Chapter 2
"Shit!" Beach Head swore as they watched the bikers stop Cover Girl. He glanced at Rolllins. "Be ready! If they go for her, you got her back!"
"Yes sir."
Beach Head rose and walked towards the altercation. She was facing them now, arms at her sides, smiling sweetly. But he could see her resting on the balls of her feet. Ready for the fight.
"Just passing through, guys." She said politely as her eyes slid to the side, seeing Beach Head creep up to stand just to her right. The biker guys also watched him.
"Are you in the ARM-ee, dude?" one of them asked as the others laughed.
"You know it, boy, and you don't want to mess with us."
The man's face darkened. "Oh no? You think we can't take some G.I. Joe wannabees?"
"Look..we're going now. Let's just all relax here." Cover Girl tried, thinking about how Hawk would have their asses if they got arrested.
"You ain't going anywhere." one of them proclaimed. Oh, of course, Cover Girl thought wryly. Can I go anywhere with one of the guys and NOT get into a fight?
"Stand aside, kid...and I'll let you walk home on your own today." Beach Head said quietly.
The man scowled and raised his pool que. "Don't call me kid!"
He made a clumsy effort to thwack Beach Head with the stick. Beach Head easily avoided it, but another one came in from the side and connected with the back of his knee. He whirled around and kicked the man in the stomach, sending him flying against the bar, and then leapt forward and grabbed him by the neck. The man choked and Cover Girl darted forward, trying to keep an eye on the surrounding men. Rollins had risen from their table and circled slowly, keeping himself out of the center of it, so he could watch the perimeter.
"Come on Beach...let the guy go. Hawk will have our heads if we hurt them." Cover Girl urged, seriously, her eyes sliding from side to side to watch the guy's friends. She looked at the Ranger and watched his jaw relax as he started to pull away from the guy, when the guy suddenly whipped a nasty looking bowie knife from a sheath strapped to his back. He pressed the point firmly into Beach Head's stomach, through the unzipped vest he wore. Beach Head froze and his fingers began to dig deeper into the guy's windpipe.
"Ok, ok..." Cover Girl said nervously, reaching out to grab at Beach Head's arm. "Look guys. Let's just back away here and we'll all go home, ok?"
"Let go or I'll gut you." the guy managed to gasp out.
"Cut me and I'll rip your throat out."
"Beach Head, for Christ's sake...let go." Cover Girl pulled on his arm and glared at him. This was just a roomful of street fighters, they should be able to get out of her without much harm to anyone. Then there was a movement behind the bar and the loud clack of a pump-action shotgun being primed. The bartender leveled the gun at Beach's head. His eyes slid sideways to glance at the barrel resting inches away.
Instantly, Cover Girl whipped a .45 from her jacket and pointed it at the biker guy's head. "You shoot...he dies."
The rest of the guys in the bar suddenly backed rapidly away from the stand-off, a few running out of the bar to their bikes. The farmers sat calmly on their bar stools, sipping their beers. They looked bored. Rollins walked to the door, to keep an eye on any incoming patrons. The biker guy with Beach Head's hands wrapped around his throat looked at Cover Girl in surprise.
"A minute ago you were on my side!"
"That was before your friend pulled a shotgun on us. Beach may be a prick, but he's ours and if anyone's gonna kill him...it's gonna be one of us...not you." Beach Head's eyes slid sideways to look at her.
"What the...?"
Cover Girl looked at the bartender. "You really want to follow this through?"
"I could kill him before you get me."
"Yes...but I guarantee I'll get two shots off to your one. By the time you pump that shotgun again, this guy will be gone and there'll be a nice little hole in your skull as well."
The guy looked unsure and Cover Girl knew they couldn't keep this thing going much longer. She cocked the hammer on the pistol, doing it for effect, since you could fire it without cocking it manually. The biker guy flinched.
"Ok men...this is how it's going to go. You..." she nodded towards the bartender. "You're gonna remove the shell from the chamber on that gun and then you're gonna lay it on the top of the bar...and you..." she looked at the guy with the knife. "You're gonna drop the knife...then Beach is gonna let you go and we're gonna back out of this place...nice and slow. No one is getting hurt." Everyone was frozen for a moment and Cover Girl aimed the pistol a little closer to the biker's face.
"Right now, boys!"
The bartender pumped the shell from the chamber and set the shotgun on the bar. Cover Girl looked at the biker. He glanced at the pistol in his face and she heard the clatter as he dropped the knife.
"Beach..."
The Ranger's jaw clenched and then he released the guy, backing slightly away. They both walked back, as the others watched them silently. Rollins stepped outside and held the door as they backed through it. When the door closed again, they looked at each other.
"Get in the fucking car!"
They leapt from the stoop and raced to the Cuda. Rollins dove into the back as the other two quickly slid in the front. Cover Girl fired up the hemi and the tires spit gravel as they took off. Behind them, the bar door opened and Rollins watched the biker guy and two others race for their bikes.
"I think they're comin' after us!"
"Those crappy old bikes aren't gonna keep up with this bad boy!" Cover Girl said delightedly as she put the pedal down and the Cuda roared forward. Rollins watched the bikes fly up onto the road behind them in pursuit, and then begin to fall behind as the Cuda took off. They fell further and further behind and then he couldn't see them anymore. He sighed in relief, his stomach writhing again.
"Shouldn't Waylon Jennings be singing about 'good ole boys' right about now or something." he asked. Cover Girl laughed.
"If Cross Country were here, he'd do it for us." she exclaimed, then looked at Beach Head. "What? No thank you?"
He glanced at her. "For what?"
She glared at him. "For what? For getting us out of that 'situation'."
He shrugged. "Yeah...you were ok."
"Ok?" she cried incredulously. "Ok? Christ! Don't lavish so much praise on me, Sergeant! I wouldn't want to get a swelled head!"
"I could have handled it myself! Besides...I thought I said 'no guns' inside."
"I saved your ass!"
"Bullshit!"
Cover Girl shook her head. "You're unreal...I should make you say 'Cover Girl saved my ass' a hundred times for me in thanks."
"Please..." Beach Head said sarcastically, pulling his mask back on and settling it over his face.
"Oh that's it!" Cover Girl suddenly slammed on the brakes, throwing Rollins into the back of her seat and making Beach Head brace his arms against the dashboard to keep himself from ending up on the floor.
"What the hell are you doing?" he yelled.
She threw the car into neutral and pulled the parking brake, then turned and looked at him. "Say it."
"What?" he glared at her as if she had lost her mind.
"SAY...IT...!" she enunciated each word.
"Say what?"
"Say 'Cover Girl saved my ass'."
"What? No!"
Rollins twisted in the backseat to look out of the rear window. He expected to see the bikes appear in the distance any second. "Uhhhh...guys?"
They weren't listening. They were glaring at each other.
"Would you rather say 'a woman saved my ass'?" Cover Girl threw at him, starting to grin now.
"I'm not saying shit!"
"Uh...guys! Could we please get going?" Rollins pleaded, thinking he saw a flash in the road behind.
"We're not going anywhere till Beach Head says it." Cover Girl stated firmly, crossing her arms. Beach Head glowered at her and she rolled her eyes.
"OK...I can definitely see the bikes now!" Rollins groaned, his stomach turning flips.
"Say it, Beach Head!"
"This is incredibly immature, Cover Girl!"
"So is refusing to admit when I've SAVED YOUR ASS!"
"GUYS! They're right behind us!" Rollins called, watching the bikes roaring up over the last shallow hill. Cover Girl and Beach Head both turned and looked out the rear window. They looked at each other.
"Nnnh...Cover Girl...mmmph..." Beach Head mumbled. Cover Girl looked at him and then tilted her head.
"What was that? I don't have supersonic hearing."
Beach glared at the dashboard in front of him. "I said...Cover Girl saved my ass!"
She grinned and glanced upwards. "Oh, the beauty of it all..."
"Let's go!"
She engaged the clutch, released the brake and shifted into gear, tearing away from the slowing bikers and roaring down the road. The bikers disappeared for good behind them. When they were well away, Beach Head turned in his seat and fixed the rookie with an intense stare.
"Rollins...if I find out you told anyone about this...EVER...I swear on all that is holy, PT will take on a totally new meaning for you! As in Physical Trauma! Got it?"
"Oh god..."
"Got it?" the Sergeant repeated.
"Sir, yes sir!" Rollins leaned forward, trying to calm his stomach.
"Ok... I think we should all agree that nothing happened this afternoon...if Hawk or Duke asks." Cover Girl suggested.
"Agreed." Beach Head said immediately and they exchanged understanding glances.
They were quiet the last few miles. The Cuda sped through the late afternoon towards the base and they stared out the windows in silent thought. As they sped onto the outskirts of the base, Beach Head glanced at Cover Girl.
"You better slow down...Law sits this road with radar all the time."
Cover Girl smiled innocently. "Yeah... I know. He and I have...a little ritual!"
Beach Head raised one eyebrow suspiciously. They sped on down the long, straight road and soon, sure enough, they saw Law's MP car at the side of the road. Cover Girl layed off the throttle and let the car coast forward. As they approached the MP closely, she suddenly gunned it, causing the car to jump forward and give a sudden loud bellow of it's power. Beach turned his head and saw the MP glancing up in surprise as the coffee in the cup he was holding, splashed up over the side and headed down towards his lap.
Beach settled back in his seat with a smirk. "Heh!"
"Can you believe that guy sent me his laundry bill last week?"
Beach Head glanced at her. "If that coffee landed where I think it did, I'm surprised he doesn't sue you for personal injury and disability." They suddenly grinned at each other, and Rollins moaned in misery.
The Cuda rumbled into the motor pool of the Pitt and stopped along one wall. Both Cover Girl and Beach Head sat still for a moment looking up at the figure of General Hawk standing in front of them...waiting.
"Shit." Cover Girl swore softly, glancing at the Ranger. He glanced back and met her eyes.
"Let me out of here!" Rollins groaned and they glanced back at him.
"Forget the obstacle courses, I ought to just send the newbies on a ride with you, Cover Girl...that'll weed out the pansies." Beach Head smirked.
They climbed slowly out of the car. Rollins bolted from the backseat and quickly off to the side, where he promptly threw-up and sank to his knees. Hawk watched him with some concern and then faced his two soldiers.
"I received a call from some local authorities not far from here...they stated some 'soldiers' were at a country bar and pulled a gun on some of the locals. You...wouldn't know anything about that...would you?"
Cover Girl shrugged, looking innocent. "No sir...have no idea."
"Uh-huh... Beach Head?"
The Staff Sergeant looked at him and swallowed before shrugging his shoulders as well. "No sir...not a thing."
Hawk studied both of them. "That's the way it's going to be then?"
When neither of them answered, he nodded. "Ok...well, it's a damn good thing those soldiers, whoever they were, chose that bar instead of one of the many that have surveillance cameras inside. Nothing can be proven...yet."
The two soldiers smiled slightly at each other and were preparing to walk away when Hawk stopped them. "Ah...Cover Girl!"
She stopped and looked back at the General.
"You can expect a speeding ticket from Law tomorrow morning. And...another laundry bill."
"Yes sir." She answered with a wince. But as she turned away...she smiled.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Shit!" Beach Head swore as they watched the bikers stop Cover Girl. He glanced at Rolllins. "Be ready! If they go for her, you got her back!"
"Yes sir."
Beach Head rose and walked towards the altercation. She was facing them now, arms at her sides, smiling sweetly. But he could see her resting on the balls of her feet. Ready for the fight.
"Just passing through, guys." She said politely as her eyes slid to the side, seeing Beach Head creep up to stand just to her right. The biker guys also watched him.
"Are you in the ARM-ee, dude?" one of them asked as the others laughed.
"You know it, boy, and you don't want to mess with us."
The man's face darkened. "Oh no? You think we can't take some G.I. Joe wannabees?"
"Look..we're going now. Let's just all relax here." Cover Girl tried, thinking about how Hawk would have their asses if they got arrested.
"You ain't going anywhere." one of them proclaimed. Oh, of course, Cover Girl thought wryly. Can I go anywhere with one of the guys and NOT get into a fight?
"Stand aside, kid...and I'll let you walk home on your own today." Beach Head said quietly.
The man scowled and raised his pool que. "Don't call me kid!"
He made a clumsy effort to thwack Beach Head with the stick. Beach Head easily avoided it, but another one came in from the side and connected with the back of his knee. He whirled around and kicked the man in the stomach, sending him flying against the bar, and then leapt forward and grabbed him by the neck. The man choked and Cover Girl darted forward, trying to keep an eye on the surrounding men. Rollins had risen from their table and circled slowly, keeping himself out of the center of it, so he could watch the perimeter.
"Come on Beach...let the guy go. Hawk will have our heads if we hurt them." Cover Girl urged, seriously, her eyes sliding from side to side to watch the guy's friends. She looked at the Ranger and watched his jaw relax as he started to pull away from the guy, when the guy suddenly whipped a nasty looking bowie knife from a sheath strapped to his back. He pressed the point firmly into Beach Head's stomach, through the unzipped vest he wore. Beach Head froze and his fingers began to dig deeper into the guy's windpipe.
"Ok, ok..." Cover Girl said nervously, reaching out to grab at Beach Head's arm. "Look guys. Let's just back away here and we'll all go home, ok?"
"Let go or I'll gut you." the guy managed to gasp out.
"Cut me and I'll rip your throat out."
"Beach Head, for Christ's sake...let go." Cover Girl pulled on his arm and glared at him. This was just a roomful of street fighters, they should be able to get out of her without much harm to anyone. Then there was a movement behind the bar and the loud clack of a pump-action shotgun being primed. The bartender leveled the gun at Beach's head. His eyes slid sideways to glance at the barrel resting inches away.
Instantly, Cover Girl whipped a .45 from her jacket and pointed it at the biker guy's head. "You shoot...he dies."
The rest of the guys in the bar suddenly backed rapidly away from the stand-off, a few running out of the bar to their bikes. The farmers sat calmly on their bar stools, sipping their beers. They looked bored. Rollins walked to the door, to keep an eye on any incoming patrons. The biker guy with Beach Head's hands wrapped around his throat looked at Cover Girl in surprise.
"A minute ago you were on my side!"
"That was before your friend pulled a shotgun on us. Beach may be a prick, but he's ours and if anyone's gonna kill him...it's gonna be one of us...not you." Beach Head's eyes slid sideways to look at her.
"What the...?"
Cover Girl looked at the bartender. "You really want to follow this through?"
"I could kill him before you get me."
"Yes...but I guarantee I'll get two shots off to your one. By the time you pump that shotgun again, this guy will be gone and there'll be a nice little hole in your skull as well."
The guy looked unsure and Cover Girl knew they couldn't keep this thing going much longer. She cocked the hammer on the pistol, doing it for effect, since you could fire it without cocking it manually. The biker guy flinched.
"Ok men...this is how it's going to go. You..." she nodded towards the bartender. "You're gonna remove the shell from the chamber on that gun and then you're gonna lay it on the top of the bar...and you..." she looked at the guy with the knife. "You're gonna drop the knife...then Beach is gonna let you go and we're gonna back out of this place...nice and slow. No one is getting hurt." Everyone was frozen for a moment and Cover Girl aimed the pistol a little closer to the biker's face.
"Right now, boys!"
The bartender pumped the shell from the chamber and set the shotgun on the bar. Cover Girl looked at the biker. He glanced at the pistol in his face and she heard the clatter as he dropped the knife.
"Beach..."
The Ranger's jaw clenched and then he released the guy, backing slightly away. They both walked back, as the others watched them silently. Rollins stepped outside and held the door as they backed through it. When the door closed again, they looked at each other.
"Get in the fucking car!"
They leapt from the stoop and raced to the Cuda. Rollins dove into the back as the other two quickly slid in the front. Cover Girl fired up the hemi and the tires spit gravel as they took off. Behind them, the bar door opened and Rollins watched the biker guy and two others race for their bikes.
"I think they're comin' after us!"
"Those crappy old bikes aren't gonna keep up with this bad boy!" Cover Girl said delightedly as she put the pedal down and the Cuda roared forward. Rollins watched the bikes fly up onto the road behind them in pursuit, and then begin to fall behind as the Cuda took off. They fell further and further behind and then he couldn't see them anymore. He sighed in relief, his stomach writhing again.
"Shouldn't Waylon Jennings be singing about 'good ole boys' right about now or something." he asked. Cover Girl laughed.
"If Cross Country were here, he'd do it for us." she exclaimed, then looked at Beach Head. "What? No thank you?"
He glanced at her. "For what?"
She glared at him. "For what? For getting us out of that 'situation'."
He shrugged. "Yeah...you were ok."
"Ok?" she cried incredulously. "Ok? Christ! Don't lavish so much praise on me, Sergeant! I wouldn't want to get a swelled head!"
"I could have handled it myself! Besides...I thought I said 'no guns' inside."
"I saved your ass!"
"Bullshit!"
Cover Girl shook her head. "You're unreal...I should make you say 'Cover Girl saved my ass' a hundred times for me in thanks."
"Please..." Beach Head said sarcastically, pulling his mask back on and settling it over his face.
"Oh that's it!" Cover Girl suddenly slammed on the brakes, throwing Rollins into the back of her seat and making Beach Head brace his arms against the dashboard to keep himself from ending up on the floor.
"What the hell are you doing?" he yelled.
She threw the car into neutral and pulled the parking brake, then turned and looked at him. "Say it."
"What?" he glared at her as if she had lost her mind.
"SAY...IT...!" she enunciated each word.
"Say what?"
"Say 'Cover Girl saved my ass'."
"What? No!"
Rollins twisted in the backseat to look out of the rear window. He expected to see the bikes appear in the distance any second. "Uhhhh...guys?"
They weren't listening. They were glaring at each other.
"Would you rather say 'a woman saved my ass'?" Cover Girl threw at him, starting to grin now.
"I'm not saying shit!"
"Uh...guys! Could we please get going?" Rollins pleaded, thinking he saw a flash in the road behind.
"We're not going anywhere till Beach Head says it." Cover Girl stated firmly, crossing her arms. Beach Head glowered at her and she rolled her eyes.
"OK...I can definitely see the bikes now!" Rollins groaned, his stomach turning flips.
"Say it, Beach Head!"
"This is incredibly immature, Cover Girl!"
"So is refusing to admit when I've SAVED YOUR ASS!"
"GUYS! They're right behind us!" Rollins called, watching the bikes roaring up over the last shallow hill. Cover Girl and Beach Head both turned and looked out the rear window. They looked at each other.
"Nnnh...Cover Girl...mmmph..." Beach Head mumbled. Cover Girl looked at him and then tilted her head.
"What was that? I don't have supersonic hearing."
Beach glared at the dashboard in front of him. "I said...Cover Girl saved my ass!"
She grinned and glanced upwards. "Oh, the beauty of it all..."
"Let's go!"
She engaged the clutch, released the brake and shifted into gear, tearing away from the slowing bikers and roaring down the road. The bikers disappeared for good behind them. When they were well away, Beach Head turned in his seat and fixed the rookie with an intense stare.
"Rollins...if I find out you told anyone about this...EVER...I swear on all that is holy, PT will take on a totally new meaning for you! As in Physical Trauma! Got it?"
"Oh god..."
"Got it?" the Sergeant repeated.
"Sir, yes sir!" Rollins leaned forward, trying to calm his stomach.
"Ok... I think we should all agree that nothing happened this afternoon...if Hawk or Duke asks." Cover Girl suggested.
"Agreed." Beach Head said immediately and they exchanged understanding glances.
They were quiet the last few miles. The Cuda sped through the late afternoon towards the base and they stared out the windows in silent thought. As they sped onto the outskirts of the base, Beach Head glanced at Cover Girl.
"You better slow down...Law sits this road with radar all the time."
Cover Girl smiled innocently. "Yeah... I know. He and I have...a little ritual!"
Beach Head raised one eyebrow suspiciously. They sped on down the long, straight road and soon, sure enough, they saw Law's MP car at the side of the road. Cover Girl layed off the throttle and let the car coast forward. As they approached the MP closely, she suddenly gunned it, causing the car to jump forward and give a sudden loud bellow of it's power. Beach turned his head and saw the MP glancing up in surprise as the coffee in the cup he was holding, splashed up over the side and headed down towards his lap.
Beach settled back in his seat with a smirk. "Heh!"
"Can you believe that guy sent me his laundry bill last week?"
Beach Head glanced at her. "If that coffee landed where I think it did, I'm surprised he doesn't sue you for personal injury and disability." They suddenly grinned at each other, and Rollins moaned in misery.
The Cuda rumbled into the motor pool of the Pitt and stopped along one wall. Both Cover Girl and Beach Head sat still for a moment looking up at the figure of General Hawk standing in front of them...waiting.
"Shit." Cover Girl swore softly, glancing at the Ranger. He glanced back and met her eyes.
"Let me out of here!" Rollins groaned and they glanced back at him.
"Forget the obstacle courses, I ought to just send the newbies on a ride with you, Cover Girl...that'll weed out the pansies." Beach Head smirked.
They climbed slowly out of the car. Rollins bolted from the backseat and quickly off to the side, where he promptly threw-up and sank to his knees. Hawk watched him with some concern and then faced his two soldiers.
"I received a call from some local authorities not far from here...they stated some 'soldiers' were at a country bar and pulled a gun on some of the locals. You...wouldn't know anything about that...would you?"
Cover Girl shrugged, looking innocent. "No sir...have no idea."
"Uh-huh... Beach Head?"
The Staff Sergeant looked at him and swallowed before shrugging his shoulders as well. "No sir...not a thing."
Hawk studied both of them. "That's the way it's going to be then?"
When neither of them answered, he nodded. "Ok...well, it's a damn good thing those soldiers, whoever they were, chose that bar instead of one of the many that have surveillance cameras inside. Nothing can be proven...yet."
The two soldiers smiled slightly at each other and were preparing to walk away when Hawk stopped them. "Ah...Cover Girl!"
She stopped and looked back at the General.
"You can expect a speeding ticket from Law tomorrow morning. And...another laundry bill."
"Yes sir." She answered with a wince. But as she turned away...she smiled.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^