Several weeks later, Flint walked down the hallway whistling a happytune. He had just returned from Jaye's that afternoon, going over more of the wedding plans. Now, he was given the privilege to ask Hawk for some leave time for himself and Jaye. He knew Hawk will grant him the leave, but he wished he didn't have to travel all the way to Scotland, to meet as Jaye put it, "Daddy".
Flint was so deep into his thoughts, that he accidentally passed Hawk's office. Making an about turn, he knocked on the door.
Hawk was sitting at his desk working on a report when he heard the knock. Waiting until he finished the section he worked on before allowing admittance to his office. He put the pen down, shut the file
and sat back in his chair. He turned his attention to the door."Enter."
Flint poked his head in. "Morning sir. Do you have a moment?"
"If it's about Duke and Scarlett's attitudes the past month and a half then no I don't. Anything else-- sure come on in." Hawk said pointing at the chair in front of his desk.
"No Sir. Though Jaye is threatening to lock them in a room, if one kills the other, then the problem will be solved." He walked in and sat in the chair, like a schoolboy sitting in the Principal's office. "Sir, I wanted to thank you one more time, for helping me on the proposal."
Hawk waved the thought away dismissively. "Think nothing of it. She is the daughter I never had. I watched her grow up from a tiny baby. It was my pleasure and I would have been crushed if you hadn't asked me."
Flint grinned, oh good, this will be easier than he thought. "That is wonderful, Sir. I do though have another request, if you do not mind, Sir."
"No, you cannot share quarters until after you are married." Hawk stated.
Flint choked."Umm, not that request Sir. I wanted to ask permission if Jaye and I can take leave for several days."
Hawk smirked at him knowingly and steepled his index fingers against his chin. "Ahhh the dreaded meeting Daddy time?"
"Yes Sir, the dread- I mean the meeting the parent thing. May we have permission to travel to Scotland? It will be only be a few days, Sir."
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Hawk gave him a wicked grin. "I mean he's bigger than Roadblock."
His eyes became huge, "Bii..ii..g.. gger than Roadblock?" He gulped- he had never seen a man ever being bigger than Roadblock, he could feel the perspiration start to surface on his skin.
'Oh this is going to be fun.' Hawk thought. "Yes and extremely protective of his only child. I remember one time Allie went to go on a date when she was about fifteen and she ran out to the car before her date could come in. He rushed outside and ripped the driver's side door off that boys car-- and it was shut and locked." He chuckled.
The warrant officer sank lower in his chair, "Ripped the car door off?" he gulped. "It was a one of those small cars right Sir.?"
"Oh no-- it was one of those large truck things." Hawk said. "Boy was she mad; but the boy told her he canceled the date and as soon as she peeled out, he tore off without his door."
"Well, guess now I know where she got that temper of hers." he grinned.
"Oh boy son, you haven't seen anything yet from either of them. You know he's an avid hunter and you'll have to go hunting with him. Just the two of you."
Flint held his breath, 'seen nothing yet!', he slowly shook his head. "Hunting? Like little rabbits and other small animals?"
Suddenly a shout from outside caught their attention, Hawk turned in his chair to watch Lady Jaye holding one her javelins, chase Cross Country in his Havoc. he heard her holler after him, "Cross Country! What the hell are you doing with my Brutus? Give him back!! Get back here before I rip your stuffing out and feed it to Timber!"
Flint rose from his chair slightly, watching the scene outside, "I see what you mean, Sir." before sitting back down.
"That, son is nothing." Hawk said. "And her father likes to hunt large game."
The other man's hands started to tremble slightly, "Umm, really? What kind of large game." he prayed it was not something like Lions or Bears.
"I'm not sure. I've never went with him before. It is usually left for anyone dating his daughter. And for some reason they never seem to come around again." Hawk shook his head sadly.
Flint stared at him in fear, another gulp came from his throat. "Well, Sir. I'll make sure I'm prepared. I'm after all a GIJOE. But can I have my complink directly linked to you, if something...eh.. goes wrong? like getting shot by Robert Hart-Burnett."
"Sure." Hawk said. "One word of advise though. His name is only Robert Burnett. Hart was his wife's last name thus- Allie's hyphenated last name. I would call him Lord Burnett until he tells you other wise though. To many swords around the Manor house and he's an expert with them."
Did his heart just stop? He leaned forward in the chair, "Swords?"
"Oh yes. He's an expert sword smith and fencer. So is Allie by the way. Some of those swords are very old having been made by their ancestors. Same with the dungeon."
"Dun..Dungeon!" he felt his hands grip the arms of the chair tightly. "There is a dungeon? Like in those horror movies?" sweat began to flow down the back of his neck.
Another round of shouting came from the outside, catching once again their attention.
They watched Lady Jaye sprinter after what looked like a very petrified Shipwreck, who was clutching in his arms, a very familiar looking Bear.
"Wreck! Get back here with my freaking Bear!" as a row of curses followed, "Where the hell you think you are going?"
And at the moment, they saw Jaye spot Scarlett coming out of her training session, "RED! Get your ass over here and help me catch this sailor who is soon to be a whale's dinner!" chasing after Shipwreck, a javelin in one hand and Scarlett with her crossbow in tow.
"On second thought you might want to spend all your time in the dungeon. It will be quieter, safer and a lot less painful."
"I think I see your point, Sir. Hide in the dungeon, alone with only a bunch of spiders, and rats." watching Jaye almost tackle Shipwreck but missed, and started shaking her fist in the air, her face full of rage.
"Not to mention the rack, spiked sarcophagus, guillotine, and other fun torture devices."
Flint felt dizziness surround him, "Tor..torure devices.."
Hawk nodded, then heard more shouting, he turned once again around. His jaw dropped, watching Shipwreck now climbing one of the tanks and switching it on. With Brutus by he side, he started driving away from the wrath of Lady Jaye, who was now yelling only in Gaelic, "Go hifreann leat, Múchadh is bá ort, Loscadh is dó ort, Damnú ort"
Flint rose from his chair again, watching. "I'm scared to even know the translation of what she just said." They both watched Jaye tell Scarlett to shoot an arrow from her crossbow directly at the tank. The redhead, took aim, and fired. The arrow hit the tank, but bounced off and speedily passed Duke's head by an inch.
The men watched the First Sergeant yell something at the Counterintelligence Agent, who in return, gave him an icy look, and retorted, "Go mbeadh cosa gloine fút agus go mbrise an ghloine"
Flint sat slowly back down, "Oh God! She has now taught Scarlett!" he rested his hands on his face.
Hawk turned his attention back to his third in command. "Of course I'll grant your leave. You can have a week." He gave Flint a bright smile.
Flint looked up, "Thank you, Sir."
Then a loud bang rumbled the room, causing most of the articles in room to shake tremendously, and fall on the ground.
"What the hell? Cobra attack?" Flint looked around, waiting for more blasts.
Hawk jumped out of his chair and looked out the window, Flint heard the General curse under his breath. Inching closer to the window, his mouth hung, and only air came out.
There, halfway into the Mess hall's outer wall, the tank sat, apparently abandoned in haste by Shipwreck. On the way it had crashed into Beach Head's favorite obstacle, which was now gone to a better place.
They watched the girls dash out of there, faster then their Gaelic tongues could carry them. Duke was now ballistic, screaming at every soldier near by, and something about killing a few Joes. A Greenshirt made the mistake of laughing, which the First Sergeant caught sight and made every single Greenshirt start pacing in their places while doing push up at the same time!
Flint glanced at Hawk, "A week will be nice."
"Take them with you." Hawk said shaking his head not really meaning it.
"Who sir?"
"Scarlett and Duke."
He chuckled, "Sure, want me to take them to Scotland and leave them in the dungeons?"
"It sure would be even quieter around here." Hawk said.
Flint laughed. "Sir, since when is this base quiet?" He spotted both Lady Jaye and Scarlett peeking from around the Motor Pool. "Sir, permission to tell Lady Jaye about the leave?"
"Yeah go on. I'll call her father and have the jet here and waiting for you tomorrow morning." Hawk said as he watched the two female Joes looking around for Jaye's missing bear. "Send in Scarlett and Duke so I can have a little chat with them."
Flint saluted and nodded, "Yes Sir, I will. And Thank you again, Sir."
'oh man, those two are going to have a real nice time in Hawk's office' he thought. ' the man is ready to chew on them and spit them out from their bad taste'
Hawk saluted him back and went back to his chair, and began to rub his temples.
The warrant officer stepped out of the room, closed the door and breathed a sigh of relief. He dashed quickly down the stairs and outside, shaking his head at the disaster. He spotted Jaye, looking behind one of the jeeps, Scarlett looking in the vehicle… He chuckled watching their faces, so that they won't be noticed by a very angry Field Commander.
"Jaye!" he called out to her.
Jaye gave him a shushing gesture and motioned him over. "What? Can't you see I'm bear hunting?"
"Alright, guess you do not want to know that Hawk just signed our leave papers and is having the plane pick us up tomorrow morning." He turned around and began slowly walking away.
"WHAT?!" Jaye exclaimed and grabbed his arm and spun him around. "We're going home?" She was excited and her eyes sparkled.
A outraged voice interrupted his reply.
"THERE YOU ARE JAYE. GET YOUR REAR END OVER HERE!!!" Duke growled. "AND BRING YOUR RED HEADED PARTNER IN CRIME WITH YOU!!!"
Lady Jaye, hid behind him. 'Sure, use me as a shield.' he thought. "Duke, aren't you exaggerating a bit, they did not cause that large hole in the Mess's wall."
Scarlett was silent, but her features had started to change color.
"IF YOU'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH ME. DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON OTHERS!!!" she shouted and turned on her heal to walk away.
Duke stood there staring at her in shock.
"Um...this isn't good." Jaye said to Flint.
"WHERE THE BLOODY HELL YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING? FREEZE! THAT IS A DIRECT ORDER SERGEANT!" Duke's voice whipped the air. Everyone froze.
Scarlett pivoted, her face flared.
Flint opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of the intercom interrupted them.
"Duke and Scarlett in my office NOW! And don't bother to bring any feathers, I got plenty!" Hawk's voice echoed around the base.
The two of them gave each other, an 'This is all your fault look.' before starting their walk to Hawk's office.
Duke went to say something, but Scarlett stopped him, "Don't."
The engaged couple watched their friends walk to the path of death.
"Ummm...well that went well. Hope they are going to be alright" Jaye said in concern, then grinned at her fiancé. "Let's go pack!!!"
Flint put an arm around her, "Yeah, really well, I hope they're still alive by the time we return or we will have to ask, Beach Head and Cover Girl to take their places."
"Eww..." Jaye made a disgusted face. "Not Beach Head"
"I'm kidding! Only kidding!" he chuckled, giving her a hug. "Come on we have a lot to do- pack and pick up some pieces when Hawk chews out both Duke's and Red's heads off."
Smiling, they walked towards the barracks, forgetting one thing-- Brutus.