I've been reading, and thoroughly enjoying, the works of others for a while. An idea came to me when I saw these challenges and I thought I'd just jump right in with my FIRST fanfic. Hope you like.


Manhunt

February 1. She glared at the artfully penned scroll on her wall calendar as if it was more offensive than brussel sprouts. She had begun to hate this month more than any other. Cold and dreary, winter still clung on while the warmth of spring was only a tantalizing hope. And February always pulled off some nasty surprises – like strong winds and icy roads and endless gray skies…and then, of course, there was the matter of the fourteenth. That was the lowest blow of all.

Another year older and still single, she couldn’t keep the thought at bay, shuddering as she remembered all the well-meaning comments and good-natured jibes she’d received from relatives over Christmas.

“Still not married yet dear? No prospects on the horizon?”

“My Cynthia’s expecting her second in the spring – you better hurry up or you’ll miss the mommy wagon.”

“It’s not like you’re getting any younger.”

“And that biological clock is ticking. You do want children, don’t you?”

“Ah leave her alone – she can’t help it if all the good guys are taken. Better happily single then miserably married, I always say.”

“Yes, and after all it’s a new century – women’s roles have changed…”

“It’s all well and good to be married to your career, but in the end it doesn’t warm your bed at night.”

“Nowadays a woman doesn’t have to be married to keep warm in bed…”

“Grandma!!!!”

She groaned, blocking her mind to the painful memories. It seemed that wherever she went over the holidays eligible men, or the lack thereof, were the hot topic of conversation. She couldn’t even site lack of eligibility as her reasonable excuse. Didn’t she work in a building primarily staffed by men – many of them unattached and available? Only not, it seemed, to her.

She stared at herself in the mirror as she applied a last coat of lipstick. So what exactly had she been doing wrong all these years …

Furious with herself for even entertaining that line of questioning, she screwed up her face in disgust and dismissed her wandering thoughts as unworthy of her. Collecting her handbag and coat, she headed for the door, forcing a smile on her lips as she prepared to meet the day. She faltered on the threshold, teetering forward only to pull back, as if stepping out into the first day of February was more than she could handle right now.

This was ridiculous! Downtrodden before she even began the day, let alone the month. I don’t think so! Suddenly her head snapped up, her chin jutted out and her eyes flashed fire as she squared her shoulders determinedly.

I am not going to get sucked into the vortex of discontent again this year. I work for the FBI – one of the largest and finest law enforcement agency in the world. I know how to follow leads, pursue a case, run a man to ground no matter what obstacles are placed in my way. Sometimes it might take years and a lot of planning and patience to set an operation into motion, but it’s not impossible. That’s it! She snapped her fingers triumphantly. I’m not going to wallow in self-pity the next two weeks and then battle depression the two weeks after that -–Not this year…not ever again. I’m going on my own man-hunt and by Valentine’s Day I'll be snuggling up next to…hmmm, I have just the man in mind…”

“Tall … great bod … causes butterflies in my stomach whenever he walks past … a wonderfully sexy deep voice … that dishy agent on the fifth floor – Robert Wright, recently transferred from New York, Yummy!” Lucy gushed.

A love interest for Lucy!!! Sounds delicious!!!

Jill

I'm so excited to have a Lucy story!!! And oh the suspense -- will Robert Wright turn out to be Mr. Right?

kav

P.S. Welcome to the world of writing.

new story new story new story

Me likey!!!

"My second post ." she whispers nervously.
"I'll figure out how to change the colour of my font sometime soon. Really, I will."
gin8005


On her return home, Lucy brought a copy of the recent best seller “Finding Your One Enchanted Love” by Dr. A. Piscow. She had both bought it and skimmed through during her lunch break, making notes in a brand new yellow notepad. She now grabbed the notepad, a sharpened pencil and a mug of peppermint tea and settled herself onto the living room sofa, tools in hand. She was alone in the apartment, Sue having gone to a nearby park with Levi and a neighborhood friend before returning home.
“If I’m going to do this in time for Valentine’s Day, I’m going to have to do it fast and right. No mistakes!” She decided, “So first let’s make a list …”
She sucked the top of her pencil deep in thought.
At the top of the blank sheet, she wrote the words: “FINDING MR. WRIGHT”
“Nope, he’s already been found. Let’s get him.” The word “finding” was crossed out and replaced by “getting”.
She reviewed her notes from the recently bought book.
“In order to catch my man, I must know about him – his likes, dislikes, turn-ons, turn-offs, etc. So first on the list, get information.” She mused.
She carefully wrote down on the list – 1. RESEARCH.

At that moment, a shuffling noise at the door alerted her to Sue’s returning with Levi.
Lucy sprang up, grabbed her books and hid them quickly under a throw pillow. She was not yet ready to show Sue her plans. She sat down breathlessly on the sofa before Sue and Levi came in.
She was however able to face her room-mate with a relatively calm, albeit slightly flushed, face when Sue greeted her and then went off to the kitchen in search of a warming cup of tea.
Lucy followed her out of the living room for a recount of her outing.
Sue gave her a strange look. Lucy sure was acting a little guilty. For a split second, she wondered what her best friend up to.
Lucy ‘s one brief moment of panic came when Levi curiously sniffed at the strange yellow paper peeking out from under a cushion but a quick grab when Sue was on the phone allowed her to carry the articles to her room unseen.

I fixed the color on your second post, so just click the edit button in the top right-hand corner of your post and you'll be able to see what I did. Great start on your story!

TinaLynne, Admin

great job so far! /me is really excited!

First of all, Gin, Welcome!!

I really love the fact that you are using Lucy as the basis of your story!! I can't wait to see where you will go with this!!!

Joy

Hello (vicky waves like a slightly mad person!!)

cant wait to see how things work for lucy - its great to read a lucy story

please come back soon - and i can see you at the bottom of the board, so hopefully you will come back very soon!!!!

Great start...I loved his name...Mr. Wright. Sounds promising!

I'm sure this is going to be a fun adventure with Lucy getting Mr. Wright! I will be waiting with anticipation for more.

Sairs

Welcome gin! I like that you're doing a Lucy fic here. And I look forward to finding out if Mr. Wright is Mr. Right!

It looks interesting… Lucy is competent matchmaker… I think Mr. Wright has no chance…

I am very curious what will come in your next part!


Restie

Grateful for the help with my ... um ... font color anxiety problems. It should be smooth sailing from now on.

Now back to the story ...




It wasn’t until much later that night that Lucy was able to survey her completed list. She hadn’t used all the resources at hand (time was of the essence) but she still thought that the succinct plan she developed was satisfactory. She recalled the short list just before she closed her eyes on her way to dreamland:

OPERATION - GETTING MR. WRIGHT

1. RESEARCH – Find out his likes, dislikes, turn-ons and turn-offs
2. RECONFIGURE - Make myself attractive to him.
3. RENCOUNTER - Arrange a chance encounter
4. RAPPORT (develop) - Get him to like me enough to ask me out or to accept when I ask him out
5. RELATIONSHIP - Make him fall in love with me.
6. RECOGNITION - Make him realize that he’s in love with me
7. REJOICE!!!! - On successful completion !!!

“Houston! We have a plan!” She mumbled sleepily.

Great plan, Luce!!!!!

Can't wait to see how your plan is going!!!!


Restie

Hey a new writer - very brave to enter the Challenge on your first story!!! Good luck. I like a take-charge Lucy and I really hope she'll have her Mr. (W)Right by Valentine's. One thing though...if it really works out, we can't have Sue staying behind all alone in the apartment, so please find (forget that, he's already found) GET her Mr. Right as well!

I like those 'r's'.............much better than reding, writing, and 'rithmatic!


Jill

Countdown - 13 days to V-day

Lucy started putting her plan into action the next morning.
“The early bird gets the worm.” she murmured as she adjusted her new ridiculously expensive cardigan on her way off to the fifth floor. She had caught herself speaking in clichés all morning, warranting a raised eyebrow from Tara. She had made her way through a few of the major gossips on her way in to the Bullpen today. There was always some chitchat or other about the new guys in the building and she had learned that Robert Wright was single, available, well-off and fun. A good catch was the general consensus! She next arranged to have her lunch break with Candy Langston, the rotor in Wright’s department, using as her excuse ignorance about the new procedures for submission of PV-132 forms. Candy was a chatty friendly girl and Lucy figured she should be able to worm some more information out of her.
“All this done before ten a.m.” she thought with pride. “Not bad for an hour’s work.”

Her mind wandered back to the Bullpen.
Sue had given her a curious glance this morning when she had changed her normal routine of having her lunch break with her and Tara but she had promised to tell her all about it later. She couldn’t lie to Sue.

As any good matchmaker would, Lucy is going about this very concisely!! I wish her luck!!!

Joy

Lucy is realy smart!!!!

I can't wait to know the news about Robert!


Restie

Forget the rotor Lucy. Ask Robert straight out as part of his welcome to D.C. office package.

With a rush of adrenalin, Lucy decided to take the stairs up to the fifth floor, a little bubble of excitement growing inside her. Maybe this was all that her life had needed, for her to take charge, decide what she wanted and go after it … or him.
She took the stairs two at a time.

She had to wait a couple of minutes for Candy to finish a few tasks but it gave her the chance to look around, or, rather, look at one desk in particular. He was away at the time but from her vantage point she could detect some important details:
“A photograph of his mother … (good or bad?) … neat and orderly arrangement of folders … very clean desk … (what does that mean?).“ She was interrupted by Candy eager to get going.

As they waited to be served in the tiny Greek restaurant nearby, Lucy opened the discussion by placing a copy of the new form on the table.
“Thanks a lot, Candy. These new forms have been giving me a headache.” She lied having had no trouble whatsoever with the new changes. ”Your agents must have all complained about it, especially the new ones. Has that new agent ... Agent … um … Wry ... no ... Bligh griped about it?”
Candy innocently responded, “You must mean Robbie, Robbie Wright. No, he hasn’t and trust me he is one of the few ones. He’s so smart, though … studied law before Quantico and not at all surly like Agent Scott. Now Scott is different. A real handful, always wants about twenty files for each case and the research needed takes me hours. I have spent so …”
Lucy interrupted her hastily with the leading question “Sounds as if Agent Wright must be a happily involved man?”
Candy having been able to take a necessary breath during Lucy’s intrusion, continued: “No, he’s single but as I was telling you … the hours I’ve spent in the archives hunting down leads for my agents and they don’t appreciate it. We seem to get about ten new cases every day and I have to help with all of them. I need an assistant, I do. I've told …“
Lucy decided that she would just have to be give up on the subtle approach. She insisted “I’m sure that I heard that Agent Wright was dating Marlene Shaw (a vivacious pretty colleague who was guaranteed to be at any party going). Is that the type of girl he’s interested in?”
That quieted Candy for a second. “No, I haven’t anything about that. I think he likes the quiet type and a looker like him ... you know the quiet model type … not like Marlene at all. He’s into fitness and sports though. I, on the other hand, am not athletic in any way.” She glanced down at her voluptuous figure and preened. “I’ve had no complaints but did I ever tell you about the time my ex- ... “
Lucy rested her chin on the palm of her hand. There would be no more useful information out of Candy today. She resigned herself to her green salad and a long discourse on Candy’s ex-boyfriends.

Well, that wasn't a whole lot of information, but enough to start!!

This is a fun story, Gin, can't wait for more!!

Joy

I really need that smilie smacking it's forehead Web.....


Lucy! Try the direct approach! Offer to show him around town. Dinner....movie....walk in the park...something.

Lucy, Lucy, Lucy.....you really thought you would get information out of CANDY? Take the bull by the horns, girl!

Jill

It's Lucy...I'm sure she'll figure it out!
I loved the seven R plan!!

Poor Lucy....she needs hostage training.

Good thing there's still 13 days left, Lucy ... it may take a bit longer than expected to get information

THANK YOU WEBBY!

i get the feeling that Mr Wright is not Lucy's Mr right and she is going to have to learn this....but i think someone else is...maybe i am wrong and maybe i am wright (pun intended)


welcome Gin to the wonderful world of posting. it's a blast....and i am intrigued in this story and eagerly awaiting more...

Loved the seven R's. Perhaps she should share them with Sue so she can get her own little project going. I'm wondering if Robbie Wright is as good as he seems? Can't wait to find out.

kav

Sorry but I found Candy to be rather entertaining. Quite the talker! lol Well all of a sudden Lucy has become quite the determined woman. I wouldn't risk getting in her way right now! I just hope Mr. Wright is worth it.

This is very interesting!

Thanks for all the support!

Now for a plot twist:


Myles looked up as Lucy entered the Bullpen after the break. She looked different today. Her clothes were a little more … provocative … than usual. He had noticed when she had re-applied lipstick and primped before she left for lunch. What was she up to now? He had also observed that she had carried a yellow notepad around with her all morning. When D called her over to help him locate a lost file on his computer, he took the opportunity to saunter over to her desk under the pretence of looking for some travel expense forms. The yellow notepad had been left open on her table.

Uh, not a smart move Lucy!

Myles........good way to get into trouble!!!

Then again.......it's the agent in him!

Jill

Not exactly who she was looking for, but Myles did notice her!
Mark off Recognition from the list!

I think, Luce could be Robert's type... but I think Myles read something about "manhunt" and he thinks Luce thinks about him it would be funny!

Restie

I don't know whether to be for Lucy or hysterically. Ack!

kav

oh myles - if she spots you i hope you can run fast, cos you will be in a whole world of trouble!!

well, at least someone noticed her!
it's a sucsses story, really! my boyfriend noticed me when I was trying to
impress someone else...

Seted at her desk some minutes later, Lucy glanced up as she sorted through various folders for the present case. Her hand paused.
“Why is Myles looking at me like that? “
She grabbed her hand mirror from her purse to see if there was anything wrong with her appearance.



Countdown - 12 days to V-day

Lucy looked at herself in the mirror. The lingerie store’s owner was right. The new push-up bra did enhance the curves of her petite body. The black cardigan and the pretty suede knee length skirt were both a little tighter than she would normally wear but they did highlight her figure in just the right places. The expensive black boots made her already long legs look even longer. As a finishing touch, she added cute little dangly earrings. They swung flirtatiously as she moved. She surveyed her image.
“Alright Lucy, you appear outgoing and available. Let’s go on a manhunt.” She whispered as she sashayed out of her bedroom, ready to take charge of her life.

I have a feeling that Lucy is going to catch someone, but it's not going to be Mr. Wright!!!

Joy

I agree with Joy!

Hee hee

Can't wait to see where this goes

Lucy, Lucy, Lucy..............whoo hoo. Can't wait to see the reactions to the new you!

Jill

It had been a trying morning.

Lucy had managed to be “just” walking into the FBI building at the same time as Robert. It had taken an hour of waiting around in a cold car until he drove by and a quick dash to the entrance but she had been able to do it in a nicely casual manner and with a look of pleased surprise on her face. They were able to exchange greetings and a smile before he was pigeonholed by the head of his department.

Next, she had had to field several questions from Tara and curious looks from the guys, inquisitive about her new look. She finally had to admit to Tara, quietly, that she was trying to attract the attention of “a certain someone”. She had pleaded with her to keep this quiet. She would deal with any well-meaning or other comments from the others at another time.

Then, her second carefully staged “chance” encounter with Robert Wright in the hallway had not gone quite as planned. She had rushed through lunch and had spent the remaining fifty minutes of the hour, watching for his return from his own break. She had lingered near the first floor entrance, a big stack of folders in hand. On seeing him she had jumped up from her seat and casually made her way towards the elevator. A chill ran down her spine as she remembered:

“Hi Robert! How are you?” and a flash of a smile was all that she was able to get out before the stack of folders suddenly toppled over. Quick grabs by both of them could not prevent her documents cascading all over the floor but as she bent over, Lucy heard a small ripping sound. She leapt up and grabbed the back of her skirt. Robert was still gathering the documents on the floor and hadn’t noticed her dilemma. Edging backwards towards the wall of the hallway, she was being overwhelmed by panic when she heard a calm voice:

“Hi Luce, need some more help?”
It was Myles. Where did he come from?
Lucy sighed with frustration. This had to be her worst day ever.
From her rigid stance against the wall, she looked across as Myles and Robert gathered together her folders into one stack which Myles received, saying jokingly as he did so:
“Since most of these are for me, I had better be the one to lug them around.”

Lucy looked helplessly across at the men. She painted a smile on her face when Robert made a snappy rejoinder to Myles’ comment and was even able to flash a more engaging one with her “thank you” when he glanced at her approvingly as he left.
She was now nonplussed as to her next step. To her surprise, Myles leant close and whispered to her mischievously: “How about I lend you a … hand?”
Lucy’s head snapped up.

His eyes twinkled with laughter as he explained: “You walk ahead of me to the nearest washroom, I’ll be a … wall behind you, protecting you from any prying eyes. No one will even know.”
She looked at him with grateful eyes.
Walking seemingly nonchalantly in almost single file, Lucy, with one hand casually clutching at the back of her skirt, and Myles, behind holding her folders, made their way to the first floor washroom. As he saw her enter, he told her:
“I’ll return these files and get Sue”. His lip curled. “ … and a sewing kit” were his parting words.

She was finally able to return to her desk, a little humiliated but hopefully a little wiser, followed by a giggling Sue. As she passed Myles’ desk, she whispered “Thanks Myles, I owe you.”
“All part of the game,” was the surprising reply.

As Lucy thought over the day, as she drifted off to sleep that night, she surmised : “At least the first three items on my list are ticked off.”

Thanks so much for this post!!!!! I laughed from my heart!!!!!


Restie

ok ... so we have a nice sweet myles ... the question on my mind is this ...

is he just being a good friend, or is he hoping for more????