Downsized

By Kushie

I do not own numbers: Wish I did. Sorry to all for being and idiot and posting the same Chapter twice. Here is the right chapter six.

Chapter six

I am not going to bed at eight 'o clock!" Colby growled to himself. So ignoring the dis-embodied

voice of the night supervisor. He walked across his lounge. Flicked on his plasma and picked

up the controller to his games console. Beyond in his office Ken Darrow watched the

down sized agent on his security monitor. A small grin ghosted his face. Ken had three sons

His middle boy was pretty much the same age as Granger and displayed the same response to

the phrase Bed time. Darrow pressed the intercom.

"Agent Granger I said Bedtime." Colby stood up. But not to obey the directive. NO!

He simply walked across tothe intercom and muted the tannoy system. Making the man's grin

widen "So little man. You want to play rough eh?"

Colby heard the outer door of his suite open. He concentrated on his game. Then a shadow

loomed over him.

"I said it's bedtime." Colby looked up

"I am an adult. There is no way I am going to bed at eight 'o'clock." Darrow inhaled and tried to reason with the boy. Even using his first name

"Now Colby you know very well. That until Doctor Pearson is completely satisfied. That your

condition is stable. He thinks it wise for you. To follow the regime of a normal boy. Which

includes getting a good night's sleep."

"I know how much sleep I need." Colby was not about to give in." But then Darrow changed

tactics. His voice became almost paternal.

"Oh! Of course? How silly of me. I should have realised. I have a son your age."

"Poor kid!" Colby drawled spitefully. Darrow ignored the remark and continued.

"You're just like my Marc. You've realised little boys have trouble washing themselves."

"Wot?" Colby began to get nervous.

"It's all right son!" Darrow put a hand on his shoulder. "You don't need to ask. I'll help

you with your bath and afterwards. I'll tuck you safely into bed and read you a nice little

story. To help you relax."

"NO!" Colby almost yelled. "I can manage. I don't need any help!" He turned and fled into his bedroom, grabbing his pyjamas from under the pillow. Darrow gave a low chuckle as Colby locked the bathroom door.

"Works every time."

"Twenty minutes later. Colby clad in a pair of boy's night clothes, peeped around the bathroom

door. Satisfied it was safe he skedaddled across to the bed and climbed. He didn't lie down

though. He wasn't giving in completely. Instead he reached across and picked up the novel

He'd begun reading. But in the outer office. Darrow was watching on the monitor.

"Yeah! Like I'm going to let a nine year old read that sort of trash?" He tutted "The last thing I want is you

having nightmares. All through my shift." He reached sideways and shut down the main lighting system in the Garin suite.

Leaving only a low night bulb. Glimmering in one corner.

Colby blinked as all the lights went off. A dozen furious expletives flitted through his mind

But he didn't give voice to them. Don Eppes was a pushover. But Colby was beginning to

suspect Ken Darrow was not.