Here's the next chapter for you all. Enjoy!

I don't own The Brave of any of it's characters - but I wish I did!

Chapter 7

For the next couple of days, Dalton and Jaz started each day early, or early-ish in Jaz's case. They went on a hike each day, did odd jobs around the cabin and of course, played with Patton.

They made meals together, read together, made s'mores together and watched the stars together.

Each night they slept together.

Well they slept next to each other.

Although they mostly fell sleep facing away from each other, during the night they often found themselves curled around each other, touching hands, or with Jaz's head resting on Dalton's chest and his arm wrapped around her.

They haven't rationalised or acknowledged this new development. They hadn't discussed being in each other's arms throughout the night. They hadn't spoken further of the content of their nightmares, but since choosing to spend each night in the same bed, they had both been nightmare free.

They also haven't yet acknowledged their sexually charged moment in the waterhole a few days ago, but neither of them has forgotten. How could they?

They both still spent much of the days appreciating the other, perving on the other and trying to deny any feelings toward each other, but Jaz knew this was absolutely the best place for her to have ended up. The ease of her relationship with Dalton, and the peacefulness of the surroundings, made her start to relax like she had never done before.

On the third morning they decided to try that fishing that Jaz had asked about a few days earlier. Dalton knew a few great spots to try out from his vast fishing experience. It had been a favourite past time of his for as long as he could remember and it's one of the things he looks forward to the most whenever he is on leave.

Jaz had never been fishing before, but she knew Dalton would be a great teacher.

He had dug out all his gear and they walked out to one of his favourite spots, the lake almost right in front of his cabin. This lake was one of the main reasons he had kept the cabin all these years, and the small jetty made it just so convenient to indulge this past time. The other fishing spots needed to be hiked to, so he'll save them for another day.

It was another hot and beautiful day to sit down at the lake and learn how to fish. They both wore sunglasses and hats and they had taken a cool box with snacks and water down to the jetty also.

Just as Jaz suspected, Dalton was great at teaching Jaz the ins and outs of fishing. Being a quick student to most things, Jaz had the baiting and casting pretty down pat after a couple of attempts.

They both sat with their feet hanging off the jetty, fishing rods in front of them while they waited for something to bite.

The part of Jaz that often makes it hard for her to wind down or relax, found the waiting hard.

"Are you sure we used the right bait?" Jaz questioned Dalton after waiting for about 15 minutes, with no results.

"Positive, I've been doing this a long time." Dalton responded.

"How long?" Jaz probed.

Dalton tried to recall his earliest memory of fishing, but he couldn't pin point it, "As long as I can remember."

He sat there thinking for a little longer before offering, "My Dad used to take me fishing when I was a kid."

Jaz turned to look at him since he very rarely talked about his father, or any of his family for that matter. They had that in common.

Dalton stared over the lake while he continued almost wistfully, "It would just be the two of us. He taught me how to bait and cast the rod, just like I showed you. He taught me how to reel them in, even the big ones. He taught me how to be patient, especially when the fish weren't biting."

Jaz smiled softly at his memories. Even though he had previously alluded to his childhood being far from perfect, she envied these happy memories he had of his father, regardless of how he felt about the man now. She didn't have one single positive memory of her own father. Not one.

"Does it always take this long for the fish to take the bait?" Jaz asked.

"It's been barely 15 minutes, you have to be patient." Dalton stated.

"Right." Jaz hesitantly accepted ruefully.

Dalton smirked, "Sometimes - …"

"… all you can do, is wait..?" Jaz cut in and finished off for him.

Dalton grinned, "That's right.

She rolled her eyes at him but flashed him a grin too. She'd heard it from him before.

About half an hour later, there were still no fish biting and Dalton could see Jaz starting to get fidgety. He wasn't surprised. They were cut from the same cloth. When they were on base, neither of them were the type to just sit around, idly passing time. They both had to be doing something.

The difference between them was that on leave, Dalton didn't have a problem with living a slower existence. He enjoyed it and it was how he recharged his batteries for the next deployment. Jaz obviously wasn't quite there yet. She still found it hard to switch off, or to wait.

He thought about the first time she had mentioned fishing to him. It had been after her first nightmare at the cabin. He frowned remembering the strange timing of the question, and given the lack of actual fishing they were doing, thought it might be a good time to ask her about it.

"Hey Jaz?" He broached.

"Hmm?" Jaz was glad for the distraction and looked straight at Dalton.

"Why the sudden interest in fishing since you've been here?" Dalton quizzed.

Jaz averted her gaze at the question and went back to staring across the lake, "What do you mean?" she asked after a beat.

Dalton used the hand actions he so commonly does as he tries to explain himself, "Well it's just, I've known you for over three years, and you've never once mentioned fishing."

When Jaz didn't respond he spoke more softly, "I mean, I'm more than happy to share this with you, I love fishing. I'm just surprised."

Jaz still didn't respond, she just kept staring out over the lake with glazed eyes. He frowned slightly, not knowing how to react to her silence. Then he remembered the nightmare after which she had asked to go fishing, and he sat in thought for a moment longer.

"What was the nightmare about, Jaz?" He asked very gently.

She just turned and gave him a questioning look, so he continued, "Right before you asked me to go fishing, you had a nightmare…"

Jaz kept her head faced in his direction, but lowered her eyes and chin so she was staring down at the jetty.

After a minute or so, when she still didn't offer him a response he put his right hand under her chin and tilted it up to look at him. He was slightly taken aback by the depth of sadness in her eyes.

"Jaz," he breathed out pleadingly, willing her to talk to him.

Jaz had a tornado of feelings whirling through her. Guilt, despair, sadness, to name a few. She knew she had to tell Dalton, he was the only person she ever felt even remotely comfortable talking to about topics like this, but this one was tough. Still, if she ever wanted to try and get past some of this, at least as much as she could, she knew she had to start talking.

"Hossein." She said so quietly he barely heard her.

"Hossein?" He needed to confirm.

She nodded slightly, Dalton's hand still under her chin.

She continued in no louder than a whisper, "It's my fault he died, it's my fault you lost your friend…"

"Jaz…" Dalton tried to interject.

"… It's my fault you never got to take that fishing trip." She finished up and as she did, the tears that had been welling in her eyes, streamed down her face.

Understanding dawned on Dalton just then. It suddenly all made sense. Jaz had been in the room with them in Iran when he and Hossein had reunited after several years. She was there when they discussed getting around to a previously spoken about fishing trip one day. That's why she wanted to go fishing, to make up for Dalton not being able to fish with Hossein.

"Jaz…" He started again, but before he could say anymore, she jumped to her feet and walked quickly back up the jetty, "Jaz…" He called out after her, but she kept walking all the way back to the cabin, leaving Dalton there looking after her.

Jaz kept walking until she was back in her bedroom. She thought she could talk to Dalton about this, but as soon as she had started speaking, the guilt she had been feeling multiplied a million times over.

Walking away was the only way to hide her feelings. It always had been, so as not to make her seem vulnerable in front of anyone. She had already been vulnerable in front of Dalton a few days ago at the waterhole. She didn't want it to become a regular occurrence.

She lay down on the bed, the one she hadn't slept in for the last 4 nights and let the tears that were still streaming down her face be absorbed by the pillow.

She felt ridiculous. She wasn't this girl. She wasn't the one who cried at the drop of a hat, or felt sorry for herself. She wasn't the girl who stormed off and created drama. She wasn't the girl who dwelled on the past.

But as she lay there, she also realised that prior to joining this team, she had never been the girl who had people to care about her, or that she cared about in return. That was different now. It had started with Elijah, and continued with Top, McG, Preach and now Amir.

While still trying to make sense of her reaction to this situation, she realised if she wanted any sort of liveable and peaceful future, it was the past she was going to have to deal with.

That involved putting on her big girl pants and going back out there to talk it through with Top.

She waited another 5 minutes, trying to get her emotions and tears under control.

She went to the fridge and got a couple of beers out, walked out of the cabin and back down the jetty to where Top still sat, both fishing rods still having no luck.

Dalton had purposely not followed Jaz into the cabin. He knew when she needed her space, and he would respect that. He just wished he knew how to take her guilt away.

He sat there looking out over the lake for a few more minutes and hoped he might be more successful in talking to her later on. He didn't want to leave things like that.

As he went to pick up his fishing rod to see if the hook had any bait left on it, a beer suddenly appeared in front of his face and he jumped, nearly dropping the rod into the lake.

He turned around to see Jaz looking down at him.

"Damn it Jaz, you're like a ninja, you know that?" he exclaimed.

"I'm insulted that you don't know that by now." She smirked back to him, as she returned to her sitting position next to him on the jetty.

After taking a couple of sips of their beers in silence, Jaz turned to Dalton and said "I'm sorry… for walking off like that."

Dalton turned to her, "You don't have to be sorry, I just wish you would talk to me."

She glanced down quickly and then looked over to him, "Tell me about him, about Hossein."

"Jaz we don't have to..." he started to reply.

Jaz calmly spoke over the top of him, "I want to."

Dalton stared at her a few more seconds and could see that she had gathered herself from earlier and nodded to her.

Dalton starts to tell Jaz that he and Hossein first met in the field years ago when he was in Delta Force and Hossein in the Iranian Army. It was not long after his daughter had been captured, tortured and killed by the Quds. Hossein had been angry and was doing whatever he could to get revenge, but wasn't going about it the right way. Dalton had recognised the fire within Hossein that made him want to fight for justice, and in a way that only Dalton could, he managed to convince Hossein to do it in the right way. In a way that wouldn't have the Quds making him their next target.

After Hossein had decided he had enough of the army, he became an asset and helped wherever he could. Dalton had called upon his intelligence several times over the years, and Hossein always came through for him. They spent a lot of time running surveillance and they found themselves as not just allies, but friends.

Jaz listened intently as Dalton spoke. She knew bits and piece about Hossein, but it was interesting to hear the whole story from Dalton.

Dalton looked out over the lake as he continued, "He knew more than any of us about what the Quds would have done to you, what the interrogators would have done to you, if we couldn't get you out. It was actually the first thing he was concerned about when he saw you were on my team."

Jaz frowned and remembered the two of them chatting and looking over at her in Tehran. She had assumed that Hossein didn't approve of a woman soldier, like so many she had come across before. It warmed her knowing that hadn't been the case and she smiled slightly at the thought.

Dalton paused and looked over at Jaz, not sure how much further to go with this. Any further could start to incriminate him and his feelings. But given Jaz was trying to face this full on, he knew he had to also.

He took a deep breath and continued, "Hossein knew I was not going to leave without getting you out. I was not leaving, it was never an option. After he realised that, he was all in. We all knew the risks going in to these situations and Hossein more than others on that particular one."

Jaz kept listening, a depth of feelings overwhelming her.

"Helping us get out of the country, saving our lives and taking out a few Quds in the process was his own redemption for feeling like he failed his daughter. It was his revenge. He lost his life that day, but he saved five lives in the process, our five lives. Let's not forget that about him, let's not take that away from him. He died a hero, and while only a handful of us know that, it doesn't change his sacrifice. Without him, none of us would be here today."

He looked over at Jaz for the next part, "You and I, wouldn't be here today."

Jaz looked back at him, into those blue eyes that she couldn't look away from before he continued.

"Knowing Hossein the way I did, saving us would have made him the happiest. You being my friend, made you his friend too, and knowing he died while protecting his friends would have given him some peace. Hossein was a good man, a good friend and I miss him. We mourn him, but we also honour and remember him."

They both sat in silence for a few moments, looking back over the lake, thinking over what Dalton had just said and remembering Hossein as the hero he was.

"I wish I could thank him." Jaz confessed very quietly after a little while.

Dalton looked at her again, "You can, by continuing to live your life. He lived his with honour and integrity and we should too; Making the most out of it and never taking it for granted."

Jaz nodded slowly, still lost in thought. She wasn't sure if the nightmares would ever end, but hearing Top talk like this about the kind of man she had suspected Hossein to be, gave her some sort of peace.

Dalton interrupted her thoughts by holding his beer up to her.

"To Hossein." He said reverently.

"To Hossein." She replied, just as reverently.

Their first fishing attempt hadn't gone the way either of them had thought it would, so they decided to pack it in and try again another day.

They had decided to go into town for dinner that night. Dalton knew a good bar that did great steak apparently. Jaz was happy to eat anything and was looking forward to going out. Not that she wasn't enjoying her time at the cabin, she was loving it, but after the emotional heaviness of today, she needed to get out and blow some cobwebs away.

Jaz had a small nap in the afternoon. She was emotionally exhausted after the morning and just needed a little bit of time alone.

Dalton chopped some more firewood and played with Patton. He hadn't expected that conversation with Jaz today, but he was glad they had it. He hoped it helped with her nightmares, but also knew that Hossein was just one contributing factor to those nightmares. He knew that from experience.

He was sitting on the couch, still playing with Patton, when his phone buzzed with a message. It was Amir, messaging the group chat with a picture of his latest cooking concoction.

Mmm Amir, that looks delicious – Preach

You've cooked enough for a whole team – McG

Maybe he has someone to cook for… - Preach

What? No way. Who? – McG

Just testing recipes… For Top ;) – Amir

And Jaz… - Preach

You still heading this way Amir? – Top

That's still the plan. I'll text you – Amir

You have two couches right, Top? – McG

Why? – Top

Just asking – McG

For his freeloading, lazy ass to sleep on – Jaz

Dalton smiled at that, he guessed Jaz had woken up from her nap.

Guilty :) – McG

Just text me McG, plenty of room – Top

Thanks, I'll bring the tequila – McG

Oh boy – Amir

It's ok Amir, I'll pack some water for you too – McG

Jaz came out of her bedroom at that stage and headed into the bathroom to get ready for dinner. She pointed to her phone as she walked past Dalton and just shook her head in amusement. These guys could keep them entertained for hours.

After a few minutes, Dalton's phone buzzed again, but it was a message just to him this time, from Preach.

How are the selfies going? – Preach

I've been selfie free for the last couple of days – Top

Impressive – Preach

Everything in moderation, right? - Top

So they say. How's Jaz? – Preach

Ok. A few things to sort through, but she's getting there – Top

Can't think of anyone better to help her – Preach

I can, you. Sometimes I don't know if I'm saying the rightthing– Top

Some hearts understand each other, even in silence– Preach

Dalton smiled and shook his head, typical Preach.

That's the first Preachism in a couple of weeks – Top

Everything in moderation, right? – Preach.

Dalton was having trouble keeping his eyes off Jaz in the bar that night. She was wearing black skinny jeans and a red camisole top, and had her long hair straight and cascading down her back. She was beautiful. It reminded him of how she looked that night in Seville when he first told her about the stars. Bright eyed, glowing skin and a smile that he could lose himself in.

He was happy to see her like this, especially after the conversations they had earlier that day.

Dalton knew this bar they went to for dinner fairly well, he usually frequented it several times every time he was home on leave. The steaks were to die for and he thought Jaz would enjoy the atmosphere.

It had a fairly lively ambience in the well populated bar. It wasn't too noisy that they couldn't hear themselves speak, but there was a small cover band playing music that they both listened to.

After placing their meal orders, Dalton went to the bar to get them some drinks.

Jaz took this opportunity to sit back and just watch him. He was so handsome with his blonde hair and deep blue eyes. She had never been much of a beard fan, but on Dalton, it was like the icing on a cake. He looked amazing in his dark blue jeans and a denim shirt. Both fit him like a glove and showed off his muscular shoulders and arms. And that ass… holy hell.

She kept watching as a woman in a very tight dress approached him and tried to start a conversation just as the drinks were being handed over to him. The woman gave him a killer smile, which he returned, before pointing Jaz's way and heading back over to her.

Jaz didn't blame the woman for trying.

"Admirer?" Jaz asked when Dalton handed her a beer.

"Nah, just being friendly." Dalton teased.

"I'm sure she makes a lot of friends with that dress." Jaz noted

Dalton tilted his head and flashed her a big smile, "I told her I'm a one woman man tonight."

Jaz laughed at him, "Just tonight? Good to know."

They both laughed, just as their dinner arrived at the table.

Dalton kept looking up at Jaz throughout their meal. She really was stunning and he really was a one woman man that night. Some would argue that he had been for the last three years.

They left the bar a couple of hours later.

When they got back to the cabin, they grabbed another beer and went out onto the veranda to enjoy yet another beautiful evening. Dalton had only had one more drink at the bar since he was driving, but Jaz had downed a couple and was blissfully tipsy.

They stood against the railing, shoulder to shoulder, staring up at the stars.

"Thanks for this evening, Top. It's exactly what I needed."

Dalton smiled and bumped her shoulder with his, "I'm glad you had a good night."

They both just stayed there, shoulders touching, pretending they weren't both hyper aware of each other.

Dalton could smell the apple scent of her shampoo from the light evening breeze. It's a scent that he now associated with having her in his bed. He could feel the warmth of her shoulder pressed against his and out of the corner of his eye, he watched her lips each time she had a sip of her beer.

Jaz was on fire from Dalton's muscular shoulder leaning up against hers and she couldn't take her eyes off his strong forearms resting on the railing. His hands, which were surprisingly beautiful considering the job they both did, gripped his beer and she was having a hard time trying not to imagine those hands all over her body.

Jaz had been through the ringer with her emotions today, but this man standing next to her had been there with her every step of the way. Just as he always was. She had so much to thank him for, so much.

Jaz took a deep breath and turned to face Dalton. She looked up at him, right into his eyes and simply said "Thank you."

Dalton turned to look back into her own eyes and smiled, "You've already thanked me for tonight."

"No, not just tonight." Jaz swallowed and took a deep breath.

"Thank you for rescuing me in Tehran." Jaz whispered. "I've never said thank you. I realise Hossein isn't here for me to thank, but you are."

Dalton stared into those big brown eyes, looking at him with a touch of sadness, but also something else he couldn't quite read.

"It's…" He was about to say that it was his job to get her out but he stopped himself. It was his job, but it had been so much more than that. He didn't want to dismiss this as just his job.

He wanted to be honest with her, she deserved that.

So instead he took his own deep breath, continued to look her right in the eye and slowly confessed, "There was no way I was leaving without you, Jaz. I wasn't going to leave. That was never an option… Never."

They just stared into each other's eyes, Jaz's darkening even further from their usual brown, both processing what Dalton had just revealed.

"Wh – Wha…" Jaz tried to form a sentence, but didn't have the words.

They were leaning in close to each other, still not being able to tear their eyes away from each other.

Dalton knew exactly what he wanted to do. He wanted to kiss her. Wanted to wrap his arms around her. But the inner turmoil he was experiencing made it hard to think straight. He was her CO; there was a line not to cross. This would be wrong, and frowned upon. It could end their careers, or certainly their team.

Jaz wanted to kiss those lips that she dreamed about. Wanted to feel them on her own lips and know what they taste like. But he was her CO. She was under his command. They couldn't do this. It could be her career. Both their careers.

Preach's words to Dalton on their last day in Turkey flashed before him. He remembered him saying that life is short and not to take for granted what could be taken away in the blink of an eye. Preach was right. In the job they did, tomorrow was not guaranteed and he didn't want to regret finding out if this could be more. He didn't want to look back on this as a lost opportunity.

With those thoughts in his head and decision made, Dalton took another step closer to Jaz, reached his hands out to cradle her jaw, whispered the words, "Fuck it", and leant down to capture her lips with his.

Jaz instantly responded by leaning in to the kiss and bringing her hands up to grasp his waist.

The kiss was light and tentative, as if testing the waters. They both pulled back slightly, looking at each other for the slightest bit of apprehension, but all they saw was desire. Their magnetism to each other brought their lips back together, this time pressed even closer.

Dalton tilted his head slightly to deepen the kiss and Jaz's arms were now wrapped completely around his waist, holding tight. His lips tasted as sweet as Jaz thought they would and his beard was surprisingly soft against her skin.

Jaz's hands slid up Dalton's back to grasp at his shoulders, while he buried his hand in the hair at the back of her neck, and had another arm around her waist, holding her close. Lips still locked together, they continued to taste each other and enjoy this moment they had waited so long for.

Dalton twisted them around so Jaz's back was against the railing and leant so their bodies were touching from toes to chest. His arms held her close, very close. Their desire for each other was evident, Dalton finding his especially hard to hide.

Jaz's arms were looped around his neck with one hand grasping the hair on the back of his head. He licked her lips with his tongue gently and Jaz opened up her mouth to give him access. They both moaned and deepened the kiss even further.

Everything they had been feeling for so very long, was being expressed in this kiss. It had been a long time coming, but worth it.

After staying wrapped up in each other's arms for another minute, Dalton slowly, and carefully pulled back to rest his forehead against Jaz's. He knew this couldn't go any further tonight. It had been an emotional day for Jaz, and he didn't want any of their actions to be just about blowing off steam.

Their chests were both heaving, trying to catch their breath back and both had their eyes closed, savouring the moment.

With their foreheads still touching, Jaz just whispered, "Wow."

"Yeah." Was all Dalton could mumble, still lost for words.

They stood there for a long while, still with their arms around each other, with both of them wondering why it had taken them so long to get to this point.

Finally a kiss! What do you think? Please let me know.