THE TIES THAT BIND
BY: THE BARD

Chapter One
Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave

Lady Jaye walked slowly to her quarters from the helipad. She looked terrible. She was tired, dirty and thoroughly upset. So intent was she in her misery that she failed to notice Roadblock and Scarlett and nearly ran right into them.

"Hey there, Jaye...watch where you're going... "

"Huh...oh sorry, Roadblock" She turned and continued down the path towards the barracks, not even looking up.

"What's wrong with her?", he asked, turning to the tall redhead beside him.

"I don't know, she hasn't been herself lately...maybe I should talk to...hey" before she had a chance to even finish, Flint came stomping past her, looking furious...followed by a very sullen Shipwreck

"Uh oh...something's up Red, and from the look on Flint's face it can't be good"

In fact, something had been up for quite a while now...she thought to herself as she turned to go after Lady Jaye. Ever since late last month when Jaye was visited by that old friend of hers, William. He had stayed in town for almost two weeks and the two of them spent rather a lot of time together. Scarlett had had a wonderful time with them, and rather liked the 'chap', as she liked to call him due to his very aristocratic British accent. She and some other Joes had joined the two of them on the town a couple of times and had met many of Lady Jaye's other friends...all Brits and all quite well to do by the looks of them...but all fun loving and friendly.

Flint, on the other hand, had not taken the visit too well. Mr. Ego had sulked for days, his jealousy getting the better of him. In fact, he had gone so far as to suggest to Scarlet privately that he felt something suspicious was going on...that this William character wasn't what he seemed. She laughed at him and mentioned that if he was really that concerned about Lady Jaye pursuing other relationships it was high time he told her how he really felt about her.

At that, of course, he turned red and looked indignant.

"Look, Red...I'm just concerned about her, that's all. As her commanding officer. I don't think..."

" Right, Flint...and that's why the green eyed monster has reared his ugly head again."

"How many times do I have to tell you, I'm not jealous!" He sighed and shook his head "But I do care what happens to her."

Did she hear the word "care" coming out of his mouth? Boy, she couldn't wait to tell Jaye. The look on his face, however, caused her to sober up. He was serious...this wasn't all jealousy. He was concerned.

"There is something about LJ that just doesn't seem to fit.", he continued, "I can't put my finger on it...but I think this 'William' might be a piece of the puzzle".

"What aren't you telling me, Flint?"

He hadn't elaborated, but in the days that followed Scarlet decided to watch William and Jaye more closely. As his visit drew to a close, it seemed that the two of them grew more serious. Many whispered conversations, and Jaye seemed distracted and tense.

Jaye just smiled at her when she asked her what was wrong...and said that it was nothing. She would just miss her friend. The reminders of her pre-army life had made her a bit homesick. That was all. It all seemed so obvious, so Scarlet had let it drop. As she walked in to LJs room and found her sitting catatonic on the edge of the bed, she realized she had been wrong.

"Jaye, what happened out there? Are you ok?"

Slowly, Jaye lifted her head and looked at her friend in the doorway.

"Blood is thicker than water", she whispered.

**********************************************************************

"Are you going to tell me what the hell happened out there, Flint!?" Shipwreck had had it up to here with the warrant officer, and he wasn't about to let him go without an explanation. He was walking quickly, trying to keep the pace as they made their way from the chopper. "We were nearly killed out there while you were out chasing tail. I have half a mind to report you to Duke. As a matter of fact..."

That was a far as he got. Flint turned so suddenly that the old sailor nearly ran into him.

"If you so much as breath a word of this to anyone I will personally see to it that you are posted so far from water that the only ship you set foot on is a camel"

Flint looked like he was about to belt him. Shipwreck had seen Flint angry...but never like this. It was as if that wall of control that he had built up during his years in the military were breaking down. Not a good sign.

"Hey...I have a right to know what this is all about..."

"YOU volunteered to come along. I never asked you. I could have handled this myself..." Flint turned and continued stomping towards headquarters.

"Right...handled it yourself. I saw how you handled it yourself. Nearly got a bullet through that thick, arrogant skull of yours! You're damn lucky I was there and had the foresight to put Wild Bill on standby for an emergency extract..."

At that Flint stopped and swung around.

"ARROGANT! Show a little respect, I still outrank you and..."

"Not for long if you keep this up! Tell me what she was doing out there...did I see what I think I saw? For God's sake, Flint...for all I know the Joe team was just sold out by one of its own."

"What the HELL is going on out here..." Both Flint and Shipwreck turned around to see Duke coming towards them. They came to attention immediately...

"Nothing sir," Flint said in a cool voice, "We were just having a discussion."

"Sounded more like you were trying to kill each other. Shipwreck, do you have something you wish to say."

"No sir. Its like he says...we are just having a talk."

Duke looked skeptical.

"Well...if you could do your `talking' somewhere else or at least lower the volume. Flint, my office in an hour"

"I have something that has to be done, Duke. Could it wait until..."

"One hour soldier!"

"Yes Sir"

At that Duke walked off, leaving the two Joes standing on the tarmac. Flint looked shaken.

"Thank you" he whispered, staring straight ahead at Dukes receding figure.

" Hey, she's my friend too." Shipwreck looked down at his feet. Flint and he had never been very close, but Shipwreck enjoyed working with him. He was a good soldier and a loyal friend. He had even saved his sailor-butt a couple of times. Well...more than a couple...Shipwreck reflected. He also knew how Flint felt about Lady Jaye. Most of the Joes did, even though the Warrant officer would be horrified at the thought that anyone suspected. He would never admit to it to anyone, not even the lady in question...that's for sure. Too much of a pro.

"Too much of a stubborn ass..." he mumbled to himself under his breath.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Look, Flint. I know what I saw. You saw the same thing. Lady Jaye and, and...Jeez. We have to report this..."

"I know, and I will. I just need time to talk to her first. There has to be a good reason for this."

"And if there isn't?"

"There has to be..." Flint turned and headed off, more slowly now. Shipwreck watched him go before making his way back to his quarters.

"I hope for both your sakes there is, Buddy."

**********************************************************************

Jaye stood quietly in the shower, letting the steaming hot water wash over her body. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about the events leading up to the fiasco. Ever since the call...

"I should have told Scarlet" she thought to herself. Although they hadn't really hit it off in the beginning, the two of them had slowly drawn closer as her years on the Joe team passed. Instead, she had walked away, leaving her standing in the room...without so much as a glance.

"No, she wouldn't understand", she sighed and leaned into the spray, "none of them would. Not even Flint."

At the thought of him, Jaye felt a wave of almost overwhelming sadness. What will he do when he finds out? What will he think when he finds out who she really is...that she has been lying to him, to all of them all of these years?

He will turn away, of course. She would be foolish to think otherwise. She had long ago come to accept the fact that she was in love with him. They had become very close while working together on the various missions they were paired up for...they made a good team and everyone knew it... but she had long since stopped harboring any illusions that he felt the same way about her. He was a typical officer...very professional, but every so often something broke through that gruff exterior. Something...

"Oh, stop fooling yourself...he doesn't see you as anything more than a fellow Joe..."

The thought made her want to cry, something she never does.

"I am going to loose everything."

At this she laughed. How ironic that the thought of going home left her feeling empty. Who would have known she would grow to love it here?

She had fought her father tooth and nail when he told her it was time to fulfill her family obligation and `give back' to her country. My God, what she had to give up...the high life! The money, the jet setting travel...her horses, her studies, her music, her friends.

Her fellow recruits knew what she was and had resented her for it, and had resented her more for excelling at everything she did. And then when she was selected to the Joe team (a posting she did not want, but could not refuse), she knew she would have to keep her past life a secret or suffer the same lonely fate. It was easy to do...she had her orders, after all.

So many secrets...and now this.

"Oh what a tangled web we weave..."

That was what Will had said to her on his visit two weeks ago. She was surprised to see him, as he is usually pretty busy with his own work, and rarely visits her at the base. That, of course, was her idea. The less the others knew about her real background the better.

Will, ever the optimist, never understood why she insisted on carrying on this farce.

"My God Ali...be yourself!" He exclaimed one night while they sat at a pub listening to the Celtic tunes coming down from the stage, "What in the world are you ashamed of?"

"I am NOT ashamed. I just know that I will be treated differently if they knew where I came from..."

"Right...I doubt the people you work with are that shallow, Al...you are good at what you do, you work hard and follow orders, you carry out your duty, you risk your life right along side them..."

"Yes...but you know what it is like. If I let anything out there will be questions, and questions will lead to dead ends and suspicion. Before you know it..."

"But to go this far. Bloody Hell, Ali, you have even gone and `lost' your accent. You don't ride anymore, you have barely made it to Julliard for half your sessions, you dropped out of the PhD program, your car is sitting under a tarp hidden on the base..."

"You wouldn't understand..." But of course, he did understand, he went through the same thing she did, but somehow he came out on top. He always landed on his feet.

"What about that Flint fellow you keep talking about. The one who keeps making googly eyes at you?"

"He does not make googly eyes..." That of course, changed the subject and off they were on Will's favorite tangent...her love life (or lack thereof).

In fact, the subject was dropped until a couple of days before he was planning to leave. They were sitting at his hotel room watching a movie when he turned to her and sighed.

"Jaye...I wasn't going to tell you this, but I just got a call from high up and I thought you might want to hear it from me first... something's going down in Scotland. We think he is in some sort of trouble."

She knew the `he' Will was referring to immediately. She tried to remain indifferent...

"And...so...it wouldn't be the first time"

"Its different this time. I cannot go into details just yet, but I have a feeling you should expect contact from headquarters..."

"They are NOT supposed to contact me on these matters. For all intents and purposes I am a Joe."

"For all intents and purposes, you are STILL a member of this organization!", he immediately regretted raising his voice. Rank or no, they had grown up together...he knew this wasn't going to be easy for her.

"He is the enemy..."

"He is your blood..", Will took her hand, "Look, you of all people should know the situation is not as black and white as the American's paint it out to be. The enemy, really Al...your mother must be turning in her grave."

"Please, don't bring her into this."

"I'm sorry, Ali...I know this is hard. Just don't be surprised if you're contacted"

After he left she went back to her duties and as time went by she had almost forgotten the whole thing. She was too busy with her latest mission, and trying to throw Flint off her scent. For some reason, ever since he had followed her to Scotland he had been keeping a closer eye on her. Doubly so since Will left.

She had been very surprised (and flattered, she thought) that Flint had even bothered to follow her to the Castle she was `inheriting'. He looked worried when she explained where she was going...probably knew right then she was holding crucial information back. In the end she was glad he was there...Flint was always comforting presence, he made her feel safe. Ended up saving her skin to boot!

"My hero...", she frowned and shook her head "I'm an idiot...how could I have been so stupid"

Her feelings for him had caused her to drop her guard, and led inevitably to the events of today when Flint decided to follow her yet again. Duke probably had him spying on her all along, suspecting her all along...playing on her trust and her hidden feelings.

"You're a fool, Jaye...a lovesick fool"

Muffled shouting coming from outside the bathroom interrupted her thoughts.

"What now?"

She got out of the shower, wrapped herself in a towel and went to investigate.

**********************************************************************

"I don't have time for this Scarlet...I need to see her NOW!"

Flint stood in the doorway of the small room, facing a very formidable, very angry red head.

"And I am telling you this isn't a good time." Scarlet stood defiant, blocking his path.

He was about ready to blow. The inner calm he so prided was gone, all he could think about was her. He was upset, worried, angry, confused, hurt...so many emotions running around in his head...He had to get to the bottom of this. He knew deep down in his soul that she was in trouble... that she needed him...it was as if Jaye herself was calling him on some subconsciously level. It was always like this...ever since they first met, but he had always been able to keep her at the back of his mind. Now, the feelings were overwhelming him.

"Don't make me pull rank, Red. I am in no mood"

"Right, Flint. Would you mind telling me what is so damned important ?! What the hell is going on? LJ looks like she is heading for a breakdown, and you don't look any better."

"I told you I am not at liberty to..."

"Can-it, pretty-boy, that won't fly here and you know it," Scarlet saw she was pushing it now, and she knew it. Flint was on the edge... she had better tread carefully or risk sending him over...

"Look Flint," she lowered her voice, "she is really upset. I don't know what just went down, but I think you had better come back later when she's...."

"No, that's ok Scarlet...I can talk to him"

Flint looked up and barely restrained a gasp. Lady Jaye was standing in the room, wrapped in a small towel. Water was dripping off her tanned, muscular body, her long, smooth legs shimmering under the short terrycloth wrap. Flint had never seen her this, this...exposed...

"My god...she's beautiful..." he thought to himself. He knew he was staring, but he couldn't stop himself. Time stood still as they made eye contact, her soft green eyes meeting his, melting his heart. For an instant he forgot himself....forgot why he came. It was all he could do to stop himself from gathering her into his arms.

It was Lady Jaye who looked away first, turning towards her bed to pick up her bathrobe. As she turned, he noticed the tattoo on her shoulder of a heraldic lion `rampant' on crossed broadswords. It was then that the spell was broken. He had seen the symbol before...in Scotland...

"I....uh....need to talk with you...alone"

Lady Jaye nodded to Scarlet and she left the room, pausing briefly to give Flint a look that said, all to clearly, `play nice'.

In the meantime, Lady Jaye had slipped out the room and donned her bathrobe. She stood there now, staring at him, waiting for him to begin.

"I don't have much time. Duke wants me in his office for god knows what and you know I am going to have to give him a report." She stood there quietly and slowly nodded.

"Jaye, please talk to me. Why won't you tell me what is going on? What aren't you telling me. What I saw...who I saw you with. Tell me."

At that she looked away from him and sighed "There is nothing to say..."

At that he lost his temper "Don't lie to me!! You know damn well there is a lot to say. Why do you insist on keeping everything bottled up inside?! Why don't you talk to me?! After all this time, do you still not trust me?"

"Its not that, Flint...you can't possibly understand..."

"Try me! God, LJ you can get into a lot of trouble for this if you don't come clean. I cannot protect you from what is going to come down the pipes if you don't let me in"

"Protect me? Protect me! I never asked for protection. I never asked you to follow me around, to snoop into my personal business."

"And what was I supposed to do, sit around and worry!? I would never have forgiven myself if anything happened to you" LJ stared at him, and he paused then to gather himself. This was getting too personal... he was too close to admitting something to her, to himself. No...keep this professional.

"Please Jaye," he whispered "tell me..." He looked her in the eyes and saw something he had never seen on her face before. A tear...oh Jaye, he thought, you have to know I would never hurt you. You have to know.

A knock on the door broke the moment.

"Flint!", It was Beachhead, "Duke is waiting for you..."

Damn it.

"Hold on, I'm coming", Flint glared at the door.

"NOW!"

"Lady Jaye...please"...he turned to her again. She looked so vulnerable..."please..."

"I'm sorry Flint", and with that, she turned away.

______________________________________________________

Continued in Chapter Two!
Back to The Bard's Fics!
Back to Authors Page!