Ptwista: Ahh! Last chapter! I thought I wouldn't get this up in time but here it is! Enjoy!

Chapter 4: What Friends Are For

The weather outside changed quickly. It was now raining hard and the raindrops beat down upon the tree house. The faint clanging of the metal was the only sound between the two operatives for quite awhile. Numbuh 2 felt he had no point in keeping his secret anymore. He had been caught. Numbuh 1 followed him tonight and now he was going to learn the truth.

Numbuh 2 held the book close and turned on a nearby light. The book was brown and leathery. In the middle there was a white plane-shaped frame with the letters H+A; the letter "H" in deep blue and the letter "A" in cherry red. Numbuh 2 opened the book. It turned out to be a photo album. He showed Numbuh 1 the first picture. Numbuh 2 looked slightly younger. He was in a blue suit and red tie and in front of a white background and he was standing next to someone else...

It was a girl. She had light brown skin, brown eyes and dark hair. She was wearing a fuchsia pink dress and a matching bow in her pulled up hair. Numbuh 2 in the picture had one arm around her and was pulling her into a one armed hug. They seemed to be smiling like the camera wasn't there.

Numbuh 1 finally spoke up. "So this is...?"

Numbuh 2 nodded. "Yep. Numbuh 1...this is Amelia."

Numbuh 1 looked back to the picture. "Amelia?"

"I call her Amy for short," Numbuh 2 explained. He showed Numbuh 1 more pictures. There were ones of them at school together, them at the beach, the pool, the playground, during holidays, there was even one of them sleeping together...in a car seat, with Amy resting her head on Numbuh 2's lap.

"I've known her since before I joined the kids next door." Numbuh 2 sighed. "But the last 2 months have been the longest time had together in years."

"What? Why?" Numbuh 1 was concerned.

"Well...it's a long story," Numbuh 2 sadly replied. He looked at Numbuh 1's face and knew he had to tell him. "It was about three years ago when I first met her. My mom had been invited to this big company party. Mom was busy talking to the hostess. I went inside, 'cause I was the only little kid at the party and there were plenty of cheek pinching adults."

Numbuh 1 and 2 shuddered at the thought.

"Anyway," Numbuh 2 continued, "When I went inside I heard a really weird sound. It was a tweeting bird and it dive bombed me. It kept on pecking me when I heard someone call it off. It went to it's owner—Amy. That's where the first picture's from. We spent the night together and really hit it off. And we took that picture together. Mom sensed what good friends we became and started bringing me to her house more often. Our moms became friends too."

Numbuh 1 chuckled and Numbuh 2 smiled. "We had some crazy times together." The smile fell from his face as he said, "Then...one day... everything...just..."

Numbuh 1's smile fell as well. "One thing led to another. Her parents died and she had to leave, far away to the nearest orphanage—in Maine! I didn't see her for a year, but I thought about her nonstop. Three months after I graduated the cadets next door, she sent me a letter. But it was unmarked. All of her letters were. So, all the free time I had went towards finding her. That's when I started wondering if my feelings about her changed, Y'know?"

"Yes," said Numbuh 1, "I do."

"I was wondering if I was...," he paused and looked down.

Numbuh 1 put his hand on Numbuh 2's shoulder, "In love?"

"Yes!" his head shot up, "That's why I felt like I needed her. I...I fell in love with her."

"Do you still love her?"

"Of course! If I could, I probably love her even more now than I ever did."

"How does she feel?"

Numbuh 2 didn't respond. He had a slightly shameful look on his face.

"You haven't told her, have you?" asked Numbuh 1. Numbuh 2 shook his head. Numbuh 1 shut the book and got closer to him.

"Look, Hoagie, if I knew anything about love it's that when you're in love with someone, you should tell them."

Numbuh 2 was hysterical. I jumped up and screamed, "ARE YOU KIDDING? HAVE YOU SEEN HER? HOW COULD SHE POSSIBLY LOVE SOMEONE LIKE ME?"

"How do you know if you never tell her?" asked Numbuh 1 coolly.

Numbuh 2 sat back down and sighed. I said in a calmer voice, "I'm not ready."

"Well, I'm not saying tell her now. But... if you don't soon, someone else will."

Those words lit a fire in Numbuh 2's heart. He was right, sooner or later he had to tell Amelia his feelings or he'd lose her again. Only this time, forever.

"No," he whispered. He turned to Numbuh 1.

"Y'know what, Nigel? I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna do it! I love her and I'm going to tell her...!"

"All right!" cheered Numbuh 1.

"Tomorrow!" finished Numbuh 2, who after his triumphant stance fell back onto the bed in exhaustion. Numbuh 1 let out a soft laugh as he shook his head.

The next night true, to his word Numbuh 2 flew off to tell Amelia the truth about his feelings. Numbuh 1 went along for emotional support.

"Thanks for coming with me, Numbuh 1," said Numbuh 2 gratefully.

"No problem. That's what best friends are for."

Numbuh 2 smiled and he smiled back.

They made it to the orphanage and onto the ledge Numbuh 2 was on last night.

"I can't wait for you to meet her," said Numbuh 2 excitedly.

"Are you nervous?" asked Numbuh 1.

Numbuh 2 nodded frantically.

"Don't worry. Just take a deep breath and it'll be fine."

He did as Numbuh 1 said and knocked the same rhythm he did the past night. They waited awhile but no one answered. Numbuh 2 knocked louder and the window smashed into millions of pieces.

"Oops. Heh..." said Numbuh 2 embarrassedly. They both peeked in and gasped in horror. The place was in shambles. Beds had been toppled upside-down. Loose feathers from pillows were everywhere. The door was hanging more or less by one of its hinges. And there were unidentifiable red splatters on the floor...

They entered the battle field of a room, cautiously. It had a deadly silence hanging within it.

"What—what happened?" Numbuh 2 was terrified.

"It looked like a bomb went off in here." Numbuh 1 was slightly anxious.

Numbuh 2 began searching for signs of life. He found something that sent a chill through his heart.

"Numbuh 1...," his voice was trembling and barely audible.

Numbuh 1 walked to him. He was on his knees shaking.

He spoke in the same tone, "They're gone... All of them...gone..." A sob escaped his mouth. "Even...Amelia..." He stood up. He had a small pendent charm between his fingers. He held his head in his heads and burst into tears. For the rest of the night, he screamed out for her.

"AMEILA! AMEILAAAAA!"

The next day, Numbuh 2 stayed in his room and didn't come out. The other members of Sector V were called to a meeting during the day in Numbuh 1's room.

"Where's Numbuh 2?" asked Numbuh 3.

"Numbuh 2, is what this meeting is about," said Numbuh 1.

"So you found out the big secret?" asked Numbuh 4.

Numbuh 1 nodded.

"Yes! Pay up!" yelled Numbuh 4. Numbuh 3 started searching her pocket.

"So? What's the deal with Numbuh 2?" asked Numbuh 5.

"The secret is...,"

Everyone leaned towards him. "...to remain a secret."

"WHAT?" everyone said in unison.

"What are you doing about?" asked Numbuh 5, furious.

"I...can't in good conscience tell any of you. It might... hurt him worse."

"Hurt him?" asked Numbuh 3.

"Is he alright?" asked Numbuh 4.

"He just needs some time," Numbuh 1 said softly.

Numbuh 2 was still in his room, faintly sobbing under his bed sheets and looking through his album.

Once Numbuh 1 was alone in his room again, he made promise to himself for Numbuh 2. He knew how it felt to be in love and he vowed to never stop helping Hoagie get his back. That's what best friends are for.

Ptwista: Finished! As I said I will write a sequel, but there are a few things. One, my internet will be cut off for a while. My stupid brother can't pay the bill and I share a line with him. Two, in reviews I'd appreciate it, if you do review, that you won't put anything that would give away the story, especially for this story. I'll see ya when I see you. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this!