Hey guys, so I had this random idea for a L&Co one-shot, and I decided to type it up! This is my first time writing a fanfic, or any fiction in a long time. Let me know what you guys think!

....I don't really know what to call it.

"Lucy, don't move." Lockwood took a step.

"What? What is it?" I halted where I was.

"Stay...where...you...are." Behind me, I heard him take another step. I could easily imagine his face set with hard purpose, his mouth a grim line. Fear had paralyzed me. I felt a drop of sweat make its way down my face. Crawling sensations went up and down my back.
From behind me came the sound of George pattering out of the adjoining room. "I definitely can't unsee - Ohhh," he broke off. "That's horrible, Lucy. Can you get it, Lockwood?"

"I think so," he responded. "I've just got to be really careful...try not to alert it." Another step.

"Would one of you tell me," I said hoarsely, "what's behind me? Is it the ghost? Has it appeared again?"

"Oh, no," Lockwood said. "Much worse. No!" he hissed - I'd made a move toward my rapier.

"You've got to stay still, Luce," George breathed. "That's the only way. Fascinating..." he continued. "Look at all those legs!"

Impatience rose up in me. "This isn't revenge for yesterday, is it? That's just plain mean."

"No, what you and Holly did yesterday was plain mean." George retorted. "I'm lucky the rash went away before tonight's case, or I might have had to ask Holly for her makeup," Lockwood agreed. He took another cautious step.

"That was her idea, not mine. She roped me into it. Besides-"

"Got it!" I heard the scrape of shoes as he pounced. Then, a gentle prick against the back of my sweater.

"There we go. You can move now, Luce." Lockwood walked around to my front. He aimed the rapier at my face. Looking down my nose, I could see a cockroach perched on its tip.

Outside, crickets chirped merrily. An owl hooted.

"You know, you could have just told me. Without all the drama."

"Well, where's the fun in that?" He grinned and ran a hand through his hair. "Now I've got to think of something for Holly. Any ideas, George?"

"So it was-"

But George was pointing down the open door from where he'd come, the light from the lantern he carried glinting off his round glasses. "You two had better see this. The baby's on the move again."

Despite myself, I grinned as I followed Lockwood and George out of the room. Sometimes it's the simple things that are best: friends at your side, a sword in your hand, and a ghost to destroy.