Chapter 10

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Duke stepped onto the elevator and waited as it went down. He wasn't in a good mood. His visit with Ana bothered him. She had been a little more reserved this time and the report on Rex and McCullen wasn't any better. Those two have been too quiet lately; not making as much trouble as usual. Duke was sure they were up to something. When the elevator passed the pool, Duke was a little surprised at how there wasn't as much activity. When the third level was reached, there was hardly any noise; at least not the kind Duke was use to.

There were people surrounding the open space near the elevator. The only noise that was heard was talking, not the sound of shooting or engines.

Duke notice at the center of the space, Breaker and Cat were working; putting Timber's halter on while Scarlet and Snake Eyes stood nearby. Duke called the nearest soldier and asked him what was going on.

"Cat is going to show what her animal can do." The soldier said.

"I made it in time." Duke muttered as he scanned the crowd. Spotting Hawk, he made his way toward his commanding officer.

Hawk smiled as Duke got closer. "Welcome back, Duke. How did it go?"

Before Duke could answer, the lights started to dim and Hawk held up his hand. Duke noticed Breaker running off to one side and Cat standing near Snake Eyes, signing to each other.

Suddenly, masked commandos came out of the 'woodwork' and opened fire on Snake Eyes' group. When Snake Eyes and Scarlet headed in one direction, Cat and Timber headed in another, until Cat touched Timber's back. Timber headed toward the commandos; zigzagging in front of them. He knocked a few down by hitting their legs.

When Duke heard someone gasp; he turned and saw Scarlett down; a commando standing over her. He spotted Timber, who came up behind the man and lunged.

Timber's front paws hit the man's back and, his back legs coming up, Timber pushed off the man; sending him completely over Scarlett. He didn't stop, as he spied Snake Eyes grappling with another; and hit that commando In the back of the legs. That done, Timber returned to the commandos that were left.

When the lights came on, the applause was deafening. Timber seemed to strut as he returned to Cat's side.

Hawk was still clapping as he approached the group. He nodded to Breaker as the computer expert rejoined them.

"I see what you mean, Cat. He could be a good asset to the team." Hawk reached down to pet the animal and then turned to Breaker, who as usual, was fiddling with his hand held computer. "I want the report as soon as possible, okay, Breaker?"

Breaker nodded. "Yes, sir." He watched as Hawk walked away and then started to help Cat with Timber's halter. "Readings show he was hit at least four times with the rubber bullets, but he kept going." Breaker told Cat as she removed Timber's work halter and looked it over. He watched as Timber greeted Snake Eyes and Scarlett as they came up.

Cat grinned as she looked up at Breaker. "Thank you for the head sets, Breaker. He had to have heard me." She touched the small head set on Timber's head as she, at the same time, touch her own head set. "He did everything I said."

Breaker leaned down and spoke to Timber. "You are a brave boy." And jumped back as Timber licked his face. "Yuck."

Duke laughed as he came up to them. "Better you than me." He nodded his head as a chorus of 'Hey, Duke' greeted him. He grinned as he saw Ripcord removing a mask, while he and Scarlett went to him.

"Hey, glad you're back, buddy. Did you see the show?" Ripcord asked.

"Yeah. Were you the one Timber...?"

Ripcord rubbed his back. "Yeah, that was me." Ripcord put an arm around Scarlett. "Hey, Duke, is it on?"

Duke nodded while turning to see Cat start rubbing Timber's side and talking to Breaker as he worked on his computer. "It's on; with reservations for four."

"What is on?" Scarlett asked.

Ripcord looked down at the beautiful redhead. "We, my dear, have a date next Friday at a little restaurant in Cairo. So, please, keep your calendar clear."

"And how do you know that we would have time off at that time?" She smiled

"Because I asked?"

She grinned and shook her head before she asked. "But, why four?" She asked.

"Well, I thought…" Ripcord looked over at Breaker and Cat. "That maybe… we could have company, just for dinner…"

"And what makes you think that Cat and Breaker would go for it?" Scarlett moved away from him.

Ripcord shrugged. "Just a thought." He grinned as they saw Cat and Breaker walking toward them.

"Ripcord? Are you okay? Were you the one Timber hit?" Cat said as she came up.

"I'm okay." He replied. "But, maybe you should trim his claws." He said as he again rubbed his back.

Cat grinned sheepishly. "Sorry."

Breaker came up and spoke. "I have all the data and I'm going to give it to Hawk, okay?" He grinned as Cat nodded in agreement. He almost turned away, when Ripcord called out.

"Hey, Breaker, buddy," Ripcord put on a smile. "How's about you keeping next Friday open?"

Breaker gave him a quizzical look. "Why?"

"Because we…" He gave Scarlett a squeeze. "Have plans to go out to dinner in Cairo; you, Cat, Scarlett, and me..."

"The whole team?" Cat questioned as Breaker's face brightened.

"Well, not really…" Ripcord said hesitantly. "Just the four of us."

Scarlett watched as Cat frowned at him. Snake Eyes came up and stood to one side as Ripcord tried to speak to Cat.

"It's just… you know, a kind of get acquainted dinner"

Cat stepped away, though she smiled, her face was hard. "I think I'm busy that day. I have to train Timber." She turned to Breaker. "Sorry." And walked away, Timber beside her.

Scarlett could almost feel the glare coming from Snake Eyes as he stood in front of Ripcord.

Snake Eyes turned to Breaker, signing he would talk to Cat; Breaker nodded. Glaring at Ripcord one more time, Snake Eyes walked in the direction of the kennel.

Ripcord frowned. "I thought…when we saw you two together all this time...that there was maybe something going on?"

Breaker shrugged. "That was it, there was nothing going on. All she wanted to talk about was the equipment. Whenever I would bring up anything else, she would change the subject. Oh, I got a little about her family and Timber and her plans for him, but she would clam up about anything else." He grinned. "At least Timber likes me. Half the guys that have tried to ask Cat out, he's chase away." He waved to them. "I've got to get this report to Hawk."

"Let me talk to her." Scarlett said as she moved away from the group. "We've gotten a little closer."

Ripcord smiled. "I'll leave it in your lovely hands." He watched as she walked away and then turned to Duke. "Well, how did it go this time?"

Duke sighed. "I get this feeling that something is up. Rex and McCullen are too quiet and…" He frowned. "Ana seemed a little off."

"How are the doctors doing with the nanomites?" Ripcord asked, concern showing plainly on his face.

"They think they've almost broken the code to her nanomites. But what worries me is that she seemed out of sorts when I visited her; almost like she just couldn't concentrate on anything."

Ripcord frowned. "Maybe it was one of those days for her. I'm sure she'll be a little more like herself next time you visit."

Duke nodded. "I hope." He tried to grin. "I got to report to Hawk. I'll see you later, okay?"

"See you, buddy." Ripcord said as he headed for his quarters.

Scarlett heard talking as she neared; well maybe yelling would be the correct term.

"I don't care what he thought he was doing! He's not my family, he's not related to me to try and set me up with someone. Why are you siding with him anyway?"

Silence followed Cat's voice; Scarlett quietly came up to the doorway. From her position, she could see Cat but not Snake Eyes. She was looking off to one side and Scarlett saw her scowl.

"Okay, I understand what you're getting at. He's Breaker's friend, yeah…" Scarlett saw her slump. "Yes, I kind of like him, too, but that's not it…" Cat straightened. "That's not fair! You're one to talk. You don't talk about your feelings? Why don't you tell…?" Cat turned to face the door. "Hi, Scarlett!"

Scarlett looked down to see Timber peeking around the corner at her. "Tattletale." She whispered to him, as she entered the kennel and went to the chair next to the one Snake Eyes was straddling. "Tell who, what?"

Snake Eyes and Cat just looked at each other.

"Hm, okay." Scarlett sat and looked at Cat. "I want to say I'm sorry, Ripcord can be a…"

"Pain in the derrière?" Cat interjected.

Scarlett nodded. "That, he can be. He just thought that Breaker and you could use a… you know…"

"Breaker and I are not friends that way." Cat said, when she faced Snake Eyes. "Yes, I like him. But all the times we were together, we were talking about the equipment that he made." She turned and put up the harness that she still had in her hands. "I don't think I… I didn't mean to imply…you know, that I 'liked' him."

"Breaker didn't know about the dinner." Scarlett finally said. "Ripcord just put it upon himself to make the arrangements." She saw Cat frown and then nod.

"Okay, he's forgiven, but I don't know about Ripcord." Cat faced Snake Eyes as he signed.

*Maybe you can sic Timber on him again.*

Cat snickered as Scarlett glared at him. "I didn't sic Timber on him." Cat put in. "I just told him to help Scarlett." Scarlett gave her a look and Cat's eyes went wide. "Really, I didn't know that was Ripcord."

Scarlett glanced from one to another before she spoke. "Okay, what I want to know is, if you would just give the dinner a chance? It couldn't hurt?" She gave Cat a questioning smile.

It was then Cat turned away from them and fiddled with some things on the shelf.

Scarlett and Snake Eyes glanced at each other.

"Cat, what's wrong?" Scarlett asked as she got up and went to the younger woman and stood beside her.

Cat didn't turn to them as she shrugged. "It's just that I… haven't been on a date in years." She was blushing when she turned to face them. "The last time I dated, it didn't go too well."

Snake Eyes stood up and went up to her, to stand on her other side.

*Breaker isn't like other guys.*

Cat smiled. "Yeah, I know, he's nice, polite, doesn't ask embarrassing questions like most guys, for one thing; but I just haven't wanted to date since high school."

Scarlett started. "High school? That was four years ago. What have you done all this time?"

"Work." She let out a big breath as she straightened. "Okay, the guy I was going out with in high school wanted more that I would give." She colored a little. "One night he accused me of having somebody else on the side and when I called him stupid; he hit me. Long story short; he ended up in the hospital with a broken jaw, three cracked ribs, and a broken arm and we got sued."

"Cat!" Scarlett exclaimed.

"I didn't do it; Danny did." Cat sighed as if a weight was lifted off. "He saw the guy hit me and jumped him. Sara and I had to drag him off. Well, because of it, we had to mortgage the house and land to pay him and court costs. That's why I needed to know if I at least I got paid while on probation."

Snake Eyes signed angrily. *You let him hit you?*

Cat gave him a look. "I let him get one hit in, but my brother jumped in before I could retaliate." She thought a second and smiled. "If I had hit him, he would only have had a broken arm…maybe."

Snake Eyes crossed his arms and nodded. They could see him smile as he signed. *I know Breaker, he won't try anything, but if Breaker tries something, I'll break his arm.*

Cat frowned. "So you think I should go on this 'date'?"

Scarlett put her arm around Cat as she looked over and saw Snake Eyes nod reluctantly. "We do and I'll get a few changes done, but you might have a good time."