"Watch the hands, man, watch where you’re putting your hands!"
Margaret raised an eyebrow. The three computer nerds were wriggling in place, turning back-to-back as though they actually expected to do something about their predicament.
"Be still, Langly, or I’ll leave the cuffs on."
"You’d like that, wouldn’t you, you pervert."
Byers, ever the voice of reason, interrupted, "Just get these things off, guys. Frohike, you sure you can unlock them?"
"Yup. I swiped a hairpin from Goldilocks while we were out on patrol the other night. He was too busy enjoying my kiss to even notice."
"Frohike, you are a dead man. Attila can’t have you until I’m done killing you."
"Be still, for cryin’ out loud. And shut up. I don’t want Mrs. Scully to get jealous."
Margaret smothered a grin, knowing now that the exchange was being carried on strictly for her sake. There was a shared gleam of humor in all three of the men’s eyes as they fumbled toward shaky freedom. Dana’s faith in these odd little nerds bordered on obsession at times. For the first time, Margaret began to suspect the faith might not be altogether misplaced. "What can I do to help?" she interjected.
"Just keep watch over the baby and Wonderboy and we’ll do the rest," Byers assured her. "Hey, Bailey, any ideas about where we should start looking for your boss and Mulder and Doggett?"
"I think so. We got moved through the basement and the sewers. From what I can gather, the sword is hidden down there somewhere. I might be able to reconstruct a map if I had paper and pencil."
Langly reached up, displaying the hand that now was freed. Clutched in his slender fingers was a crumpled piece of notebook paper. "I got my half."
A moment later, Byers raised his own triumphant instrument. "No pencil. Will a pen do?"
Frohike’s stubby fingers rose with their own contribution. "I’ve got the painkiller." He fanned three miniature bottles of booze for better view.
Go to Part Thirty Four.