Ash had just left the office of the Rainbow Six deputy director, with a small slip of paper in hand. A wide smile is visible on her face as she walks back to her group. The paper on her left hand is a duty leave request and the Director has recently approved it, as shown on Ash's expression.
Twitch and IQ had been waiting for minutes back in the lobby, and their private discussion had ended once they notice Ash cringing and shaking her head around.
"Hey Elisa! What's with you and the slip?" asked Twitch.
"You know what?" Ash rose her head. "I say that we, the three of us, start going places, buy food and drinks, and have a good-ol-fucking time!"
"We're taking a vacation for the half year?" asked IQ.
"Yep! All three of us, we can finally relax!" Ash replied once again. "Six was generous enough to let us take the half-year, she claims that the men can handle it."
"Argh, I haven't rested for months now...CTU work is grueling, and I haven't taken a break. Merde." commented Twitch.
"Me too, Emma. Want to take a break from all 'this'." implied IQ.
"Well, I just overheard Seamus and Jack talking about our trio and what we are going to do when we get the duty leave greenlight. They think we're going to restaurants, bars, and all those common entertainment places. Actually, they're right, but we're gonna do more than that." Ash took off her cap and scratched her head.
"But we don't know what we are going to do yet. What do we do? Play poker? Drink the vodka from Alexsandr?" Twitch asked.
"Yes, but you not French-kissing me, or Ash while you smell of vodka, Emma." joked IQ.
IQ and Ash giggled in unison. Twitch murmured "fuck you two" in French, and the two did not seem to mind and shook their heads whilst still giggling.
Ash gestured to IQ, "Well, Monika here will be taking care of our daily activities, and I will miss the Rainbow Six team."
"Me too. I'll miss Rook- if I ever see him again." and the next five seconds Twitch had pointed out that she was only sarcastic. She was eventually met with Ash and IQ with a confused expression.
"Emma, want to ask you something. Did you just say you will miss Rook?" asked IQ.
"No, it's not what you think!" replied Twitch.
Ash jeered and IQ was trying to hold back her laughter. Twitch had said "fuck you two" once again in French, and rose her right fist. "Shut up, both of you."
"Six called out a taxi for us. It's going to be here in ten minutes. You guys better pack your stuff now." Ash rose her right arm, directing towards the quarters.
"Monika, can you take my satchel with you for a while?" asked Twitch.
IQ gave her a thumbs-up. "Got it!" She then continued on to the quarters.
This was a moment Ash had ben waiting for. She wanted to take a break from all the chaos she had seen for the last two years. She thought about her sister and mother back in Jerusalem. She thought about visiting them sometime. If the FBI's exchange program cut off her dire communication with her family, then this very moment had solved it. Sated her need to see her family again. She assumed that the French felt the same. And the German, too.
"Well, let's just go back to our homes. Really wanting to see my sister and mother in Israel. I'll see you guys next week." implied Ash.
"Me too, going back to France, and I will see you next week." Twitch replied.
While the three were having their last-minute conversation, Pulse had called them out, "Hey! You three get going now! Your ride is here, and have fun, okay?"
Ash snickered, "Damn it! I forgot my gear! Jack, tell the driver to wait for a minute or two, okay?"
"I'm gonna work on checking out places for us to have fun as Elisa said, ja? I'll see you two next week!" IQ smiled, and she and Twitch started to walk to the base's exit.
Ash waved goodbye at the two, and then ran back to the living quarters to reclaim her gear. "I hope it's gonna turn out well..." thought Ash.
As Ash had loaded all of her equipment and personal items into two duffle bags, she was haltered by Thatcher before she could walk out of the rooms.
"Well, I assume that you're leaving now?" said Thatcher in a slightly raspy voice.
"Yes, I am going. Also, your voice sounds a bit raspy..." replied Ash.
Thatcher raised up his right hand in assurance. "It's fine, my insides are dried up but a few gurgles will solve it."
Ash came close to eye-to-eye contact with him. "Why are you here? Why'd you stop me? There's a taxi waiting for me outside and i'm in a hurry."
"I just hope that you, and the others have fun." replied Thatcher.
"We obviously will. What's the matter? Also, your reason ain't convincing." implied Ash.
Thatcher crossed his arms and leaned on a wall. "Don't view me like I'm stopping you or anything, it's just that, how are your fellows at the FBI gonna be without you? How's Rainbow Six without you?"
"Come on, Mike, it's just half a year. There's nothing wrong with it. We're all the best of the best- we can handle our own, and that's why we're in R6." replied Ash. "Six knows me well. She trusts me, and I trust her. You should, too. She won't let me leave if there's something wrong. You know that."
"I'm sorry. Does my interest in how long you girls will be gone bother you?" asked Thatcher.
"No Mike...not at all." implied Ash. "You may be Emma's 'mentor', but she can handle things on her own, too."
"Well, you deserve a break anyways, and I do not have any fucking idea when will the boys get duty leave, too." Thatcher lowered his arms. "Ain't the Canadian girl going with you?"
Ash replied, "You will surely get the chance to rest, and also, I do not know with Tina if she's gonna come. Might as well ask before Friday."
"Okay, I should be getting shut-eye now, so bye Cohen, I'll see you in the next six months. Hope you have fun and meet your families, as I said." implied Thatcher.
"Okay Mike. I'll see you too. In six months." said Ash as she proceeded to exit the base, bringing her duffle bags. "See you, grandpa!"
Thatcher ended up with a smirk and waved back at Ash. "Fuck you! See you in six months!" He then proceeded to his room.