Generator Rex - Attachment p2

Even with Knights assurances Six was what he'd been after all along, the agent couldn't help feeling a little annoyed every time he seen that woman again. Busty and brunette, she was by all standards very pretty. She certainly seemed to fancy Knight, and took every opportunity to smirk at Six when she seen him. She wasn't stupid, she'd worked out the reason for Knights disinterest in her. The way he'd eyed up the agent when he'd come haring into their meeting together had given her enough clue.

The reason she wanted an alliance with Providence so badly wasn't just on account of the fact they did similar work, her group studied EVOS for medical purposes, trying to treat them. But that's where similarities ended. She wasn't above using experimentations and dirty tactics to get what she wanted.

And she wanted Knight out of the way. Once they cemented an alliance, she could get rid of him, and somehow take over the head spot. If she buttered Providence up enough, she could take over his position on the base.

But she couldn't afford to rush it. And she needed to be wary of the green suited agent, Six. He wasn't a moron, of that she was certain. But she was intrigued as to his name. Why was he called Six? So during a dinner meeting with White Knight, she queried him on the agents past. All she learnt was the title referred to a worldwide ranking, which meant there had to be Five others just as deadly as he. Hmm..

-----------

Six was oblivious to all this. When he wasn't in meetings, or working with that weird woman, Knight would often call him to his office, or quarters. So far Six had spent about 3 nights in the last 10 days at Knights. He did his best to make sure nobody copped on, but Cesar startled him while Six was in the scientists lab, borrowing his equipment for use in a study..

"So, he already beat me to it huh?" Cesar remarked, scrutinizing the agent.

"...What?!" Six said, slowly catching on. "what're you blathering about?" but he felt himself going slightly red nonetheless.

"Knight. I knew he fancied you, but didn't think he'd move so fast after getting out of confinement," Cesar remarked.

"What're you on about, how-?!" Six shut up, annoyed.

"Hey, don't get mad, I'm just saying he's lucky is all." Cesar huffed. "As for how I know...you kinda...act different, plus," he tilted his head to the side "that way you walk-OW!"

Six threw a textbook at his face, ignoring the giggling Cesar.

"Moron," he snapped.

But he felt himself flush anyway. Was it THAT obvious? Or was it just Cesar's pervert mind?

------------------------

Somehow he ended up playing chauffer for Knight a few days later. Why he didn't just have one of the goons do it, Six couldn't figure out, but he had a feeling… So he'd caved in, and now they were coasting along a deserted road heading away from the base towards a town. But the car was handling funny, and it was starting to concern Six. Eventually, after the engine started smoking a little, he pulled over. They were roughly in the middle of not only their journey, but nowhere. Nothing but dessert.

Six popped the bonnet and waved away the plume of smoke that scudded out after he did so.

"Eesh.." he muttered, then spotted something..

--No way...--

"Well?" Knight asked a minute later as Six stuck his head into the rear seating area of the limo.

"Its overheated, if we wait a while it'll be good to go.." Six informed him. He was about to back out and return to trying to cool the engine when Knight grabbed his tie and pulled him into the cars shaded interior. Caught off balance he landed sprawled on the seating, hearing the door clunk shut behind him.

"What the-?" he asked, kneeling up on the seat. About two seconds after that, he found himself snared by white, snared in his partners arms, practically on his lap..he felt this face flush. Knight smirked.

"Let the car cool down...we can heat things up by ourselves..."

"You on heat or something?!" Six grumbled, but there was only a thin threat in his voice...

"Having you around would drive anyone crazy," his boss had a satisfied smirk on his face, quickly pinning the flustered agent to the plush seating. "it's been too long, work kept keeping you away from me, so I made sure you were coming with me today~"

"I thought so," Six managed to get out, just before he was unceremoniously smooched, erasing the rest of his intentions to resist.

Knight took a DEFINATE pleasure in separating his smoking hot agent from his clothes, letting the items of clothing fall, in a rumpled heap, to the vehicles flooring.

"It should be illegal to be this good looking..." he teased Six, loving how Six got so flustered every time Knight hinted at how damn cute he was. It only made him want to do even more to him...

"Quit being goofy!"

"I'm serious..." nuzzling at Six's neck made the already flustered agent even more riled up "remember those times I followed you around base to see how everything was going? I used to hang back so I could admire your backside in that suit...very nice~"

Six laughed, pushing his partner away momentarily to get a good look at his face. "you serious?"

"Very," Knights face was impassive, very serious "that view screen wasn't enough, sometimes I just wanted to see you as close to "face to face" as I could get, although I hated that I couldn't touch you.."

Six blinked, totally stunned.

"You...set those tours up on purpose....just to....me?!"

"Exactly," again, Knight was very serious "to see you. Why so surprised?"

"I had no idea..." Six mumbled at last, knowing his face was probably bright red. he was totally overwhelmed by the thought Knight had been infatuated with him all this time, had gone to all these lengths to get a glimpse of him. Then to..

"I didn't expect you to," Knight chuckled, pinning him with a gentle kiss, "but its the truth".

Six just managed to get the words "I believe you" out before Knight got bored of talking and began on something else~

-------------------

"I think.." Six managed dozily, "the car should work now..."

"You sure..?" Knight quickly ran a hand up Six's back, causing the agent to let out a startled yelp and press back into his arms. Realising the trick Six glowered at him. Knight chuckled, admiring the way the hazy light drifting in the steamed up windows highlighted Six'sgorgeous brown eyes…

"It depends.." Six said, raising one eyebrow calmly "on how badly you're going to need me actually WALKING around after you?"

"Hm..." Knight let his gaze take a VERY languid tour of the unmistakably unclothed agent lying next to him..

"Well?" Six sounded amused.

"Darn it, I WILL be needing you on your feet.." Knight huffed almost childishly "so I guess I'll have to let you go.."

"Oh I'm sure you'll correct that later." Six said smoothly. Once re-dressed they resumed their journey with the car now working just fine..

-------------------------------

Knight was just about to retire for the night when there was a knock at his door. Opening it, he was needlessly to say, delighted to see his lover.

"I came to return this.." Six held up an unmistakably charred object "literally the spanner in the works.."

"Busted," Knight sighed. Six just smirked.

"If you wanted it that badly, you should've just asked," the agent said, making to leave, but was surprised to feel a hand clasp his wristas he attempted to leave. He looked over his shoulder, a querying look on his face.

"You need to leave?" came the honest question, then "See, I asked!" another smirk.

"Smart-arse." Six responded, but he didn't even bother pretending to fight. He was enjoying himself just as much..So he let his partner tug him back into the apartment, the door clicking shut behind him..

-----------------------------------

On waking up early, Knight couldn't resist taking a moment to watch his partner sleeping. Six looked adorable, with his hair so dishevelled, no sunglasses, no CLOTHES, the lazy morning sunlight highlighting a frankly gorgeous body..

"Quit staring." the two simple words nearly gave poor Knight a heart attack. Once recovered he glowered at Six, who was watching him, a smirk on half-asleep features...

"Smart-arse," Knight snapped.

"Indeed," was his answer.

------------------------------------------


For a few days things went on as usual, but Knight started to get bored. And so he decided to do something to alleviate the boredom, and his target? Six..

He walked into the central command room, it was an early shift, virtually deserted, only a few soldiers scattered here and there, and of course..

Sat at the main screen, Six was working through a mass load of files that needed sorting. Silently Knight snuck up behind him. Six tilted his head slightly, having heard him of course.

"Morning," he said calmly.

"Mm," Knight said non-committedly. Then he stepped up close behind the chair, standing so what he was doing was hidden from anyone else in the room. He ran his fingers across Six's collar, then ran them beneath the fabric. Six felt a shiver run up his spine and he barely bit back a startled gasp.

"K-Knight..." he choked out at last. Damnit, that had felt good, he'd nearly reacted to it..

"What?" Knight said calmly. Six cursed under his breath, Knight was toying with him....

"I'm trying to work.." Six managed at last. He scooted the chair forward until his knees bumped into the back of the desk console he was sat at. But it wasn't enough. Again closing the distance Knight stepped up his little sensuous torment.

He ran his fingers across the back of Six's neck again, and took a certain delight in seeing the agent twitch. Still leaning on the padded backrest of the chair, he pressed his knee into Six's back, at the base of his spine. Another shiver shot up the agents back and he tried to move, but he'd penned himself in by scootching forward moments before. He just KNEW his face was red...

"Bring up the files for Rex's latest attempt at work," Knight instructed calmly, still tracing a pattern along the back of his lovers neck. His head a muddle, Six ran his hands across the keyboard. From where the others were positioned, none of them could see what Knight was doing to poor Six..

On the pretence of looking closer at the screen Knight leaned closer and whispered "it's a shame were not alone...or I'd find a far better use for your time then this...on the console would be interesting.."

His head felt like it was full of cotton wool, and Six's fingers slipped, hitting a wrong key and filling the screen with a giant error message.

"Oops." Knight remarked, leaning back "careful,"

"Shut up you," Six muttered, hearing Knight snigger.

"Well," Knight remarked, still carrying on with his little pretence "that seems fine, but do me a favour and print those reports off. Drop them by my office when you're done."

"Of course.." Six said, his voice as calm as ever, far belying the tidal wave of sensation Knights little tactics had unleashed.

Somehow  on auto pilot, with his brain now in a total state of confusion (or was that frustration?), he grabbed the reports and scurried off to Knights office. That damn tease, what was he playing at..?

Knight was waiting for him. Soon as Six walked in, he engaged the remote lock, and, grabbing the reports from Six's hand, tossed them onto the desk and pulled the agent into his arms and kissed him fiercely.

"What're you doing?" Six asked at last. Knight smirked, then, pulling Six against him, nuzzled at that sensitive spot on his neck again. This time all Six's efforts were in vain, and Knight got the vocal reaction he was after.

"I love it when you make that sound," he smirked, "so dangerous...yet I can get that sound from you.."

"You.." Six struggled to berate him, as he was falling further into the muddle this was causing "how..?"

"Oh I studied your reactions VERY closely all those times we were together, I know JUST what gets you off~" Knight smirked.

"You horndog.." Six laughed, closing his eyes and letting himself fall into Knights trap..

"I don't see, hear...or feel you complaining." Knight growled, leading the flustered agent to the soft plush couch.

"Was this your grand plan?" Six wondered.

"What, to wind you up then have sex with you in my office? Why, yes, it was..." he sat down, pulling Six towards him so the agent was sat on his lap.

"You could've just asked?" Six raised one eyebrow.

"I COULD.." Knight responded, letting his hands wander slowly up the agents back under his shirt, "but your so cute when you're all flustered, makes me want you even more.."

Six went red again. Normally he relished being in complete control, yet times like this, all he wanted was to hand himself over to Knight. The sexy vulnerability he seemed to show when all wound up was what Knight found so alluring, whether Six was aware of the effect this had he didn't know. Either way he was tired of delaying...

The rest of the base went about its duties oblivious to the liaison going on in Knights office, and the two within its walls were oblivious to the rest of the world..

Six listened to these noises as he half-dozed, resting against his lovers chest. If he closed his eyes things could stay this way forever...

"Wake up handsome," Knights familiar voice whispered in Six's ear, seconds before he nipped at the agents neck, leaving a little mark there. Six yelped, sitting bolt upright on his lovers lap. A rumpled couch blanket was loosely wrapped around them, and his movements only made it slip further.

"Go on, scoot," Knight said almost commandingly "before I keep you here for extra assignments~"

"I've never been adverse to overtime," Six remarked, as he slowly, reluctantly pieced his uniform back together, jacket? Floor. Trousers? Hm, also floor...

--NOW he's just being a tease,-- Knight thought, as Six continued his "I'm-in-no-rush-to-leave" method of dressing.

"You'll have to see me about that later," he replied, the sentence loaded with extra meaning. Six understood it loud and clear.

"I'll be right over," were his parting words before he drifted out of the office, clothing as perfect as ever, only a faint flush to his cheeks revealed the extra "reports" he'd been discussing with Knight. Well, that and the almost territorial mark Knight had made on his neck, concealed by his collar..
-----------------------------

A fortnight later, a big party was planned for Providence. It was a yearly thing, a big ball type affair. By now the busty brunette had integrated herself and her company into Providence, with a speed and proficiency that made Six slightly suspicious. He voiced his concerns to Knight after one of their passionate little evenings together. Knight gave him a look like he was stark raving mental, and told him not to worry about it. When Six objected, Knight retaliated by pinning him to the bed and kissing him until he gave up asking.

He didn't particularly WANT to go to the ball, but Knight kept pestering him so in the end he agreed.

But he went round with an annoyed look on his face that Rex couldn't figure out. He had no interest in the grown up parties, way too dull. So he, Noah and Bobo were having a party of their own while the adults were all distracted.

For Alice Wentworth, the busty brunette, as Six had referred to her, it was time for the plan. Over the years she'd taken over more then a few companies using this tactic. Poison. Varying different types, some could mimic heart attacks, others simply caused severe pain followed by organ failure. these things were illegal and immoral. But that'd never stopped her.

Earlier that day, Six had dropped off a bottle of a specialty wine he thought Knight would like. It was this bottle Knight opened when Alice dropped in to see him. She was a smart woman, their conversations mostly revolved around their respective works.

She waited for an opportunity. Then when he left to go to the bathroom she quickly pulled a vial from her pocket, emptying it into his half-full glass. then she sat back, smirking internally.

So when he came back she pretended to have to leave, she knew her poison wouldn't fail, it'd take  a  few hours to work, but it was a nasty one this one. It could be blamed on a tainted wine, it was virtually foolproof..

Unless the wrong person drank it.

After she left Six came to the office to return some reports. He was in a bad mood, it'd been a rough mission, he and Rex had gotten somewhat clobbered, so he was a bit grumpy.

"Blimey, you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something? Wait, that cant be right, my bed only has the one side to fall out OF..." Knight pretended to think seriously about it.

"Shut up.." Six sniggered, feeling a bit better already "long day is all.." he scooped up the half-full glass and drained the contents, pulling a face "better.."

"Drinking already?" Knight queried. "save it for the party.."

"Bah, I have a perfectly good alcohol tolerance. I used to win drinking contests back at the compound.."

"Id act surprised, but somehow I'm not. You could make a fortune on bets," Knight shook his head, and taking the glass away from the agent, kissed him.

Six smirked, that plus the alcohol gave him an idea..

And Knight clearly shared it, as they had a quick, passionate, though sadly not AS intimate as Knight wished, rendezvous on the couch. After that Six had to leave, claiming he had some stuff to sort out, he'd see him at the party later..

But even as he left he felt a funny feeling in his stomach, like a cramp...

------------------------

An hour later it'd gotten worse, and he was sick. Looking at his reflection in the mirror he groaned, feeling shaky. What was wrong with him? Was he really THAT tired?

He tried his best to hide it, but when he popped into Cesar's lab later, it overwhelmed him again.

Cesar had his back to Six when the agent walked in. Six opened his mouth to ask what he'd come here about, when he felt another horrible cramp in his stomach, and he stopped short, making a muffled noise of pain instead. The room blurred and tilted, and a wave of nausea hit him hard.

"Six..Six?!" he heard Cesar's voice, then everything went black as he collapsed..

He awoke some minutes later, Cesar having laid him on the couch. the scientist was holding a thermometer, looking concerned.

"You're running a fever from hell...what happened, you seemed fine this morning?"

"I..i don't know.." Six mumbled. He tried to think, but it hurt too much.

"I've never seen symptoms so quickly crop up...when did you start feeling sick?"

"Ab..about...2 hours ago I think...when...I left Knights office.."

"Did you eat or drink anything unusual today?"

"Whuh..why..?"

"We can't rule out food poisoning, right now it's looking likely.."

Six struggled to think "I...missed breakfast...drink...I had some of that wine in Knights office...but that's all..."

"The wine maybe...I'll be right back.." Cesar tucked a blanket around Six "stay here, try to rest..."

As the scientist ran off, Six glanced at the clock. The party was starting in an hour. He was supposed to be meeting Knight there. But when he tried to sit, he felt sick, and quickly collapsed back into the comfort of the couch. It felt like he was on fire from the inside out.

He drifted asleep, woken up when he heard a beeping noise. Looking sleepily around the room he spotted Cesar at his computer. The scientist got up and went over to the machine. Mid way he spotted Six was awake and paused to check his temperature again. If anything it'd risen.

"What's...going on.." Six tried to indicate the machine.

"I snuck into Knights office and managed to grab the bottle on his desk. I wanted to test the wine, see if it was contaminated."

"Everything's odd.." Six mumbled deliriously "am I alone..in finding that woman from the Wentworth labs a little....weird..?"

"What, because she's blatantly got a crush on Knight? Someone's jealous!" Cesar joked.

"NO, dumbass...like she has a chance.." Six slurred dozily "I mean...her interest in this place. Providence....bit sudden...I don't trust her.."

"I must admit I've not heard much about this company...tell ya what, I'll run a search once I've checked this result.."

Seconds later Cesar swore. Six propped himself up on his elbows. "what?"

"I'm picking up traces of-" here he named a chemical chain Six had never heard of -"which doesn't make sense...why would that be present in wine. I've never seen contamination like this.."

"Sure..that equipments..working?" Six asked.

"Oh I'm sure, I built this stuff. It goes a little deeper then the gear Providence uses. It doesn't make sense...I'll run another test.."

As he bustled around Six closed his eyes, drifting in and out of consciousness, until a cramp in his gut jolted him awake with a cry of agony. He twisted in the blankets, tumbling off the couch onto the floor. It felt like someone had stabbed a knife laced with acid into his stomach. He was aware of Cesar trying to help him stand, and somehow he staggered free, full pelt towards the bathroom...

It seemed an eternity before he regained any sense of normalcy. But at last the pain abated a little, although there was a dull omnipresent ache, and his throat felt raw.

Cesar helped him back to the comfy couch once he'd been able to clean himself up. The older Salazar brother looked worried, and even in his messed up state, Six asked what was wrong?

"What's-? Six, your condition is declining way too fast for comfort. I'm calling a medic...stay right here..." with that, Cesar ran off. He knew he'd have a hard time finding someone, as mostly everyone was at the party.

--Just hold on Six..-- he prayed as he legged it down the hallway.

-------------------

Back in the room Six was loathe to just lay down quietly. So when Cesar's desktop machine bleeped a minute later he used all his mental training to bypass the pain and stagger to the chair. Cesar had run the search as promised on that woman. What he read made Six's eyebrows raise. Cesar had clearly gone to all ends of the web to find this tuff, most of it was from outside sources, but all the pages pointed to the same thing, a theory that the precocious ms. Wentworth was using unusual tactics to get rid of the competition.

--What if..that wine....was for Knight...but instead I...oh crap..-- he coughed weakly, wincing as he tried to think straight. She must've been aiming for Knight. Which meant she had to have poisoned the wine before she left that morning. The bottle had been sealed when he bought it, so she could be the only culprit. Another bleep drew his attention to the medicomp device. Its scans had dredged up minute traces of a chemical loosely translated as nail polish?

It took Six a second to puzzle it out. Then he recalled shed been wearing a lurid red polish when she passed him in the hall. The colour pigment in the scan matched a rare, expensive brand sold by only a few shops.

He had to find Knight...get him away from that woman..

-----------------

It was just as well Six was honing in on him, as Knight was in more danger then either of them realised. Alice Wentworth had been keeping a close eye on Knight the whole evening, but he didn't seem to be showing any signs. Had it been a failure? Had he not finished the drink? Cursing him, she, on the pretence of fetching them more drinks, managed to slip in another dosage. It wasn't going according to plan, but she could still be rid of him. This way, any of the companies that supplied the drink could be blamed, it was better perhaps..

She handed the glass to Knight. They were standing by a long table piled high with food, Providence sure knew how to throw a party! She was impressed, soon it'd be hers if this succeeded..

She smirked as Knight raised the glass, soon, he'd be dead..

Then there was a whistling sound, something clipped between them. The wine glass shifted mid-titled, then the stem abruptly slit, severed in a perfect line. A millisecond later she heard something impact with the wall. Turning her head she seen a scary looking sword sticking out of the fancy wallpaper.

There were a few startled shouts and yelps. She and Knight turned, seeing..

"Six..?" Knight stared at him "have you lost it?!"

Struggling to keep on his feet, Six pointed the other sword at Alice.

"NO, but she was about to make sure you did!"

"What's he babbling about?" she said fiercely "he's crazy!"

"Then explain how traces of nail polish ended up in the wine?"

On reflex she checked her nails, freezing when she realised his ploy.

"Funny," Six spoke "most people would object to the accusation first, not check their nails.."

Knight took a step back from her, he looked pissed.

"He's making it up!" she said furiously "he's probably drunk!"

"Ironic you should say that.." Six coughed, the action seeming to cause real pain..

She stared at him, realisation dawning on her face.

"That's right," Six still aimed the blade at her "you missed your target..."

Knight put two and two together. The glass Six had drained, the one he'd been drinking whilst talking to that woman. Shed obviously tampered with it while he'd gone to the bathroom. Then Six had swanned in, drank it instead and..he looked to be in some pain, he was white as a sheet. He'd also left his glasses behind in Cesar's lab, and those gorgeous brown eyes were clouded by pain and fatigue..

"Are you listening to this crap?" she back-pedalled "you put an awful lot of trust in a guy who's real name is a mystery!" she glared at Six "I know all about you!! That group you came from, you're little more then mercenaries, working for whoever pays you. How do we know he not behind all this? Its not hard to fake, any woman on this base could use nail polish.."

"I've trusted him for longer then you've been in business," Knight said coldly "and he's spent all his time with Providence since then. I'd trust him with anything under then damn sun."

"...the polish.." Six managed to speak at last "the scan tracked it back to a brand only sold in about 3 stores. Very expensive, it has a distinct chemical makeup...if we test that stuff you're wearing...how close a match will it be? 90, 100%?"

"You know," Wentworth laughed "I hired someone just in case this happened.." she pressed a button on a radio and smirked again.

A shadow suddenly darted in through an open window. It came to a halt in front of Wentworth. A woman with pink hair..

"Five?!" Six sputtered.

Knight looked from Six to Five, making the connection.

"Sorry luv, but I got to stop ya there..."

"She's a murderer Five!" Six sputtered dizzily.

"Suuure luv, you would say that, now quit yapping!" she suddenly swung at him. A collective gasp went up as Six parried the blow from Fives fists. Even in the state he was in, she was having to put all her effort into it.

--I don't have the strength to fight like this...there's only one option...Cesar's lab. The computer...I get her to see that, she'll have to stop..--

"You want to stop me? How about you catch me first!" he laughed,  leaping onto the table nearest and running towards the door.

"No use running luv," Five laughed, darting after him.

Alice smirked, now to leave..

Only to run smack into Knight. He looked pissed.

"You  know," he said "I didn't spend all my time sitting on my ass behind that desk...I took a few classes myself. I don't normally like to hit a woman, but when they try to kill me, I take exception."

She reached into her pocket then, pulling something from it and pressing a switch, clamping her eyes shut. A split second later there was a bang a blinding flash. There were shrieks, confusion, and. Footsteps? Hurling himself up from the floor, Knight squinted in the haze, following Alice's fleeing silhouette as she made her escape.

He yelled for security, but with the crowd of people in the room, she'd have time to run..

--------------------------------

In the hallways people scattered as agent Six shot past, followed by a woman yelling she was going to clobber him.

Running on pure fumes, he flung himself into Cesar's lab. Looking for the laptop, he was sure he'd seen it connected to the plasma screen. Cesar had preparing a demonstration.. All he needed was one button..

Five crashed into him just as his hands slapped onto the keyboard. His fingers scuttled across the keys as she grabbed his collar and slammed him into the wall.

"Game over luv," she shrugged "she said to do whatever it took to stop you interfering any further...cant say as I'm happy about this luv, but.."

There was a beep from behind her.

"Take. A look.." Six managed to choke out "take a good look at that, then decide whose side your on.."

She looked round, staring at the scan results for the nail polish. Five was smart, she understood chemistry easily. And she had a feeling she'd been lied to. The info on the screen basically outlined how the wine had been deliberately poisoned, and blood scans showed the damage it was doing to Six.

"Wait.." she looked round at him again, seeing now the pain written across his face "she was after you..? I was told it was merely a matter of kicking your ass if you interfered with the takeover"

"No.." Six shook his head "she..has a track history...other takeovers...suspicious circumstances.. Cesar looked it all up. She was...aiming to poison White Knight, but I picked up the glass instead.."

She stared at him for several long seconds.

Six waited, knowing at the rate he was going, he'd pass out before she hit him again..

She was silent for a moment longer, then she abruptly released his collar. He slid down the wall, slumping to the floor with a bump.

"I aint a murderer luv," she said at last "I'm off.."

"Wait...we have to catch her..."

"My jobs done luv, over with. Good thing the cow paid up front," she stared to walk away.

"How much was she saying paying you..?" Six asked.

She stopped, looking over at him..

"What are you proposing?" she asked.

Six managed a pained grin..

"A new job," he choked out, forcing himself to his feet "get that insane bitch and I'll pay above whatever she was giving you."

Five stared hard at him. He barely seemed able to stand, he was white as a sheet. But she still trusted him, a little, even though he'd left.

"Well?" he asked, then a coughing fit hit him and he staggered, shaky legs giving way.

"Whoa geez," she ran over, closing the distance between them in a second, catching him before he slammed into the floor. Her eyes widened when she seen the blood on his hands…

--That stuffs killing him…that crazy woman was intending to murder someone all along, but she got the wrong target. Not cool, I'm not going to be a murderer!--

Footsteps pounded the corridor, and a guy with dark, sticking up hair bolted in. He seen Five kneeling by Six and stared for a second.

"Easy luv," she said "we're old friends…"

She was surprised to note Cesar didn't question her, just ran to Six along with the medics.

Five ran for the door, only pausing to call over her shoulder "you got a deal, luv!" then she was gone…

In the room behind her, Cesar seen Six slump in relief, muttering something he couldn't make out..

------------------------------

On an instinct Knight took an emergency staircase up to the roof above the dance room function hall. It was raining heavily, and he was soaked in seconds.

"That's far enough!" he yelled, seeing her ahead of him, about to jump to the next rooftop.

"Tch, so you survived," she sneered "but you precious little lovers going to die," she waved a vial at him "this is the only antidote, and I'll surrender before I let YOU have it.."

"Funny you should say that luv," a voice remarked. Wentworth turned, and was suddenly sent flying on her ass. Five grinned.

Knight stared. She was attacking Six a second before. Now she was attacking the one who'd hired her?!

Five looked over at the snowy aired head of Providence as he stared from the out cold Wentworth, to her.

"You're White Knight I assume, nice look, the colour theme," indicating her own pink attire she grinned "ta-dah!"

"What's..?" Knight stared blankly at her "what's going on? Where's Six?"

"Oh, him?" she shrugged "after he exposed this lying cow, he kind of....fainted,. Then this spazzy guy came running with a medic and they ran him off to ICU.."

Knight sighed lightly, Six was OK.

"Don't look too relieved luv, he's been poisoned, and pretty badly..they had 'im stabilized, but they don't know how to cure him"

Then brought Knight crashing back to earth. Running over to Wentworth he spotted the vial she'd been holding lying beside her on the ground.

"What's that?" Five asked.

"She said it was an antidote.." Knight said, holding it up to the light.

"Well, my work here's done, I'm getting paid soon as doofus wakes up.."

"Wait...Six got you to do this?"

"Yeah, said he'd top whatever offer she made if I tracked her down and had her secured in Providence custody.."

Knight heard footsteps, yelling. Then captain Calan and three soldiers came tearing up to them.

Knight motioned them to tend to the prisoner, then faced Five.

"Whatever offer that was, I'LL sort it out," he said bluntly, handing her a business card with his private number scrawled on the back. "this isn't Six's problem, plus I owe him for stopping her at the second attempt.."

"Whatever goes luv," she grinned even wider "guess Providence is good for something', aside from pilfering one of ours.." then she was gone.

"Who the heck was THAT?" Calan asked.

"Just someone Six knows..." Knight said cryptically, then ran off with the antidote.
-------------------------

Cesar worked as fast as humanly possible. Studying the substance revealed it WAS a base antidote for the substance. Once it was confirmed, he prepped it for administration to the rapidly dying agent.

Knight was in Six's room in the bases hospital, the agent had been given a private bed, with guards posted outside in case of any further problems.

Six had passed out by the time they got him to the bed, and so far he hadn't woken back up.

--Damnit...why you..?-- Knight fumed, hating that evil woman for doing this. Six had to have been in total agony, yet he'd still made his way to the ballroom to find him. Analysis of the wine from the glass Six had broken indicated he'd narrowly avoided a second attempt.

If Six hadn't shown up it could've succeeded.

Six looked more vulnerable then ever, tucked up in the bed, still pale as milk. Machines monitored his breathing, which seemed awfully ragged, like he was struggling?

Then the door was flung open, and Cesar dashed in, holding a syringe.

Knight watched the displays over Six's bed as Cesar injected the substance. They waited anxiously. The heart rate line seemed to falter, then stutter, then, as they both stared in relief, started back up, stronger then before.

"This stuffs proper professional," Cesar wheezed "I've never seen an antidote in this strength, she literally meant to save her own ass if anything happened.."

"Its working…?" Knight croaked.

"Perfectly," Cesar remarked, reading the displays "its fast acting, VERY fast...I've never seen one like it..."

Just then Six stirred, coughing very faintly. He shifted faintly, then slowly opened his eyes.

The pair both slumped in the chairs positioned by the bed with identical sighs of relief.

"Wha..?" Six managed at long last, staring, befuddled, at them "what's the matter..?"

"What's...you nearly died you idiot!" Knight shot back, but he wasn't even slightly mad.

"That woman.." Six remembered now..

"You nearly gave me a heart attack!" Cesar blurted "I came back and that woman said you'd collapsed on her! Soon as we steadied you she ran away"

"Sorry..." Six croaked "I couldn't keep awake...so I sent Five.."

"Well she delivered that scheming woman to us as you asked her to," Knight said quietly "now for pete's sake stay in bed, no wandering off!"

"I may have to wander off," Cesar said staring at his phone "I'll leave ya alone..." he trotted out of the room, poking the cell phone.

Knight just shook his head. Six laughed softly, but trailed off when a warm hand gripped his.

"I thought you were going to die," Knight said simply "you gave me the worst fright of my life Six.." he sighed "but I'm too relieved you're alright..besides, id be in the same condition if you hadn't literally knocked it outta my hands."

"It's over now.." Six said softly, feeling drowsy "I want to sleep.."

"Then sleep, I'm not letting you back to work until you're completely better, even then, you're off work for at last 3 days once you leave this hospital.." Knight glowered as Six tried to object "I mean it Six. What's the point in you saving my ass if you run yourself into the ground. I want you in one piece ASAP.." he smirked his trademark smirk then, making Six blush.

Six smiled weakly, then, just as he drifted asleep, he was aware of a light kiss on the lips. He tried to summon the strength needed to return it, but sleep had waited too long, and it wasn't letting him go. So he fell fast asleep, a faint smile on his face as he did.
------------------------

When he woke up later, it was to Calan standing by the door, talking to the nurse in charge of Six. She indicated the now awake agent, said something about not stressing him unduly, then left. Calan plonked himself on the chair by the bed.

"How much do you remember of what happened?" Calan asked.

Six blinked, trying to marshal his brain. He recalled the poison slowly eating away at him, fighting Five, convincing her to help him..

"She was here.." he croaked, memories patching themselves together.

"Who WAS she?!" Calan demanded "She somehow got on base without setting off a single alarm, Knight said she knows you." he stared at Six "dressed like a cosplayer from an anime.."

Six took a few deep breathes to clear his head "pink hair...Five,"

"Wait...what?!" Calan stared at him, not getting it "numbers..then..?"

"Exactly." Six said softly "I assume you know the reasoning behind my name..well she's my higher-up in one sense..."

"Holy.." Calan stared "so..there are Six of you altogether?"

Six nodded.

"Geez thats scary," Calan shrugged "there's Five others more adept at ass kicking then YOU."

"Its not just combat ability.." Six mumbled sleepily "it's other stuff too.."

"She seemed weird."

"They're my FAMILY." Six dredged himself conscious again to snap that sentence out "I'd have died out on the streets 20 years ago if One hadn't come along.."

Calan blinked, seeing the anger in Six's face. Even confined to bed like this, the agent unnerved Calan.
Raising his hands he sighed "sorry, no offence."

Six said nothing, but Calan could sense the agents irritation simmering quietly, so he decided to back off a bit.

"Regardless, that woman's in custody, on charges of attempted murder,"

"Good," Six said sleepily "this isn't her first attempt.."

"How did she find this "Five" woman?"

"Its not impossible if you know where to look..they'll work for whoever hires them."

"Hired? You mean..?" Calan asked.

"Yes," Six coughed, winced "they're mercenaries. And before you ask...I did the same thing before I came here.."

"Wow.." Calan said at last. "hard to imagine you a merc, you're way too honourable for that.."

"Maybe now.." Six chuckled faintly "wasn't...always.." he sounded sleepy.

"Go back to sleep," Calan advised. Six didn't need telling twice.

------------------------------------

Some days later Six was released from the hospital. Calan quizzed again on his odd family of assassin co workers, but six refused to give anything away.

He was walking down an empty hallway when his phone rang. There was no ID listed. Raising an eyebrow he pressed answer.

"Up and about huh, dumbarse?"

"Yes, hello Five," Six sighed.

She laughed "cheer up grumpy. You survived at least.."

"Barely.." Six answered "a few minutes more and I'd have been in way more trouble..."

"Like you'd cark it because of a poison, you're too dense to die that way!"

"Thanks." Six shook his head, heading to Knights.

"If you ever get tired of playing lackey for Providence, feel free to rejoin the rest of us, do some REAL work.."

"I told you, I'm not leaving until I find what I'm looking for.."

She sighed "fine, just try not to get dumped too fast-"

"I meant a cure you single minded woman!" Six snapped, feeling his face redden.

"Hah!" she added, before cutting the call.

"Geez.." Six sighed, glaring at the phone screen.

"Any reason why you're standing outside my door, swearing at your phone, Six?"

Six looked up, realising only now he'd arrived at Knight's.

"Nope," he responded, shoving the phone into his pocket.

"Good, then get in here." Knight smirked.

Shaking his head Six followed. He was barely in the door when he was seized and kissed so heatedly he felt dizzy for a moment.

"You scared me half to death Six," he heard Knight saying as he was released, "don't ever do that again.."

"...Sorry?" Six managed at long last, a little floored by the snog.

"Fine, I'll believe you," Knight mimicked, quoting Six from the first night they'd spent together. Then before the agent could speak he cut him off with another kiss. At last he felt the agents body relax, holding tightly to him, the tension fading as they drew closer...

Six laughed softly, "You'd better," he quoted back, a smile softening his normally serious expression..

Then something occurred to him "wait….Five never asked about…" he trailed off. Knight raised an eyebrow, looking curiously at him.

"Asked about..?" he prompted.

"The payment!" Six frowned, confused "she's usually loathe to wait, so why…" he stopped as he could feel a faint rumbling sensation. Knight was laughing.

"What?" he said, glowering up at the white haired man "what's so funny?!"

Knight laughed then, and without warning, scooped six up, and, carrying him slung over his shoulder, brought him to the bed. Six was still protesting even as he was plonked down on the bed. Knight silenced him with a kiss, and waited for Six to finish grumbling.

"What's the deal?" Six snapped, arms folded, glowering up at knight. Knight smirked, untangled the agents arms, clasping his wrists and pulling him into a sitting position so he could wrap his arms around him.

"Deal, exactly," Knight said "I settled the debt with your anime-styled friend."

Six did a double take "what? When-?"

"I chased the psycho poisoner of Providence up to the roof, that's where your friend swooped in to do her job. She mentioned she was going to get you to pay her soon as you woke up, so I told her I'd settle it."

"Why…?" Six frowned, bemused "it was a huge amount.."

Knight dismissed this with a  shrug "doesn't matter, moneys not something I'm worried about Six. YOU'RE what I was worried about. You're worth more then some lump sum to me, end of story."

Seeing Six going red at this statement he had to laugh, nuzzling at the confused agents neck and smirking as he heard Six make that cute little sound..

"You still don't get it do you?" he said softly "I had to endure all those years only seeing you on a screen. When holiday finally told me I'd be able to leave that office, the first thing I wanted to do was see YOU."

Held tightly in his embrace, Six took all this in, turbulent emotions roiling about inside like a summer storm. Knight sounded so serious, although he'd had a feeling since the first time they'd slept together that Knight was trying so hard because he..

"All the stuff I've said to you so far, is the truth. I didn't push you because I didn't want to  scare you away, I've waited too long to muck this up. Truthfully, I fell in love with you at the start." Leaning back from the flushed Six, he put a hand under his partners chin, lifting his gaze so he was looking right at him "Understand now?"

Six said nothing, he didn't need to, he just nodded. It was written all over his face how he felt. But he sealed the moment with a distinctly happy, deep kiss.