Sloan and Farrow shuffled into the room still wearing their pajamas. Meg tried to push aside her worry about Evan and focused on the girls for a moment. She was glad to see their friendship growing. They had been bunking together since the family moved in with Burns, and it seemed that the soldier and scientist had developed a comfortable relationship, having both survived the Facility. Meg could sense the same camaraderie between them and Creed. Surviving that place bound all three of them in a way few would understand, but Meg did. She felt their mutual respect and appreciation for having escaped and chosen a different way of life.
“G’morning,” they muttered, heading straight for the coffee mugs when Farrow stopped and did a double take at Creed and Cole. “What the heck happened to you two?”
“It’s a long story,” Theo offered. “Let’s just say they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Theo handed the water cup back to Danny, who had continued munching on his pancakes while the room watched.
Meg returned to her seat next to the little boy and reached to him. He took her outstretched arms as an invitation to monkey climb into her lap.
The room watched as the two put their foreheads against one another’s, comfortably—as though they’d done this a hundred times before.
“I love you, Danny,” Meg whispered sending him waves of peacefulness through her empath’s skill. In return she felt no fear coming from him—only love.
“I love you, Meggie,” the little boy whispered back and planted a baby’s syrupy, wet kiss on her cheek.
The two sat for a moment, as though they were the only people in the room. Waves of joy at being hugged by one of his favorite people in the world emanated from the strong soul sitting on her lap in footed pajamas. “You ready to get Mom?” Meg asked, deliberately forcing herself back into reality.
Danny nodded happily, his blonde ringlets moving beautifully.
A small frown pinched his face momentarily. “I miss Maze.”
“I bet he misses you, too. We’ll go see him right after Mom, okay? Are you done eating? Do you want me to help you get dressed?”
Danny was scooting his little bottom down off Meg’s lap. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of her chair.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Meg smiled at his little-boy ways.
On her way, she grabbed his plate and took it to the sink. She could still feel the edginess in the air and was trying hard not to resent everyone for it. She knew she scared the heck out of everyone last night and it would just take time for them to let it go.
Danny hopped anxiously at her hand. Meg didn’t have to be an empath to read his I-gotta-go dance loud and clear.
“You drank a lot of water, little man. Let’s stop at the bathroom first,” Meg forced a smile at the room full of people, watching their exchange with interest.
“Do you have to pee-pee, too?” Danny asked innocently.
Meg cough-laughed and her cheeks pinked up at the uncomfortable expressions on the boys’ faces.
“No sweetie, just you.”
Danny ran before his sister, pulling his pajama bottoms down before he even made it into the bathroom.
Meg couldn’t help but chuckle at the little, naked butt streaking down the hallway.
“Don’t miss!” She called after the rowdy little boy.
She sighed deeply as she made her way to Danny’s room to find an outfit for him. These are the same boys who, at this very moment, were feeling worried and guarded around her. She could sense their wariness and was trying so hard not to resent them for it.
Chapter 22 Some Car Rides are More Poignant Than Others
Fifteen minutes later, everyone was ready to go. They split into two vehicles. Greg Burns, Farrow and Sloan took Theo’s sedan. Everyone else piled into the SUV. The Winter Clan had grown so much, they needed two vehicles to get around, but no one minded. Everyone wanted to be there to support Margo as she left the hospital. During the drive, Danny fell fast asleep in his booster seat, his head tipped to the side, Cupid’s bow lips plump and beautiful against his pale complexion.
In the sedan, the conversation turned serious when Burns asked what they were all thinking, but too hesitant to ask: “How do you two think this is going to play out?”
“How what will play out?” Farrow switched to the defensive immediately. Sloan opted to stay silent.
“I mean the whole battle between the Winter Clan, Senator Arkdone and Dr. Williams. How do you think things will end?”
“I have no idea,” Farrow answered honestly.
“And you’re not worried about that?” the retired cop asked.
“How do you think it will all play out?” Sloan asked from the back seat. Greg glanced into his rearview mirror and nodded, acknowledging her wit.
“I think a lot of you are going to die unless something drastic changes the course.” His brutal honesty made the hair on the back of Farrow’s neck stand on end.
“What would you have us do differently?” Her logical fortitude kept her from reacting emotionally—for now, anyway.
“I’ve been trying to talk the parents into getting the authorities involved.”
“The police? FBI? CIA? Your ‘Homeland Security’?” Farrow sighed deeply. “We’ve been down this path before. It would be too dangerous for our metahuman species to be discovered. What is the expression? Out of the frying pan, into the fire?”
“That’s pretty much what the parents said, but I disagree.”