Chapter 53

So sorry for the delay! Part of it is life and part is me trying to figure out what to write. I hate when I know one part of the story but can't figure out the rest. Anyways, times are crazy in the world it seems. Thank you again for the continued support. Love hearing from you and one of you actually have inspired me to write something in during the next chapter or so. Hope you enjoy the update!

After dinner, everyone gathered outside in the back yard around a bonfire. They talked about anything and everything while sharing a lot of laughs. The atmosphere was light and relaxed. It was like the rest of the world and their jobs didn't exist for the moment. Mandy was sitting next to Jason with Haley on her lap. Haley had made herself comfortable curled up on Mandy playing with the bracelet Mandy had gotten her for her birthday. Almost every time Mandy traveled, she would bring something home from that country or city for Haley.

"Look at that, just needed Aunt Mandy to fall asleep," Jessica commented looking over with a fond smile.

Mandy looked down and froze feeling like if she moved, Haley would wake up, "Maybe we should take her up." Mandy tried to move but Haley moved and clung on to her tighter. "Or not."

"Looks like you're stuck," Jason smiled.

He was enjoying seeing Mandy in this new light. She seemed a little awkward with Haley but at the same time Mandy's love for her poured out without any guard up. Jason knew part of it was the fact this was Roman's daughter. Knowing Mandy, she probably took it upon herself over the whole situation of him not being in Haley's life even though it wasn't her fault. It seemed Haley was well loved by everyone around her though.

"She missed you a lot," Jessica said. "She found out you got hurt on this last deployment. I couldn't get her to settle for a night or so. Once Troy got there with your Dad though, he promised her that you were okay."

Mandy looked down at Haley and squeezed her a little closer, "She's growing up fast."

"Yeah," Jessica sighed. "And asking more questions."

"Jameelah, Ray's daughter is going through the same thing. They're at that age when they start to realize the dangers our jobs put us in," Jason added.

"We've always been pretty honest with her for the most part," Jessica replied. "Everyone stays relatively safe except for this one here," Jessica said with a pointed stare.

"I don't get into that much trouble anymore," Mandy replied back.

"So, he really showed up?" Jessica asked referring to Roman.

"Yeah, it was him," Mandy confirmed.

"I swear to god if I ever get my hands on him, I'll kill him myself," Jessica said bitterly.

"You know who attacked them?" Emma asked.

"Yeah, he is Haley's father and was my fiancé," Jessica admitted.

Mandy looked over to Jason wondering how much he wanted to divulge. Jason nodded his head and figured letting the kids know wouldn't hurt.

"I worked with him closely and then something happened on an op. He changed and ended up betraying us on another mission. He shot me and I nearly died. This last deployment, we were going after someone, and he was connected to them. He's coming out of hiding it seems so I'm sure this won't be the last of him," Mandy sighed.

"Are you in danger?" Emma asked as Mikey looked over concerned.

"Honestly," Mandy sighed not wanting to lie. "We don't know what his motives are and us having a past doesn't help. I'm going to find him this time and end it once and for all. I'm also going to do whatever I need to do to protect anyone around me," Mandy added as Jason reached over and squeezed her hand.

It was silent for a moment before Jessica broke the silence, "Anyways, I think y'all deserve some stories about Mandy."

"I am all for this," Jason sat up as Mandy smacked his arm. "Payback for ganging up on me back with my Mom."

"Oh god, here we go," Mandy groaned.

"You guys met in college, right?" Jason asked.

"Oh yes," Jessica replied with a glint in her eyes. "Where should I start?"

"How about you don't," Mandy chimed in.

"I remember meeting Mandy during our freshman year of college," Jessica began. "I took one look at her and just knew she'd be my best friend. It was love at first sight."

"Some days I wonder why I stick around," Mandy rolled her eyes.

"Anyways, Mandy being the stubborn person she was, refused to be my friend," Jessica continued. "But I knew under all that bark she'd be worth it."

"Anyways, one day I'm on campus and this guy was hitting on me. This guy was known on campus to annoy females into going out with him. Thought he was god's gift or something," Jessica rolled her eyes. "This guy was getting a little aggressive and Mandy was around. Next thing I know the guy is on the ground after being sucker punched by Mandy."

"Guy was a creep and put his hand on you," Mandy declared.

"Mandy turns to me and then says to run," Jessica chuckled. "We ran across campus and eventually stopped to catch our breath. A couple days later, the school finally tracked us down and we were called in to be talked with."

"Completely ridiculous," Mandy muttered.

"Mandy took the blame and surprisingly got a warning," Jessica said.

"Oh, I remember that one," Mandy's Dad chimed in. "Your mother here was furious and threatened them with lawsuits."

"She was defending Jessica from someone who had a history of harassing women on campus," Susan defended herself. "So, I may have thrown the book at them."

"Sounds like Mandy," Jason chuckled.

"You would know," Mandy smirked. "I mean, I have kicked your ass before."

"Maybe I deserved it," Jason shrugged.

"Your Dad hated me when we first met," Mandy said turning to Emma and Mikey.

"Did he give you the stare or cold shoulder?" Emma asked.

"Oh, I had the pleasure of the Jason Hayes welcome committee," Mandy chuckled. "It took me saving his butt to get him to actually like me and be civil."

"I was not that bad," Jason argued.

"Dad, you don't like change or outsiders," Emma chimed in. "You're a little prickly and take a while to warm up to people. It's why we love you though."

"See, she's already got my kids on her side," Jason shook his head taking a sip of beer.

"Well, Mandy is good at her job," Troy added.

After more stories and tales were exchanged, slowly they all retired off to bed. It was almost midnight with Mandy and Jason outside by themselves. The fire had died down and Mandy was curled up on Jason's lap with country music playing softly in the background. For the most part the two enjoyed the silence and each other's company under the moon shining down on them.

"I like this," Jason said quietly.

"Me too," Mandy agreed. "Like everything else fades away and it's just us. No mission to get done."

"Yeah," Jason sighed. "But you gotta admit, I miss the mission adrenaline too."

Mandy chuckled and lifted her head, "Okay, maybe you got a point there."

"Is Amanda Ellis admitting that I'm right?" Jason said squeezing her close as she straddled his lap.

"I'll let you have this one," Mandy muttered close to his lips.

"How gracious of you," Jason replied before closing the gap between them with a steamy kiss.

The two made out while pulling one another as close as they could. Music playing in the background and Mandy shifted on Jason's lap causing them to shift on the chair some.

"We should," Mandy began. "Go upstairs," Mandy sighed as Jason trailed kisses down her neck.

"Okay," Jason replied getting up with Mandy in his arms.

Mandy let out a laugh as she wrapped her legs tightly around Jason as he carried her, and Mandy stretched her arm out to turn out the lights as they went upstairs.

It was eight in the morning when Mandy was startled from sleep by the someone knocking obnoxiously on her bedroom door. She groaned as Jason's arm tightened around her waist. In their rush to get upstairs last night, Mandy had managed to lock the door somehow thankfully.

"Aunt Mandy! Mom says get your butt out of bed," Haley yelled.

"We'll be down," Mandy called out half heartedly as she scooted back into Jason more.

"You better or I'll be back to kick the door down," Haley declared and then her feet could be heard scurrying down the hall.

"What time is it," Jason asked against her neck.

Mandy grudgingly opened her eyes and grabbed her phone, "It's just past eight."

Mandy turned around so she was facing Jason. She looked at him as she got close to him putting a hand on his cheek. Brown eyes stared back just as intensely back at her but with a softness in them as well. Mandy leaned in for a kiss.

"Now that's a good morning," Jason said after the kiss letting a hand go up her naked back to pull her closer.

"We should get up," Mandy murmured into Jason's neck.

"Probably," Jason sighed as neither made a move to get up. "Any plans today?"

"I was thinking we could go down to the ranch today," Mandy replied.

"Sounds like fun," Jason said. "You know, normally waking up in the mornings all I felt was dread and numbness."

"Something change?" Mandy asked pulling back from his neck to look at him.

"Yeah, you're here now," Jason smiled. "Now, I feel a little more hopeful every day that there is more. You remind me what I have to lose and that I'm not alone."

"Never alone," Mandy agreed. "We really should get up because I'm pretty sure Haley will break down the door if we don't get a move on."

Jason laughed and then moved to get out of bed. He held his hand out to Mandy to take and pulled her out of bed. He then threw her over his shoulder as he walked to the bathroom in the room, both of them laughing.

After getting ready, Jason and Mandy headed downstairs for breakfast in the kitchen. Jason kept stealing kisses on the way down making Mandy laugh. As they got closer to the kitchen, they could hear everyone in the kitchen.

"Good morning, sleepyheads," Jessica smirked.

"About time you guys got up," Troy added.

"Morning," Mandy said ignoring them. "God, I'm starving. Worked up an appetite," Mandy smirked back at the two as Jason chuckled.

"Are we the last ones up?" Jason asked as he filled his plate.

"Yep, your parents are outside with the kids," Jessica answered watching them. "Looks good on you."

"What?" Mandy asked confused as she sat down.

"Relaxed and happy," Jessica smiled as Jason put down a cup of coffee for Mandy. "Wow, he brings you coffee too."

"What?" Mandy asked still confused. "Jason always brings me coffee."

"Or something to eat," Jason added. "Too many times have I seen Mandy ignore taking care of herself as she works a lead or op."

"That's rich coming from you," Mandy said with a raised eyebrow.

"You two are so alike," Jessica shook her head, happy for her best friend. "It goes without saying Jason, if you break my best friend's heart, I'll kill you," Jessica declared.

"Noted," Jason replied knowing Jessica was serious.

"Well then, what are you planning today?" Jessica asked. "I was thinking we go down to the ranch."

"I thought the same," Mandy chuckled. "Haven't ridden Raider in a while."

"Raider?" Jason asked.

"Oh, that's Mandy's horse. He'll be excited to see you," Susan said walking in.

"Raider, as in what they first called Navy SEALs?" Jason asked curiously.

"Yes, when I found out my Dad was SEAL, I researched everything I could about them," Mandy reminisced. "My first horse was Scout."

"I'd catch Mandy reading all about the Navy after we told her what Jack did for a living," Susan shook her head. "The first time Jack got hurt, Mandy had a million questions for Jack on what happened. I should've known then that she'd join the same line of work."

"Mandy could've given the Navy a run for their money on the AARs," Jack joked as he walked in. "Morning, sweetheart," Jack said kissing his Mandy's hair as he walked by. "Jason," he nodded and gave a pat on the shoulder.

"So, you're a Navy girl," Jason smiled.

"Yes," Mandy rolled her eyes. "Where are the kids?"

"They're out back with the dogs," Jack answered. "Headed down to the ranch?"

"That's the plan," Mandy said getting up to put her dishes in the sink. "Ready?" Mandy asked Jason who nodded. "You guys coming?" Mandy asked Troy and Jessica.

"Of course, gotta spend time with my bestie and get all the juicy details on Master Chief Hayes," Jessica said linking arms with Mandy as they walked outside.

"Be careful man, those two together means they're taking over the world," Troy joked as he and Jason followed the girls.

"They are quite the force to be reckoned with," Jason smiled watching Mandy interact with everyone. "But we wouldn't change it for the world."

"No, we wouldn't," Troy agreed.