This Christmas
by Destiny Lockheart
Chapter 3 - It's Party Time!
Disclaimer: Still don't own any of the Final Fantasy characters.... Beware of the possessed dishcloth.
Jane leaned down to whisper something in Cassie's ear. The young girl grinned up at her, then turned her attention back to Neil.
&-&-&-&
Neil was roughly woken up whenever Cassie decided to sit down on his stomach. "Wake-up, sleepy-head," she told him cheerfully.
"Couldn't you have found a more gentle way to wake me up?" he moaned.
"Nope," she told him with a grin. "Aunt Jane told me to get you up this way."
Neil sighed and watched carefully as Jane sat down on the edge of the couch. Her close proximity when he couldn't move was quite unnerving. "Can't you get her to move?" he pleaded with her. Not that he was expecting much of a response. "She's little, but," he winced, "she hurts."
"She's hurting you?" Neil was expecting some type of smart comment after that. What came next took him completely by surprise. Jane placed a hand tenderly on his cheek. "Would you like a kiss to make it better?"
"Ummmm..." Neil looked nervously around him. This had to be some sort of sick trick. Cassie was smiling at him and Jane was looking at him expectantly, waiting for his answer. "Sure," he said, and closed his eyes to wait for the blow. But it never came. Instead, she actually kissed him! He was in complete shock now. He couldn't believe this was actually happening....
....Until he realized he was dreaming because he could hear Jane laughing a few feet away. He also noticed that he was having difficulty breathing. He groggily opened his eyes and found that Cassie had indeed tried to wake him up by sitting on him. He glanced over at Jane who was still laughing. "What's so funny?" he asked her.
"You," she told him bluntly. "One of these days I'm going to have to record you sleeping."
Remembering his dream, he suddenly became very paranoid. "Why?"
She shrugged. "I have my reasons. You," and she pointed to Cassie, "make sure he doesn't open that door," she pointed to the bathroom, "while I'm in there."
"Yes, ma'm!" Cassie saluted her with a grin. Jane disappeared out of Neil's line of vision. After the door was safely closed, Cassie moved from her position on Neil's stomach to the couch next to him.
He took several deep breaths, than sat up. "Thanks."
"I need to talk to you," she told him, a serious expression on her young face. "And you're not going to like it," she added after a few seconds pause.
"'Bout what?" Neil asked calmly. She was little; her problems were probably no where's near as involved as his.
"It's about Aunt Jane," she said. Okay, so she was going to talk to him about one of his major problems. This could not be good. "She and I were talking last night." This was most definitely not good. "I'm not going to yell at you 'cause of all the things you've done before because I know you're trying really hard to make up for it this Christmas but..." she let her voice trail off. Neil wondered where she was headed with this.
Cassie really didn't want to lie to her Uncle Neil, and so far she had managed to get by twisting the truth a little bit. General Hein had asked her to help her out; she would just have to twist the truth around a little bit again. "She was really upset because you never asked her to be your date for General Hein's party." There, that should do it. Jane did tell her that Neil hadn't asked her to General Hein's party and she was upset last night.
"What?!" Neil asked, surprised. For a brief second he wondered if was dreaming again. Or if Cassie was playing some sort of trick on him. Which wasn't very likely. But the last time he had mentioned the word 'date' to Jane he wound up in the infirmary for the evening.
"I'm serious," Cassie told him solemnly. "I think you should ask her today." She smiled at him. "Besides, it will be a lot more fun for all of us that way."
He thought about it for a moment. It was worth a shot and Jane couldn't send him to the hospital in presence of his niece. After she left was a different story, but for right now, he would be safe. "Are you sure she said that?" he asked, still not quite believing it.
"Something like that," Cassie said, looking around the room.
"You better not be lying to me," he warned jokingly.
"Would I lie?" She asked in mock-disbelief. "Especially to my favorite Uncle?"
He laughed. "I'm your only uncle. I guess I'm going to have to believe you. What d'ya say to me ordering breakfast?"
"Really?" she asked, wide-eyed. He nodded and she gave him a hug. "Thank you! There is a higher power out there!"
&-&-&-&
Twenty minutes later, breakfast had arrived and Jane still hadn't come out of the bathroom. "What is she doing in there?" Neil asked.
"Uncle Neil," Cassie said through a mouthful of food, "that's the third time you've said that. Give up already." She bit into a muffin. "Real food; I'm in heaven."
Neil pouted. "Just make sure you save some for Jane." She nodded, but Neil wasn't so sure she heard him. Thankfully, Jane come out of the bathroom just then. "Exactly what were you doing in there?"
"None of your business." She sat down next to Cassie and eyes the food carefully. "Did your uncle make this?" Cassie shook her head no. 'Thank God," Jane said, reaching for some food. "No worries about getting sick later." Cassie nodded in agreement.
"Will you two knock it off," Neil protested. "My cooking is not that bad. Sure, it's not perfected but it's never made me sick before."
They both rolled their eyes. "You've been eating it so long you're immune to it by now," Jane told him.
"This stuff is really good," Cassie said. Neil exited into his bathroom. "What's his problem?"
Jane shrugged. "Maybe he doesn't like us making fun of his cooking?" Cassie shrugged and resumed eating.
After she was full, she leaned back in her chair. "Aunt Jane, can I talk to you about something?"
Jane moved from her chair to the couch. Cassie went and sat down next to her. "About what?"
"Uncle Neil," Cassie confessed. Jane groaned and rolled her eyes. "He wants you to be his date to General Hein's party tonight, but he's too afraid to ask you."
As he should be, Jane thought.
"So, if asks you, will you accept? I know he's played a lot of mean tricks on you in the past, but he's really trying to make up for it this Christmas."
"I'm not making any promises. It all depends on how he treats me between now and then." Jane knew Neil would treat her the way he normally did, which wouldn't get him a date anywhere, so she wasn't worried too much.
&-&-&-&
Thirty minutes later, Jane was doing dishes and Neil was still in the bathroom. "What the hell is he doing in there? And why am I doing his dishes?" she asked, throwing down the dish rag. She started mumbling about doing Neil's chores and taking care of his kids.
"Aunt Jane!" Cassie scolded. "You really shouldn't talk like that!"
Jane looked up at her. "Sorry, he just annoys me sometimes." She then returned to her mumbling and, surprisingly enough, doing his dishes.
Cassie shook her head. She would never understand grown ups. She went back to reading her book but looked up upon Neil's entering the room. "Hey, Uncle Neil."
"Hey." Neil nodded at her. He looked over at Jane, surprised to see her doing housework. "Jane, are you doing my dishes?"
Jane stared at the dishcloth and, disgusted, threw it across the room. "Ugh! Keep that filthy thing away from me!"
Cassie and Neil both tried their best not to laugh. "Aunt Jane, are you okay?" Cassie asked.
"That thing is possessed," she told them, pointing to the dishcloth which was now resting against the wall. Neil started laughing which only succeeded in making Jane angry. "Do you think this is funny, Neil?" She glared at him and folded her arms across his chest.
Neil stopped laughing long enough to answer. "Jane, it's just an ordinary dish rag."
"No it's not," Jane protested. "It's been trying to fill my head with ideas."
Cassie grinned. "What kind of ideas, Aunt Jane?" she asked sweetly.
Jane mumbled her answer, hoping Neil wouldn't hear her clearly. No such luck. "Let me get this straight," Neil said, trying hard not to laugh, "the dishcloth has been filling your head with ideas of doing my housework, taking care of my kids," he started walking towards her, "and did I hear the word 'married' in there?" He stopped and Cassie started chuckling. "You're right, Jane, that dishcloth is the devil. It's showing you a future of being my housewife." Cassie was laughing uncontrollably now. "That's the worst sin ever," he said in mock horror.
"You think this is funny, don't you?" she asked as he picked the rag in question up.
"Jane, it's a simple piece of material." He held it up for her to see then threw it back into his sink. "If anybody's been putting those ideas in your head, it's you." He sat down on the couch next to the still laughing Cassie.
"Evil dishcloth.... Jane, Neil's housewife.... just wait until I tell everyone about this," she muttered in between laughing fits.
Neil shook his head. "Evil dishcloth. And she says I come up with crazy ideas."
Jane stared at the laughing pair on the couch and scowled. "You two think this is funny?"
"Just a little," Cassie admitted, wiping tears from her eyes.
"By the way, Jane, I have something to ask you," Neil said.
Jane sat down on the other side of Cassie who instantly stood up. "Not yet, Uncle Neil. You might want to do something first."
Jane and Neil watched in amusement as Cassie went over to Neil's small tree and pulled a package from beside it. It was something Neil didn't recognize. Cassie carried it over to them and handed it to Neil. "What's this?" he asked, inspecting it.
"That's your special present to Aunt Jane, remember?" Cassie said, pointing to the tag. "I think you should give it to her now. You know, since you were laughing at her."
Neil held out the present to Jane. "I give you my profound apologies and hope you accept them with this gift." She took it form him and he added under his breath, "Even if I have no clue as to what it is."
Jane apparently didn't hear him but Cassie stomped on his foot. "Should I trust this?" Jane asked, tapping the box.
Cassie shrugged. "He didn't tell me what it was so open it already."
Jane started peeling off the wrapping paper as Neil watched on nervously. He didn't remember getting anything that size. He was anxious to remember what it was. The box gave him no hint either, only that it was some form of jewelry. How could he have afforded jewelry of any type? He would find out soon enough because she was opening the box.
Cassie smiled at Jane's expression as she revealed the contents of the present. She still didn't know what it was, but apparently it had done the trick. Grandpa did good. "Neil, I'm touched. You actually remembered," Jane said, taking it out of the box. It was a crystal unicorn charm on a silver chain. She unclasped it and put it on. "How did you afford this?" she asked.
Neil shrugged. "I have no idea," he admitted. In fact, he was currently racking his brain trying to remember how and when he bought it.
"Thank you," she said, completely surprising them both by giving him a hug.
"Your welcome, I think," Neil said, still trying to figure out the mystery. Cassie cleared her throat, bringing Neil back to reality. "Ummm, Jane, would you be my date for General Hein's party?" he asked, quite nervously.
Jane looked at Neil, then over at Cassie who wore a great big smile. "Sure, why not? I only have my reputation to lose."
There were a few moments of Cassie cheering. "That sure made her happy," Neil said after she had quieted down. "One question, Jane. Why did you want that necklace in the first place?"
"Unicorns bring good luck," she told him with a sly grin. "But I think it needs to be warmed up."
"What makes you say that?" he asked absent-mindedly, thinking about what kind of luck it would bring him.
"You're still here." Cassie went off into laughing fits again, this time at Neil's expense.
"That's nice," he replied, causing Cassie to laugh even harder.
"Aunt Jane," Cassie said after she got her laughing back under control, "since Uncle Neil's out of it, can I go visit the Serge for a bit? He said I could."
"Go ahead," Jane told her, not really thinking much of it. Cassie grinned and went running out the door.
&-&-&-&
A few minutes later, she was knocking on Sergeant Ryan's door. More like pounding, actually. He eventually opened the door and was surprised to see her there. "Cassie, what are you doing here?"
"Spreading tales about my uncle and aunt," she said, pushing her way inside. Gray was sitting on the couch. "Good morning, mon capitan." She saluted then sat down next to him.
Ryan closed the door and proceeded to sit down on a chair across from them. "How did you find my apartment?"
Cassie pretended to look shocked. "You mean you don't remember? You told me yesterday and said I could come over whenever I wanted to."
"Oh." There was a few seconds of silence as Ryan thought back to last night. "No I didn't."
"Yes you did!" Cassie protested. She couldn't be found out now. She only had a few more hours left to go and then she would tell them everything.
"It doesn't matter," Gray interjected, stopping them before things got ugly. "What are you doing here?"
Cassie smiled. "Just doing my part by telling people stories about Jane and Neil. I got a real good one about a possessed dishcloth filling Aunt Jane's head with ideas of marrying Uncle Neil."
Gray grinned. "Tell me more about this possessed dishcloth." So, Cassie began to tell them all about the possessed dishcloth.
&-&-&-&
"Where's Cassie?" Neil asked, suddenly coming out of his daydream.
"I think she said something about going to visit the Sergeant," Jane replied, obviously deep in thought.
"She's probably telling him about the possessed dishcloth," Neil informed her. Jane went running out the door. "Hey, wait for me!" he called after her, making sure to lock his door behind them.
&-&-&-&
"I think those two are starting to lose it," Cassie admitted to Ryan and Gray. She watched on in amusement as they both tried hard not to laugh.
"I think I need to get that dishcloth and send it to my girlfriend," Gray said, just as Jane and Neil came running into the room.
Jane stopped right inside the door, and Neil, not expecting it, ran into her. She slapped him. "Watch where you're going."
Cassie smiled innocently up at them. "Hi, Uncle Neil, Aunt Jane."
Jane turned her attention to Gray and Ryan. "How much has she told you?"
"Not much," Gray said, trying hard not to laugh. "Should you really be treating your future husband like that?" he asked, pointing to Neil who was currently rubbing the spot where Jane had slapped him.
"Cassie, I can't believe you told them about that."
Cassie shrugged. "Why not? They already know you're both crazy."
Gray laughed. "I think the whole world knows that. Neil, you're in charge of driving us to General Hein's party later."
"Is that really such a good idea?" Cassie asked. She was absolutely petrified of getting in a car with her Uncle Neil behind the wheel.
"Don't worry. You can sit in the back with me and the Serge," Gray reassured her.
"Where's that leave me?" Jane asked.
"You have two options," Gray told her. "A: You can sit in the passenger's seat or B: You can sit in Neil's lap." Neil blushed.
"I think I'll take choice A." A pause then she added under her breath, "Even though it's the most dangerous spot to be."
"Okay, now that that's settled, we'll see you three at six thirty." Ryan pushed them out the door. "Bye."
"Bye!" Cassie called over her shoulder.
&-&-&-&
At exactly six forty-five that evening.....
Ryan and Gray were sitting in the backseat of the jeep and Neil was sitting in the driver's seat. "What is taking them so long?" Gray asked for about the fifth time. "Neil, what are they doing?"
"I told you sir, I don't know. I told them we were leaving soon."
"And what did they say?" Gray asked, placing a hand on the back of the seat and leaning forward. "You never told me that part."
Neil rolled his eyes. "If I remember correctly, Jane told me to kiss her ass and that they'd be down in a few minutes."
"You let her talk like that in front of your niece?" Ryan asked curiously.
"Listen, have you ever been in a fight with her before?" Gray and Ryan both shook their heads no. They had always gone out of there way to avoid that. "Well, I have and let me tell you, it's no picnic. The woman is inhumanly strong."
Gray noticed Jane and Cassie come out of the front door of the apartment building. "One of the reasons, why you're so attracted to her, right, Neil?"
"Yeah, that's one reason. Why are you so interested in my relationship with Jane all of a sudden?" he asked, starting to turn around. He stopped when he caught sight of Jane. She was wearing a denim skirt, a black shirt, the necklace he "bought" her for Christmas, and had her hair down for the occasion. "Whoa." He then noticed the look she was giving him and cowered back. "Note to self: When niece leaves, you're a dead man."
"Damn straight," Jane said, helping Cassie into the back of the jeep.
Cassie instantly made herself comfortable between Ryan and Gray. "You two will protect me from any harm, right?" she asked, as Jane got in.
"Of course. Seatbelts everyone," Gray ordered. They all obliged.
"Neil, do me a favor. Don't kill us all," Jane told him.
"Great. First my cooking, then my driving. What's next? My performance in-"
"Shut up and drive," Jane told him sternly.
"Thank you," Gray, Ryan and Cassie all said in unison.
As he was driving, Neil couldn't help but look over at Jane every so often. Okay, so he spent more time looking at her than at the road but he couldn't help it. In his opinion, she was simply beautiful. And currently, she wasn't paying any attention to him so he could stare all he wanted. A quick smack to the back of the head brought him back to the reality he was driving just in time for him to avoid hitting another car.
"What was that all about?" Jane asked.
"Hey, Uncle Neil," Cassie called from the back seat. "Do you mind keeping your eye on the road instead of Aunt Jane?"
"Yeah, definitely a dead man," Neil muttered, missing Jane's smile. However, Cassie didn't and she grinned. Tonight was her night to shine.
&-&-&-&
Major Elliot stood talking with General Hein in the middle of the slightly over-crowded room. "Sir, what if they don't show up?"
"Don't worry, Major. I have confidence Cassie won't fail me," General Hein said placing his hands behind his back. "My plan is perfect; there's absolutely not one flaw to it."
Major Elliot cleared his throat nervously. "Sir, I'm still having trouble picturing you playing Cupid."
"Nonsense, Major. I had a wife at one point." He paused, forcing back the memories. "Besides, it was either this or causing a section of the barrier to fail." Elliot nearly choked. Was the General really thinking about doing that? He preferred this method. "Here they are now. Major, go fetch Cassie for me."
Major Elliot gulped and went off to greet the new arrivals.
"It sure is crowded in here," Gray muttered as they entered the building. "All right people, make sure you keep at least one other member of our squad in sight at all times."
They all looked at him strangely. "Captain, may I ask why?"
Gray looked nervously around the room. "In case we have to make a quick get away."
Before any of them could ask why, Major Elliot approached them. "Ah, I see the lovely couple has arrived," he said gesturing to Jane and Neil. He cringed. Why couldn't the general have picked someone else for this task?
"Sir, we're not-"
"The general wishes to speak to your niece." Elliot grabbed Cassie's hand and started walking off before they could protest.
"Cassie, make sure you stay within sight of a superior officer at all times," Neil called after her.
&-&-&-&
"Major Elliot, why are you always so tense?" Cassie asked as he led her through the crowd.
"Because I serve under a psychotic general," he muttered under his breath as he pushed a cadet out of his way.
"What about General Hein?" Cassie asked.
"He's right here," he said, giving her a gentle push in General Hein's direction.
"Your Major's got some serious issues he has to deal with," she told him.
"I know," he said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Cassie, you're going to be a star tonight."
&-&-&-&
"She's been gone a long time," Jane told Neil as she leaned back against the wall, surveying the crowd. "What could they possibly be doing?"
Neil shrugged. "She's probably telling people about the possessed dishcloth."
"You're not going to let that go, are you?"
"Not in this lifetime," he told her with a grin. "And probably not the next."
Out of nowhere, Cassie came running up to them. "Uncle Neil, some guy wants to talk to you about some money you owe him."
Neil looked nervous. "Which way his he?" Cassie pointed in the direction she had just come from. "Then I'm going this way," Neil said, dashing off in the opposite direction.
Cassie watched him run off then smiled up at Jane. "Okay, Cassie, what are you up to?"
Cassie put her hands behind her back and started walking backwards. "What makes you think I'm up to something?"
"Don't play innocent with me," Jane warned, following her. "You've been up to something since the day you got here."
"No I haven't," she lied. She turned and went running into the crowd.
Jane watched her leave then walked off in another direction. "I'll find out what you're doing soon enough."
&-&-&-&
Cassie breathed a sigh of relief as she found General Hein, standing aloof from the rest of the crowd. "Sir, I think I'm going to use the plan now." She paused to catch her breath. "Aunt Jane is starting to get su-su-"
"Suspicious?" General Hein offered.
Cassie nodded. "Yeah, that's it."
General Hein grew deep in thought. If they didn't work swiftly, the whole plan would go down the drain. "Cassie, be a good girl and fetch Captain Edwards." She nodded and went running off to find him.
&-&-&-&
Neil had been talking to some of his tech buddies when Cassie came running up to him and tugged gently at his left hand. "Uncle Neil, Aunt wants to talk to you."
"Hey, Neil, how come you never told us you were married?" one of the guys asked.
Neil sighed and held up his left hand. "Because I'm not. Do you see a ring anywhere?"
"Actually, yeah," another guy said, pointing to Neil's hand. Neil looked in shock at his hand where there was a ring. "Dude, who's the lucky lady?"
"Her name's Jane," Cassie offered, trying to pull Neil away.
"Whoa," the first guy said, "Jane Proudfoot? I never should have made that bet with my captain."
"What bet?" Neil asked curiously.
"Never mind," Cassie said, "Aunt Jane wants to talk to you now." She began pushing him away from the other guys.
"But I wanna know what they're talking about," he whined.
&-&-&-&
Gray's eyes darted around as he searched for Jane. Of all the people involved in this, why did the General have to send him for this task. "Jane," he said nervously as he approached her. Wait a sec, why was he nervous? He was her commanding officer. "Neil wants to talk to you."
"Can't. Currently searching for his treacherous niece."
Gray gulped. This definitely wasn't going as planned. He had to think of something quick. "That's what he wants to talk to you about. He also said something about you two getting married."
Gray watched as her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Oh
really?" He nodded. "Where is the little twerp?"
Gray pointed and Jane set off in search of Neil.
&-&-&-&
"Stand here and wait," Cassie told her uncle as she deposited him in the center of the room. She looked around in search of Jane. She saw her, walking towards them at a very fast pace. "Uncle Neil, I think she's upset about something."
"What else is new?" He looked at his hand and noticed the ring was now missing. "I think I'm losing it."
"Everyone here knew that," Jane said as she stopped in front of him.
"I wasn't talking to you," he retorted. "I was talking to Cassie."
Jane looked around them. "You really are losing it. I haven't seen your evil niece for a while."
Neil looked confused and searched for her. "But she was just here a minute ago."
"Neil, we need to talk about your niece." A shrill whistling sound cut through the air.
&-&-&-&
"Major, what the hell is that?" Hein asked, covering his ears.
Major Elliot looked in the direction of the sound along with everybody else in the room. "It's Cassie, sir."
"Well she certainly is the attention grabber, isn't she?" Major Elliot pretended he didn't hear him.
&-&-&-&
Neil and Jane uncovered their ears as the noise stopped. "Cassie, I'm going to kill you," Jane threatened.
"What?" Cassie rubbed an ear. "I can't hear a thing," she mumbled.
"What did you do that for?" Neil asked, covering an ear. "I think I'm deaf in this ear."
"Such a shame."
Cassie appeared thoughtful for a few moments. "Oh yeah, you two were so deep in conversation I thought I should point a few things out to you."
"Like what?" they asked at the same time. Jane hit Neil with the back of her hand. "Knock that off."
"One, everyone is now staring at us, thanks to my whistle. I would also like to point out that you two are standing underneath the mistletoe." She pointed upwards.
They both looked up. Jane turned and tried to leave but Cassie had been expecting that and somehow managed to cut her off. "Oh, no. You're not going anywheres. Besides, it's tradition," she said, turning Jane around and pushing her back the way she came.
"Your niece is extremely evil," Jane told Neil.
"I don't know," he said with a grin, "I kinda like her."
"You would."
"Come on, Jane," he said coming closer to her. "You heard what the girl said. It's tradition."
Cassie pulled her camera out and held it behind her back. "I hate both of you," Jane said, right before Neil kissed her. Cassie quickly brought her camera out in front of her and took a picture. Jane pulled away from Neil the instant the flash went off. "That was the last straw, Cassie." Cassie grinned and went running off in General Hein's direction. "Get back here!" Jane ordered, taking off after her.
Neil just stood there grinning like an idiot until somebody said, "Dude, she's gonna kill the little girl." He did a quick reality check and went running off after them.
&-&-&-&
Cassie weaved her way through the crowd, trying to locate General Hein before Jane caught up with her. She looked over her shoulder. No sign of her aunt and General Hein was only a few feet away. She gave the camera to him. "Here you go, sir."
General Hein looked at the stored photo. "Thank you, excellent job. Tell your uncle and aunt I wish to speak with them before they leave tonight."
"Yes, sir!" She saluted and went dashing off.
"Major, bring me the soldiers who were foolish enough to take my bet."
Elliot saluted and went off in search of those poor unfortunate souls in question.
&-&-&-&
Cassie inadvertently went running into Jane, quite literally. "I stop looking for my prey and it runs into me." Cassie gulped as Jane pinned her arms to her sides. "I knew you were up to no good."
"All a bit of harmless fun," she pleaded.
"Really?" Jane asked, tightening her grip. "Who says it's harmless?"
"Ack! Can't... breath!" she gasped.
Neil thankfully chose that moment to find them. "Jane, please don't kill me niece. My brother will destroy the entire city."
Jane dropped Cassie on the ground. "Thanks, Uncle Neil," she gasped. "General Hein wants to talk to you two before you leave."
Neil groaned. Jane asked, "About what?"
Cassie shrugged. "How should I know? I'm not a mind reader. Prolly has something to do with that picture though."
&-&-&-&
General Hein looked at the crowd that had gathered around him. All were shuffling their feet nervously. He hadn't realized until now how many idiots had joined the USMF. "I believe you all owe me some money," he said while glaring. They all began digging in their pockets. "Forget it," he said and they all looked up in surprise. "I don't know what I would do with all that money. I just hope you all learned your lesson."
They looked at each other and began mumbling. Somebody could faintly be heard asking, "We were supposed to learn something from this?"
"Get out of my sight!" General Hein growled. The frightened soldiers went running in all directions. "What a waste of time and money," he mumbled. "Next time I'll just cause a barrier failure."
&-&-&-&
Ryan watched the frightened soldiers exit the building. "Sir, why are they all running so fast?"
Gray watched them leave. "They are those who took General Hein's bet."
"Damn, I'm glad I retracted that," he said, shaking his head. "You think those three will be ready to leave soon?" he asked, indicating Jane, Neil and Cassie.
"Give them a few more minutes."
&-&-&-&
"Here he comes to save the day," Cassie mumbled as she spotted General Hein walking towards them. Neil gulped and stood behind Cassie.
"You're so brave," Jane told him sarcastically, "hiding behind a little girl."
The three of them saluted General Hein. Cassie smiled up at him. "That was quite a show you three put on tonight. Your niece will make quite a secret agent someday. I figure ten years from now she'll be working for me." He handed her the developed photo. "You may want to hold on to that for the time being. Oh, and Fleming?"
"Yes, sir?"
"You owe me five hundred dollars," he said as he began walking away.
Neil was shocked. "For what, sir?"
General Hein turned and glared at him. "Are you questioning a superior officer?"
"No, sir," Neil replied meekly.
"Good." General Hein walked away.
"Stupid general," Neil mumbled, "saying I owe him money for absolutely no reason whatsoever."
&-&-&-&
Cassie plopped herself down on Neil's couch. "That was an interesting night."
"Interesting?" Jane said, sitting down next to her. "More like the worst night of my life."
"Aww, come on, you know you enjoyed kissing Uncle Neil," Cassie told her with a grin. "You were smiling and I got the proof right here." She brought out the picture which was instantly confiscated by Neil. "Hey, Uncle Neil, give that back!"
He studied it for a few moments. "She's right you are smiling. I think I'm adding this to my collection."
"Can I confess everything yet?" Cassie asked. "Before Aunt Jane kills you?"
"Go 'head."
"Kay, see everything was a whole plot planned by General Hein to teach some of his soldiers a lesson. So, he started making bets with people. I think you figured out what the bet was." They both nodded. "My job was to set the stage with you two. You know, make you spend some time together, getting ready for a little romance. General Hein came up with the pictures, made sure it snowed in the park, bought the necklace, and told me to call you," she pointed to Jane, "Aunt Jane."
"That explains a lot."
She sighed. "Can I go home yet? You two scare me."
