***Two Weeks Later***

I sit at the table waiting for the rest of the operatives to come in for the meeting. Several team members walk into the room and sit down. Operations walks in, looks around and then leaves again mumbling under his breath.

Ten minutes later JC walks into the room, "SO...Where's Operations?"

"He was here and then left." The man at the end of the table stated.

"Hmmm," JC met my gaze and quickly looked away. "Everybody got their boards?"

A collective yes.

"So why are we even here? Let's go."

"Not so fast Chasez!" Operations states from the door. "I need to talk to you for a minute. The rest of you go ahead and load up."

We all get up and head for the door. I lag behind a bit trying to hear some of the conversation.

"So, how you been feeling lately?" Operations asks.

"Fine. Why?"

"Just making sure. You been taking that medication they gave you?"

"Yeah, but why do I have to take this stuff? You and I both know I'm fine."

"Don't worry about it. Listen, I need you to get 'close' to McGrath. Make sure he's really ready for all this."

"What exactly do you mean by close?"

"Hey...Rookie..." One of the operative yell. "McGrath...Let's go man."

I turn and head for the prep area where we were to get our weapons.

"Hey Mark," Lance states coming around a corner. "They finally released you from the dungeon huh?"

"No problem. Hey AJ...We got fresh meat on the mission." Lance yells.

"Great...Must be gonna be a...Oh hey Mark..." AJ trails off.

"Hey McClean." I growl, "So who's in COM with me?"

"That would be me and the dumbass over there." Lance points to a blonde who looks very familiar.

AJ leans in, "That's Ashley. Good luck. He's not the brightest bulb in the box."

"Thanks man, I think."

"He's not that bad. He's pretty new to all this too." Lance states.

"Right." AJ agrees while making a very strange face behind Lance's back.

"AJ...If you don't watch it, you're face is gonna freeze like that." Lance teases.

"God I hope not, might make my personal life a bit difficult." AJ smirks.

"Hey...Watch it." Lance looks around, "Shhh." He smiles and meets AJ's eyes. "Nobody else needs to know, now behave you."

AJ smiles and walks off.

"So..." I start.

"Don't say a word, I'm sure JC already to you they listen to everything in this building. I'm not even sure they aren't away of what we're trying to keep them from finding out. I'm not doing something that's gonna rub it in their faces though."

"Good idea. Kinda like the military's policy of 'Don't ask, don't tell'." I smile.

"Right. Now go see Walter and get equiped would you? JC'll be pissed if you aren't ready." He leans in close, "Even if he thinks you're hot. He'll kill you himself if you screw up a mission for him."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"So...Right then. Guess I'll be off to see Walter then."

I walk over, get my weapons and head for the van. //Just what was Operations hinting for him to do?//

"Alright.." JC exclaims, while jumping into the van. "Easy mission here. Is everybody ready?"

I look down at the panel I had been given and then back up to JC< "If you consider this easy, I don't think I want to know what you consider a difficult mission."

JC smiles and sits next to me, "You'll find out soon enough. Don't rush it. Operations is taking it easy on our team for now since we have three trainees on board now." JC discrettly slides a finder down the side of my thing.

I look around, "Three?"

"Yeah, three. There's Ashley and you out here in the field and Brikoff back at Section."

"Oh great," AJ states. "Why do we always get stuck with all the Rookies?"

Lance smiles, "Becausewe're the best team in Section. Why else?"

JC smacks the front of the van, where the driver is, "Let's go Kevin. We only have four hours to get this done." JC looks from me to Ashley, who's fidgeting and about as pale as a ghost, and then back to me.

"Why don't you go see if you can calm him down? He's not gonna be any good to us in that state." I pat JC's leg.

"He'll be fine. I'm more worried about you."

"Why?"

"Because. This is a live fire exercise and it's your first time out."

"No it isn't." I smile, "You mean you already forgot that I saved that ass of yours once alreday Chasez?"

"True. Fine I'll go talk to the kind. You just make sure you take care of that fine ass of yours. I still need to properly thank you." He gets up and moves next to Ashley, who actually turns whiter once he does.

//That kid ain't gonna make it long in this place.//

AJ leans over and says, "What's up with JC? I've never seen him this nice to a Rookie."

"He was nice to me too." I point out.

"Yeah, but he's got the hots for you man." AJ's eyes roam over my body, "Can't blame the man there."

"You better watch it or I might make a play for your man." I nod toward Lance.

"Oh no you don't he's mine."

"Then keep your eyes and hands to yourself. I'm not interested."

We both look up, I meet JC's eyes and smile.

"I can't imagine why." AJ smiles and moves to Lance's side.

I lean back against the van wall to mentally prepare myself for the mission ahead.

Several rounds of ammunition, a great deal of yelling and the death of one Ashley Angel Parker and we were on our way back to Section. We were all debriefed and then released.

I looked around Section wondering just what I was supposed to do owith myself.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and a soft voice in my ear. "You ready for that 'Thank You'?"