Chapter 28

Seeing David posting about being on set has been amazing and my mind is running wild with what is to come. I am excited to see how things go as it is one of my few shows that won't be incorporating the events of 2020 into the show (at least for now). Honestly, I need a little escape from everything going on and I just think it's too raw and soon to see the pandemic on TV. I think ratings for shows this year will be interesting and I just hope it doesn't hurt renewals in the future. Anyways, enjoy a new chapter.

After the interrogation, Mandy had disappeared on base to pull herself together. She could feel they were so close to getting Al-Hazred again. She was confident they could capture him again, but she wasn't sure if she should be the one to interrogate him. Mandy was hanging out by the basketball court looking out into the distance.

It had been one week since the attack. Her stab wound had healed nicely. She could still feel a little bit of a pull occasionally, but it was bearable. A lot had happened during the last week or so. Mandy could admit to herself that she was rattled. Her ex-partner from the CIA was coming for her and she was going for him as well. She revealed some of her secrets to the team. Finally, her and Jason had taken the leap into a real relationship.

Out of everything that had happened she was sure of Jason. He was and always is the one constant in her life no matter what. She couldn't help but think back to the early days of them. Jason had disliked her off the bat but eventually warmed up to her once she proved herself in getting the team out of a sticky situation. She thought back to the first time she hung out with the team at the bar and how she tried so hard to build walls between her and the guys. With most of the guys, she was successful in building those walls.

Jason had been right back in Siberia. There were never walls between her and him. They always gravitated towards each other and were able to silently support each other. The only other person able to break through her walls would be Ray. He was Jason's best friend so naturally he became an ally when it came to keeping Jason in line.

Mandy thought about one of the first times she and Jason were alone at the bar. It had been a rough day for her. She had been in a room overwatching an op from stateside and things had gone south. She had to make a tough call to launch a drone attack despite their people not confirming they had cleared the area.

(Flashback)

Mandy was sitting at the bar alone. She had started out with a gin and tonic but switched to a couple shots of tequila. Now she was nursing a fine whiskey in her glass. She figured the torture in drinking it would help with the pain she felt in what happen on the mission today. She knew she probably shouldn't be mixing so many drinks, but she needed to feel tonight. She had been there about an hour and half when someone came to sit next to her.

"Listen man, I'd like to be alone so go find someone else," Mandy said without looking at who it was.

"Wow, that was quick and harsh," Jason replied as Mandy whipped her head up to see him. Jason could see the pain and struggle she was having. "I'll have whatever she's having," Jason said to the bartender.

The bartender brought over a glass of whiskey and Jason took a drink, "Wow, the good stuff tonight," Jason commented on the top shelf whiskey he tasted. "Must of either been a really good or bad day?"

Mandy laughed bitterly, "All of the above." Sure, they had gotten the target, but it had come with a cost.

"Wanna talk about it?" Jason asked hesitantly.

"A team guy asking if I want to talk," Mandy smiled looking at Jason.

"Or we could just keep sitting here in silence drinking," Jason chuckled.

Mandy looked at him. He was a good-looking guy. It was no wonder all the women threw themselves at him. She would probably go home with him in a heartbeat as well, but he was married and that was completely of limits. She wasn't quite drunk yet and wasn't sure if hanging out with him at a bar alone was a good idea.

"I had to make a call today," Mandy said looking into her glass.

"Aah, one of those days," Jason said gravely. He knew the feeling of tough calls weighing down on one's self. "Did you complete the mission?"

"Yeah," Mandy sighed.

"Then it was the right call," Jason replied.

Mandy let out a huff and looked at him, "Even if it came with a price?"

Jason looked at Mandy and put his hand over hers on the bar, "Yeah, that's the price of war."

The two looked at each other intensely for a few moments and then it broke when they heard a glass shatter behind the bar. Jason pulled his hand away and both went to finish off their drinks.

"Another one," they both called out to the bar tender.

Jason looked up at the TV and saw the Flyers hockey game on. "You a hockey fan?" Jason asked randomly.

"What?" Mandy choked out.

"Hockey, the sport with a puck played on the ice," Jason said pointing up at the TV.

"Can't say I know much about hockey," Mandy said looking at the screen.

"Well then let me give you a lesson," Jason smiled as he started to explain the game to her.

A couple hours later, Jason and Mandy were intensely watching the game as the Flyers were down by a goal. Before they knew it the Flyers, with a few seconds to spare, got the game winning goal and the two jumped up to cheer. They turned to each other and they were inches apart.

They had been working together for almost year and it had been a few months since Jason had accepted her onto the team as an ally. They looked into each other's eyes and something sparked. All they had to do was lean into each other a little more and their lips would meet.

Mandy blinked and her mind finally cleared, "I should go." Inside her head she screamed he was married.

Jason seemed to come out of his trance as well and took a step back, "Yeah, I'll close the tab."

"No, no. I can get it," Mandy insisted.

"My treat for having a rough day," Jason countered back, and Mandy reluctantly gave in.

"Need a ride home," Jason asked.

"Nah, I'll just grab that cab. Got an early morning briefing," Mandy said and turned to walk towards the cab.

Jason watched her walk away and turned to head towards his truck.

"Hey Jason," Mandy called out as Jason turned back. "Thank you."

"Any time," Jason replied and then turned to continue back to his truck.

Both thought about the other on their way home and tried to convince themselves it was nothing. It was just two people feeling emotionally down and vulnerable. He was happily married to the love of his life and Mandy lived for the job. They were just coworkers supporting each other. That's all they could be.

(End flashback)

"Looks like you're thinking quite a bit there," Jason said standing next to Mandy on base causing her to jump out of memory.

"Hockey," Mandy replied.

"What? You're thinking about hockey?" Jason asked confused.

"That night at the bar. I had a rough day and you taught me about hockey that night," Mandy clarified.

"You were caught on pretty quick," Jason chuckled thinking back to night as well.

"I'm a fast learner. Comes with the territory I guess," Mandy replied. "Ever since that night, I find myself watching Flyers games when I can't sleep or just need background noise while working."

"Well then I guess I did a good job converting you to a Flyers fan. What brought all this up?" Jason asked.

"Just thinking about when we get Junior again. I don't think I should be the one interrogating him. Last time, I let him get to me," Mandy sighed.

Jason was a little shocked to hear Mandy so vulnerable and down on herself. "You're wrong. You're the strongest person I know that can go up against him. Maybe you let him get to you the first time but you'll just walk in there and show him you got the upper hand now. You got this," Jason encouraged her.

Mandy turned to look at Jason and was amazed once again at how the two believed in each other so much. They were quite the pair.

Jason leaned in to give her a quick kiss before pulling her along to walk, "So I missed treating you to breakfast and I assume you haven't eaten anything yet either so you'll just have to settle for lunch."

"Food does sound good right about now," Mandy replied as they walked to the mess hall continuing to tease each other about one thing or another.

Jack Thomson stood in the observation room looking into the interrogation room where the sister of Al-Hazred Junior sat. He could see the fear in her eyes as they darted around the room wondering what was going to happen. He could also see a trace of sadness probably over what her life was associated with.

She reminded him of a teenager Mandy when he and his wife decided to bring her into their lives. Mandy was about fifteen and her eyes had an all-knowing look that young girls her age should not have had. She had a wall built around her, yet she also looked like she was looking for a way out. Looking for a way to believe in the good that existed in the world. The girl sitting in the room and Mandy were both affected by the actions of their families and paid the ultimate price. They were survivors. He hoped he could save this young woman like he had of Mandy.

The door to the observation room opened and Mandy walked in to stand next to her Dad. "Got you something to eat," Mandy said handing him some yogurt.

"You know me so well," Thomson chuckled opening the yogurt.

"It's a spy thing," Mandy replied with a smile. "This is gonna work, right?"

Thomson was quiet for a moment and regarding Mandy, "The doctor and Asim weren't your fault you know. You of all people know this is just how the business works."

Mandy sighed, "I know, but you're the one that always taught me that no matter what you gotta feel what you're feeling because the second you stop it could lead you down a dangerous path."

"I did teach you that," Mandy's Dad replied proudly. "All we can do is keep the faith and hope things turn out for the best. We get Junior and you get the intel on Roman that we need."

"You think I can crack him once and for all," Mandy asked turning towards her Dad.

"You're my daughter, of course you can," Thomson said seriously.

Mandy nodded her head in thanks, "Shall we go in then?"

"Lead the way," Mandy's Dad replied as they walked out into the hallway.

As they walked to the interrogation room, they passed Blackburn and Lisa who nodded to them as they entered the observation room.

"This ought to be good," Blackburn smiled as the father daughter duo entered the interrogation room where the sister was sitting.

"I bet it will be," Lisa replied.

Thomson and Mandy walked into the room and both took a seat across from the sister.

"I'm sure you know why we're here," Jack started.

"Yes," Al-Hazred's sister softly replied. "You want to know where my brother is."

"Yes, we want to know where he's hiding. Do you know?" Thomson asked.

The sister looked at Thomson and then at Mandy, "Why would I help you?"

"Because you know it's the right thing to do," Thomson said stoically. "Listen, we don't have much time to waste here. He not only has been a part of terrorist activity in the region, but he attacked the base as well. I'm sure you can understand how we'd like to capture him as quickly as possible. Nobody gets away with attacking Americans."

"Playing good cop bad cop?" Lisa asked looking at Blackburn.

"Seems like it," Blackburn replied.

"You captured him once and he got away," the sister replied. "What makes you think you can get him again? What do you want from him?"

Before Thomson could continue Mandy jumped in, "Don't you want to do the right thing and stop your brother from killing other innocent people?"

"At the cost of what? My life?" the sister replied.

"We can protect you," Mandy replied.

The sister huffed, "Like you did for Asim?"

"What the hell?" Lisa muttered while Mandy slid back in her chair a little shocked.

"I know exactly who you are," the sister said looking at Mandy. "You're very well known in this part of the world. You want my brother to get to him."

"Him?" Thomson asked already knowing who the sister was talking about most likely.

"I'm not some dumb woman who knows nothing," the sister said with a flash of rage at Thomson.

"No, you're not," Mandy said sitting back up and leaning in. "But if my reputation precedes me then you know I'm your best shot at getting out of this hell hole," Mandy replied evenly.

Everything was quiet for a few moments as the sister regarded Mandy. "How would you protect me?"

"We're prepared to give you a new identity and life if you help us," Mandy said. "He'll insure that," Mandy followed up while nodding her head towards her Dad.

Mandy and her Dad sat back and let the woman take in what they said.

"You can really give me a new life away from all of this," the sister asked with tears in her eyes.

Mandy reached across and took the sister's hand in hers, "You shouldn't have to pay for the actions of your family."

Mandy's Dad looked at her as she said those words. He was reminded once again of how close to home this all hit. Not only did Mandy understand what it was like to have family who committed criminal offenses, but it also tied back to her ex-partner's betrayal. It was a miracle Mandy was half the person she was after everything she had gone through in her life. He often wondered if another career choice would've been better and maybe she would've led a more normal life. However, another part of him knew that Mandy was anything but ordinary and she did have a gift for this line of work. He was so proud of all her accomplishments.

The sister started to let out a sob of relief at the chance of moving on from this life. She started to tell them where Al-Hazred would most likely be. Everyone let out a sigh of relief that they were finally getting somewhere, and this time Junior wasn't going to get the best of them.