Polly Merman

by Prudence Walker

Chapter 06

 

"Sorry Jenna, I couldn't tell you. I was already being treated when you saw me last. That's why I haven't visited or asked you to visit me," she explained slowly. "I have to go back soon to see if the cancer has gone. It was breast cancer sis, they wanted to remove them, but I said no. I wasn't going to give them up, not after wanting them for so long. Ironically, they reckon it was the HRT that made me prone to the cancer." She finished, holding Jenna at arms length.

"Oh sis, you silly girl, you should have told me," Jenna insisted.

"I thought about it, but what could you have done except worry." Shelly shrugged ruefully.

"Well luckily we can do something about it, right Beth?" Jenna smiled, looking at Beth for confirmation. When Beth smiled and nodded, Jenna went on to explain her idea.

"Oh my… this can't be true, tell me your not just pulling my leg," Shelly cried, tears starting to leak from her eyes.

"Hey sis, it's me… would I be that cruel?" Jenna smiled as Shelly enveloped her in a hug.

"What about the cancer, will I be free of that too?" Shelly begged, hoping against hope that it would be so.

"Yes you will, cancer isn't carried in the DNA, it's an outside agent. Having your body reset as it were, the risk will only be the same as for any woman as no hormones other than those you produce normally, will be in your body." Jenna confirmed.

"Oh wow! When can we get started?"

"Well I've contacted Sara Briton, a friend of mine, who's an expert in genetics," Jenna explained. "She said she would come as soon as she arranged care for her daughter."

"Great, I seem to remember her," Shelly commented. "Wasn't she that stacked brunette that used to stay with you on campus?"

"Shelly! Sheesh, you're a woman now…or supposed to be. Don't use the word 'stacked,' like you were a man," Jenna admonished, poking her sister with a finger.

"Hey!" Shelly squeaked, dodging the reproving digit. "It's not my fault she is built. Remember I was still mostly a guy then, it was one of those things that stuck in my mind. I used to dream I could look like her." Shelly offered, demonstrating with her hands the classic hourglass shape.

"If you don't watch out, she might give you 50 F cup tits and a belly to match," giggled Jenna, as she gently ribbed her sister.

"Ouch! Point taken... um she can't do that, can she? I mean select breast size?" Shelly asked, looking decidedly worried, at the prospect of ending up with over sized boobs.

"Sis, she's going to remove the y from your chromosome and double up on the x. That should make you look something like me... only not as pretty," chortled Jenna as she teased Shelly.

"I'll look like you? I guess I can live with it... for now, or until something better comes up," smirked Shelly, giving as good as she got.

Beth watched this byplay with amusement, happy to see the obvious love between the two siblings. She wondered, a little sadly what it would felt like to have had a sister of her own. She then realized that she had one. Jenna was like the sister she never had, in the way she treated her and the fun they had been having together. Tears started to trickle down her cheeks as she thought how truly lucky she was.

Jenna, ever vigilant, noticed Beth's wet face first. She rushed over and hugged her, asking what was wrong.

"Nothing at all," sniffed Beth, trying to get herself together. "I just realized how lucky I am to still be alive. Beth lost her life and now that I'm living her life for her, I've gained so much. You treat me like a sister and not every having one before, it's really overwhelming. Seeing you two teasing each other, shows the love I have missed by being an only child."

"Well girl prepared to be sisterfied to death," promised a relieved Jenna. "If I'm going to be your sister, you realize I come as a pair," she giggled, looking pointedly at Shelly.

"Welcome to the family," greeted a smiling Shelly. "The more the merrier I say," as she added her hug to the teary eyed Beth.

Just then a knock on the door interrupted the conversation, as Richard went to see who it was. Moments later he was back leading Ted, whose arms were full of cartons of delicious smelling food. He put the food down on the table and looked at Jenna.

"You have fed me several nice dinners here, so I thought I'd return the favour. I bought Chinese... just as well I brought plenty," he smiled as he saw Shelly for the first time. "You must be Shelly, the resemblance is remarkable," he complimented, smiling as she blushed in return. Ted looked around. Seeing Beth, his eyes widened. "Is this a blonde convention?" he asked, seeing the wig of Shelly's still on Beth's head. "If so, I'd better scram," he grinned.

"Oops, I forgot I was till wearing it," blushed Beth in embarrassment, reaching up to remove it.

"Hey! Sis, stop," called Shelly, shaking her head. "Keep it on for now, as part of you initiation into the sisterhood," she laughed.

Giggling she ran out of the room to return moments later with two more blonde wigs in different set styles. At Jenna's raised eyebrow, she explained.

"After I lost my hair I splurged out on several different wigs in different styles so I didn't need to keep changing the first. Here, put this on," she demanded handing a wig each to Richard and Ted. A little persuasion later and a lot of giggling, everyone in the room was blonde.

"Okay, now everyone in the sisterhood is ready, let's eat." Shelly insisted.

Just then, a sleep bemused Cathleen stumbled in, sniffing the air and headed straight towards the food with Maggie held tightly in her arms. As Cathleen realized there were visitors, she raised her eyes above food level and peered out from under her tousled blonde bangs. She was taken aback at first, seeing Shelly, but then realizing something else, she started to giggle.

"Whys daddy uncle Ted, an awnty Beth wearsing mummies hair?" She whispered, in Jenna's ear, shying away from Shelly, but still trying to peek at her from behind her mommy.

"It's a kind of game, honey. It was your Aunty Shelly's idea. The hairs are just wigs that your aunty Shelly wears." Explained Jenna, urging Cathleen to go and give Shelly a hug.

"You's musta growed lots un lots of hair to made dose wiggas awunty Shelly," Cathleen said shyly, slowly advancing to her new aunt.

"I guess I musta kinda did," laughed Shelly, moving forward and scooping the kid up in the air, where she held the wriggling scamp at face level.

"Does you gotta wait for mores hair to be growed before yous make annuder wigga?" She asked innocently, reaching out and touching Shelly's short hair.

"Sure do honey, but I think the next lot I will keep," Shelly responded easily, taking the awkward question in her stride. "I'm hungry, are you?" she asked Cathleen as she put her down on the floor.

Food was served out, each to their own tastes. Beth filled Ted in, between bites, on what had been discussed, before he had arrived. Ted was pleased that Richard was in the loop now, so they didn't need to talk behind his back about everything. He was also pleased Sara would be soon on the scene, what with the shadow of Shelly's cancer looming close.

Begging off the invite to stay, Ted left. Saying that the sisters had a lot of catching up to do and anyway he was feeling rather tired. Beth saw him to the door and before he went outside, stretched up and kissed him.

"Thanks for dinner; it was very thoughtful, especially tonight of all nights. I don't think Jenna would have been a good cook tonight with Shelly being here."

Ted shook his head, waving off the thanks. He looked at Beth, who still had the wig on, and smiled.

"Do blondes have more fun?" He challenged, before bending and kissing Beth full on the lips. He felt her lips soften and open, accepting entry to his tentative tongue. The kiss deepened till his blood-started singing and his breath became ragged. They broke apart gasping a little as their passions simmered just beneath the surface.

"If this is an example of what blondes do, I may change hair colour permanently," she whispered in reply, only half joking. The fires of passion had started tingling all throughout her body and made her feel like pushing Ted onto the nearest flat surface and seeing if she could fly any higher. Not a great connoisseur of kisses by any means, having only limited experience as Colin, but the one with Ted just now had rocked her socks off.

She stood in a semi daze as Ted reluctantly took his leave. The look he gave her, just before he climbed into his car, gave her what felt like the speed wobbles as she walked back inside.

Jenna saw the distracted look on Beth's face, as she rejoined them in the lounge. She winked at Shelly, and whispered in her sister's ear. Shelly giggled and that caught Beth's attention.

"What?"

"Jenna was just saying that you've got it bad. Congratulations, honey, I hope he's great in bed." Sniggered an unrepentant Shelly.

"Oh… oh you mean Ted?" Beth blushed furiously, feeling embarrassed for being so obvious.

"Honey, it's nothing to be ashamed of, you're a woman and he's just a man, what do you expect to happen? He's yours, lock stock and barrel, anyone with half a brain can see that." Shelly insisted, looking at Jenna for confirmation.

"I think it's wonderful that Beth has someone that makes her feel special," agreed Jenna.

"Special… seems like such an understatement," Beth said distractedly. I thought I'd collapse when he kissed me, my knees went to jelly and I felt all smooshy inside."

"Smooshy?" Questioned the sisters in unison.

"It's worse than we thought," giggled Shelly, turning to Jenna.

Jenna's reply was to whisper in Beth's ear, 'go for it girl, you have him hooked, now reel him in.'

Beth blushed again, before excusing herself for the evening and headed for bed. Her dreams that night were filled with images of her wearing white, with the strains of the wedding march drifting in and out of her dreams. Ted was there in most of the dreams, as lover, husband, and protector.

The next day was routine, if you could call Shelly and Jenna acting like giddy sisters and teasing Beth mercilessly about Ted. Beth had to work much harder just to keep up her reputation as a competent researcher. She realized that being a woman meant that others (higher up, but not necessarily better) saw the need to review all her work more closely. Colin had it easy, she thought to herself. Why do most men automatically assume a woman is less competent doing a job than a man doing the same thing? She was extra careful to ensure her work was exemplary, both in execution and results. If this meant she had to work twice as hard as her other co-workers, then so be it.

To make matters worse, she started spotting and had to learn the intricacies in inserting her first tampon. Knowing what to expect, from the advice she'd been given, there was no panic seeing the blood there. It did weird her out a bit, knowing this was going to happen each month, but pushing aside her initial shock, she got on with it. She bungled the first attempt, as she hadn't inserted the applicator in far enough before pressing on the cardboard tube. The tampon ended up half out and fell into the toilet she was perched on. Trying to do it one handed and making sure her skirt was clear so she could see what she was doing, was frustrating and she repressed the urge to scream out. Finally it was in with just the string left hanging out. She sighed in relief, feeling a bit like one of those kewpie dolls that you pull the cord on to make her talk. She was glad she'd taken Jenna's advice, and put an extra pair of panties in her bag in case of an accident.

The rest of the day was a breeze compared with learning that all-important skill. Beth did worry at first if she'd done something wrong, when the other women seemed to know it was that time of month, as they commiserated and were generally a bit more supportive towards her. 'Had the string fallen out and was showing from her skirt? Logic told her it wasn't, although she had to refrain from checking. Maybe there was a sign on her back saying, "Beth's having her period," maybe they could smell the blood, seeing as she wasn't going round walking bow legged or something.' These thoughts were racing though her mind, as she pondered the questions.

After work Jenna picked up Cathleen and Maggie from the crèche, as Richard was working late and wasn't able to take her home like the day before. Cathleen was holding some drawings; she'd done during the day and proudly showed them to Beth as she got into the car.

"I drawed pretty pictures of mommy and awnty Beth and Shelly, oh and Uncle Ted and daddy." She giggled as she handed them to Beth. "Deys all gotted awnty Shelly's wiggas on. I used lots and lots of crayons," she chattered happily on.

Beth looked at the drawings and grinned, showing them to Jenna as she was starting the car. Jenna's eye lit up in amusement as she saw that all the figures had big blonde hair and that everyone, including the men were wearing dresses.

"Daddy looks very lovely in his dress, honey." She complimented, trying not to laugh.

"Can daddy play the game again, with the wiggas? Has you gotted a dress he could wear, mommy? Would awnty Shelly has one, cos she is bigger?"

"I don't know honey; I like your daddy wearing the pants in the family. Anyway, yesterday was a special party just for Shelly." Jenna patiently explained.

"Hokay mommy," Cathleen settled back, content to play with the kitten in the back seat.

When Shelly put Cathleen down for a nap before dinner, Jenna mentioned that Sara was arriving soon. She would be staying at the same hotel as Shelly and had been invited for dinner. Beth offered to assist in the kitchen, as did Shelly. It was crowed with the three of them working there, but nobody complained the feeling of belonging was something Beth would cherish forever. Talk of recipes, and promises to swap favourite ones made the time fly.

A large roast leg of lamb, that had been pre prepared the night before, had been in the oven and set to come on in the late afternoon. The appetizing smell was driving the women's taste buds crazy. When everything was under control and desert was made. They gathered in the lounge with a bottle of wine.

"That was really great, I loved helping out," Beth smiled as she sipped her wine.

"Yeah sis, it was just like old times," Shelly agreed.

"Beth, I feel a great bond growing between you and me. Very like the one I share with my sister. I'd like to call you my sister too, if that's okay?" Jenna replied. "I hope Shelly will feel the same way once she gets to know you as I do. I'm sure Shelly can tell you many of the pitfalls of becoming a woman, from her unique point of view. She will probably help you more than I can, as when I look at you, I only see a woman and tend to overlook the things I normally would assume you would already know."

"Beth...my sister is right, I can sense the bond between you and I hope you'll feel comfortable calling me your sister Shelly as well. I don't know that I'll be able to teach you to be a woman; it looks to me that you have that pretty much sussed out. How is your period going? Have you started your flow yet, remember to have some Midol on hand if you start feeling cramps. That's one area of expertise where Jenna is the expert." She grinned, poking Jenna playfully in the ribs.

"I don't know what to say," Beth started to cry as the love of these two women (yes two) flowed across the room to her. Never in her life was she so happy to feel the sense of belonging. Beth went over and hugged the two sisters tight, feeling tears of welcome from both Jenna and Shelly soaking her blouse. "Thank you my sisters," blubbered Beth, saying everything with those few emotional packed words.

Richard came inside and saw the three women in a huddle, tears wetting their faces. His first thought was, 'something is wrong.'

"What's up girls, someone break a nail?" he quipped trying to lighten the air with a joke.

The three wet faces looked at each other for a moment, before breaking out giggling.

"I'm glad it's not serious then, I hear broken nails are a pain to fix," he adlibbed.

"MEN!" was the triple chorus as the giggling turned to laughter.

"Harrumph, well seeing my humour isn't being appreciated, I'll leave," Richard snorted, lifting his nose up and turning to leave.

"Richard honey..." came the sexy oozing voice of his wife. "Don't leave us...please." She inveigled.

Richard couldn't resist stopping and turning back when Jenna used her bedroom voice.

"Yes honey?"

"It's official, Beth is now our adopted sister, for as long as she'll have us," Jenna announced proudly.

"What are you women cooking up now?" Richard demanded, deciding to change the subject.

"Why nothing at all honey," Jenna protested. "This is just something that we needed to do."

"Nothing? Doesn't smell like nothing, it smells delicious," Richard said, as he moved towards the kitchen, sniffing the air.

A tentative knock on the door interrupted Jenna's disgusted snort at Richards's deliberate misdirection. Richard went to the door and moments later came back leading a rather statuesque brunette. Jenna rushed over to hug the woman, before introducing her to the others.

"Beth, Shelly, this is my old friend from my university, Sara Briton."

"Hi everyone," came a sweet voice in a distinctive English accent. "Nice to meet you, I hear you have a job for me," she added with a note of challenge in her voice.

"Come sit down and I'll let Beth explain everything and what we need you for, while I check dinner." Jenna urged, showing Sara to a seat neat to the girl's.

"Hmmm, by the smell of it, I would have travelled here just for that," she winked at her hostess.

Beth studied Sara, taking in her clothes and her confident but friendly manner. British bombshell came to mind as she took in the classic hourglass proportions of Sara's body. Colin would have drooled, she thought to herself, but now as Beth she felt sort of jealous although her own body was similarly shaped. Sara's clothes showed subtle taste without over stating it.

"You're English? I hadn't expected that when Jenna first mentioned you," Beth asked, admiring the clear green pools of Sara's eyes.

"Sadly yes," Sara grinned. "You can take the English out of Britain, but you can't take the British out of the English," she quoted in an exaggerated hoity toity upper crust accent, that had Beth and Shelly burst out in a fit of giggles.

"That accent is so you," laughed Beth, immediately taking to this stranger. "Do you know the royal wave as well?" she asked, trying to keep a straight face.

"Like this?" Sara demonstrated, bringing both the girls to tears again.

Jenna poked her head in to see what all the fuss was about, catching Sara doing her royal impression. She withdrew back into the kitchen; grinning, glad everyone was getting along.

Beth finally started to explain why Sara was asked to come. Leaving out most of the plant explosion and the resultant effects, she told Sara how they had discovered that the polymer mix that had been recovered had produced a new spectacular property.

"Okay I'm not stupid; tell me exactly how you discovered that. If this liquid can rewrite the DNA to that of another, you must have seen it in action. People don't go around testing a substance formed by an accident for a radically divergent property in a totally new direction, unless there's an example or an excellent reason to do so."

Beth felt trapped, not expecting this eventuality and unwilling to reveal her own first hand experience.

"Your right of course, we do have an example, but for privacy reasons we don't want to go into it at the moment. Be assured that this stuff works the way we said it does. At the moment we need you to change a sample of Shelly's DNA so that it will overwrite hers giving her a female XX chromosome, in effect turning her into a genetic girl," Beth admitted.

"You're going along with this harebrained scheme?" Sara asked Shelly.

"Oh yes, and it's not hair brained. I've seen the results and it will turn a guy into a female...oops," gasped Shelly, letting more of the cat out of the bag than intended, in her hasty reply.

"Ah ha! Chortled Sara; glad to be seeing some of the truth come out, even if it seemed ridiculous. "This guy turned female is still alive?"

"As alive as Beth is," Shelly replied with a smirk, unable to resist the obvious comeback.

Beth scowled at Shelly, feeling things were getting to close for comfort.

"It's you? Isn't it?" Sara gasped, making an intuitive leap, knowing that Jenna had a brother who was a transsexual, and the only other person it could be was Beth, unbelievable as that seemed.

Beth sighed, defeated; tears of emotion were starting to leak as she tried hard not to fall apart.

"How did you guess?" she asked tiredly.

"I put myself in the shoes of the person changed. Jenna knew and so does Shelly. One wouldn't want this widely known, so the number with this knowledge would be kept as small as possible, which left you Beth... I'm sorry if that upset you, that wasn't my intention." Sara offered earnestly. "I just wanted the truth, now I have it will go no further, I promise."

"Will you help us? Jenna said you could cure your daughter with this stuff." Beth asked, feeling a little better.

"You were a man? How you know you're really a woman without all the tests. I don't suppose doctors are on your list of people to see, given the situation and the need to keep a lid of this. Too many questions could be dangerous," Sara asked curiously.

"Well, I've started my first period, does that answer your question?" Beth offered by way of proof.

Sara whistled softly in surprise. "That seems to take care of my lingering doubt. What about your identity now, surely that's going to be a problem?"

"No, that's been taken care of; you realize this can't become public knowledge. It's far too dangerous in the wrong hands, despite the benefits it may have for health problems." Beth explained.

Jenna poked her head out to call for some assistance in the kitchen. So discussion was halted as Beth and Shelly went to help. Sara wandered in, following her nose as the wonderful aroma wafted around. Sara offered to set the table, as the others started draining the vegetables and cutting the meat. A shout from Jenna had Richard reaching for a bottle of red wine and glasses.

The meal that evening went down in near silence, as mouths were otherwise engaged in eating, not talking, although there were plenty of compliments about the meal between mouthfuls. Cathleen in her high chair was the most voluble; as she played, 'spread the food generously over every bit of exposed skin.' Obviously, osmosis of nutriments via the skin was her theory of proper nutrition. Dessert was less wasted seeing even Cathleen's mouth was silenced as she stuffed her mouth with her favourite food… ice cream.

After dinner, some serious discussion about what Sara could achieve with the polymer was held. Sara agreed to work on a sample of Shelly's DNA, but refused to accept any blame if Shelly's new body wasn't to her liking. She said it was possible to change the sex-determining chromosome, but to try for other specific changes may cause bigger problems.

Shelly said just being a genetic female would be enough, choosing specific attributes, hadn't entered her mind and was happy to let random choice decide the physical shape.

Sara asked for a blood sample and a quantity of the polymer, which Jenna had on hand in a specially sealed container. Sara said she'd take it to her own lab and work her magic on it, before bringing it back, sometime next week. Sara took her leave after getting the samples, and promised to keep in touch.

Before bed that night, Shelly whispered in Beth's ear something that made them both smile. Beth realized she needed to get some time off to spend with Shelly in the next few days.

Dealing with the task of replacing her tampons got easier with practice even if it was still an icky chore. Seeing blood soaked blobs coming out of her body as she gingerly tried pulling them out without dirtying her fingers, almost made her faint at first, especially when she heard the sodden slap of the released tampon against the toilet bowl as it swung out on its string. Knowing this was now her fate each month meant she had to grin and bear it without falling apart. So far she had only minor cramps that were rapidly eased by the Midol Jenna had given her.

The next day Beth decided to take off sick and asked Jenna to make her excuses. Jenna was concerned that Beth was indeed ill, until Beth reassured her that she was okay, but just wanted the day off. Ted gave Beth a call later that morning, when he found her absent from work. He was very concerned, which made Beth feel pleased that he cared enough to call.

Beth and Shelly spent a leisurely morning browsing the shops, picking up a few things they needed. They also picked up a few things for dinner that evening. Beth seemed to be getting on well with Shelly, as they enjoyed themselves meandering around the malls. Beth was getting used to looking at clothes and even trying them on. Looking at intimate apparel such as panties and bras and holding them against her body had become easier, and the feeling of embarrassment that she'd had at first, was gone. The initial reluctance to try on the extremely feminine slips and underwear had vanished. The sensations she experienced when trying these clothes on her body, gave her shivers of delight. She became an instant addict to trying on the soft and silky materials and revelled in the feelings these clothes gave her.

Beth dropped Shelly back at Jenna's after lunch at a small café. Shelly was going to prepare a nice dinner for when Jenna got home. Beth wanted to get something from her place and check her mail. Shelly wanted her to wait till Ted could be with her, but Beth was adamant she would be okay.

Beth arrived back at her place in the afternoon. All seemed normal and she unlocked her door and went inside. She picked up some more clothes she wanted and was about to leave when an arm went round her neck.

"One sound and it will be your last, bitch," growled a male voice.

Beth shuddered as the voice continued. She assumed it was Martin as she was spun around to face her captor. Martin, for she recognized the face from the mug shot the detective had sent her, was wearing a black polo necked jumper and black pants. His expression was one of anger as he thrust his face close to hers.

"I want money bitch and you're going to get it for me." He spat out, spittle flecking his lips.

Beth pulled her head away as best she could, within his grasp, smelling alcohol on his breath, cursing herself for not locking the front door behind her. Surprisingly, now the moment had come, she found she wasn't afraid.

"Not on your life," she retorted, feeling smug at the look of surprise on Martin's face as she defied him.

"Listen… I'm in control here, not you, so listen up." Martin demanded roughly, producing a wicked looking automatic. He shoved Beth to the bed, making her tumble onto it.

More worried that Martin was going to rape her, than try to shoot her, she scrambled to sit up and move away from him. He approached and slapped her hard on the cheek, making her head jerk away from the impact. As before, she didn't feel much pain, but cried out and held her hand up against her cheek as if she was really hurt.

Martin laughed an ugly sound as he grasped her arm and cruelly pulled her upright. Beth knew she needed to stop Martin before he found out about her immunity to pain, as he tried to drag her closer to plant a kiss. Instead of resisting, she relaxed and caught off balance he stumbled, cursing her as her body pressed against his. Beth pulled her knee up between Martin's legs, making him cry out in agony as his jewels were bruised. He was stronger than Beth anticipated and was still on his feet, as she broke free and tried to dash for freedom; probably due to the alcohol he had drunk numbing his pain receptors. She reached the doorway as a shot crashed out and she felt her body impelled forward as the bullets energy, impacted on her body.

She fell, feeling a numb area on her back where the bullet had struck. She landed on her stomach outside the bedroom, as Martin stumbled after her, cursing loudly in his drunken rage. Winded, but feeling no real pain, Beth lay there stunned as Martin stood over her body.

"Stupid bitch, I told you I was in control." He shouted, kicking her prone body for good measure. He fired another shot into her head, which slapped it sideways under the fresh impact. Martin didn't seem to realize there was no blood showing, probably thinking her hair was hiding it, as he staggered out into the lounge nursing his groin.

Beth was waiting till Martin dismissed her body as being dead, before moving slowly to her feet. She used her fingers to comb her hair for the remnants of the flattened bullet, before peering round the corner towards Martin. He was standing facing away from her, cursing as he checked out his painful groin. Beth knew this was the moment; she quickly came up behind Martin and tapped him on the shoulder. He spun in surprise, his mouth opened in shock. Beth struck, like the night in Ted's backyard. A fist, cocked with all her strength impacted Martin's chin, sending him cart wheeling to the floor unconscious.

Thinking quickly, Beth searched Martin's pockets and found a spare clip for the weapon. She removed two bullets from the spare clip and replaced then in the one in the weapon, then holding the gun gingerly, she grabbed a cushion, and held it over the muzzle as she fired two shots, one into the wall, and one into the floor. She then took the cushion and hid it in her closet. Cleaning up the few bits of fluff from the cushion with the vacuum cleaner, she then put the gun back into Martin's hand, making sure his prints were on it. She then picked the gun up by the trigger guard and placed it out of Martin's reach on the table. Beth then called the police, before washing her hands of any residue from the cordite. She changed out of her bullet-holed blouse and into a fresh one; she had just finished when she heard the sirens. Beth managed to work up some tears as the police burst in, guns drawn.

Beth put on her distressed act, saying Martin had attacked her and had fired several shots at her. Before she had managed to subdue him. The police were surprised at her ability to take Martin down, even after she explained about the knee jab. One of the officers winced, but that didn't stop him hauling him away in cuffs still unconscious. One officer stayed behind taking her statement and checking out the bullet holes in the wall and floor. When Beth mentioned Martin's threats and that there was a detective involved in them, he made a call and confirmed her statement. He left, saying that a photographer and forensics would be around later to retrieve the slugs. Beth mentioned that she was staying at Jenna's and gave her cell phone number to the officer.

As Beth finished her original task she had come to do, her cell phone rang. It was the detective, making sure she was still going to stay at Jenna's. He said there was still a slight possibility that Martin had accomplices, and until they were arrested, she should stay away. Beth assured him she would before hanging up the phone. She walked around checking before locking the place up, and going out to the car. She felt kind of numb still from the attack. Moving on with her tasks in a sort occupied daze. She returned to Jenna's without realized she couldn't remember the drive over. It was as if she had switched off part of her brain and driven on a sort of autopilot. She was still sitting in her car when Ted roared into the driveway with a squeal of tires.

"Beth, are you alright? I got a call from the detective to say Martin had attacked you. What happened?" he begged, as he pulled her from the car.

Beth seemed to come back to herself as she felt Ted's arms around her. She started to tell Ted the events leading up to the attack, when everything hit her at once. The danger, Martin represented to her, had been put to one side, during the attack. She realized if he'd attempted strangulation or used a knife to decapitate her, she might not have survived. The emotions she'd locked away to survive came flooding back in a torrent. Beth clung to Ted sobbing, as she tried to ride out the storm of her suddenly released emotions.

Ted was filled with a mix of emotions, anger at Beth, for taking a risk and going alone to her place, anger and remorse at himself for not being there when she needed him and now, relief as he held her tight and gave her the comfort she needed. Shelly came out to see why she had heard cars, but no one had come in. She rushed over, fearing the worse when seeing the sobbing Beth.

"What's happening?" she cried, as she wrapped an arm over Beth's shoulders.

'Martin happened... at her place," Ted jerked out, his voice tight with anger.

"Oh no! I knew she shouldn't have gone alone, but you know Beth... she was adamant that she'd be okay," a shaken Shelly replied. "Is Beth okay? What happened to Martin?" Shelly asked impatiently as she tried to get Beth to come inside.

Ted walked Beth inside, still holding her close. They sat her down on the couch and Shelly got her a glass of brandy. Beth took a gulp and then coughed as the fiery drink went down; she started to explain as the calming effects of the drink took hold. Shelly had Beth take off her blouse at the mention of the bullet, during Beth's explanation. Ted had to tear his eyes away from the sight of Beth's breasts scantly clasped in their lilac encased bra, as she calmly removed her top. Ted and Shelly looked at the place Beth said the bullet hit. All they could see was a small reddish mark on her skin about the size of a silver dollar. Similarly with her red, although there was a small bare patch where the hair had been torn away. It wasn't noticeably as the rest of her hair covered it completely.

Shelly had to leave to continue the dinner preparations for dinner that night. Ted was left with Beth and he helped her put her blouse back on, mentally envying those bra cups wishing his hands could caress them instead. Beth thanked Ted, kissing him on the cheek and then again on the mouth. He held her in his arms and gently kissed her back. Her body thrilled to the sensations; as she relaxed in his arms, content to feel safe from Martin and his cronies. She let the kiss go on longer as her body started to react to the stimulation, buzzing in her head. Ted's hand cupped her breast gently kneading it (and needing it) with a thumb. Her nipples hardened in response and she felt another part of her body respond. She broke off the kiss, gasping as her body tried its best to kill that little voice that said she shouldn't be doing this, at least not in the lounge of a friend's home with a guest only a room away.

She smiled at Ted, showing him she liked what was happening and wasn't pulling away for another reason. A whispered promise of "later," in his ear, had Ted grinning like a loon, as she got up to help Shelly.

Ted was ecstatic; Beth had responded to his kiss in a way that had his blood pounding; his own arousal was obvious due to the bulge in his pants. Hope had blossomed for the developing relationship between Beth and himself. Beth parting word echoed in his brain and images of what "later," might mean, swirled around in his mind. Pulling his thoughts together, he wandered into the kitchen to be nearer the woman he loved.

The two women were talking softly together, but stopped as they spotted him standing there. They gave each other a look, which had him wondering what they were talking about.

"Want to share the secret?" Ted enquired hopefully, wiggling his eyebrows encouragingly.

"No," came the two giggling replies, as Beth stuck her tongue out at Ted.

Ted smiled at the sight, knowing Beth was feeling much better now. "Anything I can help with, seeing I left work early to check on my darling Beth," Ted asked pleadingly.

Beth blushed, but didn't refute Ted's endearment. Shelly grinned and nudged Beth in the ribs, cocking her head towards the meat on the bench.

"You can cut up the meat into cubes if you want?" offered Beth with a grin.

"Ah me big hunter, me slaughter and chop meat good." Ted answered, thumping his chest and brandishing the knife he'd picked up.

He waddled over to the meat in a Neanderthal sort of way, stabbing the meat with the knife and swirling it around overhead on the end of the knife. Beth and Shelly burst out laughing at his caveman act. When the swirling piece of meat decided to leave the knife and fly over to the fridge, Beth nearly had hysterics. Seeing the slab of steak impacting on the door before slurping down in a trail of red. And Ted doing a goal saving leap to catch the errant steak before it hit the floor. Had Beth and Shelly gasping for breath, as they nearly peed themselves laughing. A red-faced Ted picked himself up along with the saved meat, before throwing back onto the meat board.

"Slippery bastard wasn't it?" Ted said, with a determined look. "But I caught the sucker with my bare hands." He stated proudly, turning to smile at the girls.

More snorting and choked laughter greeted his words, as Beth and Shelly struggled to regain control.

"Just cut it up, you don't need to fight it." Shelly gasped out, nearly starting them off again.

Ted joined in with a laugh. "I guess not," he eyed the piece of meat warily. Prodding it with the point of the knife. "It's dead now," he added with a victorious look.

The girl's turned back to their tasks before they had an accident from Ted's antics. Dinner was prepared and cooking before when Jenna and Cathleen came home.

"Hmmm, something smells great," she said, taking her coat off and accepting the glass of wine Ted handed to her.

"Beef stroganoff, I think," Ted answered her. "The girl's did it all, I just rustled up the meat," he said with a grin. "My punishment was to be invited to dinner."

Hearing the burst of laughter from the girl's, Jenna knew there was more to that statement, than Ted was telling. She sat for a moment sipping her drink, kicking off her shoes with a sigh of relief, as she looked expectantly at the girl's for an explanation.

"We'll tell you later," was all she got, as Beth started to tell her about meeting up with Martin.

Jenna sat in shock, oblivious to Cathleen playing underfoot with Maggie. She gasped when Beth told of her being shot, twice, but grinned grimly when Beth told of Martin's defeat.

"Oh honey please say this isn't going to happen again," implored Jenna as she hugged Beth tight.

"I think I'll leave the hero stuff to Ted in the future," Beth replied, grabbing Ted's hand. "You should see him wield a knife, its uncanny," giggled Beth, remembering the incident in the kitchen.

Shelly snorted, choking on the mouthful of wine she'd just taken. Jenna didn't know what was going on but she knew it must be a good joke. She wheedled it out of the pair of grinning women, much to Ted's disgust. Jenna laughed picturing the scene in her mind. Later, when Richard arrived home, tired and in need of a drink, they discussed how to prevent being caught out again. Jenna surprised them when she revealed that she had injected herself with a sample of the polymer.

"I needed to know if it could be done," she argued. "I took a blood sample and added it to the polymer then a few minutes later I injected it into the skin of my arm. I also tried out the hair removal properties, by using up the rest of the sample I made on my legs and under my arms. I must say it works better than waxing.... no pain." She sat back and smiled smugly at the concerned faces.

Ted made the first move, picking up a toothpick from the table and testing it on Jenna's arm. Like Beth the toothpick penetrated the flesh under steady pressure until it passed completely though the palm of her hand. Jenna smiled throughout, as she felt no pain. The stab test followed, and the toothpick snapped not even denting her skin, as Ted confirmed its resistance to sudden penetration.

"Ted, Richard...I think you should try it as well. I don't want you two getting killed because you didn't take the only way to protect yourself. It's possible we could be targets if anyone sees us with Beth. In fact I want to do it now before you come up some silly reason not to." Jenna demanded.

Both men sighed, knowing resistance was futile, that Jenna intended for them to be assimilated into this new group was obvious. Ten minutes later, the deed was done. Jenna had brought out two vials of polymer containing about a pint of liquid. She took two small blood samples from each of the men and injected it into the polymer. She handed them one each, telling them not to swap.

"We wouldn't want you ending up looking like each other now, would we?"

Both men held their own sample of polymer gingerly, still a bit uncertain about it. Jenna gave it five minutes before injecting them with a few cc's of polymer. Both Ted and Richard were persuaded to use the polymer on the skin of their face, to rid them of the daily chore of shaving, their beards.

Shelly looked jealously at the men knowing she'd be the last to get the same benefits, but she knew her vial would be ready as soon as Sara could produce her little miracle. It just didn't make it any easier knowing that; she wanted the peace of mind that went with the polymers protection. Cathleen was the only other, not given the polymer. Jenna said that until they knew if it would keep her at her present 3 years old or just allow her the age normally, the risk was too great.

The dinner was served and both Beth and Shelly glowed from the compliments the others gave, as they polished off the food. Once

Dinner was over and things cleared away, everyone just relaxed, content to let the food digest and watch Cathleen and Maggie play tag between everyone's legs. When Shelly went to help Jenna put Cathleen to bed, Ted said he should go as well. Beth stood and went with Ted, holding his hand as they went out to his car.

Beth kissed Ted goodnight, loving the feeling of warmth in the cooling evening air, as Ted's arms encircled her and held her close. She felt like going with Ted to his place to stay and see where things would lead, but with the plans she and Shelly had made for the next day, it was impossible. Reluctantly she slipped from Ted's arms relishing every second of contact with the person she loved. Before Ted climbed into his car, Beth asked him a question. Ted grinned back and said he'd organize things and would let her know.

The next few days were busy, having taking some time off work, citing her attack and the police requiring access to her home for evidence gathering. Beth's period finally finished with little or no cramping symptoms, which was a relief. Beth and Shelly were constantly together, sharing advice and giggling a lot like giddy schoolgirls. Jenna was happy to see the pair bonding, even though they seemed to be excluding her from some of their conversations. The two girls planned quietly for the following days' events.

The next day was going to be another busy one. Jenna and Richard had left for work before Beth or Shelly woke up. Beth was sleeping late, because she was taking another day off work, Shelly woke Beth up and told her breakfast was ready. Later, Shelly asked Beth if she wanted to learn how to put her hair up in a French braid. Beth jumped at the chance, as hair care was one of the most difficult lessons to learn. The perm Beth had just after her change was starting to lose its body, and she'd found it hard to keep under control during the day, so Shelly offering to teach her, was greatly appreciated.

They soon were ready to finish the preparations for Jenna's afternoon surprise. Shelly and Beth raided Jenna's closet, looking for the right dress, along with the suitable accessories and shoes. Placing everything carefully into a garment bag, they took it out to Shelly's car. A call next door took care of another problem and then they drove off to take care of the rest of the plan.

Jenna was busy in her laboratory, analysing samples of polymers produced for the advancement of the space program. She still had time for a little side research on the amazing polymer that had altered Colin. She had been given a few birthday cards from her fellow workers. She was a little sad, that Shelly had forgotten it. Otherwise she was sure she would have woken early enough to say something that morning. Maybe the excitement over the last few days had made it slip her mind. A birthday kiss and a card from Richard was all she'd had so far, apart from the cards received at work.

"Hey Jenna, the boss is after you," called one of the girls from the office next door.

"Thanks Amelia, I'll be right out," Jenna replied, wondering why he hadn't called her on the phone

"Jenna, I'd like you to go to this address and pick up a sample that needs to be analysed tonight, you may need to work late to get it done, I've arranged with your husband to collect your daughter tonight," her boss said, giving her an address.

"But... oh...ok," she sighed, seeing any plans of a birthday dinner going out the window. Just what she needed, working late.

She turned to go out the door, missing the odd look in her boss's eyes as he made a call on the phone.

"She's on her way; probably get there in… oh, about 18 minutes. Make sure you're in position, we don't want anything to go wrong." He finished cryptically.

Jenna arrived at the address, wondering if she'd got it wrong, she looked at the paper she had in her hand. 45 Tosca Avenue was a demolition site, with only the scattered remains of the original building evident. Just as she was about to call her boss, a white stretched limo with blackened windows, pulled up in front of her, tooted its horn and stopped. A man in a chauffeurs uniform stepped from the drivers door and called out to Jenna by name

Jenna was taken back at being addressed and waited as the man came closer. She was a little nervous wondering how the man knew her name.

"Mrs. Hitch, the client is a bit tied up at the moment and asked for you to come with me to pick up the sample direct from him." The man explained straight faced, seeming not to notice the obvious pun in his words.

"But I was sent here... to this, I don't understand... "She trailed off, feeling a sense of unease.

"Sorry, it was a necessary precaution, the sample is very valuable, and we couldn't risk being interrupted in our delivery." The man replied suavely.

With a lot of reluctance, she locked her car and allowed the man to open the rear door of the limo allowing her to enter before shutting it and climbing into the driver's seat. He started the engine and drove off, seeing in his rear view mirror the car that had pulled up behind his passenger's vehicle, disgorging a figure that promptly unlocked Jenna's car and started to drive away.

Jenna could see out of the limo windows, but knew nobody could see in. Her sense of unease was growing, as nothing seemed to make sense. Trying to talk to the driver was impossible as the window separating him and the rest of the car was closed and he seemed reluctant to acknowledge that she was there. After ten minutes the car slowed, coming up to a popular spa facility. The limo halted outside and the door was opened, allowing her out.

"My instructions are for you to enter here and tell them your name, nothing else, okay?" the chauffeur instructed.

Jenna nodded, feeling better she was out of the car, but still mystified as to what this was all about and why all the secrecy. She walked up to the entrance and stepped up to the desk to state her name.

"Welcome to Spa Sensations," the receptionist greeted with a smile. "Please go to room three, everything is ready for you there," she continued, giving Jenna directions.

Jenna followed her instructions, arriving at a wooden door; she entered into what seemed like a changing room. Another door in the room opened and a female attendant entered. She was dressed in a toga like garment with the company logo embossed on the front.

"Please get undressed and slip into this please," the young woman asked, handing Jenna another toga like robe.

"But I'm supposed to meet someone, not have a spa," explained the bewildered Jenna.

"Ah! Yes your parties are waiting already in the mudroom, "the girl answered as she checked a list in her hand. "I'll be back in a minute while you get ready," she added, before leaving the room.

Jenna shrugged and undressed, thinking she didn't have the time for this. By the time she got the sample... if there was one, it would be around midnight before she could finish any tests on it, 'some birthday this was going to turn out to be,' she thought sadly.

She had no sooner put the robe on when the girl came back. Jenna wondered if there were cameras in the room, but dismissed it as she had other things to worry about. She was led to a dim room smelling of hot mud, where she was told to slip into the pool of mud and get completely covered. The girl helped her don a bathing cap that would protect her hair from being covered. Jenna had a moments worry about getting naked if there was supposed to be a man in here. She looked in the pool but couldn't discern anyone in it in the dim light.

She stepped into the warm mud, feeling it squish between her toes. When the robe hem was close the mud's surface, she slipped it off, tossing it to the side and sank quickly into the mud. It was a lovely feeling, even though it smelled of... mud...duh. She sank down to the level of her nose grabbing a handful of hot ooze and plastering it over her face, determined to get some benefit from this time wasting exercise. Snorting an errant bit of mud from her nostrils, she flinched as she heard a giggle coming from within the pool.

"Who's there?" she called, looking frantically around.

Two very familiar sounding giggles responded, and two amorphous shapes moved upwards revealing a pair of mud-covered heads. With their eyes closed and laying almost flat in the mud, they had been indistinguishable from the rest of the churned up surface. The two mud spattered figures heaved themselves upwards against the clinging mud's inexorable suction, to reveal two very female bodies as their breast's broke the surface. That was all the clues Jenna needed to guess at their identities.

"Beth! Shelly! What are you doing here?" was the first words out her mouth.

"Happy birthday sister dear," they chorused, flinging a gob full of mud in Jenna's direction.

"Why you... two little minx's," Jenna squealed, trying to sound angry. She returned the friendly fire hitting the others with several good gobs of mud. "I suppose there's no such package of polymer to be picked up," guessed Jenna, looking at the two slimy conspirators.

"Only if you count what's in me," Beth sniggered, enjoying the fun.

"I ought to come over there and..."

"What's stopping you sister, you old stick in the mud," giggled Shelly, interrupting Jenna's mock tirade.

Jenna surged towards her sisters smiling in relief that they had remembered her birthday and that the bogus meeting that had given her some unease, wouldn't eventuate. That they had shown their love by the elaborate set-up made her heart fill with happiness, but first they had to be punished for the worry she had experienced. Hugging the two slippery bodies close she gingerly kissed them on the lips, seeing it was the only part not covered in mud, then she whispered in their ears.

"Take a deep breath girls," just before pushing down on their heads and submerging them completely under the mud.

Jenna held the two struggling bodies they for a few seconds before releasing them and diving away to escape retribution. The two women slowly surfaced then stood up in the mud, looking like two chocolate-coated figurines. They scraped away the mud from their eyes and looked at each other, before making a feint lunge towards Jenna, causing her to squeal in alarm. Giggling, they sat back down, having made a point to them.

The attendant came in and asked if they were ready for the next treatment. The three of the mud soaked figures where led into a shower cubical where the three washed the mud from each other's bodies with soft sponges. Beth had to look away, as the sight of the other two bodies was making her blush. Being hugged by two wet, warm slippery bodies was a lot of fun and Beth could feel her arousal growing. Everyone was enjoying rubbing their breasts against the others making their nipples pucker into hard nubs. Funnily enough it wasn't sexual in the way Beth had expected lesbians would act. It was just a bit of harmless play that made them all tingle in excitement.

Finishing reluctantly as the attendant reappeared, they moved into a room with a huge spa pool that was bubbling furiously. Jenna loved it, even though she wondered how much this was all costing. They stayed in the spa for hours, enjoying the way the jets of bubbles went up their legs and past their groin. It was like being in a glass of hot champagne. Lunch was served to them while still in the pool. It consisted of fresh garden salad with a selection of cold meats and warm bread rolls. Champagne was also served.

Jenna kept hugging the two girls,' thanking them for the whole experience. They just winked at each other, and said it wasn't over yet. When they were all thoroughly wrinkly from the water, they stepped out and found themselves in the hands of three masseuses, who pounded, thumped, folded, and stretched their bodies till they all felt like play dough. Beth was enjoying it just as much as Jenna and Shelly were. The masseuse made her feel great and that at last; her body was truly meshed with her mind. She had been introduced to every muscle on her body as the masseuse manipulated them in turn.

Later, Jenna was lead to another booth where a nice lady called Jan came in and said it was time for her makeover. Calling in another couple of ladies, they began to work their magic. Jenna's hair was shampooed and styled, and her face was lovingly worked on, bringing out the best features. Her fingers and toes were not neglected, as they were filed, shaped, and coated with polish. The final touch was when one of the girls brought in her favourite dress. She recognized that it was hers along the rest of the accessories. She had to strip and replace everything from the skin out. Jenna knew Shelly was the one who had picked it out and promised to give her an extra hug later. Dressed, looking like, and feeling like a princess, she was led out to show the girl's who were waiting outside. They each had a present for her, wrapped nicely with primrose coloured paper and tied with a ribbon that formed a nice bow. Jenna sniffed at the presents, detecting her favourite smell, that of primrose.

Jenna was almost in tears at these wonderful gifts, including the lovely day that it had been so far. Hugging her two sisters, she was surprised to see Richard dressed in a tux waiting for her too. He smiled seeing her in all her finery, looking like a million dollars. He gave the others a kiss thanking them for looking after his love.

"Shall we?" he asked, taking Jenna's arm and leading her away.

"Where are we going?" Jenna asked breathlessly as she looked up into Richards adoring eyes.

"A movie first, then dinner at Ricardo's, then dancing with my love till the wee hours," he replied, smiling as her eyes widened.

"What about Cathleen, where is she?" she asked looking around for a sign of her child.

"All taken care of, honey. Ted took her home and the babysitter next door will look after her till Shelly and Beth get home." He explained.

Thanking her sisters again, Jenna allowed herself to be whisked away with her love, for a night she wouldn't soon forget.

Beth was happy to just relax on the couch after going back to Jenna's. The day's activities, organizing Jenna's birthday surprise and dealing with the police, earlier in the morning had exhausted her. She was pleased with the way things had gone. Her experience at the spa would always remain a cherished memory. Jenna's car had been driven back home after the limo had whisked her away. That had worked like clockwork as Shelly dropped her off with the spare keys. Even the call from the police had gone well. A quick meeting at her house to show them the scene and a general explanation of the attack and she was finished. They didn't seem to find her story a problem. One of the investigating officers even laughed and said they'd better call Martin Martini, because of his glass jaw, to which the other replied. "More like Martinique if the general population hear what he tried."

Beth was content to listen to Cathleen telling her what she had done that day, while she busied herself in the kitchen. Maggie had found her favourite spot and was lying against the back of Beth's head like some warm fuzzy headrest. Content to let the purring fur ball play with her hair batting it idly, Beth wondered if she and Ted would ever do something like that.

Cathleen was a bit upset that her mother wasn't home for the nice meal Shelly had whipped up. Shelly and Beth cheered her up when they said her parents were in a special place to see if they could get Cathleen a baby brother or sister. Cathleen was emphatic the she only wanted a baby sister as boys had cooties, and should be turned into froggies. That brought a chuckle from the women, as they agreed with Cathleen to keep the peace.

Beth was thinking later that night in bed, how nice it must be to have a family. She could see why Jenna loved her daughter so much. She sighed, wondering if she and Ted got married, whether it was possible to have kids of their own...the natural way, not by adoption. Jenna had said she might be sterile, but she wondered, could nature be so easily thwarted that way. To have a fully functional baby maker and not be able to conceive because of a technical hitch, hmmm maybe a talented Hitch could solve it, was her last conscious thought as the sandman insisted on working his magic.

Jenna came in late to work the next day looking very happy and satisfied. She visited the crèche to check on Cathleen, knowing Beth had brought her in to work. Cathleen was overjoyed at seeing her mother and promptly shouted,

"Where's the baby, dids you gotted her yet's?"

Jenna blushed, and whispered to her daughter, who grinned and said equally quietly, "otays mommy, I's keeps da secret till you's knowed if the baby be coming."

"What did you tell Cathleen yesterday?" Jenna asked Beth as she swept into the room. "She's asking where the new baby is, that I'm supposed to have 'gotted." She added, using Cathleen's expression, while looking accusingly at Beth.

"Um, well, see it was like this," stuttered Beth, trying to come with an excuse. Before the red faced Beth could come up with why Cathleen had asked such a question, Jenna's stern looking face broke into a smile as she giggled.

"It might be another nine months before it's ready, how am I going to put up with Cathleen's pestering for that long," she laughed.

"Nine months?" Beth gasped, before grabbing Jenna and hugging her close.

"Well the way Richard virtually tore my clothes off me the minute we were alone in the hotel room, which by the way was very thoughtful, and what happened later, I should be walking bow legged," confessed Jenna with a faraway look in her eyes, as she remembered the previous evenings sexual romp.

"Well congratulations for the possible addition to the Hitch family," Beth said sincerely.

"Well you know what they say, a Hitch in time, saves nine, or in my case 'makes nine'…months," Jenna giggled.

Beth sighed; she had always wanted to have kids, even from when she was a little girl playing with her dolls. When she was dating Ted she thought he might be the one, but he'd been too possessive. Once they'd had sex, he wanted to keep her to himself exclusively.

It took several seconds for Beth to realize just what she'd been thinking. She turned ashen. She'd never been a young girl, never played with dolls, and definitely never had sex with a man, let alone Ted. It felt like she had been thinking someone else's thoughts… Beth's thoughts, the Beth that died, but how could that be? She was really Colin, and yet somehow there was a faint recollection of memories not her own. She felt faint and staggered to a chair and sat feeling a sense of dread looming over her.

Seeing her sister pale and stumble for a chair, Jenna became concerned.

"What's the matter?" she asked anxiously, taking one of Beth's hands and looking intently at her face.

"I don't know, I feel strange," Beth whispered.

"Is it your period still? Can I get you some Midol?"

"No, Midol won't cure this. Anyway my period has finished. This is something different." Beth assured her.

"Huh? Explain girl you know you can tell me… I'm your sister," Jenna pressed.

"I had a thought." At Jenna's puzzled look, she tried explaining. "Not my thought, but rather one of the original Beth's thoughts."

"What do you mean, one of her thoughts?" asked a puzzled Jenna.

"A thought of myself as a little girl playing with doll's, and one with Ted, we were having… well something I haven't done yet." Beth tried to explain, not wanting to go into details.

"I think we'd better get you to a hospital for a complete check up. I'll ring Sara, maybe she can think of some explanation." Jenna said as she reached for her cell phone.

Two hours later, at a private hospital, Beth was given a battery of tests, while Sara was on her way back there. Jenna paced outside in the waiting room waiting for Sara to arrive. Sara had told the doctors what tests to run and even an endoscopic look at Beth's ovaries. Blood was taken and held for Sara's arrival for her to test. All the doctors were told was that Beth may have a rare blood disorder and that every test that was available was to be administered.

Beth spent a very uncomfortable day being poked prodded and probed. She was glad when Jenna was allowed in, to visit.

"Sara is here, she is looking at some of the tests now, hopefully she will have some answers," Jenna consoled the worried and tired Beth.

"I just have this feeling that I'm being taken over by the thoughts of the original Beth. Do you know I found myself day dreaming about one of the interns here, I had carnal thoughts about a complete stranger." Confessed Beth, as tears started to build in her eyes.

Jenna grew worried, although she tried not to show Beth the terror that her friend was losing her mental grip on reality, to some weird echo of the dead Beth. Jenna hugged her sister, trying not to cry herself.

Sara came in after an hour, of Jenna's company. She looked haggard, with shadows under her eyes. She smiled a weak smile at Jenna, before turning to Beth.

"It looks like the polymer is more effective than we thought," she started. It not only gave you Beth's sexual organs as well as her looks, but it's also given you the ability to have children. We found your ovaries contain eggs, viable eggs. It looks like it took a snap shot of Beth exactly as she was at the moment of death. From the tests, it looks like it is trying to recreate that snapshot, right down to the brain structure and nerve cell connections. My guess is that when the explosion killed her, the polymer dissolved most of her brain tissue, and that's where most of its information was gathered. Obviously it didn't get it all, as some must have been thrown in the opposite direction. It's impossible, but it's as if the polymer stored the electrochemical properties of the original tissue and is slowly recreating it. Memory is in part an electrochemical value, thus the memories that were in the tissue assimilated by the polymer are now being recreated."

"Will I start thinking I'm her, will I lose that part of me that is still Colin? I don't want to die, to lose myself in her thoughts," cried Beth, tears streaming from her eyes.

"I don't know," Sara confessed, looking far from happy with her answer. The working of the brain is still largely a mystery. In your case, any thing could happen, but my theory is that you will still be Colin, but you'll just start thinking more like Beth did as her memories surface and colour your thinking processes. How much they affect you, depends on your own will and hold on your own memories."

Beth looked shaken, already the way she felt about Ted was being challenged. The faint memory of the other Beth's relationship with Ted was there in the background, but it was clear enough to bring unbidden reminders to the fore, as she fought to suppress them.

"Can I leave here? I want to go home." Beth begged, looking at Sara and Jenna pleadingly.

"I think so," Sara sighed, "I don't think there's any point in you staying any longer. I do have a few more results to look at, but at the moment, there's nothing we can do."

Jenna helped Beth gather her things and escorted her out to her car to make the journey home. Beth was silent on the way home and nothing Jenna tried, managed to draw Beth out of her shell. Beth went directly to her bedroom, wanting to have some peace where she could try and come to terms with everything. She sat at her vanity looking at the image reflected there. Was the face that looked back, going to be hers for much longer? Or was the mind going to slip away, replaced by that of a ghost, who was trying to reclaim her life at the expense of another's.

Sitting there contemplating her future, Beth idly released her hair from the French braid that Shelly had helped form. Beth was unaware of the way her hands seemed to be fiddling with her hair, sweeping it into a French twist, and brushing her bangs straight. The sudden entry of Shelly into her bedroom snapped her thoughts back to the here and now.

"Wow! That looks great, looks like you can teach me a thing," Shelly gushed.

"Huh? Oh the hair," Beth answered, dismissing it absently. "Just something my mother taught me," she added, not thinking about what she was saying.

"Your mother taught you feminine hairstyles?" Asked a shocked Shelly, not believing what she was hearing.

"Oh no! I'm doing it again," sobbed Beth, holding her bowed head in her hands.

Shelly knew something was up with Beth. She had come home to find Jenna preoccupied with dinner, with tears flowing down her cheeks, so she had come to see Beth in her room to find out what was up. Now Beth was in tears, and Shelly didn't know what to do. In desperation, she rang Ted, hoping he knew something, seeing he worked at the same place. Shelly was disturbed, when Ted answered that they had just taken off somewhere in the middle of the morning without a word. Ted was frantic to know what was going on. He'd covered for them both, with their supervisors, but couldn't get away himself. He said that he had tried their cell phones after he noticed they had been gone for a while, but got no answer from either of the girl's phones.

"Both are here safe, but Jenna was crying in the kitchen and Beth is acting strange then she started crying too." Shelly blurted out, trying to force down a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.

"That's it, I'm coming over. People here are just going to have to wait for their stupid reports." Spat a determined Ted, as he hung up.

Shelly was checking cautiously on both the girl's when Ted arrived 25 minutes later. He rushed to the bedroom to check on Beth, giving Shelly a quick hug on the way. Entering the bedroom, he stopped as he saw Beth curled up on the bed.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

"Please leave me alone."

"Beth, I love you, I want to help. Tell me what happened today, why are both you and Jenna in tears?" Ted begged, sitting down beside the curled form.

Beth sat up, revealing her wet and reddened eyes, with splodges of mascara forming dark runnels under her eyes. She looked at Ted for a moment, fighting against the niggling memory from the former Beth's mind. The memory that was trying to tell her that it was over between them.

"I'm in trouble, Ted. I'm reverting back to the original Beth." She said into the sudden silence. My mind is recalling her memories, memories of us Ted. I know things about you from her POV. I remember having sex and why she wasn't interested in settling down." Beth sobbed, turning away to try and hide her face.

Ted was flabbergasted. He sat there trying to think of something to comfort Beth. He tried recalling his own memories of his relationship with the original Beth and where it all went wrong.

"Isn't there anything we can do? Maybe Sara can help…" He trailed off as he saw Beth shake her head.

"Sara came and looked over the test results taken at the hospital. She's not hopeful. I don't want to lose my mind to a ghost, Ted. I don't want to lose the feelings I had when you kissed me. I was falling in love with you, but I have these thoughts that say otherwise." She wailed.

To be continued

  

  

  

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