Chapter Text
He remembered the first time he'd met Casey Masser.
"Hey Kid, let's get a move on." QB's voice said as he popped his head inside the barracks, "we wanna get there early. Try and catch up with Needle a bit."
Needle, or Casey Masser, had been a member of their team before Evan, in fact he'd been her replacement. She'd been placed with a different team after something had happened on a mission. Not even he knew what that was and the rest of the team kept their mouths shut about it. They still seemed to like her though, and were happy at the prospect of seeing her again. So he figured she hadn't done anything particularly bad to earn the switch. She'd also achieved the rank of Captain of her new team, so clearly the Navy didn't think so either.
He was still nervous though, quite incredibly so. He'd been with the team for five months now, and was only just now really starting to mesh with them easily. He really didn't want what was shaping up to be a family for him, to be ruined.
So he needed to make a good impression, the best impression actually. He told himself as he hopped into the humvee that would take them to the base where they'd meet Captain Masser's team.
He was sat in the back with Eagle seeing as they were the two newest to the team, and Evan did his best to keep his calm while everyone talked about seeing Captain Masser.
"Hey, man, it's gonna be ok." A voice said, breaking through his rapidly spiraling thoughts. It was Eli, of course, always too damn nice.
Evan just grunted an acknowledgment. He appreciated the sentiment, but it wouldn't help him now.
"Listen, Kid, Casey is cool, and she's happy where she's at." Eli continued, "she misses us, but she isn't gonna be upset with you for replacing her, she knows it wasn't your fault."
Buck just grunted again, "so glad you think so." He replied bitterly.
"You know, I was only here for 11 months before Casey left. Her and the team had only just truly accepted me into the fold a few months before that ." He explained, clearly not done talking. "Even before I got that acceptance, Casey was still kind to me. Honestly, You're gonna be fine."
"And I'm sure it didn't help at all that you and her were dating." He replied sarcastically. He appreciated what the man was trying to do, but it just wasn't the same.
The Humvee pulled to a stop before Eli could respond and everyone filed out. They walked in to one of the main buildings on the base, and then Han, Alya, Madhu, and Eli were rushing forwards with exclamations. Danny and Marco followed behind at a slower pace trying to look more professional, but Evan could tell they were excited. Standing at the center was a dark skinned woman with braids and a big grin, seemingly trying to hug everyone at once.
Evan hung back and watched the scene unfold. He saw Masser turn and glance at him for a second, eyes appraising. Then she turned to Han and Alya and started moving her hands in some form of sign language. It wasn't ASL, Evan would've known what they were saying if it was. It also wasn't any other form of sign language that he could even recognize. He was confused to say the least.
"It's their own language." Madhu said sidling up to him and eyeing the girls with amusement, "they invented it because apparently they needed a way to talk about us boys without us knowing what they're saying."
Evan glanced over at him, he liked Madhu, they hadn't exactly gotten along at first, but they did now. Even though Alya was partnered with him on missions where his specialty wasn't necessary, Madhu was usually the one who acted as his cover when they did need his sniping capabilities. Which meant a lot of time just talking and hanging out on rooftops, and just the right amount of adrenaline and action that they'd started to click pretty easily.
"Did you boys ever figure it out?" He asked still eyeing the rapidly flying hands. Even though none of them had so much as glanced his direction, he knew they were talking about him.
"Of course we did, wanna know what they're saying?" Evan nodded, "Well Casey asked about how awful you were, especially compared to her."
Evan mentally reeled at that, though his exterior didn't reveal his shock and anxiety.
"And Han said that you weren't the worst we could've been stuck with." Madhu continued.
And wasn't that just a glowing commendation, Evan thought bitterly, he wasn't that bad was he?
"And then Alya butted in and said that you were absolute shit and that we should make a plan to kill you on an op so we can get a better replacement." Madhu was hiding a smirk now and Evan cut his eyes over to him in disbelief.
"You're fucking with me, aren't you?" He questioned curtly, suppressing and eye roll as Madhu laughed, "you never figured out their language either."
Madhu just laughed at that and Evan couldn't suppress his grin anymore. "Asshole." He said punching his arm.
"Petty Officer Buckley." A voice broke through their bickering, and he immediately snapped to attention.
"Captain Masser." he responded, keeping his voice cool but respectful.
"At ease Buckley," she reached a hand out to shake his, "its good to meet you, I've been wondering who they replaced me with."
"We'll if you listen to these five, then no one could replace you." He replied easily, he figured a little flattery couldn't hurt.
She grinned over at the rest of the team, "oh, I like this one. You should keep him."
"We'll try." Madhu replied as he slung an arm over Evan's shoulder.
..........................................................................
"So does this mean I can finally meet your team, now that you've told them?" Casey asked and shoved a spoonful of potatoes into her mouth as she continued talking.
Han loved potatoes. He thought idly, watching Masser chew. Now that he was back on the job, the reminders of his old team were coming at a higher frequency than they had in a while. He didn't mind though, he could definitely think of less deserving things than his family to occupy space in his mind.
"Yeah, you can meet them," he replied with a small smile, it was time that these two parts of his life merged, "next time you're in town, just give me a heads up."
It was 13:00 and they'd just sat down in the canteen for a quick lunch and then they would head over to debrief. Buck was incredibly grateful they were on an Air Force base, the food was spectacular, especially compared to what he'd eaten on some Army bases.
"Mmmm, we'll see about a heads up, but I'll definitely find you next time I'm in town." She agreed. "Don't wanna give you time to change your mind or work yourself up about it."
Buck just rolled his eyes, "do what you want, but you don't know my schedule. You might just show up when I'm not there."
Casey snorted, "as if I'd even have to break a sweat to get my hands on your schedule."
"Fair enough." He conceded, knowing damn well that Casey would do as she pleased.
They continued chatting and eating for the next forty or so minutes, Buck telling her about how the team reacted and Casey filling him in on the newest drama with her team. Soon enough it was time to head to debrief and they made their way over to the building together continuing the amicable atmosphere until they entered the room.
They stood at parade rest along with the six or so other personnel that Buck didn't recognize, and from Casey's expression she didn't either. They waited another five minutes as three more people made their way into the room and then the Commander walked in, assistant locking the door behind him and they all stood at attention.
"At ease," he waved a hand at them dismissively, "everyone take a seat around the table. You two," he pointed at Buck and Casey, "sit front and center."
They exchanged a quick confused glance as they made their way to the two seats at the front and sat down. He wasn't sure why they were being singled out but he definitely didn't feel great about it.
He didn't let his unease show on his face and neither did Casey as the Commander started the meeting.
"The goal of this operation is to infiltrate and destroy an underground entertainment operation that is based in Herat, Afghanistan. Normally this wouldn't be SEAL domain, but they've been targeting US military personnel as their unwilling employees and entertainment."
Buck thanked every God he could think of that this was his mission, at least he wouldn't go home after this wondering if he'd caused the world far more harm than good.
"You two." The commander pointed again at him and Casey, "will be going undercover as fighters in their rings for two weeks as phase one, get us the lay of the land and an idea of how they operate from the inside."
Boy oh boy if Eddie could see him now, about to be fighter in fight rings. Lena would probably get a morbid kick out of the irony too.
"After those two weeks, Walters and Gunner will begin their technological assault, infiltrating their communications systems and all electrical systems and mainframes in their compound slowly over the course of a week." The commander continued pointing at two guys in air force gear in the back, "then at the end of that week, everything they have that uses electricity or the internet will be shut down or under our control, and everyone else here will be performing the raid. The primary goal is to get all of our soldiers out of there, secondary goal is to capture or kill everyone willingly involved in running this operation."
He tossed a stack of manilla folders on the table, no doubt full of the mission details. "Everyone take one and study up, plane leaves at 07:00." He dismissed easily, "Masser, Buckley. Hang back."
Everyone grabbed a folder and started to file out easily enough, Buck and Casey shared another confused glance as they each grabbed a folder and sat back down. The commander waited until the last person left and his assistant had locked the door again before he looked over at them with a strange look.
"You two were chosen for this operation because we believe you may know someone who was taken captive." The commander explained.
That could be a lot of people, Buck considered idly. He and Casey came in contact with tons of people when they were working, and although they were on different teams, there was still plenty of overlap.
The commander sighed but held up his stony expression, as if he knew he was about to deliver a heavy blow.
"Some new details have come to light about the school bombing in Kabul." He stated.
No, no, no, no. That can't be- Buck was frozen, he wasn't breathing or even blinking, because that can't possibly mean what he thinks it does. Hopes desperately and with wild abandon that it does.
"There was a survivor. From our side."
The words were somehow still filtering in over the extraordinarily loud sound of Buck's pounding heart. Casey didn't seem to be faring much better from what he could tell. Not that he was honestly sparing her too much thought at the moment.
"Tunnels under the school were discovered and we believe the bombers used those to get out before the explosion. We also have reason to believe they took a captive with them."
This isn't happening, Jesus Christ Buckley! Wake up before this continues and you get your heart crushed when you wake up and it isn't true. He practically screamed at himself in his head.
"Who?" Casey demanded voice choked, like the one word was all she could manage. Buck didn't think he could even manage that.
With one name, and a ridiculously hard yet ineffective pinch to his arm, Evan Buckley's world screeched to a halt.
"Marco Tripoli."