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Lieutenant Wes Soto knew he had his work cut out for him. He was taking over Bravo team, one of the best (if not the best) Seal team the Navy had to offer. Their success under the leadership of Jason Hayes was unparalleled and legend amongst sailors but that success also came with incredibly low moments. He had seen the reports about Mexico, the deployment in the Philippines that left Clay Spenser badly injured and resulted in the team being relocated to Guam, Sonny Quinn being left behind when the team deployed to Afghanistan, Jason Hayes’ “retirement” and the subsequent implosion of Bravo. The team was a handful.
He felt he was ready though as he made his way with Blackburn to inform them of the change in their command. He had ideas to change how the team ran by giving it structure and enforcing more discipline. He was an intelligent man who had 4 deployments under his belt and his officer training. He wasn’t trained like these guys were but the chain of command made him their superior and with everything he saw in the Bravo Team files he would have to assert himself. He walked into the debrief room knowing everything he could about each member and while he wasn’t worried or intimidated, there was someone he felt he had to keep his eye on - Petty Officer Clay Spenser.
Commander Blackburn made all the necessary introductions and then they were down to business. It was clear there was a strong sense of camaraderie amongst the team but what surprised Soto more was that Blackburn was included. He let the boys joke and even laughed along with them in the mission debrief. While Soto wasn’t against levity in the room it was a serious matter. As the laughter died down from Spenser and Quinn’s banter he took over, wiping the smiles of the team’s faces with a quick “These are handheld surface to air missiles capable of taking down airlines. Focus up.” He could see the boys looking at each other warily and Spenser bristled at his tone. Yeah, he'd have to keep an eye on him.
Sitting in his new office Soto pulled up Clay’s file once again. Spenser’s dad had been a Seal. Unfortunately for his son, he was a Seal who sought fame and fortune by monetising his career in the Navy. He assumed it had been an uphill climb for the younger Spenser having to prove himself but was there a sense of entitlement that came with having a father like Ash Spenser? Some of Clay’s former commanders had a lot to say about him: he was mouthy, arrogant, questioned authority and thought himself smarter than his peers but they also said he was one the best sailors they had ever seen.
Soto took this information with a grain of salt. One the best? He’d have to see it firsthand. He knew he was good to be on Bravo Team but his character was in question. Clay Spenser had tried to go up against the Navy to get Brett Swan a purple heart, pushed the issue of Traumatic Brain Injuries and when he met a wall, had used his father’s celebrity and befriended congressmen in Washington to get his way. He repeatedly questioned orders and was responsible for the now public letter about Ambassador Marsden. He was problematic.
When the opportunity presented itself on the flight to Ecuador he let Clay know of his reservations. He could see the confusion on his face as well as the anger and frustration building behind his eyes.
It had been a few weeks since his conversation with Clay and the Lieutenant had observed a lot. Soto had been hard on him since their conversation on the plane and in some cases down right condescending but Spenser was good. He was smart. He asked thoughtful questions. He was innovative in his thinking and protective of his team. He was highly skilled and operated with smooth precision. He really was one of the best and would probably be Bravo 1 in a few years.
While he still thought that he had been right to ask Spenser to prove himself, he had been wrong in his perception of him. He had been wrong about the whole team. Their reputation preceded them but it had been earned. They were seasoned sailors and damn good at their jobs. Yes, they were cocky, employed tactics he didn’t always agree with, talked back and had members with the penchant to go rogue but those were characteristics that made them the best Seal team the Navy had. Looking back he had been deliberately cold and treated him with contempt - Spenser especially. He had come into the job thinking that Bravo was his team. He was responsible for their missions, their superior and it was his job to fix them. Yeah, he had brought more structure and, even if they would never admit it, the guys appreciated a more streamlined schedule but the team didn’t need fixing. It was also their team and he also had to start being a team player. He’d heard the boys talking about heading to the bulkhead for drinks and while they hadn’t overtly invited him out he figured he should go.
Walking through the door he spotted Trent, Brock and Sonny playing pool in the corner while Jason and Ray were sitting at a table not far away. He nodded to the guys that saw him and made his way to the bar. He hadn’t been waiting on his drink for 2 minutes when a beautiful woman ordered a couple of beers next to him.
“If you don’t mind, I’d love to pay for your drinks tonight” he said to her.
She smiled and turned to face him, “Thank you, but that’s not necessary.”
Soto dragged his eyes down her body. She was wearing a tight grey sweater, dark blue jeans and black heeled boots. She slim with slight curves in all the right places and he could tell she worked out - exactly his type of woman. She seemed confident and carried herself with class that the frog hogs who usually frequented the bars close to base didn’t have.
“I won’t insist but at least tell me your name” he tried again.
“Stella” she replied.
“It’s nice to meet you Stella. I’m Wes.” The bartender brought his drink as he introduced himself and he handed him enough money to cover his and Stella’s drinks. “I’m covering her drinks too. Thanks man.” He glanced at the beautiful woman next to him and said, “no complaints?”
She smiled lightly, grabbed her beers, raised them towards him and said thank you while walking away. Wes watched her leave and when he looked back Trent was standing next to him.
“Do you have a death wish, man?” Trent asked shaking his head.
Confused, he said “Not that I’m aware of. What’s up?”
Trent laughed and said, “You didn’t do your homework on the team? Were you trying to flirt with her?” Wes continued to look at him with a blank face. “Stella. Clay’s girlfriend.”
Well, shit. He came here to bond with the team and he had already fucked it up.
Seeing his reaction, Trent clapped him on the back. “Don’t sweat it man. I’m guessing you’re here to get to know the guys and Stella’s cool but don’t make that mistake again. Clay doesn’t play around when it comes to his girl.”
Soto nodded and glanced back to see Clay was now sitting at the table he’d seen Jason and Ray at with Stella by his side. Clay had his arm draped casually over Stella’s chair and was drinking one of the beers he paid for.
Getting settled in the chair Clay pulled out for her, Stella greeted Jase and Ray and took a sip of her beer. “Some guy at the bar bought the drinks.”
Clay glanced at bar but it had gotten crowded since Stella left. “I’m not surprised. You haven’t bought yourself a drink since you were 16 if I remember correctly.” He smiled lightly, his eyes crinkling as he looked at Stella.
That was one of Stella’s favourite expressions on Clay. He wasn’t a particularly effusive guy, he was very precise when he spoke even when he was angry. But she loved how he looked at her - gently, slightly in awe and full of love. She scratched his beard and leaned over to give him a kiss.
“Okay, okay, okay. Keep that in your bedroom! ” Jason said, averting his eyes.
Stella tried to pull away but Clay kept her close with a hand on her waist and kissed her behind her ear. Glancing to where Jason sat he said, “I hear jealousy in your tone dude.”
Soto kept his distance for most of the night choosing to spend his time at the pool table but he found himself glancing over to the table Stella sat at with Clay, Jason, Ray and now Sonny. Stella didn’t seem like the kind of woman Spenser would be interested in. She appeared quietly confident, whip smart and like a woman who didn’t take anyone’s shit. Spenser had a defiant streak in him and he wondered how they fit together.
As the night went on he watched them. They moved easily around each other, Stella clearly comfortable around the guys. They engaged in deep conversation, the guys trying to answer her intellectual questions. He heard Sonny and Stella ganging up to tease Spenser and Jason affectionately call her “professor”. All the while Clay sat back proudly letting her take the lead. He chimed in occasionally and when there was a lull in conversation the couple would fall into each other. Stella would place her hand on his thigh or scratch the nape of his neck while Spenser would hold her hand or randomly kiss her shoulder. They were magnets. There was an ease to their relationship. He didn’t know how long they had been together but they were confident and comfortable with each other. And in love. It was clear.
When Brock and Trent joined the other guys at their table Soto couldn’t avoid the situation any longer so he walked over and greeted them.
“Good evening gentlemen.”
The guys grunted in response and Stella looked up from her conversation with Clay and acknowledged him with a small smile.
“Stella, you need a refill? I’m sure Lieutenant Soto here wouldn’t mind buying you another drink.” Trent’s voice came from his right.
He felt 7 pairs of eyes on him.
Clay took off his baseball hat, ran his hand through his hair and put in back on backwards.
“I didn’t know. I’m sorry.” Soto said ignoring the other guys and apologising directly to Clay and Stella.
Clay looked at him blankly and Stella said, “Lieutenant Soto? Bravo’s new commander?”
“That’s me.” He replied.
Stella looked at Clay and he could tell they were having a silent conversation. He imagined Clay had told Stella about his new commander who asked him prove himself after he had been on Bravo almost 3 years. When Stella turned back to him she was more reserved than she had been at the bar. At the bar she had been a woman politely turning someone down. She hadn’t flirted or given him the wrong impression but here at the table? She was making it clear that she stood by her boyfriend.
Surprisingly, Clay looked at him and said, “No problem, now you know.” There was an implied “so act accordingly” that everyone at the table understood.
Jason cleared his throat and trying to ease the tension said, “So, now you know Trent is the team gossip. Never tell him anything you don’t want everyone to know.”
Soto laughed and a few of the guys took swigs of their beers picking up the conversation from where it had left off. He recognised Jason’s attempt to include him and released a long breath. It would take a while for him to be considered part of the team, especially with Clay, but it was a start.