Bravo Makes A Plan
Bravo One and his loyal medic spent the next hour calmly explaining to their kid the plan Bravo had developed with support from both Blackburn and their Alpha and Delta brothers. It was late and they were all beat, but Trent knew that neither Clay nor Brock would be able to settle and sleep if they weren't both onboard and clearly understanding this plan.
Decker had met with his team who had agreed to swap their upcoming three month assignment to their home base in Virginia Beach with Jason's team allowing Bravo to be off rotation for missions until the end of the year. In return, Bravo agreed to take Delta's three month deployment to the Middle East which would begin right after Christmas and continue through most of March.
It was a big sacrifice for Bravo's senior guys who were normally kept back from long term overseas deployments so that they would be more readily available for Ms. Ellis' special missions. Brock and Clay both knew that this was a huge deal for their big brothers.
"What about Ray?" Clay asked quietly. "He's going to leave Naima and his kids here alone for three whole months?"
"He is Sunshine," Jason said, reaching out to gently squeeze his boy's arm. "We all agree that the deployment this winter is a fair trade for giving you boys the consistent time you need here at home to get sorted out and back in fighting shape both physically and mentally."
"But Jase," Clay said, his voice shaking. "It's going to be really hard on Ray's kids for him to be gone so long. And are you sure it's a good idea for you and Trent and Sonny to be on dangerous and stressful missions for such a long time? You are almost fifty. The guys on Delta are mostly in their thirties. What if you get sick or have a heart attack or something and we're stuck in the desert."
"Okay Dr. Drama," Trent said calmly, making eye contact with Jason and motioning for Clay to follow him to the nearby couch. "It's way past your stateside bedtime, and we need to roll back the panic. How about we all chill out over here on the couches and relax while we finish talking about the plan for getting our babies sorted?"
Once on the couch, Clay snuggled up to his best caregiver, curling under his arm and resting his head in Trent's lap seeking reassurance that everything was still okay.
"Sunshine," Jason said confidently. "Us old guys are in great shape. We have all passed our physicals, and the Navy has cleared us for active duty. And as Trent can confirm, you and Brock have spent a whole lot more time than the grumpy old men bunking at Casa Reynolds so that Uncle Trent can nurse you back to health from your many fevers and ailments including: strep throat, ear infections, bladder infections…"
"Sinus infections, rashes, bellyaches," Trent went on.
"Headaches, stomach flu, reactions to various shots," Jason added from his seat in the recliner.
"Vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, random colds, coughs, stuffy noses, bronchitis, pneumonia," Trent ticked off on his fingers, looking down and shaking his head at the worn out kid fading fast in his lap.
"Toothaches, sunburns, dehydration," Jason chuckled. "And we can't forget your completely unnecessary, but often recurring post-spanking flaming tail fires and chronic lingering sore backsides."
"My butt still hurts right now," Clay mumbled, looking up to try out the sad puppy eyes on his best uncle. "Can I have the frozen peas on my bottom?"
"Absolutely not," Jason said with zero sympathy for his boy's well-deserved sore ass.
"It's really sore back there," Clay whined like a grumpy ten-year-old, reaching back to rub his butt with one hand while still clutching Trent's shirt in the other.
Without warning, Trent held his kid still with a strong hand to his lower back and tugged down the back of his sleep pants to take a look at his sad little tail.
"Well, son," the medic said solemnly. "I can confirm that Daddy Josh does not play when it comes to dealing with naughty brats who think that disrespecting the adults raising and taking care of them seems like a reasonable idea. Your sorry bottom is blazing as advertised."
Trent gently patted the kid's tush and righted his pajamas. "You are in my thoughts and prayers," he said with zero sympathy for what he had no doubt was a very well deserved lesson learned the hard way.
"Did Josh bring Mr. Spoon to the party?" Brock asked, feeling bad for the kid and still nursing his own sore ass.
"No," Clay said softly. "He spanked me with his big, hard hand."
"Damn," Trent whistled. "Uncle Josh must have been turning up the heat for a while to paint your back door barn red with just his hand. Aunt Melinda is probably icing poor ol' Alpha Four's hand across town right now."
"It's not funny," the kid grouched, hiding his face in Trent's leg. "Lezlie was outside, and she said all the kids from the neighborhood could hear me hollering and knew I was getting spanked like a little kid."
"And remind me whose fault that is exactly?" Jason asked. "Because as you have been telling us often, we are getting feeble and forgetful."
"Josh is not feeble, that's for sure," Clay scoffed. "And I know it's my own fault. But it still hurts. And it's so embarrassing that everyone knows I got spanked. And I said that I'm sorry like a hundred times. And Lezlie is right that a scolding and daddy bottom blazer from Josh that seems like it's never going to end is the absolute worst spanking ever."
"I'm sorry you're hurting, honey," Trent said sincerely, rubbing his kid's back to let him know that he was not alone. "No one wants to see our baby punished. You made some bad choices and got yourself a very unpleasant reminder that disrespectful attitudes and rude backtalk are not going to be tolerated in this family. We all know that you are sorry, and we love you and hate to see you hurting."
"Either one of you," Jason added, looking over at Brock. "We are going with this plan to get you both healthy - physically and mentally. For the next few months while we are here at home, you both are going to be working with Dr. Jeff to sort out what you are thinking and feeling about what happened in Syria as well as any other things that are scaring or worrying you right now."
Brock looked surprised. "I'm seeing Dr. Jeff?" he asked. "I thought he was a kid's doctor. I'm twenty-four."
"We are aware," Trent said. "The doc usually only takes new kids who are under eighteen, but he has several patients in their late teens or early twenties who started with him as younger kids. And you already have met Dr. Jeff. He's been great with Clay, and we trust him. He liked you right away when you took Clay in for that emergency visit. He can see that you are a good kid, and he's willing to work with you both to get through this really hard and confusing time."
"Trust us on this, son," Jason said firmly. "Everyone knows that this kind of doctor and dealing with emotions makes me uncomfortable. But that's my issue, and I don't want it to be a problem for you or Clay. I could not love either one of you more. I want you to be healthy and happy. And I want you to feel safe here at home with us, and to know how to deal with the stress and dangers that are part of what we do at work. I like Dr. Jeff. Trent trusts him with you both. And I trust that Trent knows his shit."
"You'll like Dr. Jeff," Clay said, turning his head from where it was buried in Trent's leg to look over at Brock. "He's really nice. He was a Marine and he understands about being in the field. And he's kind of like a grandpa. He makes me feel calm. I know you're gonna like him. He doesn't yell or get frustrated and annoyed like the doctors at the infirmary."
"Are Clay and I going together?" Brock asked, knowing this decision had already been made and no one was asking for his opinion or approval.
"The doc thinks that to start off, he's going to schedule you boys Monday, Wednesday and Friday right after lunch," Trent explained calmly. "He's going to see you each individually for forty-five minutes on Monday and Wednesday, and then he and I are going to chat like we always do after his time with you."
"What's happening on Fridays?" Clay asked, looking back and forth between the older men.
"On Fridays," Trent said, softly rubbing his cheek, "You and Brock are going to meet with Dr. Jeff together for the first hour, and then all three of us are going to talk to the doc about how things are going for the last thirty minutes."
"That seems like a lot of time away from base," Brock looked unsure. "What about work? I still need to keep up with Cerb's training and all of our other workouts and maneuver training."
"For the next three months," Trent said, looking him straight in the eye. "This is your priority. What happened this past weekend was a big red flag for us all. And it sure as shit is not happening again on my watch. And as you already know, you kiddo are going to be under my watch and in my care until the boss and I decide together that you are ready to be on your own."
"And let me repeat what I have already made perfectly clear, Brock," Jason said sternly. "That is in no way negotiable. It was my decision. Blackburn agrees. And I couldn't care less what Ellis or her CIA buddies think or say about this. You are my kids. My responsibility. And I expect you both to do the best you can to work this plan. Is that clear?"
"Yes sir," both boys said in unison.
"Good," Jason said. "I'm glad we are all on the same page."
Clay sat up slowly, burrowing up against Trent and resting his spinning head on the arm of his always reliable caregiver.
"What happened this weekend?" he asked quietly, clearly knowing that it must have been bad for Jason to give his big brother a whopping and put him on full lockdown with Uncle Trent. "And where is Katie staying if Brock is living with Trent now? Something bad happened. I know it did. Is Katie okay?"
Brock looked down, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees, ashamed that his baby brother who looked up to him for guidance was going to hear how he royally fucked up. Jason stood and moved over behind where his second youngest was sitting alone on the loveseat. His adopted foster dad rested his strong hand on the hurting kid's head and softly rubbed his arm knowing this was so hard for his reliably good kid to handle.
Trent wrapped his arm around their other clearly anxious kid, pulling him in close and kissing his head.
"I want you to settle down and breathe, Clay," Trent said calmly. "Nothing happened to Katie. She's fine. Naima and Ray had dinner with Katie and her younger sister earlier tonight and dropped them off back at Brock and Katie's house. The girls are staying together at the house having girls time while Brock is with me at my place getting the help and support he needs right now. And everyone, including you runt, is okay."
Rocky had emerged from Clay's bedroom to lazily join the late night Bravo group therapy session. He jumped up on the couch and made himself at home next to Clay who reached over to pet his head.
"What happened to Brock this weekend?" Clay asked again, his voice shaking. "I know you spanked him with your belt Jason. Why would you do that? I know something bad happened."
"I did something really stupid, Clay," Brock spoke quietly, not looking up to see his upset little brother staring back at him. "Jason punished me because what I did was dangerous and reckless. And I lied to the whole team which is disrespectful and never okay."
"You're never reckless and disrespectful, Brock," Clay said, giving Jason the evil eye. "What did you do that was so bad you deserved to get a lickin' with the belt?"
"Clay," Brock said firmly, looking up and making eye contact. "I got what I deserved. Just like you got the punishment you deserved tonight. It was my own fault. Not Katie's fault. Not Jason's fault. Not Trent's fault. And most definitely not your fault. I've been scared and confused ever since we got stuck in that sandstorm in Syria. And I know you have been too. But now we both need to be honest and make better choices. We have Jason and Trent and the rest of the family who love us to take care of us and help us sort everything out. That's why we had the meeting tonight. To make a plan to get us both feeling good again. So you can get back to being a kid again. And I can get back to Katie again. And we both can be okay again."
"You both are most definitely safe, and you are going to be okay," Trent said. "You are going to mind the grown-ups, work this plan, and we are all going to work together like we always do to make sure you both are happy and healthy. And it's going to take as long as it takes. Capice?"
"Yes, Trent," Brock said, looking over at the man he loved and could always depend on for anything he needed.
"Yes, Uncle Trent," Clay whispered. "Please just tell me what bad things happened while I was with Josh. I promise I won't lose it."
"Hey there, Sunshine," Jason smiled over at him, still rubbing Brock's arm to keep him steady. "Brock is going to tell you what happened. But I am telling you that what happened is in the past. It's over. We are going to help Brock get sorted out. Nothing bad is happening now. And nothing that can't be fixed happened while you were on lockdown with Uncle Josh and his entertaining family. And if you feel overwhelmed, and you lose it, that's okay too. Everyone loses it sometimes."
"You promise everything is okay now?" Clay asked, begging for reassurance.
"I promise, sweetheart," Jason said confidently. "Everything is going to be fine."
"Clay," Brock started, just wanting to get this confession out. "You know I have been having a hard time since we got back. Especially at night. And I know you haven't been sleeping good either."
Clay nodded, holding tight to Trent who continued to stroke his cheek softly.
"Well, I made some really bad choices," Brock said honestly. "I was scared that maybe the guys would think I was weak and I couldn't handle my job. And me being scared was making Katie scared, and she didn't know how to help me. And I felt so tired and confused because I wasn't sleeping. And I'm thinking maybe you've been feeling really tired and confused too."
Clay nodded, closing his eyes. "Yes," he whispered.
"Have you talked about how you are feeling with Dr. Jeff, honey?" Jason asked, looking over at Trent.
"I've talked about it some," Clay said, still buried deep in Trent's side.
"That's good, baby," Trent held him tight. "And we're going to work with Dr. Jeff to help get both you and Brock settled and sleeping better. Because you can't function without good sleep. No one can. Not even us old guys."
"So instead of coming to Trent like we both know is the rule and always the best choice," Brock said, tearing up and looking over at his most trusted big brother who was currently rocking a very shaky little brother in his strong arms. "I went off base and got a prescription for sleeping pills at a clinic downtown so Jason and Trent wouldn't know how bad it was getting at home."
Clay looked up at Trent wide eyed, but kept his mouth shut.
"Yep, shorty," Trent confirmed lightly. "That's just what your big brother did. And the bad decisions didn't stop there unfortunately."
"Nope," Brock admitted. "The stupid choices continued. Instead of listening to Katie who wanted to call Trent to come over and help us figure out what to do. I yelled at her and shut her out. Started sleeping on the couch and drinking at night in front of the TV because the bad dreams were scaring the crap out of me, and I didn't want to scare Katie. But I ended up hurting her and scaring her, and last week she left and went to stay with her sister."
"Is she coming back?" Clay asked, looking over at his silently crying brother who he loved so much.
Brock shrugged, unable to speak without losing it in front of the kid who was also teetering on the edge.
Jason moved to sit next to his overwhelmed boy and wrapped him in his arms, kissing his head before answering Clay's innocent question.
"Katie is already back at home," Jason said. "She loves Brock, and Brock loves her. They are really young, and this is a hard thing for even couples a lot older to handle. So we are going to be there for them both, because we are their family and we love them both. We are going to let them work this out on their own time, and whatever they decide, they are both going to be okay. You understand what I'm saying?"
"That I should mind my own business and not be nosey about Brock's love life?" Clay said, looking over at his adopted dad.
"Exactly," Jason said.
"I think we can all agree that you minding your own business and not being nosey and or sneaky is an excellent idea," Trent said, shaking his head at the kid still huddled in his arms.
"I'm not being nosey," Clay said, looking over at Jason. "But obviously something more happened this weekend. How did you find out about the pills and Katie moving out?"
"I messed up big time, Clay," Brock said, regaining his composure. "And I've been dreading you finding out because I know I'm your big brother and I'm supposed to be a role model for you. And for Corey too, who also looks up to me. And I don't want either of you to ever think what I did is okay, because it's not."
"What did you do, Brock?" Clay asked. "It can't be that bad."
"It is Clay," Brock said seriously. "Saturday night I felt like everything was falling apart. I couldn't think straight because the sleeping pills were making me groggy and foggy and I could barely walk a straight line when I woke up on the couch surrounded by my own mess. I started taking shots of liquid caffeine along with over the counter pills and daily hits of straight espresso from Starbucks just to make it through work. Then I was chugging Mountain Dew to stay awake driving home because I was so completely exhausted, and I couldn't think straight."
"Why didn't you tell Trent you needed help?" Clay asked.
"I should have," Brock said. "I know that now, but I was such a mess. I didn't know what to do. And Saturday night I made a huge mistake, Clay. And you can never do something so stupid. I was sad and miserable and feeling sorry for myself, so I got really drunk alone on my couch. I hadn't eaten anything all day and I was just laying there in my filthy house in the same clothes I'd been wearing for two days."
Understanding suddenly dawned on the kid and he sat up suddenly. Still clutching Trent's shirt, Clay was looking over at Brock leaning back against the couch cushion next to Jason whose hand was gripping the older boy's knee.
"You took the pills while you were drunk didn't you?" Clay's tone had turned suddenly accusatory, surprising both Trent and Jason. "Were you trying to kill yourself Brock?"
The kid was shouting now. Both Jason and Trent sat up straight.
"Woah," Trent said, not expecting this reaction or that question which no one had yet asked directly. "Calm down, Clay."
Clay completely ignored Trent which he never did. He stood up glaring over at Brock who was looking at Jason equally shocked at the kid's demeanor.
"Answer me, you asshole!" Clay yelled. "Did you take the pills while you were drunk so you could die? You did, didn't you? You tried to kill yourself!"
Clay lunged at the older boy wildly.
Jason stood between his boys as Trent grabbed hold of Clay and pulled him back away from Brock.
"Enough!" Jason barked in a tone that even Clay in his wild, out of control state could not ignore. "Back up, and calm the hell down. Now. And don't even think about taking another step in this direction. Do you understand me?"
Clay was breathing hard with Trent still holding him still in the off chance he decided to ignore Jason and take another shot at Brock.
"I said, 'Do you understand me?'" Jason growled in a voice that if Trent didn't know his brother better would have him calling across the hall to Derrick for back up containing the situation.
If he was trying to scare the hell out of their boys, Jason had succeeded. Brock immediately took several steps back holding up his arms to show he was not engaging with Clay in any way.
For his part, Clay was still staring daggers at Brock, but he took a step back, leaning into the hold Trent had on him. However, he still hadn't answered Jason, which both of the grown men recognized as a sign that their boy was still considering if he was going to back down and obey, or continue on his current path heading fully off the rails.
"Don't make me ask again, son," Jason said, his voice calmer, but still deadly.
Trent squeezed his distraught kid's arm slightly to let him know that both men expected an answer. Although the medic was so surprised by Clay's outburst, he wasn't sure of the original question himself anymore.
"Yes," Clay said. He wasn't yelling, but the edge was still there, and Jason was not having it from his seventeen-year-old child.
"Yes, what?" Jason said calmly, opening a door, hoping he'd established enough trust and respect with this boy he made his own to get a civil response.
Clay was perceptive, even when he was upset. He recognized the change in tone as his adopted dad and trusted protector's attempt to reach out and pull him back from fight or flight mode.
"Yes, sir," he responded without the edge, but still clearly furious and on the brink of spiraling. "I understand you."
Trent and Jason made eye contact and had one of their silent conversations.
'What the fuck was that?' Trent raised his eyebrows at his longtime brother, looking over the heads of both boys who were both staring at each other and standing completely still.
Jason gave his head a slight shake only his brother would notice to indicate that he was equally unprepared. 'Absolutely no clue, but we need to reel this in ASAP.'
Trent nodded. 'Same page, boss.'
Before Jason had a chance to speak and give an order, Clay decided to continue with the admonishing of his currently fragile older brother.
"If you hate us all that much that you'd rather be dead, then you should have just swallowed the whole bottle or slit your wrists so Katie could come home and find you dead and bloody in the bathroom," Clay said, trying to hold back tears.
"That's enough Clay," Trent said, meaning business. "You need to settle down and take a breath."
The medic turned and put his open palm on the kid's chest. Trent could feel Clay's heart racing through his t-shirt and he gently pushed him backwards toward the couch to put more space between their two youngest who were now both officially crying.
"I was not trying to kill myself, Clay," Brock said, trying and failing to get his emotions under control. "I would never do that. I wouldn't do that to you or Jason or Trent. I wouldn't do that to Katie or the other guys. I would never do that to my parents or my sisters and brother. I swear Clay. I was not trying to kill myself."
"I don't believe you, Brock," Clay cried, getting hysterical. "I think you probably hate me just like everyone else I love. Even Ash knows it's true. At least he tried to warn me that there is something really bad wrong with me. Ash said my mother killed herself with pills and liquor so she could get away from me because it was my fault she had to become a heroin addicted whore just to try to support me. He told Cathy and John that they needed to run away and leave me as fast as they could because I was like a curse and I'd somehow destroy their marriage just like I probably did something bad to hurt my grandparents."
Brock was stunned silent, looking back and forth between Jason and Trent waiting for one of them to do something. He had no idea Clay's mother killed herself - or if that was even true. He vaguely remembered being told a couple named Cathy and John brought Clay home from Africa, but he couldn't follow what the kid was rambling about or what Ash had to do with any of this.
Jason stepped forward first, reaching out toward his hysterical baby. "Clay, honey," he said gently. "You need to stop talking and be still for a minute."
Trent shook his head at Jason to indicate he should back off to let their kid continue. Jason looked back at his trusted medic like he had lost his mind.
"What else did Ash tell you?" Trent said, taking Clay's arm and getting him seated back on the couch. He crouched down in front of their sobbing kid so he was at his level and took both of his hands in his own, gently rubbing his thumbs on the inside of Clay's wrists to help ground him to where they were at the moment.
"He lies, baby," Trent whispered gently. "What else did he tell you?"
"Remember that night when Jason was at the meeting and I was here alone?" Clay cried.
"I remember. That worthless bastard showed up and attacked you," Trent said calmly. "What did he say to you?"
"Before he beat me with his belt, Ash said that Jason thought he'd won when he took me in and made me his son. But really it was all a trick."
"What kind of trick?" Jason asked, looking over at Trent questioning whether this trip down the rabbit hole was a good idea right then. But Trent knew his kid. If they stopped him now, he would clam up, not tell them everything, and this would be back to bite them down the road.
"I'm so sorry Jason," Clay looked up at him with his face red and soaked with tears, his nose running, and his breathing erratic. "I just wanted you to be my dad so much. I wanted you to want me and take care of me like I was your real kid."
"You are my real kid, sweetheart," Jason soothed, moving over to crouch down next to Trent. "We don't understand what you are talking about."
"Ash said that he tricked you into taking me," Clay choked out. "He said if I ever told you the truth you would get rid of me right away. And if I kept the secret I was going to ruin Bravo because I was born bad with some kind of curse or something maybe. I didn't know why I was so bad. I still don't know. He said I killed my Mom and my grandparents and I would have killed John and Cathy if he hadn't warned them and sent them away. He hates you Jason, and he wants me to ruin Bravo."
"Baby," Trent said softly, still rubbing his wrists, "That is absolutely ridiculous. You are not cursed. There is no such thing as curses in real life. And you are most definitely not bad. We've talked about that many, many times."
"How do you know that Trent?" Clay asked desperately. "How do you know it wasn't all a big trick by Ash to curse Bravo and get back at Jason for being Bravo One. Ash wants to be Bravo One. I should have told you everything that night when you and Derrick came home. I should have run away so I couldn't hurt you. But I was selfish and scared. I just wanted Jason to be my real dad and Bravo to be my real family. But now it's all ruined and Ash was right."
"Nothing is ruined, Sunshine," Jason said gently. "I am your real dad. And Bravo is your real family forever. There is no curse, and no trick. And for the record, Ash Spenser could never trick me or Trent or anyone on Bravo to do anything. He wanted to confuse and hurt you to get back at me because he knows that you are my son, and I love my babies more than anything in this world. And right now, my youngest baby is a full on hot mess."
"Brock," Trent said, shaking his head and turning to look back at the other kid who looked stunned by this new development none of them saw coming. "Go grab me a wet washcloth and a bottle of Gatorade. We need a clean-up in aisle seven."
"Trent," Clay continued desperately. "I don't think you understand how serious this is. Brock almost died. He tried to kill himself to get away from Bravo. All because of me. Katie was almost a widow. And Brian is dead. Who even knows what horrible thing might happen next."
Brock returned and handed the washcloth and blue Gatorade to Trent.
"Clay," the older kid said, wiping at his own eyes. "I did not try to kill myself. I don't want to get away from Bravo. That makes no sense. I love Bravo. I love you. And I love my life here with Katie and my family. I was confused, and so tired. I was just trying to sleep. I never wanted to die."
"But all that happened because of me, Brock," Clay cried. "Don't you see?"
"No squirt," Brock said honestly. "I don't see. None of me getting drunk and taking pills to help me sleep is in any way about you."
"I'm the whole reason you can't sleep in the first place," Clay whispered so quietly the other men had to strain to hear him. The kid leaned forward, completely exhausted. Their boy wrapped his arms around Trent's neck, resting his body against his care giver's strong chest and closing his eyes."
It was quiet for several long seconds. The brothers thought maybe the baby had fallen asleep in his much loved uncle's arms, but when Trent moved to put him back down on the couch, their confused kid started talking again.
"If it wasn't for me, back in Syria, you would have gone to exfil and left with the rest of the team. Jason makes someone stay back with me to be sure I get out okay. And this time it almost killed you."
Clay paused before continuing to quietly explain.
"That's how I know that Ash was right about me being bad and hurting the people who try to love me."
"Sunshine," Jason said, reaching over to where his boy was fading fast in their medic's arms and gently stroking his sweaty head, "It's late. We are all exhausted. So we are going to calm down, get a good night's sleep, and finish this conversation tomorrow when we are all rested and thinking clearly."
Clay looked over at Brock. The brother he loved looked like he'd just done several rounds in the ring with Sonny. His eyes were red and puffy, and he looked like he might pass out right there on the couch and sleep for a week. Brock looked so sad and tired, and Clay felt like it was all his fault for breaking his promise, losing it, and melting down like a little kid.
"I'm sorry, Brock," Clay said softly, still attached to Trent. "I freaked out and made everything worse. I shouldn't have said anything about what Ash told me. And I shouldn't have been mean to you. If you hadn't stayed with me in Syria, I would have died alone in that cave. You saved my life, and everyone knows it. I love you, and I'm sorry I made you sad. Please don't be mad."
"I'm not mad at you, runt," Brock said, equally worn out from this long ass day. "None of this is your fault. Trent and Jase are right that you are a good kid. Ash is a bully and a liar, and you were right to tell us what he said to you. You should never be afraid to tell your brothers when you are afraid or hurting. And I should have come to Jason or Trent to tell them the truth before everything got out of control. And I love you too, squirt."
"Okay," Jason sighed, standing up and scrubbing his hand down his face. "I think we can agree that everyone is done for tonight. There have been plenty of bad choices and lots of sorry to go around, but that is in the past, and we are moving on. We'll talk more tomorrow about what is going to be happening over the next few months. But I want you both to understand that we love you, and we are going to take care of you. And everything is going to be okay. I promise."
"Amen," Trent said. "Boss, are you and Shorty good to go if Brock and I head back over to my place? Or do you need me to stay tonight?"
"What do you think, Sunshine?" Jason asked. "Can we let poor old Uncle Trent get a good night's sleep in his own bed tonight?"
Clay was quiet for a minute.
"Can I sleep with you?" he said, looking up at his best protector hopefully.
"Is Rocky going to be crashing the slumber party?" Jason asked.
"Rocky hates to sleep alone," Clay said. "I'll keep him on my side of the bed. He won't bother you."
"Relax, honey," Jason said, chuckling and slowly peeling his kid off their super medic and official kid tamer. "I'm just teasing. Your wingman Rocky is welcome in boss-daddy's bed. Go use the bathroom and head to bed. I need to talk to Uncle Trent for a few minutes. I'll be in shortly."
Clay nodded, stumbling across the room toward the bathroom. He stopped to throw his arms around Brock's neck, burying his face in the older kid's shoulder and holding on tightly.
"I'm sorry, I yelled at you," his little brother mumbled into Brock's neck. "I"m gonna see you tomorrow, right Brock?"
Brock looked over at Trent and Jason, not wanting to make any promises he couldn't keep.
"I'm going to drop off Brock tomorrow on my way into base," Trent yawned, stretching out his back. "The two of you are going to spend the day here with the boss, catching up on some much needed sleep, and talking more about Bravo's plan for sorting out our favorite trouble magnets. I'll pick up some fried chicken and biscuits after work and we can have dinner together. How's that sound?"
"Sounds good Trent," Clay said, releasing Brock and walking into the arms of his surrogate mama bear. "Can we have slushies?"
"How about I bring milkshakes for you and Boney Magee over there?" Trent said, kissing their boy's head and turning him toward the bathroom with a light swat to his tail to get him moving. "We need to work on fattening you two back up before the weather turns and you're both coughing and sneezing."
"You worry too much, Trent," Brock said, rolling his eyes.
Jason scoffed, pulling Bravo's young dog-handler over and wrapping a strong arm around his shoulders. "I can't imagine who could possibly be causing their grumpy ol' Uncle Trent to worry."
Bravo One kissed his done in kid's temple quickly before releasing him.
"How about you do me a favor and wrangle my youngest baby for me?" Jason said, wanting to talk to Trent alone. "Remind Trouble to brush his teeth, and get him settled in bed. Trent and I need a few minutes."
"Yes, sir," Brock said tiredly, heading toward the bathroom to check on his little brother like the good kid they all knew him to be.
"You're going to take leave time tomorrow?" Trent confirmed once he was alone with his brother and friend.
"I don't think either one of them is ready to be left alone after tonight's surprise drama," Jason said, shaking his head. "Drop off Brock first thing, and I'll let them sleep until they wake on their own. They both clearly need to rest before being ready to think clearly and talk about what they can expect for the next few months."
"Copy that, Boss," Trent agreed. "I was completely caught off guard by Clay going after Brock, and that whole crazy Ash bullshit. Derrick was the first one on the scene that night the asshole showed up and attacked Clay. He pulled Ash off the kid and kicked the crap out of him before dragging the bastard out of here. Derrick obviously would have told us if he had heard any of this stupid nonsense about curses and tricking Bravo. So this came totally out of left field."
"Yup," Jason sighed, shaking his head. "For now, we need to focus on getting our boys settled into their new schedule. Once that bridge is crossed, I'm going to need to bite the bullet, as much as I hate to deal with him, and have a serious, straightforward conversation with that self-absorbed, overgrown child Ash Spenser. We need to know the straight story about Clay's mother and whatever other batshit crazy tales he has told the kid that we haven't heard yet."
"You really think that you and Ash sitting down one on one to talk about the kid is going to end well?" Trent chuckled.
"Just the two of us?" Jason snorted. "I think we both know how that would end. I'm going to have Blackburn and Adam on the scene. They all operated together back in the day, and they can somehow tolerate the tool."
"That's a start," Trent agreed. "But, I'm going to strongly recommend you take Ray along as well, to keep you from ripping the Ashole apart the first time he in any way bad mouths our kid. Which we both know he won't be able to stop himself from doing."
"Good call brother," Jason nodded, giving Trent a thumbs up. "Obviously, it would be infinitely more satisfying to see what Sonny and I could accomplish in a room with Ash before Blackburn and Adam could pull us off that waste of space. But once again, I will defer to your excellent judgment and recruit my level-headed, responsible number two as wingman for this unpleasant mission. That's why they pay you the big bucks. Ray can come along to keep the peace and prevent me and Sonny from homiciding."
"I'm not going to lie and say that I wouldn't enjoy seeing what was left of Ash after you and Sonny finished with him," Trent admitted. "But, I think we both know that you and Sonny behind bars is not a good thing for any of us. Especially Clay."
"Which is why I am going to summon my deeply buried inner-Gandhi and let that no good fucker continue breathing," Jason deadpanned.
"And that is why you are Bravo One, and Ash Spenser is selling out his brothers for a few bloodstained dollars that will never make him who he wants to be," Trent said simply. "That's why Ash hates you. There is not another tier-one operator on either coast more respected than Jason Hayes. And that fucker knows it."
Trent reached out and squeezed his brother's shoulder before continuing.
"Ash Spenser will never be the revered team leader you are. Ash Spenser will never be the deeply loved father you are. And Ash Spenser will never be the truly good man that you are. Living the rest of his miserable life with that knowledge is a fate much worse than you and Sonny taking him out and letting anyone who knows him think, for even a minute, that Ash Spenser was worth the effort."