Chapter Text
Nicky looked over his shoulder before turning the corner. He couldn't shake the feeling of being followed, so he decided to take a detour back to the safe house, just to be on the safe side. Joe always joked that whenever Nicky decided to take a detour, it often meant walking until every single person in town would have gone to bed, but as Nicky always pointed out, it was better to be safe than sorry, something Joe agreed on. It took another hour before Nicky stood in the safe house, which was eerie silent.
"Joe?" Nicky asked as he drew his gun. "Are you here?"
When Nicky didn't get an answer, he decided to clear each room in search of Joe. Nicky had just cleared the bathroom when he heard a loud noise coming from the back of the safe house. When Nicky opened the door to their bedroom, he found Joe sitting on the floor, surrounded by boards around him.
"Hi, Babe," Joe said with a big smile. "You're back earlier than I thought."
"I can see that," Nicky replied as he put the gun on the table. "And it looks like Ikea won again."
"It isn't my fault that they don't build wardrobes as they used to do," Joe grumbled as he held up the manual for the wardrobe. "This isn't written in a normal human language."
"I think many people will agree with you," Nicky replied as he offered Joe a hand, which Joe took. "Why don't we eat dinner and then have a look at your newest wardrobe together?"
Nicky pulled Joe up from the floor, and they kissed.
"Dinner has to wait," Joe replied. "We got a bigger problem right now."
"A bigger problem?" Nicky asked. "What do you mean?"
"When you entered the safe house," Joe replied. "Didn't you check your soundings as you used to do?"
"Of course, I did that. You know that very well," Nicky replied. "Why are you asking?"
"I was just looking for an answer to why we got an intruder," Joe replied. "A very cute one for once."
Joe pointed behind Nicky, where a golden retriever puppy was sitting and wagging its tail.
"The puppy explains the feeling of being followed," Nicky said. "I'm glad it isn't a small army this close to Christmas again."
"True," Joe replied. "I haven't forgotten that Christmas back in 44."
Joe kneeled before clapping his hands, and the puppy ran over to him before he picked the puppy up.
"You clever..." Joe said as he checked the sex on the puppy. "Girl. Outsmarting Nicky by following him without him noticing it. It hasn't happened in a long while."
The puppy licked Joe's face, which made him laugh. If you asked Nicky, it almost looked like the puppy had a smug look on its face for outsmarting him.
"I don't think a puppy counts," Nicky said. "Or anything or anyone are under thirty inches."
Joe turned the puppy around so he could look into its eyes.
"Don't listen to him," Joe said in a silly voice. "He has always been a sore loser."
Nicky scratched the puppy behind its ears.
"It's getting late, so the puppy can stay for the night," Nicky said. "Tomorrow, we will take her to a vet and see if they can help us find the owner."
"Sounds like a plan," Joe replied. "We promise you that you will be home before Christmas, or else you can celebrate Christmas with us. Right, Nicky?"
"Yes," Nicky replied. "Before we eat, could I ask you to wash the puppy? She is covered in mud. Then I will cook dinner."
"I also like that plan," Joe replied. "What are we having today?"
"Roast chicken," Nicky replied. "There is plenty for three hungry mouths."
Nicky picked up his gun and put it under his shirt again while Joe followed after him with the puppy.
"You are in luck, Girl," Joe said. "Nicky makes the best roast chicken in the world."
Joe walked into the bathroom and decided to wash the puppy in the sink. When Joe washed the puppy's face, the puppy chewed on his fingers.
"Sorry to tell you," Joe said with a chuckle. "I'm not on the menu today."
After washing the puppy, Joe wrapped the puppy in a towel and turned his back to it for a moment.
"Joe," Nicky said when the puppy ran past him with a wagging tail and the towel in its mouth. "You got an escapee from your loving care."
"Very funny," Joe replied. "What way?"
Nicky pointed behind him, and Joe walked into the living room, where he found the puppy under an armchair.
"Come here," Joe said. "We aren't done yet."
Joe reached a hand under the armchair and got a hold of the puppy. Once again, the puppy chewed on his fingers.
"Nicky," Joe said when they came back to the kitchen. "I hope there is dinner soon, or else I'm afraid Gigi will have eaten your husband."
"Less than ten minutes," Nicky replied. "Why are you calling her Gigi?"
"She had a collar on with the name "Gigi", Joe replied. "It must mean she got an owner somewhere."
When Joe said "Gigi", the puppy licked his face again.
"Knowing her name will maybe make things easier," Nicky replied. "Or we can hope."
Joe kissed Nicky on the cheek before he walked back to the bathroom with Gigi. When Joe came back, he held out Gigi in stretched arms with a proud smile.
"One clean puppy, ready for dinner," Joe said. "And I even gave her a pink bow on the head."
"She looks pretty, thanks," Nicky replied. "Do you think you can find something Gigi can drink off so she can have some water? She is too young to drink wine."
Joe found an old pot they didn't use any more and filled it with water. While Gigi was drinking, Joe helped Nicky with cooking the rest of their dinner. As usual, when they were alone, they sat on a blanket on the floor while eating.
"Okay, Gigi," Joe said as he got the puppy to sit next to him. "Remember to chew your food."
Joe gave Gigi a piece of the chicken, which she ate without any complaints.
"Good girl," Joe praised before offering Gigi some flatbread, which she also ate. "I was thinking about the mission after Christmas. Do you think we can postpone it for a month or two?"
"I don't see a problem with that since it's only us going," Nicky replied. "Why are you asking?"
"I want to make a stop in Cairo," Joe replied. "It has been a while since we last checked the safe house there, and I want to see if it's still there. One of my sources told me that the city council wants to develop the area, and if they find our weapons, we will lose our weapon depot in the area. And we both know what a hassle it's to rebuild a new weapon depot today."
"True," Nicky replied. "I think it's a good idea."
After eating, Joe took the puppy outside so she could pee. When Joe got inside, he helped Nicky with the dishwashing, and they agreed that building the new wardrobe could wait until tomorrow. Then Joe played a bit with Gigi while Nicky read a book or two. Just after midnight, they went to bed. After kissing, they heard a whimper in the dark.
"Come here, Gigi," Nicky said. "We got room for you, too."
Gigi ran over to them and snuggled into Nicky before licking his face.
"Told you, Gigi," Joe said. "That Nicky wouldn't let you sleep alone tonight in the dark."
Nicky ran his fingers through Gigi's fur.
"She is just a child," Nicky replied. "And we will keep her safe during the night."
After another kiss, they all fell asleep.