EUREKA'S RULES

By Aesop

DISCLAIMER: I do not own the show, Eureka, or any of the characters, and no profit is earned in writing this.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I noted that no one at had yet put up a story like this for Eureka and wanted to be the first.

Deputy Jo Lupo had her hand on the door before she saw the paper. It was fastened to the wall next to the entrance to the Sheriff's office and held the simple heading NEW RULES. Below that was a paragraph that she read with growing confusion.

For the safety of the citizens of Eureka and the continued sanity of your sheriff, the following

rules are to be obeyed by all residents of the town.

1. If you don't know what it is and what it does FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, DON'T TOUCH IT!!!

Lupo read the first and only entry twice. It was only 9:30 and Carter had already been pushed to putting up something like that? After taking a moment to consider calling in sick, she squared her shoulders and pushed through the door, certain it was going to be an interesting day.

OOOOOOOOOO

She'd been right, and Carter hadn't made it any easier. Generals could be annoying, it was true, but some discretion was called for. Taking a ballpoint pen from her pocket, she added to the list.

A few moments later Jack Carter emerged, closing up for the day, and saw the new entry.

2. Do not tease the brass. They sign our checks.

"Subtle, Jo, subtle."

OOOOOOOOOO

The next entries appeared quickly over the course of two days.

3. 'It is better to seek forgiveness than ask permission,' no longer applies to Zoë Carter.

Being out past curfew was one thing. Leaving the house in the middle of the night for a date was quite another, especially when the boy was doing dangerous experiments involving pheromones. The next entry was added later the same day.

3a. Or Fargo.

Jack found the last entry the following afternoon in Allison's handwriting.

3b. Or Sheriff Carter

"Now that's just unfair. It's my list." Jo, who had been following him into the station, laughed out loud before pushing by him.

OOOOOOOOOO

Jack sighed at the next entry when it appeared just two days later in Henry's handwriting. He fully agreed, but wondered what had sparked it. He knew that Henry and Stark had had another disagreement, but wasn't sure of the details, as neither one would talk about it. This, at least, was a clue.

4. Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should.

OOOOOOOOOO

Jack scratched his head over the next entry. It looked like his handwriting, but he was certain he hadn't written it. He would have certainly remembered anything that could provoke an entry like that.

5. Manipulating the space/time continuum for personal gain, or for any reason, is strictly forbidden.

Maybe, he realized, he wouldn't remember. Now there was a disturbing thought. Taking out his pen, he underlined the entry.