Disclaimer: I can't blame the Voices for this one, this is all the radio's fault, and the fact that the only station that'll play music in the morning instead of a talk program is a Classic Rock station. (Forget coffee, I want my music!!!) Don't own any of the characters or music, I'm using it all with out permission, and making no profit. And just what is it about clowns that are so scary, anyhoo?

Clowning Around

By Icka! M. Chif

"Arrgh!" Kylie growled, stalking into the firehouse kitchen. Garrett, who had been making a sandwich looked up, mildly surprised.

"What's up?" He asked, setting down the mayo covered butter knife he'd been using within easy arm's reach.

"Oh, Eduardo's sitting in front of the TV, hogging the remote again. And there's a show I really wanna tape coming up soon." She grumbled, plopping into one of the chairs.

Garrett nodded sympathetically, closing the ketchup and mustard containers. "Tell me about it. Wrestlemania's on in half an hour and there's no way to get that remote from him with out Janine telling us to turn it off or to quit clowning around."

Kylie nodded, looking disgruntled. Then suddenly, she straighten up, eyes sparkling mischievously. "Garrett! You're a genius, I could kiss you!" She exclaimed.

"Huh?"

"Remember that time Eduardo got turned into a laughter sucking vampire clown?*" She asked excitedly.

He nodded, wondering where this was going. "Yeah…"

"Do you still have that one classic rock tape you were playing a couple of weeks back?"

He nodded again. "Yeah. Why?"

She leaned forward and began to explain her idea in hushed tones. As she talked, he started to grin, catching on.

Finally he leaned back in his chair, a smug grin from ear to ear. "Remind me never to get you mad at me." He said devoutly.

She grinned back. "Okay, don't get me mad at you. Now lets go, we got half an hour!"

"Hey, Eduardo?" Kylie asked, walking into the living room with a book under her arm. "Would it be okay with you if I quietly played some music while I read?"

He nodded. "Sure, Ky. Not a problem."

"Thanks." She plugged in her CD and curled up on the beanbags. Slowly the music began to drift over.

"-Send in the clowns... those happy, laughing clowns-"

Eduardo shifted nervously a few times, glancing over at her. Finally, he spoke up. "Hey, uh, Kylie. What kind of music is this?" He asked, voice nearly cracking.

"It's from a play 'Little Foxes'. Was also a movie." She said sweetly.

"Oh." He turned back to the television, obviously trying to tune out the music. Unfortunately for him, and what he didn't know, was that she had it on repeat.

"Kylie?" Roland called, walking up the stairs, carrying a bundle under his arm.

"In here." She called back.

Roland wandered in, glancing around. "There you are." He said, finally spotting her. He pulled the bundle out from under his arm and set it in front of her. It was a brightly coloured jack-in-the-box. "Could you please keep an eye on this for me? I don't want Slimer getting to it after I just fixed it."

Kylie smiled, picking it up and admiring it. "It's pretty." She commented, ignoring the almost pained look on Eduardo's face. "Sure. Not a problem Roland."

"Thanks, Ky." Roland looked grateful. "I'll be down in my workshop if anyone needs me."

She nodded as he turned and walked off. Kylie then turned back to her book, watching Eduardo out of the corner of her eye. He kept glancing over at the toy as if he was expecting it to jump out and bite him. Which, considering his last encounter with a jack-in-the-box was somewhat understandable.

Several minutes later, Garrett rolled in and headed for her. "Is it okay if I change the music? Found a tape and I wanna see what's on it."

"Please!" Came the shout from Eduardo.

She shrugged. "If you want to. Go ahead." She said casually.

"Thanks." Garrett hit the eject button, stopping. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Eduardo visibly relax. Garrett plugged in the tape and hit play.

"-Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right. And here I am, stuck in the middle with you-"

"Oh, Steely Dan." Garrett grinned at the catchy tune.

After the second chorus, Kylie joined in singing, idly motioning to Eduardo on the left, Garrett on the right and the jack-in-the-box in the middle. Eduardo was looking nervous again, she noticed.

"Let's see what else is on here." Garrett remarked after the song ended, barely containing his amusement. He hit fast forward on it, then play.

"-outta here, said the joker to the thief-"

"Excuse me." Eduardo quickly got up and walked off, leaving the remote on the couch.

"He not a Hendrix fan?" Garrett asked innocently. "And here I thought everyone liked Jimi!"

"You think everyone still likes disco." She teased, rising.

"Everyone does." He grinned back. "At least, anybody *cool*. Oh, and look! We still had five more minutes to torment Eddie before the shows started."

She chuckled as she plugged her tape in. "Yeah, but we don't want to be *too* mean. We might need him later."

Garrett chortled at that, wheeling over. "Yeah, right."

She giggled and finished programming the VCR. "Here you go." She handed the remote over.

A sudden shout from above nearly made him drop it.

"I *HATE* CLOWNS!!!" Eduardo's voice echoed from the roof.

Kylie and Garrett looked at each other and tried hard not to laugh.

Fin.

*The episode name is 'Killjoys'

"Stuck in the Middle with You" is the song by Steely Dan, "All along the Watchtower" by Jimi Hendrix and "Send in the Clowns" is from the play 'Little Foxes', dunno who wrote it.

"Go away Mr. Clown! You a-scare me!" -Wakko Warner.