"You wanna go a couple rounds?"

She offered a nod to Jay, then looked at Chris. "Clever. I've never heard that before." She rolled her dark eyes.

He shrugged his shoulders, completely oblivious of her sarcasm. "I am an original."

"Keep telling yourself that, Sport."

"I'll do that, Sugar." He grinned to himself and retook his seat in front of his computer.

Stone cleared his throat, "By all standards this woman should be an Army Ranger. She did every requirement besting most of their men." He cut a look to Chris. "Dris." Warning tone.

"What? I'm a civie." He knew when he was pushing his luck with the Bossman and decided to shut up before he was in over his head.

"Christian, she could rip your head off, is what I am saying if you'd listen."

Jay went to stand near a window, rifle at the ready, to watch for any intruders or nosebags.

"Yeah, okay, I get it. I'll shut up now."

Rocky smirked at that, and leaned back. "So this is the team you mentioned, Sir?" To which Stone nodded.

Jay nodded a polite but silent greeting at Rocky.

Chris pouted a little and tapped his fingers against the top of his laptop, boredom starting to set in.

"A professional, and a pouter. So far so good, Sir." She smirked as Chris sulked.

If things didn't get interesting soon, he was gonna plug himself in. This was Stone's gig really, not his. It didn't really matter what he thought. He was just there because he was part of the team. "I'm not a pouter."

"No?" She stuck her bottom lip out at him, "Okay, sugar."

"Just what this team needs. Another smart ass."

"This is the team, and we have a need of your skills, as well. Jay is the man at the window, Dris, Christian Chris Driscoll is our Comms, I'm the lead, and now you are what we were missing."

"Jose, can you see." Chris introduced Jay, whose real name was Jose Enrique Filipe Rodriguez. It was a mouthful, so they just called him Jay.

"Good." She nodded as she looked around. "I hope this isn't our regular gig. Hotter than hell in here."

Jay glared at Chris. He'd beat his ass later.

"Can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,? Chris muttered.

She turned and looked Chris over a bit. "You'd belong in the kitchen long time before I would."

He grinned up at Rocky. His shirt was soaked, beads of sweat running down his face. "Wanna come over for dinner?"

"Calm down, Romeo. You aren't my type."

"Oh, yeah? What's your type?"

"Not you."

"I bet it's female."

"You wish."

"I could get into a little two on one action."

"Damn sure isn't blond and cocky." Then she rolled her eyes. "Find some bimbo to drool over."

Jay was shaking his head and rolling his eyes.

"I'm not cocky!"

"The hell you aren't," Jay muttered.

"Right." She turned back to Stone. "Sorry."

"I'm not," he muttered under his breath. Blond, yes, but cocky? "What's the matter with blond anyway?"

"Driscoll just got his own place, out of his mother's basement." Stone chuckled as he said it. "So he thinks that's in his favor."

"Don't know, hotshot, go find one and you tell me." She said to Chris.

He narrowed his eyes at Stone, more at the mention of his mother than anything else. He moved to his feet. "Too damned hot in here. I'm gonna get some air."

"So he's finally growing up?" Rocky asked as she looked over at the man again. She did see him as attractive but she wasn't going to admit that. Something about his eyes, even behind the glasses. "It's just me." She said and grinned.

"Get over yourself. I wouldn't date you if you were the last chick on Earth." He moved toward the door. "And I wasn't drooling."

"That's when I'd decide I was gay, if I was left alone on this planet with you."

Jay piped in as Chris moved past. "You were, amigo, just a little."

She chuckled hearing Jay.

"Why don't you just get all the insults out of your system now so we don't have to waste time later. That would mean I cared, and I don't."

"No? Then why'd you start it?" She shifted gears and turned a corner according to the map.

"Start what?"

He leaned over to show her the map, pointing to the road they were supposed to head toward, and instructing her how to get there.

"Commenting about make up, my sex, my choice in not just fawning over you." She swatted the map away. "I saw where we are going."

It was about two hours to Jacksonville, and he didn't feel like exchanging insults the entire way there.

"So, you stop... I will stop, deal?"

"Okay, Sarge. Do it yourself then." He leaned back in the seat, crossed his arms against his chest, and closed his eyes. If she thought she was so smart and didn't need his help, he wasn't going to give it to her.

"Stop what?" he asked, eyes still closed.

"Sergeant Major." She corrected. "Stop referring to me like I'm supposed to worship you cause I have tits. Your boss came to me."

"I never said anything about you worshipping me." He pried an eye open to look at her. "Some frat boy with blond hair break your heart or something? Cause I'm sensing a little chip on your shoulder."

"Chip? MY chip is the fact people think I can't do my job based on being a woman." Another shift of gear.

"I never said that. I'd bet you didn't make Sergeant Major by kissing someone's ass."

"That's an understatement."

"You think I'm less of a man because I don't wear any stripes?"

"Never said that, Hotshot."

"Chris."

"Chris." She echoed.

"So..." He opened his eyes and glanced over at her. "What made you wanna go into the military, if you don't mind my asking?"

"My uncle." She dodged a pothole and took a corner a little too fast. "He was a Ranger, damn good too. Taught me a lot of stuff." She looked at him, "How'd you wind up with the other two?"

He reached out to steady himself as the Jeep swerved to avoid the pothole. He shifted his gaze to look out the side window. What she really wanted to know what how a guy like him had ended up in a team with a couple of ex-military hotshots. "Long story."

"Long ride." She grinned then. "Give me the Reader's Digest."

"Not that long." He shrugged. "Stone got me out of some hot water when I was a kid. Offered me a job. I took it." That was the really short version.

"Seems he likes the trouble makers."

"I was headed for trouble. He helped me get my shit together."

And another swerve, causing the Jeep to fishtail. "Cool."

He grabbed onto the dash, looking over his shoulder at the road. "You trying to make me car sick?"

"Hey, man... if you are gonna puke, let me know, I'll stop."

"I'm not gonna puke. What do you mean Stone likes troublemakers?

?Good, cause if you puke, I'm gonna puke. Means he pulled me outta the brig." Turns the wheel and down shifts as they start downhill. "Striking a senior officer."

"Were you headed for a court martial?"

"For what I did to him, yes."

"Him. The real question is what did he do to you?"

She just smiles then. "Long story."

He looked over at her again, taking a good hard look, trying to look past her appearance and see her for who she really was inside. "Long ride."

She took another turn to the right, and grabbed his arm to keep from falling from the seat Surprised to find him pretty solid. She lingered there a little longer than necessary, then put her hand back to the shifter. "First he told me that I couldn't get into the Ranger's program."

He offered her a friendly smile, maybe the first genuine smile since he'd met her.

"Secondly, he was sleeping with one of my friends, my best friends."

He reached out with a hand to steady her.

"And about six other girls."

"Isn't that against the rules?"

She flipped the radio on and started seeking a classic rock station, again not watching the road. "What are you, a tree hugger?"

"Pull over."

"For what?" She looked in the mirror for cops, then kept on trucking.

"I said fucking pull over!"

"Look at that cliff on your side there, you wanna negotiate that kinda fall?"

"You saying I can't drive now?"

She slammed on the brakes, in the middle of the road. "What?" She turned and glared at him.

"I want to get to Jacksonville alive, so pull the? god damned car over." A pause in the middle of the sentence as she stopped the car in the middle of the road.

"Should'a stopped back there and let you go tumbling down the hill. And it's a Jeep." She said as snarky as she possibly could.

"Why don't you do that and then you can explain to Stone where I am when you get there. Oh, I'm sorry, I was driving like a maniac and he sorta fell out."

"I'd tell him I was testing your outdoor survival skills. It's going to be raining in about half an hour. Getting dark about the same time, think you could live down there in the woods?"

"Listen up, Balboa. I've known Stone a lot longer than you have."

"Oh so we are having a pissing contest?"

"If you wanna have a pissing contest, I can piss a lot farther than you can."

"Not if you don't use your hands."

"Really? You wanna put that to the test? Gimme the keys." He held out his hand to her.

"Keep the tiny toy put away." She handed over the keys. "Ya big baby."

"Don't worry. At this rate, you'll never see it. It's more than you can handle." He closed his hand around the keys and got out of the jeep, moving around to the driver's side.

She snorted at that. "I was wrong, you are like other guys." She climbed into the passenger side then. "Ready when you are, Grandpa."

He climbed into the driver's seat and glared over at her. "You may have a death wish, but I don't."

"Nothing wrong with my driving." She folded her arms over her chest.

"Put your seat belt on."

She gave him a sharp salute. "Yes, Sir!" Then buckled her belt in place.

He did the same, then put the keys in the ignition, turned over the engine, and started back down the road, driving much more sensibly than her. Apparently, Stone had taught him a few things since taking him under his wing, and he wasn't as stupid as he appeared.

She leaned back in the seat, watching him out of the corner of her eye. He was attractive, and under other circumstances, he may have even been someone date-worthy. Time would tell what could happen. Could be something she felt in the pit of her gut like butterflies, or it could have been that can of boiled peanuts.

He knew how to drive a stick. It was one of the first things Stone had taught him. That and guns. He'd been the driver in the beginning, when Stone had tried to keep him out of harm's way.

He was quiet now, focused on the road. He didn't need to read the directions. He'd already looked at them and knew where he was going.

He had nice tone to his arms, he was tanned but not overly so, meaning that she assumed some of his time with Stone kept him outside as well. She reached over and pulled the sleeve of his sleeve up, checking for a "Farmer's Tan".

He'd left the beer over on the passenger side of the car. He didn't drink and drive. "What the hell are you doing?" he glanced over at her a minute.

"Checkin' you for a farmer's tan." She picked up his beer then, and drank it down.

She just happened to pull up the sleeve that exposed a tattoo against his right bicep.

She further helped him as he looked her way, pushing his glasses back up. "Nice ink...what is it?"

"I got that when I first joined the team. We all have one."

"Ah, so I'll have to get another tattoo." She said with a wide smile.

"It stands for unity. One for all and all for one. Or something. You know, like the Three Musketeers."

"Are you Porthos?"

"No, I..." Thoughtfully, furrowing his brows. He'd always seen himself as D'Artagnan, but he was the fourth musketeer. He wondered if that made him Aramis.

She just kept smiling, then continued with fixing the radio situation so they had some kind of Classic Rock. "Too much thought into it there, Chris."

He didn't really have an answer to that either, so he just kept driving, a serious look on his face. She was getting to him, and he didn't like it.

She patted his knee, like a friendly gesture, "Wake me when we get close."

He shifted his gaze over at her when she touched his knee, watching her get comfortable in the seat beside him. "Yeah, okay." He looked back to the road. He had about two hours to go until they reached their destination, and he had a lot to think about.

Jacksonville, FL
2002

She steps out of the small bathroom, pink Hello Kitty panties and a white tank top. "Hope you aren't shy, Chris." She said as she stepped over to the sink and started brushing her teeth. Her hair hung loosely past her shoulders, still dripping, but not much.

"Huh?" At the sound of her voice, he turned toward her, jaw dropping at her state of undress, his glasses almost falling off his face. "Oh, my god!" he breathed.

She turned to look at him, curious. "Hmm?" her mouth was foaming like a mad dog.
"What?" she asked after she rinsed her mouth out.

"I need a cold shower," he muttered and made a beeline for the bathroom.

She was amused as he passed her. "Don't wash it too fast, Stud." She giggled as she walked over to the bed and tested the mattress, finding it a bit soft, but the AC felt great. She moved her weapons to her duffel, the Eagle stayed under the pillow and the knife was moved to her boot that rested by the bed.

It suddenly felt like it was about 120 degrees in the room and his jeans were two sizes too small. He slammed the door shut behind him, taking deep breaths to try and calm himself down. Damn Stone. Was this his idea of a joke? Bastard. He was going to kill him for this.

She flipped the TV on, amused with the poor guy's suffering, she had to admit he was easy on the eyes, and pretty solid to boot. He was a good guy, and he hasn't tried to do anything to her as of yet. If things were different, she could easily be into him.

He caught his glasses and shoved them back up onto his nose, peering at his own reflection in the mirror. He paused a moment, listening to her moving around in the room outside the door. He turned sideways scrutinizing his own reflection. "Before. After." He pushed his stomach out and then in. Didn't have to worry about a beer belly anyway. He turned back to face the mirror, lifting a hand and breathing into it to check his breath. Smelled like beer. He didn't think she'd mind that. Or he could just brush his teeth. Crap. He frowned. Who was he fooling? She was way out of his league.

She surfed the channels until there was an old western on, and her eyes widened. "You are missing it, Chris!" She didn't hear water yet.

He sighed and pulled his shirt over his head, once again scrutinizing his own reflection. Not too shabby, he thought, but he wasn't sure if she'd agree. He heard her call his name and he called back. "Missing what?" Missing out on getting some, that's what, he thought.

"The Good, The Bad and The Ugly!"

He rolled his eyes. She wanted him to watch a spaghetti western with her? "The Ugly is getting in the shower, if you don't mind."

"God is on our side because he hates the Yanks!" then she's imitating Clint. "God is not on our side because he hates idiots too!" The last part emphasized for him.

He pulled his glasses off and set them on the sink, got undressed, leaving his clothes in a pile on the floor, and stepped into the shower. "If you call me Blondie, I'm gonna kill you!"

"How? Your gun is in here with me!" She giggled like mad then.

Was she giggling like a schoolgirl? He groaned. The sound of water running soon followed and a yelp from the bathroom as the cold water hit him.

"You see, in this world there's two kinds of people my friend: Those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig!" Yes, she was having too much fun with this now. But the movie was one of her favorites. The yelp caught her attention so she jumped up and rattled the door knob. "What is it? A little spider?" she was trying hard not to laugh.

"Don't come in here!" he yelled, a little panic in his voice. Did he just tell a beautiful girl not to join him in the shower? What the hell.

She cracked open the door, she knew he was in a panic. "You think I've never seen one of those?" She wasn't peeking, just trying to make him want a Xanax or tequila shots.

He'd never gotten this flustered around women before. What the heck was it about this one?

She snakes her hand around the door, continuing to mess with him.

He peered past the shower curtain, holding it tightly so that she couldn't see past, a tall silhouette behind it. "Get the hell out."

"I think all you have is a wash cloth to dry with. You are telling me to get out?" She sniffled. "Rejecting me?" Though she sounds pathetic, she's grinning like the devil.

"What?" His gaze darted toward the towel rack, squinting to focus his eyes.

She laughed then, unable to contain it.

"Go watch your movie and let me take a shower in peace, would you?"

The door closed but she was giggling back to the bed where she flopped and started watching the movie again.

"Jesus Christ," he muttered to himself when she left. She was part of the team now which meant she wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, if Stone had anything to say about it. What the heck had gotten into Stone that he'd decided to hire a girl for demos? He had a feeling nothing good would come of it.

Then she curses herself for not flushing the toilet while he was in the shower. Hot to cold in seconds, and she bet he would have hit notes like the Vienna Boys Choir. She'll remember that for next time.

He was already running cold, but a guy can only stand that for so long, and the cold water had done the trick, so he turned the heat up.

She's in there dancing to the main theme now. Even so far as the WAA was.

He finished up his shower in silent suffering as quickly as he could, hoping she wouldn't torment him anymore. He silently cursed himself for not locking the door. He wouldn't forget to do it the next time.

She heard the water stop so her dancing did as well, she fell back into the bed watching the movie.

He hadn't thought to bring fresh clothes into the bathroom with him, so he had no choice but to either put his sweaty clothes back on or wrap himself in a towel. He was not happy about either choice. He didn't have to worry about crap like this when he bunked with Jay or Stone. She was pretty cute though. Under any other circumstances, he would have wasted no time moving in for the kill.

He snagged a towel, grateful she'd been lying about that. A washcloth wasn't going to cover much. He dried himself off and snatched his jeans off the floor, holding them to his nose and wincing at the smell. No way was he putting those back on. He opted for a towel, hoping she wouldn't tease him about it.

She got up and messed with his bed a bit, just to make him think she did something, then jumped back in hers, looking innocent.

He wrapped himself in a motel towel, which barely fit his tall frame and shoved his glasses back onto his face before gathering up his discarded clothing, opening the door, and taking a peek out. Good, she was watching TV. If he was lucky, he could sneak over and get a pair of boxers out of his duffel before she noticed. He could ask her to do it for him, but he didn't feel like being further tormented.

She heard the door so she looked his way. "Do I need to hide my eyes?"

He was holding his dirty clothes in front of him, and that was all she could really see at the moment. "Only if you don't want to be dazzled by my manliness." Whoops. Mr. Manliness just dropped a boot.

She snorted at that. Dazzled, doubtful. Impressed...maybe. "You dropped something." Captain Obvious.

Yeah, way to be cool, Chris. "I'll get it later." He stepped over the fallen boot, afraid if he bent over, he'd lose the towel.

She wolf whistled at him. "Next time, I am leaving nothing but the wash cloth!"

He tried to ignore her and pretend she wasn't there as he crossed the room to his bed, dropping his discarded clothes on the floor and reaching for his duffel.

Hard to ignore her as she let out a whoop and another whistle. "Damn where's my wallet?"

"Not gonna be a next time. Next time you're getting your own room."

Her lip started quivering. Followed by a tear that ran slowly down her cheek.

"Stone did this on purpose." He tossed his duffel on the bed, unzipping it and rifling through it for a pair of boxers, facing her now, though not noticing that tear just yet.

She wiped at her nose with her hand and turned her head with a sniffle.

He heard her sniffle and looked over at her suspiciously.

She looked back his way, both eyes shrinkwrapped in tears. "You like hurtin' a girl's feelings?" Quivering lip and all.

"You okay?" he asked, a pair of striped boxers in one hand. "Are you crying?" he asked, dumbfounded.

She turns away from him again, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

"Oh, my god, first that and now this." He fumbled with the boxers, pulling them on beneath the towel, just in time, too, as the towel falls to the floor. "What are you crying about?"

Just points over her shoulder at him, never turning around.

"What did I do?" Incredulous again.

"You..." Sobbing here and there and catching her breath. "Don't like me, telling me that you are going to request your own..." More sobbing. "Bunk." Whimpered sobs.

He rolled his eyes. "Are you PMSing or something?" Heck, he had sister. He knew a little about stuff like that.

"You don't like me!" She wailed then.

He grabbed a plain white t-shirt out of his duffel and tossed it on over his head, feeling a little more comfortable now that he wasn't wearing just a towel. "I never said that!" Good grief. He wondered if Stone knew his new demolitions girl needed coddling.

"You wanted your own room, that means you don't like me." Crying harder then.

He sighed and crossed the room to take a seat beside her on the bed. "I like you just fine."

She turned a bit. "Not what you said."

He reached over to turn her chin to face him. "I never said that. I like you. It's just..." He frowned at her, looking into her eyes for maybe the very first time.

"Just what?" Another wipe of her nose with her hand.

He reached over and brushed the tears from her face, feeling more than a little awkward. "It's just that... you're... you know...

She clung to him in a hug then, but was peeking over his shoulder at the TV. "I'm what?"

He found himself clung to and he wrapped his arms around her awkwardly, feeling like he was going to need yet another cold shower before the night was over. "You know... a girl."

She had to admit he was firm, and he did smell nice and clean now, so she did enjoy that closeness. "Nice of you to notice, Champ. I hope you and the other guys don't have these moments,? she said quietly.

Oh, man. She was having an effect on him. She was soft and warm and smelled like... well, a girl. He arched a brow, only just now realizing that she had been playing him and he'd fallen for it, hook, line, and sinker. He'd even felt sorry for her and had tried to comfort her. Idiot.

With just a hint of her perfume. "Do something for me, Chris? And I'm serious."

He pulled himself away from her, looking a little wounded. "What?"

She let go of him a little reluctantly. "Please, listen. No matter what happens when we are on ops, do not let anyone use me against you."

He felt like she'd just made an ass out of him. Okay, that got his eyebrow going again. Was she serious or what? "What?" Shove of glasses up onto his nose, a nervous habit.

"Chris, please." She sighed, "I know I have been a ball buster, I'm the only girl in a family of four brothers, the youngest on top of that."

He shook his head, looking really confused now. First she had teased him, then she was crying, and now this?

"If something goes bad while we are on an op, in the field, don't be a hero. Don't let someone use me against you." She was looking him in those blue eyes, she knew he was confused, but she did love his eyes. "I'm sorry man. I was just showing you that things can happen, quickly, and if I'm caught, don't let them use me to their advantage, okay?"

"You want to be one of the guys?"

"I know you are a Civvie, I can respect that, but you are really a real man too. I know you care for Stone and Jay." She raised an eyebrow, "Can I be one of the guys in Hello Kitty? You are a great guy, I can usually read people pretty well. I just don't want you doing something crazy thinking you are or need to impress me, okay? You already have. All joking aside."

He wrinkled his forehead at her, still trying to figure out if she was serious or just playing him. He wasn't sure what to think. She was a total enigma to him. "I'm not gonna do anything stupid, if that's what you're worried about." He got to his feet, suddenly needing to put some space between them. He wasn't sure what was going on in her head, but he was starting to feel something he wasn't sure he wanted to be feeling.

"Chris, you are a gentleman, you have been since we met." She was watching him, her dark eyes shining with seriousness now. "Yeah you had your cracks, and I sometimes don't know when to shut up. I'm sorry, okay?" She stuck her hand out to him.

He glanced from her face to her hand and back, not really sure what she wanted from him. All he could think about was kissing her, wondering what her lips tasted like. If he tried, would she kiss him back? His body was betraying him again, and he was sore at Stone for putting him in this position.

"Just cause I'm a girl, don't think you have to watch your ass. I'll keep an eye on it for you." She winked but the hand remained.

"I can handle myself just fine, thanks."

"Yeah, but I meant watching your ass." She smirked then.

"You don't have to worry about me just because I'm not a soldier. I know how to take care of myself."

"You sure are slow for a smart guy." She stood and pressed her lips to his cheek.

That kiss wasn't helping matters one bit; all it was doing was confusing him further. What the hell did she want from him? Did she want to be one of the guys or what? Did she want him to pretend she was his sister?

"You fixing to run off? You look nervous as hell, man, sit down and talk. Say something, shit!"

He was quiet, not saying a word. He just looked at her a moment, as if trying to read her thoughts, figure her out, and then he just let his instincts take over. He leaned in, tilting her chin up to face him and dipping his head down to capture her lips. He wasn't thinking straight anymore. He was past thinking. She was either going to return his kiss or slap him and then he'd know exactly where he stood.

"I cross my heart. My uncle ain't..."She was cut off and surprised by the kiss. Her hand moved to the back of his neck and she nipped his lip, before returning the kiss. Truth be told she'd wondered how one like him might kiss. He was nervous around her and usually the nervous ones tried harder.

She hadn't discouraged him; in fact, quite the opposite, and he found his arms sliding around her waist to pull her close against him as he deepened the kiss. He was obviously not inexperienced in the ways of kissing.

She melted against him, the man had been practicing...or something. She kept the hand at the back of his head, while the other traced nails down his back.

His senses were on overload and if this didn't lead anywhere, he was going to need another cold shower. When he finally came up for air, he was breathless. "We should go to bed... to sleep." He quickly corrected himself, though he still had his arms wrapped around her and he was still staring into her eyes.

She lingered there, pressed against him, her breath was caught and she only silently nodded up at him. "Wow." Finally whispered.

He smiled, a little proud of himself. He'd gotten a wow out of her. It had been awhile since he'd gotten a wow out of a girl. "Yeah."

She only smiled at him then touched his face lightly. "Promise me." She was back to the same subject as before.

He frowned down at her. He was starting to feel something for her, but he wasn't sure what it was yet. There had been plenty of girls, but none he'd ever really felt a connection to. Well, there had been one, but it had ended badly. He knew he couldn't make a promise like that, but he nodded mutely anyway, just to make her happy.

"You gotta work on your lying." She smiled at him, a genuine smile.

"You gotta work on your crying.? He smiled back, tit for tat.

"I had you fooled." She traced his chest through his shirt...she herself would be needing a cold shower as well.

Her touch was enough to drive him mad, and he pulled himself away.

"Sorry." She said quietly as she sat back on her bed. "Been a long time."

"Better get some sleep, Balboa. Stone is gonna have us up early. I guarantee it."

She nodded to him. "G'night, Cheers. If you get cold, I have extra blankets." She winked at him then.

"Night, Rocky." He reluctantly left her side, tossing his duffel on a chair, setting his glasses beside his gun, and climbing into his own bunk. "I'll keep that in mind." He purposely turned his back toward her as he settled down for the night. It was going to be awhile before he fell asleep, knowing she was just a few feet away from him, her scent and the taste of her lips still lingering. Stone was going to hear about this.

She lay flat on her back, and then flipped the light switch off, leaving them in the dark. She stared at the darkness, wishing he was there with her, but respecting him for going to his own bunk.

"Here comes your crush." Stone snickered as he lifted his coffee.

The bell over the door jingled as Rock entered and made her way toward their table.

Jay followed Rocky into the diner, taking up the rear and making sure no one had followed.

Chris looked over at the door, watching Rocky approach a moment before pulling his eyes away and focusing his attention on his breakfast.

Jay went over to the waitress and placed his order. He was a man of habit and always had the same thing -- coffee black and a western omelette.

Rocky walks over to the table and sits down near Chris, and smiles to Jay, then Stone. "Morning Hotlips," She said to Chris.

Jay then joined them at the table, arching a brow as he overheard the Hotlips remark.

"Hello, Kitty," Chris replied, feeling a blush across his features.

Jay made no comment but was silently smirking.

"Sir," She said to Stone, whose eyes were widening, then Jay got a nod.

"Hotlips?" Stone was looking at Chris.

"Nothing happened," he insisted a little too defensively.

Rocky covered a laugh with a cough and picked up the menu. "He's a good kisser." She corrected.

Chris rolled his eyes and moved to get up from the table. "I've got work to do."

"Did I say something wrong?" Rocky looked at Stone, Jay, then Chris.

"Sit down, Romeo. We've gotta go over the plan," Jay scolded and took a sip of his coffee.

Stone now was clearly amused, watching Chris and waiting, then agreed with Jay. "Man when he talks, he makes a point."

Rocky ordered a cup of coffee from Red as she passed by, checking out Jay then, and then looked at the table as Stone pulled out a map of the area.

Chris glared at Jay, who was the closest thing to a best friend he had, the look promising an ass chewing later, but Jay only chuckled in amusement. Chris finished off his breakfast and pushed his plate aside, turning his attention to the map Stone was spreading out in front of them.

There were circles and coordinates drawn in, and Rocky was peering at the map, but smiling. She'd won this first round with Chris.

"Okay, we are here." Stone said as he pointed at the map. "Thirty miles to our North-West, there is a camp, believed to be terrorist training. Just like BCT, but geared for attacking us, instead of our enemies.

?Sons of bitches." Rock said as she listened.

"We are waiting on further recon and satellite images, but it's believed they are small in number as of now. We can hit them hard, fast, and take them out easy enough." Stone continued as he looked at them all.

Jay and Chris was silently listening, though Chris still found Rocky a distraction.

"Questions? Comments, Ideas?" Stone asked.

"Yeah, why us? Uncle Sam afraid to get his hands dirty?" That was Chris, always questioning everything.

"Dris...same shit every time?"

"Just asking, boss. Why do we always get the shit jobs?"

"We do this for the money, and for serving our Country. The 'Shitjobs' pay well, and would take Congress forever to approve military action on."

"Same old shit," he muttered. He didn't really mind doing the job, but he always got a case of nervous jitters just before show time.

Rocky nonchalantly ran her fingertips up Chris' knee under the table, while she listened, and added. "Sir, looking at the map you have, it seems obvious way in is from the North-East, the easiest way in. So I think we should come in from the South-West. Through the woods, possibly late night, early AM."

Stone was smiling, while listening.

Chris stiffened, straightening in his chair as he felt her touching his knee. Fortunately, he didn't squeal.

He flicked his eyes at Chris, then a nod to her. "Jay?"

"Cover of darkness," Jay agreed.

Rocky's hand crept a bit higher. She was dead set on torturing him.

"So we need to find elevation for Jay, or a nice climbing tree in the area, so he can keep eyes while Chris, Rock and I wander in. Light ordinance, frags, and smoke. Take what prisoners we can. Only fire, if fired upon."

Chris slid a hand beneath the table to catch Rocky's hand, swallowing hard.

"They come at us full auto, or vehicle assault, Jay's up. We want this done quickly, and then we..." He paused to look at Chris. "You sick, son? You are fidgety and red."

He needed to concentrate and she was distracting him. He glared over at Rocky. "I'm fine."

She tangled her fingers around his then, and smiled at Chris. "You aren't looking too good." Agreeing with Stone. "Like you are uncomfortable."

Jay had an inkling of what was going on and smirked, giving Rocky a nod to knock it off.

"I'm. Trying. To. Concentrate." Chris said, enunciating each word slowly.

Stone nodded, "So we turn them over to the law, and blow the camp. That's where Rock comes in."

Rocky grins at Jay then, and lets Chris' hand go to point at the map.

Chris glared at her a moment longer before turning to look at the map.

"Sir, I have ten pounds of c-four. Unless they are in concrete bunkers, it's enough to level the camp."

He was furrowing his brows as he listened to Rocky, trying to focus but feeling annoyed.

"I'll ruck it in, with the rest of my gear. I've got two of the shoulder fire grenades, for vehicles, and if worse comes to worse, I can make things at the camp." She smiled and leaned back in her chair.

"Show off."

Stone smiled, then looked at Chris. "Pardon me?"

"Did you tell her the rules?"

"Rules?"

"All for one and one for all? No heroes? There's no I in team? No one gets left behind? Any of that ring a bell?"

"Dris, you'll watch your tone with me. The hell's gotten into you?" Stone glared at him.
"I told you that this woman is a Ranger."

"Rambo here wants to go in gung ho. This isn't training camp, honey. This is the real McCoy. Anyone gets killed, it's for real."

"Remind me to introduce you to Jimmy sometime, Hotshot." Rocky glared at Chris.

"I'm not the hotshot! You're the hotshot!"

Stone looked at the pair of them, "Is this a fucking issue?"

"You here to prove something or to be part of the team?"

"Dris, apologize to her. She is adding to the team and formulating a plan that will hopefully not get someone killed."

"Just let her answer the question."

Stone slammed his fist into the table then. "Dris!"

Chris flinched and looked over at Stone.

"We agreed on the fourth to the team. She's the best qualified. You owe her an apology."

"You agreed,? Chris countered. ?If she's cocky and overconfident, she could get us all killed. I have a right to ask."

Stone looks at Rocky a moment. "Are you overconfident?"

Rocky just glared at Chris, then Stone spoke up again. "You, Jay and myself agreed we needed Demo."

Jay was watching all this quietly, interested in both sides of the coin.

Chris looked over at Rocky. "Just answer the damned question. When it comes down to it, are you gonna play the hero or do what's best for the team?"

"Sir, I am just suggesting a strategy, I am not over confident, I never try to underplay the enemy, I do not know what we are against, other than your intel given so far. I was suggesting, and Jay agreed a night attack, catch them by surprise, and take who we can alive, without getting someone killed. No man is left behind in the Rangers. I carry that motto with me, the same way I carried Jimmy from the field when she fell, Sir. I am part of the team, and I am sorry I bruised his ego." She jerked a thumb at Chris. "I am no hero." She said quietly.

"You didn't bruise my ego. Are we done here? I've got work to do."

"Sit your ass there until you apologize." Stone glared.

"Apologize for what? For worrying about getting killed?"

"The way you disrespected the lady that is now a part of our team. Pointing your finger at her, thinking she was being a showoff when she was talking about strategy."

"If she was a guy, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

"Like hell, remember apologizing to Jay? Just ?cause you felt he wasn't getting dirty enough?"

"I never said that!"

"All because me, you, and your precious laptop had to go through the mud while Jay watched a quarter mile out."

"We lose the laptop and we're screwed."

"Apologize." It wasn't a request... and his tone showed that.

He scowled again, pausing a moment and then blowing out a breath, he turned to Rocky. "Sorry."

"I am not feeling it." Stone growled.

"I apologize for calling you a showoff.?

"Thank you." Rocky said as she smiled at him.

He still thought she was one though. He didn't return the smile; in fact, he pouted.

"Okay, fall out, prepare, we are doing ground recon tonight."

"Great," he muttered. Ground recon was not his favorite thing.

"Rock, your package arrived this morning. It's in the back of the Thing." Stone said. "Meet here at fourteen hundred for lunch and more intel." He looked at Chris.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." He held up a hand to silence Stone. He knew what he was going to be spending the morning doing.

Rocky stood up and bounded out, practically running to the VW.

"Chris... you have to trust her," Matt said to Chris, after Rocky left.

Chris frowned over at Stone. "It's not that..."

"Then what is it, Son?" Stone's expression softened a bit.

"You should have hired a guy."

"Boy," He chuckled. "She beat out the guys I was thinkin' of hirin?."

He was starting to have feelings for her already, but he couldn't tell Stone that. And he knew his feelings could compromise the whole team.

"Wouldn't you rather have the best?"

"I'd rather have someone whose hands don't wander under the table when we're being briefed."

"Jay and I are going into Jackso..." He paused, then smiled. "You tellin' me you didn't like her touch?"

"Someone who doesn't wear Hello Kitty panties and kiss and tell."

"So now you are a Gentleman? Talkin? to the redhead about doin' it on the menu?" Stone grinned.

"You never did get that about me, did you, Matt?" He slid from the booth; he'd had enough talk.

"Get what?" He leaned back and motioned the waitress over for a refill.

"Never mind. I've got work to do." He was definitely acting moody the last few days, ever since she got there.

"It's gonna work out Dris. Look, Jay and I are going to Jacksonville for a few supplies, you need anything?"

"Condoms." Deadpanned.

"Cherry or Watermelon? Ribbed for her pleasure, or vibrating ring?"

Jay stifled a snicker behind a hand.

"Funny." Chris started toward the door.

"You said somethin' before about them... external hard drives, still need that?"

"Jay's got my list."

Jay took out a slip of paper and waved it around, as if to prove the fact.

"Jay knows the model, right?" He looked at Jay, and the list. "We are golden then." He smiled, "Son?" To Chris.

Chris frowned again and stopped in his tracks. He'd almost made it to the door. "Yeah?"

"You trust me, right?" Stone asked as he was looking at the kid's back that was the closest thing he had to a son.

He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. That was a loaded question, and they both knew it. "You already know the answer to that." There was no one he trusted more than Stone. "Can I go now?"

"Then trust me, that she's the best choice for this team, and cause yer mad at me, don't go takin? it out on the lady."

"I won't."

"Go on, Jay and I need to get a move on. Fourteen hundred, lunch and intell."

"Yeah, I'm on it." And out he went.

Jay turned to Stone with a concerned look on his face. "He's got it bad. Worse than that girl in Tulsa. Remember her?"

Matt stood and walked to the register, paying their tab and afterward he looked at Jay. \ "Already. I mean the girl's a knockout, but I didn't figure ol? Romeo would flip that fast." Then a wince. "What was her name? You talkin? about the oil guy's daughter?"

Jay got up and followed Stone toward the register, nodding. "Jennifer."

"Ah, yeah. Jenny. Whatever happened to her?"

Jay shrugged. "She found a new toy to play with."

"Chewed him up and spit him out. Breaking up by email, that was a crusher. If he trusts Rock, and she trusts him, the pair of them could be volatile.?

"Yeah, or they could kill each other. And us."

"Jay, have a little faith my brother."

"Wouldn't be here if I didn't, amigo."

"Amen to that. We ready for more roadtrippin'?"

"No condoms."

"C'mon, one little box? The look on his face would be priceless. Like the sheep on his birthday?"

Jay made his way toward the door, pushing it open and heading outside. He chuckled. "You're the boss."

Stone followed laughing, thinking about the "Love Ewe" he'd given Chris last year on his birthday. "Be funnier if she gave them to him."

"Let it go, amigo. He needs a clear head."

He flipped the keys to Jay, "You drive. I'm gonna sight see." Which meant he was going to nap.

Jay caught the keys and headed toward the VW. "I'll wake you when we get there."

Stone just chuckled. "Deal."

"Hey, Rock?" He leaned in suddenly to take a closer look at the satellite pictures, tapping the keyboard to bring the scene in closer.

"Yeah?" She was busily cleaning her pistols

"This guy..." He tapped a finger against the screen. "He's one of ours. What's he doing there, you think?"

She looked over at the screen. "One of ours? What do you mean? Part of the team?" She looked closer at the uniform. "Soldier?"

He shook his head and tried to pull the guy's picture in closer. "No, I know this guy."

She couldn't see the stripes or lack thereof. But she knew the outfit, then her eyes widen a bit. "You know him from where?"

His fingers were flying across the keys again as he tried to match the guy's mug up to a military database. "Just recognize him from somewhere."

She watched him work, and was glad to be close to him again, made her almost giddy.
She shook her head to compose herself wondering how that cold shower thing would work later.

"Yeah, that's him." He keyed up a match, a face and stats appearing on the screen. "Shit. Matt is gonna have a cow." The name on the screen said Major Daniel Sparks.

She leaned closer, just enjoying herself, but not liking the sound of his voice. "Major Daniel Sparks. Pretty decorated and aiding terrorists? I guess the Armed Forces don't pay well enough? He knows Logistics and Ops..." She shook her head. "I really dislike traitors."

He felt a rush of adrenaline, completely focused on his job now. Matt would either be pissed about what he'd found, proud of him for finding it, or more than likely, both.

She ran her hand through the side of her hair, pushing it back over her ear. "So, you've had dealings with Sparks?"

He was quickly downloading as much intel on the guy as he could get his hands on, blowing through passwords and firewalls like they were made of butter. Now, this was a challenge. This was what made it all worthwhile. ?Not personally, but Stone has."

"Hot damn, Cheers." She watched him work, and watched the files fly past, then a raise of brow. "Ah."

"I don't think he knows jack shit about me." He was working on downloading the guy's personal and financial information now. "Shit, look at the flow of cash. Lives a little high off the hog for the rank of Major, don't you think?" He was working too fast for her to get a really good look, but once it was all downloaded, they could sort and sift through it later.

"Jack is the son of O. Shit, and Awe Shit. O, was a fertilizer plant manager, married Awe, who later ran the Kneedeep Inn..." Then she looked at the line of cash transactions, and could only nod. "He should really die."

"He should be tried for treason."

"Something tells me he won't come along easily."

"Shit, shit, shit." He knew he was running out of time. He could only stay in there so long before they shut him down.

"Not sure how long you have before they track you..."

"I got it... I think..." The files were downloading fast and furious now and then all of a sudden, the screen buzzed, turned to snow, and went completely black. "Shit!"

"You got...got." She smirked.

He pulled the plug from the computerl before it got fried, turned it over, and pried open the back of the lap top.

She watched him work, curiously. "What'd they do?"

"Tried to shut me down, but I think I got what I need." There was a smell like burning rubber. The power supply on the laptop had been fried, but the hard drive was intact, and that was all he needed. He pulled the hard drive out of the lap top and moved toward the bed, rifling around in his duffel for his backup. It was smaller than his other laptop, but it still did the job. He replaced one hard drive with the other and fired it up. He took a seat on the bed, the computer in front of him, and checked the data, relieved smile lighting his face. "Got it." He sighed in relief. No matter what happened in the field, he'd just earned his keep.

"Oh, okay." She still had no clue what he was talking about.

She scooted a bit closer to him. "So just you, your mom and sister?"

He was suddenly aware of her getting closer. "Yeah," he turned his head toward her, his glasses resting against his chest.

She couldn't help but smile at him. "I make you nervous?"

Frowning. "No..." Pause. "Maybe. Yes."

"Would you prefer that I get in my own bunk?" She smiled, loving the fact that she made him nervous.

He reached over her to set his glasses on the nightstand. "No."

She grinned at him. "Okay, just making sure." She laid her head down on her arm and looked at him. "So, tell me the truth, why don't you have someone?"

He propped himself back up on an elbow to look down at her, close enough that he didn't need his glasses to see her face clearly. He wanted to touch her, to kiss her, but something held him back. What if one of them was hurt tomorrow? What if one of them was killed? No, he didn't want to think about that. Stone had told him never to think about that.

How did you answer a question like that? The last girlfriend he'd had had dumped him for the flavor of the month, and he hadn't really trusted women since. Oh, sure, he liked them well enough to flirt and have fun and even get laid now and then, but something serious? It was out of the question.

She poked him, "This is ground control to Major Tom..."

He blinked out of his thoughts. "I could ask you the same thing."

She smiled, she knew he was thinking of the perfect thing to say, something rebellious or wild, some sort of manly lie they'd tell each other. And then she laughed. "You are scared to answer!"

"No, I'm not!" He rolled onto his side, his back to her.

"Are you pouting?" She traced her nails down his back since it was facing her now. "Also not the way to win the girl." She teased.

What the hell was he doing laying in bed beside a gorgeous woman having pillow talk when he was supposed to be preparing for a big job tomorrow. He stiffened at the feel of her nails against his back. "I'm not pouting.? He looked at her over his shoulder. ?Why do you keep saying that? Do you want to be won?"

"So why am I getting the back?" She frowned then and rolled over to her back. "I don't have anyone at home, because he was a cheating bastard, just like my father."

"I would never do that to you."

She avoided his question, and stared at the ceiling. "I thought things would be different, someone I could take home to meet mom and dad... but he fucked my best friend."
She rolled her neck to look his way. "You are different, I'll give you that."

His heart went out to her, just like it had the night before. He knew he shouldn't be laying next to her. She was too tempting. He shouldn't be feeling what he was feeling, but he couldn't help it. He turned back toward her again. "Different in a good way or a bad way?"
He'd heard both, and he wasn't sure which way she meant.

"It's good Chris, or I wouldn't feel I could trust you enough to lay here in your bunk talking."

He frowned at her, as if considering something, trying to come to a decision. "We shouldn't..."

"You have a crystal ball?" She interrupted him.

He arched a brow at her question. "No, should I?"

"Then how do you know what we should and shouldn't do?" She smiled at him again, her dark eyes shining.

"I don't know." He was leaning close suddenly, as if drawn to her, lifting a hand to touch her cheek and brush a lock of hair from her face.

Her eyes closed slowly. "Maybe we shouldn't...but I really don't care what we shouldn't."

He wasn't sure what she meant by that or how far she wanted to go. They'd only shared one kiss, but on a scale of kisses he'd shared with girls over the years, hers had sailed right out of the ballpark.

Her eyes opened and she lifted a hand to his that brushed the hair away. "You are probably one of the last nice guys, Chris." She meant that as a compliment

He frowned again. What was that supposed to mean? Did she want him to kiss her or not?
"Rocky..."

She got tired of waiting, so she leaned in and pressed her lips to his, she nibbled his bottom lip then deepened the kiss. She had been waiting all day.

He only needed that little bit of encouragement, some sign from her that gave him permission. He got loss in her kiss, his fingers sliding back through her hair as his mouth captured hers.

She ran her hand from his hip to his neck and up through his hair. She figured she was sending the wrong signal, and wanted to send the right one.

He was getting her signals, all right. At least, now he was. He wasn't quite sure where it would lead or how far she'd let him go, but he had gotten to first base and it was a start.

Matt sat down in the chair nearest the door, and looked them both over. He knew damn good and well they weren't sleeping. His fingers drum on the table top, waiting to see what Chris was excited about, he looked around their room, and only one bed was a little messed up, so he kept his thoughts to himself on the subject for now.

He took the laptop off the table and walked it over to Stone, setting it on the table and booting it up. "Wait ?til you see this."

"Okay, impress me, Romeo." He smirked, looking at the laptop. "Hey, where is the other one?"

"The other one?" His glance darted toward the fried laptop on the floor not far from where Stone sat. "It's uh... gonna need replacing."

"Replacing? It's brand fuckin' new."

"It's not my fault!"

"This better be damned good intel." Stone wasn't happy about wasted cash. He shot a look to Rocky, who was innocently picking at her nails.

He took a breath to calm his nerves. "Just look at this, okay?"

Stone leaned closer, looking at the screen. "Words on a screen?" He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small pair of reading glasses and put them on to see better.

Once the laptop was up and running, Chris turned it toward him and starting punching the keys to bring up the Intel he'd downloaded to the hard drive. He pulled up the photo of Sparks and turned the computer back toward Stone. "Take a look at that."

"Sparks? Where is he?" Stone's eyes narrowed. "Bigger reward if we take down our own associated with them, Dris." Stone was actually smiling then.

"He's here." Chris leaned over to tap a few more keys, showing Stone that Sparks was indeed at the camp.

"That rotten son of a bitch. He and I served in Nam, hell before that he was a grunt in Korea. Now he's a turncoatin' snake in the grass." Stone's fist tightened up.

"Yeah... We think there's maybe forty of them, not including brass. Oh..." he smiled. "I got access to his bank accounts."

"That all?" Then he looked at Chris. "Oh yeah? How much?"

"More than an Army Major should be making."

"Take it," He said as he looked at the picture of the man again. "I don't want him having a damned dime."

"What do you want me to do with it?"

"Our account, down in Mexico. Buy yourself that fancy useless car you been droolin' over, I don't care. Just don't want him buying shit for that terror camp."

"He's got a family, Matt," he frowned. He didn't want to wipe the man out and leave his family penniless the way he father had left them. The kid had a good heart and a conscience.

"He's got a dead son, and an alcoholic wife."

"Really? I can buy the Jag?"

"No more American dollars are going to that bastard in the sand. More'n enough there to buy the sombitch isn't there?" He turned to look at Rocky. "You need anything?"

"Yeah, plenty."

She only shook her head, "Not that I can think of off the top of my head... certainly not a Jag at the top of my list." She smirked.

"I always wanted a Jag. It's my dream car." He came from nothing and all his money was being funneled into his family, which left him very little to play with. "Cherry red with black interior."

"They are nice, but I like getting dirty." She agreed.

Stone looked between them both. "Listen up, both of ya. I don't know or care what I disturbed. But do not let this become a liability, clear?"

He shot a guilty look at Rocky. "Nothing happened, boss." It was just a kiss or two, wasn't it?

"Yes, Sir." She said and nodded. "Personal life will not interfere with ops."

"Dris, I ain't dumb. You already know that." Stone smiled, "Good work on the Intel, Son."

He relaxed a little, smiling. He wanted to please Stone and make him proud of him, like a son would of a father. "Thanks."

"Okay..." He stopped and looked at the M4. "The hell?" He picked it up, looking it over. "You do this?" Looking at Chris.

He shook his head, frowning a little. It was obviously beyond his skill level. "No, Rock did."

He turned and looked at Rocky. "Explain this, please."

She started in, telling him about the mods and explaining how it would benefit Chris.

"The grenade launcher?" He asked.

"If we get into a world of pain, he can bring the fire." She smiled, as he set the rifle down.

"You two... are dangerous."

He listened quietly while Rocky went over his head with talk about the modifications. He felt almost intimidated by her, a small stab of envy that he couldn't deliver those kind of goods, but then he lifted a brow at Stone's final remark. "Me?" he asked, pointing to himself.

"Your knowledge and hers. Hell you two I bet could get outta just about anything."

Not out of a hotel in Vegas about five years down the road, apparently. He didn't really have anything to say to that, he just looked over at Rocky wondering what Stone meant by that.

Rocky was just smiling then she had to say it. "As long as he's got batteries, we are golden, Sir."

Stone shook his head. "Rock... stop with the Sir. I'm Matt, you don't have to address me that way."

"Sorry, Sir...er, Matt." She said. "Habit." She'd only recently left the Military, so it was hard for her, knowing he was a senior officer.

"Batteries? Oh my god!" He turned back to the laptop, which was running out of charge.

She looked at Chris with Stone as well. "What?" They said nearly in unison.

"Nothing." He grabbed his duffel and started rifling around for the charger pack, which he then plugged into the computer and the electrical outlet. "I haven't charged this one in ages." While she might have numerous backup pieces, he had only one backup computer.
"I fried the power pack in the other one trying to get everything downloaded before they cut me off."

Stone shook his head. "How much is a new one?"

He shrugged his shoulders and settled himself back on the edge of the bed. "Couple thousand for a good one."

"Before you get that fancy car, get a new one. Top of the line, so hopefully we aren't replacing it." He stood then and walked toward the door. "I have to tell Jay, and we all need to get ready for ground recon, tonight.

"Then I'm getting a Mac. Harder to hack."

"That's your thing. Just get whatever we don't have to replace again soon." He pulled open the door, and stepped out. "Good work, both of you."