Title:  Explosion, Part I

Author:  Amazon X

E-mail:  yankeestarbuck@yahoo.com

Website:  http://yankeestarbuck.tripod.com

Feedback:  gimme gimme, flames extinguished

Category:  Gen/Het

Rating:  NC-17

Summary:  Langly finally gets some!

Archive:  Tell me where my babies live, keep my 'nym.

Disclaimer:  The characters from the X Files all belong to Chris Carter and Ten Thirteen Productions.  I am in no way making any money (believe me) and I am just using these characters to enhance my own twisted fantasies, harming no one (except maybe the readers).

Notes:  This work is part of a larger body of work, that has NOT been archived anywhere.  Madonna, although not a character, but mentioned, is her own.  And Keanu Reeves was just a pleasant thought, and I don’t own him either.  The characters created, the band, are all from my head alone (who else would claim these nuts?).  The characters are grounded in the world of music, politics and money.  They are rich kids, all of them, whose parents are well connected in all ways, including their external relatives.  Granted, this may be a little out there, in terms of what one wants you to believe, but then again, it's just a story.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

*******

Lone Gunmen Headquarters

Early Morning

 

She wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but the death threats were coming in one after the other, and they were getting worse and worse.  The problem was, it was email, and they couldn’t trace it.  And if her brother couldn’t trace her death threats, then it was serious.  But the persons involved weren’t just anyone.  When rabid fans were stalking Gotham Knights, the most successful rock and roll band on the planet since the Beatles, the FBI involved themselves, at her father’s insistence.  But when Mulder and Scully couldn’t dedicate themselves to Gotham Knights’ safety, they called on Mulder’s friends, the Lone Gunmen.

 

“Lone Gunmen.  GunMEN?  How can they be lone if they’re gunMEN?”

 

Alexandra thought she was being clever.  But Joey, her twin brother gave her a stern look.

 

“They’re conspiracy theorists.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Jesse and Darren giggled while Jak just shook his head.  They read The Lone Gunman, a newspaper about conspiracies and sensational news involving the government or military and even huge corporations.  But they were excellent at investigations.  Alexandra didn’t care, she just wanted the nut-jobs to step off.  Joey wanted to find out who was covering their tracks so well, that even their older brother, Nick, who was a CT Commander in the Navy working at NSA, couldn’t find them.  Who was doing this and why?

 

“I’m Byers, that’s Langly…” the handsome one in the suit said.

 

“You can call me Ringo,” the skinny blonde announced.

 

“No, I can’t,” Alexandra retorted.

 

“Well, why not?” he challenged.

 

“That’s my older brother’s Godfather’s name.”

 

“So we share a nickname.”

 

“You played drums for the Beatles too?”

 

And she wasn’t kidding, since her Godfather was Paul McCartney and her twin’s Godfather was George Harrison.  Unfortunately for their oldest brother, Anthony’s Godfather was murdered.  And she would have thought that anyone wearing a Ramones T-shirt would be aware of their rock and roll roots.

 

Everyone became quiet. The handsome one in the charcoal suit piped up again, “That’s Frohike and Jimmy.”

 

The woman was silent.  Alexandra looked her over, as she did back.  Daggers flew back and forth from two pairs of narrowed eyes.  The silence was heavier than rush hour traffic on the Beltway.  Alexandra walked around the small area and looked at the rows of metal racks of equipment.

 

“You all live here?”

 

“Yes,” Byers said.  “This is our headquarters.  We write our newspaper here.  You’ve heard of ‘The Lone Gunman’?”

 

“We have a subscription,” Joey supplied.

 

Alexandra snorted a half-hearted laugh.  It wasn’t going well.

 

“Guys, they need your help,” Mulder explained. “They’re being threatened via email.  And Alexandra and Joey’s older brother works at NSA and even he can’t track these people down. We need the number one hacker in the country to follow this path.”

 

Langly smiled.  He loved it when his favorite Fibbie buttered him up.  He walked over to a desktop computer and began typing commands into the keyboard and the screen flickered.  Scully began walking to the door.

 

“Mulder, we have to go,” she announced.  “Your friends will take good care of them until we can return.”

 

Mulder turned to the door and began to walk toward her. He turned back to the group and said, “Now play nice while we’re gone.  Otherwise, I’ll have to give you a time-out.”

 

He turned and walked out the door with Scully.  Alexandra gave a firm finger to the closing door.  The silver on her fingers and arm shone in the dim light and her bracelets jingled.  The short one, Frohike, walked forward and said, “Who’s getting the threats?”

 

“I am,” Alexandra explained.  “Through our band website.  We have a secure mail server and it’s set on auto-trace.  They’re circumventing it.  They must be cloning, like a cell phone.  The message looks like it bounces all over the planet.  I want it to stop.”

 

“I can imagine,” Frohike said.  “We can find them.  Will the FBI be apprehending them?”

 

“I hope so.”

 

The tall blond jock bounded over to Alexandra and said, “I’ve been listening to your music since I was a kid.  I love you guys.  Sorry about Kris and all.”

 

He was referring to their former rhythm guitarist who died of a heroine overdose.  He was dearly missed by the band.  But they were happy to have Jak with them.  And they were making better music, and still at the top of the charts.  And one of their fans wanted her dead, apparently.  And Alexandra and Joey’s father got nervous and called the president who put the FBI on the case.  And they ended up there.

 

Langly was still typing away on the computer.  Byers walked over and said, ”We can find your people.  But we work…”

 

“For a fee, we know,” Darren finished. “What are we looking at?”

 

Byers started walking away.  Then he turned back and said, “One thousand per Gunman, per day, plus expenses.”

 

“That’s it?” Joey asked.

 

Byers knew he’d made a faux pas in his estimation of what they would spend. And the way Langly was smoking the keys, they wouldn’t be there for long.  Byers looked around at Frohike and the woman who had turned their backs.  He looked back at Joey and said, “That’s the deal.  Today.  Tomorrow, it goes up.”

 

“Dude, how about this,” Jesse said, walking forward.  “You do your thing, find these people.  Then, we scope out their place, their operations and their line-ups.  You help us take them out, we’ll give you your price, and ten large per Gunman.  How does that sound?  And we lay out for all expenses.”

 

Frohike and the girl turned back around.  Frohike walked toward Joey and said, “You have a deal.”

 

He shook hands with Joey, Byers with Jesse.  Alexandra walked over and said, “Wait, no deal.  I have one question first.”

 

“Ask your question,” Frohike said.

 

“Who’s the chick?”

 

They all turned to the raven-haired beauty who said so much without uttering a word.  She stepped forward and said, “Yves Adele Harlow.”

 

“What do you do?” Alexandra asked.

 

“I help, when I can.  But it seems you don’t need me, gentlemen.”

 

“Later, baby.”

 

Alexandra turned and walked over to the lanky hacker, who hadn’t stopped moving his hands since he’d sat down.  She didn’t notice Yves’ hateful look at the back of her head, or the fact that she didn’t leave either, knowing better than to turn her nose up at ten thousand dollars.  Alexandra watched the screens flash by until she was looking at her email splash page.

 

“Hey!  How did you do that?” Alexandra protested.

 

He turned to her and smiled.

 

“You’re not funny.  Find these creeps.  I am so gonna blow these people away.”

 

Alexandra reached behind her and pulled her Smith and Wesson .45 caliber semi-automatic from the back of her pants waist and held it up next to her shoulder.  Joey rushed over and pushed her hand above their heads, weapon out of damage range.  The so-called Gunmen all ducked for cover.  Langly was under the table he’d been sitting at.

 

“What’s wrong with you?” Joey asked.  “Are you trying to get us killed?”

 

“Did you see anyone open up to cover me?”

 

Joey looked around the room.  Even Yves was still.  He’d realized he might have made a mistake in hiring these men.

 

“You idiots!” Alexandra screamed at her brother and band mates.  “All they can do is find our freaks.  We have to do the work.  They aren’t going to get these bastards.  Thank the Goddess I packed.”

 

“The trunk?”

 

“Secure.  We need a band meeting before we go off into the sunset, ladies.”

 

Alexandra was addressing the Lone Gunmen.  She was aware that they were getting themselves back together after her display of power.  This little adventure wouldn’t be the first time she’d fired at people.  But it would be the first time she was working with people who wouldn’t back her up.  She was very nervous and this was the first time she was actually afraid for her safety.

 

“I think I may have found something,” Langly announced after returning to the search.

 

“What?” Alexandra asked, walking to where he sat.

 

“I read through your email archives.  Navy, huh?”

 

“Die.  We broke up, he’s a friend.”

 

“Anyway, these saved emails are traced to a New Jersey address, then to a Pennsylvania address, then across Europe and Asia, back to New Jersey.  The last address and the first address, I think are our best bets.  But I can’t be sure about that.”

 

“So, let’s check it out,” she suggested, looking straight into his eyes. She was a menacing sight in her show costume, all black make-up, including lipstick and leather jacket.  They had been at a photo shoot, as a cover for being in Maryland.

 

“Well, I…”

 

“Wus.  We need to get these freaks off my ass.”

 

“We can do anything, Miss Micelli,” Jimmy gushed.  “I’ll personally guarantee your safety.”

 

Alexandra walked over to him and touched his cheek.

 

“You’re really sweet.  It would be nice if your partners had your manners.”

 

Joey walked over to Frohike and posed a solution.

 

“Look, we know some things about you guys, but maybe you know nothing about us.  We’re make-it-happen people.  Langly has an address.  We’ll clear out our van, take some equipment with us and we’ll go scope these freaks out.  Two cars, we can get a hotel room and watch in shifts.”

 

“Yeah, let’s move!” Alexandra shouted.

 

“You stay here.  They obviously want you.”

 

“Joey, nah, I should be there.”

 

“Not any kinda way,” Jak retorted.  “You stay here.  Even if this is a stalker, he sees you, he wins.  Maddy was the same way.  You learned nothing?”

 

“Maddy?” Byers asked.

 

“Madonna,” Jak explained.  “She was stalked and refused to go to court for the stalker because if they were in the same room together, he wins and gets to be with her.  It’s the same thing.  In Japan, stalkers are put to death.”

 

“I like Japan more and more,” Alexandra offered.

 

Jak bowed slightly.  His Japanese heritage was important to him, but his English was perfect and his love of his American way of life was more important.  And he played as many instruments as Alexandra.

 

“I am sorry, lovely lotus flower, you must stay,” Jak insisted.

 

“Yeah, mah gurl, you stay,” Darren slurred.

 

Darren was Jesse’s identical twin, yet being from racially mixed parents, their bodies were half colored each.  It was interesting to look at their bodies, Alexandra once described Jesse’s body as looking like “a glass of chocolate milk that began settling in the middle.”  And Darren being “the same glass, but the chocolate powder was only mixed into the top half of the glass.”  When they wore shorts, and you weren’t prepared, it was truly a shock.  But Darren and Jesse were both born and raised in London.  They were brought here at 12 years old for their father’s work.  The spoke like Americans, but their English accents would slip out and reveal who they were.

 

“He thinks he’s a gangsta,” Alexandra explained to the Gunmen.  “I’m more of a gangsta than this fine gentleman.”

 

Joey and Jesse were nodding in agreement that Alexandra should stay behind.  Alexandra sighed.

 

“So I get to stay in this dump alone?”

 

“I’ll stay,” Jimmy offered immediately.  Alexandra smiled at him.

 

“No, Jimmy, we may need you for muscle,” Byers countered.  He knew Jimmy was infatuated with Alexandra.  He wouldn’t last 10 minutes without wanting to be all over her.  Not that they were worried for Alexandra’s safety.  She’d clean his clock and leave him laying in a puddle of his own blood while she went through their stuff.  But if someone who was totally indifferent to women were to stay….

 

“Langly, you stay.”

 

“Aw, man, why do I have to stay with the Dragon Lady?” he whined.

 

Alexandra shot him a look that could melt rock.  He flung himself back into his chair and pouted.  Alexandra walked over to a wooden crate that was used as a chair and sat down.  Joey started conferring with Frohike and Byers about making the drive.  The band mates were unloading the instruments from the super-huge Ford Excursion they drove there in, to make room for the equipment they were going to use.  They would take most of the surveillance equipment with them and leave Langly there to monitor the miscreants’ computer systems.  Even Yves was going along, in her Mercedes Benz, to scope things out.  The address they had gotten was Short Hills, New Jersey, a notoriously rich neighborhood.  The Excursion and the Mercedes would blend in better.  And there were a few tricks they had under the hood and back hatch to take care of things. 

 

Langly set up the different desktops in the headquarters to handle the computer monitoring from the entire area.  They were certain they would find something in a ten block radius and then see if they could monitor the sender, if he struck again.  He usually sent an email in the evening, right after an episode of “Celebrity Road Rules”.  MTV thought it would be funny to send a band out to perform all of the crazy stunts they usually get a group of young people to do.  This was the last “Celebrity” anything Alexandra vowed to participate in.

 

Shaking hands and Alexandra hugging Joey tightly, they all said goodbye and Langly locked the door behind them.  He immediately became engrossed in his computers.  She tried speaking to him, then realized he had an ear piece in, listening to the transmissions of the watching group.  He spoke to them in hushed tones.  She was on her own.  Time to explore her surroundings.

 

************

 

Alexandra walked up the stairs to the kitchen dining area and was kinda disgusted by the way things looked.  There were newspapers everywhere, dirty dishes on the table and dirty cook wear in the sink.  And they had a dishwasher.  That was the worst part.

 

So Alexandra busied herself with cleaning the kitchen and dining area.  There were two loads of dishes done, the dining room and kitchen floors swept and mopped, the living room area cleaned, vacuumed and dusted, TV screens wiped down, things put back on shelves, and made all the beds.  She even changed Langly’s sheets, the Korn poster and the collection of T-shirts on the floor gave it away.  Unfortunately, the sheets looked like they’d break if they were removed.  Alexandra exhaled deeply.  She walked back to where Langly was sitting at his computer and said, “Is there a Walmart near here?”

 

“Why?”

 

“I need some things.  Can I take your van?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

He didn’t even look up from the screen.

 

“So where’s the Walmart?”

 

He shrugged, casting an annoyed look over his shoulder.  Alexandra sighed as she walked to her bag and pulled out her Sony Vaio laptop to link to her father’s wireless network via her cellular modem.  She opened her browser, created by her brother Nick, and searched for Walmart’s site and found the nearest store.  She also found a Kmart and a Target.  This set her forth on a mission.  She grabbed the keys to the 1972 VW Microbus from the table top where Langly had put them and off she went to various store shopping and ended up stocking the refrigerator, after cleaning it out and discarding the science experiment marked “left-overs”.  Then, she began cooking.  It was interesting, pulling out all the Martha Stewart cookware and new plates, new flatware, new cooking utensils.  As things were doing their things, she even cleaned out their kitchen cabinets.  Before she knew it, it was almost 8 o’clock that night and she was serving the spaghetti and Veal Francese.

 

She walked down the rusty wrought iron stairs into the work area and put her hand on Langly’s shoulder.  He jumped at her touch.

 

“I made some food.  You hungry?”

 

He looked at his watch and asked, “Is it 8 already?”

 

“Yeah, are you hungry?”

 

“Why?”

 

“Are you wary of everyone?”

 

Alexandra walked into the dining room and Langly followed.  He saw the new table cloth, a respectable navy blue, linen napkins to match, new dishes that were just clear glass and new glasses that were larger than their old glasses, and clean.

 

“Where did all this come from?”

 

“I bought it.  You didn’t think I was going to eat from that other crap you had here, did you?”

 

“Who said you have to eat?”

 

“I’ve been here for 9 hours.  And I cleaned.”

 

He sat at the table and took the napkin from the sterling silver ring around it.  He was about to tuck it into the neck of his T-shirt when Alexandra cleared her throat and indicated for him to drape the napkin in his lap.  He did so.  He watched Alexandra serve the spaghetti into his plate then used the fresh cheese grating wheel to sprinkle Romano cheese on top.  He looked back up at her.

 

‘What’s this?”

 

“Spaghetti with marinara sauce.  I’ve got Veal Francese and salad waiting.”

 

She passed him the basket of garlic bread chunks.  He looked and there was a glass of red wine poured for him.

 

“What’s going on here?  Is this like…”

 

He was about to say a date…hopefully.

 

“Like what?  This is how we have dinner in my house.  My father is very traditional.  When we eat dinner, we’re very serious about it.  And this is the way we do it.  It’s like an event every night.”

 

He looked down at the plate then back at her like it smelled bad.

 

“Just eat.  Trust me, you’ll like it.”

 

He dug into the dinner and from his facial expressions, Alexandra gathered that he liked her spaghetti.  When he was finished, she took the plate from him and served him the veal with salad and more bread on fresh plates.  He tore into it, almost scaring Alexandra.  She just watched him.  He didn’t speak or look at her.  When dinner was over, he simply stood up and went back down to his computer.  Alexandra followed down him and put his glass of wine in front of him.  She’d refilled it.

 

“Um…thanks.”

 

“No problem.  I have plenty.  We’ll get good and drunk tonight.  Cuz to be honest, I haven’t been on a bender since this whole this started.  You up for it?”

 

He just looked at her.  She looked back at him.  Without a word, he turned back to his computer and began typing again.  Alexandra shook her head in amazement.  Not even a thank you.

 

Alexandra cleaned up the kitchen and walked down to where he sat.  He almost seemed afraid of her.  Well, it could be that she was decked out in her stage wear.  Her hair was colored black, with a temporary dye that would wash out.  She had her nose ring clip on, her eyebrow ring clip, her magnetic ball as a labrette piercing and of course, her spider-web lace blouse over her black lace bra, black leather pants, Doc Martin boots and holes cut in her clothes so that all of her tattoos were showing.  She shrugged and said, “Can I take a shower?  I feel grungy.”

 

“I can imagine.  I think you know where the bathroom is.”

 

Alexandra grabbed her overnight bag and walked to the bathroom.  She knew it was cleaned because she was the one who cleaned it before.  She was happy that they had one of those huge old bathtubs with feet on it.  She turned the water on and inserted the brand new plug into the drain.  The other one had somehow turned black.  Alexandra poured her bubble bath into the tub and watched the foam build.  It would be nice to relax.  She’d been keyed up all day.  She removed her clothes and her jewelry.

 

Langly stayed in the other room the whole time, but about 20 minutes after she’d left the room, the smell of her bubble bath came wafting down into the work space. It smelled like flowers and was soft and sweet.  He looked away from his computer toward the stairs.  Maybe if he walked up there, he could see…forget it.  She’d break his neck.  He’d never seen a tougher girl in all his life.  He liked girls, but she scared the hell out of him.  He’d rather stay a virgin.  She might take some parts with her.

 

Alexandra washed the rest of the dye from her hair and scrubbed the make up from her face.  She finished by washing off with the matching scented body gel in the shower.  The pressure in the spray was strong and relaxing.  She put the sweet juniper berry lotion on her skin and dressed in her favorite snuggly pajamas, Pooh Bear.  Boy, it had been a while since anyone but family had seen her in those.  They were pink shorts down to her knees with a printed Pooh pattern of him smelling a flower.  A matching pink tank top with Pooh embroidered over her heart complimented it perfectly with a little pink ribbon bow at the center of the sweetheart neckline.  She combed her hair and let it fall free to dry naturally.  She packed her things back up and slipped her huge plush Pooh Bear slippers on her feet.  She walked out and Langly was still sitting in front of his computer.  He’d been talking to his buddies and her friends on a radio headset.  Apparently, they hadn’t found who they thought they had.  But they were monitoring the transmissions of the address they found to see if the inhabitants were related to the suspects.

 

“Hey, what’s going on?” she asked.

 

“They haven’t found our guys.  Maybe tomorrow.  They’re gonna watch throughout the night.”

 

He turned in his chair and looked at Alexandra.  She looked completely different.  She looked like any other girl, like one of his sister’s friends.  One of the girls who laughed at him when he was awkward and just wanted to be like everybody else.  He just wanted to be popular for a little while.  But they laughed at him, made fun of him and he didn’t talk to his sister to this day.

 

“I clean up nice, huh?”

 

“I guess.”

 

“Do you like girls at all?” she asked, hands on her his, exasperated.

 

Langly looked at her with wide eyes.

 

“Yeah, why would ask something like that?” he demanded, hurt.

 

“Because you’ve been ignoring me all day and you totally blew me off, standing here in my pajamas.”

 

“Well, yeah, I like girls but not crazy ones, or little girls who like Winnie the Pooh and give my friends attitudes.”

 

“You mean Yves, huh?”

 

He looked away.

 

“Well, she was not very nice to me, either.  But, I guess she’s ok if she’s friends with you guys.”

 

He turned away back to his computer.  Alexandra walked up behind him.

 

“Whacha doin’?”

 

He reached up and quickly turned the monitor off.

 

“None of your business.”

 

Alexandra stopped in her tracks from walking toward him.  She shook her head and turned back to the stairs to go as far away from him as possible.  She walked into the living room, where there was a couch, an easy chair, a coffee table and a television, complete with satellite dish receiver and DVD player.  She turned the television on and began flipping around the channels.  Then she found what she wanted.

 

“ALRIGHT!!” she exclaimed.

 

Langly looked at the stairs, concerned at what she may have found.  Then he heard the theme music.  He got up, jogged up the stairs and walked over to the TV area.  There she sat, feet curled under her, slippers on the floor, watching the opening of “Star Wars”.  She had a huge grin on her face.  She didn’t even notice him standing there.  He sat on the couch beside her.  She looked over at him, then back at the screen.  The smile fell from her face.  He noticed.

 

They watched in silence for a while, until the scene that annoyed Alexandra to no end played through.

 

“Why the hell does he say that?”

 

Alexandra looked at Langly.  She could not understand why C3PO would say that the Princess wouldn’t get away from the ship, when they were escaping Darth Vader, yet when R2D2 was playing the film of Leia for Luke Skywalker, he acts as though he has no idea who she is.  It’s burned her up all of her life, since she was 5 years old and saw it, that is.

 

“Security.  He’s a protocol droid.  He’s part of the resistance.  He doesn’t know who Luke Skywalker is.  It’s probably top secret info who she is.”

 

“But Luke is his master.  He has to be honest with Luke.  If he isn’t, then it sparks his current.”

 

“That’s not true.  You need to read the Skywalker series of books.”

 

Alexandra smiled.

 

“I always wanted to.  But with school, my tutors always giving me assignments and then, after I got my diploma, I just dove into music and stuff.  On tour, you can’t carry a Star Wars book around, you’ll get funny looks.”

 

Langly looked down.  Alexandra knew she’d just insulted him.  She turned her attention back to the TV.  Then, the commercial played.  Alexandra looked at Langly.

 

“Do you want some popcorn?”

 

“We don’t have any.”

 

“Yeah, I bought some.  And a beer?”

 

“Beer?”

 

“Yeah, I got some Heineken and some Labatt Blue.  I love Canadian beer.”

 

“Sure.”

 

They sat together, watching George Lucas’ masterpiece and downing beer after beer with handfuls of popcorn.  They thoroughly enjoyed the film, to the end.  Sitting back against the dark red arm of the couch, Alexandra looked over at Langly.

 

“Do you have a first name?”

 

“No.”

 

“C’mon, please?”

 

Alexandra got to her knees and crawled to where he was sitting, spread out.  She crawled into his lap, sitting straddling him facing him.  The beer was affecting him, he was playing along, not pushing her away.  Her bottom rested on his thighs and it was the softest thing he’d ever felt in his life.  His arms were spread out on the back of the couch, head against the back, hair spread out.  He’d started at the very end of the couch, away from her, and with every commercial break to get food or beer or to the loo, he’d moved closer to her.  She put her hands on his shoulders and said, “I’ll tell you my middle name if you tell me your first name.”

 

“Your middle name is Julia.”

 

She sat back.  Her behind was warm, still from her bath and her pajama shorts were very thin.

 

“How did you know that?”

 

“Do you know how many fan sites there are about you?  I know about you.  I know a lot about you.  I have your albums, even that adult contemporary light music station crap you did for a while.”

 

“I did that for my mother!  She complained that I didn’t write any songs that she could listen to in her car.  Is that OK with the world, finally?”

 

She realized she was shouting.  She looked away for a moment, sorry that she’d yelled.  The beer was getting to her, as well.  But she was tired of explaining herself.

 

“Sorry.”

 

“I know.  I’m sorry I yelled at you.  So, what’s your name?”

 

He looked away then back at her.

 

“My first name is Richard.”

 

“That’s my uncle’s name!  It’s a great name.  How’d you get to Ringo?”

 

“My father liked a character from a John Wayne movie.  He started calling me that.  And I kinda like it.”

 

“Where are you from?”

 

“Do we have to do this?”

 

“Yeah, since you know everything about me.  I’ll get you another beer.”

 

“No!  I’ve had enough to drink, thanks.  I’m from Saltville, Nebraska, OK?I grew up on a dairy farm knee deep in cow shit, OK?”

 

Alexandra began to giggle.

 

“What’s so funny?”

 

“I hope I don’t freak you out with this, but if you went reading about me, you know we actually spent our last year of high school IN a school.  Joey, Jesse, Darren and I went to the ONLY agricultural high school in New York City.  So I got to learn about cows, believe me.  What’s that like, growing up on a farm?”

 

“I hated it.  I hate cows.  Why, does it sound appealing?”

 

“Well, I spent summers in rural northern New York, but we lived in a residential neighborhood, a ritzy one, the last few years we lived there.  We started in a normal neighborhood, where I met my best friend.”

 

“Yeah, the one who’s out to sea.  You two have a fight?”

 

“No.  He was a Navy man, like Nick, my brother.  He likes the sea. And I’m always on tour.  Our lives are very different.  It just didn’t work the way we wanted it to.  So he split.”

 

“You date lotsa people, huh?”

 

He had an almost wistful look in his eyes.  Like what she said was gospel or something.  What she was saying was going to be the absolute truth of all and ever.

 

“Well, I’ve only had two real boyfriends, in the strict sense of the word, Keanu Reeves and the sailor.  I’ve had a couple of lovers and I’ve been on dates, but nothing that was right.  I’m still looking for the right man.”

 

“What’s he like?”

 

“Don’t know.  I haven’t met him yet.  If I had, he’d be in my life already.”

 

Alexandra looked away.  She found a clock.  It was 1 AM.  She looked back at Langly.

 

“So what about you?  Girlfriends?  Divorced?  Two kids left in Nebraska, hiding in Takoma Park?”

 

“No.”

 

He looked away.  Alexandra reached under his chin and turned his face back to her so he could look up into her eyes.

 

“Is there any woman who would think I’m halfway good looking?  Not with these glasses…”

 

“Contact lenses.”

 

“Yeah, and my hair.  Everyone makes fun of me.”

 

“I like men with long hair.”

 

Alexandra ran her fingers through his long blond locks, tousling the short bangs, digging her fingers deeply into it, pulling it out to the sides.

 

“Men with long hair bring out the lesbian tendencies in a woman.”

 

He gulped down his breath.  He wasn’t prepared for her to pull his glasses off.

 

“Blue eyes, high cheek bones, strong mouth line, cleft chin.  What woman wouldn’t want you?”

 

“Any one of you.”

 

“Maybe it’s your contrary attitude.  Maybe if you kept your big mouth shut, like you did with me today, more women would find you as mysterious and intriguing as I do.  Maybe not making jokes and cracking insults might make a woman want to have a conversation with you.  Women don’t find hackers repulsive.  I’ve found just the opposite.  It’s all that power.  I find it very, very sexy.”

 

Both hands on his cheeks, she held his face still to kiss him.  He was clueless as to what to do, but he found her giving him little clues.  She would move her mouth in such a way that he just followed along like a puppy.  She pulled her mouth away and looked down at him.  He took his time opening his eyes.  But it was reassuring to find her smiling at him instead of laughing or frowning.

 

“Did you like that?” she asked.

 

“Yes,” he whispered.

 

“There’s more where that came from, if you want.”

 

He looked away.  She scared him again.  Was he truly this shy?  Or was it an act for her to take control?  Alexandra turned his face back to her and said, “Don’t be scared of me.  Or ashamed of anything.  We have the whole night together.  Let me show you what you’ve been missing.”

 

She leaned in to kiss him again, sliding her tongue in to part his lips.  His arms came up from the back of the couch and he held her by the waist.  She was thin, but she was soft, not hard muscle like he thought.  Alexandra ran her hands down his chest and quickly he grabbed her hands.

 

“What’s wrong?” she asked, puzzled.

 

“Don’t.  I’m…uh…”

 

“Men with muscles are either gay or too into themselves to care for anyone else, so don’t worry about it.  I’m not judging you, you know.”

 

“I hope not.  You might be disappointed.”

 

“If your enthusiasm is half of your intelligence, I’ll be more than satisfied.”

 

“I don’t think so.”

 

“Just remember, keep and open mind and take direction for what it is, education, not criticism.”

 

She smiled softly.  He smiled back.  He understood her.  She kissed him again, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, pulling him close to her.  Her breasts were crushed to his collar bones.  These were the first breasts ever pressed against his body and he gasped at the feel of them.  She pulled back.

 

“What’s wrong?  Are you OK?”

 

“Yeah,” he exhaled. “It’s just…your…uhm…”

 

Alexandra grabbed the bottom of her tank top and pulled it over her head, revealing her herself to him.  His eyes went wide.  She smiled and said, “Lay back and enjoy the ride!”

 

She kissed him again, grabbing the tail of his Korn T-shirt and pulling it over his head.  She ran her hands down his chest, feeling the soft skin.

 

“No hair, very nice.  Hairy men are gross.”

 

She moved him to lay him back on the couch.  Reaching up to take another sip of her beer and putting it on the couch-side table brought her across his face.  The first live human breast draped across his face and he thought he would blow up right there.  Looking back down at him, she slipped out of her pajama shorts and sat up, letting him look her over.  Langly had never had a naked woman sitting across him.  He’d been to tittie bars, but there were no lap dances for him.  When you spend all your money on AD&D books, there’s not much left to put in a G-string.  Her hair fell about her shoulders.  Her lips were moist and her eyes were lusty.

To lose one’s virginity is usually a huge deal in their life.  But lose it to one of your idols is probably a once in a lifetime chance.  Kimmy would never believe that Alexandra from Gotham Knights was naked on the ‘ho-red couch, unbuttoning his jeans.  She took her time undressing him, both still buzzed from the beer and wine.  But when she moved to take off his tented boxer shorts, he stopped her.

 

“No, don’t, I…”

 

“Richard, you shouldn’t worry about it.  That’s not where it all happens.  I’ll show you.  That’s for you.  I’ll show you my end of the deal.”

 

And he got it.  She was gentle, not demanding.  She spoke in reassuring riddles.  But she was gentle and soft spoken.  This was not the woman who wrecked four Marshall stack amps on live national television with her guitar.  This was not the woman who told the President of the United States that he should keep it in his pants to his face, in front of a room full of dignitaries, including her father.  No, this was a woman who didn’t care about status or style or cool, but could see a nice person under black-rimmed, thick glasses and long, stringy, blond hair.  She could see a man who wanted so desperately to connect with a woman, but who was too scared to try again.  You can only be shot down so many times.

He slid his hands up her thighs to her hips and traced the tattoo on her hip with his fingers.  Her facial piercings were fake, but that was real, as was the ring in her navel.  There was another tattoo on the back of her right shoulder, which she’d admitted in an interview hurt like hell to get, and he hoped to examine it closer.  She reached down and moved his boxers to let him free.  A big smile grew across her face, pleasing him in the process.

 

“Very nice.”

 

“Thank you.”

 

It was barely audible, but he managed to croak it out.  She slid down to lay on top of him, nestling into the curve of his body.  She slipped her arms around him, kissing him again, letting her mouth caress his, taking her time.  He didn’t think he had it in him to wait, that he might…make it an early night for them.  But she just continued to kiss him, running her fingers through his hair, and rub her body against him.  His hands remained about her waist.  She stopped.  She ran her hand up his chest, up his neck, to cup his cheek.

 

“You’re not touching me.  Is something wrong?”

 

“No…I…well…”

 

“Just touch me.  Don’t be afraid.  They don’t bite.”

 

She giggled and hid her face.  He laughed a bit himself and kissed her again, sliding his hand up her side to rest on the side of her breast.  He kissed her harder, thrusting his tongue into her mouth, taking charge this time.  He slid his hand to cover it, then took his chance and closed his fingers.  He was very gentle, as he remembered it was part of her body and not a toy. He felt her nipple harden in his palm and the smile grew under their kiss.

 

You can always imagine how large a woman’s breasts are when you’re watching her dressed.  But to have them both in your hands, and feel how huge they were.  Not huge in the stripper sense, but in the normal woman sense.  Then Langly realized his thoughts were making no sense.  He was drunk from alcohol and drunk from sex.  All he wanted to do was keep it up long enough to get it inside.  Then he could say he wasn’t a virgin anymore.  Then he could be a man like Byers and Frohike.  Wait, no one wanted to be like Frohike.

 

He turned his attention back to the matter in hand.  Both hands were full and she’d managed to get his boxers off to rub his shaft.  Langly figured, if he kept his mind occupied with what he was doing, he could effectively ignore what she was doing…and what it was doing to him.  But she had other ideas.  She pushed him by the shoulders to lay back on the couch.

 

“What are you doing?” he asked, thinking he did something wrong.

 

“Relax.  You’ll know soon enough.”

 

She kissed his neck, just below the cleft in his chin, causing his eyes to flutter closed.  She kissed and licked at his the flesh of his throat and ran her tongue along his collar bone.  Langly’s breathing quickened.  The lack of hair on his chest made it easier for her to run her tongue continuously down to his navel, taking a detour to encircle his nipples.  He just looked down at her, a little hazy, but he could see her smiling and looking up at him.  Dipping her tongue into his navel was about where he figured what she was going to do next and it didn’t shock him as much as she thought it would when she took the head of his cock into her mouth.  But he was surprised when she slid all the way down the shaft, letting the head enter her throat and not gagging.  It was the most incredible thing he’d ever felt in his life, and in 33 years, he’d been through quite a bit.

 

Langly had always thought the term “blow job” was a bit off the topic, when it came to describing what was happening.  But when he felt that the top of his head would just about come off when she flicked her tongue about the underside of his shaft, that was when he knew where the expression came from.  And he got to do the one thing he’d always wanted to do, something he’d seen in porn flicks and thought was so cool, he slid his fingers deeply into her hair and followed her movements with his hands.  She looked up and him and he could feel the smile around himself.  Alexandra continued working on him and he felt the fluid rise for her.  He could not hold back, this was not going to be contained.

 

“Oh, God, I’m coming…oh…oh…”

 

In the back of her mouth, Alexandra felt the cum flood her throat.  She swallowed it down, catching the drop that escaped her lips.  It was all slow motion to Langly, even her tongue creeping out to clean her mouth better.  She rolled her head on her neck, swinging her hair around to rest on her left shoulder.  Just about the sexiest thing Langly had ever seen.  She smiled, looking at him.

 

“What did you think?”

 

He couldn’t talk.  He lay his head back against the couch.  It was fabulous, it was the most intense orgasm of his life.  Jacking off didn’t come close to this.  He smiled slightly, then his face fell.  Alexandra followed his expressions and when the frown developed, she asked, “What’s wrong?  Did I not…”

 

“No, it was perfect,” He explained, finding his voice.  “I just don’t think I have any more…in me…to…”

 

Alexandra smiled.  She lay her body against his sweaty lounging form.  She lazily rubbed his chest, trailing her finger around one nipple.  It was soothing, calming to Langly.  She looked up at him and didn’t know if he would let her kiss him.  But he did and smiled again at her.

 

“I’m…you know….sorry….”

 

“Is your tongue broken?”

 

He smiled again.  Yes, he could find the strength again, but take his time looking and finding out and exploring and learning about what the other guys thought was so great.  She sat up and changed places with him.  She lay back and drew her arms above her head.  Langly began kissing her neck, gently licking her skin and taking tiny bites, making her giggle.  Both of his hands went to her breasts, holding both for dear life.  He kneaded them gently, feeling the rise in his loins again, the fire beginning to burn, but that would wait.  With his hand cupping the side, his slid his tongue out to taste her nipple, running the tip around the base and teasing the tip.  Alexandra bucked up from the couch in pleasure, running her hands through his hair.  She giggled, spurring him on to take it into his mouth, suckling deeply.  If this would be the only chance he’d get to be with a woman, since it took him long enough to get there, he would take his time.  Kissing down her belly to dip his tongue in her navel and down to where her well-manicured pussy hid between her legs.  With gentle hands, he pushed her legs apart, revealing what was the most exciting part of a woman Langly had ever come across.  It was beautiful…and mysterious.  Where did he start?

 

He looked up at her.  Her head was tilted back, waiting for him.  He brushed his lips against her, taking in a deep breath.  No truth to the rumors.  She smelled like a musky rose.  Opening her, he took his chances, watching where he was going, learning and finding things that no one ever told him about.  And the one spot, the one magic part that felt like it was growing under his tongue, throbbing as he stroked it with the tip.  He used his hand, using his finger to stroke inside.  Alexandra slid her fingers into his hair, moving her hips in pleasure, Langly following her.  She sat up, gasping, holding him.

 

“Yes, yes, oh, Richard, yes!”

 

She was sitting up, moving with the waves of pleasure, grinding herself into his face.  He held on to steady her, but felt the gentle pressure of her hands pushing him away.  He sat up and let her relax.  A hand reached out to him.  She pulled him down to lay with her, holding her gently.  She snuggled against him, entangling her legs with his.  She looked up at him.

 

“Thank you.”

 

He kisser her again.  They lay together a while.  Heart beats slowed to match.  Breathing became gentle.  Blond hair draped across her face.  She looked up at him.

 

“What are you thinking about?”

 

“No one has called me Richard in a long time.”

 

“I hope it was OK for me to do it.”

 

“Yeah, you can call me anything you want.”

 

She shot up from the couch suddenly, pulling Langly by the arm into the other room.  She swung him around to sit in a chair, swinging her leg over him to sit across his lap.

 

“What’s this?” he asked.

 

“Variety is the spice of life.  What’s say we christen the whole house?”

 

“I, uh…”

 

She didn’t wait for his answer.  She kissed him again, wrapping her arms about his body.  She gently rubbed her beasts against his chest and throat, ground her ass into his lap.  She felt him rise under her, still making small circles with her hips.  He rose further and she took that as her chance to move him inside her.

 

“Are you ready?”

 

He looked up at her, nodding.

 

Rising up on her toes, in one slow motion, he was a man.  She was on top, calling the shots, and Langly was happy for that.  He knew there was no way he could control himself if he were in charge.  She was slow and methodical.  He put his hands around her waist and held on.  Up and down, the blood thumped in his ears, bringing the heat to his face, prickling in his cheeks.  He dug his fingers into her flesh, squeezing her bottom to control himself.  But then he could feel her squeezing him, moving her muscles internally, squeezing in the direction she moved, like the way his fingers would roll on a cow’s udder…wait, why was he thinking about Nebraska…no, she was there, on top of him…thrusting on his stiff cock, breast bouncing in his face, hands on his shoulders, eyes locked on to his.  She was grinding into him, little circles as she moved, and he felt her breathing increase.  She looked up, tilted her head back, squeeze, thrust, grind…

 

“Oh, yeah, Richard…that’s it…”

 

One more hard thrust and she came again, on his lap, throwing him over the edge.

 

“Alexandra, oh, God, Alex…yeah…”

 

She slowed down, resting in his arms.  She buried her face in his hair.  Soft blond hair, long and wavy, smelling like flowers…like roses.  What shampoo was that?  Soft hair, like he took good care of it, like he never let a blow dryer near it or dye…virgin hair.  She lifted her head from his shoulder and kissed him.  The looked into each other’s eyes for a while.  Their breathing matched again.  Langly was calm, soft, but unmoving, as was she.  They just looked at each other.  They didn’t know what to do next.  Alexandra knew she should take the initiative in this case, having more experience.

 

“What did you think of that?”

 

“I think…I think…it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.  And I’m happy it was you.  You know….I’ve been a fan of your band since your first album.”

 

“Enough about the band,” she said, putting her hand on his mouth.  “Tonight, we’re two people.  And I think I’m going to be messy in a minute.  Why don’t you get the other bottle of wine, the glasses and we’ll go to your room.  Take our clothes.  OK?”

 

He nodded.  He did as she asked, waiting in his bedroom with the door slid shut.  It was a big square room, bed to one side, Byers’ side since Frohike snored, and a closet on the other.  Langly had fashioned the door like Japanese paper windows.  It wasn’t sound proof, but good enough for what he’d needed it for.  All it did was hide the mess…that seemed to be missing.  Did she clean his room?  It didn’t matter. He dumped their clothes on a chair by his bed.  He sat on the edge of the bed, looking at the open bottle of wine and two empty glasses.  What the hell had just happened?  Did he just get laid?  He was officially a man at this point.  He could go to the AD&D tournament and hold his head up…or maybe go out with Frohike this time, to where ever the hell it was that he picked up women who liked him, to go back to their places and do the things he did that Langly didn’t have the stomach to think about.

 

She walked into his room, dragging her bag behind her.  She left it there on the floor, but pulled her gun out of the side pocket and put it on his dresser.  He looked at her.

 

“Look, I know how to handle a weapon properly.  I was just showing off earlier, OK?  I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

 

He nodded.  Even though he knew that there was no way anyone could get into the warehouse, he trusted that she knew what she was doing.  She poured the wine into the glasses and handed him one.  He wasn’t a drinker, a beer or two, but he liked the reckless, dizzy feeling this gave him.  He almost expected her to pull out E or a doobie or two. But she didn’t.  He knew she was open about having smoked weed with her brother when he was going through chemo when he had leukemia, but after that, since he’d been in remission for three years, they were clean and sober of the illegal stuff.  She sat on the bed beside him.  The light in the corner was low, but he could see her clearly.

 

“What are you thinking, Richard?”

 

“Not much.  I guess about what the morning will bring.”

 

“I was thinking about that myself.  Then I decided that it didn’t matter.  We’re here now.  And we’re having a good time.  You’re beautiful, you know.”

 

“My nose is too big.”

 

“No, it’s not.  And I don’t care about glasses, or long hair.  Well, I told you, long hair is a turn on for me.”

 

“But…I’m a geek…and…”

 

“Richard, just relax.  Drink your wine and think about how the night has progressed until now.  Don’t think about the morning, don’t think about your hair or anything else. Just kiss me.”

 

He put his wine glass down beside his glasses on the dresser, next to the .45 and took hers to put there as well.  He moved onto her, kissing her and moving her to lay on the bed.  He kissed her intensely, tasting all of her mouth, touching her furiously, as if he needed to for life, to cling to existence.  He rose between her legs, tingling in her wetness.  She felt him throbbing, marveling at his stamina, at his ability to perform on cue.  He was more than happy to move her body beneath his and slide into her again.  The sound of her against him, a sexy squish, with the silence in the house, but the faint hum of the computer equipment downstairs, he moved against her and held her tightly.  She was rising high again, not understanding how he was getting her to respond so easily. He was endowed well, but he seemed to know exactly how to move against her, where to rub her, where to touch her, between thrusts, to get her to buck and gasp and clutch at his shoulders.  She couldn’t help but pull him down to her and come again, crying out into his neck.  He held her leg against his side, under her knee and thrust to release into her again.  He collapsed on top of her.  They relaxed together again, giggling.  He reached for a glass and they drank together, in silence, laughing as they kissed and lazily touched each other until a gentle sleep crepped up to them.  Langly returned the glass to the dresser-top.  He pulled the covers up on them and they snuggled off to sleep.

 

***********

The slam of the SUV doors was distant in the night.  It was blue-before-sunrise out.  The four band mates were thoroughly annoyed at wasting a night watching a house that was a decoy, when the real criminals were in Maryland, where they originally thought they were.  Joey didn’t think this was a plot, but he thought it might have been sloppy detective work.  He’d have Langly bring his hacker friends over to find the exact location when these freaks logged on again.

 

Byers was not happy to be spending another day with the band, no matter how much they were being paid.  They did not have to yell as much as they had at Frohike and Jimmy and him.  Yves was blessedly scarce otherwise she’d probably enjoy watching the three Gunmen get “what-for”.  She could see Frohike was not in the mood for the foolishness of rich brats and just wanted this case to end when they left to drive back from Maryland.  Langly could get Kimmy to finish this easily.  They went into the basement work space, not making a lot of noise, but seeing the equipment still on and no one around made Byers and Frohike uneasy.  They slowed their pace and held their hands up for the band boys to stop and be quiet.  They would stake it out.  But Joey grabbed Frohike’s shoulder.  Frohike saw the gun in the boys’ hands and backed out of the warehouse.  Byers stopped as well.  Joey and Jesse led the way, Darren and Jak taking up the rear.  They would clear out any threat so that Byers and Frohike could assess any damage.

 

Alexandra heard the door first.  She didn’t think it was her brother and friends. They would have called.  The freaks...

 

“Richard, wake up, now!” she whispered with urgency.

 

He sat up and watched as she slipped his Ramones T-shirt on. They’d left the lights on all over the house, but someone was there.  He grabbed his glasses and boxer shorts.  Alexandra handed him the baseball bat she’d taken from Jimmy’s room.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“Someone’s downstairs.”

 

“It’s probably Byers and Frohike with your friends.”

 

“No, my brother would have called that he was on his way back.  Something’s up.”

 

She crept out to the stairs and down to the main level, with Langly bringing up the rear.  They rounded the corner beyond the shelf of equipment and she raised the gun, screaming “Hold it!”

 

Joey, Jesse, Darren and Jak all turned their weapons on her and everyone froze.  A beat went by.  Then bodies were relaxed and weapons were lowered.  Langly lowered the bat he carried and took a deep breath of relief.  Alexandra and Langly walked out into the room.  Byers and Frohike noticed Alexandra wearing their friend’s shirt and he only wearing his boxer shorts.  Then Jimmy walked in, with an armful of stuff, startling everyone.  He looked at the sleepy pair and the other crowd and began the much needed questioning.

 

“What the hell is going on here?” he shouted.

 

“Joey, why the fuck didn’t you call?  I was about to put you out of commission.”

 

“We were in too pissy of a mood.  We were at the wrong house, a decoy.  Our freaks are smarter than we thought.  And I’m not happy to have wasted so much time on a mistake.”

 

“So we’re OK for now?  You mean, we’re not in any imminent danger?”

 

“I guess not.”

 

“Good.  I’m going back to bed.  Good night all.”

 

Alexandra turned and walked back up the stairs.  All eyes fell to Langly.  He decided it was his business.  He tossed the bat to Joey and followed Alexandra.  They watched the pair walk to the living area and disappear.  They heard Langly’s bedroom door slide open and closed.  Joey dropped the bat on the floor with a loud clatter and turned to Jesse.

 

“Holy shit!” Joey exclaimed

 

“’Holy shit’ just about covers it,” Jesse answered.

 

“What just happened here?” Byers asked.

 

Frohike and Jimmy stayed quiet.  Joey turned to Byers and tried to think of a way to describe it.  In true Italian fashion, his hands went up to animate his words, but they were stuck in the back of his throat.

 

“She’s a sucker for blondes,” Jesse supplied.

 

“What?” Jimmy shouted.

 

Frohike sighed in resignation.  He started taking his gear out of his bags and putting it away.  Byers walked over and did the same.  The four boys were talking amongst themselves.  Byers looked at Frohike.

 

“Our little boy has grown up, eh?”

 

“It’s worse than that.”

 

“How could it be worse?  Can this be bad?”

 

“He didn’t say anything.  He stood there, behind her, quiet.  Have you ever seen him quiet?  And she’s wearing his Ramones T-shirt.  That’s what he was wearing when we left.  It’s his favorite.”

 

“OK, but what does that mean?”

 

“What happens to him when she leaves?”

 

They looked at each other, not moving, then up at the bedroom.  The light went out.

 

“Langly’s a big boy.  He can take care of himself.”

 

Byers was almost convinced by his words.  But Frohike wasn’t, and knew Byers didn’t believe a word he said.  Jimmy stood by and said, “So she slept with him?”

 

“It looks that way, Jimmy,” Frohike explained.

 

“Well, that’s good, right?”

 

“Maybe, maybe not,” Byers mused.

 

“Why wouldn’t it be good?”

 

Frohike looked at Byers.  He gently shook his head.  Two dummies.

 

“Look, Jimmy, it’s simple.  Langly may have gotten a little attached.  Maybe he likes her a lot.  Maybe he wants her to stay around, so, I don’t know, he could do it again.  I’ve lived with him for 10 years.  I don’t want to see his heart get broken.”

 

“Why would it?” Jimmy asked, genuinely puzzled.  “He’s a guy.  Guys know that it’s just sex.  Why wouldn’t Langly?”

 

And that was so simple.  It was completely plausible, Frohike thought.  Ockham’s Razor states that the simplest explanation is usually the best explanation.  Maybe Langly would be OK with her taking off.  Maybe she would come back to visit.  They might keep in touch, have regular dates.  He might meet her in Europe when their band was on tour.  Yeah, and monkeys might fly out of his butt.  **HE looks like Garth and I think like Wayne.**

 

The four band members set off to find a hotel to crash in for a few hours until the Gunmen could get themselves together and get more information on the case.  But…they would have to wait for Langly to wake up.

 

Langly lay in his bed with Alexandra curled up beside him, her head on his shoulder.  He stared at the ceiling, in the faint light through the paper walls.  She was just drifting off when he sighed, shaking the bed and waking her fully.  She scratched the center of his chest, alerting him she was awake.  He pulled her closer to him.  She rubbed her head on his arm.

 

“Whacha thinkin’ about, Rick?”

 

“Rick?”

 

“Yeah, kinda cool, huh?”

 

“Whatever.  Not a very hippie name, is it?

 

“Who’s the hippie?”

 

“That’s what everybody thinks with my hair.”

 

“Dumb-asses, if you ask me.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“You’re not a hippie.  You don’t stink, you’re feet aren’t bare and you’re not wearing beads or tie-dye.  I’ll bet you don’t even own one Grateful Dead album.  No, you’re a metal-head.  T-shirt gave it away.  And the Chuck Taylor All Stars.  I have a pair myself.  Bright red.  Next time someone calls you a hippie, look and see if they have a shiny spot on their heads, or if they just aren’t a free spirit.  Takes guts to still have long hair 10 years after metal isn’t real cool anymore.”

 

“Your brother and friends all have long hair.”

 

“Like I said, takes guts.  Now, what’s bothering you?”

 

“I..I don’t know.  The way Byers and Frohike looked at me.  Like they were shocked or disappointed.”

 

“So ask them about it in the morning.”

 

“I can’t.”

 

“Why not?”

 

“We’re not like that.  We don’t talk like that.”

 

“You live with them.  You should.  You’re friends, aren’t you?  GET that way.  It’ll make you feel better.”

 

“Yeah, right.”

 

“You don’t trust them?” she asked, leaning on her elbow to look into his eyes.  Langly shrugged.

 

“Take a chance and trust them.  They may surprise you.  How long have you lived together?”

 

“Ten years.”

 

“It’s time to trust them.”

 

He turned to her.  She looked up into his eyes.  They were totally innocent and open.  He understood what people meant by the eyes being the gateway to the soul.  She was pure and innocent.  She had no hidden agenda.  She just wanted him to feel good about himself and be happy.  She looked like she was truly honest about him trusting his friends.  Her hair was spread out on her bare back, bangs brushing her eyes.  She looked like a virgin in that light, although Langly was glad she wasn’t.  He kissed her.  She responded to him, kissing him deeply, tongue teasing his mouth.  On their sides, as quietly as they could with everyone else in the house, they made love again.  And again, she came as hard as ever, biting his shoulder, causing him to yell, alerting Byers and Frohike.  They both took to their feet from in their rooms, charging Langly’s room.  His door was closed, but she could be doing anything to him in there.  Just as Langly was coming, pulling Alexandra to his chest, kissing her forehead and telling her he loved her, they burst into the room, almost knocking the sliding door off the tracks.  Langly pulled the covers up on them and Alexandra hid underneath.  Langly sat up a bit and yelled, “Get the hell out of here!”

 

“We heard you yell…” Byers started.

 

“Get the fuck out!  Now!”

 

They turned and slid the door closed, standing in the hallway.  Jimmy came flying and slid into the wall on sock-covered feet to stop.

 

“Now what?” he asked, rubbing his bruised shoulder.

 

Frohike held his hand up, shaking his head, not wanting to talk about it.

 

“No, what the hell is with you two?  He got laid, big fucking deal.  He’s allowed.  And she’s gorgeous.  Cut them a break.  It’s not like they’re gonna pick out china tomorrow.  He’s a big boy, now, he knows the game.”

 

Langly held Alexandra closely, calming her, listening to Jimmy stick up for him.  He’d have to be nicer to the big dope in the future, teach him a little about computers.  But Jimmy was wrong.  When he told Alexandra he loved her, he meant it.  And she knew it and heard it.  She lay there, still and quiet.  He was just as quiet.  Maybe if he didn’t say anything, she’d fall asleep.  But she didn’t.  She put her hand on his cheek and looked up into his eyes.

 

“You shouldn’t have said that.”

 

“I know.  I meant it.”

 

“You can’t mean it.  You don’t know anything about me.  I know how exciting this has all been, for me too.  But I have to leave in a few hours.  I have to go home, back to New York, finish my album.  Then off on tour, I’ll be in Japan in four months.  How can you do this to me?”

 

He wasn’t prepared for her to start crying.  But this wasn’t new to him, a crying woman.  Plenty of girls in school, college especially, found him a great shoulder to lean on.  His biology lab partner thought he was her personal therapist every time she got dumped.  He held her gently and stroked her back.  Her skin was familiar to him now.  He kissed her shoulder.  She reached up and wiped her tears away quickly.

 

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.  We should talk about this.”

 

“No, let’s talk in the morning.  I’m tired, you’re obviously not in the mood, and I don’t want this feeling to end.”

 

“What’s that?”

 

“A beautiful woman in my arms, into me, happy to be here, not pitying me.”

 

“Not a pity fuck, Rick.  Not at all.”

 

She kissed him to seal the admission.  Fitting themselves together, they went off to sleep.

 

The later morning brought light into the top part of the warehouse, but not the living space.  Just the kitchen and bathroom.  Alexandra sat up, looking around the room.  She was a bit disoriented from the night before.  That wasn’t unusual, having slept all around the world.  She turned and saw a mass of blond hair over a face.  She wasn’t so out of it, though, not to remember that man.  He looked so peaceful when he slept.  There weren’t any lines of worry or fear in his face.  She reached over and brushed the strands from his cheek, leaned down and placed a kiss there.  His eyes fluttered open.  He looked at her, thought for a moment, then remembered the night and morning a few hours ago.  He didn’t reach for his glasses.  He knew who was sitting there with long brown hair.  He reached up and touched her face.

 

“Good morning, sweetie,” she purred.

 

“How are you feeling?”

 

“I’m good, you?”

 

“A little groggy, hung over, I guess.  It’s morning, huh?”

 

“Yeah.  I think I hear things going on out there.  I was going to get up, but I think your friends are awake.”

 

Langly stood up and walked to the sliding door.  He listened for a moment.  He could hear sounds from down in the work area, but nothing in the immediate area.  He led Alexandra to the bathroom and went back to his room to get her bag, which he left at the door.  Who knew what a woman was doing in the bathroom in the morning?  When he walked back, he turned as she called him.  She was standing there, beckoning him into the bathroom.  He padded over.

 

“You wanna join me?”

 

“Um…”

 

She reached out.  He walked over and took her hand.  She led him into the bathroom and shut the door.  He looked down, not into her face.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

“I gotta…um…”

 

It dawned on her that it was the morning.

 

“Oh…OK, I’ll get into the shower and run the water so I won’t hear you.  I won’t peek either.”

 

“Promise?”

 

“Promise.”

 

He watched as she started the shower and got in.  He noticed the brand new shower curtain, hunter green, and it was opaque.  She lathered her hair, scrubbing hard, not hearing what he was doing.   Rinsing helped not to hear either.

 

“Hey, I have to flush.”

 

“Go ahead.”

 

She turned the shower head away, waiting for it to cool off again.  She turned it back and waited.  And waited.  And waited.

 

“Are you coming in?”

 

“What?”

 

“What do you think I invited you for, to listen?  C’mon in here, I’ll wash your hair.”

 

He pulled the shower curtain back and stepped in.  Her wet body was beautiful in the dim light.  She put her arms around him as the stepped into the spray.  She’d even changed the shower head.  It was nice being in the shower and not fantasizing about that moment, with a woman, with her.  She found the bar of soap and began rubbing it on him.  He rose like a teenager, before her.  She smiled.  They let the water and soap roll off of them as she knelt before him, taking his whole length into her mouth.  Langly braced himself with his hands on the walls.

 

Downstairs, the four band boys were fighting with Frohike and Byers again.  Yves stood far enough away that she could listen without getting attacked as well.  Jimmy walked in and screamed, “Enough!  Look, at this rate, we’re never going to get this finished.  Someone just go up there and get Langly.  I mean, I may be the dumb jock, but I’m not stupid.”

 

Frohike realized Jimmy was right and walked up the stairs to get Langly out of bed, woman or no woman.  He was a Lone Gunman, after all.  He walked to the bedroom and saw the door open.  He walked to the closed bathroom door and tried the handle.  It gave and he opened the door walking in.  Langly’s head snapped up.

 

“Who’s there?” Langly asked.

 

“It’s Frohike.  Hey, we need your help downstairs, like, now.”

 

“You need to leave.”

 

“Langly, this is getting old, OK?  Why should I leave my own bathroom?”

 

From her place underneath Langly, as he’d lay on top of her in the bathtub, water still flowing over their bodies and they were setting a shower-screwing marathon, Alexandra stated, “Because he’s not alone.”

Frohike was embarrassed, but not completely, having been in the same position a time or two.

 

“We’re waiting downstairs for both of you.  Don’t take your time.”

 

Frohike exited the bathroom and slammed the door behind him.  This was getting out of hand.  Langly is screwing her all over the house! he thought. The warehouse didn’t need his DNA signature ever where they turned.  Frohike walked back down to the work space to find Mulder and Scully conferring with the band members, Skinner in tow.  This was heavy if the AD was along.  Mulder turned to Frohike.

 

“Where’s the Supergeek?” he asked.

 

“Upstairs, getting his knob polished.”

 

“What?” Mulder asked, stunned.

 

Scully turned away in disgust of the crude comment.  Joey turned to the diminutive man and said, “Look, whether or not you can take cheap shots at your friend, she’s my sister.  So lay off, would ya?”

 

“Look, nothing has gone right since you people got here.  You’ve been rude, pushy and I honestly don’t believe this is a serious case anymore.  I think you five rich brats just want the country’s highest law enforcement agency’s attention.  And I’m not playing along anymore.  When your sister’s down, the five of you can leave.”

 

“Frohike, don’t you think you’re being a little harsh?” Mulder asked.

 

“No, I don’t, Mulder.  You weren’t here last night.  You left, remember?”

 

Alexandra and Langly walked down the stairs and heard the arguing.  She didn’t want to be bothered with the bullshit.  She stayed behind a shelving unit and opened her laptop.  It was still connected from the night before.  She went to her email and there it was.  Message number 13.  She screamed.  Langly was the first to grab the laptop and bring it to a lit table where he could work better.  The time stamp was only minutes before.  He began typing furiously on the little purple laptop while Alexandra explained to Mulder, Scully and Skinner what she read.

 

“They know I’m here.  They said they saw me yesterday at all the places I went to.  And then they said this was it.  Message number 13!  That’s it, I’m toast!”

 

The tears began to fill Alexandra’s eyes.  Joey took her hand, the other pressed to her mouth, and looked at Skinner.

 

“So now what?  What do we do to protect my sister?”

 

“Got ‘em!” Langly shouted.

 

The crowd moved to where he sat, having moved to another desktop machine to jam them.  He produced an address and handed it to Mulder.  He, Scully and Skinner started toward the door.

 

“We’re coming!” Joey announced.

 

The group started walking after them.  Skinner turned around and said, “No, you stay here.  All of you.  This is a bureau matter.”

 

“Bullshit, I have the right to see those bastards!” Alexandra shouted.  “I’m going.”

 

“I’m going, too,” Langly announced, pulling his jacket on.

 

The other Gunmen looked at him.  He walked behind Alexandra.  Frohike, Byers, Jimmy and Yves knew there was no stopping the tall blonde, knowing his temper and stubborn streak.  Alexandra had walked to the VW bus and sat in the passenger seat.  Langly pulled open the driver’s side door and slipped in.  He started up the van and pulled it out into the street to wait for the FBI lead.  Scully was on the cell phone calling for back up to the location.  They were to drive to Severna Park and wait for the back up to show up.  Alexandra had her laptop and was monitoring the email traffic.  They were sending her messages regularly, every 5 minutes.  As she read them, they became more violent in nature.  They knew she was in Maryland and were going to “get her” that day.  Sitting next to Langly, she began to cry.  He looked at her and said, “You can relax.  Nothing is going to happen to you.  Not today.  I promise you that.”

 

She wiped her tears away and nodded.  The band and 2 older Gunmen climbed into the large Ford while Jimmy drove Yves in his Trans Am.  They followed Mulder in the FBI Oldsmobile and the rag-tag caravan made its way south.  Langly was determined.  Mulder looked at Langly’s face in the rear-view mirror.  He turned to Scully and said, “Have you ever seen him that angry?”

 

“No.  Nor that brave.  He’s got it bad.  And it’s not going to be pretty.”

 

“You don’t know that.  She could hang around.”

 

“Mulder, she’s an international super star.  She is not going to want to move into Takoma Park, Maryland.  She lives most of the time on her father’s private island off the coast of Long Island, or in her penthouse in Manhattan.”

 

“She used to own an apartment in Japan, too.”

 

“What does that mean?”

 

“Her ex was stationed on a ship based in Yokuska Bay, Japan.”

 

Scully hadn’t known that.  She did know a bit about this woman, having read over a thousand website based on her, and that was barely scratching the surface.  She did know the woman dated a sailor, but did not know she lived in Japan for a while, for him.  She would reserve any further comments for the finale of the situation.  She didn’t have as much interaction with the Lone Gunmen as Mulder, but from what she knew, Langly was an introverted, hypochondriac, coward.  She didn’t realize how much losing one’s virginity could change a person.  Skinner reserved his comments for another time.  At this point, he didn’t know enough about the young man to make an informed judgement, no matter what he’s done for or to the bureau.

 

Joey sat shotgun while Jesse drove the truck, Frohike and Byers were in the second bench and Jak and Darren were in the last bench.  They were quiet for a few moments until Joey spoke up, knowing he needed to bring this up to the two Gunmen.

 

“Is he gonna break my sister’s heart?”

 

“No,” Byers said, quietly.  “We’re more concerned for Langly in this.  He’s not the emotional rock he’d like us to think he is.  And I think this is headed for disaster.”

 

“She had an apartment in Crete, Japan and Maryland, before.  She moved to LA…when she was 16.  Guys, she’ll stay, if she’s serious, that’s is.  She doesn’t do that.  There’s only been 2.  And if she’s in love, we’ll have to uproot again.”

 

Frohike smiled.

 

“It would be nice to think that Langly could be that way, but I don’t think so.  He’s like us.  This is going to end badly.  And we all have to make it easier on them.”

 

“I don’t see why,” Jak admonished.  “She’s gonna be just fine like she always is.  She got that laptop with her all the time.  They can keep in touch.  And you know her.  She’ll walk out the door with just her credit card.  Buy clothes where she’s at.  This is an OK thing.”

 

“You tell ‘em, girlfriend,” Darren encouraged, patting Jak on his back.  Jak nodded his approval of his own words.

 

“Calm down, Johnny Thunder,” Joey yelled.

 

“Johnny Thunder?” Frohike asked.

 

“You know, the Human Torch?  Flame on!”

 

“Bitch!” Jak said.

 

The drive continued in silence.

 

 

********

In Severna Park, the group met with the agents.  The house looked quiet.  Alexandra sat with Langly in the van, down the street, away from the action.  They wouldn’t let her near the activity.  Langly wanted to make sure no one would sneak attack her.  He slid over on the bench and held her against his chest.  She looked out the window at the men spreading out and running around the house.

 

“It’ll be over soon,” she noted.

 

“I know.”

 

“What then?”

 

“We’ll worry about it then.”

 

“The album is almost finished.  I’ll give you a copy.”

 

“Yeah, I’d like that.  Let me know how Japan is.”

 

“My cell is on a global satellite.”

 

“Satellites are hackable.”

 

“Not my dad’s.”

 

“I did it.”

 

“I know.  But who’s going to care that I’m talking to you.”

 

“You’d be surprised.  We do have people after us, too.  But that’s for criminal acts.”

 

“Criminal?”

 

“Hacking is a felony.  I have a rap sheet a mile long.  You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve been arrested.”

 

“I don’t really care.  My father can clean that off for you.”

 

“You depend on him a lot, huh?”

 

“He’s my favorite man in the whole world.  He’ll like you.”

 

“I doubt that.”

 

“He’s a lot nicer than you think.  He’s mellowed a lot, I’m told.  He’s hard on other people, but not me or the family.  Or friends.  He lost most of his childhood friends and most of the family in the camps.”

 

“Camps?”

 

“Yeah.  He doesn’t talk about it, but he and my grandparents escaped from Bergen-Belsen in 1941 to Switzerland.  They were transported to America where my grandfather got a position at NYU teaching history.  Papa made all our family’s money on the stock market.  He bought IBM and Dupont.”

 

“Wow.  That must be nice.”

 

“What’s that?”

 

“Having money.”

 

Alexandra noticed the officers were in position to storm the house.  She wanted to stand right there, but thought better of it.  There were two officers outside the van, patrolling.

 

“Money is something you’ll never need to worry about ever again, Rick.”

 

“I don’t want your money or your father’s money.”

 

“What should I do with it then?  I have more money between my multi-platinum albums, merchandizing and my father’s trust accounts for me.  I can never spend it all.  I take care of my ex in the Navy, out of respect for our long time friendship.”

 

She sat up and turned to him.  She kissed him, deeply, pulling him close and holding tightly.

 

“Please, just let me do what I do best, take care of people.  I like it.  It makes me feel good.”

 

He turned away and moved to the other side of the van.  He looked out of the side window.

 

“What did I say wrong?”

 

“You’re gonna leave and just leave money.  I’m not your gigolo.  You can’t just come here, fuck me and then leave a 20 on the dresser before you leave.  I’m not into that.”

 

She put her hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it away.  Wounded, she turned and got out of the van and walked over to where the action was beginning.  The officers were in the house and were preparing to bring the boys outside.  Three teenage boys were marched out of the house in handcuffs.  Joey grabbed Alexandra by the shoulders and held her from running toward the accused.  Jesse grabbed her arm and pulled her back.

 

“Is that them?” she shouted at Skinner.  “Are those the bastards that want to kill me?”

 

He walked toward her, shielding her with his huge form as they were brought to the bureau vehicles.

 

“They were playing a prank, apparently.  The oldest is 14 years old.  We’re contacting their parents.  They’re supposed to be in school.  It was a hoax.”

 

Alexandra was openly crying by this time.  She wore no makeup, which caused many people not to recognize her.  Joey held her and guided her toward their truck.  He sat her in the second bench and Jesse took the wheel.  They drove back to the warehouse in Takoma Park to get her things and their bags, left the night before and load them back in.  It was so anti-climactic, Joey thought.  All this worry, over some teenagers.  They would set back off for New York and go back to their lives.  Jesse drove solemnly, quiet, as Joey stroked Alexandra’s arm, her head resting on his shoulder.

 

“You gonna be OK?” he asked her.

 

“Yeah, I’m going to be just fine.  I’m not getting out of the truck, though, OK?  Just get the stuff and let’s get out of here.”

 

“You don’t want to say goodbye?”

 

She shook her head against his neck.

 

“You have a fight?”

 

“He hates me.  He said I treated him like a gigolo.”

 

“Did you offer to take care of him?”

 

“What the hell else can I do?  They live on a wing and prayer in there.  It’s not like I’ll never see him again.  Well, maybe now…”

 

“Alexandra, people don’t always want to be taken care of.  Sometimes they want to do things on their own.  He happens to be one of them.  Just deal.  You should apologize.”

 

“No, I just want to go.  Please?”

 

She looked up at him.  He knew she was not in the condition to face Langly.  He must have truly hurt her feelings.  She had no trouble facing anyone, even stalking toward the boys who threatened her life.  But he must have touched her deeply.  Deeply enough to make her want to hide.  The windows in the truck were tinted, so no one could see in.  She’d hide in there and Joey would make sure things would be taken care of.

 

Langly drove in silence back to the warehouse.  Byers sat next to him, then Frohike.  They didn’t speak.  It was understood that there was a fight.  Langly had probably started it, Frohike hypothesized, to spare himself the pain of rejection.  If he could push her away, he could save face.  Then it would be easier to take.  It would be easier to explain.  He could hear Langly telling his friends at that dive geek club where they assembled, ”Yeah, she got all clingy and bitchy.  I don’t care if she is #1 on all the damn charts.  She’s a fucking cunt and I don’t need that.  But she was good.”

 

Frohike shook the idea out of his head.  He hoped this didn’t end as badly as he thought it would.  Byers was equally as concerned.  He knew his friends had taken care of him after Susanne crippled him.  He was willing to do the same for Langly, but hoped he didn’t need to.

 

At the warehouse, the Gunmen spoke with the four male band members about payment.  Joey apologized for his sister, making the excuse that this whole ordeal had been very hard on her and losing it in front of people she had just met was not conducive to healing properly.  The amount was agreed upon and Joey worked out how it would be deposited into an account so that taxes could be avoided.  Then the guys loaded the truck and prepared to go.  Alexandra hid against the seat, watching Langly milling around the back.  He shook hands with the four and watched as they loaded into the truck.  He knew he shouldn’t have turned away from her.  He was just so afraid of never hearing from her again.  He really didn’t care for the money.  But to not ever see her again, even as a friend, even to just watch a movie together, that would kill him.  And he blew it.  She wouldn’t even say goodbye.  As Joey pulled away, he noticed the group still standing there, watching as they pulled away.  He said, “They’re still there.”

 

Alexandra turned in her seat to see for herself.  As they reached the curb, Langly stepped forward, away from the group, in their direction.  She turned to Joey and screamed, “Stop, stop, now!”

 

Joey jammed on the brakes, throwing everyone forward.  She climbed over Darren and threw open the door.  Scrambling to the black top, she ran back down the driveway toward Langly.  Tears blurred her vision, but she could see him starting toward her.  She reached out for him, leaping into his arms.  He caught her, hoisting her up into his arms, pulling her to his chest.  She wrapped her legs around his waist.  She kissed him, all the fear and hurt flowing away.  Langly began turning around with her in his arms, showing her off, happy he had her back.

 

Mulder pulled the Oldsmobile into the drive and stopped short of the couple.  He, Scully and Skinner emerged, walking toward the Gunmen.  He turned back to the couple and then to Frohike.

 

“True love cannot be denied.”

 

Mulder stole a look at Scully.  Frohike caught it and noted it for later use.  Langly put Alexandra down and looked down into her eyes.  The truck had pulled up and the boys were filing out.

 

“I don’t wanna go.  Not like this.  Not after before.  Not after last night…and this morning.  Please…one more day.”

 

“Stay as long as you want.  I want you here.”

 

They kissed again.  Frohike shook his head.

 

“He’s gone.  We lost him.”

 

“But he’ll be happy,” Byers threw in.  “Finally, he’ll be accepted for exactly who he is.”

 

“Why wouldn’t he be?” Jak asked.  “You think I would care if people thought anything about me?  I’m in a band that no one can touch, gay as they come, baby, and you see me carin’?  No, not one bit.  Why should you?”

 

Advice from Johnny Storm, thought Frohike.  And it made more sense than any other advice he’d heard in a long time.  Langly was standing before Alexandra, their foreheads together.  The tears on his cheeks were visible.  He looked into her eyes.

 

“Go on home.  Call me when you get in.”

 

“No, Rick, I can stay.  Really, they can mix the album without me.  They’ve done it before.  I can stay a few more days, really.”

 

“I’m OK.  I’ll see you again, won’t I?  I can drive to New York.”

 

She nodded and they kissed again.  Romantic didn’t cover it, according to Scully.  This was almost desperation.  Two people who were so into each other, they only spent one night together and they seemed as though they couldn’t handle being apart.  Langly walked her to the truck.  The boys piled in again, but this time, Alexandra went to sit shotgun.  She walked into it backwards, kissing Langly the whole time.  She left kisses on his face, his neck and he returned the kisses equally.

 

“I love you, Rick.”

 

“I love you, too.  Go home.  I’ll see you soon.”

 

She nodded and closed the door.  The window rolled down for another kiss, then Joey pulled away and she almost fell out waving to them.  Langly walked to the street and watched them pull out of site.  He jammed his hands into his pockets and walked back to where his friends stood, head down.  He stopped in front of Byers and Frohike.

 

“You did the right thing, kid,” Frohike reassured.  “She doesn’t belong here.  But from what her brother told me, you’ll see her again.”

 

Byers put a supportive arm around Langly’s shoulders and said, “It’s not over, Langly.  She’ll be back.”

 

Langly looked up.  Everyone had positive smiles on their faces, even Scully.  The FBI agents left the scene and the Gunmen went back into the head quarters, like it all never happened.  Langly walked up the stairs to his bedroom and sat on the rumpled sheets.  He could still smell her in the room.  He pulled his sneakers off and got into the bed.  He pulled the covers up on him and closed his eyes.  She was all around him.  There was a sudden calm about him.  He’d see her again.

 

 

Four Months Later

Over the Pacific Ocean

 

Alexandra sat in her chair on the private plane her father owned plane, looking though her email on her laptop.  They were winging their way to Japan, to open their tour.  She saw what she was looking for and opened the message.  The Ramones blared from her mini-laptop speakers, “I Want You Around” and pictures of their week-long get away in Hawaii flitted across the screen.  Then…the unexpected happened.  The laptop began to smoke, sizzle and exploded right there, Alexandra shielded her face from the keys and pieces of screen flying by her.  She continued to sit there, laughing.  Harder and harder she laughed, as her brother and friends jumped from their chairs to see if she was all right.

 

“I’m fine.  He loves me!  He still loves me!”

 

Langly closed the window that read “Commands Executed” on his screen and turned to where Frohike and Byers were discussing the lay out of this month’s issue.  They’d begun selling more and more issues every month, since they ran the article about the band’s group of terrorists.  Gotham Knights’ fans flocked to the small local stores in droves to get the newspaper every month.  Jimmy could barely keep up with the mail subscriptions.  Frohike and Byers were at wits end to try and get a full newspaper every month.  But they were never happier.

 

Frohike looked up from his front page mock-up at the youngest Gunman.  He saw the grin that covered his face and was more curious than ever.

 

“What’s the story, kid?”

 

“I blew up her laptop.”

 

“What the hell did you do that for?” Frohike yelled.

 

“Bad move, Langly, really,” Byers admonished.

 

The phone rang.  Jimmy picked it up, turned on the tape recorder and put the voice distorter over the mouth piece.

 

“Lone Gunmen.”

 

Silence.  All eyes were on him.  A smile crossed his lips.  He took the distorter off and clicked off the recorder.  He turned to Langly and said, “Your girlfriend is on the phone.”

 

He held the receiver out to Langly.  Langly took the phone.

 

“You blew up my computer.”

 

“I thought you’d like that.”

 

“I loved it.  Are you all coming out to Japan?”

 

“All of us?”

 

“I’ll send the jet to Baltimore-Washington.  I want to see you all here.”

 

“We’ll be there.”

 

Langly put the receiver down and turned to the other Gunmen.

 

“Are we working on any Japanese stories?”

 

“Why?” Frohike asks.

 

“I figure we could get some work done while we’re there.”

 

“Where are we going?” asked Jimmy.

 

Byers turned to him and asked, “Do you like sushi?”

 

The End

 

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