8 years ago
Dashiell Faireborn took a seat at the long bar in the night club called Starlight Station. He could not shake the disheartening feeling he had after his meeting at a small bar and grill a few miles up the road. He wanted, at this point, to get the hell out of Killeen, Texas, and back to Kansas.
His sister Jessie had been right; they should have mailed the box to Wayne. But Dash had felt it was important to deliver it to him. He wanted to cement how important Sneedon had been to Marissa. No matter what, the Soldier had a place in their family. He supposed the saying was right; no good deed goes unpunished.
As he settled himself on the barstool, the small bartender gave him an appraising look. He smiled back at her and nodded, she gave shy smile and placed a napkin in front of him.
Standing shy of five four, she had a face that looked like she was quick to smile. With deep coco brown eyes that shown with intelligence, she was exactly his type, so he ran the other way. Guys with his past did not need to settle down; it was too dangerous. Who knew what the outcome would be?
"You look like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders." She said in a accented voice, lyrical and his toes curled; he loved an accent on a girl.
Dash let out a sarcastic laugh "I feel it today."
She poured whiskey over ice. "This one on me, though with that look in your eyes I would leave after that." She smiled. "If you do stay, take it easy. With that look you can get lost in yourself real quick."
He nodded his understanding and then took a sip letting the fire of the liquid hit his throat. He would love to say that at twenty-two he was new to this drinking business. Dash had grown up in a small town; everything shut down after eight a night. So he hated to say he was no stranger to back road parties with Red Solo cups and a little smoke.
The Bartender squeezed his hand and walked off to help another customer with a high and tight who nodded at him. Dash nodded back, he might not look like the military boys that flocked to the club. Running a hand through his shoulder-length hair, he sighed. looking at his reflection. He wore a blue button-up shirt with his best boot cut jeans (the ones with out the Skoal ring on the back pocket). One of his Justin's settled on the top rung of the bar stool; in front of him sat his Ohio state baseball hat, complete with his lucky fishing hook.
He took another slow drink, it wasn't top shelf whiskey, but the amber liquid help relaxed him, easing his frustration. Memories of this past hour played out in his head. He hated that, yet again, Jessie had been right.
Sneedon, in fact, did not appreciate having the items that Emily Faireborn, Dash's mother, carefully selected for the solider. The Sergeant had turned his nose up at the items; snarling at the sight of them. His action caused Dash to wonder if the ranger had loved his sister.
"I thought I told you to take that half-breed ass of yours home, boy." Sneedon's thick southern accent broke through Dash's thoughts.
Faireborn couldn't help but groan. He didn't have to look at the taller man, his tone of voice he knew that Wayne was looking to fight. The Bartender having heard the comment, sneered at Sneedon. Walking away she shook her head mumbling about racist bastards.
Dash didn't bother to move, Sneedon walked closer to him growling. The Soldier might be taller, but Faireborn had thirty more pounds of muscle on the Alabama son.
"I am finishing this drink and going home to Kansas." Dash nodded. "Don't you worry; all memories of Marissa can be conveniently wiped from your mind."
Dash turned to sit back down, but Sneedon stopped him. "Now you little…" Even now the callous words, full of hate, still played in his mind.
What followed had him in jail over the weekend. His father had been waiting for him when they released him on Monday. Unlike the kid in front of him who was begging the police to take him back, Dash's dad had nodded hugged him. His father then had looked at him sternly saying, "I know that I taught you differently, but the officers told me what Sneedon said. There is no excuse, I would have done worse. At least you're not in a Mexican jail like your sister Aubrey was." With that, his dad put on his Stetson and they walked out into the sunshine.
Sneedon, in the end, didn't press charges. The DA office decided to see if both men would do the right thing before they got involved. Dash made a deal with the owner of the club to pay half of the damages, and for him, the matter was closed.
Life went on, three weeks later he joined the Army himself. He had hoped that there he would find peace. Even if the odds of him finding himself looking down the barrel at a Cobra were low. He still worked, like he did with everything, to be the best soldier he could be.
A year into his army service, rumor mill came around that Sneedon had gotten hemmed up in a series of events. It seemed that since having words with Dash in Starlight Station that his career took a downward spiral. Though the details were a little fuzzy, Faireborn figured that there was more myth, than truth, to the story.
The saddest part of the story; Dash and his dad decided not to tell his mother, that Sneedon had rejected the items. So, Flint was the caretaker of the box. Hidden at the end of his bed in his tough box under a collection of vinyl that was not in his heavy rotation was the box. The damn thing had gone from all his duty posts since AIT. He was an optimist that one day Wayne might ask for it.
It was never about the name calling, for Dash, it was how Marissa seemed so disposable to the Ranger. Dash carried that thought with him, his father had promised him that the feeling of betrayal would fade, he would understand Wayne a little more. Strangely as of late, especially, when he looked over at the small brunet who, at the moment, was placing an orange gummy bear on the edge of a napping Snake Eyes' visor, it was even harder to fathom.
He chuckled to himself, remembering his reaction to that damn gray hair. True, he had no issues with nudity. He did wonder, though, if he went a little overboard standing stark naked in the Day Room fussing at Lady Jaye. Didn't anyone understand how terrified he had been?
Flint would love to pretend like last week never happened, but, the pounding sinus headache wasn't allowing him. It had started as a simple mission, a convoy from the Rocky Mountain Research lab to North Fort Hood. The goal was to transport an experimental energy source to power a guidance laser that was being developed by NASA.
The mission had started out strong; Flint had even gotten Lady Jaye to not rush ahead to the vehicles during his safety briefing. The fact was, as he shouted out safety concerns such as pot holes, he held on to her belt. Sure when he got to scorpions, he had to pull on it to keep her in place; what counted, he got her through an entire safety briefing with out running head long into trouble.
Halfway through the mission, once they hit Texas, Cobra attacked. There was something about watching Lady Jaye be the one to take down Cobra Commander. While they had Cobra Commander, Cobra had Duke and Snake Eyes. Then came an adventure full of killer vines, earthquakes, sandstorms, screwy weather and well the worst case of foot-to-mouth disease ever.
He still groaned when he replayed saying. "Thanks, that means a lot… Knowing that your buddies miss you, I mean." The minute that came out of his mouth he regretted it especially that look in Jaye's pretty green eyes.
To add injury to insult, he had tried to smooth things over with her by going to Tikal, an impressive Aztec Ruin in Guatemala, with her. Lady Jaye took it as he though she couldn't lead a mission. Honestly, he wanted to spend time with her, he had faith that she could knock the mission out of the park.
Looking back, the whole reason that she took Gung-Ho and Shipwreck into the temple to locate and recover the missing piece of the weather dominator was to prove to him that she was as capable as he was. She still thought she had to show to him she was a Ranger.
As the trio made their escape, the Warrant Officer had watched in horror as Major Blood took the advantage. The Cobra operative opened fire on his teammates. The bad guys had his soldiers pinned down; his frustration mounted, he tried to move the rest of the Squad to help Lady Jaye, Gung - ho and Shipwreck. No matter what he tried, he couldn't get an opening.
Then the earthquake hit, Flint had watched in horror as Lady Jaye, Gung Ho and Shipwreck got swallowed up by the earth. Thank god, they had landed on a small ledge; he felt like he was having a heart attack, when the pain did subside he had her in his arms. True, it was under the disguise of steadying her on her feet, he might be able to admit to himself that he had feelings; but to act on them? Not yet, he couldn't; he wasn't ready.
His fear: that his biological father's DNA might override the Fairborn's lessons on love. What would happen, if one night, he drank a little too much? What if the anger that his biological father taught and Card cultivated, took control of him? What if he took that anger out on her?
Oh, he wasn't an idiot, that girl could kick his ass; but, to have her look at him differently. To lose the look of trust she gave him that would destroy him. Worse to watch it morph and turn to hate or fear. He couldn't handle that.
Especially with that impish grin cross her lips. Looking over at him she winked and held a finger up to her lips. From her belt, she unclipped her cell phone and went to take the picture. Flint chuckled as he watched the Ninja pick the gummy bear off his visor. With deadly accuracy, the man in black threw the offending object to have it settle between Lady Jaye's eyes.
Lady Jaye green eyes, now covered by brown contacts, got wide. Flint chuckled at her expression; she couldn't believe that the Ninja would dare throw the sugary snack back at her. "You didn't," she hissed.
The ninja leaned back into his seat making a sign using his middle finger that needed no interpretation. "I thought a Ninja would be above the use such language." She smiled at him.
The same finger of Snake Eyes' other hand joined in.
Flint shook his head and felt Lady Jaye pull his spit bottle out of his cargo pant to dispose of the orange sticky goo. She looked at him with a disgusted look. "This is why you can't keep a girlfriend. Nobody wants to kiss someone who does this."
He glared at her. "Better me do this and be happy. Then you all dealing with me being all mean when I try to stop."
"That's your happy face?" Spirit asked shaking his head. "I really would hate to see you angry."
"He gets naked for that" Snake Eyes signed.
Flint glared at Snake Eyes, he knew under the mask the ninja had a smug expression on his face.
Flint shook his head turning back to Lady Jaye. "What do we know?"
"Mayhem's last two check-ins had him moving from Paris then to New York, from his last one he stated that he was on the move again to Kansas City." Lady Jaye glanced down at the green book that many used to keep track of daily notes. Most of it was written in her bubbly handwriting with things like: fix spring in Alpines M-16, follow up on Thunder's leave request, and pick up baking soda and vinegar for Jack's science project. "There is chatter about someone in one of the Militia's pulling incapable men, with the ability to blow things up. Specifically, Navy SEALS and other Military counterparts."
"Like the Twelve City bombings?" Beachhead asked. "That was the MO Cobra used. Biker gangs to place and deliver the bombs, then, in some cities like London, followed up with Air Raids."
"Mayhem is still putting the intel together." Lady Jaye was explaining "He can't figure out the target. His contact is keeping things very compartmentalized."
"Smart," Roadblock said, "You see gangs in inner cities doing that with their operations. That way if someone gets arrested they don't have anything to give but a small fraction of the plan."
"So, what's your game plan?" Flint asked her.
"Two prongs: Beachhead, Roadblock you two are going to the Armory. Colonel Weiss is waiting for you. Question the men find out what we know about every person there. The rest of us will go to Udall." Jaye said, "The Sheriff and the Chief of Police are waiting for us."
"What about the ATF?" Roadblock asked.
"They have an unrelated project they are working on in Missouri, tonight," Jaye said looking at her notes. "They will meet us tomorrow at our hotel, after their bust."
"How can we be sure it's unrelated?" Spirit asked. All too often, infighting between agencies caused information to be held back.
"Soccer mom is smuggling cartons of cigarettes onto the reservation. She's selling them out of her van." Lady Jaye explained. "Not exactly in the New Dawn's wheelhouse, or I would hope not."
"It's not" Snake Eyes signed.
"Good Work, Lady Jaye," Flint said looking down at his notes.
"If this was my..." Beachhead began, Flint couldn't help but sigh.
"It's not, Beachhead!" They all cut him off.
"I'm just saying I could do a lot of good in Udall, Jaye doesn't exactly scream country." Beachhead motioned toward her.
"What does that mean?" Lady Jaye asked, the voice coming out of her mouth was Scarlett's. "I think I can blend into a small town in the Midwest fine. Besides, Beach. I ride a horse better than you."
"Horse?" Beachhead looked at her strangely.
"The back forty of the Green property; we can get to it unnoticed on horseback," Flint explained. "I'm sure that also had something to do with Jaye's decision. Roadblock can't ride very well, and though Snakes is accomplished on horseback, Spirit is better."
"Sheriff Emily Faireborn is real nice." Lady Jaye said brightly. She Offered up a handful of gummy bears. Her eyes never leaving Beachhead's, Flint picked out the orange ones from her hand as did Snake Eyes and Roadblock. She did give Spirit a green one and then with no one was paying attention, he watched her shyly give him a red bear, his favorite. "But I'm all for trading with you, if you want, Beach."
Beachhead glowered. "No, I'll go to the armory."
Lady Jaye chuckled. Flint realized she knew all along who she was talking to when she had her phone calls with Emily. He almost wanted to ask if they enjoyed their conversation, but thought better of asking what secrets his mother had told him.
Instead, he decided to find out on his own, "Twenty minutes' guys."
Jaye stood up and stretched, looking around the C130; she keyed her mic to talk to Wild Bill. "Hey, Bill, where's the honey bucket?"
There was silence; then, a sheepish voice came over. "I knew I forgot something."
The look on their only female on this mission face was priceless. Spirit looked up at her, "Jaye we can rig something for you."
"No, I can hold it." She looked at her watch, "We are only fifteen minutes away." She sat down and smiled.
That fifteen minute was the cruelest fifteen minutes that Flint experienced. Flint had watched Jaye's smile turn to a look of irritation and then to downright ire.
It seemed the Texan thought it would be funny to put the C130 through its paces, landing it under combat maneuvers. None of them were happy with the Texan, but as they stood on Terra Firma, Flint was tasked with holding onto a small furious Scotswoman "RUN BILL RUN!" he yelled in his 'don't screw with me voice'.
"Boys, hold Jaye back. She's hotter than the Barrel of an M16 in a firefight against Cobra." Wild Bill screamed racing towards the hangers. It seemed that the Texan realized the error of his ways when he took one look at her delicate features screwed into a murderous mask.
"WRONG WAY BILL! THAT'S WHERE WE ARE GOING!" Spirit yelled.
Flint watched as the Texan turned on the balls of his feet and ran into the first door he found. The Pueblo Indian and Roadblock read the sign of the door, both burst out laughing as it closed behind the pilot in big bold words read WOMEN.
Lady Jaye broke free, and all Flint could do was shake his head; there was no use in trying to stop her. He cringed hearing her voice, thick with a brogue, scream all the terrible things she planned to do to him. It silenced as the door closed behind her. He hoped her bladder won over trying to get payback on their pilot.
Flint couldn't stop his laughter when Bill raced out seconds later. He turned examining the door and screamed: "Why the hell do they have Urinals!" The Texan raced towards the gate and the green shirt that was to take him to their hotel.
He motioned for the rest of them to make their way to offload their gear from the pallet brought down from the C-130 into the other SUV. Lady Jaye joined them, wearing that grin of hers meant only one thing, she was up to something.
"What did you do?" Flint had not been the receiving end of the look, yet, he had worked with her long enough in these six weeks to know she was up to something.
"Bill is my friend," Lady Jaye grinned "So, I did nothing."
Flint was surprised how quickly he had become friends with the small Joe. If she told him that the sky was purple he would believe her; but, the fact was, that after the stunt Bill pulled, she was thinking of all the ways to get back at the man. He, in no way, believed her when she said she did nothing.
It seemed that Roadblock did believe her. "Good one, Jaye."
"I don't get it." Flint knew that he was missing something.
"Nothing, she did nothing." Beachhead moaned. "She's relying on the fact that her reputation will precede her; Bill will be looking out for some major payback. That, in itself, is payback."
Spirit looked at her shaking his head then smiling "It is the most powerful tool in her arsenal - nothing."
Flint looked at her shaking his head, "You are evil, woman."
Addendum 124943 To be copied to WO-3 Faireborn, Dashiell and Sgt. Hart-Burnett, Alison (General's Personal Files): In the report of the activities of mission 2011-9-03-623: Operation Weather Dominator. I am pleasantly surprised as to the performance and teamwork of Faireborn and Hart. I have noticed on smaller missions that they work well together and balance each other out. Where Hart more readily jumps into things without thinking, Faireborn tends to pull her back. Lady Jaye, on the other hand, tends to make Faireborn a little calmer in the anger arena.
Considering the day room incident, I think no further comment or any discipline should be taken towards the Warrant Officer. It seems to have endeared him towards his troops even more. Also proving that he's not a Joe to be crossed; his bark at times is worse than his bite. It has been of some concern with my higher NCO's that his anger is uncontrollable. Considering that on numerous occasions, today included, that Hart has been able to subdue or shown that she is perfectly safe.
I know that putting the two of them together is opening the chapter for a romantic relationship between them. Honestly, with early results like theirs and the fact that they do not bring other Joes into their drama (if there is any I have no clue), I feel confident keeping the two of them together with their results at the moment, I will reevaluate as needed.
"Whatcha doing?" General Clayton Abernathy looked up to see his best friend and the CO of the Joe team's reserve platoon settled into a seat across from him.
"Writing up some addendums to personal files." Hawk turned back to his computer screen saving his work into the appropriate files.
"Let me guess, Flint's little hissy fit in the Day Room a couple of days ago?" Colton was obviously amused by the situation.
Hawk knew this was coming so he turned to her his friend making a motion for him to continue. "Let's hear it." He had learned it best to get Colton to say what's on his mind or little comments would reign supreme.
"I give them two months, you will have another Duke and Scarlett on your hands," Colton said smugly.
"Duke and Scarlett are extremely professional." General Hawk glared at his friend.
"Not saying they aren't," Colton shrugged. "Look, I'm just not wanting to see Lady Jaye rushing into something with someone that had a nickname of Romeo, or the Bachelor of Bragg."
Hawk examined Colton, "You got into the pool late."
Colton returned his look, shocked that Hawk would think such a thing him; bet on his own teammates, his, soldiers, especially one that he watched grow up. "I did not."
Hawk leaned over his desk; examining Colton's left nostril which was flaring slightly. "You did too. What is your date?"
"Eight months from now," He groaned. "So, I was thinking if you could break them apart, maybe, it will slow them down a little bit."
Hawk looked at the Joe teams Reserve Company Commander. "You want me to break up a partnership, that actually works and I don't have them killing each other so you can win a bet?"
"It will also stop Raven from having a heart attack at such an early age. You didn't see them at Izzy's last night. I know that look Flint had on his face, that's the look on my face every time I look at my wife. It's on your face every time you look at Kaylee and Duke when he looks at Scarlett."
"What look is that?" Hawk asked leaning back in his chair.
"The boy is in love, not the love that half these boys find themselves in three times a month. The boy has come down with 'fall-on-a-grenade' kind of love. That kind of feeling you can't fight; trust me I know." Joe sighed. "The kid will try. He'll think his demons are too powerful. Look one night, one look, from that little girl, he will be lost, and he will be a much better person for it."
"Kid hits you close to home?" Hawk asked. Knowing that though yes, he would like to win the pool the symmetry between Colton and the Joe team's new Executive Officer was a little closer to home than he would admit.
Colton said nothing blinking at his friend. This was more than Flint; this was his friend already mourning the potential loss of his wife. "Look Jane is going to make it through this, one way or another," Hawk said looking at his old friend.
"I can't lose her," Colton said getting his emotions under control. "I knew a C word would get us in the end. I never imagined it would be cancer."
Hawk couldn't imagine if it was his wife Kaylee, he would be a wreck. "You two have this."
"I hope; I'd be shit without her." Colton rubbed his face. Hawk felt an uncomfortable silence fall between the two of them. What did you say to a guy who was fighting something that neither of them was equipped to fight?
Moving on with a need to fill the silence "So, what brings you here?" Not that Hawk didn't enjoy his friend stopping by General Joseph Colton didn't drop by to say "Hi" ever.
Colton smiled widely, "Flamingo."
Hawk sighed dramatically, "No."
Joe shook his head, his smile growing larger, "Yes."
"Flamingo?" Clay hated that word; he was sure that was why Joe chose it. "Are you sure?"
"Flamingo!" Colton's excitement was growing. The General was bouncing in his chair.
Hawk thought about all the things he promised Kaylee he would do for her and the girls; one had Soccer practice, the other a softball game. Plus, an oil change on his Charger. He was sure there was something about cleaning the Porta Potties on the ranges too. "I have to- "
"Nope," Colton shook his head. "Ain't getting out of it, I already cleared it with Kaylee."
Hawk let his head fall on his desk. Hitting his head a few times he hoped that it would knock some sense on why the General's idea was insane. "Flamingo."
Colton's smile at this point spread ear to ear. "FLAMINGO!"
Hawk sighed "Fine, Flamingo."
"I'll get the kiddies." Colton was up out of his chair racing down the halls singing the accursed word.
All Hawk could do, hearing the bald fool's footfalls, was wince. "Flamingo." He swore.