I do not own.
"I think we lost them." Beach Head said after several twists and turns through several side streets.
"Finally." Cover Girl sighed. Turning the bike around, they headed toward the UN.
We're almost there." Cover Girl announced above the road noise after a while.
"Good, because the kid's about done." Beach Head observed as he kept a firm hand on the tired boy.
"No, I'm not." Bailey protested weakly trying to keep his eyes open. Now that the adrenaline has worn off, he was fighting the fatigue of the night.
Cover Girl pulled around the corner only to be confronted by a blockade of Cobra soldiers. She quickly made a u-turn only to be stopped by more soldiers closing off the way they came. Without thinking she veered off to the side into an open air multistory parking garage of an adjacent building.
Beach Head yelled. "You're going to get us trapped!"
"I know what I'm doing!" Cover Girl snapped. She zipped up the ramp. Beach Head could hear commotion behind him. He turned his head slightly and saw a contingent of Cobra soldiers behind them.
"They're gaining!" He barked.
"Thank you for the update, Captain Obvious." Cover Girl yelled back.
"Go faster!"
"This is not a jet plane! We're already at top speed."
"Cobra's vehicles are pieces of…"
Cover Girl had already tuned him out. She was very aware that Cobra was gaining on them. Despite what she had told Beach Head, she was playing this by ear. The sunlight and shadows alternated as she drove past the openings in the building. Beach Head was right. If they kept going they would get trapped on the roof. She saw a sign marked exit.
"Hang on!" She yelled.
"What?" Beach Head yelled. Then he saw her heading straight for the door. "Are you crazy?" He yelped right as she smashed through the door. Beach Head would never know how she managed to maneuver the motorcycle down the flight of stairs in the narrow stairwell without getting them killed. He had his eyes closed. He definitely felt the jarring bumps and painful sounds of metal shearing. Finally, there more sounds of breakage when he felt a breeze. Opening his eyes, he saw that they were back on the street again.
"That was easy." Cover Girl declared.
"You are crazy." Beach Head declared.
"Takes one to know one." Cover Girl retorted. "There's the UN."
"And there's Cobra." Beach Head looked behind him.
Cover Girl sped ahead toward the gates. A guard stood in front and waved his arms to tell her stop. But she was not having it. Beach Head was afraid she was going to run him over when the man had the good sense to jump out of the way. Cover Girl ran through the barrier arm and kept going.
"Why aren't you stopping?" Beach Head yelled.
"I'm not stopping till I see Bailey's dad." Cover Girl growled.
Beach Head understood. "You're worried about snakes."
"I don't know who to trust." Cover Girl admitted. "Until I see his father or Hawk, I ain't stopping."
A man was stepping out of a glass door. He gasped and jumped to the side while still holding the door open so that the bike passed through.
"Thanks!" Cover Girl yelled as she passed by.
Security guards at the desk shouted at them as she rode by. They ignored them as they rode to the bank of elevators. One opened just as they arrived. She rode the bike straight in. As security ran towards them, the door slid closed.
"What floor is he on?" Cover Girl asked Bailey.
"I'm not sure." Bailey said in a small voice.
"Then let's start at the top and work our way down." Beach Head pressed the last button.
When the elevator door opened, the bike rolled out.
"Why are we still on the bike?" Beach Head asked.
"So we can do this!" Cover Girl revved the bike and drove it straight down the hallway. People stuck their heads out of the door to see what was going on.
"Is Mr. Slattery here?" Cover Girl yelled to the people.
"Is my father here?" Bailey stood up between Cover Girl and Beach Head.
The people shook their heads.
"Does anyone know where he might be?" Beach Head called out next.
"I think he might be on the sixth floor." Someone answered.
"Thanks!" Cover Girl replied.
The elevator opened and several guards with weapons stormed out.
"Uh-oh, better move it." Cover Girl revved the bike again and turned in the other direction. Beach Head pulled Bailey back into his seat as Cover Girl headed down the corridor. They reached another bank of elevators. None of them were anywhere near their floor,
"I think it's time to ditch the bike and hoof it." Beach Head grabbed Bailey. Cover Girl hopped off and ran to the door to the stairwell. Yanking it open, she held it open for Beach Head. Carrying Bailey he rushed through the door. Cover Girl slammed the door after her. Spotting the emergency fire hose, she pulled it and looped one end around the door handle effectively locking it.
Beach Head and Bailey were already three flights down. Cover Girl ran to catch up. Before they reached the sixth floor the door below opened and security rushed out. Beach Head was half way down the stairs when he stopped and made a 180. Cover Girl opened the door. Beach Head and Bailey rushed through it before Cover Girl slammed it shut. She grabbed a nearby chair and jammed it under the door knob.
"Where to now?" She panted. Pounding came from the other side of the door.
Beach Head scowled.
"Wait," Bailey wiggled out of Beach Head's grasp. "I know this place. My dad's office is over here." He ran off down the hall.
"Bailey, wait for us!" Cover Girl yelled.
"Da!" He yelled as he ran through the narrow hallway.
Just as he was about to turn the corner, a hand grabbed him and pulled him into a room.
"Bailey!" Beach reached the room. The door was locked. Beach Head slammed his shoulder against the door ripping it from its hinges. As the door flew open, he did a forward roll to avoid a gun shot. Grabbing a pen from the desk, he threw it like a dart at the assailant. The pen stuck itself into his hand. Yelping he dropped the gun. Bailey seeing that he was distracted stomped on his foot. Yelping again, the goon let him go. Bailey rushed toward Beach Head. Cover Girl appeared in the doorway and pulled Bailey outside. The gunman scooped up his gun but when he looked up, Beach Head landed a right hook straight into his face, knocking him out. Beach took the gun and raced after Cover Girl.
"Da's office is here." Bailey pointed to the door with his father's name on the door.
"Mr. Slattery?" Cover Girl knocked on the door. Beach Head turned the corner.
"What the bloody blue blazes are you doing?" He growled.
"Knocking on the door." Cover Girl retorted.
"This is no time for manners!" He declared. With one swift kick, the door flew open.
No one was in the office.
Beach Head cursed.
"Crap! Where is he?" Beach Head snapped.
"Right here." From one of the side doors, Firefly appeared holding a gun to Mr. Slattery's head.
"Da!" Bailey made motions to go to his father but Cover Girl held him back. "Let me go! Da!"
Beach Head glowered at the snake. "What do you think you're doing? If you kill him, Trucial Abysmia will definitely face sanctions. Face it. Cobra failed."
Firefly snorted. "Not everything is about Cobra. This is personal. You've humiliated me for the last time." He aimed his gun at Beach Head. "I think two dead Joes and some civilian casualties will due as payment." He fired. But just as he pulled the trigger, Mr. Slattery jerked back causing his gun to aim slightly askew. The bullet passed harmlessly between Cover Girl and Beach Head. Cover Girl pulled Bailey behind the desk shielding him with her body while Beach Head pulled out the gun he took from the Cobra soldier. Firing, he knocked the gun from Firefly's hand. Firefly pulled Slattery in front of him using him as a shield.
"You coward!" Beach Head spat out.
"You say po-tay-toe, I say po-ta-toe." Firefly replied.
"Over here. Check over here." It sounded like Dusty.
Beach Head looked at Firefly. "Joes are here. You're surrounded. Make it easier on yourself."
"Oh, it'll be easy. If you don't want to see a very dead diplomat, you better tell them to back off." He hissed.
Dusty and several Joes appeared in the doorway.
"Hold on." Beach Head held out his hand to stop them. "He has a hostage."
"Now everyone back away from the doorway and clear a path or his blood will color the carpet." Firefly snarled. A knife appeared at Slattery's throat.
Gritting their teeth, the Joes slowly moved out of the way.
"No! Da!" Bailey cried. He and Cover Girl had gotten up. She still held him firmly in place.
"Be brave, son." Mr. Slattery said in a shaky voice. "I will be fine."
"Sure you will." Firefly sneered.
"I'll find you, you lily-livered coward." Beach Head promised. "And when I do… you won't have an innocent to cover you."
"Big talk from a little man." Firefly was halfway out the door. He dragged Slattery along. The Joes watched helplessly as Firefly pulled his hostage toward the elevators. The sound of choppers made them look out the window. They had the Cobra insignia on them. Firefly and his hostage entered the elevator which started to go up.
"You can't let him get away." Bailey pleaded to Beach Head.
Beach Head's eyes narrowed.
"They're escaping by helicopter on the roof." Cover Girl said quietly.
"How did you get here?" Beach Head asked Dusty.
"Wild Bill flew us to the safe house but when you weren't there we drove over." Dusty said.
"Where's Wild Bill?" Beach Head asked.
"He's back at the safe house." Dusty replied.
"How fast can he get here?"
"I'll radio him now." Dusty pulled out his radio.
"They'll be long gone by the time he gets here." Cover Girl pointed out.
"Give me your grappling hook." Beach Head took the rope from Alpine's shoulder.
"Hey, wait a minute." Alpine protested.
Beach head opened the window and looked up. They were not too far from the roof. Swinging the rope with the hook, he threw it as high as it would go. The grappling hook managed to snag concrete ledge. Making sure it was secure, he leapt out the window and began climbing up the rope. Cover Girl peered out.
"What the hell are you doing?" She yelled at him.
"Stopping them snakes." He grunted.
"Oh you're insane." She muttered. Grabbing the gun from Dusty's startled hand, she also grabbed the rope. "Take care of Bailey." She told Dusty as she followed Beach Head onto the roof.
"Dang it woman! What are you doing?" Beach Head yelled at her.
"I'm not letting you face Cobra by yourself, you idiot." She retorted. "I swear if you die, I'm going to kill you."
He hid a smile as he continued up. "Suit yourself."
He reached the roof just as the Cobra chopper landed. Firefly was on the roof pushing Slattery towards it. Beach Head opened fire. The shot startled Firefly who loosened his grip on Slattery who twisted away. Beach head fired again keeping Firefly from going after him. Cover Girl joined him on the roof and began firing as well. Cobra soldiers peered out from the chopper's opening and returned fire. Cover Girl and Beach Head split up as to make it harder for them to hit one. From the corner of his eye, Beach saw Slattery make it safely inside. But Firefly also made it inside the chopper. It began lifting off.
"He's getting away!" Beach Head kept firing until he ran out of ammo. He then threw the gun at the retreating chopper.
"Forget it." Cover Girl told him. "Bailey and his dad are safe." Looking out in the distance, she saw a familiar sight. "Let Wild Bill take over." The Dragonfly passed by as Wild Bill tipped his hat before pursuing the Cobra chopper. "Come on. It's been a long few days."
Beach Head let himself be lead back inside.
0o0
After Lifeline had checked them out, (You have a bruised rib, Cover Girl, nothing broken.), they waited nervously for Hawk to debrief them in one of the offices in the UN.
"You think we're in trouble?" Cover Girl asked.
Beach head shrugged. Before he could answer, Hawk stepped inside. They stood at attention and tried to gauge his mood but he had on his best poker face.
"Well, it's certainly been… unconventional." He started. "But despite the damages, illegally entering a secured building, riding a motorcycle through the halls of the UN… you did thwart Cobra and saved Slattery and his son."
"So we're good?" Cover Girl asked hesitantly.
"No, the damages are extensive and the State Department is demanding there be reprisals. Therefore you two will be suspended for a week… with pay… to think about what you did." He gave them a wink. "Have fun." He walked out.
"Um, did he just give us a week off?" Cover Girl asked with confusion.
"I think he did." Beach Head agreed.
"I think you owe me a dinner and a show." She gave him a sly smile.
"I think that can be arranged." He returned her smile.
As they left the room, Bailey bowled them over with a hug.
"Thank you for getting my da back." He said.
Beach Head ruffled his hair. "Just doing our job."
Cover Girl gave him a hug. "Be good, okay?"
Bailey nodded. "Can we… will you…" He hesitated.
"You can write us anytime." Beach Head said.
Bailey gave a bright smile. His father showed up behind him. He cleared his throat.
"I'm not very often wrong," He said quietly. "But when I am, I own up to it. Thank you for keeping Bailey safe." He held out his hand.
Beach Head looked at it for a second before accepting it. "You've got a good kid there, remember that."
"I will." Slattery promised. "I think after this vote, we'll take a holiday." Bailey beamed.
"That's a good idea." Cover Girl said. Saying their good-byes, they watched as father and son walk towards a new future.
Beach Head held out his arm. "Shall we go?" He said with formality. Cover Girl laughed as she slipped her arm into his. "Let's shall."
They walked in companionable silence.
"You know, there's this great sushi place down the street." She said.
"I ain't eating no raw fish." Beach Head snorted.
"But it's delicious." She protested.
"And why is it so expensive if they don't cook it?"
"Because it's fresh."
"Fresh is if they've been sucking sea water a minute before dispatching it."
"And I suppose deep frying everything is the only way to each something."
"What's wrong with deep frying?"
"Last I checked, it's not exactly healthy, Mr. Drill Sergeant."
"If you work out, it don't matter."
"I'm pretty sure that's not how it works… especially the cholesterol."
They argued amicably all the way to the restaurant.
Let me be honest, the reason this took so long was I didn't feel like writing anymore. Everything I wrote I ended up deleting. I just couldn't continue. Then I got sick for most of May that developed into Bronchitis. But I'm not the type of person to leave people hanging. So I finished this last chapter. I'm leaving it in progress because I might add some stand alone stories but no more of these long arcs. I'll still be reading and reviewing stories here but I won't be contributing as much. Sorry.