TEN | 'JAMES BOND'


Disclaimer: I do not own Lab Rats: Elite Force but I do own Ventura 'Hex' Mallory and her original story-line and dialogue, as well as any other character who is a part of Ventura's family.


THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO Layla, luckycgo, HeyImBri AND Guest FOR REVIEWING! I HOPE YOU LIKE THE CHAPTER, IT'S A BIT LONGER BECAUSE I HAVEN'T UPDATED IN A WHILE


The team were all on the balcony, enjoying what should have been a nice lunch. Hex had opened up a little more but had retreated back to Chase's side, was still not speaking to Skylar and was smiling a lot less. Hex had revealed to Chase one night when they were relaxing on the couch that she hadn't been like that for a while and it was like all her happiness had been sucked out of her and been replaced with icy-cold nothingness.

Chase had looked at her worriedly and hugged her close, wordlessly offering her comfort. Hex wasn't back to her usual, sarcastic, bubbly self but still, it was progress. She also spent long nights trying to find out anything she could about one thing – possession.

"Kaz, buddy, there's plenty of room over here," Chase told the fire-manipulator who was crouched on the floor. "You don't have to eat on the floor."

"I'm not eating on the floor," Kaz corrected, holding up a rake with hot dogs stuck to the prongs. "I'm preparing my food on the floor."

Oliver walked onto the balcony and smiled at the rake, "Ooh, my favorite, hot dogs on a rake!"

Bree grimaced, "Wow, you actually made tubes of random animal parts even more disgusting."

"Hey, they only look gross because I haven't grilled them yet." Kaz lit his hand fire and Oliver began to twirl the rake to cook the hot dogs. "Who's disgusting now?"

Hex shrugged, "This isn't even a three on their disgust-o-meter, I can promise you that. I, uh, sanitized the floor and the tables just to make sure but I didn't—" Kaz made a noise and pulled a leaf from his mouth commenting 'wet leaf.' The teenagers all cringed and Hex finished, "—get all the leaves out of the rake." She gave Kaz a thumbs-up, "Good going, burn-out. You found the single leaf that was left on that rake."

"Yeah, you do know I just used that rake to clean the gutters. Right?" Skylar added.

"Mmm," the water-manipulator hummed, taking a bite out of his hot dog. "You can taste yesterday's rain."

"Speaking of rain," Hex piped up. "I wondering if Ollie can turn into water – you know, like being able to turn into solid water or ice, which is shaped in the form of a body."

Both Oliver and Chase looked really interested in the possibility, probably already formulating ways to test Hex's theory.

Skylar got up, "You boys are ridiculous. Your powers are a gift. You shouldn't be wasting them on trivial things."

"Yeah, you guys are always using your powers when you don't have to," Bree agreed, pointing out, "Yesterday Oliver flew across the street just to go to the grocery store."

"That was an emergency," Kaz defended. "We were out of Loopy Loops. And you know what, for your information, girls are just as bad. When Mr Davenport called, you used your vocal manipulation to pretend to be me."

"Okay, calm down, all I said was," the female bionic changed her voice to Kaz's, "Bree's not here. Stop calling, old man."

Kaz frowned, "Oh, so you made me look bad?"

"Yes, that was the goal." Bree added, "And, yes, I occasionally use bionics to make my life easier. But I can stop whenever I want. You guys are the ones that have no control."

"She's right," Hex nodded. "You're constantly using your powers. Even when you first got them, you were randomly making fire-balls to test your ability to throw them at me. And then I hexed you. You wouldn't last a day without your powers, Kaz but I admit, you'll probably last longer than Chase or Ollie."

"Hey!" Chase argued.

"First one out," the witch quietly bet and waved a ten dollar bill in Chase's face. He snatched it from her with a huff.

"Oh, really?" Kaz demanded. "Well, then I propose a challenge, guys versus girls, to see who can go the longest without using bionic abilities or superpowers. Last man or woman standing wins."

"You're on," Bree challenged, shaking Kaz's hand.

Chase placed his on top of theirs, "I'm in."

"Me too," Skylar placed her hand on top.

"I just want to touch Skylar's hand," Oliver muttered, hand on Skylar's and mouth full.

Hex put her hand on top, "I have a feeling that I won't last very long but I know that girls will win. Ollie is too easily tricked."

"You ladies are going down," Chase commented. "I mean, when you calculate the statistical odds and factor in the lopsided ratio of the three of us against two of you, the boys have an eighty-six-point-thirty-seven percent chance of winning."

Bree crossed her arms, "Interesting. And how exactly did you calculate those odds?"

Chase was silent for a few moments, "Yeah, I'm out." He grudgingly handed the ten dollars back to the original owner.

Hex smirked, placing her hands on her hips after tucking the money back into her pocket, "Well, look at that. Seems the girls have an eighty-six-point-thirty-seven percent chance of winning now. I see a whole lot of good luck coming our way."

XXXXX

"Doug?" Hex called, stumbling from the hyperlift, a hand pressed to her forehead. The witch didn't realise that she had interrupted a conversation about macaroons, rough edges and the job of securing the lab between Chase and Douglas. She had a pounding headache and was more focused on that, something caused by her Witch's Curse on Roman and she could hear quiet thoughts floating in her head that didn't belong to her.

Douglas Davenport was away from his biological son within an instant, moving to look after Hex, "The headaches are getting worse?"

"Much worse," Hex admitted. "Roman's constantly scared and they have a partner apparently."

"A partner? And you didn't think to tell us?" Chase asked, stepping away from the desk and the issue of the missing security tape and Hex looked up, seeming to only just notice him.

The witch pressed a hand to her temple and bit her lip for a moment before she nodded, "I didn't want to scare you. I'm dealing with it and I'll deal with the partner too, when they show up."

Chase shook his head, "You shouldn't do this alone. But does anyone know what's happening to you? Does this have anything to do with you, you know, getting your emotions back?"

Hex gave the bionic a level look but sighed, "I suppose. Roman's emotions are pushing on mine so sometimes I feel more. Sometimes I don't. But I'm getting better, I think I just need a slight push."

Douglas shone a light into Hex's eye, "Have you spoken to Cain?"

"No. Something's wrong with him too," Hex grumbled. "He's skittish, like he's scared to talk to me. I don't know. I can't even use my powers 'cause of this stupid contest so I'm going to get some painkillers."

The burgundy-haired girl got up and swayed slightly on her way to the hyperlift. As soon as Hex disappeared, Douglas turned to Chase, "Go look after her, I'll try to get into contact with Cain."

Chase nodded and got into the hyperlift, only to reappear in the living room and have Hex fall on him. The witch gave a groan-like laugh, her body flat against his but slightly-supported by her arms by his head.

"I'm so sorry, Chase. Just got dizzy."

"Hey, Ven, look at me?" Chase asked quietly, noticing something and Hex did, showing that her eyes were in a state of flux – green orbs and purple glows clashing and receding from each other. "Your eyes, they're—" The Davenport boy's breath hitched, seeming to realise then, exactly how close they were. It was like his brain fried; no thoughts in his head, no words out of his mouth – nothing.

Hex didn't say anything, seeming to be focused on Chase's face – his lips specifically – rather than his words or his nervous gulp at their proximity. They were like magnets, drawn together since their first meeting and now, this was their undeniable connection dragging them closer. They had felt the connection from the start; Hex's flirting, Chase's need to be touching her when they were standing close, the way they had both been completely comfortable around each other after only knowing each other for a few days. There, on the ground in front of the hyperlift, the pair were starting to truly see it.

Hex leant in slowly, her breath ghosting across Chase's lips and he subconsciously craned his neck to get closer to her, his fingers curling around her hips to pull her closer to his body. Both their eyes slipped shut as their lips were a breath away, the witch feeling an electrified buzz between them and—"Hex!"

Hex darted up onto her feet at an almost super-powered speed that Bree would've been jealous of, her powers lashing out and shattering a vase. She cringed, "Guess I'm out of the contest." She awkwardly bit her lip and reached out a hand to pull Chase up. The boy took her offered hand, ignoring the way his face warmed at her touch. Once he was upright, Hex immediately let go and rubbed the back of her neck before calling back, "Yes?"

Oliver almost tumbled down the stairs to find Hex and breathed heavily and pointed at his hair. "Explain this!"

The water-manipulator's hair was static, sticking up at all angles. Hex guessed that the water-manipulator had been electrocuted, and knowing Oliver, he probably touched the spark-plug because it looked like fun.

"Can't, Ollie. Did you have a run-in with the power outlet again?" Hex answered flippantly, walking to the fridge to get a bottle of water. She had gotten too close to Chase and now the walls were being put up again. "I told you to stop doing that."

"This was you! There these purple lines floating around me and then—BAM!" Hex almost dropped the water bottle as he slapped his hands together in front of her face. "My hair is like this!"

Hex shrugged, "Broke the bet anyway." She gestured to the shattered vase. "So, I guess I'll fix it all." Oliver's hair flattened, losing the static quality and he huffed out a 'thank you' and left the room, only getting a dismissive wave as the witch fixed the vase.

The burgundy-haired girl went to speak, to talk to Chase about what almost happened before Oliver interrupted, but her eyes glazed over and she collapsed. Chase was beside her in a second, catching Hex before she hit the floor, fingers running along her face and arms in worry. She lay motionless for a few moments, Chase nudging her gently and holding her protectively. Hex gasped, sitting up quickly almost like she hadn't been unconscious at all.

"Chase, come with me," the witch called, tugging the bionic behind her. Both subconsciously promised the other that they would talk about their almost-kiss but this was more important. "I need some serious help and I think Doug can help me out."

The two were in the lab in a second, Hex balanced against Chase, and Douglas was asking what was wrong, although it sounded like he was underwater, when the door to the weapons vault opened. Hex pushed aside her problems and focused as best as she could as Douglas lifted a gun and yelled, "Freeze!"

A little kid with dark hair and a tablet stared back at them. Hex scoffed, "A kid? Seriously!?" The witch turned to Douglas, "Can't you see he's scared shitless – put down the gun, Doug!"

Chase gently pulled Hex into his chest, wrapping his arms around her waist protectively. He eyed the boy, "Who are you?"

"My name's AJ. I live a floor below you guys." AJ didn't look away from Douglas, who was still holding the gun up at him. "Are you gonna drop the weapon or are you really afraid of a little kid?"

"Why haven't we seen you before?" Douglas questioned, lowering the gun.

"I like to keep to myself," the kid stated, wandering further into the lab. "A man of mystery, if you will."

Hex shook her head, her face pressed into Chase's shoulder, "Dial it down, James Bond."

"But I know all about you guys," AJ continued. "The Elite Force!" He posed dramatically.

"Weird…" Hex muttered lightly, rubbing her temples and pulling away. Her headache receded like a wave and she felt much better, like her magic was fighting off an external source. "How did you even get down here, sweetie?"

Chase nodded, "It's surrounded by walls of solid rock."

"Well, I was checking on the building's energy consumption and I noticed an unusually high drain coming from below the building."

"Wait, you check the building's energy consumption?" Douglas frowned, a look of absolute confusion on his face.

"Of course," AJ agreed, like it was obvious. "Gotta keep tabs on all the over-users. The future is green, my man." Douglas shot a look at the teenagers in the room and Hex could only shrug. "Anyway, I used a structural entometer to scan the area and locate the room. Then I cracked the security code and I've been coming here ever since."

"He's so cute."

"Ever since? How often do you come here?"

AJ chuckled, "A lot more than you'd like. My parents work a lot so I figured why hang out at home when I can hang here with all this cool technology. I just had to copy your online calendar so I'd know when to slip in undetected."

Hex pursed her lips, "Alright, that's enough, James Bond. Don't make Chase pop a blood-vessel."

"You copied our calendar?" Chase's voice had risen in pitch and Hex ran a placating hand down his arm, making the bionic relax and tense up at the same time at her proximity. His heart beat faster in his chest and he turned his attention from AJ to look tenderly at Hex.

"Yeah," AJ admitted. "Which reminds me aren't you supposed to be at a dentist appointment right now?"

"No, no. He rescheduled it so he could sleep in," Hex informed the boy.

Chase stopped her, "Wait. Why am you telling him this?"

Hex shrugged and Douglas shook his head, "I know I should be upset by this massive security breach, but you wigging out over a ten-year-old is kinda fun to watch."

"Says the other ten-year-old in the room," Hex raised her brows and ignored the small glare Douglas sent her. "Okay, sweetie, it's time for you to go. It's not safe for a kid down here – I'm sure you know what happened to Kyle."

Chase grinned slightly, noticing the way Hex interacted with children. She called them 'sweetie' and was overtaken by a motherly instinct to protect and comfort them. He turned back to AJ, "I'm changing all the passwords so this doesn't happen again. Goodbye, AJ."

"Fine, I'll go. But just so you know, I have a photographic memory which means the schedule's up here too." The young boy tapped his temple.

"Oh, yeah? Then what am I doing tomorrow night?" Chase asked, unbelieving of the boy.

"Same thing you do every Saturday night. Nothing." The ten-year-old smirked, "Unless the pretty girl with the burgundy hair—" the ten-year-old winked at Hex "—is home, then you'll be pining over her or you'll be cuddling."

AJ shuddered in mock-disgust and Hex flapped at the boy, with an endeared smile, "Oh, go home, Bond." AJ smiled at the older girl and walked away. Hex turned to Chase with a small smile, "So…pining over me?"

Chase stuttered for a few seconds and walked away with a playful huff when he saw Hex's grin. Almost instinctively, their hands sought each other and their fingers twined together. Something wordless and monumental had transpired between them since the almost-kiss and now, they didn't want to go back.

XXXXX

Chase and Douglas walked back into the lab, the younger Davenport explaining how he changed the security, "So I've upgraded the entire Mission Command security system. No need to remember passwords anymore because I installed optical retina scans at every point of entry. There is absolutely no way that kid is getting back in here!"

"That'll show 'em!" AJ called and the Davenport men let out yells.

The ten-year-old was sitting on Hex's lap, something he would've said he was too old for if it wasn't Hex. She was nice and acted like a mother to him, more than his own mother did, even after just meeting him. But Hex was that type of person – caring, even if she wouldn't admit it – and she wasn't magnetic to Chase alone. A lot of people found themselves quite taken by the ex-supervillain. Hex had also seemed to be recovering from her no-emotion faze a lot better with AJ around and was feeling a lot more free with her smiles.

"That's a sick weapons area you got behind the rock wall. I can see why you'd want to keep people out of it."

Hex looked up and smiled at Chase and Douglas. "He really keeps you on your toes. Can I keep him?"

Douglas chuckled at Hex as the pair got up, walking over to Douglas and Chase. "You know, if the smartest man in the world is in charge of security and that kid got past it, doesn't that make him the smartest man in the world?"

Chase chuckled too and reminded his biological father, "Yeah, well, I mean, you created me so technically that would make it your failure."

"Get out of here, kid!" Douglas began to usher AJ out but Hex stopped him, gently tugging the boy closer to her, placing her hands on his shoulders and indicated for him to speak.

"Hold on. I came back to offer you a proposition. You said this place is only for members of the Elite Force. But I know a lot about you guys and I think I can be an asset," AJ strengthened his stance, "so I want to join the team."

"Ha!" Chase burst out. "You? Sorry, kid, I don't think they make mission suits in an extra small."

"I've done your laundry," Hex reminded Chase and the bionic blushed, knowing that the witch knew what size his mission suit was. The teenagers all shared the chores around the penthouse and Chase really wished that he had accepted when Hex had begged for him to do her week of the laundry.

Douglas added, "Yours is extra—"

"Just the pants!" Chase cut the older Davenport off and pouted slightly at the smirk on Hex's face. Hex winked and chuckled at Chase's red cheeks, reaching her fingers out to run the tips over his burning face. He leant into the touch and the witch smiled. Behind them, AJ fake-gagged, sharing a look with Douglas.

"Look, I may only be ten, but I'm good with computers, I know every street in this city, and, well, it's glaringly obvious that you need help with the security system." Chase huffed out a breath as AJ continued, "I mean, retina scans? Why not just leave a key under the mat?"

"Come on, Chase," Hex implored, stepping closer and grabbing his hand. "We need all the help we can get when it comes to Roman, Riker and Rodissius – too many R names, seriously – and that new partner of theirs. AJ can help and I'll look after him and keep him out from under everyone's feet."

AJ didn't seem offended by the fact that Hex's suggestion sounded vaguely like the owning of a pet and Douglas continued, moving closer to Chase, "He's does have a point and so does Ven. It would be good to have a pair of fresh eyes around here pointing out our weaknesses, making us up our game."

"No! We do not need this kid on the team," Chase disagreed.

AJ piped up, "I think you do. And to prove it, let's make a deal. If I get back in here, I'm on the team."

"Fine, deal."

The pair shook hands and AJ noted, "Your hands are sweaty. Nervous?"

"No! They're naturally clammy."

Hex placed her hands on AJ's shoulders, whispering to the boy, "No, they aren't. He is nervous but promise me you want do anything to hurt him, Bond."

AJ nodded, "Promise."

XXXXX

"Mmm!" Chase hummed, taking another bite of his macaroons. "You were right about these macaroons. They are great." He offered the last bite of his macaroon to Hex, who broke it in half, ate one half and put the other piece on the keyboard of his laptop for him. "All right, last but not least, our online calendar is all secure. It'd take about two years of decoding for any outsider to even see when my birthday is."

"June 1st?" Douglas guessed.

"August 5th?" Hex asked, brushing crumbs off her hands.

Chase pointed and smiled at Hex because of her right answer and deadpanned at his biological father, "But close, Dad." The bionic pushed away from the desk and got up, "Well, twenty-four hours and no AJ. I successfully locked him out! No one makes a fool of Chase Davenport and gets away with it! No one!"

The youngest Davenport began to tap at the cyber-desk and Douglas got up to stare at his son, "Hey! What are you doing?"

"Disarming the security system I worked so hard to perfect."

"Why?"

"I don't know! My mind is telling me to do it even though I don't want to. Also, I'm proud to announce that I am the dumbest man in the world!" Chase gasped, slapping his hands over his mouth.

The weapons vault opened to reveal a laughing AJ and Douglas stalked over to him, "AJ! What'd you do?"

"I re-programmed Chase's bionic chip so I could control it," AJ explained.

Chase and Hex spoke in unison, "You what?"

"That's right, I didn't have to break into Mission Command," the young boy taunted. "I broke into you!"

Chase gaped. After a few moments he began to clap as AJ and Douglas laughed, "I'm really impressed that you tapped into my chip. You are so much smarter than I am." They burst into more laughter and Chase frowned, "Hey, stop making me say things! And stop making me clap!"

"Fine!" AJ tapped a few buttons and Chase began to dance, Douglas and AJ laughing even more.

"Stop encouraging him, this is a major security breach!" The bionic cried as he did a pirouette. Hex waved her hand, purple magic spinning out to hold Chase off the ground and stop him from dancing.

Douglas finally conceded, "All right! Fine! Fun's over!"

Chase regained control over his body and Hex lowered him back down.

"AJ, give me the tablet please." AJ went to give the tablet to Hex but it shot out of his grip and stuck to Chase's arm. Within seconds, any metal object in the room flew over and attached itself to Chase, the Davenport boy groaning in pain.

"Ow! Douglas, what's going on?"

"When AJ tapped into your chip he must have caused a glitch. Your magnetism app has gone haywire." Douglas' arm suddenly shot up and Hex glimpsed a metal bracelet on his arm, "Oh, no! It's a heavy bracelet day!" The older Davenport man stuck to Chase as well and Hex eyed them for a moment and encased herself and AJ in a light, protective layer of purple magic.

"I am not having my earrings ripped out of my ears and stuck to Chase. No way in magnetism."

Douglas strained to get away from Chase and AJ commented, "See, this is why kids shouldn't play with technology."

The Davenport boys glared at AJ and Hex casually pushed him behind her. Their glares dropped at Hex in front of them but they still tried to glare around her at the boy that had got them into this mess. "If you know what's good for you, you'd shut your face, Bond."

XXXXX

"Well, this is unpleasant."

Chase was standing in the lab, almost completely covered in metal objects. Hex stared at him for a minute and he thought she was going to use her magic when really she was looking for – "Hey, found my fork."

Elegantly, the witch pulled the fork off Chase and moved back to her bowl of salad after quickly smiling at him.

"Kinda wish some of that metal would've covered his mouth," Douglas grumbled to AJ.

The boy smiled, "Got anymore bracelets?"

"Ten-year-olds, the both of you."

Chase frowned forcefully, "Just do something!"

"I'm trying here! But every time I try to fix your chip remotely, the magnet gets stronger."

Another metal object flew at Chase, sticking to his shirt and he glared, speaking through clenched teeth, "I hadn't noticed."

"Can't you use your force field?"

"No!" Chase dragged out the word. "The glitch is overriding everything. I can't use any of my abilities. Hex can't even help – if she uses her magic to remote into my chip it could kill her, so all she can do is slow down the magnestism."

"What if we create a human shield around you?" Douglas offered. "It won't stop the magnetic pull but by blocking its path with our bodies, we might slow it down."

"But if it doesn't work and the magnet just keeps getting stronger…" AJ trailed off and Douglas finished for him.

"Every heavy thing in this room will take AJ and me out first."

Chase tilted his head, "Yeah, I'm willing to take that risk."

The room began to rumble and Hex got up from her seat and lifted her hands. A purple force field wrapped around the group and Hex practically tossed them into the hyperlift, "The room is reinforced steel so we're moving. Far, far away!"

XXXXX

The four managed to get upstairs and Oliver cooed as soon as he saw them, "Aww, is it National Hug Day?" He turned to Skylar with a cheesy smile. "Bring it in."

"It's gonna take more than a holiday to make that happen," the alien girl responded and Oliver's smile fell. Hex scowled, sometimes (most of the time) Skylar really hurt Oliver by being completely inconsiderate about his feelings for her.

"What's going on?" Kaz asked, staring at Douglas and AJ, who was still hugging a magnetized-Chase.

"And who's the kid?" Bree asked as she entered the room.

"AJ. He lives downstairs," Douglas explained. "He tapped into Chase's chip with his tablet and it's causing his magnetism app to glitch. Tragic but hysterical."

"Or maybe just hysterical," Kaz laughed and Hex gently pulled the pile of paperclips from Chase hair and hexed them, making them fly at the fire-manipulator as electrified purple projectiles. The boy hissed as they hit him and raised his arms to avoid them.

Chase scowled and Douglas continued, "I have to find a way to fix his glitch remotely. But when I break the human shield every metal object in this room is gonna go flying toward Chase."

"I'm not hearing a problem."

Hex turned to look at Bree, "Phone? Computer? TV? All kaput if Doug lets go."

"Now I hear a problem," Bree sighed. "What do we do?"

"When I let go, I need you guys to use your powers to protect Chase from being hit by all the heavy objects."

Skylar cringed, "Yeah, we can't do that."

"Why not?"

Kaz smiled, "Oh, see, we're having this little challenge, guys versus girls, to see who can go the longest without using their powers for trivial things."

"Saving my life is not a trivial thing!" Chase exclaimed and Hex looked ten seconds away from ripping Skylar and Kaz to shreds.

"I don't know," Oliver stated noncommittally. "Should we take a vote?"

Hex let out a low growl, purple eyes flashing. One thing that she couldn't stand by was watching a family tear each other apart – which was what they were, a big dysfunctional family – and she was desperate to keep that from happening.

Douglas lost his temper, "Just put your challenge on hold. I need you guys to buy me some time so I can try to fix the glitch."

"Fine," Skylar and Kaz muttered in unison and Douglas let go, the room beginning to rumble and shake.

"Watch out! The table!" Bree super-sped the table away from hitting Chase as Hex raised a wall of magic up in front of Chase.

"Oliver!" Skylar called and Oliver punched the toaster away.

Skylar fired a blast and Kaz used his fire, calling, "Hurry! We can't keep this up forever!"

The ceiling began to rain dust and rocks and Douglas glanced up in worry, "Oh, no, kid's amping up. His magnetism app is gonna rip the framework of the room right out of the walls!"

"Wait a second," AJ announced. "Can't his capsule reset his operating system and bring his magnetism app back to its original state?"

"Yes, yes it can."

"I'm keeping him!" Hex cheered, proud of the young boy who was incredibly smart.

Skylar hurried over, "Hurry, the whole room is going to implode!"

"Protect Chase." Oliver volunteered, "I'll use my super strength to bring his capsule down here."

"I'll help you!" Bree offered and Hex stopped them both.

"Wait! I can portal us there. It'll be faster – and lighter." Hex gripped Chase's arm, "Trust me." The pair disappeared in purple light, taking the others with them, and they all reappeared in Chase's room. Hex shoved the bionic into his capsule, moving to let Douglas near the capsule.

"There. That should do it!" Douglas finished recalibrating the capsule and the teenagers cheered as the metal objects fell to the ground.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, I think so," Chase answered Skylar and stretched, "But my back is killing me."

Hex walked over to Chase and placed glowing hands on his back as Kaz said, rather uninterested, "Sorry to hear it. Contest back on!"

"Whoo!"

XXXXX

Chase and Hex were in the lab, Hex throwing an orb into the air and Chase tapping at the cyber-desk. The bionic boy paused and looked up, "I know you're here."

AJ popped up from behind the desk, "Hi, Chase. Hi, Hex."

"Hello, sweetie," Hex smiled at the boy, happy that he was there and that he was calling her 'Hex.' He tried to call her 'Ven' but Douglas and Chase had almost run him out of the tower for that. Only Douglas and Chase called her 'Ven,' which Hex would never admit to finding sweet.

"What's the matter?" Chase asked sarcastically, "Couldn't kill me the first time? Came back to finish the job?"

Hex whacked the bionic's arm, "Be nice, he didn't mean to."

"No," AJ corrected Chase. "I wanted to say I'm sorry. I was just trying to show you what I could do, I didn't mean for all that to happen."

"Yeah, well, that's the reason I didn't want you around here in the first place."

"I know," AJ admitted. "And I promise I won't come back. It's obvious I'm not ready to be a part of the team."

AJ walked over to the cyber-desk, opening the door to the weapons vault, Chase returned to his typing. Hex raised her brows at the bionic beside her and Chase called out to AJ, "Wait. You getting in here, tapping into my chip, it's pretty impressive. And not just for a ten-year-old."

"Really?" AJ asked hopefully.

"Yeah. You just think you know a little bit more than you actually do. And I can kinda, barely, not really relate to that," Chase shrugged.

"Chase really likes you," Hex stage-whispered. "Just won't admit it because it would include admitting that the reason he likes you is because he thinks you're smarter than him."

AJ smiled, laughing lightly at Hex's comment, "So are you saying I'm a part of the team?"

Chase laughed and shook his head, "No! But if you wanted to come by, you know, occasionally I won't keep you out."

"Thanks, Chase. Thanks, Hex." AJ turned to go, "But for what it's worth – you wouldn't be able to anyway."

XXXXX

Hex sat in the living room, rubbing at her temples. She had had another vision of Rodissius and his sons and their unknown partner. It had terrified because Hex had only seen one thing that really told her anything about this mysterious partner.

Red hair.

Chase suddenly walked down the stairs and paused as he saw Hex on the couch. He huffed out a nervous breath.

The second the Davenport stepped in front of her, Hex flashed her green eyes up and him and smiled widely, grabbing his hand and pulling him down to sit next to her. Chase, without hesitation, settled beside her and laced his arms around Hex's waist, the witch relaxing into the bionic's hold.

"We need to talk about what almost happened today."

"I know," the Mallory girl sighed. "But just…let's stay like this for a minute."

Chase didn't argue and before long, both teenagers were asleep and, hours later, Bree was jumping for joy, desperately trying not to wake the two 'love-birds' with her muffled squealing and fussing as she sped around to make sure they had enough blankets.

XXXXX


The next chapter is an original with lost of Chase/Hex fluff and cheesiness, so look out for that.

I also am posting (in like a minute or two) a cast and extended summary chapter, so check out that if you want to find out who I imagine to portray each character.

Please review!

~ Raven