Author: LittleLadyhawke

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em and I make no money off 'em either.

Summary: Hmm…

Rating: PG-13 (a few harsh words spoken)

Feedback: If you want

Author's Notes: Thanks to Liz for helping me with my obsession with commas.

The Box

Chapter One: In Deep

This was not good. This was so not good. What was she going to do now? How in the world was she going to explain this? For that matter, who was she going to explain it to?

Where the hell had it come from? She had only left the truck for a few minutes. Taking off her jacket she lifted the box from the floor back into the flatbed of the truck. She had to get it out of the motor pool before anyone saw, or heard, it. She ran into the other room and grabbed a handful of clean towels. She carefully placed them around the contents of the box in order to keep it from shifting as she carried it. Gently, very gently, she laid the last towel over the top of the box to deter any overly curious observer.

"Hey Covergirl," Clutch drawled as he sauntered into the room, "Whatcha got in the box?"

"Just some stuff I needed to pick up," she replied trying to sound far cooler than she felt.

"Uh-huh. What stuff would that be and can I watch when you put it on?" he leered.

"You're disgusting, Clutch, do you know that," she spat back at him.

"Of course I do, Sweet-bottom. What surprises me is that you don't," he grinned.

She chose that moment to grab the box and storm off with more bravado than she felt. She was almost to the door. Just a few more steps and she would be home free, at least for a little while. Just a few more steps, all she had to do was keep it cool. She put her hand on the doorknob and twisted. Her palms were sweaty in her gloves. She pulled the door open and prepared to step through.

"Not so fast," Clutch barked.

Fear ran like icy cold fingers down her spine. This was it. Somehow he knew she had something in the box. The only thing she could do was throw herself on his mercy and explain she had no idea how the box had gotten in the truck and ask him not to tell until she figured out what to do. She cringed at what a favor from Clutch would cost her. Squaring her shoulders she turned and prepared herself to do the one thing she hated…beg.

When she turned she felt the box shift. At the same moment she saw him holding out her jacket to her, "You forgot this."

"Oh, thanks. Toss it to me would you?" she asked sweetly not wanting to get any closer to him than was absolutely necessary.

"Why don't you just come over here and get it," he winked.

Realizing he had no clue she was hiding something she let out the breath she had no idea she'd been holding.

"Well Sweet-bottom, do you want it or not?" he gave a comical wiggle of his eyebrows.

"On second thought, Clutch, since you've had your grubby hands all over it, do me a big favor and burn it," she spun on her heel and stormed out.

She hurried across the walk and into the next building. When she had gotten far enough away from the motor pool, she leaned against the wall and pulled out her cell phone. She called the only people she knew would give her a hand, or at the very least some sound advice. Answer the damn phone!

"Hullo," a sleepy disembodied voice answered on the sixth ring.

"I'm in a world of shit," Covergirl shifted the box from one arm to the other.

"What time is it?" the voice was no more alert now than it was when it answered the phone.

Covergirl gave an exasperated sigh, "Is that really relevant, I just told you I'm in deep…"

"Shit, yeah I heard you," the voice replied calmly.

"Well," she squeaked and continued when it became clear the person on the other end was not going to say anything, "I need your help. Are you alone?"

"No, Jaye is here too," the voice was more alert now than it had been.

"Good tell her not to go anywhere until I get there," Covergirl shifted the box again. She saw Stalker and nodded at him when he smiled as he passed her in the hall.

"I think she's sleep," Scarlett sounded downright wary now.

"Well wake her up. I need her help too."

"Exactly how deep is this shit?"

"I'll let you see for yourself, because I'm coming over and I'm bringing it with me. I'll be there in about ten minutes," with that she cut the connection and started walking as fast as she could.

~x~x~x~x~

Scarlett stared at the ceiling in her bedroom for a few moments then rolled over and got out of bed. What in the world had Covergirl gotten into this time? She walked across the hall and knocked on Lady Jaye's door. When she didn't get an answer, she went in.

Jaye was curled into a tight ball in the middle of the bed. At least she thought the ball was Jaye. Scarlett called her again. Still no answer, but she noticed the breathing pattern had changed.

"I know you're not asleep, Jaye, so get up." she smiled and turned on the bedside lamp.

"Why?" the reply came from somewhere underneath the covers.

"Because we just had a phone call," Scarlett replied and plopped down on the bed.

"Were we called for a mission briefing?"

"No."

"Was it Flint?"

"No."

"Then as far as I'm concerned it wasn't important, so screw off," the ball under the covers shifted, "and close the damn door on your way out."

Although she was rather pleasant when she was awake, Lady Jaye was a downright bitch when her sleep was disturbed for reasons she deemed unimportant.

Scarlett smiled again, "Our wayward friend, Covergirl, has apparently gotten herself into, and I quote, 'deep shit'. She called and said she was on her way over here and was bringing it, whatever it is, with her."

"Tell her to get some hip waders. Besides, she's your friend when she's in deep shit. She's my friend when it isn't so deep. So good luck with whatever it is, and let me know how it all turns out," Jaye stretched and then curled back up.

Realizing she would be fighting a losing battle, Scarlett changed tactics mid-stream and used the one thing she knew would at least get her out of the bed, and that was Jaye's insatiable need to be kept in the loop.

"Well, I suppose we could do without your incessant nagging on this one. It might actually be a refreshing not having someone second-guessing everything we do. You know what, the more I think about it… you should stay in bed. Sorry to have disturbed you. We'll try not to wake you while we clean up whatever mess this is," Scarlett patted the ball of cover on the shoulder and got up to leave.

She heard the covers rustle, and turned to see Jaye's sharp eyes peering at her, "This had better be good."