Alien Proliferation

he took Jamie from me and cuddled her. “Why did you send Harlie after me?” The Poof popped out of the trench coat pocket and mewled at me. Poofs really had amazing abilities.
    “To protect you.”
    “It’s a Poof, not a machine gun. There’s only so much protection they can provide. Keep Harlie with you and Jamie. That’s an order. And, before you can argue, we’re in a Field situation, and that means you are required to obey me because you report to me.”
    “That’s so cute. When you get back, you can try to order me around again. The only time it works is when we’re having sex.”
    He grinned. “I like ordering you around best then anyway.” Jeff wrapped his free arm around me and kissed me deeply. “She’s too young for you to leave her, and it’s too dangerous for you to bring her. Remember that, baby.”
    “I know, Jeff. I’m not an utter moron.”
    “No, but you’re brave and impetuous. You have to sit this one out, baby.”
    “I guess.” I heard people coming into the Lair. “Showtime, Jeff.”
    He sighed. “Yeah.” We walked out of the bedroom. He kept his arm around me and held onto Jamie. I knew he didn’t want to leave us, and it occurred to me that he probably hadn’t wanted to come back here because it would be harder to go to Paris for him now. Felt worse and just totally in love with him at the same time.
    Did a nose count. We had Chuckie, Christopher, Kevin, Tito, Reader, Gower, Naomi, Abigail, Melanie, and Emily, all looking ready to go. I anticipated Jeff’s words.
    He pointed to the four women. “No. You’re all staying here.”
    “Jeff, women can vote these days and hold jobs.” Did my best not to sound sarcastic. Failed, if Chuckie’s fast grin was any indication.
    “Yeah, I know. They can also get killed. However, not tonight. We have Amy already in danger and covering the female side of the house.”
    Melanie and Emily exchanged looks with me. “Jeff? Who’s going to do medical?” Emily asked it calmly, but I could tell she was angry.
    “No one. We’re getting in, grabbing our hostages, and getting out.” Jeff sounded like he believed that.
    “Right. Uh, just how do you think you’re going to do that? Christopher has only a vague idea of where they are.” And I knew how our team’s luck ran.
    Jeff shrugged. “We’ve worked with a lot less.”
    I looked right at him. “Name a time.”
    There was a lot of silence in the room. I looked around. All the men were doing a good job of not looking at any of the women. Melanie and Emily crossed their arms and glared at Jeff. Not up to Christopher’s standards, but still, pretty good.
    “You’re not field trained,” Jeff said, trying to maintain authority. But, these were mothers he was having the stare down with—they’d had a lot more years with authority than he had. “It’s dangerous.”
    “You take our daughters all the time,” Melanie said calmly.
    “Kitty does. I don’t. I never approved having female operatives.” I could tell Jeff knew how that sounded as soon as it left his mouth because I saw him wince.
    “The C.I.A. has female operatives,” Naomi said. “In fact, if I recall, the head of the P.T.C.U. is a woman. Why, I think she’s your mother-in-law, if memory serves.” Wow, everyone had a sarcasm knob. I was impressed.
    “Angela’s trained.” Jeff was grasping, I could tell.
    “Are you saying we aren’t?” Emily’s voice was at that dangerous, silky level, where any man who opened his mouth was going to be in trouble.
    “Uhhh . . . ” It was clear Jeff had come to the same conclusion I had.
    “Jeff, you need to have medical. I know I’m not going. I hate it, but I’m clear. But right now I think you need all the backup you can get.”
    Christopher closed his eyes. “Tim’s hurt, not life-threatening, yet.” He jerked. “Oh, God, they’re dissecting our agents’ bodies in front of Tim, Amy, and Michael. Not sure why, but the three of them look horrified.”
    Jeff looked at me. “You want to let your best friends’ mothers go along with us why?”
    “Because you need us,” Melanie said. “We know it, and we’re going. It’s that simple.”
    “Us, too,” Naomi said.
    “Absolutely not.” Chuckie’s voice was calm, but I’d heard that tone from him before. He meant it. “You two aren’t going anywhere any more than Kitty is. You have no training for anything like this, no experience, and this isn’t the operation to learn on.”
    “They