8

2.

KT Abernathy, better known to her military friends as Lady Hawk, sat wrapped in a shawl and a blanket on the porch of her father's Rocky Mountain retreat, sipping hot coffee and watching the first snowfall of the season. She was also watching the trail from the landing field further down the valley, and waiting. She'd heard the copters earlier that morning. There was no mistaking Baby, especially since Blackbird almost always had the music going. OMEGA was coming, and not alone. There had been three birds, not one.

The first she actually saw of any of them was a streak of green feathers heading straight for her at top speed. She set her mug out of harm's way, and opened the shawl for Polly to land on her lap and snuggle close.

"Too cold, Lady Hawk!" the parrot complained.

"It's October in Colorado, Polly-luv. Of course it's too cold for a parrot," the woman snickered, carefully wrapping the shawl back around herself and the bird. There was a loud cry, and the sound of larger wings as Freedom, Spirit's Bald Eagle, landed on the porch railing. "Good morning to you, Freedom. So, Shipwreck and Spirit are with OMEGA. I wonder who else?" She debated continuing to wait where she was, but not for long. Polly was still shivering against her. "Let's get you inside, Pol. You aren't getting sick on my watch."

She'd just opened the door and was stepping inside when two canine forms bolted across the clearing in front of the building, and ran right inside passed her.

"Yeah, you too big, bold boys don't like the cold either, hu?" KT snorted. McArthur, who'd been here before, headed straight for a large cushion on the floor by the fireplace, and yipped at Junkyard, inviting the Rottweiler to join him. "Add Mutt to the list. Who else, from the Joes, Polly?" She settled the bird out of the draft, where the fire's warmth would seep into the parrot's body.

"Flint and Jaye, Roadblock, Freestyle," Polly announced. "Psych…"

"That's no surprise," KT snorted.

"Alpine, Bazooka, Gung Ho," Polly finished up. "Got blueberries?"

"Nope, sorry. You'll just have to make due with sunflower seeds," KT went to the kitchen to get them, and bowls of water for both avian and canine visitors. She also brought each dog a biscuit.

"That's a cabin?" Gung Ho demanded as the humans cleared the trees.

"More a chalet," Alpine commented. "Nice place."

"It's huge," Bazooka noted.

"It's not that big…." Firecracker disagreed. "I mean, there aren't that many rooms to it…"

"You could fit an Awe Striker in the front door!" Heavy Duty insisted.

"No, you couldn't. And if you tried, Lady Hawk would have your head mounted on the wall over the fireplace within twenty-four hours," Spanner shook her head. "Come on. Looks like Polly, McArthur and Junk are already inside."

"Ahoy in the house!" Shipwreck called out as they got closer. KT opened the front door, and stood there, arms crossed over her chest, a dark look on her face. "Ah, hiya, Lady Hawk. Ah, we were just in the neighborhood…."

"Stow it, Sailor Man. You honestly brought Polly up here in October? She's lucky I was out here when she showed up!" KT snapped. "And what about the statement 'Leave me alone' needs to be translated for you lot to understand it?"

"You don't get to make that call, as long as you're on Uncle Sam's payroll, Lady Hawk," Flint pointed out. "Since Malloy is pushing for a medical discharge…"

"He is a total idiot, and I think he got his license out of a Cracker Jack box," KT scowled. "You're here, you might as well come inside." She stepped back and to one side, allowing them to enter. "What the blazes are you lot packing?"

"Food, mostly. Didn't think it was fair, not to bring in our share," Roadblock told her.

"And just how long will I be…graced with your presence?"

"Until Monday," Blackbird said, setting her pack down under a window. "Might as well unload the supplies down here, and put it right into the kitchen."

"Four days, for what, exactly?"

"For me to decide if you have Malloy snowed," Psych Out informed her. "Because if you can't pass an evaluation, you will be discharged, Lady Hawk."

"I don't want a discharge, just a transfer," she said. "Only I hear my request was… misfiled?"

"Snake Eyes is talented in a lot of ways. Office work, not so much," Jaye shrugged. KT rolled her eyes.

"I don't see any rope," KT watched as they unloaded supplies bound for the kitchen.

"What would we need rope for?" Heavy Duty asked.

"If you plan to drag me back to the Pit or Tirnagog, you'd need rope to hogtie me," she pointed out.

"We don't need rope for that," Shipwreck scoffed, grabbing her from behind and lifting her into the air. Mistake.

BIG mistake. KT twisted, hooked her foot behind his knee, and pulled forward. When the sailor lost his balance, she danced away and let him hit the floor.

"Yeah, you do," she said coldly. "Roadblock, Freestyle, come with me, and I will show you the kitchen. You men will be in the loft…on the third floor. Ladies, four in the front room, two in the room at the top of the stairs, and Lady Jaye can have the room near the stairs to the loft." She grabbed a stack of supplies and headed through the dining room.

"Rooms can wait," Flint announced. "Everybody shift the supplies."

"Whoa!" Roadblock stopped in the kitchen door, his eyes wide.

"Roadblock, you're living up to your name," Freestyle complained. "Move, will ya?"

"I'm gonna tell each girl and boy, cookin' in here will be a joy!" the big man announced happily. The kitchen was large, with all modern appliances, and wide work spaces.

"It was upgraded this summer," KT told him. "Mother wanted all electric…"

"Blasphemy!"

"Also not practical up here," KT said wryly. "Add to that, she is rarely here, and never cooks… gas stove, wood stove, and a grill pit out that door. Walk in freezer, walk in refrigerator, very large pantry. Have a ball, you two. I miss your cooking."

"I miss your blueberry pancakes!" Freestyle told her. "Nobody makes blueberry pancakes like you do, Lady Hawk."

"My claim to fame, blueberry pancakes," KT shook her head.

"You do steak and eggs pretty damn good, too," Shipwreck said, bringing a bag to the table.

"You like anything you don't have to cook, 'Wreck," Alpine stated.

"No I don't. I'll eat almost anything I don't have to cook," Shipwreck corrected. "That don't mean I actually like it."