Disclaimer: I do not own GI Joe or the characters. I also do not own or gain anything from using the names Play Station 2 or the game Dragon Ball Z. I am borrowing the use of the name Desert from Storm O.
Author's notes: A little short Christmas fic taking place after "Cobra CLAWS are Coming to Town". I have read some great Christmas fics using the Duke/Scarlett pairing in regards to this episode, but I'm not going to compete against them, so I used a different pairing. It has been a long time since I saw this episode, so special thanks to for aiding in my research.
Thank you to my friends MedicLifeline, Scarlett Phoenix, and Storm O for helping me appreciate all the various Joes. I'm slowly working more and more Joes into my stories. Also, a big thanks to Scarlett Phoenix and Storm O for helping me with a few phrases.
Snowball Fun
The small team of Joes sat around the recreation room, discussing past Christmases and the recent Cobra attack that they thwarted. Except for these few soldiers, the rest of the Joes had gone on holiday leave. Roadblock and Blowtorch were regaling the team with stories of their Christmases back home and their enormous family gatherings. Tripwire and Wild Bill had a Play Station 2 hooked up and were playing a "friendly" game of Dragon Ball Z. Dusty watched the action on the screen, casting a glance over at his teammates every few seconds. Cover Girl reclined on the sofa, scratching Junkyard's ears as the Rottweiler made noises of contentment. Roadblock had made a scrumptious Christmas dinner consisting of turkey and all the fixings, and Junkyard had the honors of devouring both of the turkey's drumsticks.
Mutt sat at the end of the sofa, shaking his head. "You are spoiling my dog," Mutt grumbled jokingly.
Cover Girl playfully pushed her stocking foot against his leg and arched an eyebrow before she replied, "He deserves it. He helped fight off Cobra." She paused before she continued, "I wonder how Duke and Shipwreck are coming with reducing Polly back to normal size."
"I hope they are getting results. I really do not like the idea of that overgrown parrot flying around here," Mutt commented.
"Yee haw," Will Bill whooped as he beat Tripwire. Looking at the others, he said, "Polly is a bird to be reckoned with now. We now do whatever he says." Wild Bill echoed the earlier sediments of a few of the others after the parrot helped defeat Cobra's twisted plan to attack Keystone City.
Everyone laughed, nodding their heads in agreement. Covering her mouth to hide a yawn, Cover Girl slowly reached for her boots. Slipping them on, she stood up. "Well guys, I'm going to call it a night. Merry Christmas all," she told them, slipping on her coat.
"Merry Christmas, Courtney," Mutt said as Junkyard trotted over to his master and laid his head on Mutt's lap, expecting more friendly pats and scratches.
"Merry Christmas, Darlin'," Wild Bill winked at her before he turned back to his game.
Tripwire and Blowtorch echoed their good tidings, "Merry Christmas Cover Girl."
"Did you get enough to eat?" Roadblock asked, as he stood up ready to get the tank jockey another plate of food.
"Plenty, Marvin. Thanks for the delicious meal," she told him, giving the chef a friendly hug. "This was one of the best Christmases I can remember," she softly told him.
Roadblock patted her back and released her. "I aim to please, Mademoiselle."
Dusty stood and stretched. "Wait up a minute, Cover Girl. I'll walk with you." Dusty turned to the guys and said, "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Dusty," the remaining guys said.
Cover Girl stopped by the doorway waiting for Dusty. As he caught up to her, he said, "I don't remember another Christmas filled with so much activity."
Smiling, Cover Girl nodded as they walked down the hallway. "It was a busy one, but it made the day go quickly. I can't believe Cobra actually thought they would get away with their insane scheme, but they continuously come up with their hair-brained ideas." She pulled her coat tighter as they walked outside into the chilly night air. "Kind of deserted when most of the team is on leave, isn't it?" She commented, looking around.
"Yes, it is," Dusty replied, listening to their feet crunch across the snowy pavement. He zipped his jacket up, stuffing his bare hands in his pockets as they walked. "So, why didn't you go home for the holidays? You worked Thanksgiving too," Dusty asked her.
Cover Girl shrugged and said, "I'm use to working the holiday shifts. I would rather go home in the summer. My family and I always get into arguments over my chosen career, and I end up mad and go work in my dad's garage on one of his project cars for hours. It just isn't pretty. I would much rather stay here and let the others go home and enjoy the time with their loved ones. What about you? Why did you stay here during the holidays?" She asked out of curiosity since he had asked her.
Dusty chuckled at her comments then sighed. "I would have loved to go home, but I used all of my leave time this fall when mom was sick."
"I'm sorry, Ron. How is she doing?" Cover Girl asked with concern.
"She is doing fine. Thanks for asking. I would have loved to be with her, but she understands. Besides, I get to spend Christmas with my second family." He pulled one of his hands out of his coat pocket and laid his arm across her shoulders.
She smiled at the gesture as she allowed herself to be pulled a little closer to him. She could just imagine the rumors that would start floating around the base as soon as the rest of the team came back from leave and heard about her friendly kiss on Duke's cheek. She didn't know why she had done it, but it seemed alright at the time. Sighing, she shook the thoughts from her head and glanced at Dusty. "Hey, we got to kick some Cobra butt anyway," she gloated.
"Yes, we did," Dusty laughed but then asked, "Are you feeling okay now? I mean, after hitting your head and all from that missile attacking your plane."
"I'm fine." She looked over and caught the serious look in his eyes. Smiling, she confessed, "I'm a little stiff, but if I keep moving, I'm okay. My headache is gone, for now at least. I imagine it will be back come morning though."
"I suppose it will," Dusty replied, thankful that Polly had caught the plummeting Rattler carrying the unconscious Cover Girl when he did. That parrot saved two Joe's lives today, he thought to himself as he remembered Polly also saving Duke from freefalling to the earth. As they passed a large fluffy snow bank that Snow Job had pushed earlier that morning, he got a wicked look in his eyes. Hoping that she didn't get mad and slug him, Dusty casually guided them towards the snow bank and then suddenly pushed her into it.
"What the..." she exclaimed, falling into the fluffy snow. "Rudat!" she screamed at him but her eyes revealed a hint of mischief as she could not help but laugh. "Get back here," she ordered as the desert trooper started to run across the snow-covered grass where they would play softball or football games during the spring, summer, and fall. She picked herself up out of the snow bank and took off running after him.
Dusty ran across the field laughing as the tank jockey quickly caught up to him. He didn't actually want to outrun her and only hoped that she would take it easy on him once she tackled him. Turning around, the snowball that Cover Girl had been constructing as she ran after him hit him in the chest. Smiling smugly, she reached down to gather another snowball.
"No fair, Krieger," Dusty retorted, reaching down for his own snowball.
In no time, a snowball fight erupted between the two soldiers. The distance between them shortened as they moved towards each other. Finally close enough for her own satisfaction, Cover Girl jumped on Dusty's back as he bent down to form another snowball, pushing him head first into the snow.
"Gotcha," she said happily, squatting back on her haunches waiting for his retaliation.
Wiping his face as he rolled over, Dusty looked up at the ex-model above him. "Naughty, naughty, SeƱorita," he scolded her as he swiped his leg out, knocking the grinning tank jockey off balance and she collided backwards into the snow. Promptly rolling over, he pinned her to the ground. "Payback time," he warned.
Surprised by finding herself in the snow once again, Cover Girl smiled up at the trooper holding her down. "Okay, mia culpa, mia culpa," she laughed, struggling half-heartedly to extract herself from his hold. She didn't mind her current predicament and thought it was actually quite cozy even if she was lying on the cold snow.
Dusty relaxed his grip as the woman under him struggled. He knew that if she really wanted up, she could easily free herself. As quickly as the thought crossed his mind, he found himself lying on his back in the snow as she rolled herself over him. "Pinned," she joyfully exclaimed.
"Ch..." Dusty opened his mouth to speak but instead, a gloved finger pressed against his lips.
"Shh," she softly said as she lowered her face closer to his. Removing her finger, her lips slightly brushed against his lips then cheek, eventually whispering in his ear, "Merry Christmas, Desert." Closing her eyes, she returned to his lips and gave him a tender kiss.
Instinctively, Dusty wrapped his arms around her, pulling her down closer to him and deepening the kiss just as she was about to pull away. As she relaxed against him, there was no resistance as their lips parted and their tongues met, caressing each other affectionately. Their overall pent-up emotions and attraction to each other exploded into this caring and loving moment. Breathlessly, they separated as they stared into each other's eyes. Dusty released his tight embrace on her and murmured, "Merry Christmas, Courtney."
Cover Girl only smiled and leaned down to kiss him again. Snowflakes began to gently fall to the ground as the two soldiers lay on the ground, absorbed in another passionate kiss. They should have been cold, but for some inexplicable reason, they were finding this snowy Christmas night to be unseasonably warm.
Hand in hand in winter land
There's magic in the air
It's a sign that Santa's coming soon
Yes, my nose is froze
Your toes are cold
But we don't have a care
Now we know that saying must be true
CHORUS
The temperature will drop for sure
It could be ten below
No matter 'cause our hearts will be aglow
Even though we might see snow
and Jack Frost may appear
Christmas is the warmest time of the year
Partial lyrics used without permission. Please don't sue.
Song title: Christmas Is the Warmest Time of the Year
Album title: A December to Remember
Sang by/Lyrics written by: Aaron Tippin/Thea Tippin/Kenny Beard
