Disclaimer: Don't own Artemis Fowl, any of the characters, etc.

A/N: Thanks again to reviewers. Sorry I haven't replied to all the reviewers, but I'm having trouble with my computer. Stupid computers. Thanks to everyone though. Please Review!

Chapter 15

Holly looked up at the knock on her office/cubicle door, and found Root grinning at her. He looked quite cute like that she thought, and mentally kicked herself. He was her boss! They hated each other! She really needed to get checked out by a doctor.

"You managed to ditch Sool then?" He nodded glumly.

"Mind if I hide out here for a bit? He's got people on my office, the kitchens, Ops, even on the flippin' roof. Moron. He's driving me mad."

She nodded her consent, and carried on with her paperwork.

"What ya doing?" She raised an eyebrow at him. "anything fun?" She gave him a look, and ignored him. "Can I help? What can I do? Is it fun?" She looked at him. She was on baby-sitting duty again then.

Root back off at that look, and sat down again, clicking the top of his pen (apparently this is a very annoying habit, or so my friends, family and teachers tell me). clickety click clickety click clickety click (if anyone knows how to mimic the actual sound of a clicking pen, please tell me).

"Stop it." He looked at he uncertainly, looked at the pen, and put it on the desk. Then he started tapping. Loudly. "Commander, if you don't stop doing that, I'm going to shout Sool, and tell him where you are."

He scowled at her, and started sulking. "Well talk to me then. Can't be annoying then can I? 'stead of sitting here being bored. No-one talking to me. Being bored. Stupid Short." He mumbled.

She resisted the urge to laugh, "Well what do you want to talk about then? How about what you meant the other day? Or what you meant by that kiss, hmmm?"

He scowled again. "Don't matter. Don't want to talk to you now. Stupid Short. Meanie." Holly couldn't help it, she giggled at him, causing her a dirty look. After a minute, he relunctantly smiled himself. He stood up, "Guess I should head off anyway, keeping you away from your paperwork". She shook her head, and stood up herself. He looked at her, how close she was. And he was kissing her. Again. To his surprise, she didn't push him away, and try and hit him, or, more importantly try and knee him. He was mad, he thought absently. She was younger enough to be his daughter, and she was one of his officers, and she probably had a boyfriend. One of those jocks like Verbil. Mind you, he had been one of them at one point, you know, back before he got promoted to a desk job.

"Concentrate" Holly ordered, so he did, and neither noticed the shock of blue sparks hovering around them.