Disclaimer: I do not own the Lone Gunmen, the only thing I own in this story are the characters you don't recognize.

Summary: Set in an AU (Jump the Shark never happened) a yong woman finds herself in the midst of a crisis when her twin brother is killed over a computer program Who is there to help the truth unfold? The Lone Gunmen of course!


Chapter 4. In which a couple converses and Yves gets sentimental... sort of.


When Jimmy and Yves returned from lunch, Byers and Frohike were gone; Jimmy had no idea where, the note just said that they'd be back later. Langly was still in his room with Renee, his story for the paper unfinished. Jimmy sat down, pulled over Langly's notes and began to finish it for him. "Won't he be mad?" Asked Yves.

Jimmy stopped typing and looked up at Yves, "I doubt it. I think his main priority right now is Renee. Hey, do you think they've met before?"

"Why do you ask that?"

"They just seem to have a really strong bond. It just seems weird that someone could hit it off with a stranger that quick," he shrugged.

"I'm fairly certain she would have told me."

"How do you know her?"

Yves sad down in the chair next to Jimmy's. "I've told you about how my father was a terrorist. Renee's is as well. At some point or another, they ended up working together. Renee and I met through them when we were in our early teens. We could see each other much for safety reasons, but kept in touch as often as possible. She was the only friend I had back then.."

Jimmy smiled and took her hand, "You have us now, and like it or not, you're stuck with us." Yves smiled, "I should go."

"Always running off," frowned Jimmy.

"We'll all meet for dinner around 7:00 at the La Che du Fac. So that means Langly and Frohike have to dress up." Yves smirked and then walked out the door. Jimmy watched after her for a minute, then grabbed Renee's bags, placing them in the extra room. He popped in to check on her and Langly, finding them both asleep. He smiled and shut the door.


"That was a very rude man," remarked Byers.

"No kidding, he was the manager from hell," replied Frohike. The two had just gone to check out the mysterious manager mentioned by both Renee and Langly. Apparently he was in a bad mood, and no, he did not want to be interviewed for any reason. They both clambered into the van, Byers in the driver's seat. "I can't believe we didn't get anything out of him."

"Actually, Frohike, we did. The man is not a real manager, and he's married, didn't you see his hand?"

"Wasn't looking that close... do you think we should ask Renee about it?"


6:30 pm found two of our favorite Gunmen grumbling about having to wear a tuxedo. The restaurant Yves had chosen was very fancy, all kinds of old gothic architecture was the main layout. It was only one story, but huge. It had a dance floor in the center of the eating area. "Why does she want to have dinner with us anyway?" Demanded Frohike. Jimmy shrugged and continued to adjust his tie.

"It's a nice gesture," said Byers. Renee came out of the spare room in that moment, wearing a black dress that was about two inches above her knee, with a slit up to her mid thigh. The dress laced up in back was a bit clingy. Her hair was down, falling about her shoulders. The only accessories she wore were: a silver watch, a silver choker with an onyx cross on it, and long silver earrings. The Gunmen stopped what they were doing and looked at her appreciatively. Up until this point they had only seen her in jeans, a tank top and jacket. They had been beginning to doubt she even owned a skirt, much less a dress. "Wow..." mumbled Langly.

"Is it that bad?" Asked Renee, her head tilted to one side. It was impossible to tell if she was serious or joking.

Yves walked in at that moment and the Gunmen (especially Jimmy) were awestruck once again. Yves sported a royal blue semi-formal silk dress that left little to the imagination. She wore sapphire earrings and gold bracelet. Her hair was cascading in waves down her back. "Looks like we've still got it," smirked Yves, walking over to Renee and grinning at her.

Transportation proved to be no issue, Yves had gotten a limo for the night. They arrived at the restaurant at exactly 7:15. The six sat down and waited for service. Yves explained that she thought this would be something nice and normal for them to do as a way of stress relief. However, it proved to be the exact opposite. Dinner started out fine. Everyone was enjoying him or her self. A woman, a few years older than Renee (to the naked eye at least) tripped on nothing and fell right into the poor girl's lap.

"Damn heels, good for noth – Rei Rei!" The woman exclaimed. "How have you been?" She was a pretty red head with emerald eyes and a fair complexion.

"Sam?" Marveled Frohike.

"Melvin? Well isn't this a surprise," Sam said, twisting in Renee's lap to look at him. Frohike had never told anyone about Sam. She was the one that got away. She left him with no real explanation. Frohike stared at her. "What?" asked Sam innocently. Frohike got up and left, apparently going to the bathroom. "Was it something I said?"

"Hate to bring you back to reality, but would you mind getting out of my lap?"

Sam laughed, "Well this has been quite a night. You know," she leaned close, her voice dropping, " Eric is here, you may want to hurry." Renee's eyes widened. "He's here with Paul, the fake manager. He's been stalking you and I"ve been stalking him. Be careful, kid." Sam then exited to the door left of their table and disappeared.

"Who was that?" demanded Langly.

"Old, uh, friend."

"Whatever you say ... Rei Rei," smirked Yves.

"Shut it."

"I'd hate to break up this mindless prattle, but Renee, I think we are long overdue for a talk," said a deep voice behind them. The speaker was a tall muscular man with wavy auburn hair and hard steel gray eyes. As soon as Renee turned around, he grabbed her hand and pulled her up from her seat. Byers opened his mouth to say how rude this was and that he shouldn't treat a lady in that manner, but the mysterious man had already swept Renee onto the dance floor.

"That ass!" muttered Langly and stood up to go after them. Yves sat him back down, "Wait."

Renee scowled, "What do you want, Eric?"

"What 've always wanted, and with your darling," he pulled her closer, "twin brother dead you could use some comfort, I think." He dropped his hand from her waist to a bit lower. Renee brought her knee up fast and hard. Eric grunted and in return slammed her up against a wall since they were in a pretty much secluded corner. Renee winced, "Just back off."

"Now, now, you know I won't." Renee swiftly kneed him again, this harder, forcing him to let go of her. She returned to the table and sat down by Langly. When he put his arm around her, she shrugged it off. Langly, looking hurt, turned and talked with Byers. By this time Frohike was back and ordering anything with a lot of alcohol in it. Jimmy sighed, "So much for stress relief."


Later, back at the Lone Gunmen headquarters ... "Who's motorcycle is that?" Asked Jimmy as they pulled up.

"Mine," replied Renee in a quiet voice. This was the first time she had spoken since Eric had approached her. As everyone went back inside, Jimmy hung back and talked with Yves for a while. Frohike went straight to bed, as did Byers who was tired of trying to get both Renee and Frohike to talk about what happened that night.

Langly grabbed Renee's hand before she had a chance to run off and hid in the seclusion of the guest room. "Who was that guy?" he asked. Renee sighed and sat on the couch. Langly sat down next to her.

"His name is Eric. We started dating when I was 16. At 18, he proposed. Around 20 he started to change,"

"Wait," Langly interrupted, "how old are you now?"

"Twenty four."

"How could you have worked at the Pentagon and be an established author? You're so young."

Renee blushed furiously and looked uncomfortable. "I was... an exceptionally advanced child. I started school two years early and even then I was moved up a few grades." Langly nodded, encouraging her to go on. "Anyway, about a month before the wedding, I found out that he had been lying to me all along. He was working for terrorists. I confronted him, he hit me, I left, to make things short. After that I completely withdrew from everyone. I started writing and doing occasional side work for the good guys. I've never let anyone in after Eric. I got tired of being screwed over."

By this time, Langly's fists were clenched in anger. "You deserve someone better."

Renee shook her head, "I only bring trouble where ver I go. I should probably leave here tomorrow."

"No," Langly stood up, "stay, we want to help."

"I know you do, but you can't. I've got to do this on my own, I"m not some damsel in distress." Renee stood up also and hugged him. "Thank you ... for everything, Richard." She hesitated for a moment then pulled his face down to hers and kissed him. Langly stood dumbstruck. "Good bye."

"You - you mean good night," stammered Langly. Renee smiled sadly, gave him a quick hug and hurried off to her room.


Review please, I need some type of feedback.