Out of the Ashes

War never leaves a soldier behind. Staff Sergeant Alexei Dvorkin is still recovering from his brief stint as a prisoner of war. While his physical wounds have healed, the emotional scars are slow to disappear. Agent Sean Delaney's recovery from trauma is likewise slower than anticipated, and he also blames himself for what Alexei suffered through. The ties between Alexei and Sean were frayed by the enemy's hand. Mending what was broken between them will require a depth of honesty neither man is ready to face just yet. But if they don't, they risk losing a future together neither wants to let go.