Glancing out of the window, the blue eyes turned softly to sadness. They watched the many Joes enjoying the relaxing free afternoon. So many memories stirred in her mind, from the time she first walked through the gates of the famous headquarters to the time when her eyes glimpsed the last image of the gates, when they left to begin another life. A sigh escaped, and she glanced downwards towards the coffee table at the small passkey, that belonged to the first in command, Duke.
He had left the key to his quarters, allowing her the freedom to decide whether she would enter their old apartment or not. The decision was hers and hers alone. He had gone early in the morning to Washington for an emergency meeting with Hawk and the other high command, and would not return until late afternoon. Even though she had retired from being a G. I. Joe member, her husband had remained active throughout their married life.
Decisions, her world had come to decisions. Her heart fought to decide. She glanced down at her wedding ring and a smile spread on her face. The week was almost coming to a close, and the reunion was almost coming to an end. The retired Joes would be returning to their homes, and to their other lives.
With a sigh, Scarlett slowly reached down and picked up the passkey, and with a deep breath, she left the suite, heading down the hallway, rounding the corner, and stopping at the familiar door, which the plaque on the wall said, Hauser.
Taking out the key from her black pants pocket, she slowly pressed in the lock and heard the familiar sound. She closed her eyes, reaching for the knob and pushing the door, opening her past once again.
Her eyes roamed around the suite, remembering all the special moments that had happened in the apartment. From the time they had found out that their family would expand to the day where they had to leave the suite and move into their house.
She took a step inside the suite and closed the door, shutting herself into the past. Glancing around the living room, she spotted a few mementos that Duke had displayed around the room. Several pictures of them stood on a shelf, all smiling back at her, as if welcoming her home. She walked over, picked one up in her hands, and a smile crept on her features, seeing the past in the image of both of them on their wedding day.
Another picture of Colleen in her martial arts uniform winning her first black belt was placed nearby. Her eyes spotted an area of a picture missing, and her heart knew which one exactly. Placing back the wedding picture in its rightful place, she turned towards her left and noticed that the second bedroom door was closed.
Taking another deep breath, she walked over towards the closed door and pushed it open, very slowly. Her heart jumped to her throat, knowing that the room her eyes were looking in belonged to her belated son, Jeffrey. With one brave step, she was inside the bedroom, glancing around, seeing all of his belongings.
She turned to her left and noticed his Joe uniform, placed neatly on a chair, awaiting its owner. A shiver went down her spine, knowing that the uniform would never be worn again.
Stepping further into the room, she walked over towards the chair, and gently touched the jacket with a quivering hand. A lump rose to her throat, but no sound came out. Her head turned around, spotting a shelf filled with books, pictures and other mementos. Her hand reached and picked up the missing picture of her son, in his military academy uniform. Her hand began to shake, trembling uncontrollably, and slowly set back the picture to its place. Another item caught her attention on the desk, a long leather leash, and she knew that it belonged to his faithful companion.
The room spun around, whirling, showing all of his possessions. She lowered herself on the bed, lying down, resting her head on the soft pillow, and taking hold of a little penguin, named Icicle, the twin of Ice Cube. Her body trembled, her hands trembled and her mouth trembled, releasing the pain in her heart. The tears trailed down, sliding rapidly, like a wild river, uncontrolled, unnatural. She gripped the stuff animal close to her heart, shedding all the tears that she kept hidden inside for the past two years. She wept until she could not weep anymore, and finally, sleep dominated.
She felt a soft fabric on her shoulder and her eyes slowly fluttered open, identifying a blue blanket on top of her. She felt his gentle hand, tucking the blanket, making sure she would be warm. Her head turned, and stared into his crystal blue eyes.
"How was the meeting?" Scarlett asked softly.
"Boring," Duke answered with a smile.
Scarlett nodded. "Well of course it was. You didn't have Shipwreck bursting in the middle of the meeting with a mouse trap on his nose, or Bazooka bursting a gum bubble, and getting it all over at least four other Joes, or have Cover—" Her words were stopped by his hand, covering her mouth.
"All right, I get your point," he said with a chuckle. "I see you came." His eyes showed his love for her.
She smiled, raising her hand to touch his cheek. "I wanted to."
His hand covered hers. "That makes me really happy. Do you want me to get your stuff?"
"All of his things are still here," Scarlett answered softly, redirecting the question, for now. She held the little penguin close. "It's like he never left."
"When I returned, this was how I found it, and I couldn't bring myself to change it," Duke said softly as he looked around the room that once housed his only son.
Scarlett rose from the pillow, wrapping her arms around his waist. "When I sold the house, Brian and Da cleaned his room for me. But I couldn't throw his things away. I couldn't. I put them on the third floor in the plantation."
Duke kissed the side of her head. "So what are your plans after this week?" he hesitatingly asked.
"I called Brian at the house. He said we could work out the plantation care and dojo from here. He wants me to stay," Scarlett said to him, then added, "I want to stay."
"Oh, Baby..." Duke said and hugged her tightly. "You've just made my day."
"We have to tell Colleen. She doesn't know, yet," Scarlett replied, feeling his familiar strong arms around her. "All her friends are in college or have moved. But it still has to be her decision."
"She is quite the grown up," Duke said with a sad smile. "It seems her and Cayden are getting along quite well."
Scarlett giggled. "She came back from that play they went to last night, and most of the night all I heard were Old McDonald songs! I think she wanted me to be tortured."
"You don't think I need to have the talk with that boy, do you?" Duke asked. "You know the one about how he better treat my daughter and what will happen if he doesn't treat her right."
"I'm really surprised they haven't killed each other. She's calling him Cay Cay now too, along with Caveman," Scarlett replied.
"Oh man. You know every time I see her out of the suite, she's with him," Duke added.
"Well, they are now more civil towards each other. She's grown up, not a little girl anymore," she reminded him. "But don't forget, there are only a few younger non military people around here too."
"That's true. Did I tell you that Flint is staying as well?"
"He is? I didn't know. I haven't seen Allie since yesterday morning. I've been thinking," Scarlett answered.
"It's understandable," Duke said. "You've had a lot to consider."
She looked into his eyes. "Conrad, you do know where ever you are, is my home."
Tears welled up into his eyes. "That's how I feel about you." He leaned forward and kissed her lovingly on the lips.
Their lips parted and a content sigh escaped her throat, leaning against him. "Conrad, you know that I have responsibilities down in Atlanta, with the caring for the dojo and the plantation. Brian suggested that he will take care the plantation for me, and we hope to get a replacement instructor for the dojo..."
"You need to go there until you do, right?"
"No," Scarlett said, leaving his embrace, and taking out a small blue scrunchie from her pant's pocket, pulling her hair through it and into her signature ponytail. "I want to go back on active duty."
"What?" Duke looked at her in shock and stood up. "Uh uh. No way."
"What do you mean no way?" Scarlett repeated his words.
"I don't want my wife out there fighting. I don't want to lose you too."
Scarlett's eyes softened. "You're not going to lose me. I'm an excellent pilot, if you can remember. I need to do this."
"No," Duke said. "I can't be worrying about you like that."
She turned her head away. "Then, how else I'm going to take care of the plantation?" Her heart felt heavy, tearing apart, knowing that she might lose that home too.
"Baby, I'm a general now. I make enough money to take care of the plantation," Duke said using his index finger to turn her face to look back at him.
"I know you do. But this is something special to me. I want to take care of what my father left me. Call it selfish pride."
"How about this, you become our hand to hand combat instructor," Duke reasoned.
"Didn't I have that job position before?" Scarlett teased.
"Well, you still are the best out there. Not to mention the best looking," Duke smirked at her, his eyes dancing playfully.
"Do you need to see my resume, General Hauser?" Scarlett said in a soft tone.
"Nah. I know all your references," Duke said.
"Oh, really?" Scarlett asked, rising up on her knees looking at him. With a swift move, she flung her left leg around, hitting him behind the knees, sending him falling down on the bed. "Did you know about those?
She jumped off the bed, rushing out of the bedroom door, laughing at his shocked face, while continuing to hold the stuffed animal in her hands.
"Oh, that's it woman!!!" Duke called after her as he got up, and ran after his giggling wife.
Scarlett pivoted away from his nearing arms, twisting her body around, and running towards the dinning room table, stopping behind it. "Hmm, looks like a certain general is getting too slow," she mocked.
"Nah, just conserving energy," Duke replied, his eyes dancing with mischief.
"For what? Moving that cute rear end of yours all the way to the couch?" Scarlett snickered.
"Nope," Duke said nonchalantly. "For spending the evening with my beautiful wife."
Scarlett dropped her jaw. "You're married! You didn't tell me you were married! You led me on! You liar!" she said, mimicking a certain Scottish actress.
Duke moved towards the right of the table, but with a burst of speed, Scarlett dashed towards the couch, stopping behind the coffee table. He stalked towards her, no matter which way she went now he would get her.
"Oh no, the big bad general is coming after me! Help!" Scarlett went to pivot away from him, heading towards his bedroom.
Duke quickly grabbed her around her waist and threw her up over his shoulder and carried her into his bedroom. Icicle flew into the air and landed on the couch.
"Put me down," Scarlett threatened playfully, pounding her fist on his back.
"As you wish," Duke said and put her down on the bed and then pushed her down into the prone position and climbed on the bed next to her.
"Hmm, I caught by the general, wonder what he is going to do now? KP? PT?" Scarlett asked innocently. "Please don't tell me I have to clean Shipwreck's toilet."
"How about a little one on one PT?" Duke asked wiggling his eyebrows at her playfully.
"Hmm, sounds like a real hard punishment," Scarlett answered softly.
"It's getting that way," Duke said leaning forward and kissing her passionately.
Their lips teased the other, sending them to a world which they only knew, a world filled with the love of the other, never ending, sending them deeper into the realm of their enchantment, not wanting to let them leave, tugging them deeper inside, covering them with a blanket, filled with desire that had been lost for the past two years.
Scarlett wrapped her arms around his neck, deepening in the kiss, teasing his neck with her fingers, and then slowly trailing them downwards, down his shoulders, down his still muscular arm, down his hand, feeling the scars of the past, then trailing them towards his chest, stopping above his heart, feeling the pulse from inside, beating steady, and continued to trail them towards his right side, which sent a moan of laughter in her throat from his.
"Oh no, you don't," Duke said with a chuckle, grabbing her hand. His other hand found the hem of her shirt and then trailed up underneath it and gently caressed the ivory skin underneath.
She grabbed his hand, gently, smiling up at his features. "Do you have clearance for that?" she teased.
"Yep. Would you like to see my clearance?" Duke asked grinning.
"I don't know," Scarlett replied playfully. "What would your wife say?"
"I don't know. You tell me," Duke said and reached up to tickle her behind her left ear.
"Wrong ear, Conrad," she whispered in his ear.
A small beeping sound caught their attention, disrupting the romantic moment.
Duke groaned. "Hold this pose for a moment." He reached down and checked his beeper and groaned again, laying his head on her chest.
"Let me guess, Beach Head?" Scarlett said, stroking his blondish-whitish hair with her fingers.
"Of course," Duke said. "I've have to run, but I'll be back in a little while. Raincheck?"
"Raincheck!" Scarlett repeated, slapping his arm with her hand, playfully.
Duke kissed her again before quickly leaving.
About ten minutes later, a high pitched voice could be heard yelling out in the hallway, "Brutus!!! Where is that damn bear!!!"
Scarlett raised her head from the pillow, listening to what she had just heard and her eyes widened. She quickly jumped up and ran to the door. Opening it, she noticed Eryn chasing Bazooka with a long stick, and her jaw dropped.
"Help! Mad little Jaye! Help!" Bazooka cried out, running around in circles in the hallway.
"Gimme my bear you bald man!" Eryn screamed, chasing him with the stick in her hand.
"Eryn Anne Faireborn!" Scarlett scolded, crossing her arms. "Stop chasing Bazooka right this instant."
"But he won't give me my Brutus and he's mine," the little girl whined.
Scarlett looked at Bazooka. "Bazooka, do you have Brutus?" she asked gently.
"No, Red. Honest!" Bazooka pleaded, ducking from an incoming strike. "Shipwreck has him."
The sailor, who was walking around the corner, with the famous bear, which was now wearing some kind of ribbon, stopped in his tracks.
"Shipwreck!" Scarlett scolded.
"Eek!" Shipwreck gave the bear to the redhead and dashed out of there faster than his sailor legs could carry him.
"Help!" Bazooka cried out again.
"Eryn, stop," Scarlett requested to the little girl, showing her Brutus.
"Give me my damn bear or I'm telling my MOMMY!!!" Eryn yelled at her, her little face beet red.
"Eryn. I'm not going to give you the bear if you continue to talk like that," Scarlett said, looking down at the little girl.
"But he mine," Eryn said and started to cry. "Please." She looked so broken hearted.
"Oh, sweetheart." Scarlett looked down at her and slowly kneeled downwards to the little girl's level, who rushed into her arms, sobbing. She wrapped her arms around her best friend's daughter, stroking her head, gently, lovingly. "Don't cry, Eryn."
"Want my Mommy back," Eryn sobbed softly. "She no hold me anymore."
"I know, sweetheart, I know," Scarlett replied, rocking her gently in her arms. She stood up, continuing to hold her tightly in her arms, just like when her own children needed her the most at that young age. A tear fell down her cheek, missing holding her own child, her son.
"She don't love me anymore," the tiny girl wailed against Scarlett's shoulder.
"Yes, she does, Eryn. Your mother loves you very much. You're her world," Scarlett said soothingly, laying her head on the little girl's, swaying gently.
The hallway's chilly atmosphere enveloped them both. She stepped inside, and closed the door, carrying Eryn with her towards the phone. She picked up the receiver and dialed Jaye's phone number. "Allie, it's Shana. Eryn is with me."
"Is she all right?" Jaye asked frantically. "I've been looking all over for her."
"She's fine. Just a little upset about losing Brutus," Scarlett said partially true, not wanting to hurt her friend more. "I'll bring her in a few."
"Thank you, Shana," Jaye said then they said their goodbyes and they hung up.
"Mommy's sick," Eryn said softly, clinging to the redhead tightly.
"I know, sweetie." Scarlett rocked the little girl gently, leading her to the couch, and sitting. She rested Brutus next to Icicle, who had fallen from the earlier chase on the cushions. "Looks like Brutus is making a friend."
"What's his name?" Eryn asked picking up the penguin.
"His name is Icicle." Scarlett answered, wiping away the tears from the little girl's face.
"Who's is he?" Eryn asked.
"He's a penguin. He has a brother too. He's name is Ice Cube. Colleen has Ice Cube, and she got him when she was six years old."
"Dis one yours?" Eryn asked holding the penguin up for her to look at.
"No," Scarlett answered sadly, her eyes looking straight into the little stuffed animal's.
"Why you so sad?" Eryn asked in concern and tilted her head to the side in a curious gesture.
Scarlett hugged her tightly. "Icicle belonged to my son, Jeffrey."
Eryn was confused. "Where is he?"
"He's not here," Scarlett answered the little brown haired girl, playing with her long hair.
"Why not?" Eryn asked quizzically.
"Because..." Scarlett felt the lump in her throat once gain, and quickly swallowed it down. "Because my Jeffrey is in heaven."
"Is that where my mommy's going?" Eryn asked with a sniffle and squeezed Scarlett tighter.
"Oh, honey." Scarlett rocked her gently in her arms, closing her eyes, wishing to tell her more than anything that her mother would not go where her beloved son had. "Your mother is a strong woman, always remember that."
"But she's gonna leave me." The little girl began to cry again.
"Eryn. Sometimes people stay with us a very long time, and sometimes they stay with us for a short time, but they always stay with us in our hearts," Scarlett said softy to her, rubbing her back.
"But I don't want her to go," Eryn said, her cries had slowed down though.
"I know, I know," Scarlett replied, holding her tight, resting her head on hers, petting her hair gently with her fingers. "It's okay to cry, Eryn."
The counterintelligence agent held the little girl in her arms, comforting her in the time of need, letting her let the tears drop down the cheeks. They stayed hugging one another for several minutes.
"Come on, your mom must be worried sick," Scarlett said gently, picking her up from the couch, Brutus and Icicle both in tow, and went to wash both of their faces in the bathroom, which of course the stuffed animals got their own tissues to blow their noses.
They left the suite, Eryn still cradled in the redhead's embrace, not wanting to let go, and headed towards Jaye's suite. Knocking on the door, Flint answered immediately. "Where have you been, you had us all—" But his words became frozen, seeing his daughter's face. He shot Scarlett a 'what happened?' look.
Scarlett walked into the suite, holding the little girl, watching Jaye stand up from the over stuffed chair, her best friend's face filled with worry.
"Allie, come here for a second," Scarlett requested, placing her friend's daughter on the kitchen counter.
Jaye gave her a puzzling look, but did what her best friend requested.
Scarlett turned to Eryn. "I'm going to show you something, all right?"
The little five-year-old nodded, sniffling.
"Allie, stay right here," Scarlett ordered, placing her best friend in front of her daughter. Then she turned to the little girl. "I'm going to help you with this, be gentle."
She took Eryn's arms, slowly enveloping them around Jaye's neck, holding on to the child with her own arms, showing her how to hug her mother without hurting her. Tears filled in her eyes, watching now her best friend wrap her arms around her child.
"Oh, my baby," Jaye said crying softly. "I love you so much."
"I don't want you to leave Mommy," Eryn cried against her mother's chest.
"I don't want to either baby, this wasn't my choice. I swear," Jaye said crying harder.
Flint watched his wife hug their daughter for what it had seemed forever. He put an arm around Scarlett's shoulder. "Thank you."
The redhead smiled at him, her eyes tearing knowing what he had gone through for her family and what he had to go through for his own family. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tight. Letting go of the embrace, she nodded towards his two women in his world.
The warrant officer walked towards his family, wrapping gently his arms around them both, hugging them.
The door opened, and two confused young adults walked into the suite.
Colleen walked over to her mother. "Mom, is everything all right?" Gesturing towards the family she had grown fond of. "Did something else happen?
Scarlett turned to both of them. "Brutus had another adventure," she informed.
Cayden smacked his forehead, shaking his head.
"We came to pick up Eryn, to take her to the movies. A bunch of us are going to the one close to town."
"I think Eryn needs to spend some time with her mother," Scarlett answered, now watching Jaye tickle her daughter on the stomach. "Drive safe, and when you come back, we need to have a talk, all right?"
Colleen looked at her confused. "What's wrong?"
Scarlett took her daughter's hands in hers. "Nothing is wrong. I just wanted to let you know I'm not leaving tomorrow after the reunion. And I was hoping you wanted to stay with both of us."
"Oh, Mom!" Colleen cried out joyfully, hugging her tightly. "I want to stay with both of you. I love you both so much."
Scarlett nodded. "Before you leave, go tell your father. He's in his office with a drill instructor. And I know for certain, he may want a disruption of the meeting."
Cayden walked over to his family and he too wrapped them all in a big hug. "I love you guys." He kissed his mother on her cheek then Eryn on her forehead. He looked at his father and smiled.
"We love you too, son," Flint said, patting his son on the back. "Well, now that we all are going to live back here, I'm setting a few ground rules."
Everyone looked at him questionably.
"Ground rules?" Jaye asked looking up at her husband. "Are you setting ground rules for me?"
"I'm outta here," Cayden said and turned to walk away.
"Freeze," Flint ordered his son. "These rules are only for the women." He chuckled at the scowling faces of the two Joe women in the room. "One, under no circumstances are you all going to chase any Joe on this base because he or she is holding a certain bear. And two, under no circumstances, and I don't care if Serpentor is right behind you, are you going to drive a Wolverine."
Jaws dropped on the floor, and all the women looked at each other.
"Lady Jaye?" Scarlett asked with narrowed eyes towards the warrant officer. Now watching her friend pick up a vase filled with flowers and water.
Jaye dumped the vase over Flint's head, flowers and all, causing Eryn to laugh her head off. "It looks to me Mr. I'm In Charge Warrant Officer, that you are all wet."
Cayden was trying really, really hard not to laugh at his father.
"Allie!" Flint cried out, dripping with all the water, trailing down his face and clothes.
Colleen leaned against her mother and slightly giggled, which made Scarlett, who was holding her laughter inside, release it, causing her daughter to laugh more.
"Women," Flint said, shaking his head. "Let me rephrase that. Joe women!"
"And you love us just the way we are." Jaye said with a smirk. She started to laugh then got dizzy.
"Mommy!!!" Eryn yelled a little frightened by her mom suddenly almost falling to the ground.
"Mom!" Cayden yelled.
"Allie, relax, sit down," Flint said, taking hold of her and led her towards the chair. "Cayden, can you get her some juice?"
"I'm all right," Jaye said. "Just got a little dizzy." She looked up at her husband and smiled slightly. "You better go dry off. You have a meeting in twenty minutes."
"Yes, Ma'am!" Flint saluted, making everyone laugh, then bent over to press his lips with hers. He stood up and looked at his goddaughter and son. "Alright you two, go to see that movie. And Colleen?"
"Yes, Uncle Dash?"
"When you go inform your father about staying, also let him know about that you and Cayden getting married, like when Eryn told us," Flint winked at them.
"Conrad is going to burst a nerve," Scarlett pointed out.
"Yeah, I know," Flint chuckled.
"Cute," Jaye told her husband. "Now you two get going."
"We're going, we're going," Cayden said with a chuckle. "Come on, Little Red," he said to Colleen, grabbing her hand and pulling her out the door.
"Bye," Colleen called out, disappearing from the doorway, dragged by Cayden.
Flint looked down. "I'm off to dry." He walked into the bedroom and closed the door behind him
Scarlett shook her head. Then she walked over and picked up Eryn from the counter. "Time to feed Brutus, he's hungry," she told the little girl, trying to distract her from her mother's dizzy moment, which had frightened the child.
Jaye watched with envy, Scarlett taking care of Eryn. Damn it! It was her job and she couldn't even do it. She saw Scarlett hand the little girl Brutus's bowl and spoon and also hand the girl an apple and some juice, making sure the little girl was settled at the kitchen table.
Scarlett turned and spotted her friend, sending her a reassuring smile. She walked over, grabbed two juice bottled and walked over to the couch, giving one of the juices to Jaye and putting hers down on the coffee table, Icicle in her lap, sitting happily. "She's really like you. Mouth and all."
"I think she gets her mouth from the men in her life," Jaye said fighting the wave of emotions coursing through her body.
"Don't think so," Scarlett disagreed. "You didn't see a miniature Lady Jaye chasing Bazooka with a stick and saying that famous you know what line about a missing bear."
Jaye's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "Oh no. She didn't."
"Oh yes, she did," Scarlett nodded, looking at the little girl, who was now feeding the bear.
Jaye watched her daughter. "So you decided to stay."
"Yes, I did," Scarlett answered, holding on to the little penguin on her lap. "I'm also going back on active duty, but only hand to hand combat instructor, by a certain general's orders."
Jaye nodded and looked out the window.
Scarlett reached out and touched her friend's hand. "I'll leave you alone with Eryn, you two need some mommy daughter time."
"She'll be a while with Brutus," Jaye said without looking from the window. "I think Dash wants me to stay here so others can keep an eye on me."
"No, I think Dash wants you here, so you can be surrounded with the people that love you. Allie, we missed ten years. I don't want to miss anymore," Scarlett said, her eyes turning soft.
Jaye finally looked at her. "I don't want to either."
Scarlett nodded. "I'm sorry for not being in more contact. I really am." Her voice slightly shook, feeling the guilt from inside her heart.
"Hey, you had your reasons," Jaye said taking her hand. "I'm sorry I didn't go to Jeff's funeral. The doctors wouldn't let me travel."
The other woman looked down at her lap, clutching tighter the stuffed animal. "It's all right, Allie. I really understand." She looked up at her friend. "It didn't seem like a funeral, not without..."
"Yeah, I know." Jaye hugged her friend. "I have something I really want to ask you. Something Dash and I have been discussing."
"What is it? I'll do anything for you, for both of you," Scarlett asked, with a worried face.
Suddenly, the bedroom door opened and Flint walked out in his Joe uniform. "Well, see you three beautiful women in an hour or so, maybe two if I fall asleep during the meeting. Maybe I can use the old age excuse." He kissed his wife, then rushed out of the door.
"Hmm, well some things never change. He still has that cavalier mouth of his," Scarlett pointed out.
"He's worse when it's just me and him," Jaye said with a smile then looked at Scarlett. "We want you to be Eryn Anne's godmother."
"What!" Scarlett said in surprise, then glancing at the little girl, who was rocking the bear to sleep. "Allie, I would love to. But I thought she had a godmother."
"No, she doesn't have one."
"Then I would love more than anything to be her godmother," Scarlett answered. Taking her friend's hand in hers. "I promise to be there for her, always."
"There is no one else I would trust to be here for her because I cannot."
"Oh, Allie," Scarlett choked, a tear sliding down.
Jaye hugged her friend and started crying again. Eryn walked over carrying Brutus and pushed in between the two of them so that she was in the middle of the hug.
Scarlett glanced down at the girl. "Did Brutus eat?" she asked, gently wiping her tears away.
The little girl nodded.
Jaye began to play with one of the little girl's pigtails.
"I'll let you two be both alone. You two need to play, that's an order." Scarlett smiled, at the mother and daughter.
Jaye nodded. "Thanks Shana. You're the best."
"What are Joe friends for," Scarlett replied. The intercom blasted and a loud, "SHANA!" sounded, causing her to giggle, knowing that Cayden and Colleen had accomplished their mission.
"Oh oh, I think I'm going to be in trouble now." Scarlett shook her head.
Jaye started laughing. "You better go before he has a heart attack."
"Yeah, I think I'll run away," Scarlett smirked. "I'll let him cool down a bit. But I'm going to break one of the ground rules of that husband of yours, the one with the Wolverine."
"Wish I could join you."
Scarlett shook her head. "Have fun you two."
She left the Faireborn suite, holding on to Icicle in her arms. She glanced downwards at the little toy and a sigh escaped. 'A walk may do some good,' she thought, walking towards the suite and picking up her winter coat. Closing the door behind her, she clutched once again the little penguin, taking him along on the walk.
Stepping outside, the gusty wind embraced her face with its cold bite, trying to shove her back inside into the warm building. White puffs floated out of her mouth, and floated up in the sky. She glanced upwards, watching the sun set, the orange red colors merging as one, creating a mythical scene.
She passed the motor pool and waved towards Cover Girl, and a new Joe named Two Tired. Continuing the pathway, she headed towards the end of the Joe base, heading for the frozen river at the edge of the grounds.
The snow crunched beneath her feet, creating small molds from her boots. She ventured towards the frozen water, glancing around at the wilderness. A rabbit flew across the snowy hills, darting into the bushes, safely back into its hole.
A dog bark came from her left, and she noticed the dog running near the canine building. She spotted the white haired Mutt, feeding the dogs, and decided to head that particular way.
Mutt glanced up from feeding the three Rottweilers. "Hey, Red. What are you doing out this cold evening?"
"Just taking a short walk," Scarlett answered, looking down at the dogs. "They all look exactly like Junkyard, it's uncanny."
"I know," Mutt replied. "They even got his Flint tackling down too," he said, making the redhead laugh.
"I see the canine Joe population grew," Scarlett said, looking around the dog pens.
Mutt nodded. "You see those two Dobermans?" He pointed out to the two large dogs in the next two runs. "Their names are Apollo and Athena and belong to one of our pilots. She's good, both in the air and with the dogs. "
Scarlett nodded. "I see we have a few German Shepherds too."
"Those are the puppies, they just came in this week, only six months old, ready to start their training," Mutt explained. "Here, I'll get their chow and you can feed them." He turned and headed towards inside the kennel building.
She looked at the dogs, which all wagged their tails and whined happily. Her ears heard another sound coming from the last dog run at the far end of the building. She turned and headed that way, walking closer to the corner, passing the fifty-pound puppies. She noticed that a brown-gray looking dog-like creature slept in a curled position, against the corner of the dog run, in the far end.
Scarlett looked up at the nameplate of the animal, which read, "Wolfie." Underneath the plate were the words, 'Psychopath to society.' She shook her head, knowing it was a certain sailor's handwriting on the sign.
The dog looked up at the woman, grumbled and then put his head back down on the snow, watching her carefully with its cunning eye.
Her eyes widened, identifying the similarities of the dog to a familiar looking wolf, from twenty years ago, and instantly knew that she was looking straight into the eyes of Timber's son, or even grandson.
Her hand touched the latch, and slowly opened it, pushing the gate, and stepping inside the dog run. She closed the chain door behind her, continuing to hold the little penguin in her other hand.
The dog raised its head one more time, and a small growl escaped its vocal chords.
"Easy boy," Scarlett spoke to the animal softly, watching now the dog rise on all fours, its ear perked high on the head, and its tail straight out. Then she remembered if this was truly Snake Eye's dog, he would only respond to the sign commands. She tried to remember the command but failed.
The wolf dog began to growl aggressively, the scruff of its neck rising menacingly. It placed a large paw forward, now baring its teeth, saliva starting to drip down from its mouth, dropping onto the frozen ground.
Scarlett took a step backwards, edging her way towards the door, constantly having her keen eyes on the dog, which stepped forward.
The dog took another step forward, its fur straight up on its back, snarling, ready to strike.
The sound of the metallic dog dishpan falling echoed near by. "Scarlett!" Mutt's voice rang in the cold wintry air. "Get out of there!"
"Mutt, I think he's—"
Wolfie barked loudly, then lunged at the counterintelligence woman, pushing her towards the ground, its sharp teeth exposed to their fullest.
Scarlett felt her body fall, her head hitting the ground with a force, sending spots dancing in front of her eyes, before they closed. She felt the world freeze for a moment, her hand still clutching her son's toy.
"Duke!!! Duke!!!" Mutt cried out in alarm, running at top speed, heading for the main building.
The dog continued to snarl, spitting saliva down on the redhead's pale face, and inched its teeth closer to her neck, ready to attack. Suddenly, its nose sniffed something familiar, and lowered its head towards the small penguin that the women held tightly in her hand. He gently took it out and dropped it to the ground, sniffing it again.
The snarls changed into whining, almost a crying sound coming from the depths of the dog's vocal chords. Wolfie looked at the features of the fallen woman once again, and with one move, began to lick her face, trying to awaken the sleeping beauty.
Scarlett's eyelids fluttered open, feeling the warm tongue of the dog. She looked up at the animal, finding its personality changed dramatically. She moved her head, to spot the penguin on the ground, and then glanced back at the animal.
"You miss him too, don't you?" she asked softly to the animal, bravely rising her hand and touching the dog's chest.
Wolfie licked her face once more, before climbing off the redhead.
Scarlett rose to a sitting position, and the animal took the penguin in its mouth and dropped it in her lap, before placing its head against her shoulder, nudging her for another pat. "You miss your master, you miss my Jeffrey."
The dog whimpered once again as if understanding her completely.
Her hand rose, stroking the dog's back, then wrapped around its shoulder, pulling the animal closer to her chest, while the tears began to flow once again. "I miss him too," she cried, resting her head on the dog's, holding him tighter, sobbing in his soft fur. "I miss my son."
Wolfie barked, and put its paw on her lap.
"My heart still says he's alive, I know in my heart he's still out there, wanting to come home, and can't," Scarlett choked out, the tears flying down, warming her cheeks, from the cold weather surrounding them both. "You know too, don't you? Your heart knows."
She slowly rose from the snow-ice-covered ground, balancing on the dog run's wired fence. "He wants to come home and can't," she said to him, tears continuing to stream down.
The dog nudged her towards the door, and the redhead nodded. She clung to the penguin in her hand. "Come," she commanded the animal, opening the gate and walking out of the dog run.
Wolfie looked around, then at her questionably and she instantly knew that the animal had not left its run for several years. The dog was afraid to step out.
"Come." The command was repeated, and instantly, the wolf dog jumped out of the run and by her side.
Scarlett knelt down, on her knees, closer to the animal. Her hand, which held the stuffed animal, rose towards the dog's nose. She let the animal sniff the penguin, before she brought it back down to her side. She burst into uncontrollable tears, her entire body shaking, and whispered the last command in the dog's ear, "Seek."
Wolfie burst with speed across the frozen river, crossing it with ease. He turned around, its neck rising high and letting out a howl that could send shivers down a spine. He then pivoted again and ran into towards the forest.
Scarlett turned her head to the right, spotting a gun just above next to her head, a familiar gun, aiming for the wolf dog. "No!" her voice screamed, her hands rising in the air, pushing the gun away, making the bullet miss its target by several inches.
"Shana, what the hell were you thinking?!" Duke asked her urgently. "That dog is vicious."
"No, he's not vicious," Scarlett answered in a small voice. "He misses him too."
"He loved that dog," Duke said holstering his side arm. "It's one of the ugliest dogs I've ever seen but they seemed drawn to each other. Snakes gave it to him." He turned and looked at his wife. "Are you all right? Do you need to see Doc?"
"Please, don't go after the dog. Let him be," Scarlett begged, her voice shakily.
"I won't as long as he doesn't come after anyone here," Duke promised. "Now, let's get you checked out."
"I'm fine, really," Scarlett replied. She looked towards the forest, watching the shadows emerge from the trees, haunting her eyes with images. She held on tightly to the little penguin in her hands.
"Come on, Baby. Let's go home," Duke said softly guiding her back to the barracks.
Scarlett nodded, feeling his arm around her waist, leading her away from the frozen river, away from her son's best friend. A howl rose from the darkened forest, making her turn towards the thankful cry. Her voice barely whispered the last command again, "Seek."