Chapter 5
"Conrad…Scarlett…dinner time!" Mrs. Falcone yelled. The two got up quickly and raced like children into the kitchen. Drew was already seated.
"Fried chicken…" Duke grinned.
"Two favorites in one day." Mrs. Falcone laughed.
"And it's not even my birthday." Duke grinned.
"It's because Scarlett is here." Drew announced.
"You didn't have to go through all this trouble for me." Scarlett laughed embarrassed.
"Oh, honey, it's no trouble at all. I cook like this every day!" Mrs. Falcone informed her. A car door slammed and Jack came into the kitchen through the back door.
"I could smell that coming all the way up the drive" Jack smiled and inhaled the scent deeply. He kissed his wife on the cheek and ruffled his daughter's hair. He sat down at the table and began to pass the food. The conversation seemed to suddenly cease and silence swept over the table. About 10 minutes passed before anyone spoke.
"Everyone is quiet tonight." Drew observed.
"Sorry. I'm kind of zoning. I don't get many vacations." Scarlett explained.
"My mind is just somewhere else." Duke sighed taking a mouthful of corn.
"or on someone else?" Drew teased. Both Mrs. Falcone and Jack gave her a stern look.
"So, Conrad, did anything shake loose today after seeing those pictures?" Jack asked quickly to leave Drew's comment in the past.
"I don't know. It all seems hazy. Some people seemed
familiar, but they were strangers at the same time. It's just frustrating." Duke answered with a frown. Scarlett saw Duke staring at his mashed potatoes and passed him the gravy boat.
"Thanks," Duke smiled and then turned puzzled "How did you know I was going to ask for the gravy?"
"Your mashed potatoes were looking a little dry and I know you like lots of gravy on them." Scarlett answered with a smile. Duke's face twisted into an angry expression and he banged his fists on the table.
"Why do I get the feeling that you know a whole lot more about who I used to be than what you're letting on?" Duke exploded. Scarlett jumped at his reaction.
"Conrad, go easy on her." Jack reminded his step son.
"I know and I'm sorry. It's just that my life anymore seems to be a puzzle that everyone else has figured out except me." Duke softened again.
"You'll figure it out Conrad. It'll just take time." Jack replied.
"How much time? My career is on hold, I don't even know if I had a personal life to feel a loss about…" Duke moaned leaning on the table.
"Conrad, we understand…" Drew trailed off.
"No you don't. You can't and I hope you never can. Excuse me, I need some air." Duke snapped back and leapt from the table and stormed out the back door.
"I shouldn't have come. I'm making it worse." Scarlett shook her head.
"Don't talk like that. If anyone can help Conrad get back his memory it's you." Drew disagreed.
"But look at how much all of this is hurting him." Scarlett sighed sadly.
"Have you thought about just coming out and telling him everything?" Drew asked.
"Of course, about once a minute. Then I remember what Doc said about interfering with his memories. What if I told him everything? What if he's changed? That even with all the information of who he used to be…that he'll never be the same Conrad again. Plus, there are other reasons, but I…they're personal." Scarlett sighed frustrated at everything.
"What if you just gave him a little bit of his history? You know, like Cliff's Notes?" Drew asked.
"I'd have to clear that with our commander. If Conrad doesn't rejoin the team then there are some things he can't ever know again." Scarlett explained all the red tape.
"I see." Jack mused.
"Would you all excuse me, please. I think I need some air too." Scarlett replied starting to feel flustered. She got up and walked out the kitchen door like Duke had done minutes before. She saw Duke standing on the porch looking out at the lake. She stands next to him, but he doesn't seem to notice.
"It's a nice sunset." Scarlett commented.
"I guess if you like sunsets. I don't know if I do or not." Duke mumbled and looked down.
"Yes, you like them. We've watched a lot of them together." Scarlett answered softly. Duke turned to look at her.
"You seem to know so much about who I was. I'm envious. Not only do I know nothing about you, I know nothing about myself." Duke painfully spoke in a gentle voice.
"I know you're upset at me for keeping your past from you. I'd be angry at me too. I am angry at myself. I just hope you understand I have some good reasons for it." Scarlett replied soothingly.
"Like?" Duke asked with his hurt eyes zeroing in right on her own eyes. His bottom lip quivered slightly.
He was hurting so much all she could think about was throwing her arms around him and nuzzling his ear with her head whispering that everything would be ok. She wanted more than anything at that moment to tell him everything and not give a damn about security. There was still something holding her back…her own heart. Her heart wanted Duke to remember what they shared together…without her leading him on with stories. She was hurting too. If Duke couldn't remember what they had together than how important could it have been to him?
"Give me one reason why you can't tell me." Duke demanded.
"Conrad…" Scarlett sighed hoping he would let up, but this time he would not relent. Scarlett knew she would have to give in and tell him a little about his past. "We work for a branch of the military that's very special. You know a lot of things about a lot of people. You know things about weapons and all this stuff that threatens the world on a daily basis. If I were to tell you even half of what you used to know and you still couldn't come back to the team…" she trailed off.
"I'd be an A-1 security leak waiting to happen." Duke finished for her with a frown.
"Something like that." Scarlett sighed.
"Well, how about telling me some of the unclassified stuff? Who are my friends? Do I have a car? What do I do for fun? What about you?" Duke asked.
"Ford Mustang" Scarlett answered.
"Huh?" Duke asked confused.
"That's the car you drive around base. It's black." Scarlett replied.
"Convertible?" Duke asked.
"Of course." Scarlett smiled.
"Sounds nice to me." Duke sighed with a smile.
"Oh it is. Leather seats and all." Scarlett kept describing it.
"I guess I've taken you for a spin or two in it?" Duke asked.
"Yeah, a few times." Scarlett smiled widely.
"Why do I get the feeling that there's so much more you're not telling me about you and me?" Duke asked her as a serious look replaced his smile.
"Conrad, we're friends… the best of friends…very close friends who spend a lot of time with each other." Scarlett explained.
"There's more, isn't there?" Duke stepped closer to her.
"I really wish I could tell you." Scarlett sighed looking away from him.
"You can! You can tell me right now. You can put me back where I belong." Duke grasped her arms to make her look at him again.
"No, I can't. I can tell you everything you want to know about me, your friends, whatever, but I can't put the feelings there. I can't put feelings in your heart. I can't make you feel something just because I tell you it's so. You may not have the same feelings about things as you used too." Scarlett shook her head. Scarlett knew she was a very strong woman, but even she was on the verge of breaking down. It hurt her very much to see Duke like this.
"If I felt something once I'll feel it again... all I need to know is what I felt." Duke coaxed.
"All I know is how you said you felt about all of us. Only you know what you really felt." Scarlett sighed.
"I see what you're saying." Duke sighed knowing Scarlett was right.
"I don't blame you if you're upset with me." Scarlett whispered to him.
"I'm not upset with you. I'm upset with myself." Duke sighed truthfully.
"You can't help what's happened…" Scarlett offered advice.
"I just wonder some days if it will all come back. If there is anything up there to come back." Duke sighed wistfully.
"I hope it does."
"You miss him, don't you?" Duke shuffled his feet a little.
"Who?" Scarlett asked.
"Conrad." Duke sighed looking up into the sky.
"You're right here with me." Scarlett replied confused.
"In body I am, who knows where his mind is." Duke sighed sadly. Scarlett took his hand which surprised both of them at first.
"I'm here and you're here. Yes I miss being able to share some things with you, but I want you to know memories or no memories I still am your friend." Scarlett answered seriously.
"Because of the past?" Duke asked.
"And because of the future." Scarlett answered. They both turned to see the sun slip away behind the distant hills.
"I can't thank you enough for coming here to see me. I think that you just might be the cure for my amnesia." Duke smiled.
"I'm glad to be here and to help." Scarlett smiled.
"Well, I guess we better go back inside. I don't want to make anyone worry." Duke sighed. He held the door open for Scarlett.
"Drew and I are going to a movie. Do you two want to come?" Jack asked as he and Drew stood up.
"Uh, I'm not in the mood, Jack, but thanks for asking. I'm going to sit and eat." Duke replied.
"Scarlett?" Jack invitied.
"I'll stay too." Scarlett nodded.
"You can go if you want." Duke insisted.
"No, I want to eat too. I barely touched any of your mother's fried chicken." Scarlett replied.
"Ok, see you both later." Jack parted. Mrs. Falcone was on her way out of the kitchen also.
"Mom? Where are you going?" Duke asked.
"I'm finished and I have some things to straighten up in the other room." She answered smiling and also left the room. Scarlett and Duke began to eat their dinners before the food got too cold.
"Why do I get the distinct feeling that my mother wants us to be alone?" Duke chuckled after eating a piece of chicken.
"I don't know, but it seems like they all left in a hurry. Jack did invite us to the movies though." Scarlett nibbled on some chicken.
"It's like they think something will happen when we're alone. Like we'll kiss or something" Duke smiled.
"Conrad!" Scarlett giggled mostly out of sheer embarrassment and surprise.
"Let's give it a try." Duke smiled and made a kissy face. Scarlett took a spoonful of mashed potatoes and winged it at his face.
"I knew you liked it rough." Duke teased and leaned over and pushed Scarlett's face gently into her mashed potatoes. Scarlett sat up laughing so hard that her body was shaking but no sound was coming out of her mouth. She had mashed potatoes all over her cheeks and nose.
"Conrad, what made you…why would you…why did you do that?" Scarlett finally made out between fits of laughter.
"Two reasons. You flicked mashed potatoes first, and I was just trying to imagine what the old me would do." Conrad brightly concluded.
"Yes, you would do something like that." Scarlett's laughter subsided as she wiped off the mashed potatoes.
"So what would you like to do tonight? We could hang around here and just relax or I could show you some sites around town." Duke asked his guest.
"What do you feel like?" Scarlett asked in return.
"You're here on vacation. I want you to make the decisions." Duke grinned as he continued eating.
"Let's go out. Show me what you do for fun around here. After all it's the Show-Me State, right?" Scarlett cracked a joke.
"Yeah, yeah. So anyway, that is what we'll do. I'll show you around then." Duke smiled.
"Sounds like a plan." Scarlett smiled eating her last forkful of her flattened mashed potatoes. Duke finished his meal and took both his plate and Scarlett's over to the sink.
"I'm going to freshen up before we leave. I'll only be five minutes." Scarlett decided. Duke nodded. He entered the living room and casually leafed through some more photographs that he and Scarlett hadn't gotten to earlier. Scarlett came back downstairs wearing a new top. She grinned as she watched Duke study the pictures. She casually peered over his arm to see the picture he was looking at.
"Flint…Lady Jaye…you…me…Hawk…" Duke pointed out the different people.
"You got them all." Scarlett smiled. Duke smiled back at her and put the picture back in the box.
"Ready?" Duke asked. Scarlett nodded. He opened the door for her.
"Did you manage to clean up some of the mashed potatoes on the floor?" Scarlett asked.
"There wasn't any on the floor. You hit me dead on. No wonder you're in G.I. Joe. You've got great aim." Duke laughed. Scarlett smiled.
"It's such a nice night." Scarlett breathed in the clean country air.
"I love it here. It's so peaceful." Duke smiled looking at the sky and then at Scarlett. "Is there any place you'd like to see first tonight? I'm your tour guide."
"I'm not really sure what's out here. Is there any place you suggest?" Scarlett asked as they neared his car. Duke opened the door for her and thought about her question. He closed her door and got in the driver's side.
"I know a place. I think you'll like it." Duke smiled.
"Yea?" Scarlett asked wanting to know more.
"It's a little place called O'Malley's." Duke smiled.
"O'Malley's?" Scarlett raised her eyebrow.
"Yeah, it's a little tavern. It's nice. But if you don't want to go, we'll go somewhere else." Duke didn't want to push the tavern too much.
"Come on. You're talking to a red haired woman with Irish blood. Of course I want to go. Drive!" Scarlett giggled.
"Yes ma'am." Duke barked and turned on the ignition. They drove down a quaint little road and turned into a gravel parking lot.
"I promise this will be different then last night." Duke sighed as he got out of the car. He went over to Scarlett's door and opened it for her. They entered the bar together and found it to be a nice and cozy setting. Wooden booths were all around the walls with a dance floor in the middle. Duke led Scarlett over to the corner booth away from other tavern-goers.
"Conrad…Scarlett…dinner time!" Mrs. Falcone yelled. The two got up quickly and raced like children into the kitchen. Drew was already seated.
"Fried chicken…" Duke grinned.
"Two favorites in one day." Mrs. Falcone laughed.
"And it's not even my birthday." Duke grinned.
"It's because Scarlett is here." Drew announced.
"You didn't have to go through all this trouble for me." Scarlett laughed embarrassed.
"Oh, honey, it's no trouble at all. I cook like this every day!" Mrs. Falcone informed her. A car door slammed and Jack came into the kitchen through the back door.
"I could smell that coming all the way up the drive" Jack smiled and inhaled the scent deeply. He kissed his wife on the cheek and ruffled his daughter's hair. He sat down at the table and began to pass the food. The conversation seemed to suddenly cease and silence swept over the table. About 10 minutes passed before anyone spoke.
"Everyone is quiet tonight." Drew observed.
"Sorry. I'm kind of zoning. I don't get many vacations." Scarlett explained.
"My mind is just somewhere else." Duke sighed taking a mouthful of corn.
"or on someone else?" Drew teased. Both Mrs. Falcone and Jack gave her a stern look.
"So, Conrad, did anything shake loose today after seeing those pictures?" Jack asked quickly to leave Drew's comment in the past.
"I don't know. It all seems hazy. Some people seemed
familiar, but they were strangers at the same time. It's just frustrating." Duke answered with a frown. Scarlett saw Duke staring at his mashed potatoes and passed him the gravy boat.
"Thanks," Duke smiled and then turned puzzled "How did you know I was going to ask for the gravy?"
"Your mashed potatoes were looking a little dry and I know you like lots of gravy on them." Scarlett answered with a smile. Duke's face twisted into an angry expression and he banged his fists on the table.
"Why do I get the feeling that you know a whole lot more about who I used to be than what you're letting on?" Duke exploded. Scarlett jumped at his reaction.
"Conrad, go easy on her." Jack reminded his step son.
"I know and I'm sorry. It's just that my life anymore seems to be a puzzle that everyone else has figured out except me." Duke softened again.
"You'll figure it out Conrad. It'll just take time." Jack replied.
"How much time? My career is on hold, I don't even know if I had a personal life to feel a loss about…" Duke moaned leaning on the table.
"Conrad, we understand…" Drew trailed off.
"No you don't. You can't and I hope you never can. Excuse me, I need some air." Duke snapped back and leapt from the table and stormed out the back door.
"I shouldn't have come. I'm making it worse." Scarlett shook her head.
"Don't talk like that. If anyone can help Conrad get back his memory it's you." Drew disagreed.
"But look at how much all of this is hurting him." Scarlett sighed sadly.
"Have you thought about just coming out and telling him everything?" Drew asked.
"Of course, about once a minute. Then I remember what Doc said about interfering with his memories. What if I told him everything? What if he's changed? That even with all the information of who he used to be…that he'll never be the same Conrad again. Plus, there are other reasons, but I…they're personal." Scarlett sighed frustrated at everything.
"What if you just gave him a little bit of his history? You know, like Cliff's Notes?" Drew asked.
"I'd have to clear that with our commander. If Conrad doesn't rejoin the team then there are some things he can't ever know again." Scarlett explained all the red tape.
"I see." Jack mused.
"Would you all excuse me, please. I think I need some air too." Scarlett replied starting to feel flustered. She got up and walked out the kitchen door like Duke had done minutes before. She saw Duke standing on the porch looking out at the lake. She stands next to him, but he doesn't seem to notice.
"It's a nice sunset." Scarlett commented.
"I guess if you like sunsets. I don't know if I do or not." Duke mumbled and looked down.
"Yes, you like them. We've watched a lot of them together." Scarlett answered softly. Duke turned to look at her.
"You seem to know so much about who I was. I'm envious. Not only do I know nothing about you, I know nothing about myself." Duke painfully spoke in a gentle voice.
"I know you're upset at me for keeping your past from you. I'd be angry at me too. I am angry at myself. I just hope you understand I have some good reasons for it." Scarlett replied soothingly.
"Like?" Duke asked with his hurt eyes zeroing in right on her own eyes. His bottom lip quivered slightly.
He was hurting so much all she could think about was throwing her arms around him and nuzzling his ear with her head whispering that everything would be ok. She wanted more than anything at that moment to tell him everything and not give a damn about security. There was still something holding her back…her own heart. Her heart wanted Duke to remember what they shared together…without her leading him on with stories. She was hurting too. If Duke couldn't remember what they had together than how important could it have been to him?
"Give me one reason why you can't tell me." Duke demanded.
"Conrad…" Scarlett sighed hoping he would let up, but this time he would not relent. Scarlett knew she would have to give in and tell him a little about his past. "We work for a branch of the military that's very special. You know a lot of things about a lot of people. You know things about weapons and all this stuff that threatens the world on a daily basis. If I were to tell you even half of what you used to know and you still couldn't come back to the team…" she trailed off.
"I'd be an A-1 security leak waiting to happen." Duke finished for her with a frown.
"Something like that." Scarlett sighed.
"Well, how about telling me some of the unclassified stuff? Who are my friends? Do I have a car? What do I do for fun? What about you?" Duke asked.
"Ford Mustang" Scarlett answered.
"Huh?" Duke asked confused.
"That's the car you drive around base. It's black." Scarlett replied.
"Convertible?" Duke asked.
"Of course." Scarlett smiled.
"Sounds nice to me." Duke sighed with a smile.
"Oh it is. Leather seats and all." Scarlett kept describing it.
"I guess I've taken you for a spin or two in it?" Duke asked.
"Yeah, a few times." Scarlett smiled widely.
"Why do I get the feeling that there's so much more you're not telling me about you and me?" Duke asked her as a serious look replaced his smile.
"Conrad, we're friends… the best of friends…very close friends who spend a lot of time with each other." Scarlett explained.
"There's more, isn't there?" Duke stepped closer to her.
"I really wish I could tell you." Scarlett sighed looking away from him.
"You can! You can tell me right now. You can put me back where I belong." Duke grasped her arms to make her look at him again.
"No, I can't. I can tell you everything you want to know about me, your friends, whatever, but I can't put the feelings there. I can't put feelings in your heart. I can't make you feel something just because I tell you it's so. You may not have the same feelings about things as you used too." Scarlett shook her head. Scarlett knew she was a very strong woman, but even she was on the verge of breaking down. It hurt her very much to see Duke like this.
"If I felt something once I'll feel it again... all I need to know is what I felt." Duke coaxed.
"All I know is how you said you felt about all of us. Only you know what you really felt." Scarlett sighed.
"I see what you're saying." Duke sighed knowing Scarlett was right.
"I don't blame you if you're upset with me." Scarlett whispered to him.
"I'm not upset with you. I'm upset with myself." Duke sighed truthfully.
"You can't help what's happened…" Scarlett offered advice.
"I just wonder some days if it will all come back. If there is anything up there to come back." Duke sighed wistfully.
"I hope it does."
"You miss him, don't you?" Duke shuffled his feet a little.
"Who?" Scarlett asked.
"Conrad." Duke sighed looking up into the sky.
"You're right here with me." Scarlett replied confused.
"In body I am, who knows where his mind is." Duke sighed sadly. Scarlett took his hand which surprised both of them at first.
"I'm here and you're here. Yes I miss being able to share some things with you, but I want you to know memories or no memories I still am your friend." Scarlett answered seriously.
"Because of the past?" Duke asked.
"And because of the future." Scarlett answered. They both turned to see the sun slip away behind the distant hills.
"I can't thank you enough for coming here to see me. I think that you just might be the cure for my amnesia." Duke smiled.
"I'm glad to be here and to help." Scarlett smiled.
"Well, I guess we better go back inside. I don't want to make anyone worry." Duke sighed. He held the door open for Scarlett.
"Drew and I are going to a movie. Do you two want to come?" Jack asked as he and Drew stood up.
"Uh, I'm not in the mood, Jack, but thanks for asking. I'm going to sit and eat." Duke replied.
"Scarlett?" Jack invitied.
"I'll stay too." Scarlett nodded.
"You can go if you want." Duke insisted.
"No, I want to eat too. I barely touched any of your mother's fried chicken." Scarlett replied.
"Ok, see you both later." Jack parted. Mrs. Falcone was on her way out of the kitchen also.
"Mom? Where are you going?" Duke asked.
"I'm finished and I have some things to straighten up in the other room." She answered smiling and also left the room. Scarlett and Duke began to eat their dinners before the food got too cold.
"Why do I get the distinct feeling that my mother wants us to be alone?" Duke chuckled after eating a piece of chicken.
"I don't know, but it seems like they all left in a hurry. Jack did invite us to the movies though." Scarlett nibbled on some chicken.
"It's like they think something will happen when we're alone. Like we'll kiss or something" Duke smiled.
"Conrad!" Scarlett giggled mostly out of sheer embarrassment and surprise.
"Let's give it a try." Duke smiled and made a kissy face. Scarlett took a spoonful of mashed potatoes and winged it at his face.
"I knew you liked it rough." Duke teased and leaned over and pushed Scarlett's face gently into her mashed potatoes. Scarlett sat up laughing so hard that her body was shaking but no sound was coming out of her mouth. She had mashed potatoes all over her cheeks and nose.
"Conrad, what made you…why would you…why did you do that?" Scarlett finally made out between fits of laughter.
"Two reasons. You flicked mashed potatoes first, and I was just trying to imagine what the old me would do." Conrad brightly concluded.
"Yes, you would do something like that." Scarlett's laughter subsided as she wiped off the mashed potatoes.
"So what would you like to do tonight? We could hang around here and just relax or I could show you some sites around town." Duke asked his guest.
"What do you feel like?" Scarlett asked in return.
"You're here on vacation. I want you to make the decisions." Duke grinned as he continued eating.
"Let's go out. Show me what you do for fun around here. After all it's the Show-Me State, right?" Scarlett cracked a joke.
"Yeah, yeah. So anyway, that is what we'll do. I'll show you around then." Duke smiled.
"Sounds like a plan." Scarlett smiled eating her last forkful of her flattened mashed potatoes. Duke finished his meal and took both his plate and Scarlett's over to the sink.
"I'm going to freshen up before we leave. I'll only be five minutes." Scarlett decided. Duke nodded. He entered the living room and casually leafed through some more photographs that he and Scarlett hadn't gotten to earlier. Scarlett came back downstairs wearing a new top. She grinned as she watched Duke study the pictures. She casually peered over his arm to see the picture he was looking at.
"Flint…Lady Jaye…you…me…Hawk…" Duke pointed out the different people.
"You got them all." Scarlett smiled. Duke smiled back at her and put the picture back in the box.
"Ready?" Duke asked. Scarlett nodded. He opened the door for her.
"Did you manage to clean up some of the mashed potatoes on the floor?" Scarlett asked.
"There wasn't any on the floor. You hit me dead on. No wonder you're in G.I. Joe. You've got great aim." Duke laughed. Scarlett smiled.
"It's such a nice night." Scarlett breathed in the clean country air.
"I love it here. It's so peaceful." Duke smiled looking at the sky and then at Scarlett. "Is there any place you'd like to see first tonight? I'm your tour guide."
"I'm not really sure what's out here. Is there any place you suggest?" Scarlett asked as they neared his car. Duke opened the door for her and thought about her question. He closed her door and got in the driver's side.
"I know a place. I think you'll like it." Duke smiled.
"Yea?" Scarlett asked wanting to know more.
"It's a little place called O'Malley's." Duke smiled.
"O'Malley's?" Scarlett raised her eyebrow.
"Yeah, it's a little tavern. It's nice. But if you don't want to go, we'll go somewhere else." Duke didn't want to push the tavern too much.
"Come on. You're talking to a red haired woman with Irish blood. Of course I want to go. Drive!" Scarlett giggled.
"Yes ma'am." Duke barked and turned on the ignition. They drove down a quaint little road and turned into a gravel parking lot.
"I promise this will be different then last night." Duke sighed as he got out of the car. He went over to Scarlett's door and opened it for her. They entered the bar together and found it to be a nice and cozy setting. Wooden booths were all around the walls with a dance floor in the middle. Duke led Scarlett over to the corner booth away from other tavern-goers.