"I'm sure there's plenty holy in there somewhere. The tabasco sauce has to be paying off, right?" He asked as Potter
passed him a bottle.
"The amount you consume, I surely hope so." Potter said.
"Of course tying me down and drugging me into a nearly comatose state wasn't necessary." Hector continued. "They
did it to have a little fun at my expense, weird people."
"Oh yeah, I have that much time on my hands." Cara remarked.
Hector shook his head. "But if you want to do the physical instead of Jase, by all means. Volunteer."
"I don't know." Andi stated. Shooting Hector a laughing look from the corners of her eyes. With a grin she innocently
asked: "Do I get to use the restraints?"
Cara almost lost her soda a second time and broke down laughing. Potter shot Hector a look, eyes actually wider than
usual.
"Oh, you can stay." Cara managed. "Please stay. I'll hide you in the storage room."
Andi chuckled.
"Such a tempting offer."
Hector had managed to slather the food with the tabasco sauce and clear his plate. As did Potter. It was ingrained into
them to get down as much food as possible as quick as possible. Under normal circumstances, who knew when they'd
eat again?
"Now there's an idea. But Mike would kick my ass and Sam would organize the Salvation Army to invade us to retrieve
you, you know." He said.
Andi laughed.
"And here I was so looking forward to living in a closet for the rest of my days." She clarified. Cara chuckled.
"It’s bigger than the apartment I've got back home." She stated.
"It's lacking running water." Andi pointed out.
"It’s got him" Cara pointed at Hector and thereby won the argument as Andi leaned over to kiss him.
"Mm." Andi agreed. "I could go without the running water bit for a while I suppose."
Potter chuckled.
"Everyone's going to want their own Red Cross doctor after this."
"You haven't seen some of the doctors." Andi warned with a grin and Potter gave her a smile.
"Yes I have. Didn't say it was a good idea. Just that everyone would want one now."
Andi laughed at him as she slipped off the bed and started cleaning up.
"Don't tease." She chided. "You actually have several buildings in your camp. And distinctly larger kitchens. You might
get what you wish for and then where would we be?" She finished her collection and stated: "I'm going to run these to
that very large kitchen of yours now in fact. If I'm not overwhelmed by all the stove top space I may even come back."
Cara waited until the door had shut behind her and then stood up with a chuckle to get back to work.
"It’s a good thing she's making all those trips." She commented. "Otherwise we'd have the entire male population of the
camp wandering through here too."
"Do you think they'll give her dessert?" Potter asked wistfully.
Hector lifted an eyebrow at them. "I'd dare them to try." He said. "And y'all'd see just how much I can get done, tied
down or not."
Potter chuckled. "Ooh whee." He said. "Might organize a parade through here just to see that." He said then grinned.
"Don't worry, Swan's on her like white on rice whenever she leaves here. You trust your friend, right?"
"Absolutely." Hector said. "Because he knows I can kick his ass easily."
Cara chuckled. Thinking 'men'. But thinking it fondly. The Delta and his Red Cross doctor had a weird thing going.
They both seemed to trust the other one when it came to the opposite sex but she hadn't missed the possessiveness in
either one of them when the subject was brought up either. After all, she'd been on the receiving end of Andi's when
the woman had first arrived. Nicely done but the point had been unmistakable. And yet at the same time, the woman
had no problem leaving Hector with her and strolling off into the sunset on her mystic 'errands'. Of course, Potter was
present too but she got more of an idea it was simply the fact the woman didn't expect Hector to be tempted in the first
place that motivated her. Which might have been insulting to Cara if the fact hadn't remained that Hector had never
been tempted by anyone that she knew of. Once you figured out what was going on it was actually enjoyable to watch.
Potter was chuckling.
"Ah, what friendships are really based on. Now I've just got that warm, fuzzy feeling inside."
"You want me to dig out that toothbrush and all?" Cara asked. Trying to lure Hector back into the sweet and sleepy
version since it was late and if she didn't he might spend all night swapping one liners with Potter.
"Nah, I'm good." Hector said and looked at Potter. "A man's gotta trust his friends, especially when they speak every
language and can spread stories about you world wide."
"Speaking of language, is 'y'all'd' even a word?" Potter remarked.
"Is in my parts."
"Is that in the English speaking world?"
"Nope. Redneckville."
"Thought so."
Cara chuckled. And wondered exactly what kinds of stories Swanson would be spreading if he was going to.
"'Ya'll'd'." Potter picked up his book again. "I swear it’s a wonder you two can understand each other with her 'stroppy'
and you're 'ya'll'd'. No wonder Swan has to know all those other languages. Must be the only way he understands most
of what you say."
"He's just annoyed because he's from Ohio." Cara supplied. "Ignore him. The drawl's attractive."
"Don't encourage him." Potter stated. "Next thing you know he's going to be 'a'ight'ing at us."
"I can see how he'd feel slighted." Hector said with a chuckle. "Ohio....man it doesn't have anything."
"Nice. Remember, I'm still allowed to carry." He said, showing his weapon holster briefly.
"See that? He's threatening the poor helpless patient."
"I doubt you're as helpless as you're acting." Cara said dryly.
"Acting?"
"Oh yeah. The minute you're allowed to go back to duty, she goes home. So I can see you drawing it out."
Potter chuckled.
"Go right ahead. Most interesting conversation I've had in a long time. Despite the language barrier." He felt the need
to add.
"Sure saves on sedatives." Cara agreed with a smile as Andi let herself back into the room, followed closely by
Swanson.
"They're not cute." He was protesting. "They're hormonal."
"They're sweet." Andi disagree. "They promised brownies tomorrow."
"I can't believe I'm hearing this." Potter shook his head and disappeared behind his book again.
"I thought you talked to her." Swanson accused Hector. Andi rolled her eyes as she settled back onto the bed and
leaned down to slip off her shoes.
"Is he always this excitable?" She asked. "Because I usually only see him around Suz."
Hector chuckled. "I did." He said to Swanson. "Andi, Rangers are teenagers. All they think about is blowing things up
and getting laid."
"What's the difference between Rangers and Deltas then?" Cara asked with a laugh.
"Deltas actually get laid, well, at least I do." Swanson volunteered. "And Rangers dream of being us."
"Seriously." Hector said. "They're kids and they're following you around because you're the first non military female
they've seen in months."
"I'm not excitable." Swanson said.
"Yeah you are." Hector said. Which was probably why they were the friends they were. Hector was 'stoic' and Swanson
was 'excitable.' They balanced each other out and dealing with the two of them was often easier than dealing with just
one.
Andi laid down on her back and snuggled close to Hector.
"They're following me around because I have an accent. And because they know I'm yours." She clarified, touching the
tip of his nose lightly as she looked up at him. "But I am being careful to leave neither broken hearts nor bodies behind."
"I'm not excitable." Swanson protested. "I'm... emotionally aware."
"Oh good God." Potter choked.
"I have an accent and they don't follow me around." Hector pointed out.
"That's because they're afraid of us." Swanson said as he put his feet up.
"Oh yeah. Forgot that. Think the drugs are frying my brain." Hector said.
"Shouldn't take long."
"Okay, visiting hours are over. Time to sleep. The patient has had a big day after all." Cara said, pushing Swanson's
feet off the other bed.
"Yeah. He walked six feet." Swanson said.
"Hey!" Hector said. "It was twenty, thank you very much."
"There was some pacing involved at one point too." Potter pointed out as Cara forcefully evicted Swanson from the
room. Andi turned her head to watch and chuckled.
"He really is very - 'emotionally aware.'" She agreed.
"Don't ever use that phrase again." Potter stated flatly. "I'm going to pretend I didn't even hear him use that phrase."