A few days later, three people were in the parking lot waiting for two colleagues to arrive. Ralph, Bill and Pam were standing by the car, and heard a yell from the skies. Looking up, they saw Aidan in the air trying to carry Tony on her back while flying. Needless to say, this was not going well.
"Tony, quit fidgeting, you're knocking my center of gravity off. We're already late because you can't keep still."
Tony felt Aidan wobble, and tightened his grip slightly. He had one arm each under her shoulder and around her neck. "Aidan, you keep still. If you crash, you won't get hurt, I will."
"Quit being a dunderhead, Tony, I'll be the one you land on again ..." Aidan wobbled again, and Tony panicked... "Tony, you're choking me, don't put your arm around my neck so tight..." said Aidan, coughing and trying to loosen his grip slightly. ...
The two's argument stopped when she crashed in the parking lot. "All right, get off Tony," she said, a bit groggily. "We're here at grandma's house, and I brought the turkey."
"Funny Aidan. Hey guys, we're here... finally," said Tony getting up.
"Well, if it isn't the flying dunces," said Bill with a slight chuckle. Aidan looked up and frowned. "I'm just kidding Artie. Think you did well, considering it's Villacana."
Ralph and Pam helped Aidan off the ground. "You two all right," asked Ralph.
"Yeah, fine," said Aidan dryly as Pam handed her a bag of clothes to change into. "Bill, I think you need to find some way of training the agents to not be afraid of flying. This one seems to forget that rule number one is to never try and put the pilot's lights out while they're flying. This was the second time tonight he had his arm too tight around my neck. I knew what I was doing, well mostly, but still no reason to panic like he did."
She sat in the car and closed it, then started changing into her streetclothes. Ralph, Bill and Tony turned around to give her a little privacy, and Tony continued.
"Aidan, I don't mind flying, it's just flying on the back of your colleague who wears funny longjohns and who can't stay in the air for five seconds that bothers me. I'm surprised that I didn't get my bell rung with all the times you crashed."
"Well, it might've been easier to fly if you were unconscious..." she said, grumbling. "Certainly would've been a quieter flight..."
Before Tony could retort, Pam put a hand up to get their attention. "What happened out in the desert," asked Pam. "All we heard was the car wasn't working."
"Well, Aidan was doing well learning new suit scenarios. First, we practiced holographs again, and she wasn't dizzy anymore."
"Yeah, don't know why though, but my guess would be that the suit was just adapting to my biochemistry, as Ralph said. Either that or the collision into Rutile. Felt like running into a brick wall reinforced with steel."
"That's terrific," said Ralph with a smile, "But, it doesn't explain why you had to airbus the two of you here."
"It's pretty simple Ralph," said Aidan as she got out of the car and finished tying a black shawl around her waist. She was now wearing an embroidered lavender long-sleeved tunic and black pants. Aidan decided to keep the suit on under her clothes, just in case. "We were practicing a scenario on how to stop a car. Tony suggested creating a firewall and..."
"Oh no, ya didn't blow up the car did ya?" said Bill with a groan, having lost more cars than those at a monster truck derby from suit scenarios.
Aidan shook her head. "No ... I instead tried to stop it with my hands and punched its lights out... and the engine, the transmission, the thing you hold the oil in, the battery..."
"Let's just say the only thing that works now is the little light inside that says 'check oil'" said Tony, finishing.
Bill sighed. "OK, guess I'll have to set up a bet to see how many suit-trashed and burned cars there'll be for Tony. Now, can the five of us get into the restaurant so we can go eat? I'm famished... and I'm sure you two are hungry."
The group nodded and headed inside. Once they were seated in the booth, the waitress took their drink orders and left. "Talked with the big bosses today, and Villacana here is going to get bust of the month," said Bill with a chuckle. "'Course took him 10 years, but haveta admit this was how ta do it. I even got a citation for helping out with the case... after being told I was retired from active duty again, was a teacher at the academy and don't invite danger."
Tony smiled. "Yeah, and Rutile and the others are going to be in jail for a long time," he said. "They still talk about Aidan and the suit, but no one believes them, and they're going to trial soon. Seems just about everyone knows about Aidan's unusual dress sense."
Aidan rolled her eyes and chuckled. "So, Tony, did you hear anything about MK and Melissa?" she asked.
"Hospital said that Lazuli was going to go home tomorrow. She's still got a ways to go, given some of the problems from the drugs and her seizure, but they believe she'll make a full recovery," said Tony. "As far as Serpentine, well, she's fine too. Judge Serpentine said she's doing well recovering from being taken hostage and should be back in school Monday."
Bill interrupted. "Haveta say though, Villacana and Artie here did a heck of a job bustin' the bad guys. Almost as good as we did Ralph."
Ralph chuckled softly, remembering those times. "They did choose well, didn't they? Still, I wish I had learned the power to change the suit's form."
"I agree, I wonder what you'd look like in a bikini," said Aidan deadpan, and Pam smiled a slightly wistful smile, picturing it. When Ralph made a face and playfully pushed them back into the booth, the three laughed.
"OK, that's fair, Aidan," said Ralph as the waitress served their drinks. "Now, as this is not only a get together to celebrate solving a case, it's also to make up for missing Pam's and my anniversary last week..."
Aidan sobered up slightly, checking one of her watches. "One week, huh? Can't believe it was last week all this started... Sorry, Ralph, please continue."
Ralph smiled and proceeded. "Anyway, I wanted to make a toast to not only Pam's and my anniversary, but to Tony and Aidan. Here's to new starts and partnerships and continuing long-standing ones."
The five clinked glasses.
"Now, Pamela, I have something for you. Happy anniversary."
"Ralph you shouldn't have... but... so do I, happy anniversary," said Pam with a grin as they both presented similar small boxes to each other. Looking at the two's puzzled faces, Aidan kept a straight face, but started to chuckle inside. "Well aren't you going to open them?" she said playfully. "Unless you're supposed to give boxes for your 23rd."
Ralph and Pam glanced at her then back at each other, shrugged and exchanged the boxes. Opening them, they were surprised to see they had matching rings.
"What... Aidan!" the two said simultaneously. Seeing the rings, Tony and Bill laughed, realizing that for as close as the three were, Aidan actually fooled Pam and Ralph into thinking they were the only one designing a ring for the other.
Aidan could no longer hold her mirth and started to laugh too. "Well, Ralph came by first and said he wanted me to make a ring for you Pam, so I drew him a pattern. He liked it and I started work on it. Then you came and asked me to make one for Ralph, so I figured why not make them matching. You don't know how long I've been waiting to see your reaction."
They both smiled and gave her a hug. "You know, it's perfect Aidan," said Pam. "Thank you."
"Yes thank you," said Ralph as he nodded to Pam. "Now, this is something you didn't know, Aidan..."
Pam handed Aidan a package. It was a box, but not one she had ever seen. It was octagonal and black. Noting her confused glance, Ralph continued. "Pam's and my anniversary isn't just ours anymore, it's your's too. It was the start of a new life for you, in all senses of the word. So, happy suit anniversary, Aidan."
Curious, Aidan watched the box top slide open and the inside light up, but nothing else. "An empty box?" she asked, confused.
"Not just any empty box. It's the one for the suit," said Ralph. "I figured you'd need it to store them in at night. That way you don't lose them. Nearly did that a couple of times."
Aidan smiled. "Thank you, but what about Tony and Mr. Maxwell? I don't think we got them anything for their suit anniversary."
"Nah, Artie, I don't need anything, well except maybe a hankie as my eyes are watering from this drivel," said Bill.
"Same here. It took a bit and a hostage situation to drill it into my head, but we'll be a team... through good and bad. That's all I need to know. Still doesn't mean I have to like it," said Tony, acting tough.
"Gotta agree with you Tony, same feelings, but..." Aidan said seriously as she got up and went behind the booth, causing all of them wonder what she was up to. Then, smiling, Aidan leaned over and gave each agent a kiss on the cheek. Though neither would admit it, they blushed at the gift.
"Thanks guys, and happy suit anniversary," she said and clapped once. The four paled, and looked around to see if someone else saw what they did.
"What's wrong," said Aidan, then she groaned. "Don't tell me I finally turned completely invisible."
"Not exactly Ade..." said Pam hesitantly as she handed Tony a mirror from her purse, which he gave to Aidan. Looking into it, Aidan realized why the others were alarmed. The reflection looking back at her was not her face... but Ralph's. She looked down and realized she was by all appearances Ralph, down to the outfit he was wearing.
"Oh no... uh guys, I think I found another suit power," she said, coughing in surprise that her voice stayed the same.
"A-Artie, that's terrific, now you can be anyone as well," said Bill when he regained his voice.
"Yeah terrific, but problem is, my voice is still the same," said Aidan a bit sarcastically.
"Aidan, you're not supposed to do that now, what are people going to think?" said Tony.
"That I'm a magician, and my best trick is impersonating people ... literally," she said simply, clapping her hands again. "Great, I think I'm stuck... Help."
"Aidan, don't panic, think," said Ralph, remembering something she drank when she needed to relax. "Listen, I'll go get you a hazelnut ginger ale, that might help some."
As he left, the waitress came from the back and noticed 'Ralph' standing by the booth with a slightly worried look. She figured she'd try flattering the man so she'd get a good tip. "Sir, is the booth to your liking, or would you prefer another one," she said, batting her eyes slightly.
Aidan turned around and paling slightly, nodded and waved her hand, trying to avoid speaking with her. The waitress, not getting 'Ralph's' message, continued. "Listen, is there something I can do to make your evening more, um, memorable? We have plenty of desserts and wines to celebrate special occasions with and..."
Aidan, realizing the young woman wasn't going to leave, had no choice but to speak. "Yes, everything's all right, my wife and I are quite happy with the booth." she said in her normal voice. Hearing the voice, the waitress looked at the doppelganger in shock, blinked once and fainted. Aidan caught the woman and eased her to the ground. "Sorry," Aidan grimaced, shaking her head and checking the woman's pulse. Tony and Bill stood up to block the scene from curious patrons.
Ralph, coming back with the ginger ale, saw the scene and walked quickly over to where Aidan was kneeling beside the insensible woman. Aidan shrugged. "Well, she wouldn't leave me alone. Guess she was flirting to get a better tip. Good thing at least I didn't change back at the same time." Ralph held back a chuckle. Even though he sympathized with her, he had to admit it was rather funny to see his face with Aidan's expressions as she tried to revive the young woman.
"Yep, like godfather, like goddaughter," said Bill. "Uh Tony, just watch out that she doesn't blow up the car with a sneeze."
"Funny Bill, just don't tap me on the chin, I'll reciprocate," she said with a smirk. Bill cringed at seeing her give the same look Ralph did when he was serious. Ralph not able to keep a straight face longer, rubbed his jaw in memory and laughed, only to have Pam playfully tap him on the head. Aidan also chuckled but stopped when she saw the group staring at her again. "All right, what do I look like now," she said, afraid she'd turned into the waitress or a lion. Those were the last things she needed.
"Hey, Aidan, you're back, you're you," said Tony with a smile. "Well, back to your usual crazy self."
She looked back at her hands and smiled in relief. "Now, I don't know about you guys, but after the practice and this suit surprise, I'm starved. Just hope the waitress takes our orders when she comes to before something like this happens again. I mean..."
Just then, the waitress opened her eyes and looked at Ralph and Aidan. "Are you all right miss," asked Ralph.
"Fine... hey, you're voice, it's a guy's. I could've sworn you spoke with a female voice..."
"Yes... sorry about that. I'm a magician and Ralph here is my assistant. One of my tricks is a ventriloquism bit and he's the dummy..." said Aidan. When she saw Ralph cock an eyebrow at the comment, Aidan gave a wink. The waitress nodded, believing the story and after talking with her boss, who had arrived at the booth, got up and walked to the office with him.
After a few minutes with the assistant manager to get their side of the incident, Ralph and Aidan sat back down at the booth. "Ventriloquist dummy?" Ralph asked.
"OK, reacting before thinking again Ralph, sorry," said Aidan simply, then made a face. "But, could've been worse, I could've had to try and explain off being a talking lion with pink and purple polkadots... and you better not morph me into it suit, I don't mean it." When she didn't change Aidan smiled.
The group laughed and started chatting, not only about scenarios and stories, but mostly, to celebrate two teams, one bound now by friendship, the other just starting.
