Alien Proliferation

things were fine and wanted you.”
    White led me into a room off the master bedroom. “Nursery.”
    “Wow, there’s everything here, isn’t there?”
    “Including an isolation chamber.”
    I felt my throat get tight. “Oh. Good.”
    White opened the nursery door opposite the one we’d come in through. Jeff stroked my back. “They’re not that bad, baby.”
    “This one in particular.” White ushered us inside.
    “Wow.” Instead of one of the horrific Coffins of the Damned that I was used to, this room looked remarkably like a nice, well appointed, very cozy hospital room. “There are three beds.”
    “We don’t know what the mutation will do to you,” White said softly. “However, this room is equipped for any and all talent-related issues and is also, I’m sure, far less frightening to be within.”
    “You can say that again. So, did the Colemans have an empathic family member or something?”
    White coughed. “No. Theresa, however, was empathic and had a son and nephew who were quite strong in their talents. This used to be her quarters, before . . .”
    “Ah.” I looked up at Jeff. “You sure you’re okay coming back here to live?”
    He nodded. “I was happy here. And Uncle Richard’s right—this room isn’t a frightening place to be, at any age. I’d much rather have Jamie in isolation here, when it’s necessary, than pretty much anywhere else.”
    I decided that making the comparison between this isolation chamber and the ones I was used to seeing Jeff in was probably a bad idea. I looked around the room some more. “That’s good. And I’m pretty sure I could be in here with Jamie, if necessary, and not freak out.” I looked at White. “You’re sure this is the right decision?”
    White kissed my forehead. “Yes. I’ll leave your little family alone and speak with your mother about our new world order.”
    We went back into the nursery. Jeff escorted White out, shutting the door firmly behind him, then helped me out of my shirt and into the lounger. Jamie started eating as if she hadn’t had food for days. He squatted down next to us and stroked her head. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you or her again.”
    I ran my hand through his hair. “I know. When I heard them hurting you . . .” I stopped and swallowed. “You okay doing this, though?”
    He nodded. “Yeah, I am. Richard’s right—our original purpose on this world has been handled. We need to adapt or we’ll be exterminated or turned into what you, your mother, and Reynolds are trying to protect us from.”
    “You going to manage to stop treating Chuckie like the enemy?”
    Jeff grinned. “I’ll do my best.” He sighed. “It was interesting to hear what Cooper and his gang were saying to and about Reynolds. They hate him for all the reasons you love him. I think it’s smarter for me to work with the man you respect and love, not against him, since without him, I don’t know that you would have ever wanted me.”
    I pulled his head to me and kissed him. “Jeff, I love you for you, not because you’re a supercool alien sex god, though, you know, that’s a major contributing factor. But I’m happy you’re going to have the jealousy chat with Chuckie and stop being a total jerk to him.”
    “I didn’t say that .” Jeff laughed. “He doesn’t get the jealousy chat yet. Soon, I think, but not yet.”
    “Whatever. Just stop being mean to him.”
    “He likes it, to a certain extent. I don’t know that he and I will ever feel comfortable being buddies. But I’ll give him what he’s deserved from me all this time—my respect and cooperation.”
    “That’s good enough for me, and probably for him, too.”
    Time to change torpedoes. Did the switch. Jeff perched on the armrest and watched us. “I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing this. My wife and baby.” He stroked my hair. “You’re the most amazing woman in the galaxy, you know.”
    I leaned my head back against him. “I’m just me, Jeff.”
    He bent down and kissed me. “That’s what I said.”

 
    CHAPTER 70
     
    W E FINISHED FEEDING JAMIE, did the diaper check. Fortunately she didn’t need a change because we had nothing here. It was kind of strange—there was nothing in the rooms that would indicate anyone had been living in the Embassy.
    Jeff kept Jamie on his shoulder and his other arm around me. It was such a relief to be together and feel normal for a few minutes.
    We joined the others, well, most of the