Marcus

Chapter Thirty Three

 Marcus ~

"So talk me through this Marcus, because you and I both know that I can't send you to Syria to kill Fox. And even if I did, if you think they're just going to let you walk on base and put hands on a high ranking CIA officer, you're wrong." Hunter said.

Marcus knew Hunter was right, but was relieved that he was open to ideas at the moment.

"Are there any job contracts open in or around Syria that Bravo could pick up?"

"Yeah...dangerous ones." Hunter answered flatly.

Lowering his brows, Marcus knew that option was off the table. He would never want Bravo team to take on a dangerous job when his head was somewhere else. He'd never put his teammates at risk like that and hated himself for even bringing it up.

"What about Charlie team? They need a fifth? I mean I'll even be their bag bitch if it gives me a reason to be on base with Caroline."

Hunters expression didn't change, but he didn't immediately shoot the idea down which meant he was considering it.

"I'd have to reshuffle stateside teams. Delta and Bravo." Hunter said, running the logistics through his head.

"Hey Dec." Hunter yelled from his desk.

"Right here, Sir." Declan said from right outside the door.

Marcus was sure that Nate had alerted Declan of the situation at hand and had him waiting in the hall knowing Marcus would be on fire, ready to kill someone.

He wasn't surprised at all when Declan opened the door to enter with Caleb and Pierce standing alongside him with concerned expressions.

"Go ahead and bring the whole team in." Hunter said, motioning with his hand for Pierce and Caleb to enter his office with Declan.

"I'm assuming Nate has briefed you?" Hunter asked Declan.

"Correct." Decan confirmed. "How can we help?"

"Bringing Caroline home is off the table unless she commits treason, desertion, or shoots herself in the leg, which Nate had to talk her out of." Marcus started.

"But we could send Marcus there to assist Charlie team." Hunter added.

Declan nodded at his superiors words with his analytical wheels turning as he considered what was being discussed.

"Mac, can I ask you something?" Declan said.

"Anything." Marcus confirmed.

"What's the endgame here? Let's say Hunter can work this out for you so you can assist Charlie team and be on base with Caroline...what then? You gonna try and put hands on Fox? You gonna try and kidnap Caroline? What's your play, brother?"

"Damn good question." Hunter added.

I'd like to beat Fox into submission with my bare hands and make him sign Caroline's release in his own blood, but I know that's not an option.

Taking a second to consider Declan's question, Marcus thought through exactly what he wanted to accomplish by being on base with Caroline, other than bloodshed.

"I just wanna be with her. I wanna be within close proximity if shit goes down and she needs me. And if there's truly nothing we can do, then I want to spend the next five months on base with her, seeing her when I can because even if I'm here...my mind will be there. My mind will always be with Caroline until I know she's safe."

Marcus felt Caleb giving him an endearing squeeze on the shoulder, remembering how Caleb struggled with the idea of leaving his Lainey in Colombia for the sake of the job. Being away from the women they loved was difficult for every member of Bravo team and they empathized with one another in ways that no one else could.

"Delta is used to operating as a three man team at the moment, but I'll need Bravo team intact. I'd have to bring in a member of Delta team in Marcus' place." Hunter said.

Declan shifted on his feet and inflated his chest slightly at Hunter's words.

"Fine, by me as long as it's not Logan."

All eyes went to Declan, but he was steadfast in his statement and stood there with his arms folded across his chest with an unapologetic scowl.

"There's too much baggage there and I wouldn't be able to see past it on a job. I don't trust him yet, Sir." Declan elaborated honestly.

Hunter sighed, but nodded at Declan's honesty knowing that team dynamic could determine positive or negative outcomes of the jobs they worked.

"Would Kincaid be an acceptable option?" Hunter asked with a hint of attitude.

"Without a doubt." Declan confirmed.

Giving a nod to Declan, Hunter turned his attention to Pierce.

"Hollywood, you good with being the only sniper on Bravo for a while? I could always pull Gunner, but I'd rather not leave Delta high and dry if I can avoid it."

Pierce sat up a little straighter as Hunter addressed him and answered without hesitation.

"Absolutely Sir. I'll take on whatever responsibility I can to get Marcus to Caroline. I know if that was Nat...Hell, we all know what I'd do if that was Nat. I'd burn that whole base to the fucking ground." Pierce was angry for his teammate and put himself in Marcus' shoes.

"I've got your back brother, whatever you need because I know you would do, and have done the same for me." Pierce said to Marcus.

"We'll do whatever we can to help, Lainey included." Caleb added.

Marcus felt his heart swell at the unconditional support from his teammates. They were ready and willing to take on added responsibilities, to have to retrain with a new team member, and to scramble on the fly changing their team dynamic so Marcus could be with Caroline. They were each sacrificing something for him and he had never felt more supported.

"Alright, give me a day or two to get all this shit sorted out, then I'll have an assignment for you...and a plane ticket." Hunter said with a small smirk, knowing that Marcus would be pleased that they found a way to get Marcus to his girl.

"Thank you. I appreciate it, more than any of you know." Marcus said genuinely, looking around at this selfless teammates.

They all stood and filed out of the office, ready to talk about what that would mean for the team and how things would change when Lainey came around the corner.

"Pierce you've got a cute blonde waiting for you in the breakroom." Lainey said with a grin.

Marcus watched Pierce light up like a damn christmas tree at Lainey's words as he picked up his pace, lightly jogging in front of the rest of the team down the hall.

"There's my girl." Pierce said loudly once he reached the breakroom and as the rest of the team passed by Marcus saw Pierce wrapping his arms around Natalie in a tight hug that lifted her off the ground. Natalie tossed her head back and giggled with flirty laughter as Pierce trailed kisses up and down her neck and cheeks.

"I brought you some lunch." Natalie said breathlessly through her own laughter.

"I know. It's delicious." Pierce joked, still kissing her neck.

"Get a room." Axel hollered over his shoulder as he passed by in the opposite direction.

"I'm in a damn room." Pierce countered with a wide grin.

Marcus chuckled under his breath at Pierce and Natalie, but part of him was jealous. Part of him wanted that to be him and Caroline kissing and flirting without a care in the world.

Soon...you'll be with her soon.