Hondo glanced over at Valentine then back to the road as they got close.  
 
 
"Last exit before the airport. Need anythin' to eat, darlin'?" Hondo asked
 
 
Valentine shook her head, "No... not had much of an appetite since ..."
 
 
He put a hand on her arm and gave it a light squeeze.
 
 
"I'm stahvin'!" Monty complained.
 
 
"You can stand to miss a meal or two. Now be quiet." Hondo said with a half growl.
 
 
Monty worked his jaw angrily, but help his peace.
 
 
As They pulled up to the hanger, Hondo's phone vibrated again. Hondo put the car in park and got out, walking to the man-door. As he unlocked it he glanced at the message. He made a mental note to setup training of the sort for Monty, if he didn't shoot him before the day was over that is.
 
 
Since the hanger door was not remote operated Hondo walked in, checked the hanger out quick like, then opened the door once he was sure it was safe. It appeared as if no one had been there since they had left the night before. As the door opened Valentine slid across the seat and pulled the mustang inside. Hondo closed the door behind them, before going back to the man-door to lock it. Valentine pulled up beside the loading ramp to the plane and shut the car off. As Hondo walked back to the car, Valentine climbed into the plane to open the loading ramp. In the mean time Monty pried himself out of the back seat with a series of grumblings and cuss words.  
 
 
Hondo gave him a chuckling sneer, "Looks like some starvin' will do you good."
 
 
Monty grumbled but didn't say anything as the ramp lowering caught his attention. Once the ramp was down, Valentine walked down it half way and looked out at them.
 
 
"What to we want to grab?" She asked.
 
 
"500 rounds of the 9mm, .45 acp, 55.6, an' 7.62. Then 200 rounds of any of the special ammo. My black weapons bag, my brown leather pistol bag, the two green tech bags, my electronics tool kit, the black gun tool kit, an' probably should grab some more clothes. Leave two changes in case somethin' comes up an' we hafta make an emergency exit. Probably should make sure there's no perishable foods we left here too. Monty will carry everythin' out. Just point at it for him." Hondo said as he turned and gave Monty a bit of a cocky grin.
 
 
"Oy! I'm not your bleedin' slave, Mate!" Monty said with a growl.
 
 
Hondo chuckled and pulled a cigarillo from his inside vest pocket. He clenched the wood tip in his teeth as he pulled the zippo from his left pocket and light the cigarillo. He puffed it a bit before walking up and blowing a big puff a smoke into Monty's face.  
 
 
 
"Unless ya want to go stay with Chip you'll do as I say." He said in a sinister town.
 
 
Monty coughed at stared at Hondo. His face was almost red with anger and he was already breathing like a locomotive. There was something about the cool, calm, unflinching look in Hondo's face that unsettled him, though. He looked away and walked around Hondo to the ramp where Valentine stood.
 
 
"What ya want me ta hsul first.... ma'am." Monty said through half grit teeth.
 
 
"In the locker in front of the golfcart is a black bag and a green bag. You can grab them to start." Valentine said cautiously.
 
 
Monty stomped away to get them and valentine looked from him to Hondo. She came down the ramp so to get close enough to her husband to whisper.
 
 
"I ... I don't understand. Why?" Valentine asked
 
 
"Why am I actin' like an asshole?" Hondo asked with a half grin
 
 
"Asshole is nicer than I'd put it." Valentine said flatly.
 
 
"I'm pushin' him. If he's all talk he does us no good. Besides, I'm not sure he didn't #$@! gadget yet. I'll have the truth one way or the other. Best way is to get him pissed enough to attack me. I've worked with him before. He doesn't control himself well. Time he learns to... unless he's in with chip on what they did to her." Hondo said ending with a growl.
 
 
"If he did, then what?" Valentine asked.
 
 
"I'll beat him to death with my fists." Hondo said coldly.  
 
 
A couple seconds later Monty reappeared so Hondo popped the trunk and Valentine went back into the plane to find the other bags and such. Hondo leaned against the car and watched as Monty huffed and puffed as he carried things from the plane to the car. Monty glared at Hondo each trip he made. Hondo shook his head after the fifth trip.
 
 
"Not that bag. Take it back." Hondo said.
 
 
"You could help!" Monty growled
 
 
Hondo just looked at him. Monty sighed and swore under his breath again as he took the bag back. He came back with another bag and hondo shook his head.
 
 
"No, that's the wrong bag. The other one was right. Take this one back an' bring the other one back." Hondo said with a bit of a smirk.
 
 
Monty dropped the bags on the ground angrily, "What's yur #$@!in' problem, eh?"
 
 
"You're one of them , ya worthless old pedophile." Hondo said flatly, blowing another cloud of smoke at him.  
 
 
Monty growled and swung a haymaker at Hondo, who deftly side stepped and avoided it. Valentine came out about then to see what was going one.
 
 
"I heard yellin'! What's wrong?" She asked
 
 
"I'm bought ta teach this young #$@!-wit of a wankah some mannah's!" Monty growled
 
 
Hondo laughed, "You're gonna teach me manners? You're old, fat, an' used up."
 
 
"I've got plenty of foight left in me! Take those guns off an' foight like a man, less yur too much a coward!" Monty bellowed.
 
 
Hondo stopped and glared at him. His voice was cold as ice and his demeanor twice that.
 
 
"Don't make me laugh. You're a has-been. I could kill ya without breakin' a sweat." He replied without emotion
 
 
Hondo's tone was enough to make Valentine visually shiver, though she tried not to show any reaction.
 
 
"Ya never stuck me ta be dumb as dog-shit, but I guess I's wrong. Chip was right. You're just a savage mad-dog that needs put down!" Monty growled
 
 
Hondo took a large stride forward and in the same motion backhanded Monty across the face. Valentine swallowed hard as she looked at him. His jaw muscles were clenched and his eyes were almost red with anger. Before he had been half acting, but now it was pure rage in his eyes.
 
 
"Don't you dare even say the name of that murderin' munk!" Hondo hissed.
 
 
Monty growled, "Thet does it! I tried to hold back as I don't like to beat a man in from of his wife."
 
 
Hondo crushed out his cigarillo and placed his hat, vest, and gun on the mustang. He spoke coldly as he placed the last item on the car.
 
 
"Don't like to beat a man in from of his wife, but you'll watch a man beat his wife... or do you beat wives up too?" He said with a sneer.
 
 
Monty roared with anger as he launched into Hondo. Hondo was a bit closer to the car than he cared to be but he dodges and did a shoulder roll to get some distance between them. As expected Monty was pure, unthinking rage. He launched at Hondo with noise, spit, and flailing fists. Monty supposedly had been somewhat of a fighter back in his day, but he had lost control.  
 
 
As Monty continued his assault, Hondo deftly dodges and blocked his wild punches, getting in the random jab or two as he did so. Hondo was not in a hurry in the slightest. The poisoning from the night before still had his system sluggish, but he was in far better shape than Monty was and Monty would wear out long before he would.
 
 
As expected Monty's moves quickly became more sluggish. When Hondo thought he had slowed too much hit him with a right cross, moved around behind him and kicked him in the ass. This pissed Monty off and he charged Hondo. Unfortunately for Hondo as he moved, he stumbled and Monty plowed into him and slammed him into the side of the plane. Not being able to easily break Monty's bear-hug, Hondo dropped all his weight, causing Monty to lose his grasp of him. Hondo then rolled onto his back and kicked up into Monty's gut. Monty coughed and gasped for air as Hondo rolled out from under the plane and got to his feet. Monty looked a bit green but was still extremely angry. The large Australian pulled himself back together and charged the cowboy-gunslinger again, but Hondo was ready for him. As Monty lunched forward and swung at him again Hondo dropped down and swept Monty's legs out from underneath him. Monty landed on the concrete with a thud and a loud "ooff!". Hondo had expected the large mouse to be down for a bit but to his surprise Monty scrambled to his feet and unleashed a flailing fury of fists. Hondo blocked and ducked most of them but one connected and sent Hondo stumbling. He managed to recover as he launch himself into a shoulder roll and ended up on one knee. He gave Monty a lopsided grin that angered him all the more.  
 
 
Hondo sprung to his feet and met the Monty head on. He breathed, watched and listened for the right moment to strike as he blocked Monty's wild but slowing haymakers again. When the moment was right, Hondo gave him a left cross to the chin and an uppercut to the gut, causing Monty to stumble back. He leaned against the plane, panting and wheezing as he glared at Hondo, who stood erect and fairly composed.  
 
 
"I'll .. beat ... the piss ...outta ya.. yet!" Monty wheezed.
 
 
"Like ya let Chip do to Gadget? Maybe ya #$@!ed her too in one of Chips gang-rape parties!" Hondo growled.
 
 
"You're a #$@!in' liar!! I'll make ya eat those words!!" Monty bellowed as he started forward again.  
 
 
"No!" a female voice cried out.
 
 
Monty balled up his fist and launched all he had at Hondo but something got in his way, or more correctly someone. Unfortunately his fist was already moving and he couldn't stop it the sound of the punch was deafening as it connected with her face.
 
 
Valentine had stepped in between them to confirm what her husband had said, but Monty was already in motion and couldn't stop. The punched knocked Valentine into Hondo, who caught her. Monty turned almost white as he realized what he had done.
 
 
"Strewth! LAss ... I, I, I .. I didn't mean to .. I..." Monty stammered.  
 
 
Valentine was shaken and the bruise on her face was already showing. Hondo helped her lean against the mustang.
 
 
"Darlin'! You okay?" hondo said worriedly.
 
 
Valentine nodded, "I'll be alright."
 
 
Hondo turned to Monty with death in his eyes.
 
 
"Look, mate ... I didn't mean ta hurt the lass ..." Monty stammered, but it was no good.
 
 
Hondo stepped forward and slammed a fist right into Monty's nose, causing him to fall to the floor. He held his nose as blood gushed out of it. He started to protest but found himself looking down the barrel of a .44 magnum revolver.
 
 
"Tell me, Jack .. Did you #$@! her or beat her?" Hondo hissed
 
 
"I ... I don't know what you mean, mate .. honestly!" Monty said in a frantic voice.
 
 
"Tell me, now! Did you or didn't you!" Hondo growled
 
 
"Honest mate, I don't know what you want!" Monty said, getting more desperate.
 
 
"Hondo wait." Valentine said as she approached.
 
 
"Did you #$@! Gadget or know she was being gang-rapped and abused." Valentine asked
 
 
"What? You ... you mean he didn't make thet up ta piss me off??" Monty asked in bewilderment.
 
 
"I never lie, Jack. I might have been too wild for all y'alls precious sensibilities, but I've never been a liar." Hondo said.
 
 
"It's... it's true then? But ... but ... who would ...???" Monty started to ask but the look in their eyes told him who.
 
 
"No ... no, can't be," Monty stammered.
 
 
Valentine looked at Hondo, "He can't know."
 
 
Hondo nodded, "Yeah, I think you're right. He'd have denied it, which I still haven't heard yet an' need to be 'bout now." Hondo said flatly.
 
 
"Hondo ... I had no idea. Ya have ta believe me! Chip ... he ... he really hurt me little Gadget??" Monty asked
 
 
Hondo put his pistol back into its holster and shrugged on his vest.  
 
 
"If I didn't believe ya, you'd be dead, especially after clockin' wife!" Hondo growled
 
 
"If it's true ya are better off shootin' me, as I'm a failure." Monty said in a depressed tone.
 
 
"#$@! that, Jack. You're not gettin' off that easy. You're gonna help us an' we are gonna help her. Time ya quit livin' glory day's with the usless rangers an' be a man again. Glory days are for crippled old men. Time to make some days that actually count again." Hondo said as he held out a hand to Monty.
 
 
Monty hesitated a moment then took Hondo's hand. Hondo pulled him up but as soon as he was on his feet he hit him again and knocked him on his ass again.
 
 
"Bloody chundah! What the 'ell!!" Monty exclaimed.
 
 
"That's for hittin' my wife. LAy a hand on her again an' I'll break every bone in your body!" Hondo growled
 
 
"You wearin' steel knickles, mate? Ya kick like a bloody mule!" Monty exclaimed.
 
 
He sat rubbing his jaw for a moment then chuckled a bit, "Guess I had thet comin'."
 
 
Hondo held out a hand again and Monty warily took it. He got to his feet without being put back on his ass this time. He looked between them with a somber look.
 
 
"What's happened. What did Chippah do?" Monty asked
 
 
"Recently or in the past?" Hondo asked
 
 
"Both." Monty asked
 
 
"He forced gadget to take drugs and let his friends gang-rap her. She did it all to be a good wife as he told her that's what good wives do. She did the drugs because she was told to at first. she says she does them now to hide from what she's done." Valentine said sadly.
 
 
"She shows several signs of physical an' mental abuse. She holds her arm an' ear a lot. She's all but said he;s twisted the shit outta her ears. From the way she moves I reckon she's had a lot of broken bones from him too." Hondo said
 
 
"I thought that was all from her inventin'." Monty said
 
 
"I believe some of her wreckless inventin' was an escape. I ... I think she hoped it would kill her so she didn't have to face another day. She ... she told me that she has pondered suicide before." Valentine said.
 
 
"Monty stumbled back and put a hand on the car to hold himself up, "I ... I did fail her ... Oh me poor, sweet luv!"
 
 
His face got red with anger again and he balled up his fist.
 
 
"Hit the car or the plane an' I'll not have a chance to shoot ya, as Fernando will beat me to it." Hondo said plainly.
 
 
Monty was practically shaking as he walked away and punched a wall, leaving a sizable dent. H he pulled back to hit it again but the pain hit him so he ended up holding his hand instead.
 
 
"I shoulda killed him in thet cell." Monty growled.
 
 
"It's not all he's done either. The extent of what he did to Gadget is unknown. Recently, as you know, he put a hit out on me an' Fernando. You know since you were there." Hondo said
 
 
"It ... It wasn't like thet! He ... he jest wanted ya outta the way. said you'd steal the money we was owed." Monty said in his defense.
 
 
Hondo squinted at him, "Are you that dense or just #$@!in' blind?! So worried 'bout relivin' your glory day's that you'd let us die?!?"
 
 
"I ... i ..." Monty looked for a defense but couldn't find one. He sighed in defeat, "You're roight, mate. I... I turned a blind eye. Chippah .. er, Charles Maplewood, 'e 'ated you an' Fernando so much .... I guess we started to believe it all, 'avin' 'eard it so much. IT ... it got ta be normal an' ... an' it was almost as if it didn't matter as we ... we stopped seein' ya as people, jest objects of Chips's hate. It's no excuse mate, but ... at least nothin' 'appened, roight?"
 
 
Valentine clutched her own arm and turned away, as the very thought of it all, seemed to make it fresh in her mind.  
 
 
Hondo growled deeply at Monty, "Nothin' happened?? our first night out several bastards tried to rape Val! I killed most of them, severely wounded one, an' castrated another to protect her. I almost lost an' eye an' ..."
 
 
He turned away towards valentine who nodded
 
 
"Val is havin' a hard time dealin' with it still. I'd have lost an eye ifin Fernando hadn't had some special medicine to save it. I'd have gladly lost both to keep her from what she went through, though. The next day our car was blown up. We used the remote start, which saved our lives. IT could have been Tammy an' the  baby in that car, just as easily as it was Fernando's rental car. Then we are attacked comin' out of a bar, twice before we could get outta that #$@!in' alley. Then at the Emperor's party I was poisoned with arsenic an' the poisoner tried to bomb us all. Had it not been fro a new friend I made, we'd be dead." Hondo said coldly.
 
 
"The bomb was real? I started ta think Fernando made it up after I saw gadget still alive. I ... I don't know what ta say.. All this was 'cause of Chippah?" Monty asked
 
 
"You bear responsibility too. You should have stood up to him. In the very least you should have warned us." Hondo replied, the same icy tone in his voice.
 
 
Monty nodded and stared at the floor, "I see why ya don't trust me, an' are so pissed."
 
 
He looked up at Valentine, who was still turned away trying to fight her emotions then back at Hondo, "Skippah, I can't fix what I've let happen, but I'll do whatevah ya say ta try ta help make thing's bettah." Monty said
 
 
"You dam well better. This won't be a picnic, an' I'll not be goin' easy on ya. You may very well hate me when this is done, but know this, I had every intent on shootin' you had I had the tiniest feelin; that you hurt Gadget. You step outta line, or do anythin' that I feel threatenes her, my wife, or family's well bein', and my family is Fernando, his daughters, an' Tammy, I'll put you down without flintchin'. You understand?" Hondo asked unemotionally.
 
 
Monty swallowed hard and then nodded, "Aye, I understand. If I #$@! up, its for the best anyway. I cant' live with anymore folks gettin' hurt 'cause of me or under my nose."
 
 
Hondo nodded, "Then we have an' understandin'. Get the rest of the bags an' get ready to leave. We have some errands to run."
 
 
Monty nodded and limped back to the plane. Hondo turned to Valentine and put a hand on her shoulder. She jumped at first then settled down.
 
 
"Sorry, my love. I'm ...it just .. I..." she stammered.
 
 
"I'm sorry, darlin'. I didn't want you to be involved. I'm sorry I had to tell Monty what happened, but ... he needed to know. I needed to see if there was any remorse in him, for anyone else other than Gadget an' himself." Hondo said
 
 
"Was there?" Valentine asked softly.
 
 
"I think so, but only time will tell." Hondo replied.
   
 
After he was sure Valentine would be alright, he left her to collect her thoughts and went to help Monty get the last couple bags loaded. Once everything was loaded Hondo shut the cargo ramp on the plane and locked the door, then opened the hanger door. Valentine drove the mustang out and around to the man door and slid back to her seat. Hondo shut the hanger door, and exited the man door, locking it and setting the alarm code behind him.
 
 
"Where too first?" Valentine asked
 
 
"Grocery store first to pick up some soup an' such for gadget, an' then the liquor store. The way this mission is goin' we'll need plenty of it." Hondo said seriously
 
 
"I can't wait ta talk to Gadget." Monty said.
 
 
Hondo shook his head, "No, you need to stay away from her. She can come to you, but you leave her be."
 
 
"But why?" Monty asked
 
 
"Questionin' me already? You forget our conversation?" Hondo asked coldly
 
 
Monty shook his head and sighed, "No... I jest ... I 'ave a lot ta make up ta her."
 
 
"In due time. For now leave her be, Fernando, Val, an' I will take care of her. She has a lot of healin' to do yet. an', if she does talk to you, you don't know any of this. Savvy?" Hondo asked
 
 
"But ... I don;t think I can hide my anger at ch ... her husband." Monty said
 
 
"Tell her it's for what happened ta us, or somethin'. You only know 'bout her if she tells you. Savvy? an' don't make me ask again." Hondo said.
 
 
Monty nodded, "Savvy, skippah."
 
 
Hondo nodded back and then turned his attention to the road. They headed back to the market they had been at that morning. It was the closest Hondo had seen to the hideout and there had been a liquor store only a couple blocks away.
 

Monty followed Hondo and valentine through the grocery store, his stomach growling, and him half whining and half growling about being hungry. Hondo grabbed some Ramen noodles in a couple different flavors, some canned soup with more vegetables in it, some crackers, some electrolyte drink that resembled Powerade but had less sugar, and some spicy hard salami and cheeses, partly for snacks and partly to drive Monty nuts.  He grabbed a few other items to have on hand, and some more breakfast foods, since they had new refrigerators coming/. They grabbed some burger, pork tenderloin, beef roasts, chicken breasts, steaks, and seasonings and sides to do some cooking later. Monty whined louder as he bagged the items up.
 
 
"Thet food looks sooo good an' I'm soo #$@!in' 'ungry! Can't I have jest a little piece o' Cheeeese? " He asked
 
 
Hondo growled, "No! You can wait."
 
 
"But, all I've 'ad all day was fish an' rice thet I got when in thet blood cell! i'm dyin', skippah!" Monty whined as he picked up the full bags and followed Hondo, who had already grabbed an arm load of bags, and Valentine back to the car.
 
 
"You can always go work with Fernando an' Gadget can come assist me an' Val. He eats more often than we do." Hondo said with a half evil grin.
 
 
"Fernando?!?! Bloody hell no! 'E'd kill me, piss on me 'ead stone, dance on me grave, an' eat a chunk of aged brie while doin' it jest to taunt me ghost!!" Monty exclaimed
 
 
 
"Then, deal with it an' wait for supper." Hondo replied flatly.
 
 
Valentine resisted a snicker as she popped open the truck for Hondo and Monty to place the groceries inside. Once the groceries were in the car, Hondo and Valentine climbed into the car before Monty could.
 
 
"Oy! ya forgot ta let me in." Monty said
 
 
"We didn't forget anythin'." Hondo replied.
 
 
"But ... I can't get in." Monty said slightly bewildered.
 
 
"That's right." Hondo said
 
 
"What am I supposed ta do, then?" Monty asked still confused.
 
 
"Walk." Hondo replied
 
 
"Walk? All the way to the 'ouse?" Monty asked in a worried tone.
 
 
"I should make ya, but no. The liquor store is a few blocks straight north." Hondo said as he started the engine and put the car into gear.
 
 
"But ... why?" Monty asked
 
 
"You could use the exercise for one." Hondo said.
 
 
"Thet's it? I need ta lose weight?" Monty asked, sounding slightly offended.
 
 
"No. The main reason is .... I hate whinin'." Hondo replied.
 
 
As he pulled out onto the street he called out to Monty, "See ya there."
 
 
Monty watched, slack jawed, as they drove away. They were almost out of sight by the time he shook it off and started walking, muttering under his breath the whole way.
 
 
 
Hondo chuckled to himself as he drove away and valentine shook her head.
 
 
"What?" He asked
 
 
"Was that completely necessary?" Valentine asked
 
 
"No, not really, but I owe him a few troubles." Hondo said  
 
 
"For what?" She asked
 
 
"Well, When Gadget turned on me he didn't try to stick up for me. He let that snivelin' bastard of a munk dishonor an' discredit me. He never apologized or anythin'. He just cowered behind that #$@!in' wanna-be tyrant. Plus, he's been havin' an awful easy ride these last several years. He's not gonna be any good if he thinks he can live soft an' whine to get off easy. But none of that is the main reason." he replied
 
 
"What's the main reason?" Valentine asked
 
 
"He hit you." Hondo replied
 
 
"That was an accident, and mostly my fault for gettin' in the way. Besides, it didn't hurt too bad, so it's not that bad." She replied
 
 
"You've not looked in the mirror, have ya? Your eye is black an' blue. Besides, If I thought he'd meant ta to it, he'd be dead already." Hondo replied seriously.
 
 
Valentine raised an eyebrow  but didn't question him as she knew that tone. He was serious. She pulled down the sun-visor and looked in the mirror on the back side. She gasped lightly at the sight.  
 
 
"Why didn't you tell me I looked like an abuse victim!" She exclaimed
 
 
"It's not that bad. Not like ya can do anythin' 'bout it except enjoyin' makin' Monty sweat." Hondo said with the ornery grin on his face again.
 
 
Valentine thought a moment then sighed, "I guess... I'm a mess these days as is. What's one more thing? Wish when I was a mess I was more of a hot mess like Gadget."
 
 
Hondo raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
 
 
"You saw her today. I know you did as I saw you starin'. I don't blame ya, as I stared a bit too. That stressed out teacher look ... even as a mess she's sexy." Valentine replied with a defeated sigh.
 
 
 
Hondo shook his head, "I'll not argue with that, but you short change yourself. Maybe it's cause I love you an' not her, but ... The only thing that bothers me is that you're hurtin'. But, you're always sexy to me. I love it when you wear my shirts an' your hair is a mess first thing in the mornin', or are in your old coveralls covered in sweat an' grease, or when ya dress up nice to go out on the town, or are just sittin' round in jeans an' a t-shirt.... Gadget pulls off a cute, sexy look fairly well, an' I have an' did see her, but it's nothin' compared to how I see you."
 
 
Valentine teared up a bit and tried to smile a bit. Hondo raised his eyebrow again as he caught sight of her startin' to cry.
 
 
"Did I say somethin' wrong?" he asked
 
 
"No ... no, you said everythin' right... more right than I deserve." She said softly.
 
 
He just shook his head. He loved her, but some times just didn't understand her.
 
 
They pulled up to the liquor store, got out, locked up the car, and headed inside. The proprietor Offered to help, and though his English was a bit rough, they managed to find everything. They got a case of wine, 2 cases of beer, a case of whiskey, a half case of vodka, and a case of tequila, and a half case of rum. Hondo selected 2 fine bottles of scotch, a bottle of fine burbon, and 3 bottles of absinthe as well. The proprietor offered to follow them back and deliver it, but Hondo declined, wanting as few people as possible to know where they were.  
 
 
They exited the store to find Monty panting beside the car.
 
 
"You look like ya ran a marathon!" Hondo said
 
 
"It bloody well could have been. I'm too old an' fat ta do this shit!" Monty complained
 
 
"Too fat, yes, which we'll work on, but not too old." Hondo replied
 
 
Hondo unlocked the car and opened the door, "Get in so we can load cases around you."
 
 
Monty got in as the proprietor brought the cases out to the car. Once what was left of the back seat was full, Hondo stacked the last two on Valentine's lap.
 
 
"Strewth! Ya'd think we was runnin' a pub! You lot alcoholics or what?" Monty exclaimed
 
 
"We'll probably make at least another run before it's all over here. You start actually dealin' with shit out there an' you'll want a couple good belts to help ya sleep at night too!" Hondo replied in a half growl as he got in and started the car
 
 
"Eh! I've been a rescuah too! I've seen shit ..." Monty started to say but was cut off.
 
 
"You ain't seen shit, Jack! You an' the ridiculous ranger's have no clue 'bout what it's like out there. You've all had it easy." Hondo snapped back as he pulled out into traffic and headed back to their base.
 
 
"We might not 'ave 'ad it too rough, but before the rangers me an' ol' Geegaw saw a lot!" Monty said
 
 
"Well you've forgotten what you saw then, like ya forgot to watch over his daughter." Hondo replied coldly
 
 
Monty paused before replying softly, "Thet .. thet was a low blow, mate."
 
 
"But was it wrong?" Hondo asked harshly
 
 
"No ... no, skippah. It's a fair assessment o' me... I 'ave a lot ta  do ta redeem these ol' worthless bones o' mine." Monty said
 
 
"Ya can't redeem yourself. No one can. Mistakes can't be erased or bought out by good deeds. All you can do is realize your mistakes an' strive to not make them with others." Hondo replied
 
 
"Then why do ya work so hard to help all these blokes out, if not ta redeem yurself from some past sin? Ya perfect or somethin'?" Monty asked
 
 
"#$@! no. I've plenty of past sins that I regret every day. Some things I see every night over an' over again in my sleep. Ya can't escape what you have done. But I don't do this for redemption. I do it because I can, because its right, because it's honorable, because I have to sleep with myself at night an' I couldn't if I turned my back on wrongs that I could help right, an' because it's what a man should do." Hondo replied emotionlessly.
 
 
Monty nodded," Aye. I guess I've not been a much of a man, lately, but ... I'd like ta change thet."
 
 
"As an acquaintance I used to know always said, 'don't talk about it, be about it. Ya want to do better, then #$@!in' stop whinin', listen to what Fernando an' I tell ya to do, an' do it." Hondo replied
 
 
Monty nodded, "Aye. I'll give it a go. Thank ya, Mate."
 
 
"Don't thank me yet, an' I'm not your mate." Hondo replied flatly.
 
 
The rest of the ride back was fairly quiet. They pulled into the drive about 4:50 pm. a couple of Charles's people's vehicles were there but he thought a couple were missing. The others were still gone, but would probably be back soon, he figured. he got out and took the cases off Valentine's lap.
 
 
"I'll help Monty carry this stuff in an' get it put away. You want to go check on Jefe an' Gadget? He probably could use a break." Hondo said
 
 
Valentine nodded, "Sure."
 
 
She left Hondo and Monty to their work as she headed inside. Inside she found the door to Gadget's room half open. She opened it carefully the rest of the way and looked in, half expecting to find Fernando in bed with Gadget. To her surprise she found Gadget alone in bed and Fernando snoozing in a chair beside the bed. She carefully walked in and looked at Gadget. She looked a bit rough but was sleeping soundly. She looked over at Fernando and questioned whether she should wake him or not. She started to put a hand out to shake him, but he spoke and she jumped.
 
 
"I'm awake." he said a bit gruffly.
 
 
"Oh! I ... I thought you were asleep!" Valentine exclaimed, though tried to keep her voice down.
 
 
"You're a bit jumpy." He said.
 
 
"I have been since ..." She paused.
 
 
"Yeah, I know. Where is Hondo?" He asked
 
 
"With Monty carrying in some things. We grabbed some stuff from the plane, some more groceries, and some alcohol." She replied quietly
 
 
"Hmm." Fernando grunted.
 
 
"I ... I can sit with her and give you a break." She said
 
 
Fernando nodded, "Alright. She will need to eat again in a few hours. I'm sure Hondo told you what I did. It was hard on her. There was a lot of damage and poisons in her system."
 
 
Valentine shook her head sadly, "Poor thing."
 
 
Fernando started to walk away but stopped as he felt Valentine's eyes on him.
 
 
"Something bothering you? You seem to want to ask something." he said
 
 
She hesitated for a bit before replying, "I was a bit of a coward and tried to get my husband to ask you, but he said I should. Maye ... maybe I'm just havin' some self doubt or bein' a foolish child but .... Do you like me?" She asked
 
 
"What?" Fernando asked half turning to look at her
 
 
"I.. I don't mean in a sexual way or anythin' ... I know you an' Hondo are friends an' I figure you have to like him to be his friend but ... do you just tollerate me for him or...?" She paused.
 
 
She tried to look at him, but ended up looking at the floor. She felt very self conscious and vulnerable at the moment, and was starting to feel foolish for even asking such a question.

“Never ask me that question – not now, not ever. The verification of that answer is spoken by the actions we give each other. But it will never be spoken.” Fernando tells Val before he leaves the room, but stopping at the door way, “I do not know what happened, but we will deal with that eye later.” He then leaves the room, heading to Tammy’s room to step outside on the balcony.
 
There he watches Hondo and Monty unpack the car. Inside Charles’ group was helping put the stuff away in the new frig and freezers. Somewhere along the way, Charles gives Hondo a couple sets of keys to Hondo, one for him and the other for Fernando, while he keeps a third set. Following Hondo out, he finds Fernando.
 
“Hey Nando! Dale is in his room.” Charles tells him.
 
“That’s up to you, but good. They are not prisoners here but they have a lot to learn about being rescuers and agents. Everyone earns their keep here.” Fernando tells him.
 
“Oh, I thought he was a prisoner.” Charles points out.
 
“He’s only to be locked out of the refrigerators and workshop. This way they do not eat everything in sight or make certain tools or things disappear so they can tinker with. There will be no tinkering here. Not even Gadget is to tinker. We work to get things done.” Fernando tells him.
 
“I see.” Charles replies.
 
“If you are going Intel hunting out tonight, take Dale with you. Teach him how it is really done.” Fernando tells him. He then looks down at Hondo and Monty as they unpack the car, “Hondo – Have Monterey decides on the following: help prepare, help cook or help clean up after dinner. If he wants dinner, he needs to earn it.”
 
Hondo nods in Fernando’s direction, but both can hear Monty complain “Cookin’s ‘omen’s ‘ork...”
 
Fernando throws down at him, “Oh really? Then who cooks on the ships during times of war and peace?”
 
“He’d heard me?” Monty asks Hondo.
 
Fernando throws down, “I heard you and I can hear Dale in the basement.” He then turns to Charles, “Get Dale up here. He needs to cook too.”  
 
Charles chuckles for a bit before he leaves. While Charles is gone, Fernando checks with the menu that Maria gave him earlier in the day.
 
“Hmmm. Chicken Katsudon (Chicken on white rice – vegetables optional), some Zaru Soba (cold Soba Noodles with separate sauce) and some Kare Pan (Curry Bread)” Fernando picks up his phone and verifies that the order will be coming at 5PM, adding vegetables to the white rice. He knows that Hondo would probably be making a beef dinner that he would mix with the other things. He calls down to Hondo, “Hondo, get Monty in the kitchen when you are done. We are all meeting there.”  
 
“OK, Jefe.” Hondo replies. He then tells Monty to put the last box of liquor into his room and then go downstairs to kitchen using the indoor stair case.
 
Fernando walks inside Tammy’s room and closes the door behind him. He continues out into the living room and down the stairs to the kitchen. Hondo arrives with Monty and Charles brings up Dale from downstairs. He looks at the former Rangers.
 
“I don’t want any belly-aching, or sour words coming out of your mouths. Food will be coming in at 5PM. This food is from the landlord herself and is part of the arrangement of room and board I made with her. But we eat at 7 when everyone, and I mean everyone is in the house. You two will have your share but everyone has a job to do: Kitchen duty includes: preparing the food, cooking the food, and/or cleaning up. You do a good job, you will be treated better the next day. You do an excellent job, you will be treated much better. Again, I want no belly aching, no sour words coming out of your mouths.”
 
“What about Gadget?” Dale asks before Monty could.
 
“Gadget is recovering. I did all I could medically for her but with the abuse Chip had put her through, I need to get something verified.” Fernando explains.
 
“Wha’ you jawin’ about?” Monty asks.
 
“Let me ask you Monty. Did you know Gadget’s a Harvard Mouse?” Fernando asks.
 
“I know her mum was of that family line. Geehaw’s an Aussie like me” Monty asks.
 
“Then you know, Harvard Mice when abused and stressed can get very sick.” Fernando tells him.
 
“How sick you are talkin’ ‘bout?” Hondo asks.
 
“Cancer.” Fernando throws at them.
 
The room was stunned silence for a moment.
 
“What ‘bout the bio- err medication you gave her?” Hondo asks.
 
“The medication was to remove the poisons from her body, which was successful. But if she has cancer which she is showing signs of, I need to know what kind it is and in what stage it is in. If it is caught early enough, the cure is simple and she lives a normal life.” Fernando points out.
 
“B... B... But... you’re not a doctor doctor.” Dale points out.
 
“Let me put it to you this way, Dale. You should sit down and read who has what certifications in what fields when they became Rescue Rangers.” Fernando begins, “I am a medical doctor as are three of my daughters who are staying with us. Getting the help Gadget needs will not be a problem for us. But this is something for you to keep your mouth shut on and not to be stressing her out so damn much like in the Rangers. No wonder she was blowing things up – she was looking for an easy way out.”
 
“When you going to know, the details?” Charles asks.
 
“After I confer with my daughters, I’ll barrow the Emperor’s medical facilities tomorrow and put her on treatment right away.” Fernando answers, adding, “Any and all of this does not escape your mouths and Gadget is not to know that you know. Nobody.”
 
After a few agreeing nods and silence, Fernando continues, “Monty, Dale, you two will help prepare and give out the food at 7PM. Hondo, and or Val will be cooking if they want something different from what is being offered. You two will help them for what they make will also be added to the meal. You two will eat last with me as I eat last. Others will clean up since you helped out cooking and preparing. On a day you do not cook or prepare – you clean. There will be no free rides here. After dinner, I will give you some free time to watch TV upstairs or you can go to sleep after dinner. Either way – lights out is at 11o’clock. Do I make myself clear?”
 
Dale and Monty agree with nodding heads.
 
“Good.” Fernando says. “Charles, get them familiarized with the kitchen. Also deal with this Zipper, he may not be who we think he is. Hondo, I need you upstairs for a second. Then you can come down and get ready to make dinner for You, Val, Gadget and a little something for me to add to what Maria brings.”
 
“Will do, ‘Nando.” Charles replies.
 
“Let’s go upstairs so I can talk with the wifey.” Hondo replies.
 
“Alright. Let’s go. Maria will be here soon with the food and I do now want her to wait.” Fernando says as he begins his way up the stairs.
 
Once upstairs, Hondo guides Fernando to his room, “Wouldn’t the Bio Pill cure Gadget of the cancer?”  
 
“It would have. But it would also leave her in a weakened state that she is in now since she is healing and healing takes up a lot of energy. I noticed some tumor material and blood coming out when she coughed up and threw up in the toilet, and the Bio Pill is healing her from that.” Fernando tells him, adding as he pulls out his metal box of pills and pulls out a pill, “Take this, crush it between your thumb and index finger, massage it about Val’s eye and then put a patch on it for now. Remove the patch at bedtime and she should be fine by morning.” As he drops a pill into Hondo’s hand.
 
Hondo looks at the pill, “So on top of everythin’ Gadget was dying from cancer...”  
 
“Dying? Who knows. Living with is more like it, which meant living with pain which was probably managed with more illegal drugs. But she should be fine and pain free within a week’s time.” Fernando tells him.
 
Outside a car can be coming up on the driveway.
 
“That must be Maria with the food. Let’s go get it!” Fernando says.

Charles help dale to cook, then after they done cooking and setting the plates. Then Charles give Dale some Anime Comic Books.  
 
“You can read them durning your down time.” Charles saying  
 
“Thanks.” Dale saying as he take the comic.  
 
Burborn seeing Hondo in the Kitchen. “I Heard you a cowboy.”  
 
“What do you mean?” Hondo saying.  
 
“Well I am a cowboy form Texas and join the Statemen since we are Spy’s and Cowboys.” Burborn saying.  
 
“Oh You’re codename after a Beer.” Hondo saying.  
 
“Yea and also we do own a company that make wiskey and Beer too.” Burborn adding more to this.  

As Hondo walked into Gadget's room valentine turned away from him. This action he did not miss. He stopped for a minute and looked her over from a few steps away before speaking.
 
 
"How's she doin'?" He asked
 
 
Valentine shrugged and kept looking away, "she's restin'."
 
 
Hondo sighed, "She asleep?"
 
 
Valentine nodded.
 
 
"Jefe thinks she has cancer." He said in a low voice.
 
 
"Cancer?" Valentine asked in a quiet but surprised tone.
 
 
She turned towards him as she spoke, the surprise of what he said caused her to momentarily forget the tears on her face that she had been trying to hide. He looked at her a moment and tilted hi head a bit as he looked at her. She remembered her tear stained face after a couple of seconds and once again turned away, even though she knew it was too late. After a moment he spoke again.
 
 
"Yeah... stress from the abuse an' drugs. I reckon her body couldn't take it. She'll be weak as a kitten for at least a week, I reckon, but Jefe will get her well again. Jefe asked that we keep it to ourselves though. Don't even tell her you know." He replied
 
 
Valentine nodded, "I'll keep it to myself for now. Does she know?"
 
 
"I don't think so. Might be better that she never knows. Might be a kinder thing than tellin' her an' puttin' more fear an' hate into her heart. She's seen too much already. It's amazin' that she's kept as much of her innocent nature as she has. I think in part it was for her to hide behind. She hasn't had the chance to grow as a person in a long time. We're all goin' to change that... together." He said
 
 
She nodded, but still looked away from him. He sighed after a moment and stepped up to where she sat.
 
 
"I've got a patch an' some meds to put on your eye so, you're gonna hafta look at me." He said softly, as he stood before her.
 
 
As she turned to him he could see her eyes were red, even in the dim light. Tear stained trails betrayed her face, and added to the abused wife look that her bruised and swollen cheek and eye had lent to her already. Her eyes begged him for something, but what he was not sure. Was it to ask why she had been crying, was it for him to not ask, or was it for something else? Something that he'd give if he could, but could not? Though his sixth sense instincts had served him well, he often found they failed him where women were concerned. As Hondo stood there he pulled out the pills and crushed them as Fernando had instructed.
 
 
"I need to rub this over the swollen area an' put this pad over it. Jefe said you should be almost good as new by mornin'." he said.
 
 
 "If it could only fix what's really wrong with me..." she replied in a low whisper that would almost be unheard by those with lesser hearing.  
 
 
Hondo sighed, "So, you gonna tell me an' save me pryin' it outta ya?"
 
 
She sighed and tried to look down, but he lifted her chin to keep her face up to apply the medicine. Looking directly at him did not make her shame easier to tell, but she tried.
 
 
"I ... I'm a fool. I'm so ... so insecure with myself that ... that I'm just gonna drive everyone away.... I'm useless." She said trying to hold back more tears.
 
 
"You're not useless, or a fool. Insecure right now? ... yeah." He replied
 
 
"You don't understand. I ... I asked Fernando if .. if he liked me." she said even softer.
 
 
"What?" Hondo asked
 
 
"As a friend, I mean! I told him as a friend ... I .. I just .. just .." she stopped, not sure how to explain any of what was going on in her head.
 
 
"I tried to warn ya that was a bad line of questionin'. Knowin' Jefe that went over like a shit sandwich." Hondo replied in his usual, blunt way.
 
 
"IT .. it did. he .. he told me I should never ask that and... and that he'd not say. HE said we say it in actions, never verbally. I ... I'm a fool and I'm ..I'm destroyin' the trust and friendships I've built and I ... I ... I can't stop! I can't help it!" She said a little louder than she should have but not quite at normal conversation volume.
 
 
"Shh, now. Settle down. Don't want to wake your charge." Hondo replied with a bit of sternness in his voice.
 
 
He sighed and softened his tone after a moment
 
 
"Darlin', ... we all #$@! up, an' we all know you're havin' a rough time with what happened. Hell, its barely been 48 hours since. No one expects ya to be yourself again in two days. You need to understand, though that questionin' a friendship like that can seem as a lack of trust in a person. Some folks don't think 'bout it things that way, but some of us do. Jefe has done a lot for us both, as we have for him an' Tammy. Tammy has forgotten, but Jefe won't forget what his friends do for him nor what his enemies do against him or his friends an' family. To ask would be like slappin' him in the face an' sayin' after all we've done together, you don't trust him." Hondo replied as he finished taping the pad into place on her face.
 
 
"But .. but, it's not like that at all! I .. I'm worried that you and him don't trust me now, or never did and I've just been delusional about all of this..." She started to say in a fast manner as she tried to explain her thoughts.
 
 
Hondo cut her off abruptly, but tried not to sound too stern.
 
 
"That's horse shit, an' you know it." He replied
 
 
"But ... but... then what is it?" She asked, on the verge of tears again.
 
 
"You don't trust yourself." He said plainly.
 
 
"What?" She said, looking somewhat shocked as if his words surprised her.
 
 
"You are hurt, an' feelin' vulnerable. You don't trust your abilities so instead of findin' that trust in who you are an' what you can do, you are lookin' to us to validate your abilities an' such for you. I told ya to trust our trust in you, but I didn't mean to question our trust in you. You might not have meant it that way, but to Jefe you questioned his trust an' faith in you, not just as fellow rescuer, but as a friend... as family. Jefe might say we aren't family an' its for our protection, but you damn well know we all are family. We've been through too much to not be family. If you have to ask for validation on if someone likes you, your not family, as family doesn't ask. In family, actions do the talkin'. If you can't trust the actions, then the words are less than meanin'less." Hondo said
 
 
It took Valentine a moment to process, but she realized he was right. She realized, even her tears had been for herself. She had not thought about hurting Fernando, like that. She had only focused on her and she had truly let her inner demons lash out and hurt a close friend. Her self pity turned to true shame. The tears, for the moment, were gone. Instead, now she felt like she had been gut-punched.
 
 
"I ... I am a fool." She said quietly
 
 
"Val .." Hondo started to argue but she cut him off.
 
 
"No,  ... I am. I know I'm messed up. I know its in my head and though I can't seem to fight it all right now, I let it blind me. Instead of questionin' who cared I should have been asking those I know care for help. ..." She said somberly
 
 
"Val, I think you're makin' a mountain out of a molehill. Jefe knows you're messed up right now. He's just not gonna pander to that." Hondo said
 
 
"No, I ... I owe Fernando an apology  ... as I do to you too." She replied
 
 
Her uncovered eye shimmered in the low light as she looked on the one she loved. She knew she owed him so much more than she could ever give, yet he asked for nothing but her love and trust. She wished she could give him more, but at the moment, all she had to offer was herself, and her mind would not allow her to do any justice to their physical relationship in this state.
 
 
"You don't owe me anythin'. The only thing I want is for you to get better. I miss my wife." He said softly, giving her a soft, reassuring smile.
 
 
"I'll try to get her back for you, but ... I should apologize to Fernando." She replied
 
 
"I probably couldn't stop ya if I wanted to, but It might be best to leave him alone. He's not a fan of apologies unless someone intentionally #$@!ed up an' even then he prefers actions." Hondo replied.
 
 
"I'll think about it, but ... you men might be able to speak in deeds alone, but us women sometimes need to include some talk so we know we are understood." She replied
 
 
Hondo nodded, "Do what ya need to. I've never stopped you from doin' that."
 
 
AS he started to walk to the door she called out softly.
 
 
"Hondo?" she said
 
 
"Yes, darlin'?" he asked
 
 
"I love you... very much." She said
 
 
He smiled slightly and nodded, "I know. Now, I gotta work on supper. I'll bring ya some up when its ready."
 
 
"Should we get some food for Gadget too?" She asked
 
 
He shrugged, "Don't know when she last ate, or if she can. I'll ask Jefe. He was settlin' down on the couch I think."
 
 
Valentine just nodded in rely, letting her husband leave and attend to supper. She wondered for a moment how she had been blessed with a man who loved her so, while Gadget had gotten a man who had used her so cruelly. after a bit her thoughts turned to how she had been acting the last couple days. She wasn't sure how to fix herself, other than turning to the Almighty for help, something that she realized she had failed to do, until now.
 
 
 
 
Hondo stopped in the living-room and asked Fernando quick like about Gadget. He told him that she could wait until after they had all eaten as she had some soup around 4, and should be left to sleep a bit longer before being woken for more soup. Hondo merely nodded a reply and headed down to the kitchen where Monty and Dale were waiting.  
 
 
"There ya are, Skippah. Thought we'd lost ya fer a moment there!" Monty said.
 
 
"You put all the burger into the fridge in the basement?" Hondo asked
 
 
"Yeah, mate. I could get it, but the fridge is locked." Monty said
 
 
Hondo tossed Monty his key, "I want that back when you're done, an' remember, no snacks."  
 
 
Monty caught the keys and waved him off, "Yeah, yeah, I remember, skippah. Keep ya knickers on."
 
 
As Monty left Hondo threw a bag of onions at Dale. He clumsily caught them.  
 
 
"You know how to cut onions, I hope." Hondo said  
 
 
"I'm not stupid!" Dale say defensively.
 
 
Charles came out of his room and shucked his suit jacket, "I'll help you, Dale."
 
 
"Does everyone think I'm stupid?" He ask in a half annoyed whine.
 
 
"I reckon." Hondo said
 
 
"Hey, he's my trainee. Be nice." Charles said in Dale's defense.
 
 
"Nice? No one's been mean yet. If he's this much of a whinin' welp after that he'll be useless as an agent." Hondo said flatly.
 
 
Dale slammed the onions on the counter, "Why does everyone think so little of me?! I want to know!"
 
 
Hondo turned with a snarl, "Why? Because you followed that miserable excuse for a 'munk 'round for so long!"
 
 
"Chip, but he's not ..." Dale started to say but was cut short.
 
 
"If you say he's not so bad I'll rip your damn arm off an' beat ya to death with it." Hondo said flatly, as he stared at the red-nosed chipmunk.  
 
 
Dale swallowed hard, as there was death in the cowboy's eyes, but he was worried about looking bad in front of his new boss so he spoke up again, hesitantly.
 
 
 
"You're just a murdering bully. I kn... kn... know what you did that day. You ... you don't scare m ...m .. me." He said with a conviction that wouldn't have swayed an infant to believe him.
 
 
"You mean the day Gadget left me?" Hondo asked coldly.
 
 
"The day we kicked you out of the rangers, yes. Chip told me all about it!" Dale said with more confidence.
 
 
"Did he tell you he hired those outlaws to kill me an' had I not killed them both Gadget an' I would be dead?" Hondo asked coldly.
 
 
"He ...No! ... He said ... That's... that's not true!" Dale said hesitantly, but defensively.
 
 
Hondo shook his head and muttered, "Worthless idiot."
 
 
"No reason to be so harsh on him. He just didn't know." Charles said in Dales defense.
 
 
"I'm not worthless! And he's right, I didn't know!" Dale yelled
 
 
"Like ya didn't know he was forcin' his wife to take drugs?" He said
 
 
"I..! What? He.. . Chip ... he forced Gadget to take drugs?? I.. it... it can't be true." Dale asked in a confused tone, having missed the earlier conversation.
 
 
"It is true, an' you had you nose in his ass all the #$@!in' time. Am I suppose ta believe you didn't know?" Hondo snapped
 
 
"I .. I didn't know! Honestly!" He said
 
 
"Like ya didn't know he was beatin' her?" Hondo snarled
 
 
"No!" Dale replied
 
 
"Mentally abusin' her!" HE growled
 
 
"No!!" Dale exclaimed
 
 
"An' lettin' his buddies gang rape her to the point where she tried to kill herself?" Hondo almost roared
 
 
"I didn't know!!!" Dale almost yelled
 
 
"Then what kinda spy are you? Monty pisses me off that he didn't know, but he wasn't up that maniacal munks ass, like you were. If you don't know you don't have what it takes to be a spy, an' if you do make a good spy one has to ask, did you not know, or did you just not care. IF you don't care you're no friend to that poor, broken woman upstairs. You're as bad as the monster who broke her." he replied in a snarling growl so cold it sent waves of ice through the veins of everyone in the room.  
 
 
Dale could only hang his head in shame.
 
 
Charles shook his head, "You can be cruel, Sackett."
 
 
"Life's cruel, an' he's been hidin' from that reality for too long. If he can't accept it, you're better cuttin' your losses now." Hondo said coldly.
 
 
Charles sighed and walked over to Dale, "I'll help you with the onions... and other things as well."
 
 
Dale just nodded and went to finding some cutting boards and knives.
 
 
"I heard you had someone claimin' to be Zipper in custody." Hondo said to Charles after a moment.
 
 
"Yes, have you told Monty yet?" Charles asked
 
 
"Nope, an' don't want anyone too. I want Monty an' I to interview him after supper." Hondo said.
 
 
"We can arrange that. My man Bourbon is watching him in his room." Charles said.
 
 
"I'd lock him in the workshop for now. He can't escape as there are no windows an' no tools until tomorrow. I'll try to get some black iron to make some cages for secure storage." Hondo said.
 
 
"Storage of what?" Charles asked
 
 
"Valuable assets ... objects or otherwise." Hondo said
 
 
Charles nodded knowingly, "Not a bad idea, honestly."
 
 
Charles turned to one of the rooms, "Bourbon!"
 
 
One of Charle's men came out. He wore a ten-gallon stetson and spoke with an over-accented Texas drawl.
 
 
"What ya need, Cap'n?" Bourbon asked
 
 
Charles tossed him a key, "That's for the attic. IT will be a workshop for us to work on our guns and such later. For now it will work as a holding cell for our, soon to be, new group member."
 
 
Bourbon nodded, "No problem, Cap'n."
 
 
Bourbon turned to his room and ushered Zipper, "Follow me, hombre. We got a new hoosegow for ya until the chiefs come have a pow-wow with ya."
 
 
Hondo shook his head as they left, muttering under his breath, as he worked, something about Bourbon being a poster boy for why stereo-types exist, but no one caught what he was saying fully. He had started to wonder where Monty had gotten to when he suddenly reappeared.  
 
 
"Get lost?" Hondo asked dryly.
 
 
"Oy, mate! I looked through all the fridges, jest ta find thet it accidentally got put in the freezah." Monty said.
 
 
"Better not be any cheese on your breath, Jack." Hondo said
 
 
"On me 'onor. skippah, I didn't eat morsel!" Monty said, crossing his heart with one hand and holding up two finger's in a scout salute with the other.
 
 
"I hope not, an' If ya did an' ya lied to me, we'll have trouble." Hondo said flatly.
 
 
"I swear, Skippah, no snack." He said then paused before speaking again, "eh.... Did I 'ear yellin' up 'ere?"
 
 
"Nothin' to worry about. Now, we need to get cookin'" Hondo said, changing the subject.
 
 
"What we cookin'?" Monty asked
 
 
"Swedish meatballs in gravy, mash taters, green beans fried with onions an' a little bacon for flavor, an' apples fried in butter an' cinnamon. You know how to make meatballs?" Hondo asked
 
 
"Do I? I'm a bit of a hobby chef, myself. Ya tell me how ya want them done an' I'll get to it!" Monty replied.
 
 
Hondo told him how he normally did it, and Monty got to work. Charles and Dale cut and chopped, while Hondo and Monty ran the stove. Once Charles and Dale were done they went to set out plates, cups, and silverware.
 
 
After a bit Bourbon returned. He stopped in the kitchen and looked Hondo up and down. Hondo turned to him and squinted questioningly.
 
 
"Need somethin'?" Hondo asked
 
 
“I Heard you a cowboy.” Bourbon said
 
 
“I reckon. Why do ya ask?” Hondo asked
 
 
“Well, I am a cowboy from Texas and joined the Statesmen. We are Spy’s and Cowboys.” Bourbon dawled
 
 
“I see. Are all of ya code-named after an alcohol?” Hondo asked.  
 
 
“Yeah. Our front is a company that makes whiskey and Beer.” Bourbon replied in his overly deep drawl.
 
 
He stood there for a moment longer in awkward silence before nodding and heading back to his room. Hondo shook his head, and got back to work. It didn't take him and Monty much more time to finish up the cooking. He just hoped the other ladies would be back before everything got cold.