Becoming Ben, Unca Sam & Sweet Revenge
Daphne Farmhouse – Edge of the Treeline
Anwar Yassin was watching closely through binoculars. He had seen the SUVs approaching from his observation post. He pulled his phone out, dialed then spoke in Farsi "موسی کمالی، فکر می کنم حق با من است. یک چیزی هست. دافنه فقط SRU دستگير شد و ماموران آن عجیب است. (Mousa, I think I was right. Something is up. Daphne was just arrested SRU officers and it is weird.)"
["Yassin, how many times do I have to tell you? English only while we are here! What do you mean weird?" Abdul Khaliq Mousa stated harshly.]
Yassin grimaced and switched to English "Well they arrived and cased the house like cops do and when Daphne came out with the boy she was arrested at gun point. Several stayed below keeping Assaf secured. Up until then it was normal. But then nearly all of the officers converged on the upper deck."
"One of them ran right to Daphne and after staring at her a moment hugged her. In fact he is still hugging her. One of the officers had the boy restrained before Daphne was arrested. But then another one was staring intently at the boy. He just took him into his arms and is hugging him as we speak and he is crying."
["Who is crying? The boy?" Mousa asked.]
"No the cop. Like I said it is weird" Yassin responded.
["I want you to follow. You are right things have been odd with Daphne lately. I've got Raashid checking into that name you overheard the boy say a week ago. Keep me informed."]
"If they split up Daphne and the boy who do you want me to follow?"
["The boy. We can always use him against her if something is truly up. I'll contact Fadel and Syed and have them join you."]
"Okay I'll call again when I know where they end up." Yassin hung up and turned away from the farmhouse walking to his motorcycle.
As he put his helmet on ready to follow at a discreet distance he thought I never trusted Daphne. He never understood why Mousa had, she was just a woman, can't trust them. She really screwed up their last job and left a trail to herself. Something just didn't add up, never did for him.
Finally last week Mousa had listened to him when he reported how nervous she became when the boy introduced himself to their latest customer. It was odd. The boy gave a name he didn't recognize. Not that he had ever asked but he assumed his last name was Duncan like Daphne.
Yassin pulled out the binoculars again to check on them and saw that they had moved from the deck. He watched as the SRU group loaded Daphne and the boy into the SUV's. He noted which one the boy was placed in so he could follow that one in case they split off.
Enroute to SRU HQ
Sam sat in the back driver's side seat with Matt between him and Winds. Jules was driving and Wordy was in the front passenger seat. Sam was quietly replaying in his head the last few minutes of his day.
His world was rocked. Blaze's world was rocked. Daphy's world was rocked. For the safety of everyone Sam, Blaze and Daphy were all in different SUVs.
As he had been hugging the boy, Blaze had registered the little boy's introduction. Blaze had turned and saw what was clearly evident to anyone who had ever known Matt. The boy was a miniature of his father in all ways except the jet black hair.
Blaze had turned on Daphy and raged. She had raged back. That had scared the boy so much he started to cry and shake which had enraged Sam. But Sam had kept his cool for the boy's sake and quickly went down the stairs to get him away from the scene.
But Sam had told Ed in a clipped statement on the way to the SUVs that he was likely to do something he would regret if he had to be anywhere near Blaze or Daphne at the moment. Ed had nodded and immediately separated the three. Sam was relieved.
At the barn Sam had not seriously thought of taking Blaze up on his offer to beat the crap out of him if it was Daphy. But now he was sorely tempted to do so because his raging at Daphy had terrified the little boy. For that alone Blaze deserved retribution of some sort.
Sam forced himself to be calm taking slow breaths in and out. The little boy moved closer to him leaving no gap between them now as if seeking comfort.
Winds noticed how quickly the boy latched onto Blondie and smiled.
Sam looked down to the boy then wrapped his arm around him and pulled him snugly against his side. He felt the slight tremble that still coursed through the boy.
Matt looked up at Sam with fear still in his big green eyes and asked tentatively "Why was that man so mean to my mommy? Why did he yell at her?"
Sam was at a loss as to what to say to the boy. He looked up and saw Wordy turned in the seat looking back at them. Sam's eyes communicated to Wordy he needed help.
In the voice he used with his little girls Wordy said "Little buddy it will be okay. Sometimes adults yell at each other when they are upset. I know it can be scary. But Sam will keep you safe until they work it out. Do you feel safe with Sam?"
Matt nodded and laid his little head into Sam's lap.
Sam gently stroked the little boy's hair as he settled into his lap. He felt the trembling stop and silently mouthed 'thank you' to Wordy.
Wordy smiled and nodded at Sam in return then turned forward again. Wordy thought, that boy has a connection already, almost like he knows Sam would go to the ends of the earth for him.
Jules had kept glancing in the rear-view mirror watching that play out. After the boy laid his head in Sam's lap she got lost in her thoughts as she drove. When she had heard the boy tell Sam his full name her heart jerked and stopped. She was glad for Sam. The boy was a little piece of his best friend that would live on.
She knew, just knew that given half a chance Sam would ensure that Matt was always taken care of. Wordy was absolutely right Sam would do everything in his power to keep that boy safe. She saw how quickly Sam had tamped down his own angry emotions and assumed a calm exterior so he wouldn't upset the boy further when Blaze and Daphne ranted at each other.
Then she thought about Daphne. That woman had a lot to explain, but she would reserve judgement. It looked bad but appearances could be deceiving. They were finally nearing the barn; the drive from the outskirts of the city had been nearly forty minutes.
All had been silent since Wordy had answered the boy's question just after getting into the truck. Everyone had heard him over the headsets and not a single word had been spoken since.
Jules glanced back again. The look of gentle wonder on Sam's face as he gazed at the now sleeping boy warmed her heart. A random thought popped into her head and made her smile, Sam would make an awesome dad someday.
SRU HQ – Dispatch Desk
For the second time today Winnie saw a silent Team One enter SRU HQ, file passed her and not acknowledge her. Luckily no one appeared injured but the looks on their faces ranged from stunned to curious to enraged. Sam was the last to enter even behind all the JTF2 guys.
Winnie could not pull her eyes away from his face. Sam was carrying a small sleeping boy so carefully in his arms. The look was one that said he had someone extremely rare and precious in his care. Her heart flipped over so many times seeing that look.
As Sam approached Winnie he glanced up. He gave her a huge grin and whispered softly so as not to wake the child "Hey Winnie. Can you please find me a blanket and maybe round up a small snack for him? Also is conference room 3 available?"
Winnie nodded yes.
Sam then said "Great. Let Sarge know I'll be in there and he can get me only after things settle down in the main briefing room."
Winnie nodded and smiled not knowing exactly what Sam meant by settle down but hurried off to do as he had asked.
SRU HQ – Briefing Room
Greg looked at the group assembled in the room. Tension was strung so tight and close to snapping. Looking between Blaze and Daphne there was definitely another storm coming and he would not be able to stop it. Then he noticed two were missing from the room. Where were Sam and the boy?
Winnie walked in and instantly felt the unexploded rage emanating from several of them. Wow she understood now. That little boy did not need to be around whatever was about to happen in here. Sam had picked the sound-proofed conference room furthest away from the briefing room. She headed straight for Sarge.
Greg noticed Winnie coming directly at him and that she had a blanket over one arm and bag of Disney shaped crackers and small carton of juice in her hand.
"Boss, Sam is in conference room 3 with the boy. Said you could get him only after things settled down in here" Winnie informed Greg.
Greg nodded then watched as Winnie exited the room. He realized what Sam was doing and thought Wordy was right, Sam would protect that boy.
Ed sidled up to Greg "Greg, where's Sam?"
Greg took his hat off and rubbed his head and eyes then tilted his head and smiled "Protecting Matt."
"Ah, right." He smiled at the thought. "Probably a good thing. We don't need three of them going at it. Don't really want to arrest Sam for murder either."
Greg looked sharply at Ed "What do you mean by that Eddie?"
Ed shared with him what Sam had said on the way to the SUVs.
Greg nodded, he hadn't seen the reaction, but it made sense. The boy had cried loudly when those two had yelled.
Ed looked seriously at Greg "So how are we going to proceed? We need to hand her over to JTF2 but I don't trust her in Blaze's care at the moment. I can see what Sam meant about them being in the same room. I see Winds, Angus and Hal have positioned themselves between them. This ain't gonna be pretty."
Outside SRU HQ
Yassin removed his helmet and wiped the sweat away. Too damned hot out today. He wished he was back home, at least it was a dry heat there he thought. He pulled the phone out and placed a call. "Mousa, both are at the same location for now. SRU headquarters. Let Fadel and Syed know I'm across the street. What do you want me to do?"
[Mousa instructed "Watch for now. They have to either release her or transport her to the processing center."]
Something caught his eye. One of the SRU officers he saw at the farmhouse was walking into the parking structure. But he was dressed differently now. "Hang on a moment, need to check something out."
Yassin sprinted across the street and found a place he could observe without being seen. Strange the officer was now dressed in an Army uniform and was carrying a sniper rifle and he headed to a Humvee then stowed the rifle. As Yassin watched, another one from the farmhouse joined him also dressed in Army gear. He was close enough to hear.
Daniel trotted up to Russ and said with incredulity in his voice "Hey Russ, can you believe that shit? Blaze totally lost it man. Scared the crap out of the boy. I'm surprised Blondie didn't deck him right then and there."
Russ nodded as he closed and locked the Humvee. He leaned back on it and then said "I know right. Winds looked like he wanted to do it too. I'm glad we don't have to be in that room right now. Never seen Blaze so uncontrolled; that is going to be ugly, very ugly. I'm glad Parker and Lane are making Daphne and her brother have it out and settle it before we leave for the safe house. Wonder if Blondie will ever let that boy go?"
Daniel's voice was laced with amazement "Don't think so. That poor boy was quaking so badly as he clung to Blondie. Christ, he went all protective and got him outta there so fast. But I guess that is to be expected, being that it is Matt's son." Daniel shook his head at the memory of Blondie holding the little boy and gently trying to comfort him as Blaze and Daphne went at it.
Russ's mind was on the same imagery. As he pushed off of the Humvee and started for the entrance he said "Yep. But you gotta wonder how Blondie's going to react when his mind finally registers that the boy will never meet his father. It's probably going to hurt like hell knowing he killed the boy's father. I don't know if I could ever handle something like that."
Daniel grimaced at that thought but remained silent as he fell into step with Russ and headed back in to SRU HQ.
Yassin watched until they entered the building then said "Boss we have big trouble. They weren't all SRU, the Army is involved. You should have listened to me long ago. Daphne is definitely not who we thought she was. They are planning to take her and the boy to a safe house. We need a plan." He then relayed the exact words he overheard.
["Stay on them and follow them to the safe house. We'll take care of things there." After hanging up Mousa raged.
He had been duped by a mere woman for five years. No wonder deals kept falling through and intel did not pan out as expected. She would pay and so would her boy and anyone else who got in the way of his revenge. He should have listened to Yassin all those years ago.
Mousa was mad that he had yet to find anything out on a Matthew Benjamin Hunter. It was like he never existed. Then a thought hit him, men that didn't exist were spooks and Special Forces. He wondered which this man was.
Then he remembered what Yassin had just said, the father was dead. Good, one less person to worry about possibly seeking revenge when he killed the boy. Now he just needed to figure out how to proceed. He needed to get some information out of Daphne before he got rid of her for good.]
SRU HQ – Conference Room 3
Sam gently rocked back and forth in the chair holding the boy. He had fully intended to lay him on the floor when Winnie had brought the blanket but he could not seem to let him go. He was glad he had removed his tact vest before picking him up out of the SUV.
It felt so good to have little Matt's head cradled next to his heart. It was like being close to Matt again. He had been sitting here for nearly an hour as good memories of Matt played in his head. He wanted, no needed, to remember all the details. He needed to be able to paint the rich picture of his father to this little boy.
One memory darted into his head. It was the time they were pinned in a shallow hole with mortars going off all around them. They both thought they would die that night. That was bad, part of the reason he still hated thunder and lightning but the part he focused on now was the conversation they had that night.
Assuming that death would come for them before morning light, they spent the night sharing thoughts of things they would never get to do. Matt had wanted a family. He wanted kids. Matt had wanted one of each, a boy and a girl.
Sam remembered asking what Matt would name them. Without hesitation he said Samantha for a girl and Benjamin for a boy. Sam had punched him in the arm and laughed heartily when Matt had said he would name the girl Samantha name so he could always have a Sam in his life.
Then he had then asked Matt why Benjamin. Matt had replied that he just liked his middle name. He confided he wished He had chosen to name himself Benjamin Matthew so people would just call him Ben. But he had selected Matthew Benjamin and now it was too hard for people to make the switch when they already knew him as Matt.
After that night Sam had sometimes called him Ben when Matt needed cheering up. It was always met with a huge smile and a laugh. But Matt was right, it was hard to change and call him Ben, he kept reverting to calling him Matt. Especially when he was in need. And unfortunately that was a lot back then.
A fresh image of Matt's smile and remembrance of his laughter danced in Sam's head he looked down at the boy's sweet sleeping face. Sam decided then and there that he would ask the boy if he could call him Ben. Whether he agreed or not in his eyes the boy would always and forever be Matt's boy Ben.
It would be a way to honor Matt. It hurt knowing that he was the reason Ben would never meet his dad. But he would make sure that he knew what kind of person his dad was. How special Matt was and how much he had meant to him.
Sam couldn't help himself as his thoughts strayed to darker things. He hoped that Daphne would allow him to be part of Ben's life. That she wouldn't cut him out when she found out he was the one that killed Matt.
Maybe she already knew. If not that was going to be tough to tell Daphne. Matt and Daphy had dated only a month or so before she had to leave on assignment. But he could see that they had something special. Man it was going to hurt telling her what he had done.
Then he froze, oh god no. He would have to tell Ben he killed his dad. Sam's heart raced.
It hurt too damned much. Anxiety rapidly increased to a point he was hyperventilating and could not catch his breath to save his life. With the lack of oxygen the edges of his vision were starting to fade.
Just then Leah and Jules walked in. They both saw Sam's state.
Jules quickly walked to Sam and pulled a chair in front of him and sat as she said "Sam, calm, slow breaths, sniper breathing." She could see him struggling significantly to bring himself under control.
In a gentle, tender and soft voice she coaxed him to calm "Whatever it is, it is okay. It will be okay. Relax, I'm here. Tell me what it is. You know you can tell me anything."
Jules soothingly brushed her hand up and down his arm at the speed he should be inhaling and exhaling; providing him a tangible, physical example to emulate. Jules could see Sam was slowly regaining control.
Leah was transfixed watching their interaction.
Sam did not register Leah in the room as he looked directly into Jules' eyes connecting and holding on. As his breathing normalized he rasped out full of crushing anguish "Oh god Jules, I have to tell him. I don't want to but I have to. I have to tell him."
Leah saw Sam shudder and watched as tears slipped down his face. She wondered what was so bad that it affected him so profoundly. What did he have to tell and to whom?
Jules reached forward and lightly brushed through his hair. Sam was so distraught and needed comfort. It was all she could do at the moment. "Sam, he's too young to know now. You have time to figure it out; how to tell him when he is old enough to understand."
Overpowering anxiety laced Sam's gravelly words "But what if Ben hates me when I do finally tell him? It would kill me Jules. It would kill me just as assuredly as I killed Matt. How can I tell Ben I killed his dad? I don't …"
He didn't finish because Jules leaned forward and kissed his forehead lightly.
Jules wondered why Sam was calling the boy Ben but she realized it must be very important to him. "Sssshhhh. It will be okay. Ben will understand. Blaze will help him understand, it wasn't your fault. It was Major Plouffe's, he gave the all clear. Ben will know you did not mean to shoot Matt."
Sam was staring at Jules, agonizing pain and guilt infused every word "But I'm responsible. I'm the one that pulled the trigger; it was my bullet that killed him. I killed Matt. I killed my best friend and now I have to tell his son that I did it. Ben will never meet his dad. Matt will never know he had a son. I robbed them of each other. It will always be my fault, I should have seen him. I shouldn't have fired. I should have known. I should …"
Jules realized in that moment that Sam would never fully forgive himself. Sam would carry the guilt to his grave even though it was truly not his fault. There was absolutely nothing she could say to change his mind.
So she did the only thing she could think of to get him to stop talking about it. Jules placed her hands on the sides of his head, pulled his head forward slightly as she leaned toward him and kissed him softly and gently on the lips.
Standing stock still, Leah listened and watched them. She felt bad for being there. Even though she had come with Jules, she knew neither realized she was there now. Jules' actions towards Sam were so delicate and compassionate that she felt she was intruding. She heard the intense pain, anguish and guilt in Sam's voice and realized Jules was offering comfort on a level that spoke of a deep personal relationship between them.
Leah could not even begin to imagine how Sam carried a burden like that. She now understood why Wordy and Jules had not told her about Matt. Some things were just too private to share. Much like what she was observing now. It was clear there was a powerful desire just under the surface being pushed down hard by both of them.
She wondered when and if it would burst through their control. Then she thought that whatever it was between those two belonged only to them. It would never be her place to say anything to anyone about what she had just seen.
Leah was about to clear her throat to make her presence known when a small groggy voice said "Yer squichin me."
Jules pulled back instantly like an invisible retractable cord had yanked her hard backwards.
Sam registered not only that Ben was awake but that Leah was in the room and blushed as he quickly pulled himself together. Jules' kiss had shocked him out of his dark thoughts. She was right he had time; Ben was too young to understand right now. He quickly wiped the tears from his face before Ben could see.
Jules seeing him blush brought back the fact the Leah had come to the room with her. Her head whipped to Leah, shock and concern in her eyes.
Leah opened the door behind her and as she backed out she quietly but firmly said "I was never here, I saw nothing. Nothing at all." She made eye contact with both of them and smiled just before she softly closed the door.
Sam looked at Ben and tousled his hair "Hungry?"
Ben nodded yes. Sam sat him up and rolled toward the table. Jules reached over an opened the Disney crackers. She picked up the juice carton and stabbed the straw into it. The Jules handed it to Ben who smiled at her.
Jules knew Sam needed a few minutes to get himself under better control so said "Boss said things are calm now. I'll let him know that he just woke up and that you two will join us after he finishes his snack."
Sam nodded and mouthed 'thank you'.
Jules smiled rose and walked to the door and before opening it said "Always." As she closed the door behind her she saw Leah just outside the door waiting. "Leah what you saw…"
Leah put up a hand and said "What I saw was one teammate helping another teammate. That is all. Nothing more, nothing less." She looked at Jules and smiled. "Let's go." As they walked back to the briefing room Leah thought Wordy was right, it would just take time. But the more she found out the more she was glad that the team picked her. This was an awesome team.
Back inside the room Sam said "Hey buddy got a favor to ask. Would you mind if I called you Ben?"
Matt looked at him strangely "Why?"
Sam smiled and said softly "I knew your dad. He was my best friend. He would have called you Ben. It could be something special between us."
Matt grinned and said "Okay you can call me Ben. I like my middle name better anyways. You know my daddy, where is he? When can I see him?"
Sam's heart broke and he sighed. Then he gently explained to Ben that his daddy was gone and shared a few good memories about Matt with him. He was surprised at how well the boy took the news. Maybe it was easier because he had never actually met his dad. Sam was saddened by that fact even if it did make it less painful for the boy to accept it.
When Sam was done telling a funny story about Matt, Ben piped up "My daddy liked you?"
"Yeah we were best friends for nearly ten years. We were like brothers" Sam replied.
"If you call me Ben, can I call you Unca Sam?" Ben asked.
Sam's heart burst with joy. He gave Ben a WOW smile and nodded yes.
Then as kids do Ben's attention was drawn to something new. He got very excited with one of the Disney crackers he pulled out of the bag. "Oh goodie Donald Duck. I like Donald Duck. He my favorite. He is funny when he gets mad."
Sam smiled as Ben bit the head off Donald Duck.
Ben turned to him and poked at the bruise on his jaw "Unca Sam, why is it so purple there?"
He rubbed his sore jaw "Um, I err, just bumped it on something." Sam's thoughts turned devious, "Did your mom tell you that you have an Uncle named Donald?"
Ben shook his head no.
"Well you do and he blusters, quacks and squawks just like Donald Duck." Sam launched into an explanation of who Blaze was and a severely edited version of how brother and sister behaved and that they really cared about each other even though they yelled.
SRU HQ – Briefing Room
Greg was sitting in his chair exhausted. It had taken all his negotiation skills to manage the Blain siblings as they hashed out personal issues. Winds had demanded that Blaze disarm completely before they began. Greg took the further precaution of having everyone do the same after Winds explained a scar he had on his arm from a previous encounter with the siblings. A few times it took several of the team and unit to separate them before they came to actual physical blows. Sam was right, how the hell did those two survive childhood in the same house?
Finally they had spent their furious energy and had become rational human beings. Daphne had been devastated to learn Matt was dead but mostly because Mattie wouldn't not have a chance to meet or be with his dad. Blaze had briefly shared how Plouffe gave the all clear before Blondie fired and no one knew why Matt was there. Once she knew how it happened Daphne had been so concerned about how it affected Sam.
Then Daphne had explained that she didn't know she was pregnant when she took the assignment. That Matt and she had only really dated for three weeks. Blaze had asked her how she could be so stupid as not to take precautions to prevent it.
She had blushed deeply when she said it only takes once to create a child. That kind of detail effectively shut Blaze up on that subject. It was definitely too much information about his baby sister.
Daphne did not go into any details of the assignment. That was not something the SRU team was cleared for. She explained the Army would debrief her. But she did explain why she had left a trail to her now. How she needed to protect her son once he lost his fear of strangers and started speaking openly and freely to others.
Blaze had laid into her for taking such a risk in the first place. He had backed off quickly and his face took on an astonished look after she had privately whispered some details to him.
In the end Winds, Wordy and Ed had admonished both of them over their behavior at the farmhouse. They told them the affect it had on the boy and how Sam had handled it. Both were ashamed to hear what they had done to Matt. Both were glad Sam had taken action to protect him. Blaze and Daphne had moved off to the back of the room and were talking softly for some time now.
Greg checked his watch. They had been waiting for about fifteen minutes now for Sam to join them. Jules said the boy was having a snack and they would be in when he was done. Greg was reaching for a water bottle as Sam walked in with a grinning and laughing boy on his shoulders. The smile on Sam's face brought one to everyone in the room.
Sam looked around the room as he entered and saw that the JTF2 unit had all changed back to Army uniforms. Blaze and Daphne were talking quietly in the back of the room. Good they didn't actually kill each other.
He was rather happy he didn't have to witness it. It was always so horrid to watch two people he cared about treat each other that way. Everyone had turned and smiled when they entered.
Ben saw his mom and happily called out "Unca Sam knew my daddy. He said he wanted to call me Ben. Can I be Ben? Please mommy?"
The choice of words shocked the room. He said knew not knows and wanted not wants. Sam looked to Daphne and could tell she heard the past tense of the words and said "Daphne I'm sorry …" that was as far as he got.
Daphne had flown to him and had her arms wrapped tightly around him in a bear hug as she said "Sam I'm so sorry. Matt loved you like a brother. He would never blame you. I don't blame you either."
She reached up and kissed him lightly on the cheek. Then she reached for Ben taking him from Sam's shoulders and hugged him tightly too. She looked at Sam. "What did you tell Matt?"
The boy interrupted. "Mommy I wanna be called Ben. Unca Sam said daddy would've called me that. Please, peas, peas, I wanna be Ben. Daddy liked his middle name better too, just like me. I'm just like daddy, Unca Sam says so."
Her son beamed with pride at her. She had never seen him this happy. Daphne looked to Sam then to her son then back to Sam. How the heck had Sam established a connection so fast with her son?
Looking back at Matt she said slowly and carefully "Okay sweetie you can be called Ben." Then she looked back to Sam with a quizzical lift to her brows and said questioningly "What exactly did you tell Ben?"
"Only that his dad was my best friend and that he was gone. I shared a few funny memories and why Matt would have called him Ben. The rest will have to wait til he can understand." Sam said. "He needed to know and I thought that I should be the one to tell him given the circumstances. I'm sorry if I overstepped …" Again he was cut-off by a tight hug.
Tears of happiness were in Daphne's eyes as she said "You did good Sam. Thank you. We will talk later about all this and decide how and when." She smiled at him. "I want you part of Ben's life. Matt would want that too."
Ben squirmed in his mom's arms and wiggled out of her grasp as she talked to Sam.
He walked over to Blaze and stood with his little feet planted firmly, hands on hips and face stern "Unca Donald Duck you not yell at my mommy again. That's not nice."
Blaze stared at the boy, 'Unca Donald Duck'? What the hell? He looked to Blondie and raised an eyebrow.
Sam gently rubbed his jaw and grinned. Revenge was so sweet. There was nothing Blaze hated more than his first name. Blaze got the message loud and clear, payback was a bitch.
The rest of the group was ping ponging between the two. There was an unvoiced conversation going on between them. But they settled on Blaze as he bent down and scooped up the boy with a huge grin on his face. "I promise to not yell at your mommy. You can call me Uncle Blaze."
In a whinny voice Ben said "But I like Unca Donald Duck. Unca Sam told me you act all angry and quack like Donald Duck. I like Donald Duck, so now I won't be ascared if you yell anymore. But you can't yell at my mommy, you promised. We are supposed to protect mommies. Right Unca Donald Duck?"
Sam was trying so hard not to laugh at the incredulous look on Blaze's face.
Blaze thought, Blondie had screwed him royally, he would forever be Unca Donald Duck and he could never rage at Daphy again, he had made a promise. Damn he wished Blondie would have just beaten the crap out of him. This was cruel and unusual revenge. Just how the hell had he come up with it? Blaze shook his head then scowled at Blondie.
Sam just smiled back.
Winds walked up to Blaze and slapped his back not even trying to hide his amusement at how Blondie had gotten revenge. He laughed as he said "I think we have a new call sign for you Ducky."
"Watch it Master Warrant Officer Simons or I'll bust you all the way back down to Master Corporal" Blaze said with mock anger.
Winds just laughed and said "As if I really care about that. Only got my rank back cause of the General after we took out that terrorist group."
Blaze was opening his mouth to retort.
Greg wanted to cut off any potential arguing so he quickly said before Blaze could respond "So next steps. Ms. Blain you and Ben will be placed into protective custody of this JTF2 unit. Captain Blain, SRU is releasing them as of now into your custody. Do you accept?"
Moving back to soldier mode Blaze responded "Yes and I would like to express the thanks of the Army and my own personal appreciation for your team's assistance. We will be heading out now." He walked over to Blondie hugged him and said "I'll be in touch soon. We all have a lot to discuss regarding Ben."
Sam simply nodded.
As Ben's mom tried to lead him from the room he broke away, ran to Sam and jumped into his arms "I wanna stay with Unca Sam."
Sam gazed into Ben's eyes and said "Buddy, you gotta go with your mom and Uncle Donald Duck right now. I'll see you later. I promise." Sam hugged him and kissed the top of his head before handing him off to Blaze. He stood watching them all walk toward the exit.
Greg said "Okay team time to debrief."
Sam heard Sarge but didn't turn back to the briefing room until they all had left the building. When he turned he saw the whole team was staring at him. One by one they came up to him and simply gave him a hug. No words needed. Sam walked to and sat down in his usual spot and grabbed a bottle of water. He swiveled back and forth letting the tension flow from his body.
Debrief was short and easy. Everything had gone off without much of a hitch. Greg had a ton of paperwork to complete on the unusual warrant call so he said "So now we play inside, inventory. Off you go."
The team rose without complaint and headed to the gun cage to start inventory.
SRU HQ – Gun Cage
It was an hour and a half later and the team, minus Sarge, was getting close to finishing inventory. The conversation had centered on Ben mostly. Sam had shared his memory that prompted the name change. Everyone had laughed long and hard as Sam explained his revenge on Blaze.
Spike said "Buddy you have a wicked sense of humor. I'm gonna be more careful about pranking you. You might actually disassemble Babycakes."
Sam grinned wickedly and responded mischievously knowing Spike would get the references "Disassemble, no disassemble. But maybe take Babycakes swimming."
Spike laughed and shoved Sam playfully. Sam just smiled.
Jules smiled at the brotherly interaction. She wondered at Spike's mention of Babycakes. He had ignored everything bomb related since Lou's death. He hadn't mentioned Babycakes once in the past month and a half. It was nice to hear.
The claxon alarms sounded off.
They all groaned a tiny bit, time to go back out in the muggy heat.
"Team One. Hot Call. Automatic gunfire. Several injured. Possible abduction" Winnie called out over the loudspeaker.
The team immediately began gearing up as Greg rounded the corner to join them. He donned his headset first then called out "Winnie, what details do we have?" The team all had their headsets on now too.
Winnie calmly reported "Multiple reports coming in to 911. Many shooters involved. All armed with automatic weapons. Hold a sec, more details coming."
As they finished arming themselves and headed for the SUVs Wordy said "I hope this is not another gang war."
Sam climbed into the driver's seat of the SUV he was sharing with Leah today and responded "You and me both. It would be too damned hot to run after someone like Bastos today that man was a damned rabbit."
The team chuckled lightly but settled quickly when they heard Winnie come back on the line.
Winnie chimed in again "Okay got a location, sending to PDAs." Her voice broke a bit as she said the next part "Shooters include six men in Army uniforms and at least ten others. A woman and child have been abducted at gunpoint and taken by force from the scene. EMS is enroute but will hold back until the scene is secured. Active gunfire still taking place."
The team understood why Winnie's voice had cracked. This was bad. The SUVs raced out of the garage with lights flashing and sirens blaring.