It was growing darker,Mac observed tiredly.And it would be midnight in 1 half an hour.And Mac and the gang were ready,while they rest of them made out the plan to catch the Nightmare Bandits in action and kidnap them instead of the other way around,Mac had volunteered to watch the time.

"Need some company?"A gentle but stressed voice from the doorway,Frankie had her head stuck in and looked the way she sounded.Mac shrugged,but pointed to the chair across from him,"Sounds like they've got some plan in there."

Mac quietly nodded at her attempt to strike up conversation,he didn't blame her for wanting to make everything seem calm and peaceful,when in reality everyone and everything was tense.Tense for the night ahead.

"I just can't get over the fact that so much as changed since I left,"Mac told her after a while,his voice coming out in a penitence whisper,"I never wanted to move away."

Frankie smiled brightly and awnsered softly,"Well,it's okay now.Now that we have what really lit most of Fosters in the first place.And,yes,some credit goes to you Mac."

"Gee,thanks,"Mac laughed inspite of himself,pushing back on the arms to allow himself to his feet,"So...is the plan good?"

"Come see for yourself."She instructed him rectiently,strolling over to the door and motioning her hand for him to follow,"You've got to hear to so-proclaimed grand plan!"

Grinning at some of Frankie's old playfullness,Mac dug his hands into his jeans and trailed behind her and into the room across the hall.All the Friends were currently engrossed in some outrageous scheme that Bloo had apparently concocted.Feeling even more at ease,Mac came over to listen to another one of his's best friend's crazy ideas.

"Okay,"Bloo began to say to everyone looking eagerly at him,thier eyes curious on what he had been keeping to himself for so long,"I've caterigorized everything into place!Now,will have teams to stand around the whole boarding house waiting for these creeps.First,the blue team.That's me,Mac,Nicolas and BooBoo.Then,the red,purple,blue,green and-err-yellow I guess,team.Wilt,Ed,CoCo and Frankie.And then I guess Griffie can go solo or go with us or whatever.Anyways!After we fire up the Hyper Laser Beam Molecular Transcender..."

"Uh,Bloo."Mac interrupted him with dubious look,"I don't think theres such thing as a Hyper SonicLaser Beam Molecular-uh-thing."

"Oh,"Bloo mused in terse words,not looking directly into Mac's eyes for some odd reason,"Shows just how much you know,It's a Hyper Sonic Laser Beam Molecular Trascender!And FYI,London and France don't have 'nearly' the view that you allow me to view,dearest friend Mac."

Mac ignored his last comment,"Well,whatever it is.It's not going to help us.But you're idea that we should spilt up and trap one of these guys is acutally a pretty good one."

"Really!"Bloo perked up instantly,a grin playing on his dark blue features,"Cool!You acutally like an idea of mine!YEAH!"

"But Mac,were friends too.Wouldn't we be captured and turned into...uh,nightmares.Just as easily as the others?"Wilt pointed out concernedly,finally speaking up after being silent.

"That's where we have an advantage,"Mac told him with a small,devious smile,"The friends our asleep when thier kidnapped,right?And we won't be.Will have the element of surprise on our size and that's not all!Will each go in 2's and go into different parts of the house.Let's see,Bloo and me,Wilt and Ed,CoCo and Frankie,Nic and Boo,Griffie...you can go with whomever.And we'll take sheets,so that way we can jump on top of them and catch them before they catch us."

"Sounds logical to me."Frankie was the first to say,stepping over to place a hand on Mac's shoulder,"Let's do it then."

Everyone else nodded and grinned at each other and at Mac.It was a relief to see everyone on his side again for a change.But for some reason,Bloo seemed to be distant.Like,they were still best friends on the outside but on the inside,there was a big,empty space...maybe even...a void.

"Thanks,I knew I could count on you guys."Mac smiled enthusastically back at them,but frowned at Bloo's retreating form,feeling even more empty as his so-called best friend got a so-called head start for the mission at hand.It felt terrible.

About ten minutes later,Mac and Bloo were busy making thier way to the Kitchen to stand guard.It had been almost like a strategized plan on who went where.Wilt and Ed got the upstairs rooms,Frankie and CoCo the downstairs and Nicolas and BooBoo got stuck guarding the front door.

"At least we can raid the pantry."Bloo told more himself rather then Mac pertly,a hungry look in his eyes at the thought of devouring loads of sugar-high junk food.But Mac grabbed him by the scuff of the neck,before Bloo could dash off.

"Uh...were suppose to be keeping watch,"Mac informed him in an unruffled manner,bringinghim to eye level so he could look right into his friend's eyes,"Not filling ourselfs full."

"Lighten up!"Bloo retorted sharply,reaching up to smack Mac's wrist,causing him to drop him,"You're not my boss!"

"I never said I was-I mean...why'd you slam me like that?"

They were both quiet for a moment and before either would could say anything,a loud THUMP! sounded from outside,causing both of them to jump back.Mac recovered quickly,but Bloo was tremebling in a nearby corner.

"Bloo..."Mac peered behind him and saw his friend bundled againist the wall in a cowardly quaver,shaking his head,Mac got up and opened the door leading to the backyard,"Oh,look!It's only BooBoo.See,Bloo.He's not going to hurt you.Hey,Boo,where's the Lil' Nicman?"

"Don't know..."The little sheeted friend told him innocently,with wide blue eyes,but something about them seemed different.Almost,malevolent,"Why...don't...you...go ask...him...your...seeeelllffffff...rrrrrr..."

BooBoo's eyes flashed an evil crimson,as he growled those fatal words.He glared at Mac and darted over to hit him upside the head,apparently to do his dirty work in private.But out of the blue,Bloo appeared in a flash of Bloo and took the hit instead of Mac.Mac watched helplessly,as his friend was being lifted up and carried away.BooBoo threw off the sheet and his cold laughter echoed it seemed like.As he left Mac,cold in his tracks,watching his friend being taken away.

"Blllooooo...!"He shouted hoarsely,but it was far too late,they were already gone.

Sad so sad!Sorry it took me a while to update and everything.I gotta get ready for work now,so byez 4 now meh peeps!

Lavenderpaw