Chapter 16: Ominous Orders

2 years ago

Agent Price and Chloe walked into the conference room, ready for the briefing on their next mission. They had formed a strong partnership. Chloe had even practically become part of his family. Zoe and his children absolutely adored her. They also worked very well together. Aside from her first mission, very few hiccups had occurred when they worked together.

"Okay, Agents, we've gotten intelligence that a rogue agent is working with the Russians. They're planning a cyber attack on 5 top U.S cities. We don't know which ones. They're also planning bombings immediately following the cyber attack while our systems are down. I don't have to tell you how catastrophic this would be to our country. We're sending you as well as agents from other parts of the government to take this guy down. We've been told he's kept all of his information and viruses on a microchip in an Ipad. Your orders are to retrieve this Ipad, subdue rogue Agent Justin Ferris, and gather any other intel you can gather about their operation."

Price and Chloe nodded and left the conference room in silence.

"Want to come have dinner before our flight tomorrow?" Price offered.

"I think I'd rather just stay home and relax by myself. Look over the briefing binder."

"Oh come on. You have plenty of nights to relax alone." Price immediately flinched when he heard how insensitive his words might've sounded. "I didn't mean…"

"Its fine." Chloe chuckled lightly. "I'm a homebody."

"Zoe would be pissed at you if you didn't come over. She might even come hunt you down." Price grinned as he gave her a playful nudge.

"Fine." Chloe rolled her eyes. "I haven't seen those little terrors of your in a while anyway."

"Ah, yes the munchkins will be excited to see Aunt Chloe." Price laughed.

"I hate that you let them call me that." Chloe smirked, not really meaning her words.

Price and Chloe walked up the steps to his home and were immediately greeted with hugs from Zoe. Chloe was almost tackled by Zack and Janie.

"Wow, no love for your own father?" Price huffed in mock offense.

"Chloe! What do we owe this pleasure?" Zoe guided her in, shooing Zack and Janie away.

"Well, Jackson just thought it'd be nice to have this night together, all of us, before we fly out tomorrow." Chloe replied before catching a glimpse of Jackson wincing behind Zoe.

"Fly out tomorrow?" Zoe crossed her arms and turned to look at Jackson.

"We were just told today." Jackson immediately started explaining. "Its really important, love. You know I hate when we have to travel far."

"It sucks being married to a hero." Zoe rolled her eyes as she begrudgingly let Jackson give her a quick kiss.

"Sorry, didn't mean to start anything." Chloe grinned as she felt a strange sense of jealous watching the happy couple. Zoe waved her off and ordered everyone into the kitchen for her delicious meal.

After a few too many glasses of wine, the Prices insisted that Chloe stay in the spare bedroom. Chloe was so grateful for the Prices and didn't mind staying. Even though Zack and Janie kept trying to sneak in her room for more bedtime stories.

The next morning was awkward for Chloe. She hadn't witnessed Jackson saying goodbye to his family before their long missions. It was hard to watch the kids cry and hug their daddy and say they loved him. And then watching Zoe tear up and give him a long kiss, trying not to full on cry. Chloe stood awkwardly in the doorway, giving the family their privacy.

Zoe then walked over to Chloe and wrapped her in a hug.

"Take care of my husband, Chloe." She whispered as her voice broke. Chloe nodded and then followed Jackson to the car.

Beca stood before her General listening to him give her instructions about her and her team's next mission. They were to raid a home in Afghanistan that belonged to a known terrorist and his brothers. They were to find them and kill them on the spot. There was another home down the street where they kept certain intel on their terrorist plans. Once they were eliminated Beca and her team were to collect all intel in their safe house. This would be the riskiest mission of Beca's career. It was up close and personal with the terrorists, instead of fighting from afar. She was nervous, but she was also excited. Eliminating this group of terrorists would be a huge victory for the marines. She was proud to be the one in charge of taking them down.

"You will have 1 week to gather your team. You will be flown into a neighboring city before being taken by vehicle into the city where the houses are. We will have a chopper on standby. Once you have completed your objective, he will evacuate you from the site in case any foot soldiers come looking for a shootout. Do your best not to engage anyone other than the terrorists. Good luck, Sergeant Mitchell."

'Yes, sir." Beca stood straight and saluted as she left to round up her team from around the country.

"Beca!" Henry Fisher swung his door open and held his arms out for Beca. She returned him with a solid fist, opting for the bump over a hug.

"How's the fam, Fisher?" Beca stepped inside looking for Annie. Fisher had proposed to Annie the day they returned from the mission when they had been attacked by the ten year old sniper. It was the first time Fisher truly feared for his life, and decided he wanted to live with no regrets. Annie had said yes with no hesitation, as Beca had predicted.

The wedding had been small and intimate. Beca played the role as "best man" and played it up as much as she could, even renting her own tuxedo. A few months ago Fisher had called Beca to announce Annie was pregnant, and they wanted Beca to be godmother. She was hesitant at first, knowing she wasn't comfortable around children, and had never even helped care for one before. But she was powerless to resist the pleas of Annie and Fisher.

"We're great. I'm actually loving being the doting husband to a pregnant wife. I don't know why so many guys act like its such a terror."

"Oh, just wait.' Beca smirked.

"So what brings you to Denver?" Fisher walked into the kitchen to grab a couple beers. He was clearly in denial. The only reason Beca would "just stop by" in a city hundreds of miles away from where she lived, would be to tell Fisher they were going back to the middle east. Now, with a baby on the way Fisher wasn't so sure he wanted this life anymore.

"Well…" Beca started, taking a long sip of beer before she continued.

A pregnant Annie came walking around the corner, interrupting her, and squealed when she saw Beca.

"Beca! Its so good to see you!" Annie ignored Beca's distaste for hugs and wrapped the woman in her arms, just barely being able to stretch them around her with her belly getting in the way.

"You too, Annie." Beca smirked and awkwardly patted Annie on the forearm.

"So what brings you to our neck of the woods?"

"Um…" Beca glanced up and made eye contact with Fisher.

"You're taking him away aren't you?" Annie crossed her arms, disappointed but not mad.

"I'm not personally doing it. The military is." Beca shrugged. "We leave in a week."

"A week?" Fisher's jaw dropped.

"Yeah, but it won't be a long time over there. We'll be back home soon and maybe you can look into getting out or a different job still in the military." Beca encouraged. "You've put in your service, Henry."

"I hate thinking about leaving. I feel like I'm disloyal to you."

"Dude, you're more than loyal. You're my brother!" Beca furrowed her brows at Fisher's statement. "You have a wife and a kid on the way. Your loyalties belong elsewhere now. What do you say to one last hoorah and then you become the best dad ever. Dad jokes, dad bod, and all that." Beca smirked, imagining Fisher losing his physique. Annie just grinned lovingly at her husband, hoping he would finally say goodbye to the military that he'd given so much for already.

"One last mission sounds good, Sarge." Fisher and Beca clinked bottles.

Beca, Fisher, and Annie spent the next few days mostly inside of the Fisher home. Beca chose to stay with them for the last few days before deployment, especially considering she didn't have family or many friends to spend time with. She always got nervous before a deployment but she felt better being among the people she was closest with.

The night before they played board games (at least the ones that could still be fun with just three people), watching The Godfather, and reminiscing about their good times, especially the period of time Fisher was trying to get Annie to date him.

"Alright, love birds." Beca stretched and finished off her beer. "I'm going to go shower and listen to some music...with my noise cancelling headphones." She shot Fisher a wink. "So you two have a...great night. We'll leave tomorrow at 7:00am."

"Way to make things awkward, Sarge." Fisher actually started blushing as he pulled his wife closer to him on the couch.

"Always." Beca shrugged. "Thanks for letting me crash in your spare bedroom this week."

"You're always welcome, Beca." Anna smiled sweetly.

"Alright you two." Beca gave a little salute. "Enjoy the rest of your night."

The next morning, Annie was doing her best not to cry. She knew it only made Fisher feel terrible when he had to leave. She wrapped him in a hug and gave him a long slow kiss.

"Come home safe, babe." She whispered. "Little Bridgette or Hunter will be excited to have you back to." She rubbed her belly.

"I told you." Fisher groaned. "We are not naming our baby boy Hunter Fisher."

"But it'd be cute!" Annie playfully wined. Beca couldn't help but smile at the cute couple.

"I'll see you and the little one when I get back." Fisher gently put his hand on her belly. He gave her a quick kiss and then a kiss to her belly. He waved as he got into Beca's truck.

"Thanks again, Annie." Beca held out her hand. Annie just rolled her eyes as she pulled Beca in for a hug.

"Always, Beca. And take care of my husband, okay. Get my baby's daddy home safe."

"I promise." Beca hugged tightly before letting go. "Just make sure you keep that bun in the oven nice and cozy before we get back, okay?"

"Of course." Annie grinned as she put a hand on her belly and rested the other on the door. Beca slid into the driver's seat and waved as she started the car. Fisher held his hand up in goodbye as Beca slowly backed out of the driveway and down the road toward the airport.