A/N: Hi everyone! Just reminding you that I absolutely love writing this, but that I am definitely moving more slowly now that I am about halfway through my last semester of high school and should probably be doing homework at least a few times a week. I wanted to open up the floor to anyone who would be interested in beta'ing for me, because I am so bad at checking the story myself!
In addition, I'd like to thank everyone for the lovely reviews I've gotten- I love hearing from you guys! It's... illuminating!
Chapter 4: Two Different Types of "I Love You":
Fitz Williams was the man. He had the smarts, he had the charm, and he most definitely had the confidence. To Fitz, every obstacle was a challenge. And he never backed down.
So when his good friend Agent Darcy called in a favor, he was more than happy to oblige.
Not that it was a particularly difficult task. Someone was hacking into a computer- and a home computer, at that. There weren't even any encryptions or firewalls up; lame. He worked his way into the systems easily.
Darcy had said that someone else was hacked in when he called. They must have sensed the secondary hack, because by the time Fitz had logged on, the hacker was gone.
But hold on a hot second- this was Lydia Bennet's laptop. He dialed back Darcy. It didn't ring for long before he answered.
"Fitz. What have you got?"
"I didn't catch the hacker, but I'm running some software to trace the source of the hack, but it'll take a few minutes. By the way, Agent D, are you with a certain Lizzie B?"
"I don't see how it's relevant."
"Dude, you totally are! What's this about?"
"Her sister's been kidnapped."
"Lydia Bennet? I'm running her through all of the national databases now, but it looks like she's coming up clean. A few misdemeanors and what looks like an expunged DUI, but nothing that would bring her too deep into the wrong circles."
"So there's nothing?"
"Not ye- Wait! The hacker's trace is coming back. Looks like it came from the greater L.A. area… I'm zeroing in now…"
"L.A.? But that's…."
"Darcy. It's coming from the Agency. The hack came from the Agency."
Jane tapped her foot nervously as she stood outside the door. It was chilly out, and she had neglected to wear a coat.
Caroline answered the door.
"Jane! What a surprise!" Her smile was gracious, but as she flipped her hair her eyes glanced nervously behind her.
"Hi, Caroline! Uhm… is, uh- is Bing here?"
"Oh… no. Sorry, Jane, but Bing is-"
It was then that Bing appeared in the doorway. His hair stuck up on all ends, as if his hands had been pulling at it all day, and his sleeves were wrinkled and pushed up haphazardly.
"Thanks, Caroline, but I'd like to talk to Jane right now." The siblings exchanged a meaningful look before Caroline rolled her eyes and escaped back into the house. Bing stood awkwardly against the doorframe.
"Bing?" Jane was quizzical.
"Jane. I'm so sorry." He wrapped his arms around her tightly, ansd Jane finally broke down in wracked sobs.
"I needed you! I needed you." She cried into his shoulder. He kept repeating, over and over, "I'm sorry, I am so sorry." They remained in this hysterical embrace, neither truly knowing the real extent of the other's words.
"What do you mean it came from the Agency?" Lizzie balked, "Does that mean that you- that your people took my little sister?!"
"I don't know, Lizzie… There are a lot of possibilities…"
"Like what, Darcy?" Her temper was rising. Lizzie had no more tolerance for William Darcy keeping secrets from her.
"It could be that someone went rogue. It wouldn't be the first time. Or that someone was trying to help, Lizzie." He sprung back.
They had been keeping this piece of themselves from each other since the moment Lizzie picked up the phone. This bitter argument that tore them down the middle- the one that made Lizzie leave, made Darcy switch cover stories. Lizzie and Darcy had always thrived on arguments- stupid fights and little disagreements. They bickered like an old married couple. It was over little things like what to order for dessert or watch on television, or about the credentials of Batman to be named an actual superhero or just a vigilante.
This was not one of those fights. This mattered, and arguing about it was only going to make things worse.
"Jane, I… I have something I want to tell you."
Bing and Jane had gone for a walk. They strolled along the white picket fences and perfectly cut lawns, eventually coming to a small bench perched near the neighborhood bus stop. It was on this bench that the couple now found themselves seated, with Bing's arm around Jane and her head on his shoulder.
"Yes?"
She looked up at him, and she seemed so innocent, so understanding. He took a slow breath.
"Jane, I am…" His face turned white.
"Jane, I'm… in love with you."
He'd chickened out.
"Hello, Lydia."
The voice was deep, definitely male.
And so familiar…
