A familiar face plowed through the airport crowd. Even the most inattentive commuters sensed him and shifted around him. Maybe it was because he looked like an inside linebacker searching for an opposing player or maybe they just knew he wasn’t going to move first. Eyes fixed to his front, he never broke stride. Ten years Mike figured since he'd seen him last. A little grey stood out between the sandy brown of his hair and beard, but he hadn't changed. At six foot five and 245 pounds, Tom Lane looked in great shape. Mike wasn't surprised. For a man in his mid-forties, he didn't look like he'd lost a step.

Al's voice on the phone had been off, and now this. It wasn't a fluke. A former Teammate and veteran of the Tal Bez walked down the same concourse where Mike sat in a bar to catch an International flight.

"Tommy Balls," Mike shouted.

Startled patrons looked up one spilled his drink on the bar causing more eyebrows to lift.

The tall man stopped and turned. The frown on his face turned into a broad smile, and he strolled into the bar.

“Well, well, M&M. What a coincidence."

“Is it? Mike stood a big smile on his face the years washed away seeing his friend again.

Tom reached in, and the two men bro hugged with ample hard back slapping.

"Have I ever mentioned how much I hate the name Tommy Balls?"

Mike laughed. "Probably as many times as I've told you how much I hate the name M&M."

"Yeah." Tom chuckled.

"Coincidence, huh?"

Tom shrugged and dropped his head to the right. "Not exactly."

"Al gave you a call," Mike said. "He wanted you to back me up?"

"I'm not sure about that, and I'm sure you know more about this than I do."

"Uh-huh."

Tom always was a shitty liar. Mike let it go. An airport bar wasn't the best place to wring out the details of what Al had going on and Mike’s emotions and desire to believe his friend might have shifted.

To change the subject, Tom saw his chance on the soggy coaster.

"I thought you quit?"

There was a hint of concern in Tom's voice. He looked away as if embarrassed and not to draw attention to the concern or the offending glass of beer. Although, Mike thought, he did bring it up intentionally. A little niggle of anger tried to come out.

Mike found it irritating that his personal failing was something to be criticized by someone other then himself. And how did he know Mike had quit anyway? Mike stared at the carpet to get his anger in check. Tom went right at his weakness, and Mike felt it deep down. That weakness made him vulnerable. The skin on the back of his neck began to sweat.

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"Hey, I didn't mean anything by it."

Hands behind his back they formed into fists, the tension needing release. Mike steadied, now was not the time to lose it. Control, it was all he had, and he would need it to get what he wanted. Find Paul's killers. Nothing good would happen if he let it out here.

"No worries, it hit me wrong."

How the hell did Tom know? Of course. Al. For whatever reason, he told Tom. Now was not the time to get into it. Tom was one of his oldest friends, and he didn't deserve Mike's wrath. They hadn't seen each other in ten years because of his anger and his total dissociation from everyone he knew. Tom would have stayed with him, helped him, done whatever it took to bring him back from the brink if Mike had let him.

They sat at the bar a little more cautious now.

Finally, Mike said, "Sorry, man, I got some demons I'm trying to work through."

"I get it. I got my own demons." A familiar smile spread across his face. "The latest one, her name is Sara. She's cool, but her entire family is completely insane."

They chuckled together.

Knowing Tom's taste in women, it wouldn't surprise Mike if Sara weren't a little nutty too.

Glancing at his watch, Mike stood. "I guess we should be heading to our gate. I never got a straight answer from Al. Where's our ultimate destination now that the Taliban run things over there?" He studied the faces of the people walking down the concourse. "I'm a little surprised we haven't seen him."

"Things changed. We'll meet him in Dubai." Tom grabbed his carry-on. "Sounds good. Let's get going."

Mike paid, and they joined the crowd in the concourse.

"Dubai, huh?"

"He called me last week. He's getting things set up."

Mike locked eyes with the taller man. Three inches in height wasn't near enough separation for Tom not to see the distaste settle on Mike's face.

“Funny, he didn’t call me. I've known you a long time. What else aren't you telling me?"

"You're going to be pissed."

"More pissed if you don't tell me?"

Tom shrugged. "Fine. I found out about this thing the same time you did, but I was always going. You, on the other hand, Al wasn't going to call you."

"Hmm." Eyes locked in front of him, Mike pushed his anger and fear away and stayed silent. He might not have been called? He wouldn't have been able to go? It felt like a kick in the gut. If the mission had gone and he wasn't there, it would have killed him.

"He checked in on you on the sly, saw where you were at, and backed off."

"And?"

"And I told him, you're in, or I'm out. And that's the way it is."

"Still sounds fishy. Why us? They got guys."

Tom's voice dropped to a whisper. "He had no option. He needed someone who knew the Tal Bez. According to him, no one else on the Team was in a position to go or wanted to go. So, I told him you're coming."

"The Tal Bez. You know what that place did to me."

"I know."

"And he agreed."

"Here you are."

"So you're my defender." Mike looked up. "And my babysitter, in case I'm not 100%."

"I wouldn't say that. More like, I'm looking out for a friend who's gone through some hard times. Or, more succinctly, I have your back like you have mine. That's it."

It took a few steps for Mike to process it and accept it. “Thanks. And thanks for getting me on this gig."

"Not a problem. You'd do the same for me."

"You mean to get me involved in going back to the worse place in the world and maybe get myself killed?"

"That's the spirit. A positive attitude is all anyone can ask for."

Mike smirked back. "Funny. And, succinctly? What, you got an English degree from some Ivy League school since I saw you last?"

"I'm full of surprises these days." Tom grinned back.

It wasn't much. But, this was the kind of camaraderie Mike missed during those long years wallowing in his pain. It felt good. Maybe, besides the obvious, something good would come of this trip. Still, he held back, he wouldn't allow himself to open up too much, Tom felt the same. No doubt the big man would want to have a wait and see attitude. Tom would like to make sure his old buddy Mike didn't go off the deep end between now and their mission. He couldn't blame him, he would have done the same if he were in Tom's shoes. Keep a careful watch on his friend. That was okay Mike needed the time and quiet to get his head right. But, he would have some choice words for Al when they met.

Tom was part of the Team, and they were going to Afghanistan. If Mike had to guess, his chances were no longer at 1%.