~ 30 ~
As they walked out of the restaurant, Tom glanced at his watch and touched Sloan’s arm. “May I use your cell phone? I told Mark I’d check in with him.”
Handing him her phone, Sloan nodded toward Tory and Ed who were walking ahead. “I’ll just go with them to the parking garage while you stay behind and make your call.”
Seeing him hesitate, Sloan leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss. “I’ll be fine, Tom.”
As she caught up with Ed and Tory, she slipped her arm into Ed’s and gave it a squeeze. Looking down at her, he smiled. “Tory was just telling me about working in the emergency room.
“By the way,” he said, turning back at Tory. “Why did the hospital beep you tonight?”
Tory stumbled slightly and looked down, suddenly preoccupied with brushing a non-existent wrinkle from her skirt. “Oh, nothing important,” she murmured. Glancing across to her sister, Tory saw Sloan biting her lip to keep from laughing. Well! As if I never had to call HER and bail her out of a potentially bad date, she thought to herself with a huff. Tory glanced down to hide her smile. She’d have to call the ER and let her friend Maria know that the date had turned out well after all. Very well indeed, she thought, sneaking a sideways look at Ed.
“Oh no!” Tory exclaimed, stopping abruptly in her tracks and digging frantically through her purse. “I left my beeper by the phone in the restaurant. I’ll be right back.” She turned and dashed off, calling back over her shoulder that she would meet them at the car.
As they entered the dimly lit underground garage, Sloan involuntarily clutched Ed’s arm a little tighter. She had grown so accustomed to having Mark’s men around or at least Tom with her, that without them, she felt uneasy. “Get a grip, Parker,” she muttered to herself. “You’re being paranoid.”
~ 31 ~
A cold wave of apprehension hit Tom as he saw Tory walking quickly toward him. Hurriedly disconnecting his call to Mark, he swiftly closed the distance between them and grabbed her arm.
“What are you doing here?” he asked urgently, pinning her with his intense gaze . “Where’s Sloan?”
“I came back to get my beeper,” Tory said, puzzled by his obvious distress. “Don’t worry, Tom,” she said reassuringly. “Sloan’s with Ed. I ....”
Tom bolted and ran down the sidewalk to the garage, Tory following close behind.
As they entered the underground parking garage, Tom felt something at the edge of his mind, a sense of dangerous intent. He stopped suddenly, standing motionless, head tilted to one side. Tory came up behind him, gasping for breath. Her sharp eyes took in his tense body and searching gaze and she knew, somehow, he sensed trouble.
Abruptly, he reached behind him and slipping a gleaming revolver out of his back holster, took off for the nearby stairwell, Tory running to keep up with him. They flew silently down the stairs and burst out onto the lower level right where Ed’s car was parked.
Sloan looked over at the sound of the door slamming open and caught sight of Tom and Tory at the same time Ed shouted a warning. Snapping her head around to look behind Ed, she saw two men begin to edge out from behind a parked van.
With startling swiftness, Tom was there, standing in front of Sloan, his gun pointed steadily in the direction of the two men. As Ed stepped forward to stand at Tom’s side, Tory was suddenly at his other side.
Quickly realizing they’d lost their advantage, the men ducked back behind the van and disappeared.
“Should we go after them?” Ed asked hesitantly, looking at Tom who stood tensely staring in the direction the men had gone.
“They’re human,” Tom said abruptly, thumbing the safety back on and holstering his gun. “Not important enough to risk leaving Sloan unprotected.
“We’d better get to the safe house,” he said turning to open the car door for Sloan. “Walter and Ray need to know what happened.”
As Ed pulled out of the garage, he glanced over at Tory. “You looked serious about taking those guys on.”
She smiled tightly. “I’ve been a black belt for a number of years but this would have been the first time I ever had to put it to the test.” Turning to look at Sloan and Tom who were sitting silently in the back seat, she noticed the protective and familiar way his arm was settled around her.
“So,” she said slowly, looking at them, then at Ed. “Isn’t it time you guys came clean and told me what I just risked my butt for?”
~ 32 ~
When no one spoke, Tory turned back and looked directly into Tom’s blue grey eyes. She was suddenly struck by their slightly odd color and his unblinking stare. Remembering his unbelievable speed and swift reactions tonight and his comment to Ed about the attackers being “human,” she came to an unavoidable conclusion.
“You’re a Dominant, aren’t you,” she stated flatly.
As he nodded his head, she saw Sloan reach over and place her hand, intimately casual and possessive, on Tom’s thigh. Looking at Sloan’s face, Tory was startled to see a fierce passion in her eyes and another realization hit her.
“And you’re in love,” she said, blinking her eyes in amazement. “With a capital L”.
The brilliant smile Sloan shot her and the way Tom’s arm nestled her closer was answer enough.
Turning to Ed, she asked with a hint of exasperation, “And is there anything I should know about YOU before I make a pass and totally embarrass myself?”
Sloan gasped as Ed nearly swerved the car off the road. “Tory!” she admonished, trying to keep a straight face. “Don’t distract Ed when he’s driving!”
Grinning, Tory looked back at Sloan. “Okay Sis . I promise to behave myself if you promise to tell me what’s going on.”
“And level with me,” she said firmly. “Since when do you have to worry about being kidnapped or need a boyfriend who carries a nine mil?” she asked, her light tone at odds with the concern in her eyes.
Sighing heavily, Sloan glanced out the window, trying to collect her thoughts.
“You remember I told you about uncovering the existence of the Dominants?” At Tory’s nod, Sloan continued.
“There is a group of both humans and Dominants who are working to sabotage the Peace Negations that Walter and Tom are heading. Both sides want war because they each think they can win by annihilating the other.”
“What a fun group.” Tory muttered sarcastically. Frowning, she tilted her head questioningly. “So I can see why Walter and Tom would be in danger, but why are you a target?”
“Because of me,” Tom interjected.
“Let’s not down play my importance here,” Sloan said, half-teasing. “There was a time when it was thought that I was a threat too.”
The look that passed between them piqued Tory’s curiosity and she made a mental note to ask Sloan about it later.
“Hey,” Tory said straightening up and looking eagerly at the three of them in turn. “I bet you could use someone who knows how to handle herself and is an emergency room nurse to boot.”
At their protests, she continued determinedly. “Please,” she said earnestly. “The work you are doing is important and I want to help.”
“Maybe we could take her to the safe house tonight,” Ed suggested. “She should be there for the debriefing about the attempted kidnapping anyway.”
Sloan looked at Tom and at his brief nod, she turned to Tory and smiled grimly.
“Okay, you’re in on the debriefing.
“But we’ll talk about your offer later.”
~33 ~
As Walter looked at the angry set to Tom’s jaw, he knew he didn’t have to belabor the obvious and point out his bad judgment in leaving Sloan without his protection.
“Okay people,” he said tiredly, rubbing his face. “What’s done is done. The important thing is that everyone is safe.” He looked up and nodded his thanks as Ray and Tory brought mugs of coffee to the kitchen table.
“Tom, did you pick up anything else from the attackers other than the fact that they’re human?” Ray asked as he sat down. “Could you tell what they were feeling?”
Tom looked at Ray with a slightly puzzled expression. “They were afraid,” he said thoughtfully. “Not of us ... but afraid of failing.”
Ray snorted softly. “Well, three guesses as to who they report to, and the first two don’t count.”
“But what would Felicity have to gain by kidnapping me?” Sloan asked looking from Tom to Walter. “I’ve been working with Ed and Amanda at the Dominant’s lab and while our work is progressing well, it would certainly go on without me there.
“And as for the Peace Negotiations, “ she continued, looking directly at Walter. “I haven’t been involved since Tom began working as a liaison between you and the head of the Dominant Resistance.”
“What would happen if Tom weren’t the liaison?” Tory asked.
There was silence in the kitchen as everyone turned to look at Tory. She started to fidget, wondering if she’d spoken out of turn.
“There would be no negotiations,” Walter said flatly.
“And what better way to ensure that Tom doesn’t participate than to hold Sloan hostage,” Ed finished.
Ray shook his head. “If it were simply a case of getting Tom out of the picture, Felicity would just as soon knock him off rather than go to all the trouble of arranging Sloan’s kidnapping.”
As Sloan turned angrily to Ray, he quickly held up his hands in protest. “Sorry Sloan. I did NOT mean that to sound so cold.”
“Its okay,” Tom said, reaching for Sloan’s hand. “You’re right about Felicity, Ray. When she kidnapped me it was just a way of forcing Walter’s hand.”
Walter nodded. “And it worked.” Looking speculatively at Tom, he asked, “What do you think she wants this time?”
“I don’t know,” he said thoughtfully rubbing his thumb against Sloan’s palm. “It would make more sense for Lewis to kidnap Sloan, but he’d send a chameleon, not two humans.”
“Maybe Felicity’s just the go-between,” Sloan said tensely, closing her hand over Tom’s.
“But if Lewis wants you, why doesn’t he just grab you?” Ed asked, looking curiously at Tom.
Tom’s expression darkened. “It’s always been a battle of wills between us.” Looking at Sloan’s hand in his, he said quietly, “It’s not enough that he has me back, he needs to make me come to him against my will.”
Walter shuddered. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he and Felicity were up to something.” Looking from Tom to Ray, Walter asked what they had on Lewis.
“His escape was very smooth -- too smooth, if you ask me,” Ray said, his meaning clear.
Tom nodded. “Mark suspected that the Dominants who rescued Lewis had inside help. We just never considered the possibility that it might be Felicity. And as far as Lewis’ current safe house, Mark seems to have some good leads.”
“Let’s look into it tomorrow,” Walter said standing. Ray rose with him and the two nodded their goodnights.
As Ed and Tom made arrangements for Tory’s ride home, Sloan scooted over to sit next to her sister. Seeing her unusually solemn face, Sloan reached over to take her hand. “I’m sorry Tory. This is more than you bargained for, isn’t it?”
Tory shrugged her shoulders and quirked a smile. “I know there is a lot more we need to discuss, but for the time being, you and Dad are talking, you and I are together and Ed has had a momentary lapse of reason and asked me out again.
“I’d say I’m still way ahead,” she said squeezing Sloan’s hand affectionately.
~ 34 ~
“Tom, are you all right?”
Tom turned away from the window to see Sloan standing hesitantly in his doorway. The dim light from the hallway shown softly on her freshly washed hair, knotted loosely on top of her head, a few damp auburn tendrils curling around her neck.
He shook his head and turned back to stare out the window. “I should never have left you unprotected.”
Shutting the door behind her, Sloan walked over to him, her silky robe rustling in the quiet of the room. Standing behind him, she slipped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder. “I told you to stay behind to call Mark. I thought I’d be safe with Ed and Tory -- we were only going a few blocks.”
“I ignored my training, my instincts,” he stated, his voice flat. “My feelings for you are distracting me from protecting you.”
“And you think that you can turn them off and go back to the way you were?”
Tom shifted his weight restlessly, considering her words. “I don’t want to,” he said finally, his voice so low she barely caught his words. “I want this life with you, Sloan. These feelings. But I left you tonight and I almost lost you. The thought that my carelessness....”
Sloan stopped his words with a fierce hug. “Tom, you made a mistake tonight.
“You may be smarter and stronger but you’re not perfect.” She smiled against his shoulder and gently rubbed her face against his clean white shirt. “You just feel that way,” she added in a low voice.
Her words and the sound of her voice combined with the feel of her face pressing against the tattoo on his shoulder blade sent a shiver of pleasure through him that was so exquisite he had to shut his eyes tightly against it.
Tom could feel Sloan’s heart beating against his back as she leaned purposefully into him. The clean scent of her freshly washed hair and the familiar sweet smell of her warm skin made his body tremble despite his efforts to hold onto his control. Pulling her arms from around his waist, Tom turned and stepped back, trying to put some distance between them.
But Sloan was determined as well and stepped forward, closing the gap he’d made. As she reached up to pull the pins from her hair, Tom’s eyes were drawn back to her face and he momentarily lost himself in the love and tenderness he saw in her dark green eyes. He didn’t remember reaching for her but suddenly she was in his arms and he found his face buried in her fragrant, silky hair.
“Are you sure this is what you want, Sloan?” he asked urgently, his breathing becoming heavy.
“I’ve never been more sure about anything or anyone in my life,” she whispered as she gently rubbed her cheek against his. Leaning back, she ran her hands over the smooth white expanse of his shirt and trailing her fingers down to his waistband, she reached down and slowly began pulling his shirt loose.
Tom grabbed her hands and held them still. “Did you and Amanda....”
“Yes, we have an effective contraceptive,” Sloan said a smile curving her mouth. “Assuming we even need it.” She turned her hands in Tom’s and taking hold of his wrists, unbuttoned the stiff cuffs before continuing to pull his shirt loose.
“Amanda agreed that her knowledge is only based on Dominants,” Sloan said as she reached up to lightly cup his cheek then drop her hand down to begin slowly unbuttoning his shirt. “And she admits she has no idea what is actually possible for us.”
As Sloan got halfway down his shirt, she slid her hands underneath the crisp white cotton fabric and up to his throat. Delicately trailing her fingertips along the strong column of his neck, she stroked his pulse point and smiled in satisfaction as she heard Tom’s soft intake of breath and watched his pupils dilate until there was only a silvery edge of blue grey. Running her hands smoothly back down his chest, she paused to feel his heart racing beneath her fingertips then returned to her slow task of unbuttoning his shirt.
When she was almost finished, she pushed back the clean white fabric and pressed a trail of tiny kisses up to his throat. Feeling his hands pull her hips hard against him, she searched for his erratically throbbing pulse and finding it, pressed a warm kiss against it, then opened her mouth and gently bit him.
Tom groaned her name in pleasure and tightened his grip on her. As her hands reached down again for the last button, Sloan slanted a playfully innocent smile up at Tom. “I seem to be having trouble with this last button and ...”
Before she could finish the sentence, Tom reached down and ripped his shirt completely open, sending the tiny white button sailing across the room.
Laughing softly with delight, Sloan slid her hands up the smooth warmth of his chest. “Oh Tom,” she murmured, as she spread her hands wide to feel as much of him as possible. “I’ve wanted to touch you like this for so long.”
She eased the white fabric off his shoulders and down his arms, letting the shirt fall with a soft whisper to the floor. While her hands stroked his muscular back, her lips and tongue traced imaginary patterns along his shoulder as she learned the delicious taste and scent of him.
As she began a slow and intimate exploration of the sensitive hollow by his neck, she heard Tom gasp softly. Suddenly, her face was cradled in his strong hands and his lips were on hers, whispering her name before he pressed his kisses deeply into her mouth.
Shivering in anticipation, Sloan reached up to take his hands, and place them on the loose belt of her robe. Breathlessly breaking from their kiss, she moved her mouth to his ear and breathed, “Untie it, Tom. I want to feel you against me.”
She felt a tremor run through his body as his hands fumbled at her robe then stilled.
“Sloan,” he said, his voice husky, his breathing uneven. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
Leaning back to look into his eyes, dark with his desire and filled with concern, Sloan smiled and reached up to softly stroke his cheek then lightly run her fingertips across his slightly parted lips.
“Do you trust me, Tom?”
“Completely.”
“Do you love me?”
“More than I thought possible.”
Reaching down, Sloan slowly and deliberately loosened her robe and shrugging her shoulders, let it fall into a silken pool at her feet. She smiled to herself as she saw Tom catch his breath and watched in satisfaction as she saw the possessive wonder that came into his eyes as he gazed at her. Stepping forward into his outstretched arms, she closed her eyes and reveled in the incredible warmth of his skin against her as he wrapped her in his strong embrace.
“Let your desire for me build,” she whispered against his ear. “Let me feel it but concentrate on focusing it. ”
Holding tightly to his control, Tom reached out to touch Sloan’s emotional imprint and slowly, carefully released *desire*need* as his hands traveled over the soft curves of her body. He felt her tremble and as he sensed her own desire rising quickly in response, he smiled against her neck.
“Did you feel it?” he asked, his voice rough and breathless.
Her answer was a spike of *desire* so sharp that Tom almost gasped. Closing his eyes, he nuzzled her neck and shoulder, inhaling the fragrant scent of her warm skin. He felt her fingers move urgently to his waistband but her hands were shaking so hard that he had to reach down to help her.
And then the months of wanting, the nights of dreaming and yearning came together and she was in his arms and in his bed as she had been in his heart.
Tom could feel the strength of her desire for him as she passionately returned his kisses and it amazed him and increased his need to claim ownership to this powerful feeling coursing between them.
Releasing her mouth, he lowered his head to the pale smoothness of her neck . Taking a deep breath, he gently bit her neck in return, quickly covering his bite with warm kisses. Then he moved his soft lips slowly along her shoulder, and opening his mouth, slid down to sensuously kiss her breasts.
Sloan gasped sharply in pleasure, her body tensing involuntarily. Reaching down, she caught his face in both her hands, pulling him up and coaxing his lips back to hers. Breathlessly taking his mouth, she ran her hands along his shoulders and back, then eagerly arched up against him as he settled deeply into her.
As Tom kissed her tenderly and moved gently against her, he reached out to release *love*passion*devotion* . He heard her breath catch as his emotions flowed over her and then her body shuddered and he heard her softly cry his name and her love for him. Her release pulled him over the edge and he buried his face against her neck and groaned deeply as he tightened his arms around her.
As they lay closely and quietly in each other’s arms, Tom could still feel Sloan’s heart beating against him. Gently cradling her cheek in his hand, he looked warmly into her loving gaze.
“I may have given purpose to your life, but you have given me so much more,” he said softly.
“You have given me love and that has given meaning to my life.”
~35 ~
Walking into the usual bustle of morning activity in the kitchen, Sloan paused to stare at Ed. The corners of her mouth twitched as she looked at her friend, smiling and humming to himself as he buttered his toast. Glancing at Walter, she broke into a wide grin at the answering wiggle of his eyebrows as he returned her look over the edge of his coffee cup.
Standing at the counter next to Tom, Ray was startled by the intense look Sloan directed at Tom as she walked toward him and took the coffee cup he handed her. And instead of his customary touch on her cheek, Tom leaned forward, whispered in her ear and brushed a kiss on her cheek. Ray watched in amusement as a slight blush colored Sloan’s face and then smiled openly when he saw the sparkle in her eyes as she looked into Tom’s face.
Walking toward the table, he caught Grace and Walter’s amused smiles. As he sat down, he looked over at Ed, still humming and buttering, then glanced back at Sloan and Tom, sharing the cup of coffee they held between them.
“I need to get the name of the restaurant these guys went to last night,” he said to Walter with a wide grin.
Walter chuckled as Grace gave Ray a good-natured nudge in the ribs and muttered that the last thing he needed was a good excuse. Gathering Matt’s things, she stood up and hurried the young boy through his good-byes to everyone, pausing with a smile to wait while he dashed over to Tom and Sloan to put his arms around them both as they stood together at the counter.
“I’ve got some information I need to share with all of you,” Walter began as Tom and Sloan walked to the table and Grace sat back down next to Ray.
“While Mark and Tom have been following up on Lewis’ whereabouts, Ray and I have been following up leads on the existence of another pillar.” Seeing that he had everyone’s attention, Walter continued. “We just received inside information on an excavation the Dominants are conducting in an area near the mountains not far from where the first pillar was found.”
“Who’s our source?” Sloan asked, looking worriedly at Walter and Ray. “Felicity?”
Walter shook his head but kept silent.
“Mark?” Ed persisted, his glance including Tom.
“I’m sorry,” Walter said frowning slightly. “We can’t say who right now, but it is a solid source from within the Dominant Council and he has made it clear we are welcome at the site.”
“So,” Sloan said briskly. “When do we leave?”
Walter smiled at her eagerness. “You, Ray and Mark will leave this morning. Tom and I will be there later tonight.
“Couldn’t Ray and Mark go this morning and Sloan travel with us tonight?” Tom asked, his hands tightening around the coffee cup he held.
Walter gave him an understanding look but shook his head. “I know how concerned you are after what happened yesterday, but Sloan will be safe with Ray and Mark. And I need you with me this morning to keep the momentum of the Peace Negotiations going. Without Mark there, your presence is the only thing that will keep the Dominants from walking out.”
“And I need to be in Mexico to see the excavation site as soon as possible,” Sloan added, reaching for his hand to give it a reassuring squeeze.
“Mark and I will take good care of her, Tom” Ray said firmly. Turning to Grace and seeing the concern in her eyes, he put an arm around her shoulder. “Don’t worry, Baby,” he said leaning his forehead against hers. “I’ll be back in a few days.”
“Well, you be careful,” she said softly, reaching over to smooth his shirt collar. Throwing Sloan a wink across the table, she added, “And I don’t want to hear you got fresh with this man.”
“No problem, Grace,” Sloan said, smiling at Ray’s embarrassment. “You can dust him for fingerprints when we get back.”
~ 36 ~
“So, what’s on your mind?”
Tom glanced over at Ray as he put the last suitcase in the trunk and pocketed the key.
“Come on, give it up, Tom,” Ray said with a kind smile, leaning against the car. “What have we humans done now to confuse you?”
Tom quirked a smile and walked over to stand next to Ray.
“When Walter said he wanted you and Sloan to leave on such short notice, I thought Grace would be angry. But what I sensed was more a flicker of sadness.... a dull pain....” Tom grimaced and absently rubbed his thumb against the palm of his other hand as he searched for the words to express himself. Looking at Ray, Tom tilted his head. “You have those same feelings,” he said with surprise.
“We miss each other when we can’t be together,” Ray said simply.
“Because you’re married? Or because you’re in love?”
“Yes,” Ray said with a wide grin.
Seeing Tom’s confusion, Ray sighed and shrugged. “I’m not good at talking about this kind of stuff. I don’t know how to explain how I feel about Grace except to say that I don’t feel right unless I’m with her. Like something really meaningful is missing from me.”
“As if you don’t feel complete without her?”
“More than that,” Ray said thoughtfully. “She makes me feel important, as if I there’s a reason for me to be here, doing what I’m doing.”
“But wouldn’t you feel the same way whether you were married or not?”
Ray smiled and shook his head. “I can’t speak for all humans, just me. And for me, there’s a whole different level of commitment. Especially now that we have Matt.”
Tom could sense Ray’s deep love and pride for his family as well as a strong thread of fierce *selfless*protectiveness* . It was a new and confusing combination.
As Ray observed the conflicting emotions flicker across Tom’s face, he reached over to touch his arm. “Is there something else bothering you, Tom?” he asked, concern in his eyes and voice.
Tom lowered his head and was so still and quiet that Ray pulled his hand back, afraid he’d somehow given offense. But the gaze Tom turned toward him was troubled, not angry.
“The closer I grow to Sloan, the more difficult it is to separate myself from her .... physically and emotionally.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing,” Ray said looking sharply at Tom.
“But my training and instincts...”
“Were focused on your survival,” Ray finished. “You have a different focus now. Sloan. She’s the most important thing in your life... just like Grace and Matt are for me”
“But isn’t it difficult to protect them when you love them so much?”
Ray paused, startled by the intensity in Tom’s unwavering stare.
“No, it’s easier, Tom,” he said returning his direct gaze. “There’s no doubt in my mind that I would put myself between them and anything in this world that would hurt them. Even if it meant giving my life.”
Tom gave Ray a small smile and nodded, the troubled look easing from his eyes.
~ 37 ~
Sloan squinted against the bright sun and she and Ray quickly slipped their sunglasses on as they stepped out into the searing heat to stand next to Mark. Ray nodded toward a man standing alone at the edge of the excavation, and they headed toward him.
As they got closer, Sloan could see the top of the pillar and the first few feet of familiar markings on its side. In comparison, this pillar was nearly twice the size of the one Walter had transported to the warehouse for them to study. She and Ray exchanged surprised glances and as she looked at Mark she noticed his attention was riveted on the man coming forward to meet them.
Stepping forward, Sloan extended her hand. “Hello, I’m Dr. Parker from the Whitney Institute and this is Ray Peterson and Mark Ward.” As Sloan took his hand, she was struck by an odd familiarity about him, and wished she could see behind the dark sunglasses he was wearing.
“Pleased to meet you,” he said in a soft voice. “I’m James.”
Something about his voice and his movements nagged at Sloan’s mind. Perhaps, it’s just because he’s a Dominant, she thought, watching him closely as he talked to Ray. Giving herself a mental shake, she came back to the conversation as he suggested they go to the nearby tent to get out of the heat.
Stepping into the cool shade, Sloan slipped off her sunglasses.
“I’m sorry, James. I don’t think I caught your last name,” she said pointedly as she rubbed her aching eyes.
“Here Dr. Parker, this should help”
Sloan smiled in relief as she saw the cool drink James held out to her. But as she took the glass from his hand and raised her eyes to thank him, she nearly dropped it.
He’d also taken off his sunglasses and the intense unwavering gaze from his clear blue grey eyes was shockingly and intimately familiar.
“My last name is Daniels. I believe you know my son Tom.”
~ 38 ~
Walter grimaced slightly as he watched Tom sitting motionless and silent next to him in the van.
When Sloan had called earlier and told them the news, Tom had been stunned. Or at least as much as you can stun a Dominant Walter amended, smiling to himself.
But Tom had been even more uncommunicative than usual on the flight to Mexico and the drive to the excavation site and Walter was getting concerned.
“I take it you don’t remember your father?”
Tom shook his head slightly and continued to sightlessly watch the scenery speed by.
“I only remember my Host Mother.”
Walter nodded but said nothing. As much as he would like to press Tom, he knew how difficult it was for him to reveal any information about his species to humans. Over the past few months, Tom had been more forthcoming but Walter felt there were some things they would never know.
Feeling Walter’s curiosity, Tom turned to him and stared into his eyes. Satisfied with the patience and openness he saw there, he continued. “Dominant families are large, like a clan or tribe. Except for those who partner-couple or are involved in important work, females in a family are Host Mothers. Fertilization is selective, Host Mothers are implanted and carry, birth and sometimes raise these children.
“It’s ... efficient,” he said flatly.
As the van pulled into a dusty clearing by the excavation site, Sloan came running out of a large tent. Before the vehicle had even come to a complete stop, Tom was out and into her arms.
He closed his eyes and sighed deeply, marveling at the peace he found just by being with her. Leaning back to look deeply into her eyes, he smoothed her hair and touched her face, almost as if to reassure himself as much as Sloan.
Looking over her shoulder he saw Ray and Mark with another man walking toward. them. It was hard to see his features in the dusky light but he felt an odd twinge in his mind as he sensed subdued *anxiety*affection* from the man.
“Tom,” Sloan said, taking his hand and drawing him forward. “This is your father, James.”
The two men faced each other, silently, tentatively sensing each other’s feelings. Looking directly at him, James was amazed at the control Tom was exerting. Despite the feelings he must be experiencing, James was only able to sense a low hum of curiosity and wary anticipation.
After a moment, James turned to acknowledge Walter. As they talked, Tom glanced from his father to Mark, and was startled to sense a familiarity between the two. Although Mark stood to the side, quiet and deferential, there was an ease of acquaintance as well as a watchful protectiveness that piqued Tom’s curiosity.
“I’ve taken the liberty of having dinner prepared for us,” James said with a slight smile.
“Shall we go into the tent? I believe we have a lot to discuss.”
~ 39 ~
“I take it the Council wouldn’t approve of our presence here,” Walter began as they seated themselves at the table.
James shrugged noncommittally. “They can hardly have an opinion on a situation they are unaware of,” he said taking a seat directly across from Tom and Sloan.
“So why are we here?” Ray asked bluntly, as he looked dubiously at the variety of unusual fruits and vegetables on his plate.
“Because it’s not just about Us against You anymore,” James said. Glancing at Mark, who nodded in agreement, he continued. “I also believe coexistence is possible but before we can come to terms with that, there is a more pressing problem.”
“Is it the Pillar?” Sloan interjected. As James lifted an eyebrow and turned his pale gaze to her, she paused, her fork hovering in mid-air . She was struck again at the glimpses of Tom she saw and felt in him. As she noticed the corners of his mouth twitch in amusement, she started and quickly lowered her fork.
“No, Dr. Parker, the Pillar is the solution.
“Or at least it will be once we activate it.”
“And how does that happen?” Walter asked. “What activates it?”
“It’s not what, it’s who,” James answered.
There was an impatient pause in the conversation as the table was cleared and cold drinks and bowls of fruit were set out.
Leaning back in his chair, James looked speculatively at the group around the table, his eyes coming to rest on Tom.
“Among the Chosen there are certain ones, like myself, who have special abilities. They can release emotions....energy. They can link with others....”
“They can activate the Pillar,” Sloan said excitedly as James nodded at her. Frowning, she looked at him questioningly. “But even though Tom was drawn to a particular section of the Pillar we had at the warehouse, he didn’t affect it.”
“It requires at least two special Chosen to activate a Pillar,” James explained. “And the one we’re excavating now would require a minimum of four.
“But why excavate it now?” Walter asked abruptly, leaning forward a worried look on his face. “What’s the hurry?”
“October 1998 ... Kelley's Comet” Sloan said succinctly.
James looked at Sloan appraisingly and gave her a slight smile. “It will come too close to Earth. The potential for natural disaster is extremely high but the Pillar can alter it’s course.”
“So how do we fit into this?” Walter asked, looking from James to Mark. “What do we have that you need?”
“The facilities to house it and the means to protect it,” he stated. “There are factions within our group that would welcome the devastation this disaster would cause to the human population.
“I’m sure there are other questions you have,” James said with a nod as he rose. “But if you don’t mind, they will have to wait until tomorrow.
“Tom, Dr. Parker, could you stay? I would like to talk with you....both.”
~ 40 ~
As James stepped outside to have a few words with Walter, Sloan turned to Tom, her eyes searching his face.
“How are you feeling about all of this?”
Tom let out a breath and pushed his chair back from the table. “I’m not sure,” he said looking at Sloan, his brows creased together.
“Haven’t you ever wondered about your parents? Who they were? What they did?”
Tom shook his head. “A lot of the programming we went through was designed to make us forget those memories....or make it impossible to remember them.”
Sloan slid her hand over onto Tom’s leg, patting it comfortingly. She knew he was thinking of the near fatal results of their attempt to use Walter’s drug regression therapy.
“How about your father?” Sloan asked. “Can you tell what your father is feeling?”
“He’s concerned. He’s unsure of Walter’s acceptance.” Tom quirked a smile and reached out to caress her cheek. “And he’s very curious about you.”
Sloan flashed him a warm smile and capturing his hand, held it to her face as she gently rubbed her cheek in his palm. Suddenly, she felt as well as saw, Tom’s attention focus behind her and she knew without looking that James had stepped into the tent. As she felt Tom start to pull his hand away, Sloan tightened her hold. Turning her head slightly to place a kiss in his palm, she paused, released his hand, then turned around calmly to meet James’s direct gaze with her own.
James opened, then shut his mouth as he took in the challenging lift of her chin as well as the feelings of affection and amusement radiating from Tom as he looked at her.
“Well,” he said, looking from one to the other. “I guess that answers my question as to your relationship.
“You don’t seem too shocked,” Tom commented, putting his arm easily around the back of Sloan’s chair. “Or did Mark already tell you?”
“Mark?” Sloan asked, casting a confused look at Tom.
“Mark is one of my Silent Monitors,” James said, sitting down across from Tom. “He keeps an eye on things that are.... important to me.”
Tom lifted an eyebrow and stared in mild surprise at his father’s words. “And if I’m so important to you, why haven’t I heard from you before you needed me to help activate the Pillar?”
“As one of the Chosen on the Council, my position is more or less advisory,” James said defensively. “I may have a great deal of influence, but there are some rules and dictates that even I am powerless against.” He studied Tom for a moment, then sighed, his expression softening. “When you were born, I visited you and your birth siblings.” Seeing the astonished look on Tom’s face, James laughed softly. “The attendants in the nursery were likewise shocked.”
“You were my first conceptions with Beth. And my last.” Tom wasn’t prepared for the wall of pain and longing that abruptly hit him and just as quickly was quelled. “It was against the rules, of course, but with Beth gone, I had to see all of you before you were taken away too.”
“Tom told me about the role of Host Mothers,” Sloan said tentatively. “What kind of work was Beth doing that she chose to have her children host mothered?”
“She was a Chameleon,” James said, his steady voice at odds with the bleakness in his pale eyes. “She was killed on an assignment. I never found out how.”
Sloan watched him rub his thumb absently against the palm of his other hand and the aching familiarity of that small gesture and the distress she knew it masked, touched her heart. Leaning forward she took both his hands in hers to gently still the movement and was rewarded by a bright flash of *surprise*gratitude* before his features were once again composed. Releasing his hands, Sloan sat back, nestling into the curve of Tom’s arm as she waited for James to continue.
“When I found out that you were chosen for the Chameleon Program, I tried to intervene but the Council overruled me and I was reprimanded for showing interest in you. That was when I started using the Silent Monitors to watch you .... report how you were doing.”
Tom could sense his father’s struggle to justify his interest in him without admitting to his emotions. It was a struggle he understood well ... one he had fought and lost because of Sloan.
“Is that how you found out about my special abilities?” Tom asked curiously. “Through one of the Silent Monitors?”
James shook his head. “No, it was in one of Lewis’s reports to the Council.” His eyes widened at the wave of *shock*anger* he immediately felt from both Tom and Sloan.
“You know Lewis?” Sloan demanded, leaning forward. “You know what he’s like and what he does and yet you gave him your son?”
“Lewis is an honored and respected Trainer. He heads the entire Chameleon Program.” James stated impassively. “He requested to be Tom’s Mentor and the Council agreed.
“Besides,” he added quietly, his voice edged with regret. “Tom was never mine to give ... or to keep.”
~ 41 ~
Nodding at two of Mark’s men who had positioned themselves discreetly nearby, Tom ducked into the small tent. He could sense that Sloan was asleep and despite his news, hesitated to wake her. Slipping into the sleeping bag with her, he gently gathered her into his arms.
“Ummph.” she mumbled sleepily against his chest. “’Bout time you came to bed.”
Tom smiled in the dark as he felt her arms slip around him and he marveled again at the peace and familiar comfort he found in her embrace. As he sensed her rising consciousness, he slowly stroked her back until she opened her eyes.
“I didn’t mean to wake you,” he said softly, reaching up to brush her hair out of her eyes.
“It’s okay,” she murmured, snuggling closer. “I want to hear what you and your father talked about after I left. Anything important?”
“Well,” he said slowly, an amused tone in his voice. “Let’s just say, it’s a good thing you and Amanda decided to develop that contraceptive.”
It took a moment for the meaning of his words to sink in but when they did, she was suddenly wide awake, questions tumbling from her lips until Tom kissed them quiet.
“My father said that the Chosen with Chosen myth was initially created as a way of protecting the secret of our emotional abilities from the Council” he began.
“Of course,” Sloan said. “They would have considered these traits genetically undesirable.”
“But once it was discovered that the Chosen were exceptionally intuitive,” Tom added. “They became important in situations where more independent thinking was required.”
“Like the Chameleon Program,” Sloan stated, involuntarily tightening her arms around him.
Tom nodded, rubbing his cheek against her hair. “And then when special chosen were found to be able to activate the pillars, the group as a whole became very valuable members of the Dominant Society.
“My father is one of three Chosen on the Council. Although he has no real power, he wields great influence.”
“Speaking of your father, how does he feel about our partner-coupling?” Sloan asked worriedly. “I mean, having you turn away from your species must be hard enough for him to accept, but to do so with a human...”
“He knows how we feel about each other, Sloan,” he said, kissing her reassuringly. “He’s experienced a partner-coupling and knows the depth of the commitment involved.
“He said he accepts the choices I’ve made. All of them.”
As she slid her arms around Tom’s neck to pull him closer, she suddenly felt him tense. Before she could ask what was wrong, he was out of the tent, ordering Mark’s men to stay with her. She heard a flurry of activity then her stomach knotted at the muffled sounds of gunfire. Quickly scrambling out, Sloan screamed as one of Mark’s men grabbed her and threw her down, covering her with his body as an explosion rocked the area around them, lighting the night sky.
As he rolled off of her and pulled her to her feet, Sloan could see Ray and Walter running out of their tents, guns drawn. She desperately searched the chaos of noise and running men, catching sight of James and Mark but not Tom. Mark’s men ran, urging her on toward an outcropping of boulders as they fired behind them. Another explosion knocked them to the ground and in the hail of falling debris, Sloan was horrified to see that both men had been shot.
She gasped as she felt a hand grab her from behind and jerk her to her feet. Her mind was still reeling from what she had just seen but she knew instantly that the arm around her waist and the body that pressed into her back was not Tom’s ... even before she felt the revolver at her head.
“People have a way of dying around you, don’t they Dr. Parker.”
Sloan’s mouth went dry and she froze, remembering another time when this man had held a revolver to her head. “Lewis,” she hissed, her rage at him overriding her fear. “Why do you waste your time with me? Don’t you have a war to run?”
His wolfish laugh was the last thing she heard as she felt a sharp pain at the back of her neck and lost consciousness.
Slipping his gun into his waistband, Lewis knelt down and quickly pulled off the small stone pendant she wore around her neck. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out an exquisitely carved chess piece ... an Ivory Queen ... and wrapping the necklace cord around it, tossed them both onto the ground by the two men.
“Checkmate, Tom” he whispered, shouldering Sloan and swiftly melting into the night.
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