Darien was sitting in the chair he normally sat in to get shots. His right leg was killing him. He leaned his head against the back of the chair and closed his eyes.
Claire had set his leg and put a cast on it.
"Hey Fawkes."
Darien glanced at Hobbes, then closed his eyes again.
"How're ya feeling?"
"How do you think?"
"Ah ha! He spoke!"
Darien hadn't said anything since apologizing to Alex.
"What happened up there man?" Hobbes only knew part of the story.
"I really don't want to talk about it Hobbes."
"C'mon Fawkes."
Darien opened his eyes. "You want to know what happened? I almost killed her. She was just trying to help me. Did you see her Hobbes? She couldn't even look at me."
"Do you know what she told me Fawkes? You gave her the gun after you went crazy. You told her to shoot you after you went crazy."
"So?"
"So, that means you didn't want to kill her even when you were nutso."
"Yes I did. I could feel it Hobbes. Everything in me was telling me to wrap my hands around her throat."
"Not everything my friend. Something in you made you give her that gun."
Darien looked at him. He knew Hobbes was right but he couldn't get the look on Alex's face out of his mind. Fear. She had looked at him in total fear.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
4 Days Later:
Alex had no idea what she was doing. She had called the Department of Fish and Game. She had had no idea how secret that Department was. It took a lot of questions before she could find out where Darien worked. But she was here now.
Alex stood outside, her hand on the door handle, debating what to do. Then she lost her nerve. She turned to leave.
There was Darien and his partner, walking toward the door. Darien was on crutches. His partner looked like he was trying to carry on a conversation even though Darien wasn't actively participating.
She was trapped. Alex watched as they came closer to the door. She stood out
of the way hoping they wouldn't notice her.
Darien stood aside as his partner opened the door for him. Alex watched as he looked around. His eyes fell on her.
He was startled when he saw her. Darien tried to take a step back, but being on crutches he almost fell over. She watched as his partner caught him and steadied him.
"Whoa there Fawkes. What are you doing?" He stopped as he followed Darien's gaze and saw her.
There was a long silence. Darien broke it. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
Darien looked at his partner, who caught on. "Say no more, I'm gone." He walked into the building.
Darien looked at her waiting for her to say something.
"So what exactly happened up there, Darien?"
"I tried to tell you. I wanted you to lock me up."
"I know but..." she trailed off.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"I know."
They stood in silence.
"So," she started, "How do you go invisible?"
Darien smiled. "Do you remember that gland I told you about?"
"You mean the one that does nothing?" she teased.
"That's the one."
Hobbes stuck his head out of the door. "Fawkes the fat man wants to see us."
Darien looked at Alex. "How about having dinner with me tonight? I'll tell you all about it."
Alex smiled at him. All her fear was gone. "Okay."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was the first day Darien had been to the Agency since Claire set his leg. He hadn't talked to Hobbes since then either.
"Hobbes, I was wondering," he said as they walked. "How did you find me."
"Bobby Hobbes can find anything my friend."
"Right, okay. You who couldn't find your car keys this morning."
"Hey I found them."
"After I told you to check your shirt pocket."
"I don't usually put them in there."
Darien shook his head. "So, how did you do it?"
"I don't know. I just got out of the car and put them there."
"Hobbes."
"What?"
"How did you find me?" Darien said it slowly to make sure he understood."
"Oh. Well I found your cell phone in the road, so I figured you were close. Then this bum came out of the woods. I asked him if he had seen the guy who owned the cell phone. He told me you got in a car with a lady and drove
north. I made some cars and it turned out the only house up there was the one you were at."
"Well. Thanks Hobbes."
"No problem for Bobby Hobbes."
"Don't make me bring up the time you could find your sunglasses and they were on top of your head."
"Funny Mr. Oneleg."
"Watch it. If I kick you with this cast it'll hurt."
"I'd like to see you try."
Darien was tempted but they were at the Official's office.
Hobbes opened the door and they walked in. The Official was sitting at his desk. "Hello boys."
Darien was curious to find out why he was called in . Surprisingly The Official had given him a week off to recuperate.
"So what's up big man?" Hobbes asked.
"Yeah what's so important that you need me in here with a broken leg?" Darien chimed in.
"Well," The Official started as Hobbes sat down. "We've come across a group...sit down agent Fawkes."
Darien was still standing. He was trying to figure out a way to sit down without looking like a complete idiot. "Hobbes can ya help me out here?"
Hobbes was sitting down looking extremely amused.
"Hobbes!" barked The Official.
Hobbes got up reluctantly and helped Darien into the chair.
Darien glared at him as Hobbes settled himself again.
The Official cleared his throat. "As I was saying, we've come across a terrorist group who has targeted a new...weapon."
"What kind of weapon?" Darien interrupted.
"Well as a matter of fact," The Official continued. "It's you."
"Me?"
Eberts explained. "Well in a manner of speaking. They don't really want you. They want the gland."
"Well of course. It wouldn't be a normal week if somebody didn't want to harvest the gland." Darien said sarcastically.
"We're going to put on you. Agent Hobbes you will stay will him at all times."
Hobbes nodded.
"Ya know, I'm really getting tired of this. How'd they find out about the gland anyway?" Darien said.
"You're getting tired of this? I'm the one who always has to save your sorry butt." Hobbes complained.
"Hey, look man I didn't-"
"You know how many times you'd be dead-"
"At least I can find my car keys."
"I found you didn't I?"
"Because some guy saw me."
"Enough!" The Official's voice stopped their argument. They sat silently, glaring at each other.
The Official shook his head, then went on. "Fawkes you sure chose a bad time to break your leg."
Darien looked at him. "Well I didn't exactly choose to break it. I mean it's not like I quick silvered, then stood in the road waiting for a car to come hit me."
The Official was tired of fighting with them. "Just go." He waved them away.
Hobbes got up and walked out of the office.
Darien sat. Hobbes had deliberately put his crutches out of his reach. He sighed. "Uh, Eberts can you hand me..."
Eberts gave Darien his crutches and as he walked out he heard the faint sound of snickering behind him.
He was not surprised to see Hobbes standing next to the door looking extremely smug. "Funny Hobbes. Real funny."
Hobbes smirked.
Darien looked at him. "What are you, a six year old? Let's go to the Keep while were here, I'm almost due for a shot." As they walked Darien thought up ways of revenge.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey Claire." Darien said as they walked into the lab.
"How is your leg Darien?" she asked looking up from her paperwork.
"Ah, I can't complain. Well, yeah I can but I don't fell like it." He eased into the chair.
Hobbes came to take his crutches.
"Oh, no you don't. They are fine right here."
Hobbes smiled and shrugged.
"I'm almost full Claire."
"No. You are good for at least another day."
"Come on. I don't want to have to come back tomorrow."
"Darien I will not risk you building up a tolerance.
"Fine," he said, seeing he wouldn't win this argument.
"Did you hear about our latest case?" Hobbes asked.
"What? The Official's putting you on a case with a broken leg?"
"No," replied Darien. "I am the case."
Hobbes chimed in. "Yeah, some terrorist group wants to steal the gland."
"Again?" Claire looked from Darien to Hobbes.
They shrugged.
"So what is the official doing about it?"
"The usual, twenty-four hour watch, Hobbes never leaving my side." Darien explained.
"You two will want to kill each other before this is over," she said.
Darien suddenly rem4embered his date with Alex. "Aw, Crap."
"What?" Claire and Hobbes asked together.
"I have a date tonight."
"Well I guess you're gonna have company." Hobbes said.
"Well can't you sit at a different table or something?"
"What? By myself? No way."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Darien was sitting in a booth with Alex. Hobbes sat not far away at a table with Claire. It had taken a lot of begging and pleading, but Claire finally agreed to come.
Darien and Alex were in the middle of a great conversation when the waiter brought their food.
Darien picked up his burger. "What the..."
"What is it?" Alex asked.
Darien looked at her. "Nothing." He stared back at the folded piece of paper that was under his burger. Written on it was the word 'Shh!' Darien glanced at Hobbes. It would be just like him to do something like this.
He picked up the piece of paper when Alex wasn't looking and unfolded it under the table. His eyes widened as he read.
*We have a gun aimed at the girl's head. There's also one aimed at your partner and the doctor.*
Darien looked around but saw no one. He read on.
*Get up and come to the bathroom. Don't let your partner see you and don't talk to anyone or all three will die. Bring the note with you. If you do exactly what we say we won't hurt any of them. Go invisible and we won't hesitate to kill them.*
Darien looked up, shocked.
"What's wrong Darien?" Alex asked.
Darien swallowed and shook his head. He glanced at Hobbes, who was engrossed in a conversation with Claire. He discreetly grabbed his crutches and started towards the bathroom.
"Darien?" Alex asked. He didn't turn around, just kept walking.
He walked into the bathroom. A dark haired man with a large nose pointed a gun at him.
"Mr. Fawkes very good. You follow instructions well."
"Yeah, well it's not hard to do when you threaten to kill my friends."
"Well Agent Hobbes will soon realize you are gone so let's get a move on. Let me see the note."
Darien pulled the note out of his pocket and showed it to him.
"Very good now take off your tracking device."
Darien looked at him in surprise.
"Well, go ahead."
Darien took the device out of his pocket and set it on the sink.
"Now," the man said still pointing a gun at him. "Out the window."
As he walked toward the window Darien quick silvered the note. He set it discreetly next to the bug. Then he clumsily climbed out the window with his crutches.
Claire had set his leg and put a cast on it.
"Hey Fawkes."
Darien glanced at Hobbes, then closed his eyes again.
"How're ya feeling?"
"How do you think?"
"Ah ha! He spoke!"
Darien hadn't said anything since apologizing to Alex.
"What happened up there man?" Hobbes only knew part of the story.
"I really don't want to talk about it Hobbes."
"C'mon Fawkes."
Darien opened his eyes. "You want to know what happened? I almost killed her. She was just trying to help me. Did you see her Hobbes? She couldn't even look at me."
"Do you know what she told me Fawkes? You gave her the gun after you went crazy. You told her to shoot you after you went crazy."
"So?"
"So, that means you didn't want to kill her even when you were nutso."
"Yes I did. I could feel it Hobbes. Everything in me was telling me to wrap my hands around her throat."
"Not everything my friend. Something in you made you give her that gun."
Darien looked at him. He knew Hobbes was right but he couldn't get the look on Alex's face out of his mind. Fear. She had looked at him in total fear.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
4 Days Later:
Alex had no idea what she was doing. She had called the Department of Fish and Game. She had had no idea how secret that Department was. It took a lot of questions before she could find out where Darien worked. But she was here now.
Alex stood outside, her hand on the door handle, debating what to do. Then she lost her nerve. She turned to leave.
There was Darien and his partner, walking toward the door. Darien was on crutches. His partner looked like he was trying to carry on a conversation even though Darien wasn't actively participating.
She was trapped. Alex watched as they came closer to the door. She stood out
of the way hoping they wouldn't notice her.
Darien stood aside as his partner opened the door for him. Alex watched as he looked around. His eyes fell on her.
He was startled when he saw her. Darien tried to take a step back, but being on crutches he almost fell over. She watched as his partner caught him and steadied him.
"Whoa there Fawkes. What are you doing?" He stopped as he followed Darien's gaze and saw her.
There was a long silence. Darien broke it. "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
Darien looked at his partner, who caught on. "Say no more, I'm gone." He walked into the building.
Darien looked at her waiting for her to say something.
"So what exactly happened up there, Darien?"
"I tried to tell you. I wanted you to lock me up."
"I know but..." she trailed off.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"I know."
They stood in silence.
"So," she started, "How do you go invisible?"
Darien smiled. "Do you remember that gland I told you about?"
"You mean the one that does nothing?" she teased.
"That's the one."
Hobbes stuck his head out of the door. "Fawkes the fat man wants to see us."
Darien looked at Alex. "How about having dinner with me tonight? I'll tell you all about it."
Alex smiled at him. All her fear was gone. "Okay."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It was the first day Darien had been to the Agency since Claire set his leg. He hadn't talked to Hobbes since then either.
"Hobbes, I was wondering," he said as they walked. "How did you find me."
"Bobby Hobbes can find anything my friend."
"Right, okay. You who couldn't find your car keys this morning."
"Hey I found them."
"After I told you to check your shirt pocket."
"I don't usually put them in there."
Darien shook his head. "So, how did you do it?"
"I don't know. I just got out of the car and put them there."
"Hobbes."
"What?"
"How did you find me?" Darien said it slowly to make sure he understood."
"Oh. Well I found your cell phone in the road, so I figured you were close. Then this bum came out of the woods. I asked him if he had seen the guy who owned the cell phone. He told me you got in a car with a lady and drove
north. I made some cars and it turned out the only house up there was the one you were at."
"Well. Thanks Hobbes."
"No problem for Bobby Hobbes."
"Don't make me bring up the time you could find your sunglasses and they were on top of your head."
"Funny Mr. Oneleg."
"Watch it. If I kick you with this cast it'll hurt."
"I'd like to see you try."
Darien was tempted but they were at the Official's office.
Hobbes opened the door and they walked in. The Official was sitting at his desk. "Hello boys."
Darien was curious to find out why he was called in . Surprisingly The Official had given him a week off to recuperate.
"So what's up big man?" Hobbes asked.
"Yeah what's so important that you need me in here with a broken leg?" Darien chimed in.
"Well," The Official started as Hobbes sat down. "We've come across a group...sit down agent Fawkes."
Darien was still standing. He was trying to figure out a way to sit down without looking like a complete idiot. "Hobbes can ya help me out here?"
Hobbes was sitting down looking extremely amused.
"Hobbes!" barked The Official.
Hobbes got up reluctantly and helped Darien into the chair.
Darien glared at him as Hobbes settled himself again.
The Official cleared his throat. "As I was saying, we've come across a terrorist group who has targeted a new...weapon."
"What kind of weapon?" Darien interrupted.
"Well as a matter of fact," The Official continued. "It's you."
"Me?"
Eberts explained. "Well in a manner of speaking. They don't really want you. They want the gland."
"Well of course. It wouldn't be a normal week if somebody didn't want to harvest the gland." Darien said sarcastically.
"We're going to put on you. Agent Hobbes you will stay will him at all times."
Hobbes nodded.
"Ya know, I'm really getting tired of this. How'd they find out about the gland anyway?" Darien said.
"You're getting tired of this? I'm the one who always has to save your sorry butt." Hobbes complained.
"Hey, look man I didn't-"
"You know how many times you'd be dead-"
"At least I can find my car keys."
"I found you didn't I?"
"Because some guy saw me."
"Enough!" The Official's voice stopped their argument. They sat silently, glaring at each other.
The Official shook his head, then went on. "Fawkes you sure chose a bad time to break your leg."
Darien looked at him. "Well I didn't exactly choose to break it. I mean it's not like I quick silvered, then stood in the road waiting for a car to come hit me."
The Official was tired of fighting with them. "Just go." He waved them away.
Hobbes got up and walked out of the office.
Darien sat. Hobbes had deliberately put his crutches out of his reach. He sighed. "Uh, Eberts can you hand me..."
Eberts gave Darien his crutches and as he walked out he heard the faint sound of snickering behind him.
He was not surprised to see Hobbes standing next to the door looking extremely smug. "Funny Hobbes. Real funny."
Hobbes smirked.
Darien looked at him. "What are you, a six year old? Let's go to the Keep while were here, I'm almost due for a shot." As they walked Darien thought up ways of revenge.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"Hey Claire." Darien said as they walked into the lab.
"How is your leg Darien?" she asked looking up from her paperwork.
"Ah, I can't complain. Well, yeah I can but I don't fell like it." He eased into the chair.
Hobbes came to take his crutches.
"Oh, no you don't. They are fine right here."
Hobbes smiled and shrugged.
"I'm almost full Claire."
"No. You are good for at least another day."
"Come on. I don't want to have to come back tomorrow."
"Darien I will not risk you building up a tolerance.
"Fine," he said, seeing he wouldn't win this argument.
"Did you hear about our latest case?" Hobbes asked.
"What? The Official's putting you on a case with a broken leg?"
"No," replied Darien. "I am the case."
Hobbes chimed in. "Yeah, some terrorist group wants to steal the gland."
"Again?" Claire looked from Darien to Hobbes.
They shrugged.
"So what is the official doing about it?"
"The usual, twenty-four hour watch, Hobbes never leaving my side." Darien explained.
"You two will want to kill each other before this is over," she said.
Darien suddenly rem4embered his date with Alex. "Aw, Crap."
"What?" Claire and Hobbes asked together.
"I have a date tonight."
"Well I guess you're gonna have company." Hobbes said.
"Well can't you sit at a different table or something?"
"What? By myself? No way."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Darien was sitting in a booth with Alex. Hobbes sat not far away at a table with Claire. It had taken a lot of begging and pleading, but Claire finally agreed to come.
Darien and Alex were in the middle of a great conversation when the waiter brought their food.
Darien picked up his burger. "What the..."
"What is it?" Alex asked.
Darien looked at her. "Nothing." He stared back at the folded piece of paper that was under his burger. Written on it was the word 'Shh!' Darien glanced at Hobbes. It would be just like him to do something like this.
He picked up the piece of paper when Alex wasn't looking and unfolded it under the table. His eyes widened as he read.
*We have a gun aimed at the girl's head. There's also one aimed at your partner and the doctor.*
Darien looked around but saw no one. He read on.
*Get up and come to the bathroom. Don't let your partner see you and don't talk to anyone or all three will die. Bring the note with you. If you do exactly what we say we won't hurt any of them. Go invisible and we won't hesitate to kill them.*
Darien looked up, shocked.
"What's wrong Darien?" Alex asked.
Darien swallowed and shook his head. He glanced at Hobbes, who was engrossed in a conversation with Claire. He discreetly grabbed his crutches and started towards the bathroom.
"Darien?" Alex asked. He didn't turn around, just kept walking.
He walked into the bathroom. A dark haired man with a large nose pointed a gun at him.
"Mr. Fawkes very good. You follow instructions well."
"Yeah, well it's not hard to do when you threaten to kill my friends."
"Well Agent Hobbes will soon realize you are gone so let's get a move on. Let me see the note."
Darien pulled the note out of his pocket and showed it to him.
"Very good now take off your tracking device."
Darien looked at him in surprise.
"Well, go ahead."
Darien took the device out of his pocket and set it on the sink.
"Now," the man said still pointing a gun at him. "Out the window."
As he walked toward the window Darien quick silvered the note. He set it discreetly next to the bug. Then he clumsily climbed out the window with his crutches.