Alien Proliferation

to restrain him for it.”
    Jeff nodded and made eye contact with Gower, who nodded back. They both moved at hyperspeed and grabbed Christopher. “What the hell are you two doing?” He was snarling.
    “Tito, need you to rally the best med team and run a full scan on Christopher, ASAP.”
    Tito didn’t argue, just pulled out his phone and started making calls.
    “Kitty, what the hell are you talking about?” Christopher was shouting.
    “Jeff? I want to see his arms.”
    Jeff and Gower held Christopher’s arms out. Tim shoved his suit jacket up, unbuttoned his sleeves and shoved them up, too. My worst fears were confirmed.
    Christopher’s arms were covered with needle tracks.

 
    CHAPTER 20
     
    “W HAT THE HELL HAVE YOU been doing to yourself?” Jeff sounded angry and horrified.
    “Son, why?” White sounded shocked.
    I looked at Chuckie. He shook his head. “Not C.I.A. sanctioned, encouraged, or known about.”
    Christopher’s teeth were clenched. “Let go of me and leave me alone.”
    I looked right at him. “I know why you did it. It’s stupid, let me mention, and totally dangerous, but I understand it.” I looked around. “I want everyone out of the room but me, Richard, Jeff, Paul, and Christopher. Stay in the hall in case he makes a break for it, but otherwise, out.”
    “Should I take the baby?” Reader asked me quietly.
    I looked into Christopher’s eyes. “Should he?”
    “No.” Christopher shut his eyes. “I wouldn’t hurt her. Or you. Any of you.”
    “I know, just yourself. Out, we’ll call you back in a couple of minutes. Tito, knock when the med team’s ready. Christopher’s going to need to go into isolation, like Jeff normally does.”
    Mom took Jamie. “Just to be sure.” She and Reader left the room. They both looked as though they didn’t want to.
    Chuckie left last. “You sure?” I nodded, and he went out, closing the door tightly behind him.
    “Let him go.” Jeff didn’t look like he wanted to, but he did. Gower followed suit. I looked closely at Christopher. “You want them out, too?”
    “Yeah.” He was close to breaking down.
    “No.” Jeff and White said this in unison.
    “Yes. Christopher’s not going to hurt me. Please, Jeff. It’s hard enough on him right now. You’ll be able to get to me if I need you.”
    Gower put his hand on Christopher’s shoulder. “You know we’re here to help you, not hurt you.”
    Christopher nodded. The others left the room. Gower had to drag Jeff out. I patted the bed. “Come sit down.”
    He shook his head. “Not a good idea.”
    “You’re not in love with me any more. Jeff knows it, I know it. Come here, Christopher.” He moved stiffly and sat down at the edge of the bed. I pulled him into my arms and put his head on my chest. “I told you I understood. You’re an idiot, but I can get why.”
    “You don’t understand.”
    I kissed his head. “Sure I do. You can’t fool the comics geek-girl. Happens in the comics all the time. Superhero sees others get more powerful than he is. There’s some ego involved, sure, but usually it’s motivated by wanting to stay strong, to be able to protect better. Jeff got enhanced in a scary way from that drug the Club Fifty-One people shoved into him. Serene did, too. Why not you, right?”
    He started to cry. I knew there had to have been a reason for how crappy he looked. I’d sure hoped it wasn’t this one, though. I rocked him and kissed his head.
    “Jeff has to focus on you and the baby now. He shouldn’t have had to go to Paris with me to deal with the superbeing mess or to get Amy. He shouldn’t have had to leave you, ever. I should be able to take care of business now.”
    “Oh, honey. I know you did this out of love and to try to protect everyone. But it could kill you. It’s making you nastier than normal, too.”
    He gave a half-laugh, half-sob. “Yeah, I suppose.”
    “What about the tests they did on the girls started this with you?”
    “I just . . . they’re the next stage, like you’ve always said. But they aren’t ready to take over what Jeff and I do. We need to be better, to take care of our people. Every day, there’s a new threat.”
    “I know. It scares me, too.” I stroked his hair. “How’d you get the drug?”
    “We have a supply, so we can identify it and counter it.”
    “Did it work?”
    “I’m stronger, more stamina. It’s easier to create a full-body image and hold it.”
    “Nice. Needless, but nice. Not worth