Continuing Transmission

Looking at her watch, Numbuh 5 began to tap her foot impatiently. They were supposed to be on their way to the hospital to see Numbuh 1.

He still hasn't woken up yet, and it had been over three weeks. The dark girl was beginning to get rather worried of what would happen to her commander, her friend, since he was still in a cataleptic stage. Especially since the doctors didn't know what to make of it either.

It was hopeful. There was a slight chance that he would be alright. After all, he was still hanging in there.

But she brought her mind back to the matter at hand. They were supposed to be on their way to the hospital. However, there was something, or rather someone, keeping them back.

"Numbuh 4," she said, rather edgily, "where's Numbuh 3?"

"Like Ah'm s'pposed ta know?" he replied. Shuffling his foot slightly, he stuffed his hands into his pockets before calling out, "Numbuh 3! 'urry up!"

"Man," Numbuh 2 said. "Why does she do this everyday? It's not like we're going everywhere fun. We're just going to the hospital."

"She doesn't do this ev'ryday," the Aussie argued.

"Yeah, she does," Numbuh 5 retorted. "An' you know it."

"Hey," the round operative, "if Numbuh 1 is awake, can I tell him about his surprise?"

"Numbuh 2, ya've been askin' 'bout that ev'ryday for da past three weeks."

"Yeah, Numbuh 2. Besides, Numbuh 5'll prob'bly wants ta be tha one ta tell him."

The Quiet One gently punched her comrade on the shoulder, sensing the teasing tone in his voice.

Footsteps were heard, and the others turned to see Numbuh 3 coming up to them.

"Okay, all ready!" she said cheerfully.

"Numbuh 3, what exactly takes you so long?" Numbuh 4 asked. "What're ya doin'?"

"Nothing really," the Asian girl replied.

"So why do ya take so long?"

She pouted slightly, looking down at the ground. "Sorry," she said softly.

Numbuh 2 sniggered slightly, while Numbuh 5 rolled her eyes. They both knew Numbuh 3 wasn't really sorry. She said that everyday to get on Numbuh 4's good side.

And, just as it had every other day, it worked. Beneath his bangs, Numbuh 4's eyes softened, as a forgiving smile appeared on his lips. "Eh, it's okay, Numbuh 3."

She smiled, the cheerful look back on her face, as she leaned forward and placed a kiss on his lips.

Numbuh 2 pretended to look away, covering his eyes. "Geez," he said, a mischievous smile appearing, "do you guys have to do that all the time?"

The two blushed slightly.

"'Course they do," Numbuh 5 replied, cutting them off before they got a chance to speak. "It's their job. Aftuh all, they are a couple."

"Numbuh 3 and 4 a couple? My, when did this happen? I wasn't gone that long, was I?"

The sudden voice caused the others to jump slightly, while, in the back of their minds, they noted that the voice sounded familiar.

"But, then again, I suppose I should have expected it," they recognized a British accent to say. "After all, it was rather obvious how much Numbuh 3 and 4 liked each other to begin with."

'That voice……!' Numbuh 5 thought.

They all turned around, slowly, as if afraid to get their hopes up. But as their eyes rested on the site, they couldn't help but suddenly lose their breaths.

Numbuh 1 stood on the window, looking in on them. He seemed slightly tired, but that was hardly noticeable with the smile on his face.

The others could hardly believe their eyes. Was…was Numbuh 1…?…He was really back!

A rush of exhilaration suddenly overcame the other four, as they ran to greet their leader.

As anyone would do when being charged at, Numbuh 1's instincts kicked in, causing him to take a step back, even if he was a bit higher up than they were. However, since he was on the window sill, and there was nothing behind, he slipped.

The Brit yelped as he began to fall. But Numbuh 2 and 4, reaching the window first, grabbed his hands before he could fall out of their grasps.

Looking down, Numbuh 1 gave a small sigh of relief, before helping the two pull him back inside, where he sat on the floor beneath the window.

"I never realized how high are tree house was until now," he said, chuckling slightly. Looking up at them, he smirked. "I really can't go anywhere without someone trying to kill me, can I?"

"Numbuh 1…" Numbuh 5 said. "How…I mean…Da doctuhs said dat…"

Getting to his feet, the Leader walked in front of them, his back facing towards them. "Adults are hardly ever right about anything, Numbuh 5. You know that as much as I do. When do I ever listen to what adults say, especially when it concerns my life?"

He turned around, the smile on his face returning. "Besides, you didn't really think that I would leave you all, did you?" He suddenly had a playful look on his face. "The Delightful Children said that you didn't operate that well without me, anyway. I'm not sure how true that is, but I don't think I want to take that chance."

The others nodded slightly, remembering the few times Numbuh 1 wasn't there to lead them, and how hard it was without him.

"We're a team, after all, and as a team, we must stick together, no matter what happens to us."

He was caught off guard as Numbuh 3, probably the most emotional one of the group, tackled him, knocking him onto the ground, crying tears of joy in his shirt.

"We were so worried!" she said. "We weren't sure what was going to happen to you! When the Delightful Children kidnapped you, and then when you were in the hospital, and……!"

The commander smiled, rubbing her back comfortingly. "It's alright, Numbuh 3," he said. "I'm here now, and that's all that matters."

Numbuh 2 didn't seem to notice, or care, that his tears were fogging up the goggles of his pilot helmet. "Well," the round operative said, his voice somewhat cracking, "we're glad you're back, Numbuh 1."

He looked up at the mechanic. "It's good to be back, Numbuh 2."

Numbuh 5 pulled the bill of her cap down over her eyes, hoping to hide the tears that were beginning to develop. "Welcome back, Boss," she said. "Ya bettuh not do somethin' like dat again, or you're gonna get it."

He looked over at her, laugh quietly as he nodded.

Finally, Numbuh 3 got to her feet, wiping her tears away with her stretched out sleeves. As Numbuh 1 was attempting to stand, however, he suddenly felt a sharp sting on the back of his head.

"Ow!" he said, rubbing the spot, as he turned to look at Numbuh 4. "What did you do that for?"

"Wouldn't you know?" the Aussie replied, his own voice trembling as he forced his own tears back. "Ah mean, ya 'ad us all worried for a while. We were beginnin' ta wonda if you'd eva wake up, ya jerk. We were beginnin' ta think that…"

The commander got to his feet, dusting himself off before looking sternly at the smaller boy. "All right, that's enough, Numbuh 4," the Brit said. "It's not your position to get worked up over something like this. Understood?"

The usually Tough Kid looked up at his friend, slightly surprised. But, as he did, the severe look seemed to disappear as Numbuh 1 slipped his sunglasses down enough to allow a wink to be seen as a smile appeared, and Numbuh 4 nodded, a smile forming on his own lips.

The Aussie then looked at the others, who seemed to nod at him. With a small sigh, he said, "Um…Numbuh 1?"

"Hm?"

"Well, tha gang 'n' Ah just wan'ed ta……um……apologize……for tha thin's we said before. 'specially me. I neva meant ta say that ya were a bad leada, it's just that……Ah guess we were all just a bit……frustrated, an'…"

"It's alright, Numbuh 4," the Brit said. "There's no need to apologize. After all, the whole incident was the work of the Delightful Children from Down the Lane, and it was an ingenious plan at that. Falling for it was inevitable, really. They really thought out all the details. But we still triumphed over them, and that's the important thing."

"But what about their 'ultimate weapon'?" Numbuh 2 asked. "I mean, with that thing, they could get rid of us for sure!"

"Not really," Numbuh 1 answered.

"What do ya mean?" Numbuh 3 asked.

"Funny thing really. On my way over here, I passed by the Delightful Children's mansion. While passing overhead, I noticed that they were actually dismantling their 'ultimate weapon.' Can't imagine why though."

Numbuh 4 looked over at Numbuh 5, both displaying a small smirk.

'With Numbuh 1 back,' the Quiet One thought, 'things'll definitely go back to normal.'

But normal wasn't always a good thing, she realized with a frown. When Numbuh 1 was in the hospital, the desire to tell him how she felt burned within her, so much that it often hurt. Now that he was back, however, she seemed to have lost the courage.

'Since thing's are back ta normal,' she thought, 'are Numbuh 1 and me gonna have our 'normal' relationship, and just stay friends?'

"So," Numbuh 1 suddenly said, pulling the dark agent out of her thoughts, "what exactly was that surprise that you were talking about earlier?"

The other four looked at each other, surprised at first. How long had he been listening to them? they wondered. But the look of surprise melted away, as wide grins replaced them.

They all looked back to Numbuh 1. "Oh, yer gonna get a kick outta this one!" Numbuh 5 replied.

Transmission Interrupted