*Two months later

I had gone back to Afghanistan.

I had gone back to the hellhole it was to find the people who wanted me dead, the squad I was with were protection detail while I worked in the different camps and on patrols – they realised that I needed to work to keep myself busy. I missed everyone and I knew that Halloran would keep his word and not tell anyone about what was going on; I wanted to contact Spike – explain things and let him know I was alright.

I was sitting under a tarp as it was the hottest part of the day and I was just catching up on some new medical breakthrough to do with GSWs trauma care, a man walked up to me and saluted since I was back to military rank, I stood up and took the letter from him and read it.

'2 KIA – 2 MIA – Safe to return home.'

I sunk back onto the sand and took a deep breath, it was the news I was waiting on for the last couple of days as a team of JTF2 went on a hunting expedition for my benefit after receiving Intel regarding Toth's team of renegades. I looked into the envelope and saw another piece of paper, it had the SRU symbol on it; I opened it up and saw Halloran had sent a note through unknown channels.

'Time to come home – your team need you back!'

I got off the sand and headed to the main Op tent and found the CO; asking for a few moments of his time I showed him the letter and he nodded in reply – I could leave that afternoon on a medevac lift to Germany and then fly to Toronto from Ramnstien. I wished everyone well and ran to my squat to get my duffle packed and say goodbye to friends I had made – they promised to keep in contact with me and let me know if they were coming to Canada for the trials in 2013 – they all were hugged stupid before I ran for the transport.

Back in Toronto

The team had just come off a really rough shift and were heading out the building to go to the Goose for a drink; they needed the downtime badly and thankfully they had the next two days off to recuperate. Halloran had come to congratulate them on a job well done and they all buffered Spike up who had been so quiet recently. Parker and Ed knew he hadn't been sleeping properly and were concerned that his state of mind could only be bad for him. He was stressed and depressed and just wanted to know where I was, no matter whom he contacted through official channels or friends – he didn't know where I was or if I was still alive?

"Buddy, you are coming out with us tonight! You don't need to drink if you don't want too, but we need to catch up and recuperate!" Ed whispered.

"I don't feel like it Ed, I'm just wanting to hit the showers and bed."

Ed watched as Spike shuffled to his car and slide in; he was beyond concerned now for his friend and pissed off at himself for letting things get so out of control two months ago – he didn't know what he was thinking.

"He's not coming out is he?" Jules said gently.

Ed turned around and watched as his protégé limped up beside him.

"He's borderline Jules – I think I have destroyed him with what I said to Mackenzie – it's been nearly three months – no word!" he replied.

His voice was cracked and he blinked the tears away; Jules laid her hand on his arm and pulled him away from watching Spike leave the car park and drive along the road.

Three days later

It was 8am and I knew the team were still at base after a call to Halloran came through to my cell phone; he was relieved to hear I was back in the country and unharmed – he advised me to come to the station and he would see me later that afternoon once he came back from a meeting. The team had been put on standby for some reason and they were all in the gym as I pulled up outside in the new SUV I had received from a friend. I could see them through the windows and everyone was laughing as two of them did a race through the equipment and were celebrating the winner. I headed through the side exit and up to the meeting room; I hadn't seen Parker in the gym and assumed he was in the briefing room organising the calls for this morning in case there was a warrant to serve today. The place was empty and I walked into the room and had a look around, the place had been updated with some new screens and furniture and the view over the water was amazing as usual.

I was standing there in my combats with my full Bergan on the floor beside me; I was so used to the weight of it that I forgot how bulky it was from the back view and I had just dumped it on the ground where it left a nice sand pile. I could hear footsteps behind me and voice call to me, asking if they could help me with something. It was Wordy. I turned around and he stood there in complete shock as I took a step towards him. The poor guys had never seen me in full Cammo gear and it was a lot different from our Tactical gear.

"Mac – what….where have you been?" he demanded.

"Sunny climes and brass bullets," I replied.

He burst into a run across the room and hugged me close, I flinched as he squeezed the newly healed scars and he noticed immediately. He checked my back and saw no blood, but I stopped him from checking further. He was about to shout for everyone to come into the room – I shook my head.

"No – I'll go down to them," I whispered.

We both headed down to the gym and I took a deep breath before Wordy made the entrance and got everyone's attention; they all looked at him and eventually just side stepped and I walked into their view. I was nervous and I knew this could go either one of two ways.

"Hey guys," I whispered.

Everyone just stopped and stared at me, I looked around and the only person who wasn't there was Spike. I clocked movement and Ed rushed me and picked me up in a bear hug and kept on whispering how sorry he was! Jules was next, along with Sam who was livid with me being in combats and had guessed where I could have been. Parker just walked over to me and pulled me into a hug and kept on telling me that I was 'never to do this to them again!'

"You went back to active duty didn't you?" Jules asked.

"Yeah, I had to draw them away from you guys which were successful. Two have been taken out; the other two are MIA and on the most wanted watch list – not like that will stop them from trying again. So that gives me a massive decision to make, and you guys are the deciding factor for me." I replied.

"What are you talking about – you're coming back to the team – we decided that weeks ago when you first left and found out that there were people after you! We know the risks, talked it over with everyone involved." Wordy replied.

I knew Halloran hadn't squealed about my location so them finding out about the men after me must have been Spike doing some digging and Sam contacting his sources. I looked at everyone and took a deep breath to control the adrenaline coursing through me.

"Is that wise? Knowing that I have a target on my back and you could be used as collateral? They know that's the only way they can truly destroy me – by taking you guys out." I replied.

Parker held up his hands and shook his head at me; everyone circled around me and smiled like I was the winning lottery numbers. Wordy had pulled out his phone and was sending a text to someone.

Down in the garage one man was working on a piece of equipment that was causing problems, he ignored his phone as it went off once, then twice and picked it up at the third beep. He looked at the screen and froze.

'She's home' was all that was written.

He dropped his tools and burst out the garage with full out run.

Meanwhile up stairs, Ed was holding me by the arms and ordering me to listen to him and the others as I tried to explain the decision.

"You are coming back after re-qualification, Wordy just text Spike for you – for the love of the almighty please get him to cheer up!"

"I'm surprised he would still want to be with me after all the shit that's happened boss – the amount of grief I have given everyone!" I replied.

"Shut up Mac and get to the corridor to wait on your boyfriend and then get home – I'll put us on standby for the rest of the shift!" Ed replied.

I heard someone running along the corridors at full speed; I could hear the sharp cry of other people getting shoved out of the way. I turned out of the room and watched as a full speed tank called Spike ran up the stairs and stopped as soon as he saw me. My heart was in my throat, he looked like he had been beaten recently – the bruises across his face were still visible and he looked exhausted.

"Spike, what happened to you?" I demanded going into nurse mode.

He just stopped and stared at me as the others began laughing as I led him to the table and checked his wounds, they were very recent and tender; quite clearly he had not been treating them properly as he flinched at every minor touch. I grabbed wipes out of my trouser pocket and cleaned the scratches as best as possible; he was just looking at me and then the next thing I knew I was on the floor under his hands.

"Dove diavolo sei stato - sai preoccupati come siamo stati tutti"

The others were going to get him off me but I stopped them, he was never going to harm me – it was the adrenaline rush. I laid my hands on his chest and pushed him up gently, he got up and stayed kneeling on the floor.

"Ho dovuto andare per assicurarsi che le persone che ho amato erano al sicure dal male. Non sto andando da nessuna parte ancora Michelangelo - a meno che non mi vuoi lasciare?" I replied.

He looked at me and blinked, 'where the hell did I learn the language' was written across his face and he then started to laugh. I rolled my eyes and picked myself up, dragging him up to his feet I pulled him into the briefing room and made him sit down.

"Halloran knew where I was the whole time guys – it was SOP for this situation and I apologise for the way I left. I am cleared to come back onto the team if you want me and I will explain everything tonight at the house when you come for dinner – is that alright?" I asked.

They all nodded and Winnie came running over and gave me a hug too – she passed me a letter and it was from Halloran. I opened it up and smiled; passing it to Parker he nodded and gave me another massive hug.

"You do this again young lady and I will ground you until you are forty! Now get Spike and go home, we will come round about 8 alright?" he whispered.

I smiled and nodded; grabbing Spike I got him to change and told him I would meet him in the house in an hour after I went to do a couple of chores.