Author note:

Thanks so much for the continued response to this story. The reviews let me know someone is still interested and I greatly appreciate it!

This is the follow-up to CH 45-Not Your Fault

CH 46-Working the Problem

Emma slid out of bed while Clay still slept. He needed to rest. She knew the adrenaline crash after a mission always hit him hard. Not to mention the emotional exhaustion from the guilt he had been carrying.

She texted her dad to let him know that at least for now, Clay seemed to be okay. She knew it would take more than one conversation for him to deal with his feelings. But he was talking, and that was the first step. Emma asked Jason to call her off school for tomorrow. She didn't want to leave Clay alone.

Clay's phone was still laying on the floor next to his gear. She prayed that he'd get some time to rest and heal before they caught another spin. But she knew he had to keep it near him as long as Bravo was on active status. So, she picked it up and took it into the bedroom. She noticed that he'd gotten several texts. There was one from her dad, Trent and Ray. As well as several from Sonny. She'd tell him when he woke up that the team was worried about him.

As she slipped back under the covers next to him, she looked at his sleeping face. Even at rest his lips were still pinched together with tension and she could see his eyes darting back and forth beneath his lids. She wasn't tired enough to sleep but she laid next to him, hoping to help him relax. Without actually waking, he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close, spooning behind her. She wove her fingers through the hand that rested on her stomach and just listened to him breath.

At about 7:00 Clay started to stir. He squeezed Emma tightly and finally spoke in a gravelly voice.

"Babe, how long have I been asleep?"

"About 3 hours."

"Whoa! I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry. You needed the rest."

He rolled onto his back and stretched while she resituated herself alongside him, laying her head on his chest.

"Are you hungry? You need to eat something."

"Uh…I guess. You must be starving honey. You didn't need to wait on me."

"I'm right where I wanted to be."

Clay kissed her forehead and hugged her.

"I'll go make us some dinner while you check your phone." His brows drew together in confusion.

"The guys have all been trying to check in on you. Better answer before they come banging down your door."

She got up and threw on his shirt before she headed to the kitchen.

Clay answered each text in turn. Assuring his brothers that he was doing fine and had everything he needed. Sonny was the hardest to convince.

-Thanks for checking in man. I'm good-

-Don't give me that horse shit Bam-Bam. I know you're not fine-

-You're right. I'm not fine right now, but I will be-

-I'm comin' over. Don't need you sittin' home alone sulking-

-I'm not alone. Em's here-

-Fine. I'll leave you alone since Princess is there. But only 'cause I know she'll take care of you-

-Thanks Son-

-Call me tomorrow or I'm comin' over no matter what-

-Copy that-

Clay got up and got dressed. He didn't want Emma to feel like she had to wait on him. In truth, he still didn't have much of an appetite. He knew that the guys and Emma were right. The loss of those lives was not on him. It still gave him a sick feeling when he remembered seeing that building explode. He shook his head in an effort to clear it and joined Emma in the kitchen.

"Hey Em. What can I do?"

"I've got chicken and rice going. Could you heat up some green beans? I think there's a can in the pantry."

Dinner was soon ready, and they sat down at the table. Emma noticed that he wasn't really eating, just pushing food around on his plate.

"Don't you like it? I can make you something else."

"No honey. This is great. I…I'm just not very hungry," he admitted.

She laid her hand on his arm. "I'm sorry."

"Em, don't be sorry honey." He patted his leg and she moved to sit on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, and she cuddled into him.

Sitting up, she gave him a kiss. "Can you please try and eat a little bit, for me?"

He chuckled and smacked her lovingly on her behind. "Sure, for you."

They finished dinner and worked together to clean up. He sat down in the chair in front of the TV and Emma snuggled on his lap and pulled a blanket over them. She didn't push him to talk. She knew that he was still working through his feelings. He turned on the TV. They made sure to avoid any channels that might have news covering the events in Pakistan. They settled on a cooking show.

All at once Clay seemed to realize that tomorrow was a school day.

"Em, do you want me to take you to school tomorrow?"

"No. Dad said he'd call me off school."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He said you were more important."

"He said that?"

"Mmmhmm," she nodded.

She could see him swallow and work to hold his emotions at bay. "Well, is there anything you want to do tomorrow then?"

She knew that he was probably not ready to face the team quite yet. But, just sitting around wasn't a good idea either.

"I was thinking we could go get Koda and the three of us could go to the beach and take a walk. It shouldn't be too busy."

He knew she was trying to give him the time he needed to get himself together again.

Morning came and unbelievably, Emma was up and out of bed before Clay. He was still utterly exhausted. She decided to go get Koda herself. She knew he might not be ready to talk to Brock yet. She texted Brock and he assured her that he was home and that he would have Koda ready to go when she arrived.

She got back to the apartment expecting Clay to be up and about. She kept Koda quiet and peaked into the bedroom. He was sprawled on his stomach, sheet down to his waist, drooling on his pillow. She couldn't help but smile. Emma tried to decide whether or not to wake him, but Koda made that decision for her. He saw Clay, ran and jumped up on the bed. He turned over, trying to understand what was going on.

"Hey, hey there boy. What are you doing here?"

"I went and got him."

"Em, wait," he rubbed his eyes. He couldn't believe that Emma had gotten up and gone all the way to Brock's and back without him waking. "What time is it?"

"About 11:30."

"What?" He never slept that late.

She went and sat next to him on the bed. "You needed the sleep honey." She leaned over and gave him a kiss.

"How are you feeling?"

"Um, okay…I guess." He rubbed a hand up and down her thigh. "Hungry, actually."

His appetite was a good sign. "Great! Koda and I will put something together for lunch while you get going."

She started to get up from the bed, but he caught her hand.

"Emmie…I…"

He didn't continue. He wasn't sure how to put it into words. Having her there, understanding his thoughts and feelings, knowing what he needed without asking was miraculous to him. He wasn't sure what he had done to get so lucky to have her in his life. But he thanked God for it and for her.