Chapter 50

Wow, I'm at chapter 50 on this story. I never imagined it lasting this long. Thank you for all the support. I really can't tell you enough how much it means to see people comment or give kudos. I hope I continue to deliver to you guys. SEAL Team season 5 should be filming in a few weeks it seems. Looks like Dave is on a well-deserved vacation as well. Enjoy a new chapter. This chapter is inspired by Jason's testimony. Hope it's good.

The following day, Mandy, Jason, and the kids had spent the day around New York City site seeing. Mandy and Emma taking Jason and Mikey to their favorite spots. It was a day filled with fun and laughter. Everyone was carefree and genuinely enjoying themselves. After such a long day, everyone had come back to Mandy's place to just chill in the living room. Eventually everyone went their separate ways to bed.

It was one in the morning and Mandy felt herself waking up in a restless state. Despite enjoying her time with the Hayes family, her mind seemed to be unsettled. Mandy tried to bury herself back into the bed and against Jason to fall asleep, but it just wasn't happening. She decided to carefully get out of bed without waking Jason and head for the living room. One of the couches faced the windows and had a view towards where the trade towers once stood. Now as she sat down and got comfortable, all she could see were the two spotlights shining into the night in the fallen buildings place. Mandy had gotten so lost in her thoughts that she was startled when she heard someone coming down the stairs.

"Sorry," Emma said seeing Mandy jump.

"It's okay," Mandy smiled back. "Did you need something?"

"Just some water," Emma said walking over to the kitchen.

"Second cupboard to the right has the glasses," Mandy supplied as Emma nodded back.

Emma grabbed a glass and filled it up with water. She took a sip and then turned to look at Mandy on the couch. Emma could tell something was bother her and decided to walk over towards her.

"Mind if I sit," Emma asked.

"Sure, go ahead," Mandy replied.

"Can't sleep?" Emma asked after a moment of silence.

"Something like that," Mandy said looking out the window again. "I remember the first time I came here and how I looked around in wonder. I looked out these windows in awe of the view. The twin towers right there in our line of sight. It was sunny and the sun shining off them."

Emma looked out the window towards where the towers used to be as well.

"I was about your age when that dreadful day happened," Mandy continued. "I was just starting my second year of college at Columbia. I was going to follow my Mom into law at the time."

"Your Mom is a lawyer?" Emma asked.

"Yeah," Mandy replied. "Dad was still a SEAL at the time as well."

"Your Dad was a SEAL too?" Emma asked intrigued.

"When they adopted me, he was team leader of his team as well. Sometimes your Dad reminds me of mine," Mandy shook her head. "Trust me when I say, I know what it's like having a SEAL, let alone the team leader, be your Dad," Mandy said giving Emma a knowing look.

"It's not easy," Emma sighed.

"No, it's not," Mandy agreed. "Anyways, I was here when 9/11 happened. My Mom had been in town too. Her law firm had an office in the towers as well. I didn't have class until later in the afternoon that day. My Mom had meeting that morning at the tower."

Emma's eyes grew wide realizing where this story was going. She tore her eyes away from the window to Mandy whose face looked like she was reliving it at the moment. Emma knew what 9/11 was but was just a baby when it had actually occurred. She'd read stories about that dreadful day. She couldn't imagine what Mandy was going through right now.

"She'd gone in early to her meeting. I remember waking up that morning and coming down here. Everything was normal. My Dad was out on an op, and we had no contact with him. I got my breakfast, turned on the news, and came here like I always did. I figured I'd have lunch with my Mom before class that afternoon," Mandy continued to tell her story. "I remember just sitting here and out of the corner of my eye seeing something off in the distance. I turned to look and see the tail end of an explosion not knowing it was a plane that just flew in. Next thing you know I'm watching the second plane hit the other tower."

Emma scoot over closer towards Mandy and grabbed her hand. She gently squeezed Mandy's hand in support of the traumatic event witnessed.

"It felt like a lifetime before it clicked in my head that my Mom had a meeting that morning. Luckily, she'd left an hour before everything happened though, but I didn't know that at the time. I heard the news start to talk about it and it just wasn't sinking in on what was happening. It was like one bad nightmare that I just kept waiting to wake up from," Mandy said taking in a deep breath. "I didn't know what to do so I started calling my Mom and her offices. My Dad wasn't around, and I didn't know what to do. I couldn't lose another parent. Then after some time, I look out and the towers are falling. Suddenly I couldn't breathe but then arms were around me a few minutes later."

"Who was it?" Emma asked.

"My Mom had made it back somehow," Mandy said looking at Emma with tears in her eyes. "I just looked at my Mom and then was back in her arms sobbing. Outside the cloud of dust had made it's way towards us and we couldn't see much."

"I'm so sorry," Emma said not knowing what to say. "That must have been terrifying to go through."

"Yeah, my Mom and I just sat here holding each other. Our phones were going off suddenly with people trying to check in. My Dad's op was over but coming back into the country had become difficult with the sudden tight security enforced. He was out of his mind trying to get up to us and wasn't going to believe were okay until he saw us in person."

"Did your Dad make it up here?" Emma asked.

"He and his team drove up here," Mandy replied.

"Did you guys know anyone who…" Emma trailed off.

"Yeah, we did," Mandy replied sadly. "We went to some funerals of people we knew and checked in on everyone who worked for my Mom that had survived."

"Is that why you do what you do now?" Emma wondered.

Mandy smiled looking at Emma, "I think that day changed so much for me. I finished my degree and was approached by the CIA to join. I wanted to make a difference and make sure we never had another day like that. Twenty years later though I realize this war is never gonna truly be over."

"You're probably right about that," Emma said. "But what you and my Dad do, it's important. Thanks to you guys and the sacrifices you've made, the rest of us haven't had to experience a day like that again."

"I've done a lot of things on this job. I've always been all in," Mandy commented. "I've come to care about your Dad a lot too."

"He cares about you too. I see it in the way he looks at you. I haven't seen him as happy as he is in a while. I know he loved my Mom and always will but now he loves you too."

"Thanks," Mandy replied as she brought Emma in for a tight hug. "You should go get some sleep."

"Only if you do too," Emma said with a stern look and Mandy got up to follow her back upstairs.

As the two got up from the couch, neither had noticed Jason at the top of the stairs. He'd woken up to Mandy not in bed with him. He'd heard them talking and just listened. His heart broke listening to Mandy recount that dreadful day. He understood even more Mandy's motivation in fighting the battle they fought on a daily basis. He quietly went back to their room and waited for Mandy to return. Shortly, he heard Mandy come in and get back into bed. Jason reached out for her and pulled her close. Instantly, Mandy knew that Jason had heard her. She turned to look at him as he looked back into her eyes as well. No words needed to be spoken. Mandy curled up against Jason and both fell back into a peaceful sleep.

Jason and Mikey woke up before the girls the next morning. Jason had made breakfast for the two after rummaging through the cupboards for a pan. He saw the fridge was fully stocked with food for them. He made some egg and bacon for him and Mikey. Just as they were finishing up breakfast, Emma came down.

"Morning," Jason said as Emma came towards him for a hug.

"Morning. Is Mandy up?" Emma asked looking around.

"Nah, figured we'd let her sleep. She doesn't get enough as it is," Jason replied.

"Funny, coming from you," Emma said with a raised eyebrow. "I woke up and came down for some water. She was up. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's all good," Jason replied as Emma looked at him with another look. "Okay, there's some stuff with work going on but she's on leave with us right now. Someone she trusted a long time ago betrayed her and now that person has come back on the radar."

"Is that why she was attacked while you guys were deployed?" Emma asked.

"I can't get into it," Jason sighed not wanting to tell her everything. "Listen, it's all gonna be okay. Mandy has us, the team, and her parents by her side. We're gonna get through all this."

"Okay, but you guys have to be careful and come home. I like her," Emma said quietly. "I never said thank you to her for helping out when Mom died. She was the only one that didn't push me to talk or constantly ask if I was okay."

"Mandy knows. She always has this way of just being there for you in a way that's not suffocating. Always know what to or not to say too," Jason smiled.

"She's good for you," Emma smiled back. "Isn't afraid to go at it with you."

"Yeah," Jason laughed. "When she first came to work with the team, let's just say I wasn't so welcoming."

"Shocker," Emma sarcastically said. "What changed?"

"She stuck her neck out for us and saved us," Jason replied.

"If I remember correctly, I also beat you in hand-to-hand combat that one time," Mandy said making herself known.

"Dad got beat up by a girl," Mikey laughed from the couch where he was watching TV.

"Okay, one time," Jason rolled his eyes.

"Pretty sure it's been more than once," Mandy replied back as she walked up to him and gave him kiss while he handed her a cup of coffee. "Morning."

"Good morning," Jason replied leaning in for another kiss. "I'll make you two some breakfast. Sit down and relax."

"What are we doing today?" Mikey asked coming over to sit next to Mandy.

"Whatever you guys want. Tomorrow you and your Dad are going to the Phillies playing the Yankees baseball game though. Emma and I will be enjoying a girl's day out."

"Awesome! Go Phillies!" Mikey cheered.

"Seriously?" Jason asked turning around to look at her.

"Yes. I also arranged for you guys to get in early before the game and hang out with the team," Mandy smiled.

"We get to meet the Phillies too?" Mikey asked wide eyed. "You're the best, Mandy," Mikey said hugging her.

"Oh, I know," Mandy smirked looking at Jason.

"You sound like my Dad," Emma rolled her eyes.

"Well, she learned from the best," Jason smirked back.

"Please, I at least keep my ego in check," Mandy rolled her eyes.

Before Jason could say anything Emma jumped in, "Are you two always like this? How do you work together?"

"No," Mandy and Jason replied together.

"As far as working together, we just fit," Jason replied.

"Yeah, we do," Mandy smiled back. "So, what do you guys want to do today?"

"I have an idea," Emma said looking at Mandy. "But I'm not telling you, so you'll just have to wait once we get there."

"Okay," Mandy shrugged as she dug into the plate of food Jason had just put in front of her.

"You'll tell your old man though, right?" Jason asked.

"No," Emma said with the signature Hayes smirk.

"She's definitely got some Hayes in her," Mandy laughed.

"Anyways, once we're done here, we should get ready and head out to where I want to take you," Emma said as everyone nodded back.

After breakfast everyone went and got ready. Emma led the way through the city to where she wanted to take them. Taking them there was a quick idea that had come to mind this morning. She hoped it all worked out. As they walked, Mandy looked around trying to figure out where Emma was taking them. Jason and Mikey took in the sites along the way.

A few minutes later, Mandy looked ahead and figured it out. They were at an intersection waiting for the signal to walk across. They made their way across and then stopped just outside the area. It'd been a little while since she'd come by this area.

"I thought we'd go through and pay our respects," Emma said turning towards them. "Unless it's too much?"

"No, it's a good idea. It's been a while," Mandy smiled as Jason squeezed her hand and brought her close.

The four of them continued to walk into the 9/11 memorial. In the center, was the big square water fall where the towers once were. People were all around looking and observing. As they approached to one side of the memorial, Mandy put one hand out to touch the names of those lost. Her breath hitched remembering that terrifying day. She was lucky. Her Mom was okay. Jason could feel her breaking a little, so he pulled her close to comfort her.

"I don't know firsthand what happened that day, but I know that what you and Dad do makes a difference," Emma spoke. "The things you guys do is the reason why we don't have more memorials like this. Everyone here will never know the sacrifices you two have made and keep making for us."

Jason was in awe of his daughter. He'd never handled the details of his job with his kids very well in the past. Alana had always handled it somehow. He always thought that he was protecting the kids by not telling them anything. Of course, the kids were older now and it wouldn't be hard for them to figure out just what he did for a living.

"You're both heroes. It's not easy on any of us getting through it all but maybe we can all work together to move forward," Emma continued.

Without saying anything, Jason and Mandy brought both kids in for a tight hug. No words needed to be said because they all understood the magnitude of where they currently stood. It wasn't easy balancing the life they chose to lead. It wasn't just Mandy and Jason who'd sacrificed so much. It was all the loved ones around them as well. In this moment though, everyone standing there, like a family, was up for the challenge of moving forward and making it work this time around.