As deep as the Red Sea

Hello again

It took a while but Sammy finally convinced Ali to stay at home and relax for a few hours. Tonight they were running an after-hours clinic for children. He knew it was going to be a struggle for her but, she insisted on helping.

Alison finished pre-cooking a meal for them, there was no way she was coming home to cook a full meal at nine o'clock at night. This clinic was going to be physically and emotionally draining for her.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She knew it wasn't Sammy he had his own key. No one ever visited her, leaving her adopted family in England, her biological family probably dead.

He was the last person she wanted to see at her door, "Mother fucker" she cursed
"Hello to you too Alison" he smirked leaning up against the door frame. Ari fucking Levinson. The man who broke her heart, but he didn't know it.

Ari was oblivious to Ali's feelings for years, the day she found out he was engaged to another broke her. She couldn't find the strength to attend the wedding, not that Ari even realized she wasn't there.

"Is he home?" He asked stepping inside, he wasn't referring to Sammy. He had already talked Sammy into his crazy plan and no one even knew they were together. They liked it that way, not having people's opinions about their relationship.

"Nope" she popped the 'p' crossing her arms over her chest, watching as Ari studied her home. It was basic for a stylish woman like Alison. Just two photos sat on a shelf in frames.
"Do you know when he will be?" He asked, picking up the photos to study them,

One of her as a young child with her adopted British family on holiday somewhere. She looked about eleven years old and happy, snuggled between her mother and father's arms. The other caused his breath to hitch.

Alison lying in bed, her head resting on Sammy's chest. A tiny baby wrapped in a blanket covered its face between them.

"Hopefully never" Alison muttered walking away to the kitchen, this wasn't a social call but it was also a waste of time.

Alison met Ari when she came home to Jerusalem at eighteen, through this work she met her ex-boyfriend the one he was looking for. "Shit, I'm sorry Ali" he apologized turning to face her. "Don't be, he left me" she shrugged as she pulled two bottles of water out of the fridge.

"I meant for your loss" he explained, Ari remembered Sammy telling him about her stillborn baby and, that she needed space and time. She opened her bottle taking a large mouthful.

She didn't want to talk about it, she never did. Three years had passed and she never spoke a word about that night. The emotions are still too raw to deal with.

"I want to come" she blurted, Ari chuckled. The same impulsive woman he grew up with. He remembers this nervous woman sitting next to him on the plane. Both eighteen years old and going back home to nothing. They bonded very quickly becoming friends, but Ali always wanted much more than that.

Ari shook his head "You can't" he deadpanned, he wasn't going to change his mind. Sammy would kill him if he took his head nurse with them. "And why not? Because it's dangerous?" She scoffed. Ari and Sammy were always protective of her.

Even when she was in a relationship with Brad, they still protected her like a younger sister
"It's not safe to take a woman to Sudan" he explained, placing his hands on his hips. He was not going to cave, He was already on thin ice with Ethan.

"Is Rachel going?" She asked already knowing the answer. Ari had his team and his contacts. After almost getting killed last time she knew there was no way he would be allowed to go without a real plan or team.

Ari sighed, she wasn't going to go down without a fight.  "She's trained Ali" he groaned, having the feeling they were going to be going around in circles. "So am I" she shouted "look you may have the best field doctor with you, and all your trained team. But tell me this Ari, how many of you can speak Arabic and Hebrew?" She asked with a raised brow.

Shit, she had a point, if they ran into any difficulties Ali could translate for them. No Ari she can't come you have to protect her, out there you can't keep her safe.

His silence was her answer. Arabic was her native tongue, learning Hebrew at a young age and then English. She would be an asset to the team and she wouldn't have to be away from Sammy. "Please Ari, even if I can help save just one child's life. That would help rid me of my guilt" she explained, tears pricking her eyes.

She owed her life to that navy officer who took her in all those year ago, all she wanted was a chance. A chance to prove herself in the eyes of god that she was worthy.

"Fine"

Sammy was going to kill him, Ari just didn't realise the real reason why.