Short chapter and sorry for the delay

Chapter 5

The adventure outside had been more productive than just topping up their vitamin D. Sam couldn't help the smile that had blossomed on his face. The others just kept giving him uneasy looks and questioning glances, but Sam would wait until they were safely inside their makeshift cell.

They were herded in like cattle and their ankles tied once again. Each SEAL had found their spot and settled for another long agonizing wait until Harvey spoke, "Sam why have you been smiling, man?"

"Yeah, know somethin' we don't?" reiterated Hank.

"As a matter of fact…yes, yes I do," said Sam, his face still gleaming from the hope seeing Callen had given him.

"Well spill it," encouraged Frank.

"The cavalry is here boys," said Sam.

"Where? The SEALS are here?" asked Thomas excitedly.

"Oh no better than that…my ex-partner is here. You remember him Hank?" said Sam almost egging him on.

"That weedy fellow who insulted our integrity!" he replied.

"Yeah…"

"He couldn't save himself if a bee stung him," snorted Hank.

"Really…he survived 5 bullets slamming into his weedy body…5. Now shut it Hank and let me tell you a story…"

Sam kept his team entertained with the various cases he and Callen had worked on. The men couldn't believe the pure genius of Callen and his unfortunate past. Night came and sleep claimed them all except for Sam who couldn't wait to talk to Callen.

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There had been no better sight than seeing Sam alive and well. It made his heart swell with pride and relief. He had worked on the first Humvee and assured Raza that it would be finished the next day, something that Raza was thrilled about. Before Callen could get some rest, Hussein joined him on the ground beds that littered the sleeping quarters.

"Hussein?" asked Callen calmly fiddling with his boots.

"Aziz…Raza likes you. You work well to win his favour," said Hussein. Callen was uncertain if the statement was a true compliment or a disguised threat.

"I'm following orders and helping our cause," spoke Callen like a true fanatic.

"Yes…anyway there is a roster for sentry and hostage detail. Tomorrow you'll be on sentry detail for a few days and then on hostage detail. After you get the Humvees working of course," finished Hussein looking rather dejected.

"With Allah's help, I will. Are you well Hussein?" asked Callen playing dumb and humble.

"Yes…I sometimes think Raza humours me and it pains me because I would give my life for him," said a saddened Hussien.

Callen didn't know how to approach the situation. He needed to stay impartial yet ingratiating, "Raza has great power and great responsibility. He needs to be strong. I believe it would be very hard and wrong for him to show favouritism. I am sure he values you and holds you in high esteem Hussein, or else he would not entrust you with so many important tasks."

Hussein lifted his gaze to meet Callen's, "You talk with great wisdom Aziz. Thank you. Good night."

Callen watched Hussein leave and thanked his lucky stars that he was on sentry duty. His plan would start taking hold. The adrenaline had started to abate as Callen was coming down from his high. He gingerly laid down on his battered and weathered mattress and suddenly felt tired and achy. He didn't feel well coming into this mission, but now he felt worse. He felt warm, almost feverish and the nausea and damn headache, now a constant friend. Callen convinced himself it was nothing and that Sam and his team's lives were the most important things. With that he slowly drifted off to sleep.

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Covering metres and metres of dusty and dry horizons wasn't something Callen was accostumed to, but he knew it needed to be done. He had been assigned the northern end of the camp, the furthest one. His walk took him over undulating mounds of rock and sandy soil. Callen stopped and looked around. He was momentarily out of range from anyone's view, so he crouched and started digging a shallow hole and once finished, he placed a remote-detonated bomb with enough juice to make a lot of noise and nothing else. These were the perks of working on the Humvees and having access to bomb making materials. He placed two more. Tomorrow and the next day he'd do the same on the western and southern sides of the camp. Everything was going to plan.

Two more days came and went. The Humvees were fixed and raring to go, the bombs were in place…now for phase two with plenty of time to spare. He was on hostage duty and this would be the perfect time to get Sam in on the plan.

"Aziz, you release the rats and I'll distribute the food, ok?" asked Taj already plating up bread and brown slop.

"Do I cut the rope or untie it?" asked Callen, hoping for the latter.

"Untie…just untie," replied Taj curtly. This made Callen inwardly smile.

As per usual the guards stood at the door as Callen and Taj walked in. The prisoners got into their positions as Callen started to untie the ropes of the prisoner furthest away from Sam. Sam needed to be last. Callen kept his head down avoiding eye contact. He got to Sam. Both friends played it well. Callen slyly slipped something into Sam's trouser pocket, then got up and stood back waiting for Taj, "Eat…and then outside."

"Yeah…yeah we know," hissed Hank. Suddenly one of the guards rushed to him and hit him hard with the butt of his gun, forcing Hank to the ground.

Sam gave the guard a hard stare. "No one talk disrespect. Now no outside. Aziz tie their hands," said Taj.

"But they haven't finished..." protested Aziz looking at Taj.

"They need to learn respect. Next time they will learn to keep their tongues silent. Now if they want to eat, they can eat like dogs."

Callen had no choice. He couldn't make eye contact with Sam so he avoided looking in his direction altogether as he tied up their hands loosely whilst Taj stood silently. With Callen finished, the entourage left the hostages. Sam gave it several minutes before he weaseled out of the ties and encouraged the others to do so.

"He's your man? He's Callen?" asked Harvey rubbing his wrists and digging into the food

"He is my man. Boys make sure you make it look messy huh? Wouldn't want G's cover being blown?" said Sam searching for the note of paper Callen had hidden. He found it and unfolded it.

"Wha' duh it sa'?" asked Thomas with his mouth full of food.

"Didna ya ma teach ya manners?" hollered Hank, also stuffing his face.

Sam couldn't help but smirk…they were SEALS yet they were still boys. Sam lifted his eyebrows, "Ok…men, it's going down tomorrow night."

"Already? He's only been here a short time and on his own. You sure we can trust him Sam?" asked a wearisome Leshawn.

"G works quick…there's no messin' around, and yeah, we can trust G…I trust him with my kids' lives. So no more talk of trust. This is how it's goin' down. Sometime after night prayer, there'll be a barrage of explosions. As soon as we hear the first one, we need to be ready. That means, hands and feet untied ready to run. The wall will be busted open and there'll be transport waiting. We are to drive east for 30 km and Westerman will be waiting to take us home," explained Sam trying to stay calm and resolute in front of his men, whilst his head was screaming with all the disastrous complications, not to mention Callen's role in all this.

"Sam there's a lot of things that can go wrong?" said Jose`.

"I know…I know. But it's either this," said Sam holding up the piece of paper, "Or rotting in this damn hellhole."

Leshawn turned to Sam, his shoulders slouched and almost defeated, "Your ex-partner, Callen, you trust him don't you Sam? Trust him with your life?"

"Man…the man is the closest thing I have to a brother. He will get us out and he will get us out in one piece," replied Sam, smiling remembering the feeling of safety had always had with Callen.

Harvey the youngest and brightest of the team, cleared his throat causing them all to turn their attention towards him, "Sam, what about Callen? Does it say how he'll get out?"

Suddenly the mood turned sullen, "No, no it doesn't. But knowing G like I do, he'll get out as smoothly as he got in."

"I hope so because if this does work, I'll wanna thank him," he replied.

"Yeah, it'll be beers from all of us."

In the midst of their chatter they heard the door being unbolted and they frantically wrapped the ropes around their hands. Sam was relieved to see Callen come in again to gather the plates. The SEALS behaved well and were very subdues ignoring the agent that had planned their escape. As Callen collected Sam's plate, the partners made eye contact. Sam saw the crease lines around Callen's eyes. They always betrayed his anxiety. As Callen left, Sam began to worry. Callen never showed weakness, never showed anxiety…maybe this time Callen was worried for a reason.

The door was bolted again and Callen turned to Taj, "See…they ate like dogs. You were right brother."

"Of course Aziz. Treat animals like animals and they learn their place," finished Taj.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxx

No one slept that night. Callen managed to ignore the signs of the malaise that plagued him during the day, but at night he suffered. Apart from the constant throbbing in his head, his body had started to hurt…a pain deep in his bones that he was unable to shake. He found himself afflicted with nausea that robbed him of his appetite; he had rarely eaten since he arrived at the camp. He had lost a considerable amount of weight and he was worried that in his weakened state, he'd make a mistake; a mistake that would cost the SEALS their lives. However he put his physical ailments to the back of his mind and focused on the sequence of events for the escape; the diversions, the liberating of the hostages, the Humvee waiting and the exodus, 30 km east of Wana then home. The plan was perfect. Westerman had been given strict orders from Callen and Callen hoped that he would follow them to the tee.

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