Danny and Kirstie walked in silence back to D7 after his victory over Clair. They'd given the recording and badge to Petrel and apparently the rest of his squad had got the message that he was their new boss. Kirstie seemed annoyed that she couldn't find a flaw of his to moan about. Well that was just typical, but right now, he didn't really care. He was about to see an old friend. When they reached the bunker, he slid a pass through the lock and the door slid open. Inside, there was a man of Danny's age and height, with short brown hair sweeping to the right sitting in the armchair, waiting. When he realised Danny was standing in the doorway, he stood up and smiled.
"Well, well, well." he said, looking directly at Danny. "It's been a while."
"Jeff. It sure has." The two stood there for a couple of seconds before running towards each other and embracing in a manly hug of two reunited friends.
"How've you been!" Jeff cried out as the pair broke apart.
"Not bad, you?"
"Well life's been as shit as normal if that's what you mean." Danny laughed just like in the old days when he and Jeff were grunts doing grunt work, but together. He had missed Jeff almost as much as he missed dating Kirstie.
"Are you two going to get a room?" Kirstie said, watching the scene from across the room.
"Hey Kirstie, nice to see you too," Jeff said, smiling at her. "Are you two still..."
"No." Danny cut him off, knowing the rest of his question, and knowing it would hurt to hear the end of it.
"Oh." Jeff said and then silence filled the air. It was awkward to say the least. "Well, which room am I in?" he said, changing the subject as soon as possible.
"Erm..." Danny thought about it for a moment. He had said that Kirstie would go in his room but seeing Jeff again had reminded him about the good times they'd had together. "You can be in my room. Kirstie, you take an empty room. I'll go find you a roommate."

"So, how's Team Rocket then?" Danny said to Abbie after taking some time to 'decide' that she was the new grunt he wanted. They were now walking back to D7.
"To be honest, it's even worse than I expected. The quality of life is pretty shocking." she seemed to be genuinely surprised by how bad the conditions were, despite being briefed about the poor quality.
"Well my bunker is better than most. It has actual rooms."
"Thank god." Abbie said, breathing a sigh of relief as she did so. After a bit more walking, they had arrived at D7.
"Well here we are," Danny said as he handed her a pass, "D7. Make yourself at home." Danny opened the door to reveal the other seven or so members of his new team talking amongst themselves. "Everyone!" he said loudly to get their attention. When they were all looking at him he carried on. "This is Abbie. She's a new grunt and is going to be part of our team. Be nice. Tomorrow we'll get to some training exercises. For now, just get to know each other."

From then on Danny's squad got back to talking amongst each other. That was good, they were becoming more friendly with each other and he didn't want any sort of fighting in the team. He saw Jeff and Kirstie chatting on one of the sofas and he decided that it would be best for Abbie and him to talk to them.
"Make some room for us Jeff," Danny said so Jeff shuffled along to the end of the sofa, leaving just enough room for Danny and Abbie to sit down.
"Oh look, my replacement." Kirstie said, glaring at Abbie. Danny looked at her, confused. "Come on Griffin, another redhead? You need some variation."
"Oh." Danny said, understanding what she meant. "She's not my girlfriend if that's what you mean," Kirstie laughed, interrupting him. "Anyways, Abbie, that's Jeff Burkett and Kirstie House. They're my friends."
"Nice to meet you," Abbie said nervously.
"I won't bite ya," Jeff said, noticing her nervousness. Abbie laughed and eased up a bit. "And what do you mean we're friends? Haven't seen you in about a year!"
Danny laughed and said "Not since the incident in Olivine." Jeff could barely contain his laughter but Abbie didn't get the joke.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"The executives banned us from seeing each other," Danny said "After they found that we pissed around on missions together."
"I still don't get it."
"There were a few incidents before Olivine like when we cheered Gold on to capture the Red Gyarados instead of catching it ourselves, but Olivine was the last straw for the executives. We were meant to use some money borrowed from the executives to strike a huge deal with a client. Instead we used to money to..." Danny couldn't continue because Jeff finished it for him.
"...Hire some strippers!" he said, roaring with laughter.
"Is that why you wouldn't tell me?" Kirstie scowled. "Because you were worried I'd dump you for hiring a stripper? Well it's not like it matters now."
"Could you stop talking about our relationship? It's bringing me down."
A few moments of silence followed. Jeff decided he had to change the subject. "Course, the only reason they didn't fire us there and then was because as individuals, we're too valuable."
"Valuable?" Abbie asked.
"Valuable. I don't like to brag, but I'm one of the best thieves in Team Rocket."
"It's true." Danny added "They want to fire him because of how much he cares about Pokémon but they know how damaging that would be in thefts." There was a pause in the conversation but Danny had remembered something important. "You two are sharing a room together by the way." he said pointing at Kirstie and Abbie. Unsurprisingly, Kirstie didn't take it well.
"Why would I want to do that? Use your brain Griffin."
"Because House, you two are the only two girls here and it makes sense to put them in the same room. Also, once you understand that she's not my girlfriend, you two will get along well."
"You're acting like you already know her." Kirstie said, which annoyed Danny. Did she have to be suspicious? At everything? Even though this time she was right it got on his nerves.
"Be nice for once House." he said, not really answering anything. Kirstie muttered something that sounded like cursing of some sort but he wasn't sure. Oh well. Jeff and Kirstie had been talking together before he had arrived which was good. Abbie was still nervous to say anything but soon she would fit right in. He just needed to convince Kirstie that he didn't choose Abbie purely to replace her as his girlfriend. But that was easier said than done.

So, I've taken a break but I'm back with this story! Don't forget to review, praise or criticism. Also, if anyone could create some art for the story for me to use as the front cover, that would be awesome!