Author's Note: Chapter Five arrives, sorry it took so long, midterms and life in general got in the way. Old characters, new characters, and a tiny bit more on the Bobby and Nina variant. Enjoy.
Chapter Five: Same Bad Guys, New Good Guy
Darien and Claire were reluctant to return to San Diego after two glorious weeks in Hawaii. It was the first vacation either had had in two years and it was with each other. What could be better? On the last day, Saturday, they decided to simply spend it in their hotel suite with each other, alone.
When they did return on Sunday night Nina was watching TV in the living room. She has stayed to take care of the house while they were gone.
"Hello Nina." Said Claire, as Darien continued down the hall to put down their luggage.
"How was everything while we were gone?"
"Fine, everything was fine."
Claire nodded and headed back to the bedroom, where Darien was dumping out suitcases.
"Darien, what are you doing?"
Darien paused and looked at the pile of clothes on the bed. "Unpacking?" he volunteered innocently.
Claire was quiet for a moment and then stifled a giggle.
"Darien, it's late. Just throw me my pajamas and toothbrush and we'll put stuff away tomorrow."
Darien picked up the pile and put it on the floor, separating Claire's pajamas as he did so. He also grabbed his pajama pants and followed Claire into the bathroom.
They changed and crawled into bed, settling in next to each other and fell asleep.
****
When Darien and Claire returned to the Agency on Tuesday, the Official had been nice enough to give a day to unpack and recuperate, Darien had found Bobby in the garage tinkering with the van.
"Hey! Hobbesy, I'm home." Darien said cheerfully.
Bobby looked up at the sound of his voice, "Hey, hey, if isn't my newlywed partner Fawkes. How are you and the little woman?"
"I don't think I'd call Claire that Hobbes. She'd probably inflict some damage."
"You're probably right." Said Bobby agreeing.
"Welcome back Agent Fawkes." Said another familiar voice.
Darien looked around to see a slightly greasy Eberts holding a random part of the van.
"I've been showing Eberts the finer points of an oil change." Said Bobby.
"Ah, I see." Replied Darien has he watched Eberts put the part down on the counter and leave to garage.
"So, how was the honeymoon?"
"Hawaii is wonderful, it was beautiful."
"You mean the pair of you actually left the hotel room?"
"Is that all you think about Hobbes?" quipped Darien.
"No, not all. However, I took your advice, there's words I never thought I'd hear myself say, and asked Nina out."
"And how did that go?"
"She's wonderful Fawkes. She's like Claire but I don't know, different. I'm seeing her again tonight."
"Good for you partner."
They continued catching up with each other at the same time Claire had returned to her lab. The Keep looked the same as always and as she was booting up her computer she heard the door slide open, and saw a cleaner Eberts walk in.
"Oh, hello Albert. How are you?"
"I'm well Ms. Rose, or is it Ms. Fawkes now?"
"Rose. I'm keeping my last name." Claire said with a smile.
"Ah, I see. I fed your animals while you were away like you asked. They all seem to be fine."
"Thank you Albert."
Eberts nodded and left the Keep.
Claire continued surveying her lab, checking files and odd scraps of paper that littered her desk. Finding everything as is should be she started on her most pressing task at the moment, making more counteragent. Besides the emergency dose in the fridge at home, cleverly hidden in a container marked 'crab', she had given Darien the last dose half way through their honeymoon.
Bobby had finished the oil change and he and Darien went up to the Official's office to see what the up coming days held for them. When they got there the Official was busy reading what appeared to be a top security letter from the CIA.
"Hello 'fish." Said Darien.
"How many times have I told you not to call me 'fish?" replied the Official.
"Let's see sir, that's 23 now I think. Does that sound right Hobbes?"
"Yeah, 23 or 24 sound about right."
After receiving a withering stare from the Official they stopped.
"So, what's on the agenda for the week." Asked Darien.
"Chrysalis movement has been detected in New Mexico, as Agent Hobbes already knows." started the Official nodding towards Bobby, "Agents Hobbes and Monroe have been keeping an eye on them. We also have a new Agent coming in, temporary lone from the CIA." He said indicating the letter. "Another agency beside ourselves has finally stumbled onto Chrysalis."
"Ok, so what this new agent for?" asked Bobby, this was news to him.
"Agent," the Official paused while looking up the name, "Williams has been assigned by the CIA to investigate Chrysalis's recent activities. He was then transferred to us because we have the most data and experience with them. He should be arriving sometime today." The Official finished, as there was a knock on the door.
"Enter." Barked the Official.
An African-American man between the ages of Darien and Bobby walked in. He was about Bobby's height and build, but a little leaner, reminiscent of a short Darien. He had an aura of someone who was confident and knew how to get what he wanted.
"Agent Williams reporting for duty sir." He said sharply.
"Yes. Agent Williams I'd like you to meet Agent Fawkes and Agent Hobbes. You will be working with them on the Chrysalis investigation."
Agent Williams nodded and shook hands with Darien and Bobby, who in turn nodded back.
"Sir," said Williams, "I was told this agency was allowed to keep this investigation because of the QS-9300, or 'Invisible Man' project. What may I ask is the QS-9300 project?"
"Ah, our finest accomplishment." Said the Official. "Darien, would you care to demonstrate?"
"Hmm, demonstrate. Do you mean like this sir?" he asked as he struck a pose and shimmered out of view.
Williams remained both expressionless and speechless as Darien performed his Saran-Wrap act.
"That was incredible." Said Williams, who remained expressionless.
"Yeah, it's pretty cool." Said Darien agreeing nonchalantly.
There was another knock at the door.
"Enter." Said the Official once again.
Alex walked in the door and was immediately sized up by Williams.
"Ah, Agent Monroe, this is our new agent from the CIA. Agent Williams, this is Alex Monroe, Agent Monroe, this is Agent Williams." Said the Official.
"Pleased to meet you." Said Alex as she shook his Williams' hand.
"Agent Monroe is our Five-Star-A agent who is also accomplished in CTS." Said the Official proudly.
"So you're Agent Monroe, I've heard about you. They say you're good."
"Well, I always thought so." Replied Alex.
William's nodded.
"There are two other main employees of which you should meet Williams. Eberts!" Barked the Official.
Eberts entered from the side room door, now immaculately clean.
"Mr. Williams sir." Said Eberts nodding.
"You also need to meet the Keeper." Said the Official.
"Oh, I'll call her." Said Darien, ignoring the scrutiny from Williams.
Darien picked up the phone and dialed the Keep.
"Claire, honey? The Official wants you in his office; we have a new agent he wants to introduce you to. He's going to help us investigate Chrysalis."
Williams didn't show it on his face but he wondered about the conversation that he could only hear one side of. It seemed rather personal.
"She'll be right up." Announced Darien.
"Agent Fawkes and Ms. Rose were recently married." Explained Eberts.
"Shut up Eberts." Snapped the Official.
"Yes sir."
They waited for about 45 seconds until there was a third knock on the office door, at which Darien opened the door to allow the Keeper in.
"Claire this is Agent Williams, assigned to us from the CIA. Agent Williams this is Claire Rose, our top scientist on the QS-9300 project, Darien's Keeper, and recently his new wife." Introduced the Official.
Williams nodded.
"Ok, now that we've all been introduced, what's the game plan?" asked Bobby.
"You Robert will continue to be partnered with Agent Fawkes. Agent Monroe will be partnered with Agent Williams." Explained Eberts. "We have new intelligence on the Chrysalis installation in New Mexico. It's too early for an offensive to be enacted, so we are simply keeping up surveillance for now."
"Great. When do we leave?" asked Darien.
"Not for a couple of days, Darien." Responded the Official. "I want to bring Williams up to date on past Chrysalis activities."
"Ok, so are we done then?" asked Darien again hopefully.
"You may leave." Said the Official.
Darien started to leave with Bobby but Claire called after them.
"Darien, wait. I have a batch of counteragent mixing. How's your tattoo?"
Darien looked at his wrist, only two segments red.
"I'm good Claire."
"Ok, just making sure." She said catching up to the pair. "You take care of my Darien." She instructed Bobby, and gave Darien a quick kiss.
"Yes ma'am." Said Bobby and they continued down the hall to prepare for the upcoming surveillance mission.
****
The morning of the second observation mission Bobby tracked down Williams.
"Hey, Williams." Said Bobby as he walked up to the new agent. "How long have you been with the CIA?"
"About 12 years."
"Hmm, ever been with any other agencies?"
"Short stint in the Secret Service and a brief interlude with the FBI, but mainly the CIA. Why?"
"Oh, just curious. I'm a multiple agency man myself."
Williams nodded and continued on his way towards Alex's office.
Bobby stood in the hallway. There was something about this Agent Williams that was familiar, but he couldn't put his finger on it. 'Where in the world do I know him from?' thought Bobby, 'He obviously doesn't recognize me.' Bobby made himself quit thinking about it; maybe he needed his meds adjusted, maybe he should talk to Claire.
Later that day when Darien and Bobby were carefully surveying Chrysalis, with the help of Quicksilver, they received a frantic call from Alex.
"Hey guys!" came her puzzled, whispered voice over the radio, "Williams just disappeared."
"Do you mean like 'he left' disappeared, or like 'Fawkes' disappeared?" Asked Bobby.
"I'm not sure. We were on the perimeter and he was in front of me. He went around a corner and I followed, but he was gone."
"Hmm, well I think he can take care of himself, but we'll keep our eyes open." Said Bobby.
"Copy." Was Alex's reply.
Bobby and Darien didn't know what Williams was up to, but they decided to leave him be. He was CIA and plenty capable of taking care of himself or anyone who got in his way.
****
Darien, Bobby, and Alex returned to the Agency later that day Williams was already there waiting in the Official's office.
"Where the hell did you go today?" fumed Alex.
"I'm sorry Ms. Monroe, I'm not used to working with a partner. I won't do it again."
Alex only looked semi appeased.
"I'm sure any slight you incurred, Agent Monroe, was not intentional." Said the Official.
Alex sat down ignoring both individuals. Darien and Bobby also drew up chairs.
"So did you get anything useful Agent Williams?" asked Bobby.
"I was able to uncover some documents that were probably intended to be shredded at one point but weren't. They show indications of Chrysalis movement north." Williams reported.
"So what are we doing from here?" asked Darien.
"We are going to use our new intelligence to track Chrysalis movement. They haven't done anything illegal that we know of so we still can't enact an offensive." Explained Eberts.
The four agents nodded and looked thoughtful, well Darien looked bored, but he was trying to look thoughtful.
****
After planning the Agency's next moves against Chrysalis, Darien and Claire had gone home. It was about 8pm that evening that Bobby called.
"Hey Fawkes, how are you?"
"Good Hobbes."
"Umm, can I ask you a question partner?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"I swear I know Williams from somewhere, but I just can't place him. Do you think you could ask Claire to run his name through the data base and see what comes up?"
Darien quickly questioned Claire and she agreed.
"Sure Hobbes, Claire says she'll do it first thing tomorrow morning."
"Thanks partner."
"Anytime, good-night."
"Night Fawkes."
"Does that seem more paranoid that usual for Hobbes?" Darien asked Claire.
"I don't know Darien. Williams isn't used to the way the Agency works but I really can't understand how he forgot he was working with a partner." Claire responded.
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
With that ending their conversation they settled in for some more X-Files reruns.
****
Williams was at his apartment sorting through the documentation he had "discovered" at the Chrysalis compound. 'These fools are more gullible that I thought they would be.' He thought. He carefully placed the papers in a file and left them on his desk. They were about as valuable as grocery store receipts. He looked at the clock, 10:19. If he hurried he would still be on time for his meeting with Stark.