Hello there!

Life is pulling me at different directions right now so my fanfic writing takes a backseat. Oh but The Brave team is still very much in my heart. If you have spared a moment to read any of my stories, thank you and hopefully I haven't wasted any of your time :)

I will try my best to update whenever possible.

Much Obliged,

Abby

You Got Mail

Chapter 1

It was a typical Sunday morning with McG and Amir playing cornhole until Preach shouted "McG, you got mail!"

McG continues on tossing the horseshoe and just yelled back at Preach "Did Jaz hacked my email and left it in the open again? I'll check it later." Looking at Amir and shaking his head "I'm telling you, lately that ninja is guessing all my passwords correctly."

"Maybe you should think of better passwords than TheSexiestMedic07 or ICureWhatAilsYouBaby" Amir's laughing and before McG can answer his jab, Preach's voice loomed once again.

"Nope. It's actual mail. Like snail mail" Preach informed him waving the envelope.

Not expecting that, he misses the mark. The medic is stunned. There is no one that he knows would write him an actual physical letter.

He stills and hands Amir the last horseshoe. He went to where Preach stood and got the envelope. No return address. Post marked Billings, Montana. Okay… now his curiosity is peaked and heart is beating faster than before.

He went to his room for privacy. Taking a deep breath and having an inner monologue just like a band aid Joseph rip it off. He tears the side of the envelope and unfolded the letter. It read:

Dear Joseph,

I hope this letter reaches you well. Forgive me if this is so out of the blue. I'm not sure if remember me, but we met at a bar in Billings three years ago. You were celebrating being promoted to Sargent with your friends. My name is Marilyn. I promise I'm neither a stalker nor a groupie.

You bought me a drink and you gave me your name and your newly promoted rank and told me that I could trust you flat out. I was shocked and asked you if it was the alcohol talking but you proved to me that you were not drunk and can handle your liquor well. I don't know why but my instincts made me trust you fast enough and we danced the night away. It was my one night of fun, my to hell with fate! We continued the celebration at my apartment but you were gone before sunrise. Does any of this ring a bell? To be honest, I sure hope so because you have always been on my mind Joseph.

Are you going back home anytime soon? I would love to meet up with you and maybe this time you will allow me to buy you a drink. You know, to catch up and thank you for your service.

Enclosed is my new mobile number. I do hope to hear from you soon.

Be well and stay safe,

Marilyn

It was odd. 3 years and suddenly she contacts him. Why? There has got to be a sensible reasoning to it. He remembers her actually, very well in fact. I saw her sitting at the bar alone nursing her drink. I don't know what it is about her but I'm drawn to her. Her dark hair was pulled up high in her head in some kind of a bun, with loose strands falling around her shoulder. That shoulder is bare because she was wearing an off shoulder top and I thought it was sexy as fuck. I wanted to sweep the falling strands and kiss her neck but I didn't want to scare her away so I mustered the courage and introduced myself.

His trip down memory lane was interrupted by a soft knock on his door. He put the letter under his pillow.

"Hey, any chance you have spare hot compress bag? I'm having cramps." Jaz says as she opens the door.

"Yeah, I have one here" he stands up and got the bag. "You need ibuprofen to go with that?" he asks handing it to her.

"No, this is fine" she answers. Jaz noticed McG didn't tease her about her time of the month. No Congrats Jaz you're not pregnant or look out Jaz's mood swing snapped joke. It doesn't bother her and usually expects it from him as part of their banter. Something is off.

"You okay? You seem very quiet." she presses

"Yeah, just have something on my mind and it's giving me a headache."

"Maybe you should take that ibuprofen you're offering. I can get you a glass of water" She was about to leave the room when McG stops her.

"I'm fine Jaz. I'll get the water. You take your rest and holler at me if you need anything else ok?"

Jaz nods and leaves the room with "you know where to find me if you need to talk". McG gave her a salute and a "roger that". He got the letter from under the pillow and reread it for what feels like the 100th time.

Later that evening, Preach made his grilled chops in honey bourbon sauce after Jaz outed him saying that it was one of the best dinners she ever had when she went home with Preach to meet his family.

Amir observed though that McG haven't eaten much during dinner which is weird because the medic loves pork chops. He moved closer to Dalton and spoke low voice "Have you spoken to McG?"

Dalton raised his head and looked at the medic just as McG got up the table and went inside the sleeping quarters. "No why, what's up?"

"Well, he didn't eat much and he keeps to himself since getting the letter this morning." Amir stated.

"What letter?"

"Preach gave him a snail mail and he's been quiet since."

"Alright, thanks for the heads up. I will talk to him in a bit"

Amir nodded and joined Jaz on the table who was preparing tea.

Dalton proceeded to look for Preach to ask him about the letter. He waited until he's finished his conversation on the phone with one of his daughters.

"Preach, any idea who sent the mysterious letter to McG?"

"No brother and unfortunately McG is not on a sharing mood on this one. The envelope was address directly to him. No return address but post mark was Billings, Montana. "

"Montana… so it's from his hometown. Do you think it's regarding his mom? Or his absentee father?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"McG was home, what? 3 years ago? It could happen then. It's the only timeline that would make sense since he/she knows that he will be stationed here. Question is who?"

"I can try talking to him again Top. "

"No, I'll do it. Get some rest. Thanks Preach."

Top grabbed two bottles of beer then proceeded to knock on McG's door.

McG didn't plan on having dinner but since it was Preach who cooked, it's sort of a "special occasion" he joined his team at the table. He managed a few bites but in all honesty, McG didn't taste any of the food that he ate. His stomach is knots. The theories in his head are swirling and it's gnawing at him. Suddenly, there was a knock on his door.

"It's open" he answers.

Adam walks in to see McG shove the letter in his desk drawer. He offered him the bottle "Care for a night cap?"

He looks at Top and the beer bottle. He decides against it. He pressed his thumbs on his temples and began rubbing it in. "Pass for now Top. Do you need something?"

"Ok, who are you and what have you done to our McG? The guy I know will never pass on beer."

He had a slight smile and admitted "I feel a major migraine coming in" hoping his CO would let it go for now.

Adam observes McG. This is the most troubled he had seen him and he's usually with a ready smile, happy go lucky kind of guy.

"Ok, out with it. What's happening? Who wrote you a letter? Is this about your mom? Preach told me it's from Montana. We can't help you if you don't open up man."

"It's from a woman named Marilyn, a woman I met at a bar 3 years ago. She suddenly wrote to me."

They were silent for a minute and seeing that McG won't speak voluntarily, Top decides to pry so more. "Okay, you have to be more specific that than. You meet a lot of women."

"C'mon Top" McG sighs.

"Okay, is this the night we celebrated your promotion? I vaguely remember you dancing with just one lady that night. Am I right?"

"Yup, she's the one."

"Okay, so what does the letter say? Does she need help? Is she in trouble? What?"

The medic got the letter from the drawer and gave it to him. He reads the letter. "For me, there is nothing specific in here that would raise a red flag. Why are you dreading this? Maybe she's just misses you, that's all."

"After 3 years? Out if the blue? I mean I know I'm unforgettable but…" he smirks trying to lighten the situation.

"That's what you get by being a ladies man" Top added jokingly.

"Top, you know I'm not really a ladies man right?" he sounded serious and waited for an answer.

"On the outside you seem embraced the persona but I believe you're one of the most loyal person I know McG."

Wow. He appreciates that from his CO. He could read him that well. "Thank you for that Top. I mean I'm not a saint and I've had relationships. I'm a one- woman-at- a-time man and this woman happens to be the one that I had instant connection with. I'm drawn to her like magnet."

"Why didn't you stay in touch with her if you feel that way?"

McG shrugs "You know the answer to that Top. Our job is not the top list of "relationship goals" material"

"That maybe true but there's a lot who still found their partners and are happily married. They find a way to make it work." Top pointed out. "Have you asked her about her thoughts on a relationship with someone in the military?"

"Nah, not along those lines but we just had one night."

"Because I think she might be open to it. You were upfront with that when you introduced yourself as Sargent." He reminds him.

McG was quiet for a moment. He hadn't thought about it that way.

"So why not call her and remove yourself from this self- imposed mind prison. Satisfy your curiosity. Call her up McG." Top advises.

Given this new perspective, he feels a little better. "Thanks Top. I will call her now."

"You might want to wait until it's not 2 in the morning her time. That will help making things more favourable for you."

"Uhm yeah that would be a good idea too. Thanks again Top. Now, anytime you want to talk about you and Jaz, I'm all ears too…"

Adam smiles and sees that McG's mood is picking up so he got up and gives him a look. "Really?! You went there? The things I do for this team…" He murmurs, shaking his head and closing the door after him.

The medic felt a little lighter after their talk. Yeah, I'm just probably reading too much into the letter. He went to bed and sleep finally claims him.