See first part for all the disclaimers and the rest of the stuff. Oh yeah, get your ropes ready...hehehe *evil grin*

Gone Fishing 4/9

For the rest of the day, Hobbes had kept himself busy interviewing the other campers. He wasn't any closer to finding any answers as the day drew to an end. Hobbes returned in time to have some leftovers from the night before, "Why is it that food seems to taste better the day after?"

"That is the great cooking mystery. Speaking of mysteries, find out anything today?"

"No, nothing at all, some think it was a bear that drug you away. They don't buy the Bigfoot theory and no one knows what happened to the footprints."

"I'm telling you Hobbes, drop it. We leave in the morning anyway. Lets leave the bears, deer, mountain lions and whatever else is here alone."

"Yeah, you're right. Look what happened the last time we tried to bag us a Bigfoot."

"Yeah, I ended up in a tree hanging upside down, with a horny Bigfoot breathing down my neck."

"Don't forget about Larry." Hobbes picked up his dishes and helped Darien clean up.

"How could I forget about Larry?"

"Hey, I did meet some nice chicks a couple of cabins down. Do we really have to leave tomorrow?"

"Hobbes, I don't believe you. You were the one saying, `Oh we have to get Fawkes out of here.'" Darien said, mimicking Hobbes.

Hobbes looked at him through squinted eyes as he turned his head away from Darien. "I don't talk like that."

"Yes. You do. Have you listened to yourself? Okay, look, do you want to stay or not?" There were times when Hobbes could really get under Darien's skin and this was one of those times.

"Well, I" Hobbes really wanted to stay, but he didn't want to endanger his partner either.

"Hobbes, it's either yes or no." Darien put his hands on his hips and tilted his head the way he always did when he was irritated.

"Okay, okay. Stop looking at me like that. We stay, but you don't go anywhere near those woods with out me."

"Fine by me, you do care don't you?" Darien went to give Hobbes a hug when someone knocked on their door.

"Grand Central Station around here. More people have knocked on this door than at my apartment." Darien went to open the door, expecting to see Ann.

"Fawkes, no one knocks at your door. They bust it down or walk right in." Hobbes wiped his hands off and sat down on the couch by the fireplace.

"You should know." Darien growled back.

Darien was surprised to see two pretty girls standing on the front porch. "Hi, uh, can I help you?"

"We're looking for Bobby."

"I'm not surprised." He invited them in. They were happy to see Hobbes.

"Ladies, how are you tonight? Care to go for a walk?"

"Hobbes, uh" Darien smiled at him.

"Oh, I'm so rude. Linda and Tammy, this is my partner Darien Fawkes."

"Partner?" Tammy asked with a frown.

"Oh, no, I see partner as in `partner'. No, we're not that kind of `partners'." Hobbes was looking for some help from Darien, who wasn't catching on very fast at the moment, Hobbes glared at him and that got his attention.

"We're government agents."

"Fawkes, can I talk to you for a moment?" Hobbes grabbed his arm, "We're not supposed to be telling them that."

"Why not? Hobbes, the agent thing is more impressive then that textile line you use. Besides, with you asking all the questions don't they already know?"

"No, they didn't."

"Well, now they know. So, go for it and have fun. Chicks love it." Darien patted him on the back and headed up stairs.

"Isn't your partner going to join us?" Linda asked.

Hobbes took each girl in his hand and headed out the door, "No, he's not on the market anymore ladies, but I am." Hobbes did love Claire, but he did have that policy to adhere by.

Darien got himself ready for his meeting with Ann. He practiced everything he was going to say. Finally, after about the ninth take, he shrugged his shoulders, "To heck with it Darien, just go with the flow." He said to himself as he headed down the stairs and out the front door.

Darien sat down on the lawn chair, waiting for Ann. He looked at his watch and still had a few minutes before 9:00. He stared up at the stars when he heard someone coming.

He got up off the chair and watched as Richard came around the corner. "Oh, hi Richard. How's it going?"

"Fine, Darien. Just wanted to come by and see how you're feeling."

"I'm doing better, strange thing last night huh?"

"I have to tell you, it scared me to death. When Bobby and I were in those woods and we heard you scream, it sent shivers up my spine. I've never heard anyone scream like that before." Richard held his hands in his pockets and stared off into the woods.

Darien could only guess that Richard was still shaken up by the events of last night. "A lot of excitement for someone who sells medical equipment, guess you're not used to this sort of thing."

"No, I'm not, but I'm finding you're line of work very dangerous. I have more respect now for federal agents and law enforcement. Those forest rangers went right in there."

Darien shrugged his shoulders and patted him on the back, "So did you man, so did You'. You went in there looking for me and I appreciate that."

Richard turned to face him and straightened his posture, "Hey, no problem. Wait until the guys at the office hear about this!" He headed towards his cabin and gave Darien a wave, "Thanks for the fun."

Darien smiled and waved back, "No problem. Glad you enjoyed it. Boy, Jacobs, you have no idea what fun is." Darien sat back down on the chair and waited for Ann. It was now about seven minutes past nine. He checked his tattoo; there were now only four green segments left. He would ask Hobbes to give him his shot after his talk with Ann.

As he got up to check to see if Ann was coming, he felt a sharp pain in his back. "Ow, the big ones are out tonight." He quickly realized it wasn't a bug. Dizziness set in quickly and he started to stumble over the lawn furniture. He tried to yell out for help, but nothing came out of his mouth as he hit the ground.

Two silhouettes appeared looming over his unconscious frame, "Thank you for helping us, Fawkes."

TBC...