Demo's pov***

I had heard about the new recruit who has been flying through the code breaking. I spent a few months watching and investigating Bethany Adamson.

She seems to be legitimate. I found nothing in her file, that would disqualify her from the team. But I'm hung up on why she would join the Army instead of going to college as she had planned. I couldn't find anything! Not even why she moved out of her parent's house into her uncle's just before she graduated.

I even sent Thermo to see what he can find. He reported that her mother and step-dad backed out of paying for half of her college as they had agreed to do. Her father/uncle had been paying everything that he could. Brian Adamson is a detective with the Tulsa homicide. He married his long-time girlfriend, Sherri a few weeks before Bethany enlisted.

Bethany made straight A's all through school, never missed a single day. Texas A&M missed out on a perfect opportunity.

One that I won't miss out on.

I even gave a couple codes to her. Not me personally, but she got them. She transcribed them quicker than what a seasoned breaker did.

I also noticed that she calls home every week, but hasn't been home in a year.

I came up with the plan of stealing her from Warner. Of course he whines about it. He had a Corporal run after her. Then made her wait at attention for a half hour.

She meets all my questions head-on with the truth. That tells me that I'm not wrong with my decision. I wasn't wrong about getting her the plane tickets home and back.

She knows that she will be put through hell just to enter our unit as a backup breaker. Cameron is gonna hate her instantly! He has been our breaker for a few years now.

Thermo tells me to drop her off at terminal A-3. Her plane leaves from C-5. I drop him at C-5. The flight calls for first boarding. I call her.

Thermo gets back into the car and we drive back to my place.

"So what do you think?" I ask him.

"She has potential. What caught your eye with her?" Thermo asks.

"I had heard about someone flying through codes. It got me to thinking. Our last trip. We almost got caught. It was like they knew that we would be there. I gave Warner the same exact code that Cameron had." I gave Thermo, Cameron's report. He read it. Then I gave him Bethany's report.

He read that one too. "Holy fuck! If we had this report, we would have adjusted our approach. We wouldn't have gotten caught."

"Exactly! When she gets back, I will give her the one from last year. See what she comes up with."

His face darkened. We lost a member of our team when we were ambushed.

"You suspect that Cameron intentionally left out pertinent info?" I nod.

"How do you want to deal with this?"

"When Bethany gets back, we will give them both the same message. Have them break it. See what the difference is between them."

His phone beeped. He checked it and laughed. Then he showed me a picture of a smart car with Bethany shooting him the finger. Then another of her sitting in a jeep.

"Tell me that you didn't reserve her a smart car!" We laughed our asses off.

"Of course I did! I figured that she could see over the steering wheel." We laughed again. "She knows how to change or adapt. That would keep her alive in most situations."

"When she went home the first time, she got into a scrimmage with a guy. He never laid a hand on her." I told him.

"Yeah, I heard about that. Apparently he likes to hit women. He got Bethany's brother's now ex- girlfriend pregnant. They are still together. He beat her into a miscarriage, twice."

"Damn!"

"You think that Bethany will be able to handle our team?"

"My question is if our team can handle Bethany. She's tough."

"Are you thinking that she will sleep with you? You're talking like it."

"The woman has a killer ass on her! Not to mention that her personality is upbeat and funny." He paused a moment. "Yeah, I'd fuck her in a minute! Who wouldn't? You trying to tell me that you wouldn't?" He lifted an eyebrow at me. I didn't answer. "I thought so!"

"But that can lead to trouble. Big time!" I finally answered him.

"I know! But you saw her ass in those jeans."

"Makes a man want to sink his teeth into her ass and not let go." I was picturing her ass in those tight jeans that she was wearing this morning. "Not to mention that t-shirt! I'm mean, what the fuck? I knew that our uniforms hide a lot. But holy shit, batman!"

"Amen, brother!" We finish our chat before Thermo leaves. Knowing him, he is probably going to his go-to girl. He'll give her a workout.

Me? I'm so over all of the uniform leeches. I'd rather take care of my sexual needs, by myself. They all want to eat fancy dinners and go dancing. All on my dime, of course. Then when you go on a trip, they go find another uniform to occupy their time.

I just don't want to be a side dick. I'm over all of that. I go to shower and lay on my bed naked. I have no plans for today. I roll over and try to sleep. All I can think about is if we have been betrayed. If Cameron did, in fact betray us, he's dead. Just like Riker is.

We were in Syria. It was supposed to be easy. In, get the hostage, out.

We went in after disabling four guards. We got the prisoner and headed out. We were ambushed as soon as we got to the trucks. Shots were fired at us from an abandoned building across the street. We clambered into the two trucks and drove away while returning fire. I saw two men fall from the rooftop.

We haul ass out of there. "I'm hit!" I hear Riker say suddenly.

I look to my second in command. He is holding his throat as blood oozed between his fingers. Oh God, No! Not Riker! "Hold on Riker! Don't you dare leave us!"

''Sorry, Dem! I'm not gonna make it. Tell momma and Sammy that I love 'em."

I make my way to the space in front of him. I put my hand over his and help apply pressure. The blood keeps coming. "I'll tell 'em. But you better be there when I tell them!"

"I wish, man! I love you guys! You're my family. Always remember that you fight for the innocent. Tanner, I love you my brother!"

Blood has coated both of our arms. "I love you too, Riker Andrews!"

He tried to grin. "Name your first after me."

"What if it's a girl?" I ask him. Because I know that he will be dying soon.

"Then she'll have a name that will have people think twice before fuckin' with her." He was fading as we stop at the hospital.

"You are correct, brother! Nobody is stupid enough to fuck with my girl. But that would mean that I have to find a woman strong enough to put up with me. That's a tall order."

"I'll send one to you!" Riker closed his eyes as his body relaxes. My best friend of ten years, my brother in arms, dies in my lap. His blood covers my hand, arm, and lap. I cry as I hug his lifeless body to my chest.

Nobody is talking. Nobody is moving. Everyone has tears in their eyes. We are a family.

I am sweating when I jerk awake. I look at the clock. Twelve hundred ten. I dress and go to a local burger joint. I'm eating a burger and fries as my mind drifts back to Bethany. I wonder what she is doing right now? Probably out shopping with her step-mom or hanging out with her brothers or dad.

I look at my phone when it vibrates. "Hey, mom! What's up?"

"We hadn't heard anything from you in a while. Just thought that I'd check on you. See how you were doing."

I chuckled. "Mom! You know very well that I called you three days ago. Now what is really going on?" I ask with a smile. I know what she is about to say. She wants more grandkids. The three from Chris aren't enough.

"Chris and Gracie just got here. I love hearing tiny feet running through the house. When are you going to start a family?"

"In a few years. I'm busy with work, mom. We have been through this subject already." I throw away my trash and walk to my truck. I sit in it without cranking it. A picture of Bethany comes to mind. She would make beautiful babies."I don't want a family when I can't give them my full attention at least once a day. With my job, I'm gone for periods of time. You guys know this. Would that be fair to a wife and kids?"

"I suppose you're right." She relents sadly. I hate upsetting her! "Alright. You win this one. Just know that I'm waiting on more grandbabies."

I chuckled. She had to give that one last dig. As always. An idea comes to mind. "I know, mom. I love you! You know that right?"

"I do! We love you too. Your dad says hello."

"Tell everyone that I say hello and I love them."

"Will do. I better get off here. These babies need some of nana's cooking. They are here for the weekend!"

"Alright, mom. Go take care of the kids. Spoil them rotten. Chris deserves it."

"I don't spoil kids! I just love them extra special."

"As is your right! See you later!" I laugh.

"See you later, gator. Be safe! That's an order."

"Yes ma'am!" She hung up and I drove home to pack a bag.

I get back into my truck and head Montana. I'm going home for the weekend.

I make it home about an hour before dinner. They are surprised when I walk through the door. After lots of hugs from the family Chris's wife, Gracie, helps mom with the cooking. Dad, Chris, and I talk about the kids and Chris's job.

It is an awesome change from the violence and politics, that I deal with on a daily basis.

"Hey uncle Tanner, can we see your guns? Daddy said that you have big guns." Five year old Tristan asked.

I laugh and raise my sleeve then flex my muscles. There is a tattoo of an 50 cal machine gun on the inside of my bicep. I make it jump. Causing all three boys to laugh along with dad and Chris.

"Not that one! Your real one!" Hudson insisted.

"My real one is locked up as it is supposed to be, in my safe." I explain gun safety to the children. They don't find it near as exciting as they thought it would be. They soon run off to play.

"Thank you for that. Mom would be pissed if her grandsons start talking about holding a gun."

"I know. She's already told me not to encourage any of her babies." We chuckle.

"So has she started on you about having kids?" Dad asked.

"You know it! You know that I call every Wednesday. Unless I'm on a trip. Then it is as soon as I can. This week was no different. Then I get a call today about starting a family. The first thing that she mentions is that she hasn't heard from me in a while." We all laughed. "She mentioned that Chris was here and I decided to come home."

"You think that she didn't know that would bring you home?" Dad asked.

"Of course she knew I would come home! That's why she said it. But I also know that she would understand if I couldn't come."

"She would."

"Dinner is ready!" Mom said loudly from the kitchen.

I jumped up and went to wash my hands.

We sat down to the best roast in Montana! Man, I'm glad that I came home for the weekend!

I can't help but wonder if nerd is having a good time with her family.