Routine…..right?

Clay walked into the conference room behind Trent and the rest of the team. They each found their seats and waited for their mission. Commander Blackburn took a seat next to them, and the attention turned to Mandy Ellis. She pulled up drone pictures.

"This morning at zero three hundred hours,Abdul Rasheem was spotted with his men at a coffee shop in northern Cabul." She said, flipping through the pictures.

"Is that the dirt bag that blew up three schools and an orphanage last week?" Sonny asked.

"That's the one. What you don't know is that he plays second fiddle to someone higher up. Someone more dangerous." Ellis answered.

"Do we know who the big man in charge is?" Ray asked.

"No, but we know he's incredibly dangerous, and has access to an arsenal of weapons."

"So they want us to get this guy so they can have the big fish and then send the little one to Guantanamo bay?" Jason said, piecing it all together. Commander nodded.

"Sounds good to me!" Sonny said with his usual southern charm.

"The place will be heavily guarded, so you'll need to take a few higher powered guns, and a few grenades. He doesn't have to be in one piece, he just has to be alive." Davis said. The team nodded.

"Wheels up at 1600." Blackburn said. The team filed out and went to pack their stuff.

Later…

Clay threw his rucksack onto the bed, then made his way to his closet to grab a t-shirt or two, underwear, and socks. After he finished packing, he turned the shower on. He stood under the steaming water, wondering how he would go about apologizing to Stella. They had just had their first big fight, and it was over something stupid and meaningless. He had realized that today, and knew that if he wanted to keep coming home to her, they needed to talk.

A few minutes later, he switched the handle off, and stepped out, wrapping a towel around his waist. He was just pulling his pants on when he heard the front door open, and a voice called from the hall.

"In here!" He answered. She walked in as he ran his fingers through his sandy blonde hair, and tucked his uniform into his bag.

"Look, about yesterday…." He said, but she started to interrupt him.

"Let me finish please. I didn't mean what I said. I love you. I want you to be the one to snuggle up to me when the heat breaks, or hurry your head in my shoulder when there's a jump-scare on tv. I want you to be the one to correct my grammar, and challenge my political views. Most of all? I want you to be the one I come home to." Clay said, lovingly brushing a hair out of her eye.

"Wow. For a man of few words, that was a lot! You doing ok?" she answered with a laugh, but he could see the love in her eyes.

"I think so." He said with a smile.

"Good. I love you to. Where to this time? Never mind. Classified, right?" Stella asked, noticing the camo bag on the bed.

"Sort of. But don't worry, this one is pretty routine. It shouldn't take to long." He said.

"Good, because I've been planning a beach trip for us when you get back. I even got a reservation. I guess it was kind of a guilt thing….but whatever!" Stella said, running a hand over his freshly washed skin.

"Can't wait." He said, kissing her.

"I spent birthday money on the house, so you better come home in one piece!" She said, not knowing the how much she would soon mean those words.

"I will. Always." He answered.

Later…

"Bravo one to Top, we are in position. Ready to move on the compound on your command." Jason said, signalling his team to stop.

"Top to Bravo one you are cleared for entry. Watch for land mines." Blackburn answered. "Affirmative. Moving to the gates." Hayes said. He nodded, and the team started moving towards the gates. Brock led with Dita, nose to the ground. They were approaching faster by the minute, when suddenly Dita stopped in her tracks, and sat down. Brock motioned for everyone to stop, as that was her way of telling them there was a bomb nearby. They saw a flashing light, surely a motion sensor. They all took a sharp right and continued on.

Soon the team made their way inside, tight in their formation, clearing the hall, and swiftly taking down any enemy that approached. They cleared the first two floors and made their way up the stairs.

"Top to Bravo one, do you read?" Jason paused, hearing the commander's voice in his ear.

"Loud and clear." He answered.

"We've got a problem. There's a truck of insurgents coming down the road. Their about 10 minutes out. Someone tipped them off." Blackburn said.

"Copy that. Alright boys lets make this quick. We're about to get some company." Jason said, only loud enough that those he wanted to would hear him. They moved forward to the room they were told Rasheem would be in, and set a small brick of c4 on the steel door. Everyone took cover, and Trent gave them the countdown, then blew the fuse. He second the door hit the ground, Hayes and his team crashed in. Their goggles slowed them to locate and take down the hostiles. Clay and Jason were the first to find Rasheem, and cuffed and hooded him in one swift move. They drug him to his feet, and pushed him to walk. Ray decided to lead the team out, leaving Clay and Jason with the prisoner. Jason had a tight grip on one of his arms, when suddenly the man flailed, throwing his head back into Jasons. The move shoved his goggles deep into the bridge of his nose, jarring him. Ray snapped around at the grunt of pain from one of his comrades, and saw Hayes doubled over with a hand to his forehead. Trent had been next to the commotion, and had landed a solid punch to the hooded man, trying to make an escape. He ensured it wasn't enough to knock him out, but plenty to stun him.

"Hayes! You good?" Ray asked, turning back to check on his man. He could see a flow of blood running down from the bridge of his nose left by his goggles.

"Dammit! I'm fine! Where is the SOB?" he asked, then handed him off to Clay, and motioned that he was ready to move.

They made their way out of the building, trying to ignore the yelling of their prisoner.

"Bravo one to Top. We have the package." Hayes said. They crept along, all the while Clay pulling him, and telling him to shut up at the same time. He tried just about every way he could think of saying it, even trying other languages.

"Spencer! We're almost out the door and if he keeps this racket up, we'll all be target practice for his buddies outside! Shut him up!" Jason hissed, turning around.

"I'm trying! I've threatened him a million ways in every language I know!" Clay snapped back.

"I could just shoot him!" Sonny said.

"That would just make him louder. Gag him, but hold the hood over his eyes." Jason said. Clay held him still while two other guys followed the orders.

"Bravo one come in." Jason heard.

"Bravo one reporting." He said.

"That company is right outside. You need to get out of there, now!" Davis said, looking at the views from over head.

"Copy that. We're on the move." Jason said. He signaled to his team, and they quickly made their way out the way they came through the use and into the woods. Annoyance and adrenaline flooded them when suddenly shots started to ring out that aren't theirs, all directed towards freeing the prisoner. Clay pushed Rasheem behind a tree and was about to follow him when he felt a fiery pain rip through the top of his left shoulder. The cry of pain that escaped him was involuntary, but caught in this throat as a second and third pain joined it. He hit the ground, his mind trying to wrap around what had just happened. The pain clouded his mind, making everything spin. Sonny was the first to realize what had happened, and rushed to the younger soldier while the others were busy returning fire.

"Spencer's hit! Dammit kid!" He yelled, slapping Clays face lightly to make sure he was with them. This got the attention in my the team, including the leader. He looked back knowing their situation just got a lot more difficult. Fear flooded Jason as his mind replayed the night Nate died. He couldn't lose another man, let alone one as young as Clay.

"Keep him awake! Bravo one to top! Do you read?!" Jason yelled into his comms. Commander Blackburn, Davis, and Ellis crowded around when they heard the urgency in team leaders voice.

"Top to Bravo one, we read." Blackburn answered.

"Where's our ex-fil? We need backup! Bravo six is down!" Jason said, wishing he could turn around to check on the young soldier, but he knew the forces had to be fought off. Fear filled the three members of top who were listening to the battle through the open comms on their men.

"Alpha team is three minutes away! Can you hold them off? How bad is Spencer?" Commander asked.

"I think so! Tell them to kick it in the ass! We're taking heavy fi…." Ray answered, but was cut off mid sentence when a painful thud sent him flying backwards.

"Ray!" Jason yelled with a mixture of fear and fury, looking to where another one of his men had fallen.

"Bravo two! Come in! Bravo one, status!" Commander yelled, fearing the worst.

"It's…..in my vest. I'm...fine!" Ray said. He pulled himself off the ground, trying to disguise his grunt of pain. Everyone's attention was brought back to their badly injured teammate when Sonny let out a string of explicits.

"Come on kid! Stay with me! Boss! How far out is our ex-fil! The kids bleeding out!" Sonny yelled.

"Bravo three, Alpha should be there any second! Can you keep him stable?" Commander asked.

"I think so! That's it Spencer, open those eyes!" Sonny said, looking down at the soldier. He groaned in pain, and looked around him.

"St...stellas gonna….kill me…" He said with a half smile.

"Yea well right now let's just make sure those bullets don't beat her to it!" Sonny said, pushing harder onto the neck wound, and earning another gasp of pain. They all looked up, a sense of relief filling them when an armored truck sped down the road, the american flag flapping in the wind, ending the truck load of insurgents in seconds. Jason and the rest of the slowly lowered their weapons as they saw the familiar camo coming towards them.

"Top to Bravo and Alpha one. You guys need to get Spencer into the truck and get out of there now. I'm looking at another two trucks about to roll on your position!" Commander said, looking at the satellite image of the trouble his men were about to be in.

"Copy that. We've got a medic on board to take care of your guy. Let's get out of here." the Alpha team leader said. Jason nodded. Clay tried to focus on the voices talking to him, Sonny trying to threaten him into staying awake, but it was getting harder and harder. The pain continued to course through his veins. He thought of Stella, her beautiful brown hair blowing in the wind, the sun making her face glow, and how her eyes sparkled. His eyes slipped closed, and he finally gave in to the darkness.

"He's going into shock!" Sonny yelled. Their attention was averted momentarily by the sound of tires flying down the road, and the machine gun that was mounted to the top of the truck being loaded.

"Dammit! We don't have time for a stretcher, were gonna have to carry him!" Jason yelled. Ray and Trent grabbed Clays legs, and Jason quickly grabbed under his shoulder, opposite to where Sonny had picked up the injured side, still holding a cloth to the wound. Alpha team immediately formed a barrier around them, one of them grabbing the prisoner, and moved as fast as they could towards the truck. Once everyone was inside, they strapped Rasheem to the wall, and a medic checked Clay's vitals and pushed a needle into each arm to give him fluids and blood in hopes of replacing what he was losing.

"Someone help me get the vest off. I need to see of there's any other wounds." The medic said. Jason was the closest, and carefully pulled on the velcro straps and helped slide the vest off, watching to make sure Clays breath was still fogging the mask over his mouth and nose. When he was satisfied that it was he turned to ask the medic a question.

"How bad is it?"

"Well the wound is a through and through, but I think there might still be shards of the bullet in his shoulder. It also hit an vessel on the way out, which is why he was losing so much blood. The second one clipped his arm." He said. Jason nodded, and finally sat back in his seat, resting his aching head against the wall, and closed his eyes with a sigh. This was supposed to be quick and easy.

Later…

"How's our boy doing?" Jason asked when he felt Blackburn approaching.

"Not good. He's got a fever of 104°F. Doc thinks he got an infection somewhere. You need to get the cut looked at." He said, noticing the deep gash that was still bleeding slightly. Jason had been so busy worrying about Spencer he hadn't even stopped to think why his face still hurt.

"Yea I guess so. Send him over." Jason answered without opening his eyes.

"And you. You alright?" Commander as Ray, who was sitting next to Jason with hand pressed against the spot on his side where the shotgun round had hit his vest.

"Yea. Probably just a few bruised ribs." Ray said, continuing to stare off into the distance at nothing in particular. The doctor soon walked over and started to look at the gash on Jason's nose.

"Well, you'll need a few stitches." He said.

"Alright, let's do it." Hayes answered, mainly wanting to be left alone.

"Let me get something to numb it." He said, turning to walk away.

"Look doc, I've been stabbed, shot, burned, blown up, and just about everything else, and right now my head is pounding and I would very much like to just be left alone. So please, just stitch me up and move on." Jason said, opening his eyes and giving the man an exasperated look. The doctor nodded, and then began. Minutes later, he was fixed up and alone to worry more about Clay.

Later…

Stella didn't recognize the number on her phone, but since it was the third time it had shown up, she decided to answer it. She directed her class to work on the homework, then stepped out into the hallway to answer.

"Hello?"

"Hello. Am I speaking with Stella?" A gruff voice asked, scaring her slightly.

"Yea. What's this about?" she asked, her mind immediately going to Clay.

"Your listed as the emergency contact for Clay Spencer. Is that correct?" the man asked, confirming all her fears. Her mind began to race with fear and worry, just as it did the last time she had gotten this call.

"Uh...yea. Yes. Did something happen to him?" She asked in a shaky voice.

"He was injured in combat and is in the ICU at the base hospital. I'm sorry, that's all I can tell you." He said. The words stopped Stellas breath for a moment. She put a hand over her mouth as tears pushed against her eyelids.

"Ma'am?" the voice questioned.

"Uh...um..uh I'll...I'm on my way." Stella said, soon hanging up. She ran back into her class and told everyone to go home, that there was a family emergency. She sprinted to her bosses office and relayed the same message, then ran to her car.

/

Stella parked the car in such as hurry, she nearly forgot to lock it as she ran towards the base office. She showed her visitors pass, and ran towards the reception desk.

"Uh..hi. I'm looking for the base hospital. I uh...I was told my boyfriend was there." Stella stuttered.

"Do you have a visitors pass?" the woman asked, barley looking up from her computer.

"She's with me Sam, it's ok." Stella looked towards the voice, and saw the highly esteemed Jason Hayes. She had met him before, but didn't know very much, other than that Clay practically worshiped him. None of that mattered now. Right now, all she wanted was answers. She walked to him as quickly as she could.

"That told me he's….hes in the ICU? What...what happened? Is he Ok?" She asked frantically as she turned to follow him.

"He was shot at the base of his neck, shattering his collarbone, again in his shoulder, and one in his vest. The bullet that went into his shoulder exploded on impact, and they had to go in to get all the pieces out. Doc said if the first bullet had been an inch to the left, it would've hit his jugular vein. He has a small infection from the wound, but he's on antibiotics that'll take care of it. He lost a lot of blood, so he's getting a transfusion." Jason explained, watching the worry and fear fill her as she wrapped her head around all the information.

"Oh my god…..is...is he….can I see him? Is he gonna be ok?" She asked.

"That's where I'm taking you. He hasn't been out of surgery for very long, so he'll probably still be out. Hey. He's a tough kid. Once his fever goes down, all he'll have to do is heal up, and he'll be as good as new." Jason said, trying to reassure her as they stopped outside his room. He had been through this all way to many times before, and the last time was far too painful to even acknowledge. He pushed the door open so she could walk in.

Stella stood speechless, staring at the the still figure laying in the bed. He looked stiff as a board, arms at his sides. She walked closer, moving her eyes up to finally notice the bulk of the large white bandage that wrapped around his muscular shoulder and neck, mostly hidden by the hospital gown. She sat down in the chair next to his bed, and wrapped her hands around his.

Clay felt the grogginess in his head starting to clear, and his senses slowly returned to him. He could hear the beeping of monitors and smell the scent of bleach and cleanliness. He mouth tasted dry like sandpaper. Then he felt the warmth of two soft, supple hands on his. Those certainly aren't a soldiers hands….I must be..home. He slowly opened his eyes, moving his head around to let him examine his surroundings, until they finally locked on the source of the warmth of his hands. He immediately smiled as he couldn't help but think about how beautiful she looked, even in the light of the hospital room.

"Hey." He said, squeezing her hand.

"Hey yourself. You know, when I told you that you were supposed to come back in one piece, I meant it." Stella said, stroking his face.

"Well, I am still...in one piece. There's just an extra hole in…..me now." Clay said with a smirk, his words still forming a bit slower than he'd like. He reached his good arm towards the tray in front of him, trying to grab the cup of water to soothe his scratchy throat. Stella quickly grabbed it and held it for him, waiting until he was done with his long drink.

"Two actually. You got one in the shoulder to. Looks like I'll have to cancel that beach house. Hopefully they'll give me my deposit back." She said.

"Cancel? No way! We're going." Clay answered, clearly upset.

"Clay, you just got shot! You have an infection!" She said, surprised and slightly annoyed at his stubbornness.

"Trust me, I'm aware. I'll be out of here in two days, and then forced to stay around home for a while. Sun and sand is always the best medicine!" He said, turning on his best puppy eyes.

"If you say so. But you have to promise me you'll never scare me like that again. When I got that phone call..." She said, shaking her head.

"Hey. I will always come back to you. I promise." He said, looking into her eyes. She leaned in and kissed him, then sat back down on her chair. He soon got bored of the quite, and asked her to tell him about her day. She didn't think there was much to tell, but he was insistent, so she gave in.

Four days Later…

"Are you sure your ready to leave?" Stella asked for what had to be the twentieth time.

"Stella, I've been cleared by the doctors! I'm fine. Can we please just go to the beach now?" Clay asked in an exasperated voice.

"Fine! Yea. The car is packed, I have all your medication and doctors orders to keep you from doing anything stupid, so please, don't make that hard!" She pleaded.

"Yes ma'am!" He said, slowly standing to his feet. He winced at the movement, and Stella nearly lost it. She rushed over and began checking everything.

"Stop! Please! Babe, I'm fine, ok? I'm gonna be sore for a while, but it's fine!" He said. She sighed and nodded, then walked out with him.

They passed the tack room on their way out, and hearing voices, making Spencer wish more than anything he could go in there and join his team. He stopped and turned when his girlfriends name was called. She turned also to see Sonny standing in the doorway.

"You take care of him! And have all the fun you can now because rehab from a shoulder wound sucks. First time you fire a weapon hurts like a b…." He said.

"Leave him alone! Don't ruin his vacation! Glad to see you back on your feet Spencer." Davis said, cutting Sonny off.

"Real shame the only way we get a vacation 'round here is gettin shot!" Sonny scoffed.

"Yea, well I'll see what I can do about that!" Commander Blackburn said as he joined the crowd. "Enjoy yourselves. And heal up." he said, turning to the couple.

"Will do." Clay said shaking his hand. Stella looped her arm in his good one, and they walked out together.

Somewhere near a beach….

Clay and Stella walked hand in hand along the boardwalk, Clay in a white muscle shirt and camo shorts. Clay noticed more than one stray eye following them as the pair walked by, and they were all focused on Stella. She had jean shorts on over her bathing suit bottom, paired with a light, flowy shawl on over her bikini top. He couldn't blame them for the looks. She was gorgeous. He pulled her closer, and looked at how her hair blew in the ocean breeze, her eyes truly sparkling. He remembered how she had told him she always felt happiest at the beach, but seeing her know, he knew it was true. She caught him looking at her, and gave him a goofy smile.

"What? Is there something on my face?" She asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"No. It's just…." Clay said, his mind starting to take him away.

"Just what?" She asked, bringing him back.

"When I got shot, when I was laying there bleeding, you know what the last thing I saw before I blacked out was?" He said. Stella hated this, the mental image that popped into her mind of him laying on some desert plain, blood pooling under him.

"What?" she asked, forcing the image away.

"This exact moment. Your hair blowing in the wind, eyes sparkling." Clay said, staring at her. Usually, Stella would have a witty comment, but not this time. He had a close call, way to close for her liking. All she wanted to do was relish in these moments. So instead of of a comment, she leaned in and kissed him as they walked into their favorite beachside restaurant.

/

The couple spent about an hour and a half eating dinner and talking about anything and everything. It had been a long time since he'd been able to have this much time with Stella, and as much as he wished the reason they were able to stay longer had been different, he loved this just as much. Throughout the course of the dinner, he had felt someone watching them. He turned once or twice, catching a glimpse of the source of the stares. It was an old couple sitting in the booth a few rows over. His attention was brought back when he seemed to forget about his injury, and picked up his glass out of habit. As he brought it up close to his mouth, the twinge of pain reminded him of the wound in his neck. He was about to drop the cup when Stella luckily realized what was happening, and quickly grabbed it, and set it down.

"You still have that arm in a sling, remember? It's only been about a week!" She said, checking the bandages. He nodded, and waited patiently until she was done her inspection.

"And you just can't wait to get back." She said.

"That's not true! These last few days with you have been some of the best ever." Clay said, trying to defend himself, even though he knew it was true.

"It's ok. I know you love me, but I also know you love your job. I'm ok with sharing you. I just hope the next time we do this, two bullet wounds aren't why." She said, taking another sip of her sangria. He reached across the table, and held her hand once again.

/

Clay glanced up as the elderly couple walked out, taking one last look at them. He turned back, and called for their waitress as she passed.

"What can I get for you two?" She asked.

"Dinner was fantastic, thank you. We're ready for our check." Clay said. Stella echoed his praise of the meal.

"Oh that won't be needed." She answered.

"What do you mean?" Clay asked, confused.

"Your meal has been paid for." She said. The couple gave each other shocked looks, then laid tip for the waitress and got up to leave.

They made their way out of the restaurant, when Clay spotted the couple once again, a little ways down from them on the boardwalk.

"That's them." He said, pointing.

"What? Who?" Stella asked.

"The people who paid for our meal." He said.

"How do you know?" She asked, but he was already moving faster to catch up with them.

"Sir! Hey, sir!" Clay said, as the man finally turned around.

"You paid for our meal. I just wanted to thank you." He said, sticking out his hand.

"Your welcome. How could you tell?" The man asked.

"I don't know. I just kind of had a feeling. Why'd you do it?" Clay asked.

"Well son, my wife and I just couldn't help but watch you two. It took us back." He said.

"Really? How so?" Stella asked.

"We used to be you. I noticed that frog tattoo on your shoulder. It looked familiar. Yours looks better though." He said, referring to the frog tattoo Clay had gotten soon after Brian's death, signifying fallen Navy men. The man slowly rolled up his shirt sleeve to reveal a faded green tattoo, matching that on Clays bicep. Clay suddenly stood up straighter, as he had been taught to do around a senior military member.

"Thank you for your service. Where did you serve?" Clay asked, admiration filling him.

"Vietnam, 1960-65. I was one of the first frogman units. My name is Steven Barnes, this is my wife Louise." Steven said, finally introducing himself.

"Clay Spencer, and my girlfriend Stella." Clay said.

"Thank you for your service also." Louise said, turning to Stella.

"Oh I never served!" She said.

"Maybe not in war, but I know exactly how much you give everyday. Our service starts the day we fall in love with them, and never ends. Even more so when they come home wounded. This one sure gave me a run for my money." Louise said, nodding towards the bandage still on the side of Clays neck, and the sling he hated so much. Steve laughed, and kissed his bride on the cheek.

"How'd you guys do it, stay together for so long?" Clay asked.

"Well I mostly did everything my father didn't. I was a second generation soldier, and my dad? We'll just his parenting skills weren't much to learn from, but he did teach me how to fight. The best advice I can give you is to not let a single day go by without telling her how much you love her. Not a single day." He said. The group fell silent, letting the words soak in. They soon thanked each other, the girls hugging, and the men shaking hands. Then they said goodbye, and went their separate ways. Clay vowed that day to do just as Mr. Barnes had said.

/

Hi! Thanks so much for reading, hope you enjoyed! I know that Clay doesn't have a tattoo in the show, but it worked for the writing so I added It! I think he should have tattoos! Anyway, leave a review with thoughts and any requests for chapters about certain characters or ideas!