But his new teeth were in, and his nose had been operated on so it was a little straighter (but still crooked), and he could breathe.
To Joey he was transcendent.The sexiest college professor in the SCTF.His pointy brain practically radiated beauty.
His wicked grin was fully present as he sat down in the conference room and started assimilating the data on their newest case.Clint had handed him the tablet before they’d even gotten to the room.
“Wait,” Pearson said.“That’s it?He’s just gonna sit down and start working?”
“No,” Harding said dryly.“We’ve got confetti bombs and champagne waiting—oh, I’m sorry, I spent that budget on tactical gear.”
She blew a raspberry at him, and he smiled with all his teeth.
“You can hug him,” Joey said grandly.“He’ll hate it, but you know, it’s not for him.”
Pearson launched herself at him first, and he returned the embrace gingerly, the same with Natalia’s and Crosby’s.Garcia, Doba, and Henderson shook his hand, and Swan did one of those power handshake things.
Harding gave him a long, hard shoulder squeeze, and then he gave Joey one too.
“We’re glad you’re back, Gid,” he said softly.“Joey, we’re glad you’re with him.”He raised his voice a little.“You all, it has been abearof a year.But we’ve ended up with the team of my dreams.I’m grateful for all of you.Now come on—we’ve got people out there who need us.Let’s go do our jobs and don’t get dead.”
“Amen, brother,” Gideon said.“Now somebody get me coffee and come back in five minutes.I’ll have this ready to go then.”
Joey was at his side in a moment with coffee in his mug with the fox wearing full graduation regalia, and then he sat patiently, eyes closed, while Gideon’s pointy brain—and apparently fully working digits—went to work on their op for that morning.
“Whatcha thinkin’, kid?”Gideon asked as he started pulling up screens over the table.
“No place I’d rather be,” he said, and then paused.“Except fishing.Someday you and I are going to have to go fishing.”
Gideon grinned at him.“Can my dad come?”
“Yeah.We’ll even invite Harding.That guy needs to relax.”
“Hey, Clint,” Gideon called, “Joey wants us to go fishing.”
“You’re leaving me out?”Natalia said.“Thank Christ.”
“Garcia and I are goingsurfingin September,” Crosby told them.“In California.”
“Who says?”Pearson asked.
“We already put in for time!”Crosby protested.
“Not if we’re going to Disneyworld you’re not.”
Garcia stared at her.“Thatis news to me.”
And so on, the sound of their pack bubbling up around them, tighter than any family, bound by purpose, strength, trust—and blood.
And next to Joey was his mate, the strongest, smartest wolf in the pack.
And also the kindest deer.
“You up for this?”Joey asked for the fifty-dozenth time.
“You?”Gideon asked gently.
Joey looked away.“I’m just so glad you’re home,” he said.
“I’m just so gladwe’rehome.”
