Benjamin Franklin once said, "Hide not your talents; they for use were made". Well, what happens when your talent happens to be hiding? I had always loved hide and go seek as a kid, and used to think it would be a lot easier to do if I were invisible. Go figure. Who knew it could actually happen


Chapter 1: I Had A Bad Day Again


Darien Fawkes walked into his apartment and slammed the door shut. He threw his keys on the counter and let out a long groan.

"I hate my life," he sighed to his pet rat "Darien".

Darien (the human) was having a bad day. After an all-night binge on Sunday to relieve some "work-related" stress, he had arrived late to work with a hangover that felt almost as bad as a quicksilver madness headache.


"You need to learn some responsibility Fawkes!" the Official had lectured.


Darien hadn't remembered much else of what the Official had said. He just recalled it sounding like one of his uncle's all too familiar gripes about his "habits". Hobbes hadn't been any help, either. Bobby had planned this little party for the two of them. It was just something to celebrate their anniversary of working together. Darien had gotten side-tracked, though, and had completely forgotten about it. Therefore, on Monday, Hobbes had hardly said two words to Darien. He had just wandered around the office mumbling something about "not bailing on your partner".


Fawkes was just glad to be home. He grabbed a beer and the remote and plopped down on the couch. Later that night he woke up with an all-too familiar pain in shooting through his neck. He glanced at his wrist before grabbing the back of his neck.


"Aw, crap".


Chapter 2: How To Get Rid of Monotony

Next Morning...The Agency 8am


"Fawkes better not be late again this morning Hobbes. If he is you two are both going to suffer the consequences".


'The 'Fish is certainly in a demanding mood today' though Bobby Hobbes on this ordinary Tuesday.


"Sir, I have nothing to do with him coming in late almost every morning. Just because he's a little tardy doesn't mean he need me to babysit him," challenged Hobbes.


"It doesn't matter. You are his partner and what he does reflects on you also. So I suggest, for both of your benefits, that you get hime to come in on time."


"Yes, sir".


Hobbes really didn't feel like fighting with the Official this early in the morning. He was still upset at Fawkes about blowing off the night he took so long to plan.( Hobbes had really wanted to go back to Chinatown and talk to some more ladies about his "textile business".) Plus, he hadn't gotten any sleep last night, which made this Tuesday morning feel more like a Monday.


The Keeper however was in an excellent mood.


"Good morning everyone!"


She entered the office wearing her lab coat and holding a clipboard. She had watched a marathon of her favorite show, "Prey", last night and, unlike Hobbes, had gotten plenty of sleep. A person capable of being happy at 8am really annoyed Hobbes.


"How can you be so cheerful at this hour," teased Hobbes. "It's really not natural. You'll never catch Bobby Hobbes being pleasant in the morning".


"I can't help how you feel Bobby, but when I'm in a good mood I like to show it. Now where's Darien? He's due for his shot today...Well, there goes my mood."


The Keeper's train of thought was suddenly changed as Alex Monroe entered the room. Monroe was an excellent agent, but she sometimes underestimated the ability of her co-workers. They did not appreciate this and were always reluctant to have her come along on cases.


"Good morning Claire, Hobbes, sir. Hello Mr. Eberts. Where's Fawkes? Not here yet again. Uh, typical."


Everyone (except Eberts) just grumbled at her greeting. The day was starting off bad again and no one was in the mood to argue with Monroe.


"Eberts, start the debriefing for the next assignment. Fawkes will just have to catch up when he gets here".


"Yes sir".


Eberts started handing out the folders on the new case.


"We have reports of what could be terrorist activity in the northern part of San Diego. Several items..."


Just then Eberts was suddenly interuppted by loud music that came blaring over all the loud speakers, which they, even the Official, forgot existed.


"Time, is on my side. Yes it is!"

"Time, is on my side. Yes it is!"


"Eberts, what the hell is that?" cried the Official.


After the first chorus a certain familiar, yet eerily calm voice addressed the very attentive listeners.


"Good morning everyone. I hope you are all having a nice day so far. I certainly am. However, I thought, since life around ere is usually so... monotonous, I thought we'd play a little game. I was thinking hide and go seek. Doesn't that sound like fun? Now here is the object of the game- you have to find yours truly, Darien Fawkes, and catch me. If you can do that you win! But, if I find you I'll probably do something you wouldn't want me to do. Oh, and you have to find me before I have to legally change my eye color form brown to silver. Sound easy enough? Let the games begin!"


Meanwhile in the Official's office, everything the agents were thinking could be summed up by Hobbes in two words:


"Aw, crap."