The days slipped by without mercy as preparations were made for the mission.  Eleanor caught up on her rest the best she could while giving Jack a hand in the kitchen at times, and Tianna made sure she had plenty of reason to sleep. Hale oversaw Carrigan's preparations, and he secured their transport while Lumi used Carter to write their report for Eleanor to have on hand. 

They were in the final hours of their preparation, and Eleanor took a moment to herself, napping in the shade of a tree on the edge of town. Purposely heavy steps approached her, crunching the gravel in the announcement of his arrival.

    “Hey there, sunshine,” she could hear the grin in his voice, and the warmth of his hand pushed the bangs out of her face before her eyes flickered open.

    “H-Hey Avery,” she greeted him with a bashful smile.

    “Aww what?” he pouted, “One month and you get shy on me?” he whined before spinning to flop back into her lap, and she grunted, “Woe is me!”

    “I- Avery!” Eleanor huffed, but she failed to hide her amusement, “What do you expect waking me up like that?”

    “Oh, I dunno…” he sighed, “A hug… with force.”

    “I mean… I didn’t know what you wanted,” she grew a bit awkward, “You got back a few days ago, and no one really saw you but Jack.”

    “Ah yeah…” Avery laid his head back on her shoulder, “Can’t say we were feelin’ all that good when we got back…”

    “You okay?” Eleanor loosely wrapped her arms around him.

    “I hope so since we’re watching your back now,” he huffed in amusement, “But nah, it’s just twin crap. We had a lot of switches on the last mission. I swear...” he grumbled before raising his hand, and he swirled his finger. “We were like a damn merry-go-round.”

    “That bad?” concern flickered in Eleanor’s eyes.

    “I was in Rainlin City, and the bitches there are crazy,” he sighed with his exasperation tapping on Eleanor’s mind.

    “Wait… I thought you were supposed to be in Arveck?” Eleanor blinked, and he waved her off.

    “My mark fled shortly after I got in Arveck,” Avery explained, “But yeah… someone drugged my drink ‘cause I’m just so loveable I guess, and you know what knocking me out like that does…”

    “Ah…” Eleanor huffed in amusement, “They met Avery Avery.”

    “Bingo!” he poked her nose, “So in short, someone got set on fire a little.”

    “A little?” Eleanor raised an eyebrow, “I somehow doubt that.”

    “Yeah, whatever,” Avery snickered before moving to his feet, and he offered his hand, “Either way, you ready to go back to the city, girlie?”

    “As I’ll ever be,” she huffed in amusement while taking his hand, and he pulled her to her feet.

    “Then let’s go see how we are getting there.”

    Eleanor nodded, and the two began walking down the path with Avery throwing his arm around her neck, rambling on with bad jokes and lighthearted topics.

    “And then the guy said I caribou you, and he tried to kiss me!” Avery chimed, and Eleanor snickered, “And of course, he failed ‘cause I fell to the ground laughing all too hard.”

    “Poor guy,” Eleanor shook her head.

    “You don’t even know,” Avery grinned, “I smacked my head going down, and the dude was not ready for the shift.”

    “Oh gods…” Eleanor winced a bit, “I… can’t imagine that went well.”

    “Yeah…” he nodded before shaking his head, “Not at all, but on the bright side, that building had a functioning sprinkler system.”

    “At least there was that,” Eleanor nodded back.

    “At least you showed up,” a voice cut through the air, and both of them froze up on the spot before standing at attention, “I’m just toying with you.”

    “He-Hello Jamie,” Eleanor and Avery stuttered in unison as they looked at the clean-shaven man with peach-kissed locks delicately framing his face.

    “Good day lovelies,” he hummed while looking rather pleased by their reactions, “I trust you’re ready, or that the short one needs to grab her pack?” he tilted his head with a knowing look.

    “I-... yeah,” Eleanor gave a crooked smile.

    “Tsk, tsk… Hurry up,” Jamie tutted as he gestured to the bar, and she quickly made her way to the door, “I’m driving you three to Liope, so you can use the Net Port.”

    “But-”

    “Now, Eleanor,” Jamie frowned.

    “Yes sir!” she chirped before rushing off, and Jamie looked to his watch that was strapped to the inside of his wrist.

    Avery shifted a bit uneasily on his feet while glancing at Jamie, who offered him a smile that was just a bit too kind before he focused on his watch again.

    “Are you ready my dear Carrigan?” Jamie questioned when her footsteps approached alongside a pouting Hale.

    “Yes,” Carrigan answered.

    “Good girl,” Jamie smiled, and Hale frowned more, “You’ll give yourself wrinkles with that jealousy,” he taunted seamlessly, and Eleanor burst out of the bar before Hale could retort, “Ah, and there’s the other one! And only thirty-two seconds,” he patted Eleanor’s head as she caught her breath, and the color in her cheeks deepened, “Oh hun… get in the car.”

    “Yes sir,” Eleanor mumbled before she climbed her way into the humvee with Avery giving her a boost, “Th-thanks.”

    “Yeah, well you’re like three feet tall,” he teased, and she frowned.

    “Five,” she huffed at him.

    “Children, please,” Jamie cut them off, and they both fell into line without question.

    “I swear…” Hale shook his head in amazement.

    “Impressed?” Jamie smirked, “I know, but I don’t want your job, hun. Come Carrigan,” he added before making his way to the driver’s seat.

    “I don’t like him…” Hale grumbled before an unexpected kiss crashed onto his lips from Carrigan, and he couldn’t help but smile.

    Hale didn’t hesitate to wrap his arms around her, lingering in the moment for as long as he could before she had to get in the vehicle.

    “Miss you already!” Hale waved to her with Tianna running to join him.

    “Good luck Ellie!” Tianna waved, and Eleanor’s cheeks warmed with surprise in her eyes as she looked out the window.

    “Th-thanks!” Eleanor quickly waved back, “I’ll be back as soon as I can!” she blurted before the humvee lurched forward under Jamie’s heavy foot, throwing Eleanor back into Avery with a chirp.

    “What was that?” Avery teased, “Do you have feelings for Tianna? Actual feelings?”

    “I… no,” Eleanor’s blush deepened, “I just… wasn’t expecting her to see us off…” she mumbled, looking forward, just catching Jamie’s gaze in the rear view mirror.

    “Well if yah do, she’s a hell of a piece of work,” Avery shook his head, “I’ve never heard of that girl being satisfied by anything or anyone.”

    “Mmm…” Eleanor’s gaze drifted out the window.

    “Let’s not pry into private affairs at the start of the road trip,” Jamie sighed, “You’ll make poor sweet Carri uncomfortable.”

    “No they won’t,” Carrigan blinked at him.

    “And then Hale will be upset,” Jamie ignored her, “And then he’ll pout…” his tone grew less forgiving, “And then I’ll be annoyed.”

    “Prying withdrawn,” Avery held up his hands in surrender, and Jamie checked the mirror again to find Eleanor lost in thought, but a small sigh of relief left her when the compliance settled.