Carolina sighed, wishing to herself that she had seen this coming. She knew Maine was easily angered and Washington could make people hate him just by opening his mouth, but Carolina had hoped they would behave in public. Apparently she had expected too much of the two.

"York and I will go find Maine and Washington," Carolina said sternly as she turns to look at North and South. "You and South stay here and pay for the items we have. Hopefully we can find those two then leave before anything else happens.."

North nodded as he and South began to unload the groceries, each wondering just what kind of trouble Wash and Maine were getting in to.

Shoppers ran and screamed as huge shelves were knocked to the floor sending food products flying across the floor. A trashy looking man lay on the floor among the debris, struggling to get to his feet as he heard very loud and angry growling approaching him quickly.

Maine grabbed the man by the throat and slammed him into the ground repeatedly , growling angrily through the whole session.

"What the hell are you doing!?" Maine hissed and looked up from his work to see Carolina and York, mouths agape. Carolina ran over to the injured man to check the damage and noted that his skull was fractured and his left arm broken.

Growling loudly, Maine grabbed the man by his head and lifted him off the ground. "P-please..." The man whispered weakly to Carolina.

"Stand down Maine," she ordered, her stern eyes meeting his fiery eyes in a stalemate. He growled threateningly at his commanding officer as his grip on the man tightened, causing him to yelp in pain.

York slowly approached the giant Freelancer, "Come on man, just calm down and let-" York was interrupted by Washington calling him and Carolina out. Turning around, Carolina and York saw Washington approach with a nervous looking young mother and her small child.

"What the hell is going on here Washington?" Carolina demanded. "That dick tried to take this lady's little girl," Wash spat. "Maine saw him grab her out of their cart and so he just reacted." Maine snorted and slammed the man face first to the floor and stepped on his back with one foot, holding him down.

Carolina was at a loss for words. On one had Maine had compromised the mission by causing a scene and making such a mess. But on the other hand he had just possibly saved a child's life. No one knew Maine to be the nice one of their group so of course this was a surprise to all of them.

"Washington," Carolina called for the bumbling Freelancer. "Yeah boss?" He asked. "Take that man and call the authorities and explain what happened to them. Be sure that kid's mother is with you as well." Washington nodded and walked up to Maine.

"Gotta take him from you, big guy. Boss's orders," Wash apologized as he pulled the dazed man out from underneath Maine's massive foot and carried him off, the young mother following closely behind as the many shoppers stared curiously at the sight.

Carolina turned to York, "Get rid of the crowd and find the manage of the store and offer to help clean this mess up. We'll pay for any damages as well." York's shoulders slumped. "You serious?" Carolina simply glared back at the complaining man. York sighed, "Alright, alright. Man this day just keeps getting better.." He grumbled as he herded the crowd of bystanders away from the odd scene.

"Maine. Come with me." A low growl of consent answered Carolina's command as Maine followed behind the disgruntled red head off to an uninhabited corner.

Carolina sighed and looked up at the large Freelancer. His head was slightly hung in resentment, but the fire she had previously seen in his eyes remained.
There was no doubt that expected no less than a stern scolding.

"Good work Maine," Carolina said. His head shot up and he lightly growled in curiosity. "You stood up for that little girl and did what was right," she explained. "Drastic as it was, you still save her life despite your orders. Not many people around these days who would do something like that. I'm proud of you," Carolina smiled. Maine's cheeks ever so slightly turned red and Carolina couldn't help but chuckle.

North was parched. The whole time they had been in this store and he hadn't had a single drink. He decided that it was time to change that. "I'll be right back South, gonna go grab me a soda. Want anything?" He asked his sister. "No. Just hurry up," she said. They had been through purchasing the groceries for about twenty minutes now and South was beyond tired of waiting on everyone to get back.

Walking toward the small refrigerator that held the soda bottles, North spotted the highlight of his whole day: a diet Dr. Pepper. He smiled and sighed, "Sweet success." As he reached for the bottle a young woman around her twenties was also reaching for the very same drink.

"Oh, sorry miss," North started as he quickly pulled the drink from its shelf. "Looks like this is the last bottle, guess you'll have to get something else," he apologized. The lady glared at North and reached for the soda in his hand. "Or you could be a gentleman and let me have the last drink," she said rather sternly.

North's smiled faded as he put the bottle behind his back. "It's been a real long day mam', I think it would be better if I kept this," he defended. The woman was relentless. "You'd better hand over that soda, pretty boy," she nearly growled. North was loosing his patience with the irritating woman. "Sorry lady, this soda is mine," he said as he started to walk off. "Oh no you don't!" The woman yelled as she charged at North.

Startled by her sudden attack, North took off running. The woman tailed him closely as he ran for the register. He reached in his pocket and threw some money to the startled cashier. "Here! Sorry!" He yelled as he ran straight out the door with the infuriated woman still chasing him and his beloved diet Dr. Pepper.

With everything settled and the groceries safely loaded in the back, the Freelancers slowly piled themselves into their rented van. They had a long and tired mission and were all ready to just go home and sleep.

York took the wheel and Carolina claimed shotgun while the others claimed their seats in the back. As the backed out of the parking lot and got on to the main road a sense of relief washed over the entire van. York glanced in the mirror and smiled at his passengers.

Washington had fallen asleep with his face leaning on the window and Maine was sitting beside him with his eyes threatening to close. North sat in front of them in between South who was asleep with he head on his shoulder and Wyoming who was smugly glancing over all of his spoils. North simply smiled and nodded at York as he took a swig of his much deserved diet Dr. Pepper.

Returning his eyes to the road, York couldn't help but wonder if they had learned what the Director was intending them to. Carolina sighed and leaned her head on her hand, looking completely exhausted. It had been a hard mission but they stuck it out just like they always did. Laughing to himself, York realized he did learn a lesson in all of this: never send super soldiers grocery shopping.