Page 119 of Reckoning
"Do you? Because I need to know that if your team gets deployed again, you're not going to compromise the mission because you're worried about your girlfriend. I need to know that you can separate the personal from the professional."
Logan met the commander's eyes. "I can, sir. But I won't lie and say it's easy. Mara does what we do. She's in the same kind of danger we face. That's not going to change whether I'm on this team or not."
"Fair enough. Then here's the deal. You stay on the team. No transfers, no disciplinary action. But you report any contactwith Mara's organization to your chain of command. No more surprise coordinations. No more bending intel to support unauthorized operations. If you need help, you ask for it through proper channels. Clear?"
"Crystal, sir."
"Good. Then get out of here. You're on leave for the next two weeks. Use the time to get your head straight. Figure out how you're going to balance this relationship with your career. Then come back ready to work."
Logan stood and saluted. "Thank you, sir."
He walked out of the office feeling like he'd dodged a bullet. Bulldog looked up hopefully. "Well?"
"Still on the team. Two weeks leave. No formal discipline."
"That's a win." Bulldog stood and clapped him on the shoulder. "What are you going to do with two weeks?"
Logan's phone buzzed before he could answer. Mara. She'd been released from the hospital three days ago and had flown back to Louisiana to recover at L'Abri Sûr. They'd talked every day but this was the first time she'd called instead of texted.
"Hey," he answered.
"Hey yourself. How'd it go with command?"
"Better than expected. Still have my job. On leave for two weeks."
"Good. Then you can come here." Mara's voice was stronger now. The rasp from dehydration was gone. "I want you to see L'Abri Sûr. Meet the team properly. Understand what I do and where I do it."
Logan had been wondering when this would happen. When Mara would be ready to show him the parts of her life she'd kept compartmentalized. "You sure? You don't have to share that if you're not ready."
"I'm ready. I've been keeping you separate from this for months because I was scared. Scared you wouldn't understand.Scared it would be too much. Scared of a lot of things." She paused. "But almost dying in Iraq made me realize that keeping you separate wasn't protecting either of us. It was just making both parts of my life harder."
"Then I'll be there. When do you want me?"
"Tomorrow? I know it's short notice, but I miss you. And the team's been asking when they get to meet the guy who coordinated a international rescue operation for me."
"Tomorrow works. Send me the address."
"I'll do better than that. I'll pick you up from the airport." Mara's smile was audible. "See you tomorrow, Logan."
"See you tomorrow."
Logan hung up and looked at Bulldog. "I'm going to Louisiana."
"To meet the team? The whole operation?"
"Yeah. Mara's ready to show me her world."
Bulldog grinned. "That's big. That's her trusting you with everything. Don't screw it up."
"Wasn't planning on it."
Lafayette, Louisiana - The Next Day
Logan's plane landed at 1400 and Mara was waiting at baggage claim. She looked better than she had in Erbil. The bruise on her face had faded to a yellowish green. The bandages were off her wrists, leaving only red marks that would scar. She'd gained back some of the weight she'd lost. But more than the physical healing, there was something different in her eyes. Something lighter.
She walked straight to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face against his chest. Logan held her tight,breathing in the scent of her shampoo, feeling the solid reality of her alive and safe.
"Missed you," she said against his shirt.
