Jaye woke up to the feeling of Flint's warm naked body against hers. She smiled and turned in his arms so that she was facing him. She kissed him softly on the lips but that didn't stir him. She tried a few more things to wake him but it didn't work. She grinned and whispered in his ear, "I think I'm pregnant."

Flint's body shot straight up from the pillow, "Please tell me that was a dream." Looking at her, his eye wide and illusive, perspiration slowly surfaced on his skin and his mouth could not open wider. Sensing that she was teasing him, he grabbed the pillow from behind his back and hit her on her head. "Funny Allie! Give your fiancé a heart attack early in the morning, having one father, one angry Scottish father and one really scary General chasing my rear end."

Jaye laughed. "Well, you wouldn't wake up."

"At least this time, you didn't put any of those evil things, or Brenna's frog collection on me." he laughed. "Come on. We better get up and ready. We have a plane to catch, not to mention going to the base and doing a debriefing for one General, one first sergeant and one redhead counterintelligence agent."

Jaye pouted. "Can't we just go to your apartment and forget about that?"

He smiled, "I wish, but remember, today is our last day for leave. I'm third in command, and by now both Duke and Beach Head are probably sick of seeing each other everyday."

"And I'm head of Intelligence...yadda yadda yadda." Jaye said rolling her eyes. "Don't you sometimes just want to say the hell with it?"

"Allie, I can't say the hell with it, even if I wanted that. I am first and foremost a GIJOE. I have a duty to the team and to this country. I can't just decide to leave my post and do whatever I wish." he said seriously.

"First and foremost?!" Jaye asked angrily. "Duty to the team and to your country?!"

"You know what I meant, Allie." His voice grew more heated.

"No, I don't!" Jaye snapped, throwing the covers off herself. "So why don't you enlighten me?"

"Fine. What I meant was even though I love being with you all the time, Allie, and I'd rather be with you all the time. I still have some responsibilities to maintain, namely one GIJOE Unit."

"That obviously comes before me." Jaye's voice began to rise. "I see where I stand." She quickly began getting dressed in the clothes she had left out for herself, after packing everything up last night.

"Allie, that's not what I meant." he tried to explain. He sighed, why couldn't she understand. He looked at her, "You took it the wrong way, I only meant is that I can't play hooky like some high school kid all the time."

"WHEN HAVE I EVER ASKED YOU TO PLAY HOOKIE AND MEANT IT?!" She was extremely angry with him, while putting on her shoes.

He winced, "Allie, please not so loud, my parents must be still sleeping. And no, you never asked me to play hooky." He sent her a smile, hoping it would work and get him out of this soon to be argument.

Jaye started to speak rapidly in Gaelic, each word sounding more heated then the last.

Flint couldn't translate whatever it was, but knew whatever it was, wasn't very flattering. She grabbed her jacket and purse and threw the door open and stormed out.

He stared at her exit in shock, "Oh great, that's all I need the morning." He quickly got up, put on his jeans and headed out the door.

"Allie!" He called out in the hallway, then ran down the stairs and literally collided with Brenna. He grabbed her hand, to keep her from falling, "Sorry, have you seen Allie?"

"She went outside." Brenna answered with concern. "What's the matter?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, "She's angry. I guess I put my foot in my mouth again. I have to find her, before she does anything stupid." he quickly patted Brenna's arm and hurried off to find Jaye.

Stepping out on the porch, Flint glanced around, but he did not find any trace of her.

"Allie!" He called out to the air, but there was no answer. He folded his arms; the weather was much chiller in the mornings.

Jaye had made her way up the gravel road in the direction they came from two days before. She could not be seen because of all the crops. She was fuming as she walked.

Flint on the other hand had begun to panic, Jaye didn't know the area, and could easily get lost in the fields and knowing her temper she was probably not even paying attention.

Nancy dashed outside, "Dash, Brenna just told me--"

He cut off her words, "Grab Domino, and start looking. I'll saddle Wildfire. Move!" It was a command. "We have to find her."

They both rushed to the stable and saddled the two horses. Taking the reins in his hands, he led the horse out of the building at full gallop.

"Allie!!!" He began to bellow, passing his father who was approaching closer to Brenna's calf, Windex in hand.

"Daddy, stay away from my calf with that Windex." He heard Brenna yell towards their father.

Down the gravel road, Jaye turned onto a dirt path, not paying one bit of attention to anything because of her anger.

"Allie!!!!" Flint's galloped the horse at top speed. Nancy following him with Domino. They stopped at the gravel road. "Nancy take the north field, I'll take the south. If you find her, bring her back to the house."

Nancy nodded, "We'll find her, Dash." She reared Domino, charging her down the path, leaving a cloud of dust behind.

Flint looked downwards towards the south end of the farm. She could not have gone too far. "Yiaah!" he made Wildfire run at top speed going after his fiancé.

In the meantime, Jaye had managed to find her way into a woodland area. The trees were thin, easy to pass through without ducking or moving too many branches aside. She couldn't hear Flint's far away cry.

"Allie!" Flint charged the horse forward down the hill, searching for Jaye. He halted the white stallion, his head twisting left and right frantically. He had to find her! He heard hoof beats behind him, hoping that Nancy had found Jaye. Turning his head, his features fell, Nancy was coming towards him at full gallop, alone.

"Dash!" His sister's voice cried out, nearing him and his steed. "Mr. Patterson got a glimpse of Allie, she was entering WoodDuck Woods!"

He felt his stomach turn, "Yiahh." Kicking the horse twice, for a full gallop, and headed towards the woods.

Jaye was walking deeper through the woods silently berating herself for blindly walking in there. She was a seasoned soldier, and even at the young age of twenty-five, she should've been able to get through. But the massive twisted trees and numerous vines seemed to surround her from all directions, not to mention her head had now begun to throb from a headache. She took out her cell phone, to call for anyone for help but couldn't get a good enough signal, not that she would have called Flint anyway. She pulled some of the branches out of her way and walked further in intent on finding the other side.

The trees began to get thicker, the bushes more hard to pass through, and she turned her head around trying to remember from which way she had come. She cursed herself in Gaelic, out of from her anger, she should have known not to enter the woods. Then she cursed Flint in Gaelic. She turned towards another path, without knowing that she was walking deeper in the woods, then out of them. Something moved in the bush, she stopped, holding her breath. A raccoon darted out, glanced at her and then hurriedly dashed towards another bush. He was fleeing from something, but what? A growl came from her left. She paused, not moving.

Jaye tried to stand perfectly still as the growling came closer.

Her heart pulsed faster. She was vulnerable, without a weapon or one of her javelins. A bush swayed to her left. She turned, her eyes moving constantly, her feet in position, ready to fight or climb a tree. Another bush moved from her right, a small growl following the movement. Her head pivoted, left and right. She was surrounded, no where to run. She inched closer to one of the trees, touching its bark, trying to become one with the forest. but whatever was out there, smelled her, smelled her scent, smelled her blood.

She noticed a fallen tree branch at her feet. She slowly crouched down and picked it up to use to help defend herself.

A bush directly in front of her swayed, and a gray colored paw emerged out of it. Her heart came to her throat. Wolves! The snarling animal's head popped out, teeth barred towards her. Her eyes widened, lifting the branch, ready to strike.

Movement sounded from her left and right, two more wolves emerged out of the bushes. A pack! The leader of the group, stepped closer to her, snarling, saliva dropping from its mouth. One barked, another growled. How many? More bushes began to move. She had to think! Fast!

She knew if she ran they would attack. If she didn't make any sudden movements she might be alright.

Her blood froze watching the leader of the pack inched closer to her, profusely growling and snarling. Another inch and he would attack, if she made a move, he would attack. She did not dare to move. The gray wolf took another step, closer to her.

Ping!

A shot! A bullet passed the animal, and hit the tree. Jaye did not dare to move. Another shot. The wolves turn and fled. She dropped her branch, her breathing heavy. She turned, her eyes spotting the gun.

Her eyes traveled from the white stallion, steadily breathing, white long puffs coming out of his nostrils. then traveled to the rider, who stood gallantly on the steed, wearing only a pair of jeans, shirtless, shivering slightly from the bitter morning's air, his feet bare, his face looking to hers, short white puffs escaping his from his breathing. In his hand a small pistol was held tightly, smoke rising from its use.

Flint!

He stepped down from his horse, his eyes not leaving hers. His breath matched the horse's, breathing as one. His eyes showed it all, his apology, his love. He took one step, "Allie."

She rushed to him as fast as she could in the brush. "Dash!" Her head pounding from a very nasty migraine, her body warm from a fever starting to come on.

Flint embraced her, holding her tight, never letting her go. Thank goodness she was safe, he could not bear to imagine if he had not made it in time. He shut his eyes, tight, kissing her forehead. "I'm sorry." he whispered, not letting her out from the safety of his arms.

"Me too." Jaye said as she laid her throbbing head against his chest. She felt extremely hot against his chest as her fever began to rise.

Flint stroked her hair, "Let's get you back home." he softly said, taking her into his arms and lifting her on the white stallion. He climbed behind her, leaning her body against his, she was slightly shivering from the cold.

He guided the animal out of the woods, cantering slowly so she could not slide off. She held him close, trying to warm herself from his heat, her eyes felt heavy, and her body felt weak. How long had she been in the woods? One hour? Two? She shivered, thinking if he had not come after her when he did, the outcome would not had been the same.

They emerged out of the trees and back on the farmland. Hoof beats echoed close. Jaye slowly opened her eyes to see a figure on a black and white mare galloping towards them. She heard Flint call out, "Nancy, I need your sweater!"

A moment later, a warm woolen sweater covered her, keeping her from getting any colder. Her eyes closed at the rhythm of the horse, she felt safe back in Flint's arms.

The ride back to the farmhouse was short. She felt him climb down the large animal, then hoist her off. Making sure she would not crumble to the floor.

"Nancy, can you--" He began to ask.

"Already got it, Dash." Nancy answered, taking the horses to cool them down.

She felt her body being lifted, her head leaning against his warm skin. She could hear voices, something about making some warm soup, as he made his way up the stairs carrying her to the bedroom.

The warm blankets came over her, a hand gently touching her cheek, and his voice barely a whisper, "Allie, what am I going to do with you?" Lips touched her forehead and a few seconds later felt something cold on it, a wet towel.

Jaye fell into a deep sleep. She awoke sometime later feeling as if she had just fallen asleep. She could hear Flint's mother talking to him as she brought in the hot soup. "W...water?" She asked. Her throat was very sore. She hadn't even opened her eyes yet because her head hurt so much.

"Here Allie, drink this." He lifted her head gently and the refreshing liquid poured down her throat.

"Dashiell, dear. When she is fully awake, have her eat this." Jean's concerned voice floated in her ear. Jaye heard the door close slowly behind the motherly figure.

"Feeling better?" Flint asked. This was not the first time she had one of these spells, between her temper and her empty stomach, adding to their misunderstandings, it had occurred several times.

"Headache and bad dream." Her voice barely whispered.

A wet cloth once again, patted her forehead, making her feel more comfortable, "I.. I.. was back in the woods, the wolves..."

"Shh..."

"No... saw Ripcord... running through them, wearing Scarlett's little pink thong,"

Flint burst out laughing.

"It was horrible." Jaye groaned, covering her eyes with both hands.

"Well, at least it wasn't Shipwreck wearing only his boxers." Flint joked, giving off a fake shiver.

Her eyes opened slowly, lowered her hands, and glanced at him. "My head is killing me. It feels like Beach Head has been screaming in my ear for three days."

"Can you sit up, to have some soup? It may make you feel better."

Jaye let Flint help her sit up. She looked at him with a concerned face. "You okay?"

"I'm fine." He answered, "It's you I'm worried about. I'm going to call Duke and let him know that we are going to be delayed. Allie, I'm sorry for this morning." He closed his eyes, shaking the thought away. He could only imagine what her father would do to him if she had gotten hurt.

Her hand reached towards his face, still shaking and caressed his cheek, gently. "It was my fault too. I started to not feel good yesterday. I should have told you and I shouldn't have left. I guess my Scottish temper got the best of me again."

He covered her hand with his and gently kissed it, "Well, at least both of our tempers get the best of us and keep us on our toes." he chuckled, leaning down for his lips to meet hers, "I love you Alison Hart-Burnett, you and that Scottish temper of yours."

"I love you too, Dashiel Faireborn, and your evil doll fetish too." She teased. She was still running a pretty high fever but at least she was awake.

He chuckled, "Remind me never to start collections again. Give Nancy one doll and they start having their own Synthoid buddies." He kissed her forehead once again, "Get some rest Allie, I'll call Duke and tomorrow we will be back on the base."

Jaye nodded. "Alright." She said. "Come join me when you're done?"

Flint smiled at her, and left the room, shutting the door behind him, letting her rest.