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REAL McRollers and Readers, thank you for being the best. We love you all.

This one was inspired by Sammy's. Magnificent story on Friday: Task Time

Code Breaker

Steve sat on the sofa folding laundry with the kids when his phone rang. Glancing at the ID, he grinned and said, "You definitely showed you're Al's daughter with that task," to Annie Cuzzi. Hearing her laugh, his grin widened as Angie and DJ called out hellos. "What's up? It's not time for another challenge yet."

"It's not," she said with a chuckle. "But Dad's birthday is coming, and I'm calling to see if you could send me a copy of the team picture you have framed on your family wall. I don't have a really good copy and I want to put it on a T-shirt for him."

"Consider it done," Steve said, knowing he had a high quality digital version. "I'll email it today."

"Thanks," Annie bubbled. You know Dad is still busting me about the task because Catherine is the best code breaker ever. His exact words."

"Can't disagree, she definitely is. Speaking of Catherine…" he smiled when she entered the room with a basket of freshly dried towels and passed her the phone. "You can say hi."

"How can I pass up the opportunity to say hi to one of my favorite people, not to mention the ultimate code breaker," she laughed.

While Catherine chatted with Annie, Steve returned to the task at hand. Glancing up when his wife ended the call and said, "How about dinner at Pizza Palace to celebrate Daddy finishing the first task?" He nodded at the kids' cheers even as his mind conjured the image of a long ago situation and he smiled with pride at the beautiful, brilliant woman who was currently grinning at him over a pile of freshly laundered towels.

Undisclosed Location 2008

"We definitely need Rollins on this," Cuzzi said with absolute conviction while holding a scrap of metal number plate etched with barely intelligible characters. "We can't make heads or tails of this shit and we're running out of time."

Steve's face was impassive as he punched in the numbers on the com device, his lip barely twitching in a smile that lasted a nanosecond at the sight of her on the small screen.

When he held the metal to the com, saying, "You up for a challenge?" Catherine's eyes focused on his as she listened to the description. "Absolutely." Her voice was steady and confident.

Cuzzi detailed the parts of the code that were visible via the less than stellar connection and Steve watched Catherine's face as she concentrated. Wade, Freddy and Hoss had gathered closer, and he couldn't help feel a surge of pride at her brilliance.

"Give me a few," Catherine said as she dove into the assignment, reaching up to tighten her ponytail.

"That's all we've got," Cuzzi said, while Steve nodded, saying, "Talk to you soon, crack this one ASAP."

Catherine shot him a small grin. "Thanks for the vote of confidence," she said, her fingers tapping a pencil as she began deciphering the code with a deftness that never ceased to amaze Steve, even before the connection was broken.

Finally, after two hours of intense focus, Catherine called back. When the connection went through, her expression spoke volumes. She focused on Steve.

An upcoming meet was a setup. Without intervention there would be a disastrous result.

"You need to go. Now," she said, her voice low and urgent as she explained. Even as he listened, the rest of the team grabbed their gear.

Steve followed suit, his movements quick and precise as he geared up. "Be careful," Catherine said as he leaned closer to the com screen.

"Always," he replied, his mind already focused on possible scenarios. "We need to stay ahead of them. I'll call when I can." He began to close out the connection, then added, "Cath? Thanks."

In the field, the team split up, each taking a different path through a maze of crates and equipment near a small compound, their movements silent and coordinated.

Steve's heart pounded in his chest as he rounded a corner and came face to face with one of their targets. Without hesitation, he raised his weapon and fired, the crack sounding like a thunderclap.

Cuzzi's voice cut through the chaos, "Down in front!"

Steve barely had time to react before a grenade whizzed past his head, missing his ear by inches. He returned fire and as the last enemy combatant hit the ground dead, he and Cuzzi stood side by side, their breathing heavy with adrenaline and exertion. The compound was silent.

"Everyone good?" Steve called out.

Affirmative responses echoed and he exhaled audibly.

"Thanks to Catherine," Freddy said from a few yards away. "You owe her again."

Steve gave him a grim smile. "I definitely do. Grab the intel and let's get out of here before their reinforcements arrive."

Present Time

"Can we get everything with anchovies, Daddy?" Angie's voice broke through Steve's memory and he focused on her smiling face.

"How did you know that's just what I was thinking?" He leaned over to kiss her cheek.

"Cause we like the same pizza!" She giggled. "Mommy and DJ, are you getting sausage and pepperoni?"

"Probably, it's our favorite." Catherine looked at her son for confirmation.

"Yes! Should we get olives, too, Mom?"

She ruffled his hair. "Sounds perfect. You guys take Cammie out for a potty break, then get your shoes."

Standing simultaneously, they ran for the deck with Cammie as Catherine took a seat next to Steve, hip checking him as she sat. Catching his eyes, she smiled. "Penny for 'em?"

He shrugged and kissed her softly. "Code breaking."

She smiled, thinking of the coded puzzle in the game. "Adding it to the list of our 'did you ever think' scenarios? Breaking codes for a prize."

He kissed her again, quickly, and reached for the laundry basket. "In a game run by Cuzzi's kid where being married to the best code breaker in the navy is still to my advantage? Hell no. Luckily, you've got my back." His eyes crinkled with his smile.

She patted his cheek. "Always."

# THE END

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