Author note:
Sorry it's taken me so long to update. This week has been crazy busy with work. I hope you all are doing well and that this brings you some joy. Drop me a review if you enjoyed it. (see note at the end)
CH 72-Balance
For Clay, the past weeks were made up of firefights and searching through caves, tunnels, and crumbling buildings for their HVT. Unfortunately, they had all come up dry and he had managed to stay one step ahead of Bravo. Just because they had been unsuccessful so far did not mean that it had been boring. The team had their share of close calls and scrapes. The seemingly endless excursions, with no results to show for it were frustrating. They never knew when the next bit of intelligence would come in and they would need to be ready to roll back out and hunt this bastard down. They had to stay dialed in 24/7.
That wasn't the worst part, that was the dust. The ground was nothing but hard packed earth. The frequent windstorms blew it everywhere. No matter how hard he tried, Clay could not get that dirt and grit off his skin or completely out of his hair. It was all getting to him, to all of them. He needed to talk to Emma. He knew hearing her voice would help him focus. She was his center.
Emma rushed out from the closet to hit the accept button on her laptop. She heard a FaceTime call coming in and didn't want to miss it. She didn't even bother to finish dressing.
"Hey babe…whoa. I guess it's a good thing it's me and not your dad, huh?"
Clay teased her as her image appeared on his screen. She had on leggings, but no top, not that he minded in the least.
She laughed as she answered. "I guess it is. I really didn't even think about it. I just didn't want to miss your call."
She waited for him to respond, but he said nothing.
"Clay…honey, is anything wrong?"
He shook himself from his daze. "Huh? Oh…no nothing's wrong. I was just…"
Emma smirked as she realized he had been staring at her sitting there in her bra. "Maybe I better get dressed so we can have an actual conversation. Don't go anywhere."
She disappeared from view for a minute to run and grab a shirt. While he waited on her return, he looked around their room and from where she had the laptop placed on the desk, he could see a plethora of hangers, dresses, and other clothes piled on the bed. He was thoroughly confused.
Emma was back in a minute and grabbed her computer to sit on the bed and talk to him. He started talking while she got situated up against the pillows.
"Anything you want to tell me Em?'
"I'm not sure what you mean?"
He gestured to the screen, "All the clothes. Are you packing up?""
At first, she thought he was serious and then she could see the corners of his eyes crinkle up with mirth.
"Very funny. No, the Seniors Honors Banquet is on Friday and I was trying to decide on what to wear."
"Em…are you being recognized for something?"
She hadn't said anything to him or to her dad. She didn't want them to feel bad about missing it.
"I…well, the choir is performing a few songs, and I have a solo."
"That's great honey. I'm so proud of you. I'm really sorry we won't be back in time to see you."
"I know. It's okay…you can't help it. Grandma & Mikey will be there, and Naima said something about trying to come too."
"I'm glad you'll have someone there for you."
"Enough about that. How are you? Things going okay?'
They both knew he couldn't tell her much, but he shared what he could.
"It's about like we expected. At least not too many surprises and we're all fine so far."
"That's great news, the no injuries part," she clarified.
He couldn't really say much more, at least not now. He couldn't tell her that just 8 hours ago he and Sonny and Trent had been pinned down on the side of a mountain when they broke off from the rest of Bravo to try and trap their HVT before he could disappear again. He had been able to pick off a couple of the shooters, and the rest of the team came around from behind the remaining the insurgents, dispatching them before they could close in on their precarious position.
He wasn't aware that he'd drifted until he heard her voice calling him.
"Babe? Clay…are you sure nothing's wrong?"
"No. No, I'm good. Sorry Em. My mind just wandered for a minute. So…have you narrowed it down?"
"Narrowed what?"
"The choices for your outfit?"
"You really want to talk about that?"
"Yep. I may not be able to be there, but I can at least know what you'll look like."
"I guess…"
"What? Why don't you want to show me?"
"No reason. It just seems silly to talk about dresses while you're, who knows where putting yourself in danger."
"Honey, your life isn't silly."
He wasn't sure how to tell her how much he needed this. He needed to stay connected to her and to the 'real' world. While he was with Bravo, he had to keep his head in the game. But he couldn't let it become his whole life. This is what grounded him, talking with his girl, keeping in touch with their everyday life. She helped him keep his balance.
"C'mon. Which ones are you deciding on?"
"Okay…" she held up a soft blue dress with long, flowing sleeves, and a black and white striped sundress. Which one do you like?"
"Try them on."
"Really?"
"Yea. Let me see 'em."
She giggled as she got up and started to change. "Are you sure you aren't just trying to see me without my clothes on again?"
"Nope. How can I help you make a decision if I don't see them on you? But, getting to see you in only your underwear…that's a bonus." He threw her a wink that made her heart skip a beat.
She pulled the first one over her head and settled the neckline down, off her shoulders. She stood back and he could see it hit her mid-thigh. The blue set off her eyes and her legs looked great.
"What do you think?"
"You know I always love you in blue honey."
"Do you think it's too short?"
"Does it make you feel uncomfortable?"
"No."
"Then…it's not too short."
"Let me show you the other one."
She switched to the sun dress and spun around in front of her laptop. This one was longer, and the wide straps crossed in the back. This was definitely dressier, and she looked very classy.
"Well…"
"You look great Em, very fancy."
"So, which one?"
"I can't decide. You look wonderful in both babe."
"You're no help at all," she joked as she changed back into her comfy clothes.
"Which one are you more comfortable in?"
She tilted her head and started to twist a strand of hair around her fingers. He recognized the familiar action and it warmed his heart.
"I think that I should maybe go for the black and white. Like you said, it's dressier and the rest of the choir will be in white shirts and black pants, so I'll match."
"Sounds like you've decided."
"Yep. No thanks to you," she laughed.
"What are you going to sing?"
"Rise up."
"Would you sing it for me Em?"
"Now? I don't have the music with me. And Friday I'll have the choir as back up."
"Just you Emmie. I want to hear you. I won't be there on Friday, but at least I can imagine it if you sing for me."
She smiled softly and began to sing.
"You're broken down and tired
Of living life on a merry-go-round
And you can't find the fighter
But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out
And move mountains
We gonna walk it out
And move mountains
And I'll rise up
I'll rise like the day
I'll rise up
I'll rise unafraid
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
And I'll rise up
High like the waves
I'll rise up
In spite of the ache
I'll rise up
And I'll do it a thousand times again
For you"
He closed his eyes and drifted with her voice. It seemed like she was right there with him. The guys started to enter the room, and Jason shushed them as he opened the door and heard Emma's voice. Neither Clay nor Emma noticed that they had all gathered behind him, listening quietly to her song. As she finished, she finally spotted her dad and the rest of the team standing in the background.
"Hey Daddy, everybody."
Clay opened his eyes and a realized that they had all been as mesmerized as he by her beautiful voice. Jason spoke up to answer her.
"That was amazing Em. I'm so sorry that I can't be there for you."
"I know Dad. I know you and Clay would be there if you could."
"We'd all be there if we could Emma," Ray added.
She saw all their heads nodding in agreement. "Naima said she's gonna try to be there Em."
"Yea, she mentioned that."
"I'm gonna ask her to record it if she goes. You good with that?"
Emma easily agreed with Ray's suggestion. Happy that her family wouldn't completely miss the evening.
Ray and the boys wandered to the other end of the room, to give the two some privacy to say goodbye.
"Em, I gotta go. My time's up."
"Okay. Be safe."
"I'll do my best."
"I love you, come home to me. And Clay…"
"Yea baby?"
"I'll be singing it for you."
"I love you Emmie."
Clay closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He was ready now, calm, and focused. He was ready to do whatever it took to finish this mission and get home to Emma.
Song: Rise Up by Andra Day
