The four boxes by Emmylou

Disclaimer-I'm not sure who relic hunter belongs to, but I'm damn sure it's not me!

Archive; if you want it, take it, but just send an email so I can go look.

Summary-4 boxes affect Sydney and Nigel's behaviour.

PG/PG-13

Feedback- Yes please!! I try to thank everyone who reviews in the author's notes, but if I forget you, tell me and I'll apologise.

Thank you: jemma and Reven Eid or the reviews

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Next to the enormous solid looking house the garage looked more like a shack used by teenagers as a place to jam than a place to store expensive cars. Peering through the laughably unstable windows they could see three Mercedes polished enough to shine even in the fading light.

Mallory's information had been right, the mansion was pretty much sealed up, every window, door and skylight was double-glazed, and from the look of it all had been loaded up with enough alarms to wake the entire country.

The place was a mansion, and considering the amount of guards the place had, there were certainly some expensive items inside.

"Who says crime doesn't pay?" Sydney peered thoughtfully through the windows, trying to locate alarms that might go off.

"They probably don't pay the guards very much, that one back there seemed to be vying for a pay rise, what was he getting do you think; a dollar per punch?" Nigel scowled in the direction they had come, a guard doing his late evening patrol had had a little encounter with Sydney's boot, as a result of which, he wouldn't be bothering them for a few hours.

"He wasn't aiming for you Nigel, he was confused by that first blow to the head, he was bringing his fist back to punch a tree, it wasn't his fault you were directly behind him."

"Hm" Nigel sniffed. "Well, it would have been a lot better if he'd had some clue how to get us into this place. You never know, one false move and a load of klaxons will start."

"What were you expecting?" She lowered her voice conscientiously. "A book in his pocket called 'breaking and entering for dummies'?"

"It sounds like the kind of reading material someone like him would appreciate."

"Poor Nigel, you're still bitter about your jaw." Sydney took her flashlight and thrust the light against the glass; still no answers about how to enter appeared.

"Well it did hurt you know, thank you *so* much for your concern by the way. If I were an insecure person I might think that you were fed up of me already."

"What if I *am* fed up of you?"

"Tough."

She grinned, not tearing her eyes away from the glass.

"Good answer." She was getting fed up of waiting around, if they had been in some cave somewhere trying find a lost statue of whatever they would have been in and out already. "Oh forget this, I'm going in, you wait out here, if nothing happens, follow me in."

The flashlight went out as it was punched through the glass. The plastic edge was used to swipe any stray edges of glass away from the frame. With one swift move she jumped through the window and launched strait into a fighting stance.

The room stayed suspiciously quiet. No alarms, no flashing lights, no running guards; it didn't look so much like a mansion than a shed filled with cars.

She turned towards the clattering that was Nigel climbing through.

"It doesn't look like anyone's noticed us. Not yet anyway."

"Yes, well I doubt that it will be this easy in the rest of the house."

Sydney strode across to the door leading to the rest of the mansion, Nigel followed, casting and admiring look towards one of the sporty blue cars. Slowing down as she reached the exit, her body switching from confident and powerful to cautious and careful. She pulled open the door a crack and peered through.

The door led into the hallway, as they already knew, the lights were out and the room felt echo-y, like a library but without the books. The only way to get to the vault with the box inside was to cross the area and go up the stairs, which would leave them vulnerable if there was someone hiding in the shadows. Still, they had to risk it.

The plan was pretty simple, they would get the box, then once they were out of there they would use it as a bargaining chip to get the boy back. Of course, if they failed to get the box in the first place then the plan would be totally useless.

"You know what this strikes me as?" Nigel murmured. "A really bad time to burst into song."

"Gotta agree with you there." She answered, equally as quietly.

"Shame really I think we'd all enjoy a show right now."

The voice was new. Sydney's foot was on the second step, she stopped, debating whether to dive for the second floor or not.

"I wouldn't attempt it Ms. Fox. You have eleven guns all trained on you and your associate."

"Number one, say that when all the lights are on, second, he's my husband, so there." Nigel who was still frozen mid-step chuckled with part humour and mostly terror. The flashlight that was aimed for her face temporarily blinded her as the beam hit her eyes. She stuck her tongue out for good measure and opened the left eyes just a crack.

"Very well Ms. Fox, have it your way. Lights!" The flashlight was switched off, and before Sydney could take advantage of that the main lights were awakened, bringing twelve men into view, only one of them didn't hold a gun.

"Lemme guess. You're Lazlo." She spoke to the unarmed man. "Thought you would be, my powers of deduction amaze even me sometimes." Lazlo was tall, and well dressed, he looked like he belonged in Hollywood, drinking champagne with stars, than threatening a pair of relic hunters. His smile conjured up the thought that if a smile could be described as well manicured, his would be.

"As you can see Ms. Fox, or should I say, Mrs. Bailey, I'm just not one to bluff."

"So, what's going to happen to us? You're planning to tell us in excruciating detail what's about to happen to us right? They always do."

"I'd rather not waste my breath Mr. Bailey, you'll find out soon enough, why spoil the surprise?" The white haired man flashed another manicured smile. "I must say though, your attempt to break in was one of the best I've seen in a while."

"How did you find us then?" Sydney asked, desperately stalling for time.

"Oh I knew the minute you attacked Carl outside while he was patrolling the west sector- after that it was just a game of hurry up and wait really."

"See Nige, what have I always taught you? Never trust a man who uses the word 'sector' in cold blood."

"Well Ms. Fox stroke Mrs. Bailey, you're just adorable. But enough chit- chat." He called to the nearest guard "Get them, tie them up and follow the orders I gave you earlier. Oh and Mr. Bailey? Which car did you like best out of the three you saw in the garage?"

"Err, the b-blue one, wh-"

"Capital."

Even with her fighting skills, Sydney had no hope in hell of winning a fight against eleven armed men, she had no choice but to allow them to have there arms and legs tied and be carried towards the garage.

The last thing she heard from Lazlo was him saying;

"Oh and cover up that window, otherwise it won't work."

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