Ok, here's the second half of the last chapter. You might want to re-read the previous update to refresh yourselves on the story. Hope you enjoy!

I don't own The Brave or any of it's characters... But I wish I did!

Chapter 36

"So you've come no closer to being able to answer that question?" Xander asked Jaz later that morning.

Why did it make you break?

Jaz just shrugged, not really knowing what to say. After a few moments she admitted to Xander that the question confused her. It had played over and over in her mind for the last couple of days; for longer than that if she was being completely honest, and now it was just starting to piss her off. She didn't like not being able to answer it. It made her feel… lost.

Seeing how much this was getting to her, Xander suggested a different approach.

"When you saw those pictures of your team, especially of your CO, what else did you feel?"

Jaz looked at him questioningly.

Clarifying what he meant, he continued, "We've already established that it was momentarily devastating, seeing your teammate made to look like he was dead. Was there any other feelings that came up, even fleetingly?" He prompted gently.

Looking down at her hands, Jaz searched her memories, recalling that time in Tehran, remembering how she felt. All of a sudden she raised her eyes to meet Xander's.

"I was angry."

"Why?"

"I was angry that it appeared like they had broken protocol to try and save me, and that it had gotten Ad – Top, killed."

The slip wasn't lost on Xander, but he didn't address it.

"So even though the photo was fake, in reality they really had broken protocol to save you. That upset you?"

"I would rather they had gotten themselves all out safe than have risked it and potentially lost their lives as a result."

"But – they got you out safely and no one died. No one died Jaz." Xander tried to rationalise with her.

She just remained quiet, still looking down at her hands. She knew they were all safe. She knew no one had died. But the 'what ifs' were playing on her mind. And still that same question nagged on her.

Why did it make you break?

"Have you ever asked any of your team why they broke protocol?" Xander asked quietly but pointedly.

"No," Jaz answered faintly. She had barely spoken at all about the whole ordeal, let alone ask her team why they had broken protocol and come for her. It was only really Adam that she had recently started talking to about Tehran and it had definitely helped her somewhat.

"Maybe you should."

In his very quiet but matter of fact way, Xander pinpointed exactly what she needed to do. In closing herself off and the subject of her capture to the rest of them, she had probably been denying herself the closure that she may need in order to be able to move on.

She would never forget what had happened, but she desperately needed to make headway. She needed to stop it from defining her, and she needed some answers.

Looking up at Xander slowly and seeing the earnest look on his face, seeing that he was genuinely trying to help her, she nodded. He was right, that was exactly what she needed to do. She knew it wouldn't be easy to ask them. But they were her team. They were her best friends. They won't and wouldn't lie to her, not after everything they had been through together.

Dalton sat down in the chair in Xander's office and when he raised his head to look at Xander, it was with a neutral, but relaxed face and demeanour.

Xander nodded slowly in understanding, "I see you found your answer."

Without taking his eyes from Xander's or moving at all, Dalton very perceptively stated evenly, "You knew."

"I suspected." Xander clarified.

After a few moments Dalton started, "Look Xander…"

Putting up his hand, Xander interrupted him, "In our first session together I told you that these sessions are confidential, unless I deem that you are in any danger to yourself or others, or if I have any major concerns about your welfare."

Dalton nodded along with him, remembering Xander telling him so. He couldn't help but feel apprehensive though, this was a tricky situation; far from ideal. The risks are enormous, but he couldn't help but think that Xander wouldn't have pushed him to seek this answer if he was going to throw him under the bus.

Sure enough, Xander's next words cleared that up.

"In my professional opinion, you don't pose a threat to yourself or anyone else, nor do I have concerns about your welfare." Xander looked at him pointedly but with a small smirk on his face.

Dalton let out a long breath he hadn't known he was holding. Granted, Xander didn't know the extent to which his relationship with Jaz had changed over the last month or so. Even so, Xander had the power to blow the whistle on himself and Jaz, but Dalton knew he wasn't that guy. That was exactly why he had felt so comfortable over the years talking to him and why he hadn't hesitated to point Xander in Jaz's direction in Incirlik.

Still though, he had some remorse that Xander was now in this position.

In a daze he noticed that Xander was still speaking, but he had missed it all.

"Sorry, what was that?"

Grinning Xander repeated himself, "I asked if you know what you are going to do with this new revelation?"

"No idea." Dalton admitted bluntly. And that was the god's honest truth. He had no idea.

Back at the hotel, Jaz found McG and Amir in the café sitting down to have coffee so she joined them and ordered her own.

Amir caught the look on her face, "Everything ok?"

Jaz didn't know whether to scowl or smile, of course Amir would be able to tell that something was off.

"Actually, I need to ask you guys something."

Noting the hesitation in her voice, McG bit back the smart ass remark he was about to blurt out. He knew that she had a session this morning with Xander, and he wondered if whatever she was about to ask had stemmed from that. Highly likely.

"In Tehran…" Jaz started hesitantly, "In Tehran, you guys broke protocol. You were supposed to leave, but instead you got me out."

Hearing Jaz talk about Tehran sobered them both very quickly. This wasn't something that Jaz ever spoke about, so they knew that this was hard for her.

"Why didn't you leave?"

McG and Amir exchanged glances quickly, wondering if Jaz had brought this up with Top or Preach yet. Regardless, the truth was the only way to go.

"In all honestly, after our initial efforts lead us to a dead end, we very nearly did leave," McG explained, "Top was getting ready to hear about exfil plans from the Deputy Director, when he came up with the idea to expose you."

Picking up the story from McG, Amir continued, "We thought his plan was crazy at first, it seemed fraught with danger and I'm ashamed to admit that we questioned him on it, repeatedly. But there was no talking Top out with it. He was determined, he had Patricia on board and that spread to the rest of us. He wasn't going home without you, so neither were we."

Jaz sat in silence for a few moments, letting their explanation sink in.

"But you could have all been killed." She reasoned with them.

McG shrugged, "But we weren't. And you're here with us."

Jaz let a smile wash over her face at the simpleness of McG's answer. He was right.

"Thanks guys." She just said simply, and they knew that that particular conversation was done for now.

Later that afternoon, when she was back in her bedroom, Jaz called Preach. She could have just text him, but she thought talking to him would be easier.

"Hey Jaz." Preach greeted her and she could tell by his tone of voice that he was smiling. That was Preach, always able to make someone feel like family, just with a simple greeting.

"Hey Preach, how are you?"

"All good here, sticking to my rehab, being bossed around by my wife and daughters and now you can add Patton to that list too."

"You're loving every minute it." Jaz replied, smiling at the thought.

"You know it. So what can I do for you, Jaz?"

"I actually want to ask you something that has come up in my therapy sessions."

"Ok, shoot." Preach replied without hesitation, hearing the serious tone settle into her voice.

Jaz took a deep breath before explaining, "In Tehran, you all broke protocol by staying and getting me out. Why?"

Preach hadn't been expecting this when he answered the phone, but he knew it must be something important for her to call. Normally they would text or WhatsApp. Wanting to give her the answer she deserved he started to answer her slowly and purposely.

"Truthfully, we thought we had explored all our opportunities. Top heard the sheep on your recording and led us to the slaughterhouse, but that was a fortress. We thought that was it. We were devastated thinking we would have to leave, but it was Top who found a way. It was Top who managed to convince us all that we had this one and only opportunity to grab you. I'm regretful to say that we all thought he was crazy at first, but we could see his determination and desperation to get you. His desperation convinced us, and he was right."

Jaz let that sit for a moment. It was pretty much what McG and Amir had told her too.

Sensing that she was struggling with what to say, he reached out, "Jaz, the hardest times in our lives often lead to the greatest moments. What you went through and what you continue to go through is a challenge, but keep the faith. It will all be worthwhile in the end. These moments can only make you stronger, and you're easily one of the strongest people I know."

"Thanks Preach," Jaz whispered, not knowing what else to say.

"Anytime girl. You know you can hit me up anytime you need to. I'm no therapist, but I promise you this, I will always listen and I will always care."

"I miss you. Hurry up and get better so that you can help me keep McG in line." Jaz said affectionately.

"I know without a shadow of a doubt that you do not need me for that." Preach chuckled and Jaz chuckled right along with him.

There was one more member of her team to question, and she had been saving the hardest for last.

Asking Adam these same questions wasn't going to be easy, especially given what the other three had told her. She didn't know how to approach this and needed some time to think.

All of a sudden her mind wandered back to when Adam told her all about Hossein that day they were fishing by the lake. Some of Adam's words flashed back to her and she decided it was all the more reason to give this a bit more thought.

Hossein knew I was not going to leave without getting you out. I was not leaving, it was never an option.

She'd never questioned him about that at the time. It didn't feel right back then. But why was leaving never an option for him? Maybe now was the right time to find out.

She threw on some active wear and decided to go for a run. She did her best thinking when she was exercising.

Walking back to the hotel after his session with Xander, Dalton was still trying to process this whole situation and his emotions towards it.

It was new. Like, brand fucking shiny new. And he was still struggling with the whole concept of it.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and sent a quick text.

You could have just told me – Top

About damn time you figured it out – Preach

Dalton smiled wryly at his phone.

Would have been a whole lot easier if you had just told me – Top

It's something you needed to figure out for yourself – Preach

I was so confused – Top

I've heard that confusion is the first step towards clarity – Preach

English please - Top

Don't try to figure it all out at once, take it one day at a time and just enjoy the journey. You've figured out the hard part, the rest should be easy – Preach

'Should' being the operative word – Top

Enjoy it, Top. Love is a beautiful thing – Preach

Once again Dalton smiled wryly at his phone. Of course Preach had all the answers, now if only he could figure them all out.

That evening, Amir and McG went to see a movie and thought they would give Jaz and Dalton a night to themselves. Neither of them felt like going far so instead they went and got some take out from a restaurant down the street and decided to just watch some Netflix in Jaz's room.

They were both preoccupied with their own thoughts, caught up in their own subconscious, processing the questions and revelations they had both been faced with the last few days.

Jaz was still trying to answer all the queries running through her head and Dalton was still trying to process his epiphany.

Neither were really paying attention to what was on the TV and Dalton noticed Jaz just picking at her dinner.

Sensing that she needed to talk about something, he reached out his hand to touch her arm and he prodded gently, "Jaz, talk to me."

Those words of his were hard to ignore. They held a special place in her heart, knowing he was always available to talk to when she needed him.

Looking up at him, Jaz knew that this conversation needed to be had; there was no point dragging this out. If she wanted answers of her own, she needed some of his.

Turning around to face Adam on the couch she mentally braced herself, exhaled the breath she didn't know she was holding and blurted out before she could change her mind, "I need to ask you a question."

Adam moved positions so he was also facing her and looking her in the eye, "You can ask me anything, you know that."

Jaz took a big breath feeling slightly calmer listening to his easy tone. She asked quietly, "Why did you break protocol in Tehran?"

Dalton was surprised by the question and frowned slightly, "What do you mean?"

Jaz paused and looked down at her hands, "After I was captured, protocol dictates that you return without me. We're black ops. Our government doesn't recognise us, and no help is to be sent in. You ignored that. Why?"

"We saw a way to get you out. We found the slaughterhouse." Dalton explained.

"But it was a fortress. You would have been killed."

"We found a way – by exposing you, and Patricia agreed with me."

"But it was a massive risk, you could have all been killed."

"But we weren't. We're all here, alive." His voice emphasising that fact, his calm and even tone starting to disintegrate in exasperation.

Jaz stood up off the couch, starting to feel a little frustrated. Pacing in front of Adam, she turned to him with a look of desperation in her eye.

"I just – I just need to know, why you broke protocol?"

"We weren't leaving you behind, Jaz. I wasn't leaving you behind."

That's what she needed to know more about. Why he couldn't leave her behind.

"Why?" She almost pleaded.

"Because you're part of my team, I couldn't leave anyone behind." Dalton justified, starting to get agitated.

"But you know the rules. I knew the rules. It was risky."

"It all worked out, Jaz, and it was my call." He stood up to face her with that statement, starting to wonder where she was going with all of this, and why she was pushing the subject so hard.

"But what if it hadn't? What if you had all been killed?"

"We don't need to think about that, we're all ok."

Jaz was feeling more incensed as this conversation went on. She needed something from him, she just wasn't sure what. But without it, she needed to keep pushing, for her own sanity.

Taking a big deep breath, trying to calm herself down, she clenched and unclenched her fists before looked him right in the eye.

"I can't stop thinking about it. I need to know why you didn't leave. You told me that Hossein knew you weren't going to leave without getting me out. You said that you weren't leaving, that it was never an option."

"Correct. I wasn't leaving without you." Dalton confirmed irritably, running his hand through his beard, concerned with the direction this conversation was going and the way they were both acting.

"Why?" Jaz asked, her voiced getting louder and firmer.

"I wouldn't have forgiven myself."

"Why?" Her voice stronger and more insistent.

"Because, I—I…"

"WHY?" She almost yelled, the desperation clearly evident in her voice.

"BECAUSE I'M IN LOVE WITH YOU." He yelled back at her.

The seconds following were palpable.

They both froze.

They were both silent.

Their eyes were locked together.

Dalton's nostrils flared, and he instantly wished he could take it back. Not the sentiment behind it, but the means in which he had said it. Jaz just had a way of getting under his skin, in more ways than one. They had butted heads before, and neither of them were great at backing down. It had never been like this though, with so many other feelings flying between them.

Or maybe it had always been like this. Their awareness was now just heightened.

Jaz was just in shock. Her mouth agape.

"Wha – What?"

Dalton took a long shaky breath, his chest heaving with emotion. There was no going back now, but he needed to fix this.

"I'm in love with you, Jaz" he said a lot more quietly and gently than the first time, his eyes shining with desperation and sincerity.

Jaz was still frozen, not sure what to say or do.

"I, I – uh, I need to go."

"No, wait – Jaz…" Adam calls after her, but she was already out the door and he knew better than to follow her at the moment.

Instead he sat back down heavily on the couch and put his head in his hands.

What the fuck had just happened?

Well? Do you hate me? Hope not. It took a while to edit this last part, and as always, I'm not sure if I'm entirely happy with it, but I hope it reads ok.

The next chapter picks up straight after this. They have a LOT of processing to do.

Thank you to you beautiful people who continue to read this, and as always a special mention to those who comment. I'm not just saying it when I tell you the comments seriously keep me motivated and keep me honest. Much love XXX