Hi Everyone! Thank you for stopping by. I'm a diehard Clay and Stella fan. I have seen a lot of growth in Stella's character and I wish Clay all the happiness. I love how his character still loves Stella after all this time. That was obvious on the most recent episode 5x4.

This story will have some twists and turns before Clay and Stella end up together, but this will be a HEA for sure.

Please leave reviews and tell me what you loved most about this chapter. :)

Stella rushed behind the frantic woman in front of her, maneuvering through the sea of cars in the hospital parking lot. She was with Naima when the worried wife received the phone call that Ray was coming home. After a week of searching for the wounded warrior, they found him and Bravo took out the kidnappers.

"Naima, I'm right behind you. Just focus on getting to Ray" Stella called out to her friend.

She could see Naima nod her head in front of her and pick up her speed. When they made it to the front entrance of the hospital, Jason Hayes and the rest of Bravo were waiting.

"Please Jason, tell me he's going to be okay," Naima asked while gripping onto Bravo 1's forearms.

"He's going to make it. We found him in time," Jason reassured. "He's severely dehydrated and exhausted, has some cuts and bruises, but his condition has improved since being hooked up to IVs on the flight home."

"Let's go see him," she responded.

Jason led Naima into the hospital and Stella intended on allowing the rest of Bravo in front of her before entering as well. She couldn't help but notice the blond haired sailor, whom she has missed every day since they last parted, staring at her with the intensity those blue eyes have always brought.

"You're here," Clay stated as the rest of Bravo entered the through the sliding doors, leaving the two former lovers outside alone together.

Stella paused, not sure how to respond to his observation. "Yeah, I mean, I've stayed with Naima while you were out finding Ray. I know she wouldn't be able to sleep and I didn't want her to watch the clock alone."

Clay's intense gaze on her didn't waver, but instead he lifted his arm and motioned for Stella to go before him. She followed his lead, and like an old habit, his hand touched the small of her back before quickly dropping the gesture.

Stella shivered, not expecting his touch, but welcoming it all the same.

"Do you know what floor he's on?" She shot back at Clay.

"Yeah, fourth floor." Clay noticed an upcoming sign hanging from the ceiling. "Here, let's take the stairs."

Stella and Clay veered right and took the stairs two at a time. She silently thanked whichever higher power watches over them that she kept up her workouts at the gym.

Reaching the fourth floor, Clay pushed through the door first, holding it open for Stella. They both reached the team at the same time and seeing Naima and Jason walking down the hall towards Ray's room.

"Where's my girl, Jameelah, and R-Man?" Sonny asked Stella.

"Emma is watching them. She came into town last night to help where she could."

"That's my other girl right there," Sonny beamed with pride.

"We might as well take a seat and get comfy," Trent recommended. "I think we're going to be here for a while."

They were told about a private waiting room a few hallways down from the nursing station and they made their way towards this small oasis.

Stella immediately realized there were not enough chairs for everyone, so she leaned her back up against the wall and slid down until she was sitting on the floor with her knees bent.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Full Metal grunted.

Stella realized the big guy was talking to her and she almost lost her speech. She doesn't remember ever having a conversation with this giant man before.

Stella found her words and responded. "I've been sitting in a nice house for the last week, while you all have been kicking in doors and hitting pipes, just you know…kicking ass. The least I can do is not take up any of the chairs," she nervously laughed.

A soft voice spoke and caught her attention to her right. "Hey, Metal is right. You're just as exhausted as we are, it's just a different kind of exhaustion. Here, take my chair," Clay told his ex-girlfriend while standing up.

"No, really. I'm fine. Thank you." Stella looked down at the ground, anywhere but at Clay.

"Sorry missy, but Prince Blonde and Goliath are correct. We can't just let you sit on the floor. Frogmen are known for chivalry, which means...you get a chair," Sonny teased.

Clay half snorted at Sonny. "Laying it on thick there, my friend." Turning to Stella, "seriously Stel, take mine."

"Oh. My. Gosh. You guys never give up," Stella said exasperated while pushing herself up from the floor and walking over to Clay's chair. She hesitantly put her hand on Clay's arm, giving him a gentle squeeze. "Thank you," she whispered, staring directly at him.

Clay's eyes flickered back and forth, finally giving her the affirmation she was looking for in a quick nod, before going over and taking Stella's place on the floor.

As she sat down, air rushed out of her, not realizing she had been holding her breath.

With nothing else to do, the group settled in and waited for word on their friend and brother.

Clay rested his head against the steel grey wall, trying to ignore the tingling he still felt on his arm where Stella touched him just moments before. He can't get sucked back into her. No way will he allow that to happen again. She caused him no small amount of pain, and he had to recover, not once, but twice from her leaving.

Sure, Rebecca was a rebound. If he was being honest with himself, she was an escape from the intensity of a life he continues to feel calling to him. All he ever wanted was to be a Frogman with a loving wife and children waiting at home for his safe return after every spin and deployment. The thought of his dreams coming true have become too much of a burden to bear. What happens after dreams are fulfilled? When does the dream die?

Everyone always leaves. From the time he was a little boy, the people who are most important to him have failed him time and time again. His mom, his dad…Stella…even Rebecca when she realized prestige was not in his future.

Looking up at the brunette sitting in front of him, he stares at the back of her. Shaking off any emotion he may be trying to deny right now, he tells himself "nope, never again."

Before he can continue down the Stella rabbit hole, Jason and Naima walk into the cramped waiting area and everyone stands up. The questions start immediately.

"How's Ray," Sonny shoots off?

"When can we see him," Clay calls out next.

"Ray's sleeping right now," Jason responded. The doctor thinks he'll be out the rest of the night. The best thing everyone can do is head home for the night. Come back tomorrow after everyone is rested up."

"Jason's right. Ray knows you all are out here but he wants you all to rest, too," Naima explains before she starts to break down. "Thank you, each and every one of you for bringing Ray home to me and the kids."

Naima walked around the room giving each of the men a tight hug. When she arrived in front of Stella she paused and grabbed the woman's hands. "To you, my dear friend. You kept me sane when I felt like I was climbing the walls. You fed my children when I couldn't move. You have been my rock this week and I would not have survived without you," Naima told Stella with tears streaming down her face. "I will never forget."

Stella wiped away her own tears before embracing her friend. Clay watched this interaction, trying to tap down on the curiosity of this friendship between the two women. How had he not known until this last week? Because he tried to wipe Stella from his life, Clay mentally chastised himself.

Turning to everyone else in the room, Stella looked at each of the Bravo team members before her eyes landed on Clay. He tried to tamper down on the anticipation of her next words.

"I'm so thankful you all came back safe and you were able to find Ray and bring him home. All I ever want is for you all to be safe. Stella tried to conceal the liquid emotion threatening to spill over, but she knew it was no use. She quickly exited the waiting area and rushed towards the stairs. Clay's feet were moving before he had a chance to think about what he was doing. He followed her into the stairwell and gently grabbed her arm to stop her.

"Clay, don't. Okay. I know you don't want me anymore in your life."

Silence filled the enclosed area. Creaks in pipes could be heard through the walls and hospital chatter could be identified through the door. "Turn around…please," he finally asked.

She hesitated for only a moment before turning to face him. Clay noticed she didn't even try to hide her fallen tears this time.

"Thank you for being there for Naima this week."

Stella looked at Clay with anticipation. Believing he has more to say.

"Stella, we can't. We just can't," Clay dropped her arm and took a step back.

After a brief pause she nodded in response, not trusting herself to talk. This left her with no other option than to turn around and leave.

"Do you have a way home?" He called out to her.

"I have my car," she responded dejectedly. Slowly making her way down the stairwell.

Clay stood there, listening for her footsteps, leaving only when he was sure she made it safely back into the main hospital. Taking a deep breath and blowing out the rush of air, he returned to his team.

"How are you doing blonde Romeo?" Sonny asked his friend while ordering two shots and two beers.

"Fine, I guess." Clay answered. "Just glad we got Ray back."

The two men grabbed their drinks and found a table away from the madness.

Clay felt Sonny's heavy stare and was trying hard to ignore it. "Cheers," Clay declared, holding up his shot glass. Sonny answered the toast with a "damn straight."

Both men downed the amber liquid, savoring the slow burn. Thankful they can still feel something after the week they had.

"Can we just not talk about the elephant in the room tonight?" Clay asked. "It's been a hell of a week and I just want to forget."

Sonny met Clay's stare and conceded. "Fair enough. But…"

"No, Sonny. No 'buts.'"

"I just have to say it.

"What?" Clay asked in annoyance.

"She reminded me of her."

Clay didn't understand where Sonny was going with his statement. "Her? Who?"

"Alana. Stella reminded me of Alana this week."

Those words were enough to render Clay speechless. He had no words in response to this declaration.

"Listen, you didn't get to know Alana very well before she passed. But, she was always the wife who was the first one on scene to help another Seal wife when the husband was hurt or killed. Alana took charge and always knew just what to do."

Sonny continued to study Clay for any reactions and he could tell Clay was connecting the dots. "Stella was so unsure of herself at Alana's wake. Not this week though. She kept Naima grounded and took care of everything at the house." Sonny continued to press his luck, "she even brought the right kind of beer."

Clay was becoming increasingly agitated. Truth be told, he recognized the level of confidence in Stella that he hadn't seen before around his team. He wasn't ready to admit this to Sonny, or himself, yet. "Your point?"

"My point, smart ass, is that Stella has changed…and…I like it," Sonny explained.

Clay sat there in silence.

"You can pick your chin off the floor Ken doll. That's right, I said it. I like this new Stella."

Not wanting to internalize anything Sonny is saying about his former lover, he shook off his friend's comments. "Yeah, well…that same Stella broke my heart twice. She won't get a third time," Clay declared.

Giving up for now, Sonny raised his beer bottle. "Drink up, Obi Blonde; we don't have to talk about her anymore tonight."

Clay wasn't sure if he believed Sonny. There was a look of mischief in his eyes that made Clay nervous.

Several hours passed and it was well into the early morning hours. Clay was drunker than a skunk while Sonny stopped drinking hours ago. Clay was just too drunk to realize his friend was sober.

"C'mon Sonny, rack 'em," Clay slurred.

"Last call," could be heard from the bar area.

"Nope, that's our cue young heartbreaker. It's time to go."

"What? No. We still got time for another game," Clay tried to reason.

Chuckling, Sonny started to put away the pool sticks and chalk. He turned to the women who have been surrounding their table for the better part of the night and nodded towards them, "Good night ladies. I need to take my fine young friend home as he is sure to be sick tonight."

A blond haired, slender woman walked up to Clay and ran his hand down the front of his shirt. "Come on, Sonny. We want to play with you and your friend."

Clay looked at the blond, curious what the night could bring him, but also hating the feeling in the pit of his stomach he always gets when a one night stand is offered to him.

"No, no, no there little harlot. My wayward teammate is going home and straight to bed to sleep off his current state of mind." Sonny gently helped the woman unhand his friend before he started to drag Clay towards the entrance and to the parking lot.

"Why are we leaving? Where are we going?" Clay asked.

"Awe, we are going home."

"I can't go home."

"Why the hell not, Fabio?"

"Because, I left my keys in the cage room. We ran out so fast, I forgot about them."

"Well, you can't stay at my place. Lisa is coming over."

"Oooohhhh…naughty, naughty," Clay shook his finger at Sonny. He continued to stare at his finger, wondering why he had so many all of a sudden.

"Shut up. Come on, let's go." Sonny guided his friend towards his truck. Knowing exactly where he would be dropping off Clay for the night.

Stella awoke, startled, not sure what caused her to come out of her slumber until she heard a knock at the door.

"What the?" she said out loud.

Looking down to make sure she was dressed appropriately, she was relieved to be wearing a white spaghetti strap tank top and black and white silk pajama pants. "This will have to do."

Walking through her apartment, she turned on minimal lights. Just enough to illuminate her way.

Arriving at her front door, Stella looked through the peephole where she was certain she was stuck in a dream. There is no way Sonny Quinn was outside her door at 3 AM, holding up a very inebriated Clay.

She continued to blink a few more times before she saw Sonny reach for the door bell. Stella quickly opened the door before Sonny's finger could make contact.

"Sonny, what's going on?" She asked in disbelief.

"Well, you see, young Stella. My love sick friend right here..."

"I'm not lovesick," Clay defended himself while trying to use the wall for support before turning to Stella and eyeing her up and down. "Wow, you…you…wow."

Stella immediately felt self conscious and she crossed her arms before turning to look back at Sonny.

"Uh huh, as I was saying…my lovesick friend here had a little too much to drink," Sonny started to explain. "I played lifeguard tonight and saved him from a sea of horny southern belles looking to bag a Seal. Now, I need you to save me, and take him for the night. I have a lady friend coming over and drunk Blondie left his keys at the base."

Stella's eyes grew wide at the southern belle comment but she quickly recovered.

"How did you know where I live?"

"I have my ways," Sonny slyly responded.

"Stel, you don't have to do this. It's fine. I can just sleep in the back of Sonny's truck tonight," Clay tried to reason while stumbling.

Stella reached out and tried to steady Clay but his body size was no match for the petite brunette.

"Were you trying to help me, Stel?" Clay asked in a gentle curiosity.

"I'm trying to get you into my apartment before my neighbors call the police for a drunk and disorderly in front of my door."

"Wait, have you had those before?" Clay asked in confusion. "Because, I'll end them. I'll end anyone who tries to be disorderly with you. Don't tell anyone, but I'm a Seal," Clay whispers.

Stella was exasperated at this point. "Sonny, can you please help me with him? Let's get him inside before he wakes up the entire hallway."

Grabbing a hold of each arm, Sonny and Stella walked Clay to her couch where he immediately flopped down and spread out.

"I got it from here," Stella turned to Sonny. "Don't worry. I'll take care of him."

"I know you will." Tipping his hat, Sonny thanked her and left the apartment. Shutting the door behind him.

Stella turned to Clay and saw he was halfway to being completely passed out. She walked into the kitchen and found a brown paper bag from under the kitchen sink and walked back over to Clay. She set the bag on the floor in front of the couch, down by his head.

Then, she went back into the kitchen where she grabbed a glass from one of the cabinets and filled it with water. Setting the glass down on the counter, she reached above the stove where she kept any vitamins or medications. She found the Aleve bottle and brought it down to her. Opening the lid, she shook out two, before returning the lid and putting the bottle back above the stove.

Grabbing the glass of water, she walked over to coffee table and set down the glass and pain killers, knowing he would need these later in the morning.

Next, she untied his boots and slid them off, setting them down at the end of the couch.

Stella had every intention to just turn around and walk back to her room, but she couldn't stop herself from looking at the man sprawled on her couch. She missed him. So much she hurts. Kneeling down, she brushed some blonde curls away from his face. She has always been amazed by the intensity of the blue in his eyes and the length of his lashes. She knew he never saw himself as she did...beautiful.

"I never stopped loving you, Clay. Never stopped. I was just so scared" She then laid a gentle kiss to his forehead before starting to get back up and head towards her bedroom. Before she could fully walk away, she felt Clay's warm hand grab her own.

"Stay," Clay asked, sounding defeated.

"You need rest," Stella responded but she didn't pull away.

"Don't walk away," Clay pleaded. "Everyone walks away from me."

Knowing what she would do because she couldn't imagine walking away from him ever again, she turned back towards the couch. "Here, sit up a little."

Clay did as she asked, and she slid in under him, sitting now with Clay's head in her lap. She grabbed the blanket off the back of her couch and covered him. Finding an end pillow, she slid it under Clay's head and she noticed he was watching her the entire time.

"Shh, it's ok. Just sleep, Clay. I'm not going anywhere."

With those words, she noticed that he slowly closed his eyes and quickly fell off into a deep sleep.