A/N: We're back! Now to see if the Company's plan to use the virus to disable Smaug worked! Also... I promised some of you a Bagginshield moment, so... this might not be exactly what you wanted, but it's something. ;) Also- more Ori and Bilbo friendship moments and Dwori being stupid-adorable.

...

...

For three days the Company saw neither hide nor scale of Smaug. The newspapers told of the comings and goings of the everyday world, but there was not a single mention of the dragon, Supers, or even crime. Ori was unnerved by the change in the papers, claiming that there should have been cursory articles about the battle in the park. But nothing was written in The Daily Portents or in any other newspaper. Everything was still and quiet.

"Perhaps the worst is behind us now," Bilbo hazarded from where he sat in an overstuffed armchair with a mug of tea.

"It's more likely the calm before the storm," Thorin replied absently. He and Dwalin had set up an old ping-pong table near the windows and were engaged in a heated match.

Dwalin took advantage of Thorin's momentary distraction and scored a point. "Ha! Take that Oakenshield!" He grinned over at Ori, who was curled on the couch with his sketchbook. "Yer my good luck charm, lad."

Ori flushed slightly, but blew a kiss at Dwalin, who pretended to catch it.

"You two are sickeningly sweet." Bilbo smirked at his friend.

"I'm sorry," He started, then thought better of it. "No. Actually I'm not. I'm happy."

Bilbo laughed. "And I'm glad for you. Truly I am."

"But also a little jealous?"

"Yes, well, it's only natural to want someone to be with."

Ori lowered his voice and grinned coyly. "And if that someone happened to be Thorin Durin..."

Bilbo blushed and felt himself start to fade. Focusing on remaining visible he looked down at his hands. "Am I that obvious?"

"I'm a reporter. Or, I was..." He shrugged and toyed with the silver pen in his hand. "Watching people is part of the job. I doubt anyone else has noticed."

"Oh, good. Because it's bad enough that I'm practically a squatter here. I would really rather everyone not know I harbor a bit of a crush on your illustrious leader."

"I doubt anyone would hold it against you." Ori laughed brightly. "Most of the Company pretty much lives in tight spandex. It's eye candy if that's your persuasion."

"That's certainly true!" He looked back to where Thorin was leaning forward over the ping-pong table, the blue spandex hugging the curves of his ass.

"And you're not a squatter, you know." Ori eyed Dwalin's muscular form over the top of his notebook and tried to act blithe. "I think we've both been unofficially added to the roster. You're part of the Company now."

"I'm not a Super."

"Neither am I, but if Smaug comes back it'll be war."

"Will you use your powers then?"

Ori sighed and fidgeted with his gloves. "I really don't know."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, watching the ping-pong ball sail back and forth across the table.

"You should make the first move," Ori said finally.

"The first move?"

"With Thorin. He's too caught up with the whole Smaug thing to realize you're interested. I think you'd be good for him."

"I'm quite certain I don't want to embarrass myself like that. He'd probably just turn me down."

"I wouldn't be too sure of that," Ori said mysteriously, then got to his feet, leaving his sketchbook behind. Walking to the ping-pong table, he nudged Dwalin with his shoulder. "Teach me to play?"

The big man smiled. "Sure!" He gave Thorin an obvious look. "Do ya mind?"

"Not at all," Thorin laughed. "I think I'll join our burglar. If that's all right with him..."

"Of course," Bilbo replied a little too quickly.

Dwalin handed one of the ping-pong paddles to Ori, then slid his arms around the boy in order to move him into the proper stance. Ori leaned back against him, pressing their bodies flush. Although he clutched a paddle in his gloved fist, neither made a move to actually play the game as Dwalin's lips found their way to Ori's neck.

"Why do I think this has less to do with ping-pong and more an excuse for them to make out?" Thorin said with an amused smile.

"Because that's exactly that is is," Bilbo laughed. "I'm glad they're happy though."

"As am I. Dwalin and I have been friends since school. I've never seen him this taken with anyone."

They sat in companionable silence for a few minutes before Thorin picked up Ori's discarded sketchbook and began flipping through it. "These are quite good..."

Bilbo moved to the couch next to Thorin and peered down at the drawings. The first page showed Fíli and Kíli fighting back-to-back against an unseen foe. The playful smirk on Kíli's face was perfectly captured, as were all the details of Fíli's weapons. "Goodness! I've seen Ori's sketches in the newspaper, but these are amazing!"

The next sketch was Bofur with his wings extended fully, as if getting ready to take flight. To his left was Bombur, body tilted forward as if he were mid-run. To the right was Bifur. The mask that now covered the lower half of his face was missing, and instead his lips were quirked in a gentle smile. "This was before the fight with Balrog when Bifur got injured," Thorin said, pointing at the page. "I'm almost forgotten how often he used to smile." He turned the page to reveal a drawing of himself, his left arm shifted to the solid oak he took his code name from. "This one isn't as accurate as the others."

Bilbo looked closely at the drawing and frowned. "Why do you say that?"

"Because he's made me look..." Thorin gestured with his hand, seemingly lost for words.

"Strong? Majestic? Attractive?" Bilbo suggested before he could think better of it. "The sketch looks perfectly fine to me."

Thorin looked at the sketchbook, then up at Bilbo. "Did you just call me attractive?"

"I suppose I did." He held Thorin's gaze, even though he could feel the tips of his ears start to redden. His body wanted to vanish, but he held firm.

"Huh."

Bilbo waited a moment for Thorin to continue speaking, but when nothing more was said he snapped indignantly, "Huh. That's it? That's not typically the response you give when someone admits to being attracted to you."

"What's the typical response then?"

"Either validation that the attraction is mutual, or a kind rejection."

Thorin stared at Bilbo as if seeing him for the first time. "I don't find you disagreeable..."

"You don't find me disagreeable...? Well, that's certainly romantic and good to know." He flushed bright red and stood up, brushing off his slacks. "I do believe I'm going to go rest for a bit. After all, I'll need my beauty sleep if I'm to stay vaguely agreeable!" With a derisive snort Bilbo stormed off down the hall, leaving a confused looking Thorin behind.

"What just happened?" Thorin asked after a moment.

"Ya were very smooth, Oakenshield," Dwalin answered with a chuckle. "It's no wonder yer single."

"I think Bilbo's feelings were hurt. I should go see if he's all right." Ori started to move away, but Dwalin caught him by the hips and pulled him back.

"This is Thorin's mess, lad. We'd best let him clean it up."

…

Unsure of how to deal with the awkward Bilbo situation, Thorin went to the computer and took over monitoring the screens. Ever since the Smaug attacks started, the Company had cut out their patrols and instead keep watch over the city by tapping into security cameras. Each monitor on the wall showed a different part of the city and automatically switching to a different camera view every five seconds. It wasn't the same as actually being out on patrol, but it was safer for everyone involved.

Dís took the chair beside her brother, rubbing the grease from her fingers with a rag. "I just finished making another batch of shock arrows for Kíli. They didn't seem to damage Smaug any, but they certainly helped distract him."

"Good. Hopefully he won't need to use them though. There's still been no sign of Smaug since we uploaded your virus into him. Maybe it worked."

"I don't know." She sighed, scrubbing hard at her hands. "There was a bit of tracking code in the virus, but the trail went cold four hours after the upload. It could mean that Smaug is deactivated, or it could mean that he somehow overwrote my coding."

"At some point we'll have to go out there and find out," Thorin said as he stared at the screens.

"At some point, but not tonight. Everyone deserves time to rest." Dís glanced over at him with a sly smirk. "Speaking of resting, I hear that our burglar is hiding in his room to avoid you."

Thorin cursed under his breath. "I might have mucked that up a bit."

"Might have?"

"Okay, I made a complete ass of myself." He let out a heavy sigh. "Of course I've noticed him. It'd be difficult not to, he's..."

"Adorable?" Dís supplied with a laugh.

"Well, yes, but it's more than that. He has some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. He saved me from Azog. He's been helping us even though he'd have every right just to hide away and keep himself safe. This wasn't his fight."

"He's part of the team now."

"Yes! And we've been so busy with Smaug that I tried not to let my thoughts go beyond that."

"So, when Bilbo told you he was interested, it caught you completely off guard?"

"Exactly!" His fist shifted to steel and he slammed it down on the desktop for emphasis.

"You'll have to figure out what you want to do. Apologize to him if nothing else."

"I know. I've never been good at relationships and I think my people skills have gotten..."

"Gotten what? Thorin?"

Thorin stood suddenly and typed something on the keyboard, pulling one of the security camera feeds up on the large screen. "Shit."

On the monitor Smaug swooped out of the sky, metallic scales glinting in the fading light. The dragon banked over the heart of the city and turned eastward, stopping half a dozen blocks from Erebor Tower and landing hard in the center of the street.

"Damn it! I was hoping my virus had worked."

"The odds were always against us," Thorin sighed. "Assemble the others."

"Up and at 'em, guys!" Dís called over the intercom system. "Smaug is still active. We're not going to engage, but everyone needs to be ready just in case!"

The Company crowded around the monitors with concern and watched the dragon, who appeared to be staring at a white-cloaked figure standing in the intersection.

"What's going on? Kíli asked, leaning in to get a better look. "Who's that guy down there?"

Fíli smacked his brother's arm. "Stop blocking the view, jerk." Kíli glared at him, but sat back.

"I can't find a closer camera to patch in to. I might be able to pick up a bit of audio though..." Dís quickly typed a few command lines onto her keyboard. After a moment, a static blurred audio feed could be heard.

"Do you truly think you can defeat me?" Smaug's metallic voice came through the speakers. "I am the fire that will cleanse the world of the Supers."

"You may be self-aware, Smaug, but there is still much you do not know about being alive." The mysterious figure made a swooping gesture with his arm as he spoke. "You are only a passing shadow and when the sun comes, it will shine out clearer."

"Why should I believe you, old man?" Smaug let out a cackling laugh, a thin stream of smoke releasing through the vents on his snout. "I have defeated the Supers before and I will continue to do so until they are nothing but ash in the wake of my fire."

"They will win in the end, dragon. They will win because they know there is good in this world that's worth fighting for."

"I am doing this for the good of the world. I will be the desolation of those with powers so that humankind will be safe."

"And do you think the humans will thank you? Do you think they will call you hero after you've killed so many? They will hate you, dragon. They will fear you!"

Smaug reared back and let out an angry roar. "They will worship me!"

A jet of fire shot from the dragon's maw, straight at the hooded man. "There may be a day when mankind will pray to a metal god, but this is not this day. Begone, dragon!" The flames spread around the man as though he were protected by an invisible shield.

Letting out another roar, Smaug swung one of his clawed feet at the man. The attack never landed as the man's shield stopped the dragon in his tracks. "You will pay for this, old man!" With one last blast of flame, Smaug turned on his heals and took off into the darkening sky.

From the safety of Erebor Tower, Bifur put a hand on Dís' arm to draw her attention. He pointed to the monitor, then gestured sharply at his ears.

Dís stared at the screen with a frown. "You're right, Bifur. I can't place it, but I recognize that man's voice too..."

"He can block dragon fire," Fíli exclaimed, grinning madly at his uncle. "We need his help!"

"I agree with the lad," Balin said with a slight frown. "If Smaug is still active, we'll need all the help we can get."

Thorin nodded thoughtfully. "Nori, Kíli... go see if you can bring the man to us. If you need assistance we'll send the rest of your team, but I'd rather keep anyone with powers here unless it's absolutely necessary."

Kíli smiled brightly and grabbed his bow. "No problem! NPs to the rescue."

Nori rolled his eyes, but followed the boy to the elevator.

…

The rest of the Company watched on the monitors as Kíli and Nori exited the building and walked the six blocks to where the mysterious man seemed to be waiting for them. Over the audio feed they could hear Nori's muffled curse of surprise and the awe in Kíli's greeting, but no one knew why until the elevator opened and their new guest stepped out.

"Gandalf the Grey." Thorin's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "It cannot be. We saw you die."

The old man smiled softly and blushed at his pristine robes. "It's Gandalf the White now, and I can assure you I am very much alive."

"But how?" Dwalin rumbled, his eyes flashing in distrust.

"Ah, that is the question isn't it? But the answer is neither here nor there, and I'm afraid I don't quite know."

"You don't know?" Bilbo asked from where he had been sitting quietly off to the side. "You were a pile of ash and now you're here. You have to have some idea."

Gandalf ran a hand over his beard. "The last thing I remember was fighting Balrog and then the feeling of falling into nothingness. When I awoke I was on the roof of a tall building, dressed in white. I felt as though I had been cleansed by fire and born anew. My powers were stronger than ever before."

"So you decided to confront Smaug on our doorstep?" Thorin growled. "You could have gotten yourself killed. Again."

"Perhaps. But I have a feeling my part in this tale is not yet over. Which is why I came to you, Thorin Durin, and to your Company. I am here to help you defeat the dragon."

"Do you have a plan, wizard? Because none of ours seem to be working."

"On the contrary, my friend. When Smaug attacked my shields I could sense a weakened spot in his defenses due to your virus." Gandalf regarded them with a level gaze. "The task I have in mind will require a great deal of stealth and no small amount of courage. But if we're careful and clever, I believe that it can be done."

...

...

A/N: Any ideas as to what Gandalf's plan is? I'll give you a hint... there are a few members of the Company who are NOT going to be happy about it. And someone is going to have a VERY difficult choice to make.