-4-

Face Value

"You've got to be goddamn kidding me!" Sully exclaimed upon hearing about Nate and Chloe's latest excursion with the necklace. He thought they had gone off their rockers to have a story as insane as this. I mean, a necklace that transforms a person's appearance when they say that person's name? That's more like something that had come out of a sci-fi book he had read in his younger days.

"Sully, we're dead serious, I saw it happen right in front of my eyes." Nate told him. Sully could always tell when Nate was lying, right from the get-go.

Chloe nodded. "He's telling the truth, Victor. Take it from the one who turned into the bloody woman herself."

Sully leaned back in his wooden chair in the hotel and pulled a cigar, lighter and cutter from his shirt pocket. He let out a sigh as he clipped the end off his cigar and blazed it up. "Just when you think these damn scientists have run out of crazy shit..." he muttered.

"Sully, I don't think it's as simple as all that." Nate told him.

"You mean, you think it's tied into Shambala?" Sully asked, hoping he never had to set foot back into that demon-infested place. He had seen enough monsters there to last three lifetimes.

"It's the only logical answer." Chloe told him.

"I guess you're right." Sully answered. "Call me old-fashioned but I'm going to need some proof about all this. I want to see it with my own eyes."

Chloe cringed at these words. She knew that she was going to have to be the demonstrator for this little experiment. But she thought this would (hopefully) be the last time she would have to wear the cursed thing. She groaned and took the necklace from the table, standing. "All right. Who should I magically turn into?" she asked. "Please, just anyone but that ridiculous woman." she asked.

Nate began to speak but Sully cut him off. "Elena Fisher." he said. This made Nate pause and shoot a look at Sully. He couldn't believe that out of all the names in the world he would pick her.

Chloe looked at Nate for approval. "Should I...?" she asked in concern for his feelings.

Nate just looked hurt for a moment and then nodded. "Yeah...yeah go ahead." he answered.

"...Okay." Chloe said hesitantly. "Elena...Fisher."

A second later the necklace lit up and began to transform Chloe. Once it was finished, there Elena stood...at least a shell of her that it. Nate couldn't believe his eyes. He walked over to her and gazed deep into her eyes. Nate looked at Chloe the way she always wished he would. But, sadly those eyes were for another. Nate lifted a hand and gently stroked her cheek.

"Nate..." Sully said, walking over to him and patting him on the shoulder. "You need to just call her."

Nate snapped his hand back and turned away. "No, no Sully I just can't do that." He rubbed his hands over his face in defeat. "Take the necklace off, Chloe." he asked of her, and shot Sully an angry look. "There's your proof." he said, grabbing his jacket and storming out of the room.

Chloe just walked over to Sully, concerned about Nate. "Victor, what happened with the pair of them?" she asked. She had know the two of them for years but was away for awhile when all of this between them happened. Once she got around to seeing Nate again he never wanted to mention what happened, or even talk about it. Whatever it was she knew it was bad because Nate and Elena were head over heels for each other last time she saw them.

Sully exhaled sharpy before he told her. "Nate and Elena were supposed to get married, had a date set, the place, the whole nine yards. But the day of the wedding comes, and Nate doesn't show up. Called me up and told me to take him somewhere far away." he explained to her.

"What?" Chloe asked in utter shock. "Why would he ever do something like that? It's not like Nate to dick someone over that he cares about, much less wanted to marry. Nate wouldn't do a bastard thing like that if he had something as minor as cold feet. Something more had to be going on there." she said. She refused to believe that Nate was that kind of guy. Sure, he is a sarcastic sonofabitch when he wanted to be, but he also was the type that did whatever he could to do the right thing and make the ones he cared about happy in the end—no matter what it took.

"Chloe, it's not as simple as all-" he began but was cut off by Chloe.

"Please, just cut the bullshit!" she shouted, losing her temper. After she cooled down a moment she sighed. "Nate chose her...okay. I know that. As much as it pained me at the time, I've gotten over it. But what helped me was knowing that he was certain that he made the right choice. He wouldn't shatter our hearts for noting. So please, Victor...I deserve to know what happened with them."

Sully could never turn down a lady, especially when they played the straight-shooter card. He had always liked Chloe and thought she was a great person to have in their corner. Deep down, he knew that she was right. She did deserve to know why Nate and Elena fell apart the way they did.

"All right, all right." he finally submitted. "You've twisted my arm. I'll tell you the whole story. But you have got to promise me that this will never come out that I told you." he warned her. The last thing he wanted was for Nate to be more angry at him than he already was. Sure, making Chloe seemed like a cruel thing to do at the time, but he, like every other plan he's ever had, had good reason behind it. Even if Nate didn't know what it was at the time.

"My lips are sealed." She replied.

Sully grinned. "And it's a damn shame too." he said with a wink.

"You old bastard." she laughed.