It's been a while since I posted; life got busy and the Joes were set aside, needing a reboot. Here's my attempt.

In this one, I want to try something a little different. This is to be a series of one shots. Let me know what you think. Reads and Reviews always appreciated.

I don't speak Gaelic...mistakes in translation, all mine.

Lady Jaye's Gaelic - Imeacht gan teacht Ort / English translation - That you may leave without returning

Usual disclaimer: I don't own anything GI Joe.


Chapter Title: Where the Wild Things Are


"Flint, what was that?" Lady Jaye hissed, her brown eyes widening.

"What?"

"Over there," she whispered, pointing toward shadowed bushes just outside the ring lit by the campfire, "I heard something."

Flint peered into the darkness, shading his eyes from the glare of the flames, "I don't see anything, Jaye."

The night guard had changed over after the first watch, and it was now Flint and Lady Jaye's turn to guard the camp. They sat huddled near the flames, occasionally feeding the fire, keeping the night's chill at bay. Behind them, in the shadows, the rest of the Alpha team were sleeping soundly.

"Flint…," Lady Jaye rose silently to her feet. "There it is again," she pointed to a slightly different location.

Flint had heard it, too, and rose to stand beside her. He unslung his rifle and quietly released the safety.

Two small lights appeared in the dark.

Lady Jaye clutched Flint's arm tightly and froze, "What is it?"

The lights winked and then disappeared.

Lady Jaye looked around wildly.

"Jaye," Flint suddenly pointed to a tree stump, "over there."

The lights had reappeared, this time to the right.

"Looks like some kind of animal…," he whispered next to her ear.

Lady Jaye nodded and released her death-like grip. Flint began rubbing the place where she had latched on to his arm. It would be a good while before the feeling returned, he thought wryly.

Slowly, carefully, Lady Jaye pulled out her netting javelin from the case slung over her shoulder. She stood tense, like a coiled spring, holding the shaft lightly between her fingers, never taking her eyes off the two glowing points of light. The lights moved and she jumped slightly, raising her javelin above her shoulder. But, before she could throw, they winked out again, leaving darkness and empty shadows behind. She dropped her arm in frustration.

"Fine…, go Imeacht gan teacht Ort," she growled under her breath.

"English, Jaye," Flint gave an exasperated sigh.

She turned to him and glared.

The leaves to the left rustled, and they both turned. Their eyes tracked the sound, squinting at the shadows. Then, on the far edge of the firelight, they saw a small dark shadow dart into the light and then turn, giving them a glimpse of a bushy, ringed tail.

"Racoon," they both mouthed at the same time.

Flint grabbed the stick he'd just been using to poke the fire. He walked purposefully toward the place where they had last seen it disappear.

Lady Jaye followed him with her eyes, staring incredulously. "Flint….," she stammered, "I don't think…"

"Shoo," he cried, stamping his feet, "Go on! Get out of here."

Flint raise his stick and swung, striking the sides of the bushes. Leaves cascaded to the ground at his feet. The racoon made a noisy departure through the undergrowth.

Slowly, audibly, Lady Jaye let out the breath she had been holding and returned her javelin to its case. "Thank goodness it's gone," she muttered to herself.

Flint looked at her in surprise, "Don't tell me you're afraid of a racoon, Lady Jaye."

Lady Jaye lifted her eyes and then opened her mouth as if to say something and then decided against it, promptly shutting it again.

He smiled, watching the changing expressions on her face, "Don't worry, I won't say anything," he promised, "Cross my heart."

She pressed her lips together and a flush rose to her cheeks.

They moved back to the fire and sat down. Lady Jaye stretched out her arms, and rubbed her hands together. "Cold tonight, isn't it, Flint," she murmured lightly, her face, once again, blank and unreadable.

"Yeah," Flint gave her a lopsided grin, "It most definitely is, Lady Jaye," He began rubbing his own hands in an exaggerated manner.

And then as if to prove that it was cold, he reached down and picked up a piece of the split wood. He laid it carefully on the fire, and then another and then another. Finally, he sat back and poked at the logs lazily. Sparks rose up, dancing and swirling and chasing one another into the black night above. In the pit, the logs sizzled and crackled and hissed until the wood caught and then yellow flames raced hungrily up the sides. In the sudden blaze, their faces became clearly visible to one another, the fire alight in their eyes.

Lady Jaye turned her head and caught Flint's dark eyes studying her.

She met his gaze in bold challenge.

He grinned, slowly shaking his head, "You know, just when I think I have you figured out, Jaye, you never fail to surprise me."

"Really?," she tilted her head quizzically.

"Really," he affirmed.

"Well, I guess that is something…," She gave him a coquettish smile and then quickly lowered her eyes, hoping it was too dark to see a different heat that rose to her cheeks.

His soft chuckles filled the darkness.

A racoon, indeed.