Author's Note: Wow! Thanks for all the reviews! Never had this much reviews before! Hope you will enjoy this fic as much as I did! Also, this fic will run to seven chappies. SO, WE'RE HALFWAY THERE ALREADY! And... uhm... please nominate me for a C2 collection! v#

Chapter IV

In War, No One Wins

The waiting room has become so stuffy there was no space for even a pin to fall(well, yeah, that's exaggerating it but you get my point). There was however, an island of calm where no one dared intrude. Said island of calm was inhabited by a giant Eurasian man brooding over the latest issue of Guns and Ammo... and sporting a suspicious glinting metallic object beneath his designer suit.

No one dared come near him– though his charge was wrecking havoc inside the play pen. At this very moment, Artemis was releasing a barrage of alphabet-block missiles. Butler expected this to happen. In fact, the reason he chose this play pen was not because it was the best, nor the most exclusive. Quite the opposite.

If Artemis and he were to be together – till death do them part – yeah, sounds creepy, but that's how it is – Artemis must learn not to sabotage him! As the Major liked to say, trust was the hyphen that joined the Butler-Fowl family (Butlers weren't famous for their literary skill). Without trust, one of them's going to be out of a job -- and that's deadly in their business -- sooner than desired.

The sooner he learns to trust me, the better.

Butler looked at his watch. He knew his principal's short temper.

With this place, it's only a matter of time.

At this point, let me emphasize that Artemis always carried teddy when traveling outside the house. This was his security blanket then, same as his briefcase now. He also took care of teddy with more maturity than some teenage boys their girl friends. Didn't he endure teething without nibbling teddy's ears? At night, did he not gently embrace teddy?

However, here he was in the middle of nowhere so squishing teddy with all his might was excusable. I hate this place! I want to go home! Tears brimming, he looked agitatedly around him. The floor was stinking blue rubber, the walls, garishly painted green with red floral accent! Where's the elegance? The only carpet he has seen was a stinking rat.

But, nervous as he was, a Fowl could not easily be cowed. Artemis glared at the terrified children and matched the panicked looks of the aides. He waited for them to do something – anything! other than stare at him.

Well? Well? Come on, amuse me..!

He tilted his head as an aide approached him. He recognized her as Sheila, the aide who brought him. She was wearing a fake smile, like play-doh pasted on her face. He could see. She was humoring him. Artemis fumed. He was about to throw the blue number two block but she was faster than him. Scooping him up in her arms, she smothered him in her ample bosoms, effectively cutting off his train of thought.

"Why, little Johnny! Why don't you go and join the play? You're gonna enjoy it!"

This roused Artemis to alertness. Johnny? Woman! Do you know that THAT is a euphemism for –

She carried him to a corner where there were no projectiles at hand.

"Why don't you play with Arthur here? He seems lonely like you!"

Venomous sarcasm stained his thoughts. While most of the children were playing with balls, rounded blocks and teddy bears, Arthur was playing by himself (like Arty). But unlike Arty who was busy formulating dastardly thoughts, Arthur was... busy picking his nose.

Delighted at the sight of another toddler coming to play, Arthur giggled and crawled/ walked to meet Artemis, holding out a big, greenish, brownish, squishy fingerful of that-which-must-not-be-named.

You fool! Those are probably brimming with pathological micro-organisms! Oh-my- at this point, Artemis was at a loss of words as no one was permitted to use expletives in front of him.

Artemis' eyes bulged as Arthur came closer. And closer. Seeking comfort, he clutched teddy – his best friend in the whole wide world, but the tragedy of genius was that it left little comfort for Artemis. He knew Teddy was simply a lifeless personification of his desire for sanctuary.

He looked back, unconsciously looking for the other familiar object in this alien place.

Beyond the children enclosure, his Butler person was reading Guns and Ammo, seemingly unconcerned about his plight. Artemis' eyes were watering already – and these were no crocodile tears. His little lips pouted and quivered as he summoned all his Fowlish pride to prevent him from crying.

But that miniature germ warhead was coming closer and closer at him! He cringed and tried to slink into Sheila's enormous bosom, but although he could halfway hide in there, Teddy's bulk was too much.

Before Artemis' terrified eyes...

Teddy.

Fell.

From.

His.

Grasp.

Arthur shrieked in delight as Teddy fell four crawls in front of him. Artemis gasped in pain as Arthur changed direction. His best friend – to be ravaged before his eyes!

In helplessness, he screamed with all his might.

"BUTT... BUTT...B-B-BUUUUUUTTTTTTIIIIIIIEEEEEE!!!!"

It was Butler's turn to cringe as all eyes turned on him.

TO BE CONTINUED

n.n Poor Butty... I mean... Butler. Only a Fowl can call a Butler that and not suffer.

"Unfortunately my dear, you... are not one."

In the shadows of the author's room, the ominous click of a top navy sanctioned fire arm was heard.