Amazon: Regenesis
by Itinerant
edited By Amelia R.
Amazon - Part 9: Dancing Queen (continued)
Biographer's Note: This is Nicole's story. It covers those events and people she finds notable in her life and chooses to share. If you have problems with it, take it up with her. I'm just a glorified stenographer.
Saturday, February 10, 2001
Los Angeles, CA
The weekday teams had settled into a routine; the subject was busy enough that deviations from the class schedule were unlikely. Nobody knew what to expect for the weekend, other than that the rain and cool temperatures would cancel any beach plans. They waited patiently as the drips of water ran down the windows.
Finally, about nine o'clock, she came barreling out of the hotel and zipped out of the parking lot as if to head to the dance studio. It quickly became apparent, as she continued past the place, that she had another destination in mind.
In a few minutes, she was disappearing into the Tanner house, moving quickly to dodge the falling raindrops as another wave of slightly heavier showers passed through. They recalled the previous Saturday with the mad shopping dash in the mall and prayed fervently that they'd be spared this weekend.
They groaned as the terrible twosome thundered out of the house just a few minutes later and roared off in the target's car. There was no doubt—she had a credit card and wasn't afraid to use it.
"Fire up the tracker. Let's find out where they're shopping this weekend," sighed the driver.
Nicole stretched as she finished putting away the laundry that had been returned that morning. Jeans were the uniform of the day, and with the rain, she put on a blouse—and tucked it in.
~Let Kate fuss. It's too cool to not have things tucked in today.~
She scooted over to the Tanner home, finding Kate dressed and ready to go. The two were soon back in Nicole's car and on their way to the Century City Mall.
"So how did the rest of the week go, sis?" Kate asked.
"For the most part, it went fine. There was a little excitement last night when a couple of muggers jumped us on our way to our cars."
"Us? Our? Who's the rest of this 'us,' sister-mine?"
Nicole felt the heat rising in her cheeks as she drove along and outlined the events of the week. She mentioned her introduction to Rich, the encounters during the dance lessons and party, and how he'd taken care of the muggers. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Tigger's intent look as she finished.
Kate had been watching her friend's reactions as she related her story. "You like him, don't you." It wasn't a question.
Nicole didn't reply for a couple of minutes as she steered her car into a parking spot. Turning off the engine, she sat back in the seat. "I can't. I want to—God knows how I was ..."
"Getting a little damp between the legs, you say?" There was just the least bit of teasing in Kate's voice.
"Kate!" Nicole's face flamed almost as red as her hair, and she turned her glare toward her passenger.
A gentle hand on Nicole's arm, and a sympathetic look stayed more of a reaction. "Nicole, it's okay. That happens to all women to some degree when we start getting aroused."
"But I can't, Kate. It isn't fair to him—or me. He's warm, intelligent, and witty—a classic tall, dark, and handsome man; I can feel my body just aching to be with him. It's bad enough he wants to go out tonight."
"So we find you a vibrator, and you use him as inspiration." Kate shrugged and watched as Nicole's face reached new shades of red. "Remember what I said about women having to be more careful. You aren't protected, so you can't indulge unless you intend to get pregnant. You aren't used to the hormone storm you're going through right now, so you're having a hard time handling it. Trust me, I've been there, and I know how you feel."
"Like you need a diaper when he's around?"
Kate blinked. "Well ... I don't get quite that damp." She paused. "Really?"
The embarrassed woman nodded, silently.
Kate pursed her lips as she thought for a moment. "You can probably get by using a pad; it should be absorbent enough to cope no matter how excited you get. But to get back to the main topic: What are you going to do about Rich?"
"I ... can't avoid him for the next couple of weeks, and to be perfectly honest, I don't want to. I do like his company, and I think he likes mine from what I'm picking up. I'll have to be as honest as I can with him; I already warned him about my travel plans."
"And until we find you a little buzzing, plastic friend, you'll just have to use your hands to keep the tension level down." Getting an inarticulate growl in response, Kate continued. "Look, don't be so squeamish. You're a healthy, adult woman; it's smarter to relieve the stress and keep yourself out of trouble. You haven't taken time to give yourself an orgasm yet, have you?" It was another statement, not a question.
"Once. The first week in Dana Point."
"Once in the last six weeks, more or less. Or ... has it been only once, ever?"
Silence.
"I see we're going to have to have a nice long talk later. We have things to do right now, and the rain's let up."
The two girls got out and jogged into the mall through the rain.
The next few hours were spent walking the mall, as they shopped for new outfits suitable for next week, and some new jeans and a top for Nicole.
"You only have the one pair, and this will give you something clean for tonight. You should make a good impression on your new boyfriend." Kate teased her companion.
They took a break a little after noon in the food court and discussed the tactical shopping options for the early afternoon.
"I need to be ready by six, and I'll need time to get ready." She checked a few strands of hair. "I really should wash this mop, too."
A couple of hours, a pair of jeans, a turquoise top, and two, matching, scandalously small, black dresses later, the two were off to the Tanner's to drop off Kate and her purchases.
~Two thirty by the time I get back. Three and a half hours should be enough to get ready, even with drying my hair. I hope.~ Nicole built her task list in her head as she drove along, unheeding of the vehicle that trailed along behind.
6:00PM PST
It only sunk in as she stood, waiting, in the lobby.
~I'm going out on a date ... with a man ... alone ... and I'm looking forward to it.~
It was fortunate that, as her higher mental functions restarted and began to process the implications of that thought, Rich drove up to the entrance in a sleek, black Firebird.
~Too late to run!~
It looked like a refugee from the old 'Knight Rider' television show. The spray from the roads seemed only to increase the depth of the finish and the engine rumbled as only the muscle cars could. Rich looked like he unfolded from the driver's seat as he got out; he made his way to the passenger side of the vehicle as Nicole walked toward him. He was dressed in jeans and a plaid flannel shirt; a worn, brown leather jacket and boots completed his look of casual comfort.
"Good evening, Nicole. I wish the weather were better, but at least the rain quit for us."
"A little water never hurt anyone, and we'll be inside, so..." she shrugged.
With a nod, he handed her into the car, unaware of the mental effort she exerted to remember to follow normal procedure for a woman as she sat down and rotated herself into the seat.
"So where are we off to?"
"Weber's Place. It's a bar and grill a little north of here, in Receda; it's a good place for food and music. Nothing fancy, but it's tasty and fun, and on Friday and Saturday they have live music."
The drive was relatively short, and Rich found a parking spot that was reasonably close to the entrance. He opened his door to get out, and Nicole started to do the same. A strong hand on her arm forestalled her exit.
"Just hold on a moment, and I'll come around to let you out."
Nicole just sat and waited for him, as much due to the need to think as anything. Tom would have done the same thing for Beth; Rich was obviously someone who believed in treating a woman as a lady.
~How do I feel about that?~ she wondered. She, better than anyone alive, knew she was hardly a frail woman; the whole 'protective man' bit would get old in a hurry, she was sure. Still, the attention was enjoyable; it made her feel special in a way Tom had never felt. She could sense Rich's feelings of protectiveness, and yet a strong respectful streak was there, too.
The thoughts chasing around in her mind were disrupted by the door opening. Rich extended a hand, and once again, she concentrated on a lady-like exit. The smile she gave Rich was honest, despite her inner confusion.
She was at the door before she realized he still had her hand in his.
And she didn't mind.
A couple of minutes later, they were seated in a corner where they could see the stage, but weren't in the direct line of fire of the speakers. The band for the night was playing acoustical guitars, but she didn't want to test her ears healing ability any more than necessary.
"What do you recommend?" she asked.
"If you prefer a salad," he gave a questioning look and received a nod in return, "their Chicken Caesar Salad is my choice." He stuck out an arm and flexed his bicep, eliciting giggles, "If you want REAL food, you should try their Mega Munchin' Platter."
"So you're having the salad, I take it?" She carefully kept her face serious.
"What? Me real man! Me have meat!" His cave man imitation was enough to crack her façade.
The waiter returned to their table, finding them gasping for breath to recover from laughter. Intermittent giggles rose as they finally ordered her salad and his platter.
"And what would you like to drink?"
Rich asked for a Guinness, and she ordered a diet cola. "You don't drink alcohol?" he inquired.
She shrugged. "Not very often. I don't have much of a taste for most of it."
"You don't mind if I have it, though?"
The red hair waved a bit as she shook her head at him. "I have no problem, as long as you don't overindulge. I know a lot of people really like the flavor."
The conversation was briefly interrupted by the arrival of their drinks, but quickly resumed as they shared stories about their youth. Rich painted a word picture of the Oklahoma reservation, the struggle that so many of his neighbors had had to stay employed and provide for their families.
"An awful lot of the kids I went to school with dropped out, or burned their brains out with drugs or alcohol. That was another of the reasons I just had to leave; I didn't want to end up like that." His face hardly echoed his feelings. "My grandmother had a lot to do with keeping me out of that kind of trouble. She's a medicine woman of the AniWodi, or Paint Clan; it's a position that still is held in honor—even by those who don't follow the traditions of the Cherokee. She's also the eldest on the clan's council of grandmothers. I tried to get them to talk to her, or just listen, but they wouldn't."
Nicole put a hand on his arm. "It hurt you to see them like that, too, didn't it?"
He nodded. "My best friend is buried because of alcohol and drugs. He lost hope, and tried to run away from it all."
Nicole's eyes teared at the waves of grief that were radiating from him. "I'm sorry you lost your friend." She forced a wan smile as she used a tissue to daub the tears from her eyes.
He had to gather himself a bit, before responding. "I'm sorry I brought it up. I shouldn't spoil your evening like that."
"It's what friends are for—sharing the burden. I'm flattered you felt comfortable telling me about it. Someday, I hope you can show me where you grew up."
His smile returned. "I think I'd like that very much."
Their food finally arrived, and they sat and munched away as the musicians prepared for their first set. The music seemed to perfectly match the mood of the evening—warm, relaxed, and friendly.
The musicians finally were done with their last set at midnight, and Nicole and Rich made their way back to his car and then her hotel.
"I really enjoyed this evening, Nicole. You're good company, and a good friend, I think."
The tall redhead smiled back warmly, and she gave him a careful hug. "I'm glad you think so, and I'm happy to call you a friend, too." With a final squeeze, she stepped back and waved as he drove off.
Sunday, February 11, 2001
Los Angeles, CA
9:15AM PST
The early service was over, and Nicole walked down the aisle with the Tanners toward the cool, gray, windy morning outside. The rain of the previous day had cleaned the streets, and the air below the clouds was unusually clear; the mountains were sharply visible.
"Excuse me, miss, could you help me a moment?"
A look to her right revealed a tiny, white haired woman who was bracing herself on the pew. "Of course, need a wing?" Nicole carefully crooked an elbow out to serve as a brace.
"Thank you so much. I left my cane back at my room, and," she winced, "I think I twisted my hip a little this morning. My name is Alice Grant, by the way."
"I'm happy to help, Ms. Grant. I'm Nicole.." Nicole turned her head to the Tanners. "I'll walk her where she needs to go, then join you, okay?"
As they walked slowly along, their conversation continued. "I'm sorry to interrupt your time with your friends. Have you known Greg and Marie long? I've noticed you here on and off over the last two months."
"I actually met their daughter, Kate, for the first time early last month. We got along very well, and they've been nice enough to let me tag along when they come here."
"Oh! I thought she was rather taken with that young man; Alexander was his name, I believe. Are you her new partner?"
Grateful for the fact she was facing straight ahead, the tall young woman took only a heartbeat to steady herself and squelch the impending giggle. "No, she's still with Alex. I'm more of a sister she just found, though we're not related."
"Oh, that's good. They've known each other for so long, it would be a shame for them to break up." The old woman changed topics to her own family, and her children who now lived so very far away, as Nicole walked her carefully to the shuttle bus that the church used for transportation.
Nicole grinned and waved as the bus carried Alice back to her home. ~I really could do this all day,~ she thought as she turned to make her way to where the Tanners waited.
3:30PM PST
~Shit! SHIT! *SHIT!*~
Diego sat at the video monitor as he reviewed the collated data from the field teams for the week.
It was bad enough that the entire week had been a giant waste of time, and the weekend a joyful time of chasing after a couple of shop-a-holics. Oh no. Tomorrow, he would get to explain the result of the arranged mugging. Two burly, experienced men taken out in the blink of an eye. The whole point was to provoke a reaction from the Amazon, to force her into a situation where she'd reveal herself to the camera. They'd gotten a reaction, all right. Not by the target as expected, but by her male companion as she stood back and watched.
~Looking at the guy's record, I can't say I'm surprised anymore. Just my luck he's a retired Marine who was a hand-to-hand combat instructor at Camp Pendleton.~
He swore under his breath as he pondered how to convince his higher-ups that this supposed Amazon was anything but.
~No way a REAL Amazon would let a man step in for her like that—even a man with HIS skills. She's nearly simpering.~
Tuesday, February 13, 2001
Tanner Home
5:30PM PST
Marie was up to her elbows in dinner preparation as Alex walked in.
"Hi, honey!" She hugged her daughter's near-fiancé. "I'm glad you could make it for dinner."
"Hi, Mom! I'm glad I could make it, too; I've eaten enough of my own cooking to have a full appreciation for the good stuff."
"Flattery will get you nowhere, young man." she said with mock sternness and waving a spoon at him. "Just for that, you can go help Kate downstairs. She just went down to get at some boxes of books for work and might need help."
"Yes, ma'am!" He faked a salute and headed for the basement, leaving Marie chuckling.
~I don't like the mess when the folks are remodeling, but they always end up with something that's worth it.~ Kate needed to get at some boxes of reference books from college and started to shove a large pallet of materials to one side to gain access. It slid only a couple of inches before it hung up on a floor drain. She stared at the drain, which blocked the only clear aisle. She looked around quickly and listened. ~No-one around, and Alex shouldn't be here for a little while. I'll take care of this quick and easy.~
She was in the middle of the task, and was holding one side of the palette up as she dragged it over the drain, when Alex appeared at the bottom of the stairway; his approach had been masked by the squealing of the wood sliding over concrete.
"What!? How?!" He gave her an incredulous look. He and Greg had moved that same palette the previous weekend, and it had been all the two could do to move it around. He had come down the stairs to see Kate lifting the pallet over a drain by herself.
Kate paled. ~This isn't how it was supposed to go.~
Alex walked up, the astonishment still in his face. "Kate, last week it took both your dad and me to move that thing, and you're just shifting it around like it was nothing. What's going on?"
~I told Nicole I wouldn't lie.~ She took a deep breath and jumped in. "Alex, I can't really tell you everything right now, but I'll tell you what I can."
"Do your parents know what this is all about?"
"No." Kate sighed. "Alex, have I been acting differently? Do I look worse?"
He looked her over as he considered her question. "No, I can't say you look worse—you actually look better in some ways. How do I phrase it? You look more taut—like your body is in perfect tone." At her amused smile he quickly added, "You looked good before; you just look like a better you." He cringed at the phrasing.
Kate giggled at his awkwardness, as she walked over and hugged him. "That had to be one of the nicest back-handed compliments I've gotten. That's not a bad way to put it, though.
"Alex, I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and have a family together. I hope to raise our children, grow old with you, and enjoy however many years we're given together." She took his hands in her own and looked into his face. "I want to tell you everything, but I need to make sure another person is here."
"That has to be Nicole. This all started when she showed up." His voice reflected thought and confusion, rather than anger.
"And she told me I may tell you and my folks if I must. I had my reasons for not telling you sooner, love, but what happened wasn't just Nicole's choice. The decision was mine."
"Why didn't you tell me before?" The hurt in his voice was plain.
The brunette looked stricken at his pain, and it reflected only a fraction of the turbulence in her heart. "I'm sorry, sweetheart; I really am. I—we—are just trying to keep you safe."
"From what? And whatever it is, you need to tell your folks, too. We're your family, Kate."
The indecision was almost a physical pain in her heart. Finally, she pulled out her cell phone.
"Hello, Nicole? ... No, I'm okay. Alex just walked in on me when I was moving something heavy. I have to tell him now, but he thinks my folks should know; do you have some time tonight? ... I know, but... Yeah, he's my partner, and it's important. And they're my family, and they're important, too. ... I figured if you can handle the basics, I could take it from there, so you can get to your class tonight. ... I know, and I didn't mean..." Kate's face relaxed a little. "Yeah, we have to trust that it's working out as it's supposed to. ... Thanks, sis, and I'll see you in a bit."
She ended the call and looked at the man who was so much a part of her. "Alex, Nicole will be over in a little bit. I'll want you to tell everyone exactly what you saw; Nicole and I will take it from there. All I ask is that you keep an open mind, because it will sound incredible."
It was an interesting conversation, and took much less time than the Amazons had expected. Alex had seen Kate in action, but she had to do a reprise for her parents. Nicole outlined the overall situation she and Kate faced, and the danger that had led them to hold back the new role Kate held.
Nicole began the tale, "Let me start off by saying I held this information back because my life is already at risk, and I didn't want you any more in the middle of it than could be helped.
"Back at the end of November," she pulled out the scepter, "I was traveling and literally tripped over this. I didn't know what it was, and took it home with me. The following weekend, I was visited by Artemis and her boss. They explained that what I had was the Royal Scepter of the Amazons, and that I had been chosen to rebuild the Amazon Nation."
Greg broke in. "Artemis and her boss? Zeus? How do you know they were who they said they were?"
Kate saw, and was the only one to understand, the pain in Nicole's eyes as she responded. "Artemis' boss is the Archangel Michael now. I know he is who he says he is because there was someone I trusted who was in a position to confirm it, and since then I've had plenty of proof.
"Since then, I've been in training for the responsibilities I've taken on. One of those responsibilities is locating those people, women mostly, who're called to become part of the Amazons."
"Is your job connected with this?" Marie asked. "I noticed, when I looked it up, that a Dr. Michael Wing and Dr. Artemis Dianapopolis founded it. Would they be the same people?"
Nicole grinned. "They believe in hiding in plain sight."
"Don't you think your enemies will know, too?" Alex piped up.
Nicole paused. ~It doesn't hurt to assume they do. If so, ...~ She turned a little pale. "That means they could be watching what I'm doing right now; that they know about you." She put her face in her hands. "Oh, Lord!"
"Hold it! Marie, you sound like you BELIEVE this!" Greg was almost sputtering.
"Dad! Hold on! Everyone come with me a minute." Kate cut off the impending explosion.
Kate led them downstairs for a reprise of her unwitting demonstration to Alex, who just shook his head afterward. Greg was mute with shock, and Marie just nodded.
"And Nicole can do that, too?" Greg finally asked, shaking his head in bewilderment.
"Actually, Daddy," Kate broke in, "compared to what Nicole can do, that's nothing. She took an inch thick steel bar and bent it into a hoop. I could maybe flex it now, but what she can do is beyond me. The bad part is she may need every bit of that, because she's the Queen. Whoever is out there will be after her first, and I think she'd die before she'd let anyone get to me, or anyone here."
Nicole picked up the thread of conversation. "That's why I didn't let Kate tell you until it couldn't be avoided. I don't want loved ones put in any more danger than I can help."
Marie surprised the two young women by coming to their defense. "Alex, Greg, I've had a closer eye on Kate the last couple of months because I knew something had happened that was more than we were told. You two miss things when it comes to people's emotional state." She grinned at her daughter and Nicole with a "Men!" look. "Whatever it was, Nicole has been good for Kate. Our daughter is more—settled, I think is the word. I'd say more mature, but then this is my daughter we're talking about." She turned to Kate, who stuck her tongue out. She pointed a finger at her daughter. "Case in point. I'm not really happy that you chose to keep this secret, but I can understand, I suppose." Marie grinned for a moment. "Nicole, since it's about time for you to get to class, we can pick up this discussion tomorrow evening when you come for dinner. And Kate gets to be the jar opener from now on with her new muscles."
The redhead felt the tension drain from her neck and shoulders. She was still welcome to be part of their lives. The relief almost brought tears to her eyes.
Marie caught her reaction, putting an arm around her shoulders and squeezing. "It's okay, Nicole. I think I understand why you did what you did. We will talk more on this topic, though. Now scoot, young lady. You don't want to be late. I think the four of us will have an interesting chat this evening."
Wednesday, February 14, 2001
5:30PM PST
Nicole stood at the door, hesitant to ring or knock. Even the day's rumba lesson was affected by the stress she felt after the previous evening's conversation. Unfortunately, the problem wouldn't go away, even if she stood out here in the rain; she finally pushed the doorbell button. Marie opened the door and stood there with a gentle smile on her face. The apprehension on Nicole's face was clear as she stood in the light drizzle outside, though she calmed a little as she sensed the acceptance in the older woman's emotions.
"Come on in, Nicole," Marie said. She reached a hand toward the young woman. "You're welcome here. Come in, please."
Nicole's face took on a small, uncertain smile as she took the offered hand and allowed herself to be led into the house. She surrendered her coat, and found herself the recipient of a gentle hug from her hostess after it was hung up.
"I want you to be sure that you are welcome here, child."
"Mrs. Tanner, I ..." She was silenced by the brown-haired woman's hand on her arm.
"Nicole, it's all right. We talked for a good part of last night after you left, and even my husband understands now. He offered to be here tonight, too, but I think we'll have you over again when he can be here."
They walked back into the kitchen, where Kate was watching the doorway. She put the wooden spoon down, and gave her friend a tight hug. "Hey, sis! Mom told you what happened?"
Nicole was almost trembling from the relief as she returned the hug. "She did. You two ganged up on the guys?"
The younger Tanner nodded. "Alex was pretty much convinced by the time you left. Dad took longer, since he was worried about me and whether I'd be safe or not."
"I can understand his feelings. I'd be peeved if someone were to drop into your life and endanger you, too."
There was a period of relative silence as Nicole worked to set the table, while the Tanners brought the food out to the dining room. The center of the table was occupied by a vase of roses, which Nicole noted and dismissed. The dinner was filled with small talk about the day, and Nicole's plans for the week. After the meal was over and the table had been cleared, Marie deliberately shifted the topic to a more serious vein.
"Nicole, Kate talked last night about the Amazons. I'd like to hear what you have to say."
Nodding, the queen sketched the history of the ancient nation and then moved on to describe the task set before her. Her throat was dry as she came to the end of her summary.
"So my main task is to develop an organization that can survive, identify, and defeat our enemy. I'm also hoping to build a real nation with a culture that is its own." The redhead grimaced. "The last thing I want is to have a glorified women's club. I owe my predecessors more than that. If you decide to do some research, I'd appreciate it if you didn't dig too much. The last thing we need is to have you call attention to yourself suddenly looking up a lot of material on Amazons."
"I'll keep that in mind, unless I get a suitable research contract. How is Kate supposed to help? She doesn't really have a military bent; you don't seem to, either, for that matter."
"I'm hoping Kate will stay out of any fighting, and just focus on finances. I want her trained enough to protect herself, but I really need her talent for managing cash flow. We don't have a lot of resources right now, but we need to make the best use of what we have."
"All of which she can do from here."
"Right. There's no need for Kate and Alex to change location for the foreseeable future. I'll be tied up with the Marines for at least four years, so she can just stay here."
The relaxation was transparent in Marie's posture, but the concern didn't quite clear from her eyes. "What about you? You're just about at the upper end of the age when children are easiest to have and care for, yet you haven't said anything about wanting to have a family of your own."
Nicole grimaced. "Mrs. Tanner...."
"Ahem! I think you don't need to be so formal, dear. You're as good as family. Marie is fine."
"Marie, then—I have a job to do; no one promised that I'd have time for a family when I accepted this responsibility. One day, God willing, I might have a chance, but for now I'll be happy if Kate manages to finally land Alex and they have a bunch of little ones." The blush on Kate's face raised a grin on Nicole's face. ~Ha! She shoots! She scores!~
"Just remember, sis, I don't get mad—I get even!" Kate glared at their guest.
With an air of utter confidence, the redhead responded, "Hmmm. Just remember what happened the last time, at the etiquette school." The shark-like grin that followed caused Kate to go wide-eyed, and gulp.
7:20PM PST
Dance Studio
Rich was inside, waiting, as Nicole finally made it to the studio. She could feel the pleasure rolling over her as surely as she'd felt his hurt during their date. Her own pleasure at the sight of him welled up as she walked over. She puzzled a bit at his stance; he held his off hand behind him, concealed from her view, rather than his normal relaxed pose.
"Hi, Rich!" She hugged an arm. "It's good to see you again."
She tried to look around him at the hidden hand. He turned to block her view.
Hands on hips, she glared up at him. "Okay, what are you up to?"
Her breath caught as he unveiled a single, thornless, yellow rose and handed it to her. Wide-eyed, she looked up at him in total confusion.
His smile was broad. "You've forgotten what day it is?" Her growing bewilderment made the answer clear. "It's February 14th, Valentine's Day. I know we're just friends, but I have a friend who owns a flower shop, and she said yellow roses are appropriate for this occasion."
~Beat, heart. Go back to pumping.~ It took a few hours—or so it seemed—for her mind to recover. "Rich, I...."
He raised the hand that had held the rose, placing a finger to his lips to shush her. "It's a surprise, and I'd hoped it would be." He looked oddly uncertain, as if debating with himself. "You're an altogether remarkable woman. I ... haven't found anyone with your depth, before. I still remember that you can't stay, but I still wanted you to have something special as a memory."
~What would a woman do?~ She racked her memory for something to guide her in an appropriate path. She finally moved, stepping up to him and placing a hand on his chest and a soft kiss on his cheek. "Rich, that was a wonderfully thoughtful thing to do. Thank you." She punctuated her comment with a hug. She took a sniff at the rose and looked up at him through her eyelashes. "It's lovely." She looked up more directly as she continued. "If you're free Saturday evening at seven-thirty, my friend, Kate, and her boyfriend have invited me to a get together at the Key Club. Would you like to join us?"
He nodded, shifting uncomfortably. "I'd be more than happy to go. What's the dress code?"
"Nice, but not formal; it's an upscale club. I have a nice dress picked out for it." She considered the effect the black dress would likely have, and for a moment felt sorry for Rich. ~It'll be hard on him, and me, but we'll both enjoy the look.~ She smiled to herself at the thought.
"I'll look forward to it; shall I pick you up at seven?"
As she nodded her assent, they were pulled out of their little world by the instructor calling for the class to begin.
Thursday, February 15, 2001
5:00AM PST
She struggled out of her sleep, wakened as much by an increasingly familiar sensation in her abdomen as by the never-to-be-sufficiently-cursed alarm clock. It was far more bearable that it had been the first time, and even better than last month, but still it was going to make the next few days less enjoyable. Even the ibuprofen could only do so much.
~And that means that Saturday is going to be ... Damn! Of all the times for this to hit.~
She dragged the covers to one side and raised herself to sit at the edge of the bed, finally gathering the will to boost herself up and toward the bathroom. Nicole knew that her attitude would improve, at least a little, with the painkiller; that hardly meant that she was looking forward to another weekend of pads and tampons. That also meant the inevitable water retention, tight bra, and all the rest.
~It should make it easier to behave with Rich, though. It isn't a total loss.~
Friday, February 16, 2001
It had been an awful day, and not just due to the early morning fog.
The dance schedule had been a rerun of the first week, so her beloved rumba wasn't on the agenda. She wouldn't have enjoyed it as much, but it would at least have given a little glitter to an otherwise gray, or at least bathroom green day. Her period, that faithful reminder of her new life, was ramping up with its inevitable discomfort and inconvenience.
Even the evening's dance party managed to only moderate, rather than dispel, her monthly funk. Rich didn't really notice at first, but after catching her in a wince, he finally asked what was wrong.
Her cheeks colored; talking to Kate was one thing, but talking to a man wasn't entirely comfortable. Though, recalling Tom's reactions at the same age, she figured he'd drop the subject quickly.
"I'm sorry, Rich. It's just that... I get cramps when...."
His eyes lit with understanding, but to her surprise, he nodded and continued. "Is there anything I can do to help? I have some aspirin in my car if you need it, or if you're not up to any more dancing, we can just go sit for a bit."
Nicole suddenly understood why Beth had been so appreciative of his solicitousness when she'd had her periods. Just the expression of caring, of paying attention, and understanding that she just felt crummy, made Rich more precious than ever. ~And I have to let him go.~ It was all she could do not to cry, and even so the tears welled up in her eyes.
"Hey, we don't have to quit!" he quickly spoke up as he noticed her tearing.
She gave a watery laugh, blotted the renegade tears, and hugged him. "It's okay, Rich. The hormones are acting up, and you're just saying the right thing at the right time. I hope you realize how special you are."
"Only for special people, princess." His dark eyes locked onto her gray eyes for a long moment before the two returned their attention to the outside world.
~Oh, Rich...~
Saturday, February 17, 2001
Los Angeles, CA
10:15AM
Nicole was subdued as she picked up Kate that morning. They had the morning to shop and enjoy each other's company. The schedule called for them to present themselves for the makeover at the salon at two o'clock.
"What's wrong, Nicole?" the green-eyed brunette asked. Her companion, normally at least conversational, had been nearly silent for the entire drive. "What happened last night?"
The silence carried on for another block before there was any response. "I'm getting scared, Kate" Nicole's voice carried her stress in every word. "I'm enjoying Rich way too much for my comfort."
She pulled into the parking garage and found an open spot. "You know it's that time of the month for me, right?"
At her companion's nod, she continued. "I was feeling really crampy last night, and he was kind, concerned, and attentive." She grimaced. "It took the better part of a year before I clued into how rotten Beth was feeling, and Rich just seemed to understand instantly."
The conversation continued as they got out and headed for the interior of the mall.
"I don't know if this is a crush, or love, or lust. Whatever it is, I never felt like this even when I was a teenager. It's all kind of hard to deal with when you include the monthly visitor. I'm having a hard time coping with the emotional stress."
The two talked quietly as they strolled through the mall; Kate mostly listened, but asked an occasional question as she tried to understand what Nicole was trying to cope with.
"So," Kate finally said, "it sounds like you're mostly struggling with being fair with Rich, even more than your own physical and emotional reactions."
They walked along for a few moments while Nicole considered Kate's remark. Finally, she nodded. "I think you're right. I know what's coming in my life, so I know it isn't fair to him. I still feel a strong attraction, and it's hard to manage right now. I'm really wondering about how wise it is to wear that black dress. It's going to make it harder on him, and me, tonight."
Kate shook her head as she smiled. "I know you really know better than to think it will be that big a problem. He knows, already, that you're 'benched' for a while. If you dress up nicely, he'll enjoy the view as much as you would have in his place. Just relax as much as you can."
"I suppose. It still doesn't seem quite right, though."
The morning passed quickly, and lunch was a hardly noticeable interlude in the conversation that took place as the two meandered slowly from store to store. Nicole guided them, at one point, to a bookstore that sold acid-free, bound journals; she explained to Kate that she intended to keep a journal, or diary, of her life that she'd archive for her successors, and suggested that Kate might do the same.
The time came for their salon appointment, and Nicole walked up to the shop a little more reassured. It would be a new experience, but it couldn't be more stressful than her situation with Rich.
"Heavens, girl! What in the world have you been doing with your hair!"
~Well, maybe not much more stressful, anyway,~ Nicole thought as the stylist continued his tirade at the, according to him, abused tangle of hair on her head. The manicurist was no more impressed by the fingernails she was called on to salvage.
The imprecations were a continuous trickle as the stylist worked to reclaim the fire-hued disaster area. It didn't help that Kate was in the adjacent chair and snickered in counter-point.
"No comments from the peanut gallery, Kate!"
Nicole's stylist paused and looked at her. "You should follow your friend's example." He pointed to the brunette's chair. "She's obviously been taking time to come in and be properly cared for."
He continued his running commentary, making sure his client was paying attention to the list of absolutely minimal hair care tasks he had outlined. "Toss out whatever you're using; it just won't do justice to this magnificent hair of yours."
The manicurist's litany of abuses were interleaved with the stylist's, and she, too, had her outline of minimal care for the nails she was working on. She made notes on a pad lying on her materials cart, promising to have a comprehensive list for Nicole at the end of the repair session.
Finally, with her hair and nails complete, Nicole thought she was done.
"Hold it, sis!" Kate chirped from the other chair. "I've set up one last thing for us, my treat."
Another man walked up to her chair, and Nicole found herself subjected to a professional make-up treatment. The work was done deftly, and it seemed as if no part of her face and neck was left unattended. At one point he asked her, "Where will the neckline of your dress start?" She indicated the proper point, and a few minutes of further attention followed.
The work stopped, the chair turned, and the stylist's voice spoke again. "Alright, what do you think? Keep in mind that he used an evening makeup technique; it will look as it should tonight."
She was stunned. Kate stood to one side, grinning at Nicole's reaction as she saw the result of the afternoon's work. Her face was still uniquely her own, but more so with the enhancements of the makeup bringing out her fine features and the gray of her eyes. Her hair glowed like a red aura around her head, and the waves, while still prominent, were more like ripples on a pool of flame than the typical, separate, uncontrolled strands of fire.
"Oh my," she said in a small, quiet voice.
"I think it turned out well. Just be careful as you dress, and everything should hold up fine for tonight." Each of the salon employees watched with satisfaction as the redheaded reclamation project walked in a daze to the counter, collected the array of supplies they'd recommended, and departed.
Crowne Plaza Hotel
7:00PM PST
Rich was waiting beside his car in the warm dry evening at the hotel's entrance. He'd tried to be a little earlier after he'd arrived Saturday to find her waiting. Tonight, he had driven up to the entrance ten minutes ahead of time, and was relieved to find she wasn't there.
Nicole had taken care as she'd gotten ready that evening, and both her hair and make-up had survived the bath. She slithered into the short, black dress and settled it and herself into proper place. The heels she stepped into were taller than normal, for her—a full three inches high—and had been purchased at Kate's insistence for that particular dress.
At last, everything was in place; she smoothed the last, imaginary wrinkles out of the smooth fabric. Nicole had finally tucked an extra couple of tampons into her purse, pulled on her long coat, and made her way to the elevator. She had checked her make-up one last time as it quickly dropped to the lobby level.
The doors opened onto the lobby, and she hesitated for an instant as she reviewed her lessons in how to walk properly. She held her head high and posture erect, as she walked smoothly and proudly out toward the entrance where her date waited.
She was moving almost like a model on the runway. She was walking more smoothly, though; there wasn't the same exaggerated sway in her walk. ~She's almost gliding along like a lioness on the hunt.~ The thought sent a tremor of anticipation down his spine. Her long coat covered her from neck to knees, revealing only slender calves below.
With a bow and flourish, he opened the car door. "Your ride awaits, princess." She laughed quietly as he handed her into her seat and closed the door.
Less than fifteen minutes later, they were standing with Kate, also wearing a long coat, and Alex at the entry to the club. Nicole sniggered at Kate's reaction when Rich came into view; her eyes widened, and she gulped as her head craned. The little brunette recovered quickly.
"Hi, Nicole! This must be Rich. Rich, I'm Kate, and this is my boyfriend, Alex."
The two men shook hands, and the four made their way into the building. They stopped by the coat check, and the two girls winked at each other as they simultaneously doffed their coats.
The air pressure in the vicinity dropped as the men abruptly inhaled; the two Amazons, in their matching dresses, were spectacular. The tall, slender redhead and the shorter brunette almost strutted to their respective partners; it almost looked rehearsed as the women simultaneously put a finger to each man's chin to close their sagging mouths.
The rest of Kate's friends were at their regular table, and they had taken time to gather additional chairs for the two newcomers; Kate again performed the introductions, and they settled into a relaxed evening of music, dancing, and conversation.
At one point, as Nicole and Rich were on the dance floor while a DJ filled in during the band's break between sets, Nicole stumbled briefly as an old disco tune from the 1970s began:
"Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for the place to go
Where they play the right music, getting in the swing
You come in to look for a king."
Red hair swept around her shoulders as Nicole spun her head to look at the table where Kate still sat. The now smirking brunette raised a finger and marked a score for herself on an imaginary scoreboard. Rich and Alex were utterly baffled as their respective partners broke down into desperate gasps between near-hysterical laughter.
They couldn't get any explanation out of either woman for the behavior, either.
When the number was over, Nicole led Rich back to their table and the women retired to the ladies room for repair work and conversation.
The stalls were empty as Nicole took the chance to switch her tampon and relieve her bladder and then join Kate at the mirror for make-up repairs.
"So," Kate began, "that's the Rich I've been hearing about. He looks even better than you described, sis, and I see what you meant when you talked about how much of a gentleman he is. Definitely the tall, dark, and handsome stranger you described."
Nicole straightened up from checking the condition of her eye make-up and nodded. "He's an amazingly special man; he's pushed some buttons along the way that I've had to think about. He insists on treating me like a lady, and I told you about the rose." She smiled. "He's decided to use 'princess' as his pet name for me."
Kate giggled at that. "If he only knew the truth. So what now?"
The pause stretched out almost to the point of discomfort. Finally, the redhead shrugged. "What else? Even though I'm powerfully tempted to stay, I have to leave next week. I want to keep in touch with him just for myself, but he was also a martial-arts instructor in the Marines. That could prove helpful, too."
Another pause followed as Nicole stared at herself in the mirror. "If I were on the pill, I don't know that I'd be able to resist the pull to make love to him, even with my background." She gave her companion a rueful look. "It's been enlightening being in this situation."
Kate put an arm around her friend's shoulder and gave her a gentle hug. "Will you try to see him again?"
"Oh yes," came the quiet, but intense, response, followed by a deep breath. "Do you think we've been in here long enough to make the guys nervous?"
"I think so, sis; time to go enjoy their company some more."
Sunday, February 18, 2001
Los Angeles, CA
Rich pulled his cell phone from his belt as it began to ring again. "Hello?"
"Hello, grandson. How are you and your red-headed warrior doing?"
It took a moment or two for Rich to make the connection. "You mean Nicole? She's the only redhead I've been around, lately; she's no warrior, though."
"Not yet, child, but she has been called to that path. I know you find her attractive, but you must not try to hold her back from her journey. Enjoy the time you have with her, but let her go when her time there is over."
"Are you ...?" He sighed into the phone. "Never mind, you're the medicine woman; you know about Nicole, and more about her than I know it seems. I just thought that I'd finally met the one special woman...."
"I know, and I wish it could be different, too. I'm sending a gift for you to give her when she flies out on Saturday, and I want you to make sure she knows that she is to come for a visit. There is much she and I need to talk about."
"I will. I just...."
"You aren't done with her, but you haven't met your life partner, yet. Be patient."
12:45PM PST
It was getting worse.
The week had been a rerun of the previous week, only without the fiasco of the attempted mugging. Diego had intended it to force the woman into revealing herself as a fighter, if she truly was what Washington thought, or eliminate her permanently as an object of interest. In Diego's mind, it had succeeded, as her passive reaction had shown her to be a typical, non-violent, pretty face who was otherwise useless.
The more data they acquired, the less useful this whole effort seemed. The woman had spent the weekend socializing with her apparent friend, and then in addition to the dance classes during the week, had started spending more time with the man who'd taken the muggers apart, Richard MacLeod.
And then, to top it all off, Saturday had been taken up with a trip to the beauty parlor and an evening out with MacLeod, young Miss Tanner, and her boyfriend.
The outfit the tall supposed-Amazon wore, and the photos and video of it from the field teams, had become the most popular wallpaper and screensavers for the LA office.
~Five and a half days and I can hand this waste of time off to those cretins in Washington that ordered this fiasco. Now all I need to do is set up for the call to DC this afternoon.~
The conference call, as on the previous two occasions, had begun with a summary of the events of the week. Diego took this last opportunity to underline his conclusion.
"My conclusion, based on her actions and responses over the last two weeks, is that there is no way this person is the one we're looking for. Her hiring at WGSS has to be just coincidence, especially since it seems she was brought in at the request of Doctor Wing himself, rather than Artemis."
Carson scowled at the phone. He'd gone over the data himself, including some of the raw footage, just to make sure he wasn't being suckered in by a report that excluded data Diego thought wasn't useful in making his point. Even the raw data backed up the conclusion though.
Even the image of her laptop's hard drive hadn't really helped. There were no passwords stored on the machine, and the net addresses were already known to the techies. There were only the normal company e-mails, plus one from Dr. Wing about an appointment with the Marine recruiting office.
~Weird! I wonder why they're working it backwards? Oh well, like it or not, it looks like we struck out on this one.~
"Okay, Diego. Your team did a good job in gathering data. I don't see anything to change in the report. I'll pass your conclusions along with my endorsement, but I'd like you available for the report to the main office. Call in on the speaker phone tomorrow morning at six o'clock, and also keep an eye on the subject just in case there's a last minute surprise."
The exasperation, while muted, still came through the voice. "Of course, Mr. Sinclair. We'll submit a final report by the end of the day next Sunday for your review, unless you want to have a final telecon?"
Carson paused to consider the question. "No, unless there's significant new data, there isn't a point to having you burn more of your Sunday. Send me an e-mail when your report is complete and take a couple of days off. We'll keep an eye on her, but only as part of our general watch on the Wing offices."
The call ended, and the room emptied. Carson sat silently with his eyes focused on infinity as he reviewed the situation.
~Okay, we're back to square one. The queen is out there, somewhere. The redhead wasn't her, so where do we look now?~
The early darkness of the Virginia winter closed in as he pondered this latest dead end.
Monday, February 19, 2001
Washington, D.C.
4:00PM Central Complex Time / 9:00AM EST / 6:00AM PST
Carson poked at the speakerphone as it rang.
"Hello?"
"This is Diego at the LA office, calling in for the conference this morning."
"Thank you for coming in early. I could and would have handled the presentation, but there might be questions today that you can answer more easily."
"I appreciated the offer, but the office and the operation are my responsibility. I'll take the heat on this."
"I don't think...."
The video feed flickered to life, displaying the now familiar faces from the previous weeks and cutting off Carson's comment.
"Central Complex here for the conference."
"Good morning. Diego from the LA office has dialed into the speaker phone to support this meeting."
Diego took the lead in making the report, touching on the high points of the written report he'd submitted the previous day. He finally summarized the conclusion of the report.
"Our evaluations are based on the profile we received that was prepared by the central office's psychological consultants. Our observations were oriented toward situations that would reveal the subject's reactions to stimuli covered by the profile. One particular situation was instigated by our office in LA to create conditions that the profile indicated would be of special value in revealing the Amazon queen." Diego's voice turned wry. "The situation did not develop quite as planned, but proved equally enlightening in our opinion. We had to pay a premium to cover the additional costs due to the intervention of the man. In general, her dedication to physical fitness is consistent with the profile, but her social interactions with males deviate wildly from expectations.
"Our conclusion, based on the profile as provided and the observed, documented behavior of the subject of our surveillance is that she is not the Amazon queen we're looking for. We recommend that a lower level of observation be maintained on the chance that she may be a link to the Amazon we're looking for. The deviation from the expected behavior is well beyond the error limits."
Diego heard only silence over the speaker on his end. Carson was able to see the tightening on the faces of the men over the video link. Finally the Chairman spoke.
"We will review your data and conclusions. Continue the close observation through the remainder of the subject's stay in Los Angeles. Unless otherwise informed, you may relax the watch when she returns to Virginia."
A double "Yes, sir." came from Carson and Diego, and the video link was terminated.
Wednesday, February 21, 2001
Dance Studio
7:30PM PST
~Two more days after tonight.~
Nicole was keenly aware of how quickly this last week was passing. Tomorrow and Friday would be the evaluation days for the dances she'd spent the last three weeks working on; Saturday, she would head back to Virginia. ~Too few days to enjoy the company,~ she thought as she leaned into momentary contact with Rich.
Kent and Abe called the class to order.
"We're going to rotate the dance selection again, tonight. The line dance is out, and the rumba is replacing it."
Nicole's eyes flickered to her preferred dance partner. They had earned a reputation as one of the better pairs in the Waltz, but hadn't been called on to try the rumba together.
"Are you going to be okay with this, Rich? We both know how—intimate—that dance can get."
He grinned a little. "I know all too well." ~And I'm not sure if I'm up to this, either.~ "I'm game to try if you are, princess."
Nicole gave him a small smile in return as they walked to an open space on the floor. "Will you respect me in the morning?"
"Always, dear friend, always"
When the rumba number was over, however, he was a little less sure of himself and wondering where the nearest ice bath could be found. The waltz with Nicole had been an utter joy as they flowed around the room. She obviously enjoyed it, and communicated her happiness in every step.
This dance touched a wholly different facet of this marvelous woman he'd only begun to know.
Her motions, always smooth, turned liquid. Suddenly, she had seemed to be as flexible as a great cat, and her eyes sparkled like stars. The effect on his own body was instant as he was caught up in the energy and joy she felt. He also knew that she'd felt—she had to have—his other reaction as they had danced.
The smile on her face at one point was that of a lioness examining her next meal.
He shivered and made his way to the restroom. ~Maybe a splash of cold water on the face will help.~
Nicole was in no better condition as she made her way to the ladies room. She'd lost it; the music had begun, her mind had gone on vacation, and her body had been left unsupervised.
~Dear God, I just wanted to devour him, there and then!~ A faint whine of frustration came from her as she sat down to deal with the amazing flow from her arousal. The pad was soaked.
~I wish I'd let Kate take me to that adult 'toy store', but after tonight, I think I'll go with the hand plan. I know there has to be someplace near the apartment that has something.~
She forcibly restrained herself from relieving her stress right there, quickly changed her pad, and returned to the studio before her resolve fractured.
As she reentered the hall she overheard Abe commenting to Kent. "I think that's the first time I've had to worry about whether a dance should have an 'Adults-Only' rating."
Friday, February 23, 2001
Dance Studio
3:45PM PST
Nicole shook Abe's hand as she accepted the completion certificate for the dance coursework. The private lessons for the week had consisted of evaluations of her skills for each of the dances, and she had achieved a satisfactory grade for the entire set.
"You've worked very hard and accomplished a lot the past three weeks. Kent and I have both enjoyed having you as a student; as a graduate, you have a standing invitation to join us at the Friday dance party whenever you are in town."
She smiled at him. "I've enjoyed the lessons, too. I don't know when I'll make it back, but if I'm here on a Friday, I'll be here if I can."
She stuck to her routine for this last day, though she had a final dinner with the Tanners and Alex between her last private lesson and the early evening class. She was subdued at the dance party that evening; Rich, too, was more quiet than normal as they both considered the end of the time she had in California.
"Rich? My flight leaves at about twelve-thirty tomorrow." Nicole stared at the ground and scuffed a toe. "Will you have time to come say goodbye, or do we need to say our farewell here?"
He reached a hand to her cheek, gently stroking it with a thumb as she gazed up at him again. "I'll be there tomorrow, Nicole."
"I think I'd better go before the waterworks start." She embraced him for a moment, then forced herself to step away and walk to her car.
Saturday, February 24, 2001
Los Angeles, CA
11:30AM PST
It was the last shift. The subject was leaving for Virginia in about an hour, and she and her entourage of friends had gathered for a goodbye outside the security area. Even MacLeod was there.
She went to each person, starting with Richard. He received a warm hug and kiss on the cheek. As she started to step away, he held her for a moment as he spoke to her. She replied with a smile and a nod of her head. As she started to move on again, he held her hand for a moment more. His other hand pulled something from his jacket pocket, and she was visibly stunned when he gave her a small package. She went to open it, but he shook his head and restrained her as he spoke a few more words. After another embrace, they parted for the final time.
Alex was next, and she apparently said something to him quietly as he nodded his head as she moved on.
The elder Tanners came after Alex, and each gave her a warm embrace. Mrs. Tanner was first, and included a peck on the cheek. Mr. Tanner followed with his own hug for the tall redhead. The two spoke quietly to the young woman, and whatever they said caused a look of astonishment and joy. They were almost smothered in the embrace that followed.
She ended her round with Kathryn, wiping the tears from her face as they approached. The affection was plain between them, and tears were clear on each young woman's face as they said their goodbyes.
The redhead, still brushing stray tears away, turned and went through the scanners, pausing on the other side to wave goodbye again to the little group she'd left behind. Trailing her carryon, she soon disappeared from sight.
He kept an eye on the exit area until the flight took off and called the Washington office to give them a heads-up on the actual departure time.
~Time to head back to the office. The boss said I had the rest of the day off once the video was uploaded and the report was filed.~
Rich, Nicole, Kate, Alex, and the elder Tanners stood outside the metal detectors leading to her gate in terminal 5. The long trip, seven weeks on the road, was coming to a close. As uncomfortable as they had been, there was an ache in her heart as she prepared to leave people she had come to know as much more than friends. Even worse, Kate had come to mean more to her than the bare word 'sister' could communicate, and she, too, was staying behind.
Nicole stepped up to Rich, first. "It's hard to say goodbye. I've had such a good time with you, but...."
"You have a journey to take that leads you away from here. My grandmother told me; she also said that you are to visit her when the time comes." He handed her an envelope. "This has a map, address, and phone number for when you go."
She had only to reach up a little to embrace him in a hug, which he returned. As they parted, she placed a kiss on his cheek and started to turn away. He held her hand to restrain her.
"Hold it. My grandmother also sent you this." He pulled a small, wrapped package from his jacket and handed it to her; he stopped her as she moved to unwrap it. "She said you shouldn't open it until you get home."
She hugged him again. "I'll wait; thank her for me, please?" she said as she turned toward Alex.
The young man looked a little uncertain. "Alex," she said as she stepped close, "Kate loves you. You know about that new part of her life now; do your best to take care of her, okay?"
He nodded. "Take care of yourself, Nicole. You mean more to her than I think you know."
She hugged him and moved on to the Tanners.
Marie came up and took the young woman's hands in her own. "I know I was hesitant the last time, but we've gotten to know you better this visit with all that's happened. I've seen how much you care for our daughter, and you've shown yourself a good and compassionate person. You're someone we'd be proud to consider part of our family."
Mr. Tanner startled Nicole a bit as he gave her a quick hug, which she gently returned.
"After your first visit," he said, "it sounded like you didn't have a real family anymore. Marie, Kate, Alex, and I have talked about it since that little revelation of Kate's. My daughter's future is closely tied to yours now; you're a part of our lives. We'd like you to feel welcome at our house any time you're in town. Consider our house your West Coast home."
"Mr. Tanner, I ... You don't have to do this. I appreciate it more than you know, but you and your wife hardly know me."
The unhesitating acceptance she felt from all three of the Tanners, and Alex, too, started tears from Nicole's eyes. Her vision was blurred as she felt herself embraced by her new family.
Kate stepped in; her green eyes awash in tears. "Sis, I wouldn't ever have believed what's happened if I hadn't lived it." She threw her arms around the tall woman's neck. "I'm going to miss you," she sobbed.
Tears trailed from the redhead's eyes as she returned the hug. "I'll miss you too, sis. I'll keep in touch as best I can, but it will be only letters during boot camp." She squeezed once, and released Kate. "Take care of yourself, your family, and Alex, okay?" She caressed her friend's cheek. "I love you, Kate."
She finally turned toward the security station and wiped the tears from her face. It was time to move ahead, again. It only took a couple of minutes to clear through, and she turned on the other side to wave to her friends and family. It would be good to be back at her apartment, though. A month from now, she'd be on the road again; this time for an indeterminate time in the Marines.
Dulles International Airport
8:30PM EST
The light snow had slightly delayed several flights, including the one from Los Angeles carrying Miss Harrison. He'd gotten a briefing, and knew that the young woman was now considered an unlikely subject for further investigation. Her behavior over the last three weeks had departed so much from the profile provided that it seemed pointless to waste more time and resources.
They'd finish the surveillance for her trip, and make sure there weren't any surprises that cropped up over the next four weeks. Once she left for Marine Boot Camp, they'd have a hard time trying to keep an eye on her anyway.
He tagged along, following at a distance as she retrieved her luggage. A quick call to his partner brought his ride, and they kept watch as she retrieved her rental car and returned to her apartment.
"We're scheduled to finish out the evening shift. At midnight, we're done with her and can get our report filed." They sat quietly until they saw the lights go out at eleven o'clock. The car started up, and they returned to their offices.
Fairfax, VA (35/21;snow)
9:00PM EST
Angela Ogle sat reading in the living room as the snow fell outside. Her assigned roommate, Nicole, was due back this evening from California.
~Odd that a newbie would cause such a ruckus at the office. Even the Colonel seems to have been disrupted a bit.~
The clatter of a key in the door pulled her attention away from her thoughts as a tall, slender redhead came into the apartment, accompanied by a wave of cold, outside air.
A train of suitcases, briefcase, and a purse lined up inside the entry; Nicole paused to rid herself of the encumbrance of her coat.
"Hi," she said as she folded the garment over her arm, "I'm your roommate, Nicole Harrison. You must be Angela." She saw a woman with a face that held faint echoes of Rich's facial features. She was, perhaps, in her mid-thirties, and had a sense of calm about her. Her dark hair was just barely shoulder length and pulled back in a ponytail.
There was an underlying sense of strength about her—the feeling of solid leadership.
She hadn't spent much time with Angela this evening. She had unpacking to do, and needed to get organized for going to the office tomorrow; she said good night, and retired to her own bedroom.
She found, tucked into her purse, the package given to her by Rich and his grandmother. The wrapping was simple, just white paper. Nicole carefully picked at the tape and gently removed the paper. A small box was revealed, wrapped in another piece of paper—a letter, it seemed. She unfolded it and began to read:
Dear Nicole,
I'm sure you are wondering at this point why I have sent this gift to you or, indeed, how I know who you are.
Richard, my grandson, has told you that I am a Cherokee medicine woman, or shaman. My clan and family have been chosen to serve our people for many hundreds of years; we are more sensitive than most to the spirits working in the world. Those spirits told me of you and something of your place in the world.
You face a long life that will be full of trials that you only dimly see—your own 'Trail of Tears'. The box contains a necklace and earrings, named 'Journey', which symbolize the trail the Cherokee faced.
As your work continues, you are welcome to come and spend time talking with me. We have experience in dealing with some of the challenges you now face and will give what advice we can.
I offer you a blessing of my tribe as you begin your journey:
May the warm winds of Heaven blow softly on your home, And the Great Spirit bless all who enter there.
May your moccasins make happy tracks in many snows,
And may the rainbow always touch your shoulder.
Blessings on you,
Ahyoka MacLeod
Nicole opened the box, and found the earrings and necklace nestled inside. The silver of the pendant glowed against the black cord, and the earrings were a perfect complement.
It was nearly eleven o'clock before she was settled enough to even try to go to sleep.
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