A/N: This bonus chapter is set 4 months after the events of the epilogue, so Del has moved to L.A to work at W.O.O.H.P
Bonus Chapter
"This is ridiculous." Clover announced, curled up in the loveseat next to Blaine.
On a rare night off with no missions or work for everyone, the spies and their significant others were relaxing at the spies' villa.
They were supposed to be watching some spy related TV program. The problem was that this TV show was so uninteresting and unrealistic that it was honestly making the blonde superspy sleepy.
Across from her in the living room, Sam and Tim were on the sofa with their legs tucked underneath them. Sam's head was on Tim's shoulder, but she sleepily lifted her head off her beau's shoulder at Clover's statement.
Alex and Del, stretched out on the carpeted floor, simultaneously cocked their heads towards Clover.
"This TV show is boring. And I'm bored." The blonde spy declared once more.
"I agree actually. This show is unrealistic." Tim drawled. The reformed agent let his look of distaste linger on the TV, where one of the spies had just slapped handcuffs on the criminal. "He makes it look so easy. But come on! Handcuffs aren't that easy to use."
"Tell me about it. I've both been in one and tried to capture criminals in one." Del chimed in. "It's never this smooth-sailing like in this movie." The handsome man couldn't suppress a snigger while he watched the program, but it was more of in bemusement rather than annoyance.
On seeing that Tim was about to comment, Alex quickly chimed in. "What do you suggest we do Clover?" She raised her eyebrows at her friend and gave the blonde a significant look.
Based on experience, once Tim and Del started on random topic, the discussions could get serious, long-drawn and very technical. And as much as Alex was starting to lose interest in the TV program, her mind was too relaxed to process any complicated stuff right now.
"I don't know. A game? Karaoke? A movie? Anything but this stupid show." Clover grumbled, folding her hands across her chest.
"A game sounds nice." Blaine answered after some thought. "I think I had enough of the TV for tonight." He rubbed his tired eyes.
"I second that." Sam raised an arm in agreement before letting said arm flop back on her lap. The red-head superspy snuggled closer to Tim, savouring in the warmth of the muscular body next to hers. She was feeling warm, comfortable and so relaxed. Sam stifled a yawn.
"Whatever you guys wanna do, someone better decide soon. Or I'm gonna have a sleeping cat cuddled against me." Tim commented. Blaine and Del sniggered, but no one missed the fond look in his eyes as he glanced at the red-head next to him.
His comment earned an indignant look from Sam as she raised her head off his chest. "Who are you calling a cat?" Her eyes flared in challenge.
"Did I? You must have misheard me." Tim drawled, his sea-foamed eyes bearing into hers. Sam merely stuck her tongue out at him before snuggling back into her beau's embrace.
"Real mature Sammy." He murmured in her ear. His action (and comment) made her blush slightly as she nudged him in the chest.
"So, what game do you guys wanna play?" While Sam and Tim were having their little moment, Alex had grabbed the remote and had turned off the television. The living area was now devoid of sound, making it quieter than before.
"What games do you girls have?" Blaine asked lazily from the loveseat.
Alex got up and paddled over to the cabinet where they kept the board games and cards. Opening the cabinet, she began reading out titles on the shelf. "Monopoly, Snakes and Ladders, Scrabble, Avalon, Game of Life…Candy Land…"
"Wow. Impressive collection." Tim whistled, absentmindedly stroking Sam's long hair simultaneously as he listened to what appeared to be a never-ending list.
"Well, that's the benefit of living with your friends. The collection is a build up of all our own games." Sam whispered from next to him.
"Clue… Twister…Magic set…" Alex continued reading.
Del, who had been quiet all this while, suddenly sat up and straight and snapped his fingers. "I have a few observation type guessing games we can play." He suggested. "It's something like the game Black Magic, if anyone has heard of it."
"Ohhh, sounds fun. I love Black Magic." Clover rubbed her hands together in glee. "I'm in."
"So am I." Tim nodded his head. Del's idea sounded interesting and fresh. And the reformed agent happened to enjoy the game of Black Magic, so anything similar to that was always welcomed.
One by the one the members of the group chimed in their agreement. Most of them had either heard of, or had played the game Black Magic before, and were curious as to what Del's game was.
"Great, shall we sit by the dining table? That way we're all facing one another." Del said. He had a point. The spies' dining table was a round shape, compared to their coffee table which was rectangular.
A few minutes later, everyone was comfortably seated around the dining table. Sam scanned the table. She was seated in between Tim and Clover, with Del directly across her. Alex and Blaine flanked on Del's either sides, with the former seated next to Tim.
"Okay. I actually learnt this game when I was posted to China on a deep cover mission." As a preamble, Del said. Everyone ahh-ed.
"Obviously, the game that I was exposed to was in Mandarin Chinese…But the generics of the game works in English nonetheless."
"Well, whenever you're ready man, the floor is yours." Tim did a dramatic gesture with his hands.
Del cleared his throat, before speaking in a clear, yet slightly ominous voice. "There are six of us currently in this room." He paused and looked at each person in turn, lingering for almost too long on everyone that it was borderline creepy.
"But what you don't know," he continued, "is that some of us are not really here."
He stopped.
Everyone exchanged queer and confused looks.
"What do you mean…not really here?" Alex whispered.
Unknowingly, tension started to build.
"The thing is…Some of us are humans, and some of us are ghosts." Del explained after a pregnant pause. "But I have the special eye to see who is human, and who isn't." He let out a half smirk, and a wink.
"But let us see, if anyone else has the special eye." He concluded his introduction.
Sam shifted in her seat, eager to begin. Del had did a brilliant job in setting up the atmosphere, and in giving the perception that he had a secret the others didn't know.
"Ready everyone?" At everyone's nod, Del smiled mysteriously. "Watch me." He said. Raising his right hand and curling it so that his pointer was the only finger raised, Del began his 'magic'.
"I'm getting something… You're a human," he pointed at Tim. "You're a human," he pointed at Sam.
"But…You're a ghost." He leaned forward, resting his elbow on the table, while pointing at Clover.
Blaine let out a laugh. "Oh, I've played this with a bunch of friends before, at a party. Okay okay let me try." The spiky-haired agent straightened up.
"You're a human, you're a human, but you are a ghost." Blaine pointed at Sam, Alex and Del in turn, making sure to place his elbow on the table at the end.
"Yep…Looks like Blaine's got the eye." Del smirked. The two men hi-fived.
There was a pause as everyone absorbed what had just transpired. The other four members were more confused than enlightened, having missed the subtle change of body movements when both men pointed at the 'ghost'. "Do it again." Alex had her thinking face on.
"Okay. Watch closely." Del eyed everyone seriously. Four pairs of eyes stared intently at Del.
"You're a human." He pointed at Clover.
"You're a human too." His finger moved to point at Tim.
"Hmm…You're a human as well." Del pointed to Sam.
"But…You're the ghost." A sparkle came to Del's eyes as his finger landed on Alex, and his elbow rested quietly on the table. The move was so slick and smooth that it appeared natural.
"What…" Sam cocked her head to the side. Her brain was on overdrive, analysing the patterns of names and of speech. But nothing jumped out at her. Those who were not in on the trick looked confused as well.
"Hmm…You're the human, but you're the ghost?" Tim tested a theory he had, by leaning forward significantly when he wanted to say who the 'ghost' was.
"Nope." Two simultaneous shaking of heads. Blaine and Del shared a knowing look.
"Could you guys demonstrate again?" The red-head spy urged.
"Let me do it." Blaine said. And again it went, around the table.
"Oh, can I try?" After her beau had singled out Tim as the ghost in the latest round, it was as if the pieces of the puzzle fell in place for Clover. She had managed to catch Blaine's action from the right angle, and felt confident that she had gotten the trick.
"Go ahead Clover." Del signalled the blonde to give it a shot.
"You're human." Clover pointed her right finger at Sam.
"And you're human." She pointed at Del.
"But…you're the ghost." Placing her right elbow silently on the table, Clover directed her finger towards Alex.
"She's earned the special eye." Blaine announcement proudly.
Clover did a mini-happy dance in her seat. "Yes!" A glimmer of satisfaction was in her eyes.
"…Can anyone enlighten me though? I'm still lost." Alex spoke up with an awkward smile.
"So am I." Tim's eyebrows were scrunched up and frown lines were starting to set in.
"Hold on, hold on. I'm thinking of a theory…" Sam held up a hand, deep in thought. Her mind churned out theories and possibilities, but nothing made sense.
"Can I try something? You're a human, you're a human, but... you're a ghost?" Sam pointed to Alex, Blaine and Clover in turn, uncertain of her actions. She made firm eye contact with each person that she pointed at.
"Not quite." Blaine shook his head.
"There's no need to think so hard guys. Just watch closely." Del urged, before gesturing for Clover to demonstrate the trick once more.
"Keep your eyes peeled." Clover said. And the game resumed once more.
Five minutes later…
Sam was starting to get frustrated.
Scratch that. Sam was starting to get very frustrated.
At herself, no less.
In the five minutes that transpired, both Tim AND Alex had managed to somehow catch on to the trick. She was now the only one left in the dark. And her friends were having real friend teasing her about her lack of ability to see the trick.
"You're the human, but you're the ghost?" Sam tried again. She had pointed at Blaine and Del, acting on a far-fetched theory that the people picked were alternating.
On Del's shake of the head, Sam felt her confidence dwindling just a bit more, and her frustration getting the best of her. She had always taken pride in being the brains of the spy trio, and her ability to decern patterns. To be the last person left to not understand a simple game was making her uncomfortable and frankly, disappointed at herself.
"Urgh." Sam groaned. "Kill me already." All that thinking was causing a migraine to come along as well, making Sam feel worse than before.
"It's quite simple love. Don't overthink it." Tim urged her on from beside her.
"I really don't know anymore. It doesn't fit any pattern." She murmured, on the verge of giving up.
"Do you want a hint?" From her other side, Alex asked kindly.
"No…I want to figure it out myself." Sam's shook her head, her stubborn nature getting the best of her.
"Do you still want to continue then?" Blaine asked.
"Could we come back to this later? My brain feels like I went through a Criminology exam." She sighed. She felt confused, lost and just lacking in confidence in her own abilities.
"Sure. How does a game of Monopoly sound?" Still as perceptive as ever before, Del picked up on Sam's frustrations, and quickly changed the subject.
Tim said nothing as everyone else left the table for a short break, only eying his girlfriend in concern. He reached out and took her hand in his, squeezing it. Sam's head slowly rose and her eyes met his.
You okay? A simple gaze said it all.
Despite her disappointment in herself, Sam managed a small smile. I'm fine, don't worry. She expressed through her eyes, returning the squeeze on Tim's larger hand.
"Sammy! What item do you want to be?" Alex called from the living room as she opened the Monopoly box.
"Coming." Sending another tiny smile at her beau, Sam got up from the table.
Tim watched her as she moved across the room, noting with slight concern that the smile didn't reach her eyes.
Later that night…
What's the trick? I still can't figure it out…
Sam was curled up in the study chair by her desk, deep in thought. In her bed a few feet away, Tim was fast asleep. As much as she tried her best, Sam couldn't fall asleep. Her mind kept going back to that game that Del had introduced them.
The subject of the game had been left unspoken as everyone got involved in the Monopoly game (which had finally ended with Tim and Sam being victorious). Despite the win, Sam wasn't satisfied. Her traitorous mind was analysing every inch of her memory of the guessing game, wanting desperately to crack the code that everyone claimed was 'so simple'.
If it's so simple, then why can't I see it? The pessimistic side of her thought glumly. What was wrong with her? Was she losing her touch?
It's simple, they said. Don't overthink it, they said. Look closely, they said.
Well, I've stared darn hard. But I still didn't get it…What is wrong with me?
Sam sighed under the breath for the umpteenth time that night. She buried her face in her knees, allowing her own disappointment and fears wash over her like waves.
"Sammy?" The redhead was shattered out of her musings by the husky voice of her boyfriend. Tim stirred from the bed. Blinking as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, they scanned the room quickly before landing on the small form curled up by the study table.
"Sammy, are you okay?" Sensing that something wasn't right, Tim crawled out of bed and paddled towards the study table.
If possible, Sam curled herself up even tighter, making herself seem even smaller. She sniffed and lowered her head so that Tim would not see the sadness in her emerald eyes.
"Sammy?" Tim reached out and touched her arm. She shifted away from him, biting her lip. "Love, are you alright?"
Sam stared into space and willed herself not to cry. She didn't say a word.
This unresponsive version of Sam was beginning to make Tim worried. He knelt down so that he could see her face. With his large, coarse hand, he brushed a curtain of red-hair back and cupped Sam's cheek.
"Talk to me love. Are you okay?" His husky whisper was filled with warmth and concern.
Taking a deep breath to steady her emotions, Sam raised her eyes to meet his.
Tim's concern look only soften further when he saw the raw emotion reflected in Sam's emerald orbs.
"I fine…I couldn't sleep. That's all." She managed a weak smile.
There is that half-smile thing again…Tim resisted his own urge to sigh. She thinks she can fool the world, but she can't fool me…
"Hey." He sent a reassuring smile of his own. "You wanna talk about it?" They both knew what Tim meant.
Sam sighed, reaching over to bury herself in Tim's chest. "I just feel so stupid…" She trailed off. "Everyone could see it, but me. And I'm supposed to be the brains of the group…" A lone tear trickled down her cheek. Sam was really glad Tim couldn't see her face right now.
"Don't doubt yourself Sam. One game doesn't give the basis to question yourself." She heard him say. From her position on his chest, she could feel his chest vibrate with every word he spoke.
"My brain knows that." She sighed once more. "But knowing and believing are two different things."
"But honestly though love. Don't be too hard on yourself. You're brilliant. Who was the one that managed to secure us a win in Monopoly just now? And who was the one that lead the team to victory when we were playing Avalon last month? What about when you managed to fool Jazz-Hands? Hmm?"
"I guess…"
"I'm serious love. The outcome of one game doesn't mean you're losing your touch, or anything…" Tim said with conviction.
Sam raised her head from his chest and met his eyes. "It still amazes me sometimes how amazing you can be."
His sea-foamed eyes bore firmly into hers. "All for you Sammy, and you know it."
"Thanks Tim." Feeling much more confident now after being prep talked by her boyfriend, Sam finally let out a genuine smile.
"You're welcome love." His smile turned into a full-blown grin when she rewarded him with a long kiss on the cheek. "Shall we go back to bed?"
Sam nodded, and allowed herself to be led back to bed. As she settled down under the covers with her beau close to her, a final thought came to her mind.
She nudged Tim urgently.
"Tim? What exactly was the trick?"
Fin.
So that's the end of the bonus chapter!
This is a real guessing game that I saw on a Chinese reality program. It got me thinking what if the spies and their significant others played this game…And this was the result haha. I really love Del's character, so I decided to add this one-shot to this Alternate Universe.
Hope you guys liked it and Merry early Christmas everyone!
Best always,
-TrixieNancy