Set early season 3 before the new guy arrives, because I (much like Clay) am not so sure about him yet ;)
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Jason peers up from his paperwork watching carefully as Ray cautiously makes his way through the minefield of hammocks and discarded gear.
When his second finally reaches the bench he slowly and somewhat awkwardly eases himself down making an obvious effort not to jar his arm while settling into the next seat over.
He eyes the newly acquired sling now firmly strapping Ray's arm in place and frowns "Shoulder?"
"Collarbone." Ray corrects him with a put-upon sigh.
Jason considers that, somewhat relieved it isn't the man's newly reconstructed shoulder, but also quickly doing the math on the standard recovery time for a broken bone.
6 weeks minimum, probably more like 8, and that's if they are lucky and all heals up well with no additional PT necessary.
It's unfortunate for sure, but he works hard to keep it in perspective because in their line of work there are a lot more permanent problems to have.
So after a second he quirks his lip and offers "Football tackle wasn't a good idea I guess."
Ray rolls his eyes "Saved your ass didn't it."
Jason scoffs at that, mostly because he is expected to and not so much that he can really disagree with the premise
"I had it under control."
They both know he didn't.
And that he probably won't ever concede the point, or even say thank you, but that doesn't mean it's not true and that he isn't.
"If by under control you mean about to get stabbed while you reloaded then yeah, definitely completely under control."
Ray shuts up after that, deservedly taking the last exasperated word.
Jason watches out of the corner of his eye as Ray shifts uncomfortably in place, trying to find a better way to settle in and then finally gives up and sits up straighter evidently resigned to waiting for the painkillers to kick in.
Aiming for a distraction Jason throws out something he knows will get a reaction out of the man "Guess you won't be able to hide this injury huh?"
Ray facial expression quickly sours into a less than amused glower and when he doesn't respond Jason follows it up innocently "What?...Too soon?
His second continues to glare at him and Jason would be worried if he hadn't know Ray more than long enough to know when he can and can't push certain buttons.
Not to mention the face Ray is giving him is very much the same disapproving one his mother used to give him when really she was laughing on the inside at his antics.
Still, he offers a partially contrite "Ok, fine. Maybe a little. My bad. But regardless we are going to miss you out there, team was really in a groove lately. It's a shame."
Ray hold out his righteous anger bit just long enough to make Jason second guess. To wonder if he actually struck a nerve he shouldn't have and if he is going to have to try a more sincere apology.
Finally, with impeccable timing Ray finally breaks the silence when Jason is just starting to sweat a little. He lets him off the hook with a bittersweet smile and an apology of his own.
"Sorry man, you know I'd rather be out there with you guys in a heartbeat." Ray gives an exaggerated mock shudder "you have no idea how many tea parties are in my future now."
That idea makes Jason genuinely laugh.
RJ's recent fascination with Jameelah's old dolls and hosting tea parties in their treehouse has been a source of great entertainment to the team. Mostly just because Ray had been so ecstatic when Jamee had mostly skipped that phase so the team was really enjoying watching him have to suffer through it now somewhat unexpectedly the second time around. He knows Ray has been hoping it will pass quickly so naturally the team has all gone out of their way to encourage it and prolong it because that's just what brothers do. Hell even Sonny crawled on up there with RJ and stuck his pinky out as directed while sipping his imaginary Earl grey tea.
Jason drew the line at participating but he wasn't above digging out Alana's old set of China and donating it to the cause. RJ's squeal of excitement and the equally unenthused reaction from his father were both worth the small pinch of pain in digging through some of the old boxes and memories. Actually Ray's exasperation was really the icing on the cake because Jason still remembers the god-awful plastic drum set Ray got Mikey one Christmas. Payback is a bitch.
While Jason is not so fondly reminiscing about just how much racket a 4 year old can make with a child size snare drum and plastic mallets and remembering those early mornings in bed with Alana, pillows over their ears, cursing Ray Perry's very existence in their lives, Ray has taken the opportunity to do what he does best and redirect their focus back onto what matters, the real issue at hand here, how his absence will affect the team.
"You know, maybe it's not the worst timing in the world".
Now that has Jason stumped, not exactly sure what Ray is trying to hint at because in his mind there isn't ever really great timing to lose his number two.
Those six months where he banished Ray to Green Team after his surgery made it more evident than he will maybe ever admit just how much he relies on his number two to glue their team together. To allow him to focus his energy on pushing the envelope and innovating with a hundred percent certainty that his team is ready for the challenge and healthy on all fronts.
Sure enough Ray spears him with an oh so perceptive look.
"Come on, we both know the kids been chomping at the bit for a little more responsibility. Nipping at my heels, bucking for a little more opportunity."
Jason nods slowly in agreement. There is no denying that.
"And you and I both know he wanted the big shot last mission, and that his game plan for this one might have actually worked better than mine." He gestures with his good hand to his new uniform accessory.
Now it's Jason's turn to shrug.
There may be some truth to what Ray said about their mission plan, there may not be. Jason isn't ready to Monday morning quarterback things quite yet. Time, ISR and their usual methodical review process will tell However there will be time and place for that in the AAR's and those are still a few more hours and a few more beers away for a reason.
Instead he diplomatically voices a non-committal "Maybe, maybe not"
But Ray is on a roll now and probably well used to having to bash Jason over the head with most things so he carries on undeterred and continues trying to make his point. "He thinks he's ready for more and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get it".
Jason considers that, taking his time and stretching out in his seat. He twists and turns slowly side to side trying to loosen some of the muscles in his low back that seem to be perpetually seized up these days.
"Is he actually ready though?"
Ray gives him a sharp look. And Jason gets it. He isn't sure himself where the hesitation is coming from all of a sudden or even where that question came from.
Especially since the kid's done it before. Was thrust into the role when Ray was on hiatus from the team after his shoulder injury. Except if he's honest with himself now Jason isn't sure if he tapped the kid because he was ready or because he knew that choice would add extra insult to his chosen punishment for Ray.
Clay has more than proven himself from a skills and tactics perspective. Spenser is a pipehitter through and through, surpassing his father's legacy by a long shot. It isn't even close in anyone's mind. Jason has no doubt that one day he will make a formidable team leader. He just isn't sure the kid is ready for it yet.
There are still some elements of being a number two or even a number one that he isn't sure the kid truly comprehends. Clay's come a long way in finding his place with the team and yet Jason isn't sure the kid can add even some of the intangibles that Ray does. Find the perfect balance between leading when needed, supporting at other times, and always building up his teammates. It isn't enough to just do your job well. It isn't enough to just make the big shots and bring good ideas to the table.
Case and point when Ray was struggling last year the absence of his usual support seeped into all aspects of team life and things slowly began to degrade. Jason greatly regrets not seeing that his friend was floundering sooner, both for his friend's sake and for the good of the team. Clay's injury and then almost losing Ray afterwards was certainly not the way that situation should have worked itself out. He should have been better. Should have done more earlier.
And maybe that's playing a part in his indecisiveness too. Consciously he knows it's been almost a year since Clay returned to the team and that Spenser has more than proven that he is back to full strength. Yet on some other level Jason can't help the lingering feeling that maybe he's not and that doubt probably bleeds into him subconsciously babying the kid a bit since he's returned. Bravo 6 has certainly hinted at that possibility a few times and good naturedly and sometimes less so called out his teammates for doing the same. So the more he thinks about it the more he has to admit the possibility that some of his apprehension might be coming from a desire to protect Clay and avoid over-burdening him too soon. Warranted concern or not he can't deny the real temptation to just go with a safer, easier choice. Both Sonny and Trent have covered in that role before even if neither are particularly keen to do it.
Ray is watching him closely, probably accurately surmising most of the ongoing internal debate and the rabbit holes of indecision Jason is spiralling down. He apparently deems an intervention necessary and interjects softly "Jace…"
"Yeah?"
"He's ready."
Jason inhales deeply, mentally slamming the door on any emotions with years of practice and tossing any and all baggage back in the closet where it belongs. That done he makes one last careful assessment of Clay's capabilities and weighs what's best for the team and then exhales slowly "I guess there's only one way to find out isn't there?"
Ray nods in agreement, and with an air of satisfaction that makes Jason determined not to let his second off the hook quite so easy.
"You'll have to give him a pep talk though. Get him in line and get his head screwed on straight."
"Isn't that your job?"
"Hey, you are the one abandoning me for the next few weeks. Least you could do is carry a little weight."
Ray tilts his head thoughtfully, pretending to give it serious consideration "I suppose that's fair."
Jason goes to bump Ray's shoulder and thankfully remembers at the last moment aborting the movement and giving his knee a gentle bump instead. Then he pulls away slightly leaning the other way to dig into the nearby cooler. Jason takes a quick pointed glance around before fishing out two beers and handing one to Ray.
"Don't let Trent see."
"Cheers to that brother"
They clink their cans and then fall into companionable silence enjoying their first couple sips. After a while Ray's beer gets set down beside him and not too long after that his eyes start to drift closed. Jason can practically see the painkillers (and booze) kick in allowing his second to relax back into the netting.
Jason continues slowly savoring his beer for a long while after. He watches the condensation pool on the side of the ice cold can, forming into a few errant drops that slide down the can and over his finger. He slowly rotates the can, tilting and trying to change the angle so the drops will meet and merge as one. When he finally finishes he tries to settle in for the last few hours except his brain refuses to stop thinking making sleep an elusive concept for the time being. Jason scans the interior of the plane, skipping from man to man until he finally finds Clay's hammock set up in its usual spot. He watches the fabric sway slightly back and forth and tries to ignore the unease that spikes up again.
After a few moments Jason forces himself to tear his gaze away and focuses in on Ray's deep, even breathing next to him. He closes his eyes, slowing his own cadence to match and taking comfort while he still can in the familiar gentle snores that he has fallen asleep next too on many a plane journey over the years.
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A little bit of a table setter chapter. Some ground work for whats to come.