DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN CODENAME: KIDS NEXT DOOR

A/N: Wow, so this chapter took entirely too long to write, as I'm sure you all noticed. I really am sorry about that. It wasn't my fault for a few weeks... Life has to come first, of course, but I still hate leaving my readers waiting, especially when you've been so supportive.

I told myself I wouldn't split chapters anymore, but... yeah.

CHAPTER 11: THE DREAM

Moments after the last boy leapt out the window, the lights conveniently turned back on. Kuki and Abby exchanged bewildered glances. Fanny blinked rapidly, taken aback by the sudden brightness.

"Well, that was interestin'," Abby said, readjusting her hat. "One thing's fo' sure: Abby ain't ever been to a slumbuh party quite like this before."

Kuki spun around and reached from something on her dresser. "Look at the bright side. Since everybody is wide awake now, we have time to watch The Tremendously Mushy Rainbow Monkey Falls In Love Romancical! On ice!"

Rachel grinned at her friends' enthusiastic squeals, but couldn't bring herself to join in. When the last of the adrenaline had drained away, she was left with no energy whatsoever. It was late, and she had decided that she would go into work the next day. The others could fight to stay awake all they wanted, but Rachel was done resisting things for the day. In that moment, her sleeping bag was inviting her in.

Fanny bounced up and down where she stood. "Ooh, I haven't seen this one yet! This is the one about Humble Hero Rainbow Monkey, isn't it?"

"Yes!" Kuki shrieked. "And it introduces Space Pirate Lady Rainbow Monkey and the Beautiful Proper Princess Rainbow Monkey, who clash in an eternal battle for his loooove!"

"Rachel? You turnin' in already?"

Rachel parked herself on her open sleeping bag, and fell back onto her pillow without so much as a look in Abby's direction. "I am."

"You tired?"

Rachel inhaled deeply. "No." She pulled her blanket up to her chest, and turned away from the group. "Good night."

"Man, what a night!" As he passed through the doorway, Hoagie haphazardly tossed is helmet off to the side, which hit the ground with a loud thud. He headed toward his sleeping bag, shedding his suit as he went. Behind him, Patton, followed by a pouting Wally.

"Yah know, most kids would say it would stink to have a lazy night of video games get disrupted by a mission in the middle of the storm of the year. But I had a blast."

Hoagie, already down to his underwear, cocked an eyebrow in Patton's direction. "Seriously?"

"Yup! Gets the heart pumpin'! Keeps you on your toes! Keeps you from getting bored! Reminds you that you're always important!"

Wally scoffed, zipping up his onesie. "Ha! Who needs that? I'm important enough in my off-time; I don't need random people botherin' me when I'm at home!"

Patton opened his mouth, only to close it and look away without a word.

A blinding flash took them all by surprise. All eyes turned to the window to witness Nigel Uno make his dramatic entrance. The moment his feet hit the hardwood floor, a booming crash of thunder filled their ears, shaking the house. He did not look pleased. Without doffing his equipment, he stomped across the room. The helmet hindered his peripheral vision, making it easy to avoid the looks of the others.

He could hear whispers behind him. It went on for a moment, before it cut out. Then, more whispering, with more intensity this time. And then more silence.

"Well?"

Nigel removed his helmet, his back still turned to his friends. "Well, what?"

Wally kicked his boots out of his way as he took a few steps toward Nigel. "How's Lizzie?"

Nigel glanced over his shoulder. "Why do...?" He turned away, and began changing out of his suit and into his pajamas. "She's fine. Storm hadn't even knocked her power out."

"Good."

Nigel spun around. "Do you really want to know, Numbuh 4?"

"Not really. It's just... if she's gonna be all important to you, an' stuff, then... I guess we should... stop stressin' yah about it. 'Cause, you know... She does enough of that already."

Nigel glared at the boy. "Is this some sort of joke?"

Wally crossed his arms. "Nope. I mean, don't think this means any of us wanna hang out her or nothin'. We still don't like her. Like, at all. But we won't pester yah about bein' with her any longer."

Nigel eyed each of the boys from behind his shades. No one was giggling or grinning. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

"I drew the short straw."

"Huh?"

Wally sighed. "We're your pals, mate. If yah really like her, then we'll go along with it." Wally uncrossed his arms, his face super serious, and pointed at the smile spreading across Nigel's. "But, if she ever crosses you, or any of us, again, we're not gonna let her get away with it. You've gotten her outta a lotta trouble, just 'cause she keeps sayin' she does it for you. Anyone else woulda been the most wanted criminal of the KND by now."

Nigel chuckled and avoiding Wally's gaze. "She's really a good girl. She just... doesn't know how to go about things sometimes, and can be a little... extreme."

"She tried to brainwash you!"

"She learned her lesson!"

"She sided with the delightful dorks!"

"I mean, she was offered cake..."

"She made us wear dorky costumes!"

"Hey, uniforms aren't a bad idea! Her ideas were just, um... unusual..."

Hoagie scoffed. "Crazy, you mean. But, whatever. It's not like we're the ones dating her."

Nigel laughed. Hoagie's comment wasn't very funny, but that wasn't the important part. "Guys... I donno what to say..."

"Then don't say a thing!" Patton snatched the TV remote up from the floor. "It's getting' too girly in here, aaand there's a zombie movie comin' on right now! A fitting way to end the night, if you ask me."

The boys all cheered. Hoagie and Wally sprang toward the TV, but Nigel refrained "You guys enjoy it. I'm going on to bed."

Wally waved him off. "Eh, suit yourself."

Nigel smirked, satisfied that his friends weren't going to challenge his turning in early. He finished changing into his pajamas, laid his shades on Wally's dresser, and slid into his sleeping bag. His eyes remained open, however, staring up at Wally's ceiling. It would be some time before sleep would come to him.

The blizzard raged on, pounding against the walls and windows of the cabin. The wooden structure stood fast; the snow was a far cry from being an intimidating force. The walls would still stand after the sun finished setting, and would endure till morning. But within those walls, a much different storm was brewing. One much more... volatile. The duet of discord from within could be heard from the surrounding woods.

"Don't keep your back to me when I'm talking to you! That's rude, Nigel Uno!"

"I wouldn't... IF YOU WERE TALKING! This isn't talking!"

"Oh, so we're being Mr. Jerk McSmartypants now, are we?"

"Weee are just trying to make a point!"

"So make it already!"

"I have! I always do! But you ignore everything you don't want to hear!"

"Are you going to be rude all night?!"

"Are you going to act like a baby all night?!"

"THAT'S IT! Out! Get out!"

The front door flew open, producing a column of light leading into the treeline. Nigel stomped through the doorway, not bothering to shut the door behind him. He zipped his jacket up, and stormed away from the house.

Once the light behind him had faded into the same shade of grey as the rest of his surroundings, he relented his stomping, slowing until he came to a halt before a particularly tall tree in a clearing. His blood still boiling, he glared up at the mess of branches and leaves above him. With a boisterous roar, he whipped out his concealed S.P.I.C.E.R., and fired. Bark exploded into the air, the snow around the tree trunk melted. Smoke obstructed Nigel's vision, though his eyes remained locked forward.

The smoke cleared. Nigel's outburst appeared to have had no effect. Seconds later, an earsplitting SNAP seemed to prove otherwise. The colossus seemed to waver for a moment. When it fell, it created a loud creaking, which lasted until it made impact with the forest floor.

It was silent again, though brighter now, since the area was no longer hidden from the moonlight. A previously unnoticed silhouette continued to spy as Nigel momentarily closed his eyes, drooping his head the slightest bit. A deep breath brought just enough cold air into his system to keep him from overloading. Two fists unclenched as the rage seeped out, leaving him to deal with whatever remained.

He sighed, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets and staring up at the sky. The occasional breeze would howl through the trees, breaking the silence just enough to keep him firmly planted on planet Earth, not wherever his mind may try to wander to.

The soft crunching of snow undoubtedly alerted him to the presence of someone approaching him from behind. He didn't show it, though. He probably figured that it wasn't Lizzie; she would have been screaming at him by now. The muffled footsteps continued until she was right next to him, joining him in his skyward trance.

"I guess that tree got what was coming to it." Rachel spoke quietly enough to avoid shattering the serenity of the frosty woods. She didn't wait for a response to this comment. "Can't see a single star tonight."

The last of the sunlight was dying, but the moon was bright enough that they could still see, even through the clouds. It hardly felt like night at all.

"It was blocking the moonlight." A chuckle escaped Rachel's lips, though it had no effect on him. "It just so happens that I like the moon."

Indeed, the moon was particularly bright tonight. The amount of light penetrating the clouds was unreal. Nothing was going to keep it from getting through.

"So, I was walking by..."

"And you heard us."

"I... Yeah."

"Can't say I'm surprised. It was pretty loud."

Rachel dropped her gaze first, focusing on him. "What was it about?"

A few long seconds passed before Nigel looked away from the sky, electing to stare at the newly-severed tree. "The usual. She doesn't want me to do anything that would take me away from her."

Rachel faced away from Nigel. "Well... It's normal to want your best friend to stay close."

"That's not it. She doesn't want me around other people. May as well try to keep me in a cage." He sighed. "Why does she have to be like this? She's such a great girl..."

Outside of Nigel's peripheral vision, Rachel bit her lip. "She had better be... to be with a guy like you." Both kids turned their heads toward each other, making eye contact for the first time. "You're not just any guy, Nigel. Not just any girl can handle that. Most of them couldn't."

Nigel turned his whole body to face her. "Do you... do you think she's capable? Of staying with me?"

Rachel lost her breath, ceasing all movement. Her eyes were locked intently on his, as his were on hers.

"I don't know, Nigel. That's your call to make."

An appropriately timed breeze caused both kids shiver, disrupting their stares. Nigel recovered quickly; Rachel, on the other hand, was trying to turtle her way to warmth. At the sight of this, Nigel actually smiled. Rachel responded in kind.

"Don't you say a word. It's chilly."

Nigel chuckled, and took one last look at the night sky. Though the clouds showed no sign of clearing, his smile remained dauntless as he looked back at Rachel. "It is, isn't it?" He swung his arm around her, placing his hand on her opposite shoulder. "Come on. I'll walk you home."

A/N:So, whose dream was that? Stay tuned for part 2, the finale, hopefully soon!

Hope everyone's doing well,

- Marty