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Can't Let You Go

Chapter 1: Old Friends

Duke closed the file he'd been working on and sighed, running his hands over his face. It wasn't like he'd really been paying attention to the report anyway. He turned around and eyed the wedding invitation hanging from his office bulletin board with disdain. He slumped down in his chair, his head leaning back so he could stare at the ceiling. It was better than staring at that damn piece of paper. How could one piece of paper cause so much pain?

'Easy.' He thought. It was her wedding invitation to someone else. His girl was marrying someone else. Someone he didn't even like. Did that make it better or worse? He let out a disgusted sound. He was truly the world's biggest idiot. Here it was, practically her wedding day and he was in his office groaning about it. Some man of action he was. He had been so foolish to let her get away, and here it was just a day before she would be marrying someone else. His thoughts, as they inevitably did, traveled back to her. He never could live down the day she had ultimately called him out on his feelings for her, and how he denied everything. He had told her she was seriously mistaken. Ha, like she had bought any of that! Here was the woman that knew him better than he knew himself and he was trying to lie to her.

He sighed with longing as he remembered the several occasions they had crossed the line into something more than friendship. Their chemistry was hot like a volcano and when it erupted… Once again he looked at the invitation. It should have been his name next to hers but it wasn't. Duke turned away from the paper invitation as if it had slapped him in the face. He got up to stare out his small office window. When they had been together, they had been amazing. Duke had never felt so strongly for someone, EVER, and never since. He furrowed his brow in frustration, thinking how when the relationship had gotten got serious he had always pulled away…blaming his work. And she had always gone back to Snake Eyes. Tomorrow she would be Snake Eyes' forever.

Tonight was Scarlett's big co-ed bachelorette party. Snake Eyes was not having a bachelor party. Duke was relieved; after all he would have had to plan it. Yes, to add to this sick and twisted journey, Snake Eyes had asked him to be the best man. He wasn't sure how he would have been able to plan a grand party for the guy who was marrying the love of his life. Snake Eyes had wanted to spend tonight alone meditating and Duke was more than happy to let him do just that. He thought it was odd that Snake Eyes would choose him as they never were really close. Perhaps it was a "keep your friends close and your enemies closer" kind of deal since Duke was almost positive that Snake Eyes knew every detail of his and Scarlett's romantic history.

Romantic history, but was it history? Duke had tried to stifle his feelings after finding out Scarlett was engaged, but the feelings never went away; the opposite in fact. It was like fate was throwing his past mistakes in his face. He grimaced; it was easy to hide his feelings, at least for most people. But then people usually saw what they wanted to see. Both Snake Eyes and Scarlett had been assigned to a special team that took them away from base, so Duke hadn't seen them in practically a year. He and Scarlett emailed constantly and threw in an odd phone call here or there. He blew out a frustrated breath. If he had just been honest with her and told her about his feelings! She had asked him point blank if he wanted her to stay instead of going off with Snake Eyes. And of course, like the chicken shit he was when it came to their relationship, he told her to go. He crunched the water bottle he hadn't even realized he'd picked up. "Get a grip, Hauser. You should know better than anyone else life is short and you don't get second chances."

A knock startled him out of his regrets and Flint poked his head in. "Snakes and Scarlett just arrived. You ready to say hi?" Duke nodded briskly, tossing the crunched water bottle into the trash as he followed Flint to the chopper landing pad. "I know this is going to be hard for you." Flint acknowledged. The crunched water bottle hadn't gone unnoticed. They both glanced at each other knowing this was bro-code for Flint meaning he was there to talk to if Duke needed it.

"Yeah, but I'll make it through." Duke sighed as they exited the building. He cupped his hands over his eyes shielding away the sunlight. She had her back to him as she pulled some duffel bags out of the chopper. He smiled, feeling something between euphoria and pain when he saw her. She looked the same, with her red hair tumbling down her back in her signature ponytail.

"Well, well, well…look what the wind blew in," Duke called as he got closer. Scarlett whirled around to face him, already a huge smile on her face.

She threw her arms around him and pulled him into a hug, "It's so good to see you Conrad!" Duke closed his eyes vowing to remember this hug. She pulled back and took his hands in hers.

"I-" Duke started but was cut off by a shrieking sound in the distance that was getting louder and closer. Duke turned to watch Lady Jaye run full speed at them. She pulled Scarlett away from him into a hug of her own.

"I tried to stop her, but she was already doing that thing that only dogs can hear," Flint sighed, watching the two best friends unite. Duke smiled seeing how happy Scarlett was to see Lady Jaye. They were having such a fast paced and animated conversation. Both women were smiling. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see Snake Eyes give Flint and him a wave.

"Snake Eyes, congratulations!" Flint exclaimed, extending his hand for a shake. Snake Eyes took it and then patted Duke on the back.

"Yeah, congrats, buddy." Duke tried to sound just as enthusiastic. Lady Jaye began to pull Scarlett towards base.

"Duke, you are coming tonight? Right?" Scarlett asked as she was being pulled passed the group of men.

"Um, yeah, I was planning on it." Duke answered.

"Good, we can catch up then." She smiled and continued to walk with Lady Jaye.

"I'm glad you're going. Keep an eye on her, okay? I don't want tonight to ruin anything for tomorrow," Snake Eyes signed. Duke nodded.

"Well, let's help you with your luggage, bro. Get you settled in." Flint offered. Snake Eyes nodded and the three men grabbed the bags and followed the girls inside.

Lady Jaye and Scarlett dumped her duffels on the floor of their quarters and collapsed next to each other on the coach. "Did you leave the kitchen sink? And exactly how much of what is stuffed in those duffels is actually clothes and not weapons of some kind?"

Scarlett laughed, feeling better than she had in weeks. It was good to be home, good to see Allison. "Allie, you know I don't need any weapons other than my hands and my cross bow."

Allie arched an eyebrow, "You didn't answer my question."

Shana sighed dramatically, "Not all of them. I actually took your advice and bought some of the clothes you emailed me pics of.

Jaye sat up, "YOU bought clothes, of your own free will, you went shopping without me, and you actually bought clothes? Let's see!" She made a mad dive towards the closest duffle bag and sure enough, she found a couple of outfits she had suggested Shana purchase.

Allie gestured for Shana to stand up so she could hold her friend's new clothing up to check for color and style.

Shana held the dark navy jacket while Allie fussed with the blouse, "I didn't buy everything you sent because, let's face it, I'm heading to an isolated mountain cabin. Nice clothes would just get messed up."

Allie murmured her agreement, "Yeah, but what you got is good. The courdory blazer is a little dressier than you usually go for but paired with new jeans and printed blouse you'll be dressy enough for your party."

"But still look like me, right?" Shana asked, concerned.

Allie rolled her eyes, "Of course. Would I tell you to buy something that would look bad on you?"

"Your version of what looks good on me is vastly different than mine."

Allie laughed, "That's because you think jeans or sweats are an answer to an occasion."

"Hey, I have a dress for the wedding and a new outfit for the party, that's enough."

Allie put the clothes on the back of the coach and eyed her friend carefully, "Are you disappointed that you're spending your honeymoon in the mountains?"

"No. Of course not...it's perfectly fine…" she stopped talking when Allie gave her the bullshit look. "Fine, okay, it would have been nice to go somewhere different. Isolation is fine, I mean, it is our honeymoon, but a trip to the beach would have been nice…"

"It's not too late to change his mind."

Shana sighed, "You know how he feels about that mountain and the beach will be there another time." She decided a change of subject was in order, "So how have things been with you and Dash?"

They chatted for a while before Allie had looked at the clock and decided it was time for Shana to start getting ready. Shana sighed as she headed for the shower, "You're not going to slap too much makeup on me, are you?"

Allie smiled, "Courtney is coming over in a few minutes to help me get you dressed and presentable."

Shana's blood froze in her veins and her eyes widened; "A makeover?" she said shrilly, terrified of the word enough to shudder

Allie smiled, "Only a small one…you're a combat solider, you have a busy and stressful job, you have bags under your eyes and your hair needs a trim.

Shana hugged her ponytail protectively, "You are NOT cutting my hair! Lots of women wear their hair long on their wedding day."

Allie sighed and shoved her friend towards the bathroom, "A trim is not a cut. A trim just neatens things up, gets rid of the dead ends, it will still be long. I promise."

"All right. If you promise…"

"I said I did, didn't I?"

"Yeah." Shana grumbled as she closed the bathroom door. "But it doesn't mean I have to like it."

Shana let the warm water wash over her shoulders and felt herself relax. A good, long, hot shower was special treat and she fully intended to revel in the opportunity. She smiled to herself as thought about seeing so many of her friends earlier. Duke hadn't changed a bit, she thought, still that wide grin and sense of humor. It was nice to actually see him as opposed to just talk to him on the phone or IM. She hadn't realized just how much she'd missed him until she'd seen him and looked forward to having time to actually sit down and talk with him at the party.