Reviews/likes/follows/RT gives me (and other fellow writers) the inspiration, enthusiasm, and the energy to write more stories. I appreciate it all.

Thanks for letting me share with you my love for The Brave.

Much Obliged,

Abby

Chapter 3

Instincts kicked in. She shoved back her elbow up hard connecting on her assailant's forehead and another quick jab at the throat. Her foot kicked connected to a shin. She's free. Turning around, her eyes grew wide in recognition. She was surprised to see Adam slumped on the ground. She looked around the empty hallway.

Adam?! .Fuck. She put her hand to her temples and massaged it. What's happening?

She shook her head to clear it. She rubbed her eyes. Yup, still Adam! Fuck!

She quickly inserted her keycard to open door. Running on adrenalin, she was able to drag Adam inside and placed him on the bed without difficulty. With her own drunkenness seemingly momentarily forgotten, she worked fast and efficient. She went to the bathroom and wet a towel. There was a small cut in his brow, she wiped the blood and saw a small bump was starting to form. She opened the mini fridge and got the cold beer in can and held it against the bruise.

He's still out. Damnit!

She felt queasy. She decided it's time to face music and call McG so he can check him. Thankfully amidst all the noise in the club he answered on the first ring.

"Joseph, I need you…"

McG suddenly tensed up at Jaz's worried voice "Where are you?" She gave the room number and he'll come up in a few minutes.

When the door opened, McG was surprised to see their CO lying in bed unconscious. He immediately went to medic mode. Jaz explained what happened.

McG checked for Adam's pulse and noted the steady rhythm. Always prepared with a small first aid kit on his person, he got a penlight and checked on Adam's iris. He saw the cut and bruise forming in his throat and told her to get more ice from the hallway. When she returned with the ice, she saw he put a butterfly closure on the cut. He got the small towel with ice on Adam's throat. "Keep it iced to keep the swelling down. He'll be fine Jaz. You got him good. He got the wind knocked out of him."

"I'm glad he's okay. I mean, I don't even know how he knows that I got a room for tonight. My head was spinning…"

McG got her hand and held it. Her pulse was still beating fast. "You okay?" She nodded doing several deep breaths to calm down.

"You'll need some aspirin. Take this and keep yourself hydrated. Tomorrow you'll feel like hell but that's what you get for chugging your drinks. How many? " he waited.

Jaz raised her hand showing 5 fingers. McG raised his brow. She raised the other hand as well adding two more fingers. "Last two were rum without the coke" she confessed. McG made a tsk-tsk and shook his head.

"So where's Janice?" she asked.

"I saw her getting in one of the elevators so probably she's in her room. I thought Adam was with her. I was about to call you when you called me."

So that's how he was able to answer my call immediately.

"Anyways, I'm going back to base. Are you okay with Top here? Do you want me to take him with me?" asked McG.

"Yes, It's fine. Plus the room is already paid, so might as well enjoy the amenities. You can leave him here. I mean, we need to talk anyway – to uh, apologize…"

"I have a confession. I thought you'd act like…that you'll be like go wildcat on Janice but you seem a little bit, uhm, I don't know… subdued? Don't kill me… " McG put up his hands in surrender.

Jaz gave him a playful jab and a small laugh. "Since were doing confessions, I thought that too. I guess it's different when you're presented with the situation rather than it being hypothetical. I also hoped that it will be you who catches her fancy. I'd like to hate her, believe me I do, but setting aside my feelings, she's awesome person."

"Hey, I cannot have all the girls…" he said jokingly. "But seriously Jaz, there's something there. Top may not admit it but because he doesn't want to jeopardize both your careers but it's there. We all notice it. I hope you see it too. Hang in there." He enveloped her in a hug.

"See back at the hut tomorrow. G'night." He waved then he closed the door quietly.

Sitting carefully by the bed, she stares at Adam and spoke lowly "What were you thinking grabbing me from behind? I would say I'm sorry but you deserved it for scaring me. You probably deserve more than that for breaking my heart but you don't know that. Right, Adam? You don't know that for every smile you give her, a little of mine dies. But I get it. You don't see me as a woman first, maybe not even in a second glance."

With him being unconscious, it gave her the chance to do something she thinks will never happen again. She lightly caressed his face slowly traced the shape of his eyes, his nose, finally his lips. They're soft. Just like his beard. She never expected it to be soft. She stopped, her hand in mid-air because she thought Adam stirred but then nothing.

Whew. She went to the bathroom and splashed her face. She stared at the mirror having an internal dialogue.

Before seeing him with Janice tonight, I can say without a doubt that Adam does care for me. We flirt a bit, we banter, I feel his gaze upon me all the time. Little things he does for me. Now in a matter of hours Janice erased whatever we had. I know it is not Janice fault.

Her conscience spoke to her. You're not a quitter Jaz. Find out how he really feels. Make him admit that he wants you more than just a teammate. Fight for him.

She started pacing back and forth. Make him admit it, make him admit it, make him admit it. Adam is stubborn. He'll only do something if he wants to do it. She chanted how, how, how? She racked her brains for ideas.

That conscientious voice just turned a little devilish when it said tie him up.

Uhm, what?! I'm not gonna tie him up!

Taking a big deep breath, opened the bottled water beside the sink and drank. She tried to calm herself down and spoke aloud "Jesus Jaz, is this turning into a Criminal Minds episode…"

The voice insisted As soon as Adam wakes up, he'll leave this room and you'll never talk about it again. He will just evade you and this topic for a long, long time. Meanwhile, Janice swoops in with her perfect everything and she gets your happily ever after. Remember there's no officer-subordinate situation between them. They can love freely and openly. Do you want that? The only thing that can stop that from happening is that if you can have Adam realize his feelings for you. Make him admit it. Tie him up so you can have the conversation. You're not gonna hurt him. If there's a chance, you'll know you'll fight for him. If he said there's no chance, no chance at all, then you have your answer. Apologize profusely, hopes he accepts it and move on. Like literally move on, in another team, in another country move on.

She splashes her face againand spoke aloud "You're not going to do what you just thought of Jaz. You don't know what you're doing. You're just drunk."

That devilish voiceanswered again. What you're doing, you're letting yourself feel. All those emotions you're holding back, release it. You want love. You're letting yourself love and be loved. You're giving in Jaz. You're giving in.

And that's the reason why a few minutes later Adam woke up tied in bed.