2: TWO FOR JOY
Afghanistan -17 October 2007
The mess hall was starting to fill up as the lunch rush began. Dorothy had snagged a table in the far corner of the tent, people watching over the top of her coffee mug.
Cyclops had given her forty-eight hours to pick her strike team, so instead of sleeping off the jet-lag, she was downing her fourth cup of coffee and attempting to weed out the shortlist into a cohesive team of eight.
Raised voices a few tables over had her paying attention. A group of six men had surrounded a lone female, sitting three tables to her left and had started leering at her.
Dorothy frowned as she realised two of the six had been recommended for her Strike team. Tweedle Dee, who was attempting to use his bulk to intimidate the woman, and Tweedle Dum, who’s sliminess oozed out of him.
She mentally crossed them off her list, they’d never willingly work under a female officer. She downed her coffee, preparing herself to help the other woman out of the situation if needed, which it probably wouldn’t be. Dorothy had worked with the woman before, knew she was as hard as nails and was quite capable of tearing all six men down a few pegs. Snow White was a force to be reckoned with under normal circumstances, belittle her and Hell hath no fury
She had placed her mug back on the table when she noticed a blond-haired Private making his way towards the group, two cups of coffee in his hands. His eyes narrowed as he viewed the situation, before glancing down at the mugs, then back up catching Dorothy’s eye as he did. A quick nod of his head and a smirk that vanished in seconds, had her sitting back waiting to see how the situation was going to pan out. The Private moved past Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, weaving as he did, before suddenly tripping on what could only be described as a dust bunny, and the contents of both mugs were flung over the men with unerring accuracy.
“Aw coffee … No”
Tweedle Dee spun around, fury etched on his face, “Damn it, Scarecrow, why are you such a fucking klutz”
Scarecrow looked up from the mugs, which he had been staring into mournfully. “I could ask you why you are such an arsehole, Tweedle Dee.” He smiled at the man, knowing full well the MP’s stationed just inside the door would prevent Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum from taking a swing at him.
They both seemed to make the same conclusion and stormed out of the mess hall.
Scarecrow looked back over towards Dorothy and gave her a quick wink and a grin as she gestured for him to take a seat. He nodded quickly before moving off to refill his coffee mugs.
Dorothy smiled – first team member decided, she thought to herself and settled in for more people watching.
