Dark Prospects

A/N: Okay, finishing the story is no longer a problem because I'm smuggling my laptop to California with me. ^_^

BlueFlame: See the a/n and thanks for reviewing!

AngelicOne: Sorry about your story, but someone could report you for doing something perfectly innocent like an author's note (which is technically against the rules…). Glad this made you laugh.

GriffinFox: I agree that Charlie is sometimes exceptionally whiny, especially in SC2 (in the first one it's excusable since he's a little kid). Drugged elves are so fun!

isadora quagmire: Younger sisters? My older brother used to act like that (and he'll kill me for telling you when he reads this…) ^_^

Priestess of Anubis: Thanks! Nice to know people actually like this… maybe I won't kill my best friend for making me post it.

Vixie: Thanks, but Bernard? Eat you? I really don't think he would— *Bernard eats Phobic*

DragonCat: See the a/n. Thanks for reviewing though…

Sanely Challenged: You're writing a book? What's it about? Are you going to get it published? If you do, please tell me the title so I can buy it. ^_^

Akiko, Keeper of Sheep: Yes, it's all about the sheep… poor Bernard…

Chapter 15: Father Time

Bernard woke up in a haze. He looked around and noticed Santa and Curtis standing over another elf. Noel.

He glanced at her and unconvincingly disguised his laughter in a false cough. She was twisted in an odd position that would have made for excellent blackmail had he carried a camera.

Curtis looked at him. "Oh great, you're up!" He said brightly. "You can get her up and go save Charlie, now."

Bernard rubbed his throbbing temples. "Is she normal? I mean—as normal as she gets…"

Curtis smirked cheekily and mimicked in a squeaky voice, "You're really beautiful for a paperclip." He fluttered his eyelashes rapidly for effect.

The look Bernard gave him should have killed him, buried him, dug him up, and killed him again. "Don't forget your place Number Two." But he'd already revealed the fact that he was overly sensitive about the subject and inwardly grimaced.

Santa spoke up before Bernard strangled Curtis with one of his vibrating sheep. "Her drug dosage was high, but I think Noel should be somewhat better now. Though she may imagine things from time to time."

Noel opened her eyes and quickly pulled her small form up from the somewhat embarrassing position she'd been in. "Are we going to get Charlie or what?"

Bernard stared. Clearly she remembered nothing of being drugged and he wished desperately for a similar fate as Curtis smirked.

"Yeah we're going." Bernard said. He got up and began to leave the room. "Come on, let's go find that evil madman."

Santa furrowed his brow. "You mean Father Time?"

"That's the one." Bernard responded. "Do you know another evil madman? Come on, Spork."

Noel stared. "What did you just call me?" She demanded.

Bernard kept an amazingly straight face. "I called you Noel." Because 'Noel' sounds so much like 'Spork'.

Noel shook her head and looked as though she was caught between suspicion and confusion. She began to follow him out, but stopped short and asked. "Bernard? Why are we in an infirmary?"

Bernard smirked. "For no apparent reason, Noel."

Bernard stared at Father Time suspiciously while he and Noel were preparing to leave. They meant to go two days back in time (the amount of time it had taken to rescue Noel from almost certain death) and save Charlie before he was too… different.

Noel still didn't understand what had taken up two days and was rather short with Bernard because of it. The Head Elf (already annoyed by the fact that Father Time would be involved) was in no mood for it.

He was just about to duct tape her mouth shut when she smiled broadly. "Jack! I love you!" And with that, she threw her arms around him, momentarily diverting his attention.

So naturally, it follows that Father Time would choose that very moment to send them back.

Bernard and Noel landed somewhere very hard and the former ranted. "That sneaky, old psychopath! He's trying to kill me!"

A/N: Poor Bernard. Who would have thought Father Time could be so evil? ^_^