Disclaimer: What am I suppose to say here? Oh yeah, the world's about to end. Darn, wrong again, *throws hand in air*. Wait, it's coming back to me, I do not own Artemis Fowl, do I?

A/N: sorry it's been so long. Thanks to everyone who reviewed. You help me a lot.

Chapter 4: Discussions

Butler hurried up the stairs to his charge. How could there be people Artemis wanted him to meet? No one had entered the house that hadn't left. Well, he would just have to go and see.

When he entered Artemis' workroom the only person he saw was Artemis.

"Come in Butler, and close the door."

Butler knew there was something rather strange going on, but he trusted his employer to know what was best. He guessed it had something to do with fairies. When the door closed he saw a form materialize in front of him. He reached for his gun, but stopped. For a minute he just stood there, "hello Holly, long time no see."

Same to you, I hope you haven't had too much of a...dangerous time lately," her eyes flicked over to Artemis and Butler knew what she was thinking, so far every time the fairies had encountered them it had not been what you would call 'safe and easy'.

"O.K., enough chit chat, down to business," Root's voice came through Holly's helmet.

"So what is this 'problem' that you have?"

"We found a mud man with a Neutrino 2000," Foaly stated plainly.

"Don't start thinking that you can help us and get reworded, we've had enough of that," Root growled.

A strange expression crossed Artemis' face. It seemed almost like sorrow, that show of emotion startled Holly. Then he was back to normal.

"You see Butler, we think that gave humans these guns also was the one who sent me that letter..."

"Sorry to interrupt, but one of the Council members is knocking on my door so we have to cut the line," Foaly's voice was hurried.

"Go ahead," Holly told the centaur.

"Captain Short, don't go after whoever this is until I get back too you," Root informed her.

"Yes sir."

"And..."

"Cut the line Foaly. Both of you can get back to me later," Holly almost shouted. The line went dead, she was on her own to deal with Fowl.

"I take it the Council doesn't know you're up here? And if they did they wouldn't be very happy?" Artemis asked, as usual knowing he was right.

"Precisely."

"Do you have the gun with you at the moment?" Artemis asked.

"Yes I do," Holly replied, frowning slightly, she could sense the beginnings of a plan.

"Could I see it?" there was nothing in his voice that made Holly think she should refuse. But she also knew that Root would not approve of arming the most dangerous mud boy with fairy technology.

Artemis seemed to sense her hesitation because he said, "I am not an enemy of The People any more, you have nothing to fear from me."

"Alright." and she handed him the gun that had been taken from David Boon.

Artemis examined it carefully. "Uh oh," he said after a while.

"What did you find," Holly asked, hoping that this would be the clue they needed.

"Someone seems to have let the secret out on how to make these."

"They can't, that's LEP classified information."

"Then there must be a traitor within the LEP. Look at this," he handed her the gun and pointed to some writing on it's side.

'Made in the US'.

"Oh," Holly couldn't think of anything else to say. Humans and gotten a hold of fairy technology.

"We can track the gun by its cereal number to pinpoint exactly where it was made. It might actually be easier this way given that if they were being stolen from the LEP we would have less of a lead."

"Could I ask you something? Why you're helping us?" Holly had been quite surprised when he hadn't said he would help them as long as he got some reword.

"I think it's time I repaid my debt to The People," even Butler had not expected this. Artemis was shoeing more signs of emotions since Holly had come then he had in over a month.

"Found it, these guns are being manufactured in Seattle, Washington. We have two options of what to do. One, we head over there right now, which would mean you would have to disobey Root's orders.

"I don't think he would like that, so what's the other option?" Holly had a feeling that she would like just about as much as she did the first.

"We wait until March 2, me and Butler go in to see what they want and you give us back-up if we need it."

"In other words you would be the bait."

"Basically."

"Artemis, I don't think that would be wise," as much as she hated to admit it Holly didn't like the thought of using Artemis as bait.

"What is it you see as a problem? They just have neutrinos, which we would have, and we would be able to surprise them."

"You see, that's just it, we don't know if they 'just have neutrinos'. As far as we know they could have better weapons then us."

"So you'd prefer to disobey Root?"

"We don't have to if we wait until he gets back to us."

"That wouldn't be much of an option."

"Why not?"

"Because my mom just left and when she returns she'll make me do my homework which would mean it would be to late."

"O.K. then, let's go now," Holly covered her mouth with her hand to hide her laughter. She looked up at Butler to see his eyes twinkling.

"What is it with you two?" Artemis asked.

Both of them shook their heads.

Artemis decided to ignore them. "We have 5 minutes most to get out of here before my mom gets back. Butler would get the car ready? I have to leave a note for my mother."

Butler walked out smiling, this was what he was born to do.

Artemis grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled a note saying he was visiting a park. It wasn't something that he would do, but he knew his mother would be pleased, thinking that her son might make a friend.

When he turned around he saw that Holly was still there, as he had expected and hoped. As he got up from the chair he leaned closer to her, making it look like an accident. Quickly he kissed her on the cheek.

Holly was so surprised she didn't act at first then she punched him squarely in the nose. By the time he stood up Holly was gone.

"Where's Artemis?" Butler asked her when she got into the Bentley.

"He'll be down in a minute," she said completely innocent.

A/N I hope that was enough romance for everybody. I promise there will be more in the next chapter (which should be out by Friday). Please review and tell me what you think.