Anybody with common sense wouldn't have gone back into an area that had just exploded. However, common sense wasn't something you could listen to when you were a body guard.

Butler ran back into what used to be the café, determined to get to Beckett. Although he was conflicted about leaving Artemis, he trusted that Holly would be able to keep him and the twins safe. Besides, he was the body guard to the Fowl boys, all three of their lives were to be protected by him. Although he still had no idea how Artemis knew this boy was Beckett, he trusted that this boy was Beckett. In fact, deep down, he knew it. If he was to just let him die in the building, he wouldn't be able to face Artemis, the twins, or Angeline ever again.

The area looked like the set of an apocalypse movie, it was hard to believe that this place was crowded with people only a few moments ago. Once more, it was getting worse by the second. Pieces of the ceiling were falling off, and smoke was starting to fill the room. He had to make this quick, for the whole building had the potential to collapse Butler tried not to focus on that, though. His focus was Beckett.

Beckett had gone to the restroom before the explosion, so if he wanted to find him, that would be the best chance. He turned his attention towards the bathroom, and quickly went that direction. Just to be safe, however, he kept an eye out, just in case the boy had come out during the blast.

Butler felt his heart sink, as he realized the boy's restroom was closer to the building that had exploded. That was not the ideal place to be during any explosion. Glass could shatter, doors could jam, and pipes could break. He quickened his pace, determined to get to Beckett.

It was then, that he heard something. It was faint, but it sounded like a baby crying. He stopped, and focused in on the noise. Yes, it was definitely the sound of a baby crying, and it was coming from the boys restroom.

Butler dashed in there, now having two targets that needed saving.

The bathroom was worse than he thought. It was completely filled with smoke, although he couldn't figure out why.

"Beckett!" Butler called out. No response. Butler split his mind, one focusing on Beckett, the other trying to find where that baby crying was coming from

"Beckett!" He yelled out again, this time coughing. The smoke was starting to get to him. He needed to do this fast.

The baby's crying was starting to get fainter, and he could hear it mixed with coughs. If only there were some way he could get rid of this smoke. Right now, that was their biggest danger.

At that moment, he tripped on something that felt like a leg.

"Beckett!" He called out, and got low. Sure enough, there was a passed out boy lying face down on the ground. However, Butler instantly realized that it was not Beckett. This boy looked to be about nine, and had auburn hair.

He saw in the boy's hand, was an inhaler. He had asthma, most likely. Not a good mix with all the smoke. He boy let out a small cough, letting Butler know that the boy was still breathing. But that cough brought Butler's attention to something else.

He had found the baby. This boy had stuck it's head in his shirt. Probably his way of trying to protect the baby from the smoke. He needed to get these two out of here.

However, he still had Beckett to find. If he was in this smoke, there was no way he would be able to last more than another five minutes. However, with these two and their sensitive lungs, they wouldn't be able to last another minute, probably.

He took the baby out of the boy's shirt, and placed him on the floor. He then picked up the boy, and slung him across his shoulder. He picked up the baby, and got up, determined to get these two out of the smoke filled room.

He figured he could drop them off in the remains of the café, where there was much less smoke. They'd still need to get out of there as soon as they possibly could, but finding Beckett was his main priority here.

He walked out of the bathroom, and to his surprise, saw Beckett standing in the middle of the room, looking in his direction. He had an empty look on his face, his eyes seemed to be staring straight past him.

His face was covered in tiny cuts, and Butler saw the boys clothes were had many tears in them, stains of red outlining them.

"Beckett!" Butler called. No response from the boy, except for a slight twitch in his hand.

Butler started to get an uneasy feeling about this.

"Beckett!" He tried, one more time, walking slowly towards him. The boy's eyes widened slightly, but still no response.

It was then, he saw something. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another figure, this one fully grown. The figure appeared to me reaching for, what looked like. Butler's eyes widened.

"Beckett, move! Now!" He yelled as loud as his lungs would allow it. It was a command.

Beckett blinked, twice, and suddenly seemed aware of what was going on now.

He made a run towards Butler, just as the sound of gunfire could he heard. Butler saw the bullets rip right through where Beckett had been standing.

"How fast can you run right now?" Butler asked, quickly. Beckett looked down at his knee, seeing a few cuts on his pants. It was then he noticed he was dripping blood.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to run right now? Myles told me I could get Gengrene if I'm too active while injured," Beckett replied, then noticed the boy and the baby Butler was carrying, "Who are they?"

"First, Myles was lying to you. Second, it's either run now, or get shot," Butler said, not even bothering answering his third question. There wasn't time.

"Oh…okay! Yes, I can run."

Butler placed the baby in Beckett's hand.

"I'm going to trust you with the kid. Please, don't make me regret that!"

Beckett nodded his head.

"Right, Domovoi!" He replied. Butler had to stop himself from yelling at Beckett to not use Domovoi. There would be time for that later

Butler saw the assailant start to make another move, drawing another gun.

Butler ran in front of the blond boy, using himself as a shield. Luckily for him, the shots missed. Whoever this guy was, hopefully the explosion was having a negative effect on him too.

Beckett took that moment to make a run towards the door, sneaking up from behind Butler. Butler was quick to follow, not going to let anything happen to Beckett now.

Butler noticed they ran past their attacked. He had a ski-mask on, and had a fairly large cut on his leg. He also seemed to be burned in a few places. He glared at the two for them, as they ran past. If it wasn't for the faintly breathing boy on his back, Butler would have gone after the man.

They made it outside, much to his relief. Also lucky, was that he saw a ambulance nearby, treating people injured by the explosion.

He gestured for Beckett to follow him towards the ambulance.

The paramedics there were busy treating a man with a cut on his arm, when one of them noticed Butler and Beckett walk up to them.

Before the man had a chance to say anything, he placed the boy down at the man's feet. Beckett followed, placing the baby next to the boy

"We found these two inside. They were in the smoke, and the boy has asthma. They need treatment immediately."

A group of a few paramedics picked the two up, getting them to the care they need.

"What about you two, you looked pretty bad yourselves," the paramedic asked. Butler just turned away, grabbing Beckett by the arm.

"Don't need it," Butler said, and the two walked away.

"Artemis!"

Artemis looked up at his fairy friend, surprised that she was suddenly yelling at him.

"You were mumbling 'four' to yourself," she said, before he even had the chance to ask why she yelled at him.

"Oh," Artemis sighed, "I'm sorry, Holly. It's been a long day."

"Are you going to be okay through this?" Holly asked, "Something tells me that Beckett's being here is only going to bring more trouble. Are you sure you want to go through this one? You could just sit this one out, and let the rest of us handle this."

"I can't do that," Artemis replied, "Beckett's my brother. I'm sure if roles were reversed, he'd do everything in his power to help me."

Holly saw in the corner of her eye, baby Beckett trying to lick Myles, much to the other twin's disgust.

"Is he still like that?" She asked, gesturing to the scene. Artemis smiled, picking the baby Beckett up. Myles sighed in relief, and went to studying a rock.

"Earlier, when he first saw the twins, Beckett said to his younger self, 'you won't be as smart as Myles or Artemis, but what you lack in IQ, you will make up with a huge heart and spirit'." Artemis smiled, "From what I've seen with him, that's the perfect way to describe him." Artemis then laughed a little bit, and ruffled Beckett's hair, "The funny thing was, though, he picked up Myles, thinking it was him."

Holly laughed, looking at the toddler.

"It's too bad you weren't like that. It would have made our job much easier, all those years ago."

She then saw, Butler walking towards them, and hanging around his neck was the figure of a boy. She smiled.

"Artemis," she said, pointing towards the two.

The sun was almost set, but even though it was nearly dark, Holly thought she saw Artemis' eyes start to look a bit glossier than usual.

Artemis let out a huge sigh of relief, and smiled.

They made it through their first day of this adventure alive.

However, although he didn't want to say it, he felt like this was only the beginning of the storm that was to come.

Happy Holidays, everybody! Sorry this took so long, but it's here now.

I'll try and get the next chapter out, before the end of the year. I think that's a reasonable goal.

Thank you to everyone who's reviewed! I had a few rough days since the last update, and seeing a review for the story made them a load better. I'm not review hungry, and don't care how many reviews a story gets. However, I'd be lying if I said I didn't smile when I get one!

Jeanne