“Okay, are you sure you’re still comfortable, babe?” Stella asked softly, leaning over him on the bed. Clay gazed up at her, unimpressed. Even though he’d been released to go home, switching confinement from one bed to another did nothing to help his cabin fever. “You have been home all of three hours, don’t give me that look. I’m going to make some lunch for you and Sonny, I’m just making sure you don’t need anything so you’re not trying to get up while I’m in the kitchen. I’ll bring your next round of meds with your food.”
“Sorry,” the blonde murmured, sufficiently chastised. “I’m good, Stell. Just looking forward to the day I can get this sling and cast off, and these damn stitches out. I can’t get comfortable to save my life, and basically being an invalid is for the friggin’ birds.”
Stella combed her fingers through his curls and pressed a tender kiss to his forehead. “I know...I can’t imagine how much you’re going crazy being stuck in bed, but the more you push yourself the longer it’ll take to get back out with the team. I’ll be back in a minute.” Clay nodded, and Stella headed out into the kitchen, smiling warmly at Sonny sprawled on the couch snoring.
In the week since Clay had welcomed her back, the team had slowly involved her more in the planning for his recovery as she regained their trust, though Sonny had been the toughest egg to crack. It wasn’t until the Texan had walked in on her snapping at Clay about easing up on the rest of the team for their reservations about her that Sonny seemed to finally accept that she was back for good; she knew part of his anger towards her had stemmed from his own misplaced guilt, and it felt good to earn his trust in spite of everything. For the man to be sleeping spoke volumes. The rest of Bravo was grounded for the time being, and had established a rotation for staying with Clay at all times. Stella herself had taken leave from school, and was able to be with him consistently (much to the dismay of her parents, who had been quick to say ‘I told you so’ when she’d finally answered their calls following the hostage video) to help his teammates keep him off his feet.
Quietly as she could, Stella began gathering supplies for sandwiches. She’d just started setting everything up when she was startled into dropping the lunchmeat by heavy pounding at the door. Sonny was on his feet in an instant, gun raised as though it had been in his hand the entire time he’d been sleeping. Without a word the older man glance back and gestured for her to go to Clay, and she complied immediately. Her boyfriend was, unsurprisingly, trying to push himself up with his less-injured shoulder. Stella closed the door behind her with a sigh.
“Lay back down, this is why the guys are on rotation. Sonny’s handling it.”
The sight that greeted him when he opened the door sparked anger in Sonny’s gut, and the fact that the man tried to shove past him - completely ignoring the gun aimed at his face - had the Texan ready to pull the trigger just for spite. Steeling himself against Ash Spenser’s attempt to come into the apartment, Sonny smoothly tucked the gun away with one hand and planted a hand on Ash’s chest with the other. “Uh uh, I don’t think so.” The gray-haired man tried to smack his hand away unsuccessfully, indignance burning in his eyes.
“You are going to let me see my son or-”
“Or what exactly, Ashland? I really hope you don’t think you actually intimidate me...no way in hell am I letting you in this apartment without Clay’s all-clear.” Without another word, Sonny shoved the man backwards and shut the door, bolting it as Ash started pounding on it again. The Texan growled under his breath; they’d all known it was only a matter of time before the elder Spenser showed up, he just hadn’t expected it to be within hours of Clay being released from the hospital. Shaking his head, Sonny pulled out his phone and sent a text to Jason before heading into Clay’s room with a soft knock.
Stella was sitting next to him, hand on his clavicle to keep the younger man back against the pillows. Both looked up, Clay’s face paler than he’d seen it in days. “What’s up, Sonny?”
“What’s up is that you need to relax before you pull a stitch, you’re startin’ to look whiter than that sheet. Daddy dearest is here, didn’t take too kindly to me tellin’ him he wasn’t allowed in. I texted Jase, he should be on his way and I’m sure he’ll get the others here too, considering how much of a fuss Ash is gonna kick up.”
Clay dropped his head back against the headboard with a sigh. “He’s not going to leave until you let him in, Son...might as well get it over with.” Once again he tried to sit up, and once again Stella stopped him.
“Sonny’s right, babe, just the effort of trying to sit up has drained you. You need rest, and that’s the last thing your father will let you have. Let your team handle him.” She smiled affectionately when he had to visibly work to keep his eyes open, proving her point and forcing him to obey. “Stop fighting it. Sleep,” she insisted, nails skimming along his scalp again in a soothing manner. The SEAL sank into the mattress involuntarily, weakness and her ministrations stealing away any remaining hold he had on consciousness.
“Well damn, teach, I’ll have to remember that for future use...never seen him rack out so fast,” Sonny teased lightly, ignoring the faint sound of Ash knocking again.
Stella chuckled, settling Clay into a more comfortable position. “First of all, if you ever attempt that and it works, I do not want to hear a word about it. Second of all, pretty sure that was more his body telling him enough was enough than it had anything to do with me.” Sonny gave her a skeptical look in response.
Jason Hayes turned the corner to Clay’s apartment fighting to maintain his calm; he’d heard more than enough about his youngest teammate’s father over the years, both as the disgraced former SEAL who wrote a book, and as the man that left Clay with intense daddy-issues. It shouldn’t have been surprising that he’d show up on his son’s doorstep...but the Bravo Team leader wasn’t sure he’d be able to handle the man rationally after how close they’d come to losing Clay.
When his eyes landed on Ash Spenser in person for the first time, a rush of protectiveness hit him like a Mack truck. The older man turned at the sound of his steps, face already flush with rage.
“Let me see my son. Now.” Well at least they didn’t need introductions, if the man assumed his connection to Clay before Jason had even approached.
“Now is not a good time, getting him home has taken a lot out of him.” Jason crossed his arms over his chest and straightened to his full height. Ash cowered subtly, but refused to budge from the door. “How, exactly, did you know he is home? His rescue wasn’t made public knowledge, let alone the fact that he’d been brought back Stateside, or released from the hospital for that matter.” He made a mental note to bring this to Blackburn’s attention. “I know for a fact that none of my team contacted you.”
“How can you be so sure of that?” the elder Spenser questioned smugly. Jason clenched his hand under his arm to keep himself from punching the smirk off his face.
“Because we believe in something called loyalty, and doing whatever it takes to protect our own. Where Clay is concerned, that includes keeping you the hell away from him while he heals.” He uncrossed his arms and stepped into Ash’s space, satisfied by the way the man flinched back in to the door. “Let’s not pretend this has nothing to do with the fact that Clay was the subject of a POW ransom video. After all, where were you when he was in a helo crash, or took a sniper round to the chest and lost his mentor in the same night? Couldn’t be bothered to go out of your way to check on him then, could you?” He shook his head, wondering if his words were even making a difference. “You don’t get to come around and suddenly play caring father because your son was on television.”
Ash became almost purple at his words, and attempted to rise to Jason’s challenge. “You know what? Fuck you, Hayes. Where were you when all of this happened to my son? What exactly did you do to stop those cartel assholes from taking him in the first place?”
“I was in the helo with him, and Clay saved my life,” Jason snapped, prepared to go to battle until the door opened behind Ash and Sonny slipped out into the hallway.
“Keep it the hell down, would you?!” he hissed, coming alongside Jason against the elder Spenser. “Your son was taken while defending his brothers, and nearly died to protect his country. Now,” he growled, eyes flashing with the dare to argue, “his real family is going to get him back on his feet.”
Ash stared between the two, a growl rumbling in his chest. His attention was drawn away from the SEALs in front of him, though, and Jason smirked. The door directly behind him opened and he felt Derek’s imposing presence at his back, while the remaining members of Bravo (Davis included) rounded the corner together, Ray carrying a case of beer, Davis and Trent with bags of groceries and Brock keeping a loose grip on Cerberus’ lead.
“As I said, now is not a good time,” Jason repeated firmly. Ash opened his mouth to respond, but snapped it shut again when Clay’s door opened.
All eyes turned to see the too-pale, hunched-over blonde subject of their argument, better arm around Stella’s shoulder and the brunette’s hand braced against his chest to keep him upright. Clay seemed surprised to see everyone at his door. Finally the elder Spenser deflated, recognizing that he was hopelessly outnumbered...and that Jason Hayes was ultimately right. It was clear that his son was surrounded by far better family than he’d ever had in the past. “It’s good to see you safe, son. I’ll leave you and your team to it.” Cerberus growled as Ash sulked away.
As soon as they were sure that Ash was gone, the entire team rounded on Clay to reprimand him for being out of bed with only Stella to keep him upright. “What the hell, Spense?” Trent chastised, passing his bags to Stella and taking her place smoothly as Clay’s support. “If you tore any stitches, I’m gonna kick your ass. Let’s go, on the couch...give you some change of scenery from staring at a ceiling all day.” Jason bumped fists with Derek, giving him a thankful smile, before joining the rest of the team in the apartment. They moved around the apartment as they did on missions - like a well-oiled machine. Even Stella and Davis maneuvered with the rest of the guys seamlessly; Trent had Clay propped on the couch with a chair at his feet, shirtless and bandage pulled back for inspection. Sonny and Davis prepped snacks while Brock and Stella brought in extra pillows and chairs so that everyone could settle in for a movie night.
As he stood leaning against the door for a moment, Jason thought back on the fear and rage at seeing their youngest beaten for the world to see, of the vengeance the team wrought when they found him, of the relief when the doctor said that he would make a full recovery and eventually be back to full fighting strength. The blonde in question met his eyes, and Jason watched several emotions pass through those baby blues: distress over the presence of his father, exhaustion over pushing himself too hard, relief over the rallying presence of his team, his brothers, Stella...gratitude that they stood alongside him, in front of him against the man that had caused him so much pain in his lifetime. Their gaze was broken when Stella tucked herself in next to Clay, opposite Trent, and drew her boyfriend’s attention. She rested her forehead against his for a long moment, murmuring something softly to him and earning a tired smile and tender kiss in response.
“Yo, Jay, you just gonna stand there like a creeper or you gonna help bring the snacks in?” Sonny called, winking when the team leader looked over to him. Jason complied silently, and the team took their places in a protective circle around Clay. As the beginning credits rolled, Jason glanced over to see him fast asleep between Trent and Stella, head resting on her shoulder and their fingers loosely tangled together.
AU where Ash is on Bravo with the rest of the guys and when he mentioned sending Clay away after his wife dies, Trent and Brock (who are together) want to adopt him and say outright they're willing to fight for him. Clay's also like 4 and has no idea whats going on
