Here's the next chapter. Thanks for bearing with me while I was at camp. It was exhausting, but fun. Anyway, hope you all enjoy and let me know what you think :)

Chapter 17

The next day, Dalton was surprised to find McG already up when he got up early to let Patton out.

"Another early morning, buddy?"

"It's my last day, I want to make the most of it." McG explained.

"Fair enough." Dalton accepted, before sitting at the dining table with McG.

"Hey…" Dalton started quietly, "… I've been wanting to thank you for chatting to Jaz the other day about seeking some help about her nightmares. Whatever you said to her did the trick."

McG just shrugged, "She knew she needed help, it just took her some time to realise it. Hearing it from us was a wakeup call for her."

"Yeah but it was you she listened to, and I'm grateful for that." Dalton explained.

McG was quiet for a moment, thinking about how to word what he wanted to say, "Maybe it needed to come from someone who wasn't struggling with their own demons…"

Dalton just looked at him, frowning slightly.

"How are your nightmares, Top?" He asked softly, but pointedly.

Dalton tried to look stoic, but opened his mouth to reply, but couldn't find the words.

"Let me guess, you haven't had any since sleeping in the same room as Jaz? But I'm going to guess you had plenty of them before that…" McG ventured, and he was right.

Dalton looked down at the table and thought back to the ten days before Jaz had arrived at the cabin, and the nightmares that plagued him almost every night. Visions of Hoffman, Hossein and Elijah were permanent features. But the worst had been about Jaz. Jaz getting taken by the Quds, Jaz being tortured, Jaz being killed before he could get to her, and then there were the nightmares that intertwined all of the above. He had only had one nightmare since Jaz arrived, but none since she had been sleeping next to him.

McG just waited to see if Dalton would respond, but when he didn't he suggested gently, "Maybe you need to talk to someone too, Top."

When Dalton looked up at him in surprise, McG explained, "I know you, Top. You blame yourself every time something goes wrong or doesn't go to plan. You place the weight of the whole team on your shoulders, and that's gotta weigh you down. You're an amazing leader, but blaming yourself for everything is both ridiculous and unsubstantiated."

Dalton just listened to what McG was saying, surprised that everything he said was absolutely spot on, and exactly how he felt.

"You can't carry all of that around with you. It'll eat away at you and start to affect your judgement. You taught us all that." McG pointed out before finishing off simply, "Maybe you need to talk to someone too."

Dalton remained quiet a few moments longer, just letting what McG had said sink in. He would encourage any of his team to seek help or guidance if they needed it. He should probably start to practice what he preached.

"You're right." He agreed quietly and McG just raised his eyes at him. "I don't say that often, so enjoy it." Dalton tried to joke before continuing, "No, you're right. If I'm encouraging Jaz to seek help, I should definitely do so too."

McG just nodded, "Let me know if you want me to set anything up."

"Thanks buddy." Dalton said simply.

McG was so glad that Top had been receptive. He had wanted to bring this up for a while, but was concerned that Dalton would shoot him down. After managing to convince Jaz, he knew that this was his window to try and convince Dalton too. Thankfully, Dalton had been on board.

Jaz got up not long after so they had breakfast together, before starting McG's last full day at the cabin.

Dalton didn't tell either one of them where they were headed as they left the cabin in his truck late in the morning, with Patton of course. He had saved this destination just for McG.

It took about half an hour to get there, but McG perked up in the back seat when he saw the sign, "A brewery?"

"That's not all…" Dalton teased as he parked his truck.

They all walked around to the beer garden around the back of the brewery, to where some games were set up.

"A CORN HOLE BREWERY!" McG practically squealed with his arms up in the air, making Jaz and Dalton nearly fall over laughing.

"I told you it existed, Jazzy." McG bragged to Jaz.

"Yeah, yeah. I'll let you have that one." Jaz surrendered.

"Top, this is fucking awesome." McG grinned at Dalton.

"Thought you'd like it. I'll get us some drinks." Dalton wandered into the brewery as McG and Jaz set themselves up on a table in the sun, right next to the corn hole goal boards.

They got right into playing a game when Dalton returned with their drinks. They spent a good few hours at the brewery playing corn hole, enjoying some lunch and Jaz and McG had a couple more beers, since they weren't driving.

After their lunch, a group of ladies had set themselves up on the goal boards next to them, and McG being McG, managed to infiltrate their game with a few killer smiles and well placed compliments.

Jaz and Dalton took a break and sat back at their table and watched McG in his element.

"I mean, could this day get any better for him? Beer, corn hole, pretty ladies…" Jaz chuckled.

"Thought I'd reward him for his good behaviour." Dalton joked.

They were sitting next to each other on the bench seat at the table, as close as they could without drawing any attention to themselves.

"I'm going to miss him when he's gone." Jaz said, tilting her head towards McG.

"Me too." Dalton admitted.

They both turned to look at each other and with small smiles and slightly pink tinged cheeks, they both knew they were also looking forward to having the cabin to themselves. They loved McG, they loved all of their team mates, but they were at the stage that they needed some time to themselves.

Time to explore what was happening between them. Time to explore where this might lead. Time to explore each other.

They both knew what the other was thinking. This time tomorrow, it would be back to being just the two of them and they wouldn't have to conceal their feelings or their sleep habits, or their reactions to each other.

McG was in high spirits as Dalton drove them back from the brewery in the afternoon.

"Thanks Top, that was awesome." McG said appreciatively.

"I'm sure it was lover boy." Jaz added sarcastically.

Dalton just laughed from the driver's seat, "No worries, buddy. Glad you enjoyed it."

"Man, I'm gonna miss this place, I totally get why you live here, Top." McG said genuinely.

"Well you're welcome back any time. Just give me a heads up so I can stock up on food." Dalton chuckled.

"Copy that."

They spent the rest of the afternoon fishing on the jetty. Dalton was pretty happy that he had managed to turn them all into fishing lovers. It was something they all seemed to genuinely enjoy, and he had every intention of finding some fishing opportunities in Turkey for when they are back on the job and in desperate need of some down time.

Compared to his last few weeks at home in these mountains, Turkey seemed another life time away. They would all be going back, that was inevitable, but in what capacity, he was unsure. They needed to wait and see how Preach's rehab progressed. His status would be a question mark for a good while yet. And of course, what was happening between himself and Jaz was still a mystery, even to the two of them. They were going to have to have a conversation, or ten, before long. Dalton couldn't decide if he was looking forward to that conversation, or dreading it.

All he knew at the moment was that he was happy. The happiest he had ever been in his life. He had always loved his job, that part of his life had always satisfied him. But his personal life had often fallen short. He knew they still weren't labeling anything, but whatever this mysterious relationship with Jaz was, it made him happy.

She made him happy.

It was as simple as that. For now.

They barbequed for dinner that night and following that they sat around the fire, giving each other shit and making plans for visiting Preach. They were going to try and all arrive on the same day.

When Dalton wandered off to take a phone call, McG asked Jaz again if she had any plans to visit Elijah's family.

"I'm not sure. I'd like to, I'm just not sure when yet." Jaz explained.

"Maybe you could go before you visit Preach. I can meet you there if you want?" McG offered.

"Thanks for the offer, but I would be ok by myself. I know them pretty well." Jaz was appreciative of the offer, but if she went to visit Elijah's family, it was something she felt she needed to do herself. She had been in contact with them since Elijah passed away, but she hadn't seen them. She knew it would be emotional, for them and herself, but they had welcomed her like family the last few times she had visited them, and they were all she had left of Elijah.

"You still happy for me to tee up a meeting with Xander Martin for the week after we leave Preach's?" McG asked tentatively.

"Yep." Jaz nodded emphatically. Since she had made the decision to speak to someone, and had told Dalton about her decision, it was something she had become more comfortable with and more determined to tackle head on. It was an element of her life where she wanted to take back control, the sooner the better.

"Alright, I'll text you and let you know." McG told her, before continuing, "I'm proud of you, Jaz."

"Aww thanks, big bro." Jaz teased.

"Well you are annoying, like a little sister." McG explained.

"You love it." Jaz laughed and McG joined in with her.

Dalton came back to join them just them.

"Everything alright, Top?" McG asked.

"Yeah, just talking to one of my sister's, all good though." Dalton answered and McG just gave him the thumbs up signal.

"Well I might call it a night." Jaz announced as she stood up.

"We still going for breakfast on the way to the airport tomorrow?" McG asked.

"If it means no more breakfast burritos, I'm in." Jaz retorted.

"Ha ha, Jazzy. I know you're gonna miss me." McG replied sarcastically.

Jaz just smiled as she walked past McG and fist pumped him. She kept walking past Dalton and as her eyes met his briefly, the smile on her face widened slightly. He returned the smile as she held her fist out to fist pump him also. He returned the gesture in order to keep up appearances, before she went inside the cabin to bed.

Dalton and McG stayed outside a while longer. They had worked together a long time, and it was nice just to be able to kick back, chat and hang shit on each other, without the threat of a job cropping up at any stage.

As team medic, it was McG's job not to just look after his team mates, but also report back to his CO. Being on leave didn't change that. For that reason, he filled Dalton in on Jaz's plans to meet with Captain Martin after their long weekend at Preach's house.

Dalton took on the information and nodded slowly. "Good, I'm glad she's seeing Xander. She's talked to him before and I can testify as to how good he is."

"Want me to tee up a session for you too?" McG asked.

Dalton looked up at him questioningly.

McG continued with an explanation. "I mean, you trust him. It's the reason you sent him to talk to Jaz right? Maybe he should be the person you speak to also."

Dalton knew that McG made a very good point. He hadn't thought beyond the long weekend at Preach's just yet, but if Jaz was going to be in DC, maybe he should think about heading there too. He wanted to talk to Jaz about it first though, he didn't want to hinder her own treatment.

"I'll think about it and let you know." He said appreciatively. "Thanks, McG."

"Any time Top, any time."

Jaz was already asleep when Dalton crawled into bed that evening, but she rolled over instinctively to face him as soon as he was settled. With a soft smile on his face, he leant over to place a gentle kiss on her lips and when he pulled away he was surprised when she reached out to pull him back towards her to meet her lips again.

"Hi." He whispered to her with a smirk on his face and a twinkle in his eye.

"Hi." She echoed back sleepily, but with the same twinkle in her own eyes. She ran her hand over his chest, up his neck and let it rest on the side of his head as she brought his head to hers again to kiss him lingeringly.

"I thought you were asleep." Dalton mumbled in between kisses.

"I was. Think I'll go back to sleep now." She whispered and she pretended to turn away from him.

"No, no, no…" Dalton pleaded quietly and he pulled her back towards him and planted his lips back on hers.

Jaz couldn't help smiling as she returned his kiss and let out a small gasp as he pulled her even closer to him, so that she was lying on top of him.

"Sshhhhh." He whispered into her mouth as his lips found hers again and again. He cradled her face in both of his hands as he pulled away to look at her.

"I could kiss you all night." He whispered to her, looking deeply into her eyes.

She looked back into the depths of his eyes and leaned down to deepen their kiss.

"Me too." She whispered between kisses, "But that might kill us both."

As their kisses intensified even further, Dalton's hands released her face to roam all over her back, keeping her close to him. He let one of his hands wander down to rest on her ass and he held her there firmly. In response she rocked her hips against his, to which he let out a low, deep moan.

"See what I mean." She hissed against his lips, "It's like torture."

Taking in her words, he quickly rolled them over so that she was on her back and he was leaning over her. He slowly and deliberately placed a kiss to each of the scars scattered across her collar bones, and chest. When he pulled back to look at her, he spoke in a barely audible voice.

"Nothing is torturous with you, Jaz."

Jaz inhaled deeply and felt her eyes prick with tears. Her only response was to place both her hands on his face, thumbs running over his cheeks, and pull him down to meet her lips in a heartfelt kiss, trying to impart what she was feeling.

It was the only way she knew how to respond to him right then. The only way her heart knew how to respond. And boy was her heart working overtime at the moment.

Dalton was up first the next morning and put the coffee pot on ready for when McG and Jaz got up. Once it had brewed, he poured himself a mug and went outside to drink it on the back veranda as he let Patton out.

He stood there lost in thought.

Later today, he and Jaz would finally be alone together. Not that he hadn't enjoyed Amir and McG both visiting the cabin, in fact it had been a blast, but he knew that he and Jaz needed this. They had barely started whatever this was right before Amir got there and despite them both agreeing to cool things down once he arrived, when they had ended up sleeping in the same room again, that plan had flown out the window.

He was nervous. He hadn't dealt with a situation like this since… well he couldn't even remember. And at the root of it all was still the issue of him being her CO, and that wasn't going to go away.

Did he worry about that fact? Yes.

Did he care about that fact? Yes.

Was he going to let that fact get in the way of whatever this was? It might already be too late for that.

It wasn't his style to be reckless, to break or bend rules, or to let his heart get in the way of his head. But he couldn't ignore the overwhelming happiness he felt when he was with Jaz. The way he always wanted to touch her, or seek out her gaze. The way his body responded to her, and the way they kept each other's demons at bay, despite those still being unresolved.

This could either be the best decision of his life, or the worst. Throwing caution to the wind, he decided there was only one way to find out.

Jaz woke up not long after Dalton left the bedroom. She could smell the coffee brewing in the kitchen but decided to enjoy five more minutes in bed before getting up.

She ended up laying on her back just staring at the ceiling.

Today was the day that she and Dalton would finally be alone together again, and despite what their plans had originally been, things between them had continued to progress even with Amir and McG being there with them. They ended up sharing a bed again, and ended up sharing a lot more too.

She was nervous. She hadn't dealt with a situation like this… ever. And the fact of the matter was, he was still her CO.

Did she worry about that fact? Yes.

Did she care about that fact? Yes.

She had tried to take the lead from him in this situation, but she'd be lying if she said the situation hadn't plagued her.

She'd been known to be reckless and bend a few rules in the past. Hell, it was Top who had ripped into her for improvising in Tehran. But she had never done so in matters of the heart. No one else had ever mattered this much romantically. No one else had ever made her feel the way she felt when she was with him and she had certainly never responded to someone the way her body did with him.

This could be an absolute disaster, but she was willing to find out where this could go.

They were all up and out of the cabin by 9am, heading into town for some breakfast before dropping McG off at the airport.

They sat chatting as they waited for their meals in a café that Dalton had chosen.

"Jaz, if you change your mind about wanting company visiting Elijah's family, just let me know." McG reminded her.

"Oh, um – yeah. Thanks." Jaz faltered slightly, since she hadn't yet told Dalton that she was thinking of visiting.

Dalton could see her discomfort so addressed her soothingly, "That's a great idea Jaz, and they'll love seeing you."

Jaz let a ghost of a smile cross her face, thankful that he thought so.

Their meals arrived then, and Jaz was glad for the disruption. She hadn't finalised any plans just yet, but she really did want to see the Vallins', she just hadn't really filled Dalton in on that plan yet.

An hour and a half later, Dalton pulled his truck up outside the domestic terminal at the airport. They all got out of the car and McG put his bag on the ground as he turned to the other two to say goodbye.

He clasped hands with Dalton before pulling him in for a hug.

"Thanks Top, it's been unreal. I'll definitely be coming back at some stage."

"Anytime buddy, you know that.

McG turned to Jaz then and leant down to give her a hug and in doing so, stood up straight so she was lifted right off the ground.

Jaz giggled and gave him a big hug back. She then promptly whacked him on the shoulder and told him to put her down.

"So I'll see you both in just over a week, yeah?"

Jaz and Dalton both nodded in response.

With a flick of his chin and a hand waved in goodbye, he started walking backwards into the terminal.

"You two take care, huh? See you soon." McG turned around and with a knowing grin on his face, he left Dalton and Jaz by themselves.

"Good luck you two." He said to himself, with a smirk on his face.

The ride back from the airport was almost silent, comfortably so though. Their eyes met a few times and smiles crossed their faces. They'd waited for this day, and now they were finally alone again.

Dalton parked the truck outside the cabin and with another quick glance at each other, they got out of the truck and walked inside.

Jaz took a few steps into the cabin and turned around to face Dalton.

Dalton closed the front door behind him and turned to lean on it, facing Jaz.

They looked each other right in the eyes and let the smiles slowly take over their whole faces.

Dalton held out his hand to Jaz, and she looked down at it, before putting her own hand in his, and taking a step forward towards him.

As soon as she was close enough, he moved both his hands to her hips and she rested hers on his shoulders.

Still not breaking eye contact, Dalton leaned his head so their noses were millimetres apart.

"Alone at last." He whispered, before pressing his lips to hers and pulling her body flush against his.

Goodbye McG! Finally...

I have the next chapter already written, but I'm not happy with it. I'll need a few days to try and improve it. The two chapters following that are good to go though. Thanks to all of you who continue to read. I'm always interested to know what you think, so please let me know :)