Hondo I. Sackett
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After Fernando left and the others started trickling in, Hondo went to his room to get dressed. He entered carefully, as he did not want to throw the door open if Valentine was in a sate of undress in the middle of the room. As he entered, she was in the bathroom using the mirror to lightly apply some make-up and finish fixing her hair. "That you, my love?" She asked from the bathroom. "Yeah, Darlin'. I figured I should clean up an' get ready in case anythin' happened." He said. "You expect any trouble?" She asked He shrugged, though she could not see it, "Hell if I know. Better off figurin' on trouble, these days, an' not have any, than the opposite. That an' Fernando had to go get Jeanette. Seems that Tammy had Aisha arrested at the airport on bullshit charges, an' He had to rescue her, then ... Hell I don't know why Jeanette wasn't with her." Valentine stepped out of the bathroom, "If Fernando doesn't force Tammy to take a bio-pill to clean out soon she is going to get one of us killed!" Hondo turned to look at her, and he could not help but stare. She was wearing a flare cut, low neck silver qipao with dark grey floral pattern to it. She was wearing a dark grey shawl with a silver flora pattern, and dark grey lace up boots that matched the floral color in the dress. Her auburn hair was put up into a bun, using chopsticks, but it was done in such a way that some of her hair flowed softly out from under the bun. The whole outfit had an oriental look, with a sort of a Victorian flare to it. She was a handsome woman as it was, but dressed like this made her outer beauty shine even bright, and to Hondo, it was only outdone by the inner beauty he saw in her. After a moment she got self-conscious of his staring and looked down at herself. "Somethin' wrong?" She asked Hondo grinned, "Naw. From where I stand, I just see a whole lot that's right!" She blushed a bit and looked down slightly as his staring was making her self-conscious. "I'm don't look that good." She said softly He shook his head, "Can't just believe me. Maybe that's part of why I love ya so much. Never could stand someone who was vain, but you definitely need to find more confidence in you looks." She smiled softly and shrugged, "You're just saying that because you're my husband. " "Even if I was, would it matter if it was only in my eyes? Or you on the prowl for someone better?" He asked, half seriously. She shook her head, "I'd never want anyone else, though I don't know why you wouldn't want to look else where.... I'm thankful that you don't want to find someone else, really." He walked up to her, grabbed her shoulders somewhat firmly and pulled her close enough to kiss her deeply, yet softly. He let her up after what seemed like a minute or better, but neither of them were sure of how long it really was as time seemed to stand still when they kissed. They both breathed a bit heavily after that, though Valentine thought Hondo was breathing harder than usual. She took note of it, but did not say anything yet, as she knew how grumpy he got when she fussed over him. He kissed her once again quickly then let her go. "I'd probably better get ready. If you're ready would you go check on Gadget an' make sure she's ready. Wouldn't want to check myself an' get people talkin'!" He said the last with a bit of an annoyed tone. "Somethin' happen?" She asked "Why'd ya ask that?" He asked as he took off his vest, pistol, and other gear. "They way you said that just now." She said. He took off his shirt and threw it in the hamper. He stood there a moment, then sighed and shook his head. "Hell, just seems thet a lot of folks have been jumpin' my hide 'bout her. It's startin' to piss me off! I did what I felt needed doin' for someone who used to be a friend. She's always been scatter-brained, an' a bit of an airhead, but this drama.... I don't #$@!in' remember her like that. I never wronged her, used her, hurt her... hell, I never even #$@!ed her! Now, I'm trying to secretly, or I have a crush on her, or if I help her there will be drama, or I'm in her way of gettin' at who she wants!" Hondo groused. "Is it that bad?" Valentine asked He looked at here, "Didn't you talk 'bout steppin' aside for her an' me a couple times? an' you heard Jack. An Jefe, just before he left, told me to not help her an' send you if she asked for help.... I'm wonderin' why he's not sent her ass home. If he was in my shoes, I can't see him standin' for the talk, gossip, an' mistrust. I'm just the small minded hick, who has to take what's thrown at him!" Valentine poured a double shot of whiskey and handed it to him, "Here. Take this and breath." He sighed and took it from her, ".... thanks." She sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, "I'm sorry I doubted us and even suggested you take her instead. Maybe I should have stuck up for you more when she questioned what you did, maybe I should have even yelled at Monty for speaking that way 'bout you. Fernando has a lot on his plate. He does take less shit from others than you do at times, but maybe its personality somewhat. He knows you can take it, even though he doesn't accept it for himself. I don't think his words were a judgement against you, either. I think he just can't deal with her drama and take care of his responsibilities right now so he's trying to spare you grief." Hondo drank about half of the glass and then exhaled heavily before speaking. "Maybe you're right, but it doesn't feel that way. Just feels like she is forcin' me out again. I've not played by her rules, I'm not good enough, so everyone turns against me and backs her." He said with a sigh. She stood back up and kissed him on the cheek, "We're not against you, my love. Gadget is a handful, and... and I think you both need to be friends again, or maybe friends for the first time. Last time you tried to be somethin' you were not to get her to accept you. Be yourself. She is only learnin' to be herself... maybe for the first time too. She need's her ass spanked good, by Fernando or maybe even both of you! but... don't let her get you down or doubt us." He nodded, "Sorry, darlin'. Maybe I'm just worn out. Been a bit out of sorts lately." She nodded, "I know. Just know we need you... and.... If I ever act like her.... promise you'll put me over your knee and drive that attitude out of me!" He chuckled, "Not that I could see you gettin' like that, nor ever turnin' against me, but if it happens I'll do just that." She smiled and him and headed to the door. "I'll go make sure she's ready." She said. "Alright, but don't say anythin' 'bout... 'bout any of this to her, eh?" he asked She nodded, "I won't." After she left Hondo poured a bit more whiskey in the glass, finished stripping down and headed to the shower. He was showered and dressed in less than 20 minutes and ready to go. He went out on the balcony to smoke while he waited. -,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,-,- Valentine went and checked on Gadget, who took a little longer to get ready. Valentine could tell there was something different about her, as not just her attitude had changed, but even her scent seemed a bit different. Gadget chattered on about this, that or the other, most topics centered around Fernando, though. Valentine could not shake the feeling that Gadget and Fernando had been together physically. This depressed her a bit. It was not that she thought less of them for doing it, but she knew if they had it spelled the end of Tammy and Fernando's marriage. Tammy had been a bitch lately, but the drugs in her system explained it all. They had all been a team, a family, for so long that the thought of Tammy and Fernando divorcing saddened her. She did not envy Fernando the project he'd be taking on with Gadget either, but it would be better than Jeanette at least! But them divorcing made her wonder if her and Hondo's marriage had a limit too and would end sooner or later as well. It was a thought she did not want to think but could not help but pondering. If Valentine seemed to be distracted by other thoughts gadget did not notice. She talked away as she had Valentine help with a few quick alterations to her dress, and changed her shoes and evening jacket on Valentine's word. Valentine had her even redo her makup as she said the shades were wrong for her dress and she had used way too much. Makeup had never been Gadget's forte, but she was learning. Valentine had not been good at it once either, but had learned after her and Hondo had gotten together. Tammy had helped a bit with that, as had others, and now it was Valentine's turn to pass on that knowledge to someone else. About 5:40pm Gadget was finally ready.
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