Chapter 78

Mission Developments

Holly's POV:

"Ugh!" I groaned as I pinched at the dark circles that had formed under my eyes from a lack of sleep. It was these stupid dreams. Every night it was Artemis, Artemis, Artemis in my dreams. This is getting beyond outrageous. Every night, I wake up and find it impossible to go back to sleep because I know that if I do then I'll just be back up in another hour with the same problem made all the more frustrating by forcing myself to relive it. But the bottom line is that this has to stop.

This is going to stop, I promised myself as I finished getting ready for work. And I continued promising myself the same thing as I walked into Police Plaza and into my office. There maybe it would actually work this time.

Surprisingly, my workload was not very heavy. In fact, it seemed fairly light. Not that I was complaining, of course, but by lunch time I had completely finished my day's work. The worst part of being a major was the paper work. Actually, pretty much the only part of being a major was the paperwork. "Whew!" I sighed, glad to have finished.

"Done already? My, my, aren't we industrious today?" I glanced up to see Lili Frond leaning against my door frame. Note to self: start closing my door more often or people will actually think that I want them to come and visit me.

"Yes, I am. Always."

"You know what they say: All work and no play…"

I rolled my eyes. With Lili everything was play. Though, I have to admit that sometimes I envy her for that. Being able to relax and just let it all go. Not that I can't. I just tend to worry more. "All play and no work then?"

"Of course, she giggled, flipping her hair over one shoulder.

"Ah, the joys of our current lay about lifestyle."

Her eyes stared deeply into me. "You sound just like Artemis."

"I don't," I pouted.

"Yes, you do, and you don't even realize it."

Ugh, I knew where this train was going, and I knew that I needed to derail it. "Did you want something or did you just come by to annoy me?"

"Both," she smiled. "Can I come in?"

"Would saying no stop you?" I wondered aloud.

She chuckled, stepping over the threshold and sitting across from me. "Now you know better than that." And to think, I've decided to actually become friends with her. Maybe I really am crazy after all.

"Of course, manners don't count any more," I sighed. Well, they still mattered to Arty, and I suppose that's why I love spending so much time with him. "Didn't you have something to tell me?"

"Oh yeah, Trouble wants to see you."

Ugh Trouble. For the past few days, I've actually managed to avoid him. No, it hadn't been easy to accomplish, but it was working. "What does he want?" Hopefully, it had to do with work and only work. If there was anything else than Frond only knows what I'll do.

"You naked in his bed," she shrugged. Ah Lili, her mind was never out of the gutter.

I'm well aware that Lili has a foul mind, but even I was not prepared for that. Though, I probably should have been. "I'm going to pretend that I didn't hear that," I shook my head. "So, when does he want me to come in?" Cue effective subject change.

Lili tugged at the collar of her blue button down. Her extremely tight blue button down. "Well, um… he sort told me to send you to him….immediately."

Immediately? Really? I rolled my eyes. Only Lili. "Do you understand the meaning of the word?"

"What? Do you think I'm Artemis Fowl or something?" She giggled. Hilarious. Honestly, she should have her own show on PPTV. Knowing her, she'd have top ratings as long as she wore her tightest, most revealing clothes.

"Obviously not," I said, standing up. "I'm going to see Trouble before he starts thinking that I'm ignoring him."

She looked at me, her face skeptical. "But you are ignoring him," she pointed out. Because I needed her to do so.

"Yes, but I don't want him to know that."

She wiped an imaginary tear from her eye. "You just nailed girl rule number one. I'm so proud."

I rolled my eyes, as I left my office. Lili's not a bimbo, but she is definitely an interesting character. I mean, girl rule number one. Is that even a real thing?

I shook my head, standing outside of Trouble's door. I sighed, adjusting my clothes and making sure that I was presentable before knocking. "Come in," he called.

To be honest, at least ninety-seven percent of me did not want to enter, but I am a professional. A professional that can and will behave that way. Unless crossed

I entered the rooms nervously. "You wanted to see me, Commander?"

"Trouble," he corrected yet again. Obviously, he did not realize that I would not call him by his first name at work. "And yes I did, have a seat."

I did what he asked, though I was on the very edge of the seat, ready to hop up at a moment's notice. "So… what did you want?"

He chuckled, his violet eyes sparkling. "I'm fine thanks for asking." Ugh, well apparently I'm not good at exchanging pleasantries.

"Sorry."

"It's fine. I think it- you're cute," he chuckled nervously like a school boy unsure of whether he had been received seriously or with contempt.

"No," I shook my head. "No cute, no pretty, no beautiful. This is work."

"I can't compliment you?" And he actually had the gall to look offended. For his sake and mine, I glanced around the room, studying the bright blue color scheme. If this was here to keep people calm, then it was not doing its job.

"No."

"And what about outside of work? Your home for example?" Because that wasn't the least bit pointed.

"Still no."

He looked at me, his eyes forcing me to just be honest with him. "Why?"

"You already know the reasons and I'm not going into that again. Now, do you actually want something?" This was good. This was not giving him a chance to speak about his 'feelings'. This was turning him around to where he should be focusing, meaning work.

And now he looked hurt. His lips poked out, and his eyes were clouded. I'll admit that I felt somewhat bad. He was so… frustrating, but he was my commander and friend who still deserved to be treated with dignity and respect. "I really did want something," he mumbled. "There's a mission coming up and you're the only one who can do it."

That was surprising. As a major, I really didn't get that many surface missions. Of course I want to go, but I can't help, but be curious. Why am I the only one who can do it? "Why was I chosen?"

"Actually, you were requested."

"By who and for what?"

Trouble leaned back in full commander mode for the first time in quite a while. "The demon warlock in training, No1 needs to go to the surface and practice some type of healing magic. He can only have one magical being with him because it'll interrupt the flow of energy or something like that. So, he chose you."

I nodded. No 1 was for all intent and purposes a teenager, it would make sense that he wanted something that he knew and could trust with him. That all equaled me. And to be honest, I was looking forward to the paid vacation. "Okay, when do we leave and where are we going?"

The commander shuffled nervously making me feel suspicious. Something was not right. "Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about…" he trailed off. "You see, his spell has to be done in a human dwelling."

A human dwelling? Oh, I know exactly where that's going, and I can't say that I'm disappointed. "You want me to ask Artemis to use his house, don't you?"

"Yes," he sighed. Obviously, he was happy that he hadn't had to say it out loud. "Can you do that for me, and I'll come by later to get the information from you?"

Well, it's official. There is definitely a point where too much persistence gets annoying. And this is officially that point. "You mean 'can I do that for you and bring the information to you tomorrow?"

"I said exactly what I meant. We have to get this approved as soon as possible. If you want to go."

Of course I did. I'd do almost anything to go, and he knew it. "Fine," I huffed.

"Then I'll see you at seven."

"Sorry," I winced. "Seven to eight thirty is when Arty and I talk."

His brows furrowed. Obviously, he didn't like that Arty had an appointed call time. Too bad, he'd have to get over it. "Ooookay. Eight-thirty then."

I could tell that he wanted to say something. His mouth was tight, his eyes clouded in anger. I sighed. This was something that I didn't need. "I know you have something to say, so go on and say it."

"He calls you every night?" he ground out from between gritted teeth. He's angry, and strangely enough, I don't really care. After all, what I do in my free time in my own home is none of his concern.

"Not that it's any of your business, but yes, we do."

"It is my business, Holly. I don't understand what you even see in the kid anyway."

"Maybe the fact that he's a tolerable human being."

"Yeah Holly. A human being."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I demanded. I could feel the blood pulsing behind my eyes and my fists curling into tight balls in my lap.

"He's human Holly. Think about it. What kind of future could you have with him?"

"A lot better than the future that I would have with a certain, know-it-all, pretentious elf that I know." Oooops, I hadn't meant to lose my temper, but now that I have… I'm not about to turn around and beg his forgiveness. No, if anything he should be on his knees asking for mine.

As my anger grew like it was fueled, his died down to nothing more than a feeling of hurt. "You really feel that way?"

"I did as of ten minutes ago when you started investigating into my personal life."

He sighed. "You've finished your work. Take the rest of the day off."

"What?"

"You're angry and upset. Just go cool off for a while, okay?"

He was throwing me a life line, and I would have been a fool to not take it. "Thanks," I say, walking out of the office and ignoring all of the stares from people who had heard the screaming and probably my words too. Great. This would be on PPTV by the five o'clock showing.

I glanced up at the sky. The gray, threatening clouds and ominous rumble. Great, apparently even the weather is in a bad mood today. I guess Father Time had just tried to pressure Mother Nature into falling for him. No, that's just my luck.

My house, the best thing that I've seen all day. Or rather my couch is the best thing that I've seen all day. I just sat there brooding at the room around me, because right now everything was offensive. How dare Trouble Kelp judge me? How dare he judge Artemis?

Seriously, Arty's a hero, and twice the man that Trouble is. Literally. Not to mention the fact that he's nice, sweet, funny, and amazing. The exact opposite of how Trouble is most of the time now. Not that it really mattered. I sighed, turning on my television, but not even the graphic slasher movie couldn't keep my attention right now. Well, there's only one thing to do at times like this: work the anger off.

I smiled as I went into my room, pulling on shorts and a sports bra. Next, I went into my training room, kicking the large hanging punching bag and imagining the face of Trouble Kelp where my foot was hitting.

Periodically, I got so tired that I had to rest, but I always think about his smug face, and get back up. I was in the middle of one of those little breaks when the phone started to ring. Ah, that means that it must be seven o'clock. Finally.

I run to my living room, sitting down at the phone. Ugh, too bad. I didn't have time to change. Not that Arty will care about what I'm wearing. "Hello," I said, turning the holo-phone on, so that Arty and I could actually see each other.

From what I could see he was sitting in his office, as usual , wearing a blue button down. I would have preferred to see a t-shirt, but you can only lead a horse to water. Besides, he did not look bad at all. "What's wrong Holly?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

"What do you mean?" I don't get it. How does he always know when something's wrong? Am I really that obvious?

"You only answer the phone with 'hello' when you're upset," he said. "The only time that you work out so late is when you're feeling like you're under pressure."

Under pressure? Perhaps a light way to phrase it, but true. I guess I'm just surprised that he knows that about me. "Okay."

"So, I'll ask again what's wrong?" I could feel those eyes digging into me through the screen. Ugh, he shouldn't be able to do that. It's not fair. "I'm guessing that it's work. So, Trouble."

I stared at him in open mouthed shock, though it wasn't really real surprise. Anyone who claims to know me could have figured out what was wrong. "How do you know that?"

"Genius," he smirked. "Now, tell me what happened."

I pushed my hair out of my face. At times like this, I really missed my crew cut. "We got into an argument in his office today."

"About what?"

I felt my face heat up. "You. Apparently, I don't have good judgment because I choose to have a human as a best friend." And just saying that made my blood rush again.

"Not a human," he chuckled. "Me." I couldn't make a comment. We both knew that it was true. It wasn't humans that bothered Trouble. It was Arty, and nothing short of a miracle would ever change that.

"Well, I sort of told him off about it…" I trailed off. Now that I've really calmed down, I see that I shouldn't have lost my temper, but he deserved it.

"Holly," he shook his head wearily. "I'm flattered, but you really shouldn't have done that." Said his mouth, but I'm almost one hundred percent sure that his brain was not saying the same thing. I wonder what he would think if I told him that I would rather have him than Trouble…. Hmm. Probably best not to ever mention that.

"Well, you weren't there , and you didn't hear his snarky, self-satisfied attitude," I pouted, sounding just like a child.

"Thank you for standing up for me," he smiled. "And if you need somewhere to escape to, my doors are always open." Sometimes, life throws you the perfect opening that you'd be a fool to miss. This was one of those openings.

"Since you said that…" I trailed off.

"Yes?"

"Well, I was only in Trouble's office because I've been given a mission. No 1 needs to do spell work, and it has to be in a human dwelling…"

"Ah. So, you'd like to borrow my home for the duration?"

"Please? I'm sure Trouble would even be willing to compensate you for your time."

"Your presence is payment enough," he grinned, showing off those perfect white teeth that even money couldn't buy.

"Thank you very much," I replied with a grin of my own. "So, when is it convenient for us to come?"

"Hmm," he paused, stopping to think. And I couldn't help but stop and notice the way that his brows furrowed, and his jaw tightened almost like when he is angry, though it looked much more favorable.. "What are your plans for two days from now?"

"Two days?" Surely, I hadn't heard that right. It must be my imagination. Apparently, it's getting out of control.

"In two days my mother, father, and brothers will be taking a three week vacation to the south of France." Is just me or does this family take more vacations than any one should?

"Is there a particular reason why you always stay home?"

"I love my family, but some of my schemes do not bear well with having others around."

"Schemes? What schemes?" As far as I knew, he had given up most of his criminal activities. However, I'm sure that he still does participate in at least a few. Frond knows that he can't resist defeating someone with his superior intellect

"Schemes? Wherever did you hear that?" he asked, faking innocence, his eyes wide. If I didn't know him, so well, I might actually have believed it.

"I rolled my eyes. I can see that I still have to keep my eye on you."

"Always."

I chuckled. The two of us continued talking until precisely eight-thirty. I really didn't want to hang up, and I think it was only the fact that we would see each other in a few days that allowed me to do so. "Bye Arty," I smiled. "I'll see you soon."

"I'll await your arrival with baited breath," he waved before disconnecting. Why did he have to do that? He always ended our conversation with something sickeningly sweet, and I just don't get it. But I suppose Arty's just one of those things that I'll never understand and if I do then the entire world will probably implode.

As usual, a knock interrupted my train of thought. Bu now I was getting used to this, it was probably Lili in need of gossip or maybe Caballine just wanted to talk. Either way, nothing and no one could bring my mood down right now.

At least that's what I thought until I opened the door to see Trouble Kelp standing there. Ugh, I'd forgotten. It was 8:35, and he'd said that he'd come at eight-thirty. But let's be honest, I hadn't thought that he'd show up after our little incident in his office.

"Hey Holly," he muttered, rubbing his neck nervously. "I… well, I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry about what I said earlier. I get it now, Artemis is your best friend and it was rude of me to say anything." Ah, so he said that he's sorry for saying it to me, but not for actually speaking badly about Arty. Well, I suppose beggars can't be choosers.

"I don't understand why you hate him so much. What did he ever do to you?" To be honest, I just don't understand how this man's mind works. He's probably had three conversations with Artemis, and I use that word 'conversations' as loosely as I possibly can. So, how can he be so… vindictive?

"I don't necessarily hate him… I'm just… jealous." He blushed scarlet in the way that the women in the office thought was adorable.

"Jealous?" I stammer like I'd never even heard the word.

"Yeah. Before he came along, I was your best friend. Now, he has that. And you really seem to get each other a hell of a lot more than I do." Well it seems that the commander has an ego and a selective memory as well. Because as memory serves and I'd never admit it, but before Artemis, Foaly was my best friend. And I guess Trouble was a… friendly acquaintance at the time, but if this story helps him to sleep at night, who am I to object?

"Being jealous is silly, Trouble. You're still my friend."

He ran his hands through his hair in agitation. "I know that, but I really do. But when it comes to you, I lose all of my rationality."

Sometimes it's a blessing and a curse to have a kind heart. I hate to see people in emotional turmoil, so I do my best to help them often at my own expense. "Look, it's okay. Maybe we should just work on staying rational at all times."

His eyes glinted in the light from the house. "Though irrationally does have a few perks."

"Like?"

Had I been born smarter then I would never have asked such a question. But I'm the curious cop who speaks before she thinks, and it usually comes back to bite me in the butt later.

He moved quickly, slamming his lips into mine and wrapping his arms around my waist. His lips moved aggressively as if fighting for me, but my own refused to cooperate. I couldn't help but notice that his lips were warm and he definitely had skill, but it just wasn't what I wanted from him.

I think he finally realized that I wasn't enjoying it half so much as he was, and he pulled away, "So?" he asked. Right now he reminded me so much of a puppy begging for attention from its master. But at least you can have an intelligent conversation with the puppy.

"That wasn't irrational. That was just plain stupid," I said going back into my house, and closing the door in his face. He'd just have to wait until tomorrow to get the information about my vacation which as of now, I am in desperate need of. Well, it's just two more days…

A/n:

Yay! Another Chapter Down! The story's almost over. I'm so happy that I could sing, but I won't.

Okay, so this story was supposed to be 83 chapters long. Well, that was after deleting some things that I just thought didn't mesh well . I was reading over some of that stuff earlier when I was bored, and a few chapters would fit really well here at the end. But if you guys don't want to stick around I totally understand, and would keep it down if you wanted me to. But, the extras are good, I believe. Any way, let me know what you think.

Keep reading and I'll keep writing. Oh and review. Flames are welcome. They're what keep me warm and toasty at night. ;)

Remember: Reviews = happy camper. Happy camper = quicker updates. Quicker updates = you reading more. It's a cycle. Keep it going!

Yours truly, madly, and deeply,

Einstinette