Brian continued on to the kitchen and began to fix himself some breakfast. Howie, Kevin, and AJ stumbled in a few minutes later.
“Anyone seen Kaos?” Howie poured some cereal into a bowl, surprised that Nick wasn’t sitting next to Brian eating breakfast.
“He’s in the den with Meredith.”
AJ raised an eyebrow and got up to investigate. He came a few minutes later with a big grin on his face. “He’s drooling on her leg.”
Kevin and Howie looked at each other and stood up to check out the situation. They had to bite their lips to keep from laughing at Nick curled up on the sofa. Meredith shooed them away as she gently maneuvered out from beneath Nick’s head. Stretching as she stood, she walked over to them.
“What’s so funny, guys?”
“It’s just not something we could picture, so we had to see it for ourselves.” Kevin nodded towards the young man still asleep.
Meredith’s answers was interrupted by Nick’s moan. She crossed the room and was by his side as he sat up with a jerk.
“No!”
Nick stared at her, fright filling his eyes as the pictures continued to dance through his head. Placing her hand on the back of his neck, Meredith pulled him forward until their foreheads touched.
“It’s okay, Nick. It’s just a dream.”
He closed his eyes and drew in a ragged breath, trying to calm his mind and body. He slowly loosened the grip he had on her arms. Seeing the red marks, he grimaced.
“I’m sorry.”
“I understand, and it’s okay.”
Looking into her eyes, Nick knew that she did understand and forgave him for inadvertently hurting her.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Her voice was soft.
Nick shook his head. “Not…yet. I can’t.”
With a gentle squeeze to his nape, Meredith leaned back. “When you’re ready.”
He nodded and leaned back as well.
“How about some breakfast?” She held out her hand as she stood, pulling him up when he took her hand.
Nick was a little embarrassed to see everyone looking at him, and a pink flush crept up his neck. Meredith patted him on the back as they walked. Once they were settled in the kitchen eating breakfast, Meredith looked at the five guys.
“Who wants laundry detail?”
Howie grimaced as Brian and Nick looked everywhere but Meredith.
“Face it, someone’s getting laundry, someone’s getting beds, someone’s getting dishes, someone’s getting dusting, someone’s getting vacuuming, and someone’s getting pool duty.”
“I’ll take the pool.” Nick raised his hand.
Meredith shook her head. “Fine, but next week we rotate so that everyone gets a chance to do something different.”
“Dusting.” Kevin piped in between bites of cereal.
“Vacuuming.” Howie was next.
“Dishes.” Brian got up and put his bowl in the sink.
Meredith looked at AJ. “Beds or laundry?”
He just stared at her.
“Wanna flip a coin, McLean?”
“You’re not pulling rank?” AJ raised his eyebrows.
“Not this time.” She smiled at him, and he swore his heart skipped a beat.
“I’ll take laundry, then. I hate making beds.”
Meredith grinned at him.
“Shit.” He leaned back in his chair.
“Okay, laundry in the utility room, sort by color please. Everyone is responsible for getting their stuff to AJ. Vacuum cleaner and dust rags in the utility room. Pool stuff in the pool cabana. Let’s get this over with early, and we can get started on food for this afternoon.”
The six of them scattered throughout the house. Howie found the vacuum and decided to start in the bedrooms and work his way to the other side of the house. Kevin started dusting in the living room, cranking up the stereo so that it echoed through the house via the speakers built into the ceiling of each room. Brian emptied the dishwasher and loaded it with breakfast dishes, wiping down the table and counters. Nick cleaned the pool and added the necessary chemicals to ensure a clean pool. Meredith stripped the beds and dropped the linens on the floor in the laundry room. She watched AJ sort through the clothes on the floor that everybody had dropped off, tossing them into piles. A pair of lacy panties dangled from one finger as he stared at her.
“Are these military issue?” His voice was solemn.
“Weekend wear.” Meredith was just as solemn.
“Hmm.” He went back to sorting clothes.
Meredith wandered the house checking on everyone. She found Kevin looking at pictures on her mantle in the den. Slipping up to him, she touched him on the arm and grinned as he jumped.
“How the hell do you do that?” He put a hand up to his chest.
“Practice. Whatcha looking at?” She stared past him.
“Is that President Bush?” Kevin stroked the glass with his fingers.
“Yes. He presented me with the CMH.”
“CMH?” Kevin turned to look at her.
“Congressional Medal of Honor.” Meredith stepped back and surveyed the room. She nodded with approval at how well Kevin had cleaned. With a smile, she turned around and headed back down the hall.
Kevin just watched her go.
Meredith peeked into her office to see Howie dancing as he vacuumed. Walking into her room, she looked out the patio doors to see Brian and Nick goofing around the pool. She laughed when Brian managed to push Nick into the pool. Wending her way back into the kitchen, Meredith pulled out the ground beef and put it in a bowl, adding seasonings to the mixture. She plunged her hands into the bowl and began to mix the ingredients. Kevin walked in a few minutes later as she began shaping the patties. He grabbed some meat and helped her, the two of them working in silent harmony. AJ walked through the kitchen carrying dry sheets and stopped at the counter for instructions on where she wanted them.
“Just drop them on the sofa, and I’ll put them on with I’m finished with this.”
Nodding, he disappeared through the doorway. Howie popped in, pushing the vacuum cleaner towards the utility room.
“All done.” He wiped his hands on a dish towel when he returned.
“Need any help?” He leaned against the counter to watch Kevin and Meredith.
The doorbell rang. “I’ll get the door.”
He walked into the hall and headed for the front door. Howie opened it and found Curran and Leary on the other side.
“Hey, c’mon in.” He stood aside to let them in the door, the two men carrying a cooler.
Meredith walked into the foyer. “Hey guys. You know where everything is. Make yourselves at home. I’ve still got beds to make. D, can you make the iced tea?”
“Anything special you do?” Howie asked before heading for the kitchen.
“Just pour the water in the pitcher and toss in the tea bags to steep. Sugar’s already in there, and when it’s finished steeping, I’ll add ice and water. Thanks.”
Meredith pulled out her sheets and set them aside before gathering the rest in her arms. She moved into the first bedroom and quickly made the bed, settling the comforter over the sheets. AJ followed her as she moved from room to room, efficiently making each bed.
“How do you do that so quickly?” He was impressed with the military corners.
“Practice. I’ve been doing this for over 11 years, so I’ve had a lot of it.” Meredith smiled at him as she passed him in the doorway, her body brushing against him. The sweet rush of electricity ran over their skin, and they each stared at the other for a moment. With a sigh, Meredith stepped back and continued down the hall. AJ just watched her go, realizing that he was past attraction to his commanding officer and well on his way to deep lust.
Meredith grabbed her sheets and disappeared down the hall to her room, quickly making the bed and arranging her pillows. As she shifted them around, she could picture AJ lying against them.
“I’m in deep shit.” Her voice was soft, but it echoed loudly in her head.
She moved to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face to help cool the flush on her cheeks. She also took the opportunity to change into a sporty blue bikini now that everyone knew the story about the scars. Meredith pulled on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt before braiding her hair. She walked back into her room and looked around.
“I need a vacation.”
Chuckling, she headed back to the kitchen. Stopping in the doorway, she found the room filled with men. Laughter bubbled from her lips, and everyone turned to look at her.
“What’s so funny?” Brian stopped pulling lettuce as he waited.
“I’ve got to be the luckiest damn woman on the planet right now. Nine incredibly sexy men and just one me.” She came into the kitchen and grabbed the tea pitcher to finish making the tea.
“Yeah, I’d say you’re pretty lucky.” Hawkins moved out of range before he spoke, anticipating some sort of reaction.
“Hawkins, get away from me.” Meredith threw a tea bag at him, hitting him in the forehead.
“Argh, I’ve been hit. I’m going down.” He dropped into a chair, his body shuddering in an overdramatic death struggle.
“Curran, you really need to curb his sugar intake.” She nodded at her friend, grinning as he nodded back.
Meredith looked around the kitchen at all of the food they’d prepared. She began to put things in the refrigerator until they were needed.
“Who’s manning the grill?” She picked up the tray of hamburger patties and carefully slid it onto a shelf.
The men looked at each other, wondering who should take responsibility. Kevin shook his head. “I’ll do it.”
She grinned at him. “Thanks, Kevin. You guys ready to swim?”
Hawkins and Ramos picked up the cooler and carried it outside to set it near the pool. Meredith and Nick followed behind with towels, sunscreen, and bottles of water. The rest of the guys brought up the rear. Meredith clicked on the CD player, and Santana’s Supernatural began to play. She pressed a button so that random songs would play before setting the remote aside.
All the guys stood around looking at each other, and Meredith rolled her eyes.
“Do I need to hold your hands for you to get into the pool?”
Laughter broke the slight tension, and bodies began hitting the water. She moved around, rearranging chairs and dispersing the towels and bottles of sunscreen. As she walked, she moved her body in time to the music. AJ watched her move, glad that he was in the pool and that it was cool enough to help curb any outward evidence of his interest.
The Backstreet Boys watched with amusement as Hawkins and Leary snuck close to Meredith in an attempt to throw her in the pool. Before they could lunge for her, she spun around, throwing her arm out and knocking Leary into the water. Bending over, she caught Hawkins at the waist, letting his momentum propel him over her shoulder and into the water. She grinned down at the two men, pumping her arm in victory.
“HOO yah!”
Curran laughed as he high-fived her. “’Bout damn time.”
Meredith laughed as well. “How long has it taken me to finally avoid both of them?”
“About five years, I think.” He turned back to the cooler and grabbed a beer.
She looked at the boys and explained. “They’ve been dumping me in the pool for the past five years, and this is the first time I’ve managed to avoid both of them.”
Leary laughed. “Yeah, Commander, it’s about time. So, are you planning on joining us anytime soon?”
Nodding, Meredith pulled off her t-shirt and shorts, revealing the bikini. Brian’s eyes grew wide at seeing so much of her body revealed. He noticed the scars on her shoulder and side that had been hidden by the other suit, and he shuddered in remembrance of how they’d gotten there. She moved to the diving board and walked to the end, turning so that her back was to the pool. Bouncing a few times, she arched her back and dove in backwards. Coming up in a whoosh, she laughed as Brian and Nick each held up ten fingers.
“Thanks, guys.”
They horsed around the pool for a while, laughing at each other as they took turns on the diving board. Meredith glanced over at the clock and headed for the ladder when she saw the time. Climbing up, she headed for a towel and began to dry herself off to go into the house. Curran looked at the five trainees and smiled when he realized they were all watching Meredith. Kevin broke his gaze first, bowing his head slightly in embarrassment at being caught.
“We’ve all done it.” Curran reassured him.
“Really? Doesn’t she mind?” Kevin moved closer to the edge, and both men leaned against the side of the pool.
“I’m not sure she pays that much attention to it. When we first met her, she was pretty banged up after the rescue, but Andy knew right away that she was something special. He was the only thing she saw when they were together, and when he died, she kind of walled herself off for a while to deal with it. I think she’s been out a few times, just to appease her mom or sister, but I don’t think she expects to find anyone else. She always says she had her true love, and she doesn’t really expect to find anything that good again.”
“She’s a beautiful woman.” Kevin watched her wrap the towel around her waist before heading into the house.
“Yeah, she is. And if you hurt her, they’ll never find the body.” Curran was looking at Meredith as well, but Kevin could hear the seriousness in his joking.
“I don’t imagine they would.”
They looked at each other and nodded in understanding. As they turned back to the others, a stray thought popped into Kevin’s head.
“On Friday, when Meredith was talking to you, she called you Bad Karma. Why?”
“That’s our team designation. Each team has one so that we can keep each other straight when we’re in the field.” Curran moved towards the steps to get out.
“What about Meredith? She called herself AoD. What does that mean?” Kevin followed him out of the pool and dried off so that he could work the grill.
Curran smiled, and Kevin thought it looked rather cold, almost frightening.
“You’ll have to ask her that yourself. It’s her call sign.”
The younger man nodded as he stared towards the house and waited for her to come back.
Meredith pulled the hamburgers out of the refrigerator and grabbed a spatula on the way out to the grill. Kevin met her there, checking out the equipment. He turned on the gas grill, glad it was a similar model to his. He looked at Meredith.
“How do you like yours?”
“Well done, no pink.”
“How about the team, do you know?”
Meredith grinned at him. “Medium for all of them. They’d probably eat it rare if they could.”
Kevin shuddered. “Yuck.”
“Yeah, me, too.” She left him with the burgers and went back into the kitchen.
Brian and Nick followed her inside and shooed her back to the patio, telling her they’d get everything. She wandered back outside and sat down on a lounge chair. Pulling the towel off, she lathered sunscreen on her legs, arms, face, and belly, then stared at the bottle as she tried to figure out how to get it on her back.
“Need some help?”
Raspy tones caressed her body, and she shivered. Holding out the bottle, she nodded. AJ sat down on the lounge beside her as she stretched out on her stomach. He smoothed the lotion on, his fingers firmly stroking her muscles. Meredith groaned in pleasure as he worked out some of the knots in her back.
“Fastened or not?”
Jolted out of her reverie, Meredith raised her head and looked at him. “What?”
“Do you want to leave the top fastened or do you want it open?” AJ looked at her.
“Um, unfastened I guess. Wouldn’t want a horrible tan line.” She grinned at him, knowing the scars would prevent her from ever having an even tan.
“Fair enough.” He unfastened the top as she laid back down and finished putting sunscreen on her back.
“You do that entirely too well, McLean.”
“Do what?”
“Unfasten bras with one hand.” She opened one eye and looked at him.
He grinned at her. “Wanna see what else I do entirely too well?”
Meredith turned onto her side a little as she stared at him, her mouth parting slightly and her tongue peeking out to slowly lick her lips. Before she could answer, Brian and Nick brought out the food, causing a general commotion. AJ looked back at Meredith after they’d stared at the two men clowning around as they set up the food.
“Guess we’ll have to finish this another time.” His brown eyes wandered over her body before returning to her face, his look full of undisguised passion.
“Guess we will.” She stared back at him, her eyes full of promise.
She refastened her bra and got up to join the rest of the group for dinner.
**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**BsB**
Wearily, Meredith shut the door on the last of her guests. She shook her head as she realized it had been a long time since she’d just spent time alone with the team. By mutual agreement, the usual assortment of girlfriends hadn’t been invited so the Backstreet Boys could spend time getting to know their trainers.
Meredith had also used the afternoon to mentally assign team roles to each of the guys. She and Curran had spent a good hour in her office going over roles of each member in her unit. She’d finally narrowed down what she wanted everyone to do, and she knew the guys were on pins and needles waiting to find out. As she stopped in the doorway to the den, she watched them.
“You guys want to know tonight or wait until we’re at work tomorrow?”
Five heads swiveled to look at her, and Nick grinned excitedly. “I want to know now.”
The four remaining members of the group nodded, too.
“Okay, I’ll get my stuff and meet you at the kitchen table.” She walked off to retrieve her folder.
Meredith found the five men sitting in the kitchen, their bodies moving with nervous energy. “Relax, you’re not facing a court martial or anything.”
She sat down and opened the first folder. “Okay, Richardson, second lieutenant, second in command, specialization will be intelligence. Dorough, second lieutenant, specialization---communications. Littrell, ensign, specialization---medic. McLean, ensign, specialization---explosives. Carter, ensign, specialization---electronics. You will be trained in the use of weapons, mainly M-16s and handguns, and McLean, you’ll get some extra instruction on heavy explosives. Each of you will work with the Seal who’s got the same specialty as yourself. Any questions?”
Howie looked around, then at Meredith. “Are you sure you want AJ to play with explosives?”
He ducked the hand AJ aimed at his head as the rest of them laughed.
“I have no doubt McLean will prove himself quite adept at blowing things up.” She grinned at the young man sitting across from her.
“We’ll get started with a modified version of basic tomorrow morning, so be ready to work your asses off.”
Meredith glanced at the clock. “I think I’m ready for bed. Have a good night, gentlemen.”
The guys slowly walked out of the kitchen after saying their goodnights, but Nick hesitated a bit, running his hand up and down the counter. She looked at him, knowing full well he was worried about the nightmares.
“If you need anything tonight, come find me.” She placed her hand gently on his, letting her fingers curl slightly around it.
He looked up, surprised at the offer. She squeezed his hand and smiled.
“I mean it, Carter. Anything at all, no matter what time.”
“Thanks.” His voice was quiet, but his grin lit up the room.
“You’re welcome.” With a final squeeze, she moved away and left the kitchen.
Neither of them had nightmares that night.
Table of Contents
Chapter Five