THE TIES THAT BIND
BY: THE BARD

Chapter Eight
In the Heat of Battle

  "Report, Low Light. What do you see? Over."

  Flint waited intently for his reply. He had positioned his men at various points along the perimeter of the COBRA base camp on the beach. All except Torpedo and Wetsuit, who had gone back to the water and the Sea Doos, awaiting the signal to attack. These machines were the only heavy artillery they had at the moment, and Flint wanted to use them to gain any advantage they could.

  The radio crackled to life.

  "Nothing out of the ordinary. Just a bunch of snakes sitting around. Over."

  "Good. Let us know when those canisters show up. Lay low until then. We don't want to tip them off and let them get away. Over."

  "Don't worry, Flint. When the time is right, they won't know what hit 'em. Out."

  Lady Jaye sat patiently beside him as he handed the radio back to Alpine. She had an incendiary Javelin out and was testing the wind direction and speed.

  "Those tents look like they present a fire hazard."

  Flint looked at her and laughed softly. "Patience, Jaye. We will be in the fray soon enough."

  "I don't know about this, Flint." Alpine whispered from his position to the right, "There are so many of them. You think this a good idea?"

  Bazooka stopped chewing his gum and patted his Carl Gustav, "Don't worry, ol' buddy...we've got the firepower."

  "That's what I'm afraid of. Be careful with that thing! I don't want to end up a puddle of chemical ooze." Alpine shuddered.

  "Would you two keep it down." Beachhead silently emerged from out of the darkness to sit beside his CO.

  "I think, however, that Alpine has a point. It's a dangerous thing we're doing. It's too dark. You heard what Chrome-Dome said about the chemical...we can't all see in the dark like Low Light."

  "Don't worry, Beachhead. Just follow the plan."

  Beachhead frowned but didn't pursue the subject further. Plans and strategies were Flint's greatest strength. There were very few that could out think him on the battlefield. He nodded and disappeared back into the night, a British soldier following behind him.

  "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers..." Flint mumbled to himself. Lady Jaye looked up and continued.

  "'...For he today that shed his blood with me shall be my brother, be he ne'er so vile, this day shall gentle his condition.' Henry V. Act 4, Scene 3."

  He smiled. "Not bad Jaye..."

  She smiled back. "What can I say? I have been hanging around an English Lit scholar for quite some time now. It must be rubbing off."

  Flint had a habit of quoting great works of literature when he was sitting around waiting for something to happen. She was no slouch in the academic department herself, but was always amazed at the depth of his knowledge on the subject. It had become a game for them to see who can stump the other first. Jaye had yet to win a round, although she had come pretty close at times.

  This facet of her partner had taken her a bit by surprise. When she had first met him she had thought him an arrogant and pig-headed macho idiot. Well, admittedly, he could be like that at times, but in the beginning that was all she saw. She even went so far as to complain to Scarlet about the injustice of her being paired up with such a 'jerk'. He had kept it professional, but his attitude made her angry. Of course, her chilly attitude didn't help. She was had just recently come over to the States from Britain and was still on the defensive.

  "You have to talk to Duke, Red. I can't stand it. He is driving me up the proverbial wall!"

  "It's only been a month. Give the guy a chance. You hardly know him." Scarlet continued folding the laundry on her bed as Jaye paced around her.

  "I know enough to say that he is the biggest ego-driven, stubborn, perfectionist that I have ever met. Did you see him out there in training today. He had me run that bloody tank exercise over three times! THREE! And the running bloody commentary..."

  "That's because you weren't paying attention. I thought you could do better as well..."

  "Whose side are you on anyways?" Her temper was beginning to flare...her accent was coming out...a sure sign she was losing it.

  Scarlet stopped folding and sighed. "Calm down, Jaye. I'm not taking anyone's side. Duke and I have known Dash for a long time. There is more to him that meets the eye. Maybe you should try and get to know him a bit better OUTSIDE of your Joe duties. You might be surprised at what you learn."

  "I still think..."

  "Look, Duke wouldn't have paired you together if he didn't see some real potential in you two as a team. Give it another month, but take my advice to get to know him better...if by then you still feel the same way I PROMISE to go to Duke and ask for you to be teamed with another Joe."

  Needless to say, Scarlet never had to go to Duke. A couple of days after her conversation LJ was jogging around the base when she noticed a light on in one of the recreation buildings. It was pretty late at night and she was bored so she decided to go in and see what was up. Maybe shoot some pool with one of the guys.

  She found Flint sitting alone on the couch reading...he hadn't noticed her as he was pretty into the book. She quickly turned to leave and then stopped and sighed. Damn it, Red...why do you always have to be so sensible. She sighed and then cleared her throat.

  "Ahem...I hope I'm not disturbing you. I was out jogging and saw the light on...."

  Flint looked up and smiled. "Man, he was good looking..." she thought to herself, then mentally slapped herself on the hand "Stop that right now...no falling for these army jocks."

  "No, not at all...come on in." He closed the book and gestured for her to come in.

  "You just seemed so intent on your reading...it must be a good book."

  "I've read it before...'For Whom the Bell Tolls'...I just pulled it off the shelf again."

  Hemmingway? He didn't seem like the 'reading' type...

  "You look surprised? Don't think I am the reading type, eh?" He smiled again as she tried unsuccessfully to deny it..."Actually, its my major...English Lit, that is...Oxford."

  "Now you HAVE surprised me." LJ was impressed. It took a very special person to get into that institution...they don't accept many people from abroad every year. "You must have been quite the brain at school."

  "Well...yes and no. I was also a bit of a jock."

  She laughed. "Now that I believe."

  "Sorry. I guess your first impression of me was a bit skewed. My own fault. I have been acting like a bit of an idiot with you, I guess."

  "Yes, that word does come to mind. Along with arrogant, pig-headed, rude..."

  "Brutally honest, I like that. Well, I guess you are right. I had worked very hard to get on this team. I wanted to prove myself, and to be honest..."

  She finished his sentence "...you weren't thrilled to be teamed up with a woman."

  "There's that lilt again, Gaelic is it? Scarlet told me it was a warning sign with you." He sighed, "Well, you're right....BUT before you start in on me I want you to know that I was wrong about you. You are better than any soldier I have worked with. Smarter, faster, and pretty deadly as I found out the other day". He was referring to the time in the gym when they were going over hand-to-hand combat with Quick Kick. He had hesitated because she was of the 'fairer sex' and she had pummeled him but good. "I am beginning to think that I was damned lucky to be teamed with you."

  "I also would like to tell you that I am very sorry."

  She was about to let him have it but held back for some reason. It was the look in his eyes...he meant what he was saying.

  "So, what do you say...Give me another chance as your partner? We can start over...but just to warn you, I can be pig-headed, arrogant....and what's the other thing?"

  "Rude?"

  "Well...no...never rude. I promise. But you have to promise me you will turn off the attitude. "

  "Attitude...", she frowned. He wasn't the first person to tell her she had a bad attitude. Her first meeting with Scarlet had amounted to the same thing. She just couldn't forget what she had gone through in Britain. Maybe it was time she did, though...she had made friends here...and they knew nothing of her family...

  She shook her head and sighed. "Ali." She thought to herself, "you are becoming a real softy. The US is making you into a veritable teddy bear."

  "I must be out of my mind but...apology accepted..."

  That night marked the beginning of not only one of the best teams the Joes had, but also a very close friendship. Flint ended up out-performing all expectations and rose quickly through the ranks to end up third in command after only two short years, but he never changed partners as others were wont to do over the years. He always requested her on all of his missions. He trusted her completely...and she trusted him with her life.

  She, of course, also ended up falling head over heels for him, although she never let him know how she felt in any way, shape or form. As far as she was concerned, he wasn't interested in her that way. At work they were all business, and on personal time they kept things platonic.

  There were times, though, when she sensed something else. The way he looked at her, the quiet interludes together before confrontations with COBRA, the way he worried about her safety, and the occasional jealous sulk when he found her talking closely with another guy.

  However, there was one time that stuck out in her mind, when she was almost positive that he felt something more for her than friendship. It was around Christmas the year before she received those fateful orders from Will. Most of the team was on leave visiting loved ones during the holidays, but as usual LJ had volunteered to work. There was no use in going home. Her father would not be there, and those wondrous Christmas celebrations at her uncle's castle were off limits for obvious reasons.

  In any case, she felt lousy. She woke up one morning and felt like she had been hit by a truck. She was dizzy and disoriented, ached all over, and couldn't get herself out of bed. She called for Scarlet, but then remembered that her roommate was out visiting her brothers. She fell asleep again and woke up an hour later feeling very cold. Her duvet comforter was no help.

  It was about this time that Flint dropped by. He was off to visit his family in Kansas and wanted to drop off the gift he had bought her. This is the first time he managed to get his nerve up to buy her anything other than a card, and he was actually planning to drop it off and leave quickly.

  He found her in shivering in bed, looking very far-gone, and immediately called Doc to come and check on her. She of course, didn't register any of this, for as Doc was to find out, she was running a dangerously high fever. He wanted to take her to the infirmary but Flint saw her tense at the mention of the place. Ever since her mother had died, had spent her last months wasting away in palliative care, she couldn't stand being near anything that looked remotely like a hospital. Flint knew that and shook his head no.

  "Flint. She's pretty sick. Looks like the flu but I can't know for sure. She can't stay here alone. She needs to be taken care of."

  "Don't worry about it Doc. Just tell me what to do."

  "I thought you were going on vacation?"

  "Not anymore."

  Flint stayed with her while she was ill, sleeping on the sofa and nursing her back to health. Those days were pretty hazy. The fever had lasted an awfully long time, but she remembers him putting cold washcloths on her forehead, bringing her soup and juice, her medication. She remembers talking to him too, and she was incredibly worried that she had let her true feelings for him slip out. Her relief was palatable when Flint told her that she had been speaking to him in Gaelic and he hadn't understood a word.

  The last night, though, she remembers quite clearly. It was at the height of her fever...and despite her high body temperature she was shivering madly trying to keep warm. Her body ached and she was feeling very weak. Flint heard her stirring and came sleepily into the room in his sweatpants and tee shirt. He wrapped her in the blankets but it didn't help.

  "Poor thing...here move over."

  He slipped into bed next to her, propped himself up with some pillows and took her into his arms. Had she been less out of it, she probably would have hesitated, but his body was warm and comforting and she immediately cuddled close and curled up against him. He smelled wonderful, she remembered. She also remembers him stroking her head and her arm...and although she might have dreamed it, she remembers him bending down to kiss her on the head.

  Flint stayed there all night. He read to her for a while out of the book he was reading, he talked to her a bit about his family, and eventually fell asleep with her in his arms. When she awoke the next morning he was already up and about. He smiled at her.

  "How are you feeling?"

  "Better...thanks.", it was true, she was feeling better. Her fever seemed to have broken sometime in the night.

  "Here, drink this...you must be thirsty..." He handed her a glass of apple juice and walked back towards the den. "Scarlet is due back today...I had better restock the fridge before she discovers I have eaten her out of house and home."

  "Flint..." he turned and went to sit on the edge of her bed. "Thank you...for everything...for staying...for last night..."

  He took her hand and squeezed it, a twinkle in his eye as he flashed his marvelous lop sided grin.

  "It was my pleasure, believe me. Now get some rest..."

  When she awoke again it was to find Scarlet in her room and Flint gone. He had left her in Red's care and gone to spend the rest of his holiday with his family. Her roommate was grinning from ear to ear.

  "Looks like someone had an interesting sleepover while I was gone."

  "Red...I was sick as a dog...he stayed to take care of me."

  "I know, I am just teasing. I don't know why you think what you do. That man obviously cares a great deal about you. I practically had to force him to leave you with me." Scarlet was the only person that she had confided her feelings to, with strict instructions never to tell anyone.

  "Anyhow...he left this for you." She handed her a gift-wrapped package. "I would say, my friend, that you definitely have a reluctant suitor on your hands. I've known Flint forever and he has never bought anything for me!"

  Lady Jaye made her shaky way to the couch, sat down and opened the wrapping.

  "Oh...my..."

  It was an antique leather bound book entitled "Celtic Myth and Legend". The cover was beautifully decorated with a detailed Celtic weave done in gold leaf. In the center was a stag.

  "He remembers that night too," she thought to herself, as she rubbed her hand gently across the image. She opened it up and there on the first page was an ink inscription in Flint's elaborate handwriting. (he must have used the Mont Blanc fountain pen she gave him last week for Christmas)

  "Friendship is love without his wings...Byron"

  "From the look on your face I'd say the gift hit home." Scarlet sat down next to her and patted her leg. "You two are the most stubborn people I know...you've known each other for almost three years and have yet to admit how you feel. If it wasn't so sad it would be funny."

  When he got back from his vacation everything returned to normal. That week was the only time that she had some sort of conclusive proof that what he felt for her was more than just professional. That is until tonight. She could still feel his lips against her skin.

  "Flint, you out there? Over"

  The crackle of the radio brought her back to the present.

  "Go ahead, Low Light. Over"

  "Looks like the quarry has returned. They are making their way into camp now. Over."

  "Good. You know what to do. Out."

  He turned and signaled for the other men to stand by. They didn't have to wait long. Soon they could hear muffled shouting from inside the camp. It seems that Low Light's skills as a sniper were still superb.

  "Mind shedding a little light on the subject, Jaye"

  "I thought you'd never ask." With that, she took aim and threw the javelin into the far tent, hitting her mark with characteristic precision. The fabric burst into flames, shedding light on the chaos in the camp. There were four guards down around the canisters, and the others were rushing to get their weapons.

  "YO JOE!"

  She had her Desert Eagle out and took out down a couple of vipers as she leapt out of her hiding space. The rest of the battle was a blur. She remembers being back-to-back with Flint for a while, and then remembered taking cover as Torpedo and Wet Suit brought the weapons on the Sea Doos to bear from the beach. It looked as if Beachhead and his British teammate had managed to secure the canisters and haul them out of harms way, for Bazooka had begun to open fire on the COBRA equipment, taking out two helicopters and a boat before pausing to reload.

  "They are getting away!" She heard Shipwreck's voice and turned to see the fake Destro and the Commander making their way towards a waiting Rattler. Major Bludd was at the controls.

  "Cover me!" She yelled to Flint and was off and running towards her enemy.

  "Jaye...WAIT!"

  She ignored him and managed to catch up with the imposter, tackling him hard to the ground. "I'll teach you to mess with my family!" She took out her knife and raised it high, fully intending to skewer him on the spot when she heard a click and felt something cold against her head.

  "If you want your brainssss to remain inssside your ssskull, I ssssugest you drop your weapon."

  "LADY JAYE!!!!" Flint had caught up with her and had his pump shotgun up and aimed at the head snake. "Drop your weapon, Snake...NOW!"

  "I think not. Give me back what is mine, Flint...or this little bird will find herself sssssplattered across the beach."

  "If you so much as harm one hair on her head I'll..." The other Joes were all frozen, weapons at the ready, waiting on Flint's command.

  "You'll what, fool? I hold the cards here. ...GIVE ME BACK MY CHEMICAL!"

  Lady Jaye looked at Flint, saw the terror in his eyes. The anguish. The anger...he was so wound up he was shaking. Cobra commander pressed the gun harder against her head. It hurt.

  "You are trying my patience Flint...give me the canisters."

  Flint began to slowly lower his weapon.

  Lady Jaye finally found her voice. "Don't do it, Flint. Our orders are to bring back the chemical at all costs. AT ALL COSTS! We can't let it fall into his..."

  "Quiet, bitch"

  She ignored him. "Duty, Flint! We are soldiers first! We must follow orders...our lives are meaningless compared to what we fight for. My life means nothing if it is saved and innocents die in my stead...."

  "SSSSHUT UP!!!"

  "Jaye..." Flint whispered, tears coming into his eyes as he raised his weapon higher, taking aim. She closed her eyes...and felt the commander's grip on her falter.

  "WHAT! Put down your weapon, Joe! Does this ones life mean nothing to you..."

  "More than someone like you could ever know..." she heard his broken whisper as he pumped his shotgun, "she means everything to me..."

  It was now or never. If she was going to die, she was NOT going out like a sacrificial lamb. In one quick movement she swung her leg around and slammed it into the back of the commanders knees. He toppled with a screech, the gun went off and she felt a searing pain in her arm. However, the adrenaline soon took over and she was up on her feet, gun in hand. She promptly bashed into the false Destro's metal head, knocking him unconscious.

  "That's for my uncle..."

  Flint was next to her in a flash. He grabbed her and hugged her hard. They were both shaking. He buried his head in her neck and just repeated her name over and over again. She put her arms around him and held him, rocking back and forth, while he calmed down.

  Reluctantly, he pulled himself away and turned to yell some commands at his men. Secure the prisoners. Secure the canisters.

  Beachhead approached them from behind.

  "Woman...that was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. I know you aren't stupid, so lets just say I'm impressed and leave it at that."

  "Flint." It was Shipwreck, " The head snake and Bludd have escaped, but we still have what we came for. It looks as though Jaye has taken a prisoner." He indicated to the unconscious figure on the ground.

  "Any injuries on our side?"

  "Other than my ears are still ringing from Bazooka and his bloody missile launcher, not that I know of."

  "Ok...regroup on the beach", they all turned at the sound of helicopters in the distance. The sun was rising in the East. "Looks like our support has arrived..."

  Jaye rose shakily to her feet. She felt a little lightheaded and thought it might have been the after affects of the ordeal she just went through. Then she remembered...

  "Your Bleeding!" Flint exclaimed and took her injured arm to get a closer look.

  "Flesh wound...it burns a little but I'll be fine."

  "Even so...Alpine! Where's the med kit!!!!"

  "Wet Suit has it down on the beach. Seems Torpedo got caught some shrapnel, but its minor."

  "Ok...here Jaye. Take my arm..."

  "Flint...I can walk. My legs are fine."

  "Its not for you." He turned to see that him looking at her, his eyes still alight with the fear she saw in them when she was being held hostage by the commander. "I need you close right now."

  It might have been the near death experience, the pain of her wound, the loss of blood, but she did something then that she never had the nerve to do before. She didn't even hesitate. She stepped forward, put her hand on his cheek and kissed him gently on the lips. He responded immediately, pulling her closer. Kissing her back. The feeling was beyond anything she could have possibly imagined.

  "Ahem..." they stopped and turned to see Shipwreck smirking at them.

  "As much as I hate to interrupt this long awaited and much anticipated display, but you are needed down on the Beach. Duke needs a report, Flint."

  "Yes...I'm coming. Hold on." Shipwreck walked off and Flint turned to her and pushed a stray hair out of her eyes.

  "We should be see to that arm." He said softly.

  "Come on then...I need to make my report as well. William will need an update." His eyes narrowed at the sound of his name...she laughed and then grimaced as pain shot through her shoulder "Flint...I have known Will all my life. We are close friends nothing more. And anyways, he had a boyfriend in London..."

  "Boy...friend...?" Flint looked stunned as they made their way down the beach.

  "Right...he plays for the other team. But you keep that knowledge to yourself. "

  The beach was a flurry of activity, Joes and RAF soldiers running about their business Duke and Gung-Ho were waiting at one of the choppers. Leather Neck came up behind them dragging a the half conscious prisoner. Gung Ho waved them over

  "Flint, you could have left something for us! How come you advanced parties get all the fun!"

  "Good work, Flint." Duke said as Flint saluted him, "The Brits are also impressed. I have heard a bit about the goings on tonight from Beachhead, but would like a full report once we are back on the Flagg."

  "Yes, sir"

  "Ah...so here is my doppelganger." Destro came towards them and grabbed the imposter out of Leather Neck's grip, ripping the mask off quickly and easily.

  "Zartan," he spit out the name, "I should have known..."

  "ALI!" Will was making his way up the beach.

  "Good work, my Lady...as usual. Our men have loaded the canisters onto the chopper and we are ready to go."

  Jaye tensed. In the heat of the battle she had forgotten she was not with the Joes anymore. She had forgotten she was a mi-6 operative. From the look on Flint's face, he had forgotten as well.

  She would be leaving him again.

  "You're bleeding, Beag Aon...let's get our medic see to that" Destro put his hand on her shoulder and led her toward the British chopper. She looked back at Flint, who was being restrained by Duke. She began to protest but Destro tightened his grip and whispered in her ear.

  "Duty first, little one...after what you went through tonight you above all others should understand."

  "How did you...????"

  "Word gets round. I know it's hard...but don't worry. It will all be over soon enough. You have my word."

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Continued in Chapter Nine!
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