After a couple of hours, Bas left his room and met up with Cash and Ryleigh.  Both of them were waiting in the kitchen.  Ryleigh with her jumbo mug of coffee and Cash working at the stove.  It was still early, but Bas knew other members of the Team would soon be filing in, ready to get the day started.

“Hey, little sister, you ready for this adventure?”  Bas asked.

Usually, he wouldn’t have bugged her until she had finished her coffee, but Bas as excited and wanted to get this mission on the road as soon as possible. Or at least before Wyatt and Peyton made their usual morning appearance.  He wanted to leave on a good note and having to hold back his bear would hamper that.

Ryleigh didn’t answer so he turned his attention to Cash.  "Hey man, what time are we going to be heading out?"

"Soon,” Cash replied. “I already put mine and Rye’s stuff by the door.  I wanted her to eat before we took off. Jacks is on the phone with Mia right now firming up our plans.  Once he gets back, we can be on our way.  You have your stuff ready or do you need to do that now?"

"No, I’m good, did it last night after the meeting.  I left it in my room and it will only take me a second to grab it and go once you two are ready.  Are we using the airstrip here or driving down to Travers?" 

"Here, the weather is holding, and the tarmac is clear." 

Bas was happy to hear that. The weather in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan was iffy at best in February.  The fact that they were experiencing warmer than normal temperature and a lack of snow was a miracle for this time of the year.  Bas made his own cup of coffee and stole a couple of the pieces of bacon Cash had just fried before sitting down at the table. 

Jacks came in, grabbed Ryleigh, and planted a hotter than hell kiss on her lips.  Bas got up from the table and decided the wallpaper was a better place to look.  Those two went at it often and in front of everyone, but it still sometimes shocked Bas. He thought those moments were meant to be private.  Cash must have felt the same way because he was once again in front of the stove with his back to the room.  Bas was just about to excuse himself when he heard Jacks say, "You guys are all set." 

He didn’t wait for any type of acknowledgment from any of them and started a sit-rep right in the kitchen.

"Weather is good all the way down to Kentucky.  Mia and Carter will meet all of you at the airstrip once you have landed.  I’ve instructed them to bring a vehicle for Bas.  Once you arrive in Kentucky, Cash, Ryleigh, Mia, and Carter will depart and move on to Urban Oaks.   It is one of the Holly Group’s private medical facilities, if inquiring minds are interested.  Bas will take the vehicle provided by Carter and head on out to Defiance, Kentucky." 

"Mia said that the testing will start upon arrival at the medical facility, but should conclude by evening.  She wants Ryleigh to stay for observation for 24 hours.  She also asked if Ryleigh would be willing to remain a couple of days longer to help with the tranquilizer analysis.  I told her it was up to you, babe,” Jacks said looking at Ryleigh.

"I don’t like the idea, but I will leave that decision up to you,” he continued.  “I would feel more comfortable if your ass was safely planted here at Alpha, but I can’t deny the urgency in identifying the drug in those darts.  Whatever Pandora put in those tranquilizers needs to be discovered, and a countermeasure developed immediately." 

"If we are going to keep on storming their bases, our guys can’t be put out for the count.  I for one never want to experience the loss of my beast.  The fucker might be prickly, but he is mine.  Having that part ripped away for even a little while means that they could develop something in the future to permanently remove our abilities.  That can’t ever happen."

Ryleigh nodded and said, "I will let you know.  I don’t want to make any decisions until I see what they have.  I might be able to help, but then again, I might not.  I don’t want to be away longer than a day or two, so I will call you later and let you know what is going on." 

"Sounds like a plan, baby.  Cash, you okay if this turns into more than a one day trip?"

"Yeah, my reports are up to date, and I need to have a meeting with Carter anyways,” Cash responded.  “Rumor has it that there is an unknown Shifter out there claiming to be my family.  I’m not putting any stock into it, but I want to hear what Carter has to say and get a description and a general whereabouts of the guy if possible." 

"That is news to me," Jacks said" but keep me up to date.  Wyatt can provide tech support if needed, just let us know."   

"Will do," Cash said as he placed a plate of food down in front of the now sitting Ryleigh. 

"Bas, your job is simple; observe Shelby Thomas and report back,” Jacks stated.  “If she is a plant, I don’t expect them to be putting up a neon sign to advertise the fact.  I want to know her movements, the people she hangs out with, and whatever else you can dig up.  If you get a chance, a hair follicle for testing won't go unappreciated, if you know what I mean.  But I want contact to remain limited."

Bas nodded his head in acknowledgment. 

"All right people. As much as I would like to delay this mission further, you need to get a move on, at least while the weather is holding.  I only want clear skies ahead for this trip.  Come on, babe, eat up, and I will help you get your coat and shit."

Ryleigh didn’t eat, only taking the toast and filling a travel mug with more coffee.  She then followed Jacks out of the kitchen.  Cash was shaking his head at Ryleigh’s antics.  Bas took her barely touched plate and started to shovel the food into his mouth. 

Bas was thinking about the conversation that had just happened.  Cash had been keeping things from all of them.  There wasn’t any reason to, but what surprised him the most was that he had kept that information about a possible relative from Jacks.  They had been best friends since birth.  Once Bas cleared Ryleigh’s plate, he took it to the sink rinsing it off and putting it in the dishwasher.  He turned to Cash and asked, “Man, you doing okay?”

The problem with being a Shifter was that your senses were enhanced and you could smell things like sickness or basic emotions. Right now, Cash was putting off vibes of both.  None of them did the emotional shit. They were men.  But if a brother was in trouble, they all had each other’s backs. It seemed Cash was possibly in the same state as Bas was right now.

"I’m fine, man, just dealing with some shit, same as you,” Cash admitted.  “How about we blow this popsicle stand and fly to greener pastures?  Or at least less snow covered ones. I for one am looking forward to a little sunshine."

"Sounds good. Lead the way, brother," Bas suggested.

Bas and Cash made their way to the front door to find Ryleigh standing there alone.

"Hey Rye, where did Jacks take off to?" Cash asked.

"The safe room," she said with a defeated expression on her face.

"Ah, why did he go to the safe room, honey?"  Cash asked.

Bas was already reaching for the hidden compartment in the wall to retrieve a weapon.  Ryleigh put her hand on his before he could open the compartment.

"It’s not like that, Bas,” she assured.  “He just said it was better this way.  His bear doesn’t want me to go," Ryleigh said with tears in her eyes. 

"Aw shit, honey," Bas said, hugging her close, "it's going to be okay. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, he took Ethan with him, and he is using some of his “stuff” to keep him restrained."

Bas pushed Ryleigh back out of his arms and quickly looked to Cash.  Ethan was heavily into the BDSM scene.  They both got shit-eating grins on their faces and started storming towards Jacks office that held the safe room.  If Jacks was strung up like some kind of sacrifice, they both wanted to see it, maybe even take pictures.

Dalton was standing at the entrance to the hall and stopped them by holding out his hand. " I know you both want to see this," he said smiling," but I am under strict orders to make you follow through with the plan as stated.  Ryleigh needs to be on her way and in the air in less than an hour. Otherwise all three of you are grounded for the foreseeable future." 

Bas and Cash stood there for a second weighing their options.  Bas needed to get away from Alpha but seeing this might just be worth the crap his bear pulled for staying.  Cash seemed to have the same indecision on his mind.  Ryleigh cured that by crying, "Please, I don’t want to hurt him. Can we please just go?"

Bas and Cash did the only thing they could; they followed Ryleigh out of the lodge and into the awaiting SUV.  She was still crying softly to herself when Cash got in the driver side, started the SUV, and put the vehicle in drive.  The measures Jacks took so that Ryleigh could have something she needed proved how much he truly cared for her.  Bas was kind of in awe of the man at that moment.

The trip to the airstrip was fast because it was only about thirty miles away from the Alpha base.  Jacks had hired a friend of Ryleigh’s, Ollie, to manage and maintain the building and vehicles.  He also took care of the grounds and the airstrip.  He was retired from the military and his wife had wanted a pretty place to spend the rest of their lives, her words, not Bas’.  The Upper Peninsula was surely all that, at least most of the year. That was, if you liked snow, then all the year. 

Jacks and Rye had bought the couple a lake house as part of the compensation package.  Ollie had served for twenty-five years and the Army repaid him by booting his ass due to age, which they all felt was a bunch of crap.  The guy could run circles around them any day of the week.  He reminded Bas of the energizer bunny.

Ollie was the best mechanic, or jack-of-all-trades, any of them had seen in a while. The military was stupid to have let go such a talent for something as stupid as age.  The other thing in Ollie's favor was that he knew how to keep his mouth shut, never questioning them about missions they were coming back for or leaving to go to from the airstrip.  The only exceptions had to do with the maintenance of the airstrip, vehicles. or grounds. Then the man could talk your ear off.  He either talked about the weather, fishing, boating, or football.  If they came in from a mission and forgot themselves, which didn’t happen often but occasionally, shit just happened.  Then Ollie was nowhere to be found. 

Since they owned the airstrip, they were able to drive the SUV right up to the tarmac where Ollie was waiting for them with a clipboard in hand.  Ryleigh got out first and went right over to the older man giving him a hug.

"Hey, short stuff, your hubby said to get you out fast,” Ollie said.  “The bird is locked, loaded, and ready to fly." 

"Thanks, Ollie, when I get back you and Pat need to come out to the house for dinner," Ryleigh suggested.  “Emma promised to make her meatloaf.”

"Sounds like a plan, honey. I will let Pat know."

Ollie helped Ryleigh to the stairs and waited at the bottom until she was out of sight.  Handing the clipboard off to Cash he said, “Pre-check has been completed, flight plan filed, and weather reports for the next couple of day are attached.  You guys go get comfortable, and I will pull the stairs and detach the air starter."

Cash shook the man’s hand, saying thanks, and made his way onto the plane.  Bas followed suit and did the same.  He liked Ollie and hoped that the man would stick with them for years to come.  He was an asset that NAC, and Alpha Team specifically, needed.