The smell of fresh brewed coffee filled her nostrils, stirring her mind awake. Scarlett's eyes fluttered open, glancing up at the ceiling. They roamed around, searching, landing on the blanket that covered her body, keeping it still warm. She turned her head, her skin touching the couch's pillows. Couch? How did she get back into the suite? Her head rose from the pillow. Sounds coming from the kitchen, indicated that Flint or Jaye were in there making breakfast. Her dark blue eyes spotted something on the floor, and picked up the small dry towel. She looked at it curiously, remembering that she had not used it the night before.
Her head still felt heavy from yesterday. Taking the covers off, she also discovered a second blanket over the first. Jaye's? She knew that she had never set her eyes on this particular blanket. It was heavyset, handmade. She shook her head, trying to remember, her memory still fuzzy from last night's events. A cough escaped her throat, and hoped she was not getting sick. She had three sessions that morning, the team needed her.
Standing up, she shakily walked towards the kitchenette and the bathroom. She heard Flint rustling cups and plates from the cabinets. The sound of the coffee maker and the sizzling of the frying pan, echoed in her foggy ears. Had Flint discovered her in the hallway and returned her to the couch? Or Aunt Brody? She leaned against the wall to steady herself from the dizziness that surrounded her.
"Morning, Shana." Flint's voice rattled her pounding head.
"Morning." Scarlett barely uttered back.
He turned to her in concern. "You look like hell. Alright back on the couch and under that blanket," He ordered. "I'll bring you something hot after I wake up Allie."
"I'll be fine Flint, just need something in me." She walked towards the cabinet and took out the aspirin bottle. Grabbing a glass from the cabinet next to the sink, she filled it and swallowed the pills down her throat. She could not be sick, not now. She had training classes to instruct.
Flint shook his head, mumbling, "Stubborn Irish woman." and headed towards Jaye's room. He pushed the door open, seeing her sleeping peacefully, he sat on the side of the bed, leaned down and touched her lips gently with his.
Jaye mumbled something and covered her head with the blanket.
"Hey Allie, wake up. We need to talk, I just found out that Duke is transferring me to Presidio." He said, in a serious voice.
Jaye bolted upright. "WHAT?! I'LL KILL HIM!!!"
Flint chuckled, "Now, we are even."
"Oh you!!!" She growled and hurled a pillow at him.
He ducked from the attack, laughing, "Well, get up. We got a busy day ahead of us." He picked up the fallen pillow and threw it back towards her, "I have to check on breakfast." He turned and left the room, still laughing.
Jaye got up from the warm bed, quickly showered, and put on her uniform before walking out into the living room. "Hey, Shana. Feeling any better?"
"Hmm?" The redhead looked up from the couch, holding a warm mug in her hands. "The same, I guess. By any chance did you have Dash retrieve me from the hallway?"
"Ummm...no. We were occupied all night long." Jaye answered. "Why?"
Scarlett looked at her, "Odd. I went to sleep in the hallway last night...eh… cause… well… you know." Which caused the other woman to blush. "And this morning, I woke up again on the couch, tucked in and all."
Jaye shrugged. "Maybe it was Aunt Brody." Then called out towards the kitchen, "Hey Dash! You need some help in there?"
"No thanks, Allie!" His voice echoed from the kitchen, "Almost done! The Faireborn pancake special is almost ready!" Trying to keep her out of the kitchen as much as possible.
"Is my cooking really that bad?" Jaye asked her best friend.
"Well, at least you don't explode the sauce all over the kitchen, like some people." Scarlett answered with a smile.
"You didn't answer my question, Red." Jaye said with even tone in her voice.
"Well, look at the time. late for my training sessions" Scarlett checked her imaginary watch, "I'm just going to grab my clean uniform from the basket and head out." She stood up from the couch, just when a cough escaped her throat.
"Oh no, you will stay here. I'll send for Doc." Jaye commanded, pushing the other woman back down on the couch, then glanced down at her watch. "Damn it."
"Jaye, are you late for something? And I can't stay here. I got three classes to teach this morning, new Greenshirts." Scarlett retorted standing back up. "Sick or not, I'm going."
"Breakfast is ready!" Flint called out from the kitchenette.
"You are staying here. Doc will see to that." Jaye said, stubbornly. She called out towards Flint. "No time for breakfast, I have to do sparring this morning with Beach Head."
"Jaye, I can't! I'm not going to have another angry CO baring down my neck." Scarlett replied, then called towards the warrant officer, "Sorry, I'm passing the offer, my stomach isn't for food right now."
Flint's head popped out of the kitchen, "Oh sure! The one morning I get to cook and you two don't eat! Well, when Aunt Brody wakes up, I'll make sure he eats both your portions too!"
"Oh, trust me, he will." Jaye said, walking over and kissed him. "Can you show him around the base for me after your teleconference in your office this morning? Take him with you. He'll be quiet."
Flint nodded. "Sure, I don't mind spending time with him. He's a riot. And Scarlett, you better see Doc."
Scarlett huffed, "If I feel worse, I'll go? Alright?" She then went towards the basket, retrieved her uniform and went straight to the bathroom to change.
"I'll see you for lunch, okay?" Jaye said, while heading towards the door.
"We're having pancakes!." He called out from the kitchen, hearing the door close behind her.
Scarlett walked out of the bathroom, all dressed and ready to head out, "Have fun with Aunt Brody, Flint." She smiled and at the same moment a sneeze escaped.
"Doc!" Flint waved a fork at her, watching her wave him off and leave out the door.
Shaking his head, he cleaned the mess in the kitchen. "Guess I better go changed into a clean uniform." He spoke to himself, walking out the door and closing it behind him.
A few seconds later, the phone began to ring, and went straight to the answering machine, "Jaye's and Red's Lingerie department, if you want to place an order or have a problem with yours, leave a message after the beep."
The voice of Doc's came on, "Scarlett, Please come to the infirmary if you are having any symptoms of headaches, sore throats and coughing. The entire Swiss Mission has developed some type of Cobra bug. Calling all Swiss personal for shots of antibiotics." The machine clicked, ending the medic's message.
The training room was already full with several pairs of Joes sparring, when Lady Jaye walked in, late.
"Where the hell have you been? You're late!" Beach Head's voice thundered towards her,"Thought you gone chicken on me."
"Me chicken? Never." Jaye walked up towards him. "No, I was trying to get Scarlett to go see Doc. She's sick."
"Yeah, your little excuses won't work for me, Soldier." He growled, "Now stop yakking and start hitting!" He posed in a fighting position ready to strike.
"Let me get my hands taped up first, geez. Keep your shirt on or I'll sick my Aunt Brody at you." Jaye snickered, as Gung Ho tapped up her hands.
"Gee, wouldn't that be a sight, getting beat up by a drag queen." Beach Head smirked, watching her face flare up. "I can see it now. Beachie, want some tea with that small bruise?"
Jaye turned towards him, her eyes burned with such an anger, he had never seen before. "That's my Aunt you're talking about. How would you like me to talk about someone in your family like that." She spat at him and positioned herself in a fighting stance.
He shrugged. "Go ahead. I'll highly won't get upset over it. So? Is the rest of the Circus coming on the base too?"
"Along with your cripple father." Jaye replied, when they started to spar by throwing the first kick, which he easily blocked.
"He got shot in a hunting accident." He huffed, barely being phased, throwing a punch towards her shoulder, "At least mine doesn't have a dungeon and does evil experiments!"
"Oh, I thought you'd like the dungeon." Jaye said. "Thought you were into kinky stuff like that."
He threw a kick towards her stomach, which she pivoted away, "Naw.. at least I don't run around the base wearing a trashy little green robe and wiggle my rear in front of the team." He ducked from her punch which was aimed for his face.
"At least they want to see me wearing my little green robe." She countered. The fight was getting heated but it continued to be a civil fight. "You'd scare everyone if you wore it."
Beach Head kicked her shin, making her wince. Then he chuckled, "Heh!, at least I don't have to wear make up to cover those hideous features."
"No, you wear a mask because make up can't help you." Jaye countered and punched him near one of his kidneys.
"Well, at least my mask can come off, yours on the other hand- Ooof." He uttered just when her boot connected with his cheek.
"Your mask can come off, but it would make everyone physically ill, so Hawk ordered you to keep it on."
He threw another kick towards her stomach which she blocked, and she threw another punch towards his stomach, He began to breathe heavier. "Well, at least I don't prance Hawk's office like a Barbie doll."
She was about to retaliate to his words, when a voice echoed in the room.
"Hey, Rock-N-Roll! Isn't that Jaye's bear Brutus?" Shipwreck's voice came towards the side of the room.
"What?" Jaye asked turning towards the sailor.
Beach Head couldn't pull back his punch fast enough when he noticed that Jaye's attention was diverted, and when her head turned sideways, his punch went right to the nose, knocking her to the ground, with blood spurting everywhere.
"BLAST!" Beach Head bellowed, "Someone get a medic! NOW" He yelled in the room, making all of the other team members stop their practicing.
"Dang, Beach!" Shipwreck whistled, "You knocked her out!"
Beach Head leaned over the counterintelligence agent. "Jaye? Can you hear me?"
"So... much… blood…" Clutch's voice slurred, and a thump followed. Everyone glanced at his fallen form.
"Clutch is out! MEDIC!" cried out Ripcord.
"Ark! Medic Medic! Ark!" Polly the parrot flew around them. "Call Joe One One!
"Jaye?" Beach Head repeated more softly.
She looked at him but her eyes were all glazed over and they started to roll back in her sockets.
"Better get her to the infirmary now, Beach." Gung Ho suggested.
He nodded, speechless, but gathered Jaye in his arms and began to walk out the room.
"Well, there is going to be more blood spill once Flint finds out." Shipwreck whispered to the others, "So? Who's going to bet fifty? Do I hear one hundred?"
Beach Head growled, and turned, "Drop and give me two hundred! NOW!" He ordered everyone in the room.
The Joes slowly dropped and began doing push up, some cursing Shipwreck after each one.
Holding Lady Jaye in his arms, Beach Head rushed to the infirmary. "Doc, now!" He ordered the nurse, taking Jaye into the room and laying her on the bed.
Doc came rushing into the room and once he found out what happened, started to take care of Jaye.
Several minutes later, there was a knock on Flint's office door. The warrant officer turned from Aunt Brody to the door, "Enter." He called.
Duke quickly came in. "Flint, they just took Jaye to the infirmary unconscious and bleeding from her nose."
Flint's eyes widened, "What the hell? How did it happen?" His temper rising.
Aunt Brody stood up, putting his teacup down. "Let's go, Lads."
Flint rushed out the door, followed by Duke and Aunt Brody.
In the infirmary, Doc had finished his exam and ordered an OR prepped when Flint, Duke and what seemed a man in a pink dress burst into the room.
Flint immediately notived his unconscious fiancée on the bed with Doc beside her, "What happened?" Then his eyes spotted Beach Head towards the other side of the room, and everything came to place. His eyes narrowed and his breathing raced. He charged at Beach Head, grabbed him by the shirt and banged him against the wall, hard. "I'll kill you." He snarled to the drill instructor.
"Flint, let him go." Duke said, trying to pry the two Joes apart.
Aunt Brody rushed over to Jaye's side, looking down at his blood drenched niece.
"Flint, calm down!" Doc ordered.
The warrant officer barely heard Duke's and Doc's commands. "I'm going to wish you were never born." He lift his fist, ready to strike the drill instructor.
"It was an accident, Flint. Really!" Beach Head tried to explain moving his head away from Flint's fist which hit the wall, causing several cracks from its force. The warrant officer's eyes blazed with fire and his hand rose once more to strike, but was cut off by another force, another hand, holding his hand tightly, pushing it backwards, away from Beach Head's face.
"Listen to Doc." Duke said, still holding his friends hand away from the drill instructor's features.
"Flint, I'm taking her in for surgery." Doc informed the angry teammate.
"Dashiell, Alison needs ya now, dona make it worse." Aunt Brody's voice came to his ear.
Flint turned, looking at the man. He nodded, letting go of Beach Head, and walked over to Jaye's bedside. He stroked her hair, bending down to kiss her forehead, "I'll be here Allie, when you wake up." He whispered in her ear. "I love you."
Doc ordered the nurses to wheel her out of the room and directly to surgery. Flint walked out the hallway and watched them turn the corner. He kicked the wall, angrily and stormed towards the couch in the hallway, sitting down and covered his face with his hands. He had lost his temper again, his shoulders slumped down and he exhaled an aggravating sigh.
Duke walked towards the office to grab his best friend a cup of coffee.
Aunt Brody sat down next to the warrant officer and tried to draw him into a comforting hug.
"Uhh, Thanks Aunt Brody." Flint smiled at the man.
"That wee lass Ah helped raise is a fighter. Dona worry about her." Aunt Brody reassured.
The first sergeant returned with three cups of coffee in his hands. He gave one to Aunt Brody and the other to Flint. "Here. Drink this."
"Thanks, Duke." Flint said, taking the offered cup from his friend. He took a sip and stood up from the couch, and began walking down the hallway.
An argument caught his attention, coming from an open doorway to his left. Curious, he peaked inside.
"Chipmunks!" Bazooka's voice floated towards the door.
"Smurfs!" Alpine's voice retorted.
"Chipmunks!" Bazooka said, a little louder.
"Smurfs!" Alpine's voice leveled to his buddy.
"Stop it! Both of you, or I'll cut off your television rights!" Lifeline's voice came, sounding agitated from the argument.
"Aww, but Lifeline. Then I can't watch my Saturday morning cartoons!" pleaded Bazooka.
"Tough!"
Flint glanced from one to the other. "What happened?" He asked, noticing that both of the Joe members were in hospital beds.
Lifeline and the two others looked towards the warrant officer. But it was the Joe medic who explained, "The Swiss Mission. Seems like every Joe that went to that mission returned with an unknown virus. Doc and I have been working all night to find a antibiotic to fight the germs."
Flint's eyes widened, then asked, "All of the members?"
Lifeline shook his head. "Not all, seems Scarlett must had been spared from the illness. She never came in this morning, so we figured that she didn't get sick like Alpine and Bazooka. Quick Kick and Snow Job are in the other room, both with high fevers."
Bazooka sneezed and Alpine coughed at that moment.
"Head hurts." complained Bazooka.
"Yeah, from all that TV watch-" Alpine's words were cut off.
Flint's cup of coffee dropped to the floor, causing the black liquid to spill everywhere. Scarlett! She was sick. He pivoted and hurriedly left the room, ignoring Lifeline's question on what was wrong.
"Duke!" He called out to the first sergeant. "The Swiss Mission Unit is all taken ill. Scarlett was with that unit. She wasn't feeling well this morning. Both Allie and I told her to go to Doc's but she never showed up!"
Duke's eyes widened. "Where is she?"
"I...I… don't know. I know she was heading towards her teaching sessions this morning." Flint answered, in a concerned voice.
"Alright, Lad," Aunt Brody piped in, "Duke and Ah will go search for the Lass, ye stay here just in case Alison comes out earlier."
The worry Duke felt, covered his entire face. "Come on, we have to find her."
"Aye, Lad." Aunt Brody nodded. "Let's look for yer lass."
They raced out of the infirmary at full speed. Aunt Brody's high heels clicking on the pavement. They past the main building and headed towards the training rooms.
Passing the Motor Pool, Aunt Brody spotted a women fixing a tank. "Is that Cover Girl?" He inquired.
Duke nodded, and watched bewildered, Aunt Brody run towards Cover Girl, whisper in her ear, and then embracing her after she nodded her head. Aunt Brody emerged out of the Motor Pool with a huge grin on his face, while Cover Girl raced to a jeep, jumped in the driver side and speeded out of the building faster than a roadrunner!
The first sergeant gave a awkward look towards the man, but only received a wink. Hurriedly, they headed towards the training room.
Scarlett's voice echoed in the room, "Hold your opponent this way, then flip."
Duke rushed in the room. "Scarlett!" He cried out.
The redhead looked from other side of the room, "What?" Her eyes narrowed, "If you are going to start yelling again, just let me get my earplugs first. My head still hurts from yesterday's lovely speech."
"You need to come with me to the infirmary." Duke said, walking towards her.
Scarlett rolled her eyes, "Not you too. I'm not going anywhere. I have classes to teach." Her voice sounded sore, then yelled at a Greenshirt. "Grady! If I see you making a inappropriate move again, you are going to have KP for a week!"
"You're going to the infirmary and that's an order!" Duke growled
"I'm not going anywhere! I got training to do, Hawk's orders!" She snapped.
Duke noticed that her face had gotten paler from the night before.
Aunt Brody was studying the men in the room, his eyes glued to several of them. "Listen to the Lad, Lass."
"Look, Doc has ordered all from the Swiss Unit to the infirmary. Now go!" Duke tried to explain.
"Not now, Duke, I have to- GRADY! You just earned yourself a week's KP!" She tried to walk towards the Greenshirt, but was stopped by Duke's hand holding onto her arm, "Let go." Her voice was stern, icy.
"Why do you have to be so stubborn!" Duke yelled at her. "You were given an order. So you will follow it or I will carry your ass there myself. Is that clear!!!!!!"
"Stubborn!!" Her voice flared, "You are the one who is PMSing!"
Aunt Brody choked, and several Greenshirts started to laugh.
"PMSING!!!!!!!" Duke bellowed, his face started turning beet red.
"YES! PMSing!" Scarlett's voice rose higher, but still raspy, "Post Mad Sergeant!" This caused more fits of laughter in the room.
Aunt Brody looked from one to the other, shaking his head, he had to find a way to get the woman to the infirmary.
"You don't have to be such a witch!!!" Duke yelled. "Don't you realize I'm trying to help you. Everyone else on your team is in the infirmary and sick!!!"
Scarlett's jaw dropped, "How dare you speak to me like that!" Her eyes narrowed, ready to strike him.
"ALRIGHT! THAT'S IT!!!" A deep voice thundered around the room, making both the first sergeant and the counterintelligence agent to freeze. They turned to see Aunt Brody's face turn very crimson.
The man rolled his pink sleeves up and walked over to Scarlett, "Lass, yer sick." He grabbed the redhead from her waist and hoisted her over his shoulder. "Taking ye to the Doc, like it or not." He began to walk, as the Greenshirts dropped their jaws and Duke followed amazed.
"Aunt Brody, let me down!" She commanded, Her head began to whirl and a cough escaped her throat, followed by a wave of dizziness.
"Shana..." Duke said, finally using her real name, with a hint of worry could be heard in his voice. "Listen to him, please."
She didn't answer him, her eyes were closed, and her arms limp, no longer fighting.
"Lad, Ah think the lass fainted." Aunt Brody said, carrying the woman towards out of the building.
"Hurry." Duke said in a desperate voice. "You want me to take her?"
"Nay, Lad," Aunt Brody strolled towards the main building, Joes began to stop and stare at the odd sight of a man in a pink dress holding an unconscious Scarlett, and Duke following close behind, his face filled with worry. "Ah got a good grip on her, which way, Lad?"
"This way." Duke said, leading the way back towards the infirmary. He never in his life thought he would be able to get along with a homosexual man, but he had become pretty comfortable with Aunt Brody.
They walked towards the infirmary, passing more skeptical looking members of the team. Entering the building they found the warrant officer pacing.
"What happened?" Flint asked, noticing the redhead unconcious.
"She fainted." Duke explained. They handed her over to Lifeline, sat down on the couch and waited for any news on the two females.
What seemed like an eternity, but was really an hour, the men paced awaiting word, suddenly wheels came from down the hallway, a stretcher with a still unconscious covert ops. agent came rounding the corner.
Flint rushed next to the rolling bed. "Allie?" He looked down at her sleeping features.
Doc smiled. "Only a broken nose. Don't worry, Flint." They wheeled her into a room which was next to Alpine and Bazooka's. Flint could hear the other two Joes arguing on He-man and She-ra cartoons.
"The hit to the nose deviated her septum. It had to be repaired. She will be just fine, though she will look like a raccoon for a little while." Doc explained, with a chuckle.
Flint kissed her on the forehead. "Yeah, well when she sees herself in the mirror tomorrow, you may have a few more raccoons come in, namely Beach Head and Shipwreck."
"Maybe I'll take tomorrow off." Doc chuckled. "You will be able to take her home in a few hours."
Flint nodded, "Will do." He said, continuing to stroke her wavy brown hair. "Doc, they brought in Scarlett, she's unconscious and Duke may tare the place down if you know what I mean."
"Alright. I'll go check on her. Let me know when Lady Jaye wakes up." Doc instructed, then left the room, leaving the engaged couple alone.
Doc walked out of the room and headed for Scarlett's. He smiled towards the field commander, who had stationed himself outside the room, with Aunt's Brody's arm around his shoulders. He walked inside, picked up the syringe that Lifeline had set for him and put the needle in Scarlett's arm. "Watch her." He told Lifeline, then came out of the room and patted the first sergeant on the shoulder. "She'll be fine. They both will."
Duke let out an audible sigh of relief. "Thank you, Doc."