Chapter 7

While I have ideas fresh in my mind I thought why not do some more writing. As usual, thank you for all the support! So if you watch Jack Ryan you may see that I stole some quotes and scenes out of Season 1. Jack Ryan reminds me a lot of Mandy and seems like a good point of reference for me when it comes to the intelligence world since I have no idea what I'm talking about. Also I swear I check for spelling a grammar but somehow keep missing small things, so sorry for any mistakes.

The mission had been simple and successful. Not too many issues going in and getting the target they've been searching for, al-Hazred. Yet Jason was left unsatisfied. Something was off just as Mandy had said she was feeling. They got to the location al-Hazred was at and had some combat but were able to get in and get the guy along with some other guys. Since when was it ever that easy to get a target especially one that was the son of a terrorist he previously had gone after.

Jason thought he'd feel something other than the uneasiness he was feeling. Could it really be they tracked down the son the same way they tracked down the father through medical treatments?

Bravo team got back to base and handed off the prisoners to the waiting soldiers who would take them to the interrogation rooms. Just because they may have had al-Hazred didn't mean the fight was necessarily over. For all they knew someone else could be picking up the reins and continuing on the new terror group.

"Nice job guys, another terrorist taken down," Reiss commented as the guys headed to the gear bunker to put their stuff away. "And you too Davis, way to impress the higher ups on your first big take down."

"Couldn't have done it without you. It was a team effort," Lisa replied as she followed the guys.

"Well that's one way to end deployment out here. Taking out al-Hazred. Nice to end on a good note," Thirty said walking into the bunker and stripping down his gear.

"Another one bites the dust," Sonny laughed.

Meanwhile Jason quietly put his stuff away thinking about what Mandy had said about the money transfers. He went over the mission they just came back from over and over in his head trying to figure out the catch. He was beginning to feel like he was missing something. When they found out about Tahara it sounded like this new big network that was being compared to Al-kida, which they had battled against for the last twenty years. Could it really be this simple in ending this new network? If ten million was recently transferred, who had that money now if we had the head of Tahara in our hands?

Ray noticed Jason's quietness. Ray thought with how on edge Jason was before this capture would help relieve the tension in Jason. Not to mention he noticed that things seemed serious this time with Mandy and maybe for once both were fully committed and trying to keep a relationship going.

"If it isn't the star of the show," Trent said as Lisa walked into the bunker and the team clapped except for Jason.

"You guys helped too you know," Lisa replied.

"Nah, you did all the tedious work and we just kicked down some doors and got the son of a bitch for you," Sonny replied.

"Calls for celebration tonight," Clay said.

Meanwhile Jason had finished putting his stuff away and headed for the doorway. "Congrats Davis," Jason said as we walked out.

Lisa barely had a chance to nod before he was out the door. Guess she didn't have his trust as much as she thought unfortunately.

"Well, I'm going to go help Reiss with the interrogation and then we can celebrate tonight," Lisa said.

"Sounds good," Ray replied as Lisa turned to leave.

"What's Jason's problem?" Clay asked.

"Well his girlfriend was missing from the briefing this morning. Probably has something to do with that," Thirty said with a smirk.

"You mean Mandy?" Brock asked.

"Of course, who else. She looked pissed before Davis came to us with a mission. Probably jealous it's not her collar. You know how these agent types are," Thirty said.

The rest of Bravo looked at each other not sure how to respond.

"Mandy isn't like that," Ray said.

"Riigghttt. How would you know?" Thirty responded back.

"Because she's a friend of mine and family," Ray said seriously.

"So she saved your life once, doesn't make her one of us."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Ray asked.

"You know what I mean. She isn't in the teams circle. She's CIA," Thirty replied.

"I don't know man. She's saved our asses quite a few times," Clay said.

"Probably sacrificed her career at this point since she's no longer attached to Bravo or any team for that matter," Sonny said.

Thirty looked around at the guys seeing as they all came to defend Mandy.

"Listen, we've been in some tough spots and she's gotten us out. Also, if anyone can reign in Jason it's her. It's a lot being team leader and if anyone gets that pressure it's her. In all honesty we probably owe it to her in how many times she's saved Jason from himself," Trent said. "So I think I speak for all of us when I say she's one of us."

"Understood," Thirty said.

Meanwhile Jason made his way across base because he had plans. After all, he was starving and figured dinner was a good idea. First, he had to go get his date of course. Jason reached Mandy's and knocked on her door.

"Hey," Mandy replied opening the door.

Jason walked through the door and Mandy walked back into the wall.

"Hey," Jason said leaning in for a kiss as Mandy smiled. "I believe I said I'd take you out for a dinner date."

"Oh really? Do tell, where are we going?" Mandy laughed.

"Really cool place on base with the finest cuisine by a chef named Uncle Sam," Jason replied as Mandy laughed again. He could get used to seeing Mandy smile and laugh on a daily basis. She didn't do it enough probably but with him he always tried to get that smile that reached her eyes out of her.

"I am starving. Lead the way," Mandy replied as Jason opened the door and followed her out.

As they walked it was quiet for a moment before Mandy spoke up, "Everything go well on the mission?"

"Yep, we got him," Jason replied as Mandy eyed him suspiciously. "You said you had a feeling and now so do I. The op went way too easily. Sure we had some usual combat but al-Hazred was still there and we brought him and some others in. For someone who just got on our radar and seems to have been behind so many recent attacks it doesn't seem like we should have been able to snatch him up so quickly."

"Yeah, we normally don't get a break like this. You think maybe we're over thinking this? Maybe we're just that paranoid," Mandy said as they entered the dining hall.

"Maybe, but between you and me our gut instincts have helped us a lot along the way and very few times it's steered us wrong."

Jason and Mandy got in line to get food as Mandy spoke, "True. What does that say about us that we can't just take what's been given to us?"

"No idea," Jason said as they found a table to sit down and eat at. "It doesn't make sense about the money either. I mean someone will probably use that money you said was transferred."

"No they won't," Mandy said as Jason looked at her in surprise.

"Reiss froze the accounts?" Jason asked.

"No but I may have called Treasury and persuaded someone I know there to freeze the accounts," Mandy replied looking at Jason.

"Mandy, you could get in trouble again for doing something like that."

"Half a million dollars, that's what September 11th cost. What do you think ten million would buy Tahara? It's a risk I'm willing to take if it means stopping a future attack. Twenty years ago people at the CIA would've wanted to know this kind of information to stop something from happening."

Jason admired her ambition but he also worried about one day her ambition getting the best of her. If it did it meant he wouldn't have her by his side doing this job. He enjoyed having her by his side as she kept him in line and grounded. If he dished it out to her she would dish it right back at him.

"Just be careful okay. I'd miss you too much if you were gone for good," Jason said.

Mandy looked at Jason touched by his confession. No one had ever really told her she'd be missed. Most of her life she learned to fight on her own even when she joined the CIA. The CIA was a cut throat world she learned early on.

Mandy decided to change the subject as she took another bite of meal, "I miss real food. I'd kill for a cheeseburger and some french fries. Or pizza sounds good too. Oh we have to go to that Mexican place you introduced me to because I could die for some tacos right about now."

Jason laughed, "I told you that place was the best Mexican place in town. We will definitely head there as the second date once we're state side."

"Second date? Who said you're getting a second date after this?" Mandy flirted back at Jason.

Jason lowered his voice and leaned in towards Mandy across the table speaking with mischief in his eyes, "Maybe tonight I can persuade you to a second date."

"So you think you'll get lucky tonight too?" Mandy replied back in a low voice.

"Oh I know I will," Jason said confidently winking at Mandy as she laughed.

As they continued to eat another person approached their table.

"Excuse me, Agent Ellis?"

Mandy looked up and recognized the guy as someone who worked in the command center.

"Hey Jake, what's up?"

"Agent Julian requested that you interrogate one of the other guys brought in with al-Hazred."

Mandy sighed, "Sure, I'll be right there."

As Jake left Mandy took a few more bites before looking at Jason, "Well I guess I'll have to cut this date short."

"And me getting lucky?"

"Knock and you'll find out," Mandy winked at him as she got up to leave.

"See you later then," Jason replied.

As Mandy made her way to the interrogation room and Jason sat finishing his dinner they both felt that feeling of dread creep back up. They were just being paranoid. Right?