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"How long have they been at it?"
"For about an hour now."
"Jeeze. Who ever knew fighting was a male form of bonding? Not me."
"You should hear my dad and brother say good night. You'd think the WWF was going on up there."
"Oh great. Makes me glad not to be a boy."
"Why would you want to be one anyway? It's good to be a girl. Keeps people's expectations low."
"And then when you overachieve, it shocks them."
"Exactly."
"Yes well, once in a while, guys will do something really spectacular. And using 'spectacular' in conjunction with the person I am thinking of, it takes on a negative affect?"
"What do you mean?"
"Hello? Organizing crime, hiring accomplices, hacking into computer files, blowing cars up, kidnapping teenagers, stealing paintings and jewels, assaulting two teenagers, and other things that I can't think of now has got to be pretty...oh...."
"Devoted? Yeah, I mean, who would do that for somebody. Never mind that he's your friend, but come on!"
"Exactly. I would maybe do the hacking and organizing, but I draw the line at blowing things up. It's just unethical."
"Good point Fiona. And very impressive speech there Lynn."
"Oh, well, I had a lot of time to practice."
Lynn, Tatiana, and I were all sitting on the kitchen counter, now and then halting in our conversations to giggle at the sounds of Basil and Sam fighting in the next room.
Basil's cat Nickoles between us. We were snacking on ham sandwiches, and one of us would give the cat a piece of meat every now and then. To Tatiana and my surprise, Lynn said that she wasn't that hungry.
"They fed me pretty good," she had shrugged. "Even though they gave me the leftovers, it wasn't that bad. I must say, Shyamalan makes a mean chili."
"Speaking of Shyamalan," I started to say, but Tatiana interrupted me.
"Uh-uh. No talking about the case. My opinion on the guy is not very good. Anyone who will do almost anything for anybody is crazy. Shyamalan is madder than ...well, I can't think of anything right now, but he's madder than some very, very mad thing. He's completely, utterly bonkers."
"Very well said," Lynn nodded. I sighed.
"Whatever. Maybe I'm a little one-track minded but ....Hey! Boys! Keep it down in there!"
That last part was directed at Basil and Sam, who were, yes, you guessed it, still fighting.
"Sorry!" came the cry from the two boys.
"Why don't you quit fighting and come in here?" Tatiana yelled back.
There was a silence.
"Ok! We'll be right there!" Sam yelled. I heard sounds of more scuffling, as if the boys were untangling themselves.
"Ow! You needn't put your finger in my eye.... Nor your foot in my mouth either."
"Sorry..Sort of."
The girls and I looked up as the kitchen door swung open, reveling a very rumpled Sam and Basil. Sam's clothes were very wrinkled and slightly torn, and Basil's hair looked like he got in a fight with a balloon. It formed a static halo around his head and his efforts to smooth it down with his hands were wasted.
"What do you want?" Sam asked, leaning against the doorframe. "I was just getting Basil withering in the crushing fist of reason to."
"You wish," Basil muttered, putting a hand up on the frame. Sam gave him a quick grin.
"We were wondering when you are leaving for Cairo," Tatiana said.
"What? Eager to get rid of me?" Basil asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Lynn's lips started to quiver again. Basil caught the expression on her face and quickly ducked behind Sam.
"Good choice little buddy," Sam commented, looking over his shoulder at Basil.
"Hey! Little? Who's eighteen here? Who's older than who here?" Basil flared up.
"Ehem!" Tatiana said impatiently.
"Oh right. Well, I'm guessing tomorrow," Basil said, stepping around Sam and looking thoughtful. "If I know Randall, he'll have us out of here right after he has the papers signed. Actually, I rather surprised he doesn't want to go today. Anyway, we'll take a fight that stops at New York and drop Randilyn off, then we'll go to Cairo. Boy do I have a lot to do," Basil muttered.
"You'll let us see you guys off, won't you?" I asked. Basil looked at me reproachfully. "Ah. Yeah, stupid question."
"Why don't you guys stay until Randall gets home so we can ask him," Basil suggested. "Then you'll know when we're leaving."
"Oh!" Lynn cried, sitting up and snapping her fingers. "Basil, can I use your phone?"
"Certainly," Basil said, looking slightly confused. He pointed to the black phone that was resting on the edge of the counter. Lynn picked it up and jumped off the counter. Sam and Basil stepped aside as she brushed passed them, dialing as she went.
Basil and Sam both came to lean against the counter next to Tatiana and I.
"What was that about?" Basil asked as Sam reached out and petted Nickoles.
"My guess is that she's calling her parents," Tatiana said.
"Ooh yes, that would be important. I bet they're wrecks."
"Oh not necessarily. Lynn has been doing this stuff for as long as we have known here. They're use to it. I'm sure they are plenty worried, but we have never failed to get anyone back," Sam said, giving Nickoles one last stroke. Basil stretched out to pet the cat, but before his fingers even touched his fur, there was a snap and a flash of white light.
"Ow!" Basil cried, jerking his fingers back. "I got shocked! Did you have to rub my face so hard into the carpet Sam?"
"Yep!"
"When are the twins getting home?" Tatiana interrupted.
"Um, about eight tonight. Why?"
"Well what are we going to do 'till then?"
* * * * * *
"Ooh, I don't think I can take another round of 'The Drinking Game'."
"Oh come on Tati, where's your spirit of adventure?"
"Down the john. I keep having to run to the bathroom."
"Aw, you just can't hold your soda."
Lynn, Tatiana, Sam, Basil and I were all sitting in front of the T.V., five cups and many bottles of soda in front of us. We were watching a mutual favorite film 'Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.'
The rules were simple. For instance, we had to drain our glasses when Frodo Baggens smiled, when Legolas had a line, and whenever Gollum was shown. The trick was to pick events that happened so rarely, that you were never to drain your glass. Little did we know that Tatiana got a full bladder quickly and that she couldn't handle soda with caffeine in it very well. After an unfortunate event in which she and Lynn got into an argument over 'Who is cuter: Legolas or Aragorn?' we switched her over to diet soda. The game ran smoother then, and there was less skin and hair lost.
"I hate to say it, but you just can't hold your soda. Now let me pause the movie, while you run to the bathroom for the billionth time."
"Thank you Basil."
"Note the sarcasm!" Basil yelled after the small girl. "Whit is entirely lost on her," Basil said, shaking his head.
"We're home!"
Randall and Randilyn had returned.
"Wow, what happened here?" Randilyn asked, stopping and surveying the mess of spilled soda, cups on their side, peanuts (good for keeping you thirsty) and empty liter bottles.
"We were playing The Drinking Game with 'The Fellowship of the Ring'," Basil explained.
"I was going to guess a stampede."
"Ha ha. The only reason why they stayed here was to ask you what time we are leaving tomorrow."
Sam, Lynn, and I exchanged glances behind Basil's back. The only reason my empty plastic soda cup.
"Um, hold on. RANDALL! WHAT TIME ARE WE LEAVING TOMORROW?" Randilyn yelled in the direction of the back bedrooms.
"I WANT TO LEAVE HERE ABOUT FIVE, SO WE CAN GET THERE AT EIGHT. THAT IS IF I CAN GET YOUR LAZY BUTT OUT OF BED IN TIME!" Randall yelled back, walking into the room. The twins were both wearing identical velvet green button-up shirts and matching velvet green slacks.
"COME HERE AND...oh sorry. Come here and say that," Randilyn said, her voice at a normal pitch.
"No," Randall said simply. "I'm going to bed after I pack."
"Geeze, I could hear you all the way from the bathroom," Tatiana commented, walking back in the room.
"You mean that you have to pack up all this stuff?" Sam asked disbelievingly.
"Of course not," Randall said, his voice cold. "We take the things we need and keep the rest here for when we come back."
"Oh sorry," Sam said. Randilyn gave him an apologetic look from behind her brother's back and Basil glanced at Sam, giving him a silent look of apology also.
"Let's go Randilyn," Randall commanded, sweeping out of the room.
"See you tomorrow," Randilyn said, and turned and followed her brother out of the room.
"What now?" Sam asked, after a short silence.
"Well, my parents are glad I'm home safe, and they said that they can pick me up whenever," Lynn spoke up. We all looked at her.
"You have the coolest parents," Tatiana whispered in awe.
"Yeah, well," Lynn shrugged. "They do. So should I call them? Do 'yall need a ride?" she asked, standing up and looking from Tatiana to Sam.
"Wait," Basil said softly, holding up a hand. "If it's ok, can you stay? I mean, if it's all right with your parents. If they say no, that's ok. I understand that they might not want you over here for the night. After all, you did just spend the whole day over here. And if you don't want to, that's ok to. I understand. You can just see me off, or if you don't want to do that, I'll call before I leave. Or if...."
But his stream of words was stemmed when Sam put a finger to Basil's blathering lips.
"Now Basil," Sam said, smiling slightly. "You know that we would do anything for you on your abrupt last day here. Why do you think we put up with you all day?" Basil smiled the best he could with Sam's finger on his lips. "I'll stay even if the rest can't. I'll just say that 'my new best friend Basil wants me to spend the night'. Again."
Tatiana and I smiled at each other, remembering that conversation when we spent the night the first time over here.
"I'll call my mom," Tatiana said, walking out of the room smiling.
"I know my mom will let me," I said. When there was no response, I bit my lips to keep from laughing and smiled at Lynn, who grinned back.
"Uh Basil? Sam, I don't think he can talk very good when you're pressing a finger to his mouth," Lynn said, grinning hugely.
"Oh right," Sam said, dropping his hand.
"That's fine Fiona," Basil said.
I raised an eyebrow, then I made a face, twisting my features into a grotesque mask. It didn't matter, he wasn't looking at me anyway. Lynn and I started giggling at Sam and Basil's lack of attention. At us, that is.
"Ah, we'll go and call our moms," Lynn said, starting to push me out of the room.
"Huh?" Sam said, finally blinking and looking around at us. "Ok, we'll get the beds ready, just in case they say yes."
"Mine did," Tatiana said, walking in. "I can't believe it."
"Lovely," Lynn said. She grabbed Tatiana's arm as she passed, pushing both of us out the room.
* * * * * *
Twelve hours later, I felt like I was going to faint.
All seven of us were standing at the airport, waiting for the plane to touch down. Tatiana was very quiet, and Lynn's eyes kept filling up with tears. I was so distraught, my head was light, and it felt like my stomach was replaced with snakes. Everything was spinning, and I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead. My God, I hadn't even felt this bad when Morgan pointed a gun at my head.
Poor Sam was looking as bad as I felt. His skin was so pale that it made his navy blue eyes stand out startlingly. He kept biting his lip so hard, that I kept having to stop him to give him a tissue to wipe the blood off his lips and chin. His hair fell over his forehead, the red starting to show through the black. It produced a truly startling effect, like burnt paper being burned again. The black hair wasn't doing much for him anyway, it made him look even paler.
"Calm down Sam," Tatiana said for the hundredth time since we had sat down by the loading gate. It was pretty ironic for her to say such a thing; her hands were trembling so badly that she was sitting on them.
Randall and Randilyn came back from the desk. They were seeing if the plane was on time, and if their tickets were cleared. Basil sat by us in silence. "Good news, the plane's on time," Randall said, sitting down on a plastic chair.
"Oh joy," we chorused.
"Aw, lighten up guys," Randilyn said, shaking Lynn's shoulder, who was sitting next to her. "You have...ah... five minutes to say goodbye."
"Uuuuuuh, I hate long goodbyes," Randall growled, slouching down in his seat.
"Or maybe not," Randilyn said, staring out the long window. "Look."
She pointed out to the runway. A long, sleek, silver plain was touching down on the asphalt.
"Well, that's our ride," Randall said, picking up his bag and walking to the gate.
"Hey, have a little compassion Randall!" Randilyn shrieked. "They've practically only just met, and now they have to say goodbye. Think of how much they have been through together. Give them a moment, for pities sake!"
Randall stopped, and glanced over his shoulder.
"That would break my heart...if I had a heart," he said, his voice frigied. Then he disappeared through the terminal.
"Nice brother you got there Randilyn," Sam said, once Randall was out of sight.
"Thanks, I made him myself."
She glanced at us.
"I'll keep my goodbyes brief so there is more time for yours Basil," she said. "Goodbye 'yall."
She hugged all of us.
"Be well," she said, her hand on Lynn's head. Lynn smiled.
"Bye!"
"Goodbye!"
"Keep in touch!"
"Don't forget us!"
"Bye guys! Hurry up Basil," Randilyn called from the gate entrance.
Basil turned to us. We smiled.
"Guys," Basil started, then stopped. "Thank you. That was quite the experience. I owe all of you something."
He looked at Sam and Lynn.
"There are no words to express how I fell about you guys. You are the best people I have ever known. Please do not change. I have had too much of good people changing for the worst."
He stepped up to Tatiana and gave her a hug.
"Thanks for enduring my boring artifact speeches down at the museum. And sorry about that air conditioner incident. But it was Randall's fault."
Tatiana smiled as Basil kissed her. Lynn wolf-whistled softly.
"Lynn, I am so so sorry. I am a total idiot for not seeing what was going on sooner," Basil said, putting his hands on Lynn's arms. Lynn rolled her eyes.
"Oh please Basil. That's what happens when you hang out with Fiona."
"Ah. Thank you for the warning."
Lynn laughed. It was the first time I had hear her really laugh since we got her back. After Basil and Lynn had kissed, I held out my hand.
"Thanks," I said, before Basil could say anything. "I couldn't have done it without you."
"Oh please," Basil scoffed. "You wouldn't have even of been in it if it wasn't for me."
"True. Thank you all the same. I had a fabulous time, and met some really cool people along the way."
Basil snorted, but kissed me. Whew. Good thing I had gotten over my silly school-girl crush on him a long time ago or I would have melted. As it was, I melted slightly anyway.
"Thanks man," Basil said, putting his forehead on Sam's and grinning. Sam was about a few centimeters taller than Basil, but that didn't make a difference. Once again, I was slammed into the image of a ying and yang thing; the white light, and the dark, friends and inseparable.
Lynn clasped her hands together by her face and sighed, her eyes misty. Tatiana and I shook our heads, and almost missed Sam kissing Basil on the forehead.
"Awwwww," Lynn squealed, nearly collapsing in ecstasy on the chairs.
"It's been the best," Sam said, him and Basil doing this complicated handshake thing.
"Group hug!" Lynn yelled. She had apparently recovered. She grabbed us all in a hug and started wailing. Laughing and yelling at Lynn, we all collapsed into each other.
"I'm going to miss you so much!" Lynn cried.
"Lynn, I'm only going to another country," Basil wheezed as he was squashed between Lynn and Sam.
"I know!" Lynn cried, and her crying redoubled.
"Oh my," Basil said, pulling back and dusting off his shirt. "I've got to go." He picked up a gold piece of material from the plastic chairs and clutched it to his chest. Morgan's cloak.
"Thank you all," he said quietly, quickly kissing us all again. "I won't forget you. Any of you." He gave us one last look, then turned and ran to the gate.
"Well, what now?" Tatiana asked quietly, as we watched the plain take off a few minutes later.
"I don't know," Sam said, just as quietly.
"Let's go home," Lynn suggested, her tone softly depressed. We turned and started to walk slowly away from the window.
"That sounds good."
A sigh. Then, slowly, "Yeah."
A pause.
"It's over."
Slowly, softly, "Let's go home."