A week had gone by since Jaye and Flint had returned from their leave. There were two Cobra attacks overseas, to which both had been sent, and each separately. Fighting the Cobras was one thing, but having an angry drill instructor was another. Beach Head, had taken a few lessons from Duke, and had made it very unpleasant during their PT sessions every morning.
Flint decided that they needed a small break from the chaos on the base, so both he and Jaye had gone out for the evening. After a nice dinner, they watched a movie, enjoying each other's company. Returning back to base, they discovered that most of the Joes were resting from the week's busy schedule.
The couple walked by the rec. room, seeing some of the members arguing over a football game, shaking their heads, they passed on the idea of going in and went back to the Lady Jaye's suite, only to find Scarlett, resting on the couch, with a icepack on her head.
Flint looked in concern towards the redhead. "What happened?"
She lifted her head, still holding the icepack. "Duke."
Jaye walked over to her and pulled the icepack off her head and looked down. "What did the CO from hell do this time?"
"Not so loud, the ringing is still in my ears." Scarlett answered. "He yelled at the whole unit from the Swiss mission. And if you recall, I was in charge of that mission, so my ears are ringing more than the others."
Jaye gulped. "That means he's not going to be happy with the mission I lead." she said, looking over at Flint. "Let's give Red some peace. How about your suite?"
"Fine by me." Flint smiled, "But we better be then very quiet then. If you know who, is next door."
"Allie, there's a padded envelope for you on the counter, from Nancy." Scarlett's voice chimed in.
"Nancy?" They both looked at each other puzzled.
Flint smacked his forehead, "She better didn't!" He walked over to the counter and grabbing the envelope. He ripped the edge of it and pulled out something rectangular. "She did!" he said, looking up at the ceiling and shaking his head back and forth.
"Did what?" They both inquired.
"This!" He showed them the eight by ten framed picture of him sleeping with the evil plastic things and empty bottles, causing both women to burst out laughing. "There's a note in here too."
Dear Dashie and Allie
Thought you would like one of these as a memory from your trip. Mom has one framed and is sitting in the living room. Hope to see you soon.
Nancy
Flint shook his head and looked at Jaye, "Remind me when I see my sister, to kill her."
Suddenly, the phone began to ring.
"Can someone please stop the ringing." Scarlett's voice pleaded, holding the icepack harder on her head.
Jaye walked over and picked up the phone. "Red's Bar and Grill. Today's special Blonde CO Stew. How can I help you?"
"Jaye! Cut that out!" came the voice of Beach Head's on the other side.
"Hey! This is my phone and I can answer how I want." Jaye retorted. "So why are you calling me?"
"There's this man in a dress talking rapidly in Gaelic, and as you are one of the few people who speak that tongue, thought we would call you! Duke thought he was Wreck in a blue dress at first with the mustache and beard. But when he stopped him, then we knew that it wasn't the sailor playing drag."
"Alright, alright. I'm coming. But if this is a joke I'm going to grind you up and feed you to the pigs used for Pig PT." Jaye said, putting down the receiver, after hanging up with the drill instructor. "I'll be right back."
Flint and Scarlett looked at her with confused expressions.
"Who's was that?" asked Flint.
"Beach Head. I think he and Wreck are trying to get back at me for putting glue in their hats." Jaye explained.
The phone once again began to ring.
"Someone pick it up, please." requested Scarlett, shutting her eyes.
Jaye rolled her eyes. "Jaye's Javelin Shop, we make 'em sharp so even Sailors can use them. Would you like to place an order?"
"Jaye! What the hell you are still doing up there! Get down here NOW! This woman.. I mean this man... I mean this...woman-man just made a pass at me! GET HERE NOW!!!!"
Jaye burst with laughter. "Then take him/her out on a date."
"Confounded woman! GET down here! I think he I mean she...or he-she…. is now eyeing Duke! Oh God!!!" There was silence on the other end, then some muffled sounds and Beach Head screaming at some Greenshirts. "Jaye, this guy…gal-- whatever you want to call it says he's somekind of Clan. Are you in a cult or something now?"
"AUNT BRODY!!!!" Jaye exclaimed. "I'll be right there," she said, slamming the receiver down on the phone and ran towards the door.
Jaye hurried down towards the main entrance of the building. She stopped short watching the scene in front of her. Aunt Brody was talking to Duke, who looked very uncomfortable at the moment, which making her giggle.
Aunt Brody had not changed a bit since the last time she saw him. He wore a blue one piece dress, a woman's hat and his signature white coach purse. He was chatting with her CO asking him what kind of flower he liked. 'Oh God!' She had to intervene, before Duke lost it. But Aunt Brody caught sight of her, before she could open her mouth.
"Alison!" His raspy high pitched voice flew in the air.
"Aunt Brody!!!" Jaye cried out as she ran towards him and into his embrace.
Duke let out a sigh of relief that this man/woman's attention was now diverted but intended to ask his top intelligence officer about him/her later.
"Ah's sorry Ah arrived at such a late time Alison, me mind forgot the time periods." He softly chuckled. "Ah hope ah'ament imposing, Ah know ah was supposed to arrive tomorrow."
"You could never impose upon me, Aunt Brody. You know you are my favorite." Jaye kissed his cheek. "Would you like to meet Dashiell?"
His eyes brightened. "Of course aye want to meet yer lad!" putting his hand around her shoulders. "Ah missed ya, Lass."
"I've missed you too." Jaye kissed his cheek and ignored everyone around her. "Come on." She signed the check in book quickly and then led him down the corridor and then let him into the suite she shared with Scarlett. "Dash…" She called out, as she entered. "I want you to meet my Aunt Brody."
Flint came from the kitchen holding a glass of water and two aspirins, "Hello, Aunt Brody, it's nice to meet you." He held the items in one hand, while shaking the scottish man's hand with his other. "Just giving Scarlett, some meds before she becomes contagious on us." He went over to the couch and handed the redhead the glass of water. "Here, take two of these and yell at Duke in the morning."
Aunt Brody walked over the couch, " 'Ello Lass, let me guess, man trouble. Would ya like me to show the lad how to treat a lass nice?" rolling his dress sleeves up.
Scarlett smiled. "Nice to meet you, Aunt Brody." Then she glanced at Jaye. "He's good, can we keep him?"
"Aunt Brody is a keeper." Jaye said, with a happy smile. "Now I've just got to figure out where to put you for the night." Then she quickly added. "You can have my bed."
"Nay Lass. Ah be early. Ah will just sleep on the couch." Aunt Brody said.
"Sorry, no vacancy on the couch." Scarlett's voice chimed in, "But we do have one lovely room with a full bed, behind door number two. Complete with extra blankets, pillows and one old crossbow."
"Are ye sure Lassie?" Brody asked. "Aye mean ye might need yer crossbow for that man giving ye grief."
Jaye burst out laughing.
Scarlett nodded, "I'm sure Aunt Brody, and besides I don't think I will need my crossbow, just my hands around his neck tightly will do the trick." causing the room to laugh.
"I'll get you your blanket and pillow, Red." Flint offered and walked in her bedroom.
"Flint! Can you take out the extra one from my closet and pillows for Aunt Brody?"
Scarlett called out to him.
"Sure!" His voice replied from the other room.
Scarlett turned to Jaye, "You have him trained good!"
"Yeah, he's whipped." Jaye smirked.
"Ah've taught the Lass well since she was a wee one." Aunt Brody said with a chuckle.
Scarlett giggled, then winced, "I think I need some lessons, Aunt Brody." smiling at the man.
Flint returned from Scarlett's room, holding a blanket and pillow, "I heard everything!" He said, scolding all of them, as they laughed. "Here Red, blanket and pillow, but no crossbows for the night." he grinned.
"Thanks, Dash." Scarlett replied, taking the items from his hands.
"Are you hungry, Aunt Brody?" Jaye asked as she leaned into Flint's embrace after he walked back over to her.
"Lass, since when is yer Aunt Brody not hungry?" He stated, causing a few laughs.
Flint turned towards Jaye, "Shall we cook something here? Mess Hall is closed this time of night."
"I think Joe's is open. Don't have much here but I can see? I can probably whip something up." Jaye suggested..
"Cover Girl and I broke the stove… ahh… we... had an accident." Scarlett blurted out.
Flint look relieved, no one could swallow Jaye's cooking, not even Junkyard or Timber. "Well, in that case, Joe's it is."
Jaye shot a look at Flint that caused the others in the room to laugh. She turned her attention back to Scarlett. "You feel up to coming, Red? It will get you off the base for a little while."
Scarlett nodded, "I need some warm soup, all I had today was two crackers, I had five, but you know Polly..." Her voice trailed, but when she stood up, the room began spin a little and she immediately sat back down. "OK, definitely need something." she said, standing back up, trying to keep her balance.
"I have a box of Godiva chocolates in my room Hawk gave me last week. Want a couple?" Jaye asked, worried about her best friend. "The sugar should help."
Scarlett shook her head, "We can waste those when we have a girl's night." smirking at Flint's shocked face. "I'm talking about fun things! Like movies and stuff." she stated, throwing the pillow at his head.
"I think I'm going to order some hard stuff to drink." Flint said, tossing the pillow back to Scarlett. "Alright, let's go."
"Dash?" Scarlett asked, "Permission to dress first? Running around the base in my nightgown is one thing, but going off base in my nightgown is another. Plus, you can only image what our CO will say!"
Jaye giggled. "He might want to come with us."
Aunt Brody chuckled. "Ah take it this CO is yer man?"
Scarlett looked towards Aunt Brody, "In the past I thought so, but right now... It's complicated." Her eyes traveling to the floor and then to Jaye, "Emm, Allie you think it is wise? He may step on your toes on the mission."
"I was just teasing, sweetie." Jaye said. "He's busy tonight anyway. Hawk has the night off."
Scarlett sighed a relief, "Thank goodness for that. I don't think my head can take anymore for the night." She headed towards her room to get dressed.
Flint was about to say something when the phone suddenly rang, "Alright? Any more surprises?" He looked at the phone as Jaye went to answer it.
"Jaye's Psycho Ward. Once you check in, you never check out. Would you like to reserve a room today?" Jaye said, into the receiver.
"Jaye, it's Duke. I was calling about your guest. Everything alright there?" His voice sounded tired from the other end, probably from screaming at most of the Joe Unit.
"Yeah, everything's fine. We're going out for dinner. I know I'm on call tonight, so I'll have my emergency beeper and cell on me. Red's going with us, too."
She heard him swallow a choke, "Scarlett?"
"Yep, who else? Courtney dyed her hair back to blonde. Duh! You sure you're alright to run the base tonight?"
"Me? I'm fine. I can always call Beach Head up here, since Scarlett is going out with you and Flint."
"Duke, I'm the on call commander tonight." Jaye reminded him sounding a little worried. "The others have tonight off, remember?"
"Jaye! Don't I know that!" He sounded a little angry. "Well, I won't keep you from being late."
Jaye's eyes narrowed. "Sure. Red's just about ready for her date."
From the corner of her eye, she noticed both Flint and Aunt Brody drop their jaws.
Duke was silent for a second, "D…Date?" he finally sputtered, "With Alpine?" His voice now sounded more aggressive.
"Nah, he's still grounded from before. This is a new guy." Jaye said trying hard not to laugh.
Flint mouthed, "What are you doing?" to her, but she ignored his question.
"New guy!?!" His voice sounded surprised, "Don't tell me that new Sergeant from Communications I have been hearing about chasing some female Greenshirts?" She could picture his face clearly now, frowning.
"Oh! Her date's here. Gotta go. Page me if an emergency comes up. But only if an emergency comes up. Bye." Jaye said and hung up the phone and started to laugh.
"Allie, what in the blue blazes are you doing?" Flint now asked, sounding like Duke, which caused her to laugh more.
Scarlett emerged out of her room and was ready to go. She looked from Aunt Brody, who still had a dropped mouth, to Flint who was shaking his head, and then to Jaye who was holding her stomach from the laughter, She arched an eyebrow, "Did I miss something?"
"The green eyed monster just flared up in our CO again." Jaye laughed. "Aunt Brody, can you put on jeans and a t-shirt?"
"Duke is turning into the Hulk again?" Scarlett said, shaking her head.
Flint looked from one to the other, "No comment!"
"Alison, me don't know where yer plan is going, but me thinks we all are playing with fire." Aunt Brody laughed and headed into Scarlett's room to change.
Flint called towards Aunt Brody, "Who's we?"
"Hey buddy." Jaye said poking him. "You are in on this too."
"Since when?" He asked, receiving no answer.
When Aunt Brody came out looking, all spiffed up and quite dashing enough to make any CO not only turn into the Hulk, but also the Grinch, Oscar The Grouch, and every known Green monster in the world, the four departed for the diner.
Several hours later, after they had returned, from a very fun time. Flint had decided to stay for the night, and Aunt Brody was sleeping in Scarlett's bed, snoring loudly.
Scarlett woke several times, from the moans and the snores. Her head continued to throb, she felt weary and very tired. Knowing that she had to wake early the next morning to instruct three training sessions, she decided the only safe haven was the hallway, again. Gathering her blanket and pillow, she stood up slowly, shakily as another dizzy spell surrounded her.
First, she went to the kitchen area, took two more pills for her headache and went outside in the hallway. She shivered from the hallway's colder atmosphere. Laying down the blanket and pillow, she tried to fall asleep, but the headache kept her from falling fast asleep. Music came from down the hall, she lifted her head slightly, her eyesight a bit blurry, noticing Rock N Roll, wearing headphones, walk across the hall holding Brutus with his own headphones on!
Scarlett rested her head once again on the soft pillow, a waves of nausea floated around her.
From around the corner, Duke was returning from his late shift. He halted in his tracks when he noticed Scarlett sleeping in the hallway for the second time. His stride became slower, trying to pass without disturbing her.
Her head turned towards his way with a cough. He stopped, glancing towards her and for the first time noticing that she was trembling. She coughed once more, this time more loudly than the first.
"Scarlett?" He whispered, trying to determine if she was awake or asleep.
"Hmm.." Her voice sounded sore, her eyes barely opened.
"You alright?" He asked, concerned.
"Headache." She whispered.
"See Doc tomorrow."
"Alright, Flint… tomor..row..aft..er.." Scarlett's eyes felt heavy, her head rolling to the side, she did not finish her sentence as darkness won its battle.
Duke stared down at the counterintelligence woman, her breathing raspy from her sore throat, perspiration running down her forehead, slightly shivering from the cold hallway's atmosphere. Her face looked pale, even against the hallway's dim light. A small cough escaped, and another tremor followed. She would develop pneumonia if she stayed there for the rest of the night.
He turned, heading for his quarters, looking back once again at the slumbering figure, and continuing around the corner to his door. He stepped in, walking directly to the closet, and grabbing his most thickest blanket. Stepping out of his quarters, he carefully returned to her, kneeling down to cover her body with the warm blanket. She stirred her head, towards him, but did not awaken, her body still shivering.
He stood up, and taking out his master pass key from his pocket, he unlocked the suite's door. Taking two steps backwards, he kneeled once more and gently picked up her sleeping form. Her head rested against his chest, breathing steadily. Slowly, he entered the now quiet quarters. Striding towards the couch, he gently lay her down on the cushions. Tenderly he lifted her head, putting the pillow underneath it, and then resting it on the soft surface.
Her arm swayed over the edge of the couch, he timidly gathered the arm and set it on the cushion. Taking the two blankets, he covered her body with both, resting the edges underneath her chin, making sure that she was warm enough.
He studied her face for a moment, silent, not daring to breathe, afraid that she might wake up and find him almost above it, so close. Something, like a phoenix, began to rise inside him. Ever so slowly, his hand moved closer to her face, reaching, seeking, something that once used to be there. But he did not dare touch her, and then he lowered it, resting it on the cushion, next to her shoulder.
Her head turned towards the other side, a moan escaping from the headache, and something soft touched his hand, his skin. Hair! Scarlett's red locks felt soft in his palm. His hand drew away, as if he had just touched flames. Memories stirred inside him, buried memories from long ago. It had been so long since he had felt her locks, her hair, her head, her face. His hand quivered, moving once again, was it from nerves? From fear? Or was it from love? His eyes locked on her hair, never leaving the red mane, his hand moved closer, shaking in the air, inching slower with each breath that he took.
His heart began to beater faster, thumping madly in his chest. A finger gently reached out and gathered the long loose strand of hair that now covered her beautiful features. He placed it gently behind her ear. His hand then did the unthinkable, he had not noticed it until it was too late, his strength could not stop it, his mind could not stop it, his heart could not stop it, nothing.
The heartbeat now pounded in his ears, like a drum, an old battle drum. He held his breath as his hand lightly touched her hair, stroking it from the top of her head to down the back. She stirred! Her eyes still shut tight from the pain in her head, a mumble, barely audible, His hand swiftly rose in the air, motionless, nervous, afraid. Did she say his name? He heard it! Hadn't he? Had she said Duke? Or was it puke? He felt his lips turn, a smile trying to break free from all those months of unhappiness.
She breathed, her eyes remaining closed. Was she dreaming? He wondered. He realized his hand had not moved, it still lurked above her head, frozen. He felt sweat on the edge of his nape, dripping down on his collar. Slowly, carefully, so as not to make any sudden movements to wake her, he moved his hand to touch his cheek, feeling the burn once more, from the last time she touched him. He closed his eyes, remembering the slap, strong, angry, hurt.
The hand left his face, traveling downwards, past his neck, and on his chest, stopping on the left side of his heart, where below his uniform, lay the remains of a scar. The scar from an injury that almost cost him his life, almost cost him to ever seeing her once more through his eyes, her blue eyes, her red hair and her face. He swallowed, remembering her face on that dreadful day, her worry, her tears, her hair gently touching his skin, as she had held his head on her lap, softly rubbing his cheek.
She coughed, his eyes shot open. His breathing began to quicken. Once more his eyes, locked to her tight shut ones. He could feel her pain in his own heart. Her head moved back and forth, nightmare? Or was it her headache? He slowly rose from her side, walking into the kitchenette, grabbing one of the towels, and dampening it with cold water. He returned to her side, placing the towel on her head, in his own way comforting her.
He stood again, glancing at her one more time, before taking a few steps backwards, then turning towards the door, and closing it behind him. A breath escaped, his eyes closed. He slid down the door slowly, his knees bent, his arms crossed and his head lowered in between them. Was his heart once again phoenixing from the darkness? Or was it slowly dying?