Hey everyone,
This chapter is going to be one word: GREAT! I get another chance to show off two of my OC's and I also get to have fun mocking another OC of my own. Though to be honest, I am more excited for next chapter. I am actually going to make four of the Fiendish Five have a somewhat sympathetic side to them. Don't get me wrong, they're not going to regret the murder, just certain aspects of the night it happened.
You'll see,
Venquine1990
Chapter 23
Michael And Carmen
25th of June 2007
Cooper Hide Out
Sly's POV
The Fox family had still been worried about me breaking into Heathrow Prison, regardless of the fact that I managed it seamlessly once before. I definitely didn't think I would ever break in again, yet at the same time, I wanted my answers. That and I felt a growing need to let McSweeney know that the future of the Cooper Line was once more secure, that I had found my one true love and that we were together and dreaming of kids together.
In the end, the gang agreed that the Guru would come with me, while hidden under my disguise and that we would also alert Michael so he could vouch for me if something went wrong. It was then that I noticed that Carmen wasn't with the rest and Marcus explained: "She got call from the hospital just after Bentley and Murray explained everything. She's there to get her new promotion." I had nodded and grinned at this and we agreed to inform Michael later that night.
At the same time
At the hospital
Carmen's POV
My boss Rachel called just as Bentley and Murray finished explaining what happened at Interpol. She had feverishly asked if what she had seen on the news was true and I had happily told her so. Then I told her that I would accept the promotion under the condition that the identity of the patient would be changed from Eric Edricson to my daughter. I hadn't even needed to put up the act I had as an example to the Cooper Gang before she agreed with me.
I had happily thanked her and she told me to come to work so we could alter the contract and I could sign it. Part of me had wanted to stay with the team a little longer, but I had left with the thought: "The quicker I get this done, the quicker I can get back to my little girl. And the quicker I can congratulate her on her brilliant act of revenge. Plus, now I can make sure to stock up on a few more medicines while I'm at work."
Because of this I had quickly taken a duffel bag and left the hide out. I had been pretty amazed at the fact that the garage door had a sensor that worked in sync with running engines and had felt pretty glad that the hide out was almost just as close to the hospital as it was to Interpol. Marcus and I had laughed like crazy when we realized this late last night on the way to the hide out and yet I had also considered it quite brave of Sly to take such a risk.
By now I've parked at my spot in front of the hospital and while a small part of me will miss this privilege, I just shrug it off and head inside. And Rachel, who is a gazelle with a missing horn as it, unfortunately, broke off when she was just two years old, is waiting for me on the other side of the doors. I happily accept her warm hug and her comfort and mutter: "Come on, let's discuss this in your office. I'm ready to accept that promotion now –."
But before I can continue and say that the terms have changed, a loud voice exclaims: "UGH, FINALLY!" We both turn around and I groan as I notice a Maki standing at the entrance, who wears a red and white striped leather suit and an orange and red striped helmet. "About time! You sure are one stubborn young thing, aren't you? But I knew! I knew you'd change your mind if I just kept showering you with attention."
The Maki exclaims as he walks over, but just when he wants to embrace me, I step away and send him a raised eyebrow look. The Maki laughs and says: "Still playing hard to get? Really? Oh well, can't say I don't enjoy a good challenge. Don't worry, lovely, you'll –." Yet while he talked, I send a quick grin at Rachel. And this time I'm the one interrupting him as I say: "Be signing a contract with altered terms in regards to who my patient is going to be."
The Maki falters and a look of utter confusion shows on his face. I grin at him and cross my arms as I say: "You really shot yourself in the foot there, you know? You wouldn't have made such a – ahem – fool of yourself if you had just let me finish. I was going to say I'm ready to accept that promotion now that the terms have changed." The Maki blinks and then shouts: "Who decided that!" I shrug and say: "I did, and so did my boss.
You know, the one in charge of my contracts." I am seriously enjoying myself as I purposely slow my voice down and emphasize almost every word of the last sentence. The Maki blinks at the both of us and Rachel asks: "Why are you even here?" His head swirls between us a little longer and then he grins at me sheepishly and holds up his finger as he says: "I've got a paper cut." I really want to hit either myself on the head or him, but I just roll my eyes and say:
"No." The Maki looks down, but then he suddenly catches sight of something as his eyes widen. "Hey, what – what's that?" He asks while aiming down at my body. At first I feel disgusted as I wonder if he's aiming at my lower regions, but then I realize that he's aiming for my hand. I look down and mutter: "It's my wedding ring.""WHY DO YOU HAVE A WEDDING RING?" The Maki screams and suddenly everything clicks.
"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" I scream back at him and while I don't even care if this will cost me my job or get me suspended or something, I yell: "That is why you've been so adamant? I am known as Nurse Mrs. Fox. Missus, as in a married woman. I have kids, I have a husband! My daughter is the famous Carmelita Montoya Fox! Why the hell didn't you think to ask if I was seeing anyone before you started your crazy campaign to flirt with me!"
Edricson's whole face is beet red, which really doesn't suit his grey furred face, but it does suit the red of his suit and helmet. "Well, it wasn't like you ever wore it." He tries weakly and this time I turn my head away and shake it while my eyes are aimed up at the ceiling in exasperation. "No one who works for this hospital is allowed to wear jewelry alongside their uniforms. It could damage the equipment, especially the tubes or the needles. It's in the rules."
Rachel explains and I suddenly think: "Weren't Mathilda and Monica also married when they went to work for this guy? Was he trying to hit on them the same way he tried to hit on me?" I really want to shake my head at how the mind of this crazy monkey works and then say: "You're not injured, I am not going to be your nurse, you now know that you've been wasting the last year of your life. Now please, do us both a favor and get out of here."
The Maki pouts at me, but I just stare him down. "Meanie." He moans and I growl: "You're an actor and a stunt double. Grow up and just accept your fate already. Now again, leave." And while I suddenly feel as if I'm his mother sending him to his room for breaking the rules, I think: "Even Cheren wasn't this bad when he was in his teens." And with his lower lip out in a pout and his head down, the Maki trudges out of the Hospital.
Then suddenly I realize that we are in the middle of a busy hospital reception hall as everyone around us starts to cheer. I look around shocked and notice that even people who are in the waiting area of the reception hall are cheering for me. I rub the back of my head and Rachel shakes her head as she mutters: "A whole year of trouble and arguments and it was all because he thought he could flirt with you." I grin at her and ask:
"Maybe you should petition to have the staff wear name plates that have either Miss or Misses on them." Rachel hits herself and mutters: "We should've thought of that years ago." I grin at her and say: "Let's just get to your office. I've got a lot to tell you when it comes to what happened between my little girl and that runt." Rachel nods and then suddenly a little girl holding a ripped stuffed bear and wearing a hospital robe comes running at me.
"Miss, is Insetor Fox really your little girl? Cause she's my hero!" I grin at the sweet little thing and lower myself down to her level. "Is she really? And what do you think of her target? Of Sly Cooper?" The girl giggles and says: "Oh, he's dreamy. I want him as my friend when I grow up." I instantly realize that she means boyfriend and this just makes me think her even more adorable. Yet while I quickly send a wink at Rachel, I ask her:
"And what if Sly becomes Carmelita's friend? Would you mind that?" The girl quickly shakes her head and I wonder if I might have hurt her feelings. But then she says: "No Ma'am. I know that Sly like really likes Insetor Fox and I would love it if they become friends." I grin at her and then lower myself to her ear as I whisper: "Don't tell anyone else, okay? They have. That's why I'm changing my job. So I can become Sly's mummy."
The girl squeals, but then I wink and put my finger to my lips as I whisper: "Our little secret, okay?" The girl nods her head like crazy and then her father comes over. The girl wildly waves her hand goodbye as her father takes her deeper into the hospital and I stand up again. I notice Rachel grinning at me and she says: "Yeah, we better head to my office. Cause it sounds like you really have a lot to tell me, Carmen." I nod and leave with her.
Later that Evening
Michael's POV
I have not come home feeling utterly content and satisfied with my job and work in a long time, yet there is such a grin on my face as I close the door behind me. "DADDY! DADDY! YOU DID IT, DADDY! YOU DID IT! YOU SAVED AUNTY CARMELA! YOU SAVED HER FROM THE BAD PUPPY, DADDY! MUMMY AND I ARE SO PROUD OF YOU!" Angela yells as she runs at me and my grin widens as I happily lift her into my arms.
"I didn't do it alone, Angel. I had the Cooper Gang to help me as well all of the good officers that my work still has. Besides, it was Aunty Carmela who slapped the cuffs on the bad pupper, remember that." The girl nods with a huge grin on her face as she says: "I know, daddy. Aunty Carmela is awesome!" I definitely agree with her and I hug her close to my form as I carry my little girl into the living room, where Melanie is waiting.
And to my delight, she is not just wearing her gorgeous golden dress with glitter all over the dress, she is also holding a box that clearly holds three Dutch Profiteroles. I grin at her and kiss her on the lips as I say: "You do know that I still have a lot of work ahead of me, right?" My wife lovingly smiles at me and says: "I know, but you deserve a reward nonetheless. Also, Arte News called and I promised them that you'd be in front of Interpol France tomorrow."
I let go off Angela with one arm to rub the back of my head and the little girl squeals: "Daddy, you're going to be on the telly! That is so cool!" I laugh at her cute innocence and the three of us sit down in front of the soft oaken wooden coffee table and the television against the back wall of our house. I happily put my daughter down next to me, but then my earpiece goes off. "Michael, do you copy? Michael, do you copy?"
I smile at my wife and daughter and quickly get up and out of the room again as I have a feeling that Cheren's not calling me to congratulate me or anything. "I copy, Cheren. Is something wrong? I just got home and I was about to celebrate our victory over Barkley with my family." I am now standing in the hallway to the kitchen and bathroom and peek around the doorway into the living room. Luckily enough, Melanie is busy distracting Angela.
"Sorry about that, but yeah, it's kind of important. Sly and Carmelita did a lot of talking after we came back and we discovered a few things in regards to the night his parents were killed. Yet there are still a few questions and – well, Sly really wants these questions answered before he starts to train me and my family or even before he continues his relationship with Carmelita." I am a little surprised about the last bit, yet I can also understand where the raccoon is coming from.
"That makes sense. So why do you sound so worried?" And the Fox's next words just astound me. "Because the only ones who can answer his questions are the Fiendish Five – or Four or – whatever. And they're all locked in Heathrow Prison and he plans to sneak in there. Tomorrow. Now Bentley and Murray aren't as worried as we are as apparently Sly already snuck in there once before and Murray will be waiting outside with the van, but – still."
My eyes are wide at the idea that a Master Thief and criminal would try to sneak into an actual prison not once but twice, yet I can't help but mutter: "Well, if Sly can go head to head with Clockwerk and Clock-La, I can definitely see him knock out the right guard and pretend to be him just to get into something like a prison. Besides, he's a Master Thief, Cheren. He must be used to wearing all kinds of different disguises, don't you think?"
Cheren sighs in my ear and he says: "You're right. And I know that you're right, Michael. I'm just – I'm worried. Sly has done so much good for Carmelita, not just in the last 36 hours, but in the last two years to longer. I can – I can't even imagine what she'd be like if she lost him. I just thought I should inform you, so that if things go wrong tomorrow, you can vouch for him. I don't think that things could go wrong, but –."
I grin as Cheren sounds as caring as his younger sister. "It's like Sly said, Cheren, when he quoted his father. If you don't have a Plan B, then you don't have a plan. Don't worry, I'll see what I can do when I meet with High Lord Kovu and the others tomorrow morning. Though I do apparently have an interview with Arte first thing tomorrow. Try to convince Sly to sneak in at around noon or something, okay?" Cheren sighs and mutters: "I will, thanks Michael." I grin and return to my family.
Have fun, Michael,
So originally I was planning to have Michael be seen giving that interview on the television in this chapter, but then I realized that this was to take place on the 26th and that Carmen would get her promotion on the 25th. So I decided to let Michael shine by showing off some of his family life, but also prove that he can and will happily help whoever asks it of him. Also, I'm sure some of you have noticed that, from time to time, I am adding real life stuff in this story.
Hope you like,
Venquine1990