Why is it Always Me?

A Codename: Kids Next Door Fan Fiction

By

~CallMeButLove~

KND © Mr. Warburton

Why is it Always Me?

Writing Operative: ~CallMeButLove~

Summary:

Those times when you just don't believe in yourself, it's nice to know that there are those dear friends who'll do it for you. This is set after Op. Interviews, so sadly Numbuh 1 is not featured. Multi-chapter... Please review, I love to hear from you!

Chapter 1:

Abigail Lincoln was in a reflective mood. She moved slowly, pensively, down the near-empty sidewalk that led to her home in the afternoon light of a lovely April day. Well, lovely had she looked up to notice. The weather was warming with Spring's birth, there were already more birds, various signs of new life buzzing around, and the grass and trees had taken on that particularly bight, almost neon shade of green that one only sees in the early vernal season. The sun was lowering in the brightest cobalt sky to grace Cleveland yet that year and it's rays had begun to decorate some of the scant clouds with pastel colors.

Colors that were heralds of a stunning sunset to come; another beautiful terrestrial evening that she would miss by being above it all. Literally above it all, on the moon. Abby though didn't register any of these things so lost in her thoughts was she. The end of Abby's walk most days was in reality not her home exactly. The place she thought of as home was not the address that the post office and school registrar had on file. It was not the place where her parents ate, slept and relaxed after their day at work. That place, sadly, would never again be where her heart is and so could never again truly be home. Not since Cree had betrayed them, betrayed her team, betrayed her would that house ever –

No! That line of thinking was out of the question right now. It would only lead to uncontrollable emotions escaping and that she could not afford. For once she crossed the threshold of her destination she would no longer have the luxury of being emotional in any way shape or form. Once she opened that door she would cease to be Abigail Lincoln, the bright, studious, ever-cool eleven year old. Once again, just like that time with Cree, she would step into the brightly lit room filled with the noises of children enjoying themselves as only children can, and in spite of herself she would once more be Numbuh Five, Team Leader of KND Sector V.

Nigel, her friend and her protege in some ways, had surpassed her and moved on to better things. He had entrusted the team to her once more. Once more she had to fill the vacated shoes of someone she respected, admired, looked up to. Once more she had to face the feeling that she would never really measure up the the one who came before. Once more she was left to wonder: 'Why is it always me?'.

She mumbled the question under the rim of her trademark red cap and punched the entry code into the mailbox keypad. As the stairs descended to meet her, Abby shook off her melancholy thoughts and squared her shoulders. The team was in for a bit of big news, and then she would have to take them to Moon Base, deal with the inevitable questions and pestering that would follow, and with any luck have them all back on Earth and accounted for with their families in time for dinners or at least before curfew. No one could afford to be grounded right now, as the KND operational code of conduct was unfailingly strict when it came to the No Missions When Grounded policy. She couldn't risk loosing a teammate for who knows how long, it would put the Sector at a disadvantage and leave them open for adult attack. No, they would all be home on time – she would personally see to that.

As Numbuh Five entered the main room in the tree-house, she noted with a wistful smile that the others were too absorbed in their various favorite activities to notice her right away. Number Two and Number Four were engaged in a heated video game tournament. It had been going on for three days now and according to Wally, there had to be seven matches – just like the World Series in baseball. However, judging by the young Aussie's current volume and the presence of a few rather 'choice' words in his speech, things were not going the way he wanted them too in this third round. Unusually enough, Numbuh Four had actually won the first two matches and he had bounced and 'jammed' around the neighborhood singing in his own unique rock style since then. This clearly would not be the case tonight as Numbuh Two's score continued to increase with every second.

Abby knew it would do absolutely no good to try and get the attention of the boys now, so she calmly made her way to the kitchen and grabbed a bowl of Nachos to munch while waiting for Hoagie to put his friend out of his misery. She knew he enjoyed being able to best Wally at this type of game mostly because the shorter boy was much more skilled at live action games, like soccer or dodge ball Numbuh Two could never be the victor on those fields, but here with a game controller in his hand he felt invincible and invigorated.

Number Three was contentedly playing with several Rainbow Monkeys on the floor next to Wally's feet. She moved them and spoke for them in a dialogue out of her imagination. Flowery, sweetness permeated the words of course, and the dolls were seemingly paired up and snuggled as they played out whatever sugary, romantic, girly plot she had envisioned for them. The petite Japanese girl never registered concern or even real acknowledgment when Wally's angry, short, but strong legs would shoot outward from the couch cushion upon which he perched in his frustrated state, coming perilously close to her head. She simply continued to coo and chat with her plush friends all the while dodging every move Numbuh Four unconsciously made without ever even looking in his direction. Abby shook her head and chuckled as she sat down on the other sofa to watch the competition from a reasonably safer distance.

"Those two are so perfectly in-sync with each other it almost makes Abby jealous," she mused to herself. "But they don't even seem to notice how connected they are."

Numbuh Five's eyes moved then, nearly without her will, over the jovial and kind form of her Second in Command. Hoagie P. Gilligan, Numbuh Two was her closest friend these days, he seemed to be the only one of her friends around whom she could completely let down her guard. He just seemed to 'get it' and could put her at ease almost instantly with little or no effort at all. He did it just by being him. Even with his incredibly corny jokes, he just made her life a little better, made the burden a little lighter, made this job she had to do a little easier. She didn't quite understand it yet, but Abby had a feeling that in the not so distant future she would. It would all make sense soon enough, right now it was just time to enjoy her remaining childhood with her friends before time had the chance to have it's wicked and unavoidable way with them all.

At length, the familiar musical cue played from the video game console indicating the loss of 'Player One', aka Numbuh Four. He immediately began ranting and raving that he'd win the next one for sure et cetera, et cetera, while Hoagie just smirked and looked over the smaller boy's head at his Team Leader. Something in her eyes gave him pause...

"Well if she needs to talk, she will I guess," Numbuh Two concluded silently as he looked at her, still grinning and sparring verbally with Wally over winning their game.

Just then Number Five stood up and called for everyone to gather in the briefing room. She stepped that way herself and smoothly let the natural leadership skills she possessed convey the urgency to her team in her voice and body language. They jumped up and followed her with enthusiasm. Once the others were seated Numbuh Five got down to business. She had an announcement to make that she was sure would cause an uproar, but would hopefully be softened by a trip to Moon Base. She cleared her throat softly and adjusted her hat. That made twice since they'd come into the room that she'd done that and still she hadn't spoken yet. Abby decided to open with the fact that they'd been summoned by Global Command and that meant flying to the Moon.

Raucous cheers erupted from the operatives, especially from Wally who felt convinced that KND Moon Base was the coolest, most awesome-tastic place ever! Kuki of course was just as pleased as it was her nature to be bubbly about absolutely everything. Hoagie too, loved Moon Base. He enjoyed the Science and 2x4 Tech Labs and of course there wasn't a better meatball sandwich to be found anywhere on Earth. Abby herself liked them better than she let on, and the Tech Specialist made up his mind to buy her one while they were there to cheer her up a bit. The Sector Leader watched her teammates for a second before she spoke again, and regained their attention with one more shift of that hat imperceptibly lower on her brow.

"I wonder what's got Numbuh Five so nervous? She never gets nervous," Hoagie wondered internally, being the only one in the room in-tune well enough with the accomplished espionage expert to see the anxiety behind her repetitious movements.

He was about to find out the real reason for the cracks in her cool exterior along with everyone else.