Title; Slender Fingers
Warnings; Language, dark themes, OOC, OCs, suicide attempts, abuse, death,
in parts a wet, topless Brennan... Yummy.....
Disclaimer; Sadly, I own nothing. I just like to play with Mutant X, and
promise to return them in good condition when I'm done...
Key; "Blah"-talking, 'Blah'-thinking, ~ ~-change of scene, * *-shift
between Brennan's present and his past.
* * * * * * * *
A/N : I would like to point out right here and now. Any and all romance anyone might see between Brennan and ANY of my OCs WHATSOEVER is all in your mind. It is Bren/Shal ALL THE WAY BABY!!!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As you might have guessed, Karlie had re-discovered Brennan's talents. And had eventually gotten him to accept her job offer. He had fought tooth and nail, insisting that he would rather not have major felonies on his record at eighteen. And yet, here he was, only a year and a half later, getting ready to rob an auction house with unbelievably tight security.
He frowned as Karlie checked her gun and loaded it. She noticed his displeased look. "Look, love, I know you hate the things. But those guards at the auction house are going to be armed. You're going to want to be the same. You're not going to have backup when you're disarming the alarms. You should at least have it on you." She handed him a handgun. He paused before taking it. "If all goes to plan, you won't need it. If you do run into trouble, you'll probably only need it for scare anyways. Don't look so worried."
Brennan just nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. When Karlie wasn't looking he took the clip out of the gun. If he needed to defend himself, he would use his power. He would have to be careful. But he would rather stun then do permanent damage. He did a quick check of his other equipment. There was no telling; he might run into a system where he couldn't use his power to manipulate the electronics and bypass the system. He would need his tools then. He wasn't half bad at doing it the old fashioned way after all.
"I don't like the feel of this job, Karlie. It's dangerous, right down to our employer. I swear, if anyone gets hurt pulling this job for him, he'll pay. I don't care about his reputation. I'll take him down before he can blink," growled Brennan.
"I don't like it a whole bunch either, Brenny. But it's a lot of money. And I'm not about to turn it down just because the guy paying happens to be the slimiest man walking. Don't try anything. You're right, he's dangerous. He'd think no more of killing you than squashing a bug." Karlie tied her blonde hair away from her face in a tight ponytail. "You ready? Let's go."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"When are they gunna get here? They're late," growled Tony. [1]
"They're the best, they can be late if they want," drawled Cameron, examining his nails calmly. Both he and the third person of the team were completely unruffled. Tony was pacing around nervously, peering into the darkness in hope of seeing Brennan and Karlie emerge.
The third member, a burly man named Jack, glared at Tony. "Would you sit DOWN? You're making me dizzy. Karlie and Brennan will be along in their own due time. I take it you've never worked with them before?"
Tony shook his head. "And I don't see how they can be the best, anyways. Isn't this Mulwray guy really young? Like just nineteen or something?"
Cameron raised a perfectly shaped (possibly plucked) eyebrow. "Watch it, kid. You're not exactly a wizened old man you know. And from what I've seen, Mulwray could kick you scrawny ass from here to Timbuktu. To say nothing of what RIPAMSHAN will do to you if she catches you insulting him. Now THAT'S scary." Both Cameron and Jack shuddered visibly.
Jack grumbled, "It should really be against the law that those two can work together."
"Why?"
Jack and Cameron exchanged glances. "You'll see," they said together.
"See what?" chirped the overly-cheerful blonde hair that was Karlie. She had a scowling Brennan in tow.
"Ah. Ripamshan. Mulwray. Punctual as ever I see," remarked Cameron, his green eyes twinkling in amusement. He cast a wink at them and Brennan noted that he had obscenely long lashes. [2] Karlie and Brennan had worked with Cameron and Jack on several different occasions. The fact of it was the two men could not be more different. Cameron wasn't exactly feminine, but his features were almost elfin in their appearance. He was long and lanky, with long red hair and big green eyes. Jack on the other hand, was huge. Broad in the shoulders and chest, with short dark hair. He was handsome in a tough and rugged way. However different in appearance and personality, (which were even more contrasting than their looks) the two were best friends and roommates, and practically inseparable. Brennan was also pretty sure they were more than friends, but that was their business.
The third guy Brennan had never worked with before. He instantly analyzed him. Tall, lanky; probably quick. One look at his hands told Brennan that this guy would most defiantly make a sucky pick-pocket. He was nervous, twitchy, glancing around like he expected the boogie-man to jump out at him from the dark. His face reminded Brennan vaguely of a rat.
Brennan instantly didn't like this man.
"Stop scowling, moppet, your face'll get stuck like that," said Karlie, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Shut up. It's already stuck like this," he snapped back.
She cocked her head. "I don't know. I think if you tried hard enough you could crack a smile. But don't try it just now, Brenny, we don't want you hurting yourself right before a job, do we now, love?"
Brennan grit his teeth. "Quit it. You're wearing on my last nerve Karlie. I think I need a cigarette."
"You don't smoke," Karlie said, rolling her eyes.
"I'll start," he snapped, glaring at her.
"Karlie, can you annoy him later? We have a job to do, remember?" Jack interrupted.
"ME! What about HIM? He's been a total sour-puss all day, and I'VE had to put up with it. He's got a stick up his ass about this job, even more than usual." At Cameron's questioning look, she added, "He doesn't like the employer."
Cameron shrugged. "Can't fault him there. Guy's a creep if you ask me. But his money's as good as anyone else's. Now we gunna do this or what?"
Karlie grinned and tugged at her gloves. "Oh, yeah, we are SO gunna do this."
They were all on the roof of the auction house. Brennan moved towards their entrance; a skylight. The rat-faced Tony made a move to follow him, but was stopped by Jack. "Brennan's the alarm man," he rumbled.
"So?"
"SO, he won't work unless he's alone. He just won't. SO, leave him be," said Cameron, flipping his hair.
Brennan rolled his eyes and got out his tools. Not that he would need them, but better to make a show of using them. Then, carefully shielding what he was doing from the others, he took off his gloves. A quick shock, and, batta-bing, batta-boom, the lock was no longer armed. Times like these made the problems the powers caused almost worth it. He grinned in a feral way and packed up his tools. "Done!" he sang out. Ok, usually he would drag it out a little, make it more realistic, but he wanted to show off a little.
"That was faster than usual, moppet. Been practicing without us?" Karlie teased. Brennan just smirked. Karlie rolled her eyes and readied the cable. "I'll flay you alive if I hear you've been going out on jobs by yourself, understand?" she said, mock sternly. "Cameron, you in the harness yet?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm ready." He sighed. "I go in, take care of the cameras, blah, blah, blah. I know the drill." He wrinkled his nose. "I never get to do anything fun." Karlie, Brennan and Jack stood patiently, having endured this speech before. Cameron pouted at their indifference, and started lowering himself down. "I feel so 'Mission: Impossible' [3] right now..."
Karlie started humming the 'Mission: Impossible' theme, interrupting it with giggles every now and again. Both Brennan and Jack lifted their eyes to the Heavens, wondering WHY exactly these two were their best friends. Brennan massaged his temples. "Just contact us when the cameras are off, would you?"
"Yeah, I got that memo, Mulwray, thanks."
Cameron still grumbled to himself as he avoided a patrolling guard and used his copied key card to open the door to the camera room. "Boring, boring, boring. THIS wire to THAT one...I have to do the same thing EVERY time. Ok, and RECORD... You'd expect the life of a career criminal to be exciting, glamorous, but noooo...it's BORING. All right, and switch the tapes. TA- DAH! On a loop. And it was SO perilous, I might have broken a nail..."
"I take it that means you're done?" asked Brennan tiredly.
"Ranting or sabotaging the cameras?"
"Both."
"Oh. Yeah, I'm done."
"Fantastic. I'm so happy for you. We're coming in, then." Brennan adjusted his comm. and jumped through the skylight on his zip cord. Tony, Jack and Karlie all followed quickly.
As soon as they hit the ground they were off. A Hell of a lot of planning and surveillance meant they knew exactly when the guards changed shifts, their rotations, how long it took to make a round, EVERYTHING. Everything was about TIMING. Somewhere along the way, Cameron joined them. "When we get there, you'll have exactly four minutes, Mulwray. It's gunna be tight. Can you do it?"
"Plenty of time. I'll only need two. Three tops."
"Two? That's good, even for you Brenny. Are you sure?" asked Karlie, an eyebrow raised.
Before he could answer, however, a guard rounded the corner and he and the group all but ran into each other. Before the poor guard could even blink, Jack was on him and knocked him out with the butt of his gun. "What the Hell. He was early," Jack grumbled.
Brennan just shrugged and slipped into the room. Then he grinned. Lasers, heat sensors, voice, retina and fingerprint scanning, and then on the other side of the room, two key cards had to be inserted at the same time to open the door to the vaults, which had security in themselves. But that wasn't his problem. He just had to deal with everything leading UP to the vault. Like he'd said, three minutes, tops.
He began frying the security. It was too easy. Brennan had found out very early on his talent for manipulating electronics with his power. Not only could he short circuit them, he could override them and access them. Good as any keycard. In a matter of seconds most of the alarms were off. He gave his fingers a shake to loosen them up and shot electricity into the two card slots simultaneously. He grinned when the warning light flickered from red to green. He was in. He checked his watch. A minute and forty-five seconds. 'A new world record! And the crowd goes wild!'
With a proud smirk, he opened the door separating him from his teammates. "Done," he smirked. He bowed Tony in, smirk still playing on his lips. "The way is clear. I DO hope you're good. We don't exactly have time for a Jimmy Valentine."
Tony sent a glare his way, before running past. Karlie was looking at him suspiciously. She still thought he must be doing jobs on his own to get this good this fast. He had better not be doing side jobs without back-up, that was all she could say. A great way to get yourself killed, that was.
In any case, he was good, better than her even, and she was the best. Or at least she used to be. Now she was giving up the title to the moody teen. Not that she really minded. Brennan had skills she just couldn't touch. Skills he would have gotten eventually even if she hadn't trained him. And then she wouldn't have the most excellent advantage of having him on her team. Brennan kept glancing at the door, WILLING Tony to hurry up.
Karlie chuckled. "Chill, wonder boy. Not everyone does your perfect two minute jobs. Some of us actually need time." He just growled and she shrugged. "Besides, you gave him a two minute leeway, snuggle bunny."
"WHAT did you just call me?!" he snapped, eyes all but bugging out of his head. Cameron and Jack were all but rolling on the floor with laughter.
"Snuggle bunny. What? You don't like it?" She blinked innocently.
"Like Hell I do!"
"Honey Bear?"
Brennan sent her a withering look. If looks could kill, the coroner would have had to go into her dental records to identify the body. Jack and Cameron continued to snicker at the outraged look on Brennan's face. This was the scene Tony walked in on with the goods.
"Hey, guys, I-" he trailed off.
Jack and Cameron were practically holding each other up, they were laughing so hard. Brennan was opening and closing his fists, an enraged look on his face, and Karlie was saying, "No? Baby Cakes? Sugar Sweetie? Huh? How about- "
"Look! Tony's here!" Brennan said, a little too loudly. "Let's go!" He grabbed Karlie's hand and started dragging her off.
"But wait! I have lots more!" she yelped in protest.
"Oh, no you do not!"
Their bickering continued down the hall and Jack and Cameron followed, amused looks still on their faces. "Well," commented Tony, "those two certainly make an INTERESTING couple."
"COUPLE?" laughed Jack. "THOSE two? A COUPLE? They'd kill each other within a week. They're just friends."
"I've GOT it! Bitty baby kitty cat!" [4]
"Go. To. Hell."
"Well... most of the time," Cameron amended.
Karlie had gotten them in, Cameron had taken care of the cameras, Jack had taken out the guard, Brennan had disarmed the alarms and Tony had cracked the safe. All in all, the job got done. The easy way Brennan had taken care of the alarms shut Tony up, and made the job a Hell of a lot easier. The long time it had taken Tony to crack the safe had made Brennan nervous, but in the end Brennan decided it was all very anti-climactic. The job had been pulled off with barely a hitch. Which was just the way he liked them.
He cast a glance at the case that Karlie was now holding and gloating over. Jack and Cameron had each lit up a victory cigarette. All that fuss and no action. "Hello, little thing," whispered Karlie delightedly to the case. "Do you know how much lovely money you're going to make Mommy? Over a quarter of a million!" she squealed. "Maybe now you can move out of that crummy apartment, Brennan."
"I like my apartment," he said stubbornly. "Can we just make the drop? Center of the park right? I wanna get this over with. And I don't care HOW much the job's worth, I'm NEVER pulling another heist for this guy. The whole thing makes me nervous.
"Agreed," chimed Karlie, Jack and Cameron.
* * * * * * * * * *
Brennan was so lost in his thoughts and memories, perched on the railing of the bridge, that he didn't even notice the girl coming almost right next to him. "Hey!" she said, almost right in his ear.
"GAH!" Brennan almost jumped out of his skin. Unfortunately, this made him lose his balance and fall backwards into the stream.
"Oh, my God! Are you ok?" she asked, leaning over and peering at him concernedly.
Brennan looked up at her grumpily, completely soaked. "Just. Freaking. Peachy," he spit out. She only laughed at him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
[1] You know the Tony from the first episode The Shock of the New? And Deadly Desire? THAT Tony.
[2] Why IS it that MEN always get the LONGEST eyelashes?? Has anyone else noticed this??
[3] Just to be safe... I do not own Mission: Impossible, or the theme song.
[4] Yes, this is once again, based on a real conversation. This time between my brother and his girlfriend. Hehehehe... Now he gets really pissed whenever she calls him 'Kitty Cat'. So of course she does it all the time.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Rockergurl: Getting near the end now! One more chapter and the epilogue.
Kitta Cat: ::mutters:: Thank God...
Rockergurl: I heard that.
REVIEW RESPONSES: Only five this time, so sad.
QUEST: Pam, have we not HAD this conversation? It. Is. A. Brennan. Story. I'm SORRY, I suck at romance, you know I do. You KNOW I'm the ANGST queen. If you want romance talk to Lauren.
SOMEBODY: Maybe just a little torture. Killing off Brennan wouldn't be any fun, now would it?
EMMA0211: Yes. We are. Eventually.
PETITECAT: Well, you OBVIOUSLY don't have a protective mother hen kind of older sibling. Which, coincidently, is what I was going for in Karlie and Brennan's relationship. I, however, DO have a protective mother hen kind of older sibling, only it's a he. Karlie is based on me and him rolled into one, and her and Brennan's relationship is based on mine and my brother's. The way she ignores Brennan is mostly to annoy him and because she knows that she's doing what's best for him. Or something. @__@
SARGE: O__o; Riley, I (and consequently, mi otra mitad, por supuesto) will never get your taste in music.
* * * * * * * *
A/N : I would like to point out right here and now. Any and all romance anyone might see between Brennan and ANY of my OCs WHATSOEVER is all in your mind. It is Bren/Shal ALL THE WAY BABY!!!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
As you might have guessed, Karlie had re-discovered Brennan's talents. And had eventually gotten him to accept her job offer. He had fought tooth and nail, insisting that he would rather not have major felonies on his record at eighteen. And yet, here he was, only a year and a half later, getting ready to rob an auction house with unbelievably tight security.
He frowned as Karlie checked her gun and loaded it. She noticed his displeased look. "Look, love, I know you hate the things. But those guards at the auction house are going to be armed. You're going to want to be the same. You're not going to have backup when you're disarming the alarms. You should at least have it on you." She handed him a handgun. He paused before taking it. "If all goes to plan, you won't need it. If you do run into trouble, you'll probably only need it for scare anyways. Don't look so worried."
Brennan just nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. When Karlie wasn't looking he took the clip out of the gun. If he needed to defend himself, he would use his power. He would have to be careful. But he would rather stun then do permanent damage. He did a quick check of his other equipment. There was no telling; he might run into a system where he couldn't use his power to manipulate the electronics and bypass the system. He would need his tools then. He wasn't half bad at doing it the old fashioned way after all.
"I don't like the feel of this job, Karlie. It's dangerous, right down to our employer. I swear, if anyone gets hurt pulling this job for him, he'll pay. I don't care about his reputation. I'll take him down before he can blink," growled Brennan.
"I don't like it a whole bunch either, Brenny. But it's a lot of money. And I'm not about to turn it down just because the guy paying happens to be the slimiest man walking. Don't try anything. You're right, he's dangerous. He'd think no more of killing you than squashing a bug." Karlie tied her blonde hair away from her face in a tight ponytail. "You ready? Let's go."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"When are they gunna get here? They're late," growled Tony. [1]
"They're the best, they can be late if they want," drawled Cameron, examining his nails calmly. Both he and the third person of the team were completely unruffled. Tony was pacing around nervously, peering into the darkness in hope of seeing Brennan and Karlie emerge.
The third member, a burly man named Jack, glared at Tony. "Would you sit DOWN? You're making me dizzy. Karlie and Brennan will be along in their own due time. I take it you've never worked with them before?"
Tony shook his head. "And I don't see how they can be the best, anyways. Isn't this Mulwray guy really young? Like just nineteen or something?"
Cameron raised a perfectly shaped (possibly plucked) eyebrow. "Watch it, kid. You're not exactly a wizened old man you know. And from what I've seen, Mulwray could kick you scrawny ass from here to Timbuktu. To say nothing of what RIPAMSHAN will do to you if she catches you insulting him. Now THAT'S scary." Both Cameron and Jack shuddered visibly.
Jack grumbled, "It should really be against the law that those two can work together."
"Why?"
Jack and Cameron exchanged glances. "You'll see," they said together.
"See what?" chirped the overly-cheerful blonde hair that was Karlie. She had a scowling Brennan in tow.
"Ah. Ripamshan. Mulwray. Punctual as ever I see," remarked Cameron, his green eyes twinkling in amusement. He cast a wink at them and Brennan noted that he had obscenely long lashes. [2] Karlie and Brennan had worked with Cameron and Jack on several different occasions. The fact of it was the two men could not be more different. Cameron wasn't exactly feminine, but his features were almost elfin in their appearance. He was long and lanky, with long red hair and big green eyes. Jack on the other hand, was huge. Broad in the shoulders and chest, with short dark hair. He was handsome in a tough and rugged way. However different in appearance and personality, (which were even more contrasting than their looks) the two were best friends and roommates, and practically inseparable. Brennan was also pretty sure they were more than friends, but that was their business.
The third guy Brennan had never worked with before. He instantly analyzed him. Tall, lanky; probably quick. One look at his hands told Brennan that this guy would most defiantly make a sucky pick-pocket. He was nervous, twitchy, glancing around like he expected the boogie-man to jump out at him from the dark. His face reminded Brennan vaguely of a rat.
Brennan instantly didn't like this man.
"Stop scowling, moppet, your face'll get stuck like that," said Karlie, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Shut up. It's already stuck like this," he snapped back.
She cocked her head. "I don't know. I think if you tried hard enough you could crack a smile. But don't try it just now, Brenny, we don't want you hurting yourself right before a job, do we now, love?"
Brennan grit his teeth. "Quit it. You're wearing on my last nerve Karlie. I think I need a cigarette."
"You don't smoke," Karlie said, rolling her eyes.
"I'll start," he snapped, glaring at her.
"Karlie, can you annoy him later? We have a job to do, remember?" Jack interrupted.
"ME! What about HIM? He's been a total sour-puss all day, and I'VE had to put up with it. He's got a stick up his ass about this job, even more than usual." At Cameron's questioning look, she added, "He doesn't like the employer."
Cameron shrugged. "Can't fault him there. Guy's a creep if you ask me. But his money's as good as anyone else's. Now we gunna do this or what?"
Karlie grinned and tugged at her gloves. "Oh, yeah, we are SO gunna do this."
They were all on the roof of the auction house. Brennan moved towards their entrance; a skylight. The rat-faced Tony made a move to follow him, but was stopped by Jack. "Brennan's the alarm man," he rumbled.
"So?"
"SO, he won't work unless he's alone. He just won't. SO, leave him be," said Cameron, flipping his hair.
Brennan rolled his eyes and got out his tools. Not that he would need them, but better to make a show of using them. Then, carefully shielding what he was doing from the others, he took off his gloves. A quick shock, and, batta-bing, batta-boom, the lock was no longer armed. Times like these made the problems the powers caused almost worth it. He grinned in a feral way and packed up his tools. "Done!" he sang out. Ok, usually he would drag it out a little, make it more realistic, but he wanted to show off a little.
"That was faster than usual, moppet. Been practicing without us?" Karlie teased. Brennan just smirked. Karlie rolled her eyes and readied the cable. "I'll flay you alive if I hear you've been going out on jobs by yourself, understand?" she said, mock sternly. "Cameron, you in the harness yet?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm ready." He sighed. "I go in, take care of the cameras, blah, blah, blah. I know the drill." He wrinkled his nose. "I never get to do anything fun." Karlie, Brennan and Jack stood patiently, having endured this speech before. Cameron pouted at their indifference, and started lowering himself down. "I feel so 'Mission: Impossible' [3] right now..."
Karlie started humming the 'Mission: Impossible' theme, interrupting it with giggles every now and again. Both Brennan and Jack lifted their eyes to the Heavens, wondering WHY exactly these two were their best friends. Brennan massaged his temples. "Just contact us when the cameras are off, would you?"
"Yeah, I got that memo, Mulwray, thanks."
Cameron still grumbled to himself as he avoided a patrolling guard and used his copied key card to open the door to the camera room. "Boring, boring, boring. THIS wire to THAT one...I have to do the same thing EVERY time. Ok, and RECORD... You'd expect the life of a career criminal to be exciting, glamorous, but noooo...it's BORING. All right, and switch the tapes. TA- DAH! On a loop. And it was SO perilous, I might have broken a nail..."
"I take it that means you're done?" asked Brennan tiredly.
"Ranting or sabotaging the cameras?"
"Both."
"Oh. Yeah, I'm done."
"Fantastic. I'm so happy for you. We're coming in, then." Brennan adjusted his comm. and jumped through the skylight on his zip cord. Tony, Jack and Karlie all followed quickly.
As soon as they hit the ground they were off. A Hell of a lot of planning and surveillance meant they knew exactly when the guards changed shifts, their rotations, how long it took to make a round, EVERYTHING. Everything was about TIMING. Somewhere along the way, Cameron joined them. "When we get there, you'll have exactly four minutes, Mulwray. It's gunna be tight. Can you do it?"
"Plenty of time. I'll only need two. Three tops."
"Two? That's good, even for you Brenny. Are you sure?" asked Karlie, an eyebrow raised.
Before he could answer, however, a guard rounded the corner and he and the group all but ran into each other. Before the poor guard could even blink, Jack was on him and knocked him out with the butt of his gun. "What the Hell. He was early," Jack grumbled.
Brennan just shrugged and slipped into the room. Then he grinned. Lasers, heat sensors, voice, retina and fingerprint scanning, and then on the other side of the room, two key cards had to be inserted at the same time to open the door to the vaults, which had security in themselves. But that wasn't his problem. He just had to deal with everything leading UP to the vault. Like he'd said, three minutes, tops.
He began frying the security. It was too easy. Brennan had found out very early on his talent for manipulating electronics with his power. Not only could he short circuit them, he could override them and access them. Good as any keycard. In a matter of seconds most of the alarms were off. He gave his fingers a shake to loosen them up and shot electricity into the two card slots simultaneously. He grinned when the warning light flickered from red to green. He was in. He checked his watch. A minute and forty-five seconds. 'A new world record! And the crowd goes wild!'
With a proud smirk, he opened the door separating him from his teammates. "Done," he smirked. He bowed Tony in, smirk still playing on his lips. "The way is clear. I DO hope you're good. We don't exactly have time for a Jimmy Valentine."
Tony sent a glare his way, before running past. Karlie was looking at him suspiciously. She still thought he must be doing jobs on his own to get this good this fast. He had better not be doing side jobs without back-up, that was all she could say. A great way to get yourself killed, that was.
In any case, he was good, better than her even, and she was the best. Or at least she used to be. Now she was giving up the title to the moody teen. Not that she really minded. Brennan had skills she just couldn't touch. Skills he would have gotten eventually even if she hadn't trained him. And then she wouldn't have the most excellent advantage of having him on her team. Brennan kept glancing at the door, WILLING Tony to hurry up.
Karlie chuckled. "Chill, wonder boy. Not everyone does your perfect two minute jobs. Some of us actually need time." He just growled and she shrugged. "Besides, you gave him a two minute leeway, snuggle bunny."
"WHAT did you just call me?!" he snapped, eyes all but bugging out of his head. Cameron and Jack were all but rolling on the floor with laughter.
"Snuggle bunny. What? You don't like it?" She blinked innocently.
"Like Hell I do!"
"Honey Bear?"
Brennan sent her a withering look. If looks could kill, the coroner would have had to go into her dental records to identify the body. Jack and Cameron continued to snicker at the outraged look on Brennan's face. This was the scene Tony walked in on with the goods.
"Hey, guys, I-" he trailed off.
Jack and Cameron were practically holding each other up, they were laughing so hard. Brennan was opening and closing his fists, an enraged look on his face, and Karlie was saying, "No? Baby Cakes? Sugar Sweetie? Huh? How about- "
"Look! Tony's here!" Brennan said, a little too loudly. "Let's go!" He grabbed Karlie's hand and started dragging her off.
"But wait! I have lots more!" she yelped in protest.
"Oh, no you do not!"
Their bickering continued down the hall and Jack and Cameron followed, amused looks still on their faces. "Well," commented Tony, "those two certainly make an INTERESTING couple."
"COUPLE?" laughed Jack. "THOSE two? A COUPLE? They'd kill each other within a week. They're just friends."
"I've GOT it! Bitty baby kitty cat!" [4]
"Go. To. Hell."
"Well... most of the time," Cameron amended.
Karlie had gotten them in, Cameron had taken care of the cameras, Jack had taken out the guard, Brennan had disarmed the alarms and Tony had cracked the safe. All in all, the job got done. The easy way Brennan had taken care of the alarms shut Tony up, and made the job a Hell of a lot easier. The long time it had taken Tony to crack the safe had made Brennan nervous, but in the end Brennan decided it was all very anti-climactic. The job had been pulled off with barely a hitch. Which was just the way he liked them.
He cast a glance at the case that Karlie was now holding and gloating over. Jack and Cameron had each lit up a victory cigarette. All that fuss and no action. "Hello, little thing," whispered Karlie delightedly to the case. "Do you know how much lovely money you're going to make Mommy? Over a quarter of a million!" she squealed. "Maybe now you can move out of that crummy apartment, Brennan."
"I like my apartment," he said stubbornly. "Can we just make the drop? Center of the park right? I wanna get this over with. And I don't care HOW much the job's worth, I'm NEVER pulling another heist for this guy. The whole thing makes me nervous.
"Agreed," chimed Karlie, Jack and Cameron.
* * * * * * * * * *
Brennan was so lost in his thoughts and memories, perched on the railing of the bridge, that he didn't even notice the girl coming almost right next to him. "Hey!" she said, almost right in his ear.
"GAH!" Brennan almost jumped out of his skin. Unfortunately, this made him lose his balance and fall backwards into the stream.
"Oh, my God! Are you ok?" she asked, leaning over and peering at him concernedly.
Brennan looked up at her grumpily, completely soaked. "Just. Freaking. Peachy," he spit out. She only laughed at him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
[1] You know the Tony from the first episode The Shock of the New? And Deadly Desire? THAT Tony.
[2] Why IS it that MEN always get the LONGEST eyelashes?? Has anyone else noticed this??
[3] Just to be safe... I do not own Mission: Impossible, or the theme song.
[4] Yes, this is once again, based on a real conversation. This time between my brother and his girlfriend. Hehehehe... Now he gets really pissed whenever she calls him 'Kitty Cat'. So of course she does it all the time.
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Rockergurl: Getting near the end now! One more chapter and the epilogue.
Kitta Cat: ::mutters:: Thank God...
Rockergurl: I heard that.
REVIEW RESPONSES: Only five this time, so sad.
QUEST: Pam, have we not HAD this conversation? It. Is. A. Brennan. Story. I'm SORRY, I suck at romance, you know I do. You KNOW I'm the ANGST queen. If you want romance talk to Lauren.
SOMEBODY: Maybe just a little torture. Killing off Brennan wouldn't be any fun, now would it?
EMMA0211: Yes. We are. Eventually.
PETITECAT: Well, you OBVIOUSLY don't have a protective mother hen kind of older sibling. Which, coincidently, is what I was going for in Karlie and Brennan's relationship. I, however, DO have a protective mother hen kind of older sibling, only it's a he. Karlie is based on me and him rolled into one, and her and Brennan's relationship is based on mine and my brother's. The way she ignores Brennan is mostly to annoy him and because she knows that she's doing what's best for him. Or something. @__@
SARGE: O__o; Riley, I (and consequently, mi otra mitad, por supuesto) will never get your taste in music.