Chapter 62

Thanks for sticking with me through my spotty posting. With work settling down, I'm hoping to get back into my weekly updates on stories. I'm also taking some time to just chill as well. The creative mind of mine is filled with ideas. Hoping we here soon some more SEAL Team news. Things are still pretty quiet on all fronts but maybe once this is posted, we'll have something to talk about. Enjoy this new chapter!

"Ms. Ellis?" Mandy's asset asked confused. He took a look around and let them in. "What are you doing here?" he asked as his wife came to see who it was as well. He turned to his wife to explain who Mandy was.

"You heard about the bombing at the café?" Mandy said as she helped Ray sit down. "We were there and then guys tried shooting at us," Mandy explained looking at Ray's leg wound. "I think we need to splint or stabilize your leg somehow to minimize any further damage."

"Why did you come here?" her asset asked.

"Didn't want to risk them finding us at a checkpoint back to the military base. I think the ambassador is involved so I don't know who else to trust," Mandy answered as she grabbed things for a splint. "Look, I'm sorry but I didn't know where else to go. Our team should be in the air by now to come for us. Until then, I just need to get a message to them that we're okay."

"Okay," her asset sighed. "But stay inside. I can't have everyone seeing you here or else word will get out."

"Promise, we have nowhere else to go," Mandy reassured him. She turned back to Ray, "Okay, this might hurt."

"Just do it," Ray said taking a deep breath.

Mandy pulled her makeshift shunt before Ray knew what was happening and he let out a groan. She quietly apologized over and over as she secured it.

"Okay, you should be good for now," Mandy said with a sigh.

"Got some more hidden skills," Ray raised an eyebrow.

"You know how us spooks are," Mandy shrugged as she went through her pockets looking for something. "Found it."

"Found what?" Ray asked.

"This," Mandy said holding out a laser strobe like the guys sometimes wore. "Hopefully ISR is nearby and picks up my signal.

"You remind me way too much of Jason right now. No wonder you two are perfect for each other," Ray shook his head and Mandy smiled back.

"Listen up," Blackburn called out. "We're a couple of hours out from landing. If we get anything before landing, be ready to hit the ground running"

"Yes sir," everyone called out.

"We got something," Lisa exclaimed rushing over to Jack and Troy with her laptop. "Since we had an idea of where Mandy might have been headed, we got ISR to cruise the area. Couple minutes ago, we just got this," Lisa explained as she played the footage.

"Is that a strobe signal?" Clay asked getting a closer look.

"My god, spook's got skills," Sonny said impressed.

"Trained by the best of course," Jack said proudly.

"Going by her message, I was able to decode it and got a location. This should be the asset she's taken shelter with," Troy said turning his laptop to everyone.

"Plan of attack?" Jason said looking at the screens. "Doesn't look like we can directly helo in. Gonna want to go in at night to not spook anyone too."

"You could helo in about eight clicks away. We could have vehicles take you to the entrance of this residential area. You'd have to go on foot to the asset's house. Don't want to make too much noise," Lisa said pulling up the maps.

"We have QRF in the area on standby if needed," Blackburn added.

"Helos can be prepped and running once you guys are ready," Jack added. "Troy is getting you vehicles right now."

"We'll be ready as soon as we land," Jason said as the rest of the team nodded in agreement.

"Sounds good to me. Let me make some calls," Jack said walking away.

"Guys, wait," Jason said before everyone went to get ready. Jason opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

"There's nothing to say, Jason. We go and bring them both back home," Clay said.

"No questions asked and follow you to the ends of the earth if we have to," Sonny added.

"We're bringing them home. Like you said, mission failure isn't an option," Full Metal said.

"Thank you," Jason said letting out a breath. "Jock up."

It was night and Mandy was just coming back from the truck. Ray and she had decided that since they were hunkering down that they should bring some of the fire power inside just in case they needed it. They had guns, ammo, and grenades ready.

"You should sit down. Rest. Don't know what's coming. Save up that energy," Ray said watching Mandy go over everything again.

"I'll rest once we're out of here," Mandy said absently as she did a security check.

"God, you really are perfect for Jason," Ray chuckled as Mandy looked over at him. "You're acting like him. Both of you have control issues."

"But you love us anyways," Mandy smiled as she finally sat down and took a deep breath. "I'm normally by myself in these situations. Not that I don't mind the company."

"These situations?" Ray asked. "Meaning this has happened to before?"

"Oh yeah," Mandy chuckled. "Couple time I had to hide out for a few days. Sometimes someone would tell me that Jason asked about where I was and all they'd say is I was out building a target package. Wasn't a lie but not the truth either."

"Jason is never letting you go solo again after this," Ray thought. "He'll drag the whole team to be your personal security from here on out."

"Then I'll go out on every op with you guys," Mandy smirked back. "I hate this part. The waiting."

"I'm starting to wonder if you've picked up on all of Jason's habits," Ray joked.

"Oh, no. I was like this way before him. Just ask my parents," Mandy replied. "We should get some shut eye. Don't know what tomorrow brings."

"Sounds like a plan," Ray said getting comfortable. "Night."

"Night," Mandy said as she tried to get comfortable. She had a feeling again that something was coming.

The plane had finally landed at the base in Tunisia. It was the middle of the night and about three hours away from the sun rising. Everyone was ready to head out and get Mandy and Ray as soon as possible. As they waited for the ramp to descend, everyone took a moment to breath.

"Alright, let's go. We helo in-," Jason began barking out as they walked down the ramp.

"Actually, that won't be happening, Master Chief Hayes," a General at the end of the ramp said.

"Excuse me? We have a SEAL missing," Jason argued.

"What's going on here?" Blackburn said trying to keep Jason calm.

"You are not deploying out just yet. We barely have three hours before sunrise. We can't ruffle any feathers in this unstable political atmosphere," the General said.

"So, we just leave two of our own to fend for themselves out there?" Clay asked.

"What's going on here? We need to move," Jack said coming into the group and then looked at the General. "Let me guess, you're saying no."

"And you are?" the General scoffed.

"Director Jack Thomson from the CIA," Jack replied with a cold tone. "Who exactly is telling you to stand down? Let me guess, this is your tactical call to make yourself look good to DC."

"Sir, I understand one of your agents is in trouble however-," the General began.

"She's not just an agent, that's my daughter," Jack said in a deadly tone and then stepped up close to the General. "Now, I have clearance from the Pentagon to bring my agent and your SEAL home by any means necessary and if you get in my way, you won't have a career to worry about. Sir."

The General had taken a step back and you could see he was trying to figure out if Jack was bluffing. Before he could say anything, Troy stepped in.

"I think this call is for you," Troy said handing the General the satellite phone.

"Yes, sir," the General said after a minute. "Carry on then."

The rest of Bravo all tried to hold back their smirks as they followed Jack off the plane. As Jason passed the General, he gave a cold stare of death to the man who tried to get in the way of bringing Mandy and Ray home.

Ray and Mandy had been on and off asleep when something woke them. They could hear vehicles and car doors in the area. Mandy looked over at Ray with a knowing luck. She got up and went towards a window that looked out on to the road. She carefully touched the curtain to movie it slightly to get a better view.

"Shit, these guys look like they're patrolling the area," Mandy hissed.

"You think they're looking for us? How would they know to come here?" Ray asked as he tried to sit up.

"Not sure. If the ambassador is involved. They could've been tracking my movements and see that I've come in this area before. We could have another leak or some how my message was intercepted as well," Mandy said.

"None of those are good but if I had to pick, I hope it's the first," Ray said quietly. "We need to get ready. What about the car we stole?"

"Hid it away from site but not sure how long that'll last if they come looking," Mandy said looking over what they had to fight. "You gonna be good with that leg?"

"Gonna have to be," Ray shrugged as he got up and limped over to Mandy.

"What's going on?" Mandy's asset suddenly asked walking into the room.

"Enemy is patrolling the area," Mandy said. "You guys should get out of here. Is there a back way out of here?"

"Yes, but what about you guys?" her asset asked.

"You guys go, don't want to attract too much attention. Not sure who is watching out there. If people see you leave, they won't question it as much as seeing us. If we're lucky, these guys will just move on through here," Mandy replied. "Take your wife and go somewhere safe," she said as her asset nodded and went to get his wife.

"It's not your fault," Ray said glancing at Mandy who was staring towards where her asset disappeared off to.

"I'm the one who worked him and made him an asset. I put the crosshairs on him," Mandy sighed. "And then I show up on his doorstep."

"Look, war is complicated," Ray sighed putting his hand on Mandy's. "This job, the lines aren't always clear, but I know that you do everything in your power to protect everyone you come into contact with. I've seen you treat some of the worst evil in this world with dignity to get the job done. You're not alone in this. I know you're a spook, but you're a part of this team whether you like it or not."

"Jason says the same," Mandy replied squeezing his hand back. "Kind of hard getting used to people in my corner all the time. Sometimes the life of a spook is lonely. I'm used to being the lone wolf and defending myself."

"You're also Bravo one's girl and personally I like you better," Ray joked as Mandy slapped his arm.

Mandy's asset walked back in with his wife. They had a few more words before they left out the back side.

"Team has probably landed by now," Ray thought. "Sunrise is about two or three hours away too."

"Like the Navy is gonna be able to stop Jason Hayes or my Dad from rescuing us," Mandy sighed.

Suddenly, they could hear vehicles and people right outside where they were. Both looked at each other and said a prayer that they could hold on until the team came.

The team briefed quickly to go over the plan again. The guys were geared up and ready to go. As they walked to the helo, Jack stood by to see them off. Every member patted his shoulder or gave a nod to bring back Mandy as well as Ray. Jason was the last one and stopped in front of Jack.

"You do what you need to do to bring both of them home," Jack said sternly. "I'll have your six."

"Yes, sir," Jason saluted and then headed for the helo.

Jack watched them take off and then headed to join HAVOC. As he walked in, he saw Lisa focused on something.

"Everything good Davis?" Jack asked as he approached and got Troy and Blackburn's attention.

"I don't know," Lisa said with a worried expression. "This is where Mandy and Ray are," Lisa explained showing the building they were believed to be in. She then widened the frame and played ISR footage, "Two individuals were just seen leaving ten minutes ago."

"You think it was Mandy and Ray," Jack concluded.

"Actually no. Both figures look to be moving easily and we know that Ray is hurt. Mandy wouldn't leave him behind either, but then I saw this," Lisa said widening the angle again.

"Are those enemy combatants patrolling the area?" Troy asked aloud.

"Keep eyes on Mandy and Ray's position. We assume they're still there. Let Bravo know the situation too," Blackburn said.

"Bravo one, this is HAVOC," Lisa called over the radio. "Be advised, enemy combatants have been spotted patrolling the area."

"Copy HAVOC," Jason said as his heart skipped a beat. "Any movement on Bravo two or Flyer?"

"No movement so far," Lisa said as she suddenly saw the enemy right at Mandy and Ray's position. "Oh my god," she gasped.

Everyone gathered around to watch the ISR footage when suddenly it looked like the enemy started shooting at where Mandy and Ray were.

"Bravo one, this is HAVOC. Bravo two and Flyer are taking fire," Lisa updated.

"How far out are we?" Jason yelled out to the pilot.

"Five clicks out," the pilot called out as Jason slammed his hand against the inside of the helo.

"Damn it," Jason yelled as the rest of Bravo all said a quick prayer that Mandy and Ray could hold out until they got there.