Disclaimer: I keep repeating myself here but I don't own Bones.
Angelbach: Yeah, I figured it was time to put someone in who didn't take whatever the doctor handed them. I know I sure as hell don't =D. I love hide and seek. Tried to get a game going at my sixteenth bday party but it was a flop =( no one wanted to play. Meh, their loss.
Dreadswench: Yeah, you have to have some sort of annoyance or else the fluffiness in the story would make you vomit. Yes, had to work on that because no one wants to suffer through that sort of thing on a regular basis for the rest of their life.
Yenyen76: Me too. We should get together and play LOL
Jenheir1: Mikayla is a sweet dog in my mind but then they all are LOL. Ohh hide and seek in a house in the dark...ohh that could be fuuunn. Hey gotta get creative everyone else was hiding in the woods edging the course. =D
Luckywynner86: As I always say, it's all about the creative problem solving ;-)
Nertooold54: She's pretty much already been working on that with Dr. Nabhan but yeah guess it's a form of that. Didn't really see it like that just saw it more as fun.
Sunsreggie: Glad you're liking it. Yep, Second Comes Marriage will be the sequel to this story and I haven't finished naming the sequel to Espionage. The sequels will be coming out at the same time. I found that putting one out then the other causes people to have to go back and read the other story. Which can be a little confusing. So, I'm writing them simultaneously and will be posting them that way. Nope have no plans for Brennan and Michelle to talk about their fear of jungles. Umm let me see. Goodman was sorta seeing someone but nothing serious, Oaks broke up with his long time girlfriend in Espionage so he's taking a break and Perkins is sowing his wild oats so he hasn't settled yet.
Loverofbones: LOL glad you liked the chapter.
Tvismydrug: Glad you liked this version of hide and seek. Huh, if I had thought about it would have played it when I was in college. Drunken hide and seek LOL.
Thank you all for your reviews they make me all warm and fuzzy and make my muse go hmmm
Chapter 68 – Leaving on a Jet Plane – SMUT FREE
Michelle squealed in laughter when Tanya's hand closed on her shoulder. Smirking, Michelle came to an abrupt halt, making Tanya run smack into the back of her. If she hadn't been prepared, she would have dropped to her knees. Instead, Tanya went over backwards. She hadn't let go of Michelle and clutched even tighter, dragging her friend down with her.
The two women landed in a heap of arms and legs, laughing the entire time. Legates had jogged past them as they were laughing and shook his head. When he reached the pole, he joined the laughter of the other men standing there.
"They are ridiculous," Rogers said, crossing her arms and scowling at the two women laying on the ground laughing.
"No, they are fun. They don't act like they have a stick up their ass," Maggs said, laughing at the pair on the ground.
Michelle finally caught her breath and got up off the ground. Leaning down, she offered her hand. Tanya took her hand and Michelle pulled her to her feet.
"Go round them up," Michelle said, waving her hand.
Tanya headed out yelling out the safe words and Michelle walked over to the pole. Little giggles were still erupting from her like bubbles.
"Baby, you need to learn patience," Legates said in a teasing tone.
"Honey, you need to bite me," Michelle said, wearing her sweetest smile.
The guys took a second to process what she said and then started bawling out their laughter.
"Besides, now I get to seek," Michelle said, grinning and rubbing her hands together.
Maggs snorted and rolled his eyes in the light that was shinning from the street. Legates wondered if Michelle had noticed that she hadn't wigged in the darkness of the woods or the shadows she'd been hiding in. Now was that the therapy or the meds or a combination thereof? Shrugging, he turned his attention back to Michelle. She was standing with her hands on her hips and her lips pursed.
"I'm coming after you first big boy," Michelle said to Maggs, grinning widely.
Maggs put his hands on his hips, turned his back to her, stuck his butt out and waggled it back and forth.
"Find me if you can," he teased.
Michelle walked over and smacked his butt hard enough to make him jump. Legates started laughing and pointed at Maggs.
"Now your ass is sore and dumb," he choked out. Michelle walked over to Legates and snuggled up against him, smirking at Maggs.
"Dammit that hurt," Maggs grumbled as the men and some of the women laughed.
When everyone was back, Michelle closed her eyes and loudly said 'one'. She heard the whistle then the footsteps of people as they moved away from her. She continued counting loudly as she considered the spots she'd seen when she'd been looking for a place to hide.
When she reached fifty she belted out her warning and turned to start seeking. She stood with her hands on her hips for a moment just to see if she could catch anyone adjusting. Seeing nothing, she started for the obstacle course and began to scan. Seeing the tubes, she walked over to them and looked down the three pipes one by one. She spotted Goodman in the third pipe.
"Freeze," she hissed. Goodman froze and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She moved around like she was looking around the pipe.
"Tell me where Maggs is and I'll let you go," Michelle bargained.
Goodman shook his head, no way he was giving up a fellow soldier. She shrugged and started reaching into the tube towards him. He wiggled backwards quickly making Michelle blink at his speed. By the time it registered he was out of the tube, he was halfway to home base.
"Dammit," she muttered with a sigh.
She just let him go, she knew she couldn't catch him. He had a good twenty foot head start on her. Legates watched from his perch in the tree on the tree line. He saw her turn and move towards the wall. As she passed Rogers, she paused then shook her head and kept moving. When she was a few feet away from Rogers' position, the woman bolted from her hiding spot.
Michelle turned and gave chase. She just barely missed tagging the other woman, who stood at home base smirking. Turning back around, Michelle headed back out into the course. Pausing near the edge of the woods, directly underneath Legates, she cocked her head. Legates held his breath and watched her process. It was kind of scary to see her think and almost be able to follow her process. She looked directly up at him, shrugged and kept moving.
He was pretty sure she'd seen him but she was after Maggs who was in the tree next to him. Legates turned his head to look at Maggs who was smirking. Legates looked down and Michelle was gone, where the hell did she go? Maggs didn't see her so he swung down and landed on the ground with a thump. Legates knew in that split second that Maggs had just made a huge mistake.
Maggs had just started jogging towards home base when Legates heard the rapid patter of Michelle's feet. He started laughing as he realized that Maggs had not heard her approaching. Maggs started hauling ass when he heard Legates laughing. There was only one thing that would cause Legates to give up his position. That was if Michelle was on someone's butt and since he was the only one visible.
Michelle stretched her legs and Goodman thought for sure she was going to vault onto Maggs back. Instead, she jumped to his right and smacked his shoulder as she whizzed past. She dropped into a roll and came up on her feet.
"That is so unfair," Maggs grumbled as he slowed to a walk. Michelle stood panting and wore a large smirk.
"How the hell did you know where I was?" He grumbled at her with a scowl. She shrugged and smiled prettily.
"I smelled Josh and I've noticed that where one of you is the other is not far behind. I wouldn't be too surprised if Techie wasn't in one of the other trees nearby," Michelle said, smiling widely.
"You...wait, what? You smelled Legates?" Maggs asked, looking at her as if she'd lost her mind. A slow predatory smile crossed her face.
"Mmmhmm," she said, sauntering away as she called out for everyone to come out.
Legates passed her with a grin and she returned the grin. He was happy to see her having fun, in the dark, with a lot of people. When Legates approached the pole, Maggs walked up to him and sniffed him. Legates pulled back and stepped away from his friend.
"What the hell are you doing, Maggs?" Legates asked, with a worried look on his face.
"She said that she smelled you. I was wondering if you were wearing cologne or something," Maggs said. Legates let out a low chuckle that made Maggs skin crawl just a little.
"No, no cologne, no aftershave, hell I'm not even wearing deodorant. Part of being sneaky," Legates told him with a grin.
Maggs stood there with his hands on hips wondering, what, exactly it was she had smelled over the surrounding smells. Shrugging, he walked over to the pole, leaned against it and waited for everyone to arrive.
"She wanted your ass bad, Maggs," Goodman said, grinning at the man leaning against the pole.
"How's that?" Maggs asked, looking at Goodman.
"She tried to bribe me into giving you up," Goodman asked. Dunning heard Goodman's comment and burst into laughter.
"So this is what Army Special Ops do when they're not out pretending to be heroes?" Dunning asked with a teasing grin.
"Nahh, sometimes we jump out of planes," Maggs said, looking at his nails.
Dunning saw Michelle trying to sneak up on Legates and Legates not giving away that she wasn't doing a good job. Dunning was having a hard time keeping a straight face at the pair.
"We just talked the CO into believing this is a training exercise. Which it is, it's good to get you thinking outside the box," Legates said, shrugging.
Techie coughed when he saw Michelle launch at Legates' back. She landed and his arms were automatically under her knees.
"You knew I was there," she whined.
"Yep," Legates agreed with a large grin.
"He probably smelled her," Maggs grumbled, making Dunning laugh.
"Nope, just..." Legates trailed off and shrugged, "knew."
"Alright, Sarge," Addison snorted. Michelle tucked her chin into the notch between Legates neck and his shoulder.
"Oh and Dunning they're not pretending to be heroes, they are heroes," Michelle said with a serious look. She squeezed Legates' upper body in a hug as she spoke. Legates turned his head slightly and shot her a grin. She smiled and kissed his cheek.
"You two are disgusting," Dunning grumbled, "you make me miss my girlfriend."
The other men started laughing at his comment. The group played well into the night and finally stopped when an MP came by to let them know they were keeping the dorms closest to the obstacle course awake. They disbanded and headed to their respective places to sleep. Michelle and Legates walked back across the street and climbed into his truck. Michelle's stomach rumbled and she groaned.
"Starving," she whined.
"You didn't eat?" He asked, looking at her with concern.
"Nope, I had just got home when you called," she muttered. He sighed then nodded at her.
"Okay, we'll order when we get home," Legates said.
He blew the horn at the men standing out in the parking lot of the dorm as they pulled out. The men raised their hands in acknowledgment. Legates continued driving and his own stomach started to growl.
"Didn't you eat?" Michelle asked after hearing his stomach growl.
"Yeah, I did," he chuckled, "we just burned up a lot of calories."
"I plan on burning a lot more," she mumbled under her breath.
"Reehhheeaaallly?" Legates asked, drawing the word out in a deep southern drawl. Michelle shot him a saucy grin.
"Yes and it's up to you whether you're involved or not," she told him.
"Oh, jeez did you seriously go there?" He asked, laughing at her teasing him. She grinned at him and waggled her eyebrows.
"Oh, God, I'm in trouble aren't I?" He asked, wearing a wolfish grin.
"Do you want to be?" She asked with a grin of her own.
"Yes, Yes I do," he said, chuckling.
"Okay then yes you are in very big trouble," she told him.
She smiled impishly at him and he put his foot on the gas pedal a little harder. They got to the apartment building and they saw Colonel Anderson entering the lobby. He looked at Michelle and his eyebrow rose at her mud covered visage. She smiled prettily at him and stepped on the elevator.
When the elevator stopped on her floor, Legates and Michelle got off. They walked down the hallway, laughing at the look on the Colonel's face when he'd seen Michelle. She stuck her key in the lock and opened the door.
"You order dinner and I'll wash this mud off," she said, walking to the bedroom.
Legates walked to the kitchen and ordered some Chinese. He entered the bathroom while waiting for the delivery and stripped down. Stepping in the shower behind her, he grinned at her. She smiled seductively then turned back to finish her shower.
"Dinner first," she said, still smiling.
"Yes, ma'am," he said, washing quickly.
He was out of the shower before her and finished just in time for their food to arrive. He carried the food to the kitchen and set it on the island. Michelle entered a few moments later dressed in nothing but her silky robe.
"You are trying to drive me nuts aren't you?" He asked huskily, eyeing her robe.
"Yep," she said truthfully as she dished up her food.
She ate quickly then disappeared into the bedroom again. Legates inhaled his food and followed her to the bedroom, closing the door and locking it. He looked around and didn't see her. Hearing a noise from the bathroom, he walked in and found her filling the jacuzzi.
"Oh, man," he groaned as he realized they were finally going to break it in. His mind went wild as he watched the water slowly filling the jacuzzi.
"Taking too long," he muttered. Michelle smiled slowly at him and he noticed the golden glint of her eyes.
"You first," she told him when the tub was more than halfway full.
He stripped and climbed into the tub. She smirked and turned on the jets, making him jump when the one behind him shot into his lower back. He moved slightly to the left and looked at her, waiting for her to join him. She let the robe slide from her shoulders then climbed into the tub.
She settled between his legs and leaned back against his chest. Legates couldn't resist the urge so he gave in and began to run his hands over her skin. Using the buoyancy of the water, the jets from the tub and each other they reached the summit of their pleasure at the same time. When they could breath again, Legates used his feet to push them away from the jet and over to the other side of the tub.
Leaning his back against the side of the tub, he pulled her close and reached for her hands. Entwining his fingers with hers, he folded their arms across the front of her chest. She moaned in satisfaction and dropped her head on his shoulder. He grinned and kissed her temple.
"I'm never leaving," she mumbled. He chuckled and squeezed her a little.
"Have I been replaced by a tub?" He rumbled next to her ear in a teasing tone.
"No but when you're gone I have a feeling I'll be taking more baths then showers," she mumbled.
"Remind me to show you what I can do with a shower head," he chuckled, dropping kisses anywhere his lips could reach.
"Honey, I'd love to be able to get clean without getting horny," she told him with a smile in her voice.
"Why? I can't. Every time I'm in the shower, I see you naked whether you're there or not," he smirked. She let out a husky chuckle and wiggled a little. He snuggled her closer to his body and held her there.
"Going somewhere?" He asked, squeezing her tighter.
"Nope, but we can't stay in here much longer. I'm starting to wrinkle," she pouted. He looked over her shoulders at her breasts which were floating near the top of the water.
"You don't look wrinkly to me," he said, grinning.
She unwrapped their arms from around her and lifted their hands above the water. Their fingers were still twined together and both sets were wrinkled.
"Okay, okay," he grumbled.
Unwinding his fingers from hers, he put his hands at her waist and lifted her into a standing position. She waded to the edge of the tub and carefully climbed out. Grabbing a towel, she wrapped it around her body. Legates climbed from the tub, turned it off then drained it. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he left the bathroom to find her already in bed. Laughing quietly, he walked to the dresser and dried off. Tossing the towel into the hamper, he pulled on his pajama pants.
"How can you be so blasé about your nakedness?" Michelle asked, watching him put on his pajama pants. He looked at her smiled, shrugged then started walking towards the bed.
"In basic you take showers with a bunch of other guys. If you're body shy you get over it quickly," he told her with a grin.
Crawling into the bed, he reached over and pulled her against him. They fell asleep to the gentle patter of rain on the balcony that had started while they were in the bathroom.
Sunday passed in a haze and before Legates knew it, it was Monday. When he woke up, Michelle was already gone for her classes. After a quick shower, Legates was on his way to accountability.
Michelle sighed as she left her mid morning class and headed for Ross Hall. She had a few hours before class and thought she'd use the time to do some studying. As she was walking across the plaza her phone rang. Pulling it out with a frown, she glanced at the caller ID.
"Hey, Baby, what's up? You don't normally call in the middle of the day," Michelle answered her phone. Legates rubbed his finger under his nose in a worrying motion.
"We just got orders. We leave in like four hours and have to be briefed. I won't have time to see you before I go," he said quietly.
Michelle's face dropped at the sudden news. She swallowed, straightened her spine and nodded to herself.
"It's okay. We knew it was going to happen. Will you be able to call? Can you tell me where you are going?" Michelle asked her voice full of understanding. Legates let out a breath and let a sad smile cross his face.
"I don't know yet where we're going but it looks like one of those that I can't tell you. I have no idea if I'll be able to call you. If I can I will," he said softly. Michelle bit her lip and nodded again even though he couldn't see her.
"Okay," she said quietly, "do you know when you'll be back?"
"No idea," he said, biting his own lip in frustration at the lack of information.
"Okay," she sighed, "call me when you can. I have to go meet Tanya for coffee."
"Okay, Baby. If I can call I will, I promise," he said quietly, rubbing his neck in frustration.
"Okay," Michelle said.
She waited and then heard the click as he hung up the phone. She paused, cocked her head then dialed Tanya's number. Canceling their coffee date, she headed for the metro. Twenty minutes later, she was in Brennan's office speaking with her. Brennan looked at her, scrunched her face then softened her features. She knew that fear and she hated it. If she could help this young girl avoid that fear then she would. Telling Michelle to go to the lounge, Brennan made a few phone calls then went to give Michelle the information she gathered.
Legates grunted as he packed his gear into the cheesy suitcase he'd been given. He idly wondered if the military dredged these up from fourteen year old girls' closets. Even better yet, why they had to fly commercial? As if anyone cared where the military flew people. He idly wondered if he should be leery of someone watching them. When he was packed, he left his room with his unit only steps behind him. They listened to their initial briefing, nodded and headed to the airport with their luggage.
Michelle stood leaning against a buttress at the Concorde gate in Dulles International Airport. It was surprisingly easy to get the information considering how he wasn't allowed to tell her. She watched as his unit came towards their gate, laughing and joking as if they were going on vacation. Michelle knew better. She also knew them well enough to know they weren't really joking around and that their eyes were scanning as they walked through the airport.
She waited for one of them to see her but not one of them seemed to notice her. At least she assumed so until she heard the warbling whistle. Her eyes shot to Techie who shot her a wink and a smirk. She watched Legates' head jerk up and scan the area. When his eyes landed on her, she raised her eyebrow in a sneaky manner as a grin spread across her features. He shot her a grin and walked over towards her.
"Don't take long, man. No chicks on this trip," Goodman called out.
Michelle pouted towards Goodman and he smirked at her. Legates walked towards her wearing a scowl. She smirked at him and glared at the older looking couple that pulled off to the side near them, they looked to be messing with their suitcases. Michelle laughed at them; they screamed "I'm not what I seem."
"What are you doing here?" Legates hissed in a low tone while smiling at her.
"I had to make sure I had your dog's feeding schedule right," she said, smirking and cocking her head.
His face remained smiling but his eyes had a quizzical glint to them. He heard Johnson snort from a few feet away and glanced over at Johnson. He rolled his head as if easing his neck, Legates eyes followed the direction of his head and saw the "security" disappearing around the corner. Legates turned a look back to Michelle who smirked at him.
"I have friends in high places, Baby," she cooed, fluttering her eyelashes.
He laughed and wrapped his free arm around her. Pulling her in closer, he dropped a kiss on her lips.
"I just wanted to make sure you wouldn't forget me," she said, smiling at him.
"Ha, yeah that's likely to happen," he said, smiling against her lips.
"So kiss me and smile for me. Tell me you'll wait for me. Hold me like you'll never let me go," she sang softly.
"I hope the guys don't-"
"I'M LEAVING ON A JET PLANE DON'T KNOW WHEN I'LL BE BACK AGAIN," came bellowing loud and off key from the guys behind him. Michelle leaned her head back and burst into laughter at their antics.
"I guess they did hear," she murmured after bringing her face back close to his.
"Fucking sniper senses," he whispered. He pulled her tight against his chest and closed his eyes.
"Come on, lover boy," Techie called out cheerfully.
Michelle leaned forward and placed her lips over Legates'. Closing his eyes, Legates brought his hand from around her back and up to cup her face. His thumb brushed her cheek bone as his lips moved over hers. She felt his tongue sweep across her bottom lip and part them. His tongue swept in her mouth and danced with hers.
"Is it me or did it just get really hot in here?" Martinez called out as he walked by wearing a smirk. Legates pulled back and placed another peck on her lips.
"Come back to me?" She said, trying not to get upset.
"Always," he promised, "I'll be back soon."
"Promise?" She asked, her voice choking with unshed tears.
"Yep, now behave while I'm gone," he said with a smile. Stepping back, he shot her a wink and turned around.
"Let's go guys vacation waits for no man," Legates yelled, walking towards the guys.
Michelle watched him go with a small smile on her face. Turning, she began to walk away. She didn't see him turn to get one last look. He was wishing that she'd turn for just a second when she looked over her shoulder. Catching his eye, she smiled then turned back to face forward.
"Awwwww, Mikey's in lurve," Johnson crooned, holding his clasped hands under his chin and fluttering his eyelashes. Johnson's mouth fell open when Legates didn't deny it.
"Oh my God, he is in love," Johnson sputtered, laughing.
"Welcome to the land of lost testicles my friend," Techie said, smacking Legates on the back.
"They're not lost. They're in her purse," Davis said, smirking and jerking his thumb towards Michelle's retreating back.
"You're one to talk. At least his nuts are in the same state," Perkins snorted.
"She likes my nuts in their current location and the attachments that go with them," Legates informed them with a smirk.
"You keep thinking that, Mikey," Oaks said, laughing. Legates let a smile slide across his face but said nothing as he continued to walk to their gate.
"Why are we doing it this way again?" Legates asked Techie with a frustrated sigh. Security was checking everything again.
"Because we look suspicious and our bosses thought it was the best way to do it," Techie said, rubbing his hand down over his mouth.
"And we don't look suspicious like this?" Legates grunted out and sat down in the chair behind the table then glared at the mirror knowing there were men on the other side watching. Crossing his arms, Legates leaned his head back and dropped into a light sleep. Techie snorted and chuckled under his breath.
"Mike, you really in love?" Techie asked with laughter in his voice. Legates' eyes flickered under his eyes.
"Do you think I am? Do I act like I am?" Legates murmured, without moving anything but his mouth.
"If you only knew," Techie muttered, snickering after saying it.
"Ahhh, bite me," Legates said, uncrossing his arms and lacing his hands behind his head. The door opened and a man walked into the room.
"Okay, gentlemen, you're free to go," the man in the security uniform said.
"Thanks," Legates and Techie said, standing and leaving the room. The security guy looked at the mirror.
"Am I really supposed to be scared of two guys who talk about being in love? Yeah the one guy is really huge but come on," the guard asked the mirror. A slight buzzing noise filled the room.
"Special Forces that are trained to shoot you from a mile away," a voice reminded him.
"Yeah," the guard said, leaving the room and closing the door. Legates and Techie moved through the airport.
"Why the hell didn't the others get stopped?" Legates growled in a low tone.
"Because they're not as big as redwoods, drawing all kinds of attention and because they're not talking to redwoods," Techie said, chuckling.
"Fuck you," Legates said, smacking Techie on the back of the head.
When they stepped on the plane the entire coach cabin let out a loud sigh when Legates and Techie moved to business class.
"You know they only did this because you're so freaking tall right?" Techie asked, grinning at Legates.
"Yeah right. I've been stuck in military vehicles that were made for normal sized people for the last nine years and now suddenly they care?" Legates muttered so the people around them didn't hear. Goodman leaned around the side and looked at Legates.
"Oh God, they put them up here too?" Legates asked Techie with a smirk.
"Yeah, we're traveling as a group remember," Techie said, snickering as he settled in.
An hour later, they changed planes in Illinois and boarded another plane. They saw Martinez head in a completely different direction but said nothing as he passed them. Martinez ignored them as he kept moving to catch his own flight. When he arrived at the gate to his plane, Maggs was standing there smirking at him.
Legates was trying not to strangle Perkins as he hit on yet another flight attendant as the plane took to the air. Grunting, Legates leaned his head back and stared at the ceiling. His mind drifted over the last week and a smile spread across his face. He spent his three hour flight drifting in his happy place as the men around him made fun of him. When they landed, Legates stood up and glanced around.
"Ya'll can make fun of me all you want. However, I just had the best flight ever and you guys are probably bitchy and cranky," he said as he left the plane.
"I hate him," Goodman grumbled.
"No you don't," Legates called over his shoulder with a grin.
The men unloaded and Legates stopped and jerked his head towards a man standing there who screamed Military. He was dressed in a pilot's uniform that made Techie smirk and shake his head. Legates walked over to him and raised an eyebrow.
"If you gentlemen will follow me. Your employer has hired a private plane to take you to your destination," the pilot said.
"Just let me do one thing," Legates said, pulling his phone from his pocket. He shot a quick text and waited.
Michelle scowled as she sat down in the back of her Microbiology class. Rachel flopped down next to her and rolled her eyes.
"So, he left again. Where'd he go this time?" Rachel asked, pulling out her laptop. Michelle sat staring at her blank screen still scowling.
"Don't know," Michelle answered shortly.
"Don't know or aren't allowed to say?" Rachel asked, as graphic waves washed over her screen.
"Neither," Michelle muttered.
"Mmm that sucks. When will he be home?" Rachel questioned her friend.
"No idea," Michelle pouted.
"Hooboy, that sucks," Rachel commented.
"Guess I should get used it," Michelle mumbled.
Rachel patted Michelle's hand and settled in for the lecture. As the lecture ended Michelle's phone buzzed in her pocket. Pulling it out, she saw a text message.
Going completely out of contact just wanted to say I'll miss you.
Miss you too =( Come home soon.
I'll do my best
Be Safe
Will Do
Legates looked up at the pilot and smiled.
"Let's go," he said.
"What was that," the pilot pointed at the phone with a frown.
"Just letting my girlfriend know she'd be unable to reach me from here on out. Not that it's any of your business," Legates said, flashing the pilot the phone to prove it.
"Let's go," the pilot said in a firm tone.
As he turned his back and started walking, Techie flipped him the bird. The guys snickered as they followed the "pilot" out to the concourse and onto a plane. Twenty minutes later, the plane touched down at the Naval Air Force El Centro base.
"You have a meeting in the hanger in ten minutes so get your shit in a jump pack and be ready to go," the pilot said snottily.
Exiting the plane, each guy flipped his luggage on it's side, opened it and packed in under three minutes. Walking together they entered the hangar and stood next to a table at parade rest, waiting for instructions.
"Gentlemen, I'm First Lieutenant Oliver Godstone. Yesterday at ten am the U.S. Embassy in Rio de Janeiro was contacted. A militant group in the Amazon jungle near Porto Velho has taken several archeological students hostage including one American. Now there are several groups in the Amazon so you will have to find them, observe, then rescue. If we go in attacking any group we find we'll start a war. You will be HALO dropped in over the site of the digsite. You are to touch nothing, do not interfere with the dig and use the hut provided as need. Once you have found the students, you are to watch until you have seen Jessica Ramen. She is the only one that we have been provided a picture of. When she has been sighted you go in and get them. Do you understand?" Godstone asked after finishing his instructions.
"Yes, sir," they replied.
"Your rifles are behind me. There is further information inside your rifle case. You have ten minutes to check them then you'll be in a plane on your way to Brazil. Good Luck," Godstone said before leaving the building. When he was gone the men moved to the rifles and began to check them over.
The pilot leaned against the doorframe of the hanger and watched as the unit put their cases down, opened them and field stripped their weapons in synchronized, practiced motions then reassembled them. In under five minutes, they stood waiting with everything tucked in their jump packs. Nodding, he walked to a plane and watched as they climbed in the back. Walking to the cockpit, the pilot started the aircraft and took off.
"Settle in gentlemen this will be a nine hour flight," the pilot said.
Legates took a deep breath, unhooked his jump pack and settled in for a long boring flight. Reaching down, he pulled out the paperwork he'd folded into his pants pocket. Unfolding the sheet, he began to read. When they reached cruising altitude, he reached over and tapped Goodman on the shoulder. Goodman looked at him in a questioning look. Legates gestured to the cockpit and Goodman nodded then got up. Legates followed him into the cockpit.
"Hey Goodman you know this Stires guy? Your Uncle does work at the Jeffersonian, right? He's a squint, this guy's a squint," Legates said, stepping to the side so Techie could squeeze in.
"Yeah, a real dick. Likes to sleep with his students. When on the stand takes cheap shots at anyone he's refuting. Book smart but seems to lack common sense," Goodman said, remembering what his uncle had said about the man.
"And you know all of this how?" Techie asked, swiveling his head to look at Goodman.
"Uh a few years ago, Dr. Stires, was an expert witness in one of Sarge and Dr. Brennan's cases. That man wreaked all kinds of havoc in the lab," Goodman said, "apparently, Dr. Brennan was one of those students and he took cheap shots at her using his personal knowledge to wreck her case."
Legates let out a sigh and grumbled under his breath.
"Why are you asking about Stires?" Goodman asked, looking at the sheet in Legates hands.
"He's the head of this dig," Legates said, waving the paper.
With a grunt, Legates spun around and walked down into the belly of the plane. Plopping down on a jump seat, he dug in his pack and pulled out a notebook. Techie's eyebrow rose as Legates dug in his back and pulled out a pen.
"Not something normally in a jump pack," Techie murmured.
"Meh, figured I'd write letters in here and give them to Michelle when I got back," Legates said, shrugging.
"Good idea," Techie murmured.
Legates sat scribbling in the notebook with his tongue poking from the corner of his mouth. Techie picked up the briefing paper and started reading. When he got to the last page he let out a groan of frustration. He nudged Legates with his elbow and pointed.
Special Ops coordinator on site: Sergeant First Class A. Maggs and Sergeant First Class R. Martinez.
Legates smacked his forehead and started laughing. Techie started passing the paper and pointing out the line to the other guys. One by one they started shaking their heads and laughing. Legates tucked the notebook away and leaned back. They'd be moving through the jungle at night so sleep would be good. An hour before they arrived, he felt Techie nudge him.
Techie handed him face paint then sat back in his jump seat. After applying the paint, he snapped his oxygen mask down onto his face and Legates repeated Techie's actions. Standing up, Legates pulled on his parachute then sat back down. Legates wasn't aware of how fast time passed but suddenly the back door was opening. Standing up, they strapped on their jump packs and headed for the doors. They jumped from the back of the plane and spotted the light that illuminated the dig site faintly through the canopy of the amazonian jungle.
Pulling his legs and arms into his body, Legates spiralled himself towards the light and waited to deploy his shoot. A few minutes later, he was on the ground and rolling his parachute back into the case. When he was finished, he looked around, slung the parachute over his shoulder and moved soundlessly into the jungle. Forty minutes later, he stood on the edge of the clearing. He watched a man pace around the fire as he snarled at Maggs.
"They were supposed to be here today," he snapped at Maggs.
"Dr. Stires, the day is not over," Maggs said mildly. Legates smirked, he could read the irritation in Maggs' stance.
"But I don't hear any jeeps or anything," Stires grumbled.
"And you won't. They're the sneaky type. I'd lay bets that there's at least two of them standing on the edge of the forest right now gathering intel," Maggs said, shooting a grin to his left. Legates eyes shot to the left of Maggs but saw nothing. Legates rose to his feet and stepped from the jungle and approached the camp.
"Freeze," Stires barked towards him. Legates burst into laughter and looked at Maggs.
"Dr. Stires, what exactly would you do if I didn't?" Legates asked in a smart assed tone.
"I'd shoot you," Stires snapped, pulling out a Glock and pointing it at Legates. Legates snorted and looked over at Maggs.
"You gave him a gun?" Legates asked in complete disbelief.
"Naww, he had it when we got here," Maggs said.
"Whatever, Dr. Stires, I'm here to go find your people," Legates said, walking towards the fire.
"And what qualifies you to do that?" Stires snapped at him with a frown. He lowered the weapon then tucked it back into his holster.
"Oh Jesus, it's just like Goodman said," Legates muttered, looking towards the sky, "I don't have time for this."
Legates looked to Maggs who pointed to a hut with a light glowing in it. Walking to the hut, he flung his pack down on the ground and knelt down in front of it. He dug through the pack and pulled out his rifle, a few days worth of MRE's, a knife, his hat and a few other essentials. Maggs approached when he saw Legates leaning his head back and putting something in his eye. He knew they didn't use any sort of drugs to keep them awake so he wondered what Legates was doing.
"What in the hell are you doing?" Maggs asked, looking down at his friend. Legates blinked rapidly and glanced up at Maggs.
"What the fuck are those? They're creepy as hell," Maggs blurted, seeing or rather not seeing Legates' eyes as they were completely black.
"IR-suppression contacts. Masks the whites of the eyes and makes eyes non reflective," Legates said quickly.
"Never heard of them," Maggs said, pursing his lips.
"This is the first mission they're being used on," Legates mumbled. Slinging his rifle on his shoulder and standing up, they walked away from the hut.
"Which direction were they abducted from?" Legates asked, looking at Maggs.
"North West about three klicks out," Maggs answered.
Legates nodded and walked to the edge of the jungle, stepped in and disappeared. Stires watched in interest as the large man was swallowed by the jungle. He heard the breeze rustle through the trees and nothing more.
A/N: Hmmm how long will he be in the jungle? Tomorrow we'll see...Goodman, Martinez, Maggs, handkerchief, ferns, ice cream, cooking classes, a blonde, green hat wearing asses, pictures, hockey pucks, protein, bunny panties, big thugs, guinea pig, mama's boy, drawing in the dirt, giiiirrrrlllll friiieeeennnddd, happy place, Andrea, dinner on the floor, a hatch, village traffic, four weeks, four hours, little twerp, and flights home.