Chapter 66

Still slow going on the SEAL Team front for spoilers lol. Some fans and I have been snooping around but nothing solid to report yet. Not much being posted directly from cast and crew as I write this at the moment. Thank you for all the continued support on my stories. I hope I'm keeping you entertained still. Enjoy this next chapter!

Jason nudged Mandy as the helo approached base. Mandy lifted her head and prepared herself for the welcoming party waiting for them. As the helo descended, Blackburn, Lisa, Jack, and Troy all waited off in the distance for everyone to unload.

Jack fidgeted as he waited to see Mandy. Until his daughter was in his arms, he wouldn't be settled. He watched as Jason got out and turned around to help Mandy off the helo. Ray and Cerberus were being transported to gurneys and headed straight for medical. Jason walked with Mandy by his side and was leading her towards everyone. Jack was the last one to take Mandy into his arms and hug her. Mandy squeezed him back and reassured Jack she was okay.

"Let's get you checked out," Jack said, leading her towards medical. "And no, it can't wait."

Mandy groaned at having to go to medical as her Dad and Jason led her there. Jason was not leaving her side any time soon. The guys had all casually taken Jason's gear for him as he walked off with Mandy. They had said they'd meet up with Jason and everyone at medical to check on Ray and Cerb as well.

"You can go with them you know," Mandy stated.

"No chance in hell," Jason said, putting a hand against her back as they walked into medical on base.

Mandy was led to a bed to sit on in order to be examined. She reached out for Jason's hand. A part of her was grateful he was there despite her telling him he could go with the guys. Her Dad was nearby as well watching her be examined like a hawk.

"Looks like some cuts and bruises," the doctor said a few minutes later. "Maybe a slight concussion. Keep an eye on that to be safe. Otherwise, she's cleared."

"What about Ray?" Mandy asked before anyone could say anything. "Cerb?"

"Warrant Officer Perry was being examined last time I checked. Sorry, I don't have a status on the dog," the doctor said before leaving the room.

"I'll find out," Jack said instantly just as Troy came into the room hurriedly. "What's going on?"

"We have a problem," Troy said looking at Jack and then at Mandy.

"Let's talk outside," Jack replied.

"What's going on?" Jason asked worriedly. "Mandy?"

"I can't be sure," Mandy replied as she watched her Dad and Troy through the window.

"But you have an idea," Jason pushed.

"Yes," Mandy replied, not elaborating. "Whatever happens next, let it happen, okay? Promise me you won't do anything crazy."

"You can't just-," Jason began before Mandy cut him off.

"Promise me," Mandy pleaded as Jason relented. "It's all gonna be okay, I promise," Mandy added, squeezing his hand.

"Thank god we found Ray and Mandy," Sonny said. "Not sure if Jason could handle losing either, let alone both."

"Well, lucky for us, we won't have to find out," Lisa said joining them as they walked into medical. "They fought like hell it looks like."

"Never out of the fight," Sonny said looking at Lisa intently.

"That looks intense," Clay pointed out, looking at Troy and Jack in deep conversation.

"Something tells me, we're not out of the woods yet," Trent said.

Suddenly, Blackburn appeared, "I need two of you on Ray's room down the hall. Do not let anyone in unless it's me or us."

"What's going on?" Clay asked concerned.

"I need a couple of you on Mandy's room too," Blackburn continued on and walked towards Jack. "Word is they just got here."

"Son of a bitch," Jack said frustratedly. "Evidence?"

"Sounds like here say," Blackburn replied. "But you know how this game works."

"Just what the hell is going on?" Sonny asked.

"Tunisian government is accusing of war crimes happening. Someone innocent died," Blackburn answered.

"They're accusing us of war crimes?" Clay asked in disbelief. "We were being shot at."

"Not the team," Blackburn sighed.

"Mandy. They're saying Mandy murdered an innocent civilian in that building before you showed up," Jack replied. "I'll brief Mandy. They're going to question all of you. You tell the truth and nothing but that."

"Are they going after Ray?" Trent asked.

"No," Troy answered. "But they'll question him too."

"Why are they targeting Mandy?" Clay asked.

"Cuz she ruffled some feathers. This has to do with Roman, doesn't it?" Lisa concluded. "What do we do?"

"You guys tell the truth and nothing but that. The rest, you leave to us spooks," Troy said with a look in his eyes.

"Jason, mind if I have a word with Mandy," Jack said coming back into Mandy's room.

"What the hell is going on?" Jason asked angrily.

"Jason," Blackburn said softly. "Come on, I'll fill you in."

"I'm not going anywhere. So just say whatever it is you have to say," Jason declared.

"Someone is coming after me for something," Mandy said looking at her Dad. "I'm assuming that asking about Roman has ruffled some feathers. Are they going after Ray?"

"No, just you right now. They're saying one of the guys you killed in the building before Bravo showed up was an innocent civilian," Jack stated.

"And we have no actual proof. What about them?" Mandy asked.

"Our intel says they don't have anything solid, but you know how this goes," Jack shrugged.

"It was self-defense," Jason declared. "What are we doing about it?"

"You will be questioned and you're gonna tell them the truth. And you're not going to lose it. They probably know you and I are involved," Mandy said with a pointed look at Jason.

"You can't expect me to just sit back and let someone accuse you of murder," Jason glared.

"Trust me, Jason," Mandy pleaded.

"I do," Jason said squeezing her hand. "I'm not happy about being in the dark."

"I know. Never out of the fight," Mandy declared.

"Never out of the fight," Jason said kissing her forehead.

The ambassador Mandy and Ray met with before, came marching through the doors on base with her entourage. Everyone stopped to watch the group walk by. Some seemed intimated while others knew these Tunisian government was after the U.S.

"Excuse me," the ambassador asked the front desk nurse. "I need the room to Amanda Ellis."

"Sorry, ma'am. I can't give you that information," the nurse answered coolly. Jack had given her specific instructions to who could be allowed in.

"I don't think you understand just who I am," the ambassador smiled smugly.

"Oh, I know exactly who you are," the nurse replied with a sweet smile.

"Is there a problem?" Troy asked walking into the area. "Ambassador, nice to see you," Troy put his hand out to shake.

"Let's stop with the games. Get me your boss. You know why I'm here," the ambassador ordered.

"Yes, I do know," Troy smiled. "Director Thomson will be out soon after he's sure his agent is okay. In the meantime, I could set you up to interview anyone else you wanted to talk to."

Before the ambassador could say something, Jason and Blackburn came through the doors. Jason looked up and saw the ambassador. In an instant, he knew exactly who this person was. His eyes grew dark, and the ambassador felt a chill run through them as Jason looked her straight in the eye. Blackburn saw the ambassador as well and murmured to Jason, to keep his cool.

"Yes, we'd like to start by interviewing your men who were on the ground," the ambassador said following Troy.

"This is ridiculous," Jason said frustratedly.

"I know," Blackburn sighed. "Listen up, how many times have we seen Mandy work her magic?"

"Blackburn-," Jason began before being cutoff.

"Plenty of times. You trust her, right?" Blackburn asked as Jason nodded his head. "Then trust she's going to get through this. Jack and Mandy are protecting us too."

"I can't lose her. Do you understand? It's not an option," Jason said with fire in his eyes.

"None of us can," Blackburn agreed.

"Did you witness Agent Ellis killing this man?" the ambassador's interrogator asked.

"No, sir," Sonny replied.

"So, he wasn't there?" the interrogator followed up.

"No, he was there. Didn't see his face but I know we had some bodies there," Sonny answered. "After all, it is war."

"And war means it's okay if innocent lives are taken," the interrogator raised an eyebrow.

"I can guarantee you that was no innocent civilian if they ended up dead in that building," Sonny said coolly.

"So, Ms. Ellis killed this man in cold blood?" the interrogator pushed.

"In cold blood?" Clay questioned. "I doubt it. None of us were there to witness this anyway."

"Is she capable of murder?" the interrogator asked.

"Agent Ellis?" Clay asked. "The woman has had our backs for as long as I've been on the team. I've seen her sacrifice herself in order to keep the team together."

"What is it you people call people like Agent Ellis? Spooks? Isn't it most commonly known that soldiers like you don't trust spooks?" the interrogator asked.

"Yes, we call them spooks. However, Agent Ellis is an exception. Like I said, she's always had our backs. She's a part of this family."

"Warrant Officer Perry," the interrogator greeted as he walked into Ray's hospital room.

"Sir," Ray greeted, looking the man up and down.

"Shall we begin," the interrogator started right away. "What happened in this warehouse building?"

"Agent Ellis and I fled from the café building looking for cover. The enemy was hunting us down. We eventually took hiding in that building," Ray answered.

"Where Agent Ellis killed this man?" the interrogator followed up with a picture.

"Enemy combatants entered the building. Agent Ellis and I acted in self-defense," Ray confessed.

"You didn't answer the question," the interrogator pushed.

"As I said, Agent Ellis and I fought in self-defense. We were fighting to stay alive. None of those men who walked through the door were innocent," Ray repeated looking the man in the eye. "If you have any other questions, you can ask them with my lawyer present. We're done here."

The interrogator sat across from Jason in silence. He had a file in his hand that he was looking at. Jason knew this game. He'd seen Mandy play it many times. This guy was trying to intimidate Jason. Jason wasn't going to break the silence though. The interrogator looked up to find Jason staring at him. It was Jason's eyes though, that threw the interrogator off. There was a sense of coldness in his stare yet some mirth.

"Impressive record, Master Chief Hayes," the interrogator broke the silence.

"Thank you," Jason replied.

"Lot of years of service," the interrogator raised an eyebrow. "Not much of a life outside your team it seems. Broken marriage. Missed out time with your children. Says here your ex-wife passed recently as well."

Jason merely raised an eyebrow at the interrogator. Laying out Jason's story. Mandy said they'd come after him cuz they were involved personally.

"You run a good team," the interrogator complemented. "Interesting how protective you all are of Agent Ellis despite her not being military."

"We protect family. Agent Ellis has come through for us many times. I'll never forget that," Jason replied.

"Of course, she's also the one you're sleeping with," the interrogator said.

"We're in a relationship, yes," Jason clarified.

"Maybe the two of you committed this murder," the interrogator insinuated showing Jason the picture of the dead guy about which they were talking.

"Don't recognize him. He was dead by the time my team and I entered the building," Jason answered.

"Interesting," the interrogator thought thinking of how everyone's stories were relatively the same. "Agent Ellis murdered an innocent civilian. She is CIA after all. Has a reputation of being cold and ruthless as well. Very impressive record as well. On paper at least."

"If that man is dead, he was the enemy and Agent Ellis did it in self-defense," Jason said.

"Guess we'll see," the interrogator said gathering up his papers.

"Good luck," Jason said to the guy before he walked out.

"For what? I won't need it. This case is pretty open and shut," the interrogator said smugly.

"Right, that's why you talked to all of us," Jason shrugged. "You're entering the lion's den and you're gonna need all the luck you can get. Like you said, she's got an impressive record," Jason said getting up and shoving past the interrogator.

Mandy sat in an interrogation room on one side of the table. She was facing the two-way mirror. Her sixth sense tingled, and Mandy leveled a stare at the mirror. She knew the Tunisians were behind that glass sizing her up.

"Ambassador, I was just getting ready to question Agent Ellis," the interrogator said as the room filled. "What is the meaning of all this?" he said watching as Bravo team followed Jack into the room.

"You're accusing one of our own of committing murder," Jack shrugged. "We're not going anywhere. I'd also like to make sure everything is conducted in a professional manner. You understand, right? If it was one of your own, you'd want them treated fairly?"

"I'll question her," the Ambassador said suddenly.

"I don't think-," the interrogator began.

"Your services are finished for the time being. I'll handle the rest from here," the Ambassador said dismissing him.

The Ambassador took a breath and walked into the room. The observation room was quiet as everyone took a spot to watch the showdown.

"This is crazy," Sonny spoke. "We really going to let Mandy take the hit?"

"Their accusations are shaky," Jason said confidently.

"Shaky enough we're going through all this?" Clay questioned.

"She's got this," Jason, Jack, and Troy all said at the same time.

"Agent Ellis," the Ambassador greeted as she sat down across from Mandy.

"Ambassador," Mandy greeted coolly.

"By now you understand the situation you're in," the Ambassador said.

"Actually, no. How about you explain it all to me?" Mandy answered leaning back in her chair.

"Now is not the time to play games," the Ambassador threatened.

"So, what is he promising you?" Mandy asked. "Money? Protection? Threatening someone you care about?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," the Ambassador denied, but Mandy saw a reaction. "You killed an innocent civilian," the Ambassador explained.

"That man attacked me," Mandy stated. "I acted in self-defense. He came into that building with a partner trying to kill or capture Warrant Officer Perry and I. Pretty sure if you go through camera footage from the café, you'll see he was there as well."

"This man was a civilian and you don't care that you killed him?" the Ambassador raised an eyebrow.

"Taking a life isn't an easy thing and it never should be," Mandy said seriously leaning across the table. "This guy was the enemy though. How'd he die?"

"Excuse me?" the Ambassador asked confused.

"You keep saying I killed this man. I had a physical altercation with this man, but I didn't kill him. If memory serves right, Warrant Officer Perry fired a shot from up top, which in turn saved my life," Mandy said. "So why pin this all on me? Do you always follow orders?"

"Always," the Ambassador said frustratedly, realizing their case was falling apart.

"Even from the man in charge, Roman?" Mandy pushed.

"Every time," the Ambassador yelling as she stood up.

"Who is he threatening?" Mandy asked softly. "We can help you."

"You don't understand," the Ambassador shook her head.

"What I understand is Roman was my partner at one point in time. He then shot me multiple times and left me for dead," Mandy explained. "I can't make any promises, but I can promise you that we will do everything in our power to protect whoever it is he is threatening."

"He's threatening my family. My husband and kids. He says he has them under watch and if I don't bring charges down on you, he'll kill them," the Ambassador confessed.

"Okay, we can help," Mandy said softly as she looked towards the mirror.

"You guys up for another op?" Jack asked the team in the observation room.

"What the hell, why not. If it means getting closer to taking Roman out, I'm in," Sonny stated as the rest of the team agreed.

"We're all in sir," Jason declared.

"Alright Troy let's go in there and get all the intel we can get," Jack said heading for the door into the interrogation room.

"Told you she had this," Jason smirked thinking he was one lucky guy to call Mandy his.