Page 5 of Trusting the Team

“I don’t suppose I really want to know,” Chris answered.

“At least you're honest,” Phantom replied.

“Are you guys from this area?” Gumby asked.

“We live in Arizona. I know how close Andy got to some of the guys he worked with. You survive a lot of crazy stuff together. She feels connected to you and we aren't going to try to ruin that. We aren't in a rush to get back home. Obviously, we'd like to get her settled, but she needs you more than that right now. I also don't want to burden you. You just came off a mission-"

“We’re going to miss her. She's no burden,” Gumby answered quickly. Chris nodded knowingly, smiling to himself.

“Sir, could we have your phone?” Bubba asked. Chris handed over an unlocked cell, the phone circulated quietly.

“If she needs us, if you need anything, call us,” Gumby said.

The older man had tears in his eyes, “I'd like to think Andy was like you all. We couldn't have been luckier to have anyone else find her. Thank you, gentlemen.”

They waited patiently in silence while Chloe continued showing Dari whatever was tucked away in the box she was carrying. Dari looked up, saw Rex. She got off the couch, headed directly toward him, “you need to go.”

“Not until you're ready" Rex answered her as if they were the only ones in the room, “we don’t leave a man behind."

“You didn't,” Dari whispered as she hugged him.

Gumby knelt in front of her, “Chris has all our numbers. If you don’t contact us, we’ll come for you.” Dari wrapped her arms around Gumby, dropping her weight into him as well. “I'm going to miss you, little one.” He could feel her nod into his neck.

“You're making a scene,” Bubba interrupted. Dari hugged him around the waist.

“I want my clothes back,” Ace teased as she carefully wrapped her arms around him.

“No, he doesn't,” Rocco followed Gumby so he could get his arms around her.

Phantom stood quietly by the doorframe. Dari motioned for him to get lower, she put her arms around his neck, holding him hard. He stood up with her still in his arms, “We got that sweatshirt big so you could wear it awhile, remind yourself and everyone else."

She leaned back slightly, put her hands on either side of his face, “I won't forget.”

“Can I get a picture with all of you, please?” Chloe asked as Dari finished her goodbyes. The men dutifully filed in together. Chloe immediately sent the picture to her husband. Their phones dinged as they watched her walk away with her grandparents. In the center of the picture was Dari with Rex'sbraided hair, Ace's clothes, and their pink sweatshirt that read, “Keep calm I'm the sister of a Navy Seal,” surrounded by her six adopted big brothers.

2.Dari’s Return

Dari had goneto the gym at lunch. She saw a woman leaning into her cubicle when she walked back into the office. “Excuse me?”

The woman jumped and stepped back, “Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry. This picture,” she pointed. “The men are younger, but I know them. How do you know them?”

“I'm sorry, your name is...?”

“I'm Caite.” Pointing back at the picture, “Blake is my husband.”

“We all found ourselves stuck together in a nightmare once,” Dari pointed at the little girl in a pink sweatshirt.

“Does the team know you are here? You must meet the girls!” Dari looked stricken. “I'm sorry, clearly I've overstepped.”

“Do you have children?” Dari asked awkwardly.

“There's Hunter and Decker--"

“As in Gumby?”

Caite smiled, “yes. And then we also foster older kids.”

“Wow. That’s great.”

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