A Really Long Week. Rating :PG13 to be safe. Author: suzyh Disclaimer: Annie's mine. The rest I'm not sure about, but last time I checked they didn't belong to me. Annie sat at her desk. It hadn't taken long for her to find her footing at The Agency, even Eberts seemed impressed. They had devised a special kind of shorthand so Annie could take notes that Eberts could decipher and pass on to the secretaries. After ten days, the Official had installed a desk, some chairs and a plant outside his office, thus making Annie his receptionist. This had turned into a cosy little greeting area that she regarded as her domain. The side door to his office that everyone had once used was boarded up making the back entrance the only point of entry. Annie looked at her watch which read two thirty. The Official had two rules. He was not disturbed between Two and Three because he was watching his favourite soap opera and he never ever ate health food. She looked at the appointment book, hmmm, nothing until half past four. Annie got up and decided to give Claire and Nicole a visit. A tall man came around the corner and moved towards the door. Annie immediately blocked his path. "Can I help you?" "I need to see the Official now." "I'm sorry, but he's in a meeting, you can wait if you like." Unknown to Annie and the man, Darien and Bobby were listening unseen. Darien had been bored and had suggested a game of "listen in". Bobby had agreed but only to escape changing a diaper. "I am Agent Jones from the FBI sweetie, so be good and tell him I'm here." "FBI? Wow. Say, have you guys found Hoffa yet?" Agent Jones glared at her and switched tactics. "Look, get out of my way or I'll move you myself." Darien went to intercept but Bobby put a hand on his arm shaking his head. Annie smiled sweetly at Jones, taking in his haircut and cheap shoes. "By all means Agent Jones remove me, however, I can't be held responsible for your balls if you do." Jones spluttered at her, Annie smiled even wider and continued. "Let me explain how things work here. You make an appointment, you arrive on time, you are polite to me and I let you in, but between the hours of two and three, not even God gets in that office. Are we clear?" Jones gaped at her but nodded. Annie gestured to the waiting area. "Help yourself to coffee and read an out of date magazine. If you move an inch too near that door they'll never be able to ID your body." Annie sat back down at her desk, and opened her new advanced learn to read book. Jones gave her one more glare but sat down like a naughty schoolboy. Darien and Bobby had run to the mens room shaking with laughter. Quicksilver fell off them as they became visible again. Bobby wiped the tears from his eyes. "She sure told him off. I almost felt sorry for him." "You now know why I love that firecracker so much." "Hey, do you think she would have ripped his balls off?" Darien shrugged, then started to laugh again. "Probably." The two men composed themselves then made their way back to Annie and the hapless Jones. Annie smiled brightly when she saw them. "Hello you two, bored?" Darien nodded and flopped down next to Jones, reading the magazine over his shoulder. Bobby perched on the desk and started showing Annie the new pictures of Nicole. "You see in this one how she holds her fist? She'll be a natural at martial arts." Annie suppressed a grin and waded through the rest of the photos. Darien was still trying to read the magazine and Jones was getting annoyed. Darien decided to engage the other man in conversation. "So, Jonesy, what brings you to our little Agency?" "I need to see the Official but it seems I have to wait." Jones gestured to Annie who was still elbow deep in pictures. Darien grinned and nodded his head. "She is a bit of a spitfire, but at least she's pretty." "Pretty? Fawkes, she's gorgeous, spirited too, just my type." Darien raised an eyebrow. " Why don't you ask her out?" "Didn't you spot the wedding ring? Lucky husband. We can only dream of getting a woman like that." Darien considered this then got up. "I'm going to give it a try." "I bet you two to one she slaps you for asking." "You're on." Darien sloped off to the desk and placed his arm around Annie's shoulders. In front of Jones, he tilted Annie back and kissed her. Bobby moved his pictures out of the way quickly, tutting at the mess. By the time the kiss ended, Annie was clinging to Darien's shirt pressing herself to him. Bobby gave a low whistle and winked at Jones. "Wow, got some heat there, eh Jonesy?" Jones by this time had worked out that something was rotten in the woodshed and was scowling. Darien grinned at him, slowly peeling Annie from his body. "Agent Jones, meet Annie. My wife." A light blinked up on Annie's phone telling her the Official was ready to receive visitors again. She got to her feet and knocked on the door briefly disappearing inside. Two seconds later she reappeared. "Go right on in. You too boys." Jones swept passed her into the office with Darien and Bobby following. The Official glared at the FBI agent. "I don't appreciate impromptu visits Jones, this better be important." Jones sat at the conference table waiting until the others sat too before beginning. "I'm here to file a complaint against your Agency." The Official grunted and looked to Eberts. "Eberts, is there anything I should know about?" "I think not sir, however, there was that little incident with Hobbes and Agent Jones car." All eyes turned to Bobby who merely examined his nails. The Official turned back to Jones. "Explain if you please." "Your agents are a menace. Not only did Hobbes and Wonder Boy ruin a mission that I had worked six months on, but Baldy Bob here decides to trash a perfectly good vehicle for fun." Darien sniggered. The Official shut him up with a look, he spoke to Bobby. "Hobbes? Is this true?" "Well, sir, It wasn't strictly Jones case. It only took me half an hour to catch up with him information wise. Since I saw no official name on the case I pursued it. As for the car, it was in serious need of bodywork anyway and I'll have you know I dented Golda in the process. Eberts! I want that noted, maybe I'm eligible for some free repairs." Jones went red with rage. " You smashed your van into my car to move it." "Correction Jones, I merely nudged it." "Smashed." "Nudged." "Alright you two knock it off." The Official glared at both of them. Annie came in with coffee at that point and she handed the cups round pausing to wink at Darien. She sat down with notebook in hand. Eberts spoke up. "I think you missed the initial stages Annie." "No I didn't, I got it all on the intercom." The Official started to chuckle. She was so funny, efficient too and more than a match for any trouble maker who dared show his face. He sobered up and decided on Hobbes punishment. "Bobby? The bill for the car will be deducted from your salary, but only the scrap value. Jones, you will pay Hobbes for the dent in Golda. Now, I hope this clears things up, Annie? Did you get all that?" She nodded. Bobby looked smugly at Jones who was just about holding his temper. "What about my case?" "There was nothing to indicate it was exclusive to you, but in the interests of good faith, I'm prepared to be reasonable. Hobbes? Fawkes? You will both help Agent Jones with whatever case he is on now, for one week. I love cooperating with other agencies, it brings out team spirit don't you agree gentlemen?" The three men mumbled a response and avoided looking at each other. The Official looked pleased with himself and Annie seemed amused by the whole thing. "Cheer up Agent Jones." Annie said to his departing back, "At least you'll get to work with proper agents for a change." A slamming door was all the answer she got. Darien sighed. "This is going to be a really long week." Three days and four hours later, Bobby, Jones and Darien were all sitting in Golda. Bobby was sulking because Jones had called his precious van a heap and Darien was munching on some sandwiches Annie had made. Jones was checking out some files in his lap, he was waiting for his lead to pay off and he couldn't believe he was stuck with these two clowns. Bobby piped up. "How much longer? I'm getting old here." Darien resisted the obvious come back and instead offered his partner a sandwich. "What kind is it?" "Chicken salad, by Annie." "Give it here Fawkes you know I love that woman's picnics." "Speaking of picnics..." Darien got out a mini hamper which was filled with all sorts of goodies. Bobby made a pleased gurgle, even Jones looked interested. "Is this a regular thing for you two?" "What? Sharing a good lunch with your best friend and hanging out? Pretty much." Darien handed Bobby a soda that had also been packed, they drank in sync then belched together. Jones rolled his eyes and stared out the window again. Darien looked at the file. "So. What's the case then?" "Nothing for you to worry your hair about Fawkes. All you have to do is look like you know what you're doing." "My hair is not worried, is that a picture of a cat?" Jones winced. "Yes." Darien exchanged a glance with Bobby. He was still munching on the food, trying to express his appreciation for the flavours. Darien turned back to Jones. "Ummm... Jones? Are we looking for a missing cat?" Jones shifted in his seat. "It's a valuable animal that was kidnapped four days ago and it belongs to a very important family." Chicken sandwich landed on the inside of Golda's windshield as Bobby choked and blew out the food. Darien slapped him on the back and offered him a drink. Bobby's eyes watered as he regained his composure. "Are you telling me that I've sat here for four hours waiting for a lead about a cat?" Jones nodded not looking either man in the eye. Bobby and Darien exploded into laughter, clutching their sides and making little mewing noises. Darien was the first to speak. "So, do we have a picture of the victim?" Jones gave him the picture. The cat was white and fluffy with a diamond collar. Darien smirked. "Well, Mr Bond, do they want a ransom?" "Two million." Bobby whistled. "That's expensive pussy." Darien winced. "I can't believe you said that Hobbes. Wash your mouth out." Bobby grinned and started sipping his drink again. Jones saw his informant and got out the van. "Stay here. I don't want you frightening the locals." Bobby and Darien meowed in response. Back at the range, the Official was trying to get Annie to understand the small point of not talking shop with Darien. "I don't see why I can't tell him things." "The things you tell him are classified." "But they're about him. How can they be classified?" The Official gave her a withering stare. "Some things are better left unsaid." "Isin't that a lyric to a song?" "Don't be flippant with me young lady, we have a strict policy on what you can and can't say. That includes telling your husband about our secret doughnut supply." Annie opened her mouth to argue, but the Official cut her off. "Today it's doughnuts, tomorrow government secrets. No more pillow talk Annie, is this clear?" Annie sniffed, but nodded her head. The Official bent his head back over his work, Annie stuck her tongue out in a childish gesture. "I saw that! Leave now." Annie clicked her heels together and quickly exited the office. The Official picked up the phone. "Eberts? Find the doughnuts a new home." Claire was working on how to warm Nicole's bottle up in less than two minutes when Annie skipped into the Keep. Nicole was wailing in the playpen clearly hungry and Claire was doing her best to calm her down. "Okay, Nicole it's coming. Mummy just needs to warm it up. Don't cry. God, you're as impatient as your father." "Sounds to me as if you're the impatient one." Claire spun round when she heard Annie's voice. A bubbling beaker full of water and Nicole's bottle was letting off steam in quite an alarming manner. Annie gestured to the bottle. "I think it's done." "Oh, DAMN!" Claire removed the beaker, burning herself in the process. Nicole stepped up the noise making her displeasure known. Annie picked her up and sat in the chair with her as Claire fought with the top of the bottle. " Damn thing has sealed itself with the steam. I've got to get a bottle warmer in here." Finally, Claire released the steam from the bottle, checked the temperature and when it was cool enough handed it to Annie who proceeded to feed Nicole. Silence came as soon as Annie stuck it in Nicole's mouth. Claire wiped sweat from her brow. "Phew! Give me a science problem any day." Annie grinned at her friend. She still couldn't believe that the Official had allowed Claire to bring Nicole to work, but it had worked out okay, especially as Eberts was an all too willing babysitter. She looked at the little girl in her arms. Nicole was three months old and had Claire's blonde hair and smile, her eyes were all Bobby, mid brown and full of expression. "I saw your pictures today, Bobby was really proud." Claire rolled her eyes. " I know. He's talking about getting them made into slides. He seems to have the impression that Nicole is the next Bruce Lee." Annie giggled, Nicole had finished the bottle and was trying to sit up. Claire took her daughter and popped her on her shoulder. A great burp filled the room as Nicole got rid of her wind. "So? Are you still having fun?" Claire enquired as she rocked Nicole off to sleep. Annie nodded. " Eberts is really helpful, I take back the things I've said about him. He's promised to show me how to use a computer and he's helping me with my reading and writing. I've learned so much." Annie looked at her watch. "Actually, I've got a lesson in ten minutes so I'd better dash. Have you heard from our heroes?" "Bobby is trying not to kill Jones. Darien is bored, same old same old." Claire put Nicole in her travel cot, she was sleeping soundly now. "Do me a favour, can you get rid of this diaper? It's smelling out the lab." Finally, the last day arrived. Bobby had got a bee in his bonnet about the missing cat and Jones was tired of hearing his theories. Darien, who never got bored of goading the FBI agent had calmly suggested that they got a really big fake mouse, take it to the last known location of the cat and lay in wait. Not suprisingly, Jones ignored him totally. As Jones was leaving, Eberts, Annie, Bobby and Darien all gathered to say goodbye. Bobby just wanted to make sure Jones was leaving, Eberts wanted to check that he didn't take any files with him. "Well Jones, I wish I could say it's been a pleasure, but it hasn't. Don't come back soon okay?" Bobby smirked at Darien's choice of words. Annie piped up. "You did check the pound for the cat right?" Jones turned slightly red. "Why do you ask?" "Well, a friend of mine heard of a case of pets being stolen and ransomed. It turns out that employees of the pound were responsible and they made lots of money from it." Darien nodded his approval. "Great scam." Bobby turned to Jones. " You searched the pound?" Jones turned even more red. Annie giggled and nudged Eberts who smiled thinly. "Would you like the number of the city pound Agent Jones? I hear it is in the telephone book." Annie was laughing really hard by now, clutching at Eberts arm to keep herself upright. Darien leaned against the wall and made cat sounds, while Bobby was sniggering at the glowing agent. "Didn't even check the pound. Nice work, well done." Jones encompassed them all in a hard glare and walked away with as much dignity as he could muster. Eberts tapped Bobby on the shoulder. "Robert? The city pound is only two blocks from here." "Good point pencil neck, let's go find the Agency that reward Fawkes." The two men hurried out the building with Darien complaining that he was allergic to cats. Eberts patted Annie's arm. "Let us finish our lesson Annie. Now, I believe we had begun basic computer awareness." Annie smiled at Eberts and went happily into his office. The End. "