Final Chapter
10 June 18
1500H DIA Offices
Washington, DC
Patricia gathers the team plus Noah and Hannah. They're all seated quietly in different corners of the tensioned filled room.
"Team, someone will be entering through this door in a little while. I expect your full cooperation in welcoming him."
"If that is Dr. Martin, I've spoken to him yesterday and he knows why I cannot meet him this week or next week" Amir hastily said.
The door suddenly opened.
"Ten-hut!" Adam's voice echoed in the room.
With their bodies reacting to the command automatically, they all stood up with eyes straight forward. Their minds have not yet registered who gave the orders at that moment. Preach had his eyes roll sideways to glance at the person who just joined them. His eyes widen in recognition and the silence was broken.
"Top, brother it so damn good to see you!" He made a beeline for Adam and picked him up in a bear hug.
"Careful, my back…"
The rest of the team snapped out of their trancelike gaze when they heard Preach said Top's name. Amir instantly went to where Adam stood.
"I'm really happy to see you Top. You have no idea…" Amir's relief and happiness clearly painted on his face. Adam hugged him, tapping him in the chest, "I have a bit of an idea… you did good Amir." He gave Amir a reassuring smile.
Top eyes were scanning the room for Jaz when McG's face interrupts his line of vision.
"Top, talk to me… Tell me how many fingers am I holding? Let me see that head wound. You hurtin' anywhere else?" McG launched on full medic mode, checking his eyes with his little flashlight, the gauze on his head, poking his ribs, not letting him speak.
"I'm fine McG. The doctor at the embassy in Manila checked me before allowing me to board the plane. Just no more bear hugs. Later, you can check for yourself okay." Adam gave him a hug and a fist bump. McG nods and gives way to Noah.
"Captain, it's good to have you back and good to finally meet you in person." Noah said giving him quick hug.
He's still looking for Jaz. Finally he saw her. There's my Jazzy! He saw her seated at one corner of the room. She didn't approach him. She's just there rooted at the spot and continued staring at him.
"Dalton, you have us worried there for a minute. Good to have you back" Hannah distracted him momentarily and joined in on the hug fest.
The team listened as he gave them an abridged version of the events. He noticed how Jaz's facial expressions changes as he said his story. She has yet to approach him. He thanked them all for their concern.
Patricia, Hannah and Noah went back to their station. He felt the room go quieter. The guys followed suit giving them privacy.
"Hi" he said with a quick smile and went to sit beside her and feel her slightly stiffen.
It is as if her mind is debating if this is real or not. Jaz just keeps staring at him. She had dreams every night while he was away…that he's back. The dreams vary and yet when she reaches out for him, he always vanishes into thin air. She's afraid it's going to happen again so she will just sit here quietly and savour this thought that Adam is with her.
She closes her eyes. The voice feels very real. "Jaz" He calls her name.
She opens them and blinks a few times. She gives in. She starts a conversation with him like in all of her dreams. "Hi…you're hurt." Her voice sounded small, a bit unsure. She then reaches out, tentatively touched his scruffy jaw then his wound then immediately dropped her hands to her lap. She never lets herself to be this vulnerable and she's feeling all her walls are crumbling down.
"I don't feel the hurt. I feel alive! I promised you I'll come back, didn't I? I'm here Jazzy." He held her hand, his thumbs softly caressing hers, his touch gently calming her.
This doesn't feel like a dream or a hallucination. He felt real. To test her theory, Jaz grabbed back the hand that held her hard. Her fingernails dug deep but he didn't care. He lets her and welcomed the pain. On his part, this also makes him feel the reality that he is truly present here, now beside her. He made it back to her.
Jaz is now convinced that this is real. He's back. She let all her feelings out. Hugging him tightly she told him "I was so scared. I was so angry at you for ordering me to leave you. I'm angry at myself, for following you. I'm angry at Amir for leaving you, and him following your order. Fuck, you would be so disappointed with me. I wasn't strong… I lashed out at Amir…"
"I'm not disappointed Jaz. We are all human. We are allowed to make mistakes." He continues to caress her hands reassuring her. "Sorry it took a while to get back. As I said earlier, I had temporary memory loss from this head concussion but I'm fine and I had you and the team to pull me out of it. Around me, there's always something that reminds me of you, Jaz."
"I missed you so much Top."
"I missed you too Jaz..."
"Thank you for finding your way home back to me. I want to say something and let me finish first. I don't know how you will take it. When Director Campbell said that you went missing, I was numb. When it finally hit me, I felt my chest constricting to the point that I feel I can't breathe. I realized it's not the same with Elijah. I was lost without you. I almost lost you… I'm scared Adam. I'm having feelings that go beyond the subordinate /CO relationship. I…I care for you..." she confessed.
He kissed Jaz on the forehead and continued to hug her never wanting to let her go. "Well that is a good thing because you know what, I've come to some realizations as well. I was scared too when I woke up not knowing who I was. When it all came back, I realized I couldn't let another day go by without telling you that… I do have feelings for you too. We'll figure out a way to make it work. "He looks so confident and reassuring.
"How come you look like you can see through clearly and all I see is that I'm peering through mud?"
"Because I believe in you, in us. We'll find a way. I know your plans don't include me. You certainly sneaked into mine and I find that like you there. You belong there. I'm not letting you go." His lips moved to hers and silencing her doubts and fears. "I care for you too Jasmine Khan. I can even say that I lov…" She didn't give him a chance to finish his sentence as she puts her finger in his sexy lips. "Aah, Let's just take it slow for now …" She removes herself from his embrace, remembering quickly that they're in a DIA conference room.
He still held her hand and when he tugged her back, he embraced her from behind. It feels so good to be in his embrace.
Nuzzling her neck, he says in between kisses "Alright, whatever you want. I can do slow..." His voice is now deep, sexy, teasing her. "I can do fast…"
Jaz chuckles and feels her knees go weak when Adam started peppering her neck with kisses. She let herself feel in the moment and closed her eyes and let out a low moan.
They didn't realize they already had an audience until they heard McG clearing out his throat. They both blushed but have yet to let each other go.
"Get a room you two, preferably one outside the scope of this office" McG said looking out for them.
Jaz whispers in Adam's ears, her hands touching his beard "We will have to test your uhm abilities some other time Captain. Raincheck?" she teases.
"Oh most definitely, I'll be there, ready whenever you are. I promise." He steals a quick kiss.
"I like your promises Captain Dalton. You make good on it." Jaz is happy. The guys joined them and had a big group hug.
Patricia, Noah and Hannah all came back in the room a few minutes later. They planned a welcome home dinner with the whole team to celebrate. Dalton looked around their smiling faces. He said a silent thank you prayer that his family is complete, safe and sound.
His eyes searched for Jaz again. She's conversing with Amir now and both smiling. All seems well.
He is content and happy to be home.
Epilogue:
15 June 18
2100H Incirlik Base,Turkey
The team is by the fire pit. McG stood up "Ok, we're out of Smores. Amir, help me check the pantry supplies so we can make more." McG is making motions that they should leave Top and Jaz alone. Unfortunately, it's lost on Amir. Preach had to whisper to him the plan. "We'll why didn't he say so." whispered Amir.
Preach then made his excuse to leave as well saying that he has to call his children. Before leaving, he selected a playlist for the two. "We've Got Tonight" by Bob Seger/Kenny Rogers started singing in the background. The mood is set. Both of them listening, taking in mind the lyrics as they look at the stars above.
Hello There!
Thank you! Thanks to all of you who read, commented, liked/followed Dalton's Promise. I love The Brave and this show has given me so much that I allowed myself to be brave enough and explore fanfic writing. I hope I have improved as a writer from my very first story. The learning and the journey continues.
Also, if you have a moment, listen to the song "We Got Tonight". Phillip Phillips made a cover as well. His version, I can imagine Dalton's the one singing to Jaz! Let me know what you think :)
For updates, I'm at Twitter wildcatabby. Let's chat :)
Much Obliged,
Abby