Oceans of Oceans by InSilva

Disclaimer: I own no characters. Except maybe the letter "C".

Chapter Three: Hello, Mary Sue

There was shrieking and Danny felt that he should have anticipated that. Robert was obviously a sensitive man who had taken his partner's death very hard. Having that partner reappear not once, but three times in front of him, was going to have some effect.

Daniel and Rus came into their own at this point, sitting either side of him on the bed with the hideous bedspread, arms round his shoulders, muttering "there, there"s while he calmed down.

Mr Ryan and Mr Ocean were watching the scene only slightly less awkwardly than Linus. Rusty leaned up against a wall, arms folded, looking at Robert with something less than respect. Danny decided to call him on it.

"Do I take it this would not be your reaction were I to pass away?" he said sotto voce.

"It would not," Rusty growled. "There's grief and there's hysteria and then there's this."

"I'd cry for you," Danny assured him.

"Liar."

"I would," Danny protested. He considered for a moment. "Maybe not quite so…"

Rusty just looked at him.

Danny glanced over at the bed. "The noise seems to be dying down."

"Guess you're up."

Danny cleared his throat.

"Robert? I think I should call you that. I know that this is…beyond words. Mr Ocean and Mr Ryan here can tell you the details. The fact that Linus is here will give you a clue as to who is responsible."

Linus opened his mouth and closed it again. Mr Ocean quickly outlined what had happened.

"We have a plan to fix it but we need your help," Danny said. "And…it will mean change."

"Ch-ch-change?"

"Oh god, he's channelling Bowie," Rusty muttered to no one in particular.

Danny ignored him.

"Change, Robert. You won't be returning to this story."

Robert looked round the room.

"That's no hardship," he said eventually.

"In fact," Danny was careful not to look at Rusty while he said it, "you'll be writing a whole new story of your own."

I may just throw up.

Danny ignored him. "OK. Mr Ocean, please take us to the story. Sorry, to the story."

Mr Ocean produced his phone. "Find "original source"."

The motel room disintegrated.

They appeared in the lounge of the Bellagio.

"Don't worry about being recognised," Mr Ocean said in a low voice. "We're just like extras unless we take an active part."

There was noise and there were people and then suddenly there was Benedict at the top of the stairs. Commanding and haughty, he looked over the room before heading down to the casino.

"And here she comes," Mr Ocean said quietly.

"Just the worst part of my day," Mr Ryan muttered.

In through the door walked a tall blonde that could only be Aphrodite.

"From what I can gather," Mr Ocean went on, "the plan was for Aphrodite to use her feminine wiles to persuade Benedict to get out of the casino business. Really not sure where it was going from there."

"Well, I know where it's going now," Danny said firmly. He caught sight of Rusty and did a double take. He was staring unblinking at Aphrodite.

"What is it?"

"I don't know why," he said through gritted teeth, "but I find her strangely attractive. Why do you suppose that is?"

Danny glanced at Rus, smiling broadly in Aphrodite's general direction, Mr Ryan who had his eyes resolutely locked on a beermat in his hand and Robert who was rapt.

"I guess if it's written that Rusty is in love with her, then that applies to any Rusty."

"Great," Rusty groaned and sat back in his chair. He shot Danny a suspicious look. "Tell me you didn't work that out already."

Danny tried but failed to look innocent and settled for reassurance.

"Look, this is going to be simple. Robert?"

"Aphrodite?"

"Rusty?"

"Please call me Robert."

"Robert…"

"Aphrodite…I want to leave this life of crime. I want to settle down. I want to be with you."

"Robert…"

"Aphrodite…"

Watching from the bar, Rusty leaned in to Danny. "Now I am definitely going to be sick."

"Patience." He looked at Mr Ocean. "Will it work?"

"It should."

"Please god," Linus crossed his fingers.

"Seconded," Rusty said with venom.

Rus was resting his chin on his hands, watching Robert's courtship of Aphrodite.

"It's so romantic," he sighed happily and Daniel patted his shoulder.

"They're leaving," Mr Ryan said suddenly.

"Together?" Mr Ocean asked.

"Yes."

"No, together?"

"Again, yes."

"He's done it," Danny said triumphantly. "So what happens next?"

"Rewind time," said Mr Ocean. "Hold on."

The Bellagio bar disappeared. It was replaced by the outside of Reuben's home.

"Linus, get ready," Danny instructed.

The door opened and a Linus appeared in the doorway. Before he could step outside, Linus walked through him back into the room, shutting the door behind him. The Linus who had tried to leave, vanished.

"Now what?" Danny asked.

"If it goes to plan, it's goodbye," Mr Ocean said.

"I hate goodbyes," Rus sounded upset.

"Always hard," Rusty agreed without conviction.

Somewhere…

"Smash and grab, huh?" Linus was saying.

"Slightly more complicated than that."

Somewhere else…

"Mr Ocean."

"Mr Ryan."

"Good to see you again."

"Likewise. We have so much to talk about," said Mr Ocean, holding the door to the bar open.

Somewhere else still…

"Rus, do you have to lick the chocolate off your fingers quite so loudly? It's very distracting. Plus I can't hear what she's saying."

Rus rolled across the bed and grabbed the remote control sending the volume up another notch. They couldn't miss Oprah.

The Seattle Job

Danny opened the door to the hotel room and sank on to the couch. After the excitement of the past couple of days with Barton and his men, he was glad that Rusty was safe and on his way to Seattle.

He looked over at the table by the window and saw a half-drunk glass of whisky he didn't remember pouring.

Waste not, want not, he thought and drank it.

A/N: And so the madness ends... :-)