Alien Proliferation

you’ll do your best to not give in to the demon.”
    “That . . . makes sense. So, what promise do you want?”
    “Help me get used to being a super. Jeff’s frightened, Chuckie’s frightened, I think James is frightened, too. I’m not, and that frightens them more. I don’t know how to be an A-C, so to speak. I have no idea how much more I’m going to mutate, what powers may come. I need to have someone I can go to when I’m scared, someone who’s going through the same thing but is willing to talk to me about it. I need you to be my A-C version of James—the guy I can go to who understands what I’m going through and will also tell me the truth.”
    “Jeff won’t, and can’t, lie to you.”
    “Jeff can’t, and won’t, tell me the truth all the time, either. He’s my husband. There are things he won’t tell me because he thinks the ignorance will protect me. He might be right. But we’re going down a scary road together, and there are times when I need to talk to someone who won’t get jealous or upset and who understands what I’m going through at the same time. I couldn’t have survived in this new world I’m in without James. I’m not sure I’ll survive the newer one without you.”
    Christopher gave me a crooked smile. “You’re right. I’m not in love with you any more. But I still love you. You can run to me if I can run to you.”
    I kissed his forehead. “That’s what friends, and family, are for.”
    “I’m glad we’re both.”
    “Me too.”

 
    CHAPTER 40
     
    C HRISTOPHER SIGHED, AND I felt him relax. “How much longer do you think they’re going to keep me in here?”
    I looked at the various instrument panels that lined the one wall the patient couldn’t see. “I have no freaking idea. The pretty lights are all doing their flashy thing, like whenever Jeff’s in here. Still have no idea of what they mean.”
    “Guess I’m not surprised. And also guess you’re not going to turn the table so I can see the lights.”
    “I don’t think I’m supposed to.”
    “And this has stopped you before when?”
    “Good point.” I turned the table. I mean, he was restrained and calm.
    Christopher stared at the light board. “Why am I still in here?”
    “Because you need to be.”
    He shook his head. “No, I don’t. The lights indicate I’m cleared . . . and have been for, God, hours.”
    “Hang on.” I ran to the door and pounded.
    Melanie opened it. “Are you okay?”
    I dragged her inside. “Look at that board. What does it tell you?”
    She stared at it. “Emily!” Emily ran inside, the Gower girls and my baby following. “Am I reading this right?”
    Emily looked at it. “Why the hell is Christopher still trussed up in here?” She sounded furious. “He should have been taken off hours ago, maybe even yesterday.”
    Melanie grabbed me. “You didn’t tamper with anything?”
    “I took the feeding tube out and gave him some water. That was it.”
    Emily was on her phone. “I need an analysis team down to Isolation, Commander White’s chamber, immediately.” She hung up and took every single needle and tube out of Christopher.
    Melanie put her hand on Christopher’s shoulder. “Just need to verify some things, then we’ll get you out of here.”
    I turned to the Gower girls. “Who was here, other than Paul and Richard?”
    “Michael, but he didn’t go inside. Paul wasn’t here very long, from what he said.” Naomi sounded confused. “Paul would know what the lights mean, wouldn’t he?”
    “Maybe.” Emily sounded brisk. “But his focus when he’s been here has been helping Christopher deal with withdrawal symptoms and soothing him. He might not have paid the status board any attention.”
    “Richard would, wouldn’t he?”
    “I don’t think he looked at it,” Christopher said. “He’s spent all his time in here talking to me, like you did, Kitty. Paul, too. I didn’t even ask them about the board, they were both so upset.”
    Naomi handed Jamie to me. “Need to concentrate, don’t want her affected.” She leaned against Abigail.
    Jamie gurgled and cooed at me. “There’s my baby cat.” Kissed her, did the Mommy Dance. It kept me from totally panicking.
    I heard a mewling, and a Poof head stuck up out of my purse. “Man, I’m glad you have Toby,” Christopher said, sounding relieved.
    “You didn’t send Toby to me?”
    “No. I wasn’t supposed to bring it with me, but it was nice not to be completely alone.