When he finally left the bathroom, dressed in a clean uniform, Kyle had disappeared. Donovan had taken Kyle’s spot, chatting quietly with Gracie. The soft smile Donovan had on his face was one Alexei had seen many times before over the past year. Despite the jobs they had, Donovan and Gracie were still going strong. Watching them, Alexei could only think about Sean and wonder if they could make it work how Donovan andGraciedid.
“I see you didn’t fall over in the shower,” Gracie said, turning to Alexei with a quick smile. “Next time, please wait until after your morningcheckup.”
Alexei shrugged, not promising anything. “Havedebrief.”
“Which I’m supposed to escort you to,”Donovansaid.
“Breakfast first. Mess breakfast, nothospitalfood.”
“Discharge protocol first,” Graciecountered.
Alexei suffered through a final exam before being discharged, even though Gracie made it clear she wasn’t happy with his decision. She’d have preferred to keep him under observation for another day or so, but Alexei wasn’t having it. His brain scans were almost back to normal and he had placestobe.
Namely, the breakfasttable.
Donovan walked with him to the commissary in the main building, where he demolished enough food to feed three people. Donovan didn’t judge him, just kept bringing Alexei plates piled high with breakfast options until he couldn’t possibly fit any more into hisstomach.
“Feel better?” Donovanasked.
Alexei burped loudly and finished the last of his lukewarmsynthcaf. “Da.”
“Then it’s time to gettowork.”
Donovan escorted him to the elevator, leaving him to make his way up to the command levels alone. Alexei found the director and deputy director in the usual conference room Alpha Team always seemed to getsequesteredin.
“You’re looking better,” Stirling said by way ofgreeting.
Alexei snapped off a salute before taking a seat across from his superior officers. The terminal was up and running in front of him, and Alexei logged in to start hisreport.
Nazari took a sip from his can of cherry-flavoredZing!before clearing his throat. “Let’sbegin.”
The debrief was a grueling, four-hour marathon of words he had to twist his tongue around. By the end of it, Alexei was just grateful it was over. He knew his after-action report was necessary for the record, but it was always stressful reporting to Nazari and Stirling byhimself.
“Thank you for your efforts, both during the mission and now,” Nazari said after they finished up the debriefing. “I know you’ve had a rough timeofit.”
“Is nothing, sir,” Alexei replied as he stood up tosalutethem.
“It’s more than that, and we both know it, Staff Sergeant Dvorkin. You’re off-duty for the next day or so. Try to getsomerest.”
The fact that the director didn’t mention the full regulatory time caught Alexei’s attention, but he knew better than to ask about it. Instead, he turned on his heels and walked out, glad to have the debriefing done. He’d still need to sign off on his after-action report later, but he had at least twenty-four hours toprocrastinate.
Alexei decided there was no better way to do that than tofindSean.
“Ceres, where is Agent Delaney?” Alexei asked after the elevator doorsclosed.
“Level 19,” the AI promptly replied. “Would you like that to be yourdestination?”
“Yes.”
Alexei hadn’t seen Sean since they landed at headquarters yesterday afternoon. He knew someone from the team had been keeping Sean company, but that wasn’t the same as getting his own eyes on him. The mission hadn’t ended how they thought it would, and Alexei wasn’t about to let Sean walk away from their decision to be together in the wake of his family finding out thetruth.
Sean can do the work partner paperwork,Alexei thought tohimself.
He’d make it worth Sean’swhile.
* * *
Sean lookedup from the tablet in his hand when the door to his private medical room slid open. Elena popped her head inside, giving him a tired smile. Her dark brown hair was twisted back in a tight braid, spilling over oneshoulder.
