Aiyla had gathered any one who wanted to play after Eire had suggested it. Thank god there weren't many, most off on a job this late at night, but there were a few of them, herself, Eire, Lex, Fairlen, Saffron, Alandra, Rue, Sands, and a few others. Sands was no stranger to playing weird games in a office building, he'd used to gather his team mates in the CIA for chair soccor, street hockey with brooms, or just about anything else they could think of, including tag. "Alright right, the name of the game tonight peeps, is Hide and Seek." Aiyla said with a giggle. "Let me lay down the rules. Offices, and roof only, no apartments. And NO cheating, that means Eire you can NOT go in to wolf form." Eire snickered, before downing another pixi stick and handing another to Lex and Saffron. Aiyla snatched one as well. Then took a deck of cards from her back pocket, shuffled a few face down knowing the ace of spades was amung them, then held them out, still face down. "Who ever gets the ace of spades, starts us out. You must tag the person you find and yell it out. Base is Sylvie's desk down here, if you're touching it, you can't get tagged." Everyone drew a card. It was Lex's unfortunate luck to draw the ace of spades. "Damn..." He muttered, before downing another pixi stick. "On the count of three than..." Aiyla said, shoving the cards back in her pocket after collecting them. "One," Eveyone edged away from Lex with grins, snickers and giggles. "Two..." A little further a way, some making ready to turn and bolt. "THREE!" Aiyla yelled, turning and bolting herself. Lex turned around with a sigh and began counting. "I'm only counting to thirty!" He yelled over his shoulder. Aiyla giggled and ran for Nate's office, then decided Lex would probably check there, and turned, running into the kitchen. She looked around quickly just as Alandra slammed into the back of her. The two women giggled, and Alandra dove into the broom closet. Aiyla headed for one of the end cabniets that was realtively easy and crawled inside, peeking out through a crack, trying to stiffle her giggles. **
Eire ripped another pixi stick open as he ran for the stairs to the roof and downed it on take, shoving the empty packet in his jean pocket with a bunch of others and dove out on the roof, looking around. He heard footsteps running up behind him, Sands, Rue and Fairlen emerged. Eire grabbed Fairlen's hand and began running toward the garden with her, seeing Rue and Sands branch off on another path. "This has got to be INSANE." Fairlen muttered in a giggle. "Get used t' it, Fair, we do it ALL The time!" Eire said in return with a grin, before yanking her down into a bush. "And the plus of it all is," He said, his voice going husky. "Is we can fool around while Lex is searching." "You cad!" Fairlen replied, with a soft laugh, slapping him on the chest as he wrapped his arms around her. "I do NOT want to be caught at fooling around by Lex." "Awww..." Eire replied with a mock pout before kissing her. "Twenty eight, twenty nine, THRITY!" Lex shouted, stiffling a giggle. He was in an extremly playful mood, and rather pouty Faal wasn't around at the moment. Or might have been, Lex wasn't entirely sure, he knew there were a couple of very serious jobs going on, his father working one, but they hadn't let Lex in on them, 'for his own good' as Auron had said it. Lex rolled his eyes at that thought. He realized with another giggle, he'd NEVER PLAYED hide and seek again. He knew how, of course, but he'd never played it, ever...he turned and sprinted down the hall, in a mind to find Aiyla first, since the ace of spades had been HER idea. *
Rue and Sands ducked into a bush, Sands holding Rue close as they listened intently. Not far away, they could hear Eire and Fairlen and Rue had to stiffle a giggle before Sands kissed the back of her neck, which made her giggle more. "Sheldon! Stop it!" She said in a whisper. "Can't help it, Eire's right..." Sands whispered in reply. *
Saffron dodged into a spare office, falling under the desk with a silent fit of laughter. God he hadn't played hide and seek since he was a little boy of six or seven, and that had usualy been with his father in their home in ireland. It was never any fair, cause Auron usually used his powers to hide. He crouched under the desk and heard footsteps in the hall, and knew it was Lex. He shoved his fist in his mouth to keep from laughing to loud. *
Lex ran to Nate's office first, pushing the door open and turning on the light, scanning the room. He checked under the desk, in the closet and anywhere else he could think she'd hide, then left the room, heading for the kitchen. Just as he skidded into the room, he saw a cabinet close out of the corner of his eye. He grinned wickedly and began checking the other cabinets first. As he did, he heard something in the broom closet and moved over to it, pulling open the door. Alandra held a finger to her lips and pointed at the cabinet that Lex had first seen close with a grin. Lex stiffled his giggles and headed back to the cabinets as Alandra sprinted from the room for base. He kept up the rouse of searching the other cabinets until he came to the last one, then yanked the door open. Aiyla yelped and began scrambling from the cabinet when Lex reached out and smacked her arm playfull. "You're it!" Lex giggled, before taking off. He ran down the hall with the offices and glanced around a moment. The only choices were Chaos or Faal's office and everyone was under the unspoken agreement that Chaos' office were off bounds. But Lex figured they wouldn't exactly go into Faal's office either, so he snuck into the room and looked around a moment, before dodging under the desk. He curled up in the space under the desk and was thankful the wall for the space reached all the way to the floor. If anyone actually came looking, and Aiyla or Eire probably would, they'd have to come around the desk to look under it. He strained his ears for any sound of footsteps, and bit his lip when he thought he heard some one walking toward the office... Aiyla grumbled to herself as she left the kitchen and saw Alandra running down the hall for Sylvie's desk. "CHEATER!" Aiyla yelled after her and heard Alandra's giggle in reply. "Now, if I were Eire...where would I hide..." SHe muttered to herself, before running down the hall with the offices. She ran past Faal's office, heard some one walking down the hall from the other end, but knew who ever it was was probably not in the game or they wouldn't be walking. She ran around the corner to Nate's office, opened the door and scanned it quickly. Lex had obviously been there, the light was still one, but there was no one in the room. She ran to a spare office and looked about, saw Saffron's boots and stiffled a giggle. Not who she wanted to find. She pulled the door shut and looked about the hall. Then grinned wickedly, seeing the stairs to the roof. "Of course..." She ran up the stairs to the roof and looked about, before racing into the garden. Wandering down a path, she heard a giggle from a bush and looked that way, before pouncing. Fairlen sheirked, shoving away from Eire who attempted to struggle to his feet before Aiyla wacked him sofly upside the head. "EIRE'S IT!" She yelled as loud as she could, before taking off with Fairlen and racing back down the stairs. She ducked into a broom closet just off the hall and heard Fairlen race past in search of a new hiding spot. Aiyla leaned back against a wall, giggling and catching her breath. She hadn't felt so much like a kid in a long time. It was strange some times, how these people felt more like her family then her real family, but she did love everyone in this office. After you go through the things this group did, hell and other things, one couldn't help but feel akin to the others. Faal was reading through a file as he walked back to his office. It would've been a shorter walk if he'd taken the stairs but he hated stairs. Better the elevator and the long walk down the hall. He paused and looked around curiously as he heard a faint giggle, but there was no one in sight. The offices were closed tonight and everyone had left hours ago. The lights were on half power, but he could read just fine.. and he could see no sign of anyone responsible for a giggle... with a shrug he continued on his way. The thud of footsteps jerked his attention away from his reading as Bull came sprinting down the hall, glancing over his shoulder, before skidding to a halt and diving into the staff kitchen. Faal raised an eyebrow, then turned and glanced around as another giggle was heard followed by a frantic shushing. The giggles combined with the huge grin on Bull's face told him that whatever was going on didn't present any danger... at least in the form of enemies, at any rate.. Deciding it would be best if he didn't know, he tucked the file under his arm and headed for his office where he would be safe from whatever mischief was going on. Lex was sure he'd heard footsteps out side the office, he knew he had. He'd just started to crawl to the corner of the desk, when the lights came on. He shot back under the space as he quietly as he could, one hand over his mouth, but he slammed his head against the back of the desk. He had to clamp the hand over his mouth to keep from making a noise but knew if it was one of the players, he'd just got himself caught. He resigned himself to that fact with a soft nervous giggle. Well if he got caught, he got caught, no use pouting about it, or it'd be a long night. He rubbed the back of his head where he'd hit it and decided to make them look under the desk anyway, rather then give himself up. **
Alandra had heard Aiyla's yell and dodged down the hall into a spare office, passing Fairlen as she went. They grinned at each as they passed, then Alandra shut the door of the spare office, looking around. **
Rue and Sands made a run for it, aware Eire was right behind them. Rue was trying to cut around a corner, when she tripped, which allowed Eire to tag her. "RUE'S IT!" Eire yelled, before leaping over a chair and making for the stair case. "Damn it!" Rue growled, getting to her feet. Sands was standing at the top of the stairs grinning at her. "That's your fault." She growled, trying to keep from smirk. Sands shot her a grin, shrugged and took off. Rue grumbled, gave them a fifteen count, then took off. Faal stopped just inside the door just as he was about to shut it. He was sure he'd heard something. Just then more footsteps pounded down the hallway and one of the ladies ran past giggling. He sighed and shut the door. Walking around to his desk he sunk down in the chair, turning it slightly to the side so he could lean back under the lamp a bit better, and went back to reading, determined to ignore the thumps and giggles he could hear from the hall... Lex looked up as Faal sat down, he couldn't believe he hadn't heard him hit his head. He was sure anyone wuold have heard it. He grinned, before stretching out his legs, pushing the chair with one foot, playfully. He was still in a very playfull mood, but even more so since it was Faal who'd come into the office. He knew only Aiyla probably would have been brave enough to come in here, but she'd obviously found some one else first. This could prove rather interesting. **
Rue darted into the kitchen in search of some one, she began searching the cabinets, noticing some one must have hidden in them earlier. **
Alandra went to hide under the desk when she realized some one was already hiding there. "Saffron!?" "Shh!" He grabbed her, putting a hand over her mouth. "My hiding spot." He whispered. Alandra giggled. "Room for one more?" "Might be a little cramped." He said with a smirk. "Oh well?" **
Eire ran into Nate's office, ducked into the closet and dug another pixi stick out of his pocket, downing it. He looked about the closet, before starting to rift around in things. Curiosity always killed him. Faal felt something bump into his chair and peered over his folder, discovering himself still alone. He frowned then felt another soft bump. Movement caught his eye and he glanced down to see a foot sticking out slightly from beneath his desk. "What the devil...?" he asked and set the folder down. He gently pushed his chair back enough that he could lean down and look under the desk. A certain red head was scrunched up in the led well, one leg partially extended to prod at his chair, and a rather playful look on his face. "Lex?! What on earth are you doing?!" he asked, a smile and chuckle breaking free. Lex moved to his hands and knees and looked up at Faal. "Hide and seek." He answered softly. "Everyone's playing. I figured they wouldn't even dare look in here." He gave Faal a playful smile before emerging part way from under the desk, hearing some one run by in the hall. He gave a nervous giggle, before leaning on Faal's chair. "I thought you might be in the building, wasn't for sure...Eire's idea..." he dug in the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a hand full of pixi stick wrappers, and deposited them in the trash. "I didn't have any thing else to do, since Dad refused to let me help him, yet let Saffron...and I wasn't sure where you were." Faal chuckled and glanced up at the sound of footsteps running past again and slid down off his chair to sit on the floor with Lex. "Are you having fun? One would think it would be more fun out there running around with everyone else trying to not get caught..." Faal felt his smile breaking up into a grin. "I think if they saw me running around they'd all be scared off, however...I don't have to look like me..." he said, his eyes glittering as Lex suddenly found himself looking at himself. " Faal/Lex looked at Lex and winked. "Shall we go play?" Lex looked at Faal, who now looked like him and had to do everything he could, to stifle his laughter, it was rather odd seeing Faal looking exactly like him. He reached over, touching a lock of identical red hair and couldn't stifle his giggles that time. He reached into his other pocket and took out a full pixi stick, holding it up. "You might want this...I've had tons of them tonight..." He said with a giggle. There was another sound of running footsteps and laughter in the hall. Lex glanced around the desk in that direction, before saying. "Come play...Sylvie's desk is base and the apartments are off limits, but anything else goes..." He smiled wickedly. Faal took the pixi stix and let the glamour slip back to himself. He chuckled softly and downed the colour sugar in a gulp. "Oh wow.. those are good..." he muttered and tossed the wrapper in the trash. "Who shall I be first, love.. ?" he asked as the two of them moved the the door and he flipped the light off. "Careful, pixi sticks are highly addictive." Lex said with a smile, as he paused at the door, listening. He looked at Faal with a giggle, rather glad Faal was back to himself at the moment, because he leaned forward and kissed Faal lightly. "And if you really want to shock them, be some one they don't expect to play." He added, his green eyes sparkling. He opened the door a crack, glancing out into the hall, not seeing anyone. Until Fairlen ran by. She paused long enough to giggle and tell him. "Better hide Lex, Rue's it." Lex giggled and nodded to Fairlen waving her off and Fairlen took off to hide. When Lex glanced back to take Faal's hand he almost stumbled in shock as Chaos grinned back at him. "Better?" Chaos/Faal asked and swished a blue tail behind her. Lex let out another giggle and took his hand as they slipped out of the office, letting the door quietly close behind them before sprinting down the hall after Fairlen. Lex heard some one banging the cupboards in the kitchen and figured it was Rue so he turned his path away from that way and headed for the stairs toward the roof. They passed Sands on the way, he looked them both over with a raised eyebrow, except for the fact his vampire senses worked around the scents and he knew Chaos wasn't really Chaos. He snorted before saying softly as he opened the door to the broom closet. "That's it, give 'em a heart attack...she might forgive you for that." He turned to the closet to find Aiyla hiding there and gave her a cheeky grin before sliding into the closet with her and closing the door behind him. It was increasingly difficult to stifle the constant urge to giggle, but Lex was managing quiet well. They heard Rue come stalking out of the kitchen, and yell. "You all think you can hide from be, but you can't!" Suddenly the broom closet door opened again and Aiyla shoved Sands out. "My hiding spot, find your own!" She growled, before shutting the door. Sands snickered and brushed past "Better find some where quick, mates, she's fast." Sands said with a smirk, before heading off down a side hall. Lex knew he was right and pulled the disguised Faal up the stairs behind him. He glanced about and led the way into the garden, before finding a small clearing amoung the foliage. Faal chuckled softly as they stepped into the clearing and he altered his glamour to look like Auron. Lex looked at him and crooked an eyebrow. Faal/Auron pointed a finger at Lex and Lex looked down to discover his skin was blue. He blushed and shook his head, biting back a giggle. Faal/Auron gave another soft chuckle and pulled him into an embrace. "We could hide in the open.. well... maybe not from Rue, she could see through us most likely..." Lex scrunched up his nose and pushed Faal/Auron away. "Too weird.. I can't kiss you looking like that...!" he hissed softly and pulled him father away form the entrance to the clearing, still fighting the urge to giggle. Faal chuckled and suddenly they were reversed, him looking like Chaos and Lex looking like Auron. "Better?" Lex buried his face in his hands giggling. "Are you TRYING to get us caught?" He stopped, and thought he heard some one coming up on the roof. He strained his ears trying to make sure it wasn't just being overly nervous and giddy playing on tricks on him. If it was Rue, she wouldn’t pull any punches and he'd be tagged for sure. Although she might be momentarily shocked by Faal. Faal switched back to being Lex's twin and grabbed his hand, running as quickly and quietly as he could deeper into the garden. He led Lex through a crossroads and started back towards the entrance. He paused in a spot where they were protected by an overhang from being spotted from above and cautiously peered through the plants towards the stairs. He though he saw a flash of red disappearing down another path. "I think she'd heading into the garden.. we can be insane and follow her.. she wont think to look where she's already been... or we can run for the stairs..." he whispers against Lex's ear. Eire had been running up the stairs to the roof when he caught sight of Rue disappearing into the garden. He was about to consider hiding on the patio, maybe in a storage closet or out side near the basketball court when his nose twitched and he caught sight of Lex...wait a sec... "Lex?! Damn..." Eire giggled before pulling out a fist full of pixi sticks and shoving them in ONE of the two Lex's hands. To much sugar. "Better run, Rue's it." "So Fairlen said." Lex answered. "Ooo, Fairlen." Eire flashed them a grin and took off back for the stairs at the mere mention of her name. He had things to finish with her, he did. Except he tripped over his own to two feet and went tumbling down the stairs. "SHIT!" He landed at the bottom back inside in a fit of insane snickering and looked up to see Aiyla peeking out of her broom closet with a raised eyebrow. "I'm lookin' for Fair!" Eire said before she could say anything. "Try the kitchen." She replied. "Right." Eire hauled his ass off the bottom step and ran for the kitchen, tearing into another pixi stick. He had TONS of them. He pulled open the broom closet and found Bull. "Damn...hey dude! You in the game too! Great. Mind if I squeeze in there a moment, gotta catch me breath...and count me pixis...think I gave Lex and his twin to many..." Eire said with a snicker. Bull snickered and moved over as much as he could, the tootsie pop making a faint clicking as it knocked against his teeth. "Shh" he said holding a finger to the side of the stick yet still over his lips, a riddiculus grin on his face. He hadn't played hide and seek since he was four or five. Well, not as an actual GAME any ways... he was actually enjoying it.
** Faal/ Lex pulled Lex along as the red head shoved the new pixi stix into his pocket, determined not to drop any. They high tailed it down the stairs after Eire and ran past the closet he'd hidden in. He paused and quickly opened a door to one of the offices and pulled Lex inside, looking around for a place to hide... Lex looked around before heading for the closet, and yanking the door open, which was empty, then he dragged his 'twin' inside it, pulling the door shut befoer falling back against the back wall in a fit of giggles. He pulled out two pixi sticks, one held againts his bottom lip and held the other one out with out a word. Rue had heard Eire and back tracked hr way to the stairs. sHe'd thought she'd seen two Lexs ahead of her then realized with a laugh what was really going on. Now she'd just find the real lex and tag him... she went in search. Eire counted away at his pixi sticks and when he was quite satisfied he had plenty, he offered on to Bull. "Pixi stick?" The broom closet door crashed open and Eire let out a girlish yelp, there stood Aiyla, smirking, before she slid into the closet with them. 'We're gettin' a little cramped in here...." Eire muttered. Aiyla just rolled her eyes and snatched a pixi stick. Bull had shook his head no to the offer. He perferred his suckers. He never did get the idea of a straw full of coloured sugar... they were gone too fast.. When Aiyla squeezed in with them, he did his best not to enjoy himself too much. Nate was a friend, although not a close one, and you did not enjoy being pressed up against your friends girlfriend... even if she was probably THE hottest woman he had even seen... he closed his eyes and enjoyed it anyhow.. deciding he'd feel guilty about it later. ** Faal/Lex pulled the closet door closed behind them and dropped the glamour completely as he accepted and downed the sugar. He moved so that he was between Lex and the door, so if they were found, he'd be tagged rather then Lex. "You realize of course," Lex whispered, pulling away from the wall to wrap his arms around Faal. "That if you get tagged, I rather have to hide from you." He added with a playful smile. Lex was rather determined to keep the mood he was in. He knew EVERYONE perfered it when he was playful anyway, less likely to set something on fire. "If Rue comes bustin' in here, one of us is gonna get tagged..." Eire hissed. "Fine!" Aiyla said, before shoving Eire to the front of the closet. "You can get tagged, Bull and I'll make run for Sylvie's desk and base." She said with a grin and winked at Bull. Eire snorted. "You get tagged!" He said, before he pushed her in front of him. She shoved at him and he shoved back. "Careful Eire or I'll have to tell Nate you're picking on me..." 'Oh yes, get me in trouble and smacked up side the head cause YOU have to be a cheeky little brat." Eire replied with a look. "Grow up Aiyla..." "Take some of your own advice Eire." Aiyla replied with a laugh. "SHH!" Bull suddenly said. They could hear some one in the kitchen. There was the sound of cautious footsteps. Then the door to the broom closet opened and there stood Xander, staring at all three with a quizical expression. "I don't EVEN wanna know..." Xander said finally before shutting the door and walking away. Bull wondered if his face was as red as it felt. It was very hard to stay in hiding like the game demanded of you when you wanted to both smack the crap out of people and laugh your ass off... finally with a sigh he pushed himself past the two and opened the door. " I'll find someplace non-squishy, thanks.. although it was fun." He sent Xander a mock salute as he ran to the door and paused, checking to see if the hall ways was clear. A glimpse of red hair sent him spinning in place and searching quickly for a new hiding place... with a slight skid he dove into the nearest cupboard, shoving things aside as quickly and quietly as he could. Rue ran through the halls, trying to zero in on Lex, she heard a bunch of laughter from the kitchen but knew he wasn't there. She had a good idea where he was and she ducked into an office. Right off her vampire senses picked up his scent and Faal's. She rolled her eyes playfully and made her way over to the closet. She yanked the door open, standing against it watching Faal and Lex for a moment, then snorted. "Hope I'm not interrupting cause as I remember if you're still in the game Lex...unless you want me to inform everyone else you've been distracted AGAIN." "I'm not distracted." Lex muttered with a dark blush, hiding behind Faal. "Mhmm, sure..." Rue said with a snicker, then looked Faal over, before bursting out laughing and tapped him on the shoulder. "You're it." Lex let out a yelp and scrambled from around Faal with a laugh pushing Rue out of the way as she turned and ran. Both of them sprinted from the office while laughing and Rue yelled out as loud as she could. "FAAL'S IT!" There came several answering laughs and giggles. Fairlen and Sands were seen running by in the hall, followed shortly by Saffron and Alandra. Lex dodged into a guest room and scrambled under the bed and heard Rue going into another guest room. Eire and Aiyla burst out of the broom closet laughing hysterically at Rue's yell and Eire let out of a joyful whoop. "Yay!! Faal's playin'!!" He yelled in repled. "Oh shit!" He snickered. He'd better find a damn good hiding place. "What the HELL is going on?!" Xander asked. "Hide and seek mate, join in." Eire replied, thrusting a pixi stick in Xander's hand. Xander begin to grin. "I'm in!" "Sylvie's desk is base, apartments are off limits." Eire told him before running from the room and into the reception area, diving behind the couch. Xander ran to Sylvie's office, ducking inside. Faal let Lex and Rue run form the office and stepped out of the closet closing the door. Now, what was the rule here? Some sort of a count off for a head start, right? Ah well, he'd just wait a while until the sound of running feet died off a bit... That would give him time to decide if there was someone special to go after... *** Bull heard the yell and decided to take the opportunity to uncramp himself from the cupboard and find a better place. When he went to move however, he discovered he'd been a bit too successful at jamming himself in. "Uh... Eire? Xander? Guys? You still out there?" He called. "I .. uh.. I'm kinda stuck..... anyone?" Alandra and Saffron were just passing the kitchen when Alandra heard Bull. She glanced about with a slight grimace, then ducked into the kitchen with Saffron behind her. They opened the cabinets together to find Bull. "Need some help?" Alandra asked with a smile. "Man, that's a nice wedge, but it's gonna get uncomfortable after a while..." Saffron said, before offering a hand. "We'll get ya out if ya like." *
Lex decided he didn't think under the bed was a good hiding place and scrambled out from under the bed, and from the guest room, he paused in the hall, searching for an idea. Sands came running down the hall. "Ya lookin' to get caught, Lexi?" He asked with a grin, pausing a moment. Lex giggled. "Maybe..." He answered with a smirk. Sands shook his head with a smirk and disappeared into the same guest room Rue had gone into. Lex was still standing there trying to think, when he heard some one else coming. Bull grinned sheepishly. "Won't be much of a chase if I'm tagged... can't find people if I can't move.." he wiggled until he managed to free an arm. "This is Eire's fault.. he and Aiyla stole my spot and I had to find a new one fast... and in this room." He gave groan as Saffron yanked on his arm, but felt his shoulder pop free and managed to wiggle his way out. He stood up and rolled the kinks out of his shoulders. "Thanks.. you guys had better run before your caught." He pulled a couple suckers from his pocket and tossed them each one, before giving them a salute and running out of the room. Eire was still hiding behind the couch when he felt some one goose him. He yelped and spun on his knees to find Fairlen grinning at him. "Lard woman, don't DO That!" Eire growled, grabbing a hold of Fairlen, but she hauled him to his feet and they ran. They turned a corner near the guest rooms and saw Lex standing in the middle of the hall. "Lex? What are you doin' standing in the middle of the hall, didn't Rue say Faal was it?" Eire hissed. Faal gave a yawn and wondered if he'd given everyone enough time yet. He supposed if he waited long enough they might get bored and come out where he could take his pick... but that was too much like cheating. with a grin he pushed himself up out of the chair and headed for the door, chuckling softly to himself. He hoped Lex had found a hiding spot by now... "Well yus, Faal is it...I was trying to think of a good hiding spot." Lex replied, looking at Fairlen and Eire. Fairlen giggled. "Better find a good one then, Lexi." She said with a grin. Lex grinned back. "I think I gotta a good one..." He answered. "Try not to get tagged!" He ran off for his hiding spot.He ducked into the archives and wedged himself in the shadows between two tall shelves.     TBC.....