"Knock, knock," North cracked the door to Carolina's office. Wash was sitting in the chair across from her. She waved him in.
"Wash and I just got done deciding who's going," Carolina said as he sat down on the other seat.
"Great," North chuckled. "I take it you got my message then."
"Of course," Carolina smirked.
"We're sending Jensen, Weaver, Ross, Trevor, Smith, and Piper," Wash explained. "Apparently, there is quite a cache of weapons and we figure you and South should have an easy time of it if we send a bigger group and make them do all the work."
"So observation and babysitting?" North asked for clarification.
"Yes," Carolina nodded. "They're going to need to be able to run missions without any of us there, even if it's just something as simple as a supply run."
"Say no more," North nodded. "Shall I make Jensen drive then?"
"Yes, but I wouldn't stay too far from the controls," Wash chuckled. "Grif says she's improved some, but just in case. It's more important to have everyone back in one piece."
"It's also Grif, so who knows if he's actually been awake during those lessons," Carolina pointed out.
"I don't know," North shook his head, "I think we'd have a lot more vehicles to fix if that was the case."
"I wouldn't give him that much credit," Wash smirked. "Between Lopez, Sarge, and Jensen working, they can fix things pretty quick so we may not have necessarily gotten any accident reports."
"You forget, my office is right next door to the garage," North pointed out. "I can hear all the crashing over the gunfire sometimes."
Wash went to reply, but Carolina cut him off, "If we're done, I'd like to go home and eat." Both men agreed. "North, I'll send both you and South the mission report and you and she can discuss how you want it handled and which recruit you want on point for it."
"Got it and we're doing this every week until the guys come back?" North asked as the three of them stood up.
"Yup," Wash answered. "York and I get the next run and then you and South again and so on."
"Is it always going to be a big group?"
"We're playing it by ear. We'll see. For now at least," Carolina replied as they walked out of her office. "I'd love to be able to go, but alas, York won't let me out most likely."
"Sure. Not without all the crap out there," North nodded as they headed down the steps.
"Alright, well I'll see you two tomorrow," Wash waved as he parted from them and headed to his own house at the other end of the row. He opened the door, smiling that it was unlocked and heard someone whistling out in his kitchen. He picked Rebel up as he wove in and out of his feet before walking to lean in the doorway to the kitchen. "I might be able to get used to that image."
Ross turned from what she was doing at the stove and smiled at him, "You are early, sir."
"What did I say about calling me sir when you are in my house?" he grinned as she skipped over to him, gave Rebel a scratch as she stood on her toes to kiss him. "Meeting didn't go as long as I thought it would."
"Do I get to hear about what went on in the meeting?"
"I might be convinced," Wash smirked as she grinned and walked back to the stove. Rebel wiggled to get down. Wash put him down before pulling out one of his kitchen chairs and sitting in it, undoing the laces on his boots. Rebel watched the laces flick back and forth. "What are you making?"
"Chicken alfredo," Ross answered as she walked over to check the chicken she had cooking in a pan. Satisfied she picked up the spoon she was using to stir the sauce, stirred and took a taste before walking over to offer it to Wash. "More salt?"
"You realize I know nothing about cooking, correct?" Wash chuckled as she held the spoon out in front of his mouth. "I also must point out that there was a perfectly good jar of already made sauce in my pantry."
"As my father would say, that is utter blasphemy," Ross smirked as he leaned forward to taste the sauce. "Well?"
"Tastes fine to me," Wash chuckled. "Why would your father say it was blasphemy?"
"It is the only thing he ever left behind," Ross answered turning to go back to the stove. "The uh...recipe that is. Used to make it every Sunday for me. It was my favorite."
Wash watched her at the stove for a while before leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, "I thought you were rubbish in the kitchen?"
"I am."
"Yet there you stand making homemade alfredo sauce." Ross busied herself at the stove. "I take it he taught you before he was killed?"
"Actually never taught me," Ross shrugged not looking at him. "Left behind a recipe book with all the different recipes he ever made. I just watched."
Wash stood up and walked up behind her to slip his arms around her waist, "He was the reason you joined the New Republic, right?" Ross nodded her head. "How old were you again?"
Ross scoffed, "Heh, the ripe old age of sixteen. Trained for two crappy years with a drill sergeant that had no clue what he was doing and then out into the combat rotation I went."
"Well I hope your new drill sergeant knows what he's doing," Wash smirked.
"I don't know...some days he gives me flashbacks to my first round of training and it makes me wonder if he's all there in the head." Wash gave her a playful glare as she patted his cheek before turning off the burner where the noodles were. "Drain that please, rinse and shove back into the pot."
"Yes ma'am," Wash released her and did what she asked before moving the pot back on the stove. He leaned against the counter next to the stove and watched her add the chicken and the sauce, stirring it up before motioning to the bowls that were behind him. He held them out for her, pulling them back when she went to grab them. He grinned at her.
"You know, I know what you're trying to do here," she glared as he lifted the bowls above his head.
"Oh yea? Do tell," he smiled innocently at her as she looked up at the bowls that she couldn't reach.
"Remember how I am a surprise in a small package?" she raised an eyebrow at him. "Remember how I have overcome my height, or lack thereof, over the years? I have ways of getting those from you."
"All I'm looking for is a kiss. Kiss for bowls, I think that's a fair trade." Ross rolled her eyes before kissing him, grabbing the bowls when they got low enough for her to reach. "Wine or beer tonight?"
"You have wine?" Ross raised an eyebrow at him.
"Occasionally," he shrugged walking over to a cabinet. "I take it wine then?"
"Sure," she replied as she filled both bowls and walked them over to the table before grabbing silverware as he opened a bottle and poured two glasses. He handed her one before they both sat down. "Cheers."
"Cheers," Wash chuckled. They started eating. He made an appreciative noise. "This is delicious."
"Glad you like it," Ross grinned.
They ate in silence for a while before Wash looked up at her. He finished chewing. "Ya know, I almost meant what I said earlier."
"Almost?" Ross raised an eyebrow at him.
"Ok," Wash chuckled. "I may have meant it. It was nice coming home to you already here." Ross gave him a grin before going back to her food. "I mean, you'd be more than welcome to stay here or come over whenever you want."
"Really?"
"Yea," Wash nodded.
"Sure you wouldn't get too crowded? I mean, I wouldn't want you getting sick of me."
"It's just an option. Not like I'm asking you to move in altogether," Wash shrugged.
"Good." Now it was Wash's turn to raise an eyebrow. Ross chuckled and shook her head, "I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I meant that it would be a good thing not to do that yet since we're still keeping things under wraps for the time being so me not being in my dorm at all would be far too suspicious if we're still not telling anyone."
"Got it," Wash nodded. "I'm still serious about you coming over whenever you want though."
"Alright," Ross grinned.
"Also, if it wouldn't be too much to ask, can you come over tomorrow too? I know we avoid nights in a row during the week, but you are going out on the mission this weekend so I'd like seeing you before you go."
"Shouldn't be a problem."
"Great."
"Does that mean you're going too?" she asked curiously.
"Not this time," Wash sighed. "North and South are going."
"Aw so I don't get to see you in your armor? Damn." Wash gave her a confused look. "Oh, your ass looks damn fine in it."
"Well good. I worked hard for it."
"Sure ya did," Ross giggled. "Either way, I know I appreciate it."
"And I appreciate that you appreciate it," Wash chuckled.
"You sure you'll be ok?" North asked Emma as she stood at the ramp to the pelican.
"Yes for the last time," Emma rolled her eyes. "And if anything happens, which it won't, I will immediately go next door to my brother and Carolina."
York swung an arm around Emma's shoulders, "Yea don't worry. We got her covered."
"See, overprotective brother to take place of overprotective husband," Emma rolled her eyes shoving York's arm off her shoulder. "There's one thing he's forgetting though."
"What's that?" York asked.
"Me," Carolina chuckled coming up next to them.
"Yea and what about you?" York smirked putting an arm around her.
"I have no problem kicking your ass because I know you won't fight back if you decide you want to annoy your sister while North is gone," Carolina replied.
"Yea, but Emma can do that too," York argued.
"Except you don't sleep with her," Carolina gave him a pointed look. York narrowed his eyes at her. She looked at North, "If you want to check in when you get there you can, otherwise we'll see you when you get back."
"Agent North, Jensen's ready to lift off whenever you're ready," Smith said from the top of the ramp.
"Right," North nodded before kissing Emma one last time before shoving on his helmet. "Don't have too much fun while I'm gone."
He hit the button to close the ramp before heading up to the cockpit to sit behind Jensen at the other controls.
"Are you sure you want me flying, sir?" Jensen asked from where she was sitting.
"Yup. Nice and easy," North answered. "Church set up the map so this thing should really fly itself for the most part. All you have to do is make sure we stay on track and then land us."
"It's the landing I'm concerned about," Jensen muttered.
"Nah, you got it," North replied.
"I appreciate the faith, sir."
"You did all the pre-flight checks?"
"Agent South went over it with me while you were talking with Agent Alaska."
"Great. Lift us off."
North had to admit, he was slightly surprised by how well Jensen seemed to manage everything herself having heard the horror stories from before. Not to say there hadn't been a few bumps, but overall he was impressed. Three hours in, he got up to go check on how everyone else was doing. Jensen had sputtered at him to not leave her alone, but he assured her she'd be fine and he'd be right back.
South was leaning against the wall next to the doorway for the cockpit when he walked back. The rest of the recruits were spread out amongst the cabin.
"How we doing back here?" North asked.
"Better now that we leveled out a bit," South scoffed quietly.
North chuckled, "Was there some motion sickness going on?"
"Listen asshole," South shoved him. "It wasn't every family trip, alright."
"Who said I was directing that towards you?"
"Whatever, you know you were," South growled. "And yea, there may have been. They all seem alright now. How far out are we?"
"About an hour yet."
"Awesome. When's the inflight meal?" She laughed to herself when she heard Ross groan. Turning to look at the recruit, "I'm kidding."
"Good," Ross grumbled. "I don't want to think about food right now."
"Wow, someone worse than you when it comes to flying," North laughed. South punched him. "Ok, ok. Back up front I go. I can see I am not wanted here."
"Later asshole," South called after him before walking over to sit next to Ross. "If you're gonna puke, make sure you take your helmet off."
"I'm not gonna puke," she answered.
"Just saying," South chuckled. "Didn't think you were one to get air sick."
"Well I was unconscious for most of the ride last time and before that I didn't fly much," Ross replied. "Ground travel is more my speed."
"Wash doesn't like it either last I remember," South commented. She smirked in her helmet when Ross didn't say anything. "I remember this one time, Carolina and York were ragging on him cuz he almost got sick during a stunt drop that 479-er did while we were trying to recover CT's armor from some dudes we were told were the bad guys."
"What kind of stunt drop was it?" Weaver asked from where she was sitting cross legged in the middle of the cabin.
"Oh well, she pretty much shut the engines off and let us drop until right before we hit the ground, turned 'em back on and then we all hopped off. She was a crazy fucker, that's for sure," South chuckled. "Wonder what happened to her…"
"Wait…she shut the engines off and let you all fall to your deaths?" Piper asked from across from her.
"Pretty sure if I died during that, you wouldn't be talking to me" South shook her head. "York sent Delta up to her and he told her when to fire the engines again. We were going for sneak attack."
"That was a sneak attack?" Trevor asked.
"Hey, we wanted to surprise them and we did. Caught them totally off guard," South replied crossing her arms. "Lost the mission, but it started off spectacular."
"What was the mission?" Smith asked.
"We were to recover the armor that CT disappeared with. She got away, but not without getting hit by an axe from Tex," South sighed. "That was right around the time things started hitting the fan."
"Do you have any other fun stories from when you were in the Project?" Weaver asked.
"Sure," South chuckled. "Though if I tell you, you probably shouldn't mention it to the others. They may not like that I'm giving you guys embarrassing stories."
"Oh I'm sure they could give us some right back about you," Piper pointed out.
"True, or I could tell you myself," South chuckled. "Who do you want one about first?"
