Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters owned by Eoin Colfer, I don't own anything I didn't create, but I own everything that I made up/created/thought of.

Review Replies:

cybergurl – Sorry. I don't aim for cliff-hangers or anything – it just happened to end up that way when I ran out of time to keep writing. Thanks – I will.

normal? – Thanks, I think. Have you ever heard the saying great minds think alike? I hope the twist is unexpected, I kind of was when it waltzed into my head, but it doesn't seem quite so unexpected now, maybe since I'm used to it. Thanks again.

(A/N: I have now been inspired to keep writing, I'm not sure what it was the inspired me, but something did. The unexpected twist doesn't seem quite so unexpected now I think about it, and it is the only way that the story will work. I'm not really that sure what else I can say so on with the story.)

Chapter Seven: Seeing Double

Holly's POV

I was dimly aware of several people in white clothes running around me, their mouths were moving, they appeared to be shouting, yet I could hear no sound. It felt like I was in another universe, I tried to open my mouth and say something, but it wouldn't work. I nearly screamed, and then I remembered I couldn't move my mouth. I decided to try and raise my hand, to signal for help. That didn't work either. I felt I was dying, I was enveloped in fear. Then I again lost consciousness.

Commander Root's POV

I knew Trouble would realise he had known me when he was a child. But the look of disappointment, and almost utter hatred, on his face when he thought that since Holly had called me Uncle Julius I was her actual uncle. I felt sorry for the poor elf, he was grasping at straws in order to find out how Holly was. I felt like I was grasping at straws too. Then the communicator Foaly had given me began to beep.

'Go ahead Foaly.'

'Well, sir, I have the results of the scan for blood relatives of Holly's.'

'And?'

'You want the good news or the bad news?'

'Both Foaly, before I come back there and defenestrate you.'

'We don't have windows at Police Plaza, sir. The good news is that I found a blood relative of Holly's.'

'Well then what are you waiting for, get the relative down here now!'

'It's not that simple bossman – the bad news is that this blood relative has no idea that Holly even exists.'

'Clarify that for me Foaly.'

'Well it would appear that Anita Short was never pregnant with just one child. When she and Kauri had Holly there was a twin. Anita must have known that on a LEP wage she would never manage to support to children, so she adopted one of her children, Holly's identical twin, out at birth. She never told Holly or Kauri of this, she took the secret with her to the grave. You know that Kauri trusted Anita with his life, so he never doubted that they had a single child, he didn't suspect anything, as having twins is extremely uncommon for fairies. Holly has a twin sister.'

'Well then get what's-her-face, Holly's sister, down here now.'

'It's not that easy, sir, we have to remember that Holly's sister has never even heard of Holly before, she probably has a life, a family of her own, she may not want to drop everything in order to find out information about Holly for the LEP.'

'So Holly has no other blood relatives?'

'Nope.'

'The get on the blower to this sister of hers, if she won't come down here send a couple of officers to get her. What did you say her name was again?'

'Xanthe, her name is Xanthe Hughes, she is a fashion designer.'

'A WHAT?'

'Fashion designer, sir, I'm going to call her now, explain the situation.'

'No Foaly, I had better go down there, tell her in person.'

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

I walked into a shop I would never normally go into, a fashion shop.

I looked around and nearly had a heart attack. Standing behind the counter was what looked like Holly. Except this Holly had just-below-shoulder-length auburn hair, it was easy to see this was much better cared for than Holly's crew cut. And this Holly was wearing a low-cut skimpy top and a pair of hip-hugger jeans. This girl obviously cared a lot more for her image than the Holly I know ever did – she was even wearing make-up.

I took a deep breath, now was the time to meet the girl I would have known her whole life if Anita had only told Kauri about Holly having a twin. I know that Kauri would have found some way to keep his other child. I cursed Anita.

I began to step slowly towards the counter, this situation must be handled with care, one wrong move could scare Xanthe away from Holly for life. And Holly really needed a sister now. More than she ever had.

I was about five metres away from the counter that Xanthe was standing behind. I wouldn't need to ask who Xanthe Hughes was, it was obvious. I took another deep breath and stepped forwards. Just as I did this the man standing across the counter from Xanthe pulled out a large, dangerous looking mud-man gun and pointed it right at her head. I had left my helmet in the LEP vehicle I had come in, as I didn't want to scare her. I only had my jumpsuit, a gun in my holster, and the locator on my wrist.

'Everybody stay down! Girl, give me all your cash!' screamed the man holding the gun.

Xanthe's POV

I saw a LEP commander come into the shop. That was a shock in itself, what was an elf that must be at least six hundred doing in a fashion clothing shop that was rarely occupied by fairies over two hundred years of age. I saw him looking at me oddly, like he was nervous. I ignored him and went back to chatting with the elf who was about to pay for his purchases.

I nearly screamed when the elf pulled out a gun and pointed it straight at me. 'Everybody stay down! Girl, give me all your cash!' he yelled at me.

I reached for the till to begin removing money for the robber, but I glanced at the LEP officer, he was a Commander, yet he was sliding to the ground, just like all the other customers. How could he? Weren't the LEP supposed to protect the public? The he winked at me. I knew he had a plan. I continued to reach for the cash.

Just as I was straightening up to give the robber the first pile of his cash his eyes glazed over then closed, and he fell backwards. The LEP Commander had his shiny new gun out, and from the way it was smoking had obviously just stunned the robber in the back.

Commander Root's POV

I quietly reached down and pressed the panic button on my locater. This would bring the LEP running to my exact location. I then pretended to bend down with the rest of the customers, and saw the hurt in Xanthe's eyes, she knew I was LEP and thought I was not helping her. The man with the gun did not know I was here. I winked at Xanthe, then drew my tri-barrelled blaster and stunned the man using the highest setting.

'You are under arrest,' I said a tad unnecessarily to the unconscious form of the man lying before me.

'Th..tha…thank you so much sir,' stuttered Xanthe. Wow, even her voice sounded like Holly's.

I head the roar of sirens outside and two LEP vehicles showed up outside. The officers came running into the building and saw me with a still smoking tri-barrelled blaster at my side, and the unconscious robber on the ground, still clutching his gun. It wasn't a mud man gun. It was worse. It was a softnose laser.

'Get that scum and his gun out of here. Check there are no casualties. He threatened this woman with his laser. I need to talk with Xanthe.'

'Sir, with all due respect, how do you know my name?'

'You are adopted, correct?'

'Yes, sir,'

'Your sister, Holly Short, is a first year Cadet in the LEP academy; she was badly injured during her first exercise. She and her partner are in hospital. Holly is critically injured. As her only living blood relative you have the right to know this.'

'Is there a particular reason a Commander was sent to tell me this? It's just that it seems a little odd.'

'I have a personal interest. I am her god-father. They will not release information to me as I am not a blood relative. It would be much appreciated if you would come back to the hospital with me, to find out how Holly is. I wouldn't normally ask someone I had never met before to do this, but Holly has no other blood relatives…'

'I understand sir. I will come with you to the hospital.' She grabbed the PA, 'Listen Up customers. The shop is closing today. Now. I need all non LEP personnel out of here now.'

It amazed me how much she sounded like Holly; I just could not get over that. She even talked like her – even though they had never met.

I escorted her to the LEP vehicle and drove in silence to HH (Haven Hospital). When we reached the hospital I led the way to where I knew Holly to be.

For the first time I noticed she was shaking.

'Are you alight Xanthe?'

'A sister I have never met is in a critical condition in hospital, but yea, I'm fine.'

'If you are sure. I'll introduce you to the nurse. When you know about Holly could you come and find me in Cadet Kelp's room. Please don't think I am using you, but please tell me how Holly is. I really need to know, so does Cadet Kelp. He was her childhood friend, before they were separated.'

'No problem. I understand. See you soon Commander.'

She walked off after the nurse. Having proven she was a blood relative of Holly's she demanded to see Holly and know how bad her condition was. I walked off to Cadet Kelp's room and entered. Cadet Kelp was sitting in his bed reading a magazine. He looked up when I entered, then put down the magazine.

'Did you find Holly's sister sir?'

'Yes, she is finding out how Holly is now. She will come here when she knows.'

'Good, I have to thank her.'

We sat in silence for a few minutes until a knock sounded on the door and Cadet Vein entered. Cadet Vein was a friend of Trouble's and had been since they were both twenty.

'Wing Commander Vinyaya said I could come and see Trouble and Holly, sir.'

'That's fine Cadet, but I won't be leaving anytime soon.' Cadet Vein looked rather shocked

'Commander Root is staying Ash.'

'OK. So are you OK Trouble?'

Trouble's POV

I'm still getting over the fact that Holly has a sister. But at least now she has agreed to tell us how Holly is we will know. Commander Root is friendlier than I have even seen him; he is also a lot more concerned for Holly than he is letting on. I can tell.

At least Vinyaya let Ash come and see me. It would be dull with only Commander Root as company. No offence to him but he is old.

'Commander Root is staying Ash.' Never thought I would say that. But there is a first time for everything.

'OK. So are you OK Trouble?'

I was spared having to answer by another knock on the door. A girl that greatly resembled Holly came in. In fact, if I didn't know that it wasn't Holly I would have sworn Holly had only had a makeover.

'Wow, I thought Holly was hurt, she looks like she's had a makeover.'

Commander Root and I both clobbered Ash at the same time.

'Hi Xanthe,' I said, 'I'm Trouble Kelp – Holly's friend and partner at the LEP academy. Sorry about Ash, it's just no one knew Holly had a sister.'

'Oh, OK,' she turned to Commander Root, 'Do you want to know how Holly is doing?'

(A/N: I'm going to finish the chapter there. A bit longer than the last two. Sorry if it's a cliffhanger, I have to research what injuries Holly could have. Please review. It might take me a bit longer to update next time, I'm going back to school after the holidays, but it should be up in less than a week. Like I said please review and if you have suggestions feel free to email me.)