Chapter 40

Hope everyone is doing well! On one hand I'm annoyed at the episode schedule with all these long breaks and on the other it works out great cuz it's easier for me to keep up watching with work ramping up a lot.

While Jason went to order their food, Mandy found a table to sit down at. It was nice to be home but also an adjustment. For her, it was an even bigger adjustment to be home and not be jumping into the next target package. Before this last deployment, she'd fought like hell to get her status in the agency back, but things had changed after Caracas happened. She loved her job but the costs to doing it seemed to linger with her as time went on.

Samin dying and then visiting his widow had really done a number on her. Mandy was happy for Lisa finding her own way. It gave Mandy faith that the future was in good hands. Ever since she sacrificed it all for Bravo in saving Ray, she questioned a lot about her place in life. A couple years ago, she was single and all in all the time with her work. Now as she looked over towards Jason standing by the food truck waiting, she smiled thinking maybe now she had so much more.

Jason had told her when she went undercover on the op to capture Al-Hazred junior that months ago he didn't see anything when he looked into his future. He admitted that now when he looked to the future, he saw her, and she was able to admit the same. They had agreed that they had so much to uncover yet they also wanted to enjoy what they had at the moment. Almost like Jason knew she was staring; he turned his head towards her and gave her one of his brilliant and genuine smiles to her. Mandy returned one herself as well.

Jason's order was called out and he turned back to the truck to retrieve it. Just like Mandy, he was readjusting to being back stateside. This time however, he wasn't alone with Mandy by his side. As much as he hated the down time after coming back home from deployment, for once he was looking forward to spending it with Mandy. He was also glad that Mandy suggested a road trip to Philadelphia and New York. On their way home, he watched her plan every detail of the trip she could think of while asking him about his kids interests. Mandy trying to include Emma and Mikey in everything made his heart swell as he walked towards their table.

"Alright, we got tres tacos for you and the best burrito for me," Jason said as he set the food down on the table.

"No splitting this time," Mandy said as her mouth watered over the food.

"Didn't your parents teach you that sharing is caring?" Jason laughed watching her greedily pick up her food to eat.

"Mmmmm," Mandy moaned. "This is so good," she said between bites.

Jason was about to take a bite out his burrito but stopped at her moaning sounds. His mind instantly going back to the last couple weeks of deployment and their time spend together. Mandy wasn't like most women who watched what they ate. She loved to eat and probably should eat more. Between him and the rest of the team, they all tried to make sure she ate and took care of herself when she threw herself into work. She took everyone before herself.

"Should I leave you alone with those tacos?" Jason smiled as he ate.

"Probably," Mandy replied. "God, I missed all this."

"Nothing like coming home to your favorites," Jason said.

"Right, old habits and routines," Mandy added.

"It's called the re-entering process," Jason replied. "Maybe not all old habits this time around."

"And here I thought you were going to introduce to your best friend," Mandy sighed.

"My best friend?" Jason asked confused.

"Yeah, the microwave," Mandy replied thinking back to Jason telling her he needed the microwave sounds to keep him company.

Jason choked on his bite of food, "Maybe I got something better to keep me company this time. Something that makes much better sounds other than low hums." As he spoke, he leaned in and looked straight into Mandy's eyes with a dark look.

"I'm really glad you have something better this time around," Mandy said honestly as she put her hand over his. "I don't know about you, but this was a rough deployment."

Normally Jason would live in denial claiming that this deployment was like any other. Mandy was right though. They'd lost Jack Daniels and Samin. He'd been a part of catching Al-Hazred Junior, the son of a prior terrorist he killed so many years ago. They almost lost Mandy and she had to confront her old enemy of Roman.

"Yeah, it was," Jason answered squeezing her hand. "But we're here now. We got through it and we'll keep pushing forward."

"You remember that night you asked if I thought this is all we are?" Mandy asked. "About what's next after this job?"

"What about it?" Jason followed up.

"What is next after all this? You've got just over a year left on your enlistment. Me, I've got Roman, the biggest demon to exist for me to catch," Mandy said. "I fought like hell to get this job back, yet I feel like all I remember are the losses each op."

"We chose to serve and protect," Jason said. "It's the price we pay to do what we do."

"But when does it end, Jason? There's always going to be another bad guy to take down. Twenty years we've been fighting this war. You took down Junior's father only to take down the next generation. I was so young when I joined. We'd just been hit with 9/11 and it all seemed right yet now… I don't know," Mandy poured out shaking her head.

"I don't know when it ends. It's like I told you, this is all I know," Jason replied helplessly. "But I do know is that with you, I want to be all in outside the job. It's like you said before, no one's rushing us right now and we take it one day at a time," Jason said getting up to lean over the table and kiss Mandy. "This thing between us, it's gonna get rough and when it does no matter what we'll have each other. You and I, we work the problem. I wish I could tell you what's next, but I don't know. We've given so much to the job and world. The prices we've paid have been high."

"Cuz we chose to be these people," Mandy said with tears in her eyes as she repeated the words, she told Jason after seeing Samin's widow. "Do you think we can become something else?"

"I don't know," Jason replied. "With you by my side, I think I can do anything."

"When did you become such a romantic sap?" Mandy choked out with a smile.

"See, I was hoping to get lucky this afternoon," Jason smirked.

"I think you're chances of getting lucky are better if we stop for some of that soft serve ice cream you took me to a while back," Mandy leaned in suggestively and Jason laughed.

Jason fell onto his back breathing heavily, "Wow."

"Holy…that was different," Mandy panted right back. "Pretty sure the neighbors know my name now," Mandy chuckled.

"It's late afternoon. Most people are at work," Jason chuckled turning to his side and leaning over to kiss Mandy.

After ice cream, Jason did get lucky. The two were now laying in a bed of tangled sheets naked.

"Mmm, no air base noise in the background to shut us out," Mandy mumbled.

"Bigger bed too," Jason replied pulling her closer.

"We should get ready for tonight," Mandy stated.

"We don't have to meet everyone til five," Jason replied as he moved on top of her to start kissing along her neck.

"That's two hours for us to get ready. I barely have anything to wear in my bag that doesn't need to be washed," Mandy somehow got out as Jason's hands ran along her body causing shivers to run throughout her body.

"I think we have some time. You can borrow clothes from me," Jason mumbled as Mandy arched into him again. Next thing both knew, they were lost in each other again.

"We're late," Mandy said as she got out of the truck at the bar.

"It's only half an hour and it's not like we're on some strict time schedule," Jason chuckled as he came around the truck to meet Mandy. He reached out for her hand and pulled her in another heated kiss.

"You're out of control," Mandy laughed as she shoved his chest and started leading them to the bar.

"Can you blame me?" Jason smirked as he checked her out from behind.

"If you're done staring at my ass, let's move it Master Chief," Mandy said as Jason came up alongside her and put his hand her lower back as he got the door for her.

Mandy ended up borrowing one of Jason's old rock t-shirts and she knotted it, so it wasn't so large on her. She put on some dark skinny jeans and a pair of her black converse shoes as well. The shirt showed just a little bit of her waistline if she moved right which was driving Jason crazy and he couldn't keep his hands off her.

"Well look who decided to show up," Sonny called out with a loud laugh. "Thought you two started your vacation early."

"At least we started," Mandy replied with a smirk as the rest of the guys laughed out loud.

"Usual?" Jason asked Mandy as she stood by one of the tables Lisa was sitting at.

"Yes, please," Mandy nodded and turned back to Lisa to start talking.

Jason turned to head for the bar to get their drinks. He found an open spot and looked down the bar and waved over the bartender.

"One beer and a gin and tonic," Jason ordered.

"Never thought of you as a gin and tonic kind of guy," a voice said approaching the bar.

Jason turned around to see Natalie approaching him with a smile.

"Depends on the day," Jason replied thinking back to a few times he had them with Mandy on some hard days in the past. He chanced a glance back towards Mandy and smiled seeing her in some animated discussion with the whole team. "How you been?" he asked being polite.

"Good, looks like you made it back with a few more battle scars," Natalie replied seeing the cut above one of his eyes.

"Always do," Jason chuckled glancing back to Mandy again thinking about how she had a scar as well. One he traced over and over recently while they laid in bed.

"You look good," Natalie observed.

She was a little surprised he seemed to look a little happier and lighter than the last time she'd seen him. He'd been gearing up to deploy and going through his routine, when suddenly he was blowing up and breaking up with her. Something had changed. He kept looking over towards the team. The team itself looked closer than ever as well.

"Thanks," Jason chuckled.

"Must have been some deployment. Didn't expect you to come back all…" Natalie trailed off.

"Happy? Yeah, it was one hell of deployment," Jason shook his head.

Before Natalie could push further the bar tender brought his drinks and Jason was grabbing them and saying a quick goodbye to her as he headed back towards the team. She watched as he went up towards Mandy and put a drink down in front of her as well as hand around her waist. One of the guys had said something which caused Mandy to tilt her head back into Jason and laugh. The whole team was laughing but Natalie could see Jason's eyes were only on Mandy. She always knew the two seemed close and could never quite get a read on Mandy. So much about her was a mystery and the team never said much either. Whatever thoughts she had about Jason and talking about how they'd left things went out the window because he knew she couldn't compete with that.

"Alright listen up," Blackburn called out. "Just got word once we landed that Bravo 2 here, or should I say Warrant Officer Petty, will be gone two months to officer's training."

Everyone gave a hoot and congratulations to Ray. Despite losing him for a couple months, they were happy to see him moving on to the next chapter of his life.

"Next round on Ray," Jason laughed out loud as he gave Ray a hug and headed to the bar with Sonny and Clay to pick up another round.

Ray stood and watched his brothers walk off and then looked over towards Mandy. He walked over to her and sat across from her on the empty bar stool across from him.

"Congrats Ray, ready to hang out with us spooks?" Mandy joked.

"If it's you, anytime," Ray replied smiling and then glanced over towards Jason. "Thank you," Ray said seriously looking at Mandy.

"For what?" Mandy asked confused.

"For that," Ray said pointing at Jason. "It's been a while since we've seen him happy. The dark clouds are still there but there's a little sunshine coming through now. About time the two of you got your heads on right."

Mandy glanced over towards the bar as well, "We're both all in."

"Good," Ray said. "Now don't think you can keep me out of taking down Roman though. You've saved me and I owe you. I'm not backing out from that fight. Locked and ready when you need me."

"Duly noted," Mandy smiled back.

"Alright, shots for everyone," Jason called out putting them down on the table by the two, who both gave him a look. "Come one guys, what is it? A school night?"

"For some of us, yes," Mandy replied amused as she grabbed hers.

"To Warrant Officer Ray Perry, whatever the hell it is that a warrant officer does," Jason said raising his shot and taking it. Everyone around them did the same as well.

"Beats me what the hell I'll be doing too," Ray joked. "So, you two really gonna go on vacation?" Ray asked skeptically. He knew the two were all in on their jobs so hearing they had two weeks off and would spend it together was a surprise.

"Yes," Mandy rolled her eyes as she took another sip of her drink.

"Mikey comes in tomorrow afternoon. Friday morning, we drive up to Philly for a couple days then up to New York City to get Emma," Jason replied.

"And then off to Nashville for a week. Should be fun and I hope the kids enjoy it," Mandy added in.

"They'll love it," Jason said putting his arm around Mandy's back.

"Because they'll have you," Mandy said looking into Jason's eyes.

Jason stared at her for a second wondering how he'd gotten a second chance at having someone like Mandy. She was understanding and wanted him to be close with his kids. She didn't want to replace Alana but wanted to include them in this life they'd started. Maybe she could relate from the broken family she originally came from.

"I don't deserve you," Jason said as he leaned in for a kiss.

"You got that right," Ray said out loud joking. "You two are nauseating. Who knew Bravo one was such a softy?"

"Oh, I've always known," Mandy smirked. "You know how difficult it is to keep Bravo one in line," Mandy joked looking at Ray.

"Oh, yes I do and now you get the full-time job of doing that," Ray stated.

"After all these years, you're just gonna abandon me? The betrayal, Ray," Mandy said with fake shock.

"I don't know if I like you two being this close," Jason laughed looking at them.

"I'm happy for you two," Ray said getting up from his seat. "Don't screw it up," Ray pointed at both of them.

Jason and Mandy watched him walk off and shook their heads. Mandy had finished her drink and was debating about having another.

"Another?" Jason asked.

"Beer this time," Mandy smiled sweetly. "I'll go get it though. Need to visit the lady's room too. You want anything?"

"Another beer," Jason answered.

Mandy approached the bar after using the lady's room and flagged down the bar tender for her drink order. She noticed Clay a couple seats down and decided to talk to him.

"So, you ready for STA-21?" Mandy asked as she approached him. "Gonna be one hell of an adjustment."

"I don't know," Clay admitted as he looked over to her.

"You don't know if you can adjust? You're adaptable," Mandy said tilting her head.

"I don't know if I want STA-21 anymore," Clay said. "All this time I've said the teams were everything to me. This last deployment taught me a lot. What is means to be a leader."

"You could make a difference with STA-21. Didn't you want to help veterans with their PTSD and making sure they record their injuries properly in order for them to get the right treatment down the road?" Mandy asked.

"Yeah, but nothing beats being a SEAL," Clay sighed. "What about you?"

"What about me?" Mandy asked confused.

"Why are you really off two weeks? Can't be just for freezing some accounts," Clay questioned.

Mandy regarded him for a moment, "Nothing gets past you does it? I did what I needed to do for the sake of the team."

"By taking the fall for the Marsden letter? Funny how that whole investigation just went away," Clay said watching her.

"Bravo doesn't take the hit so it's all worth it," Mandy said looking back towards Jason and the rest of the team. "There isn't much I haven't nor wouldn't do to protect you guys," Mandy said seriously.

"So, you know who actually wrote the letter?" Clay asked.

"Pretty sure I do but does it really matter at this point," Mandy replied.

"No, I guess not," Clay answered as Mandy grabbed her drinks and headed back towards Jason. "Thank you," Clay called out.

Mandy stopped to turn back towards Clay and shook her head in acknowledgement. She began to turn back around but stopped, "For what it's worth, do what you need to do. If you think teams is your true calling, then stick to it. If it's STA-21 then go for it. Whatever you decide, make sure it's something you won't regret. You've got potential in either."

Clay nodded his head and Mandy turned around to leave. Mandy had a feeling she knew what he'd decide and that it would all work out.