Thank you so much for the lovely comments on my last chapter, I appreciate every single one of them SO much. Here's the next chapter for you. As always, if you need to refresh your memory, please re-read the previous chapter. Hope you enjoy :)

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

Chapter 38

Waking up from their shared nap, Adam and Jaz had never felt so well rested; sleeping side-by-side mostly had that effect on them.

It was their phones buzzing that had woken them, and when they checked them it was Amir texting with dinner plans.

Made a reservation at the bar at 7 – Amir

I can make it later if you need me to… – Amir

Jaz, are you awake? – Amir

Top? – Amir

Sighing, Adam replied quickly.

7 is fine. We'll be ready soon – Top.

Oh thank god, thought we were going to have to send out a search and rescue – McG

Still wrapped around each other, Jaz asked Adam what the time was.

"We have half an hour before dinner," he answered her while simultaneously pulling her close to him again.

Watching a slew of expressions cross her face, he interjected before she could even open her mouth.

"Let's talk later, yeah?"

It was like he had read her mind, but that didn't surprise her.

"Ok." She replied, not quite being able to meet his eyes.

Putting a hand below her chin and lifting it so her coffee coloured eyes met his, he couldn't help but kiss her softly on her lips, wanting to eradicate the uncertainty he saw in them.

"We're ok Jaz, I promise. We just need to talk." He murmured softly to her, his hand moving to cradle her cheek, "OK?"

Seeing the earnestness in his cobalt eyes, she couldn't help but feel reassured. She knew they needed to talk—about a lot of things, but knowing that he wasn't angry at her eased the guilt she felt about running away on him.

"Ok." She answered him and lifted her fingers so they sifted through his beard to lay against his own cheek. Leaning forward to join their lips together again, she lingered on the taste of them.

They might still have a lot to talk about, a lot to figure out and a lot to process, but she wouldn't want to do that with anyone else but him.

"I'm going to head back to Montana the day after tomorrow." McG told them at dinner that evening.

Amir raised his eyebrows, "Mom calling?"

McG shrugged, "Actually yeah. And I want to spend some more time with her while I can, you know?"

Amir immediately reigned in the sarcasm, "Of course. You should."

He knew how special family were and the importance of spending every moment you could with them while you were able to.

"Absolutely." Dalton agreed with him.

"Who am I gonna whip at the shooting range?" Jaz asked jokingly.

"Jaz, it doesn't matter who was with you, you'd whip all their butts anyway." McG conceded.

They all nodded their heads in agreement. Jaz's superior shooting skills weren't a secret; they all knew it.

McG knew that something had gone on with Jaz and Dalton, so he didn't want to ask them what their plans were just yet, but he knew it was time for him to head home for a bit. They had been in DC nearly two weeks, which was what the original plan was. He had wanted to make sure Jaz and Dalton were comfortable in their sessions with Xander Martin, and he was content with that for now. If either one of them desperately wanted him to stay, he would—without a question. But he sensed it was ok for him to go home for now.

Even so, when Dalton and Amir headed to the bar for more drinks, McG quickly checked in with Jaz.

"Hey, if you need me to stay longer, just say the word."

Jaz knew she could be sarcastic or blunt or dry, as she so often was with McG. Instead she chose just to tell the truth.

"I'm good. Go see your Mom. It's important."

"You sure you're good?"

"I will be. We will be."

"That's good to hear. You guys got lucky. Look after each other."

Jaz felt her cheeks warm at McG's words. She was lucky. They were lucky. She would never have guessed that they would be in this situation not so long ago, and now that they were, she wanted to make sure she didn't jeopardise it by running at every drop of a hat.

Looking up and catching Adam's eye as he returned to the table, she smiled softly at him and felt her cheeks redden even more deeply when he returned the same smile, seeing the tenderness in his eyes.

He made her feel flustered.

He made her feel like she couldn't breathe.

He made her feel things she had never felt before.

"I'm sorry I ran."

Jaz and Adam were sitting side-by-side on the couch in her room. After dinner they had briefly thought about heading to the roof to seek comfort in the stars and the large expanse of night sky, but they had thought better of it. A conversation like this couldn't be in a public place.

"You don't need to be sorry." Adam said gently in response to her.

"Maybe so, but I mean it. I need to stop running. I know it's my go-to move, but truthfully I just didn't know how to respond, or what to say."

Adam turned to face her, "Jaz, I know that you needed to be alone. I get that. And I know what I said to you was probably a shock. I'm not mad that you ran. I was just worried that I had frightened you off."

Jaz turned to face him in response, "I was worried you would be hurt; that I might have ruined everything."

"It's going to take a lot more than that to get rid of me," Adam soothed her with a small smile on his face.

Jaz held his gaze with her own, thinking about what Xander had said to her on the roof last night about being honest; being honest with Adam.

Inhaling and exhaling slowly, lowering her eyes from his and concentrating on her breathing, she opened up to him a little more, her voice sounding even deeper than usual, "No one has ever said those words to me before. It… uh, it surprised me."

Adam was silent for a moment, his heart silently breaking for her and her life thus far, before quietly admitting, "It surprised me too."

Jaz lifted her eyes back to focus on his, and could see the truth in his eyes.

He continued, wanting to further explain, "Not when I yelled it to you, but when I first realised it. I honestly never meant to tell you like that. I would love to take that back and tell you differently."

"Well I was being—argumentative…" Jaz conceded.

"You wouldn't be you if you weren't being argumentative." Adam joked, teasing a smile from her.

Reaching for her and pulling her so she sat on his lap, he positioned them so that one of his arms was cradling her body close to his, whilst the other hand took one of hers and held on tight. He wanted her to be close to him when he continued.

"Look, Jaz," he started softly looking her in the eye, speaking slowly and deliberately, "I meant what I said. And I'm pretty sure I've felt this way a lot longer than I realised, even though it's only just clicked. It snuck up on me, and I've never felt this way before and that scares me. It's unfamiliar and I'm nervous and I'm worried that I'll stuff something up—but I meant it."

His eyes never left hers and he intertwined their fingers together, griping them tightly as if to reassure her before continuing.

"I don't need you to say it back; I have no expectations, and I don't need you to respond. I just want you to know it. I just need you to accept it as true, and I just need you to believe it. I love you, Jaz. I am in love with you."

Jaz's eyes had glazed over with tears. He had said it again, and she still didn't know how to respond. But with the desperate look in his eyes, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was telling the truth. Adam Dalton was the most honest person she had ever met, and he certainly wouldn't say something like this unless he meant it.

His words made every single cell in her body yield; like every part of her wanted to surrender to him and the way he made her feel.

She just wished she knew what to say. She wished her fucked up and damaged childhood hadn't left her emotionally stunted. She just did not know what to say. Not verbally anyway.

But she could sure as hell say it to him in another way, because she did know how it made her feel.

With her eyes never leaving his, she slowly changed her position so she was straddling his lap, a knee either side of his legs.

Their eyes never left each other's. His were desperately searching hers, trying to read a reaction of any sort; hers were trying to convey that despite her lack of words, she was feeling so much. So, so much.

Leaning forward, placing her hands on either side of his neck, she lowered her head until their noses brushed against each other. She held herself there for a few seconds, just breathing him and his delicious scent in.

She watched him swallow thickly and felt him shudder. He was nervous. He was nervous about what he had revealed to her and sensing that, Jaz wanted to take that away from him. She wanted to ease his thoughts and fears.

She may not have had the words, but her need for him was overwhelming. She softly, but quickly tasted his lips, just brushing her own against his, before pulling away again just slightly to stare into those eyes.

Those eyes that she could drown in; those eyes that made her feel vulnerable, and those eyes, with the way they were looking at her right now, made her feel loved for the first time in her life.

She didn't doubt his words, not when his eyes reflected every word he had spoken, and more.

Her actions needed to be her response. The hands on his neck worked their way into the hair on the back of his head and she leaned forward again to kiss him. She kissed him slowly and deeply, feeling their lips spark against each other as he responded instantly.

His own hands clutched at her waist, giving him an anchor as he not only rode the wave of his own emotions, but also of the feelings that Jaz was transferring with her actions.

They tilted their heads to deepen the kiss further; their lips massaging the other and melding together. Their tongues tasted and caressed each other and they got lost in this kiss as it continued to gain momentum.

Jaz pressed herself against Adam, her whole upper body flush against his, feeling the heat he emitted from every pore in his body warming her own. They both groaned from the searing heat of each other, and Adam pulled Jaz even closer into him; his arms no longer clutching her waist, but grabbing her hips to shift her further forward so that no space whatsoever existed between them. As if they were one entity.

Their lips and bodies changed momentum as the kiss turned from slow and emotional to desperate and urgent.

They started to rock together, and the rush of their emotions, spread to the rest of their bodies.

Adam held Jaz's hips close to his own and she could feel the length of him hard, encased in his jeans.

Their arms moved to wrap around each other, still searching for ways to be even closer as they continued to rock together, lips never leaving each other and their desire building by the millisecond.

When they finally broke away momentarily to catch their breath, their chests were heaving with the desperation they felt for each other.

Jaz took advantage of this moment to unbutton his shirt and push it back from his body. She swept her soft and capable hands across his well-toned chest, still amazed that this man could evoke so much feeling inside of her.

Catching her lips with his again as her hands continued their path, he breathed hotly, "You're so beautiful, Jaz."

His words made her kiss him even harder, before she pulled away quickly to shed her own t-shirt.

He leaned forward, encasing her ribcage with his hands while he pressed hot kisses to her chest and sternum, as always paying special attention to her scars.

He reached around to unhook her bra and when it fell away he redirected his attention to her breasts. Massaging them. Kneading them.

When he leaned forward to take her nipple in his mouth, she couldn't help but throw her head back in a moan, letting the ripples of pleasure take over. He held her hips close to his, as he divided his attention between both nipples. Licking them. Sucking them. Running his teeth over them.

He could not get enough of Jaz Khan if he tried.

Feeling this escalating, their hips grinding against each other, Jaz quickly moved to stand up to remove her jeans and underwear. Dalton quickly did the same, wriggling out of the remainder of his clothing, before moving to the edge of the couch and grabbing her thighs to draw her to him.

With his hands clasping her legs while she stood in front of him, he looked up to lock his eyes with hers as he leaned forward to press a kiss to the juncture between her thighs. Watching her eyes glaze over, he closed his own as he let his tongue explore her, seeking out her clit before tonguing it gently.

The feel of his tongue against her had her gripping his head to both hold him close and give herself an anchor, as the sensations he was giving her made her legs feel weak.

His mouth tingled as he continued to taste her glistening sex and he buried his head even deeper as he moved his tongue all the way through her slit. He could taste her juices and knew how turned on she was, which was only having the same effect on him.

Pulling himself away, he smiled at her as she groaned in protest and using the grip he still had on her thighs, he pulled her back towards him.

He locked eyes with her as he lowered her back down to straddle his lap and at the same time he eased her down onto his cock, burying himself deep inside of her.

They both released deep, guttural moans as their bodies joined together, both of them pausing to just take in the sensation of their union.

After a moment, Jaz started to move. She was so wet with arousal that her movements were effortless and she could feel Adam's cock deep inside of her. She stretched around him, clasping him tight, unleashing a new flurry of shivers within them both.

"You feel so good." Adam mumbled as he started to lift his own hips in time with hers as their rhythm became more frantic.

Wrapping his arms around her to keep her as close as possible only heightened Jaz's excitement and the pressure between her legs intensified as she rode him faster and faster.

He slid one hand down to rub her clit, causing her to cry out in ecstasy and crush her lips against his in a searing kiss.

"So do you." Jaz managed to eventually mumble against his lips; her eyes locked with his as they rocked and moved simultaneously, feeling Adam reaching further and deeper inside of her.

They were both enthralled in this moment, riding the wave building inside of them until that wave reached its peak and crashed on the shore as mind blowing orgasms swept through them both. Wave after wave of pleasure crashed through them both; Jaz's grip on Adam's shoulders almost painful as she clung to him so as not to topple over.

Their chests heaved with exhaustion and their body's glistened with sweat. They were stuck together, arms wrapped around each other, holding tight to the magnificence that they only found in each other.

Jaz might still be confused about her feelings for Adam, but the way he made her feel when they were together like this, was unmistakeable.

Beautiful. Wanted. Loved

They continued to clutch onto each other for a while longer, not wanting this closeness to end.

Jaz was the first to wake the next morning. They had slept in the same bed, not being able to leave each other after the emotional heaviness of the last couple of days.

As always she found herself with her head on his chest, snuggled up to him and she couldn't help but just stare at him. In sleep he looked so content and so tranquil. She could almost imagine what he would have looked like as a young boy.

Gazing at him; her hand making lazy patterns across his chest, she wondered how on earth she had gotten so lucky. Joining this team three years ago had been a saving grace for her. It was the best thing that had ever happened to her, up until now.

The last three years had been the best of her life, but she would never had guessed that she would find herself here—in Adam Dalton's bed.

The man who had made her feel welcome from the very first second they met.

The man who had never questioned her skills or talent or used her gender against her.

The man who she had silently and covertly appraised the last three years.

And the man who had told her that he loves her.

That he was in love with her.

And while she was still struggling with her own feelings, she knew without a shadow of a doubt that he was telling the truth.

Even though it scared her.

Adam started to rouse and could feel Jaz's eyes on him. Blinking his eyes open, he tilted his head to look at her and caught her staring at him, as if looking for answers.

"Morning." He greeted her, mumbling in a sleep affected voice.

"Morning."

"You ok?" He asked softly.

"Yeah."

"You sure?" He checked, brushing her hair back from her face and tucking it behind her ear.

"I'm sure. The one thing I do know for sure is that I want to be with you."

"Ditto" Adam replied softly, a smile spreading across his handsome face

Jaz knew that she was blushing, and she wished like hell she could control that, but so much seemed to be out of her control these days, she knew it was useless.

"We're good?" He wanted to check with her, still wary of her feelings and the enormity of the last couple of days.

Leaning even closer to him, she whispered, "We're good," before getting lost in his lips again.

"So the last time I saw you, you were on a rooftop, sitting under the stars and struggling with someone having told you that they love you—for the very first time. How have you been since then?"

"I, um—I spent pretty much the next day by myself, mostly. I needed to process it. Needed to let it sit."

"And did you? Process it, that is." Xander asked gently.

"Somewhat." Jaz nodded slowly. "We talked and I believe what he said. I just—I still don't know how to respond."

"Do you think it's because you don't know how you feel yourself?"

Jaz didn't answer, she just sat and lowered her eyes, thinking about what she wanted to say next. Leaving that question alone for now, since she was still having trouble answering another one of Xander's questions – Why did it make you break? – She instead replied with something that had been on her mind.

"I have trust issues—clearly. The significant men in my life have either let me down or are gone. I was of no interest to my Dad from the moment I was born." She clenched her jaw tight before continuing, "I lost Elijah and he was the first person to ever make me feel like I was a part of a family. I'm afraid to let myself just be with this person. What if they just up and leave? What if their feelings change? What if I stuff it up? I never had my Dad. Elijah is gone. I don't want to lose this person too."

Xander was quiet for a moment, before softly venturing, "You automatically assume you're going to lose this person?"

Jaz didn't lift her eyes from where they rested on her lap while she mumbled, "It's hard not to."

"And you've discussed this together?" Xander was curious.

"To some extent. I know we clearly have a lot more to discuss. I'm just confused. I don't want to scare him off, or for him to become impatient with me." Jaz sounded almost forlorn talking about this.

Xander was in a difficult spot. He knew exactly who Jaz was talking about—but she didn't know that. And he doubted very much that Dalton has told her that he knows at this stage. He needed to proceed without putting his foot in it. He didn't want to lose any of the trust he has managed to build up with Jaz. That would be a massive step backward.

"You know Jaz, there's something to be said for communication. It's the key to any relationship and it can be the bridge between confusion and clarity. And clarity comes from action—not thought. My suggestion would be to talk to this person, really talk to them. That's not to say that you don't still have a lot to process or think about—but maybe you could try and do it together. Ask all the questions that you have. Talk out any issues that come up. It might help to clarify your own feelings and your own fears."

Jaz listened silently to Xander's words and she knew he was right. Despite her talk with Adam the night before, she still had so many questions she needed answering. She was only going to get those answers if she did the asking.

"Also," Xander continued, "remember back to when we were in Incirlik, you were afraid of losing your team; your guys?"

Jaz nodded her confirmation.

"We spoke about you being lucky to have them. Well if this person means a lot to you, feel lucky to have him too. Feel lucky that he is in your life and you have this time to spend with him. We've learnt the hard way on this job that the rug can be pulled out from underneath us in a flash. Appreciate every moment; who knows, it might help with your clarity also."

Jaz knew Xander was right. He had been right in Incirlik and he was right now. It was precious advice that he was giving her and she was determined to take it. No matter how confused she was with her feelings for Adam, and how intimidating his feelings for her were, there was no doubt in her mind that she wanted to spend as much time with him as she could, every minute in fact.

"So how's things?" Xander asked Dalton later that same day.

Dalton exhaled loudly, "Well, I told Jaz how I feel about her."

"You told her that you're in love with her?"

"Actually, I yelled it at her."

At Xander's frown, Dalton spent the next few minutes relaying the story to him, not every single detail, but enough to be able to explain the situation.

He explained that his relationship with Jaz had always been great and had always been easy, but that they had been known to butt heads on occasions. It wasn't new. She challenges him, and he challenges her, but he knows that's part of what makes them work so well. They bring out in each other what they usually keep buried down deep inside, and that's why they have always worked. As team mates, as friends, and now as lovers.

Xander of course, already knew that Dalton had admitted his feelings to Jaz, having had that conversation with Jaz on the hotel rooftop. But he was finding himself in an increasingly difficult position. Dalton didn't know about that conversation, and Jaz didn't know that he was aware it was Dalton that said those words to her.

His sessions were of course confidential, and he wouldn't reveal what either of them had talked about—unless of course it was a genuine concern as he had told them at the very beginning—but he thought he would mention one thing to Dalton.

"Before we go any further, do you have any intention of telling Jaz that you've talked to me about this? I just need to be clear on that."

"Shit, I hadn't thought of that. Uhh, yeah I'll tell her. It could get really confusing otherwise, huh?"

"Well it's entirely your prerogative, but in the spirit of honestly, definitely think about it."

Dalton knew as soon as Xander suggested it that it was the right thing to do. The right thing by Jaz and the right thing by them.

"OK," Xander continued, turning back to the topic at hand, "So you've talked since then?"

"Yeah. We had a much better conversation, and I was able to explain my feelings a lot more eloquently—I think—and told her that I had no expectations from her. I just wanted her to believe it."

"Do you think she does?"

Dalton was quiet for a few moments, reflecting back on their conversation, "Yeah, I think she does."

"How do you feel now you've told her?"

"I gotta admit, it's like a weight off my shoulders. And it was like instant clarity and instant confirmation. As soon as I told her, even though it wasn't in the manner that I had wanted to, I knew straight away that nothing else was truer. Nothing had ever been so true in my life."

"Well you look and sound happy." Xander observed after watching a smile wash over Dalton's face.

"I am. I was worried that it had been too much for her; that I would scare her away. And I'm conscious of that. But it's… it's a great feeling."

Xander smiled back at him, "I'm happy for you."

Dalton smiled almost shyly in response. He wasn't used to talking about his feelings, at least not these type of feelings. He'd never had these type of feelings to talk about before anyway. But he had to admit that he felt so much better for it.

"I would encourage you to try and keep your communication up with each other. Communicate even when it's uncomfortable or uneasy, it's the lifeline of any relationship. Any relationship. You would know that just from the work you do and from being out in the field. This is no different."

Dalton nodded, "Not just a pretty face are you Xander?"

Xander chuckled at that. His relationship with Dalton went back many years. It was one filled with mutual respect and blatant honesty, which could make this part of the job easy or a hell of a lot harder. Thankfully, it wasn't the latter.

The four of them got take out and convened in Jaz's room that evening for dinner.

The next day was going to be McG's last full day with them, so they were trying to decide what to do together. They were all leaning towards finishing off exploring the monuments since they had only managed to take in half of them on their previous expedition.

Once that was decided they just settled back into eating, drinking, watching a military TV show—that was surprisingly realistic and accurate, and reminded them somewhat of their own team—and of course, just giving each other shit.

They were happy being together, and as Dalton took all of this in, even though Preach was missing from the equation, he knew he wouldn't want to spend this time with any other people.

He loved these guys.

And as he looked over at each of them, all actively engaged in the TV show, he couldn't help but settle his gaze on Jaz.

He loved her as one of the guys too. But he also loved her in many, many other ways.

Hope you all enjoyed this one. Like I said in the last chapter too, I wasn't sure initially how to approach the conversation between Adam and Jaz, but it seemed to write itself in the end. There's obviously a lot more to come as they continue to figure themselves and their relationship out.

Thank you for continuing to read along and for those of you who comment, you are precious and I appreciate it so much! What did you think of this chapter? Much love to you all XXX