Chapter 24! Now, this chapter was written by CaptainS10, and I tweaked it just a bit. So if you like this style of writing, check out her fanfictions! They are AWESOME! :)

Replay!:

He did, and they were stunned at what they saw. Holly had Artemis pinned, until he shifted and rolled so he was pinning her instead. He leaned down and kissed her, and that was all Trouble could take, he stormed out of the ops booth, threatening Fowl angrily.

Now Chapter 24: Unwelcomed Guests-

Trouble ran the whole way to the shuttle port, swearing and cursing Artemis Fowl the whole way.

"That flipping D'Arvitting Mud Boy! I'll kill him!"

That wasn't even the worst part of it.

He jumped on the first shuttle he saw and blasted into the chutes, his retrieval team right behind him.

He was up to the surface in almost record time. Almost because he didn't quite beat Holly's record. Close, but not quite.

About an hour later, he was marching up Artemis's driveway to the manor doors, but one of his retrieval stopped him.

"What are we going to do now? We can't go in, not without invitation, and besides, what are we even here for? You never told us about anything, just to get up and ready to meet you at the shuttle port in ten minutes." The team murmured their agreement.

Trouble turned on them. "We are here, Corporal Gamb, to retrieve one of our officers. Captain Short has been kidnapped by Artemis Fowl once again, and we are here to get her back."

One other officer, Corporal Ark, raised his hand.

"With respect Commander, I think you might be taking this the wrong way. This is Artemis Fowl we're talking about. A while ago, people might agree with you that this is a problem. But he's saved the People a dozen different times, along with Captain Short. I doubt he has any ill intentions out if this."

"Yeah," another officer piped up. "I've heard rumors that they are in a relationship together. He wouldn't hurt her if they were in a relationship, would he? More likely this is some kind of prank on her."

All the officers murmured more agreements at these statements, but Commander Kelp couldn't stand that statement and ordered them to be quiet. "Listen," he barked. "Normally I might not be so worried about this, except for Captain Short's condition. She is in a state of comatose and will be unable to defend herself if it comes down to it. Fowl wanted permission to bring her up here and take care of her himself, and when I wouldn't grant it to him, he must have devised a plan to sneak her out around me because this morning she was gone."

"That doesn't sound so bad," Ark argued.

"Perhaps not yet," Kelp said. "But if he goes through that much to get his way this time, over something like this, imagine what he would do for something bigger. Something, perhaps, more important."

"And what, if I may be so bold as to ask, could be more important than Holly's life?"

Kelp spun around. The Mud Boy himself stood at the top of the steps, his head cocked, having heard the whole conversation. Butler was standing behind him.

"You little…" the commander yelled. Truth be told, he wanted to rush up the steps and get the smug little Mud Boy in a choke hold, but he refrained. Just barely.

Ignoring the outburst, Artemis descended the steps slowly, still talking. "For you, anything and everything," he said, answering his own question. "For me, nothing. Nothing could be more important than her life to me, not even my own." He stopped a few feet in front of the irate elf, looking away from him and instead addressing his assembled team. "Now, to address your concerns. If you want to be technical about it, yes, I suppose I did kidnap the Captain in question. But, it is what she would have wanted, and I know that she will be more comfortable here and getting better care than she ever would in that hospital. So you see, there is nothing to be concerned about. The only thing I want with the Captain this time is to be able to look out for her. Is that to much to ask?"

Everyone in retrieval was silenced by that, except for Trouble. He got right up in Artemis's face, spitting the words out with venom in his voice.

"I don't care what your intentions are, good or bad. Kidnapping is still kidnapping, and if you don't release the Captain this minute, then you'll regret it."

Artemis sighed wistfully. "There is nothing I would like more than that. To be able to watch her to, walking out of here on here own to feet. But alas, I am afraid that is not possible."

"Well then, Fowl," Trouble growled, "I am afraid it is not possible for me to let you live."

Then he attacked Artemis, punching him in the stomach so hard it brought the boy to his knees, and pinned him to the ground, still swinging wildly.

The retrieval sat there and watched, shocked into stillness. Butler was the first to react, running over and throwing a hard punch at the commander, knocking him backwards off Artemis. He kicked him hard in the ribs, and the commander yelled once in pain before passing out. Several somethings cracked and popped, making the big man wince. He wasn't really trying to hurt him that badly, just get him off Artemis and warn him against any further attempted attacks.

Artemis, now slightly bloody and bruised, had scrambled back the second he was free of the elf's grip and was back on his feet a few feet away from the scene of the fight.

He turned back to the retrieval squad, who was still standing silently, watching. "Consider this a warning," he told them. "The Captain is in no danger from me, she is simply here so I can keep an eye on her and take care of her. Now, take your commander and go. Tell him I'll call if there's any change in her condition, not that he really care anyways, but I figure Foaly, at least, deserves an update. She's safe with me. Understood?"

Their heads bobbed their understanding, none of them trusting their voices enough to speak. Butler lifted the injured commander and carried him over to them. Blue sparks were already flickering around him, healing his injuries, but they were already starting to fade when he was by no means completely healed.

"I'd take him and get him out of here quick," he advised them. "He's going to need some medical care." He handed Trouble over to one of the officers and turned, heading up the steps to stand beside his employer. "Come on," he said to the boy, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Let's go in."

He nodded. "Alright. Meet me in the kitchen in ten minutes; we have important things to discuss." Then he headed straight up the stairs without looking back.

He didn't stop until he reached Holly's room. He dropped down on the bed beside her with a sigh. "I'm sorry," he whispered, gently stroking the hair back off her forehead. "It was for your own good." Then he leaned down and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "I'm sorry," he murmured again. Then he got up and left the room again, closing the behind him with a final glance over his shoulder at the sleeping elf.

So thats chapter 24! Now you may ask: Why am I going so fast to get through this fanfiction? Its because I have a week long trip soon and I want to get this done before then. Its in two weeks, so hopefully I will!

Am I going too fast? If I am, please tell me! If I'm not PLEASE TELL ME!

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Remember, to some of you my Opal side is my only side! ;)