CHAPTER 1:
Good Idea

"A fool flatters himself, a wise man flatters the fool."
Edward G. Bulwer- Lytton

"Damn it Sully! Why do plans seem so much better in the head or on paper!" I know my words were out of frustration, but who couldn't be? A nice weekend trip to your local—well scratch that, a nice weekend vacation to the local tourist attraction didn't always scream 'Hey come this day only! And you might have the chance to run for your life! Firsthand experience!' The whole area smelled too heavily of diesel, cars and trucks zooming past and around as Sully and I found ourselves once again kissing the hands of lady luck. Bullets zooming by and plucking flowers or branches from the trees, I silently prayed all I would lose was maybe a few locks of hair. Pushing back some of the local vegetation I couldn't help but peek back over my shoulder to just hope that maybe our pursuing and friendly locals with guns wouldn't still be on our tails asking for a peace treaty. I'm surprised they could even keep up with us how we kept zigzagging through the foliage like maze to escape! But…then again when you have a man whose sole fashion is wearing Havana shirts of warm colors, nothing is impossible.

"Well kid! You always charm yourself into these situations" Grunted Sully panting and deciding to kick it in second gear matching my foot falls and eventually passing me.
For a man who chews and smokes cigars, I wonder sometimes if he is even human or some steam powered machine.
"Says the charmer himself!"
"Why did you even think it a great god damn idea to sleep with the chiefs' daughter Nate!" I could see that cigar just snapping in half like a guillotine just hit it. "She came onto me! And you taught me best Sully!" The laugh that Sully poured out, I knew was of pride, but the glaring headshake told me still I was a fool and a kid in the man's eyes.

"Nate look out!"
But it was already too late, my footing slipped on the dead smooth leaves littering the forest floor, not to mention the nightly rains adding to the slickness. Praying that Lady Luck hadn't given up on me as I freefell down a large hole just you know, randomly placed on the forest floor. "Nate!"

"Nate! Wake up kid!"
"Sully?"
"Yeah! C'mon, wake up! Don't stop here when we are almost done."
Looking around my eyes couldn't focus on which direction Sully's voice was coming from. My head seemed to hurt too badly and I felt like I was freely floating in air. After running a marathon, such sensations I could not help but deem welcoming. "Am I dead…?"

"Yeah kid." Voice so sullen now, my throat dried at my minds idea of having Sully be the one to bring me to another life. But it seemed right, after all he and I had been through so much… I could even smell it, the perfect cigar that Sully would light when it was a calm morning or we were so deeply immersed in books of history or museum brochures with the latest exhibition.

"OW! What the hell Sully? I didn't think you would beat me in death too y'know!" Damn he got me good! Rubbing my head with a groan Sully's face seemed to suddenly materialize right before me, like it was in the Twilight zone. Frozen and wide eyed, my voice hitched in my throat. It seemed death wanted to play with me for having cheated him for so long.
"Nate, you aren't dead. Just tangled in some undergrowth like a novice stripper. Now stop daydreaming and let's get going!" Falling to the ground with a groaning thud, it seemed this was Sully's way of giving me a rough awakening, and I wouldn't have expected any other way. A hand offered to me, I stood up brushing myself of the dirt and leaves that seemed to give me the latest guerilla territory fashion. "C'mon Nate, this way. Unless you wanna try going up and fighting the men for your woman." Walking away with his last word in, I glanced up to the large opened hole to the sky and sea of tree canopies. The distant shouting of men with their trucks purring in a steady search for us, the forest seemed to be filled with a stress that this underground cove or cave seemed to deflect with an odd peacefulness. Yeah…She wasn't worth it.

Wandering along the faintly sun spotted cave, my mind kept meandering back to clues that could help us find what would be our income. Keeping my eyes sharp, holes absently speckled the cave floor. And I wasn't ready to have a twisted ankle or go free falling again. Enough of that type of excitement for today, besides. I wouldn't want to ruin the experience for any other tourist or run away man who would love to experience the raw taste of almost pissing your pants. "Man, this place makes me feel like Alice. Are we going to reach Wonderland on the other side?" I know my sarcasm wasn't the best at times, but I knew it could help in lightening things up and the situation at hand. Besides this large cave of sorts had roots poking out everywhere! And where the sunlight was able to pour in, small plants and moss grew giving the place and even more fantasy like feel.
"If this place is Wonderland then throw me some catnip, cause' I'm the Cheshire cat." What. Why Cheshire cat? "Sully what the hell are you talking about, besides with how much you smoke, you're more like the Ca-"
"Nate shut up. Look over here." Pushing back my ideas to have random book club talks with Sully, I jogged over to the kneeling man grinning suddenly ear to ear. "Sully! Let's go make some money." Hand patting firmly against the man's shoulder it was time we high tailed out of there.

\oOOo/

Walking sorely off the extended ramp from the plane to the terminal, my neck felt so sore that even turning my head to glance over to the disgruntled Sully seemed to take the patience and skill of gods to not groan out and pout in the stiffness of my muscles. What was it about flying coach on airplanes that they were just so uncomfortable! Not to mention your snacks left to a bag of pretzels. Shouldering our duffle bags along, it was time to walk to the nearest American fast food chain and find a meal that screamed 'Welcome back to the United States !' And nothing better than a nice hotdog or burger to say such beautiful words better. Besides, wallets and other compartments within our duffle bags filled with cash from another job done. Why not?

"You feeling all right there old man?" Chuckling and ignoring the aching pain of my neck to slap a firm hand to the middle of Sully's back, I was rewarded with a smirk and ruffle of my hair. "Sure am kid..Sure am. Back home and ready to greet my Wild Hog, get a nice meal and hey! Maybe even find a nice lady to spend the evening with. Nothing like a woman wrapped around you—"
"All right Sully! Just make sure you put a sock on the door knob or something." Chuckling to the lecherous thoughts of my dearest friend it was typical of Sully to want to reap in all the benefits and comforts of being home before having to rush out for rescue or fall into greed of wanting to further his ties with money. But you had to give the guy credit! He knew exactly what he wanted in life and also lived the life to his fullest.

However, it seemed that our time back home wouldn't leave for much of a break as Sully's now turned on prepaid phone rang up with life as we had settled ourselves to a burger joint in the airport. But at the moment, Sully seemed pretty busy with procuring us some good ole' fashion soda so why not take the role of secretary for now?
"Hello?"
"Hello Sully? It's me, Victoria." A familiar voice rang on the other side. With age some women just seemed to have a natural seductive tone on phones.
"Victoria! How are you?"
"Nate? Oh! Hello Nate." Her voice changed to a bit of a nervous tone. Maybe this was gonna be Sully's lady for the night, that sly old man.

"Nate, could you pass a message onto Sully for me?"
Nodding my head in silence out of habit rather than speaking up on the phone since Victoria couldn't see me; the woman was wise enough to know that my brief silence was an approval.
"All right Victoria, I will relay the message to him. Haha, all right. You too. Bye"

"Who was that?"
"Your Girlfriend." That bored look he gave me just screamed for me to shut up and continue.

"It was Victoria, apparently she's got some information for us on a new job. You and your immense web like connections Sully. Where haven't you been?" Poking more a jab at his sexual life than business, Sully only grinned ear to ear, for what thoughts and reasons. I fear to know, but that hearty bite from his hamburger filled with good ole' American products gave reason and answer enough.

Chapter 2: Three lefts make a Right-

All right folks, I am going to end this intro chapter here. Things seem a bit slow right now but I wanted to start this fanfiction strong with an idea of how Nate and Sully will be. I promise to get things rolling on the main plot in the next chapter. R&R!