Ack! Finally an update! lol

Reviews:

european coffee addict, thanks That's so nice of you (hugs)

More fixing. Removed some original plot ideas cause...well, cause they sucked, lol. All rewritten and, hopefully, better :) After this is all new stuff, though, I suppose, this is new to a degree too :) We're getting pretty close to the end here, folks!

Sorry this update is so short, but the next one should be longer...and more fun to write...in an evil sort of way, lol.

Anyway, R&R, constructive criticism only, blah, blah, blah...lol

Inside the office they found Campbell leaning casually on his desk, with Gladwin on his right. Four large guards waited around the room.

Nicole stopped between Hannibal and Murdock, and waited for Campbell to make the first move. Behind her she heard BA shove the concierge into the room, then slam the doors shut.

"I was expecting you earlier than this," Campbell said with a smirk.

"But you gotta admit," Hannibal began, "there's a certain appeal to a showdown at high noon."

As Campbell got off of his desk and started walking closer, Nicole began to tense up. He regarded Hannibal with an arrogant smile, then his gaze travelled to her, causing her to stand a little straighter.

His eyes then drifted to Nicole's other side where Murdock was standing. "You're not part of the A-team, Captain," he looked at the name tag on his uniform and read, "Murdock."

"He's a friend," Nicole muttered, drawing Campbell's attention. "Did I mention he's certifiably insane?"

On cue, Murdock looked down at Campbell and gave him a toothy, slightly crazed grin. It was difficult not to laugh as the other man shrank back a little.

"You meet the nicest people in rubber rooms," she continued with a smirk.

Getting his confidence back, Campbell took a step toward her, and allowed his gaze to trail slowly up and down her body. "Rubber rooms? I must have had quite an effect on you..."

Nicole wanted to be angry, she really did, but the remark had hit home and she started to panic. Suddenly she wasn't so sure she could handle being there.

Somehow she managed to get a hold of herself just in time to see Campbell fall to the ground, rubbing his jaw. She didn't know whether her father or Murdock had thrown the punch and she didn't care. All that mattered to her was that it provoked the guards to attack. And in a flash she was 'Agent Kendall' once again.

Jumping over Campbell's prone form, she charged across the room toward Gladwin, and stopped a few feet away from him. For a few long moments the two were locked in a staring contest, each waiting for the other to make the first move.

"Maybe when he's finished with you, Ben will let me have a go," he taunted her with an arrogant smirk. "From what I hear, you're quite--."

"Shut up, Jack," she growled. She started towards him feigning a punch with her right. But as he moved to block her fist, she recoiled and kicked out with her left leg, sending him to the floor.

He glared up at her for a second before springing back to his feet, and lashing out with a powerful right hook. Nicole ducked away and grabbed his arm. She flipped him over her shoulder and grinned when he landed with a loud ithud/i.

Before she could react, he kicked out and sent her flying backward into the desk. She grimaced in pain as her back came into contact with the sharp edge of the desk, but managed to recover just in time to avoid Gladwin's fist hitting her jaw. Jerking her head to the side, she pushed away from the desk and assumed a ready stance.

This time Gladwin attacked first. But Nicole easily managed to block his punch, and knocked him back with an uppercut.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Murdock take a hit and stagger to the ground.

It was all the distraction Gladwin needed. He cleared his head and started forward, catching Nicole across the face with his right fist.

She fell backwards with a pained grunt. Ignoring the pain in her cheek, she kicked out with her left leg, and knocked her opponent off his feet. Before he recovered, she got to her feet and stood over him.

"When you get to prison, try not to drop the soap...on second thought, go right ahead," she snarled, leaning over him. Then she struck out with her fist swiftly, knocking him unconscious.

A small smile graced her features as she turned around and saw her father do the same thing to Campbell. The smile faded as she approached the unconscious Campbell and stared down at him. Without warning she reeled back and hoofed him in the side.

"I love it when everything just falls into place," she muttered with a hint of bitterness.

Hannibal, standing slightly behind her, put an arm around her shoulder, and corrected, "I love it when a plan comes together."

Nicole slowly smiled up at him, a look of relief spreading across her features. Then she leaned her head on his shoulder and returned the one-armed hug. "Thanks," she said quietly.

Before anyone else spoke they all heard the quiet iding/i of the elevator arriving at the suite. Everyone exchanged confused looks, while Nicole ran to look out the window.