Welcome to DEVGRU Part II

By: MusketeerAdventure

Summary: First OP under his belt, Clay begins to feel a sense of belonging.

The C-17 was an enormous space…wide, metal arching; and echoing with the noise of continuous sound and movement. Like a small city, sections were cordoned off to delineate one area from another. Trucks, Hummers and jeeps lined the center of the aircraft with seating and space for personnel to relax and sleep… placed off to the sides.

To the back, an infirmary and operating area were established where soldiers received care for their bumps; bruises; and more serious injuries. It was unfathomable that they were airborne.

From her hospital bed, Katya eyed all of this in awe. Such sights were completely remote and foreign to her. The strange surroundings left her feeling dazed and bewildered. All around, the flurry of activity with doctors and nurses running back and forth; soldiers unpacking – hanging hammocks from the rafters, a huge television screen blaring out the world news was overwhelming.

She and her husband had been separated from one another some hours ago. Scanning the area, she saw no sign of him. Taken away for questioning she presumed; and wondered how he fared. No one would talk to her; or tell her anything. It was as if she were invisible and of no consequence. The last she saw Dmitri he had kissed her on the forehead and promised to see her soon; promised to make things right. He seemed unharmed; and she had clung to his promises.

Clutching the sheets around her, she sighed with resignation. There was no choice but to trust these people. What else could she do? She had nothing but the clothes on her back, and had given up everything. She had given up her home, her life as she knew it, and her country.

Who were these Americans that her husband had placed all of his allegiance to? Were they friend or foe?

Her English spotty, Katya answered the doctor's questions as best she could. Feeling poorly, she was resolved to accept all the poking and prodding she received without resisting. These people were providing her care. However, no longer a young, naive woman, she did not fool herself. There was no compassion here for either her, her husband or their plight. For now, she was alone.

Through a haze of pain, her thoughts fell on the young soldier who held so tightly to her hand up on the mountain side; whose smile cut through her fear and bolstered her courage. When her husband was ferreted away, she had searched for his face among the many here, but could not find him; and hoped that he had survived their ordeal.

For the briefest of moments, he had been her lifeline.

Over time, relaxing beneath the cloak of morphine, she drifted down into an unnatural fitful sleep.

Some hours later, Katya groaned and forced her eyes open.

An over riding panic flooded her senses as she attempted to escape the darkness; the painful crashing descent to earth; flashing bombs of light and the harrowing escape over rocky terrain.

Above, bright florescent lights rained down a false sense of day; so she squint her eyes against the glare. Where was she? No longer in hiding she guessed; no longer hunkered down in the darkness, afraid for her life…cold; hungry – her body in crushing pain.

Gazing around this unfamiliar territory, it all came rushing back. That horrible sound as the plane crashed to earth, the smell of death, the trek to find shelter, her body growing weaker….her husband. Where was he? Where was Dmitri?

Attempting to sit up; to get up and go find him, her efforts were instead met by firm hands pressing down on her shoulders and a soft, commanding voice.

"It's okay Mrs. Zimov. Everything's okay."

At first the English words escaped her meaning; and she resisted the insistence of the hold on her to lie back down. But then, the eyes caught her attention. The sincere kindness behind the cool flecks of gray had her clutching with relief at the wrists of the boy leaning over her. Holding on, she breathed in and out; allowing his quiet presence to calm her frazzled nerves.

Here he was. The young man who had held her hand, and helped carry her to safety. The only face of many in this sea of American uniforms she recognized.

"Just be still." he encouraged – a smile ghosting on his lips. "You're safe here."

"Safe.", she repeated cautiously and he nodded back.

"We're on an aircraft; in the infirmary…on our way home."

And when she frowned, he corrected quickly, "To my home; to America."

Gazing around her environment, Katya began to calm down a bit more; her heart returning to a normal steady beat, and noticed the other hospital beds nearby.

"That's me", he said pointing to the empty bed next to hers.

Relaxing beneath his compassionate gaze and caring nature, Katya studied him closely. He seemed healthy enough. His smile was a bit shy; but his voice was very strong. She saw nothing that would indicate an injury. Noticing her increased attention, he laughed softly. "It's just my ankle. Sprained is all." And she smiled back.

"Sprained it is", a young woman's voice interrupted at the entrance. "Which begs me to wonder, why you are out of that bed?"

A mischievous look came over the boy's face, and he winked down at her. The laugh lines around his eyes lit up his face. Hesitantly she smiled with him; laid back into her pillow and watched in bafflement as several people and a large, menacing dog descended on them like a tidal wave. Without warning, two of them, with little effort, grabbed hold of her young man beneath his arms and legs; then raised him off his feet in a two man lift.

"To bed with you Clay boy", one called out loudly with a humorous lilt to his voice.

Clay, she thought as they carried him away from her bedside. That was his name…Clay.

"Put me down!" Clay protested over the laughter. "Ray…Sonny; put me down!"

And once he was placed unceremoniously on the bed, his foot elevated on a pillow; his hair teasingly ruffled; the slight young woman – her pony tail drifting from side to side exclaimed, "Didn't the doctor say to stay off that ankle for a few days?"

"In a week or two, you'll be back in rotation. Just take it easy." the skinny one holding the dog chimed out; who when let loose, gracefully left her feet and hopped on Clay's bed. She eagerly turned in circles, as if to mark territory; then sat and placed her head on Clay's chest. Yawning wide, she seemed content.

Katya watched as Clay rubbed the dog fondly behind her ears and whispered, "What a good girl."

Astonishingly, from out of a duffle bag, a case of beer emerged and everyone murmured in appreciation; then reached for a can. She could see Clay's cheeks blush red. "Is that my Japanese brew?" he stammered. For some reason, this warmed her heart. All Americans could not be so bad, if this one could show such humility.

Suddenly a rush of words filled the small space; voices stumbling over one another – their pitch high and congratulatory. "This tastes pretty good"; "Welcome to DEVGRU"; "First time the newbie makes good, we give him his due"; "What do you say to that kid!"; "Good job Spenser"; "Speech, Speech!"

After a few moments of over the top congratulations, a hush descended and the space was suddenly quiet…all eyes on Clay. Katya sat up a little also to hear what might be said. Clearing his throat, Clay seemed surprised by the attention; stared silently down at his hands, then lifted his can in the air. "Thanks everybody", he said and took a long swig of his beer. "Thanks for making me feel welcome."

After a brief pregnant pause, the young lady with the swinging pony tail bellowed out, "That's all you have to say?" And everyone laughed at Clay's obvious discomfort.

Katya laughed too.

Unexpectedly, a keen eye drifted her way and the intense stare sent a shiver down her spine; which aggravated her injury and made her wince. Here was a formidable man, she thought. Tall, strong; arms crossed over his chest – his stance a protective one standing next to Clay's beside – though a little apart from the group.

So, this was the leader. Frowning, she remembered this one. Curt, direct – all about the task at hand. She remembered his scathing look; his disapproval of hand holding on the field of battle. She could read him well. Like her, trust did not come easy.

So, she stared back, unafraid – giving him fair warning to take good care of this boy, the only one among them who could actually "see" her. Surprisingly, he lowered his head; then acknowledged her with a slight nod as a nurse materialized at her side. A patrician was quickly drawn between her and the raucous, celebratory group.

Katya was disappointed not to witness more, but could hear their voices waft over the division between them. Their supporting comradery made her yearn for her own family – her husband that much more; the fear of the unknown beginning to weigh heavy.

And with that on her mind, the last thing she heard before giving all her attention to the nurse was an authoritative tone cutting through the boisterous chatter pronouncing, "Well done kid.", and Clay's heartfelt response, "Thanks Boss."

Thanks so much for reading part II of 'Welcome to DEVGRU'. A few reviewers asked for a follow up with more hurt Clay and team bonding; so I have added this chapter. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. Also, thank you to everyone who read; reviewed and favorited part I. Your comments mean a lot!