Opportunities Taken - Chapter 16
That evening Chase, Skye, Marshall, Everest, Rhonda, Doug, Zuma, Cutter, Rocky, Volkova, and Rubble got together for dinner at the lodge.
"So everyone but Rubble knows Cutter," said Zuma, "but let me introduce her as my mate for the first time."
"Congratulations guys," said everyone present.
"And this is Volkova," said Rocky, "I've known her for several years. We're office mates."
"Oh for the love of dog," laughed Skye, "just say she's your girlfriend."
"W-well s-she hasn't e-exactly agreed to that yet," whispered Rocky, looking down.
"Rocky, will you be my boyfriend?" asked Volkova, lifting Rocky's head.
"Yes, Volkova," said Rocky, "nothing would make me happier."
"Wanta bet?" laughed Cutter.
Rocky and Volkova's eyes swelled and they immediately turned bright red, understanding what was being implied.
The pups cheered.
The evening continued with everyone talking and getting to know each other.
"Rubble," said Chase, "it seems a bunch of us are going to need to get with you to build houses and such."
"Rubble on the Double," laughed Rubble using his old catch phrase.
Cutter pulled Skye over to the side. "Skye?" asked Cutter, "Were you serious about flying for you?"
"Of course," said Skye, "Are you thinking about getting out?"
"I've never thought about anything other than flying for the Coast Guard," said Cutter, "I really do love Zuma. If I got out it would be to fly for someone else anyway. I think flying for you would be a really good thing. I don't however want you to think you have to allow me because of Zuma. I will provide you with all my training records and flight logs. I want you to choose me because you believe I'm an acceptable pilot."
"I don't doubt for a second that you are," said Skye. "It will be good to expand. You'll have to get your Commercial rating and then Airline Transport Pilot but I don't think that will really be a problem. Where are you and Zuma thinking of living?"
"I can't imagine him wanting to live anywhere other than here," said Cutter, "I would never expect him to leave teaching. You can tell when he talks about his team how proud he is of them."
"Well, you'll have to fly with me for a while until you get your pilot in command time to obtain you Airline Pilot rating," said Skye, "But there is an additional hanger here. We can park the 3500 here and you can base here. It appears we might be staying as well."
"Well," said Cutter, "I think I've made up my mind. I'll fly back to Hawaii and turn in my papers to separate from active service at the end of the month. I will probably maintain reserve status until I can retire."
"It's a deal then," laughed Skye, "I'll fly you back to Hawaii. We can call it a final interview flight."
At that same time, Rocky pulled Chase over to a corner, "Well congrats on the appointment to the team I'm not supposed to know about."
"How in the hell?" laughed Chase.
"Please, I have more clearance than you," laughed Rocky. "Seriously, you'll be perfect."
"Thanks," said Chase. "Could I trouble you to help me build a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility - for those that don't know that term.) to work out of."
"If you'll let me share the building," said Rocky, "I can get it covered by my company."
"Rocky?" said Chase, "Ok, you won't tell me what you do. Will you at least tell me who you work for?"
"I work for Northrop," said Rocky, "please don't…"
"Rocky," said Chase, "you absolutely do not have to worry about me."
"Well, if you can keep a secret, even from your mate and friends," said Rocky, "I'm a targeting and avionics specialist. Currently I'm sort of in sales because of my contacts."
"Your secret is safe with me. So you really do sell aircraft parts" laughed Chase, "Albeit specialized parts, but still. So your girlfriend is pretty hot."
"Told you," laughed Rocky. "I still can't believe I have a girlfriend."
"Keep it up and you'll have a mate as fast as Zuma," laughed Chase, "So I'm assuming since she's all white, she's an Arctic Wolf?"
"Yes, she's never done a DNA scan," explained Rocky, "but she knows her mother was pure blood arctic wolf and she thinks her father was a wolf shepherd so with the body structure she's mostly wolf."
"Well she obviously makes you happy," said Chase, "I'm happy for you. You deserve someone that understands the things you do."
"Thanks," said Rocky, "I'm such a wimp. I could never have got the courage to ask her."
"Rocky," laughed Chase, "look at me. I missed so many chances to ask Skye. I'm as much if not more of a wimp."
"You're the very definition of 'Not a Wimp'," laughed Rocky.
They returned to the group and enjoyed the rest of the evening.
Later in bed, Chase turned to Skye.
"Honey, I'm ashamed to say it," said Chase.
"What?"
"I got caught up in the excitement today and the last few weeks for that matter," said Chase, "I've never asked you where you want to live. In fact I don't have any idea where you live now."
"I have an apartment in upstate New York," laughed Skye, "But I haven't been there in over two months. I have a lady that comes by and checks the mail. She calls me if anything important comes in and pays the bills for me. I guess I can let that go. I'm ok with moving back here."
"If you're sure," said Chase.
"I am," said Skye, "The only reason I left was because too much of this place reminded me of you."
"Yeah, I'm sorry I put you through that," said Chase. "It was stupid of me to not ask you years ago."
"It worked out," said Skye. "What about Rhonda? Will she stay here?"
"We haven't discussed it," said Chase. "I'll get her a place here if she wants one. I figure she'll probably go back to Kentucky for a while anyway. That's where the operations teams will be stationed."
"So did you get to talk to Volkova any?" asked Skye.
"No, did you?" asked Chase.
"Everest and I both talked to her for a while," said Skye. "She's really sweet but it's like talking to a female version of Rocky, with a Russian accent." Sky giggled, "She's perfect for him, they think a lot alike."
"I'm really happy to see that everyone is settling back in the area and with mates or girl friends," said Chase, "Now we just got to get Rubble set up."
"Rubble has a girlfriend," said Skye, "She just hasn't been around for the last few trips. She travels a lot, I'm not actually sure what she does."
"Really, wow," said Chase, "I had no idea. Have you actually met her?"
"I think just twice," said Skye, "She came to the lodge when I was visiting. They've been seeing each other for a while now."
"That's great," said Chase, "What's she like?"
"Well for one her name is Margie," said Skye, "She is a beagle. But as for what she actually does, I have no idea. I haven't really talked to her that much."
"Oh, I hired Cutter as my second pilot to fly the 3500," said Skye.
"That's great," said Chase, "I can't believe after everything everyone has been through we're all coming back to Adventure Bay."
"It will be great to have everyone together again," agreed Skye.
"Good night honey," said Chase, kissing Skye.
"Good night," said Skye.
The next morning Chase and Rhonda seemed to be taking a little longer to return than other mornings. Skye had come out and was considering going to look for the two when Marshall spotted them coming up the mountain trail.
"They seem ok," said Skye to Marshall and then called out as they got closer. "What took you so long?"
"Sorry if we worried you," said Rhonda. "We got to discussing the curriculum for the recruits. I had an idea and Chase decided to make an extra lap as we discussed it."
"We only added a couple miles," said Chase. "But we knocked out a lot."
"You always thought better when exercising," said Skye.
"So what have you decided, Rhonda?" asked Marshall. "Are you going to stay or head somewhere else?"
"I'm going to come back here once we are established," said Rhonda. "I have an apartment lined up at Campbell. I'll oversee everything and welcome our team members."
"Yeah, Rocky and I are going to design a conference center as well as our work offices," said Chase.
"They may have to add a few helipads to the airport," laughed Rhonda. "I figure we'll fly the recruits here to hold classes and allow rest occasionally."
"Do I need to add helicopter pilots to Skyes the Limit?" laughed Skye.
"Up to you," laughed Chase, "We could let the military do a little flying."
"Did Rocky say anything before they left?" asked Marshall.
"He told Zuma he had a contact he needed to meet with," said Chase. "Of course he wouldn't say where."
"Cutter said she thought they ran away to get married," laughed Skye.
"I heard Margie's coming in this weekend," said Marshall.
"Great, I can meet her finally," said Chase.
"Who's Margie?" asked Rhonda.
"Rubble's girlfriend," said Marshall.
"Oh really," said Rhonda. "What does she do?"
"I actually have no idea," said Skye. "I've only spoken to her a couple of times when I was visiting Everest."
"What about me?" asked Everest, sticking her head out as she called everyone to breakfast.
"That I still don't know what Margie does," said Skye.
"I know she works for some international firm," said Everest. "I've never asked."
"Well I'll have Rubble bring her this weekend," said Chase. "He was going to come help me design our house. Thanks again Everest, for letting us have a spot to put our house."
"I couldn't have my best friend living all the way in town," laughed Everest. "Come eat, it will get cold before you can get back from showering. It's not like I haven't smelled a sweaty dog before."
The weekend came and Rubble called and said they were on the way. The doorbell rang, Marshall went to answer the door. Rubble and beautiful female beagle stood at the door. They walked in after Marshall opened the door.
"Guys, let me introduce you to my girlfriend," said Rubble. "This is Margie."
"Welcome again," said Everest.
"Hello Margie," said everyone else.
"Wow, everyone is here?" asked Margie.
"Everyone but Rocky and now Volkova," said Zuma. "They're 'traveling' to see a client or something."
"Great to meet you," said Chase.
"Hello Chase," said Margie. "It's great to meet you finally. Rubble has told me several stories about you. From cop pup to Greatest American Hero."
"Well, I don't know about that," laughed Chase, blushing.
"I don't know," said Margie. "I was in Cairo a few weeks ago and heard two military guys talking about this crazy US Army EOD Pup. Turned out it was you they were talking about."
"Wonder who that could have been?" laughed Chase. "I don't remember doing anything in Egypt."
"Um, didn't that mess in Jordan end up on the border," asked Rhonda.
"Oh, that's right," laughed Chase, he stopped, "Uh sorry, were they talking about a building explosion?"
"They just said the pup walked into a burning building and then ran out carrying a pup over each shoulder as the building collapsed or exploded, something like that." said Margie.
"Tracer and Pablo," laughed Rhonda.
"Stupid dogs," laughed Chase. "Ok, ok so we had a call for stolen ordnance. We found it and those two went in to secure it. They moved the boxes like I told them not to. The package was boobytrapped and lucky for them when it went off the person that set the trap didn't know what they were doing. It set everything on fire in the room and they both fell back screaming. I thought it had actually hurt one of them and ran in."
"As I yelled at him to park his ass," laughed Rhonda. "But oh no, Captain America here had to go save his puppies."
"Anyway," laughed Chase. "I ran in and grabbed both of them and turned to run out. The ordnance detonated about the time I hit the front door. Impressed the locals, scared the hell out of me and the guys."
"Yeah, he spent a week letting everyone believe it went just like he planned," laughed Rhonda.
"So you were in Cairo," said Chase, "what exactly do you do?"
"I'm a large project architect," said Margie. "I met Rubble on a Multi-level Condo project in Chicago. My firm is building a 30 story condo building there. I designed it."
"Cool," said Chase. "So simple house plans are boring I guess. Rubble, we can discuss the house later. Let's just visit."
"Actually," said Margie, "I draw house plans for relaxation. I gave Rubble some ideas."
"Really," said Skye, "I can't wait to see them."
Everyone sat down and looked over some of the suggestions and Chase and Skye decided they liked a couple with only a few suggestions. They were amazed at the designs and ideas Margie had come up with.
The pups enjoyed dinner together and later retired to their bedrooms. Rubble and Margie decided to stay with Marshall and Everest for the evening.