Lieutenant Commander

Eleven

"Why are you in your formal Navy uniform Lilah?" Jay question, causing him to catch the attention of everyone else that was in the bullpen

"I have a meeting at the Chicago Naval office in 20 minutes, and before you ask, I don't know what it's about until I get there" I answered as I turned around placing my formal hat on my head and walking out the bullpen and then heading down to the parking lot. I then got into my truck and headed to the Naval office for my meeting. The drive to the Naval office was only about 5 minutes from the district but it wasn't that bad as there was hardly any traffic on the roads, which is rare if you live in a city like Chicago.

Arriving at the Naval office, I parked my truck in the parking lot out the front, grabbed my hat from the passenger seat and then put it on once I was out of the truck. Before heading into the office building, I smoothed down my uniform to get rid of any wrinkles and then I took a deep breath and walked into the office building and up the front desk.

"Can I help you?" the lady at the front desk asked

"My name is Lieutenant Commander Lilah Halsted and I have a meeting with Vice Admiral Roberts at 1100 hours" I said to the lady at the front desk. 

"Ah yes. Commander Halstead. If you would take a seat at one of the seats on the right, the Vice Admiral will be with you shortly" was the reply from the lady. 

I head over to the seats and sit down and think back to the last time I was in this office building, which was probably just over 10 years ago when I first signed up for the Navy. This building has not changed one bit. Sit looking derelict and in need of a good lick of paint. During the time I was waiting, I was looking at all the people walking through the lobby and seeing some of the young people walking in, wanting to join the Navy and do something good for their country and before I got carried away with my own thoughts before a voice brought me to my attention. 

"Commander Halstead" the voice of Vice Admiral Roberts and I immediately stood up to attention  

"Sir" I answered 

"Will you follow me" the Vice Admiral stated and I followed him. From the tone of voice. I knew it was serious business because there was no 'how are you'. So I followed the Admiral to his office and when we arrived he asked me to take at the seat opposite his desk and then he took a seat.

*tw*

"Commander Halstead, Thank you for coming at such short notice. The reason for this meeting, was about your old SEAL unit that you trained and ran, have been involve in a serious incident" Roberts stated 

"What kind of an incident sir?" I questioned

"Commander Halstead, I regret to inform you that SEAL Unit 27L-1 have been involved in a bombing in Iraq. There were no survivors. I'm so sorry Commander. But we will need you to fly out to I raw for a repatriation of the fallen in 5 days time and you should be going 2 weeks" the Vice Admiral told me. I tired not to break down in tears and I had to remain completely professional 

"I completely understand Sir. I will have to inform my boss about this, as well as my family and husband. Is it alright if I leave now" I asked as I slowly got out of my chair.

"Your dismissed Commander" Roberts said and I walked out the room as quickly I could with tears trickling down my eyes. 

Once I made it back to my truck and I burst into tears and let out a loud scream that I was holding in when the news broke. Leaning forward and placing my head on the steering wheel and placing my arms above my head to calm down before driving back to the district. I can't let the unit see me like this but there going to have to. I put the key in the ignition and then pull the gear shift into drive and started the drive back to 21st. 

Pulling into the parking lot of the district. I park my truck next to Adam's and got out. I grabbed my formal Navy hat and just held it in my hand as I walked back into the district with a solemn look on my face. 

"Lilah, you alright?" Trudy askes and I just nodded in response, as I scanned my palm print to open the gate up to the bullpen. I walked up to the the stairs to bullpen, hearing everyone laughing. It reminded me of the laughs that I had with my SEAL unit and I tried my hardest to hold back my tear but they just kept falling from my eyes. As I got to the top of the stairs and walked further into the bullpen, everyone stopped and looked at me and they all got up out of their seats and Voight walked out of his office. 

"Lil, what's wrong?" Jay askes and I stay silent 

"Lilah, what's going on?" Kim askes and I stayed silent and then Adam walks up to me. 

"Baby, what's wrong? What happened in that meeting at the Naval office" Adam quietly askes me. 

"Urm.... My old SEAL Unit 27L-1 that I ran for 4 years have been involved in a bombing incident in Iraq. There were no survivors. 20 men dead. That means I have to attend 20 funerals. Also meaning I have to return to active duty just for the repatriation of the fall. I leave in 5 day and I should be gone for about 2 weeks, as I will have to tie up any lose ends" I stated plainly, before walking away from everyone and heading to the locker room to get out of the uniform and to put my jeans and t-shirt back on, to try and fell some sense of normality. 

I stayed in the locker room for a majority of my shift, not wanting face the unit which included my brother and husband. I just want to get the next few weeks and those 20 funerals out the way before I focus on anything else. 

But will it get any better?!?

A/N:

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and New Year. Sorry I've not posted in a while as work has been really hectic and I've not gotten home till nearly 9:30pm. But It's taken me a few days to write this chapter but I hope you all enjoyed reading it.