Disclaimers: We don't own or profit from GI Joe or their characters. We are only borrowing them to have some fun. Please don't sue us! We have nothing.
Authors Notes: Happy Birthday, Medic! We began this fic to wish our friend, Medic, a very happy birthday. Our idea grew from what was supposed to be a short story into a multi-chaptered story. Who would have been able to guess that would happen!? Anyway, it has been fun to work on. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed writing it.
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Chapter 1 - Prelude
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After the Joes defeated Cobra in a lunatic scheme to turn The City of Las Vegas into La Villa de Cobra, the small team reassembled at their mock headquarters and began the daunting task of packing up their equipment. Tired but elated by the crushing blow dealt to Cobra, each team member worked at a quick pace to load their equipment in the C-130.
Cover Girl and Clutch maneuvered their Wolverines into the transporter before heading over to assist Dusty and Footloose with the Maulers. As they all worked, Duke approached the four tank handlers. "Hey, Duke, man," Footloose spoke up. "How's about giving us a few days R & R?"
Scarlett and Gung-Ho hopped out of the Vamps that they had just loaded. Walking over to Duke, Scarlett put her hand on his shoulder and whispered seductively in his ear, "Con, we are in Vegas. You've seen the commercial, 'What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas'."
Blushing, Duke looked at the twelve pairs of eyes staring back at him. The team had done a great job; they deserved some rest and relaxation. "That might not be a bad idea. We might actually get to finish a date for once," Duke quietly answered Scarlett. Clearing his throat, he announced, "Okay men, R & R is granted. Let's get this equipment packed up and loaded so the transporter and crew can return to base. Beginning tonight, the rest of us are on a 48-hour leave."
Loud cheers echoed through the temporary base, followed by "Yes Sirs". The Joes hurriedly got back to work, and the transporter was loaded in record time. "Okay, Sarge. She is all yours," Duke told the head loadmaster. "Take her on back to headquarters for us. Be back here in 48 hours to pick us up."
"Yes, Sir," the loadmaster sharply replied with a swift salute. As he trudged back to his plane, he muttered, "Lucky bastards. They get to go have fun in Vegas while I am stuck with all this equipment. Where did I go wrong?" Sighing, the loadmaster climbed onboard, and moments later, he and his cargo taxied down the runway.
"Okay, troops. Let's head on into town and see what is going on in the City of Sin," Duke commented, receiving an evil look from Scarlett and Lifeline. "What?!" He asked the two astonished faces.
"Try the City of Lights, Duke," Lifeline replied.
"Or the City of Luck," Scarlett countered.
"Whatever," Duke sighed, shaking his head. "Dusty, this is your ol' stompin' grounds. What do you call it?" Duke asked a stunned Dusty.
"Well, Duke, I simply call it home," Dusty meekly replied.
Footloose and Cover Girl both nodded their heads, agreeing with Dusty. "Well, man, show us around your hometown then," Footloose suggested to the desert trooper.
"Now you are talking," Dusty grinned, slipping behind the wheel of one of the jeeps as the others climbed in the two other vehicles.
Duke pulled his jeep up beside Dusty's and shouted, "Hey, Ron, you don't have to hang with us while you are on leave. If you would like, you can get us into town and then go visit your family."
"Thanks, Conrad. I may do that. We'll see," Dusty told Duke, winking at Cover Girl, who was sitting beside him.
As the Joes approached the city limits, a blue station wagon passed them heading in the opposite direction. As soon as the car was passed them, its brake lights lit up. The car quickly turned around and followed the Joes into town.
Dusty led the other two jeeps to a parking lot situated in a convenient location on the strip's main thoroughfare. As he got out, he explained that this was the middle of the strip and began to point out where the major attractions were. It was the middle of the day, and the traffic was lighter than normal. "The intense heat keeps most of the patrons inside, gambling until the sun goes down. Got to love the desert heat," Dusty gloated.
Shipwreck complained, "It is too hot. I'll bet you can fry an egg in two seconds out here."
"I say two and a half seconds," Ace butted in, holding out his hand. "We can test out Hector's theory at high noon tomorrow. Anyone else in?"
"Brad, save it for the tables, man," Footloose smirked, shaking his head.
The others laughed as a blue station pulled into the parking lot. A middle-aged lady got out of the car and started to walk towards the team. Dusty recognized her right away and excused himself. He ran over to the woman, and they embraced.
"Ronnie, it is you. I thought it was you when I passed you on the main highway. How long are you in town?" Mrs. Vasquez asked quickly. She had heard the news reports and knew that the Joes had been successful in thwarting Cobra's evil plan.
"Forty-eight hours, Mrs. Vasquez. I just brought the team to the strip, and then I was going to come out and visit you and mom," Dusty explained.
"Oh, Ronnie. You are going to make your mama so happy. She is doing so good." She paused then excitedly said, "espere un minuto1." Mrs. Vasquez snapped her fingers and continued, "Why don't you have your team come to the house for dinner. I just went to the grocery and have plenty of food. You know how I love to cook. The more people I cook for the happier I am," she rejoiced with a twinkle in her eye.
Dusty's eyes glowed. "Let me ask them, okay?" He quickly walked back over to the rest of the team. "Guys, Mrs. Vasquez just invited us all to the house for dinner. What do you all say?"
"Man, this rocks, dude. Mrs. Vasquez is the best cook around here," Footloose exclaimed, fondly remembering the last time he visited Dusty's home.
"Mon ami, a home cooked meal is just what this Cajun wants," Gung-Ho said.
"Yee haw, partner. I'll go for that," Wild Bill hollered.
"Anything to get out of this heat," Shipwreck and Clutch echoed in unison.
"Dusty, only if it is truly okay," Lifeline said, concerned about thirteen Joes dropping in unexpectedly on this poor lady and Dusty's mom.
"It is fine, Lifeline. Mrs. Vasquez loves to cook for a big family or army, whichever the case," Dusty answered, looking over to Duke.
Duke glanced at Scarlett and Cover Girl, who were nodding their approvals. Hearing the other laments, he chuckled and said, "Twice in one day you guys have persuaded me. Okay, Ron, tell your family that we would be honored."
"Yes, Sir," Dusty grinned, running back to Mrs. Vasquez to tell her the news. "They said yes. When do you want us to come?" Dusty asked.
"You can come anytime you want to. I'm headed home, and I will get something special together," she answered, beaming with pride.
"Okay, how about an hour or so? We can help you set up the living room and finish dinner," Dusty offered.
"You are such a good boy," Mrs. Vasquez said, pinching Dusty's cheeks. "See you en una hora2."
The woman hugged Dusty goodbye then ran back to her car. She tooted the horn as she drove out of the parking lot.
As Dusty turned around, he saw twelve faces staring at him. "You are our hero, mate," Shipwreck cheered as the rest of the team joined in congratulating the desert trooper, thanking him for having family in Vegas.
"Dude, let's go," Footloose said impatiently. "I'm like so hungry."
"Wait, guys, I told her one hour," Dusty explained.
Cover Girl suggested, "Okay, take us on a tour of your town then."
"Yes, that would be a nice idea," Scarlett agreed.
Ace pouted. "I thought we were going to gamble," he quietly grumbled to Alpine and Bazooka.
"Uh, sounds like later," Bazooka stated, smacking his gum.
"Don't worry, Ace. We have two days here. I am sure you will be able to find some free time to gamble and bet. This is a nice offer, and after the recent meals that we have had, I am looking forward to some good home cooking," Alpine replied.
The Joes climbed back into their jeeps, and Dusty began to show them around his hometown.
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TBC
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Phrases said by Mrs. Vasquez in Spanish:
(1) Wait a minute
(2) in one hour