Barrett looked up at the skyline before leaning down to retie her
sneaker. Standing back up to her full height of 5' 4", she smoothed
out the short pair of shorts. She was dressed perfectly for the
comfortable weather out in her short shorts, a cut-off USMC tank top,
and her sneakers. Putting her headphones back into her ears, Barrett
started out on a light jog through the park.

Devon sat by the pond watching Kei his Great Pyrenees puppy bound
around with a large stick she found near the pond. With his
sunglasses down and a smile on his face he just watched her try and
drag the oversized stick beside her. She got it close to him and Dev
reached over picking it up tossing it a few feet away from him. He
chuckled watching the white fluff ball bound after it and struggled
to pick it up. Devon was impressed she was actually getting the
concept of fetching or so he thought...

Barrett happened to look down at her watch at a very good moment as
she almost tripped over a ball of white fluff. Coming to a halt in
her step, she leaned down to pet the puppy. "Now aren't you a cute
little one." she cooed to the puppy as she scratched her behind the
ear.

When Kei didn't come trotting back to him, Devon glanced
around "Kei?" He called out a little bit standing up slowly.

Barrett leaned over and picked the puppy up as she started wagging
her tail. Obviously whoever was calling out to her was her
master. "That must be your daddy, huh?" she asked with a
smile. "Trident, come on boy." she called to her own puppy. She
looked around until she saw a familiar face. "No way." she said to
herself as she came to a halt in front of Devon.

Devon turned in circles looking Kei. I mean how hard was it to loose
a white puppy in green grass? "Kei?" He turned around and noticed a
woman holding his Kei. Before he could open his mouth his brain
clicked. "Barrett?"

"Well, well, well.... if it isn't my favorite fly boy." Barrett
teased, cuddling his puppy close. When she heard Trident let out a
whimper of jealousy, she leaned down and picked him up as well. "Yes,
it's me silly. Where have you been lately? I haven't seen you in a
good while."

"Nothing much," he shrugged at her and flashed her a small
smile. "What about you?"

"Basically the same...." Barrett muttered returning his
smile. "So..." she was at a loss for words. What could she say to a
man who'd been thought for dead a little over a month ago.

"You like my puppy huh?" He reached out and petted Kei's head who
looked back at him panting at him.

"Of course I do. She's absolutely adorable." Barrett replied, placing
a kiss on Kei's head. She placed one of Trident's as well so that her
own puppy didn't decide to get jealous.

"She's a cutie alright." He smiled and held out his arms to take her
from Barrett. "So how have you been?"

"Miss her already, huh?" Barrett teased as she handed Kei back to her
master. "I've been alright. You know me, working hard as always."

"Of course she's my baby." Devon grinned brightly and pet Kei, he
loved having a dog especially after coming back from being a POW. It
just really helped take his mind off of everything that happened.

"So what have you been up to lately?" Barrett asked. She grabbed his
wrist lightly, pulling him towards a nearby tree.

Devon followed her and just shrugged, "nothing much just adjusting
and whatnot."

Barrett sat down on the ground, leaning up against the tree for
comfort. "Well I think you should join me for dinner." she stated
bluntly. She couldn't believe that she'd actually just said that, but
it was out there and now she couldn't take it back.

"Well I'm having dinner with my sister and a friend tonight..." Devon
replied to her. He didn't want to be mean or anything. "You are
welcome to come along if you'd like. They wouldn't care. Though
they are crazy... at least my sister is." He rambled on before
setting Kei down so she could run off and find her stick again.

"Oh.... well I don't want to intrude." Barrett said as Trident
wriggled out of her hands. She set the puppy down in the grass and
watched him chase after Kei. "I mean, maybe some other time...."

"No really you are welcome to come." He gave her a bright
smile. "I'll actually have another normal person there."

Barrett thought it over for a moment. She grinned at him, "Well only
since you're so insistant upon the fact. That and someone has to keep
you partially sane." she teased.

"Ok," Devon smiled at her. "I'm going over at 7... I can pick you up
if you'd like?"

"Sure, sounds like a plan. Um... casual or what?" She asked. She
didn't know how formal or informal this dinner was going to be.

"Oh yes very casual. It's just at their apartment." He explained
before looking out at Kei who was bound around trying to get her
stick away from Trident.

"Alright. Sounds good." She followed his line of site and couldn't
help the laugh that escaped as she watched their puppies fighting
over the stick that was obviously too big for both of them.

"She's obsessed with that stick..." He smirked watching Kei. "The
minute she saw it, it was like hers."

"Well it looks like Trident is going to give her a run for her money."

"She'll just sit there and whine until he gives it back." He chuckled
glancing at her.

"Aww... poor baby." She replied with a grin. She turned to look over
at him and gave him a wink.

Devon smirked. "Just like a woman, whines until she gets what she
wants."

Barrett's jaw dropped as she fully turned toward him. "I can't
believe that you just said that." she said, swatting him on the arm.

"Hey!" He chuckled and rubbed his arm. "It's true don't deny it."

"Since when have you known me to whine to get what I want?" she said,
crossing her arms across her chest.

"Ummmm.... since ever?"

Barrett leaned over and pushed Devon onto his back. "Wanna try that
one again, Major?"

"No Captain definately not..." Devon laughed.

"Then I guess you better remember that I ... don't... whine..." she
stated as she leaned over him, poking him in the chest to accentuate
each word.

"Right... you don't whine I gotcha." He smiled and sat back up
straight leaning against the tree again.

Barrett smirked as she returned to leaning against the tree. "Glad
we've straightened things out." she said, watching the two puppies
still playing tug of war still with the stick.

"Me too." He smirked and patted his lap seeing Kei trot over with
her stick dangling from her mouth. "You got the stick huh?" Devon
picked her up and put her in his lap as she started chewing on the
stick.

Barrett couldn't help the smile that lit up her face as she watched
him with the puppy. Trident ran up and curled up in her lap.

"Almost ready to go home?" He asked looking down Kei pulling her
stick away from her. The last thing she needed was splinters in her
mouth. He looked at Barrett and smiled. "Where can I pick you up?"

"At my apartment, it's not too far from here." Barrett replied as she
stroked Trident's fur.

"Ok." Devon said getting her address before getting up from the
tree. "I'll see you later tonight." He smiled and pulled Kei's
leash from his pocket and clipped it to her purple collar.

Barrett smiled as she stood up, clipping Trident's leash to his
collar. "See you then, fly boy." she said as she turned to head back
to her place.

Devon smiled and walked in the opposite direction to head back to his
car to. It was only a few hours before he'd be heading about out to
pick up Barrett and head over to his sisters place. Just enough time
to take a shower.

------

Major Devon Chadwick "Inferno"
Infiltration Specialist/Sniper
Squints, A.P.O

Captain Barrett Michaelson "Platinum"
Weapons Engineer
Squints, A.P.O.