I should be studying for my midterm...but I decided to write this instead. You guys are a bad influence on me. I hope you like this chapter!

Disclaimer as before.

Unexpected Sidekick

Chapter 11: Tricks

This can't be happening. Dana thought, staring blankly at the metal poles holding the bridge together. The police and the FBI were swarming around her, making calls and taking pictures of the scene of the crime. One of the agents had already handcuffed her as soon as the car exploded in front of her very eyes, her best friend dead.

Not that it would have mattered in the long run. She could always do that trick she used, back at the police station in Las Vegas.

Dana closed her eyes. Las Vegas felt like centuries ago. She felt like she was just a kid back then; these last few seconds aged her in ways she couldn't comprehend. The guilt felt heavy sitting on her shoulders.

It is all my fault. If Dana hadn't been caught by Agent Rhodes, she would have been in the car with Jack. Somehow, she could have stopped this.

"Come with me," an agent harshly ordered, jerking her handcuffed hands toward his direction. Dana didn't utter a sound and just followed.

Why did it matter anyway, whether she was going to jail or not? The energy it took, the planning…did it matter in the end?

It didn't matter for Jack Dana thought bitterly as she watched her shoes crunch the gravel from the road as she walked.

"I didn't ask you," said Agent Rhodes just as Dana entered the area. "I asked him."

"The money's in a vault. Inside a warehouse in Queens," said another man with glasses, one Dana didn't recognize.

"We think this vault is the Magician's final target," said another African American man.

"Why don't we ask from the source?" said the man with glasses, turning toward Dana. "Well? Is this your final target?"

Dana said nothing. Truthfully, she didn't really hear it. All she could hear was the sound of screeching tires and the ringing noise in her ears that came from the fire explosion. Jack.

"Well?"

"Leave her alone," Agent Rhodes said, suddenly, "She just saw her partner in crime smoke up in flames. Let the agent take her back to the station. We'll sort the legal terms from there."

"And why should I take orders from you?"

Rhodes snapped, "Because I'm in charge of this investigation."

The glasses man replied, "The magician who died on the bridge, you pulled our classified files from his crispy little hands. Despite what bullshit Robin Hood disguises, your magicians are nothing more than common thieves."

"How did they get the file?"

"This is the part you're going to find particularly interesting, Agent Rhodes. They hacked my server after they accessed their mobile command center from New Orleans from the codes they got from your phone."

Dana should have closed her mouth. But she didn't care anymore. She was going to jail anyway, right? "She."

"What?"

Dana looked up before glaring straight at the glasses man, "You said 'they hacked.' It was she. As in me. I hacked your server. Singular. Not plural. It was a one woman job."

Dana smiled bitterly, "And don't you forget it."

The agents stared at Dana, bewildered at her confession. Agent Rhodes suddenly coughed loudly, a weird sound coming from his throat. Dana smiled at her accomplishment but her smile dropped completely from her face as she realized…

Jack would have liked that.

"I'll deal with you later." Said the glasses man before turning to Rhodes, "The level of incompetence shown in this case is astounding. That's a magic trick in of itself. Abracadabra. I'm taking over."

The glasses man walked away from the group but paused, "Oh. And I almost forgot. Rhodes. Bring the girl to Queens. She may help find them."

Rhodes protested, "She's not going to help us."

"Oh she will."

"She just saw her friend die."

"And?"

Rhodes looked at him as if he was crazy, "You want someone who is clearly in shock to a case?"

The glasses man paused before lifting an eyebrow, "She is just a criminal, Agent Rhodes. She can take it."

The rest of the group left, never speaking to Agent Rhodes. Dana didn't pay attention, her eyes returning to the scorched mark on the bridge once again.

She never did tell him that he was everything to her. Tears began to bubble out of her and Dana felt her insides heave.

A warm hand jerked her out of her thoughts, "Come on."

It was Rhodes. Angry at her weakness, Dana tried to wipe the evidence away, only to remember that she was handcuffed. Dana heard a sigh and her vision was suddenly overwhelmed with the face of Agent Rhodes.

"Here," he said before pulling out a handkerchief, taking out her glasses and gently rubbing her tears away. Dana flinched, not used to the sudden tenderness that Rhodes was giving her.

He was pulling a gun to her heart only a couple of nights ago, after all.

"Why are you being like this?" she asked, snatching the glasses from his hands and awkwardly jamming it into her face.

Rhodes stared at her before turning away, "I know."

"You know what?" she asked bitterly, her eyes glancing back at the scorched mark on the pavement.

"I know what it is like to lose someone," he said, before walking away. "Get in the car."

Dana was too shocked to do much.

Dana was not too gently pushed out of the car before being escorted into a large warehouse. Confused, she let herself be taken into the white corridors.

Her tears were dry. All that was left was anger. Anger at the horsemen for leaving Jack to clear the last of their work. Anger at them for not mourning and going on with the job. How could they think about the job while one of their members were dead?

And Dana was tempted. Tempted to tell everything and expose them all. Expose the Eye, expose her so called team mates.

But that anger evaporated easily.

It is what Jack would have wanted.

It is strange how the dead could make such an influence even in the after life.

The group turned the corner, and Dana could see the space where the so called safe would have been. Dana didn't know what was going on though.

This plan was different than the one she and the Horsemen came up with.

They probably thought I was going to give them up. Dana thought, That I was a snitch. I wonder how long it took them to plan this?

"Where's the safe?"

Dana paused, stopping short.

Had they distrusted her from the beginning?

Doubtful and feeling hurt, Dana clenched her fists. No. They couldn't have. We…we are teammates.

"What is this?"

"Where is the god damn safe?"

Dana caught up with them, feeling a little silly running with her hands strapped in front of her. She glanced at the empty room with wide eyes.

She couldn't help a twitch of amusement appear in the corner of her lips.

Well played, guys.

Dana decided then. She was going to help these guys to the best of her ability. And that means that she had to stay on the inside, arrested. She was the spy for the Four Horsemen.

One of the warehouse workers explained, "We just moved it when you were outside."

"What?"

"I never said that!"

Dana's twitch turned into a full on grin. Oh, this was too good.

"What are you laughing at?" asked the glasses man, striding in front of Dana and shaking her by her shirt.

Her head rolling from the force, Dana managed to push up her head and say, "I don't know."

"Agent Evans!" Dana heard Rhodes cry, appalled by the rough treatment she was receiving.

"Where did you hear that?" the African American guy asked the worker, trying to ease the tension between the two agents.

"Sir, we got a phone call said Washington wants us to give the safe money."

"You didn't hear that coming out of my mouth, agent."

"What happened? Tell me what happened?" Agent Evans shouted, turning to Dana.

Dana smiled, "Haven't your mother told you how to treat women?"

Growling, Agent Evans left her and turned to the worker, "What happen? You tell me what's going on because this is BULL SHIT!"

"NOooooo!"

Dana giggled like crazy as the man blinked heavily before moving his hands back and forth like he was playing the violin. She giggled more as she saw Agent Rhodes face palm and the other agent mutter, "Jesus Christ."

In fact, it was safe to say she was downright hysterical.

"Sir, sir! What are you doing?"

"I think it's Beethoven's Concerto in D Major." Agent Rhodes sarcastically answered, earning brownie points from Dana.

Hey anyone who knows classical music just through hand motions deserved brownie points in her book.

"Where is the safe?"

"His team's loading the truck."

The two agents glanced at each other before sprinting out of the warehouse. The other armored soldiers followed after them. Dana watched them incredulously as they began running off without her. Seriously?

She could just run off if she wanted to.

But she didn't. She had to stay on the inside.

At least to get more information.

"Come on kid," said another agent, the one that had held her back before. He seemed like a nice guy, if it wasn't for the fact that he was an agent.

"Lead the way, chief," Dana said, holding her hands out complacently.

By the time Dana and her escort got out of the warehouse, a dozen of police cars were surrounding the big truck holding the safe.

"Ok. Here's what I want," said Agent Evans, causing Dana's ears to perk up. She needed information to get back to the group, so they were always one step in front of these people. She didn't doubt them one bit, but still… "At this moment, they think that safe is leaving this site. We follow it all the way to…where's it going?"

The other agent answered and Evans began again, "So we go to five points. Where the safe goes, we go. It will lead us right to them."

Not on my watch. Dana though before expertly pick-pocketing Rhodes' cell phone. Luckily, the agent seemed too busy and irked to notice her hand creeping into his pants….that sounded so much better in her hand.

Expertly twirling around the small keyboard in her hand Dana managed to send the following message: Hulk knows stage. Safe unsafe.

She paused, deciding whether to write another message. R u ok?

But she couldn't risk being caught. Dana wondered how long it would take for Daniel to answer but jumped in surprise as the phone vibrated.

We know. Come home.

Dana scrunched up her eyebrows in confusion. Come home? Did they mean that she wasn't needed here? That she should escape?

The phone vibrated again. We have apologies to make.

What did that mean?

Before she could think further, Agent Rhodes began to move. Slipping the phone into his pocket, Dana stuck to him like glue.

The lonely agent seemed to have forgotten her. Feeling a tad bit neglected, Dana pulled on his jacket coat. "Hey, Mr. Hulk. Why so serious?"

Agent Rhodes frowned, glancing down at her, "Stop calling me that."

"What?"

"Hulk."

"Why?"

"Because I don't like it?"

"That's not a good excuse," Dana pointed out.

"That's not my name?" Rhodes tried again, looking a little bit frustrated but a tad bit amused.

"What's your name then?"

"Str—Rhodes. Just Rhodes." The agent quickly said, before turning back to the surrounding area. Seeing a police car waiting for them, he headed that direction.

Dana followed, having trouble keeping up with his long stride, "So then, Mr. Hulk Just Rhodes. Why the long face? Sad that you were demoted?"

"Who said I was demoted?"

"Well," Dana replied, acting thoughtful, "There is clearly a leadership dynamic change from you to Mr. Glasses over there. And everyone, including Miss Veela, seems to be ignoring you so I'm guessing everyone feels like you haven't been doing so good catching us magicians, yeah?"

Rhodes looked confused," What?"

Dana sighed, huffing a bit, "You are getting the cold shoulder from everyone because you suck. There, is that dumb enough for you?"

"Of course," Rhodes muttered, before fiddling with the driver's key.

"You know—"

"Why are you so talkative?" Rhodes asked, turning around frustrated. "You're best friend just died. Shouldn't you be…I don't know… angry? Or sad?"

Dana's smile dropped, a serious one taking place. "Of course I'm sad."

"Then why are you acting like this."

"Because…."Dana said, sighing a bit. "Because Jack wouldn't have wanted that. Jack wouldn't have wanted me to cry and sigh and look for revenge. And Jack…well he died for a reason, right? SHouldn't I try to live up to what he was trying to accomplish?"

Dana glanced up into Rhodes' eyes, "Isn't that what all people should do?"

Rhodes stayed silent. Unknowns to Dana, her statement hit more closer to home. Rhodes stared at the girl in silent awe. Every time he seemed to finally understand her, she did something that utterly surprised him.

"Get in the truck," he finally managed to say, earning him a eye roll. He wondered why Dana seemed suddenly so friendly to him. Maybe that was the way she handled Jack's death. Maybe it was just her way of trying to hold in the pain.

Whatever it is, it was both amusing and annoying him at the same time.

The sky was dark. And yet crowds of people were out and about the street. Dana couldn't actually see the people, considering that she was cooped up in a truck with a safe and four angry middle-aged men, but Dana couldn't help but watch all of this(symbolically of course) with proud eyes.

They were here for Jack. All of these people were here for Jack.

It just made her grin.

The police sirens rang in her eyes as they all followed the single truck toward the back of the building. All the policemen were excited, finally glad to have caught the magicians. But Dana wasn't too scared.

She trusted them after all.

And they trusted her, judging by the text message. Although, Dana did wonder why they decided to put that in there. Did it mean that they didn't trust her at first?

She would ask them directly. After all of this was over.

Maybe, she would even get to punch Daniel.

The seconds turned into minutes and Dana fidgeted. Despite what people might think, handcuffs hurt.

"Stop moving," said the man in glasses.

"But I'm uncomfortable," Dana whined a little more dramatically.

"Why don't you shut your little trap hole before I send you to prison."

It seems like her tactic: GET EVERYONE SO PISSED seemed to be working.

Dana shot Rhodes a grin, and was surprised to find him grinning in return. Well. Well then. It seems like Mr. Hulk had a funny bone after all.

Suddenly, a crackling noise interrupted whatever the agent was going to say, "Someone's walking toward the truck."

The tension increased and Dana watched with wide eyes as the door opened.

"Oh SHIT!"

It was Bradley.

At least, Bradley's assistant.

"Look who it is," Rhodes said, jumping down from the truck. "The Fifth Horsemen."

Dana was about to protest about the terminology, but decided to stay silent. It was the first time she personally met Bradley, after all.

"Are you kidding? I was following them, just like you are."

Dana tilted her head. Really, the tension between these two men were like ice. Jumping down the truck with some difficulty, she managed to squeeze in between the agents and stand by Agent Rhodes' side.

"I'm ahead of you now!"

Dana opened her mouth just as Bradley mentioned, "Lionel Strike. This is where he did his first show."

Strike. Strike. That name sounded familiar. Rhodes mentioned him before.

Wait. Could it be?

"And well look who it is?" Bradley said, glancing at Dana with a grin. "If you want to look like bigger idiots, why don't you take a look in that safe. I'm sure this little girl forgot to tell you a little secret."

Secret? What secret?

"Open the safe," Rhodes said before Dana had the time to retort. Dana slowly turned around, but not before slipping a small piece of plastic that she had kept inside her bra since Las Vegas into Bradley's pocket.

She had a job to do, after all.

Dana watched as the safe was opened. A string of brightly colored scarves came down and Dana started smiling widely.

God, they were good.

Magic, for once, was cool.

"Was is this?" Agent Evans asked, just as a ticking noise came from the safe.

Dana stepped forward in curiosity but was blocked by Agent Rhodes, who for once, looked paranoid, "Get back!"

Before everyone could evacuate the door to the safe opened up and thousands of balloon animals came showering down the group. Dana laughed out loud and ran toward the safe before twirling in the plastic rain.

"What? Get her!"

"Well this has been fun," Dana said loudly, projecting her voice. "But really I have to get going now. It was fun being with you. "

"GET HER!"

And Dana promptly vanished into thin air.