Giving him time off for once, the Official told Darien to take a vacation and Darien took his advice. Instead of a vacation, though, Darien stayed home and mainly watched T.V. for a week. He'd gone out and rented every sci-fi movie Nick had ever said she'd liked and a couple she didn't like but watched anyway because, "the graphics kick ass!"
So a six days and God only knew how many sci-fi and fantasy movies later, Darien got up and went back to work. Once in the Agency, his first stop was by the Keep for a check-up. Claire gave him a stamp of relatively good health and his counteragent shot.
"Uh, Keep…is there more green this time or am I finally just going completely nuts?" Darien questioned.
"No, there's more green this time but it's still not perfect. We got the research off of her computer and I'm working on a new counteragent." Darien's good mood dimmed slightly at the mention of Dominique. "I'm also working on your cure but that's our little secret." Claire whispered and untied the rubber tubing from Darien's bicep. "Off you go…the Official would like to see you." Darien hopped out of the chair and practically bounced out of the room and down the hall.
"Are you lost?" An all-together too familiar voice chimed from behind him. He didn't even turn around.
"What?" Darien turned around slowly to see Dominique taking off her glasses. Her face hadn't completely healed but only someone paying very close attention to her features could see evidence of the bruising that had completely covered her face just a week or so before. Regardless, the sight of her took Darien's breath away.
"Well, you don't look like the rest of this crowd so either you lost or just a sloppy agent." Dominique put her glasses in her pocket.
"What are you doing here?" Darien carefully walked towards her.
"Ah, Fawkes I see you've met our newest staff member. Her research is proving to be very interesting. She even has a design for cutting edge nanotechnology." The Official's voice boomed proudly.
"Yes sir she's very talented." Dominique blushed. The Official blinked at the play on words but said nothing as he walked off, leaving Dominique and Darien alone in the hall.
"So you work here now? Since when?" Darien walked past her to lean on the doorframe behind her.
"Three days ago. Claire gave the Official my message and he offered me a job so I could continue my research with Claire's help. How could I say no?" She leaned on the doorframe across from Darien.
"Well, well, well…Computer programming, biotechnology, biomechanics…what don't you do?"
Dominique slid up next to Darien's body and plastered her small frame against his larger one. "Oh wouldn't you like to know."
The End