The Meeting
With their trusted caregivers and protectors close by, Brock and Clay slept through the night, both boys getting their first solid rest uninterrupted by nightmares or anxiety fed late night wandering since returning from Syria.
With the joint Alpha-Bravo meeting being held at his place, Trent decided against waking Clay. He left the bedroom door partially open since the kid was not a fan of waking to find himself alone behind a closed door. Stealthily extracting himself from The Blond Menace, named so by Alpha One, Trent tucked his boy in tight, kissed his head, and took himself a long, hot shower before starting a pot of coffee and pulling out his extra folding chairs in anticipation of his brothers' arrival. As expected, Jason arrived early with Brock in tow, both loaded down with donuts, muffins, juice, and a large box of Dunkin' coffee.
"You're looking better than the last time I saw you," Trent smiled at their resident 'good kid', opening his arms and inviting Brock to walk into his strong embrace. "Apparently, a night under the watchful eye of our boss and fearless leader is just what you needed, tough guy."
"I feel better, Trent," Brock said, softly.
"How's the fever action?" the never off-duty medic asked, reaching out to feel the kid's forehead and cheeks, squeezing his neck lightly before pointing him toward a chair at the kitchen table and handing him a bottle of orange juice. "You still feel a little warm."
"He was at 99.5 when I hauled him out of bed this morning, so we went with another dose of Tylenol," Jason reported, handing Brock his preferred coffee-cake muffin to go with his juice. "And before you ask, yes, he took his giant antibiotic pill."
"It's the bladder infection and stress of the past two weeks giving you a run for your money, kiddo," Trent said, patting his back. "It's got your little brother worn to a frazzle as well, but not to worry, we are going to get you both sorted."
"You know we love you guys, right?" Brock said, dutifully breaking off and eating small pieces of his muffin.
"Yes," Trent nodded, tousling his hair. "I believe we've been told that once or twice before."
"Clay's okay?" Brock asked. "A grumpy old bird told me that a pep talk from Jedi Master Trent along with his new-found commitment to gentle parenting prevented him from opening a can of whup-ass on my naughty brother's lucky little tail. I suspected you secretly roofied the boss with a chill-pill when I heard a full cup of coffee actually hit the wall and Clay didn't get his butt scorched, but Bravo One claims to have been in full Ghandi mode."
"I had Catherine on stand-by across the hall in anticipation of the full meltdown that was no surprise when we gave Trouble the bad news that he wasn't hiding out at your place running your poor wife ragged while we are waylaid in Venezuela listening to Decker bark," Trent chuckled.
"But a last-minute rescue by the mama bear and her soft-hearted pretty boy was not necessary," Jason said, proudly. "I used a whole year's worth of restraint, self-control, and yoga breathing to stop myself from either strangling the brat or making his backside shine."
"Well, I for one am glad the runt didn't get himself spanked this time," Brock said.
"I have no doubt that Sonny will share your relief," Jason snorted. "And I won't have to look at The Mighty Quinn pouting and giving me the fish eye for the entire flight to South America."
"Boss," Brock said, smirking. "You are the undisputed toughest team leader in my book, but I don't know if even Master Chief Hayes can spank the naughty out of Clay."
"Son," Jason said, shaking his head sadly. "I entered the acceptance stage in regard to that shortly after the brat forged my signature on an order to the corporal running the cafeteria saying that he needed Mountain Dew every day for breakfast to prevent low blood sugar. And mind you, that was less than a week after I introduced his out of control little ass to Mr. Spoon for sending the blow-up doll to Fr. Flynn."
Brock and Trent were both cracking up at the memory of Clay trying to hide behind Sonny when the suspicious corporal showed up at Bravo's cage room to confirm the Mountain Dew order.
"That one is definitely filed under 'Classic Clay'," Trent was laughing when Sonny and Metal entered the house together.
"Well," Metal said. "I'm glad to see the mood has lightened. I have that effect on people."
"Bravo One was just telling us he's come to the conclusion that, try as he might to chase out the devil with his spankin' spoon, Clay may just be terminally naughty," Trent said solemnly.
"At this point," Jason said. "All I'm shooting for is keeping that boy semi-tolerable and out of Fort Leavenworth."
"Trouble being semi-tolerable and avoiding prison definitely seems doable, Boss," Sonny gave him the thumbs up sign before taking a glazed donut and heading toward the coffee.
"Quinn, you sure as shit weren't saying that back when Adam did the drop and run," Metal scoffed, taking a chocolate frosted for himself. "I lost a hundred bucks to Josh when I bet you'd snap and thrash his obnoxious ass before the first month was up. Now that little puppet master owns you."
"Speak of the devil," Josh said, smiling at the kid who was looking groggy and confused as he wandered toward them clad in nothing but Trent's old Alabama t-shirt and boxer briefs. Alpha Four had just entered Trent's kitchen mid-conversation with Derrick and Ray.
"Come on over here, sweetheart, and give your old Uncle Josh a hug," Alpha's gentle giant said, lifting the boy a few inches off the floor when Clay went straight to his arms with no hesitation. Alpha Four kissed his temple before setting him back down and wrapping him protectively in his strong arms from behind when Clay turned to confirm that Trent hadn't left him, and his adopted dad had arrived with Brock.
Clay reached up to pull his trusted uncle's arms in tighter, seeking warmth and comfort. "Hi Uncle Josh," he said, shivering. "I'm cold. Where's JJ?"
"Your partner in crime is on the bus heading to school as we speak, honey. And I'm not surprised you're chilled there, short stack," Josh said, holding him tight. "You're running around barefoot and your skinny little tush is half-naked boy. How about you let your big brother Brock take you back to Uncle Trent's famous spare room and rustle you up some pants and socks. And I bet he's got one of those old hoodies back there to warm you up."
"Come on, Squirt," Brock said, rolling his eyes and motioning for Clay to follow him. "The grumpy old men want to talk about us. Let's go lay down in Trent's bed and watch some Impractical Jokers. You're looking like maybe you could use a little more snooze time."
"Brock's right," Trent said, kissing Clay's head and handing them both some juice. "Go lay down and watch the four idiots pranking each other. Brock's still rockin' a fever, and I'm guessing you are as well. Go settle down. I'm going to bring your medicine in a few minutes. You need to eat a muffin and finish that juice so you don't get a bellyache when you take your antibiotic and Tylenol combo."
"Yes, sir," Clay said, quietly. He looked over at Jason to be sure he wasn't mad at him about the previous day's tantrum and disrespectful back-talk.
Reading his boy like a book, Jason pulled him in for a hug. "Hey Sunshine," he said, smiling to let his kid know he was not in trouble. "Trent's right. Go lay down with Brock and get some more rest. We're going to be right out here." Giving the kid's tail a light swat, he sent him off trailing Brock to watch TV and eat his breakfast.
An hour later, Alpha and Bravo headed back to base confident that a plan was in place to keep the boys sorted while the senior members of Bravo were off in South America. Bravo was scheduled to fly out with Delta early the next morning, so Jason, Ray, and Sonny needed to spend the day getting their gear ready and attending the official briefing led by Mandy and Blackburn. Trent had stayed back to spend the morning with Brock and Clay, making sure they were updated on the plan for them while Bravo was away.
Before heading back to base, Jason had gone to check on his youngest finding them both sound asleep in Trent's bed. Flopped together like worn out puppies, Brock was sprawled on his belly, one arm wrapped around a pillow while the other was holding onto his little brother who was turned sideways on the bed, using Brock as a pillow. Clay had his head resting on the older boy's back with one arm wrapped around his waist and the other hand clutching his t-shirt the way he always held onto his nearest trusted adult when he was anxious or upset for one reason or another.
Not for the first time, Jason's heart ached at the sight of these boys he loved so much. Being separated from them in Syria, forced all of the older, weathered warriors to face the reality that despite their age and lack of experience, they were now Bravo Five and Six. They were doing a dangerous, stressful, very adult job that broke many grown men and destroyed countless marriages. Bravo came close to losing them, which Bravo One had no doubt would have broken him.
As Bravo's team leader and master chief, Jason knew his job was to evaluate their performance in the field. To look with clear eyes at the decisions they made under intense pressure in a highly precarious situation. To assure that they were getting the medical care and training necessary to get them back on track physically and emotionally to be cleared for a return to active duty. And to be confident that once they did return to the field with Bravo, both Five and Six were even better prepared to face the challenges and dangers they would most definitely encounter again.
As their father figure, caregiver, and protector, Jason knew his job was to make damn sure his two youngest babies knew that they could depend on him no matter the situation - in the field and at home. Jason knew that he had to walk a very fine line between boss and dad. And it was especially difficult and complex with Clay, who was still a child depending on Jason to take care of him, and who carried both physical and emotional scars from a very difficult childhood filled with repeated abuse and abandonment. And Bravo One knew that there was no way he could be both the hard as nails, no nonsense, team leader and loving but strict father his boys depended on without a mountain of unwavering support and back-up from his brothers.
The brothers Jason had been to Hell and back with throughout many years and countless warzones across the globe always had his back. It was that level of unspoken commitment that made Trent use his own leave time to spend the morning caring for his boys while assuring them that they would most definitely get through this hard time, and that their grumpy big brothers would return to spoil and scold them back into fighting shape just as soon as their latest mission was complete.
Bravo's medic would be stuck on base long after his brothers had headed home to rest for the upcoming mission, sorting his gear, stocking his med bag, and reviewing notes from the briefing he had missed so that Brock and Clay would not be left alone all day to care for themselves, take their meds, find their own lunch and spend the day fretting about their quickly approaching separation from each other and Bravo.
Both Jason and Trent were confident their boys would be just fine at home without them. The loyal brothers from both Alpha and their own support team had their boys' backs. The senior members of Bravo never doubted that for a second. Their brothers had their six in Syria, and they would be there again for them, taking good care of their youngest back at home. They had all worked together once again and had a plan in place for keeping the boys sorted while Bravo was away.
"Why don't you leave Clay with me and Melinda?" Josh had offered, drinking his coffee. "He's comfortable at our place, and my kids will keep him distracted and busy. They'll be off at school during the day, and Melinda will be as well, but Shorty can come into work with me and follow the schedule you set up for him in the morning."
"If Josh and Melinda are willing to take him, Jase," Trent said, "That would probably be the best way to go for Clay. We all know he loves and trusts Josh. And he respects him and sees him as a parent figure because he's the same age as Josh's kids and already spends so much time at their house."
"I agree," Ray said. "Clay isn't likely to try out any nonsense on Josh or Melinda."
Josh chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh your boy knows better than that," Josh said lightly. "He's partaken in questionable behavior with my own trouble making namesake enough to know I will not hesitate to institute lockdowns or scorch backsides if necessary. And Clay has been on the scene more than once to see my naughty baby girl marched off, squalin' and fussin', to her bedroom by either her mama or yours truly, Mr. Spoon in hand, to learn a lesson the hard way."
"Are you sure you want to keep him the whole time Josh?" Jason asked. "Four kids is a lot for you and Melinda. And she puts up with kids all day at work as well. Are you sure she's up for Clay in possible meltdown mode?"
"Melinda gave me strict orders before she left for work this morning to bring the baby home," Josh said. "I told her when we got suddenly spun up to Syria that Brock and Clay went missing and she was a nervous wreck the whole time I was gone worrying about them - especially Clay who she's adopted as one of her own when he's at our place. My girl will be in full mother hen mode with your boy, scoldin' and spoilin' until you get back home."
"Catherine and I are always available to help out as well," Derrick told his big-hearted brother. "We all know how much my wife loves Clay, and she misses babysitting your brood now that they're older, especially the girls."
"Lorie and Lezlie love themselves some Aunt Catherine," Josh confirmed. "She spoiled my babies rotten with the shopping and nail doin' and late night movie marathons. And Uncle Derrick was no slouch in the spoilin' department either. JJ would happily ditch his Playstation and every kid on the block for a weekend in the 'all fun all the time' zone with Uncle Derrick, his favorite grown-up kid."
Derrick smiled. "We both miss your kids," he said. "How about next weekend, you and Melinda take a well deserved break in the kid-free zone and Catherine and I will take them all off your hands."
"Don't tease me now, pretty boy," Josh laughed. "You're going to take them all - boys and girls - for the whole weekend? And you don't want to run this by Catherine first?"
"Do you think I'm suicidal?" Derrick snorted, holding up his phone with the heart emoji. "I already texted Catherine that you might need some baby respite. It was her idea to take them."
"But all four at once in your apartment?" Josh said, skeptically.
"My place will be empty," Jason shrugged. "You could take the boys over there with the video games and they can sleep in Clay's room. Let Catherine and the girls have your apartment."
"That's a good idea," Derrick agreed. "That will seriously reduce the brother-sister bickering. And we can invite Brock and Katie to join us for boys vs. girls paintball or mini-golf on the boardwalk and hanging out back at the apartments for movies or video games. They can bring Corey."
"Brother," Metal said, looking horrified. "That is literally my vision of Hell. You just went from brat-free, to four kids, to six kids, and now seven kids for you and Catherine to wrangle? Did you get stoned this morning?"
Sonny laughed, going for a third donut and shaking his head. "I have to agree with Metal on this one," he said. "Jason's kid, Josh's three kids, the Colonel's kid, plus the young lovebirds? That definitely adds up to Hell in my book as well."
"Really?" Derrick asked, feigning confusion. "That doesn't sound like a good time to Scrooge McDuck and Oscar the Grouch over there? Sonny's definitely out since he's spun up, but Metal brother, you are more than welcome to join us on the boys' side of the hall."
"Oh yeah," Metal said, sarcastically. "I'll definitely consider that."
"Great," Trent said. "So Clay is set, and Josh gets a weekend off. And we'll give you Dr. Jeff's number in case the runt needs an emergency tune up while we're gone. He's great with Clay and said not to hesitate to reach out if the kid loses it while we're away. But I really think he'll be fine with both Josh and Derrick on him."
"I agree. And I truly appreciate this," Jason said sincerely.
"No problem," Josh said, slapping his back. "We're all family here, especially when it comes to looking out for the kids."
"So Trent," Ray said. "What are your thoughts on Brock? He still seems shaky about us going without them."
"He's definitely shaky, and he hasn't been able to kick this fever," Trent sighed. "Or sleep through the night without the boss on the scene. And Katie seems equally unprepared for Bravo to take off and leave her alone to handle Brock."
"We're not going to ditch The Colonel's baby girl and your little dog-boy," Metal assured him. "You have him set with the trainer and nutritionist in the mornings on base. Tell him he's with Alpha in the afternoons. And the blond menace too. Brock can run-drills with us, eat, do paperwork, whatever we're doing until it's time to go home. And Tim and I will touch base to figure out something for the baby to do in the afternoon until Josh's kids get home from school."
"Copy that," Tim said. "Anytime you need the kid off your hands, morning or afternoon, just text and I'll send someone to get him. If he's still as worn-out as he looked when he came stumbling out of Trent's room this morning, I'll put him down for a nap on a cot in our cage room and Jeff can sit with him and make sure he's sorted, and then drop him off at Alpha Four's place."
"And Trent," Derrick said. "You know both Catherine and I will be looking out for Brock and Katie. If Katie needs some time away, Catherine is always up for shopping, eating out, fancy nails. And she and Katie have already become close, so it's no big deal."
"The Colonel, hard-ass as he may be," Jason added, "he stopped me in Brock's driveway yesterday. Said he knows he scares the shit out of Brock, but he and Katie's mom are more than willing to help with both Brock and Clay. They're worried about Brock and obviously their daughter. If you need to unload Clay for a day, they'll take both him and JJ. And Katie's mom and sisters will do anything to help."
"Trent," Tim said. "I know you mentioned back before the whole Syria shit-show that Brock might be looking for some down time with guys his own age when his wife is off doing her own thing. My guys all like Brock a lot, and he's more than welcome to eat with us on base, join the guys to work out. And I know Bravo is all about The Bulkhead, but a lot of the younger support team guys hang out at The Shack or Murphy's down on the north beach. I'm going to see if he and Katie want to go down there with me and my wife sometime. It will be packed with guys he knows."
"Okay," Metal growled. "First your skinny little tech child suggests that the more seasoned members among us might be too fucking stupid to understand the baby genius's little crayon map. And now it sounds like you're suggesting that The Bulkhead isn't good enough for the woke, tree-hugging, four-day work week, Gen-whatever you are?"
Jeff looked panicked over at Trent like he might need to change his pants. But Tim, who had spent many hours in Syria watching Metal in Alpha One mode and listening to him rant and bark, was unfazed.
"I wasn't suggesting," Tim scoffed. "I was flat out saying that The Bulkhead, while clearly appealing to the senior, early-bird special, formally badass Axel Rose and Eminem Gen X crowd, might not be the first choice of anyone born after Desert Storm."
Sonny gasped, appalled.
"Here we go," Derrick laughed, shaking his head.
"Formally badass? You little fucker," Sonny growled. "We were kickin' fucking ass and taking fucking names when you were still swimming around in your daddy's nads."
"That's basically what I just said, Sonny," Tim said with zero heat. "You were badass before Jeff here and I were born. It wasn't meant to be an insult. We are all impressed that you are still hanging on and kicking ass. It might take you a while to climb a steep, rocky hill, but shit, my dad is your age and he can't drive more than an hour without stopping to piss."
"Don't drag me into this, Tim," Jeff sputtered. "I didn't say a word. I think you are completely badass, Sonny. And you can ask Derrick - I love the A-Team. He introduced me and Kevin to classic TV back when we were babysitting Clay at the infirmary in Mexico. Tell him Derrick. And not that pussy movie either. The real A-Team with Mr. T. And hill climbing is a totally overrated skill."
"Who the hell is Mr. T?" Tim asked, genuinely confused.
"Can I beat the shit out of them both, Boss?" Sonny asked, staring down Jeff who was moving to hide behind Trent. "Because believe me, I can thrash both their disrespectful little asses without breaking a sweat."
"No," Jason said, simply, turning to refill his coffee.
Metal laughed, slapping his ranting brother's back. "Relax, Sonny," he said, looking over at Tim. "I like this one, he's feisty. And he's got balls, because you could definitely end both him and Trent's mini-me baby medic. And I think I have enough lye in my shed to easily dissolve two bodies."
"He definitely has more balls than brains to get mouthy with me," Sonny scoffed, turning to point at Tim who was amused. "I'm gonna trust you with Brock, on a trial basis, since you and your little geek squad came through for my boys in Syria. But don't piss me off, or the next time we're in the desert, I'll carry your ass up a steep hill and toss you off."
"Are we done measuring dicks yet?" Ray shook his head. "Because Bravo needs to get back on base to get ready for this mission."
"Copy that, Boss Two," Sonny said, cheerfully. "Let's get moving. The faster we get this mission taken care of, the sooner we'll be home and minding our own kids."