Jeffrey Hauser could not decide if he was angry, upset, scared or worried. A turmoil of emotions flowed within his head. He guided his Sky Striker carefully, as he entered the country's air space. It had been hours after his wife's trickery that he was shaken awake by his mother, who had deep concern in her eyes. There had been a Cobra battle and he had missed it which had resulted for someone to search for him! Once awaken, he noticed one thing missing. His wife! Panic set in and he began to search the base. All the Joes began to search for the missing pilot! However, nobody could locate Sky Dancer, not even Apollo! And that sent him into pandemonium.
Spades believed that he thought he saw Sky Dancer near the Sky Strikers before the battle and that is where Jeffrey raced too, discovering that her Striker was missing! He then ran to the control room, where Breaker tried to track down the striker but to no avail! And he had kicked himself, knowing she had likely used the trick he had taught her years ago. With his parents at his side, the search became wide spread. He watched his father take command of his team, setting up search parties, barking orders and even calling Sky Dancer himself! He had never seen his father more livid and worried at the same time!
What happened? ran through his thoughts. Was she captured? Was she hurt? What possible reason possessed her to take a Striker, unauthorized, and leave the base in the middle of the night! And why did she leave? Why did she leave him? Why did she leave their baby? She was happy, right? Right? But something deep down caused his stomach to twist in knots. Something had been bothering her lately and once again she kept it hidden. Why did she always do that! A growl escaped his throat. Was that the reason she had used the sleeping pills once again on him? To avoid the conversation?
"Damn it, Reena!", he muttered.
At the moment, all he wanted to do is find her, safe and in his arms and then he would let loose the mother of all yells! He had thought over and over what he was going to say to her on the way to Greece. A smile crept on his face, Sky Dancer had done a small but critical mistake! She had left the communication channel open when she landed the Striker. Duke had placed Breaker and Comp. Link to search every air traffic and all air frequency channels! When Breaker jumped off of his seat, locating the missing Striker and it led to her home country!
Moments later, he had boarded his own Striker and headed off, following his wife's direction. Flint had contacted the military base in Athens informing them of Kastor's visit. It had been hours of flying and the sun had reached the middle of the sky when land came to focus and soon he found himself flying near the capital city.
"Identify," came a voice from the air traffic tower.
"Sergeant Hauser, G. ," Jeffrey answered. He hoped he would be allowed to land! This wasn't his first visit to the base. The first time, he was on a special mission for Flint, to retrieve some of Sky Dancer's mother's recipes!
"Permission to land, Sergeant Hauser," came from the radio.
"Roger. Copy."
Within minutes, the striker decelerated, wheels out and in moments, landed on the base's runway. He guided the Sky Striker to the end of the airstrip and slowed down near the hangar at the end of the base. Immediately, he spotted her Striker and parked next to it!
"You are so busted, Mrs. Hauser," he muttered once again, exiting the plane and glancing about to the soldiers around him who were staring in astonishment of a second G.I. Joe Sky Striker on their base!
He went to take a step forward, toward the main building when a voice called out his name.
"Jeffrey!"
Kastor turned and noticed a short plump young blonde haired woman emerging from the crowd and immediately recognized her! Elena! His wife's childhood friend whom was introduced at their wedding and also was the person who had given him the copies of Sky Dancer's mother's recipes!
"I did not expect to see you here!" Elena said surprised with a welcoming embrace.
"Me either, " he answered, his lips in a tight thin line and a deep frown.
Elena took a step backward and glanced at him confused.
Kastor raked a hand through his hair and answered his wife's friend before she even had a chance! "Reena is here."
"Reena is here?" Elena glanced about, trying to locate her friend. "Where?"
Jeffrey gently took hold of Elena's arm and guided her away from the audience. "That is what I don't know!", he admitted in a hushed tone, so no other ears caught their conversation.
"What!?"
He sighed and explained the entire situation. "Breaker traced down her Sky Striker here! Do you have any idea why she is here or where she could be?", he asked, trying to conceal the panic in his heart.
Elena shook her head. "I was not even aware! But the only place I know where she could be is…"
"Her home!" They both finished simultaneously with the same conclusion.
"I'll take you there! It's the only way!" Elena motioned for him to follow her. "My father is off base," she explained, "There is a situation at the Limani, the ship yard and most of the team is there!"
They hurriedly ventured to the parking lot, and Elena led him to her Toyota Yaris. From his emotional state, Jeffrey barely glanced at the scenery while Elena drove. The knot inside him twisted and turned, he could feel that something wasn't right! And his worry grew in fear for his wife's safety. Suddenly, the car stopped, jolting Jeffrey out of his thoughts. They both got out of the car and headed for the front door. He was about to knock and try the door handle when Elena's voice cut him off.
"Wait! Don't go in!"
He turned to her perplexed, watching her stand to the side of the wall and open a panel, revealing a computer system. He watched her enter a code and then place her hand on the panel before he heard a click on the door.
Elena then turned to him. "Security."
He nodded and then charged into Sky Dancer's house. He entered the foyer and glanced around, noticing that most of the house was in darkness.
"REENA!," he bellowed at the top of his lungs, his voice echoing in the empty estate, hoping his wife would answer. But only silence greeted him and not the long haired brown eyed pilot he wished to see, take her in his arms and then give her one of the most lengthly scolds she ever encountered!
He glanced back quickly to Elena who also was looking around. "I'll check upstairs, you check downstairs, find anything, holler!"
Elena nodded and began searching the downstairs rooms and backyard.
Panic rose to his throat as Kastor took the stairs two at the time, praying that she was somewhere in the house asleep!
"Reena!" He cried once more as he entered a room to his left and found himself in a cream colored bedroom with stuffed animals and other toys. A few dolls were placed on a shelf and a wooden desk sat near a window with other trinkets and he instantly knew that his was Sky Dancer's childhood bedroom but no wife in sight! He then continued on, finding another bedroom and he noted it was likely her parents', then another and then a door slightly ajar caught his attention down the hallway.
Jeffrey slowly opened the door and flickered on the light and his heart jumped to his throat from the scene before him. He took one step, his eyes glued to the floor and his heart hammering in his chest. "Oh my God.." , he heard himself whisper. There, on the floor, were locks of hair, and he knew by heart whose they belonged too! His wife! Sky Dancer's hair! But the thing that made his heart nearly stop was the small droplets of dried blood!
"Elena!" he cried out to signal the friend that he found something.
What happened? What the hell happened? And he had no answers! He looked all around the bathroom, hoping to find any other clue but taking a step back, his foot kicked on something and he glanced down to spot a pair of scissors. He kneeled to the ground, picking up one of the long locks of hair. His entire body felt numb.
They had to find her! What happened to her? He quickly pulled out his phone and dialed his father. Duke! He needed Duke! But on the third ring, it was his mother's voice that answered.
"Mom!" Jeffrey cried out in panic, "Where's Dad?!"
Scarlett answered from the other end, "Did you find Reena?", her tone filled with concern.
He glanced down once again to the lock of hair grasped within his hand before he answered, "No! Her hair is here but not her!"
"What do you mean her hair is there but not her?" Scarlett's tone changed dramatically.
"That is what I'm telling you! Her hair is here! But I can't find Reena!", he managed to choke out. He began to explain everything when he heard a gasp behind him and knew that Elena had noticed the scene before them.
Sounds echoed on the other end and he knew his mother was already at his father's office and talking. Within seconds his father's voice came on, "Don't touch anything! Get out of the house and stay out until the Squadron I send arrives!"
"There is no time, Dad!" Jeffrey nearly yelled at his father. "I've got to find her! It will take hours for the Joes to even get here!" Before the general could respond to his son, Jeffrey shut the phone and turned to Elena, who was in tears. "We need to find her!"
"Yes, " Elena tearfully said. They rushed down the stairs and into the streets and he watched Elena reactivate the security.
"Where could she be?" Jeffrey asked the unknown.
Elena placed a hand on his shoulder. "There is a park we used to go when we were kids. I'll head that way! You can go this way." She pointed to the other side and down the road. "She may have gone that way to the cafe!"
"Call if you find her!" Jeffrey requested and began to walk at a quick pace down the road. He passed by houses, some kids playing on the street, he passed by a bakery and a few more shops, but still no sign of Sky Dancer!
He was passing by a long wrought iron fence with white statues behind them and he instantly halted. He turned his head, his eyes searching and found himself outside of a cemetery! Something inside him made him locate the entrance and walk toward a small little church. At the same moment, a Greek Priest exited the little dwelling and greeted him in Greek!
"Do you speak English?" Jeffrey asked, praying that the elderly man did.
The priest rose his hand and placed two fingers almost together. "A little."
Trying to determine how he could ask if the older man had seen his wife, he took out a photograph from his wallet and showed him. "Her! Have you seen her?"
The greek priest looked closely at the he turned toward the northern end of the cemetery. "That way, my child."
With hope in his heart, Jeffrey walked at a quick pace down the rows of graves, their white stones, filled with photos, candles and flowers honoring loved ones. He glanced left and right, but he could not spot any glimpse of the person that held the other half of his heart. He saw an old lady, talking to a grave, another of a woman with her little daughter placing flowers at another and then he spotted a woman, with long brown hair, identical to his wife's and he rushed to her, turning her around to face him and his crystal blue eyes met scared blue ones. Apologizing to the woman, he continued on, passing another woman with short hair, sitting on a stone bench in between two elegant graves and he suddenly stopped short.
He slowly turned, his gaze focused on the woman. Was that his wife? And his heart leaped! He wanted to charge right at her, grab her by the arms and let all of his emotions out at once! He wanted to stare right into her eyes and ask her that one word that was on the tip of his tongue. Why?
In two strides, he was behind her, knowing that she had not felt his presence as her own gaze was downcast, staring at the graves, and her silent tears almost ripped him in two. He closed his eyes for a mere moment to gain back his composure and wished more than anything to scream and shout but he didn't. Instead, he leaned over and wrapped his arms around her, hearing her surprised gasp come close to his ear, and closed his eyes, relief floating out his soul that he found her alive.
Jeffrey slowly sat down on the bench with Sky Dancer, his arm wrapped around her shoulder protectively. Waiting, allowing her to take the lead, allowing her to take the time to mourn and he giving her all the time she needed. They sat in silence, each within their own thoughts, until they both stood up.
He looked down at her, his expression changing and he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her down the path, out of the cemetery, and toward her house. He remained in silence, the questions whirling in his mind, making him almost mad.
He guided her back to the house, while he pulled out his phone and called Elena informing her that he located Sky Dancer. Elena must had understood from the tone of his voice and informed him that she would go grab them all something to eat and she will arrive later at the house to check on them. He felt his wife stiffen while they briskly walked back to the house, his tight grip never leaving her arm.
At the house, he allowed her to unlock the security and the door had not fully closed as he pulled her straight into the salon, turned her around, looked straight into her brown eyes and asked that one question.
"Why?"
Sky Dancer looked up at his eyes that were filled with anger and concern but her voice had retreated to the depths of her throat.
Frustrated, Jeffrey placed both of his hands on her arms, and looked down at her before his emotions exploded.
"Why did you leave me? Why did you leave our baby?", he began, his tone filled with anguish. Receiving no answer, he continued, his voice louder. "You left with the intention of not even returning! Why?!"
He took a long breath before he continued.
"You took a Striker! Without permission! And the entire base was searching for you!" He noticed her close her eyes and wince. "And you keep hiding secrets again! Why you keep doing this to us? Damn it, Reena. Answer me!"
Sky Dancer looked up at his heartbroken features. "I'm sorry, Jeffrey. I didn't imagine it will come down to all this."
"How can we be a team when you don't even let me in! And you know this isn't the first time you hid things from me! It hurts me! And it hurts me to see you like this!" Jeffrey exclaimed, his eyes turning dark and hard.
She touched his chest gently, her hand just above his heart, feeling the rhythm. "I planned to return. I want to return, I never wanted to leave you or our son behind. You both belong in my heart."
Jeffrey once again asked in a calm and controlled voice, "Then why all this secrecy? Something is bothering you and you won't even share it with me!"
Sky Dancer heaved a sigh. "I wanted to tell you, I really did, but I couldn't." Her gaze lowered to her hand on his chest.
He touched her chin and tilted her head upward to lock once again with his eyes. "Why?"
"Because, I was ordered not to say anything," Sky Dancer slowly released.
"By whose orders? Not my father's and I am certain not Flint's!" Jeffrey exclaimed.
Sky Dancer remained silent for a mere moment before answering, "By someone from the Embassy."
Jeffrey's eyes narrowed. "By whom and why?"
Again, she let out a breath before she answered him, "By the top and the reason is that they need some documents from my father's work."
"And I am going to ask again. Why?"
"Because, if I did not hand over the documents, something would happen to someone I loved, " she admitted, lowering her eyes, avoiding his which had grown wide.
"Did they threaten you? Did they threaten something to happen to me?" Jeffrey demanded.
"Not you," Sky Dancer answered in a small voice.
"C.J?" Jeffrey slowly released, watching his wife turn pale. "But why didn't you come to me and we could had worked together on this! You placed yourself in danger!"
"I wasn't in danger, they needed me to get to the documents," Sky Dancer explained to him. "But something deep inside me doesn't feel right. I don't feel right to hand over my father's life's work."
Jeffrey looked at her puzzled. "Why do they need your father's work?"
"From what I was told, my father's work contains information on The Big Fish, he is a criminal mastermind here and has avoided authorities for decades! He is one of the top imports and exports of weapons in the country."
"And they believe what information your father has, may lead to his capture?"
Sky Dancer shrugged. "I don't know!", she said frustrated. "But the thing is, I don't even know if I will be able to retrieve the documents they need! My father kept his work well hidden in a secret room and I may not even remember how to find it!"
Jeffrey placed his hand over hers, which had not left his chest. "Then we will find it together and we will take the documents to the Embassy ourselves and we won't leave until they are back in your hands."
"Together." Sky Dancer agreed, feeling his lips capturing hers.
Breaking the kiss, he added, "Now, let's complete this mission." And with a smirk he added, "And don't think you escaped punishment that easily."
Sky Dancer's eyes widened but nodded. "All right." She took his hand with hers and led him out of the salon and headed toward the back end of the house, right in front of the two closed wooden doors. She stared at the doors, as memories surfaced from the past and a tearful sigh escaped.
She then placed her hands on the doors and rolled them open, each section disappearing within the walls. Her eyes blinked, finding the room dark and eerie. "My father's study."
He went to enter the darkened room when he was abruptly stopped by her arm across his chest.
"Wait," came the command.
"Why?"
"Because I don't want to become a widow," was the answer.
Jeffrey blinked and glanced over at Sky Dancer, who signaled him to remain in place. He watched her look around the room, from side to side before counting the bookcases that lined the walls of the room before taking a slow step inside and mold her body against the wall. Mesmerized, he watched her slide sideways against the wall until she reached the edge of the room, send him a nervous smile and then lowered herself to the floor and slowly maneuvered her body passed a few more bookcases. He then saw her stop for a second, her face in concentration, as his eyes tried to adjust to the darkness.
He heard her say something in Greek as if she was talking to herself and he watched her slowly rise on her knees, before her hand reached toward a book on the third shelf of one of the bookcases in the middle of the room. He heard a click and a sigh of relief.
Sky Dancer turned toward him, fully standing up and cross the room, switching on the lights. "You can come in now, it's safe. I was lucky, I just could not remember which bookcase it was."
He stared at her in surprise. "You mean you could had died?"
"Probably."
"Reena!"
Sky Dancer sent him a reassuring smile before she kissed him. "Now the only thing is for me to remember is how to open the secret door." She turned around, glancing around the room itself, mostly filled with bookcases and at each corner of the room was a pedestal with a statue placed. She noticed the statue of Eros at the corner of the room, his bow and arrow aiming for the bookcase to its side. She remembered something her father had mentioned once about the statue but her memory failed her. She also spotted the round corner table, where she used to hide and a few more memories surfaced.
She walked to the middle of the room, walking around her father's desk and sat down on the leather chair, looking around, seeing his retro computer as if it was waiting its owner to open it and begin another case. She closed her eyes knowing that this would never happen again. Then she trailed her hands around the edges of the desk's drawers, underneath the desk and to its side, searching for any buttons to reveal any hidden compartment but found nothing.
She closed her eyes, to concentrate deeper within her memories. She was overlooking something but did not remember what! A memory surfaced of her father holding an old silver key, it was long and dark. Another memory came to focus and she leaped out of the chair, causing her husband to stand on alert.
"Help me lift the desk!" Sky Dancer requested and in seconds, she felt Jeffrey near her side. "Lift this end, " she instructed to him, pointing to the left side of the furniture.
He nodded, placed both hands underneath the edge of the heavy desk and slowly lifted, being careful not to cause anything on the desk to fall over.
"Stop!" Sky Dancer lowered herself to the ground, taking hold the desk's short left leg and slowly twisted it to unscrew and come off. She then took hold of the leg, turned it around and a key fell to her hands. "I found it!" She then quickly screwed back the leg back into place before Jeffrey placed down the desk.
She stood up and once again glanced around, until she spotted a red thick book on one of the bookcases near the Eros statue. She walked over, and slowly removed the book from the bookcase revealing a hidden wooden panel behind, she opened the panel and which revealed a key hole. "I think I found it!"
Jeffrey nodded, watching the pilot now place the key and a click came heard within the room and suddenly the bookcase in front of them began to move, enter the wall and slide behind another, revealing a secret door behind the bookcase. "Is that the secret room?"
Sky Dancer nodded stepping in front of the door, Jeffrey right by her side. She placed her hand on the door but did not open it, as if something held her back, not wanting to even enter her father's sacred place.
"Go on, Ree," Jeffrey encouraged her, knowing that this was difficult for her.
"Yes, Ree. Go on, " came a male voice behind them.
Sky Dancer and Kastor gave each other a quick glance before they slowly turned and noticed Dimitri at the entrance of the study, with his cunning smile and in his hand, holding a gun, aiming at both of them.
"How did you get in here?" Jeffrey managed to say, stepping in front of his wife, protecting her.
Dimitri simply snickered. "The door was opened, so I let myself inside."
Jeffrey mentally kicked himself, he must had not fully closed the front door which gave the perfect opportunity for the man to enter the home! "What do you want?"
"Obvious, isn't it?" Dimitri sent them a cold smile. "Whatever is hidden behind that door. Those documents! Your noisy father uncovered some information of mine that needs to be destroyed."
Jeffrey heard Sky Dancer's gasp and felt her edge closer to him, getting into position.
"No sudden moves and you might come out of this alive," Dimitri sneered with his arm stretched out and the gun pointing directly to Kastor's heart. "I know you, Koukla. One move and he will meet a silver bullet."
Sky Dancer held her breath, knowing he was deadly serious. Even if Dimitri got the documents he wanted, he would still kill both of them. From the corner of her eye, she realized that both she and Jeffrey were in-between the Eros statue and the arrow pointing toward the bookcase. She closed her eyes, concentrating on a forgotten memory. "Think, Reena! Think!" Her mind screamed.
"Turn around and open it," Dimitri commanded to Sky Dancer, the gun still aimed at Kastor, gesturing for her to unlock the door.
Turn it! That's it! Her thoughts cried out.
Sky Dancer cleared her throat, getting Kastor's attention. Dimitri without knowing reminded her of the statue's secret! "It's voice activated."
"Then say it!" Dimitri demanded in a menacing tone. He took a step forward, his aim remaining on Kastor's heart.
She quickly glanced toward Jeffrey to be ready and secretly sent him a hand signal for the lie down command.
"PLATZ!"
Sky Dancer quickly turned the Eros statue toward Dimitri and dropped down to the floor, close to her husband, covering their heads when they heard the gun go off and the stray bullet passing over their heads, hitting the wall. A sudden cry filled the air before a thump followed and then silence.
She shakily stood up and walked over to the fallen comrade, the person her family valued as a dear friend and stared down at his open eyes, the pool of blood emerging from underneath him and the arrow that had penetrated his heart. She swallowed and felt herself at a loss, continuing to stare at the man, that she knew since childhood.
Jeffrey leaped off the ground seconds after his wife. He grabbed her arms, finding her face ashen and in shock and slightly shook her. "Ree, snap out of it! Reena!"
Sky Dancer blinked and stared right into Jeffrey's eyes, then down to Dimitri's lifeless eyes before she glanced once again to her husband and quickly shook her head. She then took a step back, turning around and placed the key back into the hidden panel, hiding the secret door. She then took out the small communication device from her pocket and clicked a button. "Dimitri is dead."
It could not had been ten minutes before the entire house became filled with agents, one taking the man's pulse, another ushering both Sky Dancer and Kastor to the other room and the rest beginning a clean up. Then one of the agents came up to Sky Dancer and informed her. "Yianni is on his way." Before he turned and went back into the study.
"Yianni?" Jeffrey asked to his wife.
"Greek Duke," Sky Dancer answered.
"Oh crap!" Jeffrey managed to say.
And within minutes, Yianni entered the house, his white hair and beard and his eyes ablaze. He strode over straight to Sky Dancer and Kastor and took hold of Sky Dancer's elbow. "Excuse us," he said in a thick accent, leading Sky Dancer away and toward the dinning room and rolled the door closed behind them.
Jeffrey listened to them having a very colorful conversation, however, he could not understand a word of it! He heard Yianni's loud angry voice and closed his eyes. His wife was surely going to prison! Maybe they both were! Minutes, which seemed like hours passed and his ears caught sound of the door and they both emerged, Yianni resembling a tomato and his wife white like snow. Yianni escorted back Sky Dancer to Jeffrey's side, gave him a short nod and then headed for the study.
"Reena?", he softly whispered, seeing her in such a shaken state. He carefully placed his arm around her shoulder and guided her to sofa, making her sit down.
It must had been half an hour with people entering and leaving the house, as word had spread. But before long, the last person that remained was Yianni who said something to Sky Dancer in Greek, before he closed the door behind him.
Jeffrey wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, allowing her to lean against him and hold her hand in his. He was there for her as he would always be. She was part of him and knowing how close he came to lose her made him shudder and held her tighter.
Suddenly, his phone rang and they both glanced to one another before he checked the caller and gulped. It was his father! But before he could answer, his father's voice echoed in the room.
"Did you find her?"
"Yeah, Dad," Jeffrey answered, "Reena is here with me." He sent her a reassuring smile.
"Let me talk to Sky Dancer," Duke's authoritative tone echoed and they both knew the conversation would not be pleasant.
"Dad," Jeffrey tried to explain, "I don't think this is a good time."
"Now! She is heading for court martial for this!" From the corner of his eye, Jeffrey noticed Sky Dancer wince before the color drained from her beautiful features.
He took two steps away from his wife, and lowered his voice. "Dad, listen, there was a situation here." As best as he could, he informed his father everything that had occurred and he heard the General curse and growl under his breath.
"Are you both all right? Is anyone hurt?" Duke's tone changed.
Jeffrey closed his eyes before answering, knowing that Duke may lose his top from what he was about to say, "Someone was killed."
"Who was killed?" came the demand from the other end.
"A greek agent," Jeffrey explained and listened to his father curse on the other end.
"Damn and Blast!" Duke bellowed. "Stay put! The squadron I sent are almost there. You are both coming back to base right now!" Before the line went dead.
Jeffrey shook his head and placed the phone back in his pocket. He walked over to Sky Dancer, sat next to her and pulled her in a tight embrace.
"I am so getting court marshaled," Sky Dancer mumbled, closing her eyes.
Jeffrey rubbed her arm gently, "Whatever happens, we will go through with it together."
Sky Dancer nodded, squeezing his hand. "Together."
He glanced around the room, noticing some photos on one of the furniture pieces in the room and instantly spotted the photos of himself, Sky Dancer and their child. He glanced down at his wife.
"Not the Valentine's Day I had planned," Jeffrey claimed but before Sky Dancer responded, he swallowed her words with his kiss. And who knew that Cupid could kill.