Page 37 of Men of Fort Dale: The Complete Series

“Doing alright, Staff Sergeant?” he heard Aidan call from behind him.

“Let us know if you need to rest your gimpy leg!”

Aidan sidled up next to him, speaking quietly. “Seriously, though, if we need to stop briefly, let me know. I can find us a safe spot to take a breather.”

“Stubborn.”

“You’re goddamn right.”

Aidan chuckled and fell back a couple of paces, letting Sean continue to lead the pack.

Thanks to Aidan’s guidance and Ricardo’s first-hand knowledge of how to survive the climate, they were set to make the last few miles in one piece.

The worst of the trip was hopefully behind them, and despite Sean’s injuries, the team’s morale had improved dramatically from the moment they’d left the cave behind.

Even the weather had improved, with the heavy gray clouds that had hung constantly in the sky finally separating to let the sun peek through.

It was just enough to lift the dismal feel of the frozen forest but not enough to blind them when the sunlight made the snow sparkle as they trekked across it.

A shuffling noise brought his head up, and he looked to find Aidan at his side once more. “What’s up?”

Aidan chuckled. “Still getting used to the idea of you not snarling at me every time you look at me.”

Sean rolled his eyes. “I already apologized for being an ass. Do you want me to go back on it?”

Aidan smiled, giving him a wink. “I’m not complaining. But after dealing with it for a few weeks, it’s weird seeing you be nice.”

“Don’t push it,” Sean growled.

Aidan laughed. “Now, there’s the Staff Sergeant I know and oh so love.”

“Don’t blow smoke up my ass.”

Aidan smirked. “If you’re a good boy, maybe I’ll do something else with your ass.”

It was the first mention of anything sexual since their talk in the cave.

Sean hadn’t given too much thought to their interlude in the alley back near the base or the fast, secret blowjob while they’d been camping.

Sean was relieved to have peace between him and Aidan, and the feeling of peace coming from within as well.

Sean glanced over his shoulder nervously. “Aidan, what the hell?”

Aidan chuckled. “Matt and Nick are too busy arguing about the best show to watch when we get back, and Ricardo is holding the back end, keeping an eye out. Chill.”

“Still,” Sean said, checking to confirm his team was, in fact, distracted and quietly bickering.

“Is that a no?” Aidan asked.

Sean didn’t know what his answer was. He was glad the two of them had finally found a way to get along, but reintroducing whatever sexual element had been between them before left him unsure what to do next.

He’d seen Aidan naked, covered in water, and groaning in pleasure as the shower cascaded over him.

He’d seen and felt Aidan pressed against the outer wall of a bar as Sean buried himself to the hilt.

Sean could still clearly hear the small gasps and the quiet moans as he’d sunk into Aidan, fucking him as if their lives depended on it.

And he knew what Aidan looked like in the dim light of the forest, on his knees and sucking him deep.

The thoughts and memories flashed through his head in rapid succession, and his stomach twisted, a spark of need that warmed him as they trudged through the snow.

But should they continue? And what would continuing mean once they got back?

It was one thing to feel conflicted about it when he’d hated the man, when he’d done everything he could to push Aidan away.

What would that mean now they’d accepted one another, having seen bits and pieces of what lay beneath the masks they’d thrown up around themselves to hide?

Aidan squinted. “You’re thinking. That’s not usually a good sign.”

Sean leaned in close, waiting until Aidan took the hint and threw an arm around his waist. To the team behind them, it might have looked as though Aidan was giving him some support as they hiked over the next hill.

Leaning close enough that Sean felt confident no one could hear him, he decided it was safe.

“I don’t want to talk about this here. That...is between you and me.”

“You think the team would care?” Aidan asked quietly.

Sean didn’t look back and only hesitated briefly before shaking his head. “They don’t care that I’m into guys and wouldn't care that you are too, if that’s what you mean.”

“It wasn’t, but good to know.”

Sean snorted. “I’m not trying to hide anything from them, but...neither of us knows what’s going on between us right now. Do you?”

Aidan opened his mouth, hesitated, and then shut it again. After a moment, a thoughtful frown crossed his features and he shrugged.

“No, I guess I don’t.”

“Exactly. Let’s get home and get everyone safe. And we can deal with everything else later.”

The thoughtful expression never left Aidan’s face, but he nodded his agreement. Sean noticed Aidan didn’t remove his arm from around Sean’s waist, even as the ground leveled out, making it easier for Sean to walk on his injured ankle.

It was a small gesture, probably one that anyone else on his team would have done.

But Sean could imagine that if they weren’t bundled up in heavy winter gear, Aidan might have snuck his fingers under Sean’s shirt, playing with his hips and stomach.

Sean wasn’t sure if that was just his assessment of Aidan’s personality or wishful thinking on his part.

And he wasn’t sure what he or Aidan wanted. But for now, the feel of Aidan’s strong arm around his waist as he walked silently beside him was enough. Whatever awaited them once they returned to Fort Dale, Sean felt assured they could and would readily support each other.

Sean stopped short as they came through the line of trees to the clearing. Waiting in the middle was a canvas tent, the flaps sealed and looking incredibly out of place in the wilderness.

Aidan snorted. “The fuck?”

“Did General Winter just slap a tent out here for us?” Matt asked.

Nick sighed. “Or there’s people in there. Waiting for us.”

Matt frowned at him. “Who the hell puts a couple of guys in a tent in the woods and tells them to wait?”

“Pretty sure General Winter would,” Nick said.

It wasn’t a large tent, enough to comfortably fit a couple of guys.

The five of them would be squeezed together once they’d filed inside.

Sean sighed, not sure what the hell their commanding officer was up to, but he lurched his way forward.

All he wanted was to be back in the relative comfort and safety of his apartment on the base.

One side of the tent rustled, and a gloved hand stuck out, shoving the flap aside. A young soldier, probably only a few months out of basic training, poked his head out and stared at them.

“Oh, thank God, you guys Team Maelstrom?” the soldier asked.

Aidan snorted. “No, we’re some other group of well-equipped soldiers who happened to wander into the arranged rendezvous point the General set up. Jesus.”

The soldier blinked. “I mean, alright, don’t have to be an ass about it.”

Sean growled. “You spend the past week having to get through this shit instead of holed up in what’s probably a heated tent, and you tell us again not to be cranky. Do me a favor, shut your mouth, and get us the hell out of here.”

Aidan pointed at Sean. “What he said.”

The soldier looked between them with wide eyes, darting back and forth nervously. “Right, well, we’re going to need to go to the communications tent to do that. We don’t get any service here.”

Matt scoffed. “He seriously set the endpoint in a dead zone? Jesus.”

Sean pointed at Matt. “Go with them. Make sure they don’t screw anything up.”

From inside the tent came an indignant voice. “We know what the hell we’re doing.”

Aidan rolled his eyes. “Call it a precaution. We’ve been through some shit, humor us.”

The two soldiers waddled out of the tent, grumbling, but didn’t argue as Matt hurried after them.

Nick watched them go, letting out a sigh. “I should probably go with them and make sure he doesn’t fiddle with anything.”

Sean eyed him. “Don’t trust him?”

“You know how he gets when he’s around shiny new toys.”

Sean snorted, waving him off. “Go.”

Aidan groaned. “Fuck, it’s going to take forever for them to get here, isn’t it?”

“Doesn’t stop us using their nice heated tent in the meantime, though,” Ricardo pointed out.

Aidan pulled at the clasps on his bag, dropping it to the ground. “Yeah. Don’t need this anymore.”

Sean watched him march off. “Where the hell are you going?”

“Call of nature! Why, you wanna watch?”

“Go fuck yourself, Sergeant.”

“That’s what you wanna watch? Kinky.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Sean grumbled, turning away before Aidan could see his smirk.

Pushing his way into the tent, Sean released a sigh of relief as the warmth trapped by the tent’s thick canvas surrounded him.

He struggled with the straps of his backpack but managed to dislodge it and let it fall to the floor.

The tent was equipped with bunk beds for the two soldiers and a few pieces of equipment, including a small TV plugged into a power strip.

From behind the tent came the low hum of what Sean assumed was the generator.

Flopping gracelessly into one of the few folding chairs, Sean let out another groan. “Thank Christ, that’s over.”

Ricardo sat opposite him after removing his equipment. Instead of the expected look of relief, there was a quiet, thoughtful expression on his friend’s face. Sean looked closer, raising a brow as he realized Ricardo was gearing up to say something.

“What?” Sean finally said, not liking the silence.

“What’s going on with you two?” Ricardo asked.

Sean blinked. “What?”

“You and Aidan.”

Oh.

Sean shrugged. “I guess after you save each other’s ass, you stop worrying about how much the other person drives you nuts. He’s still a pain in the ass, that hasn’t changed.”

“Yeah, but ever since he found you, you two have been different.”

“We talked. We got over it,” Sean said, not wanting to get into his weird dream.

“And now you’re finding him funny.”

“It’s either that or try to kill him every time he makes some stupid joke.”

Ricardo cocked his head. “Wanted to ask you something.”

Sean wasn’t sure if he wanted to hear whatever was about to come out of Ricardo’s mouth.

The man looked way too damn serious when the two of them should be relieved they got through the week in one piece.

That and he knew damn well Ricardo was probably the most observant person Sean had ever dealt with, even more than Clint had been.

Sean sighed. “What?”

“What happened with you guys the other day?”

Sean hesitated. “What? You’ve been with us the whole time, except for when I...got my ass handed to me by a mountain.”

Ricardo frowned. “Except the night we camped, you two disappeared on your watch.”

Sean’s eyes widened. “We didn’t leave you guys!”

“Not what I’m saying. There’s no way either of you would have left the three of us sleeping without being nearby. But you two had been bickering the whole day, and then suddenly, you’re both gone for a bit?”

“And?” Sean asked defensively.

“And you came back quiet.”

“You were all sleeping.”

“You were still bickering before that. And then there’s how you two acted before we headed out here.”

Sean blinked. “I...were we?”

“Sean.”

Ricardo hadn’t exactly called him out, but there was no denying he knew something was going on. Sean sighed, looking down at his lap and shrugging.

“I don’t know how to answer your questions,” he admitted.

“You’ve been fucking,” Ricardo said bluntly.

Sean’s head snapped up. “Jesus, Ricardo.”

“Well?”

Sean groaned. “Yes. Fine. Happy?”

Ricardo raised a brow. “I don’t know...are you?”

It was not the question he’d been expecting, and Sean could only mouth silently as he tried to find the answer.

Had he been happy? No, definitely not. He didn’t know the last time he’d really been happy.

His times with Aidan had been...what, relief?

Catharsis? Was it fair to say that about Aidan, especially since neither knew what lay ahead?

“Things are...different now, I guess? It’s hard to see what happened as just like...screwing when now it’s like…” Sean began, unsure of how to continue.

“You saving his ass and then him saving yours?”

“You guys were there too,” Sean pointed out.

“And he was the one who kept us focused, kept us calm, and got us to where you were. You know that, and you know that makes all the difference.”

Sean nodded. “It does.”

“Question is, how does that change whatever you guys were doing behind the scenes?”

Sean closed his eyes, not sure how to answer.

Yes, he was and obviously had always been drawn to Aidan.

That was apparent from how easily if a little violently, they had clashed in that alley the first time.

But it had been so wrapped up in their intense dislike of one another that Sean wasn’t sure what was there, waiting for them, now they were learning to coexist side by side, and hell, not just exist, but enjoy it.

Ricardo settled back, smiling faintly. “I think you should start trying to figure it out, Sean. No matter what you two...work out. Just do it. This team needs you both.”