Days of Darkness

Chapter 20

Just fine when I left a few days ago," Hank replied. I suspected he didn't know about her condition. There was nothing in his tone that indicated she would be anything but fine.

"You saw my mother?" Natalie asked, immediately stopping sandwich construction to sit next to Hank. She hadn't understood the Runnymede reference.

"Yes," Hank responded, a little surprised at her vehemence, "I guess it was a few days after you left Flagstaff. I assure you, she was just fine." He began again when he saw her eyes relax, "She was a very difficult woman to convince of my intentions." He chuckled a bit, "I think the CIA could learn a thing or two about interrogations from her." Natalie laughed, obviously relieved that Rose's sickness hadn't affected her overtly as of yet.

"How did you find us?" I asked, then added, "will anyone else find us?"

"I think you're well hidden for now. They are looking for you," Hank said, pointing at me, "not Natalie. They don't understand Esmeralda as I do. They would have found you by now if they did."

"Who are you?" Natalie interjected, then covered the unintentionally rude tone by rising to finish the sandwiches.

"I guess I'm her father, or something close to that," Hank answered. I was about to say something when Natalie jumped in with a fierceness I was expecting.

"Sam's her father!"

"I assure you," Hank said, looking at the way Natalie was holding the butter knife. It was dripping mayonnaise on the floor as her knuckles turned white. "I did not mean in a nurturing way." Natalie smiled at his words and placed the knife on the counter. She tore off a paper towel and proceeded to wipe the mess off the floor. I could only stare at her. I had no idea her convictions were so strong. Teegan was indeed a powerful d**g.

"I meant only that I...well..." Hank paused, "I wish you two no offense." We said nothing, which he took as our wish that he continue. "I made her, or better, my team made her." Under the table, my hands formed fists. I am sure my face was fist-like as well. Natalie was still, not turning to look at either of us.

"I don't mean to imply she is less human," Hank said, looking between the two of us, "I love her as well."

Are you trying to tell us she's some kind of Frankenstein," I said. I tried not to grit my teeth as I spoke.

"No, no," Hank tried to regain the conversation. Natalie turned slowly. I saw the same anger in her eyes when she kicked the crap out of Gerrard. I may be the father, but Natalie was the mother, all lioness.

"Please," Hank said, standing and backing away, "she had a surrogate mother and a natural birth. She's what we will all be in 50,000 years or so." I relaxed my hands as his words tried to make their way through my logic centers. Natalie was obviously as confused as I was. Hank still looked concerned.

"Have either of you had adverse reactions," Hank said, again looking quickly, back and forth, between Natalie and me, "headaches or sleepiness."

"Nosebleeds," I said without thinking.

"Pretty much passed out," Natalie added, "both of us."

"First, let me assure you I have no intention of breaking you three up," Hank said, looking mostly at Natalie, "I'm here to explain things and make sure nothing bad happens to Esmerelda. I want her nowhere near the government as well."

"Teegan," Natalie said, her face softening, "we call her Teegan."

"That's a pretty name," Hank said, "Teegan it is."

"It's better than Stinky," Natalie said, almost laughing. Hank looked confused.

"It made sense at the time," I defended myself, "and she was...and still is." Hank looked at us like we were crazy. Maybe he was rethinking our ability to care for Teegan. So I took some time to give him the necessary context. By then, Natalie had brought sandwiches to the table.

"The woman in the car was Dr. Jane Forrester," Hank said sadly, "She was the second person ever to link with Esmer...Teegan." He shook his head slowly, "A fine obstetrician and a good friend."

"Who was the first to link with her?" I asked.

"The surrogate, of course," Hank smiled, "to this day Debbie thinks it is the finest thing she has ever done. She knew before the rest of us that Teegan was special. She only gave her up because it was in Teegan's best interest. Like the rest of us, she didn't want to lose her to...other interested parties."

"I have a million questions," I admitted, "maybe you should just start at the beginning and save us some time." Natalie quickly agreed. Hank took a bite of his sandwich, complementing Natalie's kitchen skills with a small hum of satisfaction. We waited for him to swallow.

"I'm a genetic anthropologist," Hank began, "I specialized in breaking down ancient DNA, comparing it through the years to the DNA that exists today. A few years ago, I teamed up with a mathematician, and we postulated, using my data and his probability equations, what human DNA would look like 50,000 years from now." Hank bit his bottom lip in a guilty manner as he watched our eyes. I was stunned, knowing what was coming. "We knew the chromosomes that needed to remain intact and the ones that could fluctuate and had been fluctuating for thousands of years. It was all on paper, well a computer simulation."

"You played God," I sighed, pulling Teegan closer to my chest. Hank nodded.

"The government saw the research and consulted with third parties. It was thought that knowledge of future man was of strategic importance to the country. If you know what's coming, you know better how to keep the country, and its government, viable. There was strong military interest as well." I nodded, hugging my child closer. I didn't care how she came into the world.

"You can imagine the ethical boundaries that had to be crossed. The government wanted to know, but no politician would allow their name to be attached to it." He paused for a moment and sighed, "it was decided that private funding would be used. Patriots I was told. They may have been, but they were businesspeople first." Hank shook his head, "I was an arrogant fool - so excited that see what science would bring."

"After many failures, Teegan was our first and only success," Hank said, "Debbie was seven months into the pregnancy when she became aware of Teegan's gift. It was weak at first; then it grew rapidly. Unlike us, she couldn't turn it off, not that she wanted too."

"We all thought Debbie was losing her mind. She described the link as a perfect bond, Teegan drawing her deeply inward. Debbie became obsessive about her care, desiring nothing but a perfect birth. The only one she initially allowed near was Dr. Forrester. That's when we learned the link was real and could be passed through another. As you well know, it's triggered by touch."

"That's changing," I added. Hanked looked at me with surprise.

"She projects to Sam," Natalie added. Somehow we had both come to trust Hank. It was probably Ruth's acceptance that led to it.

"How far?" Hank asked.

"I don't know," I admitted.

"Sam was in here the last time," Natalie said. She pointed to the second bedroom, "and Teegan was in there, behind a closed door."

"Amazing," Hank said, "is it like the normal link?"

"No," I replied, shaking my head, "It's only extreme things. Pain, great relief," I chuckled, "there was one time when she pooped. I guess her tummy was tight, and the relief was so great, I felt it as well." I tickled Teegan's stomach, and she laughed for me, almost as if in agreement.

"May I?" Hank asked, holding out his hand toward Teegan. I could see the science behind his eyes. His curiosity was as strong as his commitment to Teegan. Natalie, who was sitting between us, took my hand with her right and nodded to me. I encircled Teegan's foot with my palm as Natalie took Hank's hand in her left. The perfect world emerged, and we shared.

"Whoa!" Hank said, the first to disconnect, "she has gotten so much more powerful." His smile spanned the cabin; curiosity replaced with knowledge. Somehow, I sensed a pulse of what I could only call as love from Natalie, almost like she sent it, deliberately targeted at me. We shared a smile when I sent my own back. Natalie released my hand before things that should remain private became public. I let go of Teegan's foot thinking I could never be any happier.

"She loves you so incredibly," Hank said, looking at me. I wondered why I never felt it like that. I knew it and had felt her love, but not to the degree everyone else had claimed.

"He's her father," Natalie insisted as if it were set in stone.

"I do believe he is," Hank agreed, "I think she chose you."

"A poor choice," I said, "but she's grown on me."

"We have a theory that the link is a survival mechanism," Hank continued, "kind of an intellectual cuteness. Something that ensures caregivers are at their best and willing to protect and serve her needs."

"Drugged slaves?" I asked and instantly regretted my choice of words.