Polly Merman

by Prudence Walker

Chapter 08

 

Morning found them still entangled, as Beth woke first to a protesting bladder. Moving carefully, she extricated herself from Ted, smiling as she looked on his calm relaxed face. She pecked him on the check, before stealing away to do the necessary. Deciding to get a shower, she hummed to herself as she thought about her initiation into the ranks of womanhood. She could find no trace of the mental voice that used to belong to Colin. It had been getting fainter and less common to hear it, now her mental voice sounded like her own, Beth's.

She luxuriated in the hot water, as she washed her hair and body. Finishing, she dried herself and wrapped a towel round her hair, before choosing the lilac silk robe hanging on the door, leaving the pink one. Looking in on Ted and finding him stirring, she headed to the kitchen to start breakfast.

The waffles were nearly ready, when Ted breezed into the kitchen, wearing her pink silk robe. He had obviously had a shower too, and had chosen to wear the remaining robe on the door. Beth giggled and kissed Ted on the mouth, saying she was glad her girlfriend was ready for breakfast. Ted snorted, but went along with it, after seeing the waffles piled on his/her plate.

"You should have shaven your legs," grinned Beth, seeing Ted's furred legs sticking out of the too short robe.

"You know, this does feel rather nice on the skin. I should get one for myself in my size," Ted said as he tugged on the too short sleeves.

"I'll buy you one if you like," offered Beth. "In pink," she added, hiding a grin.

"Sure... I can just see me now, going outside to get the paper in my pink silk robe," scoffed Ted, waggling a waffle filled fork at her.

Beth laughed, trying to imagine it. Beth watched Ted eating breakfast, pleased that he enjoyed her cooking, it was just another simple pleasure she got, seeing her efforts being appreciated. They cleaned up breakfast together, while Ted tried whacking her playfully on the bum with the pot towel, whenever the opportunity arose. Beth threatened to splash him with the dishwater if he didn't stop.

They had just got dressed when the phone rang. Ted answered it as Beth was still doing her hair. Listening to one side of the conversation, Beth realised the Sara had returned to Jenna's place and had asked for her and Ted to come over. Finishing her hair, she went to change out of her casual jeans and top she was wearing, just as Ted hung up the phone.

"Sara has some news, and wants us over there as soon as we can make it," he said, looking puzzled as to why Beth was getting undressed again. "What are you doing?"

"I'm not going over there in jeans, thank you very much. Not when Sara will probably be dressed smart. I may be new at this, but I'm not going to be the dowdy one," she insisted, looking in her wardrobe for something suitable.

"Boy! Just like a woman," Ted laughed, then ducked as a well-aimed shoe narrowly missed his head. "Hey I was only kidding, it's just you make any clothes look hot," he added, saving the day.

"It's just that Jenna and Shelly look great all the time, and Sara has that sexy look down pat. I need to feel feminine just to compete, and I can't do that in jeans and a top." Beth explained, as she brought out a lovely red dress in jersey that would cling to her figure. "Now go and do something useful, like take out the trash, while I get ready," urged Beth, shooing him from the room.

"Darn, I'll miss seeing the best bit," muttered Ted as he took one last look at Beth slipping on a slip, before she reached for a garter belt.

Beth hurried to get her stockings attached, pausing to admire them for a second in the mirror. She really loved the sexy feel of them and the way the garters pulled on the stockings as she moved, keeping her constantly reminded of their presence. Pulling the stretchy material of the dress over her head, being mindful of her hair, she eased it down, adjusting it and smoothing it over her body. Looking in the mirror made her smile, knowing Ted would drool at the sight of her. Putting in some large gold hoops in her ears and spraying a little perfume around, she stepped into a pair of red open toed shoes with the 4 inch heels, and made her way back out to Ted.

Driving back to Jenna's was difficult for Ted, seeing the distraction sitting next to him. Beth's perfume was enticing enough without the added allure of her attire. Maggie was sitting on Beth's lap, content to stay there and be stroked. Ted felt a moments jealously of Maggie being where he'd love to be. He grinned, as he realised he was being silly, and patted the kitten with one hand as he drove. Beth smiled, thinking of the look she got from Ted when he saw he in the dress. She reached out a hand to lay it on Ted's upper leg, gently stroking it teasingly.

"Its very hard driving when you're doing that you know," Ted groaned, resisting the urge to stop the car and ravish Beth.

"I know, exactly how hard," she giggled back as she tapped her fingertips lightly on the bulge in his pants.

Ted moaned more, but made no move to avoid the flirting fingers.

"We'll have an accident if you keep that up," he replied jokingly, knowing Beth would get the double meaning.

"I'm sure you will if you keep that up," Beth answered, smirking as she emphasised "that" with another light touch on Ted's tented pants.

"Sheesh! For a woman new on the job, you picked up some bad habits rather quickly," he smiled. "You must have taken lessons in being a tease, I'm sure Colin was never like that." Ted said as a joke, but then realised he'd made a blunder.

The atmosphere changed instantly, going from the playful banter to a dead silence. Ted looked over at Beth, before bringing the car to a halt at the edge of the road. The tears he saw glistening in her eyes, stabbed him in the heart, knowing his stupid comment had been the cause of her anguish.

Turning the engine off in the spot he'd parked the car, Ted turned to Beth and reached out the hold her.

"Beth, I didn't mean that the way it sounded. I loved Colin as a friend now I love Colin as Beth more than just a friend. I love you Beth and the last thing I want, is to hurt you." Ted pleaded.

"Ted it's ok, I think I understand. Colin wasn't a tease, but then he wasn't a woman then either. I know I'm being a tease...it's kind of fun, knowing you can do it and get away with it. It is very heady, sort of like a power trip. I didn't mean to upset you; I just wanted to fit in, to act more like a woman."

"Beth, you'll always be a woman to me. You have picked up the nuances like a born woman. I was getting so hot for you, I wanted to stop and ravish you right here in the car," confessed Ted.

"Hmmm," Beth looked around. "We are stopped, so when does the ravishing begin?" She smiled, looking at him expectantly.

"Oooooh! If we weren't on a public road in broad daylight..." Ted left the rest unsaid, giving her a deep kiss.

"I'll take a rain check on the ravishing," giggled Beth, as she checked her lips in the mirror, while Ted got the car back underway.

Arriving at Jenna's, they got out to a warm Hitch welcome. Cathleen bounded out to gather Maggie into her waiting arms, after promising to 'be's weal gentle wid her.' Jenna said that Sara was due any minute, as she had gone back to were she was staying to bring someone back. Once inside, Shelly and Jenna pulled Beth aside, telling Ted to get himself a drink. Once the girls were out of earshot and sitting on Shelly's bed, the questions started.

"Well how was it?" Jenna asked with a smile.

"Yeah! Come on sis, we want the juicy details?" Demanded Shelly, impatiently.

"Oh you mean the date?" Beth said, trying to be nonchalant.

"Oooooh! Spill it hon, those tricks only work on the men," giggled Jenna, desperate to relieve her curiosity.

"Well, the date was great," replied Beth, filling them in on the evening's activities.

"And afterwards, when you got home," prompted Shelly, itching to hear the best part. "We know you had sex, it shows on your face," she added grinning.

"It does?" asked a surprised Beth, getting out her compact mirror, pretending to check her face. "I thought I cleaned all that off," she smiled, and then laughed at the expressions on the faces of her sisters. "Fooled ya," she laughed, before ducking away from imminent incoming pillow injuries.

"Why you, you..." Jenna laughed, running out of words, as she threw down the hasty grabbed ultimate weapon in these situations.

"I'm sorry," giggled Beth, proving she wasn't. "Give me a minute, and I'll tell all...boy those looks were priceless," she added hastily.

"Quick girl, remember I'm still fully loaded," growled Shelly, hefting the pillow in her hand, threateningly.

Beth started telling them of her night's activities in bed with Ted. Beth answered the inevitable questions and saw smiles on both the faces of her adopted sisters, as she brought them up to date.

"We are so happy that you have accepted and embraced the woman you are inside." Jenna said happily.

"Embrace it?" questioned Shelly. "I think she's trying to outdo us," pouted Shelly pointing at Beth's dress. "If that doesn't scream out 'I'm a Woman,' then I'm Lucy Lawless," grinned Shelly giving Beth a loving hug, to which, Jenna joined as well.

They were interrupted from further discussion by a call that Sara had arrived. All three came out to see Sara with a 6-year-old girl by her side. Sara was impeccably dressed again, which made Jenna and Shelly sigh, as they were the only ones in casual jeans and tops. After a round of hugs and greetings, Sara introduced the person clinging shyly behind her.

"Everyone, this is my daughter, Donna." Sara said, pulling the girl out in front of her and smiling encouragement at the child.

There was silence for a moment, as everyone looked at the lovely child with her dark hair in pigtails, dressed in a lovely yellow frock. All knew this child had Downs Syndrome, but although obviously shy in front of a group of strangers, there was no obvious signs of Downs. Just then Cathleen bounded in with Maggie chasing a trailing ribbon in her hand. She came to a halt in front of Donna, surprised to see another girl in the house.

"Hello, mwy names Cathleen," she said proudly. "What's jours? This is Maggie; she's a widdle kitten dat luvs to play wid me. You wanna plays wid me and Maggie?" bubbled Cathleen, not sensing the awkwardness of the adults around her, as they wondered what to say.

"My names Donna, does she like chasing ribbons?" Piped up Donna, surprising everyone, but Sara and Cathleen, with her response.

"Yup, and she's real cuddly, you's wanna hold her Donna, lets go outside, I can show you my cubby house daddy builted me." Cathleen replied, pulling Donna outside.

"Sara, I thought...." Jenna started.

"She had Downs?" Sara finished, smiling back at her. "She did till a few days ago," she continued, smiled at their reactions as they figured it out.

"You did it," screamed Jenna and Shelly together.

"Yes, I put a modified copy of her DNA into the polymer and tested it on her two days ago. The changes are remarkable. With her small size and the changes in her body being minimal, she is almost back in normal range for her age. I can't thank you enough for giving me back my little girl," Sara smiled, as tears of joy started to fall down her cheeks.

The three women instantly mobbed Sara, as Beth, Jenna, and Shelly, tears glistening in their eyes went to celebrate Sara's good fortune with a severe hug attack.

"I want to give you something as a kind of thank you," Sara offered, as she managed finally to compose herself.

"You know you didn't need to do that," Jenna scolded. "We are more than happy to see Donna well and healthy again."

"I don't think you'll turn this gift down, especially Shelly," Sara laughed, as she reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out an ampoule of clear liquid. "Yes it's your greatest wish Shelly, a magic genie in the bottle."

Shelly took the small bottle of polymer; her hands trembled at the thought of what was contained in this precious liquid and what it might hold for her future. She looked at Jenna pleadingly and instantly Jenna rushed to get a hypodermic from her case of medical equipment. Soon a syringe of the liquid was filled, Jenna had swabbed Shelly's arm with alcohol filled sterile wipe, then holding the syringe needle uppermost and tapping it gently, she squeezed the plunger till a drop of liquid beaded at the needles tip, before pushing it in Shelly's arm and injecting the precious cargo.

At once, Shelly wanted to go look at herself in the mirror. She raced into the bathroom, before anyone had time tell her, it might take a few hours, before there were obvious changes to be seen. Jenna hugged Sara, thanking her for the gift of her sister; tears of joy running unashamedly down her cheeks. Beth was getting misty eyed as well and went and hugged Ted, who also, seemed to be sporting a little moisture around the eye region. Richard hugged his wife, prising her gently away from Sara, so he could kiss her.

Shelly came bouncing back in a few minutes, sure she had seen some changes already. She went around hugging everyone, her joy was infectious and Richard went and brought out some champagne from the wet bar to celebrate. A box of tissues mysteriously appeared on the table and it got well used before the day was done. The children were having fun despite the three years difference. Maggie was a big factor in that as she pounced the pair in mock sneak attacks, as they got involved in play. Jenna took Sara out to quietly peek at them in play, not wanting to disturb them as they happily ran around the play area.

Lunch was a grab and snatch at the table, as the women all helped lay out sausage rolls, potato crisps, peanuts, (not for the kids) and crackers with assorted toppings on. Glasses of orange juice and lemonade were there for everyone. Sara was in tears of joy as she saw Donna taking two paper plates laden with goodies, out to the playhouse for her and Cathleen. Cathleen struggled to carry two glasses filled with drink, without spilling any. Jenna hugged Sara, knowing that Donna was catching up for lost time as she interacted with Cathleen.

The women had all gone outside to laze the afternoon away in the sun on the sun chairs, while Ted and Richard watched a ball game on television. Beth would have liked to have joined the men watching the game, and snuggle up with Ted, but she knew she could easily catch the game on a replay if she was really bothered. No, it was more important for to polish her womanly skills in the art of conversation, to learn all she could from her sisters.

The women watched the children playing happily as once in a while one would come up to them with something interesting to show or talk about. Ted stuck his head out once in a while to make sure they still had plenty to drink. It wasn't long before the first of the changes to Shelly started occurring. At the moment with her lying down it wasn't apparent to the others, but her height was diminishing slowly until she would eventually end up only an inch taller than Jenna.

Being distracted by the pleasant conversation and the odd interruption from the kids, Shelly was mostly unaware of her changes until she went into the bathroom to use the toilet. The others having their eyes closed against the glare of the sun didn't see her leave. A sudden squeal as she spotted herself in the mirror, brought the others running.

"Look at me," she gasped, as the others crowded in.

"What's all the noise?" Asked Ted as he and Richard had decided to abandon the game to see what was going on.

"Shoo!" Jenna gestured at the two curious men. "Women only, in here," she emphasised, as she glimpsed Shelly opening her blouse.

"You know, for two cents I'd take a modified sample of that goo, just to see what women get up to in bathrooms," Richard grumbled to Ted, as he reluctantly turned away.

"Me too, as long as my boobs were bigger than yours." Laughed Ted, getting a chuckle from Richard.

"No way, there's only one person wearing the skirts round here," Jenna retorted. "And that's me," she added with a laugh. "Anyway if you want to know what we do, just imagine what goes on in a men's locker room, except there's more giggling and it smells nicer," she yelled back to the departing men.

Turning back to Shelly, Jenna started categorising the changes in her sister. Her sister had undressed down to bra and panties as she twisted and turned trying to look at all of her body. Her height had dropped and her hair, now that she had taken off her wig, was much longer than before. It was still a little on the short side to be called feminine but it was much longer than when she had first revealed she was wearing a wig. At the rate it had grown, Jenna estimated it would two days before it reached her shoulder blades.

Shelly's face was now more rounded and her eyes seemed much larger than before. Some of the gangliness in her figure was not as evident as her expanded hips and lower height combined to show off a nice shape. There were other subtle things as well, like her ears. While not noticeable with her wig on, once uncovered, they had stuck out as being slightly large for a woman. Now her ears were perfect as they lay closer to her head and were smaller in size.

"My breasts feel different and so does down here," explained Shelly, pointing to her groin.

"I guess you will be starting to grow a uterus and the rest of it," Sara suggested.

"I can't wait for my first period," gushed Shelly, her face flushed with emotion.

Sara, Beth and Jenna gave each other a knowing look and a smile, knowing the novelty of having periods would soon wear off fast. They also knew of the impact and importance of that most ultimate gift a girl receives when becoming a woman.

"Your voice is sounding different too," Beth pointed out. "You sound very much like Jenna, not as husky as before."

"You do look more like Jenna now," Sara said, checking from one to the other. "You are going to be beautiful when you're finished," she added, giving her a hug.

Shelly hugged everyone, not at all worried that she was still undressed. Her face was filled with happiness, as her long awaited dream was about to come true.

"We can share clothes now sis," she giggled, delighted in the look of dismay, as Jenna saw the implication of that. She could see in her minds eye, losing all her clothes to her sister as she borrowed them, till there was none left. Then another thought came, which made her smile.

"That goes both ways sis, I can borrow yours, and seeing we will be going shopping for a new wardrobe, I'll make sure you buy something I like," she smirked.

"Happy to share sis as long as you pick out some classy stuff," laughed Shelly, realising the fun they could have.

Shelly wanted to try on something of Jenna's right away, but Jenna suggested she wait till her changes were finished.

It seemed like the rest of the afternoon was spent checking Shelly's changes every 10 minutes, she kept darting to the bathroom. Jenna finally went and got her hand mirror from the bedroom.

"To save Shelly wearing a groove in the floor," she said with a grin. "Plus, I can't relax with you asking me if I can see any more changes," she good-naturedly grumbled. In truth, Jenna was thrilled to have Shelly realise her dream, but knew the deeper changes she was seeking would take longer than a day to complete.

Shelly's face and hair changes, were the most easily seen, as her face went from nondescript female looking, with a slightly too large a nose, to a face that was truly eye catching. A softer, more rounded face and eyes were framed by long thick lashes. The hair had grown long enough to be styled by the time Jenna went to check the dinner that had been prepared in the morning.

Sara offered to help Shelly with her hair, while Beth wandered into the kitchen to see if she could help Jenna.

"Can you take these beers in for the men, I'm sure with all the noise they are making they must be working up a thirst," Jenna suggested, handing Beth two glass steins, filled with froth laden ale from the bottle she had emptied. Beth inquired as to who was winning, as she handed out the beers.

"The Bears, by two points," Ted answered, giving her a hug and a kiss, as she handed him the beer.

"Could I win, if I had two points?" Beth teased, thrusting her chest forward almost under his nose.

Ted, who had just taken a gulp of beer, nearly blasted it out in surprise, as her not so subtle meaning, sank in. Richard was also in paroxysms, trying not to choke on his beer.

Beth giggled, seeing dribbles of beer leaking from Ted's nose as he tried manfully not to shower her with the beer. Turning in the absence of a reply, hearing choking and wheezing sounds, she strutted back into the kitchen, giving one quick wriggle of her butt just before disappearing from sight.

"Ted, you lucky dog, looks like you'll have a handful there," Richard said, as he caught his breath.

"Two handfuls," corrected Ted as he gazed wistfully at the now empty doorway. "She sure learned fast, must be her teachers," he replied, throwing it back at Richard. He grinned, seeing Richard blush, and knew in that instant, that Jenna and Shelly were just the right people for Beth to learn from.

Ted turned back to the game, but his mind was not on the job, having other more personal games in mind.

Shelly came out with her hair styled in a nice Bob for the first time since her chemo. She did the rounds extracting as many compliments as she could. She got a lot of hugs from Jenna and Beth, saying, her hair looked wonderful.

Dinner was simple but tasty, a huge Cornish pasty that Jenna confessed to having borrowed the recipe from a chat room friend, from New Zealand of all places. It was 18 inches long by 10 inches wide and 3 inches deep at the folded edge. The puff pastry contained a bottom layer of peeled sliced potatoes, covered with a thick layer of beef mince to which grated onions had be added plus seasonings, topped with green peas and grated carrot. Thick slices with served to everyone, including a smaller one for Cathleen and Donna. Ted opted for slavering it with tomato ketchup, after getting Jenna's approval. The sauce did get further use but in much smaller quintiles, as Ted recommended it as being the quintessential ingredient to a marvellous recipe.

There were two apple and rhubarb pies for desert, that Beth had helped make, served with ice cream. Needless to say, it was enjoyed by all as attested by the near silence as the clink of spoons were accompanied by the umm's and ah's.

After dinner had been cleared away and the dishes done, Sara spoke to Jenna.

"I've taken some time off to be with Donna while she recovers fully. Seeing the way she is getting along with Cathleen, I have a favour to ask."

"Sure sis, ask away," Jenna replied, getting comfortable on the couch.

"I've thought of hiring a caravan or a camper van, so I could stay here close to Cathleen. That is if you don't object to more guests," Sara suggested, looking anxiously at Jenna.

"Of course it's alright. In fact I have a better idea. Why don't you and Donna take the room Shelly is using, and she can use the van. That way I can leave Cathleen here in the morning, knowing she has a new live-in babysitter, while I go to work" Jenna proposed.

"Oh I couldn't take Shelly's room," protested Sara, feeling awful.

"Sara, it's okay, I agree. I'm a big girl know, I'm not afraid of being in a van on my own," Shelly giggled, thrusting out her chest to emphasis her point or points.

"SHELLY! Stop flaunting your body like that you, you hussy," spluttered Jenna, as she tried to regain control of her mirth.

"Sis if I want to flaunt it, I will, so there," smirked Shelly as she stuck out her tongue.

Everyone dissolved into a fit of giggles as the two sisters tried to outdo each other in their silly game. Richard went to look in the phone book and rang a few numbers, before confirming that a small mobile home would be arriving tomorrow morning. He told them it would come fully furnished except for food and blankets.

While future sleeping arrangements were being sorted, Beth asked Ted if he'd take her home. Saying goodbye amid a furious round of hugs, they took their leave. During the drive home, Beth asked Ted if he wanted to sleep over. Ted wanted nothing else, but he remembered he had an appointment early the next day. He had to go through some paperwork that night. Beth was disappointed, as she had hoped for a rematch in the bedroom Olympics that she had enjoyed the night before.

After giving Maggie her dinner, Beth decided to get a shower and call it a day. Just as she passed her bedroom door as she headed for the bathroom, a shadow leapt out and an arm holding a rag encircled her neck. She struggled against her assailant as he wrestled her to the floor, the sweet stink of chloroform invading her senses. Needing a breath as the unknown man held her down, she inhaled the chloroform and her senses reeled. Beth's struggles lessened as the effects of the stuff took hold. Finally she slumped unconscious, becoming limp, as the man finally released her.

The man lifted Beth's limp form, and dragged her to the garage, placing her across the back seat. He then got out some duct tape and wrapped it around her ankles and wrists adding a strip across her mouth for good measure. He then returned inside, grabbing a few items of Beth's clothing and gathering food from the kitchen. He was about to ransack the place further, when the phone rang stridently. He paused as if calculating the risks of staying, before he ran outside to the car and drove it away.

Ted had not long got home when the phone rang. Answering it, he found out it was the detective, asking if Beth was with him. Explaining that he'd just dropped her off at home, he asked what the problem was.

"It seems Martin has done a runner, we were moving him from the holding cell to a van, when he apparently stumbled and fell when one of the two officers went to pick him up he kicked the officer's leg breaking his kneecap. He got the officers gun and shot the other officer in the chest as he came to help. He then unlocked his cuffs after getting the keys from the officer's belt."

"Oh crap, not this again, is the officer dead?" Ted asked angrily. "So where is he now?"

"The officer us still alive at the moment, that's all I know, Martin has a gun, but as to his whereabouts, we are not sure. We did ring Beth at her home a few minutes ago, but there was no answer. I was hoping she was with you, as there's a possibility that Martin might return to exact some revenge."

Ted didn't need to work out that Beth should have been available to answer the phone. He informed the detective that he was on his way back there.

"Don't go inside, I'll have two units there in a few minutes," the detective warned.

Ted was trying to ring Beth's number on his cell phone as he burned rubber out of the driveway. He smoked the tires again as he accelerated away in the direction of Beth's home. No answer on her home number or her cell phone made Ted worry, as he broke most of the road rules in his haste to get to his destination.

Meanwhile, an unconscious Beth was heading east out of the city and out in the direction to the mountains towards some of the remotest parts of the state. Her captor was pleased he had moved fast, getting out of the area before a police cordon had been established. Plenty of time later for some fun and games with his ex girlfriend, now he needed a place to hole up, till the heat died down. Knowing that he'd shot and possibly killed a cop, meant the hunt would be on.

Ted arrived shortly after the police did; they were already inside the house, having gained access through the unlocked door, left by Beth's abductor. Ted ran inside, unfazed by the guns that were drawn against him, as the officers there, spun towards him.

"Is Beth ok?" he asked, before identifying himself.

"We don't know. There is no sign of her just a kitten. There's no car in the garage, it's possible she just popped out, except the side door nearest the garage was ajar," one of the officers explained. Is it likely she would leave the door open like that if she was going out?"

"No, not when Maggie was left here. She is careful with locking doors, so it looks like she was taken or forced to go somewhere, she'd never leave the kitten here," Ted said vehemently, finding and picking up the abandoned Maggie.

"We'll put out an alert for the car, at once," the officer said, reaching for his lapel mic.

Ted wandered into Beth's bedroom, searching for any clue that may help. The wardrobe was open, as were some of her drawers, but whether there was anything missing, he couldn't tell. Turning to leave he noticed a small brown bottle behind the bedroom door. Calling for the officers, he noticed it was labelled chloroform. The officers looked at the label, seeing it had the pharmacy's name on it and informed Ted that a break in at that place had been reported not long ago.

"Looks like he used this on Beth for the abduction," the officer said, carefully bagging the evidence.

"At least she's alive, obviously he didn't want to kill her just yet," Ted conjectured.

Ted rang Jenna and told her the news. She was shocked and angry, but put a brave face on it, knowing Ted needed reassuring. She told him to bring Maggie over and that they would have a meeting of minds to formulate their next step.

"What about calling the FBI in again?" offered Shelly, at their grim faced little meeting some time later.

"I thought about that," answered Ted. "But with the polymer thing, I'd prefer to leave them out of the loop, no telling just what might happen then."

"I might have a solution to Martin," offered Sara. "That is, when we catch up to him," she added angrily. I was going to tell you later, but now is just as good a time."

"What have you got up your sleeve dear, apart from a very attractive arm," Richard asked.

"Just this," Sara said, bringing out several vials of liquid.

"Polymer?"

"Yes, a very special polymer," Sara answered cryptically.

Beth was starting to stir, as the car she was in started travelling over some unsealed roads. The bouncing and jostling as the car travelled the rutted and rarely used road, didn't help her headache as she tried to figure out where she was. She remembered being attacked and then smelling chloroform, but nothing after that. She tried to get upright, but with her arms taped behind her back it was difficult to do more than twist so she could see the driver. She must have made some sound in her struggles to test her bonds, as her turned and looked at her. Martin reached back and tore the tape off her mouth, allowing her to speak.

"Well, sleeping beauty awakes. Ready for your Prince Charming?" He grinned nastily.

"Martin! I thought I'd seen the last of you. What are you trying to pull? You'll never get away with it you know." Snarled Beth, as she recognised her nemesis.

"My dear Beth, I've already got away with it, even had to shoot a cop to do it. We have unfinished business, and I intent to capitalise on it." He boasted, sending a chill down Beth's spine.

Bullets didn't scare her, nor did knives, but there were other forms of torture, and Martin was probably psychotic enough to do it. Testing her bonds, she realised that unless she could get some leverage she was stuck. The tape was too securely attached to her skin to use her form altering abilities on it, at least not without some form of leverage. Resigned to the fact that she was unable to get free, she started to find out what Martin intended to do with her, and where they where going. She struggled to get upright, inching her way upwards so she could see outside.

"Where are you taking me, you know your only making things worse," she spat, as she saw the road looked like a logging trail.

"Somewhere the police won't find us, at least not for a long while anyway. I'm sure you'll recognise the place, it hasn't changed since we were there last. We are going to renew our old relationship, whether willingly or not."

Beth was at a loss, had the original Beth been to where ever they were headed? Martin seemed to think so. She tried seeing if any old remnants of the place could be recalled from the original Beth's memories. Try as she might, she found nothing useful; nothing remained of the time Beth had been with Martin. This could prove awkward, if Martin started questioning her.

Back at Jenna's

"This is something I was working on before you gave me the key ingredient, the polymer. I was working on stem cell research using foetal tissues. I was looking for cures to the human condition." Sara explained, as she passed the two vials around. Combining those tissue samples with polymer, you can regress a person back as far as you want. One of those is from a female foetus and the other from a male, both were obtained from an abortion clinic and the tissues were just a biopsy sample. I've theorised the results of taking a dose of this polymer. With it you could end up in nappies as either a boy or a girl, if you don't take the antagonist in time." Sara brought out a small ampoule of clear pink liquid. "Taking this will stop the reverse aging at any point you want." She finished, looking at the shocked faces around her.

"Wow! The elixir of life," exclaimed Ted. "You could make millions...no billions with this."

"There is one drawback I foresee that takes away most of its worth," Sara added. "Memories will only be retained to certain age, before the brains ability to retain them is reached, remember these were taken from an embryo when the brain is too unformed to have cognitive ability. Regressing to a child you would lose most of you memories and knowledge along with language."

"So you intend to regress Martin back to a baby, if we catch him?" Jenna asked.

"That was my thought, but not a baby boy," Sara stated firmly, leaving the others in no doubt as to how Martin might end up.

"Here we are, at our cosy little retreat," Martin said, jarring Beth back out of her introspection.

Beth had seen no signs of habitation for some time. And knew they must have travelled at least 70 miles from when she had woken. Looking out for a hut or shed, she saw nothing, as Martin slowly drove off the dirt road onto a grass track. There were no signs of it being driven on in ages, as Martin weaved slowly between the trees. Martin steered his way unerringly to their destination, obviously knowing where he was going. A mile off the road, they arrived at a ramshackle hut made of corrugated iron and timber. It stood sheltered by the trees overlooking a small open glade that lead to a very picturesque mountain lake about half a mile wide. As they drove to the front of the building, Beth could see a small shed with several oil drums alongside. It was only a few feet square and stood off to one side of the main building. The building itself was painted green and brown, making it almost invisible from the air against the background of trees.

Martin dragged her out of the car then brought out a hunting knife from a sheath on his belt. Beth had a moment's worry, before he slid the blade against the tape releasing her arms and feet.

"Get the food out of the car while I fire up the generator. Don't even think of running, I have the only way out, unless you want to take on the bears and the cougars," Martin warned.

Beth looked in the car, resigned to the fact she was at his mercy for now. She grabbed the milk and bread that Martin had gathered out of her fridge, along with a selection of tinned goods and trudged to the door, while Martin started the generator while a muted rumble. She stood waiting for Martin to walk back for the small shed, waiting for him to unlock the front door.

"The keys in the same place," he shouted as he neared.

She didn't move, having no knowledge of the keys whereabouts.

"You deaf or something," Martin grumbled as he reached for a key over the sill of the window nearest the door.

"Why should I help you do your dirty work?" Beth retorted, covering her lack of knowledge admirably.

With a grunt of disgust, Martin unlocked the door and waved Beth inside with a mock bow.

"Mademoiselle's castle," he mocked with a snigger.

Beth's eye adjusted to the gloom inside then blinked as Martin tu4rned of a light, showing her the interior. The place consisted of one room with a curtain covering the bed or beds on one side. There was a wood stove that had an oven and a wetback that had copper pipes running up into the roof area. A couch lined one wall and a sink the other, with a small table with a couple of chairs stood in the middle. There was a small fridge next to the sink, so Beth walked over to place the bread and milk inside.

"I suppose you want a shower, well if you want hot water, you better fire the stove up. I'll get your clothes and the rest of the food," Martin offered, going back outside.

Beth looked at the stove, seeing a small basket with paper and kindling in it. Opening one of the doors in the stove revealed the firebox, the other was obviously the oven section. Beth placed some paper and wood into the stove, and then looked for matches or a lighter. She had to ask Martin on one of his trips in from the car where they were, which earned her a few odd looks. He reached up on one of the shelves for a box of matches, throwing them to her as he went back outside.

The stove was heating nicely, throwing heat out into the slightly musty room. Beth found a kettle and filled it from the tap at the sink, or tried to as nothing came out. She knew there was nothing to do but risk being exposed as an impostor, as she asked Martin how to get the water going.

"What's with you woman, if I didn't know better, I'd think you never stayed here with me." He scolded, going to the sink and turning on a pump with a switch at the wall. "I'm going to catch dinner," with that he unlocked a long tall cupboard containing several rifles and fishing rods. He took out a rod and a tackle box, locking the cupboard again.

Watching Martin walk down to the lake, Beth decided to look around for any weapon. The cupboard containing the rifles was sturdy and had a strong looking combination lock on it. Checking out the cupboards, revealed plenty of tinned food, but not much else. The only thing that might be useful was the knife in the drawer by the sink. Unfortunately her outfit didn't have a means of concealing it, as it had no pockets.

Beth checked behind the curtains to see two narrow beds with sleeping bags on top. This place was obviously a hunting retreat, and Beth wondered how often it was used. In one corner, away from the beds there was a rough shower stall fitted made of corrugated iron so that it was partially hidden from the beds. Checking it out, she saw there were two taps and a pump switch that must pump lake water to the heating cylinder in the roof.

Beth went outside, half expecting the door to be locked. She circled the hut and found a long drop toilet nestled against the side of the building. She looked for Martin, because walking over to the car to see if she could escape in it. The doors were locked and there wasn't a key in the ignition. Breaking a window might gain her access, but the noise would surely bring Martin running. She'd seen enough movies where the good guys just reached under the dashboard, grabbed some wires and joined them to start a car, but she knew the reality was a lot different to movie land.

She sat on the doorstep, wondering why Martin had brought her here, so far, he had just hinted at suggestions of payback, but what form that would take, she didn't know. He hadn't roughed her up after arriving, seeming almost cordial. The fishing must be good, because Martin didn't take that long to start back with two medium size brown trout.

"Take these, and fillet them, you can make my favourite meal," Martin said, handing her the fish.

Beth took the trout and got out the knife, she'd looked at before. She started to slice the fillets off, when suddenly Martin came and stood at her side.

"Hmmm, you look as appetising as those trout," he whispered in her ear. He nuzzled at her neck kissing attentively around her ear. Beth whirled around, moving her head away from his attentions, and brought the knife she was holding point first to stab at Martin. Unfortunately he adroitly evaded most of her thrust, and she only cut his arm with it. He snarled, seeing the flood flow and grabbed her roughly. They struggled for possession of the knife before his superior strength managed to drag it from her grasp. The razor sharp edge sliced into her palm, making her cry out as her blood flowed.

Beth was more shocked than hurt. She had thought herself as immune to that kind of injury. She fell back, concerned that her new defences against injury had worn off. Martin grasped her hand and turned it over, all the while cursing at her stupidity. He held her hand up while he reached below the sink for the first aid kit with his injured arm. Blood from Beth's cut was dripping on Martin and he ended up with more blood on his arm as he got out some cotton swabs.

Cleaning her cut, she saw a fine line that had stopped bleeding on her palm. Martin dismissed it as inconsequential, she he scrubbed at the blood on his arm.

"I should kill you for that, you stupid bitch," Martin threatened, thrusting her aside so she stumbled. "Hell, I killed a cop for less. I suppose you can't be trusted now," he added angrily, as he finished bandaging his arm.

He took the knife and cleaned it, before quickly finishing the filleting the fish. He took the knife away and locked it in the cupboard with the rifles, after removing a rifle and loading it. Beth was scared, was he going to shoot her? After seeing her own blood, she was not so sure of her hole card.

"I'm going to take a look around, to make sure we are alone. I'll be around 15 minutes. Have the fish ready then." Martin demanded before he walked out the door.

Beth released a breath she didn't know she was holding, as Martin disappeared from view. She looked at the cut and saw it had all, but disappeared. She got out a fork and stabbed at her hand, nothing, no penetration. Her immunity to sharp stabbing actions was still in effect. Thinking about it, she came up with a theory. The slicing edge of a knife could cut her skin, because it wasn't an impact, nor was it a constant pressure that allowed knife blades to pass through her hand without damage. She wondered what other surprises the polymer had in store, as she turned to the fish and started preparing a meal.

Beth not knowing what Martin liked, decided to fry the fish in a little butter after flouring it. Looking at the tinned goods, she brought down a can of baby peeled potatoes, which she drained and placed in the oven with a little sprig of wild mint, that she had found growing near what looked like a compost heap for the table scraps. With the fish lightly cooked on both sides she placed the fillets in the same dish as the potatoes and turned the fire vent down to low.

Thinking she had a few minutes to clean up, she checked the water temperature in the shower. It was just warm enough to have a quick shower, so grabbing a towel; she undressed and had a very hurried shower before Martin got back. She was drying her hair after changing into a new set of clothes Martin had grabbed for her, when Martin got back inside. He sniffed the air and went directly to the oven, opening it and checking inside.

"What the fuck!" he bellowed, marching over to Beth and grabbing her shoulder in a vice like grip.

Beth winced in pain from his grasp, and her heart hammered in fear as she wondered what she'd done wrong to upset Martin this time.

"You know damn well that mint gives me hives, yet you deliberately put it in the meal. Any one would think you..." Martin paused in his rough shaking of Beth, as a look of something speculative passed across his face. "Okay, just who the hell are you, and how come you look and speak just like Beth does?" he demanded, lifting her to her feet and holding her at arms length as he studied her body carefully.

"What do you mean? I am Beth," replied Beth trying to bluff Martin.

"Cut the crap lady, I know you are not Beth. Too many things you don't know gave you away. I can prove it in a minute if you want. All I need is to ask you your favourite colour or food. The game is up, I want to know who and how you are doing this, or I'll really get nasty. Any faint feelings I might have held for Beth won't apply to an impostor. I won't hesitate to kill you, so fess up now."

"Okay, give me a minute," Beth capitulated, seeing there was no point in trying to hide the obvious.

"Did you know the plant Beth worked at was destroyed?" At Martin's affirmative nod, she continued. "Well it was sabotaged by agents unknown, possibly by an employee. We needed to infiltrate the plant to find out who it was," lied Beth.

"We?"

"I'm FBI, boasted Beth, trying to sound authoritative.

"Shit! The FBI, okay go on," urged Martin as he sat at the table and indicated with his rifle for Beth to do the same.

"When you entered Beth's home and killed her, I took her place," said Beth ad-libbing as she built her fairytale.

"I knew it. I knew I'd killed her. I thought when they said Beth was still alive, that something wasn't right. There was no way I had missed. But how did you come to look like her, I mean your her exact copy, right down to her mannerisms," Martin asked curiously.

"Well, I'm the latest improvement in witness protection research. Using a unique and secret method that I'm not going to reveal to you, I'm an exact copy of Beth from using her DNA."

"You're some sort of clone," Martin speculated, grinning as Beth refused to answer.

"I was a totally different person before my insertion," was all Beth said.

Martin believed her, seeing the sincerity of her words, although he would have been shocked had he known exactly 'how different.'

"So why should I keep you around?" mused Martin. "You are more of a liability than Beth would have been. Now I'll have the cops and the FBI after my hide. Maybe I should just shoot you and be done with it," he commented, grinning when he saw the fear in her eyes.

" There is one way I might be useful," offered Beth desperately.

"Oh? It had better be good," Martin growled, shaking off a wave of dizziness that seemed to hit him suddenly.

"What if you could be like me, to become a totally new person. I could call my friends and give you the drug to change yourself into anyone you liked." Beth asked, gambling on Sara to come up with something.

"Yeah sure, set a trap and have me as the goat." Martin stood up then staggered as his body was racked with a spasm. Fearing he was coming down with something, he motioned for Beth to move to the bed. Locking the rifle away, he got out some fine braided nylon and began to tie Beth to the bed. Beth complied reluctantly, not wanting to be at his mercy. There was a chance she could free herself, so she didn't fight him.

After fastening her securely, Martin went and took some aspirin and went and laid on the other bed, as the aches and pains in his body began to grow. Beth couldn't move her head much as the ropes securing her wrists and ankles where tied around the bed frame and linked around her neck. Pulling on any rope resulted in the noose around her neck to tighten, cutting off her air. The moans as Martin thrashed in a fever like state prompted Beth to take a large breath before pulling on one wrist. The way the slipknot around her was tied, meant as she stretched her hair attempting to thin her hand enough to pull free it tightened as well. All she managed to do was cut off her air till she grew faint. Giving up, she waited, hoping Martin wasn't going to die on her from this mystery illness.

Martin's moans started sounding increasingly more frantic as his body was racked with spasms. Beth was getting more worried that something serious was taking place. With her limited head movement due to the tightness of the ropes, she could only see a distorted blur using her peripheral vision.

Despite wanting to remain awake to find out what was happening to Martin, the tiredness from all that had happened to her that day finally caught up and she slept. She woke to someone shaking her. She could see little in the near dawns pale light demanding an answer about what she had done.

"What the fuck did you do bitch?" Came Martin's voice. "I feel like shit."

"Untie me, I can't do anything like this," Beth pleaded, not wanting to sound threatening. If he thought for one minute that she might be able to overpower him or become a threat, he might not release her.

Martin unfastened the ropes, and stood back while Beth stretched her aching limbs. She looked at Martin carefully to see his masculine features were somewhat blurred and had acquired a more feminine look. He looked shorter as if he had lost several inches and had become more her height. Beth was amazed, she got Martin to strip and lay on the bed as she poked and prodded him.

Beth knew what was wrong with him, having gone through the same thing. She realised that Martin had been in contact with the polymer. A light bulb flashed in her brain, as she thought back to the blood from her cut had dripped onto Martin's wounded arm. He was infected by the same DNA polymer mix as she was. She wondered if he would end up looking exactly like her.

She wasn't sure what Martin would do if he found out that he'd end up looking like her, but she didn't want him thinking he could escape pursuit by pretending to be her and then disposing of her body somewhere. She thought quickly for a plan to insure her continued breathing.

"Have you anything strong to drink? I think that might help," Beth asked hopefully.

"Yeah, there's some Jim Beam in the cupboard, grab it for me, I really need a slug of it," Martin suggested.

Beth found the bottle and gave it to Martin, asking if he wanted a glass. Martin shook his head, as he drank straight from the half filled bottle. Beth asked if he wanted her to give him a massage to feel better, hoping her manner suggested that she had willingly accepted his dominance over her.

"Sure, go ahead," Martin agreed, taking another large drink of the whiskey.

With the effects of the whiskey on an empty stomach and Beth's gentle manipulation, Martin relaxed and closed his eyes. Beth started to apply pressure on Martin's waist slowly squeezing it smaller, trying to assist the polymer in its reworking of Martin's DNA. Martin was almost asleep as Beth helped him take another generous amount of JB. Soon he passed out, but not before most of the bottle had been drunk. Beth worked quickly undressing him completely, before tying him up in much of the same manner as she had been.

She took the rifle and unloaded it, tossing the shells out side into the long grass. She searched his clothes looking for the keys to her car, but Martin must have hidden them somewhere. There was no point trying to walk out for help, as she knew she wouldn't make it on her own. She had to have Martin's cooperation and that meant she had to alter his body, much the same way as Ted had first altered Colin's.

She worked on Martin's unresisting body, shaping it into a female form. Giving him breasts and working on his face and neck, Martin was beginning to look very feminine. Squeezing his penis and scrotum flat against his body, she then found a broom and used the handle to give him an opening where his penis had once been. Working on the hands and arms was the hardest, slimming them down and crushing his hands to make them smaller. His legs and feet got the same treatment, but using a pair of her hose and shoes, helped make the task easier.

Apart from his hair, which was the wrong length and colour, he looked remarkable like her. Frustrated she pulled at his hair trying to see what could be done with it. With a small gasp of shock, she felt the hair give a little as if it was being pulled out. Peering closer, she saw that indeed the hair was lengthening. What had Beth really excited was the fact that the new hair being generated under her hands was the same colour as hers. Straining she gathered all of his hair and pulled enough out so she could tie the ends into a knot.

She moved Martin's body so his head was hanging just on the edge of the bed. She looked around for something to act as a weight to tie onto the knot and use that to drag enough hair out to give him a feminine cut. She ended up tying the handle of the kettle to the hair with some nylon fishing line and filling it with water till the weight was sufficient to pull the hair out of Martin's scalp without her help.

She then relaxed and suddenly remembering the meal in the oven, raced over and brought it out. Although a bit dry and crispy from being in there all night, it was still edible, as the oven had cooled when the fuel had burnt away with none having being added. She ate ravenously, consuming more than her share. Seeing that Martin was going to be out of it for a while yet, she decided to see if her skills as a fisherman were up to Martin's standards.

Martin hadn't bothered locking the rod away in the cupboard, so Beth took it and walked down to the lakes edge the sun was well and truly up by now, as Beth looked hopefully at the tranquil waters. She cast the rod into the water, the quiet splash of the lure breaking the silence. She started reeling in the lure, embracing the clear air with its hint of pine. Just as her lure was about to rise out of the water as it neared the shore, she saw a flash of silver as the lure was taken.

The drag on the reel screamed as it paid out line to the fish struggling on the other end. It took her five minutes to land the large rainbow trout. Knowing there was enough fish for breakfast, without catching more, she gingerly slipped her fingers into its gills as she held it up to take it back. She was nearly inside when a noise behind her startled her. Looking back towards the water, she saw a black bear sniffing at the waters edge where she had landed the fish. She ran inside and closed the door, barring it in case the bear followed her path back. Checking out the window, she drew a breath of relief as she watched the bear lumber off to do its own fishing.

Putting the fish aside for the moment, Beth checked on Martin. She saw that his hair was now long enough for it to be cut. Finding a pair of scissors in the first aid kit, she cut off all the original hair, where it changed colour, leaving the rest matching her own. Then drawing on the skill's imparted from the original Beth's memories; she cut it in a similar fashion to her own. Getting rid of the cut hair and cleaning up. She untied Martin and turned back to fixing breakfast. The stove was lit and heating up when a groan from Martin, signalled his awakening.

"Whaaa happened...ooh my head!" a distinctly masculine voice groaned.

Beth waited for the explosion to follow.

"Bloody hell, I've got tits and and...." he shouted, before becoming speechless as he looked further.

Beth smiled at the incongruity of hearing such a voice emanating from such a picture of femininity.

 

To be continued

  

  

  

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