Here's the next chapter for you! I had originally wanted to post this mid-week, but that clearly didn't happen. So I though I'd post it on a Saturday instead of a Sunday, just to change it up :) As always, I would recommend re-reading the previous chapter before tackling this one.

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

Chapter 39

Jaz and Adam woke up together on what would be McG's last full day in DC with them.

Since Adam's declaration, they hadn't gone back to sleeping separately yet, even though they knew they needed to try that again. Their need to be together had just been too immense.

Jaz still had a lot she wanted to talk to Adam about, and a lot of questions she still had running through her head, but she knew that first thing in the morning wasn't the time for that. She wasn't a morning person at the best of times.

She still had that one question of her own that wouldn't leave her alone. It ran through her head constantly and she could hear Xander's voice as he had asked it of her.

Why did it make you break?

She wished she knew and she realised that until she could answer it, it wouldn't leave her alone.

For now, she was going to enjoy this time with Adam. These moments with him in bed were her favourite, for many reasons. One of which she intended to take advantage of right now.

Manoeuvring herself so she was on top of him, before they had even exchanged any words, she began to kiss his neck, running her tongue up and down it, smiling to herself as she heard him moan. She moved her kisses lower, across his chest, marvelling at the beauty that was Adam Dalton.

Kissing lower still, down his abs which were just another display of his perfection, she arrived at her target to find him already rock hard and craving attention.

She peered up at him as she held him in her hand and ran her thumb over the underside of his shaft, and she was rewarded with a husky groan.

Lowering her gaze and with her long hair splayed out all over his torso, she swirled her tongue over his tip, smirking as she heard him gasp in anticipation of what was to come. Teasing him, she ran her tongue up and down his shaft slowly and surely, feeling his hands start to gather her hair together so he could watch her.

Adam was holding his breath, awaiting her next move and when her tongue reached his head again and he felt her sweet lips move down over his whole length and suck hard, he couldn't stop the shudder that his body emitted.

The feel of himself inside of Jaz's hot and capable mouth was incredible and he couldn't tear his eyes away from her as he watched her move up and down his cock, licking him, tasting him, taking him all the way in so he could feel himself at the back of her throat.

With each upstroke, she licked a circle around his head before swallowing his length again, and soon his hips were rocking in time to the tempo she'd set. His velvet flesh pulsed on her tongue and she couldn't get enough of him.

Encouraged by the groans and motions coming from Adam, Jaz started to massage his balls in one hand, simultaneously reaching out to stroke the smooth skin just behind them with her index finger. All the while she never took her mouth away from his throbbing length.

Adam knew he wasn't going to last much longer and as his body tightened with impending release he tried to warn her, "Jaz – Jaz, I'm going to…"

But Jaz wasn't interested. She had one agenda here, and she wasn't stopping until she achieved that.

Increasing the speed of her lips and tongue up and down his shaft, she sucked harder encouraged by his writhing beneath her. She couldn't get enough of the taste of him, and licking, sucking, massaging and pumping him, all simultaneously faster, she felt his whole body surge and his cock pulsate as he spilled himself inside of her mouth.

The groans he expended had Jaz staying put until she was sure she had obtained every last drop of him. He watched through lazy, satiated eyes as she pulled herself away from him and grabbing her as quickly as he could he kissed her hungrily.

"You. Are. So. Fucking. Sexy." He said breathlessly, punctuating each word with another kiss.

"Good morning to you too." Jaz said into his lips, not being able to pull back from them for too long.

His lips were like a drug that she just couldn't shake and before she knew it he had flipped her over and lay with his full weight on top of her, still kissing her fervently and grinding against her before moving his way down her body and returning the favour.

It was a very satisfying morning for both of them.

"At least after tomorrow there will be enough food for the rest of us." Amir mused after watching McG shovel food into his mouth at breakfast.

"It's the food that made me taller. You should try it sometime." McG retorted.

Jaz couldn't help but laugh out loud at that. Amir and McG's banter kept her constantly entertained.

They finished up eating and headed straight out for the day, wanting to make the most of their last day all together.

They were aiming to see the monuments that they had missed on their previous day trip. They spent time at each monument, taking the opportunity to explore and appreciate each one. They were all magnificent and striking, but none more so that the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial.

This is the monument that left its mark on them the most that day. It's dedicated to the tragic events that occurred on September 11, 2001, and all the 184 lives lost are represented and honoured by memorial benches, each one inscribed with a victim's name, age and location at the time of the attack.

This monument not only rendered them speechless, but it was a reminder as to why they serve their country. The atrocities and tragedies that occurred on that fateful day were part of the reason, or the inspiration behind them signing up for the military, or continuing their service. It was one of the main reasons they made sacrifices to keep their country and the world a safer place.

Those sacrifices were of varying degrees, but they were sacrifices nonetheless.

After the emotion of the memorials, Dalton had something in mind to finish off their day trip on a slightly lighter note. He got them to Anacostia Park and as he walked them towards the Anacostia River, they all started smiling.

"Are we going fishing, Top?" McG couldn't hide the enthusiasm in his voice.

"That we are."

Excitedly they all went to rent some equipment. Dalton had already thought ahead and purchased fishing licences for them.

"That's why you're the Captain, Top." Amir mused.

They set themselves up on a bridge, cast their lines and sat back to see who would make the first catch. These fish weren't edible due to chemical contamination, but since they were in a hotel, that wasn't a problem. They were fishing catch and release style and they couldn't be happier than being out in the fresh air, on the water, engaging in one of their now favourite collective past times.

Dalton loved that his team now seemed to love fishing as much as he did. He once again made a mental note to check out fishing locations near Incirlik when they were back on deployment.

None of them were surprised when Jaz caught the first fish, and she took great delight in flexing her muscles and taking photos to send to Preach.

When Amir and McG moved further down the bridge to "find a better spot", Jaz turned to Dalton with a look of wonderment on her face.

"What's got you so happy?" He asked her, glad to see her looking content.

"I've missed this. It reminds me of your Blue Ridge Mountains. Not as spectacular of course, but it's just nice to be out in the fresh air again."

"It sure is."

"When we go back, I intend on doing a lot of fishing."

"When we go back?" He clarified.

For a split second, Jaz almost questioned if she had said the right thing; if she shouldn't have assumed that she was welcome back at the cabin with Adam, but based on recent events and confessions, she had a pretty good idea that she didn't need to worry.

"Yeah, when we go back." She answered him almost defiantly, but with a sparkle in her eye.

"Well ok then."

She watched a slow smile spread across his entire face, starting from his mouth and finishing with the crinkles around his eyes. His whole face was lit up and his eyes were shining with emotion.

"What's got you so happy?" She asked cheekily, echoing his earlier question.

Staring into her eyes and holding her gaze steady, after a quick internal debate, he took a chance and said softly, "I love you."

Jaz felt her breathe catch in her throat at those words. He had said them again, and this time they didn't make her want to run. If anything she wanted to run into his arms.

Instead, he was rewarded with a small smile and a blush that spread across her cheeks and down her neck.

That was all he needed.

After indulging her shy smile a few moments longer with his own, he managed to tear his gaze away from hers before he did something in public that he would regret.

Getting back to his, no their mountains, couldn't come quick enough.

They decided to have dinner at the hotel again that evening since they knew that a few drinks would be consumed with it being McG's last night. That way they didn't have too far to stumble.

Paying homage to McG, they all ordered burritos given his unapologetic love for the dish, and the three alcohol drinkers ordered margaritas to go with them. Amir, as always would be keeping watch over them.

"So when are you coming out to visit me in Montana?" McG asked through a mouthful of food.

Despite giving him a filthy look for his bad manners, Amir was the first to reply, "Well I'm just going to be here in DC, so I can come anytime."

"You going to be staying at the hotel the whole time?"

"No actually." Amir blushed, "I'm going to be staying at Hannah's."

"Eyyyy, that's my boy!"

"Calm down, it's just a base. And will save the DIA money on my hotel room."

"Remind me to tell Hannah you said it's just a base."

"That's not what…"

"Easy buddy, I'm just messing with you."

"What about you two?" McG redirected to Dalton and Jaz.

Dalton looked over at Jaz pointedly.

Rolling her eyes at him but feeling herself flushing at the same time, she replied, "We are heading back to the mountains after these last few days here."

"We?" McG clarified.

"Yes, we."

All three of the guys had big grins on their faces after that comment, so deciding to exit the sausage party, Jaz went to the bar to get the next round of drinks. It's not like she and Adam being together was a secret from them anymore, but she still couldn't help but feel a little overwhelmed when attention was brought to that fact.

While she was at the bar, McG commented to Dalton, "You must be looking forward to getting back home, Top."

"You can say that again. Being here has been invaluable, it's just come with its… challenges."

"I bet."

Realistically, Dalton knew that not being able to show affection in public was the least of their problems, but it was still something he was struggling with. To hold her hand in public or kiss her, or even just smile at her a certain way was fraught with disaster here. And while they had a lot of other problems to get past, nonetheless their actual jobs, getting back to the mountains and being able to just be with her was something he was greatly looking forward too.

Jaz returned to the table with another tray of drinks, including three tequila shots, because the tequila in the margaritas clearly wasn't enough.

"Ok, so getting back to what we were talking about—Montana?" McG said to Dalton and Jaz.

"Yeah buddy. We will definitely figure something out." Dalton confirmed.

A couple of hours later, which had included a few more margaritas and a couple more shots, McG had caught the eye of a pretty lady at the bar. The other three laughed as he volunteered to get one last round, knowing what his primary reason for being at the bar was.

They sat at the table watching him make his move and they cheered loudly when she grabbed his phone and seemingly put her number in there.

"If the guy's pants hit the ground any faster, he'd be travelling back in time." Dalton said laughing sarcastically.

"Hey there's no rule against blowing off steam." Jaz challenged him.

"Yeah, you're right."

"Of course I am."

They grinned widely at each other, before diverting their attention back to McG at the bar.

Jaz greeted him with a high five when he arrived back at the table with their drinks.

"Pulling some of your best moves over there, buddy?"

"I've got so many moves; I don't even know what my best ones are."

"Right, ok." Jaz laughed at him while McG just shrugged.

"Did you break it to her that you're leaving tomorrow?" Amir asked.

"Nah. Didn't want to ruin her night, you know?

"Such a gentleman."

"Right? I'm maturing."

Dalton and Jaz nearly spat their margaritas out at that, causing Amir to laugh along with them.

McG just stared at them all, feigning being hurt with his hand over his heart. "Pfft, whatever," he dismissed them, before finally relenting and laughing along with them.

Later that evening after making sure McG got back to his room in one piece, Jaz and Adam were sitting together on the couch in Jaz's room, guzzling water in an effort to stave off the hangover in the morning.

Still chuckling at some of McG's antics, Jaz couldn't help but lament, "I hope when he meets the love of his life that he's completely tongue tied. And I hope I'm there to witness it."

"Why's that?"

"I just want to watch what he'd be like without his best moves."

"Well love makes you do funny things, or so I'm discovering."

With a blush on her face, Jaz quizzed him, "Yeah, like what?"

"Like wanting to act like a teenager and show way too much PDA all the time."

Despite her cheeks flushing an even deeper shade of red, Jaz couldn't help but respond, "I never thought I would hear Captain Adam Dalton say something like that."

"Well you've only got yourself to blame."

"Oh, really?" She flirted.

"Uh huh."

Lowering her gaze shyly, but thankful for some alcohol in her system for liquid courage, she asked him quietly, "Can I ask you something?"

"You can ask me anything."

"When did you know?"

"Know what?"

Lowering her eyes, Jaz stuttered, "When—when you, when…" She stopped and took a deep breath. That liquid courage wasn't working as well as she thought, she was struggling to even say the words.

Seeing her battle with those words in her head, Adam put his hand under her chin to bring her eyes to his, "I knew for sure just a few days ago."

Jaz's eye's softened, aware that Adam had known what she was thinking about and made that moment easier for her.

"I knew for sure that I was in love with you just a few days ago, after we had spent our second night apart, but I'm starting to realise that it probably happened long before that, long before this numbskull was aware of it." Adam confessed softly.

Jaz couldn't hide the widening smile creeping across her face, before she gathered herself and asked her next question.

"How did you know?"

Dalton went quiet, thinking it over; wanting to make sure what he said was nothing but the truth. Reaching out to take her hand in his, he started to answer her softly and quietly, but intentionally at the same time.

"I came to realise how important you are to me. Not just as my team mate and not just as my friend, but so much more. I realised that you are the best thing that has ever happened to me and just the thought of being without you, was a concept I couldn't even contemplate. And then, after spending the night apart, when I couldn't stand it anymore and I crept into bed with you, you turned to me. You were asleep, but it was like you sensed me and rolled right over and snuggled into me. And then, when I kissed your forehead, you smiled, still asleep. I just lay there watching you sleep and I… just knew. I knew that there was nowhere else in the world that I wanted to be, other than right there by your side."

Adam's words instantly sobered her. Jaz couldn't speak, and the tears welling in her eyes were threatening to fall. No one, no one had ever said anything so meaningful and heartfelt to her—in her whole life. This man just continued to surprise her.

Xander had encouraged her to ask the questions she still had of Adam; to communicate with him. And while she knew she'd think of a million others soon enough, she recognised that she had to give a little too. She had to be honest.

Clearing her throat, and blinking away the moisture in her eyes she began in a low voice, "Xander asked me several sessions ago, why the picture of you with a bullet wound to the head made me break; why it was the one thing that made me respond to Arthur. And—I haven't been able to answer him. Just like I didn't know how to respond to you when you told me how you feel about me. I just don't know how to put it into words."

Jaz paused to think about her next words and noticing Adam listening intently to her and holding on tight to the hand he still held in his, she decided to continue.

"I'm sure it's no surprise to you that I have a few trust issues, but I'm also absolutely terrified of losing anyone else in my life that I care about." She looked up into his eyes, "I'm afraid of losing you."

"Jaz…"

"No, it's ok, let me continue. This team is the first family I have ever felt a part of. My own family were… well let's just say, it never felt like what I assumed a family was supposed to feel like. It was never like it is with you guys. And my Dad… I can't even think of a word strong enough to describe him. But after Tehran, after you guys came for me, that's when I realised I do have a family that care about me. I do have a family that feels like what I assumed a family was supposed to feel like. And then I got scared that I could lose you all. I guess it's been overwhelming and intimidating to sort through these feelings, and now with the way I feel about you—I'm just confused and I feel terrible about that."

Nothing that Jaz said surprised Adam, he was just relieved that she was talking to him about this, especially since he knew how difficult it was for her. It wasn't easy for him either.

"Like I said to you yesterday, Jaz, I'm not going anywhere. I know that us being together has its challenges; some a lot greater than others. And we'll deal with those as best we can. But us just talking like this, being honest with each other, that's what is going to make this work."

"Xander told me that communication can be the bridge between confusion and clarity." Jaz added.

"He said something very similar to me. Definitely sounds like Xander."

"And Preach."

They both chuckled, feeling somewhat better having this conversation.

"Look," Adam started again, taking her other hand, so that he held both in his own hands, "I don't want you to feel overwhelmed or confused or terrible. I just want you to know that what I said to you last night, about how I feel—it's absolutely the truth. And all I need to know in return is that you want to be with me too."

"That's the one thing I know for sure. That's not even a question." Jaz replied immediately, looking deep into his beautiful blue eyes to reassure him.

"Well I hope that's still true after I tell you one last thing," Adam hesitated, remembering a piece of information he knew he had to pass on to Jaz.

Jaz frowned, wondering what it was. She raised her eyebrows, waiting for him to continue.

Adam pulled a hand back to run it through his beard, slightly concerned at how Jaz might react to this next part.

"Ok, in the spirit of honesty and full disclosure, I umm—I need to tell you that Xander knows… about us."

Jaz's beautiful olive complexion paled, "What?"

"Yeah," Adam spoke out of the side of his mouth, "apparently he figured it out."

Jaz thought about her recent conversations with Xander. From him asking her why the picture of Top in Tehran made her break, to the rooftop conversation where she struggled with Adam's admission of his feelings, to just yesterday when he had encouraged her to communicate as openly as she could. All this time he had known it was Dalton—her Commanding Officer.

Fuck.

"But—what about…"

Adam could see she was struggling to comprehend the situation, and he knew exactly how she felt. He had been fairly accepting of Xander being clued in to the situation, especially given the reassurance from Xander that the information wouldn't be passed along. While it was still a tough situation, he had no option but to make peace with it. Xander knew. That was the bottom line.

He did his best to explain that to Jaz and relay the conversation he had had with Xander. Whilst he didn't go into detail as to what had been discussed in his sessions, he made it clear that Xander had come to his own conclusions.

He had no doubt that Jaz would discuss this with Xander in her appointment tomorrow, but he had wanted to be honest with her, just like Xander had suggested. Jaz deserved that. They were equal partners in this relationship and while they both knew that this wasn't going to be an easy ride and couldn't predict what was to come, this was something that they did have control over, and he wanted to share that with her.

When he had finished explaining the situation with Xander he surmised, "Let's just take it one day at a time. I wanted you to know how I feel. And I wanted to share with you about Xander. I want to share everything with you. I'm not going anywhere and there is no pressure on you whatsoever, Jaz. I just want to be with you. You make me happy."

Jaz was understandably still a little astounded at the information. It was hard not to be. Her relationship with Adam was a risk. They both knew that. But it was a risk they were both willing to take. Being together just felt so right, and it outweighed the feelings of trepidation of what the future may hold.

For now, she was going to have to make peace with this, because being with Adam Dalton, was the happiest she had ever been in her life.

Well, what did you think?

They don't have much time left in DC, so I hope you've been enjoying their adventures there. As always, thank you so much for continuing to read this story, I appreciate every single one of you.

Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think, they really motivate me.

Much love to you all, and for any Mums out there, Happy Mother's Day weekend XXX