Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
The whoosing sound of the helicopter was deafening as Ryan turned to his four younger teammates “Ready guys?”
Jenna was eager to start the process “I’ve been ready since this morning!!”
“I told you not to feed her coffee!” Leah scolded Ryan playfully. Mark was quiet with a smile plastered to his face “What’s the matter with you?” Leah asked, it was unlike him to be tongue tied.
“Mr. Cool is afraid of heights.” Jenna retorted teasingly.
“Really?” Leah asked wide eyed.
“Just because he tries to act cool all the time doesn’t mean he has no fears.” Jenna argued, “Am I right Marky?”
He had a grim expression on his face “It’s Mark…and I am not scared. I just…prefer to be on land.”
Ryan was growing restless “Hey guys, we have to move now. My brother is on that time of the month.”
Leah stepped closer to the door for she was the first to jump “Who said men don’t go through PMS?” Ryan snapped the control and the door slid open almost blowing her into the back “See you geeks later!!” She cried and jumped out without fear.
Ryan turned to Mark “You’re next, man.”
He nodded calmly but Jenna knew he was scared “Hey.” She called before he pushed himself out of the plane “You can do it.” She pointed a thumbs up sign to him.
Mark smiled, he was quite fond of Jenna, she was a tough girl but still sensitive as the next door girl “Thanks.” He took a deep breath and hailed his body out of the plane.
Ryan smiled at Jenna “That was nice!” he cried over the nose of the air and helicopter engine “I didn’t know you could be sensitive!”
“You don’t have to scream! I could read your lips!!” She yelled at him as if he was a few yards away instead of inches.
“Man, remind me not to let you drink anymore coffee.” He joked.
“What?!” Jenna asked with her ear arched upwards. He was about to say it louder when she laughed, “I’m just kidding!” She smiled with a wink of the eye before pulling down her goggles and jumping out of the plane in a perfect swan dive. She was feeling out the fall and enjoying the view below.
Ryan pressed the walkie talkie to his lips “We’re out!” he threw it inside and jumped out after Jenna. He could see Leah making a graceful landing as usual. Mark on the other hand tumbled a little before keeping his stance. But he quickly noticed the Jenna was having trouble with her parachute.
On the ground, Matt had already saw what was happening “Crap! Her backup chute is out too!”
Mia covered her eyes “Oh, I can’t watch.”
Erin smiled at her friend “Like that ever stopped you before.”
“How could you stay so calm?!” Mia demanded in shock “She’s about to fall to her death!” she pointed incredulously.
“Ryan will know what to do.” Erin said with confidence. They turned back to the scene and surely, Ryan was pushing his body into a bullet form and dived towards Jenna.
He grabbed a hold of her waist with his legs as she grabbed on for dear life “Don’t let go!” he ordered and pulled on his parachute as it yanked them upwards like a bungee.
The team below exploded with applause and whistles. Mia smiled happily and when she turned to Erin’s smug smile, she snickered “Please, don’t give me that look. He’s your brother in law, don’t act like he’s your real brother or something.”
“I can still be proud can’t I?” Erin asked with a laugh.
The two landed roughly due to the short distance but managed to walk away unharmed with only a few scratches. Jenna turned to Ryan and hugged him “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!”
He laughed while patting his teammate “Anytime.”
The experience six rushed over to the two of them “Are you okay, Jenna?” Darren asked sincerely.
She nodded “Yeah, I had a good scare for a few seconds there. Thanks to Ryan.”
Ted put out a hand to help Ryan and Jenna to their feet “Great job guys.”
“No.” Matt said with a stern face “You have endangered both of your lives. The distance you had was barely enough to make a landing. You should have reacted quicker, Ryan.”
Mia and Erin exchanged knowing glances but dared not to spite the Lieutenant on his bad day. Leah and Mark rushed over to join the group “You guys alright?” Mark asked.
The two nodded with lowered heads “You were great, Ryan!!” Leah exclaimed “When I saw you dove from the sky to catch Jenna, my heart almost stopped beating—” she stopped after Becca gave her a stop signal with the palm parallel to the ground and cutting across the neck.
Matt turned to his expanded team with an authoritative look “Meeting in one hour. Go home and get cleaned up.” He walked back to his own car and sped off.
“What’s up his ass?” Becca asked sarcastically.
“Beats the shit out of me.” Mia cracked and laughed but quickly calmed her chuckles “Sorry…it’s not funny.”
Darren smiled slowly “Actually it was very funny.” He kissed his wife on the cheek adoringly. She still managed to keep the situation light no matter the outcome.
Ryan turned to his sister in law “Ga Jei, do you know why Gor is so mad? It’s not like him to be in such a petty mood.”
Erin shook her head “I’m not sure myself, Ryan.”
“He reasons better with you. Can you find out for me?” he asked, worried for his brother.
She turned to Ted “We’ll go back first. You guys clean up this place and meet us in an hour.” The two returned to the van and drove it back to the headquarters.
Jenna tilted her head as they watched the van take off “Hey…we only have one car left, there’s eight of us and seven seats…” she pointed to each person.
“Well, I guess you’re walking back then.” Mia teased the young girl.
“Why me?” she asked in shock.
“Because you pointed it out.” She replied casually. The team laughed knowing that Mia was only teasing, “I’m kidding!” she smiled after Jenna’s lips began to tremble “I’ll sit on Darren’s lap.”
“Aww…I was going to offer that!” Doug complained in disappointment.
“Hey, I told you not to talk like that in front of her. She’s gonna get jealous.” Darren scolded.
Mark winced at the mental picture of Doug on Darren’s lap “Oh crap, I just picture it.” He began banging his head with the palm of his hand “Get out!”
The group laughed as they headed back to the van together Doug wrapped an arm around Mark’s shoulder “Kid, you’ve got a lot to learn about being a man.”
“If it has anything to do with homosexuality, I don’t want to know.” He said in defense.
Darren shook his head with a laugh “No, it is confidence. The only time a man is truly confident in his manliness, he can freely joke with other men in a more gay form.”
Becca snorted “And if you listen to these guys, you will become gay.” Mia cracked up while giving her teammate a high five for the quick quip.
“But they both are married.” Jenna pointed out.
The two girl threw her a glare that could burn through brick walls “You had to open your mouth.” Ryan sighed tiredly as the debate quickly began.
**********
Ted and Erin reached the building and entered with the thumb identification on the detector. The floors were built with bulletproof glass windows and each room was a hide out incase they were attacked. Armed guns hidden in every room and only the Joe and Matt knew where they were. Being in the public eye means having more targets aimed at them. The metal walls kept the place cool and dark.
Hand in hand, they walked through the hallways together in unison. They came to another identification detector and were evaluated by the automated voice “Welcome Libra. Welcome Scorpio.” The female voice was mechanical and was there for security purposes.
They took another hallway to the left that led to Matt’s office. Sure enough, he was sitting inside with his head in the palm of his hands. A sure sign he was stressed out “Hey boss.” Ted greeted lightly.
He turned up and smiled at his top agents “Hi guys. What’s up?”
Erin thanked Ted with a smile when he pulled out a chair for her “Shouldn’t we be asking you that?”
Matt titled his head “I’m not sure what you mean.”
“You’ve been snappy all morning and Ryan is a little more than worried about you.” Ted pointed out.
The Lieutenant sat back in his chair with a slump “I’m sorry guys but I’ve been extra stressed out for the past month. It’s finally taken its toll on me today. Are they pretty upset?”
Erin shook her head “Not really. More worried than pissed off.”
“Good.” Matt laughed.
“Anything we can help you with?” Ted offered. He understood the operations were getting bigger by the day with more office helpers to keep their files updated and ready to be read. Not to mention a computer expert that got them the most updated machines the government didn’t even have. For one person to run the whole place was definitely a stress filled job.
He shook his head, lowering his eyes to hide the dark circles “No. You guys are not responsible for my job. Joe put me in charge, I should be able to take care of these things myself.”
“I don’t think he knows what you are going through.” Erin said earnestly “I have a suggestion.” She waited for Matt’s approving smile before continuing, “You’re forgetting my Uncle Chuck. He used to be in your shoes, how about we ask him to come in part time to help you with the new group? I know that is what you’re stressing over.” Erin guessed.
Matt’s grin told them the answer “That would be great.” He was grateful for her caring attitude, she would be a great mother one day “So…now that we have that out of the way. When are you two getting hitched?”
“I knew it was coming.” Erin groaned “You’re the hundredth person that asked us today.”
“Really? Who’s the other ninety nine?” Matt asked curiously. He assumed it was the other teammates who were questioning it.
“Mia.” Ted said shortly and it covered all the questions they had.
Matt laughed with a nod “I can only imagine.” Erin smiled but gave no attempt to answer the question “Should I take a hint?”
“Sorry Matt. You’re like a brother to me, but I think it’s something between the two of us…” Erin replied apologetically.
“Say no more. I won’t press.” Matt placed a hand to stop her “See to it that you get me an answer on Chuck today. You can be late to the meeting.”
The two nodded and left the office and building. They were use to the strict security. Ted opened the car door for Erin as she smiled at him. He got in the car carefully and put on the seatbelt, never once noticing that she was staring at him “You’re not upset are you?”
He turned to her with raised brows “Of course not!” he smiled softly “I told you take as much time as you like. I’d wait forever if I have to.”
“Corny, but sweet.” Erin nodded “I promise you by the end of next year, I will have an answer for you.”
“Great, something to look forward to.” Ted teased as he took off to the deli in Kowloon called ‘Lam Kei’. Erin lent the money she inherited to her uncle so he may open his own deli, a supposed dream that he’s always had. But she knew when he came to her a month ago with the request that it was more than that. Chuck was a traveler, he never liked to settle down. The only reason why would be one, a woman he was interested in.