The night Alcide's team left, Wolf's team and their women descended en masse for a night of what could only be described as drunken mayhem. While the men had a poker night upstairs, Summer taught them the fine art of doing body shots without using their hands. It was cramped in the tiny apartment, but Miley loved every minute of it, especially when a tipsy Cheyenne began to recount, in detail, her bedroom antics the previous evening. Miley was, by no means a prude, but she admitted to being shocked at some of the descriptions.

"You think that's something," Annabeth said between drinks. "Hick took me to this sex shop down near the beach. He found this contraption called a swing. They had one out on display, and he tried to get me to climb up in it," she continued as she took another drink. "Like I'm going to get my ass up in that thing and have it collapse. I mean, what if I'm too heavy for it? Which I'm not, by the way, but that's not the point. He got some cinnamon flavored oil, brown sugar and some homemade icing. I'm telling you, there's more than one way to cook. That's not even the best part ...."

"Nope. Stop right there," Olivia said with a look of horror on her face. "I don't want to hear what kinky things he did. I have to look that man in the face. He's still on KP duty with Bruiser, and I don't want that image in my mind while trying to eat something he fixed."

"Speaking of eating," Annabeth retorted with a smirk as she waggled her eyebrows suggestively. "Pancakes can be a religious experience if you get my drift."

"Ewww, too much. Just, no!" Miley shuddered as she thrust her hands over her ears. "La, la, la. I can't hear you."

All of them laughed as Miley dropped her hands and grabbed another shot, downing the liquid quickly. The root beer flavored liquor topped with whip cream burned down her throat and warmed her stomach. Since Jessyka worked at Aces bar, she knew the names of many unusual drinks. Their current concoction had a particularly naughty name which made Miley gasp in shock. It didn't help that they chanted, "BJ, BJ, BJ" every time someone took a shot.

The conversation turned to milder things. Finally, sometime around one in the morning, there was a knock on the door and the men came down to collect their ladies who were well toasted by then. Saying their goodnights, the women promised to return the next day after lunch. Considering how hungover everyone would most likely be, it was a good call. Miley laughed as the women all but attacked their men. Wolf, Mozart, Cookie, Benny, Abe, and Dude couldn't have been more pleased.

As the days turned into weeks, Miley threw herself into staying busy. One of the local veterinarians who sponsored the adoption day fair approached her with a request for help. It took only a moment to agree. On days she worked, Wolf or one of his team would escort her to the clinic in downtown San Diego. That evening, one of them would bring her back to the apartment in Caroline's basement. Several times a week, she and some of the ladies would meet for lunch, shopping or some other activity. Annabeth, Olivia and Miley bonded closer, becoming more like sisters than friends. Between work and hanging out with them, she tried not to get homesick. She missed her family and friends in Wyoming, but most of all, she missed Alcide.

Miley talked to Pop-pop at least once every few days, checking on things there and how the cleanup was going. She repeatedly apologized for abandoning him when he was supposed to be retired. "Don't worry about it, sweetie. I was getting a little tired of fishing. It's good to get into the office some. Besides, someone has to keep an eye on Jessie," he told her after she apologized again.

She chuckled at that, but a part of her continued to feel guilty. That feeling was compounded when she realized while she missed the people, she didn't miss the practice -- except for small animal Tuesdays. The bigger animals? Yeah, she didn't miss them at all.

On the nineteenth day of Alcide's absence, Miley received a call from Rissa. Unable to talk at the time, she told her best friend she would contact her later. When her shift was over, she walked through the clinic to the back, climbed up to the deck overlooking the exercise yard. "Hey, Rissa. How are you?"

"I'm doing all right. It's been a rough few weeks."

"Oh, God, I'm so sorry." Miley felt her face drain of color. "I forgot about Drake's funeral."

"It's okay, Miles. You've been going through a lot, lately. His mom got the flowers you and Alcide sent. They were beautiful."

Miley felt like the bottom of a shoe. It was obvious Alcide had sent the flowers in her name as it never crossed her mind. Not only that, but her best friend was still mourning the loss of her on again, off again fiancé as well as trying to keep the family ranch going and take care of her father. Even though she had been preoccupied, it didn't mean Miley should abandon her friend.

"No, it's not okay. I feel horrible. I wish I could have been there for you. Is there anything I can do?"

Rissa's voice was tight. "No, honey. We're doing good. Dad's much stronger and got his new prosthesis last week. He's a little shaky but gets around pretty well. You know you can't keep a Montgomery down."

"I'm glad to hear that."

They talked several more minutes until Rissa asked about her brother. "I haven't heard anything, sorry." Miley bit back her own sadness. "He's been gone almost three weeks now. According to Caroline, it's not unusual."

"Who's Caroline?"

"Oh, that's right, you don't know her. She's the wife of another SEAL. I've been staying at their place with Alcide gone. She's been a Godsend of sorts. Caroline's been doing this a long time. I don't know what Olivia, Annabeth and I would do without her. She's kept our sanity."

"Oh?" Rissa's voice took on a conspiratorial tone. "Getting cozy with Alcide's team member's ladies? Is there something you aren't telling me?"

"No," Miley hastened to answer. She felt her face flush. She didn't want to lie to her friend, but she felt she should tell Alcide how she felt first. With a cough, she continued, "I mean, not really. We've started dating. Well, we were dating for a couple of days before he left." She sighed. "I don't know," she finished lamely.

"Yes!" Rissa shouted in Miley's ear. "I knew it."

"Knew what?"

"You and Alcide. I knew it was coming. I could tell a little something was happening between you. Maybe we'll finally become sisters."

"Rissa," Miley hissed.

"Oh, hush. I think it's great. As for him being gone, don't worry. He knows what he's doing. He'll be home as soon as he can. When he first joined, we worried to death over him. Now, we still worry but not so much. You'll see."

"Yeah, I'm sure you're right."

"Miley? Your ride is here." The voice of one of the techs called out from the back door.

"Coming," she answered then returned to the call. "I need to go, Rissa. I'll call you later, okay?"

"Sure."

Miley hung up then trekked back to the front to find Alabama waiting. Miley was surprised to see her as she was expecting one of the men. Miley frowned as she tried to remember which of Wolf's team was her husband. Abe? Yeah that was it. With a wave, she joined her.

"Hey. You ready to go?" Alabama's voice was soft.

"Sure, I thought it was Cookie's turn to pick me up."

"It was. The team got called for a mission and left about an hour ago. Christopher asked me to come pick you up."

"Christopher?"

"Sorry, Abe. My husband. Sometimes with all the nicknames, it feels like there are twice as many men."

Despite the attempt at humor, Miley could see a tightness around Alabama's eyes, and her hands fidgeted with her keys. She was on edge, and that was a feeling she could commiserate with. It was difficult saying goodbye to their SEALs.

Wrapping her arm around the other woman's shoulder, Miley hugged her gently. "Well, I guess that means we get to have another girls-night-in tonight. What do you say we get Cheyenne and Annabeth plastered and see which one can make the rest of us blush first?"

She nodded. "I think we should videotape them both. It could be useful for blackmail later."

"Good idea, if not a bit disturbing coming from you," Miley smiled as they walked out the front door. "It's always the quiet ones you have to look out for."