"Pip, have you seen Eran?" Jete asked.
It had been almost a month since she recruited Gaib's help. He had been a bit confused by his assignment, but had faithfully visited each day, conversing, immersed in paperwork, or simply sitting. Neseléthurëst Luminoushire Pipsangelevër feigned indifference, but the simple fact that she allowed her name to be shortened to Pip attested otherwise. She had also reverted to plain t-shirts, and her noon "worship time" had degenerated to fifteen minutes with her album and a scented candle (though the candle wasn't just for "worship." Jete soon discovered that Pip loved candles and incense in general) Despite her progress, she still carried a spiral bound notebook with her, and refused to let anyone read it, probably for fear of someone calling it the 'sue it was.
Eran, however, was almost completely normal, save for the pendant she wore somewhat negligently, and the periods of time where she disappeared, only to offer vague explanations upon her return.
"Not since breakfast this morning." Pip answered Jete's question and returned to her writing.
"I swear, some day I'll put a tracker on that ."
"Why don't you ask the information guy?" Pip shooed a curious Cheeseball away from her. "Doesn't he know everything?"
"Well, not everything," Jete said, "......but pretty flipping close. I'll be right back."
Down in Iddo's basement office, his "center of operations" as he called it, Jete weaved through file cabinets, stacks of paper and old computer printouts to reach his "terminal." This was a wraparound desk with its open end facing the corner. It was littered with several computer monitors, dozens of file folders spilling papers, empty fast-food containers, and endless wires. Jete wondered briefly how Iddo managed to work in this varied mess without breaking out in some sort of allergic reaction.
Iddo sat at a monitor, wearing headphones and tapping away at the keyboard.
"Iddo!"
He looked up and took off his headphones.
"Do you know where Eran is?" Jete asked.
"Sure." He turned around and called softly. "Sweetness, the boss is here."
Nestled on a cot in the corner, and half hidden by a small bookcase, was Eran. She had apparently dozed off while reading. Iddo went to her, took the book, and shook her gently.
"Eran, c'mon, luv, wake up."
Jete raised an eyebrow.
"'Luv'?"
Iddo looked up guiltily, his neck turning red.
"Well, I mean... you know..."
Eran stirred and sat up.
"Oh, hey, Jete. Do I have to come back? We were going to go to Vo Wacune."
"Um... could I talk to you for a minute, Eran?" Jete said.
"Sure. Be right back, Iddo."
Once they were past the stairwell, Jete turned to her charge.
"Is this where you come all the time?"
Eran nodded.
"What do you guys do?" Jete asked suspiciously.
"Wha'd'ya mean?" Eran asked. Then swift comprehension crossed her face. "No! I mean, he's nice and all, and I really like him... we go places, like, different worlds with the portals. Nothing intimate... at least, not really intimate."
Jete looked at her incredulously.
"You've been sneaking away to go on dates with Iddo?"
"I wouldn't call it sneaking. I just walked out."
Jete suddenly noticed something.
"Where's your charm?"
"Charm?"
"Your Legolas angel."
"Oh. I gave it to Iddo, and he threw it off the edge of the world."
"The world's round, Eran"
"Not the world we went to. It was kinda symbolic. He gave me this instead." She pulled a delicate silver chain from under her shirt. From it dangled a silver moon with a tiny diamond on the bottom tip of the crescent.
Jete gaped.
"No more Legolas?"
Eran smiled. "No more Legolas."
On the way back upstairs, Jete pondered this. It needed to be tested, and she knew just the way. All it needed was a talk with Gaib and the cooperation of his department buddies.
Well, we're reaching the end here, so if there's something you wanted to say, you better say it quick.
Hiri, yes, I was waiting for Huinesoron. I think we should all get together and flood his email or something. He's been very lax of late. I've stopped even checking his fics.
Phaidra, yes, she has problems, but none of them incurable, except maybe the mary sue fics. I'm glad you're getting help. Before long you should be normal, or at least, as normal as the rest of us lotr freaks.
Flor-gurl, thanks. I really didn't think that chapter was very funny, but I'm glad you did. Well, now you can do whatever you want with Gaib. Who was it that had him? Was it Phaidra? Well, congratulations, whoever it is. He is one hot agent.
My dear annabeth, I'm glad you finally read it. I'm sorry, I never actually noticed you hadn't. it's not a story that you need to read the first ones to get the plot. It's more like part of a series.