Note: Ducktales is a Carl Bark's creation, and a production of Disney, and not associated with me in any way, shape or form…still, a girl can dream!

Beagle Without a Mask

Chapter 8

Close and Personal…

Jennifer had finished her trek up the metallic staircase, reaching the rooftop just above their three bedroom apartment. She smiles upon seeing she's not alone, noticing a lone figure sitting on the opposite side of the building, looking down at the streets below, watching the hustle and bustle of the morning rush of uptown Duckburg.

She steps off of the railing and over the ledge, placing her feet squarely on the stone roofing. "So this is where you've been hiding out."

Bigtime Beagle jumps. He turns in all directions, seeing who's spoken to him. Upon sighting her, he relaxes.

"Oh, uh, hey, Jennifer." His tone is melancholy as he forces a grin for her. He turns his attention back to the streets, seeing a couple coming around the corner of Swan Heights, strolling down the sidewalk. Even from all the way up here, he can see their hands joined together tightly.

Jennifer watches him quietly, not really sure what to say. She takes a few steps closer to him, clearing her throat. "There's, waffles downstairs…if you're hungry." She gives a nervous laugh. "Of course, I might have to make more now that the others have gotten to them first…That Burger sure can pack it away!"

Bigtime doesn't respond, still gazing below him at passerby's coming from all directions.

"Not hungry, huh? It's okay. I understand." She observes him in silence for a minute or two. "Well…it looks like you wanna be alone, so, um…I'll just, stay over here and out of your way." She takes a seat to his right so she's just barely out of his line of vision. After a moment, she says, "I'd go inside but Bonnie kicked me out…apparently I needed some fresh air while she and the others catch up."

She pauses. "At least, I think that's what they're doing. I didn't really ask."

It's quiet once more as Bigtime eyes the street below his feet again, hoping another couple doesn't walk by. He spies a familiar green car on the street opposite of Swan Heights. The sight of the 'family car' his brothers had driven to Duckburg in causes him to groan, knowing he'd have to face them eventually.

He sighs deeply again as he reaches into his pocket, pulling out the black mask he'd taken off the night before, running the material through his fingers as he looks down at it glumly.

Jennifer sees this, and is about to say something but is interrupted by a strong gust of wind as it blows over the roof top, causing her teeth to chatter.

Bigtime looks over at her curiously as he replaces the mask in his pocket. He only now noticed how little clothing she actually had on; a thin strapped tank top that fits snuggly against her slender frame, the light blue material matching her faded Capri pants, which barely run down above her knees as she hugs her legs close to her.

"You okay?" he asks, almost laughing at her obvious discomfort.

"Hmm? Oh, yeah! I'm fine," she manages in a shaky voice. "Just wish I could've grabbed my jacket before Bonnie kicked me out. She didn't really give me much of a choice though…" she says, shrugging as she looks out over the city, willing herself not to break down from the cold.

A feeling of warmth surrounds her. She looks up to see that Bigtime had removed his jacket, draping it over her shoulders before he returns to his previous position, only this time it's on the same ledge as her. He sits just a few feet from her as he resumes his blank staring, now towards Duckburg harbor.

"Um, thank you." Although thrown off by the chivalrous gesture, she wastes no time in hugging it around her tightly. "But, aren't you cold?"

"Nah. I'm used to it. Being in a cold cell sorta toughens ya up after a while…Besides, you need that more than I do," he says without looking over at her. "Someone as small as you shouldn't be out here without more on. You could catch pneumonia, or something."

She giggles, nodding over at him. "Bet it doesn't hurt to have on long pants, boots and a red sweater, huh?" Upon hearing him laugh, she smiles. "So you do have a sense of humor? Good. I was worried there for a bit."

Bigtime can't help but grin, looking over at her for a brief moment, catching a glint from her green eyes as the morning sun hits them. It was odd the way she kept gazing on at him, as if he were someone important, actually worth looking up to.

"You should do that more often," she states.

He raises an eyebrow, afraid she'd noticed him staring at her. "Do what?"

"Smile. It looks good on you."

He can feel his face flush. Being a criminal, he wasn't used to having a compliment like that. Or any, for that matter.

Jennifer is silent for a moment, putting her hands in the pockets of the jacket. "So…um," she says, clearing her throat. "Can I, ask you something?"

"Sure, I guess." Bigtime shifts on the ledge, no longer comfortable sitting on the cold stone surface.

Jennifer clicks the toes of her shoes together a few times. "What do you think you could have done, instead of…you know…just, robbing banks or jewelry stores and things like that?" She looks over at him while resting her head on her propped up knees. "I mean, you told me what sort of things you were into and all but…not what you'd want to do."

She pauses. "You know, if you could have a choice…other than being in crime. Have you ever thought about what else you could do instead?"

Bigtime only stares out over the rooftops in silence as if he hadn't actually heard her. He couldn't believe she was asking him about this, especially after the evening before, when that's all he could think about. It's as if she'd read his mind.

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to," Jennifer says suddenly. "If it's too personal, that's fine. Sorry, I was just curious-"

"It's not that it's too personal," he says quickly. "I just, don't really know."

He mimics her sitting position, folding his legs and resting his head on them. He briefly glances in all directions. "To be honest…I been thinking about that, a lot."

"Really?" She looks on at him in amazement.

He nods. "I can't really see myself as anything else…but sometimes, I sure wish I could, though. At least that'd give me some kinda idea if I actually wanted to, um…quit the business."

Bigtime tugs at the hem of his sleeve. "Don't get me wrong…I really do-" he almost says love, but stops himself, "-care about my brothers, and Ma…I'm pretty sure I'd give my life for her." He swallows a lump in his throat. "I just…wish she, er, they, had left me out of it all…like Bonnie. Maybe then I'd know if I was meant for anything else other than, whatever it is we do."

He shakes his head, suddenly wanting to change the subject. "But, no point in worrying about that now, seeing as how it's a little late for a career change!"

She watches him fidget, sensing his discomfort at the mention of his mother, having overheard some of what Bonnie and him had been discussing the night before, moments before she'd emerged from her room. But she hadn't made it apparent that she had.

"I'm sorry," she says gently. "Your mother, I mean."

He shrugs.

Jennifer continues to look on at the thug next to her curiously. "But…Is crime really that bad of a thing to get mixed up in? Sure, breaking the law is wrong and everything…" She grins somewhat slyly. "But come on…you have to admit…breaking and entering? Bank robberies? A huge bin filled with cash!? Don't you find that to be the least bit, I don't know, thrilling?"

Bigtime doesn't respond, only raising an eyebrow at her.

"I'm serious!" She giggles, scooting a little closer to him. "I've always wanted that feeling. The rush of adrenaline. I'm not saying I wanna be a criminal, or anything!" She waves her hands in front her. "I've just never done anything that exciting before. To be honest, I was a pretty sheltered kid. An only child. My parents never let me do anything too out of the ordinary… Hell, I'm surprised I got away to go to college.

"I know it sounds a little, crazy, but…" Jennifer sighs, averting his confused gaze. "Ever since I learned that Bonnie not only had seven brothers, and how close you all used to be when she was little, and when I found out who you all were…I'll admit I was a little jealous."

"Of what! Being a five year old kid surrounded by bad influences because you're too young to understand the difference between wrong and right?" He shakes his head, bewildered. "Trust me. You're parents did right with you."

"No, not that! I meant when you guys weren't out breaking the law or stuck in prison. Bonnie's always telling me about times when most of you were at home, when you weren't planning any heists or talking about Scrooge McDuck…just, being a family. Her family.

"I guess, when I said that I'd like to know what it was like to pull off a robbery…what I really meant was, I wanted to know what it was like to have a family that's so dedicated to one another. Because, in the end, Bonnie says that all you guys really have; each other."

Bigtime doesn't respond, still having trouble understanding what it is she's trying to get at. But despite his confusion, he's intrigued by every second of the conversation. Just like the night before, he's baffled that someone like her actually just wanted to sit and talk to someone like him.

"You know they look up to you."

He finally brings his head up. "Huh?"

She nods. "Burger, Babyface, and Bouncer. They told me how you pretty much think of everything. That you're the one they all turn to for a plan, or advice, or when things go wrong." She adjusts her hands in their pockets. "They know how much they depend on you for, basically everything. Not just them, but, the others, too…even if they might not show it."

He doesn't say anything, only watching the cars pass by on the street below, noticing a familiar black and white police cruiser. It was probably just his mind playing tricks on him, but he could've sworn he'd already seen the same car pass by a few minutes ago.

"But you already knew that…didn't you?"

Bigtime shrugs again.

She continues to study his sullen expression, unable to find any emotion. It was interesting to her how he seemed so unlike the reputation expressed through past news reports and articles in the papers. And yet, his family seemed to thrive on that status, as if it were an addiction they couldn't shake. She was beginning to understood what Bonnie had meant when she'd said that not all of them were willingly involved in crime. Some of them just didn't have a choice.

Jennifer feels something in her grip, pulling it from the right pocket. She glances down at the object in her hand as she keeps it down at her side, studying the black material, the image of the Beagle Boys in the apartment below coming to mind-

"It's not as comfortable as it looks."

Jennifer glances up at him, seeing his eyes on her, still unsure about what he might be thinking.

"It chafes a little…especially when it's hot."

Jenny smiles, observing the mask again as she holds it out in front of her. "That's too bad. I bet it looks good on you."

"I really doubt that."

She bites her bottom lip. "Don't suppose you'd put it back on…even if I asked nicely?" She bats her eyes.

He shakes his head. "Nice try. But the only one who can use the puppy-dog eyes on me is my baby sister, and she's gotta really work at it."

Jenny doesn't respond, continuing to look on at him in a childlike manner.

He rolls his eyes. After a moment of silence, he sighs in defeat, giving in to her charm. Having dealt with Bonnie in the past, he knew resistance was hopeless. It was easier just to give in. Chances are, she'd learned the maneuver from his sister anyway.

Bigtime holds out an open palm to her. When she hands the mask back to him, he exams the familiar black veil. Something argued with him inwardly about whether or not to put it back on, and for several good reasons; for one thing, it stood for just about everything he currently despised about his family. Another was it reminded him of his mother, and although he should hate her for numerous points, the guilt he feels prevents him.

And it really was uncomfortable.

It doesn't take long for him to replace it over his eyes. He looks to her for feedback. "Happy now?"

"Hmm, not bad. You definitely make it work." Jennifer giggles. "But it's still hard to imagine someone like you robbing-" She suddenly gasps, grabbing onto Bigtime's arm for support. Her eyes are wide as she stares down at the street in alarm. "Oh no!"

"What? What is it?" He looks down, immediately spotting the same police cruiser as before, only instead of moving down the street it's now parked at the curb directly beneath them. He'd forgotten about it during their talk. At that moment, two men in blue uniforms walk out of Swan Heights, heading straight for the vehicle. It's his turn to be anxious. "The cops? Here! But, how' they know!?"

She shakes her head. "No, it's me they're here for, not you. It's my ex, Damien. He must've come to see me again, but-"

"Woah, woah, woah, you're dating a cop?!" Bigtime shouts, going to stand. Unfortunately, he'd forgotten they we perched on a ledge. Since she still has a hold of him, he stumbles backwards onto the rooftop. He lands face up, the back of his head making contact with the stone surface. As if that wasn't painful enough, the wind is knocked out of him from Jennifer landing on top of him, the strong grip she'd had on his arm bringing her down with him.

"Ow," they both groan.

Bigtime lifts his head, rubbing the back of it vigorously, breathing in through his teeth. "Ooh, that's gonna hurt later." With his eyes shut tight from the pain, he feels something brush lightly up against his nose. He opens them, staring straight into Jennifer's.

The two of them freeze. It takes a moment for their minds to register the position they're in; Jen's hand still grasps his arm, while the other rests on his chest as she lays directly on top of him. Bigtime's one free hand had somehow made it's way to her side, holding onto her slender waist. Their noses continue to touch as neither of them dare move.

Bigtime swallows, his throat suddenly dry. "You, okay?" he croaks.

She nods slowly. "Yeah…You?"

"Uh-huh."

"Oh. Good," she breathes, only now noticing the color of his eyes. She's finally able to make out an emotion deep within them; gentle, yet sad and misunderstood. Jenny wondered if the reason she hadn't noticed it before was because she hadn't been up close enough to really see-

"What the hell is going on? Jennifer Anne?!"

The couple look over to see Bonnie Beagle holding open the maintenance door leading onto the rooftop. She's not alone, as three of her brothers trail close behind her, their expressions as shocked and contorted as their sister's.

"Bonnie!" They gape at her for a moment before glancing at each other. They scramble to their feet, distancing themselves.

Bigtime shakes his head, his flushed face a similar color to Jennifer's. "This isn't what it looks like-"

"It-it was an accident!" Jen adds. "I saw Damien coming out of the building-"

"And we were just startled, and fell and-"

"Stop!" Bonnie holds up a hand, somewhat disgusted. "I don't, want, to know. And I don't care, if I never find out."

The three goons behind her can barely stand to hold back their laughter. Babyface snickers, "Gee, Bigtime. Hope we didn't interrupt anything to, intimate." He then elbows Burger.

"Yeah!" Burger chimes in. "If we would've waited half a sec more-"

"-there coulda' been some serious 'love' in the air," adds Bouncer, clasping his hands together and batting his eyes mockingly. "Ain't it beautiful, boys?" They all laugh hysterically.

"Would you guys shut up!" Bigtime shakes a fist at them threateningly, not resulting in much. "It was an accident, alright? We we're just talkin', and then Jenny saw this guy, or whatever, and we just fell backwards and-"

"I said I don't wanna hear it! We don't have time for this!" Bonnie glares back at the boys. "Let's just pretend that we didn't walk in on…whatever the hell this was." She shudders before pointing at a disgruntled Bigtime. "You; head downstairs with them, get in the car, and don't move. That goes for all of you, not just him." The snickering from behind her stops. "I'll be down in a minute. As for you?" She takes a deep breath as she looks on at her friend in frustration. "Like I said before, we'll talk about this later."

Jennifer and Bigtime, still beat-red, say nothing, only nodding in response, each of them staring intently at the stone rooftop.

Bonnie pushes the snickering Beagles out of the way, allowing an embarrassed Bigtime to pass, not really up for arguing with her at the moment, going along with her orders for the time being.

As the Beagle Boys trek down the stairway, Bonnie lightly touches her friend's shoulder, getting her attention. The look she gives Jennifer is more worried than she'd expected.

Bonnie clears her throat. "You, uh, might want to put on something a little warmer," she says in a defeated tone, looking her up and down. "There's no way I'm introducing you to the rest of my family looking like that." She nods through the door. "It's bad enough they got to see you dressed up like this."

Jennifer raises an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Bonnie smiles. "You don't think I'd actually go away for the weekend and leave you here all alone with Pinscher on the loose, do you? Well, apparently, neither would they." She gestures through the open doorway at the sound of laughter as it echoes, carrying upward;

"Oh, Bigtime, it's so very cold out. Can I borrow your jacket?"

"You're askin' for it, Burger!"

"Why, yes, Jennifer. Here, let me put my strong arms around you to keep you warm."

"Shut up, Bouncer!"

"Oh, thank you. Woops! I seem to have slipped! How embarrassing. I'm right on top of you!"

"Are you all right, Jennifer? Well, as long as we're here-"

"Come on guys, knock it off!"

Despite the loud bickering, Bonnie rolls her eyes, getting back to her friend. "I told the guys a little about him. It didn't take them long to peg him as a creep. Even for a cop. So, we talked about it, and…we agreed it'd be safer for you at, the hideout." She sighs, never liking the term. "So, you'd better pack a few things… we might end up staying longer than just the weekend."

"Oh, my god, seriously? You mean it?" Jennifer squeals with excitement, hugging her friend, who reluctantly returns it. She suddenly pulls away from Bonnie, her expression filled with concern. "But…is that going to work? I mean, will it be okay with, ya know, the others-"

"Jenny and Bigtime sittn' in a tree; K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Bonnie shouts down at the singing. "Would you idiots just get downstairs!"

"Sorry, Bon Bon."

She looks back at Jennifer, who can't help but giggle. She shakes her head. "Trust me. They'll be fine with it. Like I told you yesterday; they tend to have a soft spot for my friends. Especially the ladies. But they'll never admit it." She gives her a wink before descending the stairs. "And I doubt Bigtime will have a problem with it."

Once again, Jennifer is left speechless, only following her friend, throwing a glance back over her shoulder to eye the spot where she and Bigtime Beagle had fallen, just before the door closes behind them.

Hmm…looks like Bonnie's not the only one who gets to have a little romance in this story!

But what's next for our dysfunctional family? Will Bonnie still make that date with Officer Russell if she goes home? How's Ma Beagle going to cope with all of this?

Has Bankjob gotten any smarter since Chapter 7!?

Stay tuned to find out…

For faster results, please offer any opinions or ideas any of you readers might have. I will definitely consider them ;)