HIS BABY TO BEAR - TWENTY SIX

C H A P T E R T W E N T Y S I X

Libby burst out crying as Jerome walked through the bunker's front door with Reid Andrew in his arms. She practically jumped out of her chair and ran over to Jerome, taking Reid Andrew from him and cuddling him close. Reid Andrew gigglingly wrapped his chubby little arms around her neck.

"Oh my goodness, my baby!" "You're back," she exclaimed, kissing his cheeks. "I was very concerned about you! "Jerome, thank you so much for bringing my baby boy back," Libby sobbed as she placed one hand on Jerome's arm and looked up at him.

She wanted to throw herself into his arms and stay there forever, but she was too aware of the other people in the room. Jordan was sleeping off the painkillers on a cot in the corner while they awaited the return of the second team. Tom was sitting in a chair in the corner, fiddling with what appeared to be a detonator, and the other three men in the room appeared to be seconds away from ordering a nuclear strike on their position.

Jerome smiled as he handed Reid Andrew over to her, but his smile faded when he saw Colonel Hemingway give him a look that could freeze the Pacific. Mitch, Tim, and Alvin followed Jerome into the room, and when they saw the amount of brass in the small, musty room, they all became as depressed as Jerome.

"Do you want to explain yourself, Jerome Nicolas, or are we to make our own assumptions?" Hemingway inquired, his words dry and his tone devoid of emotion.

"I'm sure you know what we were up to if you're here, sir." "I'm sure Ace gave you a thorough overview of the situation," Jerome said, putting one hand on Libby's shoulder and glaring at the tall, wolfish-looking man to one side of Hemingway.

As she cradled Reid Andrew in her arms, she felt him leaning on her a little too heavily, but she knew he'd taken some serious injuries that evening. She was more than willing to conceal his injuries, even if only slightly.

"Ace has provided me with an overview, yes." I wanted to give you a chance to explain. "See if there was anything you could say for yourself to justify the fact that you practically blew up half a city block in Batangas and declared war on one of the world's most dangerous and influential shifter terrorist groups," Hemingway growled, crossing his arms over his chest.

"To be fair, that was me blowing things up," Tom remarked as he rose from his seat, smirking.

"There's something else. You've jeopardized not only your own career, but the careers of every man on your team. This is more daring than I ever imagined you to be, Jerome. I thought we had done a better job of training you."

The colonel's disappointed tone cut right through Libby and filled her with annoyance. Who the hell was he to speak to Jerome in that manner? She pushed her shoulders back and stood up a little taller, her annoyance visible.

"Just so you know, Jerome and his team are the bravest men I've ever met. They went above and beyond for me and my child in ways that you never did," Libby grumbled, her annoyance evident in her tone. "They were the only ones who ever showed me kindness the last time I needed help, and I bet if it hadn't been for them, my baby boy would still be in the hands of some maniacs and you wouldn't have done anything."

Jerome squeezed her shoulder, pleading with her to be quiet. She looked up at him, and he gave her a small smile, which calmed her down, even though she had plenty more to say.

"We made the decision to do this, colonel. The Lieutenant had no say in the matter," Mitch observed, his drawl thicker than usual.

It's most likely the exhaustion speaking.

"No, the colonel is correct." I enlisted the assistance of my men. Even if they had the option, I knew none of you would say no because of the team. It is my responsibility, which I accept. But I couldn't let my friend and child be in danger without doing something," Jerome said, standing tall. "It was my choice, and I will accept any responsibility that comes with it, but I would like to bear the full brunt of it. My team did exactly what they were told. They were simply carrying out orders."

Hemingway shook his head, obviously dissatisfied. Libby was perplexed as to how he could be so cold. Wouldn't he do the same if his child was in danger? She couldn't believe these people could get so caught up in a world of arbitrary rules and regulations when a defenseless child's life was at stake!

"Sounds like you're on your way to the lower Arctic circles," the third man, who was standing next to Ace, said.

"I believe we dealt with the lower Arctic circles today, sir," Tom grumbled, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Did we ever," Mitch chuckled.

Even Jerome smiled when he heard that.

"I'm sick of your attitudes." "Until we figure out how to deal with the mess you've created, none of you will be going on missions for the foreseeable future," Hemingway said sternly.

Tim was the one who shook his head and let out a small groan.

"Would you like to say something, Corporal Crawley?"

"Sir, yes. With all due respect, this is nonsense. Sir.”

"How do you see it, corporal?" " Hemingway inquired, his face flushed with annoyance.

"From my perspective, we were simply carrying on a mission that was never truly completed. The target wasn't safe, the threat was the same, and we were in the right place at the right time, sir."

That made Libby frown. She hadn't given it much thought, but Tim was correct. They had arrived at precisely the right time. What were the chances of that happening?

"This mission ended the moment you handed off the mark in Manila," the third man remarked dryly.

"I'm afraid I must respectfully disagree, Lieutenant Fawkes," Alvin stated.

"Excuse me, but this mark has a name," Libby snorted as she shifted Reid Andrew onto one hip.

"Apologies, Miss San Juan," he said, though it sounded as genuine as a bullet to the head, forced out through gritted teeth.

"You should apologise. I've had to change my name, leave my family, and start over, and I still don't feel safe. You've never even figured out what made these guys come after me," she snarled, becoming increasingly irritated.

The colonel's and the two men by his sides' expressionless expressions told her that they either didn't care enough to react, or they didn't have anything to say to her.

"You know, I bet I know what The Arctics want from you," Alvin said quietly and reservedly.

Suddenly, all eyes were on him. "Well, then, speak up," Colonel Hemingway said.

Alvin took a scalpel from his kit and approached Libby with it in his hand.

“Do you trust me? he inquired, glancing at Jerome to assure him that he knew what he was doing.

"Um, I... yes." "I trust all of you," Libby said, deciding that if she couldn't trust Jerome's team, she couldn't trust anyone.

“Good. Please turn around and give the baby to Jerome for a moment."

Libby, frowning, did as she was told and turned her back on Alvin. He drew her hair gently to her right shoulder, exposing the skin behind her left ear.

"This will sting," he warned as he disinfected the site with an alcohol swab before cutting in.

Libby hissed in a breath as the blade cut in deeper than she had anticipated. She yelped as she felt him prying into her flesh and grabbed Jerome's hand, which he squeezed tightly. She felt something tug on her ear, then a moment of pain, followed by a round of gasps as the pressure released and Alvin pressed the swab back into her ear.

"Hold it there," he said softly as she turned around and examined what appeared to be a tiny, white, almost fleshy pill-shaped thing held between the tongs of a pair of tweezers.

"What the hell is that?" " Jerome inquired as Libby pressed the swab to the still-oozing blood spot behind her ear.

"That's what they wanted," Ace remarked, shoving his hands into his coat pockets.

At that point, he appeared to be overjoyed with himself, and Libby had to wonder if he hadn't seen this coming all along.

"How did you find out?" Mitch inquired, echoing everyone's concern.

Alvin drew a small plastic bag from his kit and stuffed the white object inside before zipping it up and handing it to Ace. They exchanged a polite nod, no love lost there.

"I investigated Ramos' methods from his previous career. He gave many lectures about future compounds that could mimic their master's DNA, effectively concealing implants and body modifications. He always believed it was the future of his field," Alvin shrugged. “And why there? Maybe you haven't noticed, Libby, but you have a habit of frequently touching the area behind your ear. I assumed it would be a likely location. Whether we notice it or not, the body is still fighting against foreign objects. He had to have inserted it to conceal it. What a goddamn gentleman," Alvin exclaimed as he shook his head.

"Good job, Alvin," Jerome said with a smile. He shifted his focus to the colonel and Fawkes. "The mission is now complete. I don't care if it was a freak coincidence or not. "I stand by what we accomplished here today."

"It wasn't exactly by chance," Ace explained.

It wasn't just Libby who was perplexed.

"What the fuck do you mean?" Jerome inquired sharply.

"Do you think you'd just happen to be in Batangas with your entire squad for a week of leave and happen to run into the same woman you slept with on a mission more than a year ago? Nicolas, you should know by now that we don't deal with coincidences."

Libby noticed Jerome's face tightening, just as it did when he was about to go into battle. She quickly grabbed his arm and yanked on it.

"You're a son of a b*tch, son of a b*tch You simply didn't want to take the risk of this being an official mission in order to have plausible deniability if something went wrong. You didn't even try to keep her hidden from them. You wanted The Arctics to find her so you could get to the virus," Jerome raged.

Ace smiled and shrugged. "I suppose we'll never know."

"That's all, lieutenant. This isn't over yet. You and your squad have been ordered to remain on the ground until further notice. And, for God's sake, try to keep your nose clean for a while," Hemingway yelled, drowning out all the grumbles and making the team stand up straighter.

Hemingway, Fawkes, and Ace marched out of the bunker, Ace with that knowing grin on his lips that Libby wished she could wipe away. Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief as the door closed behind them. Mitch approached Libby, reaching for Reid Andrew.

"Come on, littlesailor. Let's take a look at you," he grinned.

For the first time in her life, Libby didn't have to worry about someone else taking her baby. She would entrust her life, as well as Reid Andrew's, to any man in this room. And just knowing that made her feel heavenly.

Jerome drew her in and pressed her against his side, crushing her in the most delicious way.

"It's all over, honey," he said softly as he kissed the top of her head.

But Libby was aware. It had only just begun.