I ran my hand over our baby, and the hard bump moved slightly. My hunger, which had gone missing recently, returned in full force. I used the much hated bell to summon the nurse.
Susie arrived with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. "What?" 'I'm so sick of this job and these whiny kids... need to find someplace else to work... this sucks... how can she be so stupid to not know she's pregnant?'
"It's nice to see you too. I got sick during my break outside and—"
"I told you not to exercise."
"Be that as it may, I think it was from hunger. I know dinner isn't for a few hours, but could I get an early snack?"
She glanced at my stomach and looked quickly away. I pretended to be looking somewhere else. My clothes hid the bump. I just needed to keep the staff away from my body.
"I'll bring you something."
"Thank you...."
She left before I finished talking.
Ten minutes later, I had my fill of green Jell-O—hardly real food—and almonds, with a little box of milk. I hated milk, but forced myself to drink it.
I rested after my mini-meal, my body at peace for the moment.
My eyes flew open. Our baby fluttered inside my belly like a butterfly, and a new consciousness swished through my mind. Our baby had linked to me.
"Can you feel this?" I asked Drake.
I tried to feel the sensation mentally, and our baby's mind connected with both of us. The link filled me with profound joy and love, such as I'd never known. I could sense her. I knew her.
Her. Our baby was a girl.
"Drake?"
'I sense her too. I feel it. She's beautiful. Amazing.'
We held this moment in a bubble of time, afraid of bursting it, of facing the realities of our situation.
"What should we name her?"
He laughed. 'I'm sure the name will come to us.'
"Drake, it's time. We can't wait any longer. Are you ready to move as soon as the drugs are out of your system?"
'Yes. But, Sam, be careful. I can't stand the thought of anything happening to you or our baby.'
"I will."
I hoped.
Chapter 20 – Sam
Our plan should have been simple. In theory.
Reality didn't agree.
Nurse Susie came into my room with dinner at the expected time.
"Is the doctor here tonight? Will he be checking on me?" I prayed for "no."
"He's gone for the night. He'll check on you tomorrow."
I didn't have long, but that removed a major complication at least.
I linked to her mind. 'So sick of my life... where else could I go... money helps... never get this kind of pay as nurse somewhere else... do people think I'm pretty?... she's really pretty... boys must love her... it's not fair... she gets it all... but I guess not since she's trapped here and doesn't even know it... stupid girl... I thought these paranormals were supposed to be smart?... six hours left on my shift and already I'm exhausted... what do I need to do?... that boy needs a change in IV... I'll do that after this....'
Perfect!
I implanted a thread into her thoughts—a command, really. "I'm not feeling good. I'll leave my keys and badge on the dresser. I won't remember leaving them. I feel so sick, and I'll be stuck in my bathroom for ten minutes. I won't remember being sick. I'll keep the door closed and not respond to anything for ten minutes."
I put the full force of my will behind this instruction.
"I'm not feeling well." Nurse Susie dropped her keys and badge on my dresser and darted to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She'd left my bedroom door unlocked.
I pulled my IV out, grabbed her keys and badge, and slipped into the hall, heart pounding so loud I thought for sure everyone could hear it. Her thoughts, and my brief moments outside, revealed that there weren't many people in this building.
I pulled images from Susie's memory to find the room with the medical supplies.
Cameras monitored the halls and rooms. I had no idea if my powers would work like this, but I scanned everyone I could find within a fifty-foot radius.
Susie... sick in my bathroom. Drake... anxious for me to finish. Dr. Pana... reviewing paperwork—oh crap. She said he was gone for the night. What was I going to do?
I had to move forward. We were out of time and Drake needed me.
Focus! I scanned more minds, found the one I needed—the security guard who controlled the cameras—and linked with him.
'Bored... need a cigarette break... don't really need to be here... nothing ever happens... wonder if I should call that babe from the bar last night... she was hot... should wait... make her wonder....'
I planted some commands. "I'm bored. I need a break. I'm going to go smoke a cigarette. At least ten minutes. I'll take my time. Nothing ever happens here. Better switch off the recorder before I leave and forget I did it. Blame it on a power surge."
When I knew he'd left, I squeezed through a crack in my door and made for the closet that held the IV bags. I stumbled, dizzy, perhaps from so much use of my powers, or maybe the pregnancy, or nerves. The concentration required to focus on so many minds made the simple act of walking difficult, but this was our last chance.
"I'm here. I'm switching the labels now."