Chapter Two- Cold Ashes

When the Alpha team got back to on the road, from a truck stop in Illinois;

Duke asked Scarlett, "Scarlett do you feel okay?"

She nodded that she was okay but Duke knew better, he could see the pain in her eyes. He unbuckled and got her an ice pack. She was sitting on Snake Eyes' lap and Duke placed the ice pack on her shoulder to help numb the pain. He tied it to her shoulder with his belt, which was the only thing he could tie it with.

Roadblock stopped the jeep and said, "Duke we got company."

Duke walked back up to the passenger seat while Tunnel Rat and Rip Cord were looking out the windows. They saw the warrant officers Flint or Dashiell Faireborn and Lady Jaye or Allison Hart-Burnett. They all got out of the vehicle and Lady Jaye saw Scarlett with her arm bandaged up and secured to her side.

She walked over to her and said, "Flint, Scarlett's hurt I suggest that we don't bring her in."

Flint said, "WE got a medical facility, Lady Jaye. Let's go Duke."

Flint put the handcuffs on them except for Scarlett. They loaded them up and Lady Jaye took Scarlett with her in her jeep.

She asked, "Do you mind telling me what happened to your arm?"

Scarlett said, "I was shot in the shoulder by a sniper while we were in Atlanta, Georgia."

She said, "Oh okay."

They rode in silence for the longest time until Scarlett asked, "Do you have any guys back home, Lady Jaye?"

She said, "No I actually dumped my last boyfriend."

Scarlett asked, "Who was he?"

Lady Jaye said, "It was Flint."

Scarlett asked, "What happened between you two and how long did you two date?"

Lady Jaye said, "We dated longer than you and Snake Eyes, and we had a fight I don't even remember what the fight was about."

"How did you know about me and Snake?" asked Scarlett.

Lady Jaye smirked and said, "Everyone could see it before you two came out with it. You two are like two peas in a pod, Scarlett. It was very noticeable especially when you came back hurt. He wouldn't leave your side ever."

They pulled up to the army base that their General Abernathy was located at. They pulled up and saw General Abernathy waiting for them. Flint and Lady Jaye got Scarlett out and helped her over to where her friends were sitting.

They were talking to the general and they heard him ask, "What happened to Leutient O'Hara's shoulder?"

Lady Jaye said, "Sir she was shot by a sniper."

He asked, "How do you know this?"

She said, "Leutient O'Hara told me herself sir."

He said, "Alright. I need to go talk to the team you just brought in and I'll be back."

They saluted him and walked off. He walked over to where the team was and noticed that Scarlett's free hand was handcuffed to Duke's handcuffs behind his back, the reason they were connected to Duke's was that Snake Eyes was already starting to cut the chains off his.

He said, "Leutient, how is your injury?"

She said, "It hurts but I'm fine, sir."

He walked behind Duke and uncuffed Scarlett from the cuffs she had on.

He said, "Come with me, Leutient. Your friends will be in the hands of Corporal Burnett."

They all asked, "Who is that?"

He said, "You all call her Lady Jaye."

He walked off with Scarlett to the medical facility, while the others stayed where they were. Duke and Rip Cord saw that Flint was talking to Lady Jaye. They could read lips a little and could understand Flint saying he was sorry for something.

Duke looked at Rip Cord and asked, "What is he apologizing for?"

They looked at Snake Eye but they could barely understand him.

So they turned to Tunnel Rat, he asked, "Why are you two staring at me?"

Rip Cord asked, "How good are you at reading lips?"

Tunnel Rat said, "I don't mean to brag but I'm pretty good. Why do you ask?"

They said, "Flint is apologizing for something to Lady Jaye and we want to know what it is."

Tunnel Rat looked over to Flint and Lady Jaye and said, "Well Flint is apologizing for being an idiot and for the fight they had he wants her to forgive him and…take…him…back."

Duke said, "They dated?"

Tunnel Rat continued, "Lady Jaye is telling him that she already forgave him after the fight and that she would be happy to take him back. Now Flint is smiling and saying that he is very happy that she is taking him back."

They watched him pick her up and spin her around in his arms.

Duke said, "Poor Roadblock. Didn't you have a little crush on her?"

He said, "No…yes I did alright."

Rip Cord laughed, "Sucks to be you she just got taken. You probably wouldn't have had a chance with her anyway. One little hug and she would be split in half."

Duke said, "Guys shut up Lady Jaye is coming over here."

She said, "Alright boys, lets go. I hate doing this so just come on."

They got up with her help and Duke asked her, "What do you see in Flint, Lady Jaye?"

She said, "I don't know what your talking about Duke."

Tunnel Rat said, "alright then why was Flint apologizing for a fight you two had?"

She said, "alright Flint and I broke up a few weeks ago and he is just now apologizing because we need space now we are back together. Are you happy now Duke, stand up against the wall please."

He did and she took the handcuffs off and patted him down for weapons while other soldiers did the others.

He said, "Like I asked before what do you see in the guy?"

She said, "Well I bet you didn't bombard Scarlett when she told you guys that she was dating Snake Eyes. Did you?"

They said, "No but this is different. WE are talking about Flint here."

She said, "Alright I can tell you what I see in him."

Tunnel Rat asked, "Is it going to make me puke?"

She said, "Most likely."

He said, "Well I'm not interested."

She said, "Alright, well Duke I see a lot in him but I can't tell you everything or I will make you loose your lunch or breakfast."

She put them in a cell even Snake Eyes got in the cell with them.

She walked back outside but before she left she said, "And Roadblock I have to agree with Rip Cord about if me and you dated I would have been snapped in half. Sorry I just don't think it would work out. Bye guys, Scarlett will be in here shortly to join you all."

She walked out only to be scared by Flint. He had his hand over her mouth and his arm around her waist. She jumped and when he turned her around he smirked and kissed her gently.

She said, "Flint… not here or now. Maybe later, I got my vacation coming up as well as yours."

He sighed and said, "Fine, but we do it on my terms, Lady Jaye. Oh, would you like to join me for dinner tonight, I'm having Chinese take out."

She laughed and smiled and said, "I would love to, its just how I like it nothing too fancy."

She kissed his cheek and walked off. He walked over to where the General was and said, "I got Scarlett, sir."

He walked next to her and she asked, "What's with all the hospitality, Flint?"

He opened the door for her and said, "Just get in the cell."

An MP patted her down for weapons but didn't touch her shoulder. They put her in the cell with Snake Eyes and Duke. She sat down and Flint left the room.

Later that night, Snake Eyes, escaped while everyone else was sleeping. He moved Scarlett gently onto Duke's shoulder, and lightly pressed his forehead to her's. He left and ran on the rooftops of the barracks that belonged to the soldiers, MP's, Flint and Lady Jaye. He heard laughing coming from Flint's, he looked in briefly and saw that Flint was tickling Lady Jaye while she was trying to get off the couch. He waited until they fell asleep or took a shower. He waited for a good half hour and looked in and saw them asleep on the couch. He snuck inside and got the keys from Flint's pocket. He got back to the cells his friends were in and unlocked the doors. He woke them up and they escaped. They left the base but they had to go through General Abernathy first.

He stopped them and asked, "And where do you Joes think your going?"

Duke said, "We are leaving,"

Roadblock finished, "And going to Wichita Kansas."

They all nodded.

The General said, "Really? Go, I'll make sure they won't find you unless I want them to. Good luck Joes."

They got in the Coyote, the jeep, and Roadblock floored it.

Duke asked, "Why are we going to Wichita?"

Roadblock said, "Haven't you ever wondered what made Flint such a… well an ass hole?"

Tunnel Rat and Rip Cord busted out laughing.

Scarlett said, "Nice choice of words, Roadblock."

He smiled and said, "Thanks Scarlett, but I'm about to make you mad so."

Snake Eyes let go of her and Rip Cord asked, "How are you going to make her mad?"

Roadblock said, "We will have to drive through Atlanta to get to Wichita."

Scarlett said, "Well just don't stop in Atlanta and change the paint job of the Coyote before we get to the state line and then I won't hurt you."

He said, "Yes, ma'm."

Duke looked back at Scarlett who, out of pure exhaustion and pain fell back asleep onto Snake Eyes' lap, Tunnel Rat and Rip Cord was asleep in their seats.

Duke told Roadblock, "Roadblock keep an eye open for Flint's jeep. I have a feeling that he and Lady Jaye will be coming after us."

Roadblock nodded and Duke fell asleep.