A/N: Hi guys! Sorry about the late update but I really didn't have the energy to finish this chapter last night...However, I should be a-ok for tonight so lucky you! Y'all get two chapters in one day! :P he he
I know I've kind of strayed from the idea of 'the plotting' to engage in expanding character relationships...so this chapter will hopefully get us back on track :P (not that I won't get sidetracked again ;) he he)
OK, so, just randomly, I've almost finished a watercolour portrait of Ben Mansfield. The bad news is that it doesn't look all that much like Ben I'm afraid, the good news is that whoever he looks like is quite attractive :P (even if it doesn't look like Ben!)
Thank you so much to all you, my lovely reviewers! :) Your support is much appreciated!
Enjoy!
VII. Backup Plans
John looked a little uncomfortable as he sat down across from me on the slightly tattered brown chair. "I err...sorry for running out on you guys like that...but err I really didn't want to be the one who got caught by Becker..." he said a little sheepishly and I couldn't help but mentally roll my eyes.
"It's alright John, nobody has much of an issue with that, although Penny was a little peeved you weren't there to join us for a celebratory breakfast." I remarked dryly. Unable to stop the sarcastic mutter under my breath "Although I don't know that there was much to celebrate about...speaking of which, have you analysed the CCTV feeds yet?"
Admittedly, I was a little nervous that he had (after all, we wouldn't want him getting the wrong idea now would we?), but a small shake of the head alerted me otherwise and quelled those fears. "Oh good, I'll go through them now with you then."
"Oh Lark! But I-" A pointed glare cut him off, and he nodded his head meekly (worked every time) "Ok."
Obediently, my little minion scampered off to get his laptop and returned to me. As I watched him hack into the CCTV network of the ARC, I marveled at the skills of our cleaners.
John was clearly a computer genius; Penny could probably get any job in PR she ever wanted; Thatcher - supermodel (obviously); Marty was secretly a budding biologist (he's an expert on flora and fauna, but I didn't tell you that); and I...I have my own very...particular skill-set that is not all together...legal, and completely unemployable, but a skill all the same. Who would have thought the five of us would have ended up as cleaners?
"I've already made it look like the glitch for locking the doors came from a short circuit." John said as he went through the CCTV footage, "Oh." he said, eyes flickering up from the screen to me, and instantly, I knew what he was watching. I tried the assured stare again, "So, you and Thatcher eh?" John smirked, but he quailed under my glare.
I sniffed depreciatingly and cast a withering look his way, "I wouldn't mind if you didn't go telling everyone that please. It's not really something I want to relive."Liar.
"Yes Lark." John replied timidly. He really was very sweet. Definitely my most obedient minion...I can't help but wonder what it would be like to have Thatcher that ob- Stop.
"Ok, have you got those overlays edited?" I asked, just as the the door knocker sounded loudly. With a huff, I dragged myself off the couch, continuing to speak as I walked to the door and pulled it open. "We'll need to get the new reels uploaded before Jess- Oh."
Well, well well what a surprise. I nearly backtracked and fell over my own feet when I opened John's front door to find a cocky, self-assured Thatcher leaning against the doorframe with Penny and Marty not far behind. Oh the awkward joy.
"Yes?" I asked in what I thought sounded like a suitably casual 'don't even think about coming in' tone.
Those beautiful blue eyes turned on me, and the supermodel smiled, "Oh, Lark, what a pleasant surprise," he smirked, brushing past me into the room "we're here to see John."
"We knew you'd be here anyway Lark." Marty smiled as he passed.
"Yes you are a rather predictable workaholic dear," Penny batted her eyelashes as she linked arms with me and moved into the room, shutting the door behind her with a flick of her foot. "Not that that's a bad thing."
Oh yes, what wonderful comrades, Thatcher had spread himself languidly on the couch, arms and legs draped everywhere. Marty plonked himself down beside the other man, and we moved in gracefully beside him (Well, Penny moved gracefully, I was dragged...).
"Redoing the CCTV feeds." Penny said wisely as she glanced over at what John was doing. "You don't muck around do you?"
I raised my eyebrow and smirked at my friend, "Would you really want to muck around? John could you show them the locker rooms from start to finish?" I yawned (the day had surprisingly been tiring) and lay back, watching my mates as they studied the laptop.
I knew what the grey-coloured screen would show. Me, sneaking into the ARC team's locker rooms, listening to the lock as I broke Jess's key-code and nicked her comm's set. Relocking the locker and racing to begin emptying the bin, just as Captain Becker walked in.
It's fair to say a number of eyebrows were raised, eyes trained on me. "Well, well, our own personal Bonnie Parker. Should we be worried about your prowess in filching?" Thatcher teased, and Marty snorted at the comment.
I couldn't resist the chance to give my own little quip straight back. "Only if you annoy me Thatcher." I retorted, eyebrows raised as I smirked evilly back.
The blonde cleaner grinned delightedly in reply, "I'd like to see you try, Ms Sommerbush." he said, smooth as cream; blue eyes locked on me. I couldn't help it, I had to look away, and...god no! I could feel the blush raising to my cheeks.
"Ahem." I had to clear my throat in order to not come out sounding like a mouse. "What's Becker doing now?"
John had been staring at the two of us, his mouth slightly open in bewilderment and I had caught him off guard with my question, "Uhhhh..." he said, turning back to his computer, "Oh...he's in the cupboard with her now."
That certainly got my interest. "He went in after her?" I said, unable to veil my excitement. (after all, this was from an hour ago at least, and I still wanted to know the success of our mission).
We watched as there was no movement from the pair in the storage room, then, out of the corner of the camera, I saw Matt walk in, closely followed by Abby and Connor. Again, I couldn't hold back my blush, Matt looked so amused, smirking to himself as he opened his locker. Unable to stop myself, I glanced across at my partner in crime to see his reaction, and was even more embarrassed to find that instead of watching the computer screen (like he was supposed to), his eyes were trained directly on me. Oh boy.
Suddenly, there was a crash from the storage room where our lovebirds had disappeared, and Connor (albeit with much trepidation) walked over and jerked open the door a little ways, only to shut it again quickly. The expression on his face said it all. "Well it appears if our plans are working." I said smugly (after all, it's not often that you get to see your genius plans coming to fruition).
Becker (ever the gentleman) opened the door and let Jess out first, following close behind. They stood there for a few seconds, looking like guilty school children, before Becker straightened up, and acting like nothing happened, walked from the room, Jess following a ways behind.
"Arrh! he just acted like nothing happened!" Penny wailed despairingly, waving her hands for emphasis, "Just walked out of there his old usual self!"
"Sounds like someone I know." Thatcher muttered, his eyebrow raised as I glared at him.
We watched as the pair (obviously) flirted in front of the ADD, Becker offering her an apple, Jess declining. When he leaned close and whispered in her ear, I decided all wasn't lost. I sighed, well, so it hadn't gone completely to plan, nevermind, we'd just have to work harder at getting them together.
After John finished editing the feeds, we could get started on phase two (our backup plans - failing the first mission). Time for the real work to begin.
A/N: Anyone know who Bonnie Parker is? :D (and no she isn't Jess' mum :p he he he)
Also, EXTRA AWESOME HUGE DELICIOUS CYBER COOKIES to whoever figures out Larks skill set and can formulate a guess about her past ;)
