"So, I hear we've got some new recruits," Shana confided to Allie later, sitting on the edge of the latter's desk in her office. "Man, I wish I had your view. Must be nice being at the top," she teased, staring out Allie's window. "Why do they always think intelligence needs to be in some darkened room? I swear, it's a stereotype!"
Allie glanced out her window and saw dusk was settling in. "New recruits?" she asked absentmindedly. Maybe that was why Hawk had postponed their meeting.
"Hmm. Some former Joes, from what I hear, as well as some others who worked on special forces."
Allie frowned. "He was talking earlier about Washington possibly shutting us down. Why would he be recruiting then?"
Shana shrugged. "Maybe they've been sent as watchdogs then? So the big whigs up in DC can keep a closer eye on things?"
Allie continued to frown. "Maybe." She didn't have a good feeling about this. What Shana said about watchdogs made sense. What Hawk was suggesting, taking a former fugitive into their confidence and making him a member of the team, wouldn't go well with outsiders. She wondered if their plan would be trashed as a result.
She bit her lip. "Who would the former Joes be then? I thought everyone had already given Hawk an answer. I have to admit, I like the size of our team now. We're more a covert/intelligence force, not really engagement right now. If we decide to engage, there will be time later to add more forces, if they even let us," she finished bitterly.
Shana shrugged again. "I guess we'll find out sooner than later. You worried your position might be in jeopardy?" she teased, knowing it was a real possibility. Even in this day and age, women didn't rise too high in the military ranks.
Allie looked out the window again. "I like things the way they are," she said stubbornly. "Maybe I need to go talk to Hawk to find out what's going on."
Shana smiled. She was too good sometimes, she thought.
"Maybe you should, just to find out what's going on. After all, you are his second in command," she told her encouragingly.
Allie nodded, getting up. She wondered why Shana was pushing her so much about this, but her curiosity was getting the better of her. That same military 'copter was still out there and had been for most of the day. Maybe it was time to see their "guests" off.
She knocked on Hawk's closed door and heard him bark an "enter."
Hmm. That didn't bode well. While his bark was always worse than his bite, he usually saved that tone for when he was really annoyed and trying to hide it.
"Sir," she began as she entered. "Sorry for disturbing you."
She glanced around his office and her eyes narrowed before she could stop herself. Three men stood with their backs to her in the office, with Hawk sitting at his desk, facing her. No, it didn't look good.
"Gentleman, let me introduce my second in command," gruffed Hawk, getting up. The men turned and Allie stifled a gasp, barely holding it together. "This is Major Hood, and you know Duke and Flint. Major, this is Lady Jaye."
She nodded, keeping her focus on Major Hood. She shook his outstretched hand. "Major," she said crisply, nodding at the other two. While she was happy to see Duke, she wouldn't dwell on the other. Figures he would come back into her life, a little voice whispered in her head.
"Lady Jaye is one of our best covert agents," bragged Hawk, "and is a natural with her leadership skills. I believe you had questioned that before seeing her file."
Major Hood nodded. "My apologies," he addressed to her, "but you obviously have a loyal following with your commander, as well as with your former teammates," he said, nodding towards the other two. "It's just unusual for a woman to rank so high in a special military force."
"Is that so?" she asked, leaning against the closed door, her arms crossed. Instead of being angry, like the other three expected, she seemed amused. "Well, what can we do for you, Major Hood? Surely you've been given our nickel tour."
He seemed surprised by her reaction, and a smile crossed his face. He hadn't missed how attractive she was, and could see why the others had praised her so highly. Well, her record did speak for itself, and he supposed they were lucky to have her when she very well could still be working with a number of other agencies she had been affiliated with.
"As a matter of fact, I haven't been offered a tour, nickel or not. We've been cooped up in this office, talking budget, unfortunately, but I'd love some fresh air," he informed her.
She smiled brightly and opened the door. "Then allow me, then, Major," she told him, gesturing.
A bit dazed by the smile, he followed her into the hallway. The other three men smirked, having seen that smile before, knowing exactly what it meant. When you got a Cheshire grin from someone like Lady Jaye, it was best to ask first and act later.
"Ah, Ace! Just the person I wanted to see!" Allie said brightly as she spotted him coming down the hall. "We have a special guest who needs a tour of the base. This is Major Hood. Be so kind and give him a thorough look around!"
Major Hood's smile faltered, but he didn't want to admit his confusion, as Ace patted him on the back, starting a long-winded explanation of the history of GI Joe.