Chapter 9 Sugar and Spice With Everything Nice

Barney's in the Morning

Ava woke with another smile on her face before blushing wildly. Her dream had definitely not been PG with Lee as the main focus. She pulled the covers back and groaned as she realized she'd creamed herself during the dream. She changed her underwear and dressed in another set of running gear. She tossed her dirty laundry in the washer and started it before heading to the gym to run off her frustrations.

She managed to make the two mile mark before her poor lungs couldn't take anymore. She trudged upstairs and took a relaxing shower before heading back downstairs to start the coffeepot for Tool. He'd fallen asleep on the couch and she couldn't help but smirk at his I'm old comment from yesterday. She covered him with a blanket and returned to the kitchen to start breakfast. She was feeling particularly carnivorous for the day. Sausages, bacon, eggs, and toast was soon on the table and a half asleep Tool slunk into the kitchen wrapped in the blanket she'd thrown on him. She smirked as she poured him a cup of coffee and set it before him next to the plate she'd made for him.

"You're an Angel bearing the sweet elixir of life," he muttered as he took a long swig from his mug, "An Angel."

"Why is it Lee and I seem to be the only morning people around here?"

"Because you two were made for each other," he muttered closing his eyes and yawning before taking another gulp of coffee.

Ava stared at him as he jabbed his fork into a sausage and ate. She had paused her fork halfway to her mouth when he'd made the comment.

"Why does everyone think Lee and I are meant to be? He's got a girlfriend doesn't he? Besides I just got out of a bad relationship."

Tool opened his bleary eyes and stared her down til she shrugged.

"What?" she asked.

"You two gravitate towards each other when you're in a room and his 'girlfriend' cheats on him every time he leaves for a mission. If she's not banging some guy, then she's calling up Lee to nag on him about when he's gonna be home. See it's not about caring. It's about knowing when he'll walk through that door so she knows to have company gone and the bedroom aired out."

"Wow," Ava said after swallowing some bacon, "I thought the ladies were the only ones that didn't like her."

"No one on the team does," Tool said firmly.

Ava nodded thoughtfully. Before she could respond, her phone rang on the table next to her. She saw 'Dad' pop up on the screen so she knew it was his phone and not his watch calling.

She pressed the accept button and grinned as she held the phone near her ear, "Hey Dad, what's up?"

Barney chuckled over the line, "Just resting up in a safe zone for now. Thought I'd call and check on you."

"We're holding down the fort nicely. Tool wants me to show you guys what I can do in self defense when you all get back," Ava said smirking at Tool as his eyes lit up with mischief, "Said something about needing a volunteer to pretend to attack me so whomever would like to have a go."

Barney chuckled, "I'll let the guys know."

There was silence on the phone as they both tried to think of something to say.

"Well," Barney said a little uncomfortably, "I guess I'll let you go. Just wanted to check in."

"I appreciate it Dad," she said smiling before she thought of Lacy, "Just don't risk yourselves trying to make me feel better. I'd rather you guys keep safe than either of us making phone calls all the time and having it become a liability."

"Don't worry, I won't call if it isn't safe."

"Good," she said firmly causing him to chuckle again, "Goodbye Dad. Stay safe."

"You too Sweetheart."

They both hung up.

Safe Zone With the Expendables

Lee frowned as Barney hung up. He'd had the call on speaker just in case anyone wanted to pitch in on the call, but they'd all been oddly silent after her comment about calling. A few stares were sent Lee's way.

"She has a point," Luna said before turning from Lee and pausing thoughtfully, "Which one of you guys are going to volunteer to help with her self defense demonstration?"

Lee frowned again at the thought of someone else helping her. He'd suggested that himself, but he seemed to want more of her time kept to himself.

"I can do it no problem," Doc said winking at Luna.

"Twenty bucks says she hands you your ass," Luna said confidently.

"Your on," Doc said shaking her hand.

The rest placed bets for one or the other as well before taking turns to nap before their operation began.

Barney's

Ava and Tool watched tv after breakfast. She looked at a few of his tattoos with curiosity.

"Do all these have a story behind them or did you just want them?" she asked nodding to his tats.

"Well obviously the Expendables one is for my time in the Expendables."

"Obviously," she said sarcastically.

"This wrap around one on this arm," he said pointing to his left wrist, "That's about my one great love and our story before she died. Every little piece added to it means something memorable. The ones on my chest here were just me being young and stupid. Thinking they were cool. Hell were they painful!"

Ava laughed.

"Some on my leg were just me having a great idea and no one to put them on."

Ava nodded.

"You got any tattoos?" he asked curious.

"Nope," she said popping the 'p'.

"Well we'll have to change that. I AM a tattoo artist. I'll even give you your first one free."

"First one?" she asked lifting a brow.

"Once your inked, it's like an addiction," he said waving his hands around, "You just gotta have more."

She chuckled and shook her head before turning back towards the tv, "I'll think about it. If I got one it'd be to celebrate something. I haven't had anything to celebrate in a long time."

Tool nodded in understanding and patted her knee before returning his attention to the tv as well.

After lunch, they heard a vehicle pull up outside. Tool motioned for her to stay put while he checked it out. She nodded and stayed in the kitchen as he opened the front door to find Dixie and Connie standing outside.

"Heya Tool," Dixie saluted him, "Ava in?"

"She doesn't really leave," Tool said, "Not real safe for her out there."

Connie tilted her head, "Toll told me more about her ex. I hope he's caught red handed and locked up. Tho a bullet to the head would do just as well."

Dixie nodded before grinning, "Bullet to the brain pan squish."

Connie chuckled, "We have got to watch the Firefly series again."

Tool motioned them inside, 'We just finished lunch. You ladies hungry? There's some leftovers."

"I can always eat," Dixie said laughing.

Tool chuckled along with her and Connie as they all headed into the kitchen.

"Ava it's the girls," Tool shouted in front of their entrance.

"Really?" she asked as her head swung up from where she'd been reading at the table.

"Hi," Dixie said, "We didn't want to intrude, but we were hoping to get to know you a little better."

"And then Tool mentioned leftovers," Connie said smiling as she pointed at Dixie.

"Oh no problem," she said gesturing at the table as she stood, "Just let me grab you guys a plate."

Tool slipped off into the main room while the girls chatted.

Before they knew it the sun was setting and Tool was coming back in the kitchen.

"Wow," Ava said, "Time flies when you're having fun. Will you guys stay for dinner?"

"Sure," Dixie said looking at Connie who nodded her agreement too.

"What you guys craving?" Ava asked with sparkling eyes.

"I'm not real picky," Connie said.

"I'm actually craving takeout pizza from that restaurant a few blocks down," Dixie said.

"I can place an order and get it for you lovely ladies," Tool said winking.

They all laughed and told them their favorite toppings before he wandered into the other room to place the order.

Dixie's phone rang soon after.

"Hi hot stuff!" Dixie said into the phone as her eyes took on a dreamy look.

Connie and Ava smirked at each other knowing Gunnar was on the line.

"I'm perfectly fine," Dixie said rolling her eyes, "Connie brought me over to visit Ava. I've been having the best girl's day in a long time."

"When do you guys think you'll be home?" she asked listening intently.

She nodded, "Yep. I love you too Gunnie."

She hung up and smiled at Connie and Ava.

"So what's the ETA?" Connie asked as she rested her chin in the palm of her hand with the elbow on the table.

"They're flying back now. They have to drop off someone and then they'll be home. Probably tomorrow morning," Dixie said.

Ava let out a sigh of relief.

"I forget this is your first time waiting," Connie said tilting her head.

"At least everyone is alive and coming home," Ava said.

"Apparently Doc said he was volunteering for something," Dixie said in a curious voice.

"Oh you guys have GOT to be here for that," Ava said as she explained what was going on.

After they gorged themselves on pizza and chatted some more, Connie took Dixie home. Ava fell asleep with a large smile on her face. She had made friends and her guys were coming hope.