“I swear to Christ, Drew, if you’ve got me a stripper. I’m going to kick your ass!” Nate exclaimed as they walked into Saxty’s bar.

He hadn’t really wanted a stag do but the others had insisted, stating that Kanan and Zack had already done them out of one and they were not doing him out of this one. He had agreed when Skye had encouraged it and said she was having her hen night the same night.

He’d had a busy day between collecting Lacey from the airport and chasing a lead on Chopper that pointed towards the Columbian jungle and one of the larger drug cartels there. Chopper had gone silent since September and the helo attack, where Dr Margo had been killed.

It was still crazy to him that some of the team had these mad abilities that allowed them to do things that were unimaginable. It was so good to see Daniel happy again though, the man had suffered so much since the death of his first wife Claire. Nate had known her from school and he knew she would be happy he had found someone he loved as he did Megan.

Unfortunately, Will seemed to have picked up the pissed-off and angry baton and was running with it. He couldn’t remember seeing Will in the gym so often and it was really showing. He had bulked up by a good fifteen pounds of muscle. Nate had a feeling it had something to do with a certain Detective that had blown him off.

“I haven’t got you a stripper,” Drew grumbled and then smirked. “Well not a conventional one.” He waggled his eyebrows as they all got their drinks and walked to a nearby table. He was so pleased to see all his friends here. He wished his oldest friend Tiny was still alive to see this, but he would have a pint for him.

“So, what do you mean not a conventional stripper?” asked Alex Martinez the Eidolon operator and Ex-Delta Force man.

“Yeah that was my question,” Jace said.

Drew lifted his pint and took a sip of the pale ale he loved. Drew sat back and grinned at the men. “I can’t say but you will all find out.”

“I mean it, Drew. I’ll kick your ass.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m used to being threatened by you lot,” said the youngest Fortis man who was already attracting the attention of the young women giggling in the corner. Drew had matured a lot in the last two years. Gone was the uncertain, untrained young man who did not know where he fitted in and in his place was a trained operative who was a whiz with computers and martial arts. The only thing Drew lacked was operational experience and he was picking that up in droves. Especially after helping Emme and Shane out earlier this year with the serial killer case.

“Ah, poor baby.” K chuckled as he grabbed Drew in a headlock and dragged his knuckles over his head good-naturedly.

“Get off,” Drew responded as he punched the older man in the shoulder.

“So how does it feel to be two days away from the ball and chain?” asked his friend Stoner, who sat beside Ice. The two had been in the parachute regiment together and Stoner and Ice now ran a corporate team building company that put salesmen and bankers through their paces in an attempt at building the team ethic and bond that you got in the service.

“It feels amazing. I can’t fucking wait,” he replied with a grin.

“Amen,” Zack and K said together, as the other two married men of the team. Groans from Stoner and Ice made him laugh.

“Seriously, one woman for the rest of your life?”

“Not everyone is a man whore,” Nate said with an amused smile “and how the fuck you two will ever settle down when you only ever share a woman I don’t know.”

Stoner and Ice had begun sharing women when they were in the para’s and now it was very rare to see them with a woman each. He personally didn’t get it, but he was a selfish bastard and the thought of another man touching Skye made him want to puke.

“Don’t knock it until you try it man,” Ice winked.

“Wait! What? You share women?” Drew asked with a look of interest on his face.

“Yeah, it’s amazing, you should try it,” Stoner replied with a wink.

“Do not be filling his head with ideas like that. My fiancée will kill me,” Dane said. He was engaged to Drew’s sister, Lauren.

“He’s a big boy,” Jace said as he slapped Dane on the shoulder.

Drew started talking to Ice and Stoner about their exploits.

Nate turned his attention to Dane and Jace as he finished his pint. “So, have you guys set a date for your weddings yet?”

Jace groaned and Dane chuckled. “Lucy is like a woman possessed trying to find the perfect venue. She wants a beach wedding and I think she has convinced Lauren that she and Dane should make it a double wedding. Which is fine with me,” he said holding his hands up.

“So, when is it?” Liam asked as he joined them and placed his pint on the table.

“This coming summer but not sure exactly yet. We’re leaving it to the ladies to decide that as it depends on a few things like when everyone stops popping out babies.”

“Hey, don’t knock it because I have superior sperm,” Daniel replied with a huge grin.

He and Zack fist bumped smugly, and Nate prayed that one day he and Skye would have that joy.

“What about you, Jack? Any woman on the horizon?” Jace asked his cousin and leader of the Eidolon group.

Jack looked up and frowned before shaking his head. “Not me, I’m happy for all of you but marriage and kids aren’t for me. I had my lucky escape and I won’t be risking it again. All I need is my job and a willing woman every now and then and I’m happy.”

“Yeah right, and control of every person in your vicinity,” Will sniped angrily. It was so unlike Will to be that way that everyone went silent for a beat before Jack responded.

“Don’t fucking sulk just because you didn’t get your own way. We aren’t fighting over mum’s last Yorkshire pudding now, Will.”

“No, we’re talking about you using the tech and facilities available to you to help me, your brother, out,” he snapped back.

“No, you want me to use funds that aren’t mine to find a woman you fucked or want to fuck just because she won’t answer your calls.”

Will stood up suddenly and looked at Jack angrily as his older brother took a sip of his pint. “Just remember I didn’t want it this way,” he growled before he shoved his way past Alex who was coming back from the bar with a round of drinks almost making the man spill the lot.

“What the fuck was that about?” Zack asked as he took the tray from Alex.

Jack shook his head. “He wants me to use the Eidolon resources to find this Detective he likes, and I said no. He hasn’t taken it very well.”

“I personally don’t see the problem with it myself but you’re the boss,” Alex said as he downed his shot of whisky and passed one to Nate.

“Come on, mate, things are too buttoned-up in here, this is a stag not a fucking wake. Get that down you.”

Nate took the whisky and knocked it back. The burn felt good as it went down and settled warmly in his belly. He liked Alex, the man was fun, and an excellent operative and a damn fine cook. It was always good going on missions with Alex as they didn’t have to survive on cheese toasties and soup for weeks. He wondered why he had never settled down. There was a story there he was sure, but he wouldn’t ask, and he doubted Alex would share.

A commotion at the front of the bar had his head turning. He groaned when he saw the drag queen sashing towards their table as men and women looked on in interest. A few even whistled as the sexily dressed man played up to it. Nate turned to Drew who was laughing as he filmed Nate with his phone.

“Oh, you are so dead!” he announced as the drag queen stopped at the table with a huge grin.

“Um yum aren’t you just a bunch of delicious of man meat,” purred the stripper. “My name is Brandy and I’m here to make your day,” Brandy crooned in a fake Louisiana accent. “Now which one of you delicious specimens is the lucky groom?”

“This guy right here,” Alex said earning a scowl from Nate.

“Well, aren’t you a real treat for the eyes. When’s the big day sugar?” Brandy asked as she sat herself down on Nate’s lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.

I’m definitely killing Drew for this.

“Two days’ time.”

“And who’s the lucky lady?” she asked as she ran a red tipped finger down his cheek.

“Her name is Skye,” he said shifting uncomfortably as the others around him hid behind their beers and snickered, even Jack was smirking behind his pint. Drew was filming it on his iPhone and Nate shot him the finger.

“Well I am gonna sing you a song, especially for you and Skye. Hit the lights boys,” Brandy called as she got up and grabbed a microphone from the bar staff.

As Brandy moved, the red sequins of the long slinky dress she wore shimmered and the crotch high split showed off everything going on down there. Nate closed his eyes and tried to resist the urge to get up and run like a pussy. Instead he planned his revenge on Drew.

He was so getting revenge on the little fucker. He’d never had a brother and he knew this was exactly what it would have been like if he had, which was why he wasn’t really angry, but he wouldn’t let Drew know that.

Brandy began to sing When a Man Loves a Woman by Lionel Richie and Nate was surprised to hear Brandy had a really good voice. He smiled as she sang and danced around him, cringing as the entire bar watched. When it was over, Brandy kissed his cheek, thanked him for being a good sport, and everyone applauded loudly.

Brandy left, and Nate stood suddenly causing Drew to brace, which made him grin.

He leaned in with a serious look that scared meaner men than Drew would ever be, and he grabbed Drew’s shoulder. “Feeling a little nervous, mate?” he said before he strode to the bar.

Making his way through the crowd he caught sight of Smithy as he entered the bar. The man looked unsure, hesitant in a way that made Nate clench his fists in anger. Every one of them had demons, survivor guilt, guilt for the lives they had taken, or the people they had not been able to save. But at least they’d all had a choice.

Something Smithy hadn’t had at the hands of that evil bitch Rhea Winslow. As he watched the man stop, a look of pure panic on his face, he felt a renewed anger. He was about to wave at the man to get his attention when someone jostled into him.

“Sorry,” said a young girl who was far too young to be drinking as she wobbled into him. He grasped her arm to steady her and turned back to see Smithy gone. Making a sudden decision, he walked quickly to the front of the bar and stepped into the cool night air. He saw Smithy disappear around the end of the road and jogged to catch up.

“Smithy,” he called making him turn around. Nate thought he would carry on walking away, but he didn’t—he stopped and let Nate catch up. “Why didn’t you come in?” Nate said as he caught up.

Smithy looked like a rabbit caught in the crosshairs as he tried to find an answer. Nate knew the answer immediately, on a cellular level. No words were needed.

“Forget I asked.” He saw pure blinding relief edge into his friend’s eyes. “Would you like to get a drink? You missed the drag queen,” he said, trying to lighten the mood.

“No, I don’t want to spoil your night, I just wanted to wish you luck and say how pleased I am you found Skye. She seems really lovely.”

“You would not be spoiling my night. You’re our friend man, we missed you. Nothing that crazy bitch did will ever change that,” he said with fire. “And yes, she’s amazing.”

“I know, and I appreciate it, but it’s the crowds… I just can’t,” he said.

Nate nodded in understanding. “You’re coming to the wedding though, right?” he asked as snow began to fall in big silent flakes.

“Yes, wouldn’t miss it,” Smithy said as he watched his surroundings with a guardedness that Nate understood far too well. He nodded as he watched the other man walk quickly away. His demons would take more than just spirit and determination to fight—they would take a miracle.

Nate walked back into the warmth of the pub and saw Alex walking back to the table with a tray of drinks.

“Where did you go?” Dane asked but Nate just shook his head as Jace raised a drink to him in silent acknowledgement. He knew Jace tried to stay out of people’s heads as much as he could, but he also knew that Jace was aware the pain his teammate was in. Not wanting the sadness and melancholy that he felt for Smithy to take hold, he turned to Alex with the sole purpose of giving him shit about his football team.