Time Flies When You're Saving Lives

Teasing and Preparations

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize. Only my OC, Agent Clarissa Melanie Connors and her story line belongs to me.

~0~ = little break

Getting back to the hotel and bidding Abe a goodnight, I trudged up the three flights of stairs to get to my hotel room. Upon opening the door and lying on my bed, it was only then when I realized I had yet packed my things for my flight back to Camp. I was fine with being driven back there but Howard insisted that I come along on his plane with him because he didn't want to be alone during the flight.

Sighing, I stood from my bed and walked over to where I put my suitcase when I first arrived here. Dirty clothes littered around my suitcase from when I haphazardly just thrown them there. I didn't want to take the time to fold them back up so I just stuffed my clothes back in- remembering to leave some items that I would wear tomorrow- hoping it would fit. It took me another 30 minutes to pack everything and by the end, I was utterly exhausted. Lying down on my bed, I greeted sleep with open arms.

~0~

The next morning, I found Howard has let himself in my hotel room, casually sitting on one of the chairs provided, reading the morning newspaper. He greeted me once he noticed I was awake.

"Wakey wakey Mels!" Howard all but shouted at me with enthusiasm.

I groaned as I lifted my head more but still trying to shield my eyes from the sunlight streaming through the window that Howard annoyingly opened.

"Ugh, you're too happy this morning and how the hell did you get in here?" I asked him, sleep still evident in my voice. He ignored my question.

"C'mon, we have to leave for Jersey in 30 minutes. I already got someone to take your luggage for you to the plane, but don't worry!" He quickly cut in when he saw me about to speak "I left a small bag for you to put your changed clothes in."

I nodded a thanks at Howard and quickly took the clothes that was set on the table and changed into them in the bathroom. I took note that he got me a blueberry muffin for breakfast and I was very thankful for that.

"Okay let's hit the road!" I exclaimed after getting changed.

Howard stood up from his seat and as he passed by me I heard him mutter "finally" softly under his breath. I rolled my eyes at him. We took a car, courtesy of Howard, to the private runway where his plane would be.

"Did you find someone worth it last night?" Howard asked, starting a conversation so it wouldn't be a quiet journey.

"I would say so." A smile slowly forming on my face at the thought of Steve.

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Howard looking at my face with curiosity in his eyes.

"Oh, what's that look for?" He asked, though I could hear the teasing in his voice.

I scoffed and shook my head at him.

"Oh please, it's nothing Howie. I just... I have a really good feeling about him." I confessed.

I turned my head towards Howard and he was nodding his head, understanding what I said but still keeping that smirk on his face.

Shaking my head, I said, "You know as well as I do Howard that that's not going to work out well."

"That doesn't mean you can't try and indulge yourself with that feeling."

Howard's one of the few people I trusted with my secret. He and I have known each other for about 5-6 years now. Working together on Project Rebirth was a coincidence that I'm thankful for. I sat silently not knowing what or how to reply to what Howard said. As the car turned, I could see the plane waiting for us as well as another car. As Howard opened the door for me I looked him in the eye and said

"I'd rather not put myself in a compromising situation like that where I could only get hurt."

With that, I headed towards the plane, only stopping to greet Abe who was coming along with us.

Once we landed there were already military cars waiting for us. Some of Howard's people and the military guards took our luggage and put it in the other car while we rode on the first one. Chester or Col. Philips was at the gate of the camp waiting for us with his usual I'm so done with everything expression. I get out of the car and walked over to him with Howard right behind me.

"Chester! Good to see you!" I shouted my arms open wide ready to embrace him.

The corners of his mouth turned up a bit before accepting my hug. He coughed after letting me out of his arms.

"Agent Connors, good to see you. How was the recruiting process?" Chester asked getting right down to business as we walked further into the camp.

"It was good sir. We recruited a lot of men that have the possibility of being injected with the serum and that are fit to be soldiers." I informed him, going into Agent mode as well.

"Alright, that's good. You know what the General says; wars aren't won by weapons-"

"They're won by men." I cut him off and finished the sentence myself.

"Go to your barrack. You're the only woman on this base meaning you get one to yourself. You'll find your uniform there." He informed me.

I nodded and saluted him and went my way dragging Howard with me. A group of men jogged passed us and looking around the place, I noticed how quiet it was with only just a few men here. My eyes went back to the joggers and smiled thinking about Steve doing activities like that. I shook my head when I realized that I was thinking of him again. Howard looked at me weirdly before a teasing smirk formed on his face.

"Don't!" I exclaimed sharply "Even think about it."

He put up his hands, a gesture of surrender, and put his hand around my waist, giving me a gentle side hug.

"C'mon Mel, let's get you changed, it's going to be a long week."

I let him lead me towards my room thinking how right his statement was.

The week before the recruits came in I had to plan everything. Considering I was the one overseeing the entire thing I had to have a plan of what kind of training I would make them go through to test which of the few will be our final candidate. Days went by and I mostly helped Howard in the lab seeing if anything was wrong with the machine or helping Abe double check the serum. On the day the recruits arrived, I made sure my uniform was perfect and that I looked proper before heading out to greet the men. I went to see Howard before going out there.

"Well don't you look pretty today Mels." He complimented me once he got out from underneath the machine.

"I look the same as always Howard but thanks." I smiled at him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"So you heading out to see the recruits? Heard they were here already."

"Yeah I was just on my way but I stopped by to see you." I told him as I looked at my watch.

"Aww, thanks Mels." He cooed.

I rolled my eyes at his childishness.

"Okay I have to go or else I'm going to be late. Don't blow yourself up!" I yelled at him teasingly as I leave the room.

"That was one time!" I heard him yell to me but I just laughed.

I drove to the field where the recruits were waiting for me. With an army man in tow, he handed out clipboards to the recruits. Just by looking down the line I can easily spot Steve who was a head shorter than everyone else. Catching his eye, I sent a warm smile to him which he returned politely.

"Recruits, attention!"