Chapter 37
Hope everyone is having a good holiday. Just to let you all know, I'm a tax accountant (or CPA) and tax season is coming up right after the New Year. My updates may slow down to just weekends. Just know I haven't abandoned anything but am merely swamped with work. Hopefully, this season goes well despite last year being disrupted by COVID and all the changes coming to law. Anyways, on with the show and enjoy this new chapter.
Mandy walked out of the interrogation room after Al-Hazred confessed everything he knew about Roman and his plans. She let the door shut and then leaned against the wall looking up towards the ceiling. She closed her eyes and let out a shuddering breath. She hoped beyond hope that when she opened her eyes this wasn't all a dream. Junior had given some decent information on possibly where Roman was and what he could be up to. One thing was clear, Roman wanted Mandy involved in it all.
Most of the team had left the observation room once Junior started talking. Only Jason, Troy, and the director stood by to watch until the end. The three talked a little while they watched Mandy at work. Thomson and Troy dishing out a few stories to Jason and vice versa. They all loved Mandy in some shape or form.
"You nailed him, sweetheart," Director Thomson said excitedly pulling Mandy in for a hug out in the hallway. "So proud of you," he whispered into her ear. "I'll go grab some of the good stuff for the boys."
"Nice job, as usual," Troy said next holding his fist out and doing an explosion with his hand causing Mandy to chuckle and shake her head. "Tonight, we celebrate."
Both walked off talking and it was down to Jason and Mandy in the hallway. Jason stood across from Mandy leaning against the opposite wall. He could tell she was going through a wide range of emotions. Probably trying to reassure herself that it was all real. She had been chasing Roman for so long and finally had some solid leads. He also could tell that hunting down someone you once called a friend and trusted with your life took a toll on oneself.
Mandy tilted her head slightly as she looked at Jason, "What? No congrats?"
"Nah, you don't need it," Jason replied pushing off the wall. "Knew you had it all along just like you knew deep down too," he continued as leaned in close and caged her against the wall.
"Girl loves a compliment though," Mandy said keeping eye contact with him.
"I can do one better," Jason smirked as Mandy lifted an eyebrow. Before she could ask, Jason's lips were against hers in a sweet soft kiss. Mandy's hands instantly going up Jason's body and around his neck. A door slammed down the hall and broke them a part instantly and a little breathless.
"How about we skip the celebration with he guys and have a little one of our own," Jason said as they started to walk down the hall.
"I promised them," Mandy smiled. "I don't break promises. Plus, I love being the center of attention," Mandy smirked.
"You're the center of my attention," Jason replied back.
"And corny," Mandy snorted.
"You love it and you're cute when you snort," Jason replied as Mandy slapped his arm and Jason feigned hurt. "Ouch."
"Tough Navy SEAL gets taken down by a female CIA operative. I can see the guys now," Mandy sighed thinking how the guys would never let Jason live it down. Jason laughed with her. "Your reputation gone."
"It'd be worth it," Jason smiled as he grabbed her hand lightly. "You're worth it."
"So are you," Mandy said squeezing his hand. "I'm gonna go debrief. Meet you at the fire pit?"
"Sounds good," Jason said giving her a quick peck before they parted.
Mandy watched him walk away before calling out, "Oh and Jason, we will have our own little celebration tonight too." Mandy watched Jason's eyes darken before turning and walking away with a little sway. Jason shook his head and continued walking the opposite way thinking tonight would be fun.
Mandy, Troy, and Director Thomson were all on a satellite call with Langley and various other D.C. organizations updating them on what they'd found out from Junior.
"Seems you were quite successful in not only capturing Al-Hazred Junior but also getting information on former Agent Roman Riley," one official stated. "However, we also have some other matters to discuss such as Agent Ellis breaking protocol in freezing bank accounts."
"With all due respect, sir, she was working with a traitor at the time unknowingly. Had she not made that move, who knows what would've happened with the money or who would've been attacked," Thomson defended.
"As that may be, we have rules for a reason Director. However, we're willing to overlook this discretion at the moment," the person replied. "The other matter we need to address is the Marsden letter. Investigations into Bravo team are underway and being headed by NCIS. Should this be a Navy issue, they'd like to keep it in house as much as possible."
Mandy's heart skipped a beat thinking about the team being investigated. She briefly looked over at her Dad and Troy. Both seemed to know instantly what she was about to do. Neither wanted her to do what she was about to do but there wasn't any other way out the situation for the moment. Mandy had an idea of who wrote the letter and wasn't going to let them take the fall.
"That won't be necessary," Mandy said out loud.
"What won't be necessary?" the official asked.
"The investigation into Bravo team isn't necessary. I wrote the letter. I kept most of the details of the op out and kept the letter vague," Mandy declared.
The official took his glasses off and looked at Mandy through the screen intensely. "Are you aware as to what you're confessing to Agent Ellis? You leaked classified information no matter how vague it was which has serious consequences."
"Yes, I understand," Mandy replied. "I also understand that I just helped bring in Al-Hazred Junior. A man that was ready to be the next in line to terrorize the Middle East here. I also am the only one that got him to talk about one of the CIA's most wanted and get you some solid leads on Roman Riley. Roman is focused on me. Even if you stripped me of everything, he's still going to come for me because I won't go down without a fight. The next headline you'll have to worry about will be how you fired and destroyed an agent who fought to tell the truth and could've helped you stop the next attack. Then again, maybe I'll just be labeled the bad guy like Marsden so you can cover your ass again," Mandy continued confidently. "And don't think for one second I don't have any fail safes in place because should anything happen to me or anyone else around me, I will have no problem using them."
"I see," the official responded. He knew her reputation. She wasn't to be messed with if the rumors were true. She seemed to have quite a bit of pull in the intelligence world. "As it may be, actions do have consequences, Agent Ellis. Your deployment is coming to an end and upon return you are suspended for two weeks. After suspension, you can return to hunting down Roman Riley."
"I think that seems fair," Thomson chimed in looking at Mandy who he knew wanted to get to work right away once back stateside. He also knew that she needed some time off to regroup. Two weeks would be perfect since the team had two weeks off as well. She and Jason could both use the time off to just be before being thrown into the deep end.
"Okay," Mandy nodded back in agreement.
"Do I make myself clear in that you do not go on your own investigation safari while on suspension?" the official ordered.
"Yes, sir," Mandy replied knowing that even if she did have a card up her sleeve that it was better to obey around this time around.
"Good. Anything else we need to know about?" the official followed up.
"No sir, that should be all," Thomson replied and then signed off.
"You seriously have more lives than a cat," Troy said to break the silence as they all breathed out a sigh of relief. "So, who wrote the letter?"
"Like I'd tell you who," Mandy smirked as she started to gather up her things.
"Plausible deniability, okay then," Troy commented as he got up to leave.
"What?" Mandy asked looking at her father who stood staring at her.
"You know I'm proud of you, right?" Thomson said.
"Of course," Mandy replied shyly. "Just doing my job," Mandy added as she walked up to him.
"You love those guys. You love him, so much so you're willing to sacrifice yourself," Thomson said.
"They're worth it," Mandy smiled.
"I love you," Thomson said hugging Mandy and whispering in her ear with a kiss to the head.
"I love you too, Dad," Mandy replied.
It was late in the evening and the guys were all around the fire pit having their first drinks. They were talking and laughing about a variety of topics. They had taken down an upcoming terrorist and Mandy had gotten leads on Roman. Overall, it was a good deployment. Lisa and Blackburn had just walked up to the group.
"I see we're not the last ones here," Lisa smiled looking around.
"Party is just beginning," Sonny called out. "Hey, Jason, you don't by chance have the good stuff, do you?" Sonny begged.
"Nope," Jason chuckled. "Mandy keeps that under lock and key that even I don't have access to it."
"Where's Mandy at anyways?" Sonny said looking around base.
"She, the Director, and his assistant all had a debrief," Blackburn answered. "In light of recent events, I've been told that you guys get to go home a couple days early."
The team all cheered and raised their beers in the air.
"Somebody ask for the good stuff," Mandy said approaching with a box as well as her Dad.
"About time," Sonny exclaimed getting up quickly. He took the box out of her hands, "Let me help you with that." He then proceeded to take different bottles out. "Now this is what I'm talking about. These must have cost you a pretty penny."
"It was nothing," Mandy shrugged as she walked over to sit down in a chair next to Jason. She grabbed a bottle of her favorite tequila out of the box as well as Jason's favorite whiskey. She sat down and handed him his bottle.
"Not sharing your tequila with me," Jason joked.
"Want some," Mandy asked as she poured some in a glass. "It's probably better that I share."
Jason shook his head, "I'm good with this. What happens when you have too much tequila?"
"Well, the last time she went on a tequila binge-." Troy started as he sat down next to Mandy, who quickly put her hand over his mouth.
"Last time I checked, we agreed never to talk about that night," Mandy said with a stern look.
"Now this we've got to hear," Ray commented leaning forward for details.
"Oh, I remember that night," the director commented. "Jessica and I had to come bail the two of you out of jail that night," he said with a smile of a Dad embarrassing his daughter.
"Jail?" Clay asked.
"I could see Mandy here being a troublemaker," Jason smirked as Mandy gave him look and slapped his arm.
"It was not my fault," Mandy defended herself. "Someone couldn't hold their liquor that night," she continued looking straight at Troy.
"Gotta admit, it was funny," Troy chuckled as he took a sip of his drink.
"What exactly did you get arrested for?" Sonny asked eagerly causing Thomson to laugh.
"Seriously Dad?" Mandy cried out. The team had fun watching Mandy squirm. It wasn't often they got to see her embarrassed or off her game in a fun way.
"Well, we were at a bar drinking of course. This chick chatted me up pretty good and I was well on my way to being drunk. This one here is being hit on by every guy in the bar," Troy said with a pointed look at Mandy.
"Okay, you benefited from that by drinking some of those free drinks," Mandy said.
"Well, I had to make sure no one was drugging you," Troy argued back. "Anyways, I'm pretty much wasted, and this chick is talking me up and ends up stealing my wallet. Mandy, here, left hers up in the hotel room conveniently."
"It was your turn to buy after a job well done by yours truly," Mandy chimed in while the team laughed at how the two acted like siblings.
"So, we go to close out the tab and realize we got nothing on us. At this point, Mandy is wasted as well and decides that she will give the bar a little dance show," Troy smirks.
"You did what?" Jason asked looking at Mandy. He thought about Mandy dancing and his mind instantly drifted. A part of him a little jealous over other men getting the show and not him.
"Don't forget the lap dances," Mandy smirked. She knew she could be seductive. She had used that to advantage at times on the job. A little flirting never hurt anyone when gathering intel.
"Plural?" Trent asked.
"Yes, plural. So, she is putting on this show for everyone and causing a ruckus at the bar and they eventually call the cops since some guys started fighting. We tried to sneak out, but a couple got a little handsy and Mandy let them have it," Troy continued.
"Self-defense, learned from the best," Mandy said tilting her glass towards her Dad who smirked as well.
"Cops show up and being the drink idiots we were, we get arrested. I call my wife who then brings the director here as well. Mandy being Mandy, interrogated everyone we were in the holding cell with. I think the cops loved you at the end with all the charges you laid out for them," Troy laughed.
"I did major in law back in college. Still keep it current too," Mandy added.
"You're a lawyer?" Jason asked surprised. "No wonder you're so good at arguing."
"Yeah, always loved the justice system," Mandy replied wistfully.
"I had to call in favors that night to get the charges against you guys dropped," Thomson said shaking his head.
"Sounds like a fun night," Clay smirked.
They all chuckled and started talking about another topic.
"So, what do I have to do to get a dance," Jason said leaning in close to Mandy from his chair and giving her the Hayes eyes.
"Little more of this," Mandy said shaking the bottle. "And a little more of that Hayes charm and maybe you'll find out tonight," Mandy flirted back as her eyes darkened and moved down to his lips.
"Looking forward to it," Jason replied as he leaned back in his chair with a smirk. He was one lucky guy.
A couple hours later everyone had left the fire pit to retire to their quarters for the night. Mandy and Jason sat side by side in silence looking into the fire. Mandy felt chills go up her spine and rubbed her arms. Jason noticed the movement and reached over to tug on her hand. Mandy got up and Jason pulled her down to his lap.
Once she settled, Mandy tucked her head in the crock of Jason's neck while Jason pressed a kiss to her head and rubbed her arm and leg for some warmth. It was scary how natural everything felt between the two. Without words so much was said, and they fit perfectly. It was like they both new the other had big thoughts going on in their head and were letting one another work it out form themselves before talking.
"What's next for us?" Mandy asked breaking the silence.
"I don't know. We go home. We take down Roman. We live life, one day at a time," Jason sighed.
"I know that," Mandy said. "I mean, what's next for us on this job. When is enough, enough?"
"I don't know," Jason said honestly. "We signed up to serve. It's what we do."
"But is that all we are? This job? We take down one bad guy only for another to pop up. Don't get me wrong, I want to take down Roman but this job, it takes a toll being all in," Mandy said.
Jason thought about how thirteen years ago when he was here, they took down Junior's father and he couldn't wait to get back home for the birth of his child. Then he lost a friend, and everything changed. He should have gotten on that plane and gone home but didn't. That was the day he became Bravo one. That was the day he decided to be all in on the job.
Was it the right decision? Some days it felt like it was thinking of all the bad guys he had taken down and people he saved. Other days, it didn't. He missed out on a home life with his family. His marriage fell apart. He wasn't there for his kids as much as he should have been. He had always been a better solider than husband or father. He thought about how one decision changed the rest of his life.
"I think, we've done this job so long it has become a part of us. We made that choice," Jason replied honestly. "It's like you said, we chose to become these people."
"Do you think we can change who we've become?" Mandy asked lifting her head to look at Jason.
"We are who we are. Maybe we can change what we do or maybe we can change how we serve, but we are who we are, and I wouldn't change that," Jason replied looking into Mandy's eyes.
Mandy leaned into kiss Jason who cupped her face as he kissed her back. They were both trying to figure out what was in their futures. Everyone around them was moving forward in some direction. Lisa moving up by becoming an officer. Ray making the move to become warrant officer for his family. Higher ups telling both of them that the future was changing and that it may be time to hang it up. However, one thing became clear to both of them in that moment and it was that they had each other. Both saw the other in their future no matter what came next.
Jason was the first to break the kiss and lean back, "So do I get show tonight?"
Mandy laughed and got up from Jason's lap holding out her hand. Jason put out the fire quickly before walking hand in hand with Mandy back to her hooch.
"I did say we'd celebrate tonight," Mandy huskily spoke as she opened her door and pulled Jason in. "Wouldn't want to break my word," Mandy replied as she pushed Jason to sit down in the chair.
"Nope, wouldn't want to start now," Jason smirked as Mandy sauntered her way towards him with a wicked smile.