Hours later, Jaye drove the no longer clean 4X4 in the driveway of the farmhouse and parked outside the house. Getting out of the car, they began to unload the bags upon bags, upon more bags, purchases.
Scarlett shook her head. "Allie, did you leave anything in the mall?"
"I think she left the dust bunnies on the floor." Nancy joked. "Let me take out Rowdy and I'll come back to help out."
They watched the youngest Faireborn dash up the stairs and run into the house.
Jaye, Scarlett and Brenna began to gather some shopping bags from the back of the 4x4 when a shout came from the house, making them all freeze.
"WHAT THE HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Nancy's loud voice echoed outside from inside the house..
They all looked at each other, left the bags put and ran inside the old farmhouse, stopping dead in their tracks. Their mouths opened, their eyes went large and they just stared in shock at the scene before them.
There, in the living room, on the floor, were the second and third in command of the elite unit, with ten dolls on each other's side. Flint's dolls were all dressed in green, while Duke's were in blue. Somehow the evil plastic things had acquired small versions of guns and two paper flags were on each side, one saying G.I. JOE, the other, COBRA.
Flint and Duke kept staring at the women, while the women kept staring at the men.
It was Nancy's voice that broke the silence, "I think I'm seriously disturbed now."
Scarlett sent Duke a curious look, as he was holding one of the evil plastic things in one hand and a doll brush on the other. "Having fun braiding hair, Conrad?" she asked, trying to hold the laughter inside.
"Who? Me? No, just getting ready to cut this one's hair, going to put it in the brainwave scanner Dash and I made, that's over there." He pointed over behind them.
They turned and looked at a miniature version of the scanner.
Jaye pulled out her new digital camera and shot a picture of the men with the dolls.
Nancy eyes narrowed. "Any of you dare cut the hair of those dolls and I swear you'll see nothing but dirt for all eternity!"
Scarlett walked over to the Cobra side of the room and sat down next to the first sergeant. She picked up a doll with long black hair, brown eyes and glasses. "Let me guess. Baroness? Right?"
Flint turned to his sister, "Nan, we're not going to harm them--much. But the ones we put in the oven did melt… right Conrad?"
Nancy's jaw dropped, her eyes shocked.
Jaye started to laugh so hard, it made her sick, and she ran to the downstairs bathroom barely making it.
"Here we go again." Brenna said. "Good thing Mom isn't home."
Duke looked at Flint. "She been doing that a lot?"
Flint nodded. "You don't even want to know." He stood up, "I'll go check on her. Hope this flu bug goes away soon." He then went towards the downstairs bathroom.
Scarlett bit her lip, hard, trying to keep a straight face.
Nancy walked over to where Flint's doll army and picked up a blond short hair doll, "Let me guess? You?" she teased Duke, which made Scarlett to burst out laughing.
Brenna chuckled. "I'll go get the bags." She walked towards the back door.
In the downstairs bathroom, Jaye was on the floor in front of the toilet. She groaned as Flint entered.
"Allie, I'm getting worried about you." He said sitting down beside her. "Do you want me to call Dr. McCoy again?"
"No, no. I'll be fine." She gave him a small smile. "Just was laughing too hard I guess. Don't worry about me."
"Okay, Allie." Flint said, rubbing her back softly, but his voice didn't sound convinced. "Want to go back to the living room and brainwash some of those evil plastic things?"
"I'll go with you but you can do the brainwashing. I've had enough of that blasted machine being used on me," Jaye said, and let him help her stand up.
He grinned. "I just love torturing, Nancy," he said with an evil gleam in his eyes, causing her to laugh.
They walked in the living room to find both Nancy and Duke placing dolls in battle positions, Brenna had sat on the chair, watching the scene taking pictures, and Scarlett was on the sofa, shaking her head.
"Alright! Battle time!" Flint called out, rubbing his hands together and sitting down.
Jaye shook her head and settled next to Scarlett.
"Feeling alright?" Scarlett whispered to her best friend, who nodded.
The redhead turned her head, glancing around the room, with its decorations and humble decor. Her eyelids began to slowly close, probably from the long working hours, and not to mention the long shopping hours. The next moment she felt were a pair of soft lips on hers. She fluttered her eyes open and found Duke staring down at her and she had been covered with a warm quilt.
Jaye was in the kitchen fixing some coffee. Nancy and Brenna had left with the parents to take baby Molly to see Santa Claus down at the church.
He smiled at her. "Feeling rested, Sleeping Beauty?"
Scarlett returned his smile, "Going shopping with Allie is like going into battle ten times," she answered, making him chuckle.
She then glanced around the room, "Guess Cobra won the battle." indicating at all the dolls in green lying on the ground. Her eyes then traveled towards the Christmas tree. "Looks like the Joe side had casualties." nodding towards the sleeping form of the warrant officer on his back, then did a double take, noticing an evil plastic thing on his chest area and their lips touching together. "Did they--?"
"Allie already took a picture and emailed it to Breaker," Duke said with a chuckle. "She's quite proud of herself." He looked the way of the kitchen as he heard Jaye start humming. "What's going on with her, Shana? She's different. It's almost as if she's glowing."
Scarlett shrugged. "Maybe its the holiday season. You know how people glow during thhis time of year." hoping he would buy the reason. "Besides, it's their first Christmas together, that is special in itself."
A snore sounded from the side of the tree, and they both watched the evil plastic thing move up and down each time Flint breathed.
Duke laughed. "I hate to ask this but are you ready to get back?"
"I'm ready, if you are." Scarlett replied. "There are only a handful Joes on the base and I can only image what Beach Head is doing to those poor souls."
"Let's go say goodbye to Allie." Duke said. "I think she's wrapping presents."
"Wrapping presents in the kitchen?" Scarlett sent him a concerned look, then touched his forehead, "You're not getting that flu, are you?"
"No really! She took some wrapping paper, tape, bows and everything in there." Duke said honestly.
Scarlett glanced towards the kitchen. "Wonder what on earth she's doing in there." She grabbed his hand, "Come on, we got a mission, Operation Snoop."
Jaye was in the kitchen and she put a small square thing in a box and started to fill it with small clothing items. She was humming softly to herself.
The other two Joes walked towards the kitchen, Scarlett's head peeked inside, and her eyes widened knowing what type of 'clothing' Jaye was putting in the box. She knew that Jaye wanted to keep the little surprise for Christmas morning, and had only confided in the redhead. Duke's head was almost close to the kitchen's door. The counterintelligence agent, whirled quickly around and pointed to the doorway. "Mistletoe!"
Before the first sergeant could react, Scarlett grabbed his face with both her hands and brought him down for their lips to meet, and then with one hand, behind her back waved madly towards Jaye to hide the evidence.
Jaye hurried up and stuck the last few pieces of clothing in the box and then closed it. When done she looked over at them and grinned. "You two can borrow Dash and mine's room."
Scarlett let go of Duke's lips and turned around to face Jaye. "Sorry, Conrad wants to leave, he's too worried Beach Head will take over his position or something."
"Yeah you better get back and make sure Beach takes his yearly bath. Don't forget to call the Environmental Protection Agency." Jaye teased.
Scarlett grinned. "I think it was Conrad's turn to catch the drill instructor and bathe him this year. Didn't Courtney had the honor last year?" She could feel next to her Duke shiver from thinking about washing Beach Head.
"Yeah she did." Jaye acted thoughtful. "But if I remember correctly Shipwreck hasn't done it yet. Maybe he could delegate it."
"Can't, he's one of the lucky ones on leave. Unlike some of us, who got the short straw this year. So, guess it has to be the first sergeant." Scarlett grinned, laughing inside.
"Duke, be sure you contact Ozone before you do this. I do believe he's got really special soap for Beach." Jaye smirked.
"Gee thanks, girls," Duke said, rolling his eyes.
"Red, don't forget the Christmas gifts for you, Duke and Hawk," Jaye said, walking over to the couple.
"Jaye, you shouldn't have." Scarlett hugged her best friend. "Mine is under the Christmas tree for you," she said with a wink, then turned to Duke. "Let's go Conrad, we're stopping at Bath and Body Works to buy some lavender shampoo and bubble bath for you to wash Beach Head with."
"Stores are closed now, Shana." Jaye chuckled. "It's Christmas Eve. Everything closed early. Con will just have to use the special charcoal soap."
"You two are real comedians. I'm going to go say goodbye to Dash." Duke said and went into the other room.
"Conrad! Dash was killed in action! Remember?" Scarlett called after him. She then turned to Jaye. "Pheww, that was a close one, glad he didn't see the stuff for you know what." She then giggled. "Glad he didn't even notice that there was no mistletoe on the doorway." pointing above her head with a snicker.
"Yeah, I know." Jaye chuckled. "Good save by the way." She quickly wrapped that present. It was the last one that needed wrapping.
In the living room, Duke walked over to Flint and gently shook him.
Flint moved his head slightly, the doll still balancing on his chest, and moved his arm and wrapped it around Duke's legs. "Hmm, ten more minutes, sweetheart," he mumbled, gently rubbing Duke's right leg.
"ALLIE! GET IN HERE AND GET YOUR HUSBAND OFF MY LEG!!!" Duke yelled towards the kitchen.
Jaye looked at Scarlett then went in the other room and just stood there in shock.
Scarlett followed Jaye, and stopped short. "Well, there's something you don't see everyday," she tried to say seriously.
Flint kept continuing to rub Duke's leg, thinking that he was sleeping next to his wife. "Want to cuddle?" He tried to pull Duke's leg towards him.
"Allie! Help me." Duke pleaded threw gritted teeth.
Jaye was laughing to hard to assist her commanding officer from her husband's advances.
Scarlett grabbed the camera from the table and took several pictures. "Sorry, black mai-- I mean memories."
Flint then murmured on something about kissing, which made the first sergeant in more panic state.
"Go on Dukie, give Flinty a widdle kiss," Jaye teased giving him kissy faces.
"You are so going to regret this, Lady Jaye." Duke growled, glancing down at the sleeping third in command.
"Oh come on, Duke. Where is your Christmas spirit? Wake up Prince Charming with one of your special kisses." Scarlett batted her eyes at him, causing Jaye to burst out into more laughter.
"You two are getting coal in your stockings." Duke threatened, glaring at the women.
Scarlett huffed. "Hmm? Coal? " Then she turned to Jaye. "Allie, maybe we should leave these two lovebirds alone," she said with a wink, now watching Flint's hand move slowly up Duke's right leg.
Flint moaned, "Allie, you been working out."
Jaye laughed. "Yeah, want some coffee?" she asked, heading for the kitchen.
"You two are going to have KP duty for twenty years," Duke vowed, shaking his fist in the air.
"I would love some coffee," Scarlett played along, ignoring Duke's threats and followed Jaye.
"Hey!!!" Duke cried out to the two women. He jumped slightly when he felt Flint's hand start to pull up the leg of his pants. He grabbed the doll on Flint's chest and hit him with it.
Jaye quickly turned around when she heard the impact.
"WHAT THE HELL, ALLIE!!!" Flint bellowed at top of his lungs, rubbing his head.
Scarlett covered her mouth. Flint was going to kill the field commander. And then Nancy was going to kill Flint, when she discovered that one of her dolls was a real casualty during the battle.
"Nancy is going to kill them," Scarlett whispered to Jaye, seeing the doll's head roll to the ground while Duke still held on to what remained of the body.
Jaye was laughing so hard she fell, scrapping her knee on the floor.
"LET GO OF MY LEG!!!" Duke yelled, getting ready to beat Flint over the head with what was left of the doll.
Scarlett ran over to help Jaye off the floor. "You alright?" She asked her best friend.
The warrant officer bolted up. "What leg?" He asked confused. He then slowly turned and his mouth dropped discovering his hand on his best friend's leg. "What the hell?" Flint immediately let go of Duke's right leg as if he had touched fire.
Jaye was holding her knee because it had cut open from her fall, but continued still laughing hysterically.
"You all are a bunch of freaks," Duke grumbled.
"Freaks?" Scarlett glared at him coldly, "Really? Just wait til we go back to base and I'll tell you how much freaky I am." Then she turned to Jaye, "Come on, lets get that cleaned up." Her face looked extremely angry with the first sergeant.
Flint shook his head, hoping for not another of their famous arguments that had developed the past year, "Sorry Conrad, I thought you were Allie." Standing up. then glanced on the ground, "Oh great, Nancy's going to shoot me. We killed Samantha."
"Samantha?" Duke asked Flint all puzzled.
"Relax, Shana." Jaye said to Scarlett. "You know he didn't mean it."
Scarlett remained silent. Then shook her head slowly, "I must be getting tired. I think when I return base, I'm going to take a long bath and sleep for a week!"
Flint picked up the doll's head. "This or rather was, is Samantha. She's her favorite, not to mention her first doll and not to mention-- never mind. Don't worry! I'll fix her! Duck Tape and Windex STAT!"
"I think you need to spend some nice quality time with that man of yours," Jaye whispered to Scarlett, watching Flint try to put back the head on the doll, only to have it once more roll on the floor.
"What is it with your dad and Windex anyway?" Duke asked.
Flint looked at him confused. "Got no clue. It's one of those things with him. Just like you and Windex." He pointed out, reminding his best friend on his cleaning habits.
"Duke, we better hurry, Hawk is probably ready to send out a search party out for us," Scarlett said, heading up the stairs to retrieve her clothes.
"Yeah, you're right," Duke agreed, and followed her up.
Jaye watched them walk up the stairs and then headed into the kitchen to clean the cut on her knee.
Flint walked up to her, still holding the doll's head. "You alright?" He put the doll head on the table, and sat on the counter. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"Because it was funnier watching Duke try to wake you," she said then grimaced while the rag touched on her injury.
He glanced at the doll head. "And it will be funnier watching Nancy turn into Magneto and kill me."
They heard footsteps coming down the stairs and the other two Joes entered the kitchen, back into their own dry clothing.
"Well, this is going to be one report that Hawk will probably throw in the fireplace. One casualty in battle, Samantha, doll, eighteen inches." Scarlett shook her head. " We'll see you back at the base." She walked over to hug her best friend, "Now remember, pictures! That's an order."
"Oh, there will be tons. I promise." Jaye grinned, a mischievous look on her face.
"Pictures of what?" Duke asked, glancing from one woman to the other.
Scarlett thought fast. "Molly's first Christmas of course." Then she winked at Flint. "And of Nancy killing Flint."
"Funny, Red." Flint replied giving her a hug. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas, Dash. Merry Christmas Allie." Scarlett smiled at them.
"Merry Christmas to the both of you. Go and enjoy the rest of the evening. But remember that Santa is still watching you," Jaye teased.
Duke put his arm around Scarlett's waist and pulled her close.
Scarlett faked a sigh, "Yes, but I already know that I'm getting coal in my stocking. And twenty years of KP."
Flint looked bewildered. "What kind of wish list is that?"
"Duke's wish list," Jaye answered with a smirk. "I've got the same thing."
Duke just smirked, staying silent.
"Oh well, at least Alpine got me that nice bracelet I liked from Tiffany's!" Scarlett announced, sending a quick wink towards Jaye. "See you back at the base!" She dashed out of the back door, leaving the field commander with a hung jaw.
"He did what?!" Duke asked, and followed her out the door.
Jaye began to laugh really hard, watching out the window Duke chasing her best friend, while she headed for the Strikers.
Flint looked shocked. "Can you explain to me what that was about?"
They heard the roaring of Scarlett's Striker taking off, and then minutes later Duke's following hers. Flint shook his head, "This is one holiday I'm going to remember forever. All my friends and my wife, have totally lost it!"
"Just like you." Jaye teased as she put the band-aid on her knee. "Can you put this gift under the tree for me?"
"Oh God! Don't remind me! Waking up to Conrad's leg wasn't a pretty sight." He took the present from her, and grabbed her hand. Walking out to the living room, he gently put the present down. Then still holding on to Jaye, he guided her to the window. "Just look at the stars tonight Allie, they're sparkling, just like you." He said softly, bending down for their lips to meet.
"My warrior poet," Jaye said, just before returning his kiss.