Author note:

I'm back. I wanted to get this out before vacation. I hope anyone still reading enjoys this installment. Please drop me a note to let me know! (See note at end)

CH 124-Breifings and Reviews

Clay drug himself through the door and collapsed on the couch next to Emma. She was sitting, laptop in hand when he got home.

"Tough day?"

"Ugghh! It was awful."

He scrubbed his hand over his face as he answered.

She saved her work and laid it aside. Tugging on his shoulder, she encouraged him to lay his head in her lap. Then she sifted her fingers through his curls, rubbing at his scalp.

"What was so bad? Did Dad have you all out on the course again?"

"Mmmmm…that's heaven, Em," he sighed before he answered her query. "No, that I could handle. Today was hours and hours of briefings."

"You've had to sit through those before."

"Yeah, but most times we can discuss things, add our ideas and points of view. This was…this was just listening to the alphabet agencies drone on and on while the Officers challenged each other for control. I'm not even sure why we had to be there at all."

Now she understood. Sitting quietly in a chair for hours on end would definitely drive him nuts. She leaned down and pressed a kiss to his forehead.

"That does sound frustrating."

She continued to massage his head while he relaxed. He could feel the tension recede. Taking a deep breath, he sat up.

"I didn't mean to come in here and interrupt. What were you working on?"

"Oh, I'm preparing for end of year student assessments."

"Grading them?"

"Kind of. With Special Needs kids, it's a little different. Most of them have some sort of IEP or learning plan with very specific objectives. We work with their primary teachers and sometimes physical therapists to help them reach their goals."

"So, you're determining if they met their goals?"

"Yes, and seeing what next steps need to be for each one."

"Did they all reach their goals?"

"Most did. The kids I worked with made great strides."

He smiled as she reached for her laptop.

"There is one little boy that has major motor control problems. He has to be fed since he can't manage utensils. I've been working with him. I started with trying to help him tap bongos, not any song, just to hit them. He's done so well. Now he can hold Maracas and shake them."

She clicked on a video and Clay could see her working with a little boy.

"We video our sessions with the kids. It's helpful for us to see how they're progressing and sometimes we catch things that we didn't see at the time."

He watched the series of clips. He could see her interacting with her student, helping him to strike the bongos, then helping him to adjust his grip on other instruments. Now and then he could hear another woman speaking. At one point could see the back of her head as she leaned close to Emma and quietly offered some advice. Before he could ask, she offered up the identity of the woman.

"That's Ashley, my supervising teacher. She's really good about not stepping in and taking over. She usually offers some suggestions and lets me take it from there."

"That must mean she thinks you do a good job."

"I hope so. I'm actually a little nervous about this."

"Why would you be nervous?"

"Well…it's sort of my evaluation too. Ashley, will be writing up my assessment also."

"You just said she's been supportive."

"She has. She really gives me a lot of freedom to work on my own with the kids but offers advice when I need it. All her feedback has been positive."

"It sounds like you work well together."

"We have so far."

"There you go. Everything is going to be great.""

"I hope so. Her recommendation can really make or break it for me."

He took her hand and squeezed gently.

"Look at the progress you helped this little guy make. It's awesome! And anyone can see your passion for this. I'm sure she sees that too."

He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, and she flashed him a grateful smile.

"I really need to get back to this."

"Sure thing. How about I take Koda on a run? That way we'll both be out of your way, and you can concentrate."

She laughed softly. She knew he was antsy after an entire day sitting quietly in meetings. He needed to work of some energy and Koda probably did too.

Stretching over to kiss his cheek, she responded.

"I think that sounds like a great idea. Thanks."

"No problem, Em."

Soon he was ushering an excited Koda out the door with a promise to return before dinner time. She threw him a kiss and then went back to the work in front of her.

He and Koda returned 45 minutes later. Clay's curls were already drenched and sticking to his scalp and Koda's tongue lolled out the side of his mouth, but his eyes were bright as he took in his surroundings.

"Stairs or elevator, Buddy?"

As if he understood the query, he started to pull on his leash, over toward the stairs.

"Oh, okay, you want to do a couple flights of stairs for the end of our work out, huh? 'Cause I was kinda thinking that the elevator sounded good."

The pup huffed out a small bark and looked again at the stairs. Clay let himself be pulled over to the steps.

"Alright, alright. Geez you're tough."

Koda stood at the bottom of the flight and waited. Clay gave the command, and his furry companion was off, taking the steps two at a time. He had just enough time to react and get up to pace before he would get pulled over onto his face. In mere moments they were in front of their apartment. Koda sat dutifully as Clay fished out his key and unlocked the door. As he opened the lock, both of them noticed the enticing smell in the air. He did his best to open the door and enter quietly in case Emma was still working. But as he stepped inside, he saw she was no longer on the couch, and there was no sign of her laptop. He bent down and unclipped Koda's leash and was about to call out for her when she leaned around the corner of the kitchen.

"Hey! You're back."

Koda loped over to her for a head rub and then immediately plunged his muzzle into his water dish, drinking noisily.

"What's wrong, Bud? Did Clay wear you out?"

"Me," Clay sputtered. "He's the one that decided to sprint up the stairs even after the miles we put in."

Emma laughed and reached back out to tweak the dog's ears. When she looked back up, Clay was standing directly in front of her. She could see how his cotton tee clung to his form, outlining each muscle. And she watched his chest move deliberately as his breath still came heavy. When her gaze flicked up to his face, she could see the side of his mouth pull into a tiny smirk and his eyes twinkle at her.

"I…I uh…" she swallowed loudly. "Dinner's almost ready."

"Honey, you could have waited until I got home. I would have helped. I know how busy you are."

She waved off his concern with a flick of her wrist.

"It didn't take long at all. It's just chicken enchiladas."

"That sounds great. Do I have time for a quick shower?"

"Yea, they still have about 10 minutes in the oven."

"Great!"

He leaned in and dropped a kiss on her lips and then turned to head to the bathroom. Stripping off his shirt as he went, Emma's eyes followed his progress. He could feel her watching him and turned at the door to throw her a wink and then shut the door behind himself. Emma shook her head to clear it and went back to her meal preparation.

Clay was back in no time. He got their drinks as she dished up their food.

"So…more meetings tomorrow?"

"Yea," he almost groaned. "I think they're scheduled for the rest of the week."

"Well, that's only two more days."

"That's two days too long."

She reached for his hand and brushed her fingers over his knuckles.

"Sorry."

He flashed her a smile.

"No worries. That means I get to be home with you at night."

They finished eating and started to clear up. Clay stood at the sink rinsing off the dishes and placing them in the dishwasher as she wrapped up the leftovers.

"Did you finish up your assessments? "

"I finished with the kids. I just have one left."

"How do you have one left if you finished your student evaluations?"

"I have to submit a self-review."

"Ah, gotcha."

"I hate those so much!"

"Why?"

"I don't know. I guess I just hate talking about myself. I never know what to say. Or if I should be harder on myself."

He knew that she was always her own worst critic and put more pressure on herself than anyone else ever could. Slinging the dish towel over his shoulder he turned and stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her.

"Em, all you have to do is be honest."

She sighed and he could feel the frustration in the tense way she held herself. He let go of her and turned her to face him. Their chosen fields didn't really have much in common, but here was something where he had a lot of experience. The team had to complete reviews after every mission. It was not something he enjoyed. But he had learned to appreciate why they were needed and had gotten used to completing them.

"Okay. Don't think of it as talking about yourself. Think about as evaluating the situations, the behaviors. What worked? What didn't? What did you learn?"

She reached up and began to twist a lock of hair around her finger as she considered his advice.

"I guess that makes sense."

He put the towel down on the counter and took both of her hands in his and led her to the sofa. He sat, crossing one leg over the other. Emma followed, facing him, and curling her legs under herself as she sat.

"Honey, when we do AARs, we think about the Op. What was the plan? Did it work like we thought? Did we adapt in the field and why did we need to change tactics? Were we able to achieve our objective, or was there total mission failure? And yes, if I, or anyone of the guys, did something that affected the mission, we have to own that and think about how we can learn from it. Does any of that help?"

She nodded, her expression grateful.

"That definitely gives me some good questions to ask myself. Thank you, Honey!"

She leaned over and gave him a peck on his cheek. He could sense that she didn't seem as nervous anymore. He grinned, a warm feeling flooding through him. He was happy that he was able to help her out in this small way. He put his arm around her as she re-situated herself to snuggle against him. Pressing a kiss to her temple, he turned on the TV.

The next day found Clay back in the briefing room, trying to keep his eyes open as they plodded through a PowerPoint deck presented by the DOD. He spied Sonny across the table. He could see his eyes blinking as he fought off a wave of sleep brought on by the boredom of their current situation. He watched Sonny's head start to nod and then jerk up as he worked to stay conscious. Shifting slowly in his chair, Clay reached his foot under the table until he could reach Sonny. When his eyes started to flutter again, Clay kicked his foot, startling him and making him jump in his seat. There wasn't much of a ruckus, but Blackburn noticed.

"Is there a problem Bravo 3?"

Their Commander's gaze swept over them both, noting Clay's much to innocent expression.

"Uh..no. Thet is no Sir."

"Good! Now please try to pay attention…both of you."

Sonny speared Clay with his eyes and muttered under his breath while Clay tried his best to hide his smile.

Finally, the briefing was over. At least for the day. The guys were heading to the bar to unwind. Clay called Emma to let her know and make sure he wasn't ruining any plans

"Hi, Babe. Are you home yet?"

"I got in just a few minutes ago. Why?"

"Would it mess anything up if I go for a few drinks?"

"Not at all. In fact, I'm going to work on my self-assessment. So, I can use the time."

"Perfect. We're just heading over to The Bulkhead for a bit. I shouldn't be too late."

"Okay. Thanks for letting me know. I'll see you later."

"Yea. See you later. Love you, Em."

"Love you too. Bye."

Once he was finished on the phone, he followed Sonny outside. They parted ways in the parking lot with plans to meet at the bar.

He arrived quickly and walked inside, Sonny on his heels. They noticed Ray and Jason at a high top and a tray full of beers. Before even greeting them, Sonny grabbed a bottle and downed about half.

"Whew! Thet hits the spot."

"Happy to oblige, Sonny," Ray offered.

The Texan tipped his hat and then took another swig while Clay greeted his brothers and welcomed Brock, who had just arrived.

"So, uh Peter Pan…what's up with getting Blackburn to chew my ass?"

"Nothin, Sonny. I was just trying to make sure you were paying attention. We all know how important these discussions are."

"Shit! Ain't nuthin' but a bunch a cake-eaters in a dick measurin' contest. Wish they'd go get a ruler and leave us alone."

The whole team lifted their bottles in agreement.

After a few more rounds, Sonny drug Clay over to the dart board, vowing to get his revenge. Part way through the first round, Clay had a comfortable lead and went to get another drink. He stood at the bar, waiting to get the bar tender's attention. He noticed some movement to his right and saw a raven-haired women scoot over a couple stools until she was next to him. The bartender came over and looked to Clay for his order.

"No, ladies first."

The women asked for another drink and then turned to Clay.

"Thank you."

"No problem," he smiled in response.

After she was served, he got another beer and then prepared to leave.

"Have a good night," she uttered.

"You too."

Clay smiled slightly, nodded his head, and went back over to join Sonny.

She watched his progress carefully, admiring the view. This was not the type of place she would usually frequent. But a couple friends drug her here about a month ago. That night she saw the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. He was built like Adonis and had curling, dark-blonde hair and crystal, blue eyes. His smile was radiant against his tanned skin. Since seeing him, she had been back to the establishment a few times. Always admiring him from afar. She wanted to determine if he had a significant other. He wore no ring. But that wasn't conclusive proof. She waited to see if anyone ever joined him here. In spite of seeing some of the other men in his group of friends show up with a female, he somehow remained solo. It seemed too good to be true. And tonight, when she saw him up close, she knew she had to take a shot. Not tonight, she wanted to wait until she could get him alone somehow. And she wanted her friends there. She needed back up. So, sipping at her drink, she continued to observe him from the bar.

After Sonny claimed his victory at darts, Clay said his goodbyes. He wanted to get home. He promised Emma he wouldn't be late, and so he wouldn't.

Opening the door, he spied Emma sitting on the couch watching something on TV. She grabbed the remote and muted the show as he stepped inside.

"Hi, Honey. How are the guys?"

"Fine. We're all just eager to have these meetings over with."

He sat down beside her on the sofa.

"I bet. I'm sure everyone is going stir crazy."

"That's an understatement. How was your night?"

"Boring, but productive. I got my self-review done."

"That's good news. Was it too hard?"

"I still don't like doing them. But your advice helped out a lot."

Smiling, he leaned in for a quick kiss.

"Good. I'm happy I could help."

"I hand it in to Ashley tomorrow."

"I have an idea. How about we go out to dinner tomorrow to celebrate."

"Celebrate submitting my assessment?"

Her look was dubious.

"Well, not just that. It will be the end of these briefings too. I definitely feel like celebrating that."

She grinned at his comment.

"Okay. Why not?"

"Perfect. What are you in the mood for?"

"Surprise me."

Pressing another kiss to her lips, he then answered.

"Done."

The next morning, Emma arrived at the school and entered the classroom. Ashley greeted her warmly.

"Good morning. How are you?"

"I'm great, thanks."

"I can tell."

"I finally finished my review and sent to you."

"I saw it was in my inbox this morning. Happy to have it done?"

"Yes!"

Both women laughed.

"I understand. I don't like doing those either."

Emma looked at her supervisor and saw her smile was particularly sunny this morning as well.

"You look happy too."

"I am. I had a good night last night."

"Really? Care to share?"

It was times like these when Emma felt they were more friends than mentor and mentee.

"Well, I finally met that hot guy I told you about before."

"Oh yea?"

"Well sort of. We exchanged a few words."

"And?"

"He's even better looking close up. And his smile is to die for."

"So, what's the plan?"

"I'm still working it out. But I'm hoping I'll see him there again this weekend."

"Well…good luck. I want to hear all about it on Monday."

"Will do."

They ended their conversation, turning their attention to the students who were starting to come through the door for the first class of the day.

*Just a tiny bit of intrigue! I'll try not be too long in posting the follow-up!*