Author's Note: Sorry updates are slow. I'm busy and my updates will be spread out like this most likely from now on. Thanks, read, review and enjoy! :) By the way, thanks again to z3eldafan.

Ch.5- Sketchpad

That night there came the sound of shattering glass. Tintin awoke with a start, jumping out of bed and flying to the nearest window. He couldn't see anything, but he could hear shouts and could see bright flashes of light coming from around the corner.

From his window Tintin had a fairly good view of Brussels. He could see down towards the marketplace, but this light was coming from around the corner down on a street hidden by several tall buildings.

To his surprise another light flashed back, this one coming from the building just across the street from his. It was a bright, white light and it flashed quickly as if someone was using a mirror.

Tintin forced his gaze from the window and wandered down the hallway from his room to the guest bedroom where the Captain was staying.

Tintin pounded on the door, still half asleep.

"Captain! Captain? There's something going on outside, can you hear the shouts? I saw a strange light."

"Go back to bed lad." Came a grumble, followed by a few short snores.

"It's no use." The boy mumbled and looked down at his dog who was following him back and forth down the hall.

Too tired to deal with the Captain and somewhat believing he was just sleepwalking, Tintin hurried back to bed. He was asleep as soon as he head hit the pillow.

Later that morning Tintin woke up a his regular time. He quickly dressed and began his morning stretches.

"Good morning Captain." He smiled when the Captain walked past his room, his hair a complete mess.

"Good morning, doing those ridiculous exercises again I see?" He groaned and sipped from the mug of coffee in his hand.

"Oh come on Captain, it's good for you to stretch. You should try it with me sometime."

Captain Haddock snorted and almost spit the coffee back into the cup.

Tintin simply rolled his eyes and continued his routine.

After breakfast Tintin remembered the odd light, but figured it couldn't have been anything more than a dream.

"I had this peculiar dream last night that I heard shouts and glass breaking…and I saw this strange flashing light."

The Captain looked up at Tintin from his newspaper. It was a look of confusion with a dash of suspicion. "That's odd. Maybe you should have your head examined?" He joked and Tintin laughed.

"Good one Captain, now I have to go. I'm visiting the robbery scene this morning."

"Are you sure it's not just another date?"

Tintin blushed. Somehow the Captain had managed to discover all the details about Tintin and Audrey's outing.

"No Captain, it's not another date. How did you find out so much about that anyways?"

The Captain winked. "I have my sources." He laughed, glancing down at Snowy.

Tintin's eyes got huge and he threw a look of disgust at his dog before putting on his coat and heading out the door.

He was met halfway down the street by Thompson and Thomson.

"I say Tintin, did you hear? Another robbery has taken place last night at Harrington's Jewels."

"To be precise: there's been another robbery."

"No, I hadn't heard…" Tintin's voice trailed off, beginning to recall his dream.

Maybe it hadn't been a dream at all? He thought.

"Is Audrey already at the scene?"

"Ah yes, in fact she says she has something to give you."

Tintin nodded his head and hurried down the street, trying to keep up with the bumbling detectives.

What could Audrey possibly have to give to him?

When they reached Harrington's Jewels Tintin realized that the sound of breaking glass had obviously come from the window, but what about the light? Had his mind just made that up?

"Tintin, there you are." Came Audrey's voice.

Tintin turned around and smiled at his girlfriend. Well, at least that's what he considered her now.

"The Thompsons said you have something to give me."

Audrey laughed and held up Tintin's green notepad.

"Oh, I was wondering where I put that."

"You left it on the table yesterday evening."

Tintin reached out to grab the notepad, but Audrey smoothly held it out of his grasp in the last second.

"I haven't looked inside yet. I was planning on waiting to raid it of clues until you got here. I figured it would be more fun that way." She teased.

Tintin blushed, still trying to grab it away from her, but she was too quick. Eventually, he gave up.

"Let's see, what do we have here?" As Audrey began to flip through the notepad's pages her taunting smile turned sour.

"What… what on Earth is this?" She mumbled and waved the notepad in the air.

Tintin groaned. She had the wrong notepad.

Tintin stood beside Audrey to see what she was looking at.

"Why, these aren't clues!"

"No, what you have there is my sketch book…"

"Your sketch book? You…sketch? And…" Her voice cut off.

Oh no, Tintin thought.

"You…you…"

Tintin groaned, he remembered that sketch.

"Why would you sketch me? Why?" Audrey demanded, narrowing her eyes and whirling to face Tintin.

"I… I don't know. You looked beautiful that night." He reasoned, remembering how gorgeous Audrey had looked in the lacy, sky colored dress and sapphire necklace.

"But why would you draw me is what I'm asking. You should've asked first." She said, she sounded hurt and Tintin automatically began to feel bad. He had only drawn Audrey because he didn't think he'd ever see her again and wanted to remember her.

Tintin was about to apologize when he was interrupted by a series of shrieks and nervous giggles.

"Ah, it's him!"

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I am. I'd know him anywhere!" Came an awkward conversation in a loud whisper.

Tintin was tapped on the shoulder by a young girl his own age with dark brown hair and freckles. She was quite pretty.

"Are you Tintin?" She asked, but didn't wait for a reply and continued talking.

"Would you please sign my notepad?" She giggled and thrust a pen and paper in front of him.

Tintin glanced over and saw a whole line full of laughing young girls, all with pens and paper.

"Um, sure, but do me a favor and tell me why…"

"It's your fan club! We love you Tintin!" The girl burst out and kissed Tintin square on the lips.

Tintin shook his head, hoping he wasn't blushing again, but he was.

"Hey, maybe if you ask him he'll draw a picture of you too." Came Audrey sarcastic voice. Her arms were crossed, this couldn't mean anything good.

"Really?" The brunette asked, staring at Tintin dreamily.

Other girls were beginning to crowd around, getting closer and louder by the second.

"Who's she?" One girl asked Tintin and gestured to Audrey.

"Oh, ah, that's my girlfriend Audrey." He replied.

Then the Thompsons came to escort out all the girls and explain that this was a crime scene and you need a permit to get in.

Tintin took his sketchpad from Audrey and hurried back to searching for clues. This was going to be a long day.