Chapter Text
Josie Carrillo grunted as she tried to maneuver her crutches through the doorway. She had just returned from her follow up with her orthopedic surgeon. The external fixation device on the outside of her injured leg had made everything in the last 6 weeks harder. She looked down at the metallic terminator exoskeleton looking device protruding from her skin in multiple spots. Complicated. Painful. Frustrating. And it sure as hell had hit the brakes on anything that had started in the soft comfort of Cruz Manuelos’ bed before their mission to Iran. Nothing sexier than the Frankenstein “esque” device mending her leg.
Since returning stateside she and the rest of the battered QRF had been placed in what Bobby had affectionately deemed “a souped up McMansion” just outside of Washington D.C.
The house had become their temporary recoup site and was within a short drive to Walter Reed where almost everyone on the team had been seeking treatment.
Josie clicked her way through the hall towards the kitchen following the sounds of laughter and shit talking at what had become an epic ongoing Xbox tournament. She smiled. There was nothing like almost dying together to bring people closer. Call it trauma bonding. Call it whatever you want. They’d walked through fire together and they had become forged. When she first joined the Lioness program she had immediately been made to feel like an outsider. Maybe it was because she was an officer in the Army versus enlisted, or a pilot versus a combatant. Maybe it was because she wasn’t picked by Joe for the team and had been less than forthcoming when first debriefed. Trust she learned was incredibly important to this group. Because in the world of grey they operated in…they could only truly rely on each other. She now more than ever had firsthand knowledge of that. Common sense said that she and Cruz should have been left to their own devices. The danger, risk, and frankly financial resources spent to save them were beyond comprehension. Well. Save her. Cruz would have been able to evade and regroup with the rest of the unit. She had no doubt of that after seeing her abilities demonstrated on the battlefield. It was her and this damn leg that held everything up for everyone.
She would spend the rest of her days trying to repay them. To be as much of an asset to them as they had been for her.
Sadly she had a moment where she realized that this group of “strangers” had risked more to protect her than her own father ever would have. And while she still was mourning the “loss” of her biological relatives. She felt the comforting security of a new “found family.”
She thought back to the team’s first days settling inside the home after returning stateside.
Joe had gathered them in the living room. They had been in a sorry state as a team at the time.
She of course had been dealing with a nasty concussion and a very broken leg. The open tib fib fracture had resulted in emergency surgery. The doctors had decided on an external fixation cage around her leg. They assured her it was the best chance of getting her into a cockpit again.
Bobby had a pretty severe concussion and had been dealing with the effects of damage to her face. That included a painful orbital fracture. If not for her ANSI related oakleys…she’d have probably lost an eye. The docs had assured her that in time the blurriness would fade.
Tucker had been incredibly lucky despite being shot multiple times. He had mostly soft tissue and muscle damage. His prognosis was very good and he needed rest more than anything. Then like her, would need significant physical and physiotherapy to get back in the saddle so to speak.
Two Cups sporting his exploratory laparotomy scar down the center of his abdomen lamented that he would never be a swimsuit model when he left the QRF. He had been extremely lucky. He would have his drains removed this week after the loss of a portion of his intestines and colon. But he would be whole again. It would take time but he was going to be able to be himself again.
Tex hadn’t just broken his finger in the fight. He’d broken his hand. He wore an immobilization splint and he complained about the loss of “his best Xbox hand.”
And Cruz. She had a concussion, three broken ribs and was still recovering from what doctors called mild internal bleeding of the spleen which had “self corrected” after a period of rest at the hospital topped off finally with a bruised kidney.
The only one who had come through unscathed was Randy.
Josie didn’t know her teammates very well at the time but she was observing a lot about them all. Randy had taken on his role as primary caregiver seriously and despite the pain she was in daily, she felt she was on the lucky end of things. For Randy she caught flashes of guilt on his face quite frequently for having not been wounded with his brothers and sisters in arms. She was almost thankful to not be him in this situation.
Joe had gathered them in the living room which resembled more of a MASH unit.
Their team leader had pulled a chair to the center of the room and sat down facing them.
She exhaled a deep breath.
“I know it doesn’t mean much but all of you should be proud of what we have done here. Every time we deploy we make a world that is safer and more secure for every innocent person just trying to live their life in peace. And while I can confer no medals or accolades publically, you are all the embodiment of valor and bravery.”
“Jesus Christ boss this is thick.” Bobby said with a smirk breaking the sanctity and reverence from Joe’s impassioned speech introduction.
“Now Bob-o. Let's hear what she has to say. Maybe she’s going to give us gifts.” Two Cups said smugly.
“I want a new drone. I got good specs on a UAV we can carry and deploy without having to load that freakin pelican case.” Tex said.
“If he gets that then I wanna talk about our storage. We need those new Levrack systems.” Randy commented.
Two Cups raised his hand. “New Xbox and a 98 inch tv.”
Joe shook her head and chuckled. “I was thinking I was going to be taking your resignations.”
“You point. We go boss.” Bobby said seriously. “We just need some time to recoup. We’re still in the game.”
“I can’t ask that of you.” Joe looked at the battered warriors in front of her.
“You aren’t asking.” Cruz said quietly.
Joe nodded.
“Also add new Sako TRG 22 A1.” Cruz added quietly as she sat back in her seat.
“Jesus.” Joe rubbed her forehead with the back of her hand. “Get me a fucking list okay?”
Two Cups and Randy high fived.
“So what happens now?” Tucker asked.
“You recover. You can go where you want. You’re off the clock. But this location will remain an option for you if you want to stay together.”
“Cruz. You’re still assigned to my team if you want it. But if want back green side on your sniper team I’ll rotate you back. I owe you that at least.”
Josie said up in her seat. She didn’t realize that Cruz was still assigned to the Marine Corps and wasn’t a full time member of the team.
Cruz looked up from the ground and looked around the room at the rest of the team. They all looked back at her expectantly.
She turned to her left and locked eyes with Josie and let out a deep breath.
Cruz turned back to Joe. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Cruz watched as the room collectively exhaled. Joe smiled proudly. Cruz wasn’t certain but after the amount of responsibility put on her this last mission with Josie she knew there was something above her pay grade brewing. Some small seismic shift that resulted in her “moment” with Joe at Sykes.
“And what about me?” Josie asked in a voice too small for her liking. She wouldn’t deny it. She was scared.
“I know your injury leaves you with some uncertainty.” Joe began. “But I’d like to get you some experience in the TOC until you’re good to fly again. You know what a battlefield looks like from above. So. Let's get you a Bird’s Eye view during missions to advise. And when you’re not put together with an erector set, you become our team pilot.”
“We’ve never had a full time bird assigned.” Bobby said with some confusion. They were always begging rides off of the 160th SOAR or other military assets depending on where they were at the time.
“You give certain politicians clout against their adversaries. You get some things in return. We have juice right now. I intend to exploit it.” Joe answered plainly.
“Fuckin A.” Two Cups said with a smile.
“I can do that.” Josie said with a nod.
Joe put her palms on her thighs and pushed herself up and onto her feet.
“I’m going to take my family on vacation. When I get back we get things back in motion. I’ll need updates when you’re medically cleared. Bobby until then, are you good at taking point?”
“You got it boss.” She said with a nod as she grimaced slightly while standing up. “I’ll follow you out.”
“Heal up. And thank you.” She said proudly.
Everyone nodded at their leader. “Before I go if any of you need travel arrangements…”
“No one’s going anywhere.” Tex said. “Right yall?”
They nodded in agreement.
“Alright then.” Joe said as she headed towards the front door with Bobby on her heels.
Josie flashed forward to present time where she heard Two Cups screaming about someone being a camper.
She crutched to the couch and dropped.
“How did it go?” Tucker asked he slid over an ottoman topped with pillows for her to settle her foot. He was walking with a significant limp and was still using a cane for support.
“Well. I still have a leg. So that’s good I guess.” Josie lamented as she looked at him with a frown.
She dropped her head back and looked at the ceiling. “Another two weeks. At least.” She complained.
“Want me to hook up the flight simulator your epic Thunderness?” Two Cups asked as he held out the Xbox controller in offering?
“Nah. I’m ok guys. Just tired.”
“Want me to “ask and tell” about your boo?” Cups continued as he waggled his eyebrows.
Josie closed her eyes. She was getting used to the teasing. It was no surprise that she and Cruz had grown closer since the mission. And like any good team they didn’t hesitate to shit talk them both about it. And it was no surprise that she’d been missing the deliciously attractive Marine over the last week.
Bobby, Tex, Randy and Cruz had been cleared to return to full duty and had spent the last four days qualifying and certifying in the field so they would be formally deemed “deployable.”
Josie, Two Cups and Tucker had still been sidelined, held hostage by their injuries and the doctors treating them. The three had become closer over the last weeks as the “walking wounded squad.”
None of them liked it. None of them liked feeling like a burden on the others.
“One. She’s not my boo. Two. You know she’d kill you if she heard you talk like that.” Josie said.
“No shit. Why do you think I wait for her to be gone to say it?” Two Cups teased back.
“To say what?” Cruz’s voice said firmly from the entryway of the room.
The three turned and saw their teammates standing there loaded down with gear. They looked pretty worn out and dirty. Josie couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Cruz Manuelos standing proudly in heavily soiled multicam uniform with a backpack hanging off her shoulder.
“Y'all smell like shit.” Tucker said with an upturned nose.
“Well. You look like shit so…” Bobby countered.
“Everybody solid?” Two Cups asked.
“Yeah. We got the green light.” Randy replied.
Cruz had a smirk on her face. Josie surveyed all four of them. They actually all wore smiles. Operators wanted to operate. The team dropped their gear and high fives and handshakes were exchanged.
Cruz took a few steps over to the couch.
“Hey.” Cruz said softly as she squeezed Josie’s shoulder with her right hand. “What did the doc say?”
“Long story.” Josie replied.
“Ok.” Cruz said with a nod.
“You do really stink.” Josie said with an upturned nose.
“Wanna scrub my back?” Cruz said in a flirting tone loud enough for Two Cups to hear.
Josie’s breath hitched. She literally felt that comment travel straight to the apex of her thighs. Well fuck. Cocky flirtatious Cruz had found some of her mojo over the last few days. It was a refreshing twist. The last time she’d heard that tone was during their fated mission in Iran. She looked down at the metal contraption on her leg and was never more frustrated than right now.
“Rain check? 2 to 6 weeks?” Josie flirted back.
“It’s a date.” Cruz said with a smile.
“I knew we were interrupting something.” Bobby yelled, referring to the last time the team had crashed Cruz’s home.
Josie couldn’t help the blush creeping up her neck.
Cruz tossed a spearmint Zyn container towards Two Cups. He caught it with a smile.
“How about you Boo? Wanna scrub my back?” Cruz said to him mockingly as she gave him the finger.
The teammates laughed at Two Cups stammering at being caught making that comment earlier. As they all started to disperse, Cruz kissed the crown of Josie’s head while they were distracted.
“Dinner later?” Josie asked.
“Sounds good.” Cruz said with a smile as she headed for the shower.
Josie watched as Cruz walked away and she bit her lip before blowing out a breath. It really wasn’t fair for someone that dirty and disheveled to look so damn good.
As she turned around she saw Bobby staring at her shaking her head.
“What?” Josie asked.
“Lesbians.” Bobby muttered under her breath as she headed for her own room.