Disclaimer: As chapter one

Notes:  It's official; I'm obsessed with fan fiction.  If I'm not writing it or reading it, I'm thinking about it.  I've got one more Relic Hunter story to post tomorrow and then it's going to be it for a while.  Maybe. 

I promise I will finish this one as soon as I can, but I need to take time to do the millions of things I've been neglecting since I started writing.

Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed, and even if you didn't review thank you for reading it.

Okay, on with the story.

CHAPTER EIGHT

It took them 4 hours to get from the airport to the hotel and by that time nearly everybody was too tired to stay up and talk for long.  After a quick meal from room service, everybody decided it was time for bed.

Preston had arranged a double room for himself and Nigel and a room each for Sydney, Claudia and Jenny.  He exchanged amused looks with Claudia when Syd grabbed Nigel's hand and practically dragged him into the bedroom with her.  Jenny quietly said goodnight and went to her own room, leaving just Preston and Claudia in the sitting room, still chatting.

"So," he said, nodding towards Sydney's room.  "How long has that been going on?"

"I don't think anything is going on.  At least, not yet anyway." She said with a mischievous smile.  "For some reason, Syd can't seem to sleep unless Nigel's with her.  Even when she's awake she gets edgy if he's out of her sight for more than a few minutes."

"But they are in love, right?"

"Oh yeah!  It's kind of funny really.  They're fighting it every step of the way, but they're definitely starting to realise something that I've, and I assume you've, known for a long time.  You should have seen her on the plane.  Nigel fell asleep just after take-off and this stewardess came over to see if she could get anything for anybody.  She tried to tuck the blanket around Nigel and Syd actually slapped her hands away!  It was so funny; she was glaring at this poor woman as if to say, "Back of lady, he's taken".  I had to try not to laugh, she looked so protective."

Preston chuckled at the mental image and then sighed as he remembered why they were all together.  "Do you really think he's till alive?"

"I don't know, but I guess tomorrow we start finding out."

They sat in silence for a while, each just thinking their own thoughts.  Eventually, Claudia stood up.  "Well, I'm kinda beat.  I'm just gonna check on Jenny, then I'm going to bed."  She glanced towards Syd's door.  "Do you think I should check on Syd?"

"I wouldn't bother.  She'd got Podge, so I don't think she needs anybody else."

Claudia smiled.  "You're probably right.  Goodnight Preston.  I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight Claudia, sleep tight."  He sighed as he went to his own room.  "Brother mine," he thought.  "You're a very lucky man to have three such wonderful women in your life."

They all woke late the next morning and chatted over a leisurely breakfast.  Nigel was a bit embarrassed about spending the night in Syd's room at first, but when he realised that nobody cared he soon relaxed.

Once they had all finished eating, they got down to business.

"I think the first thing we should do is Nigel and I go to the company dad was working for.  Preston, can you, Claudia and Jenny go to the authorities and find out as much information about the accident as you can?"  She looked around the table.  Everyone nodded except for Jenny, who was just staring into her empty coffee cup.

"Jenny?" she asked.  "Is that okay with you?"

"I guess, but I was hoping we could stick together."

Sydney sighed.  "I know," she said gently.  "I was too.  But I did some thinking last night.  As Dad's fiancée, the authorities are more likely to talk to you than they are to either Preston or Claudia.  And as his daughter, the company Dad was working for would probably be more likely to co-operate with me than with Nigel.  That's why I think it would be better if we split up for now."

Jenny smiled.  "Okay, that makes sense.  So everybody should meet back here later on and we'll work out the next step."  She got up to go to her room.  "Besides," she said just as she closed her bedroom door.  "I know how much you hate to be separated from Nigel."

She was still chuckling at the expression on Syd's face when they all left the suite ten minutes later.

TBC

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