III

The next day Amir was assigned KP. Top and McG hadn't let him cook, but they had been more than willing to let him clean up afterwards; since it had been Jaz's turn to make breakfast today, Amir would have rather prepared the food as Jaz's kitchen skills could use some work. He moved stiffly as he grabbed plates to clean. It came as no surprise to him that he woke up sore. Even though the pain was fairly easy to ignore, it was a nuisance all the same. Amir knew that McG had noticed and was willing to bet that the medic was going to throw a fit if he did anything relatively strenuous. Which was why the rest of the team was currently working on their combat training while Amir was here, doing the dishes.

Well, almost everyone was training, he amended when he looked over his shoulder and spied Top walking in. It took no stretch of the imagination to figure out what the blonde wanted. The man was like a dog with a bone.

"We need to talk," Top said, surprising no one with the statement.

"Top," Amir said on a sigh. He finished what he was doing, placing the clean plate with the others, then turned to stare at his CO.

Dalton held up a hand, stopping Amir from saying more. Amir leaned against the counter, then carefully folded his arms over his chest as he waited for Top to say what he wanted. "I know that you had to learn certain skills while you were in your previous position." That was putting it mildly to say the least. "The thing is, you're part of a team now and I can't have you being reckless. It's bad for you, and it's bad for the team."

Amir stiffened in anger. "You think I'm being reckless?" he asked, careful to keep his tone neutral so as to not give himself away. Dropping his arms, Amir gripped the counter's edge. He gritted his teeth when his side began to throb and tightened his hold on the counter; now wasn't the time to express either displeasure or pain.

"I think that if Jaz, McG, and I hadn't shown up, you wouldn't have told any of us what was going on." That was true, he wouldn't have. Dalton watched him for a moment before crossing his arms over his chest, looking frustrated. "See, and that's not acceptable. What would you have done when D.C. sent us out again? Would you have told us if you were hurt?"

"I think you would have figured it out before then," Amir answered evenly. Which wasn't to say that Dalton's point wasn't valid, Amir just wished he could have seen this one coming. Admittedly, it hadn't occurred to him that that was a situation he could have put them all in. Amir wouldn't have gone with them, of course, not if it meant putting the rest of the team at risk. But that didn't negate the fact that that would have left them one man down in a situation where that could have also put them at risk.

Top's face hardened, his eyes becoming ice, his posture going stiff. Yeah, that hadn't been the correct thing to say, or the best way to say it. Amir really needed to learn to control his tongue when he was in situations like this.

"Sit down," Dalton commanded, his tone as cold as his eyes. When Amir went to sit in one of the chairs at the table, Top added, "No, on the couch." Amir gave him an incredulous look. What difference did it make where he sat? "Don't give me that," Top said when he spied Amir's expression. "I can tell you're sore and the couch will be more comfortable than the chair."

Figuring it was best to humor the man, Amir got up and went to the old, leather, couch. He was careful as he sat down, moving slowly as he allowed the cushions absorb his weight. Top had followed behind him and now stood in front of him, arms still crossed, face still hard. Amir spread his arms so that one covered the back of the couch and the other covered the arm. It wasn't comfortable, but he wasn't about to show Dalton that. Throwing Top what he hoped was an even look, he waited for the man to finish his thought from earlier.

"Do you trust me?"

That threw Amir. Of all the things he had expected Top to ask, that hadn't even been on the list. Sensing that there was more behind the question than was seen on the surface, Amir took time answering. Before being asked, he had assumed he had because otherwise he wouldn't have joined Dalton's team. But then why couldn't he answer yes without thinking?

"Yes," he answered after a minute or two with perfect certainty in his voice. In the end, he did trust Dalton. He didn't trust the others yet, not fully, but Top he did.

"Then why didn't you tell me what was happening?" Dalton pursued again. "Because, unless you don't trust me to have your six, I can't think of a reason why you wouldn't."

"Then you weren't listening when we had this conversation yesterday," Amir calmly retorted as his frustration got a hold of his tongue.

"Oh I was listening. I just don't believe you." Top shifted, now placing his hands on his hips. "See, I find it hard to believe that none of this bothers you. I mean, you're good at hiding your feelings and not taking things personally, but every man has his limits."

It was plausible theory, but untrue. Although he couldn't deny that he was close to reaching his limits, Amir wasn't there yet. "And you think I'm reaching mine?" he asked and surmised in one.

"I think you shouldn't have to," Dalton answered almost immediately.

Amir paused for a minute, taking that in. The quickness of the response was enough to tell him that Top meant it and that surprised him. It was rare for the commanding officer of a team to care about a new member of his team so quickly. Most tended to take their time, waiting and watching to make sure it was worth the effort of doing so. But Adam Dalton was different. Amir suspected that, by the time Dalton had asked him to join, he had already made sure it was worth the time to let Amir in. As a result, the man was patient with Amir, answering questions when he had them, and quietly instructing him when he should have had them but didn't.

"I didn't tell you because it wasn't an issue, and if it became one, I didn't want anyone else getting into trouble for something that wasn't their problem."

"Amir, we're a team. When something like this happens, it doesn't just affect you, it affects all of us." Top pointed a finger at him, "Next time Doyle, or anyone, bothers you, you tell me. Period. You got me?"

The possessiveness Amir heard in Dalton's voice was pleasant as well as surprising. During the past few weeks, Amir had slowly begun to wonder if he truly belonged with this Spec Ops team. Not only did the people on the base not want him there, but it seemed as though Jaz wasn't particularly pleased by the idea either. Now, talking with Dalton, Amir knew he did. This was his new team. They were his safe haven in the storm.

"Yeah," Amir assured, his voice quiet as embarrassed pleasure strangled it. "I got it."

Fin