To Senay for all the usual reasons. I own nothing but my imagination.
Good Friends and a Family Reunion
The army colonel the Joes were working with shouted to be heard over the lashing rain of a Florida Tropical Storm, "That appears to be the last of the stragglers sir, will you be needing the assistance of my men for anything else?"
Duke shouted back in reply, "That's everything colonel, Hawk wants to make it clear that he appreciates the last minute assistance!"
"Not a problem! We go way back! I remember weather similar to this in the trenches!"
"Will you be assisting the local law enforcement with the evacuation?"
"Yes sir! You and your men are welcome to take shelter with us at the base. The forecast predicts this storm to graduate to a full-blown hurricane if conditions continue like this. And I wouldn't be surprised!"
"Thank you Colonel but my men all seem to have made prior arrangements. With the transport unable to meet us until after the storm moves past I've been authorized to grant a few days leave. Most of my men are going home to their families. Not even a hurricane could stop them!"
The colonel found this amusing and through his laughter replied, "Well good luck to you all and if you change your mind just radio and well come pick you up!"
"All right!" the men slapped each other on the back and went their separate ways. The colonel went back to check on his men who were rounding up the civilians for evacuation and Duke went to find Flint, Lady Jaye, and Scarlett-all that was left of his team. Flint had seen the others off while Duke was meeting with the colonel. The colonel had been very helpful in aiding the small team of Joes investigate and round up a Cobra base. The storm had touched ground only a mile away from their base, which encouraged any remaining Cobras to surrender to the promise of real shelter. Their little base was only a training base. It didn't rank high enough to have any major structures-just basically tents and training fields where the new recruits were weeded out and sent on to more specific training. The colonel and his men were more than capable of dealing with the remaining few recruits who had been stupid enough to think they could weather a Florida hurricane in nothing more substantial than a tent. Duke himself had not spent much time on the southern seaboard but even he had heard tales of infamous storms such as Hugo, Andrew, and even Floyd.
Flint heard him laughing as he approached the covered front of the army base. "What's so funny?"
"Just the thought of those Cobra recruits thinking they could stick out a hurricane in a cloth tent!"
"Yeah well you won't be laughing once you hear what the girls have decided."
"What's that?"
"Remember those nice, cozy, reservations we made once we learned we would have leave after this little mission?"
"Yeah. A resort someplace in Northern Florida, about four or five hours up the road; far enough inland that if the storm should change directions and start to travel up the west coast of the state we'll still be safe from the nasty weather it'll bring."
"Your girlfriend canceled them."
"What? Why?"
"She and Allie were left alone long enough in the company of other females that they got to talking about where they're from. Shauna volunteered that she was from Atlanta but hadn't been home in awhile."
"Yeah."
"One thing led to another and Shauna was able to get one of her new found friends to lend her a jeep from the base with an extra gas can."
"What's the extra gas can for? Do I even want to know?"
"Shauna and Allie decided, well I guess Shauna decided and begged Allie until she caved-the thought of a home cooked meal had something to do with it, that and shopping, anyways, they decided that Atlanta was only another four or five more hours up the express way…"
Duke picked up the thought, "…and wouldn't it be nice if she got to go home for a visit? I guess I can't blame her." Duke ran his hand over his face, slewing off a good portion of the rain that leaked through the poncho he was wearing. "Where are they now?"
"She's looking for a phone to call her father. If you want to dry off I found you some extra-dry-clothes."
"Point me to them. If I'm going to meet her father I'd rather not look like I got caught in a Florida hurricane-even if I really did. Besides I can't stomach the thought of riding in a jeep for eight hours in wet clothes. I will be uncomfortable enough."
"Yeah, especially with her driving."
Duke grimaced, "That is something I hadn't thought about but I guess she'll half to. None of the rest of us has ever been to Atlanta."
The woman in question chose that moment to pop out, "Did Flint tell you?" she asked as she jumped into her boyfriends arms and threw her arms around his neck letting him spin her around.
Duke caught Flint's eye over her head and smirked, "Yeah, it's wonderful!"
Flint rolled his eyes but knew he'd do the same thing Duke was doing if it was Allie that was so ecstatic about something.
Allie came up beside her own boyfriend and he put his arm around her drawing her close, "It doesn't take much, does it?"
Flint laughed, "Ha! You know as well as I do that she can fall into the high-maintenance category just as well as you can."
Allie put on a puppy-dog frown, "But baby, don't I a-l-w-a-y-s make it worth your while in the end?" she snuggled in closer
Flint kissed her, "Does that mean I get brownie points for not complaining about having to spend the next eight hours in the back of a damp jeep and then endure her family when you know what I'd much rather be doing?"
She leaned back in for another kiss, "Hmmm…well we'll see about that." She murmured before she kissed him again
Duke fervently wished he would get just half as much of a reward as Flint was sure to get if he somehow managed to survive this weekend. "Are you sure it's all right with your father?"
She nodded, "Sure, I just spoke with him on the phone he'll have the porch light on and hot coffee. He even told me he'd warm up some food if we get there hungry."
Inwardly Duke grimaced-no way out-but outwardly he smiled big, "So long as you're sure you want to give up your vacation at the spa?"
Shauna looked at him worriedly, "I'm sorry." She let her arms drop from around his neck, "I guess I got so excited at the idea of introducing you to daddy that I forgot to ask if you were okay with it. I can always go up there on my own and you can meet daddy next time-if you want."
Duke knew he was going to have to back peddle fast if he didn't want to completely railroad his relationship with her, "No, no, I was just concerned about dropping in on him unexpected! I just figured that if he's used to living alone he wouldn't want a bunch of wet, slightly rough around the edges, soldiers showing up on his doorstep. I'd hate to get off on the wrong foot with him. I know how important he is to you and how protective of you he is."
That seemed to do the trick because she gave him a tentative smile, "Then you're really okay with it and want to meet him and my brothers again? Last time wasn't exactly a piece of cake but this time you'll be walking in there as my boyfriend and the hazing might get a little rough."
Duke placed a kiss on her forehead, "Don't worry about it, I'm tough remember?"
She laughed and kissed him back, "Are ya'll ready?"
Allie let out a groan, "Don't start with the accent yet-please! Save my ears!"
The rest of them laughed and climbed into the jeep. They stopped hours later at the Georgia line to get food and check in with Shauna's father. Allie stuck with Shauna while the guys went to get food.
The only place Flint and Duke could find open was a grocery store with a deli. They bought subs for each of them and made their way back to the car.
Flint stopped Duke before they reached the door. "Man is it ever raining!"
"Yeah."
Flint gave a short laugh at his friend's deadpan tone of voice, "Not what I had planned either. Do you still have it?"
Duke pulled out the shining diamond engagement ring hanging on his dog tags and waggled it at Flint.
"Still gonna ask her?"
"I had intended to treat her real good this weekend and ask her the day before we left. We would be firmly back on our way to base before she could even think about telling her father. Now…" Duke ran his hands over his face and through his hair-a gesture he noticed he had been repeating frequently since they arrived in Florida a few days ago. "…I'm still gonna ask her if the timing is right. Otherwise…it'll wait. I won't risk asking her and scaring her off. The timing has to be perfect."
"Don't worry buddy. It'll happen. And if it doesn't happen on this trip Allie and I will do everything in our power to make it happen when we get back to base."
Duke smiled, "Thanks." Friends were hard to find. He was glad he had such good ones.
The guys met up with Allie and Shauna at the welcome center, "You guys ready now?" Shauna asked, impatient to be back on the road
Flint grinned and started singing, "On the road again…" that was as far as he got before three collective groans were let out "What? You don't like my singing?"
Allie took his hand and practically dragged him to the car, "Get in the car Romeo."
It was late before they arrived in the city and even later before they got to Shauna's house. Her tiered voice roused the occupants of the back seat, "This is it." With a smile in her voice she added, "Home sweet home."
The four of them drug themselves out of the car and up with porch steps to knock on the door. Apparently Patrick O'Hara was as eager to see his little girl as she was to see him for he opened the door and swept her into a bone crushing hug that lifted her clean off the porch before she even had time to knock more than once.
"Daddy!"
"Oh, my little girl!" Patrick hugged his baby girl close, "Home at long last!" the Irish lilt in his voice thick with emotion, "Well then, come in, come in, all of ye. I've got the coffee ready to pour and food waiting to heat if you're hungry."
Shauna sat down on the couch next to her father's chair and made the introductions as the others sat down next to her. "Daddy, this is Allison Hart-Burnett, whom we call Allie, Dashiell Fairborn, whom we call Dash, and Conrad Hauser." Her voice softened noticeably as she introduced Conrad. "Guys, this is my father, Patrick O'Hara."
Patrick stood up and shook hands with them all and brought coffee. He was about to pass the last cup to his daughter when he noticed she was sound asleep, her head leaning against his chair. "Oh my, I guess the drive wore her out." He chuckled
Shauna's last thought was that the next day was or is, depending upon the hour, Sunday and she should warn Duke about coming to mass with the family but she rouse herself long enough to explain to her love that he would be expected to come to church with her.
Duke cradled his sleeping girlfriend in his arms and turned to her father, "If you'll tell me which room is hers I'll take her up."
"Follow me. Sean still comes home on a regular basis so I've only got two extra rooms. The couch downstairs folds out but it's not as comfortable as it once was."
Flint and LJ exchange a glance, "Excuse me sir, if it won't offend you, Allison and I generally share a bed."
"Very well. I'll put the two of you in Brain's room. Conrad, you'll be in-between, in Frank's old room."