*Snicker*

Here is your couple's love horoscopefor Friday, August 22:

An especially vivid dream has inspired you -- can you make your nighttime fantasies into reality? You can! Don't be shy, tell you partner all about it. They'll love the chance to make this one come true.

I'm not even going to go there...

~Mika

Code Red: The First Mission ~ Chapter 5 B

Mika's Note: Yeah, yet again a piece added after the fact. LOL  Originally titled Dirty Deeds (and not necessarily done dirt cheap either...)  Psst... and now you know why Bryan had a black eye the first time you met him...

“Got it. Thanks Caleb.” Bryan closed his cell phone and turned to the young blonde lounging across the hotel couch. “Miss Morgan?”

“Yeah, Bryan?” She sat up, putting her magazine aside.

“I thought you might like to know that Lieutenant Hart has been reassigned.”

“Who?”

“You remember the soldier assigned to act as Mr. Matson’s bodyguard?”

“Oh.” She remembered vividly the gorgeous woman and the way Blake had watched her every move. “Good, that makes me much happier.”

“I figured it would. It took some effort, but I got them to reassign her. Albert Rogan and David Haley, both male, are with him for the duration.”

“You did this?”

“Yeah,” he admitted awkwardly.

“Why?”

“Well, I saw how much it had upset you and well, to tell the truth, I wasn’t sure she was fit for the job.”

“But you said she was one of the best?”

“She is but…”

“But there’s history there, huh?” Leslie nodded, understanding, and thought about it for a moment. “Are you still together? Is that the problem?” Moving to the edge of her seat, she waited for his answer.

“No,” Bryan sighed. “We haven’t been together for awhile now. But, it’s hard to get used to it. We were a couple for close to three years.”

“What happened?”

He looked around, not really wanting to tell her the truth. “I guess I got a bit overbearing.” And that’s a complete understatement if I’ve ever heard one. “She, being not just a soldier, but a strong-willed independent woman, didn’t take to it very well.” He shrugged, attempting to fight off all the old demons he still harbored.

Leslie watched him closely, observing all the subtle facial changes he experienced when working through the emotions he attached to this other woman. It was clear he still cared for her, but how much? “Is she the one who gave you the black eye? The day we met?”

“Oh!” He rubbed his eye, remembering. “Yeah, she’s usually the one.” His hand dropped from his cheek and fell limply to his lap. “I was pretty lost without her at first.” Standing suddenly, he left his seat at the desk and sat on the coffee table in front of her.

“And now?” She leaned forward, placing one hand on his wrist.

He looked up and met her eager eyes. “I think… I know I’m better now.”

She squeezed his wrist, smiling up at him. “I’m glad to hear it. I hate it when a woman gets a good man so down.”

“Well,” he grinned, “I have you to thank for helping me get over her. You’ve… given me hope for a second chance.”

Leslie turned his arm over, exposing the underside of his forearm and palm. Tracing a line from the crook of his elbow to the base of his fingers, she pretended to consider his words. Unable to hide the smile, and unexplainable rush of desire, overtaking her, she concentrated on the whorls of dark hair covering his skin. When did this happen? She asked herself. When did I start being attracted to him? He’s so not my type. “Ya know, Bryan? I think I’m ready for a second chance too.” Placing her palm in his, she entwined their fingers.

“But you’re not single. Or, are you having problems with…”

Her smile stopped his ramblings. “Not yet, we aren’t, but a girl can’t be too careful, can she? Gotta always be prepared for the future.”

Bryan swallowed hard, and nodded. “Absolutely, ma’am.”

“Please,” she chided, “if we’re going to work so… closely… you’ve got to start calling me Leslie.”

“Yes ma’am, Leslie,” he grinned. “It never hurts to be prepared.”

Code Red: The First Mission ~ Chapter 5 Interlude

Mika's Note: Joe Nichols sings a song called "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off" that I most likely had been listening to about then... LOL

A Note on Red’s Pillow

Shana,

I’m back temporarily. No clue why they flew me all the way back here only to ship me back to where I was already.

I’m ticked. I don’t want to be here. Gods only know what Albie and Bazooka are telling him as we speak. I shudder at the thought.

<sigh> I miss him.

Meet me for a drink? I think I’m in need of one badly. Wonder if he knows Joe Nichols? I hear a bottle of Cabo Wabo calling my name.

A desperate,

Ali

Code Red: The First Mission: Chapter 5

Mika's Note: Not a lot to say here except that it was originally titled On a Good Day... and the last line will tell you why.  LOL

“Excuse us for a moment, if you will, Mr. Matson,” Albert grabbed Ali by the arm and glared at her. “I need to speak with my associate and get debriefed. Bazooka will let you in on our immediate concerns and interests.”

Blake nodded absently, wondering if there was more to the friendship than either said. Realizing the other soldier was talking to him, he reluctantly tore his eyes from Ali and turned his gaze on the one they called Bazooka.

~*~

“What the fuck do you think you were doing?” he demanded in a strangled voice, trying very hard not to yell.

“Um, trying to get laid, what did it look like?

“Ali, I love you and all…”

“But?”

“But, what would you have done if it had been Bryan instead of ‘Zook and I at the door?”

“Given him a broken nose to go with that black eye?” she suggested.

“You are incorrigible.”

“No, just lonely. That’s all.”

Albie sighed and pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry. This life sucks but it’s all we’ve got.” She nodded into his shoulder. “Well, you’ve still got me.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” she mumbled. “And you’re staying here with my stud while I’m being shipped who knows where.”

“Las Vegas.”

She looked up. “Really?”

“Yup. There’s a good chance we might meet back up again.” He returned her smile and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “So, is he really so hot that you’d risk it all to be with him for one night?”

“It’s not the hot factor, although that’s through the roof…”

“So? You’ve been assigned to watch men just as good-looking and never crossed the line like this before. So why now? What is it about this one man that would make you put your career on the line?”

Ali shrugged, knowing the real answer sounded even more stupid than she felt at the moment. “He’s just a really nice guy, Albie. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Holy shit!” he stage whispered. “You’re in loooove.” Ali rolled her eyes and walked down the hallway to her hotel room.

~*~

Blake watched as Ali boarded the tour bus and walked carefully past him. He caught her arm while she tried to maneuver herself into a seat behind him. “I don’t think so. I need to talk to you.”

“What’s to talk about?” knowing full well exactly what they had to talk about.

“Why are you here?” he motioned to the bus in general.

Ali sighed and looked for Albie. “They’re dragging me along with you to Tulsa and then I’ll be reassigned from there. We have a small base in the area.” Not seeing either her brother or Bubble Gum Brain in the area, she took Blake’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’m really sorry…”

He put a finger to her lips. “Shh. Don’t apologize. I knew better. I just didn’t care.”

She sighed. “Me either.” Then, quietly, “I don’t want to be reassigned.” Ali laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. “Wake me when it’s over,” she mumbled.

“Okay, now you’re just being silly,” she heard as she was dragged out of her seat. “Go. Now. Back of the bus, baby.”

Ali glared at Albie as he pushed her down the aisle. “But who…”

“’Zook. Now go.”

Realizing that it was pointless to argue, she shut her mouth and slumped into a seat.

He looked at her quizzically. “Man, that was WAY too easy.”

She just glared at him and pulled out a book. “I’m not talking to you, you mean thing.”

Laughing, he settled himself down on the bus seat. “It’s a long way to Tulsa, honey, you’d better get over yourself soon.” His smile faded a bit as he met a pair of blue eyes across the length of the bus. Albert shrugged and mouthed, “Sorry,” to the questing eyes. The eyes narrowed and then returned to the front.

~*~

“Just give me five minutes, please. How much trouble can I get into in five minutes?”

Cocking his head to the side, Albie grinned. “I see you’ve forgotten about Radney Dee. I think it only took him three and a half.”

Ali rolled her eyes. “I was sixteen. What do you expect?”

“I’m not sure, but all I do know is you’ve learned a lot since then. Five minutes. No more.” He stalked away.

Ali turned at a knock on the door. “Come in.”

Blake poked his head in and smiled. “Your friend said you were looking for me.”

It’d be just like him to start my five minutes from that moment too, she thought. Taking his hand, she smiled. “Yeah, Al was generous enough to give us five minutes before I have to report in.”

Flashing an evil grin, Blake commented, “Now, that’s not nearly enough time for what I had planned.” The grin faded, quickly. “Come here.”

She obeyed and fell into his arms.

“I’m going to miss you. What will I do without you?”

“Believe me, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dork won’t give you enough time to miss me.” She pulled back and looked him in the eye. “But seriously, you’ll be fine. They may be dorks, but they’re two of my very best friends and two very good officers. They’ll take good care of you.”

“I was kinda getting used to how you were taking care of me,” he murmured.

“Now you’re being a tease.”

“No, now you’re leaving.” Ali turned to see her brother in the doorway. “Besides, Stone’s here and is waiting on you to fly back to our base.” Turning to Blake he said, “So kiss her and let her get her butt in gear.”

“Yes sir!” he gave a mock salute and planted one on Ali and quickly let her go. “You get going. I don’t want to cause any more trouble.”

She sighed dejectedly as he and Alex walked out of the door. “And as you can plainly see, I’m not having a good day…” she sang to herself.

Complicated

Mika's Note: Since I had to go register my new truck today, I sat and wrote this on my phone.  Yeah, I know, how sad am I?  But hey, it kept me occupied and now you get some fresh, new material

WARNINGS:  A tiny bit of bad language, sorta explicit scene, and some yummy m(ale)/m(ale) action...  You were warned.

(August 21, 2008)

"Hi, I'm Deke..." he began that night, "and it's complicated."

Complicated? Calculus is complicated. This? This shit was insane. Now, it all started out nice and normal and then, before you know it, his fangs are in my dick.

See? Complicated, my ass.

What's worse is, with the way he was sucking on me, I didn't even notice at first. But then I has to get nosy. I had to see what that beautiful mouth looked like wrapped around my cock. Freakin' idiot.

I pushed myself halfway into a sitting position and looked down at all those long auburn curls... And he looked up with those entrancing amber eyes and smiled.

And then I saw the blood.

Deke must've sensed my building panic because at that moment, he swallowed me whole, took a drag of my manhood like it was some sort of fleshy cigarette and made me come. Hard.

I woke up a few hours later, exhausted, hungry, and ready for more.

Deke grinned and handed me a glass of orange juice. "I told you it was complicated."

I repeat: complicated my ass.

A Journey of a Thousand Steps

Mika's Note: Have I ever told you how much I like to lie to myself?  LOL  But seriously, I needed to write something and this just popped out.  Mind you, it's all true.  Well, all except the power guy.  My meter's read remotely. LOL  But um, well, I did fall flat on my face across the front seat of my truck this morning.  *sigh*  Just a day in the life...

A Journey of a Thousand Steps…

(August 21, 2008)

…begins with a fall. Or so I had heard and never really believed.

I woke up feeling ill. My annual summer cold, I figured, so I gargled with some high octane mouthwash and headed downstairs to feed my fuzzball of a hamster and get ready for work. I packed my lunch, grabbed my cell phone, my mp3 player and my book. After dumping my stuff in the passenger’s seat, I climbed into the driver’s side, dropped my phone into the cup holder and went on my way.

Halfway to my morning fix I realized I’d forgotten my wallet. Damn! I turned the truck around and headed back home. Luckily, I wasn’t far.

Grumbling, I stumbled into the house, grabbed my wallet and almost ran into the meter reader. Was it time for the power to be read again already? I cringed at the thought. “Sorry,” I mumbled, embarrassed but not surprised by my clumsiness.

Sighing, I tugged on the door and proceeded to climb in… only to have my foot slip off the running board. My foot loosing traction caused my shin to bash against the runner and my knee to become close friends with the edge of the truck. Being the ever-so-graceful person that I am, I flew face-first into the bench seat of my Dodge, smacking my head on the steering wheel.

Lovely. Just. Freaking. Lovely.

Rubbing my head, I regained my composure and pulled myself to my feet. Looking up, I gazed right into the deep brown eyes of the power guy. He stifled a laugh, I could tell. “Yeah?” I asked.

“You okay?” Yeah, he WAS laughing. Jerk.

“Um, yeah. I meant to do that.”

“Okay… if you say so.”

“I do.”

“Be safe then.”

Yeah. As if. But before I could comment, he turned and walked down the driveway to his truck, shoulders shaking at my expense.

Darn him anyway.

Just wait until next month.

The Weekend ~ Steve Wariner

Okay, so I swore to myself that I wouldn't post any more today.  Already went and changed my archiving to weekly because the monthly well... go look. LOL  But, I'm sitting here reading and listening to some music when this flash from the past hits me and I think about how appropriate it is to the entire Ali & Blake situation (and believe me, they HAVE a situation LOL).  So, I thought I'd share.

And well, um, now that I think about it... he has one more song that fits them as well (and one that my Blake's namesake likes to sing in concert)... Lonely Women Make Good Lovers.  *SNORT*

The Weekend

Couple of days isn't a very long time
Why can't I just walk away, I used to be good at goodbyes...
Out on the water...under the stars...
I let the moonlight play a trick on my heart

[CHORUS]
You had some fun for the weekend
But I'll be in love for the rest of my life
You took me out to the deep end
And I fell right over I didn't think twice
I found got something worth keepin
And if I can't have you tonight....
At least I had the weekend

The radio plays the sound of the waves rolling in
the smell of the night sure can get under your skin
Just for a moment...I held you too close
Now I'm all out of time and I don't want to let go

[REPEAT CHORUS]

[BRIDGE]
How much can happen in a night or two?
I guess its all depending on your point of view....
You had some fun for the weekend (girl)
But I'll be in love for the rest of my life
You took me out to the deep end
And I fell right over I didn't think twice
Finally got something worth keeping
And if I can't have you tonight
At least I had the weekend...

Code Red: The First Mission ~ Chapter 4 Interlude

LOL  I think that, looking back, I was having entirely too much fun with this.

Another Letter to Shana

From: crazyalirae

To: Scarlettfire

Subject: Cowboy ~ or Playboy?

Howdy Partner!

Oh my gawd. Oh MY gawd. Is there really anything else to say? Oh heck, I’ve gotta say it again: Oh. My. GAWD!

But I’ve really done it good this time. Was it worth it? Oh, hell yeah. LOL. No help for me, I guess. Not sure at this point if I really want any help either. My only regret is that it didn’t go any further than it did. Did I just say that out loud?

Man, it’s been too long since I’ve been this close to a real man. Tired of all these leatherneck wanna-bees. And the drama! You’d think we were stuck with a bunch of women with a testosterone problem! Really! What a mess.

And now I’ve lost it all.

And what timing. Couldn’t expect anything less out of Albie and Bubble Gum Brain. As much as I hate to admit it, I think it was for the best. They kept me from really screwing up. Badly. Not that I like it or anything…

<in a tiny voice> Help!

No, not really. I don’t think I want to be saved right now. Give me a few weeks and ask me again. I’ve got to figure out how to refocus now. Just as long as he doesn’t smile at me, I should be okay. <rolls eyes> But I guess since he’s on his way to the East Coast and I’m on my way to Vegas, not much chance of that happening, is there?

Heck, who am I kidding? I’ve got it bad. And he knows it, too.

Eternally in trouble,

Ali

P. S. Blake introduced me to someone I think you might like. Cute AND buff.  And he can sing too! Meetcha in LV in a few months… Maybe we can go stalk ‘em both then. You game?

P. S. S. How’d he and I wind up here anyway?

Code Red: The First Mission ~ Chapter 4

Mika's Note: Aww, poor Blake! 

Ali stood off to the side of the stage, hidden from the audience by a pile of speakers. Her view, however, was totally unobstructed. Blake was on his second encore, and so far, so good. No trouble or threats of any kind. Not unless you counted the surge of star-struck females that kept trying to pull him into the crowd. She smiled at the thought of it. How many of them would know what to do with him if they got him?

“Thanks ya’ll!” he called to the crowd. “Good night!”

Moving past her, Blake reached out and touched her arm, followed immediately by his band. She turned smartly on her heel and followed them. Smiling at his drummer, she moved past him and stepped up to Blake’s side. “Good show, as usual. Those women love you.”

He looked away a bit uneasily. “Yeah, they get a bit crazy sometimes.”

“Aw, they can’t help themselves. You’re just too darn cute.”

He looked at her sideways. “You’re being sarcastic.”

“Just another service I offer,” she teased, squeezing his arm playfully. “Wait,” she said, stopping him from reaching for the door to the tour bus. “Let me check first. And don’t give me that look. I’m here to look after you. All of you.”

He gave her a mock bow and allowed her to check out each bus before letting them all aboard. “All clear guys, go ahead.” They all nodded their thanks, moving around her to get onto their busses. At first, Blake and his band mates had been a bit uncomfortable around her but, as the weeks wore on, they got used to her presence. Now, they were even happy to have her around.

“Where are we headed next?” she asked the driver.

“Back to the hotel for the night. We leave tomorrow afternoon to head to the next place.”

“Good. Thanks.” She patted the bus driver on the shoulder and moved down the aisle, deciding on a seat. Blake grabbed her arm as she passed.

“I may not smell all that great but I’d like to talk to you, if you don’t mind.”

Laughing, she took the seat next to him. “I’m so used to being around nasty, sweaty men that I probably won’t even notice.”

He shook his head and smiled at her. “The guys and I would like to thank you for all you’ve done for us since you joined the party. We appreciate you keeping us safe. That last time… well, it scared the crap outta us all. Don’t want to go through that again, ever.” He looked out the window, trying to control his emotions. “I guess what I wanna say is, could I buy you dinner? As a thank you, just a thank you, I promise. If you’d rather not, after all that’s happened, I can live with no.”

Ali looked into his blue eyes and saw how scared he was to be asking her out. She figured it had to be the gun. Men don’t trust a woman who was packing. And their near-miss a few weeks ago? Couldn’t possibly be that. So, she decided to go easy on him. “Sure. Sounds good to me. Tonight? Or sometime later?”

“No, tonight, if that’s okay.” She nodded and he relaxed a bit. “And I’ll shower first,” he added quickly.

“Awww… but I like my men all hot and sweaty,” she teased.

He leaned in conspiratorially, “Shh… that comes later.”

Ali couldn’t help but laugh. And hope.

~*~

Ali knocked twice on the hotel room door. A muffled “coming” came from inside moments before the door opened and a pair of blue eyes peeked out. Smiling, Blake let her in. “Ready?” she asked.

“Yep. Let’s go,” he smiled and grabbed his hat.

“What is it with that thing?”

“I like my hat, thank you.”

“I like it too, but doesn’t it need some alone time?”

Blake growled at her and placed it firmly on his head.

Ali sighed. “So much for all that beautiful hair.”

Aside from the hat, he looked good. She watched him close the door, noticing the way his worn, faded jeans hugged his legs and thighs and totally molded to his firm backside. Smiling, he took her hand and led her down the hall to the elevator.

“I like this shirt,” she told him while they waited on the elevator to arrive. “The blues and greys really make your eyes stand out. As if they weren’t blue enough already.”

“Thanks.” He got quiet for a moment as the elevator arrived. While punching the button to take them to the ground floor, he looked her over. “You aren’t so bad yourself, tonight. Green isn’t your color, you know.”

“Well, I highly doubt olive drab green is anyone’s color, but it’s okay. Better than those nasty desert cams anyway.” She laughed. “But you ought to see me in forest or hunter or even lime green.”

Blake grinned and shook his head. “This is gonna be one heck of a night, I can tell already.”

“Baby, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet,” Ali sang.

“Oh lord, help me,” he teased.

~*~

“This is actually pretty good for a hotel restaurant,” Blake commented, pushing his empty plate away. “How’s your dinner?”

“Great, thanks.” Ali pushed her nearly clean plate away too.

“Nice to see a woman who isn’t afraid to have an appetite.”

She looked a bit sheepish, and then laughed. “It comes from being a soldier. You eat when you get food because you never know when the next meal’s gonna be.”

“Well, I like it. Dessert?”

“Absolutely!”

“You’re a bit too eager, I think,” he teased.

“Only when it comes to dessert,” she hinted.

Resisting the urge to turn twelve shades of red, Blake buried his face in the dessert menu. “Mmm… chocolate cake.”

~*~

Blake took Ali’s hand again outside his door. “I hope that threat of replacing you doesn’t come true anytime soon, I’m just getting used to you.”

“Well, gee, thanks,” she joked.

“I think you know what I mean. I’d miss you if you left.”

It seemed to take a lot for him to admit it. “I’d miss you guys too.”

“And me?”

“And especially you, you big dork.”

He grinned his goofy grin. “That’d be me.” Blake caressed her face with one hand. “You’re tall for a woman. It’s not often I can look someone in the eyes without getting a crick in my neck.”

She smiled. She’d noticed the same thing. “I’m six-foot-one. Still quite a bit shorter than you, but not bad.” She took his hand from her face, kissed the palm, and let it go. “Thank you for dinner, although you didn’t have to thank me for doing my job.” She allowed him to continue holding her hand; she wasn’t quite ready for him to let go yet.

Placing his freed hand on the back of her neck he leaned in and briefly pressed his lips against hers. “I don’t want to say goodnight yet.”

“Then don’t.”

By way of response, he pulled her through the door and hung the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the handle in record time.

~*~

Blake didn’t even bother to flip the light on. The courtesy light gave him enough illumination to see what he was doing and not kill himself in the process. He pulled her close to him and tilted her head just enough to look into her eyes. Brushing her hair from her face, he asked desperately, “Are you sure you…”

She cut him off with a kiss. The tension left his body and he returned the kiss heartily, hands moving along her back. One settled along her waist while the other wound its way back to her neck. “I know I shouldn’t, but I’m not sure we’ll ever get another chance. And I can’t let you get away, I’d regret it for the rest of my life.” She pressed herself against the length of his body, causing a well-anticipated reaction in him.

Blake sighed into her mouth, giving in to his body’s demands. Ali pushed away slightly, breaking the kiss.

“This has got to go,” she murmured, tossing his hat onto the dresser. Running her fingers though his disheveled curls she grinned. “I just love your hat hair. It’s so sexy.”

“And I think you’ve lost your mind, honey.” He pulled her back against him. “Now get back here.”

She gave him a throaty chuckle and prepared to show him just how lost her mind was.

~*~

“Mmmm…”

“Heh. I like the sound of that.”

“Then keep kissing me, Cowboy.”

“Yes ma’am.” Blake turned his attention back to her neck and inhaled deeply. Nipping lightly at her skin, he guided her back towards the bed. “You smell so good.”

“See? That’s what a shower will do for you.”

Biting playfully, he nipped a bit harder than before, causing a squeal to escape her lips.

“Oh god, that was so not me that just did that.”

“Mmm… but I think it’s perfectly you,” and he laughed that sexy, masculine laugh.

She slid her hands into his back pockets and pressed his hips against hers, hoping he’d get the point. And by the way he felt he was getting the point very clearly.

“You’re gonna get yourself into trouble doing things like that.”

“Trouble? I was lookin’ to get lucky.”

Groaning, “You just might get that too.” He began to release her trapped shirt from her jeans, biting at her lips while he tugged.

A knock at the door startled them both.

“Mr. Matson? Are you in there?”

“Shit!” she hissed, tucking her shirt back in as best as she could.

Blake gave her an inquiring look then turned to the door. “Depends on who’s on the other side.”

“Lt. Albert Rogan and Bazooka Joe. We’re here to relieve Lt. Hart.”

Grinning, Blake turned back to her. “It takes two men to replace you?”

Ali shrugged and winked. “You’ll understand when you meet them.”

Wondering how he got caught up in all this, Blake sighed. “Okay, I’m coming.” He looked to her and whispered, “Are you okay? Can I let ‘em in?”

Ali nodded, not trusting herself enough to speak.

Returning her nod, he turned on the light and let the two replacements in.

~*~

Albert gave his adopted sister an eloquent look as he passed by her and into the room. “New uniform?”

“It’s called being inconspicuous. If I look like ‘em, then they don’t suspect.”

“Mmm… so that’s what it’s called.” He grinned at her, noting the flushed cheeks and scowl on her face. “Your secret’s safe with me, lover.”

“I really hate you some days, Albie.”

“Yeah, I know. But it’s all good.”

She rolled her eyes at him, knowing it didn’t do any good to lie. He knew her better than she knew herself, or so it seemed.

“We’ve been sent to take over. Ali’s got a more important assignment that requires her special skills,” Bazooka, also sometimes known as Lt. David Haley, was saying.

Blake looked over his head and caught her eye. “Special skills?” His blue eyes sparkled at her. “Should I be jealous?”

“Jealous?” ‘Zook scratched his head, confused. “No, she’s a disguise expert able to impersonate just about anyone she has a mind to. And her talents are needed.”

Albie looked at her sideways and mouthed, “Jealous?”

She smacked him and took a place next to Blake. “These are two of our more, um, interesting officers. Albert Rogan, mountaineer and all-around geek, and good friend,” she motioned towards the geek in question and he nodded. “And David Haley, expert in the area of explosives and anything noisy, hence the code name of Bazooka.” Bazooka nodded in acknowledgement and blew a big, pink bubble.

“And this is where the nickname comes from,” Albie explained, popping Bazooka’s bubble all over his face.

“Nickname?”

“Yeah,” Ali grinned. “Bubble Gum Brain.”

Blake lifted his eyes to the ceiling and mouthed, “Why me?”

Code Red: The First Mission ~ Chapter 3 B

Mika's Note: Are you laughing yet?  This was titled Trouble in Paradise and is yet another section added after the fact.  I keep hoping all this is adding depth but am horribly afraid it's just confusing the issue...

Opening her eyes, she looked around the living area of the hotel room. Not seeing anything immediately, Ali sat up and rubbed her eyes, scanning the darkness a second time. There it is again. Leaving her bed on the couch, she checked the door to make sure it was locked. Moving to the kitchen, she assured that all was code green: good to go.

This flippin’ hotel room is nicer than my damn apartment.

“So what the hell am I hearing?” she asked herself quietly. “Front door is secure, balcony door ditto. Kitchen and all other areas clear. And Bryan’s sound asleep on the floor.”

Ali made a second round of the hotel room and paused outside Blake’s door. Lifting her hand, she got ready to knock when she discovered the source of the noise. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose with two fingers. I do not want to know what they’re doing. I do not even wanna…

“Ali?”

She turned quickly, firearm ready. “Damn, Bryan!” Lowering her weapon, she glared at him. “You know better than to sneak up on me!”

“Sorry. Noticed you were up. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Thought I heard something is all.” Returning to the couch, she sat and stretched. “It was apparently just them.”

“Them?” He looked back over his shoulder and realized whom she meant. “Oh. Yeah.” He frowned for a second before asking, “Were they… um, are they…”

An odd mix of emotion crossed his face as Ali watched the situation hit home with him. Sparing him the effort, she just nodded. “I’m assuming so. Either that or there is someone in there murdering Miss Morgan.”

Bryan’s frown deepened. “That’s not funny.”

“I know, I know. What did you want me to say?”

“Nothing, Allyson. I’m going back to bed.”

Ali let go of her anger and her jealousy. “I’m sorry, Bryan. This has just been a long, boring assignment. I’m tired. I want to go home. I’m enjoying the company, but there just doesn’t appear to be a threat anywhere. I feel like I’m wasting my time.” Wasting my time chasing a man I can’t have, maybe.

“Well then, I guess you’ll be happy to hear that as soon as your brother and his cohort return from their current assignment, they’ll be replacing you here.

Panic flooded her suddenly. What did he just say? “I’m being reassigned in the middle of this? I don’t think you’ve ever taken me off an assignment before it was complete.”

“You just said yourself that you were bored. Besides, we have need of you elsewhere. Now, I’m really going back to bed.”

“Night, Bryan,” she mumbled. She watched him bed down on the floor, thankful for his insisting she sleep on the couch. Lying against the arm of the couch, she stared at the ceiling, relieved that in the darkness he hadn’t been able to read her expression. What would he have seen anyway? Hurt? Anger? Frustration?

Who knows, Ali? Does it even matter now anyway? Now that it’s clear Blake isn’t quite done with Leslie yet?

She squeezed her eyes closed against the flood that threatened at their rims. Breathing slow and deep, she forced herself to relax and rein in her rampant emotions. This was completely unlike her to get caught up in a man like this. When the hell did she become so attached? And why? It couldn’t have been because of what happened earlier. Sex was just that – sex. And it didn’t matter how hot the Cowboy was. Not like they’d managed to get very far anyway. Just enough to get her started. And apparently unable to stop.

Ali knew better, even if she was unwilling to admit it to herself. She’d fallen hard for the tall, lanky goofball on the day they’d met. He had a knack for being irritating and loveable all at the same time. His goofy personality melded with his immeasurable talent and boyish good looks and hit her right where she was weakest: her heart. Despite knowing ahead of time that he’d had a girlfriend, she couldn’t help but be attracted to him; he was one of the few men she knew who still treated her like a woman, and not like what she was: a soldier. She was in deep and couldn’t see any way out.

~*~

He watched her brewing coffee in her pajamas. Dressed in nothing but a tank top and cast-off boxers, she had his complete attention, even at this early hour. Needing to feel her body against his, he stepped behind her and reached an arm around her waist.

“Don’t touch me, Blake.”

“How’d you…” he asked, confused.

“I could hear you breathing. Besides, I’m trained not to miss things like that. Be glad of it too.”

“I just want a hug.”

Ali looked over her shoulder and frowned at him. His hair stuck up in wild cowlicks across his head while his deep blue eyes still held that sleepy ‘just-woke-up’ look. “You smell like her cologne.”

Blake took her by the arm and turned her until they were face-to-face. “Does that mean you’re jealous?”

“No,” she swallowed her initial positive response, forcing herself into her persona-mode. “It just means I’m stupid.”

“That’s not fair,” he protested, trying to keep her from walking away.

“Only as fair as you using my lonely heart against me to pass the time with.” And that was completely unfair. “If all you were looking for was a night or two, you should have just told me before…” She quickly bit off the rest of her response, before her poor, lonely heart could completely betray her.

“Before what?” He moved closer, backing her against the kitchen counter. “And what makes you think I don’t want more from you?”

Blake leaned in to kiss her; she pushed him back, more roughly than she’d intended. “You do realize Bryan is up and on the prowl, right? You cannot touch me like this when he’s around. Or at all anymore.” She moved out of his reach and poured herself a bowl of cereal. “And how do I know you don’t want more? Shall I point out how loud the two of you were last night?” She instantly regretted her remarks. He at least had the courtesy to look ashamed.

“I’d say I didn’t have a choice but I know you wouldn’t buy that.”

“Not a chance, Cowboy.”

He gave her a sideways grin. “And it wouldn’t really be true anyway. You had me so riled up yesterday…”

She held one hand up. “’Nuff said. I really don’t want any more details.”

His grin broadened suddenly. “I could always show you.”

“Show her what?” Bryan asked from the doorway. “And what the hell are you wearing, Ali?”

“My ‘jamas,” she told him, carrying her cereal to the dining area.

“And you?”

Blake shrugged. “Just offering to show her how to shoot a bow. Told me she already knew.” He shrugged again, following Ali to the table.

He sat down across from her, watching her eat. Bryan moved behind her, studying their reactions to one another. “I’m going to check on Miss Morgan since you two seem to be on task.”

Once he’d left the area, Blake caught Ali’s gaze. “I want so much more with you than you’ll let me have. I could give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of and then some. I’m not as successful as a lot of these guys are, but I do okay.” He took her hand in his and squeezed. “And I can love you like no one’s business, if you let me.”

She pulled her hand back. “You know that can’t happen, we’ve had this discussion already. Besides, men don’t date girls like me.”

“I would.”

“Yeah, but you’re not all there either.”

He grinned. “Yeah, not the first time I’ve been told that.”

“Won’t be the last either, I’m sure.” She put her spoon down and sighed. “I can’t even begin to tell you how much I want to say ‘Okay, Blake, let’s go’. But it’s more complicated than that.”

“Yeah, don’t remind me.” Blake stood, looking down at her. “Just remember this the next time you’re feeling lonely, okay? I’d give anything for another chance. But I think I ought to go check on Lee myself.”

He left her sitting at the table with her cereal and her thoughts. What I wouldn’t give to be able to let you have another chance…

Wearily, she stood and returned her dishes to the kitchen. In silence, she washed and then dried her bowl. Carefully placing it back in the cupboard, she wondered what a real relationship would be like. It’d been too long since she’d had one, it was almost impossible to imagine.

Code Red: The First Mission ~ Chapter 3 A

Mika's Note: This was originally titled Where'd It Go? and was based on a writing challenge that said: Write a short story based on the phrase 'I just couldn't remember where I left my gun after...'  Heaven help me, but I immediately thought of Ali.  Poor girl.  So, this was also added after I'd finished the first draft.  Kinda funny, and oh so Ali & Blake...  Tiny warning though: they get a bit frisky, but nothing explicit.

Carefully following her established routine, she took notice of anything that might possibly be different than it had when they’d left two hours ago, before the show had started. Not seeing anything out of place, she turned to the door and motioned Blake in. Another day down, how many left to go?

“All clear, Cowboy.”

He nodded at her, smiling. “Thanks.”

“It’s my job.” She moved to the side, allowing him to move past her. Watching as he made his way to the back of the bus, he paused long enough to tap in his code and enter his makeshift bedroom. “And you’re welcome,” she breathed as the door closed behind him.

Ali had just settled on the couch when he poked his head back out. “Aren’t you coming?”

“Should I be?” The gods only know how badly I’d like to…

He flashed her a sexy smile full of promise and wickedness in response. “I don’t know, should you?” He let the door close behind him, leaving her sitting with her thoughts.

Heaven help me, she scolded herself. I know I shouldn’t but… how can I not?

Ali stood nervously and made her way to the back of the bus. Lifting a fist, she knocked quickly. Her heart pounded as she waited for him to answer.

His blue eyes were shining with mischief when he peered out at her. “And I thought you’d just let yourself in.”

She shrugged, trying to hide the shaking of her hands. “Not my room.”

Grinning, he teased, “It could be.”

Blake took her hand and pulled her into his room. Backing her against the door, he tilted her chin up, kissing her soundly. He put both hands on her face, cradling her chin between them. The rasp of stubble against her bare skin sent shivers of excitement through her. She lifted her hands to his, placing hers over his, then allowing them to slide down to his forearms.

“You have no idea how long,” he kissed her again, stealing the gasp of pleasure from her mouth, “I’ve wanted to taste you like this.”

Ali closed her eyes, trying to calm her pounding heart and tame her racing thoughts. Pressing her hands against his chest, she pushed him back. “Blake, stop. This can’t…”

“It can, Cookie. If you let me.”

“It’s not you it’s…” He stopped her protest with his tongue. She pushed him back again, angry. “Damn you, you’re not making this any easier.”

He let her go and stepped back. “Hey, you came back here, remember?”

Yeah, but you asked me to. Ali rubbed her eyes with her fingertips. “I know. I’m sorry. My brain wasn’t working at that moment. I think your grin short-circuited it.” Or your tongue maybe.

Running his fingers through his hair, he looked at her helplessly. “What now then? I’ve already embarrassed myself by coming on to you. And you don’t want me.”

She hung her head in defeat. “You have that so wrong. It’s not that I don’t want to; it’s more that I’d rather not go to jail over disobeying a direct order.” She laughed. “You’d have to be one hell of a lover to make me wanna do that.”

“You’ll never know unless you try.” He grinned until he saw the conflict of emotion on her face. “You’d really go to jail over something so stupid?”

She nodded. “You forget that one of my superiors is a jealous ex. The other is the jealous ex’s best friend.”

“Ah. I see. So, you were ordered not to sleep with me? How rude.”

Ali couldn’t help but laugh. “I was ordered not to get involved in any manner. With any of you.”

“This is why nobody likes you. You rain on my parade.”

“Sorry, Cowboy. Forgive me for being a tease?”

“Only if you let me kiss you again.”

“Blake…”

He moved closer, tilting her face up to his again. “No one will have to know. I sure as hell won’t tell anyone.” Lightly, he pressed his lips against hers and pulled back. “Will you?”

“Nark on myself? Not a chance.” She allowed him to kiss her cheek, chin, and neck. “But if you keep biting me like that, it’s going to be obvious.”

His laugh tickled her skin. “Well then, I guess I’ll just have to bite where it won’t show.”

Please? “What about your girlfriend?”

He pulled back and looked her in the eye. “Your pal told my band she was gettin' friendly with your ex. Why should I care?”

“Because Bryan lies like a rug when it comes to women.”

“Don’t we all?” He kissed her again, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Even so, I know her. She had no problem coming on to me while I was still married. Why wouldn’t she do this too?” Blake braced his free hand against the wall. “So, now that we’ve settled that, the first thing I need to do is this.” He pulled her gun from its holster at the small of her back. Leaning sideways, he dropped it on his dresser. “Now, if I make a wrong move you’ll just deck me and not shoot me.”

Ali laughed again. He had that effect on her; it didn’t matter how dire the situation, he could always make her smile. Just the thing she needed. Relaxing against the door, she let him kiss her. Why fight it? Bryan’s been accusing me of sleeping with him since I started this assignment. Might as well make him right. Can’t possibly get into any more trouble than I’m already in…

Blake pulled her shirt from her jeans, sliding one hand up her stomach. She fell against his chest as the driver pulled out of the venue parking lot and started down the road. They jolted back against the door as the bus stopped at a red light. The sudden stop causing her gun to roll off the dresser and onto the floor.

Leaning away from him she muttered, “Just let me…”

Blake spun her around, causing her to topple onto the bed that was now behind her. “No ya don’t, Cookie. You can get it later.” He climbed onto the bed next to her.

“But…”

“Nope. Not gonna listen.”

He turned his attention to the buttons on her shirt, slowly popping each open and placing a kiss on every exposed inch of skin as he progressed. With the last button, he opened her shirt completely, exposing her tanned skin and olive green bra.

“Do you not own anything in any other color?”

“Will you be disappointed if my undies match?”

Blake cocked his head and thought about it. “I guess if I managed to make it that far, I don’t have the right, do I?”

She just shook her head, unable to dispute his logic. His fingertips brushed across the button of her pants. Deftly, he popped it open as well, tugging the zipper down as he went.

“Oh no,” she muttered, reaching for her hip.

“What did I…” his voice trailed off, seeing her reach for her phone. “Oh no is right, you are not going…”

“I have to,” she sighed, freeing her phone from its holster. “I haven’t checked in yet.” Glancing at the display, her worst fears were confirmed. “Keep your mouth shut.” Flipping her phone open, she said curtly, “Lt. Hart.”

“Took you long enough,” Bryan replied sourly. “Where are you?”

“On Mr. Matson’s bus.” She frowned at Blake who rolled his eyes at her formal manner. “We only just left the venue about ten minutes ago. The driver is taking us back to the hotel for the night; we leave early in the morning for the next show.”

Blake rolled his eyes again and made a ‘get on with it’ gesture. She grinned despite herself. It’d been too long since she’d had a man so eager to be with her. Unable to wait for her, he slid his fingers inside the waistband of her panties. Disgusted with the realization that they did match her bra, he gave them a tug and made a face.

Attempting to continue her conversation with her commanding officer, she smacked the back of his head and glared. “Yes, Bryan. I understand. No, everything is normal here.” Yeah, okay, so maybe not?

“Good. We’re in the area as well and will be meeting up with you at the hotel. We’re actually already here, waiting. Miss Morgan is anxious to see Mr. Matson as well. See you in ten.”

Ali gaped at her phone in disbelief. Smacking Blake’s hand away from her crotch, she sat up. She shoved her phone back into its holder angrily. “Stop it,” she smacked his hand again.

“Damn, that hurt,” he whined, shaking his hand. “Kiss it better?”

“I would if Bryan and your girlfriend weren’t waiting at the hotel for us.” She wiggled out from under him, hating the cool air against her feverish body.

“Crap.” He pushed himself into a sitting position and watched her frantically tuck her shirt back in. “Ali…”

“Don’t,” she begged. “Please just don’t. I knew better and just couldn’t stop myself. I’ve been alone too damn long to say no.”

His face fell at the reality of her words. He knew she’d had a bad breakup awhile back and still he’d pushed. It’s what he got for listening to his guitarist. Tim insisted she was interested and maybe she was. But what right did that give him? And blaming Tim didn’t help either. “I’m sorry.”

“For what? Trying to take my mind off my pathetic life for a few minutes? Don’t be. I should be apologizing to you for leaving you hanging.”

Blake sighed, shifting positions. “I’m definitely not hanging.”

Ali choked on her laugh. “I’m sorry,” she laughed again. “I know it’s not funny but…”

He stood and pulled her against him. “You’re right, it’s not funny.” He pressed his hips against hers, allowing her to fully feel her effect on him. “And you’re gonna pay for this later. The very next time I get you alone.” He grinned evilly at her. “And I promise, you won’t regret it.”

She let him kiss her one last time before pushing him away. “I’ll hold you to that Cowboy. Now, help me find my gun.”

Ali got on her knees and started looking. Blake swallowed hard, holding a hand out to her. “Here, go get yourself together. I’ll look for it.”

She took his hand, letting him pull her to her feet. “You sure?”

He nodded. “Yeah. Besides, watching you crawl around on the floor is not going to get it found. It’s only gonna get us caught.”

She patted his chest, grinning, “Thanks.”

The door had barely closed behind her when the bus stopped beside the hotel. The front door to the bus opened and Bryan entered. A young, bleach blonde followed close on his heels.

Praying that her face wasn’t nearly as flushed as it felt, she saluted her superior and greeted him. “Hey Bryan.”

He nodded at her and looked around. “Where is Mr. Matson?”

Ali canted her head to the door behind her. “Changing his clothes, I believe.”

“Will you let him know we’re here and ready to go inside?”

Giving him a mental eye roll, she nodded. Knocking on Blake’s door, she called out, “Mr. Matson?” She could just see him rolling his eyes again. “Miss Morgan is here as well as my team leader.”

“Lieutenant!”

She turned quickly to see Bryan moving towards her. “Yes sir?” she questioned, not knowing what could be wrong. Nothing that he can see, I don’t think…

“Where is your firearm? It’s not in its holster.

“Oh, well, you see…” she stalled.

Behind her, the door opened and Blake emerged, grinning. He held her gun up and announced, “I found it! It slid under the bed somehow.” Ali covered her face with both hands before Bryan could glare at her. Looking at the faces surrounding him, Blake’s grin slid from his face. “What? What did I say?”

Holding one hand out and keeping the other across her eyes, she begged, “Hand it over, please? I’d rather shoot myself now rather than wait for the firing squad.”

Reluctantly, he handed it over. “Okay, if you’re sure, Cookie. Just try not to splatter your brains all over my bus. Okay? I just go it washed.”

A nervous laugh bubbled up from her toes. Before long, she couldn’t quit giggling. Even knowing she was extremely close to getting into some very serious trouble, she couldn’t stop. Holstering her weapon, she sat heavily on the couch behind her and let go.

“Allyson?” Bryan asked, half afraid.

“Yeah?” she gasped, looking up.

“Is there something you need to tell us?”

“No,” she began, wiping the tears from her eyes. “No, I don’t think there is.” And not that anyone here would believe me if I told them the truth anyway.

Bryan flicked his gaze to Blake who stood calmly watching. “Are you sure?”

Blake shrugged. “Losta girls have lost their guns in my room. Seems to be a black hole or somethin’ in there.” He shrugged again and pushed past Bryan and Leslie and exited the bus.

Leslie crossed her arms angrily, trying to decipher the reality of what had gone on. Deciding she ought to start with the source, she turned and stormed off the bus, searching for Blake, leaving Ali alone with Bryan.

Bryan cleared his throat. Ali’s giggles had started to subside finally. “So?”

“So what?”

“So, are you going to tell me how your gun wound up under his bed?”

“Do I have a choice?” she questioned rhetorically. “It slid off the dresser when the driver stopped at a red light.”

“And why was it on his dresser and not on your person?”

Ali shrugged, wondering how much trouble a little white lie could get her into. “He was curious what I was carrying. Seeing as he has quite the gun fetish, I gave it to him. He looked it over, and sat it down. The bus stopped, my gun went flying. He thought it more prudent for him to be the one crawling around on the floor of his bedroom looking for it rather than me.”

She sat quietly, as close to being at attention as she could get in her position. Bryan studied her, noticing she met his gaze evenly, not flinching or reacting in any guilty manner. He knew her well enough to know she wouldn’t sleep with just anyone, especially a man with a girlfriend, but he was still undecided on how she felt about this particular man. “All right. I’m not so sure I believe you but I don’t have any reason not to. Get out and get inside.”

Standing quickly, she saluted and hustled out of the bus. Winking at Blake as she jogged by, she silently gave thanks. Here’s to the government for teaching me how to be such a skilled liar.

Code Red: The First Mission ~ Chapter 2 Interlude 2

Mika's Note: This was added later on, after I'd finished the first draft of the story.  I felt that Ali & Blake needed a bit more time to develop their relationship and this is still one of my favorite pieces I've written about them.  Makes me laugh every time I read it.  Blake is such a dork.  Was originally titled Checking In.  Maybe a bit of bad language and lots and lots of flirting. LOL

Ali watched Blake and then his band file onto their respective tour busses. After double-checking to make sure everyone was on board, she climbed in and headed towards the back of Blake’s bus, stopping long enough to grab her laptop from the storage compartment. Deciding on her seat, she sat, pulled out the laptop, set it on the pullout table, and plugged in her headset.

Satellites were apparently good for more than just outer space observations and TV. Amazingly enough, her laptop was designed to connect to the Internet via satellite, among other things. Keying in her security code, checking to make sure the web cam was turned on and functioning, she logged into HQ’s server and waited. Waited for someone to deign her important enough to answer.

While she waited, Blake had finally noticed she wasn’t beside him, in her usual spot. Leaving his seat, he came to the back of the bus and squished himself in beside her. “Whatcha doin’?” he asked, looking over her shoulder at the empty screen.

Of course, Caleb took that opportunity to acknowledge her. “Allyson!” he began cheerfully. Upon noticing Blake peering over her shoulder, he continued, “What’s he doing there?”

“Hey,” Blake announced, pointing at the screen, “that’s pretty cool.”

Ali rolled her eyes at the both of them. “Yeah, Blake, makes things easier to a degree,” she told him. “Especially regarding communications.” To Caleb, she said, “He was just being nosy, wanting to know what I was doing.”

Blake tucked his chin against her shoulder and watched Caleb on the screen. “Can he see me?”

“Uh, yeah.” She pointed to the miniscule web cam embedded in the top of her monitor. “That’s a camera there.”

“Is he an idiot?” Caleb asked.

“Nooo, he just can’t hear you, you dumb…”

“That’s quite enough you two!” boomed another familiar voice.

“Sorry, General Stone, sir. I’m getting bombarded from both sides here.” She looked from the screen to the vulture hanging over her shoulder, breathing down the front of her shirt. Clearing her throat, she continued. “Things are going well on this end. No reports of anything out of the ordinary.” Blake maneuvered his arm behind her back, settling it along her waist. His hand curved around her hip and rested lightly across the top of her thigh. His body pressed against the length of hers; his face snuggled up to her cheek. Ali covered the mouthpiece briefly and asked him, “Making yourself comfortable, Cowboy?”

“Excuse me?” Caleb asked, annoyed. “Something you’d like to share with us, Lieutenant?”

Praying she wasn’t bright red, she shook her head. “No, nothing sir.” She flicked her eyes back towards Blake, hoping he’d get the hint. When he didn’t, she decided to give in and revel in the feel of his body against hers, inhaling the woodsy sent of his skin, and enjoy it while it lasted. She leaned back into him and continued with her report. “Like I was saying, situation normal here. No sign of any kind of Brotherhood activity. I will remain on the lookout as,” she stifled squeak as he pressed himself closer to her, hand slipping between her thighs “always.”

“Are you okay, Lieutenant?”

“Yes, sir, General Stone. Bumpy roads out here in the sticks.” She elbowed Blake as inconspicuously as she could. “Our next stop is as scheduled. We left on time and appear to be making good progress so far. We’ll stop for lunch in about four hours or so, I believe.” Blake nodded against her shoulder in confirmation. “See?” she waved her hand at the growth on her back, “he agrees. Anything else?”

“Yes,” Caleb spat, “you do remember that you’re on a mission?”

“Me? Yeah, of course. Why do you ask?” Please God; don’t let him bust me in front of Blake. All I was doing was my job, I swear. You were watching, weren’t you?

“Gee, Ali, I can’t imagine why I’d be concerned.”

She could feel the sarcasm in the words. “Had you not taken so long to respond to my call, you’d know that he sat down here after I’d made the initial call.”

“I can vouch for that,” Shana piped up, grinning in the background. “I was watching.”

“So, why didn’t you answer the call then?” Stone demanded, turning to face her.

“Caleb restricted access. I can only answer calls when I’m the lead officer.”

“You will change that, immediately. Understand?” Caleb nodded. “Good, we’re too busy for this garbage.” He shook his head, wishing for a shot of whiskey right then. “Alright then, keep on top of things and don’t let yourself get… distracted, okay?”

Ali nodded and attempted a salute. ”Yes, sirs. Will do. Lt. Hart, over and out.” She had to hide a grin; as she terminated the connection, she could see Shana giving her a double thumbs-up.

“YOU,” she said, turning her head to face Blake, “are going to get me court-marshaled with stunts like that!”

“Sorry, Cookie, couldn’t help myself. With you sitting here I had to be as close to you as I could get,” he whispered in her ear. Squeezing her thigh, he added, “Besides, the view was way too good to pass up.” Pressing his lips against her neck in a quick, but promising kiss, he untangled himself from her body and moved back to his seat. “Are ya gonna join me, like usual?” He motioned towards where he’d been sitting.

“Yeah, I just need to do something first, okay?” Like change my panties.

He nodded and went back to his seat. “I’ll get the cards,” he called back over his shoulder, “you bring the booze.”

Opening up her e-mail client, she sent a desperate note to the only person who’d understand.

Shana:

HELP ME! I think I’m drowning…

Ali

Shana, still listening to Stone and Caleb arguing over the communications restrictions as well as over Ali’s predicament, grinned at the e-mail. Sending her reply, she went back to monitoring the bickering.

Ali looked down at the response with an open mouth.

Honey:

Why should I help you? Looks like you knew what you were doing to me!

(and not a protest in sight!)

Red

Oh gods, she was in trouble now…

Code Red: The First Mission ~ Chapter 2 Interlude 1

Letter to Shana

From: crazyalirae

To: Scarlettfire

Subject: Cowboy

Hey Red,

WTF? How is this happening? I never thought in a million years I’d get the hots for a hick. But he is cute. Love those blue eyes. And that shit-eating grin of his. Whoooo…. <fans self> And I doubt we even need to get into how he looks in those painted-on jeans. Mmmm… Long legs that go on for miles…

Huh? What? Sorry. My bad. Drifted off there for a moment.

Yeah, yeah, yeah… I know what you’re thinking. And no, I do NOT have any plans on following through with my lust. No, really, I don’t. Geez, you’re starting to sound like Bryan. He had me in bed with him before I’d ever even MET him. Despite that’s where I’d like to be right now…

<huge sigh> So what now? It’s hard to jump in bed with a man when we’re always on this bus. Let’s not forget that the whole band is following us or with us at any given time. Oh joy oh joy. This has turned into a real adventure.

But I’ll behave. Or at least, I’ll try. Lemme know if you think I’ve gone off the deep end and then THROW ME A LINE!!

Ali

Code Red: The First Mission ~ Chapter 2

Mika's Note: This chapter was originally titled Losin' Leslie which was actually something ELSE the very first time, but I'm not going there.  Nothing but a bit of silliness in this chapter.  :)

“So you two aren’t actually touring together?”

Blake looked sheepish. “Um, nooo. She um, just…” he trailed off.

Ali bit back a smile. “Came for a visit?” she suggested.

“Uh, yeah. That’s about right.”

“Oh-kaaay,” Ali laughed. “If that’s your story than that’s what we’ll tell HQ. Until then, we’ve got to get someone on her tail as well, just in case.” She pulled her two-way radio off her belt and called Caleb.

~*~

“Right. Okay. Thanks for the intel.” Caleb placed his radio back on his hip.

“Looks like the little blonde was just flown in for some after-hours recreation. She’s left to the airport.”

Bryan raised an eyebrow. “So she’s not his girlfriend? I think you’d better get you-know-who away from him if that’s the case.”

Caleb observed his second-in-command for a moment, noting how bad he was at hiding his jealousy. “No, not quite. She is his girlfriend; she’s just not touring with him. As Ali put it, it was a ‘routine hook-up’ whatever that means.” Caleb looked at the steaming Bryan and restrained a laugh. “Better get your keys and head to the airport. We can’t have Ms. Morgan out on her own with a psychopath bent on ruling the world on the loose, can we?”

Bryan stated at his commander with a gaping mouth. “But what about…”

Caleb held up a hand. “We’ll assign someone else to that case. I’ll get your team out to you ASAP.”

~*~

“Ms. Morgan!” Bryan yelled, gasping. “Wait!”

Leslie turned to see who was calling her name. “Oh, it’s him.” Sighing, she slowed and allowed him to catch up. “What are you doing here?”

“HQ sent me to escort you to your next show,” he panted, desperately trying to catch his breath. “They figure that if Mr. Matson is a target then, as his girlfriend, you might be a target as well. I would have escorted you here had we known you would be leaving so soon.” And had I been assigned to you.

Leslie thought it over for a moment. “Okay then. You can carry my bags.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Bryan looked to the pile of carry-on luggage and cringed. “This is going to be a long assignment, I can tell already,” he mumbled quietly as he hefted her make-up bag onto his shoulder.

~*~

Settled in, bracing for the flight, Leslie resigned herself to her fate. I guess it could be worse. He’s at least somewhat attractive. It’s just… She looked at the career soldier sitting next to her and had a panicked thought. “Excuse me um…”

“Bryan. Call me Bryan.”

“Of course, Bryan. Um, that officer you left with Blake…”

“Allyson Hart. Yes, she’s one of our best.”

“Oh, that’s good. Um, what I was wondering was, is she married?”

“Married?” Bryan laughed. “No, not hardly.”

“Is she otherwise attached? Like with a man?”

Bryan thought sourly about the cowboy he left her with and bit the inside of his cheek. “No, no boyfriend either.”

“Girlfriend?” she asked desperately.

Laughing, he shook his head. “Nope, no girlfriend, although I wouldn’t put it past her.”

Shit! And she’d walked off and left her man with the woman. “Oh. Okay. So, you think Blake’ll be safe with her?”

“Absolutely. She’s a highly skilled soldier and very intelligent as well,” he reassured her. But, whether he’ll be safe from her is something else altogether, he thought bitterly.

“Hmm… as long as you’re sure then.”

“He’ll be fine, and so will you.”

“But she’s professional, right?”

“Usually.”

Leslie nodded and tried to settle down, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to relax until she and Blake were back together again and she was sure he wasn’t anywhere near that woman who seemed to completely catch her man’s attention in so short a time. But she trusted Blake, or at least, mostly. It was that soldier she didn’t trust. She hadn’t liked the way Blake had been so at ease with her. And so quickly.

In the meantime, she figured she could enjoy herself and maybe even have a little fun. Just so things stayed… even. “So, what about you? Boyfriend?”

Bryan gave her a horrified look and then he noticed the smile. Easing a bit, he smiled back. “No, no man in my life as we speak.”

The Break Up

Mika's Note: I wrote this as a pre-Blake Ali story.  I had gotten a challenge from my writing group to 'write about what people would find in your trash' and ran with it, although I don't think I ever shared it with them.  I think that I had finished the first of my Code Red stories at that point and although Ali made no bones about the fact she and Bryan were no longer an item, she never mentioned why.  I thought that finding not just her boyfriend, but also her commanding officer digging around in her trash to be a good enough reason.  Men, can't live with 'em and you just can't shoot 'em...

The Break-Up

(January 31, 2007)

“Bryan?” Allyson questioned, stepping inside her small apartment on base.

Looking up guiltily from the trash strewn across her kitchenette floor, he spluttered, “What are you doing here?”

“Um, I live here. Sometimes.” She came around to face him. “The question is what are you doing here? And why are you in my garbage?”

“You’ve been acting strangely lately,” he told her, standing and brushing his hands off. “I thought I’d investigate.”

“Investigate?” she asked, incredulously. “Looks to me like you’re snooping!”

“Look,” he said, attempting to placate her, “I’m you boyfriend, but I’m also your superior. It’s my job to make sure you’re at your best.”

“Boyfriend,” she laughed. “Not for long!”

“Now wait a minute! I’ve found some rather incriminating evidence that you’re going to have to explain!”

Ali rolled her eyes, forcing herself to calm down. He was in the wrong, after all. “Go for it, Bry. Make my day.”

He lifted up a movie ticket stub. “What’s this?”

“A movie ticket?” She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on already.

“Who’d you go with?”

Closing her eyes and counting to ten, she responded calmly, “Alex.”

“Why’d you go to a movie with him?”

“Because he’s my friend and because Shana was on a date.”

“Hmm,” he murmured, setting the ticket stub aside. “And this?” He held up another piece of paper.

She leaned in closer and grinned. “Dinner receipt.”

“Fancy restaurant,” Bryan observed.

Her grin broadened. “Yeah, it was. Nice wine, yummy tiramisu.” She knew she was baiting him, but she didn’t care. If the jerk was going to sift through her garbage, he deserved it.

“Who did you go with?”

“Why don’t you look at the signature on the receipt? It’s not mine.”

“Hmm, “ he studied the signature very carefully. “Reid. Damnit Allyson! Why didn’t you just tell me you and Shana had dinner together?”

“One: it isn’t any of your business. Two: I figured that if you’d spent all this time digging through my trash, you’d have figured it out by now!” She was tired of playing games with him. God only knows what was in her trash, but she knew that something incriminating had to be in there.

“Why’d you two go to such a ritzy place?”

“I keep telling you that it isn’t any of your business, but you just won’t listen, will you? I had some good news that night and she treated me to a special dinner. Friends do that sort of thing, you know.”

“What good news?”

“She’d just told me she’d found a new boyfriend,” Shana commented from the entrance to the kitchen. “One that doesn’t dig in the trash.”

Ali flashed her redheaded roommate a ‘thank you’ look, then went back to Bryan. “Anything else? So far you haven’t proved a damn thing!”

“Explain this!” He triumphantly held up a limp piece of something.

“What the…?” As she studied the item in his hand, it became so much clearer. “Oh, that’s right. It’s a condom. Can’t imagine why you wouldn’t know what one of those were, Bryan.”

“Damn you!” he screamed, face turning red. “Why can’t you just answer the question?”

“Because you’re invading my privacy!” she yelled back. “And in case you’ve forgotten, I share this place with Shana. Did it ever once occur to you that any of those items might be hers?”

Apparently not, because he hung his head and wrung his hands. “You’re right. I never once thought that…” his voice trailed off as he remembered what he was holding. “Please tell me this is hers…”

Shana turned bright red and nodded. “Now, do you mind?”

He tossed the used latex into the garbage. “Sorry. Would you…”

“Sure.” Red gave her roommate a ‘call me’ gesture and walked out of the kitchen.

“Bryan, this has got to stop.”

“What?”

“This,” she waved at the kitchen.

“This is the first time I’ve gotten into your garbage,” he protested.

“Maybe so, but you follow me, you check the messages on my answering machine, you look to see who’s called my cell phone…” She paused as it all began to sink in. “You’re becoming obsessive and overbearing. Not to mention possessive and untrusting.”

“Please tell me you’re not seeing someone else?” he begged.

“I’m not. Yet.”

“Then… the dinner?”

“I’ve been promoted.”

“Really? That’s great! We should…”

She interrupted him. “Bryan, no. This isn’t going to work. Especially now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Were you even listening to me before? You are becoming the clingy possessive boyfriend. The kind of man I cannot trust. And now that I’m going to be gone more and have more responsibilities, it’s only going to get worse. No thank you.”

“So, that’s it? It’s over?”

“Yeah, it is.” Her voice softened suddenly. Resting a hand on his arm, she continued, “Grow up some. Learn to trust me. Then we’ll see what happens, okay?”

He nodded sullenly.

“Look, you’re still here and so am I. We don’t have to stop seeing each other completely… I just can’t have a relationship with you right now. It’s getting to be too hard. And this,” she motioned to the mess on her floor again, “was really the last straw.” She patted his arm and moved to leave the kitchen. “Now get… I’ve got a date.”

“But you said…”

“I’m just teasing. I’ve got a class tonight. Now scoot!”

“On one condition?”

“Shoot.”

“You’ll have dinner with me tomorrow?”

“As long as you promise no more spying!”

“You’ve got it!”

“Good, gimme a hug and then go. I’ve got to change.”

Bryan hugged her and held her close. Giving her a friendly kiss on the cheek, he left her apartment, wondering. “Will we ever be okay again?”

CR: TFM ~ Chapter 1 Interludes

I added these in as I originally wrote the story for a way to get a better idea of what was going on in poor Ali's head.  I'm not sure if they work or not, but they're kinda fun.  :)

 

Note to Red

From: crazyalirae

To: Scarlettfire

Subject: YeeHAW

Hey Shana,

Just wanted to let you know that I think I’m a-gonna like my new assignment. He’s even cuter in person, if that’s possible, and has the goofiest personality. Caleb informed me that I shouldn’t be on this assignment very long, that it should be wrapped up in a few weeks, at the most. I sure hope not! <insert evil grin here> This could prove to be fun!

Just need to give his girlie the boot.

Hope you’re enjoying your deserted isle. See ya soon! Rumor is November – if I’m still on this assignment anyway.

Ali

CR:TFM ~ Chapter 1

Mika's Note: I had originally called this 'Hat Hair' for obvious reasons.  A little bad language, some covert flirting.

 

“Aw, crap!” He muttered, looking in the mirror. “Why me? Why do I end up with the frizzy hair? Huh?” Disgusted, he turned from the mirror and grabbed his hat. “One benefit to being a hick, they always expect you to be wearing a hat at least.”

“Quit your whining, Blake!” came a voice from the corner. “I swear, you’d think you were a woman!”

Blake spun around to face his current girlfriend lounging in the dressing room’s only chair. “For crying out loud, Leslie! I have to look good when I go out there,” he waved vaguely in the direction of the stage. “Or, at least, better than this.”

The petite blonde rolled her eyes and glared at him. “You look fine. Now stop it!”

He watched her for a moment; she sat in the chair, one leg slung over the chair arm, the other on the floor. It wasn’t her he was angry with, at least not completely. Her clingy, possessive attitude was beginning to get on his nerves, but it wasn’t what was on his mind right now. No, he had other things more pressing weighing on his mind. Things this twenty-something girl had no idea about.

“It’s time. If you’re gonna be backstage, you need to come with me now. If not, you’re stuck back here until the show is over.” He flung open the dressing room door and started the long walk to the stage.

Sighing, Leslie dragged herself out of the chair and followed behind him. She didn’t have a chance of catching up to his long stride and she didn’t bother to try. She’d get there when she got there.

Halfway to the stage, Blake was joined by his band. Grabbing his guitar from a nearby roadie, he stepped onto stage and into the lights.

~*~

“Ahh, good show, huh?” Blake asked, tossing his sweat-soaked hat onto the couch. Running his hands through his already disheveled hair, he looked at Leslie. “Sorry for snapping at you earlier. I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

She shrugged and pretended like it didn’t mean anything. “Its fine,” she lied. They both turned at the loud knock on the door.

Blake looked around frantically for a brush or something but the door opened before he had a chance. “Come in, I guess,” he muttered at the blonde head sticking in the dressing room doorway.

“Mr. Matson? I’m Caleb Lockhart. I was sent by your uh, management company. May we come in?”

Blake looked at the man for a moment, thinking, “Aren’t you already halfway in?” Biting his tongue, he said aloud, “Sure, of course. Excuse the mess I’m in.” He self-consciously rubbed his head full of hat-hair.

Behind the blonde came another male, darker, with a frown on his face and a black eye. Following him was a brunette with bright blue eyes and a body you wouldn’t expect on a soldier. Watching her made Blake even more self-conscious of his unruly mess of hair and sweaty body.

Caleb introduced each as they entered. “This is Commander Bryan Tracey,” he nodded to the dark-haired man with the black eye. “He’s second in command on this situation.” Bryan stuck his hand out and shook with Blake. “And this is our covert specialist, Lieutenant Allyson Hart.”

“Ali, please. No one but my father ever calls me Allyson.” She grinned and added, “Unless I’m in trouble, that is.”

Blake nodded at them both, just a bit speechless. Leslie sat in her place in the chair, staring bewilderedly at the scene before her. As if feeling her eyes boring into the back of his head, he came back into reality and introduced her to the party. “She’s my girlfriend and I would like to be sure she’s safe as well.”

“Absolutely, Mr. Matson,” Caleb comforted. “If she’s with you, it’s likely she’s in danger as well.”

~*~

“So you’re saying you’re being stalked?” Leslie almost screamed. “Why the HELL didn’t you tell me?” Her voice was rapidly approaching the hysterical point.

“Honey, please.”

“No! Oh, no, don’t even start!” she screeched. “You are so not getting out of this that easily!”

“Ms. Morgan, please calm down.” Ali began. “Men do strange things sometimes when it comes to the women in their lives. Things that often only make sense to them.” Inwardly, she rolled her eyes. How’d he put up with the little chit? Outwardly, she encompassed the two men beside her with a wave. “Ask me how I know.”

Leslie nodded absently, thinking. She looked at Blake who was still trying unsuccessfully to smooth his wayward mane. “Oh all right. I still don’t like that you didn’t tell me. I have a right to know these things.” She pouted momentarily, and then added, “Especially if I coulda gotten killed with you!”

“Yeah, you do. Sorry.” Blake looked around with a real deer-in-the-headlights look. “So, it’s settled, then?”

Caleb nodded. “Yeah. Lt. Hart has been assigned to keep you out of harm’s way. Do you have any questions?”

Blake shook his head, too confused to think much.

“I do,” Leslie piped up, her anger momentarily forgotten. “How’d he get a black eye?”

Everyone looked at Bryan. Bryan looked at Ali, who was conveniently studying the door hinges. Blake could have sworn there was a hint of a smile on her face.

“It’s a long story,” was all he said.

~*~

“So, you think you can handle watching this one?” Caleb asked Ali outside the dressing room.

“It’ll be a hardship, I’m sure, but I’ll manage somehow,” she replied, trying to hide the grin creeping onto her face. I could watch THAT body for a long, long time.

“I’m not sure I like this idea anymore,” Bryan whined. “Remind me again, why are we playing body guard to a bunch of hick singers?”

“Because intelligence says that his stalker is more than just a crazed fan trying to get attention.” Caleb turned to Ali. “I think you need to let them know what to expect, and find out their schedule so that we’re all on the same page.”

“Yes sir,” she replied, saluting.

“We’ll see you back at base. Be GOOD.”

“Would I ever be anything else?” she grinned.

“That’s what we’re afraid of,” Bryan groaned.

~*~

“Mr. Matson? May I come in?”

“Yup.”

“Thanks,” she came through the door and shut it tightly. “I’m the one you get stuck with, as you know. I’ll be traveling with you for a while, with my three partners. My commander will need to know your schedule so we can coordinate.”

“Okay. I’ll get my manager to get the info to him.”

“Thanks. Where’s Ms. Morgan?”

“In the bathroom and no more of this mister and missus stuff, it’s driving me crazy. I’m just a country boy who got a bit lucky. Not somethin’ special.” He was back to nervously smoothing his hapless curls.

Ali nodded in acknowledgement of his modesty. “Sure, as long as she doesn’t object.”

“She won’t. Lee thinks its weird being called ‘Ms’ and ‘Miss’ all the time. She still hasn’t gotten used to it yet, I think.”

Ali understood that all too well. Having been promoted at a young age, being called ‘sir’ by soldiers older than her took some getting used to. “You’re going to go bald if you don’t stop rubbing your head like that.”

He grimaced and pulled his hand away. “Sorry. My hair’s a mess. Couldn’t get to a brush or my hat before ya’ll came in.”

“Sorry. Caleb’s never quite learned how to wait for an answer. Just be lucky he was the one leading the parade. Bryan’s never learned how to knock.” She looked up into his blue eyes and thought how nice it’d be to get lost in them. Leaning in closer to him, she whispered, “Besides, I think you wear the ‘rumpled’ look rather well. It gives you this sexy, ‘I-just-got-out-of-bed-and-haven’t-been-sleeping’ look.” She grinned while he blushed bright red.

Ali thought she’d just embarrassed him; she was good at that, she’d had lots of practice. Blake knew better: he was wondering if she was as willing as he was at that instant to find out if it were true.

Code Red: TFM ~ Prologue

Mika's Note: I wrote this about a year after I started the original as a way to sort of introduce the characters to people who didn't already know them.  Nothing bad in this one.  :)

“Come in, Lieutenant, we’ve been waiting on you.”

“Sorry, Caleb. Didn’t mean to be so late.”

“You’re not late; we’re early, for once.”

Allyson nodded at her commanding officer and smiled. “Thanks. What’s going on?”

“Something odd, really.” He handed her a folder of information and sat down. “There seems to be a rash of attacks being perpetrated against musicians in the last few weeks.”

“Random?” asked the other, quieter man in the room.

“They appear so, but there are other things that suggest otherwise, Bryan.”

She looked to the dark haired man sitting next to her. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, listening for what was coming next. They both trained their eyes on the blonde seated in front of them. “So, what makes you think otherwise?”

“This.” He held up a piece of navy blue cloth for their inspection.

“That looks like…” she began but was cut off.

“It is. It’s half of a Brotherhood insignia. It was found on the scene of the most recent attack.”

“That’s not good,” Bryan observed.

“No, it’s not,” Caleb agreed. “After discovering this, we went back over all the data collected at the other four attacks and have found many similarities. We think they’re linked.”

Caleb guided them through all the particulars in the files before them. They discussed the similarities and differences as well as possible courses of action. When they’d all agreed on a game plan, Caleb stood. Holding up several folders, he handed one to Allyson and the others to Bryan. “Lieutenant, this is your next assignment. Read it over and find three more to assist you. Bryan, find and form four more teams.”

“Yes sir,” they responded in unison.

~*~

“What’s that?”

Ali looked up from the folder she’d been studying and grimaced at her roommate. “My next assignment.”

Shana moved closer to the back of the couch so she could look over Ali’s shoulder. She grinned, approving. “He’s a hottie, I hope you don’t have to kill him.”

“No, worse. I have to baby sit him.”

Her roommate laughed. “Ooh, what a hardship!”

Unable to disagree, Ali shook her head and laughed along with her. “No doubt. Says here his name is Matson-Comma-Blake, 6’ 5”, dark brown hair, blue eyes. Occupation: singer, born: Oklahoma.” She flipped past a couple pages detailing his attack and held up the folder. “And from the look of these he’s got a pretty cute backside too.”

“Ooh!” Shana squealed and grabbed the folder from Ali. “Damn!”

“That was my first thought, too.”

“And your second?” Shana giggled.

“Ladies? Are we having a problem here?” The deep voice intruded on their lustful thoughts.

“Oh hey, Caleb,” Ali stalled, grabbing the folder back from Shana and closing it quickly. “No, no problems at all.”

“Aside from the fact that you and dorkwad there never seem to knock before letting yourselves in, no, no problems,” the redhead groused.

Caleb glared at her and then glanced at Ali. “Got your team together?”

“Yes sir,” she straightened herself on the couch. “Schofield, Mitchell, and Stewart.”

“Good choices.” Bryan confirmed.

“So glad you think so.”

“You got to choose and you didn’t pick me?” Shana pulled a fake look of hurt.

“Sorry, Red, I was explicitly instructed not to choose you.”

“That’s right, Shana,” Caleb scolded. “I wanted to be sure that Mr. Matson actually survived his tour.”

“Hmph!” She crossed her arms across her chest.

“Anything else?” Ali asked her two superiors.

“Just making sure you’d chosen your team and that you’d been doing your homework. Looks like you’re doing what you’re supposed to. For once.”

“Yay me. Now get. If I’m supposed to be in Austin tomorrow afternoon, I’ve got a lot to do.”

Once their good nights had been said, Shana followed the two men to the door, locking it behind her. Turning back to Ali, she growled, “I really wish I could strangle those two sometimes!”

“Yeah, me too.” Ali sighed and put the dossier onto the coffee table. “You’d think that Bryan at least would get a clue. We split up close to three years ago and yet he…”

“Still acts like he owns you? Yeah, I’ve noticed that.” She sat down next to Ali and picked up Blake’s file. “He is a doll. Look at that smile!” She laughed at his very white teeth. “Caleb’s getting to be just as bad as Bryan was there at the end.”

She watched her friend for a long moment. “You need to do something then. Either make it clear you won’t put up with it or leave. Don’t let it get out of hand like I did.”

“Trust me, I’m not gonna put up with that kind of crap. Thanks.”

“Anytime, babe.”

“So, tell me really,” she grinned, tapping the folder in her lap, “what was your second thought?”

Ali grinned and shrugged. “Nothing really. Just how badly I’d like to get my hands on him and see what other surprises he holds!”

“Just remember to be gentle,” Shana reminded her. “You’d have an awfully hard time explaining to his band how you broke him!”

About Code Red: The First Mission

Okay, so you'll be laughing at me by the end of this introduction, but I'm not sure I care.  Way back when I was in like the fourth grade, my absolute favorite cartoon (or one anyway) was G. I. Joe.  Yeah, I know, how sad is that?  But, my best friend and I really took to this show and, as kids do, we took our favorite characters and made them our own.  For me, that was Lady Jaye, for my best friend it was Scarlett.  We used to play act and I would write out the adventures.  And now, some twenty-four years later, I still am.  What can I say?  LJ and Red became a huge part of my life.

Anyway, I hadn't written anything in probably two years when I was bored at work one day and started surfing the web.  I have to admit, I was haunting the BS'ers fan club message board - Blake Shelton's fan club - and found a picture of him, taken with a fan.  In that picture, the fan had stolen his cowboy hat and was wearing it.  Now, if you don't know who he is, he's got these great dark wavy almost-curls and in the picture, you could tell he'd had his hat on because his curls had gone to the dark side.  Something about Blake's head of hat hair really set me off and for the first time in a long time, I started writing again.  That was July 20, 2006.  What I had intended to be a short story became SO much more.  And poor Blake, heaven help him if anyone he knows ever stumbles across this blog because I use him and abuse him.  Funny thing is, he suddenly took on a good number of my husband's characteristics. LOL  Zanderyn in Blake's body, what a freaking combo.

But anyway, I'm going to post this bit by bit, because I need to go back through and remove the G. I. Joe references and code names... can't have Blake AND Hasbro suing me now, can I?  One other thing, this is pretty mild for the most part but when there is sex (and there is, trust me), it's GOOD SEX.  LOL  So, consider yourself warned.  And, seeing as I can be a bit lazy, the rest of these posts may just say CR:TFM Chapter whatever.  But, if you need to sort them out, look for the categories.  It'll always spell it out for you.

Happy Reading!

~Mika and her best buddy, Allyson Hart Matson

(Robin, this is all your fault ~ ask and you shall receive)