peace with my choice and had lined up plans for a teaching position at Georgetown. Now if I could only get them to accept it.
"Don't you start on me too! I've had two women on my case and I thought I could catch a break here." I joked with him.
"OK, no pressure from me. Let's go check with the teams. They described their plan earlier and it looked good to me. But I drive subs. You're the SeAL." We left the ready room and made our way forward to the SeAL team's quarters. I remembered subs from my team days and even the spaciousness of the Watertown was still extremely cramped to someone 6'3" tall.
"Admiral on deck!" One of the team members announced.
"At ease." I automatically returned. I immediately picked out Gunny and Mac out down the passage way. He was decked out in jungle cammos and face paint as were the rest of the teams. Weapons and ammunition were being distributed, radio checks were being done and equipment was being verified. The LT in charge of the team approached me.
"Admiral, Captain. I'll go over the plan if you like." Was I ever that young? He had the look of the warrior about him; a good leader. He would get them out.
"I would like that LT." He described his plan of attack, using a diagram of the compound supplied by Gunny. It was well thought out, efficient, with the effort made to keep the casualties to a minimum. Mac and Gunny had obviously heard it before, but they had gathered around to hear it one more time.
"Captain, we'll be in position in fifteen minutes. Have the team prepare to assemble on deck."
"Gentleman, you heard the XO. We will surface in five. You will prepare your craft and be ready to depart in ten. God's speed."
"Aye, Aye sir." They all roared and saluted, Gunny included. Mac turned to Gunny and told him, "Bring him home Vic, he's got a wedding to attend." She gave him a hug and he kissed her on the forehead and she left for the bridge.
"Gunny, I expect to see you, Ramon, and the Spook. My life won't be worth living otherwise."
"Like mine will Sir. I'll carry his ass out on my shoulder if I have to Sir. Semper Fi." He saluted and joined the teams. The Captain and I followed Mac to the bridge to listen to the op and await the outcome.
Clay's POV
Beach House
0800 Hours Local
Paramaribo, Suriname
The door opened and I was momentarily blinded from the bright sunlight. When I was able to focus, I saw Faad and not surprisingly Allen. Shit, I hate to be right about stuff like this.
"Well, Mr. Webb I see that you are still with us. Mr. Allen knows you have been selling the arms but not how much information you have managed to get back out. He has been as much use to me as Mr. Garcia." This time he shot his victim between the eyes. Allen fell at Ramon's feet, not far from the makeshift pallet I was still lying on. That's when I noticed Faad only brought one thug with him into the cellar. Stupid, stupid man.
"Now, Mr. Gutierrez, what can you tell me about your communications back to the United States while on your trip?" The thug pulled Ramon away from me and tied him to a chair. I moved close to Allen's body and as I tried to stand I fell directly on top of it. I felt around for his Glock and palmed it as Faad told me to get up. I managed to stand and the thug punched me in the kidney. I dropped to my knees, and that's when all hell broke lose outside.
I took out the thug, but Faad managed to shoot me in the chest. He smiled and as he took aim to shoot me again the cellar door opened and his head exploded.
Victor's POV
Beach House Cellar
0805 Local
Paramaribo, Suriname
"God Damn, son of a bitch, Clay!" The firefight was continuing outside. The LT's plan went as planned; except for the fact that Clay was lying motionless on the floor of the cellar. The team medic was working on him with another assisting him.
"You saved his life Vic. Faad was getting ready to finish him off. This a SeAL team?" Ramon reassured and questioned.
"Two teams actually." I listened to the chatter on the radio. "They just about have the compound secured, no it is secure." I heard the medic call for air-evac. The LT entered and checked out the situation.
"Captain, Mr. Webb needs air-evac to the Henry, ASAP. I've got him stabilized but he needs immediate surgery."
The chopper that brought us to the Watertown would be here in ten, and it would be a forty minute ride from here to the Henry. I relayed everything to Ramon as I heard it.
"Vic." I heard a weak call. I ran to Clay's side. They had O2 and two IVs going and his breathing was labored. They had covered the sucking chest wound and stabilized him as best as possible. This year had been hell on his medical insurance.
"Let me talk to Sarah. I haven't heard her voice in months." He gasped out.
"How do you know she's here?" I grinned at him.
"Oh, please. Don't make me laugh, it hurts too much."
I looked at the medic, and he nodded his OK. I fitted the headset offered by one of the team members and asked the Captain to get the Colonel on the horn.
"Hey Spook don't get too mushy, this is an open channel." I heard her say, then the LT's voice calling "Channel 2." Who said warriors weren't romantics?
"Hello Princess. Meet me on the Henry? I hear Captain's can perform marriages at sea. I owe you a wedding? We can do it again later."
"Only you, you smart ass. How many times do I have to say yes?" I could hear the tears in her voice now.
"Only one more."
Sarah's POV
USS Patrick Henry
Two Hours Later
Gulf of Mexico
The chopper landed and I more or less bowled over the flight crew on my way to Sick Bay. Unfortunately I knew the way without asking for directions, and I was glad that the Admiral had no trouble keeping up with me.
We found Vic and Ramon waiting outside Sick Bay much like Harm and I had waited on word of Bud. This was déjà vu ten times over. I never thought I would have to live that horror again, and not with someone I loved so deeply.
I latched on to Vic glad to see he was unscathed, and then I gave Ramon a hug. He also had no injuries. The CIA weenie Davis had flown out with the Admiral and I and called Ramon and Vic over. They were needed for debriefing. I noticed Ramon was holding a small device in his hand.
"Is that the famous Valley Girl Palm?" I asked curiously.
"Yes. I hope you had as much fun reading them as we did writing them." He grinned
"Oh they were quite entertaining. Thank you for keeping each other alive Ramon. I really appreciated. Now go hit your debriefing I'll let you know if anything happened." After a last hug both men left AJ and I to wait.
Two Hours Later
"Colonel Webb?" A tall, tired look man in scrubs called out. I automatically answered, not even hearing the mis-title. AJ and I both stood.
"He is fine Colonel. You will be able to see him in a few minutes. I want to warn you he is still intubated, there is a chest tube on the right side of his chest and he is receiving blood. He is still unconscious. He won't wake until late this afternoon." By the time he was finished the tears were rolling down my face.
"As far as his other injuries: his nose is broken, we set that but I recommend an ENT to look at it. His right kidney was severely bruised and he has blood in his urine, but this should heal with out surgical intervention. He has two broken ribs on the right side. His GSW was to the upper chest. There was no damage to the major vessels or heart. He was damn lucky. Now if you would come with me."
We followed the doctor to the recovery area. He wasn't lying to us. Clay looked every bit as bad as he said he would. But he looked wonderful at the same time. I sat at his side after giving him a small kiss on his brow to wait for him to wake.
TBC
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
Sarah's POV
CIA Jet
0245 Local
Gulf of Mexico
The Admiral, Gunny, and some CIA operative were forward in the cabin discussing the upcoming operation and I was curled up on a couch pretending to rest. More information had been gathered on Allen, and it seems he had recently come into a large sum of money. Not only was the man incompetent he was overwhelmingly stupid. The embassy in Paramaribo had been contacted and Allen was no where to be found which wasn't totally unexpected. The two embassy Marines had been sent on recon to the beach house and should be transmitting their Intel soon. After we landed in Suriname we were to be transferred to the Watertown around 0430 Local. With Allen AWOL there was no reason to divert to Guyana and it would save us precious time. The SeALs and Gunny would then be in position between 7 and 0800 Local, and I would finally have my spook back in my arms sometime later this morning. I looked up and Vic mouthed 'go to sleep' to me. I nodded and closed my eyes and remembered the events of earlier this early morning.
When I read the e-mail from Clay any semblance of control over my emotions had collapsed. I had been gradually falling apart since he disappeared in June and I only held onto my sanity with the help of Morgan, AJ and Vic. I never knew which one of them would be waking me up from my nightmares.
It was ironic; away from the office I naturally called the two men by their first names. Our relationships had changed drastically since my engagement to Clay, AJ's engagement to Morgan, and Vic's TAD to the CIA. For all intents and purposes AJ had moved into my home, and Vic stayed there most weekends and one or two nights during the week. I don't know how to describe my new relationship with AJ; the closest I can come to is comforting big brother at home. He still maintained his gruff CO persona at the office and I didn't expect that to change. But the schizophrenic connection we shared was going to have to change when he married Morgan. He was talking retirement but Morgan and I were doing our best to talk him out of it. Stubbornness was a trait the three of us shared in equal measure and there was no telling who would win this war of wills.
Then there was Vic, my rock. If AJ was the big brother I never had, Vic may be my twin. We worked alike, we thought alike, hell we were both Marines. I know if regs had not been there something may have developed between us, but it never had, and now it never will. But I would give anything to have Vic with Clay, the two of them had formed a bond in Afghanistan that was extremely rare, something like Harm and I shared. Clay had never had a full time partner, because as he put it, he didn't play well with others. But he and Vic clicked, and he convinced him that his investigative and military skills would be as asset to the CIA/Military relations. Clay pulled some strings and Vic went through the Farm, the CIA academy. He had completed his training in May and Clay was doing the whole mentor thing with him. And Vic was going through ten kinds of hell because his partner was in deep kim-chee without him.
"Mac, if you don't go to sleep I'm going to slug you into unconsciousness then Clay is going to have to kill me, then think how guilty you'll feel." I opened my eyes and Vic was squatting down next to me giving me wide smile.
"If I sleep I'm going to have the worst nightmare of all time, and I don't want to frighten the CIA weenie." I whined and his smile got broader.
"He's not a weenie. He's a good guy, and Clay trusts him. He and Lynne are the only two that fed information to Clay on the sly during his exile. And you can count the number of people Clay trusts on your two hands. Now are you going to sleep?" He brushed my hair out of my eyes when I shook my head no.
"Sit up." When I did he sat down and pulled my head down in his lap.
"Now go to sleep. I'll be here and I'll wake you at the first sign of a nightmare. OK?"
I closed my eyes and fell almost instantly asleep.
Victor's POV
"She asleep?" The Admiral whispered as he settled on the couch across the aisle. Davis was monitoring the radio waiting for the Marine Intel.
"Finally! God, she is so damn stubborn. She had gotten to the point she fought off sleep to avoid the disturbing dreams.
"You know the drill as well as I. She fights going to sleep nightly, and Morgan practically arm wrestles her to take a sleeping pill, but even that doesn't always work. If she doesn't have a nightmare, I go in there and check on her. Morgan and I have gotten to the point of sleeping in shifts. If you weren't coming over we would never get a full nights rest."
"This is going to end today Sir. Clay will be home and the nightmares will stop." I was sure the nightmares would go but how would their relationship work out. Apparently the Admiral had been thinking along the same lines.
"Oh, I'm sure they'll stop, but she and Clay will need some help. I'm going to insist on counseling for both of them when he gets back. He's going to be on a guilt trip from hell and she is going to have to forgive him. She has a lot of buried anger she doesn't realize yet. I don't want to see their relationship crumble over something he had no control over." He said with a weary smile. This was the no-nonsense; take no prisoners Admiral that had broken the spook's nose a few years ago? I was in the Twilight Zone for sure now.
If someone would have asked me a year ago if I could imagine myself in this situation I would have told them they were out of their freaking minds. But here I was with my former CO discussing his Chief of Staff while she slept with her head in my lap. Life was indeed strange. JAG had been a sort of family before, but introduce one spook, shake not stir, and the family grew beyond anyone's imagination.
The Corp had been my life. I had left it for a while, but had come back to it. Now I had left it again, but not entirely. Clay had talked me into working with him and it was a good fit. Things in the Middle East may be warming up, but South America could not be ignored. This episode with Clay was a case in point.
0400 Hours Local
"Victor, Intel coming in." Davis called softly. Even he was aware of Mac's need for sleep. With the help of the Admiral we managed to get her settled down without waking her and moved to listen to the report.
The Marines were talking directly to the SeAL team on board the Watertown, and we were listening in on their frequency. They knew we on line with them and would be speaking up when necessary.
"We count twenty-three, that's two-three targets surrounding the house. We count at least five more inside the house. All appear to be of mid-eastern descent. We just saw Allen drive up and enter the house. There are three guards posted at a door leading to what we think is a cellar. All targets seen are armed with semi-automatic weapons. No heavy armament seen. There are five semis on the property approximately 100 yards from the east side of the house. Ten of the guards are stationed there, two to each. Remaining guards are patrolling in pairs of two, always in sight of the one before and after.
"Gentleman, this is Victor Galindez. The three guards are without a doubt guarding a cellar which is where they are likely to be holding our assets. Those assets have information critical to national security and have got to be retrieved alive. Do I make myself clear?"
At their affirmation I continued. "You have the floor plans and the layout of the compound. Make your assault plans accordingly. Watertown we will rendezvous with you in sixty, I repeat six-oh minutes. We land in Paramaribo in thirty and will chopper to your position. Assets will more than likely need medical attention. Be prepared to receive The JAG and his CoS."
Ten minutes out of Paramaribo I woke Mac. She was a bit miffed that we had not woken her when the Intel came in, but the Admiral gave her THE LOOK and she gave in gracefully. The winds were calm and the transfer to the Watertown went smoothly. The Captain, Doug Addison, greeted his 'guests' and escorted the Admiral and Colonel to the bridge while I met up with the SeALs. I wasn't too sure how they were going to accept a hybrid Marine/spook in their midst, but I was going after my partner with or without their help.
AJ's POV
Doug Addison and Mac had worked together a few times on cases and had formed a reasonable working relationship. I knew the man's professional reputation and it was stellar. He would be up for Admiral soon, if I didn't miss my guess.
"Admiral it's good to meet you at long last. I've had to deal with you officers on more than one occasion, unfortunately not all of them pleasant. Colonel, it's good to see you again. Is one of the 'assets' we are retrieving your partner?" Open mouth, insert foot Captain, you're on your own with this one. Mac's eyes lit with fire. I shook my head and glanced at the XO standing next to me, and whispered to him, "Stand back out of the line of fire, it could get nasty."
"Captain Addison, my partner is safely located back at JAG HQ, however, my fiancé; the CIA Assistant Director of Central and South American Operations has been deep undercover for over two months. He was sold out and he and his NCIS partner have Intel essential to this nation. At this moment we don't know if they are dead or alive, so I would kindly suggest you get this tin can moving so we can get them THE HELL OUT OF THERE! And if your SeALs get him on board safely I promise you a dance at my wedding. Permission to be excused Sir?"
"Permission granted Colonel. I suggest that you go give a pep talk to the SeALs. I think you will be all the inspiration they need. Dismissed." She executed a perfect about face and left the bridge. As soon as I was sure she was out of earshot, I couldn't help at chuckle at the expression on Captain Addison's face.
"Admiral, respectfully, you could have warned me." He said then slowly smiled. The rest of the bridge crew I saw were holding back smiles. It wasn't often that a captain was dressed down by a junior officer, and that junior officer escaped unscathed.
"Gentleman, like the lady said let's get this tin can moving." He gave a series of depths and speeds and coordinates and I felt the boat begin to move.
"Admiral, would you join me in my ready room. We will arrive at the debarkation point in one hour-fifteen." When we entered the cramped room, he poured me coffee and we sat to discuss the situation.
"Admiral what's going on, if you can tell me." I knew he was asking for more than an explanation for Mac's out of character explosion.
"Like the Colonel said, Mr. Webb and NCIS Agent Ramon Gutierrez have been working undercover without a net for over two months. They went into the operation without notice and have been involved in an arms-for-drugs operation involving thirty ordinance depots. We have worked like hell keeping them uncompromised while they gathered intelligence on the buyers. Last week they hit pay dirt and we had them coming home on the 18th. But we received notice last night that they had been compromised. We were able to fix their position, and here we are."
"That's half the story; now tell me why I didn't just reprimand a junior officer."
"I think that comes under the definition of self preservation Doug. Her fiancé went AWOL eight days before their wedding. She's handled it pretty well up until the last two weeks. But the lack of sleep combined with nightmares has made her a bit on edge. I can't apologize for her, but I will ask you for understanding."
"I can understand. I don't think my wife would have stood up to the pressure as well. She has continued to work?"
"Hasn't missed a day and her won/loss ratio has been phenomenal. Her partner wants the fiancé to come back so he can win a case." We shared a laugh, he knew Rabb only too well.
"And my fiancée is almost the same shape." There was something about Doug Addison that made you automatically open up. The man should have been a shrink; I suppose on a sub he wore many hats.
"Why would your fiancée be in the same shape?" He questioned almost gently.
"Morgan and Clayton Webb are first cousins; they grew up practically as brother and sister. When I marry, I'll be retiring. The conflict of interest would be too much for naval regulations."
"Isn't there another way Admiral? That would be a great loss to the Navy." He said the same things that Morgan and Mac had been saying for weeks. I was at peace with my choice and had lined up plans for a teaching position at Georgetown. Now if I could only get them to accept it.
"Don't you start on me too! I've had two women on my case and I thought I could catch a break here." I joked with him.
"OK, no pressure from me. Let's go check with the teams. They described their plan earlier and it looked good to me. But I drive subs. You're the SeAL." We left the ready room and made our way forward to the SeAL team's quarters. I remembered subs from my team days and even the spaciousness of the Watertown was still extremely cramped to someone 6'3" tall.
"Admiral on deck!" One of the team members announced.
"At ease." I automatically returned. I immediately picked out Gunny and Mac out down the passage way. He was decked out in jungle cammos and face paint as were the rest of the teams. Weapons and ammunition were being distributed, radio checks were being done and equipment was being verified. The LT in charge of the team approached me.
"Admiral, Captain. I'll go over the plan if you like." Was I ever that young? He had the look of the warrior about him; a good leader. He would get them out.
"I would like that LT." He described his plan of attack, using a diagram of the compound supplied by Gunny. It was well thought out, efficient, with the effort made to keep the casualties to a minimum. Mac and Gunny had obviously heard it before, but they had gathered around to hear it one more time.
"Captain, we'll be in position in fifteen minutes. Have the team prepare to assemble on deck."
"Gentleman, you heard the XO. We will surface in five. You will prepare your craft and be ready to depart in ten. God's speed."
"Aye, Aye sir." They all roared and saluted, Gunny included. Mac turned to Gunny and told him, "Bring him home Vic, he's got a wedding to attend." She gave him a hug and he kissed her on the forehead and she left for the bridge.
"Gunny, I expect to see you, Ramon, and the Spook. My life won't be worth living otherwise."
"Like mine will Sir. I'll carry his ass out on my shoulder if I have to Sir. Semper Fi." He saluted and joined the teams. The Captain and I followed Mac to the bridge to listen to the op and await the outcome.
Clay's POV
Beach House
0800 Hours Local
Paramaribo, Suriname
The door opened and I was momentarily blinded from the bright sunlight. When I was able to focus, I saw Faad and not surprisingly Allen. Shit, I hate to be right about stuff like this.
"Well, Mr. Webb I see that you are still with us. Mr. Allen knows you have been selling the arms but not how much information you have managed to get back out. He has been as much use to me as Mr. Garcia." This time he shot his victim between the eyes. Allen fell at Ramon's feet, not far from the makeshift pallet I was still lying on. That's when I noticed Faad only brought one thug with him into the cellar. Stupid, stupid man.
"Now, Mr. Gutierrez, what can you tell me about your communications back to the United States while on your trip?" The thug pulled Ramon away from me and tied him to a chair. I moved close to Allen's body and as I tried to stand I fell directly on top of it. I felt around for his Glock and palmed it as Faad told me to get up. I managed to stand and the thug punched me in the kidney. I dropped to my knees, and that's when all hell broke lose outside.
I took out the thug, but Faad managed to shoot me in the chest. He smiled and as he took aim to shoot me again the cellar door opened and his head exploded.
Victor's POV
Beach House Cellar
0805 Local
Paramaribo, Suriname
"God Damn, son of a bitch, Clay!" The firefight was continuing outside. The LT's plan went as planned; except for the fact that Clay was lying motionless on the floor of the cellar. The team medic was working on him with another assisting him.
"You saved his life Vic. Faad was getting ready to finish him off. This a SeAL team?" Ramon reassured and questioned.
"Two teams actually." I listened to the chatter on the radio. "They just about have the compound secured, no it is secure." I heard the medic call for air-evac. The LT entered and checked out the situation.
"Captain, Mr. Webb needs air-evac to the Henry, ASAP. I've got him stabilized but he needs immediate surgery."
The chopper that brought us to the Watertown would be here in ten, and it would be a forty minute ride from here to the Henry. I relayed everything to Ramon as I heard it.
"Vic." I heard a weak call. I ran to Clay's side. They had O2 and two IVs going and his breathing was labored. They had covered the sucking chest wound and stabilized him as best as possible. This year had been hell on his medical insurance.
"Let me talk to Sarah. I haven't heard her voice in months." He gasped out.
"How do you know she's here?" I grinned at him.
"Oh, please. Don't make me laugh, it hurts too much."
I looked at the medic, and he nodded his OK. I fitted the headset offered by one of the team members and asked the Captain to get the Colonel on the horn.
"Hey Spook don't get too mushy, this is an open channel." I heard her say, then the LT's voice calling "Channel 2." Who said warriors weren't romantics?
"Hello Princess. Meet me on the Henry? I hear Captain's can perform marriages at sea. I owe you a wedding? We can do it again later."
"Only you, you smart ass. How many times do I have to say yes?" I could hear the tears in her voice now.
"Only one more."
Sarah's POV
USS Patrick Henry
Two Hours Later
Gulf of Mexico
The chopper landed and I more or less bowled over the flight crew on my way to Sick Bay. Unfortunately I knew the way without asking for directions, and I was glad that the Admiral had no trouble keeping up with me.
We found Vic and Ramon waiting outside Sick Bay much like Harm and I had waited on word of Bud. This was déjà vu ten times over. I never thought I would have to live that horror again, and not with someone I loved so deeply.
I latched on to Vic glad to see he was unscathed, and then I gave Ramon a hug. He also had no injuries. The CIA weenie Davis had flown out with the Admiral and I and called Ramon and Vic over. They were needed for debriefing. I noticed Ramon was holding a small device in his hand.
"Is that the famous Valley Girl Palm?" I asked curiously.
"Yes. I hope you had as much fun reading them as we did writing them." He grinned
"Oh they were quite entertaining. Thank you for keeping each other alive Ramon. I really appreciated. Now go hit your debriefing I'll let you know if anything happened." After a last hug both men left AJ and I to wait.
Two Hours Later
"Colonel Webb?" A tall, tired look man in scrubs called out. I automatically answered, not even hearing the mis-title. AJ and I both stood.
"He is fine Colonel. You will be able to see him in a few minutes. I want to warn you he is still intubated, there is a chest tube on the right side of his chest and he is receiving blood. He is still unconscious. He won't wake until late this afternoon." By the time he was finished the tears were rolling down my face.
"As far as his other injuries: his nose is broken, we set that but I recommend an ENT to look at it. His right kidney was severely bruised and he has blood in his urine, but this should heal with out surgical intervention. He has two broken ribs on the right side. His GSW was to the upper chest. There was no damage to the major vessels or heart. He was damn lucky. Now if you would come with me."
We followed the doctor to the recovery area. He wasn't lying to us. Clay looked every bit as bad as he said he would. But he looked wonderful at the same time. I sat at his side after giving him a small kiss on his brow to wait for him to wake.
TBC