Okay, I don't think I have enough reviews but I'll update anyway. This chapter is pretty short; so don't be expecting something really long. Review when you finish reading!

Artemis and Anna-Maria stood outside the janitor's closet. "Are you sure this is it?" She asked.

"It has to be." Artemis replied. "Trouble headed in this direction. The only other options here are the men's bathroom and the ladies' bathroom; highly unlikely. Holly can't go in the men's bathroom and the others can't go in the ladies' bathroom. That leaves this closet."

Anna-Maria wrenched open the door and peered inside. There was nobody there, only a pile of surveillance equipment in a corner.

Artemis turned his head to the northeastern corner of the closet. "I believe I've found Holly."

Anna-Maria looked in the opposite direction. "I've found one or two hidden fairies too." She walked toward the corner and tugged on something invisible. The sheet of cam-foil gave way, exposing Mulch and Foaly.

Artemis looked a shielded Holly right in the eye. "Come out of there, Holly." Holly unshielded.

"How did you know where I was?" She asked.

"My hazel eye was tingling." Artemis replied.

"Oh… betrayed by an eye that used to be mine! How pitiful!" She poked something with her elbow. "Okay Trouble, unshield. Grub too." Both male elves unshielded.

Anna-Maria looked at them all and tapped her foot impatiently. "Well? I'm waiting for an explanation."

"So am I." Artemis said as he stood next to her. "First, let's go back to our booth. Then you can take turns explaining." Grub sheepishly walked out of the door, followed by Trouble, then Holly, then Mulch, and Foaly last; carrying his surveillance equipment.

Artemis allowed Anna-Maria to go before him. "I don't know about you but I feel as if my privacy has been invaded." He told her.

"I'd rather not admit it; but I agree."

They met everyone back at their booth. Anna-Maria sat next to Artemis so that she was facing all five fairies. "We're waiting."

Holly spoke up first. "We apologize, Artemis, Anna-Maria."

Foaly picked up from that point. "Sorry, Mud Boy. We were just a bit overly curious; we shouldn't have spied. And don't blame Trouble, Mulch, or Grub. They didn't even know; Holly and I planned this all by ourselves."

Anna-Maria sighed. "Well, you have apologized; and I can't speak for Artemis, but I accept it. And it was fun to act for you on the tapes."

"Yes it was." Artemis added. "And, I accept your apologies too."

Holly and Foaly nodded solemnly before they fully realized what Anna-Maria had said. "Acting?! What do you mean acting?"

Both genii grinned. "You don't think we'd really talk about the six flavors of quark and the origin of the teddy bear in these kinds of circumstances, do you?"

Holly groaned. "I thought those topics were too boring to discuss on someone's birthday… you two tricked us!"

Artemis grinned. "You two tricked us first."

Foaly had to laugh. "You know, the Mud Boy has a point."

Mulch scowled. "Who finished my Turkish delight?"

Grub smiled guiltily. "Sorry, I got hungry."

Anna-Maria smiled. "Never mind. We'll get some ice cream; my treat."

Everyone agreed and smiled. As they stood up, a serious expression came on Anna-Maria's face. Artemis noticed first. "Is something the matter?"

Anna-Maria seemed to be looking through him as she replied, "There's someone here who should not be."

"What is it?" Trouble asked. "That rogue troll escaped again?"

Anna-Maria touched her temple. "No, something smaller."

"Chix Verbil?" Holly offered.

"No, bigger." She answered shakily. "A human."

Holly laughed. "Well, Mud Boy here certainly has a right to be here. Don't overdo the joke, Anna-Maria."

Anna-Maria suddenly looked toward the door. "Not Artemis. Someone else." A sound equivalent to a small explosion rang through the restaurant, a sound that only Artemis and Anna-Maria herself recognized.

Anna-Maria's hand flew to her stomach and the other gripped the edge of a table tightly as each breath shortened and her pupils dilated. Everyone stared in shock at the blood trickling down her arm. "Minerva." She lost consciousness as soon as the whisper left her lips.

Artemis caught her just as Holly spotted a flash of blond hair as someone left the restaurant. "Not this time, Mud Girl." She said under her breath. "You're not getting away from me again." She darted out of the restaurant and followed Minerva's cloaked figure. She ran faster than she had ever run before; realizing that she did not have her neutrino or even a buzz baton, she leaped and smashed her weight against Minerva's back. The female genius collapsed on the ground; a human pistol slipped from her hands.

Trouble had followed Holly out. "I'll get her back to Police Plaza. Right now I think you should go back inside. There are a few people who need you."

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Holly pushed open the restaurant door and stared at the scene in front of her. "Holly!" Artemis cried. "I need help!"

The Section Eight captain gasped. Artemis had laid Anna-Maria out on the floor but allowed her head to rest on his leg; although it was not this she noticed. What got Holly's attention were the half-fairy girl's deathly pale face and the blood that continued to course down her evening gown.

"Oh, no."