Zaphyre landed smoothly in the same clearing where Selene and Will
had last parted.  She stretched out her tired wings and glanced around.
	Seeing nobody, she shifted back to human form.
	*Ahh... *  the Centurion murmured to her Companion[tm].  *That sun
feels really good...*
	*MMmmmm...*  the dragon commented contentedly, *but men approach,
so it shall be a short-lived enjoyment.*
	Just at that moment, the human caught the sound of voices
approaching.  *Dammit Zaph, why does this always seem to happen to us?*

Operation: Home Front - Last Arrival
	Author: Centurion A.P. Selene / Zaphyre

	Selene darted for cover behind the nearest bushes and quickly
shrugged into her usual jumpsuit.
	"Warrior Persephone?"  one of the voices called out.  "Are you near?"
	"Over here - but give me a second,"  she replied, hurriedly
dressing.  A few minutes later she stepped out, reattaching her new
insignia.  "Thanks for waiting - it's Selene now though, just so you know."
She smiled, "Is Will here?"
	The man who had spoken earlier nodded.  "Yes, Pers... I mean
Selene.  He's been wondering what you were up to..."
	The other man inserted with a grin, "Not to mention spending a
considerable amount of time up here looking for you..."
	"...and would like to speak with you immediately.  If that's
alright with you?"
	"Of course," the Dobe nodded, "lead on and I shall follow."
	Selene followed her guides as they led her directly through the
heart of the Jihaddi encampment.  Spotting a few familiar faces, she raised
her hand in greeting and was promptly disappointed by the sketchy waves
they returned as they hurried by.
	"You guys sure keep people busy around here," she commented to the
two men in front of her.
	One nodded in response, but never slowed his quick pace. "Yeah.
We've had a steady stream of new arrivals over the past 48 hours or so.
And while more people means more hands, it also means more work."
	The Centurion nodded slowly.  "I suppose that's right... it isn't
something I think about too often though, I'm usually too worried about the
big picture.  Out of curiousity, who's in charge of gathering the supplies?"
	Her guides suddenly halted and whirled, eyeing her strangely. "Are
you serious?" the other one asked.
	"Yeah," she replied, wondering what was going on.  "I'd really like
to know."
	At her words, the first one suddenly burst out laughing.
	"What?! What's so funny?"  she demanded.
	Attempting to apologize while tryiing unsuccessfully to stifle his
laughter, he finally gave up and signalled to his cohort to explain.
	"You'll have to excuse this clown, ma'am.  He tends to think
everything's a joke.  Officially, you see, _you're_ in charge of procuring
the supplies..."
	She stared at him in shock.  "Me!?"
	"Yeah.  I can't believe nobody told you..."
	"I can," she muttered under her breath.  *Supplies, Zaph?  Me.
Organizing supplies.*
	The dragon snorted.
	*My thoughts exactly.  I wonder whose bright idea that was...
supplies... hrmph.*
	"... but anyways," her guide continued as he started leading her
through the camp again leaving the other man behind.  "Trooper
Charcharadon's been handling things so far - and seems to be doing a pretty
good job..."
	*Heh, Zaph.  Charc... I bet it was his bright idea... I think I
know what his first duty as a Warrior will be...*
	*... continuing on with gathering the supplies, maybe?  I'm sure
he'll be thrilled about that one.*
	*I don't know... sometimes I get the impression he likes dealing
with the challenges involved in filling out all the paperwork...*
	Turning her attention back to the real world, she spoke.  "Good.
So he's here then?"
	"Yeah - was here before I was... rather surprising actually. Not at
all like him, in fact.  Anyways ma'am, Commander Keith is right over there.
If you'll excuse me?"  He smiled apologetically, "but every time any of us
go near that crew, we
seem to find ourselves with more work to do... and we're swamped already."
	Hearing Will's name, Selene's heart stopped as she absently agreed
and thanked him for his guidance.
	"Thank you, ma'am.  It's been a pleasure."
	The Centurion didn't even notice as they took their leave.  All of
her attention was focused on one thing, Will.  He was standing outside one
of the smaller tents talking animatedly with two other mem.  She approached
them hesitantly, her thoughts swirling madly through her head.
	The small part of her brain that was still functioning realized
that one of the other men was Trooper Charcharadon.  Selene smiled vaguely
and raised a hand in greeting, never once taking her eyes off the large,
teddy bear-like guy in front of her.  Strangely, he didn't seem to notice
her approach.
	Feeling ornery, she decided to take advantage of that fact and
motioned the other two to stay quiet.  Selene crept up quietly behind Will.
She still didn't quite understand why he hadn't noticed, but paused for a
bit anyways to listen to what he was saying.  "...through atmosphere,
Colonel?  That could solve an array of problems.  Once Pers gets here..."
Turning to Charcharadon he continued, his voice betraying a little of his
anxiety.  "Y'all haven't heard anything from her yet, have you?"
	"Well, actually, sir..."  the Trooper began.
	"... I'm right behind you."  Selene finished quickly as a huge grin
appeared on her face.  "But it's Selene, now.   Centurion Sel-"   The rest
of her words were lost, as Will muffled her mouth with his own.  Reacting
instinctively, she burrowed deeper into his arms.  When they finally came
up for air, Selene realized they had a very interested audience.  She felt
her face heat up and knew she must look like a lobster.  Giving Will a
dirty look, she winked at Charc before turning toward the third man.
	"I don't believe we've been properly introduced.  I'm Centurion
Selene, formerly Warrior Persephone, of the Dobes."  She held out her hand
expectantly.
	He grinned before taking it.  "What, no kiss for me?"
	Selene felt her face grow warmer.
	"Colonel Rick Sanford, LoD.  It's good to finally meet you."
	"The pleasure's mine, Colonel.  I've heard alot about you - glad to
have you on our team."
	Inwardly she muttered to Zaph.  *Great.  Just wonderful.  I finally
meet Sanford and it happens to be during one of the most embarassing
moments of my life!  Tell Will thanks for me.*
	The dragon chuckled.  *I passed the message through Kit... his
response?  That's what she gets for sneaking up on a man... and being late
besides.*
	*Arrgh,* she muttered, frustrated.
	*Did I mention that I took the liberty of pointing out that even
Charc beat you here?*
 	*Zaph!  Damn you!  Tell him I'll get him back later...*
	Zaphyre's chuckles grew louder.
	*You too!*  Selene snapped.  Relenting, she asked not quite sure if
she really wanted the answer, *now what?*
	*He says he's looking forward to it.*
	Groaning to herself, she brought her attention back to reality only
to find all three looking at her.
	*What are /they/ staring at?* she grumbled to Zaph, not realizing
that her short discussion with the dragon had created the awkward pause.
	"So," she spoke to break the uneasy silence ,"what were you saying
about the atmosphere?"
	The men glanced at each other, not following her train of thought.
	"When I came up behind you earlier, Will, you mentioned something
getting through the atmosphere."
	Sanford was the first to realize what she was talking about.  "Oh,
I had just mentioned to Will, that I thought we could probably get the main
doors open."
	She gave him a weird look.  "What?"
	"I think I'd better let Will explain it to you." He nudged
Charcharadon and the two excused themselves.
	"Um... Ok..." Selene replied, still confused.  "Hey Charc! Wait a
sec!"  she called out, "I almost forgot..."
	He paused raising an eyebrow expectantly.
	"I need to talk with the Dobermensch sometime today... Think you
could put the word out about an All-Hands meeting, say sometime after
dinner?"
	"Sure thing, Pers... I mean, Selene.  Catcha ya later."
	The two men left, leaving Will and Selene alone.  They stood there
uneasily, unable to look away from one another and yet, neither one knew
what to say.  Zaphyre broke the silence in Selene's mind as she suddenly
started making kissing noises.
	*Smoochy smoochy!  smooch! smooch! smooch!...*
	The Centurion felt her face grow red again.
	*Zaph, stop it! That's not funny!*
	*Sure it is... and come to think about it, so are you,* the dragon
taunted.  *Smooch! Smoochy-smoochy!  Smooch! smooch!...*
	*Zaphyre, I mean it.  This is stressful enough without you adding
to it.  Grimace, I wish I knew what he was thinking!*
	The dragon quieted down.  *What's wrong with you, girl? He gave you
this amazing welcome back... the man obviously cares about you.  And now
you're scared?  You should be ecstatic! What's going on with you?*
	It took Selene awhile to answer.  *It's complicated.*
	*Try me.*
	*I guess it's just that I've messed up so many relationships in the
past.. and...*
	*And?* Zaphyre prompted.
	*...and I care so much about this one that I don't want to mess it
up,* she finished in a rush.
	Before the dragon had a chance to respond, Will's voice jolted her
back to the present, "So shall we get down to business?"
	Overwhelmed by a sense of deja vu, all Selene could do was nod.  As
he turned to head back into the heart of the Jihad encampment, she took a
deep breath and stopped him.  "Will?"
	He looked back.
	She reached out, taking one of his hands.  "I missed you, just so
you know..."
	He gave her hand a slight squeeze before cradling it in his own.
"Me too."
	A wave of relief washed over her as they walked, hand-in-hand,
towards the center of camp.

TBC in "...Gets Stuck With the Drinks"