CHATER VIII

"… then call. Got it? We won't be far. We are spending the night at headquarters"

Bella rolled her eyes, "Marco, I know! Say hi to dad for me. Can you guys go now? It's just a night!", she complained grinning, shoving him out the front door, Louella came over also grinning and dumped his bags in his arms.

"I still can't believe the girls are kicking us out", Carl groaned

"Come on man, what type of bet did you lose?", James asked.

"When can we come back though?", Stanly asked

Poppy and the others laughed. They were all really excited for this evening. According to Bella, they had never spent any time as ladies without a guy around! This night was going to be fun filled, Bella wasn't going to let it be anything else.

They had each gone all out to ensure the nights success.

Bella had mysteriously appeared with six pairs of matching onesies only to be differentiated by a prettily designed name and color, twelve bottles of purple and black (six each) nail polish. She also managed to discover six sleeping bags, 'so we can sleep in the living room'.

Jane had been in the kitchen since the moment Bella and Louella told her about the gurls night. Mysteriously delicious scents where wafting through the doors making mouths water. She hadn't even come out to tell the boys good bye.

Rita had spared no expenses on her specialty for the evening. Music. Piles of discs and flash drives and hard drives littered nearly every inch of the room. She wouldn't tell them what type of song on any of them, and they were all eager to find out.

Jessi had been shockingly open to the idea, she had nothing much to contribute except to help out the others, but her willingness was enough to make all them happy. Besides she hadn't said one bitter word to Louella yet.

Poppy had taken over the area of movies. She had collected enough money from Rita to pay for all of the movies on the box offices, and had recorded all the movies on regular showing. As if this wasn't enough, she still had days' worth of pre- downloaded movies on a flash drive.

Louella had the important task of recording the event. She had gotten three large cameras specially for the occasion, each hidden in discreet places none of the girls could think of. She also had an array of games for them to play if it got to quiet, to boring, or on special request.

The only problem is, getting the boys out of the house.

"You guys are evil, you know. Made some kind of secret bet with Marco and he lost, now we all have to suffer", Carl complained.

They all laughed, "What's it going to take for you guys to leave?", Louella asked

Marco grinned coyly, "We will leave- and that's a promise- if we get to see each of you in your matching onesies", he bargained.

Well, the girls were more than eager to let them see. Especially a few in particular… but that was mostly because they hadn't seen them for themselves either, and so, they rushed up the stairs to change. Jessi went to alert Jane, Poppy and Rita went to Rita's room, while Louella and Bella went to Lou's room.

"Hey, Lou. This is yours. Purple with your name on the front, to the right", Bella said handing it to Lou.

It was beautiful, just one thing though. It was kind of showing off… everything. Bella smiled like a fox when Lou told her that.

"Well duh, we do have to look stylish! Who know who we might meet in our dreams? Or before we go to sleep." She added still grinning

Louella got the gist of the whole situation. Bella was made them all like this, to help each of the girls in their individual love interests. Don't you know them? You don't? okay, let me tell you…

Of course, we have Louella and Marco

Bella and Carl

Jessi and…also Marco

But the others might surprise you

Rita and Jonny

Poppy and Stanly

And lastly Jane. I know you all might be wondering. Aren't the guys all used up? Well, it may surprise you to know, Jane is a recently widowed slightly older woman, who needs help from her girls to love herself again. How sweet of Bella to remember, and tell Lou.

They all trooped down the stairs at almost the same time, waited for the slower people, and pranced into the pallor, heads held high and smiling at each other or one person in particular. Shush.

Louella was in royal purple.

Bella was in deep red.

Jessi was in hot pink.

Poppy was in aqua marine blue.

Rita was in sea green.

Jane was in oak brown.

And did they all look good or what?! The boys certainly thought so. They could not seem to take their eyes of these glowing ladies.

"You girls…", Marco started

"…you look…", carl continued

"…I mean…", Jonny mumbled

"…Beautiful. You all look beautiful", Stanly finished.

"Dude, we need to go… like now", Carl said. His ears where reddish and he was looking at the ceiling.

Marco nodded hurriedly, "Um, yea… bye"

None of them said another word as they left with their bags and piled into the car. As soon as the ladies heard the tears peel out of the drive way, they started laughing. They laughed till tears rolled down their faces.

"Let's get this show on the road ladies! We have nearly twelve hours of uninterrupted girl time! I personally don't want to waste a second", Bella said still laughing.

They all agreed and waltzed into the kitchen to help out a little. But they stopped in their tracks.

"Jane… this is epic!", Louella gushed.

Jane smiled, "It's the best I could do. Chocolate cake, vanilla cake, tacos, homemade pizza, chip and dip, cinnamon buns, cinnamon rolls, jam tarts, some rice, some eggs, some spaghetti and bolognaise- all the things you need to get a proper girl's night hangover and tummy ache!", she said laughing, they all joined in and carried the stuff to the pallor still thanking her heartily.

The night kicked off with a lot of dancing. A dance competition between Bella and Jessi, they both won. Plenty of snacking and laughing and talking. And then… the moment they had all been waiting for… the truth or dare session.

"Okay, Rita. Truth or dare?", Poppy asked

"Ugh, truth!"

"Is it true you lived on a mountain before now?", Jane asked

They all leaned in close as Rita blushed and nodded. Then the spent a good twenty minutes asking useless questions about the mountains.

"Okay, Bella your turn. Truth or dare?", Louella asked her

Bella grinned, "Dare all the way"

Poppy sat up, "I dare you to pick truth!"

Bella narrowed her eyes in defeat, "Ahhhh, truth"

"Is it true you and Carl have a thing?", Jessi asked.

Bella's face flushed with color, "What- I mean- who told you that?"

"You didn't have to tell us Bella. Come on, we're girls. Of course, we noticed", Rita said kindly, touching Bella's hand.

"And besides, boys are blind", Jane said

"Or just incredibly stupid," Louella added, hugging her friend.

"I think it's both!", Bella said laughing.

They laughed for a few minutes, before the game continued.

"Jane, truth or dare!", Poppy asked.

"Dare"

"Ooo, I dare you to watch a horror movie with us!", Bella said

"Awn, come on! Anything but that!", Jane whined

"Ha, nope. That's your dare! Accept it or face eviction!", Rita said laughing.

"Ugh, fine. Jessi, truth or dare", Jane asked

"Truth"

"Is it true, you have finally given up on Marco?", Bella asked.

Jessi blushed and looked at the floor, "Yes. I think it was about time. And besides, I'm not blind, I can see how happy Lou makes him", she said, looking up and smiling at Lou.

Jeez, about time! Oops, sorry, carry on.

"That's so nice and brave of you Jessi. Don't worry, your prince charming is on his way.", Bella said nicely.

"Lou! I got you now, truth or dare?", Rita asked her.

"Dare. Please give me a dare", Louella asked, sensing that they wanted to ask her a personal question.

"Ha! As if! I dare you to pick truth", Poppy shouted.

They all laughed as she groaned, "I don't have a choice. Truth"

"Is it true Marco kissed you?", Rita asked

Louella blushed so hard she had to cover her face with the pillow in her hands, "I-I um… err…I… yes", she muttered.

They all squealed excitedly.

"I knew it! I knew it! He came down all too happy earlier today! I knew you guys where together!", Poppy screamed.

Lou shook her head, "Oh, err- we aren't together", she corrected. The heat hadn't left her face yet.

'well, duh. My stupid over careful, ever thoughtful brother hasn't thought to ask the girl out officially! Can you believe him?", Bella asked rolling her eyes

Jane grinned, "I have a feeling all that will change by tomorrow"

"Hey, Lou. Can I ask you something else?", Jessi started.

"Yea sure. What?"

"when the case with murderer is over. Are you leaving?", she asked slowly

Louella sat up and smiled, shaking her head once. "Nope. I'm staying, I'm here till the end", Lou said.

None of them had heard this news before! And they all entered another dance party with true happiness in their eyes, still snacking and gisting.

After a few hours, they decided to watch a movie. So that Jane could complete her dare. Of course, they did their nails while they watched the movie. I mean, is there any other way to watch a movie?

It was well after midnight, when they changed to a softer music collection and settled down to sleep. They had all enjoyed their day, no one had any regrets what so ever.

But haven't you heard the expression, evil never sleeps?

Of course, you have. Now where are the guys?

The next morning, at about eight AM, the boys started coming back. They had spent the night exactly as was expected. At the boss's place, they were waited on hand and foot. Marco was at a meeting for several hours as the second in command. They had dinner with the boss at around nine PM. Took care of their hygiene till ten. Talked till eleven. Worried about the girls till twelve. Slept till six. Had breakfast till six thirty. Packed till seven. All attended a meeting till seven thirty. Entered the car at seven fifty. Went back for the stuff they forgot at seven fifty- five. Actually, started coming back at eight.

Yup, that's exactly how they expected it to go. Marco wanted to focus on how happy he felt that he would be seeing Louella soon. He wanted to joke around with the rest of the guys, possibly leave the wheel for someone else to drive. But his mind was full of his father's words from yesterday…

XxX

"So, son. We have a traitor? Or a whole organization of traitors."

"More like a whole organization of traitors"

"I see. The traitor burned down the cell?"

"Yes, among other smaller inconveniences. This traitor likes fire"

"I see, what are you doing about it?"

"Tracking. We have a lead"

"I see. James wasn't the only traitor"

"Yes sir. He wasn't"

"You don't understand. James wasn't the only one"

Marco was confused, at this point he wanted to tell his father that; of course, James wasn't the only traitor! They had found evidence of another traitor. A cleverer one. One who had just been using James for his love of money.

"Women… a rather clever species, don't you agree?"

Oh, "Your saying, the traitor is a woman?"

"Si, you're getting good at this. The woman is the head of the whole operation. What do you think she wants with the murderer?"

Click, "He must know something about them that could implicate them."

"The murder, has something on everyone"

Click again, "They must know, that we have Lou. And have told the murderer. Using it as a lure"

"Clever. How is Louella anyways? Beautiful woman. A man can get many beautiful grand babies out of a fine one like that. Good strong genes. Lots of nerve in her too"

Amused now, Marco smiled, "She's fine dad"

"A man would be smart to catch that one and hold her close. Don't you think son?"

"Your telling me to go after Lou?"

"I think your well past the age of me telling you what to do."

"Then why?"

"Canty an old man wish for grand babies anymore? Wonder if Bella will give me some first. I must talk to her later today"

"Dad, is this really a good time?"

"Every time is a good time. You would do well to understand that the sooner you find out who this woman is and why she has it in for you guys, the better for you and your precious L- Bella"

Shaking his head at the old man's hints and suggestions. Marco had walked away, pondering seriously on everything his dad had said.

But then again… evil, never sleeps.

They were only about two miles from the entire compound, then maybe three from the den. When they heard and felt an explosion that shook the car windows. Marco uttered a curse and zoomed of; the speedometer didn't drop below eighty all the rest of the way there.

It was a horribly gory site. Everyone that was around the den at the time of the explosion (which seemed to have come from inside the house) was clearly already dead. Marco didn't even wait to see if he had turned of the car, he got out and took off running.

Yup, just as he had thought. Every one within sixty feet of the den had been burned to death. He was trying desperately to silence the quiet voice inside his head that was asking about those inside. He took off running inside.

Everywhere was pitch black, and covered in soot, he tried to calm himself. He was thinking of the worst. Why was he thinking of the worst? He needed to be calm.

And that's when the worst came true. He heard it, faint voices- panicked, and someone was weeping no, more than one person, someone else was breathing really hard.

Louella, Bella. Please be okay.

He was just about to continue towards the voices, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He whipped around, his gun already in his hand.

"Whoa, its just me Marco", Carl said.

"W-where are the others?", he asked weakly

"Doing damage control outside. They also checked for the girls. They found Jane, Jessi and Rita outside. They said the fire started from the pallor and was an explosion. When it started, they jumped into the pool, their story checks out. They are all soaking wet."

"So- so, my sister an- and Lou, and- and Poppy-?"

"Still in here. Yes"

They were silent for a long time, both of them thinking hard. Then a loud voice disrupted their thought process.

"JANE, RITA, JESSI?!"

They both turned simultaneously towards the sound. After a quick glance at each other, they took off up, the creaking stairs. Two steps at a time.

"Louella! Bella! Poppy! This is Carl, we are coming up, where are you? What's the situation?"

"Carl? Thank Gawd. This is Louella. Poppy is… she's unconscious! Bella- Bella is hurt! He- her chest. Carl, help!"

They weren't listening much any longer they were already running towards the sound of their voices. They were barricaded in Marco's room. Carl was already saying that he would go back and get something to break down the door, when Marco let out a roar and banged the door down with his fists, barreling in as the second explosion shook the floors.

"Marco! Carl! Thank gawd you're here. They need help. Please, carry them! I can run behind you", Louella said.

She was standing backing a crying Bella, Louella herself was almost falling with Bella's weight, while trying to support an unconscious Poppy. She was overwhelmed. She had wrapped them all in Marco's sheets soaked in water to prevent harm from the fire. It was madness.

"what's wrong with Bella?", Marco asked slowly hurrying over to the ladies.

"When the fire started, and spread to the second floor, something fell… it- it was burning, I don't know what it was- it… it knocked out Poppy, and slashed Bella across her stomach.", she explained, Carl came up to her and took Bella of her back, she swayed slightly Marco wrapped his arms around her.

"I- I'm fine. Help- help Poppy", she said pushing away from him. He almost screamed.

"Louella, please tell me this isn't your own blood", he gasped, staring down at his hands. She didn't answer, just continued to sway slightly.

"Gawd. This is bad. Carl start going down with Bella, get her to the IC unit. Ill take these two", he said sharply slinging the unconscious lady over his back and picking the other one up by hand.

"It will be faster if I run", Louella said weakly.

"Don't say that Lou. Let me do this, just- oh no!", he nearly yelled, very nearly.

The entire hallway was engulfed in flames, the only spot of the outside he could see, was an already smashed window. He didn't stop to think long enough to realize why what he wanted to do was a bad idea. He just did it, and that snappy decision was what saved all their lives.

You want to know what he did?

Do I want to tell you?

I guess so.

He jumped from the window, which was right above the pool. How clever, waking up Poppy, saving all three of them, and dousing their smoldering cloths all in one move. He swam to the edge and deposited poppy on a stretcher- she went straight to the IC unit. And then he looked down at Louella. She was clinging to him in a way he never thought she would, but she had to- given the circumstances- and gasping slowly for air. Her face was soaked and covered in soot. He wiped his hand across it slowly. That's when he suddenly remembered; she was bleeding wasn't she?

"Lou, where are you hurt?", he asked

"M- my waist. Slashed my chest as it slashed Bella's chest. I- I couldn't do anything, Bella- she needed me", she said slowly, as she finished speaking, she lost consciousness.

Silently, and almost like a moving skeleton, he carried her to the IC unit and sat between the two ladies. He didn't move, for hours. He didn't see the need to move, if his dear sister and the love of his life didn't move again.

But he did decide one thing, and all the muscles- up to his eye lids- clenched in response.

That Traitor, man or woman. Must die.