Author's Note: Heya. To start, know that I'm not a medical professional, nor do I have military experience. So I apologize if some of the details aren't quite right. Also, there are some references to different episodes, so minor spoilers abound! There will also be some pretty rough whumping later on, so I'm gonna put a trigger warning for violence on this story just in case.

Also, was anyone else shouting and screaming during the season finale? I sure was. I watched it live to contribute whatever support I could for a show renewal, and let me say...there was a lot of yelling in my house. A lot of "NOOOOO" and "YAAAASSSSS." Those last ten minutes...sheesh.

Anyway, enough talking from me. I hope you enjoy this story! As usual, I'd love a review if you have the time.

CHAPTER 1

"Remind me again of what we're after?"

Adam slowly paced the hallway of their current refuge, his boots softly scraping the gritty flooring. The building had seen better days. It stood forgotten in the wide emptiness of dirt and brush, slowly succumbing to the gentle rot of time.

But it was safe and out of the way, and that's all the team needed it to be.

"A laptop," Patricia answered curtly. Adam could hear the flutter of paper in the background.

He inhaled deeply, picking up the scent of rust and stagnant dirt. "And you're sure it's here. In the middle of nowhere."

"Very sure. And like I said before, it's imperative your team retrieves it as soon as possible. The Russians can't know what's on that laptop. As far as we know, they haven't even turned it on, so it's possible they think it's just another scrap of equipment."

A soft breeze whistled through cracks in the walls, whispering in the silence. Adam looked out of the window. It would be night soon—the perfect cover for a simple retrieval.

The laptop was currently kept in a what they suspected was a low-security facility, a place that was supposed to be hidden from eyes like Adam's. Like Patricia's. It was a small, hidden pocket for Russian intelligence, buried in an unassuming warehouse, away from cities. Away from civilization.

Honestly, if Adam hadn't been told to look there, he would've passed by it without a second thought.

"Understood," he muttered. "We'll set out after sundown. I'll let you know as soon as we're ready."

"Got a plan already?"

He folded his arms, blue eyes reflecting the darkening purple outside. Patricia knew what he was thinking. She always knew.

"Since we don't know enough about the place, I'll go in solo to retrieve the laptop. It'll be easier to get past any obstacles on my own. If everything goes right, I can get in and out without the Russians knowing. And if I can't retrieve it on my own, I can at least scout out the security situation for a second attempt."

Several seconds ticked by in silence. He could hear Patricia's breathing on the other end, slow and even.

"You do what you think is best. I trust your judgment."

He could hear the unspoken worry in her voice but knew she wouldn't say anything.

Adam smirked. At least it's the thought that counts.

The two said their goodbyes as Adam watched the last of the daylight slip from the sky. Time to talk to the team. And they weren't going to like this one bit.

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"Top, you can't be serious," Jaz pressed, putting her hands on her hips in exasperation. "You can't go in alone. We don't even know how secure the place is yet."

"Exactly. I can't risk the whole team if we don't know what to expect," Adam replied calmly, adjusting his body cam.

Preach frowned, looping his thumbs under the straps of his chest plate. "The situation in China was already cutting it close. And to be honest, this seems even more dangerous. At least we were in open wood there. Here, none of us will have eyes on you." He gestured toward the blueprints laid out on the table. "You'll be in there on your own."

There was a tense anxiousness in the air, rife with protective anger. That was how the team was. Except for Preach, worry didn't often come soft and gentle. It came heated and rough.

Adam understood. He really did. But he wouldn't be easily swayed. "Look, if I think it'll be more than I can handle, I'll back out, and we'll come up with a new plan. But for now, I think we should stick with this plan."

Preach pursed his lips but fell silent.

"Then let me go instead," Jaz volunteered, taking a small step forward. "I can get in there and out without them knowing."

Adam stared at her for a long time. For a moment, all he could see was her face in the back of that Mercedes G-Wagen. The steely expression. Those hard eyes full of terror.

The recognition that Adam had tried to save her from her capture.

And failed.

"No, out of the question," he answered. The bruises. The blood. He couldn't shake those images away. He couldn't fail one of his team members like that again. Especially Jaz.

They could all hear the pain and fear in Adam's voice, hidden under strong tones of authority and resolve. They knew where it came from but chose not to acknowledge it.

Jaz looked at a water stain on the floor.

The team leader breathed deeply, glancing between each of them. "If we do this, I'll be the one to go in. Alone. But we can't do this unless you all agree to it. It has be a unanimous decision."

Quiet fell over the team, touched only by an underlying nervousness. They were each trying to move away from their emotions, thinking objectively. But it was easier said than done, and it took a minute to push that uneasy feeling to the back of their minds. McG closed his eyes. Jaz rolled her head back to peer at the ceiling.

"So?" Adam prodded, his arms folded. After a beat of silence, heads reluctantly nodded, consenting uncertainly.

The team leader gave a firm dip of his head. "Great. Then let's move out."

Without another word, the team stepped outside, heading toward an old, beat up pickup truck as they all turned their comms and body cams on.

"Command, we're heading to the location now," Adam reported.

He stepped into the passenger seat while Amir voluntarily took the driver's side. The rest of the team climbed into the truck bed, lips pursed and expressions pinched.

Something didn't feel right about this plan. They could feel it.

Amir turned the ignition, taking quick stock of his surroundings before he set off into the pitch black of the empty terrain. His hands gripped the wheel tightly. He risked a glance at Adam, quickly returning his gaze to the front.

With a sigh, Adam switched off his comm, turning to Amir. "If you have something to say, Amir, say it."

Amir quickly turned off his own comm, opening his mouth to speak. He closed it again, taking a minute to form his thoughts. "I'd like to come with you."

Adam was already shaking his head before Amir even finished. "No. Not gonna happen." After Jaz, he couldn't bring himself to risk any of them. Not like this.

"Top, someone should have your back in there. I get why you'd rather go it alone. But a truck in China is one thing. A most likely guarded facility is another."

With a huff, Adam closed his eyes. It seemed to always come back to that op in China. Just like how his thoughts always fell to the assassination in Tehran.

He looked at Amir. "I appreciate the concern, Amir. It's nice to know you have my back when I need it, but I'd rather have you outside with the team."

The dark-haired man clenched his jaw, staring out the windshield. "Okay, Top."

Adam watched him for a while longer, catching the small signs of frustration. Amir was clearly the angriest of them all, driven by an admirable intensity. He had such strong feelings that everything seemed to fall on irritation. Sadness, worry, fear, anxiousness…For Amir, it all resulted in anger.

In Adam's opinion, it made Amir better at his job. The anger pushed him. Dared him to think smarter and be better.

But for moments like now, when nothing could be done, that anger must've been excruciating.

Amir turned on his comm, keeping his eyes stubbornly on the road. Adam was hesitant to leave things as it was, but it was clear Amir wanted to focus on something else.

The team leader turned on his comm, pursing his lips.

"Command, we're close to the checkpoint."

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The team hiked through the tall grass, careful to stay quiet and hidden. They'd left the truck a couple miles back, resuming their trip on foot in favor of a silent approach. Adam could still sense an unspoken tension hovering over the team as they moved. It wasn't all that unusual. With every risk he took, that same tension was there. But somehow, this was heavier. Darker.

He wondered if the team had sensed the difference too.

Still, he knew the team's focus was on the mission at hand. They didn't have room for anything else. Distraction resulted in costly mistakes. They all knew that.

"Here's good," Adam mumbled, crouching down in the brush as they all looked down at the old industrial building. Somewhere in there was a laptop with vital information, and they wouldn't leave here without it. "Stick to the plan. I'll go through the southeast door, which will be covered by Jaz. Preach will cover the north side, Amir the east, and McG the west. Without any trouble, I'll come back out of the southeast door."

Everyone nodded, their eyes sharp.

"Good luck, Top," Preach said quietly, adjusting his rifle in his hands.

Adam smiled and dropped a soft clap onto the older man's shoulder. "I'll see you all in a bit."

He turned away to pick his way through the brush, knowing his team was already moving to take their positions.

"Be careful, Dalton," Patricia muttered in his ear.

He sunk into the shadows of the property, moving deftly through the darkness as he approached the door. "You know me, director. Always careful."

"Mm-hm."

Measuring his breathing, Adam crouched behind the dumpster, sweeping the area for any cameras. Ultimately, they'd picked this door for the lack of camera coverage, but it didn't hurt to keep an eye out for missed danger.

Satisfied, he made his way to the door, pulling out a few tools to pick the lock. Adam hoped the dim light on this side of the building was enough to cover him for now, and after a quick look over his shoulder, he started on the simple lock.

There was a small click, and Adam slowly twisted the knob before slipping inside. He silently closed the door behind him, looking around as he stuffed the tools in his pocket.

"So far, so good," he whispered, careful to stay quiet. There were a few huffs over the comms, and he couldn't tell if they were out of concern or relief.

Looking around warily, Adam ventured forward, picturing the blueprints in his head. It was dark on this side of the building, absent of any signs of life.

"Take the corridor to the left," Noah advised. "The package hasn't moved."

Adam traveled noiselessly to the corridor, making his way down with a few glances over his shoulder. Without a word, he followed Noah's directions, treading lightly as he slipped through shadowy hallways and storage areas.

Just as he was about to take another left, he stopped, hearing a shuffle ahead.

He waited, listening intently. There was another shuffle, and Adam pressed himself against the wall and sidled toward the corner. Noah had stopped talking, noticing the change in Adam's movement.

Taking a slow, deep breath, Adam peered around the corner. An armed guard sat on an old set of steps, leaning back with his rifle resting vertically against his shoulder. Adam pulled back from the corner, eyes glancing down where he'd come from. There was a way around the area, but it was a little lengthier than their original plan.

It was worth a try.

He tread carefully back down the hall, taking a right down another path. "Armed guard. Went another route," he whispered, cautiously rounding another corner.

Laughter floated down a connected corridor, forcing Adam to pause. He swiftly looked for cover, his breath suddenly loud in his ears. His eyes fell on a dark office nearby, and he lunged for it to hide away from the potential threat.

Adam twisted the knob. Unlocked. Relieved, he pushed his way in, closing the door noiselessly behind him. Voices came into the hallway as Adam crouched down below the door's window, looking up through the glass.

Two men passed by, chatting amicably. They had a casual grip on their rifles and were wholly unaware of the nearby threat. The two of them moved further down the hall, turning around the corner and out of sight.

Eager to move away from danger, Adam slid out of the office and hastily moved onward, more cautious than before.

Noah's voice hummed in his ear. "You're getting close. Take a right."

Adam complied, walking lightly over polished concrete. There was a steady buzz in his bones, warning him of danger. He could feel his heart thrumming against his chest. He felt more uneasy than usual. But he was too far to turn back now, and he couldn't see any reason to.

The gap was quickly closing between him and the laptop's location, and so far, security seemed pretty light. One more turn and he'd be there.

Adam cautiously looked around the bend, searching for cameras, guards…anything. Certain it was safe, he crept from his hiding place, approaching the one and only door in the hallway. He gave the doorknob an experimental twist, clenching his jaw when the movement met resistance. Locked.

Glancing around, he retrieved his tools, setting to work. Something in him screamed that he was in over his head. That he should get out of there. He chalked it up to nerves and adrenaline. Fear was a natural thing and it had its purpose. But now was not the time.

He listened intently for the click of the lock, only to stop immediately. He'd heard something. He was sure of it.

The faint footsteps of rubber-soled boots echoed down the hall.

Adam quickly pulled his picklock for the doorknob, sprinting as quietly as possible down the hall to hide.

But he wasn't fast enough.

There was a shout behind him and the immediate discharge of a gun. Pain ripped through his thigh, and he let out a startled cry as he tripped over his feet. Adrenaline was already surging through his veins, helping him push past the debilitating pain as he ran around the corner into the maze of hallways. He pulled his handgun from its holster, preparing to defend himself if he had to. His free hand clamped over the sting in his thigh, warm wetness seeping through the fabric of his pants.

There was talking in his ear, and he'd heard his name several times. More gunfire popped behind him, and he sprinted down another path. Blood was streaming through his fingers now, his blood pumping in his escape. Determined to move faster, he let go of his thigh, running with the warm fuel of adrenaline in his veins.

Footsteps converged behind him. He glanced back to see a small group of shouting, angry guards. Using his handgun would be pointless now. It would only slow him down. His exit was close. Within reach. He was gulping air greedily, but he couldn't slow down.

"Coming out hot," he huffed, already reaching for the door. As soon as his hand was on the knob, he pulled the door open, painfully aware of how close his pursuers were. Adam pushed with everything he had to get out. To get to safety.

And then strong arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him back in.

He knew it was over.

He'd failed.