Only one review last chapter *pouts*. Thanks to wawaboy2 for the review, much appreciated!

I know, they're a little OOC, but I'm working on it. Hopefully, this chapter will be better. Also, in response to wawaboy2's review, I don't know if it's just me, but I think Angeline and Holly have a lot in common. They're both very loyal, willing to forgive Artemis (you pick which one) for virtually anything, both emotional and loving, both decent people. I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't get along. Is it just me reading into things that aren't there, or are there actually similarities between the characters? Please, tell me if I'm going insane.

Wow, long author note. Sorry about that. On with the story.

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything except the plot (which is still under construction. Ideas appreciated!).

A Hero's Welcome

Holly got back below ground at around seven pm, Irish time. She had barely stepped out of the shuttle when she was surrounded by paparazzi, shoving microphones in her face and snapping shots of her on their cameras. She raised a hand to protect her eyes from the flash, and squinted through the crowd. It was about ten fairies deep. Could she elbow her way through without comment, or not?

"Holly, where have you been? On another Recon mission?"

"Holly, what do you think about Opal Koboi's mind wipe?"

"How do you feel about her attempt on your and Artemis Fowl's lives?"

Holly frowned at the sprite who asked the last question. How did he think she felt? She opened her mouth to shout but, luckily for her good reputation, the press were interrupted by a very familiar and welcome voice.

"That's Captain Short to you people, and she's had a very hard last few days. So, you will please allow her to pass. She needs to give her report and you fairies aren't helping any. Move, now!"

Trouble Kelp appeared from the masses, and Holly couldn't help the grin that spread on her face. He slung and arm around her shoulders, and towed her through the reporters and into the safety of an LEP shuttle.

"Thank you for that, Commander. I really hate the press sometimes."

"Where have you been, Captain? You were sent topside twenty-seven hours ago, and in that time you haven't so much as reported in once. What happened?"

Holly blinked. She'd never heard Trouble sound so serious.

"By the time I got to Fowl Manor, it was light. I have no magic in me, sir, so I couldn't shield. I thought it would be best for the People if I stayed where I was, so I wasn't caught on satellite or something. I got back belowground as soon as possible."

"Where did you stay? At the Manor?"

"Yes sir. Artemis is a friend, and he offered to put me up for the day. I accepted."

"Is that it? Is there anything you're not telling me?"

Holly thought about Angeline's knowledge of their race, and sighed.

"There is something else…"

Trouble heard the reluctance in her tone as she told him about the circumstances that had led to Angeline knowing of their existence, and was tempted to bellow himself hoarse at her. She'd emotionally bonded to yet another human! As if Fowl wasn't enough!

He swallowed his rage and breathed deeply, trying to calm down. It was worry for Holly, translating itself into anger as a release mechanism. He could control himself.

When he felt that he could speak without yelling, he lifted his gaze and looked Holly in the eye. She was looking carefully neutral, hoping that she wasn't about to be fired. Not that P.I. work wasn't fun, but…

Trouble felt his heart melt. He'd often seen officers looking like that at Root, but he'd hoped never to see anyone look at him like that. Especially not Holly.

He reached over and held her hand.

"It's alright, I guess. I mean, it's contained. I can get a team to go up and perform a mind wipe. I'll talk to Foaly when we get back to Police Plaza."

Holly nodded, relief written in her eyes, if not on her features.

"Thank you, Commander."

He smiled at her gently.

"I may be your boss, Holly, but that doesn't mean I'm not still your friend. When we're not on duty, call me Trouble."

"We are on duty."

"I am, Holly. You're on leave for the next week. Go and finish your grocery shopping or whatever it was you were doing when those sprites started shooting up the place."

Holly remembered the event. She'd been shot in the leg. This was before she'd been abducted by Opal, and the events of the last three days had unfolded. Was that all it had been? Three days? It felt like much longer.

"But, Trouble…"

He held his hand up to stop her.

"No 'buts', Holly. You're on leave. Paid leave, by the way. You haven't taken any in about three years. You need the time off, so take it. You were shot yesterday, H. Take some time to recover, huh?"

H. He hadn't called her that since they'd dated, almost forty years ago. It had always been either Holls or Holly. It was the nickname, more than an actual desire to have a holiday, that made her nod and agree to stay at home for a week. At least she could catch up on her TV viewing. Even if there were only repeats on, she hadn't actually seen anything besides news clips for about a year.

She wondered if they were still playing that mudman show, Smallville. It was a load of nonsense, and no humans were ever that accommodating towards those different to them, but it was entertaining.

The shuttle stopped at Police Plaza, and Holly jumped out and walked over to the Ops Booth. Foaly hadn't been there when she'd swiped the wings the day before, so she hadn't seen him in a good week or so. She gave the wings to one of the techies, and rapped on the Booth door. Ever since Opal had hijacked his system four years ago, he'd tightened security until it was hard for him to gain access to the booth. It was nigh impossible for anyone else. Holly thought Artemis could probably manage it, but she wasn't about to tell Foaly that. Caballine may have broken him of some of his paranoia, but professional envy was something else entirely. If she even hinted that Artemis was smarter than he was, he'd take it as a challenge and up security even more.

Foaly saw Holly knocking at the door, and froze. What should he say to her? Should he let her know he'd seen her and Artemis, or should he pretend like nothing had happened? Maybe that was why she was here, or maybe it was something else entirely. What should he do?

He shook himself. He was over thinking things. This was Holly, for Fronds sake. She was the same elf who strode around, holding her own against the males in the offices without even trying. The same elf who gave him a crate of carrots for his and Caballine's anniversary, even though she'd not been present at the ceremony, or even been informed of the date of the anniversary. The same Holly who'd been his friend for years. It wasn't as if she'd changed. So what if she had fallen for a mud man…

Holly knocked again, and he pushed the button to unlock the doors. He decided not to bring up what he'd seen unless she mentioned it.

Holly walked in and grinned at Foaly.

"Hey, centaur. How're things?"

His eye was caught by the scar on her stomach. She saw where he was looking and pulled at her top self-consciously.

"I need to get a longer t-shirt to keep in my locker." she mumbled. Foaly relaxed and pulled her into a hug. Yep, the same Holly.

"How come you're here?" he asked when they broke apart. She frowned at his tone.

"Why? Am I not welcome?" she said, only half in jest. She wasn't used to Foaly being serious. Sarcastic and irritating, yes. Sombre, no.

"Of course! Caballine actually keeps on at me to invite you round for dinner. I just thought that, what with all your time off, you'd be doing something more interesting."

Holly shook her head.

"I only just got back underground. Thought I'd come and see my favourite LEP consultant. How's Caballine?"

"She's good. Been missing her spa buddy for the last few weekends."

"I'll make reservations. I might as well do something with this time off."

Trouble stuck his head around the door and half-shouted in Foaly's general direction.

"Foaly! I need a team of techies with a full mind wipe kit ready to go, ASAP. We've got a to make Angeline Fowl forget all about us. Holly, what are you still doing here?"

"Oh, I was just leaving…"

"Well, go. Relax, take a week to heal, then come back. And don't worry about the press, I've taken care of them."

He switched his attention back to Foaly.

"Now, centaur! I want Mrs Fowl wiped by this time tomorrow! Move it!"

Foaly sighed as Trouble withdrew. He was, as ever, left to organise an entire mind wipe alone. Trouble didn't appreciate how hard that really was. No Commander ever did.

Holly sighed and headed for the door.

"I guess I'd better go. See you soon Foaly."

Last chance Foaly thought. Just bite the bullet and ask.

"Holly." he blurted. She stopped and turned to look at him. He swallowed, than lost his nerve. It had been a private moment, after all.

"Here, take this."

He threw her a glass phial filled with earth. It was as sealed acorn unit, like she'd used in the Arctic to reattach her finger. She caught it easily and tucked it into her trouser pocket.

"Thanks, Foaly."

"No problem, Holls."

He hesitated, then added "You know you can talk to me about anything, right? I'm here for you."

She narrowed her eyes at him.

"Is this some ploy to get more carrots out of me?"

He sighed. She didn't want to talk about it. Fine.

"No, Holls. Just take care of yourself."

Holly sighed wearily.

"If this is about me getting shot, then I'm fine."

"Right. Good to know."

She turned to go, and he called after her.

"You know, I've recently patented a fully bullet-proof suit to wear aboveground. I could lend it to you, if you want? You could test-pilot it for me?"

Grinning, she waved over her shoulder and closed the door behind her. Foaly sighed. She was an adult, she could make her own decisions.

"I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into, Holly."

With that, he turned to his computers and began composing a list of the equipment he'd need to mind wipe yet another member of the Fowl family.

The Dynasty store was the most stylish jewellery store under the earth. It sold to the rich and famous, and to a few wannabes. The jewels were expensive, but they were worth it. Or, at least, that was Skylar Peat's opinion. The multiple award winning actress bought exclusively from Dynasty, something they didn't hesitate to announce. It brought in even more customers.

Elim Quartz, the elfin owner of Dynasty, was locking up the store. It was midnight, much later than he'd normally work, but Ms Peat had ordered a new item of jewellery, and he wanted to make sure that it was perfect. He turned the key in the lock, turned around and came face to face with a female elf. He jumped backwards, clutching at his heart.

"You shouldn't sneak up on people like that, miss."

The elf smiled cruelly. That was the last thing Elim saw before coming to in hospital the next morning, to find out that his store had been broken into and the new necklace for Ms Peat had been stolen. In between sobs, he told the LEP officers that his attacker had been female, young, had short hair and dark eyes. They looked at each other. Elim was in the prime of his life, and had martial arts training. It was doubtful that any girl would be able to take him down. She'd have to be really skilled, maybe a martial arts trainer, or a police officer…

Ok, another cliffy. Sorry, but I just love being evil sometimes. I'll update soon, sooner if I get more reviews! (hint hint). And yes, I'm a Smallville nut. Sorry about that, but I've got to project a little of myself into the story.

Oh, and I didn't say at the start, but Elim belongs to me. He won't be in any more of the story (I don't think he will, anyway), but I thought I'd name him anyway. Elim means 'oak tree', just thought I'd let you know. Or, at least it does according to my source. I don't own Skylar Peat, who is named in TOD.

Let me know what you think, you know you want to review! Love you all, and if anyone can guess who really robbed the store, then you're either a genius or looking over my shoulder, because I haven't written about them yet. Yes, an OC, but I'll try to make them believable, and not ruin the story. Love you all!