The sun had long since set over the base, casting dark shadows across the grounds. Inside the team's shared quarters, tension hung thick in the air. Top paced back and forth, his face etched with a mixture of anger and concern. Every few seconds, his eyes darted to the clock on the wall, then back to the door.
"Where the hell are they?" he growled, his voice low and dangerous.
Preach, ever the voice of reason, tried to calm him. "They're probably just held up at the infirmary, Top. You know how thorough McG can be."
Top shook his head, his jaw clenching. "If they were still at the infirmary, McG would have called. He knows better than to miss a meeting without word."
Amir, perched on the edge of the couch, nodded in agreement. "It's not like them. Something's off."
The minutes ticked by, each one ratcheting up the tension in the room. Top's pacing increased, his movements becoming more agitated with each pass.
"I'm going to-" Top began, but was cut off as the door burst open.
McG stumbled in, barely able to stand. His face was pale, a sheen of sweat visible on his forehead. But what caught everyone's attention was the massive goose egg swelling at the base of his skull.
"McG!" Amir exclaimed, jumping to his feet and rushing to support his teammate.
Preach was right behind him, guiding McG to a nearby chair. "Easy, brother. Let's get you sitting down."
Top's anger evaporated instantly, replaced by a cold dread in the pit of his stomach. His eyes scanned the doorway, searching for a figure that wasn't there. "Where's Jaz?"
McG's face crumpled, a mixture of pain and guilt washing over his features. "They got her, Top...they got Jaz."
The room fell silent, the weight of McG's words settling over them like a heavy blanket. Top felt his heart rate spike, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
"What happened?" he demanded, his voice tight with barely contained fury.
Preach returned with an ice pack, gently pressing it to the back of McG's head. McG winced but nodded gratefully before turning back to Top.
"We were walking back from the infirmary," he began, his voice rough with emotion. "One minuet she was leaning on me as we walked back and the next I felt a sharp pain at the base of my skull. I tried to warn Jaz, but then everything went dark."
He paused, swallowing hard. "When I came to, somehow I was behind the PX..and she was gone."
"Dammit!" Top exploded, slamming his fist against the wall. The sharp crack echoed through the room, making everyone flinch.
McG hung his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, Top. I should have been more alert. I should have-"
"Stop," Preach interrupted, his voice firm but gentle. "This isn't on you, McG. These cowards took you out from behind. It could have happened to any of us."
Top took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. His team needed him focused, not raging. "Preach is right. This isn't your fault, McG. But we need to move fast. Preach, I want you on the base security footage. See if you can track their movements."
Preach nodded, immediately moving to the computer setup in the corner of the room.
"Amir, you're with me," Top continued. "We're going to search the base. They couldn't have gotten far without someone noticing."
As Amir moved to gear up, Top turned back to McG. "You stay here. Rest. But keep your comm on. If Jaz manages to contact you or if you remember anything else, I want to know immediately."
McG nodded, his face set with determination despite the pain
Top and Amir geared up quickly, checking their weapons before heading out into the night. The base was eerily quiet, the usual bustle of activity muted under the cover of darkness.
They moved systematically, checking every building, every shadow. Top's eyes scanned constantly, looking for any sign of disturbance, any hint of where Jaz might have been taken.
Meanwhile, in a dimly lit room somewhere on the base, Jaz was thrown roughly to the ground. The hood over her head left her in complete darkness, her other senses heightened by the deprivation.
"Not so tough now, are you?" a voice sneered as they zip tied her hands behind her back but Jaz recognized the voice from confrontation at the gym the day before.
Before she could respond, a fist connected with the side of her head, sending a fresh wave of pain through her already concussed brain.
"Start on her," the voice ordered, and Jaz braced herself as multiple sets of hands began to rain blows down on her. A large heavy boot began stomping on her chest and ribs making her chest feel like i t was on fire. Another kick came from the side as Jaz tried to curl into herself to offer any protection to her body.
Through the haze of pain, Jaz strained to hear anything that might give her a clue to her location or her captors' plans. As she faded in and out of consciousness, she caught snippets of a conversation nearby.
"...one last thing to finish..." a voice that sounded like Hawkins said. "...ruined my life... leaving the military... private security firm..."
Another blow to the head sent Jaz spiraling into darkness.
Back at the team's quarters, Preach pored over the security footage, his eyes scanning each frame for any sign of Jaz or her captors. But as the minutes ticked by, his frustration grew.
"Anything?" McG asked from his chair, the ice pack still pressed to his head.
Preach shook his head, his expression grim. "Nothing. It's like they vanished into thin air."
Just then, Top and Amir burst back into the room, their faces set in lines of frustration and worry.
"No sign of her," Top reported, his voice tight. "No tire tracks, no witnesses, nothing."
The team exchanged worried glances, the gravity of the situation settling over them. Jaz was missing, and they had no leads.
Suddenly, a loud thud echoed from outside, the sound of something heavy hitting the wall of their quarters. In an instant, everyone was on alert. Top and Amir grabbed their weapons, moving swiftly to the door.
For a moment, all was still. Then Amir's sharp intake of breath caught Top's attention. "There!" Amir hissed, pointing to a crumpled form on the ground near the wall.
As they approached, weapons at the ready, the shape became clearer. Top felt his heart skip a beat as he recognized the familiar outline.
"It's Jaz," he breathed, relief and fear warring in his chest.
McG rushed towards Jaz's crumpled form as Top and Preach hovered close by providing cover.
"Let's get her inside," McG said urgently, gently removing the hood from Jaz's head. His breath caught as he took in the extent of her injuries - bruises blossoming across her face, a split lip, blood crusting under her nose.
Top and Amir carefully lifted Jaz, carrying her into the safety of their quarters while Preach kept watch. Once inside, they laid her gently on the couch as McG grabbed his medical bag.
"Amir, get me some water and clean towels," McG ordered, his voice slipping into the calm, professional tone he used when treating patients. "Top, I need you to get my IV kit and the saline solution from the medical cabinet."
As the team scrambled to follow his instructions, McG began his examination, his hands moving with practiced efficiency over Jaz's battered form.
"Jaz? Can you hear me?" he called softly, checking her pupil response with a penlight. "Squeeze my hand if you can hear me."
A weak pressure on his fingers brought a relieved smile to McG's face. "That's it, Jazzy. You're safe now. We've got you."
As he continued his assessment. "Her pupils are sluggish.. the concussion's definitely worse. Jaz, are you feeling dizzy or nauseous?"
Jaz managed a weak nod, immediately wincing at the movement.
"Okay, try to stay still," McG advised. "I'm going to start an IV to get some fluids in you"
As McG expertly inserted the IV, he continued his examination, gently probing Jaz's ribs. "Some bruising here, possibly cracked ribs but I don't think they're broken. No signs of internal bleeding in the abdomen, thankfully."
"Her nose and cheekbones don't seem to be broken," he added, "but she's going to have some impressive shiners. That lip will take a while to heal, too."
Top's jaw clenched as he took in the extent of Jaz's injuries. "Will she be okay, McG?"
McG nodded, though his expression remained serious. "She's tough, but she's going to need time to recover. This concussion on top of the previous one is concerning. We'll need to monitor her closely."
As McG worked, Jaz began to stir more, a low groan escaping her lips.
"Easy, Jazzy," McG soothed, his hand gentle on her shoulder. "You're home now. Can you open your eyes for me?"
Jaz's eyes fluttered open, struggling to focus. "McG?" she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I'm here," McG replied, relief evident in his voice. "We've got you. I need to do a thorough check, okay? This might be a bit uncomfortable, but I need you to tell me if anything hurts."
Jaz managed a weak nod, wincing at the movement.
McG turned to Top, his face serious. "Top, I need you to help me here. Can you support her head and neck while I check for any spinal injuries?"
Top moved immediately, his hands gentle as he cradled Jaz's head. McG ran his fingers along Jaz's spine, watching her face closely for any signs of increased pain.
"Okay, that seems clear," McG said, relief evident in his voice. "Now for the hard part. Jaz, I need to check your abdomen for any internal injuries. This might hurt a bit, Okay?"
Jaz's eyes met his, trust evident despite the pain. "Do what you need to do..."
McG nodded, then carefully lifted Jaz's shirt. A collective intake of breath from the team filled the room as the extent of the bruising became visible. Dark purple marks streaked across Jaz's skin, spreading across her ribs and down her sides.
"Son of a bitch" Top muttered, his face pale.
McG's jaw clenched, but his hands remained steady as he began to gently palpate Jaz's abdomen. "I'm going to press down in different areas, Jaz. I need you to tell me if you feel any sharp pain or if any area feels particularly tender."
He started at the upper right quadrant, his fingers pressing with practiced precision. "Any pain here?"
Jaz shook her head slightly.
McG moved to the upper left quadrant. "Here?"
"A little sore," Jaz admitted.
McG nodded, making a mental note. He continued his examination, moving to the lower quadrants. When he reached the lower right, Jaz couldn't suppress a gasp of pain.
"Sorry," McG said quickly, easing the pressure. "Any nausea?"
"Alittle," Jaz admitted, her voice strained.
McG frowned, his concern evident. "Okay, I'm going to check for any guarding or rigidity..try to relax as much as you can for me ok."
He placed one hand flat on Jaz's abdomen, then pressed down and quickly released, watching for any involuntary muscle tension. Jaz winced but managed to stay relatively still.
"Good, that's good," McG encouraged. "No significant guarding, which is a positive sign. Now, I'm going to check your ribs, toll me if anything hurts even just a little."
He ran his hands along Jaz's rib cage, applying gentle pressure to each rib in turn. When he reached the lower left side, Jaz couldn't suppress a cry of pain.
"Sorry, sorry," McG said quickly. "Looks like we might have a couple of cracked ribs there. We'll need to wrap those to help with healing and prevent any respiratory issues."
Top, who had been watching the examination with a mixture of concern and barely suppressed anger, spoke up. "What's the verdict, McG?"
McG sat back, running a hand through his hair. "Well, the good news is there's no signs of internal bleeding or organ damage. The bad news is she's got a pretty severe concussion, possibly some cracked ribs, and a lot of soft tissue damage. She's going to be in a world of hurt for a while."
He turned back to Jaz, his voice gentle. "Jazzy, I'm going to give you something for the pain now, okay? It might make you a bit groggy, but don't fight it. You need to rest."
Jaz nodded weakly, her eyes already starting to drift closed.
McG prepared the IV, adding pain medication and anti-nausea drugs to the saline solution. "This should help with both the pain and the nausea," he explained as he administered the medication. "You'll start feeling the effects pretty quickly."
As the drugs began to take effect, Jaz's tense features gradually relaxed. McG continued to monitor her vitals closely, making notes on her condition.
"I'm going to have to be very annoying for the next 24 hours," he told Jaz as he smoothed her hair out of her face, a hint of his usual humor creeping into his voice. "Waking you up every couple of hours to check on that hard head of yours. Try to be patient with me when you get grumpy, okay?"
Jaz managed a weak smile. "No promises," she murmured.
McG leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I'm so glad you're back with us, Jazzy," he whispered.
As McG stepped back, Top moved closer, taking Jaz's hand in his. "You scared us," he said softly, his voice rough with emotion. "But you're safe now. We've got you, and we're not letting you out of our sight."
Jaz's fingers tightened slightly around Top's. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
Top swallowed hard, fighting back the surge of emotion threatening to overwhelm him. "Nothing to be sorry for," he promised. "Now get some rest. We'll be right here."
As they left Jaz to rest, McG turned to Top. "I'm going to set up on the floor next to her. I need to check on her every two hours, and it'll be easier if I'm right there."
Top nodded, understanding the medical necessity. "Alright, but you need rest too, McG. You took a nasty hit yourself."
"I'll be fine," McG insisted. "Jaz is the priority right now."
Top knew better than to argue with McG when it came to medical matters. "Okay, but we'll take turns checking on both of you. I want updates on your condition too."
McG nodded, too tired to argue further. He grabbed a spare blanket and pillow, setting up a makeshift bed on the floor next to Jaz.
As the team dispersed to their assigned tasks, Top pulled out his phone, dialing a familiar number. "Patricia, we've got a situation," he said as soon as the call connected. "Hawkins and his men attacked McG and kidnapped Jaz. We've got her back, but she's pretty banged up."
Patricia's voice came through the speaker, sharp with concern and carefully controlled anger. "Give me the details, Adam. Everything you know."
Top quickly relayed the events of the night, including what Jaz had overheard about Hawkins' plans to leave for a private security firm.
There was a moment of tense silence on the other end of the line. When Patricia spoke again, her voice was cold and calculating. "No one touches my team and I mean no one! Hawkins is planning something big, and we're going to find out what it is and shut him down!"
"What are you thinking?" Top asked, recognizing the tone in Patricia's voice.
"We're not going to alert base security or make any moves against Hawkins yet," Patricia said, her mind clearly racing. "If he's planning to sell secrets or compromise national security, we need to catch him in the act."
Top's grip on the phone tightened. "And how do you propose we do that?"
Patricia's voice took on a steely edge. "We're going to use Jaz."
"Absolutely not," Top growled, his protective instincts flaring. "She's in no condition-"
"Hear me out, Adam," Patricia interrupted. "Hawkins thinks he's broken her. He won't expect her to be a threat. We can use that to our advantage."
Top gritted his teeth, not liking where this was going. "Go on."
"Once Jaz is recovered enough, we'll set up a scenario where Hawkins thinks he can get to her again," Patricia explained. "But this time, we'll be ready. We'll catch him red-handed, whatever he's planning."
"It's too dangerous," Top argued. "Jaz has been through enough."
"Ask her," Patricia countered. "I have a feeling she'll want to be the one to bring Hawkins down. This is her chance for revenge, Adam. Our girl is going to show him hell hath no furry like a Jaz pissed off."
Top fell silent, knowing Patricia was right. Jaz would never back down from this challenge.
"Fine," he finally conceded. "But we do this on our terms. Jaz's safety is the priority."
"Agreed," Patricia said. "I'll start putting the pieces in place. Keep me updated on Jaz's condition. And Adam? Keep this between us for now. The less Hawkins suspects, the better."
As Top hung up, he felt a mixture of dread and anticipation. He knew Jaz would jump at this chance, but the thought of putting her in harm's way again made his stomach churn. Still, he had to admit, the idea of finally bringing Hawkins down was tempting.
He made his way back to McG's room, finding the medic still vigilantly watching over Jaz. As he looked at Jaz's battered form, Top silently vowed to do whatever it took to keep her safe and bring Hawkins to justice. The game was on, and this time, they would be the ones setting the rules.