Chapter 36

Bravo- Present time

"How long do we have before we reach the body?" Trent piped up towards Ray as he planned the route.

"About thirty mikes, Id say, if we keep up this pace," Ray called back down the line.

"Do we think we will make it before the Mongolians? Or Russians? We don't know what side of the border it's on." Brock asked, catching on to the idea Sonny was throwing around inside his head as he hardly said a word this hike and his joking demeanour was non-existent as his emotions took the wheel, too afraid to say the words out loud.

They all knew where they were heading and that they would soon stumble upon a dead body. But everyone was still on edge as the face of this body was still unknown, and the body was all contorted; they could not tell the same side, but the upper torso they did manage to stare at matched their blue-eyed boy. And that scared the shit out of everyone.

"Trent, do you have everything you need?" Liz asked for the fourth time this trip.

"Yes, I have everything we will need for him and then some." Trent knew Liz was hyper-focused on the state of Clay when they found him and insisted the body from the scene was not him. Although her constant questions were annoying, he knew her heart was in the right place, and she was not questioning him, just trying to prepare for what they will find and help her mind be ready for what it may face. Sonny even seemed to grasp this idea, and although it was unhealthy, they would crash too far down if it was his lifeless body. Even if it is not what they want to come across, they still live in their wishful world, and Trent eyed them. "I promise."

Jason walked behind Brock, who fell in line right behind Ray with Cerb pulling on his lead, not saying a word. No one was in a talking mood, but the odd comment floated in the air between Trent, Brock, Ray and Blackburn. They were trying to keep the spirit light, at least to some degree and keep everyone's minds off the situation. Liz and Sonny went quiet, stuck inside their head and dwelling on all the adverse outcomes they would reach, but Jason was a bit different. Yes, he was quiet but not dwelling, more so stoic and giving off no emotions. Liz and Sonny showed all the emotions on their faces like a book as they jumped inside their minds, but Jason held a stone-cold, blank stare. And to everyone, this was worse. No one knew what to say, how he was thinking or what his next move will be. He has always been unpredictable, but they always knew his actions would benefit the team. Here they could not even guess what his actions could be. He gave off the 'True Ebeliever' vibe he always warned Clay not to get involved with. The vibe was that he did not care what would happen; he would get revenge even if it cost him his life.

Ray kept peeking back over his shoulder at his best friend, then casting a glance towards Backburn at the end of the line as if to give a silent agreement that Jason was coming home and they were going to watch his every move. They would not let him get lost in his façade if that body was Clay. They knew Jason's bond with Clay was that he felt that he was his son in many ways, and they were scared he would crack as any parent would if they found their child lying motionless at their feet. Yes, they all knew this could be their outcome choosing this as their job, but no one was ready to accept that this could happen to them at any moment. The possible outcome be damned. Their wish for every mission was to have everyone make it home together, alive.

Blackburn knew Jason was a lost cause at this moment, and there was no pulling him back until they reached the body, but Sonny and Liz needed some sort of distraction. "Bravo 3, 8, run it by me again; what is the plan when we get there? I want to confirm that we have all our bases covered as we are unsure what side we will be on."

They both looked at each other and slowed their steps but lined up along with Blackburn at the back to review the mission plan. They knew this was unnecessary and that their commander was VERY capable of understanding the mission details and strategy, but they welcomed the attempt for a distraction. They welcomed going over all details again, giving them the sense of control they needed for an unpredictable scene. As they went over the outlines that Bravo 2, 5 and 7 would cover the surroundings as Bravo 1, 3, 4 and 8 would tend to Clay and hopefully get them all out and alive within sixty mikes (they decided to go over a standard allotted time but decided they did not know what version of the raccoon they would get from Clay and he has been in these woods alone, thirsty and hungry for over a day and injured, so they did not know what his state would even be at this point), to get them on their way back to the plane where Davis and the support team will be waiting with their gear and have wheels up within twenty mikes of their arrival.

Before they knew it, Cerb let out a sharp bark as they froze, taking in their surroundings and being alerted that someone was ahead. As they all flanked Brock, Cerb and Ray, they scanned their trees with their scopes and froze as their gaze pinpointed towards a body on the ground up ahead, hidden behind a large rock.

….

Clay

He stumbled along, trying to stay on his feet as the man's firm grasp clung to his shoulder while prodding him with the rifle muzzle; when he slowed down, Clay completely lost all concept of his surroundings and the time. He was unaware of anything except this rather large man behind him and the sounds of wind in the trees and a faint river. He focused on the sounds of the water rushing over rocks as his mind retracted within himself, and he pictured waves lapping up along the beach. Ah, his happy place. Finally! He wondered when he would end up here; it was not the first time he was this close to death that he needed to go on a mental vacation. As he sat along the beach, he turned to his left, and there was his best friends smiling face.

"It's good to see you." Brian grinned. "But you really should not be here."

"I don't think I have a choice at this point. I'd rather die here and be happy than out there looking at god knows what. I don't even know where I am, but it's hot, muggy, wet and yet I am freezing. Would you like to have your last moments there?" Clay snapped.

"Touche." Brian nodded as he faced out towards the sea. "I guess then, if you look at it that way. I'm glad you get to leave seeing my beautiful face."

"Ha!" Brian snorted as he faced back towards Clay, watching him turn his gaze towards the water. "It's been a while, so tell me, what's new in your life?"

Clay let out a snort as well, laughing and shaking his head. "Well, you know, the same. Risking my life for my country, being used as a pawn by the cake eaters, surrounded by family and loving everyone moment of it." Leave it to Brian to be so easy in death.

"Sounds like I am missing out! How I miss being a pawn to the higher-ups." Brian laughed as he shook his head. "I'm glad you finally accepted them as your family. Bravo is perfect for you. You all are a perfect puzzle. Individually you do not fit but together create the perfect picture. One unit together. But.. what I want to know is how is it having a woman on the team? Breaking records."

"Tell me what you really want to know. Since when do you bite around the bush? You do not care that she is a woman on the team."

"You still can read me like a book, so I m just going to get straight to it since I know you." Brian glanced at Clay meeting his eyes. "How do you feel about her?"

"What do you mean? She is amazing, strong, and independent; I trust her. The whole team does, and no one regrets any decisions about the teams' choices. She is one of the guys, and no one has any doubts." Clay stared at Brian, not breaking eye contact.

"Well, I know that. I've seen her in action on and off the field. She is as loyal as they come, and if I were alive, I would trust her with my life and feel honoured to be running with her. But what I asked was what you feel about her. Not the team. Not her performance."

"I already told you. She's amazing, and I trust no one more."

"Clay."

"What? What do you want me to say, huh? What are you looking for?" Clay asked as Brian just sat there staring at him. "Do you want me to say that I am madly in love with her but broken as I know we can't be together and be on the same teams? Is that what you're looking for? Cuz that is all I can think about her every moment she is not with me. I sit and dwell on the fact that I can not be with the woman I love, which crushes me. Or do you want me to say that when I'm with her, I'm lost in her, and the world disappears? Everything is perfect with her, and I forget everything. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR? THAT I AM BROKEN EVERY DAY?" Clay spat out in anger. He had not said these words out loud, and it scared him and made him angry; this was his situation; the only way out was for one of them to leave the teams, and neither was ready for that. Or at least that's what he thought. And he could never ask her to and would never even consider that. They were born to be SEALs and loved their jobs.

Brian said nothing; he just sat there, put his arm on Clays shoulder, and squeezed him as he glanced at the waves. Leaving his hand on Clay's shoulder for support as the blonde turned his gaze straight, and Brain could feel his body sink slightly in defeat. Or was it acceptance?

"I never told her I loved her."

"What?"

"At the bar, she told me she loved me, and I never said it back. And now, well… I never will since there is no way I'm getting out of here alive."

"She knows."

They sat like this, embraced together for what felt like hours watching the waves crash along the shore. And then Clay's reality came crashing in. Blinking his eyes, the calm beach was replaced with wood and the face of a disgruntled man hiding behind the same rifle muzzle that once was making a bruise on his back.

Bravo- Present day

Bravo 1 finally showed his face as Jason was pushed down. "Everyone fan out, cover until we can confirm identity. 4 your with me."

After a quick, silent glance at everyone's faces determining their directions, Bravo fanned out with their rifles up and headed on a swivel as they scanned the trees surrounding the body. Taking slow, careful steps to survey the area before each one takes a knee and holds cover, having the assigned members fan off and tend to their injured members. They were like a well-oiled machine, all out of their heads and in mission mode. Ready for anything that may happen and assess all threats.

As each member fanned towards the trees, Brock and Ray headed towards the sound of a river.

"Boss! You need to see this." Brock called out as Ray shot him a glance, following his gaze towards the edge of the river and freezing in place.