A/N Standard disclaimer applies, and it feels like I just touched a writing artifact because I now have so many ideas for this story, and my other unfinished fic. Review, because reviews crank out results faster! Thanks!
"Claude, what is it?" Pete asked, panic rising.
"I really can't explain right now.." She said, her focus clearly on something else. "Just get over here, and bring the gang." With that, she shut her Farnsworth and the line went dead.
" Great, that's just great. Exactly what we want. A ferret running around the B&B unsupervised." Pete muttered to himself. He got up off of his bed where he was sitting to try to wrangle up the girls, when Myka poked her head in.
" What's this about an unsupervised ferret?" She asked.
" Uhm, Claudia said something about getting you guys together and heading to the Warehouse. Something looks, well, not right."
"Oh."
"Yeah so what do you want to do about you're little guy?"
"I guess we don't have a choice. Artie was pretty grumpy at us earlier. We'll just have to make sure that no one lets him out the front door. I will leave some cheese and a live trap in my room, so that hopefully when we get back, I can put him back in his cage and forget about this whole fiasco."
"Okay, well I suppose I had better go get HG, Leena, and Steve, while you go and make that trap." Pete said, as he left his room.
After they had created the bait, and gotten everyone out to the car without an escapee, they all collectively sighed.
"I hope that your ferret is okay." HG told Myka.
" I am pretty sure he is smart enough to find that cheese bait once he gets hungry. He hasn't eaten since dinner last night." Myka replied. The rest of the trip to the Warehouse was silent. When they got to the Warehouse, they pulled their bags out of the back of the large, nondescript black SUV. They recently had used up their extra changes of clothes, so they decided that they would take the opportunity to drop their emergency bags off, since they were already going to be at the Warehouse. When they got to Artie's office, the place was in total chaos. Books thrown carelessly on the floor, the filing cabinets lay on their sides, Artie's desk in shambles, and a motionless Claudia on the floor next to a motionless Artie.
"Oh my gosh. Pete, help me." Myka said, as she dropped her bag and sprang into action. She went to Claudia, and Pete went to Artie, both checking for vital signs.
"Claudia has a slight cut on her arm that will need a bandage. HG, can you pass me my bag?" Myka informed. In her head, she was quietly thanking her mom who told her never to forget to pack bandages, no matter where she was. HG passed Leena and Steve, who were trying to figure out what had gone down there. She handed the duffel bag to Myka.
"Thanks. Pete, does Artie need anything?" Myka asked.
"Nope. I think he is just unconscious."
"Okay. I am just going to fix Claudia up, and then we can figure out what caused this." She opened up her duffel, and pulled out her hefty first aid kit. Fingers passing over the EpiPen and the Benadryl, she pulled out the antiseptic and the ace bandage. It looked like she cut her arm on the side of the couch, where the wood frame connects with the upholstered sides. She quickly cleaned up the unsightly cut, and by that point, Claudia and Artie were coming about. Myka was just about to stash her first aid kit when suddenly, out pops little ferret Pete from under the couch, covered in dust and what was that…mascara? .
"Ah! Pete! My ferret!" she screeched. She tried in vain to snatch the little bugger up, but with no avail. The human Pete dived out to try and catch him, but the ferret was uncharacteristically fast. He jumped like butter out of big Pete's grasp. HG and Leena were quickly trying to track him down, but it was really hard since the place was ransacked. With that, the little guy trotted down the stairs to the balcony overlooking the Warehouse, down another flight of stairs, and was gone. Meanwhile, Claudia and Artie were sharing blank looks, while apparently trying to remember what had caused them to be on the floor.
"Oh dear." HG said, calmly. "It looks like we do have our work cut out for us, in more ways than one. Myka, was that your makeup on him?"
"It looks like it because my pants are ruined!" She then proceeded to hold up her jeans, which had a nice layer of dust, a hole that looked like the ferret nibbled on them, and a ferret sized mascara print on the leg. "It looks like I had a stowaway."
"Well, I hate to break up this happy reunion, but we have to bigger problems. First, there is an elusive ferret on the loose in a warehouse full of dangerous artifacts, and two, something went coocoo. Now, go. Fix it. Now! NOW!" Artie yelled, stood up, and shuffled his way to his computer.
"Yes boss. Going boss. Bye boss." Claudia said, and finished in a mock salute.
"Humph" was Artie's reply. He was staring at his computer screen, typing in seemingly random letters on his keyboard. The agents were on the Warehouse floor trying to create a plan of attack. Meanwhile, Pete the ferret was silently roaming the halls, looking for a place to play, when all of a sudden, he found a bag of nice, shiny round glass orbs to goof off with…
A/N: I couldn't wrap this chapter up properly, but chapter 4 will be up tomorrow. It is about Artie!