Chapter 3

Once again I just want to say thank you to everyone for your continued support. I'm open to people's thoughts and ideas. If there is something you'd like to see, let me know and I will see what I can do.

Mandy could be heard laughing at something Jason said as they walked into the command room. Most kept to themselves and ignored the two, but some looked up to see what the commotion was.

"I'm serious. What did you get up to while in college?" Jason asked.

Mandy sighed thinking about her college days. "Well… there was boys and skinny dipping," Mandy replied with a flirty look to Jason.

Jason stopped and thought Mandy in college skinny dipping. There was a brief flash of fire in his eyes while looking at Mandy before he realized what she said. "Seriously?"

"Among many other young college kid experiences like parties and what not."

"Emma isn't a wild child. She's a good girl who follows the rules," Jason replied.

"Of course Emma is a good girl. I'm just saying she's in New York City, the city that never sleeps. She's bound to try some new life experiences," Mandy said trying to comfort Jason.

"I just worry about her sometimes being in that big city. It's not like I can come to her rescue at the drop of a hat. I've missed so much of her and Mikey's life already that it feels like I'll never be able to make up for it sometimes."

"She's Jason Hayes' daughter. She can do anything and everything she puts her mind to," Mandy replied. Mandy could tell since Alana died Jason thought about is kids more often than not. It wasn't he didn't love them before but now being the only parent left had taken a toll on him. Jason always seemed to be in this tug of war between the SEAL family as well as his own. Mandy reached out and gently gave his hand a quick squeeze.

Just as she let go, Blackburn walked into the room.

"Good morning," Blackburn said to Mandy and Jason.

"Morning. Anything new?" Mandy asked.

"Not that I've heard of," Blackburn replied while eyeing Jason up. "What brings you here Jason? Doing some grunt work?"

"Anything to help get the next name on list captured."

"Is that right Master Chief Hayes," Blackburn seemed surprised Jason would volunteer to come help sift through files for clues on the next target.

Mandy turned her back to Blackburn looking at Jason. "I convinced him to come help instead of driving himself crazy running around base a million times," Mandy replied while looking at Jason.

"She is very convincing," Jason replied to Blackburn.

Blackburn had worked with different teams and agents. Most of the time agents had one agenda while the teams had another. He had watched with surprise over the last few years Mandy and Jason's partnership evolve.

When Blackburn had first met Mandy, he thought she was very professional. Sure she pushed hard sometimes but she would respect him if he said to pull back. He would never forget the first day he introduced Jason to Mandy. Jason being Jason did not seem welcoming of her. She was an outsider coming in. She was someone who would determine their missions and ultimately affect how he ran his teams.

Mandy on the other hand didn't take too much offense to Jason's not so welcoming demeanor. She knew how these operators worked. They didn't like outsiders coming in and changing everything. They didn't know if she could be trusted with their lives or if she was just serving for the CIA's own agenda.

So it was a rocky start. A few missions in the team ran into trouble and Mandy called in some favors to help get them out. When the team came back Jason had asked Blackburn where Mandy was as she seemed to have disappeared. Blackburn had told him she was getting chewed out by the higher ups for pulling off favors without authority.

Blackburn remembered walking down the hall and seeing Jason waiting outside the door to the room Mandy had been in. He was about to ask Jason what he was doing when the door opened and Mandy walked out.

"Hey," Jason said.

Mandy looked up surprised to see Jason. "Hey… is everything okay? Everyone make it back?"

"Yeah, yeah. Everyone is fine," Jason replied.

"That's good," Mandy said releasing a breath.

Jason hesitated before speaking, "I just wanted to say thanks for what you did in saving us."

"No problem. Just doing my job," Mandy replied.

"Most people in your position might not have done what you did. If you need me to back you up with the higher ups I will."

"It was the right thing to do. I don't think I could live with myself knowing I could've done more if anything happened to Bravo."

Jason decided he wanted a do over so he stuck out his hand, "Hi, I'm Jason Hayes. Think we can start over on the right foot this time?"

Mandy laughed, "Amanda Ellis but you can call me Mandy."

"Okay Mandy, now it's time you come out for some drinks with Bravo after all it was another successful mission."

"Oh, I wouldn't want to impose and I have a lot of work left," Mandy replied.

"Nope, you're coming out tonight," Jason said with that teasing smile of his.

Mandy took a breath and looked at him, "If you insist then why not."

"That's the spirit," Jason laughed.

After that moment, Mandy became a part of the team in some ways but more importantly a part of Jason's inner circle. Blackburn watched the two dance around each other and be there for each other during some tough times. These two didn't put up with each other's excuses. Sure they still butt heads occasionally but they always seemed to make up later.

Looking at them in this moment, he could tell they'd probably become something more. It wasn't his business and he trusted them to do what was best for everyone involved.

"Well by all means then get to work," Blackburn said to Jason and Mandy.