Valentine sat quietly by as Gadget slept. It was not so much what Hondo said, but what he did not say. And it was not so much what he did not say as what her own mind said.  
 
 
He was bothered and his tone was sharp, but it was not at her. Not that he never spoke at her sharply, but when he did it was usually to get her attention on some important truth or aspect that she was blinding herself to, something that would save her life or the lives of others. In those instances she understood is cutting tones. It was sharpness out of love. This was different, though. Not that she had not seen him like this before, but before it was different. He did his best to hide his own pain, fear, and doubts from everyone. Most he could, some he could most of the time, but a few, like her and Fernando, he could not, especially when the internal turmoil he felt started to overwhelm him. That was the sharpness she saw, the type used to cover his problems and push others away from them. The difference now was not him nor how he acted; the difference was her.
 
 
A tear fell from her eye as she thought about it. She wanted to go to him, hold him, caress him, make love to him, and let him know with every essence of her being she was there for better and worse, no matter how worse the worse was. But, there was something blocking her, blocking her from going to him like she usually does when he gets like this. That which was blocking her was her own mind, her own fears, and her own doubts. She knew it all too well, but knew not how to let herself be comforted. She wanted to be held by him, to be kissed by him, to have love made to her by him, but every time she thought about it, every time he touched her, the images and feelings flooded back to her. It was not just the image and feelings of two nights hence, but the renewed memories of the same incident years ago. She thought she had conquered her past long ago, but the recent incident made her wonder if there was no conquering it. Was it her destiny to relive it again and again?  
 
 
The fear of being touched, being vulnerable, and being exposed was not the worst of her fears. All that she could handle. She had felt them before. She had felt worthless before. But it was different now, as she had more to lose. Before all she had to lose was herself, but now she had friends and a husband she loved dearly.
 
 
As her mind ran through these thoughts the thought of disappointing Hondo, the thought of not being worthy of him and of being a bad wife, as her mind came on these thoughts that is when she lost control and broke down sobbing once again. She sobbed silently, but for how long she did not know. What was minutes seemed like hours, hours of deep, dark loneliness.
 
 
She cried herself out after a bit and just held her head in her hands. The fear in herself she knew was quite real in her mind, but she also felt ashamed, ashamed of being so weak before her own fears. As she sat there she felt a presence. She listened for a second, but heard nothing new. The only sounds were those of Gadget's breathing, the TV in the living-room, and her own heart beating. The feeling that someone was there did not leave her. She looked up after a moment and saw Hondo standing there. It startled her a bit. Not because he did not do it to her regularly, but because she was so lost in her own head she did not recognize the presence of her man.
 
 
Valentine gasped slightly in surprise as Hondo stood before her. She wanted to look away to hide that she had been crying but it was too late.
 
 
"You alright, Darlin'? Hondo asked softly.
 
 
As she looked on him he looked to be more collected of thought. He hair was combed back and was nearly touching the collar of his unbuttoned shirt. She had not realized it ad gotten that long until that moment. The unbuttoned shirt showed his muscled form well, and the thoughts it brought made her blush slightly at first, but the dark thoughts crept in behind them, causing her to try to blank them all out.
 
 
Valentine nodded slightly, "I'm ... I'm ok. You?"
 
 
Hondo nodded, "I'm a bit of a fool at times an' let my anger get the best of me, but I'll be fine."
 
 
Valentine nodded, "You look like you're doin' better. You had me worried... my love."
 
 
"I'm sorry. Just havin' a bad night. No need to worry over me. How's your charge?" He asked
 
 
"She's fine. Was up for a bit after you left. I don't think she'll be waking up for a while." She said.
 
 
"I have somethin' for you then. Come with me." He said,
 
 
"What about Gadget?" She asked
 
 
"She'll be fine for a bit." He said
 
 
She nodded, stood up and wiped the tear from her eyes. He took her hand, tough she balked a bit at first, then accepted. As they waked through the living-room he felt they were once again being watched by those there, but he could care less. Once in the room she saw the flowers and candy on her pillow and walked over and picked them up. She started to tear up a bit again as she looked at them and counted them. Eleven roses in the bunch.
 
 
"Thank you, my love. I... I don't deserve them." She said softly.
 
 
"You deserve them and more, darlin'." He replied.
 
 
"Why eleven? It seems like an odd number." She asked
 
 
"Come here." He said as he lead her to the bathroom.  
 
 
He lead her to the mirror and took off her bandage and cleaned up her face.
 
 
"It's lookin' much better. Should be all healed by mornin'." He said
 
 
Once he was done he turned her towards the mirror.
 
 
"I don't remember how the story goes, but there is a legend about the 12th rose. As you know thirteen is supposedly an unlucky number due to there being thirteen people at Christ's last supper. Because of that, though few know it today, eleven roses is supposed to signify the recipient that their are truly and deeply loved." He said
 
 
"So how does the 12th rose fit into it?" Valentine asked
 
 
"Twelve is one of the numbers of the universe, one of the special biblical numbers. A rose, especially a red rose, is the sign of love, or more importantly a loved one. To give you twelve roses would to be to have thirteen roses in a bundle, which is considered unlucky." He said
 
 
"I still don't .." She started to say but he turned her to look into the mirror.
 
 
"How many roses do you see?" He asked
 
 
"Eleven." She replied
 
 
"I see twelve, for you see, the 12th holds the other eleven." He said
 
 
She sat the roses on the sink, turned, grabbed onto him, buried her face into his chest, and cried. He held her for a bit before he picked her up, and carried her back to their bed. He set her on the bed and just held her tightly. He spoke as softly and soothingly to her as he held her. Her crying  slowed after a bit, but continued to hold him.  
 
 
"How can you even stand to hold me? How?" She asked through the tears
 
 
"Because I love you." He replied
 
 
"You deserve so much better." She said in a barely audible whisper.
 
 
"No, it is you who deserves better, but ... " He replied
 
 
Words failed him as she pulled back and looked into is eyes. Her eyes searched his longingly and expectantly as he held her. After a moment of finding no words, he pulled her in and kissed her deeply. valentine resisted slightly at first, tensing as the images of past horrors flooded her mind, but after a moment the warmness of his being and the tenderness of his strong arms melted away the images. He let her up for air only after she fully gave herself over to him.  
 
 
"I ... I .. I'm sorry." She whispered as she caught her breath.
 
 
"There is nothin' to be sorry for. You're the love of my life. I'm weak at times an' I often fail to show how much you mean to me, in word an' in deed." He replied
 
 
"You may not be a poet, but your words have always be true and honest, and you never have failed to show me your love. I ... I wish I could show you mine but ... I ...I." She stammered
 
 
"Just bein' there for me is all I need." He replied
 
 
"It is not enough, my love. I ... I want... I want to be able to give you all a wife should... but ... I'm .. i'm afraid. Please... just take me... I .. I can't.. I cant.." She stammered and was cut short as he kissed her again.
 
 
When he let her up again he help her close, nose to nose so he could stare deeply into her eyes.
 
 
"I will never take that from you. Makin' love isn't somethin' one can take. It's shared or it doesn't happen. alright?" He said
 
 
"But ... I don't know... I don't know how to make myself not... to scared to do so." She said in a broken voice.
 
 
"We take it slow an' easy. You don't walk across the world in a day. It all starts with a step an' you go from there. We take this one step an' one day at a time. When you are ready, you will know, an' I'll be waitin'." he replied
 
 
"I can't now... tonight but ... please.. hold me for a bit longer." She whispered.
 
 
"That you never have ta ask." He said.
 
 
She got up for a moment and slipped out of her shirt and jeans and put on one of Hondo's old shirts before crawling back in the bed beside him. she snuggled into his chest again as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
 
 
"What 'bout Gadget? She asked.
 
 
"I'll sit with her later, but for now, you are more important to me." he said
 
 
"Just hold me for a bit longer." She said
 
 
He said noting but just held her.  
 
 
 
 

Hondo nodded and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. He was not much of one for tactile expression, so it was a big expression from him.
 
 
"Sorry, Jefe. You don't deserve that shit from her." Hondo said
 
 
"I should have seen it." Fernando half growled.
 
 
"I reckon when ya love someone, sometimes you get blind to some of their shit. Ya did the best ya could. We're here for ya. We're all in this together. I ... I apologize for my anger earlier. You are right. You were just doin' your job. I was havin' a bad day, but it's no excuse for givin' ya hell ya didn't deserve." he said
 
 
"Don't apologize. We all have bad days. I just need you to keep yours to a minimum. As my number two, the rest of the teams has an eye on you and I rely on your help and input. That's not something I do with anyone." Fernando replied
 
 
"Well, just the same, my apology stands. Enough of that, though. Whatever you decide I'll back ya. We'll take it to them an' make them sorry they ever looked sideways at us." Hondo said growling at the thought of what Chip had done to them, and how it was effecting his friend.
 
 
"Just make sure you are careful out there. It will be easier to do with you in one piece." he replied.
 
 
"Heh, your stuck with me for now. You be careful too, now, ya hear?" Hondo replied
 
 
Fernando just nodded in reply.
 
 
"Anythin' else?" Hondo asked
 
 
"No." he replied
 
 
"Alright. I'm gonna go have a drink with Val an' once she's to sleep I'll sit with Gadget." Hondo said
 
 
"I can handle Gadget." Fernando replied
 
 
"You're stuck with her all day tomorrow. I'll take my turn. You get some rest, Jefe. If ya need me, you know where I am." Hondo replied as he headed back in.
 
 
Fernando did not follow him back in immediately, so Hondo left him alone to think.  
 
 
Hondo headed back to his room and opened the door slowly. Valentine sat on the side of the bed, looking down at the floor. She swung here feet side to side as she sat there, lost in thought. She looked so vulnerable to him, as she sat there. If it wasn't that she looked so sad, the cuteness, innocents of her look would have nearly drove him mad. He stood watching her for a few seconds before he cleared his throat. She jumped a bit, but tried to hide it.  
 
 
"Oh!... Everythin' alright?" Valentine asked, a bit higher pitch than normal.  
 
 
He smiled softly, not at the question but at her.
 
 
"Nothin' to worry 'bout, darlin'." He replied
 
 
"Are you sure? The girls looked worried and I've never seen all of them come to deliver a message from Fernando before." Valentine said
 
 
Hondo put his finger to his lips and Valentine quirked a brow at him. Hondo motioned for Valentine to follow him out onto the balcony. The evening was cool and Being in just Hondo's shit and her panties, made her shiver a bit. Hondo pulled her close as they walked away from the Tammy and Fernando's room which was right beside theirs.
 
 
"What's wrong?" She asked.
 
 
"Tammy. She's bein' a real bitch to Jefe. Jefe feels a bit stupid for not seein' it, but I guess his girls did an' they enlightened him. Tammy doesn't think he can protect her. She knows Maplewood has connections to the guys tryin' to kill us, so he can protect her an' we can only fight." Hondo said
 
 
"That's terrible!" Valentine exclaimed quietly.
 
 
"That's not the half of it. She said gadget deserved what she got an' says we should just let her die." Hondo replied in a low growl.
 
 
"What?! No! I ... I can't ... Tammy said that??" She asked in disbelief.
 
 
"Jefe wouldn't make that up." he replied.
 
 
"I.. I didn't mean ... that is ... I know Fernando wouldn't lie to you... I.. I just mean ... I never would have thought... I mean, after all she has been through?... after all we've done together?" Valentine stammered as she looked for some logic to it.  
 
 
"There is no figurin' some folks. I thought better of her but I reckon after all the things she's seen, she decided safety was worth more than trust. Don't think to highly of her payment methods either." He said
 
 
"You mean.... doin' Gadget's husband?" valentine asked with a bit of a grimace.
 
 
"Yeah... I'd not wish that on my worst enemy! Hondo replied emphatically.
 
 
"Is that why you feel so bad for Gadget?" She asked
 
 
Hondo sighed, "Maybe in part. Some of that is just what we do, but apart for all that, what she did to me was just that, it was to me. The damage was not outside of the two of us, an' I do not believe it was malicious in the slightest. We were both a lot younger back then too."
 
 
"She's had a rough go of it, but not many ex's would show that much care. I do feel bad for her." Valentine replied
 
 
"I feel bad for Jefe. He's given a lot to Tammy an' loved her to his own detriment, but all she does is spit in his face as gratitude. HE doesn't deserve that." Hondo said with a growl.
 
 
"I feel for him too, but he, Gadget, and I all have one lucky thing goin' for us." She said
 
 
"What's that?" He asked
 
 
"We have you." She said
 
 
"Sounds like you're all cursed with bad luck." He replied gruffly.
 
 
"No. You're gruff and at times a bit harsh, but I don't know anyone who cares more 'bout their friends ... even to his own detriment." She said with a soft smile.
 
 
She shivered slightly in his arms as a soft wind blew over them.
 
 
"You're gettin' cold. Come on, let's go back in. I bought some scotch. a glass of that will warm ya up an' relax ya." Hondo said, changing the subject.
 
 
She nodded and leaned deeper into him as they walked back to the room. As they entered she walked over to the bed, sat down, and picked the bottle of scotch as Hondo shut and locked the door. He sat down beside her as she poured the two glasses about half full. As she handed him one he put his arm around her. They sipped them in silence as they held each other.
 
 
 
A couple hours later, after Valentine had a couple drinks, she fell asleep with her husband holding her. Seeing her fast asleep, Hondo slipped his arm from around her, covered her up, and turned off the lights. He stood in the doorway and watched her for several minutes, as her face was visible in the dim light that spilled through the doorway from the living-room. After several seconds he sighed, closed the door softly, and headed to Gadget's room to sit with her.
 
 

Hondo passed Fernando, who was asleep on the couch as he walked into Gadget's room and softly closed the door. He stood and watched her for a moment. Her breathing was even and she seemed to be at rest. He shook his head after a moment and took a seat.  A lot of thoughts ran through his mind, of things past, of things to come, times good, and bad.  
 
 
Gadget did not deserve this, not even after she had turned her back on him. He remembered the day, and events that lead up to her breaking his heart....
 
  It was supposed to be a simple mission, but Chip set him up, he even admitted it but not until after. It was too obvious that it was a fake lead, and when confronted, Chip hit him a couple times, knocked him to the ground, and kicked him in the ribs. He could have fought back, he should have fought back, but for the love of a woman and a promise he made to her he did not defend himself. The woman took notice of the promise that he kept, and she, Gadget, slapped Chip and even though it was against his orders, went with Hondo instead of the others.Though the lead was fake it felt like the beginning of something new, something good. Even the other rangers scowled at Chip and whispered mutterings against their leader. There was to be a change, but not in a good way, not for Hondo Sackett. Three days later, in a stolen jeep, Hondo and Gadget returned, beat, battered, bruised, and dehydrated. He had not shot to kill until day three, when Gadget's leg was broken when hit by a ricochet. Their ride had been destroyed the first day, and he had taken a bullet to the shoulder the second day. and he had his ass kicked by a giant of a man, the third day protecting Gadget. When he failed to protect her with his fists, he turned to his gun. It was a miracle that they had even made it out alive. He had risked their lives, risked the life of the woman he loved all because she said she could not be with someone who took a life. To save her, he took four lives that third day. She begged him not to, but there was no option. They made it back but she said not a word to him the whole ride back. While she was being treated for her wounds, Hondo had slapped Chip around and got his confession that he had been paid to have him scared off and wounded by some rat, but no one was supposed to die and Gadget was never to have been involved. Chip swore he did it to save the others, as the rat swore he'd kill them all of he did not drive Hondo off.  Hondo doubted him, but he did not get a chance to explore it further. Gadget had asked to see him. Seeing her beat up and bandaged hurt him, but not nearly as much as the look on her face. She refused to even look at him, and it shattered him. She told him to go and never come back as she could not stand to look at him. He had taken lives and she only saw him now as a cold hearted murderer. She said Chip was right about him, and she wanted him gone. He walked out, not to see her again for almost ten years. To date he had never told her the truth that Chip had set them up and before leaving he made Chip swear on his life to never tell her. He wondered now if it had been the wrong decision. He did it to protect her, but now he wondered if he had done her a disservice. He told himself she would not had believed him at the time, but that was something he would never know.
 
 
There was a while where he felt sad and broken over her turning her back, but he turned it to anger, slowly getting good at seeming the cold-hearted being she said he was. He had always been a little gruff, but it was because of her he learned to turn most negative emotions to anger, and to stay gruff to keep most people at a distance. Over the years he just got better and better at it, distancing himself a little further for people ever year, but he could not quit helping and rescuing those in need, even when it hurt him again and again.  
 
 
He shook his head as he sat there. It was a long time ago, close to 15 years now, more if you counted the months out of the normal time line he had spent with Fernando on missions, but seeing her weak and helpless again made it seem like yesterday. He wondered, what if he had stayed, what if he had encouraged Gadget to follow Chip's orders that fateful day, what if he had told her the truth about Chip before leaving, what if he had come back sooner? Many 'what ifs' crossed his mind, but he knew he could do them no justice.
 
 
Though he wondered what he could have done or still could do, the fact of the matter was, he loved Valentine, and though he wondered if she would be better with another, he could not bring himself to explore that thought too deeply. She was the love of his life, and his light in a dark, dismal world. He had loved Gadget, and under the painful memories of her, there was still something there, a spot with the fond memories of times enjoyed with her. He did not love her like he had anymore, but he cared about her still. Showing it was something he felt completely unable to do though, and it scared him to try. He was not good at this stuff. Expressing himself was something he never felt comfortable with, and had withdrawn from trying a long time ago. Valentine was the first to pull him out of his shell, so to speak, in several years. Laurie had done her best, and had been the only one who had come as close as Valentine had, but he was a different man back then. Much had changed in him and around him since then, and much more since Gadget. There was no doubt in his mind that Valentine was the one for him, but a part of him wondered who he might have became if it had gone differently.
 
 
He shook his head after a while and growled at his own thoughts.
 
 
*Thoughts of an idle mind.* he told himself
 
 
Seeing that Gadget still slept soundly, he crossed his arms and settled into the chair for a nap. Thoughts and images of Valentine played through his mind. Thoughts of Valentine always played easy on his mind. His tired body soon dropped off to sleep.
 
 
 
He did not know how long he had been out but the sound or muttered words and thrashing of bedding brought him awake and to his feet. He growled as he looked around and tried to force the sleep from his brain. He settled down though as he realized it was Gadget. She seemed to be out of it still but she mumbled in her sleep and thrashed around randomly. Most of the words he could not understand but some like "No! Please stop!, Help me, I beg you, why God, and just let me die." came through quite audible and let him know what was on her mind, in part. He sat down on the bed and put a hand on her shoulder and grabbed her flailing arm with the other.
 
 
"Gat... Gadget... It's alright. Shhh... You're safe." He tried to say soothingly though his voice was a bit raspy from just waking up
 
 
She seemed to settled down, but she grabbed onto his arm and held it with a vice like grip, as if her life depended on it. The hand that had been on her shoulder felt something damp. It was then he noticed she had been sweating. Her t-shirt was almost sopping wet, as was her pillow and sheets. He felt her head and she had a definite fever. He managed to pry her fingers off his arm and went to the closet for fresh sheets and pillow case. He also grabbed a damp, cool washcloth from the bathroom and set it on the side table. She did not completely wake up as he stripped her t-shirt off and changed the sheets but she came half to and complained about the cold.  
 
 
"Come on, Gat, need to get ya some dry sheets." He said
 
 
"Tired." she muttered.
 
 
"I know, but you have a fever." He said as he uncovered her and she visibly began to shiver.
 
 
He had learned how to do bedding with someone on the bed from his ex Red, who was a nurse, but it had been a lot of years so it took him a couple tried. Once done with the sheets he sat her up and pulled off her shirt, which was all she had on besides her panties. Being completely topless made her shiver all the more.
 
 
"cold... so cold." She muttered
 
 
"I know. Just hang in there, little lady." he said softly.
 
 
 He covered her back and started to go find a new shirt for her, but she grabbed his arm again. Her eyes were half open but it was clear she wasn't quite with it.  
 
 
"Don't.... leave...me." She said drowsily.
 
 
"I'm just gettin' you a fresh shirt." He said
 
 
"No.. stay." She slurred
 
 
"I'll be right back." he said.
 
 
"Please... no." she mumbled.
 
 
he sighed, "OK. I'll stay."
 
 
He pried her fingers off his arm again, put the cool cloth on her head, gave her some water from a bottle by her bed, and tucked her in. Every time he tried to move away she would start to panic, so he gave up on that after a bit. He stripped down to his boxers, folded his shirt and pants, and laid them over the back of the chair, before climbing into bed beside her. As soon as he did she latched onto him with a death grip. She shivered slightly at first but soon settled down. She sighed a contented sigh and smiled slightly after a bit.
 
 
"You're so nice... kind to me. I don't deserve kind." She muttered.
 
 
"Yes you do. I ... I'm sorry I couldn't have been there for ya, Gat. I really am." He said.
 
 
"Hondo used call me that.... he was nice... don't know what happened with Hondo ... Chip ... Chip not nice... Hurt me." She muttered
 
 
"I know. It's alright now. You're safe now." He said.
 
 
"You kind... thank you... thank you for saving me.... thank you, Fernando." She muttered as she fell off to sleep.
 
 
He sighed and shook his head, feeling a little annoyed at first. He chuckled after a bit though. Yeah, Fernando caught the ladies eye's usually, but he had caught his own woman and she was all he wanted or needed. As Gadget held onto him he could feel her bare chest against him, and the only thought he could think was that Valentine's felt better. He put his arm around her to pull her close and she let up on her grip. He knew then without a doubt, all she wanted was to feel safe. He kissed her forehead and whispered softly to her.
 
 
"Sleep well, little Lady. you're safe an' with friends now." he whispered softly.
 
 
He soon fell asleep holding her and making her feel safe for at least one night.
 
 
 
He slept until about 5:00 am and woke up. It took his a second to remember where he was, and what topless woman was pressed up against him, but it came to him slowly. He pulled away carefully and put a hand on Gadgets forehead and chest to check her temperature. He sighed in relief as she felt normal. She had sweated a bit more, making him feel a bit sticky himself, but it must have broke not too long after he had laid down with her as her bedding wasn't nearly as damp as it had been last night. As he carefully got up, she snuggled deeper into her pillows and sighed, but did not wake up. He made his way to the shower quick like as he smelled of sweat and Gadget. He showered quickly and stepped out of the shower. He looked at his boxers, but was sure they smelled like her, too so he decided to go commando for the moment. he toweled off as he walked back into the room. He looked carefully as he approached the chair, and Gadget was still asleep. He slipped back into his jeans and shirt and checked his phone for messages, but found none. he growled and shook his head a bit. He was still tired as he'd only gotten 3 hours of sleep at best last night, but there were things to do, and though he wouldn't hide it from Valentine, in her state finding him in bed with his ex was the last thing she needed.
 
 
Seeing Gadget still asleep Hondo quietly opened her door and headed to the kitchen. Fernando was still out cold on the couch and did not even twitch as he passed. As Hondo walked down into the kitchen he was surprised to find Monty already up. he raised an eyebrow at him but didn't say anything until he got to the coffee pot, and started the coffee.
 
 
"You're up early, Jack." Hondo said in a half awake growl.
 
 
"I'm up early most day's mate. I'd 'ave made breakfast if I 'ad access ta the supplies." Monty said
 
 
Hondo half ignored him, "Got a long day ahead of us."  
 
 
"Ya want me ta start breakfast, mate?" Monty asked.
 
 
Hondo sighed, "I reckon in a bit. Just for you, me, Val, Jefe, an' Gadget, though. The rest won't be up for a couple hours at least, an' I'm not listen to a bunch of whinin'. They can fix whatever they want, as I don't do special orders."
 
 
"What's the menu ta be, skippah?" He asked.
 
 
"Bacon, scrambled eggs with fresh spinach, biscuits, hashbrowns an' white gravy, an' mixed fruit." Hondo replied as he filled his cup before the pot was done.
 
 
"Thet coffee open ta anyone?" Monty asked.
 
 
"Only if ya make more. If Jefe wakes an' there's no coffee, I'll leave ya to his mercy." Hondo said gruffly as he opened the fridge and grabbed a cold powerade from it.
 
 
"Should be everythin' we need in here to start. I'll be back to help in a bit, an' we can start then." Hondo replied.
 
 
Monty nodded and got up to get some coffee before gathering the items needed for breakfast.
 
 
Hondo headed back upstairs with his coffee and the powerade and headed to Gadget's room. He sat the powerade by her bed and sat down in the chair. He put a hand on her shoulder and gently shook her.
 
 
"Gat... gat.. wake up." He said softly.  
 
 
She mumbled, yawned and rubbed her eyes. "Hmm?... Fernando?"
 
 
"Nope." Hondo replied flatly.
 
 
She propped herself up and squinted at him, "Hondo?"  
 
 
"Yup." He replied
 
 
"Where... where's Fernando?" She asked seeming a bit confused.
 
 
"Sleepin' on the couch." Hondo replied
 
 
"Was he? ... I mean. .. was I ... did he,, you know,,, stay with me last night?" She asked
 
 
Hondo shook his head, "Nope. I sat her for a bit though... You might want ta cover up."
 
 
She looked down curiously then a surprised look came over her as she realized she was topless. She clutched the sheets up over her chest.
 
 
"What happened?" She asked.
 
 
"Damned if I know." he said.
 
 
She settled down after a moment and yawned again.  
 
 
"That coffee for me?" she asked through the yawn.
 
 
"Nope, but that is. Ya had a fever. Need the electrolytes." he said
 
 
"Are you sure Fernando didn't sleep with me... for a bit at least?" She asked
 
 
"If ya think I'm lyin' ask him yourself." he said a bit gruffly.
 
 
"Hondo?" She said
 
 
"What?" He asked
 
 
"What happened to you? Did I make you so cold?" She asked softly.
 
 
He sighed, stood up, and headed to the door, ignoring her question.
 
 
"Breakfast should be ready in half an' hour or so. If ya feel strong enough you should grab a shower. If not I'm sure Val will help ya later. I'll bring some food up for ya when its ready." He said emotionlessly.
 
 
He did not wait for her to say more, but just headed out and back down to the kitchen to help Monty.
 
 

Charles see Nando wasn’t happy. “Let me gust. Monty cook breakfast at 5AM?”
 
“Yea he did.” Fernando saying  
 
“I will let Dale know in the future.” Charles saying.
 
“Good.” Fernando saying as he went back see Gadget.  
 
Charles went to Dale as they enter into the kitchen.  
 
“Your friend Monty made a grave miskate never cook breakfast at 5AM. Or Nando will be Steam.” Charles saying  
 
“Ok I will remember that.” Dale saying.
 
“Time to Teach you how to cook Turkey Crumbles Omurice  and for to drink Qoo Pop.” Charles saying.
 
“OK I am ready.” Dale saying
 
Then Charles put on his apron and white head band on. Then grab the utensils and Dale Grab the Ingredients for the food.  
 
“OK Let make the Turkey Crumbles Omurice first.” Charles saying. “Need a Medium Pot with 3/4 of Water.”  
 
Dale Filling the pan with 3/4 of water then put it on the stove as he turn it on.  
 
Charles then grab the Salt. “Little of Salt in the water.” Then he heard it to Dale as he sprinkles the salt into the water then put it away.  
 
“Now Put the Rice into the water to cover the pot.” Charles saying as Dale pour 4 Cups of Water into the pot.  
 
“OK Let that cook for 1 hour. Now the Eggs next. Two Frying Pans on the stove, Then Put Pam non stick oil spray to cover the pans.” Charles saying  
 
Then Dale Spray the two frying pans with Pam.  
 
“Then Get two Bowls and crack 4 eggs into the two bowls”. Charles was saying again  
 
Then Dale Cracks 4 eggs into the two bowls.  
 
“Then Stir them up while I Pour the Turkey Crumbles into the big Sacurer Bowl.” Charles was pouring the Turkey Crumbles into the Big Sascure bowl as Dale mixing the eggs.  
 
Then 1 hour was up.  
 
“Ok Drain the Water form the Pot with the Rice and use the Drainer too.”  
 
Then Dale Use the Drainer as he took it to the sink and began to drain the water as the Rice caught in the Drainer. Then began to rinse them 3 times and put them back into the pot as he put water back in to cover the rice.  
 
“OK let them cook a little bit then turn the stove off. So they can simmer.” Charles saying.
 
Dale turn the Stove on as he wait then put the cover on the pot and then turn the stove off as the rice was still cooking.  
 
“Now I will put the Crumbles in the Microwave for 40 seconds.” Then he put them in the Microwave for 40 seconds and turn it on. Then getting the A1 Stake Sauce.  “It will take great with A1.” Charles saying as the microwave was done. He Took out the Crumbles.  
 
“Ok Let work on the Omurice. Need Two Plates.” Charles saying as Dale grab Two Plates.  
 
“Hear the Tricky Part. Take the Flat Egg out of the pan and put it on the plate.” Charles saying as they took the Flat Egg out of the Pans and put it on the plate.  
 
“Then Put the Rice in the center of the Egg.” As Charles pour some of the Rice in the Center then he hand the pot to dale as did the same thing.  
 
“Then Put Turkey Crumbles on the Rice.” Charles saying as he pour some of the crumbles on the rice and hand it to dale as he did the same thing.”  
 
“Then Add A1 Stake Sauce.” Then he Add the A1 Stake Sauce on the crumbles and rice in the egg and hand it to dale as he did the same thing.  
 
“Now Fold the Egg over to cover the Crumbles and Rice.” Then Charles Saying  
 
Then they Fold the Egg over and it was done.  
 
“There That a Turkey Crumble Omurice. But we have to do it 5 More times for our group.” Charles saying.
 
“Great.” Dale saying.
 
“Don’t worry. I am going to make them to Fix Lunch and Dinner for us too since they got to pick up the slack.” Charles saying.
 
“Ok.,”
 
Then 2 hours later 7 Plates of Turkey Crumble Omurcie on the table, with 6 Qoo Pops and one Saki for Burbron. After they finish the dishes too.  
 
Then they sat at the tables and began to eat. AS they were shock and moans too.  
 
“OH This IS SO GOOD. I Feel I was on a Roller Coaster of Food.” Rex saying.
 
“WOW this is good. Like my first Rodeo. YEEE HAW.” Burborn saying  
 
“WOW You made this Dad? This is SO GOOD.” Maggie saying  
 
“Yep I did. But you guys have to make Lunch and Dinner since we doing Breakfast.” Charles saying.
 
“OK We will pich in and This make my Sparks Flare up.” Sparky Wiskers sparking.  
 
“WOWE ZOWEY. This is the best Omurice we ever made Charles.” Dale saying  
 
“Thanks Dale and it the power of thinking.” Charles saying.  
 
They continue to eat.

10 o’clock comes with almost everybody leaving the house. Knowing that everyone has gone, after taking a shower Gadget decides to walk about the house in her t-shirt and panties, looking for Fernando. Though she could have look in the obvious place, she decides to go from room to through the unlocked passages of the bathroom (a security issue that may or may not be dealt with in the future). After circling the whole floor from room to room, she comes out of her room and walks into living room. She sits on the couch where Fernando was under the blankets.
 
“What the #$@!!” Fernando wakes up, getting up from under the blanket.
 
“There you are!” Gadget lets out.
 
“Where else would I be?” Fernando holds back from yelling.
 
“I don’t know.” She replies.
 
Fernando looks at his watch before noticing Gadget’s attire, or what little of it there was. He asks, “You’re not dressed yet?”
 
“I don’t know what to wear.” She tells him.
 
“Look. No tech or engineer attire. You are my secretary and you must dress up as such. Blouse, skirt, shoes, stockings or pantyhose optional, you got to look prim and proper and be ready to do as I say. We got a long day, and I’m going to have you medically checked out at the Emperor’s private medical office. Then from there who knows. I have to shower up and change.” He tells her.
 
“Fernando?” Gadget calls to him, she adds, “I need to talk to you about something personal.”
 
“Considering you are here in your underwear, I do not know how personal it is going to get.” He explains.
 
Gadget looks at him nervously before throwing herself at him and blurting out, “I’m Sorry!”
 
“Sorry for what?” Fernando asks in a confused state of mind.
 
Gadget gets up and starts pulling on his arm. She gets him up and to follow her into her room. She lets him go as she sits down on her bed, saying “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen. I did not know that it did happen.”
 
“What are you talking about?” Fernando asks.
 
Gadget looks down at herself. After a few seconds of silence she lets out, “I slept with Hondo last night... I thought it was you.”
 
“How can you be sure? You were asleep for most of the time I was awake.” Fernando asks.
 
Gadget reaches into her pillow and pulls out a pair of boxers shorts, “It has both his scent and my scent on it.”  
 
“Continue explaining.” Fernando replies.
 
“He woke me up to give me breakfast and I was topless. I remember going to bed with a top on.” Gadget begins, “He claims it is because I had a fever and was sweating a lot. But when I ask for details about what happened, he won’t say anything. Then I talked to Val about it and she said not to worry about it but admits to me that he told her that he slept with me.”
 
Fernando sighs before taking a seat next to her. “I’m sure there is a simple explanation about all this but I will talk to Hondo when we a return. I just want you to think. The bio-pill had restored much of your virtue and would have made you close to virgin tight as possible. If you and Hondo did anything, you should be feeling either stretched out or sore down there right now. Now, think and survey your body, do you feel sore or stretched out down there – either front or back? “
 
“Doesn’t feel like it.” She says after taking a few seconds to assess her body’s fitness.
 
“Then, if it does not feel like it, then perhaps nothing happen other then he sleeping with you.” Fernando tells her. He adds, “However I told him for him and Val to leave you alone while you rested. Apparently they did not do that and I need to talk to them about it.”
 
“What else did this bio-pill do to me?” Gadget asks.
 
“Well, sooner or later you should know this. The Bio pill removed all of the poisons from the drugs Chip gave you. This poses a problem, in that if you were to go back to those drugs at the level you were taking them, you would die from an over dose. Therefore you should never go back to doing those drugs.” Fernando begins. He continues to add, “It also removed other poisons you were exposed to tinkering around. Like I stated, it restored your body to near virgin tight as possible, even though you are not a virgin but your body is close to that state as possible. Most of the wounds and scars you got in these past several years should been healed as is they never happened. Any diseases you may have had, have been cured. Your body rejuvenated to a more natural state if it were allowed to develop perfectly on its own. The only thing it cannot deal with is the computer chip in your head. That needs a different procedure to deal with it.”
 
“I see.” Gadget replies.
 
“Do you understand all that I said?” He asks.
 
“Yes.” She replies.
 
“Good.” He says. He then adds “Put those away for a while. I’ll deal with Hondo later. Now I need you to get dress like you did yesterday – skirt, blouse, whatever accessories you need. I’m going to shower up and change. I’ll see you in the living room in 15 minutes.”
 
Fernando leaves Gadget’s room for his room he shares with Tammy. There he takes his clothes off to be ready for his shower, taking a towel with him to the bathroom. He takes several minutes to shower up- lather, rinse repeat. Soon he is drying himself off before he gets to his bedroom. Getting a fresh set of underwear and clothing to put, he is dressed in minutes. His shoulder holster goes on before he puts on his suit and his firearm goes in it after the suit jacket go on. He steps outside to the living room. Gadget was not there. He goes into her room after knocking on the door.
 
Gadget was still deciding what to wear.
 
“Gadget?” Fernando calls to her.
 
“Oh!” Gadget responds, adding as she turns to him, “Yes?”
 
“You have not put anything on.” He says to her as he sits on the bed next to her. “Look. Put on yesterday’s skirt and different blouse – this blouse should be good. Then put on some stocking and shoes. I’ll be outside.”
 
Fernando heads outside and sits on the couch he sleeps on waiting for Gadget. She comes out in a couple of minutes. She stands in front of him.
 
“This good enough?” Gadget asks.
 
“Yes, it is.” Fernando answers as he gets up.
 
“Where are we going to first?” Gadget says as she takes his hands like she is going on a date with him.
 
“To the Emperor’s palace to use his medical facility to check you out with. I’ll be the doctor doing the examination. Then we are going to see Chip. I have a few questions to ask him.” He tells her.
 
Gadget takes a step back from him and looks up at him, “You can examine me in my bedroom if you like. Maybe deal with this hunger pain I have down here?” She put her hand where her vagina and uterus would be on her lower abdomen.
 
Fernando smiles at her for a moment, “I would love to give you such an exam, but let’s check you out and make sure everything is 100 percent with you.”
 
“Then, can I ask a question?” Gadget asks.
 
“You can ask anything.” Fernando answers.
 
“Then... When I was stressing out on Hondo sleeping with me, why did I want a hit of some drugs?” She asks.
 
“Well, the bio-pill I gave you cleansed you out of the drugs so your body does not need it, you would not go through withdrawal or illness. But there is a mental habit you need to break. It will not be easy but I know you can do it.” He tells her. She looks up at him and nods.
 
“Ready to go?” He asks.
 
“I’m ready for you to take me to my bedroom and have you examined me there.” She says.
 
“I bet. But first let’s make sure there nothing in you that can interfere with your health.” He tells her. She nods. He replies, “Let’s go.”  
 
Together they go through his room, he checks and secures the house before going to his car, and drives to the Emperor’s Palace. Taking a couple of teleport jumps, the trip takes a couple of minutes to get to the palace. His vehicle and occupants are immediately recognized by palace security and are allowed in. In under a minute he parks his car in the front parking area by the palace’s main entrance. They walk into the palace where they meet the Emperor and his service staff.
 
Fernando bows down, “Good morning Emperor. I’m here to access your medical facility for my patient here.”
 
The Emperor blows, “My facilities are yours. Use them as you need them.”
 
“I appreciate it greatly.” Fernando says. He then asks “Do you have a Lantean Medical Teleporter?”
 
“We do. Can I ask why?” The Emperor asks.
 
“There is a computer chip inside my patient’s head. It has self healing properties, and past attempts to short out the chip has resulted in that chip healing itself. Right now it is running in an infinite loop I programmed onto it but it needs to be removed.” Fernando explains. Gadget gasps in hearing this.
 
“Let’s see in what we can do. Hoshi, see if you can get Dr. Yamaguchi to the medical bay.” The Emperor says.
 
“Will do sir.” One of the servants says.
 
“Follow me.” The Emperor says to Fernando. Gadget grabs his arm as she follows them to the medical bay. Soon they were in an examination room. The Emperor gives Fernando an examination gown for Gadget to put on. Fernando gives it to her and points to a partition screen to change behind.
 
“How are you going to take care of the computer once it is out?” The Emperor asks.
 
“I need a specimen jar filled with saline solution. We teleport the chip out and into the specimen jar. The saline solution will short out the chip, and keep it from operating again as long as it remains in the jar.” Fernando explains.
 
“Good enough for me.” The Emperor says as he searches the shelves for a specimen jar. Finding one, he takes a plastic bag of saline solution and pours the salt water into the jar before sealing it.
 
Dr. Yamaguchi arrives, a female Asian mouse in her 30’s. She asks, “Can I see the patient’s records?”
 
“There are none other than a verbal record. Dr. G. will tell you.” The Emperor tells her.
 
Fernando begins to explain, “It was almost 10 years ago where the patient was kidnapped and had various experiments done to her. One of them was having a computer chip implanted into her brain to force her to comply certain orders in committing an assassination of a political leader. With the assassination attempt thwarted, I was able to gain access to its programming and programmed it into an infinite loop. But any attempt to short out the chip to destroy showed that it has self healing properties and has ‘healed’ itself from several attempts to destroy it. The only option left is to remove it.” Fernando explains;
 
“You know where they chip is?” Dr. Yamaguchi asks.
 
“It’s on top the cerebellum on the left side between the rear of the frontal cortex and the front of the motor cortex. Wires from the chip goes to other areas of the brain.” Fernando explains.
 
“How do you recommend having it removed?” Dr. Yamaguchi asks.
 
“With your Lantean medical scanner and teleporter, scan for the chip as a non-biological entity wrapped in a bio-safe encapsulation. Along with the wires, the chip will be teleported into this jar of saline solution where it will short out.” Fernando tells her.
 
“Where’s the patient?” Dr. Yamaguchi asks.
 
Fernando walks to the screen and reaches inside, taking Gadget’s hand. She complains, “It is cold.”
 
“This will only take a short while and you will be back in your clothes.” Fernando says to her as he escorts her to the examination table. He helps her onto the table and has her lying down on it.
 
Dr. Yamaguchi moves the Lantean medical scanner over Gadgets head and programs it for a full cranial scan. In under a minute a full 3D scan of her brain is projected as a hologram as well as the chip connected to it. Hundreds of micro wires reach out from the chip to various areas of her brain.
 
“This is rather extensive.” Dr. Yamaguchi says to herself.
 
“Well, can it be done?” Fernando asks.
 
“Yes it can be done. I’m just wondering how such delicate work be done on the patient without killing her.” Dr Yamaguchi replies.
 
“It’s a self healing chip. Chances are it was implanted raw and the connections grew into place.” Fernando speculates.
 
“Had to be since there no way this could have been done by hand or robotic surgery.” Dr. Yamaguchi agrees. She adds, “OK, inputting the chip’s topology’s from the scanner to the teleporter.” It takes over a minute to computer all the topology points and sent it to the teleporter.
 
“Commencing teleportation.” Dr. Yamaguchi says as the teleporter powers up from its resting state.
 
The water in the saline solution begins to glow. A couple of minutes later the chip materializes inside the jar with the saline solution and the telelporter powers down.
 
“It is done.” Dr. Yamaguchi says as she looks at the chip inside specimen jar. Tiny electrical arcs can be seen between the wires end and more arcs can be seen on the surface of the chip as it fries itself out in trying to reestablish connection to the host’s brain that is no longer there.
 
The bio-scanner is then moved from Gadget’s head. Fernando helps Gadget to sit up slowly.
 
“Are you OK?” Fernando asks her.
 
Gadget doubles over as she sits, clutching at her head. Then she looks up. “The other voices, they are gone”
 
“Voices?” Fernando asks.
 
“Interesting, the patient perceived the digital input from the chip as ‘voices’.” Dr Yamaguchi points out/
 
“What did these voices said?” Fernando asks.
 
“Gibberish, mostly numbers. Random numbers. I learned to ignore them but they were there in the background.” Gadget answers.
 
“That’s because I had the chip trying to calculate Pi to its last digit. I did not think it would interfere with your thought processes.” Fernando explains.
 
“It... it’s OK. I just wish it was done sooner.” Gadget says, adding, “But I know it’s been a long hard ten years.”
 
“It’s over. You never have to live with that anymore.” Fernando tells her.
 
“I would like the patient to remain for observation.” Dr. Yamaguchi requests.
 
“That would be alright, she will be under my observation. But, Emperor sir, I trust you with this chip for 24 hours to study its capabilities. I’m afraid that others with it inside their heads might come this way. Find a way to defeat it. I want it back when you are done.” Fernando says as he takes the jar with the chip inside and hands it to the Emperor.
 
“Thank you Dr. G. We will figure this out in the time constraint you gave us.” The Emperor says to him.
 
“Now, if you do not mind, I need to see the prisoner Charles Maplewood. I have a few questions for him to answer before I leave.” Fernando requests.
 
“Granted. You know where the dungeon is. You’re free to access it when you need it.” The Emperor says before giving the jar to Dr. Yamaguchi. He signals to her to take it to the lab for examination.
 
“Thank you. I just need a few minutes with the patient before having her get dressed and meet with the prisoner. And then I will be taking her home.” Fernando requests further.
 
“Use the facilities as you need. I grant them as yours to use during your stay.” The Emperor says before he signals the other to leave the room before he does. The door closes and locks behind him as he is the last to go.
 
Fernando checks the door to make sure it is locked before he turns around and faces Gadget, “How do you feel?”
 
“Fine. Better than fine.” She says.
 
“I need to do some neurological tests on you. Sorry that a couple of them will be painful.” He tells her.
 
“What kind of tests?” She asks.
 
“Tests to check that nothing was disrupted in removing the chip.” Fernando explains. He adds, “Since you are talking, responding, replying and answering questions, your vocal and cognitive functions seems intact. Answer me this – what is One Plus One?”
 
“That’s  simple – two!” She answers.
 
“OK, what is the Sine of 90 degrees?” He asks.
 
“That’s another simple one – the answer is one!” She answers.
 
“OK then – If all quacks are quiks, and all quiks are quarks, are all quiks are quarks too?” He asks.
 
“Yes! But why so many questions?” She answers and then asks.
 
Looks like your basic mathematical and logic are still there, even though you are Gadget.” He says.
 
“What is that supposed to mean?” Gadget asks.
 
“Gadget logic is not always perfect pure logic. Then again, nobody’s logic is pure logic.” He tells her as he approaches her. He pulls out his fountain pen but leaves the cap on as he grabs her by the wrist, “Be ready for Phase Two. I’m sorry if it painful.”
 
“Painful?” She asks.
 
He takes the fountain pen and strokes it across the height of her palm, making her clench her hand into a fist. He says, “Sorry it was painful.”
 
“It was not painful, but it was unexpected.” She tells him.
 
“Other hand please.” He tells her. He does the same to the other hand of stroke the pen’s cap along the palm in a certain way. Like her first hand, it too balls up into a fist unexpectedly.
 
He lets go of her hand and take her by her ankle. He strokes his pen along the plantar of her foot (aka the sole of her foot). Her toes curl up tightly and she pulls her leg back from his grasp.
 
“Relax Gadget. The tests are almost over.” He takes her other foot and scrapes his pen cap along the plantar of her foot. Same reaction happens. He gently puts her foot down and steps over to her face. He puts away the pen.
 
“Looks like all reflex reactions are normal. One last test and I’m sorry for it will be the hardest.” He says to her.
 
“What are you going to do?” She asks.
 
“Let me ask, you still want to take me to a bedroom and practice making babies?” He asks.
 
“Yes and more.” Gadget says.
 
“More?” He asks.
 
“Anything you want to do to me, I’ll be glad to do it with you.” She says.
 
“OK, let me asks, do you have those feelings in check?” He asks.
 
“If I didn’t, I’d be creaming my panties with desire right now.” She answers before throwing at him with a smile, “Care to check?”
 
Fernando leans over and kisses her on the forehead, “It’s OK. I can trust you in saying the truth. One last test – go walk behind the screen and get dressed. I’ll be checking your stance and your strut as you walk there. If you feel dizzy, let me know.”
 
Gadget nods before she gets off the stable and stands on the floor in front of him. She sneaks a feel by grasping at his crotch lightly before taking slow deliberate sultry steps to the partition screen and gets dressed. She comes out about a minute later dressed and walks to him, stopping in front of him and taking his hands.
 
“Dizzy?” He asks.
 
Gadget shakes her head, “No.”
 
“Sorry for asking so many times but how do you feel?” He asks.
 
“I’m feeling fine, much better than fine, like I used to be more than ten years ago!” She says before tip toeing on her feet and leans over to him. She plants her lips against his and she leans too much and end up being against him. She breaks off the kiss after almost half a minute, looks at up him and smiles embarrassingly. “Sorry.” She finally says to him.
 
“It’s OK.” He says to her.
 
“Can I ask of a favor?” She asks.
 
“What kind of favor?” He asks.
 
“When we see Chip, can you stand behind me and feel me up, especially my breasts?” She asks.
 
“Uhm, can I ask why?” He asks.
 
“It’s to show Chip that I moved on without him and moved on to you – the person he hates the most.” She tells him.
 
“I will think about it.” He says to her, adding “I do need to ask him a few questions while you hide out of his sight as he answers those questions.”
 
Gadget looks down between them before she nods.
 
- - To Be Continued. - -