~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Part 4
Alyx snuggled in closer to the warm body next to her and sighed. It was nice having someone to
sleep with. Someone who hadn't thrown her in the bed the night before and given her another
reminder of proper behavior and who was in charge. Someone who was apparently enjoying her
presence, based on what his slow-moving hand was caressing. She moaned low in her throat, enjoying
the sensation.
That woke her completely, and she was out of the bed and across the room in record time. "Ah,
hell," she muttered into the still dark room. Somewhere beyond the heavily curtained windows the
sun was up, but she was betting the clouds were too thick to really let the light through. Rubbing
her hand over her face, she had to wonder what the hell she'd been thinking last night. As she
watched, Darien grumbled in his sleep and shifted, as if looking for her. He finally settled down
with a discontented look on his face.
For a moment she smiled and moved back towards the bed, wanting to curl back up with him. She took
two steps, and then froze. Her mind roiled in confusion. Images from her still-too-recent past, of
Darien holding her, of her wanting to kill Menkin to protect Bobby. Too many images. Too quickly.
She groaned and bolted from the room.
She found herself standing in the huge lounge area off of the lobby. There were fifteen-foot-high
windows showing a beautiful winter scene, as snow was lightly falling already. There was a
monstrous fireplace with a fire burning away merrily in it. Off to one side was another
entertainment center, currently showing the local weather. Alyx didn't really see any of it; she
just stood there shaking for a long moment, not sure what to do.
Now was neither the time nor the place to go wonky, as Hobbes would say. Breathing in deeply, she
moved over to one side in the dimly lit room and took up the starting position. Katas were always
good for clearing the mind, and at his hour it wasn't like anyone would care. Katas and then some
meditation. Anything. She would try anything to settle her mind, before she did something
exceptionally stupid, like going to bed with Darien for real, or perhaps frying the next person she
really got pissed at.
She pushed those uncomfortable thoughts away and instead allowed her mind to go over the
impressions she had picked up the night before. Ignoring the obvious sexual overtones that had been
directed at her, she probed at what remained. Distrust, fear, some anticipation of events to come,
recognition. Recognition? She carefully went over it again, and yes, it was still there. It wasn't
recognition of her specifically, but it was directed at their group. This could be a problem.
As she returned to her starting position, she heard someone clear his throat nearby. She'd known he
was there, but since he had not posed a direct threat, she had ignored him. Opening her eyes, she
turned to look at the man. He was one of the hotel staff and must have noticed her when she came
down here.
"Miss O'Connor, I thought you might like some coffee." He set down a tray with both coffee and a
basket of croissants on a nearby table.
A bit surprised, she moved into a slightly defensive stance. "Thank you."
He gave a quick nod and then walked away.
Alyx wasn't quite sure what to make of the situation but, deciding that coffee was never a bad
thing, she moved over to the chairs and sat down. She was already feeling cold again, so she
grabbed another of those artfully draped blankets to wrap about herself, turned up the volume on
the television, and sipped at the coffee. She had about fifteen minutes of peace before she sensed
someone behind her. She ignored him at first, in hopes he'd go away, but finally gave in and spoke
up without turning to look at him.
"Do you need another demonstration?"
He carefully made his way into her line of sight. He now had an odd-looking cast on his hand, which
made him look like he was permanently flipping the bird. "No. In fact you were quite impressive." He
moved to sit across from her. "There aren't many woman like you in the business. Hell, there aren't
many women in the business, period. I..." He actually dropped his head and looked embarrassed,
which surprised Alyx, considering she knew what he'd intended to do to her. "You could have killed
me, and would have been justified in doing so. I owe you a debt." He got to his feet and held out
his hand for her to shake.
Alyx didn't trust him for a second, so took the time to give him a light scan. She was amazed to
discover he was sincere. So it was with only the slightest bit of hesitation that she shook his
hand. "I will claim that debt one day," she said to him.
As he released her hand, he grinned. "I hope so."
After he left, Alyx shook her head and decided to ask Bobby about this. Maybe there was some code
for bodyguards she didn't know. With a sigh, she focused back on the television and sipped her
coffee.
Darien was jerked awake from a very nice dream involving Alyx, a back rub, and warm oil, by the
bellowing of his partner.
"Fawkes, what the hell are you doing in the kid's bed? Didn't we have this discussion once
before?" Hobbes was pissed. Bad enough they were stuck sharing the same room when he knew that
Fawkes had a thing for her, but you'd think he'd be able to restrain himself for once.
"We didn't do anything," Darien stated as he cracked his eyes open to look at Hobbes. Based on that
look, the lecture was going to be long and arduous. He tried to forestall it. "Hobbes, she was
freezing her ass off and couldn't sleep. I was trying to get her warm and, like an idiot, fell
asleep instead of getting up once she was."
Hobbes eyed Darien carefully. Some days he was better at lying than others, but maybe he was
telling the truth this time. The kid had been all but chattering her teeth during most of the
previous evening, and he'd seen her waddling around the room in a blanket, so there was at least
some truth in what Fawkes was saying. "No excuse. You do not belong in her bed. For any reason."
For a moment Darien was unaccountably angry. It was none of Hobbes' business who he slept with, or
when. Or, for that matter, if he had done anything more than 'sleep.' Darien turned the situation
around on him. "What if it had been Claire? Would you have left her there awake and shivering?"
"Damn it, Fawkes. I have some honor. I'm not about to seduce her because I have no control over my
hormones," Hobbes snarled at him, offended that he'd mentioned Claire at all in this situation.
Darien was stunned for all of a instant. Hobbes -- Bobby -- thought that little of him? After all
this time? He had thought they knew each other better by now. "I have no honor, huh?" He climbed
off the bed and stalked towards his 'partner.' "Nice to know how you really feel about me,
partner. If I were really like that, do you think anything would have stopped me? That I would have
waited one moment longer than necessary?" He had backed Hobbes into the wall and dropped his voice
to a bare whisper. "I deserve better than that from you."
Hobbes watched Darien turn away and stalk towards the door. "Fawkes, damn it." Hobbes followed and
attempted to stop him. "Fawkes, you have to leave her alone."
"It's none of your business. For once, just stay the hell out of my life." Darien snapped. He had
really hoped his days of having Hobbes looking over his shoulder were over, yet here he was getting
a lecture on proper behavior. Was the man never going to understand that he was not some
straight-laced, by-the-book agent, and never would be? He was not some trained animal that rolled
over on command; he had a mind of his own and would do what he wanted, when he wanted.
It was a hurriedly stifled sob that got their attention. While they had been screaming and fuming,
Alyx had come in. She'd been assaulted by both their heated words and their raging emotions, and it
made her feel guilty. "Don't do this, please."
"Alyx, it doesn't concern you." Darien tried to keep his voice in control, but he was still angry.
"Yeah, kid. This is between me and Fawkes, here," Hobbes added, not wanting to be outmaneuvered.
"Bullshit!" Alyx snapped. "It's all about me, and has been for weeks -- hell, months. I'm sorry. I
never wanted any part of this shit, but I'm stuck with it." She took a a deep breath, then
continued in a softer voice. "And it's screwing up the two of you, now. I'll meet Claire when she
comes in and leave on the plane." She walked between them and into the bedroom.
Darien and Hobbes glared at each other for a long moment, and much to both their surprise it was
Hobbes who broke first. He turned away and went after her. She had moved quickly; her bags were
already on the bed and she was well into packing them.
"Kid." She ignored him and continued to get her stuff. "Damn it, kid." He moved over to her and
grabbed her arm, which she shook off with a snarl. He stopped her again, spinning her about so that
she was forced to look at him. For one instant, he got a glimpse of just how upset she was. He was
sure she was about to fling him into the nearest wall, but it didn't happen. Instead, she just
stood, shaking in place. Even through her shirt, he could feel how chilled she was. At least Fawkes
hadn't been lying about that.
"Kid, it has nothing to do with you." he said quietly.
"Bullshit," she repeated, though without the force of before. "Do you really think I can't tell?"
She tapped the side of her head. "I'm closest to the two of you. We work together. I'm always aware
of you; I have to be. I... I won't be the cause of this." She pulled away from him as his hold
loosened on its own. "You don't fight over Claire this way."
"Alyx," Darien said from the doorway. He was still angry at Hobbes, but also knew she was right. To
a degree anyway. He could tease Hobbes about Claire because he knew there was very little chance
Bobby would ever do anything about his feelings. He could not say the same about himself and his
feelings for Alyx. Hell, if she gave him the slightest hint that she was willing to take that step
beyond friendship, he would be have her in bed in a heartbeat. He could argue that they were not
the same as Bobby and Claire, that they came from the outside, had a different perspective. Could
explain that the Official intended for this to happen, for he and Alyx to become attached to one
another. But it didn't matter, even if it was all true. He and Bobby had to work this out, somehow,
and not lose their new partner in the process. "Alyx, we'll work it out."
Alyx shook her head, not believing him. She could feel the anger seething below the surface of both
of them. Even with her shields reinforced against it, it still got in. It surprised her that she
could not block out Bobby's emotions; he must be at least partially broadcasting at her because she
was involved. "I don't want to be responsible for screwing up something that took nearly two years
to build. The 'Fish doesn't really need me and Darien to work the same cases. I'll go back and tell
him that. I should have ages ago." She stood there shivering, her body deciding to be cold again.
"No, kid," Hobbes said putting force behind his words. "I can't let you leave. We need you here. On
this job." Hobbes moved closer to her, but stayed just out of reach. "If Claire doesn't show, I
need you and your skills to find the intel we need."
"You managed just fine before I came," she pointed out.
"Not stuff like this," Darien said, moving into the room. "There is no way we could pull this off
without you. Even with Claire."
She looked from one man to the other and closed her eyes. She was so tired of being confused, of
being bounced from one emotion to the other, of wanting to strike out at people who hurt her or her
friends.
Hobbes looked over at Darien, who hadn't any more idea than he what to do. Hobbes' cell phone rang
then and he moved to retrieve it from the bureau. "Help her, Fawkes."
Darien went over to the bed, retrieved the blanket she'd been wearing yesterday, and wrapped her in
it. Glancing in Hobbes' direction, he saw he was deep in conversation, most likely with the
Official, so he steered Alyx out of the room and got her to sit on the sofa. Squatting in front of
her, he took one of her hands and tried to convince it to warm up. He had the oddest feeling that
it was more than just not being used to the cold that was causing this. "Talk to me."
She sighed and looked at him. "What do you want to hear? I'll be glad to tell you."
He shook his head. "What's between me and Hobbes doesn't involve you." When she opened her mouth to
speak, he stopped her with a look. "Even if it is about you, it's something we have to work out.
It's not your fault, really."
"Stop trying to cheer me up, and stop lying to me," Alyx said to him.
He looked at those amazing silver eyes of hers and decided then and there that he was not going to
lose her, even if she never became anything more than a friend and partner. Somehow he had to keep
both of them. "Do you like Bobby?"
Alyx wasn't sure where he was going with this, but answered. "Of course. I never hated him, just
the situation and myself."
"How about the Keep, Claire?"
"Yeah, I like her. I wish I had more time to spend with her; she's a very smart person." It was
more than that, but it was enough of an explanation for him.
He nodded. "And how about me? Do you like me?" One of his hands came up to rest against her cheek
and she closed her eyes.
"I... you know I do," she whispered. That was putting it mildly.
"Then don't bail on us. Not now." So maybe he'd been hanging out with Bobby too much, but it was
true enough. You don't bail on your partner, or your friends.
"He's right, kid, especially now," Hobbes said from the doorway. "That was the Chief. Claire will
be arriving in a few hours. Fawkes, you will meet her. I've already arranged a ride with the
staff." He turned to Alyx. "Kid, we've got meetings to make. Spying to do. You in?"
"Bobby, three months ago you wanted no part of me. I'm offering to walk away, and now you want to
stop me. Excuse me if I have a hard time believing it," Alyx said in a tired voice.
"Kid, I was wrong," Hobbes admitted. He could be a bit stubborn at times, but once he'd decided to
accept her, he had never regretted it, and he was continually being impressed by her. He looked
from her to Fawkes, who had hastily dropped his hand from her face, and realized she was good for
him. He didn't seem to be spending nearly as much time worrying about getting away from the Agency.
Yeah, there were days he bitched and moaned about being a lab rat, and some days he was even
justified, but now... now he seemed to worry more about 'them.' How 'they' were lab rats. How
'they' were treated. The same things he did with Hobbes when they complained about the lousy hours
and the lousy pay. Only she and Fawkes got together, though rarely, after hours. He knew Fawkes
went over to her place a couple nights a week, but he never stayed long and never stayed over. She
had never joined the rest of them for dinner, a night out, or anything, and he realized that might
be because they had never asked her.
"Can you work with me on this?"
"If my teeth will stop chattering long enough. Gods, I hate being cold." Alyx shivered as they both
laughed. "Just stop fighting about this, please."
"Kid..."
"Dare and I are friends, and he was being kind last night, nothing more." Alyx faced him, daring
him to challenge her.
Hobbes shook his head and let it drop. It was hard to argue with her when she was almost as blue as
the pajamas she was wearing. "We'll deal with it later, all right?" She nodded. "Fawkes, crank the
heat. I'm going to shower." He looked at the two of them and sighed. "Get her warm." He backed
into the bedroom and shut the door. If he didn't see it, they weren't doing anything wrong.
Darien looked back at Alyx, who was trying not to shiver. He knew one way to get her warm, or so he
hoped. Taking her face in his hands again, he leaned in and kissed her. She resisted at first, but
without pushing him away. When his tongue traced across her lips, requesting access, she groaned
deep in her throat and opened up to him. He could taste the coffee she'd been drinking as his
tongue fought a losing battle with hers. When he pulled away at last, he was breathless and trying
to keep from quicksilvering.
"We can't do this anymore, Dare," she said softly, and that was more than enough to solve his
almost-problem. "I just can't." She had moved close to him, her face resting lightly alongside his
so that only he could hear her. "My reasons still haven't changed and you know it."
Darien closed his eyes and slid his arms about her for a minute before releasing her. "Is that the
only reason. The 'Fish?"
She shook her head. "I have a past, Darien, just as you do. I'm still trying to deal with mine."
She smiled at him. "I'm still trying to figure out a few things about myself, and it wouldn't be
fair to either of us..." She trailed off, hoping he'd understand.
"The ole 'just be friends' line," Darien said with a grin.
But she took his commentary seriously. "One thing I can can safely say is that we'll never be
'just' friends." Now it was her turn to kiss him lightly, before giving him a wry smile. Then she
slid one of her cold feet under his shirt and placed it squarely on his stomach.
"Ah, c...c...crap," he stuttered as he tried not to fall backwards. "That is cruel."
Alyx laughed. She hoped that they would be able to solve this problem -- all of them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Are you sure they can land in this?" To Darien, it was a blizzard outside; he didn't see a whole
lot of snow in San Diego. The snow was falling steadily and the wipers kept up their slow motion
even though the limo was parked. He rubbed his arms as if chilled, though the interior was more
than warm enough.
"Mr. Harding, look at the snow. It's falling straight down, and we can still see the entire air
strip. If the wind was blowing there would be a problem, but like this it'll be pretty easy." The
driver turned back to look at him, making it plain he'd dealt with conditions like this before.
There was even a plow giving the landing strip the once-over. "In a few hours though, nothing will
be moving. This storm is supposed to get bad and then sit here for a few days. Great for the
resorts, but awful for those of us who have to drive in it."
Darien nodded in agreement and was about to say something else when the radio mounted on the dash
crackled to life. "Plunkett, they're coming in now. ETA seven minutes."
The driver, Plunkett, responded. "Roger. We'll meet them at the gate."
"Gate?" Darien asked, noting there was nothing but the airstrip and one lonely hangar, which was
used to refuel the planes, make any repairs, and store that plow.
Plunkett laughed. "That's just what we call the pick up spot. As soon as the plane has taxied over
by the hangar, I'll drive over and we'll get the good doctor."
It was just a few minutes later that the plane appeared out of the snow filled sky and landed with
no problems Darien could see. It slowed and came back in their direction. As soon as it had stopped
Plunkett put the car in gear and drove over, parking as near as was reasonable. Both men got out of
the car and walked over to the plane just as the door opened and the stairs came down. Claire was
handed out by a gentleman on the plane and was at Darien's side in seconds.
"Hey, doc," Darien said as he escorted her and the oversized briefcase she was carrying towards the
waiting limousine.
"Mr. Harding," Claire said very precisely, partially to remind him and partially to let him know
that she knew what was going on.
She turned around as the trunk as well as her two suitcases were carried off the plane. "Careful
with that trunk, gentlemen."
"Yes, ma'am," one of them said, but she watched them carefully until it was secured in the trunk of
the limousine.
"Can we get in the car now doc?" Darien asked. He was starting to feel as cold as Alyx out here,
and he couldn't help but notice the wind starting to pick up.
"Yes, of course." Claire said. She slipped into the vehicle, followed by Darien.
Plunkett was behind the wheel a few minutes later and they were on the way back to the lodge. "Do
you wish privacy, sir?"
It took Darien a second to realize he was the one being called 'sir'. "Ummm, yeah, if you would."
"Of course, sir." The glass partition between the front and rear seats slid upward, giving them at
least the illusion of privacy.
Darien leaned in close to Claire and slid one hand up into her hair. She tried to pull away. "Fake
it, Keep. I don't exactly trust our driver," he whispered.
"Ah, yes," she whispered back, and slid one of her hands up along his chest. "I'm Doctor Regina
Curtis, by the way."
"Hmmm. I was wondering," Darien commented as he pulled back and gave her a light kiss, which she
returned with obvious discomfort.
"And how often do you 'fake' stuff like this?" she asked as she backed away slightly.
"Oh, Alyx and I have used the 'make-out ploy,' as we call it, a few times. You should see her and
Hobbes do this. It's amusing." Darien pulled her close so that she was leaning against his
shoulder. She was more than close enough to hear what he was saying, with little chance of their
being overheard unless a bug was planted right next to them. He casually slid his right hand into
her lap and turned it palm up.
Claire, being the smart lady that she was, took his hand into her own and, after some creative
finger work, got a good look at his monitor. "Have you been being a bad boy again?"
"When am I not?" Darien countered in the same teasing tone. "Had to deal with an unexpected cold
spell."
"I think I might have something to warm you up." She set his hand back down but kept their fingers
intertwined. "How is that side of yours?"
"Been better. Been worse. I'll let you strip me to look at it later." He was trying not to laugh at
the somewhat stunned look on her face. "And I can guarantee I won't be the only one happy to see
you, doc."
"You..." Claire sputtered. "Behave."
"But how often will we get a chance in the back of a limo?" Darien commented, right up against her
ear, and she shoved him away with a laugh.
Darien hung his head and did the puppy dog eyes at her.
"If you can behave, I'll give you a very special treat later." Claire was torn between annoyance
and delight at the pure silliness of this. She knew the situation was serious, but with Darien it
was difficult to not find it a least a little silly.
For an instant he was tempted to ask for something involving a massage, but decided that would be
going a bit too far in this case. "I suppose I can wait. The tub will easily fit the two of us."
Claire raised an eyebrow. "I prefer showers."
"I know," Darien mumbled without thinking.
"What did you say?" Claire sounded more than a little suspicious. She knew of at least one
occasion when he had followed her around, and she had no idea exactly how much he had learned from
that adventure.
"I said, 'I thought so'." He sighed with relief when she let it go at that. He pulled her close
and they did the cuddle thing until they arrived back at the lodge.
They went through the process of getting her checked into their room and provided with an
information packet and badge for the convention. Then, with Grant leading the way, they made their
way to the room. Once they had banished Grant with a hefty tip, Claire waved for Darien to sit
down. Opening the briefcase, she withdrew a vial of counteragent and a syringe and began the steps
necessary to give him his shot.
"So, care to explain this cold spell that cost you two segments?" Claire asked as she put away the
equipment. She stored the remaining counteragent in the fridge in a special locked container; no
need for nosy maids or overeager invisible agents to get access. "I know you were not supposed to
do anything that required the gland before I arrived."
"Uh, no. I don't think I want to." When she gave him the evil 'I'm the Keeper' glare, he tossed
out a generic explanation. "It wasn't planned, if you know what I mean."
Claire sighed and looked down at him. "Off with that shirt. I need to check that wound of yours."
As he complied, she softly asked, "Was it Alyx by any chance?"
Darien froze in an awkward position with the T-shirt stuck covering his face. It took him a moments
struggle to get moving again, and in the end Claire was forced to help. Once the shirt was actually
off, he found his voice. "Why would you think that?"
Claire had put on a pair of latex gloves and was removing the bandage. She paused to get him to
shift more sideways so that she could examine the entire length of the cut. She looked up at him;
holding his arm stiffly out of the way and a touch of embarrassment on his face. She knew the
embarrassment wasn't due to his current half-naked condition. She'd seen him in far less clothing
over the many months they had worked together, and not once had she managed to garner a reaction
beyond irritated discomfort. They had become friends, to a degree, but nothing beyond that, for
which she was eminently thankful in many ways. Yes, she was the Keeper and all that implied, but
she was still glad he had not become attracted to her that way.
"Darien, I've seen the way you look at her sometimes, and you've admitted in the past that you like
her. I seriously doubt that has changed."
Darien shook his head slowly. "Doesn't matter. You'd think I'd have control by now," he said at a
soft growl.
Claire suppressed a chuckle and forced herself to examine the wound until she was sure she had
control of her voice. "Darien, it's not like you've had much of a chance to be in this situation."
"Claire, I really don't want to talk about this. It's handled." Darien didn't need her getting a
cheap thrill about his control issues.
She realized it was somewhat embarrassing for him, but she was his doctor as well as his Keeper,
and any information about how the gland functioned could be useful for her research. "Darien..."
"Drop it, Keep," he snapped, having had enough. "Did I mangle it, or what?"
She carefully cleaned the surface and began to apply a fresh covering bandage. "No. It's healing
quite well. How's the pain? Stiffness?"
"Sore, dull-ache sore, and yeah, it's stiff. Not too bad, though," he answered as she moved away,
allowing him to lower his arm. "Alyx has been keeping an eye on it."
Claire peeled off the gloves and moved to dispose of them. "Well, I did ask her to."
Darien nearly got stuck again, this time while trying to put his shirt back on. "Ummm, huh?"
"Alyx has been taking all those classes, as well as doing field work with with you guys, you know
that right?" Darien got the shirt over his head and wiggled his remaining arm in before nodding.
"Because of the special circumstances, I did her first aid training. She learns very fast. Ran her
through the six-week course in ten days."
Darien got to his feet, not surprised that Alyx had learned that fast. He'd watched her over the
months and seeing how fast she went from knowing next to nothing to being practically Bobby's equal
scared him. He'd been forced to learn the hard way, tossed into the pool headfirst without knowing a
single thing. Somehow he had learned to swim, though some days it was all he could do to tread
water. He knew from late-night conversation with Alyx that she was taking as many as four different
courses at a time, along with whatever work the Official tossed at her.
Hobbes had gotten pissed a couple of times when she had showed up late for a mission, but soon
dropped the matter. At a guess, the 'Fish had explained the situation or, more likely, told Hobbes
to shut up and soldier. Darien had to admit that Alyx had a point when she wondered why she was
getting the extra training and Darien was still having to fumble along. Maybe he should back Hobbes
into a corner sometime and get some answers.
"Come on, Doc, let me show you the place." He grabbed one of her bags and carried it into the
bedroom.
"We're sharing a bedroom?" Her tone made it obvious she was not thrilled with this.
"Yeah, I can't remember the last time we've haven't shared a room on an overnight. At least since
Alyx showed he hasn't been making us sleep in the van." He set the suitcase down on the bed she
and Alyx would be sharing. "Well, except that one time, but that wasn't a planned overnight."
"He bunks the three of you together all the time?" Claire seemed to be having a hard time with
this.
"Always. No big deal. We are partners, and the Official is a cheap bastard." Darien wasn't sure he
understood why she was having a problem with this. "Besides, on this trip we're supposed to be Mr.
Battaglia's bodyguards. Hard to do that from another room."
Claire shook her head and began to unpack. "I'm going to have to talk with him when we get back."
"Claire, it's not a big deal, really," Darien tried to reassure her. Even if things weren't perfect
off-duty between Alyx and Bobby, on a job they kept their problems to themselves and got the job
done. The blow-up earlier had been an aberration. They might sometimes disagree about methods to
complete a mission, but they rarely argued about personal stuff.
"Actually, Darien, it is a big deal. Even if you are partners. Think about what Alyx can do, what
she is. There are times when she simply needs privacy, to get away from people. If he's forcing you
to all stay together regularly..." She trailed off. "It's no wonder she comes back so tense and
off-kilter."
Darien understood the 'need to get away' part, but not what it had to do with bunking together.
Unless... Ah, crap. He remembered something Alyx said this morning about being aware of both him
and Hobbes all the time because she worked with them. He sighed -- there wasn't anything he could
do about it now -- and helped Claire get unpacked. They needed to get downstairs and find Hobbes,
to let him know the real work could begin.