Several hours later, Scarlett sat cross-legged on the couch, an open magazine on her lap, and holding a fruity drink in her left hand. She turned the page over, as she took a sip. "Jaye, this is real good. What is it called again?"
"It's Scottish Fruit Beer. It's for virgins." Jaye said with a smirk.
The redhead Counterintelligence Agent began to cough, "What!" she said in surprise.
"Watch it Jaye, you are going to make your Maid of Honor choke, then I guess I'll have to fill in." Cover Girl said with a smirk, who was sitting on the floor, next to Scarlett. "I like this one." pointing to one of the pictures from the stack of magazines that surrounded them.
"I like this one better." Jaye said pointing at one with huge ruffles over 80 of the dress.
"Ruffles! You are going to put us in ruffles?" asked Scarlett.
Cover Girl made a face, "I'm with the Irish girl on this one. I rather eat Cobra Commander's dinner than dress in that!"
"This is my wedding and I say I want you to wear ruffles." Jaye said huffily.
Both Scarlett and Cover Girl glanced at each other, and shared the same conclusion, they were defeated.
"Alright, you win Allie, ruffles it is." Scarlett smiled. They were not going to ruin their friend's special plans. "What color?"
Cover Girl glanced at the picture, "As long it is not that ugly shade of Orange, I will be happy."
"Sea foam green." Jaye said.
The other two nodded, "I think I can live with that. Scarlett?"
"The green sounds good. Very traditional color too. And speaking of which, have you told Flint that he has to wear a traditional kilt?"
Cover Girl burst into giggles, "Flint.. In a kilt.. oh that is going to be some picture!" rolling over on her side.
Jaye chuckled. "Not yet. I'm waiting on that one." She then handed them each a picture of a strapless gown that went to the floor and accentuated ever curve tastefully.
"Hey! This isn't the dress you just showed us!" Scarlett stated.
Jaye smirked at them. "I know."
Scarlett grabbed the pillow from the couch and threw towards Jaye's face. "I can't believe you teased us like that."
"Hey!" Jaye laughed. "Just be glad you aren't my fiancé right now."
Cover Girl held her sides, "Speaking of him, where is the dashing knight in shinning armor? I still can't believe I missed all the good stuff last week!"
Scarlett rolled her eyes, "Oh, please. Don't remind us, I still get hoots from some of the boys, when I'm passing by. What a fiasco!"
The tank driver started to laugh once again. "Well, hope you both like a lot of hoots, cause there are more to come.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Breaker taped the whole entire chase! It is all over the base! The boys love watching it! over and over and over.. you get the idea.
Both the other women widened their eyes, their mouths dropped and they glanced toward each other, shocked.
"I'm going to kill him." Jaye growled and walked towards the door with thoughts of homicide on her mind.
"Jaye! Stop." Scarlett called out to her, "Let Flint deal with Breaker, if you go in there, it's only going to get worse and they will have you exactly where they want you."
Jaye cursed in Gaelic then said. "You're right. I'll call him later and let him know."
Scarlett nodded, "Good, now sit. I'll fill up these Virgin Beers for us." She took the three empty glasses and went to the kitchenette.
"I wonder what Flint is going to do with him?" asked Cover Girl
"Knowing that man of mine he's probably going to make him watch gay porn every night for a month." This caused Jaye to giggle
Cover Girl rolled over again, "Breaker will be pleading for the tape to stop, that or pluck his eyes out with something."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. They both glanced at each other and Jaye stood up to answer the door. A smile spread across her face as Flint, holding a large box, entered the room.
"Hi there beautiful." bending over to give her a kiss on the cheek. "Seems like you three are having fun." Glancing at the magazines that had overtaken most of the floor and couch. "Where's Scarlett?" he asked, noticing her absence.
Cover Girl glanced up, "Oh, she went to get some Virgin Beers"
"What?!" Flint said in surprise, "Allie?" giving her his, 'what are you up to' look.
Jaye gave Flint an innocent look, "What?"
He shook his head, "You sometimes surprise me. Anyhow, here-- take this. Duke is coming up the stairs with the other one and I have one more thing left in the jeep." he handed her the box.
Cover Girls eyes widened, "Jaye.. did he just say Duke was coming?" glancing towards the kitchenette. " Oh oh."
"I'm going to lock them in her bedroom together." Jaye told Cover Girl. "These two need to either work it out or kill each other." She sat the box Flint gave her down on the table.
Cover Girl gapped, "You wouldn't dare!!!"
Jaye smirked at her friend then shrugged her shoulders, not saying anything.
Just at the moment, Duke walked in, holding another similar box, and settled it on the table next to where Jaye had rested the first one.
Scarlett walked out of the kitchenette carrying a tray with three filled glasses of Scottish Beer and a plate of crackers with cheese.
She stopped in her tracks, when she noticed the First Sergeant, saying nothing, she put the tray down on the table, took her drink and went back to the couch. Her eyes glared at him, ice cold.
Cover Girl leaned over towards Jaye to whisper in her ear, "I think there's an iceberg in the room, got very chilly in here all of a sudden"
"These two need to quit acting so childish." Jaye said and walked over to Duke. "Would you care for a drink Con. I've got a case of Bud bottles in the fridge."
Duke glanced towards Scarlett, watching her sip her drink, "Sure Jaye, anything you got. but what is the drink you three are having?"
Cover Girl winked at Jaye, "Oh, that is Scarlett's new favorite drink, Virgin Beer." causing the redhead to spit out the liquid.
"Thanks a lot, Courtney!" Scarlett said giving the other a look, as the others burst into laughter.
"Would……you…"giggling."…like…one…" as more giggles escaped "…of……those…"she could not control it any longer"…Duke?" Jaye asked in between the fits of laughter.
"I'll pass thank you." Duke tried to say seriously but failed.
Flint walked into the room, holding a bouquet of flowers. "Here you go, a special delivery." handing Jaye the flowers. Then he realized that three of the Joes in the room were in fits of uncontrolled laugher, "What's so funny?"
"They think it's funny that Red is drinking Virgin Beer." Jaye said chuckling just as the phone rang. Jaye walked to the table next to the door and answered it. "Jaye's Mad House. Our daily special is a free straight jacket and two hours in your own personal padded room. How can I help you?" She was silent for a moment. "Hold on." She pulled the phone from her ear. "Scarlett, it's for you."
The redhead gave her a curious glance, "My father?" Jaye shook her head. Scarlett, put down her drink, stood up from the couch, ignored Duke's glare, and took the receiver in her hand. "Scarlett."
"Oh. Hi there, Red." Alpine's voice came from the other end.
"Hi Alpine." she turned her back around, facing the wall. She could hear the entire room go into silence, listening in.
"Scarlett, is Duke there?" he whispered. "Just say Yes or No."
"Yes." She heard him give a sigh of relief.
"Umm... we need another favor here. We... umm... had.."
"I'm listening." She rolled her eyes, heaven knew what they did now.
"Well.. Shipwreck had this game going, how many golf balls you can hold in your mouth, well--"
"WHAT! Golf-" she stopped herself, before releasing the information. She could feel the eyes burning in the back of her head.
"Umm.. yeah. Bazooka got around fifteen in his mouth, wedged real good too. But now we cannot seem to take them out. And you know Doc went with Beach Head in that mission overseas. And we can't seem to find Lifeline..." she heard his voice then away from the receiver, "G.H.! Not the pliers!" then his voice came back on, "Help Red!! G.H. is saying something about Bazooka loosing all his teeth and now the big lug is running around the room!"
Her eyes widened, "I'll be right over." She was going to kill them!
Another exhale informed her, he was thankful, "And don't tell Duke, the way he is acting this week, well.. you know."
"I'll see you in a bit, bye." She hung up the phone and heard Cover Girl barely whisper, "Someone is going to die."
Scarlett slowly turned, yep, all eyes her still on her. She felt her cheeks turn a shade of pink. "Umm, Jaye can I see you in my room for a second." Grabbing Jaye's hand and taking her bedroom.
Once inside the room Jaye shut and locked the door and they went over by the window so they wouldn't be heard if someone was sticking their ear to the door. "What happened now?" She whispered.
"Looks like Bazooka got himself in another mess. He's got fifteen golf balls in his mouth this second!" She went to her closet and took out a jacket. "They can't find Lifeline and G.H. is chasing Bazooka around the room with pliers! Make sure Duke doesn't leave here for a while, at least until I figure out how to get the golf balls out of Bazooka."
"Oh God!" Jaye groaned. "They are worse than a bunch of teenagers playing truth or dare. You want some help?"
"I'm going to ground them." Scarlett shook her head, "Thanks for the offer, but if two of us leave, then the big Field Commander may get suspicious. Just cover me for now. I'll call if I need help."
"Alright, but call on my cell phone so I can act like it's Hawk or someone official." Jaye said as they walked back towards the door and opened it.
"Thanks Jaye." Scarlett said giving her friend a hug. She walked out of the room, directly towards the door, and grabbed the passkey from the table near by. She ignored the looks. She could feel his eyes burning on her back, she shivered. "Sorry everyone. I'll be back in an hour or so. Don't wait up." closing the door behind her with a click.
Flint stared at the door, then to his fiancé, "Where is Red going?"
"Oh, she's got a hot date with Alpine." Jaye said with a smirk.
Duke's face became beat red, he was livid. But did not say a thing.
Flint's jaw dropped and Cover Girl choked, "WHAT!" they said simultaneously.
"Where are they going?" Cover Girl asked, ignoring Duke's hands which were now rounded to fists.
"Golfing I think." Jaye said with a shrug, really loving the rise she was getting out of Duke.
Flint continue to stare, "Golfing? Since when does Scarlett like golf?" He watched Duke's nerve on his forehead start to pulse. 'Oh boy,' he thought, 'Someone has the green eyed monster in him, ready to burst. got to change the subject', "Emm.. anyway, why don't we start without her. Let's decide which wedding invitations to send." He grabbed one of the boxes from the table and took out it continents.
"Alright." Jaye shrugged and gave a happy smile. "Con, why don't you go fix yourself a drink. If you want something stronger than beer check the top right cupboard."
Duke shook his head, he wasn't in the mood to drink, even the hard stuff that Jaye usually kept hidden. He kept being silent, deep in his thoughts.
"Well, I think a drink right now would be good." Flint got up from the chair and walked towards the kitchenette, but knowing his best friend, he will need a nice drink later. He looked back in the living room, good, they were all busy looking at invitation samples. Flint walked towards the little laundry area where the girls usually kept their clean laundry needing to be put away. Going through the pile, he spotted something pink, something Jaye would never wear.
"Hmm, this must be Scarlett's then." he said to himself. Stuffing the little pink undie in his pocket, he walked into the kitchenette and hid it in the right cupboard. He grinned. Then turned around, took a glass from the counter and poured himself some as the girls put it, Virgin Beer. He chucked to himself, as he went back to the living room and sat back down, with a wider grin on his face.
Duke had sat down in the overstuffed chair and was brooding.
"What are you grinning for?" Jaye asked as she pulled some samples out of the box.
"Yeah beret boy, spill." Cover Girl said.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing." he grinned back at them, taking a sip, "This Virgin Beer is good, but too fruity for my taste and not enough alcohol."
"Dash, honey it's not supposed to have alot of alcohol in it." Jaye said.
"Duh! Mr. Smart. That's why it's virgin." Cover Girl added with a laugh.
"No wonder!" he shook his head, "Hey Duke, can you get your grumpy rear up and grab one of Jaye's special hidden bottles from the top right cupboard?" giving him the puppy look.
Duke got up but grumbled the entire way in there. He opened up the cupboard. "I am so not getting anything out of this cupboard." spotting the little pink undie, which was hung on a bottle.
"Hey Duke! Hurry up here! I got these two women, bragging about pink invitations! Help!" Flint's voice echoed from the living room,
"What wrong with pink?" he then heard Cover Girl huff towards the Warrant Officer,
"Because pink is the color of evil." Jaye said and made a puking gesture.
"Then why the hell is your frilly pink thong in with your liquor stash?" Duke asked as he walked in without any drinks.
"Excuse me?" Jaye asked incredulously.
Flint took another sip, saying absolutely nothing. He watched the interaction between the two.
Cover Girl glanced towards the first sergeant, "What pink thong?"
"The one in the liquor cabinet like I just said. Geeze having a blonde moment, Courtney?" Duke asked.
"I don't have pink thongs." Jaye said.
"I'm not having a blond moment, Hauser! Maybe you are imagining that there are pink thongs in Jaye's cabinet. Someone is having 'issues' I see." Cover Girl crossed her arms.
The Warrant Officer took another sip, 'Just keep it shut.' he thought to himself.
Jaye stood up. "Well I'll go settle this little space cadet argument once and for all." She walked towards the kitchen.
"I wonder where they keep their bras, if they keep undies in the cabinets." said Flint taking another sip.
"In the bread box." Cover Girl shrugged.
Jaye came out with the aforementioned undies twirling on her finger. "These are NOT mine blondie. These are your favorite red heads."
"Hey! Those are not mine!" teased Cover Girl.
Flint glanced at Cover Girl, to Duke and then to Jaye, he took another sip, and stayed silent.
"Natural red head." Jaye said back to her with a smirk. She was right next to Duke with the panties really close to him.
"Oh God! They're Ripcord's!!!" Cover Girl giggled, and causing Flint to choke on his Scottish Beer.
Jaye laughed hysterically. "Oh God! get that picture out of my head!!!" She cried and threw the panties up in the air.
The panties landed on Flint's head, causing all of them to burst out laughing. "Funny, but you know we are supposed to be picking invitations! Not play Catch the Pantie!" throwing the undie back in the air.
Jaye caught it again laughing brightly and as she threw it back in the air it fell down on Flint's lap.
"Jaye? Are you telling me, you want pink panties?" taking the panties and throwing them towards Cover Girl, who caught them.
"Hey! These got cute little hearts on them. Maybe someone special gave these to her for Valentine's Day?" The wolverine driver gave off another giggle and threw them towards the couch.
Duke caught them just as the door opened.
All eyes turned towards the door, just as Scarlett walked in, "Sorry, I need to get the--" her words trailed off. Her eyes became huge, her mouth opened, and she stood there in shock.
She stepped in, leaving the door opened. Her eyes traveled from Jaye, who had covered her mouth to Flint, who was drinking his drink, to Cover Girl, who was looking at something on the ceiling and then to Duke who was holding something that belonged to her.
Her cheeks flushed, "Duke, What in the world are you doing?" her voice was cold, angry and surprised.
"I...uh...Jaye...uh..." Duke stammered and absent mindedly wiped his forehead with the pink underwear.
Jaye was trying really hard not to laugh.
Scarlett took three steps towards the first sergeant. "Jaye... what Duke?"
Flint took another sip, glancing from his best friend to the redhead. 'Well, at least they are talking.' he thought to himself.
"She...um...brought them...in here." Duke said nervously and absentmindedly put the panties in his pocket.
"They were in my stash cabinet, Shana." Jaye said.
Scarlett looked confused, "Why would they be in there?"
Cover Girl had noticed the Field Commander put the panties in his pocket and started laughing.
"I don't know." Jaye said. "Fearless over there found them."
Duke felt very uncomfortable and out of place. He got up and tried to leave.
"Sit." the words were a command.
Cover Girl's mouth dropped, surprised by Scarlett's command.
Flint gulped the rest of his drink in one swallow.
Jaye slowly sat on the armchair's arm, next to Flint.
No one spoke.
"I leave for a few hours and when I come back, I find you playing with one of.. damn it! you all know what I mean. I want to know exactly how they got in the cupboard." Scarlett's foot began to tap on the rug, waiting.
"How the hell should I know!" Duke yelled at her. "I went in to get Dash and I a drink and there they were. You probably put them there yourself!"
"Oh no." Jaye whispered to Flint.
Scarlett's eyes clouded, "I did not! How DARE you accuse me of such a thing! You probably took them from the basket and got caught in the process!" she barked back.
Flint started to choke, and Lady Jaye slapped him on his back a few times.
"Alright! alright let's stop this now." Jaye said as she got up. "Duke give her back her underwear and Shana go put them away."
The First Sergeant grumbled something, but threw the underwear back to its owner, who caught them and took them back to the basket.
Scarlett then walked into the bathroom, and found the small thin item that she needed to help Bazooka's case. They had tried several different methods, but none could manage to wedge out the golf balls and every tactic failed. From pliers to screwdrivers, but when Shipwreck came with one of the kitchen knives, Bazooka began to scream and climb the chairs. So, hopefully her nail filer would work. Putting it in her pocket she took a deep breath before leaving the room.
Walking back into the living room, she caught the stares. "I.. I...need to return to Alpine's." she stuttered. She wouldn't get her friends in trouble, especially how the First Sergeant was acting lately. Hurriedly, she walked towards the door, but stopped, "Jaye, the ivory colored one in the middle of the table, looks like a winner." pointing to the invitations and with a twist, left the room.
"I think I'm going to call it for the night." Duke's voice sounded aggravated. "Got a lot of paperwork tomorrow. Goodnight you three."
"Night, Duke." Jaye called out, as he left the suite. She then turned to Flint, "Alright, how the hell did Scarlett's undie get into the cupboard? It certainly did not walk there on its own!"
The Warrant Officer gulped, "No comment." he walked over to the phone, and began to dial.
"Who are you calling?" asked a perplexed Jaye.
"Ace." Flint said, holding the receiver, "There is a betting pool going on who is going to kill who first on those two."
Jaye rolled her eyes. "Typical!" throwing her hands in the air.
Cover Girl laughed, "Oh? Put me down for two hundred on Scarlett killing Duke before the wedding!"
Jaye shook her head, sat back on the couch and picked up the invitation her friend had suggested. 'It is going to be one interesting Wedding.' she thought to herself, 'very interesting.'