Shocked (19 page)

“Why do they have to be on both sides? Is it because they need the direction or the power?” I wonder aloud.

“The power: they need to recharge constantly.” Dr. Ford answers.

“Can’t you just place one that goes down in between some of those?” I point to the poles.

“That may work. I’ll have to figure out the algorithm for how they need to be spaced, but that just might work.”

“So when can we test them?” Lucas repeats.

“Those may be ready tomorrow. It’ll take a few days to develop the underground prototype.”

Captain Jennings stands. “You two are probably exhausted. You guys did great out there. Go relax and we’ll pick this up in the morning.”

“Kat, what about those tests?” Dr. Ford asks before I can slip out the door.

“Can it wait until tomorrow, doc?” I do my best to look worn out.

“Yes, of course. Stop by after breakfast and we’ll do them before everything else.”

Lucas and I walk together until our paths have to separate.

“It’ll be nice to sleep in a bed tonight.” Lucas says.

“Yeah, and take a shower.” I add.

He smiles. “It’ll be weird being alone, though.”

“Yeah,” It really will be.

“Um, maybe it wouldn’t be so weird if I stop by later. We could watch a movie or something.” The tips of his ears are bright red as he waits for me to respond.

“We can do that. I want to check on Brie after I take a shower. I can swing by and pick you up on my way back.” I waggle my eyebrows and he laughs loudly.

“Sounds like a date.” He says and drops a kiss on the top of my head. “See you later, Kat.”

He said the D word.
The bigger issue? It’s freaking me out, but not in a bad way.
Oh, boy.

Brie’s doing well but she seriously looks like she’s about to pop. She’s rightfully grumpy. I have no idea how she’s doing it. There’ll be no more missions for this chick until that baby’s out.

My visit doesn’t last long because Brie fades quickly. B sticks with me. It’s no surprise considering he fastens himself to my leg since our return. He’s getting so big now. It’s only a matter of reaching out to pat his head now when we walk.

It’s hard to avoid thinking about the D word as I walk to Lucas’ door. He throws it out there and it now hangs in the forefront of my mind. Sure we’ve become really close. It’s just what
can
happen that scares me. Like falling for someone close to me that I trust. I’ve been there and frankly I’m not too ecstatic about my parting gift.

But this is Lucas. He’s never judgmental or tries to push me. Ever. Is it so bad to see where it goes?

I round the corner and run smack into the one person I least need to see right now.

“Hey, Mason.” I say. Maybe we establish the terms of our break-up, but it doesn’t make seeing him any easier.

“Hey,” He looks as uncomfortable as I feel.

“Um, well, have a good night I guess.” There’s nothing left to say.

“Yeah, you too.” He walks away.

That’s exactly what I’m talking about!
Brie’s there, (always) but she’s going to be a mom and have a whole other person to care for. Lucas is the only one besides the captain and the doc that I have to confide in, and they don’t even really count. If our friendship ends up like me and Mason it’s going to be bad…very bad…possibly devastating.

The door’s right in front of me now and I poise my fist to knock. I can’t do it.
So
much of me wants to. Lucas is comforting—my security blanket. That’s why instead of knocking I turn around with B and go to my room. B and I burrow under the covers and try to get lost until the morning.

It doesn’t last for long—sleeping, that is. As much as I want to forget about everything in a blissful state of nothingness, it doesn’t work like that for me anymore. I capture a few solid hours, but they’re fleeting. I begin instead to think and cuddle with B. He’s my security blanket too.

An hour or so after the sun rises I make myself get out of bed and take another shower for no other reason than I can. After weeks of not having the option it’s impossible to pass up. I rouse B from the bed and grab a granola bar. We walk outside so he can do his business.

I need to make the choice whether to go hide or face the day. Chances are that hiding will be inevitably pointless so I follow the hall to Dr. Ford’s lab. It’s time to let the cat out of the bag. Sure enough he’s there tinkering with his electric poles.

“Hey, doc!” I call out to make my presence known.

“Morning, Kat.” He looks at his watch. “You’re early. I thought you’d sleep in.”

I shut the door in case of any passersby. “Well, that’s something you need to know about—one of the something’s anyway.”

Dr. Ford puts down the pole and studies me carefully. “What exactly is going on, Kat?”

It all pours out: the lack of sleep, the freaky healing and increase in power. The truck tossing—I tell him all of it and feel better for it. Dr. Ford rocks because he finds it exciting. This eases my fears of freakishness. Sort of.

A knock sounds on the door and I place a hand on Dr. Ford’s arm before he opens it. “Can we
not
tell everyone yet?” I plead.

He nods. He understands that I have that enough to deal with without adding gas to the flame.

Dr. Ford opens the door and Lucas walks in looking concerned. “I got worried last night when you didn’t stop by.” He tucks a strand of loose hair behind my ear.

It’s much harder to ignore the chemistry between us when he’s standing right here and because of it I take the coward’s way out. “I fell asleep early.” I lie. “Sorry.”

Captain Jennings clears his throat from the doorway and breaks the spell around us. “Good morning. Doc, are we ready for testing?”

“These are,” Dr. Ford points to now six speared poles. “They need to be placed in a circle and then turned on with this.” He tosses something small to Captain Jennings.

“You’re not coming?” Lucas asks Dr. Ford.

“No, I still have to get these prototypes running and I have some tests to run.” Dr. Ford avoids me when he says this.

“Okay, grab those Lucas. Let’s go see if these do their job.” Captain Jennings says.

Outside (well away from the camp) we stick the first pole into the ground spear first as instructed. Once the circle forms we take a few steps back and I nudge slightly in front of Lucas and the captain—just in case. Captain Jennings hits a button and the poles hum to life, electricity sizzling from one to the next. It feels so familiar, but that’s only because it’s a clone of my own energy.

It’s mesmerizing, and not only for me. Lucas and Captain Jennings stare at it also. There’s no way that the fog will get past that. If Dr. Ford can make the underground version work this well, we may actually stand a chance.

This is a great defensive tool… it’s just frustrating that there has to be a defense at all. If only there was some way to prevent the infection from spreading altogether. Then maybe we
all
will be okay. At least what’s left of us can be.

Captain Jennings hits the button again and the poles go silent. He’s happy with our success and eager to tell Dr. Ford the good news. We’re all eager for good news these days.

The knock on my door is frantic though not inconvenient because I’m awake reading. I open the door and prepare to act like I just woke up when the look on Jared’s face tells me that my sleeping habits are the last thing on his mind. Three words leave his mouth before he hurries off. Brie! Baby! Now!

Crap!
I throw on jeans and sneakers then give B a kiss. He’s down for the count and won’t be awake until later. My feet move fast and for once I don’t stumble. Come to think of it, I haven’t really had any balance issues for a few days now…maybe longer.

I forget about it the second I reach Brie. Dr. Ford moves her to a hospital inspired room where he can easily monitor her and the baby. He also has everything on hand shall the need arise. I take her hand and give it a light squeeze. Sweat beads on her forehead and her face twists in pain.

“Hey, you,” I say when her face relaxes.
Is that normal?

She gives me a weak smile. “I’m glad you’re here, Kat.”

Before I can answer she tenses up again. This time she groans.

“Can’t you give her something?” I ask Dr. Ford. Jared still paces fretfully (which all he’s been doing since I walked in.) His expression resembles a deer in headlights: utterly lost.

“She doesn’t want it.” Dr. Ford replies. “I’ve offered.”

“How long has she been like this?” I ask.

“About six hours.”

“Why are you just getting me now?!”
What the hell!

“I didn’t want to wake you.” Brie says softly. Her voice is tired. “You need your rest.”

“You already sound like a mom.” I tease.

“Doc, I think I want to push.” Brie says.

An hour later Xavier Joseph makes his way into the world and I swear off sex. Holy flipping guacamole! That was ten times scarier than the underground tornado.
Brie pushes a person out of herself!

The only one possibly more upset by the ordeal is Jared. He recovers much quicker and now stares adoringly back and forth between Brie and Xavier. I stay until Brie looks like she’s about to fall asleep and promise to return later because I still suffer a bit shell shock.

B probably needs to go out now so I high tail it back to my room. In my hallway it’s hard to miss Lucas as he sits with his back to my door.

“Hey.” He says this without his usual cheery grin and stands so I can open the door. Sure enough B’s waiting and rushes out. Lucas just stands there.

“Are you coming with?” I ask.

“I was hoping we can talk.” He doesn’t budge. It seems that there’s no getting around it this time.

“Okay, let’s just let B out first.” I don’t give him a choice. If he wants to continue the conversation he has to follow as I move quickly to catch up with B.

“How’s Brie?”
Word travels fast here.

“She’s good, thanks. She had a boy—Xavier.”

“Good. It’s a nice change from all the bad news.” Lucas holds the door for B and motions me through. It’s warm out, the sun too bright after being inside all morning. The lack of humidity here still surprises me and I almost miss the oppressing moisture…
almost.

B finishes up and we go back. Lucas becomes quieter the closer we get to my door. When it shuts behind us he stands there instead of taking his favorite place on the couch.

It can’t be ignored any longer. “What’s going on, Lucas?”

“Are you avoiding me, Kat? Because it feels to me like
you’re pulling away. I just…I don’t know why or if I’m just imagining it, but I don’t want it. You pulling away, I mean.”

I look in his eyes and don’t stand a chance. The intensity in his gaze pierces into me and all of the excuses I pile up are quickly forgotten. My heart skips a few beats in my chest as he moves closer.

“I’m not imagining it, am I?” Lucas’ voice is gentle. “We’re beyond that, Kat. Don’t you realize that? I know you didn’t go to sleep early. Hell—you’ve barely been sleeping at all.” I wince at this. “You’re scared, Kat. I get that.”

He’s right in front of me now. It feels like there’s a gravitational pull that exudes from him. There’s no use in fighting it because he’s too close and I’m getting lost in his orbit. When the words come out they barely register in my brain. “I can’t lose you too, Lucas.” My voice hitches. “If something happens again—“

“No, Kat. Not like that.” He lifts my face gently and pulls me close. “You’ll never ever have to worry about that with me.” Before I can think to protest further he lowers his mouth to mine.

When Mason and I
used to kiss it’s nice—great at times even, but nothing like this. Lucas supports my entire body in his arms and cradles my head in his hands. I can feel his entire being pour into one knee-weakening kiss. Seriously; I’d be on my ass right now if not for him holding onto me. My reaction of paralysis from the waist down may be the result of my reaction from the waist up. My hands grip Lucas’ strong shoulders and I try to pull him closer. Impossible though it may be.

We only surface due to lack of air. He doesn’t let go and our foreheads touch while he continues to hunch over to accommodate our height difference. When his breathing slows he grins at me. “You might want to hold on.”

Two seconds later I sit on the counter. Lucas and I are eye level. He pulls back for a second. “Is this okay?” I know he means
way
more than the counter.

It’s my turn to grin. I don’t respond and take the opportunity to lay one on him.
Yeah, I guess it’s okay after all.