The vehicle’s change in rhythm had her blinking the layers of sleep from her eyes she must have drifted off again she thought. Ed glanced over at her taking a quick inventory.

" How are you feeling? "

Raine grimaced sore," how much further I feel like my backside has gone numbed."

" Not much further now."

" Are we ok? "

Ed smiled, " so far if I’m not arrested for grand theft that is. Where did you learn that anyway? "

Raine shrugged, changing the subject "did you call them?"

A strange expression flitted across his face; " well that’s another problem you see my cell phone needs recharging with all that’s been going on the battery’s dead. I thought once we got closer I would stop and use a pay phone."

Raine smiled ruefully, " that’s fine. Thank you for helping me."

Ed met her gaze in the mirror. " As I recall I didn’t get much say in that you were leaving with or without my help. This is probably going to get me killed."

" I wouldn’t worry," Raine offered.

" I think you’re underestimating that guy he should be on a leash where you’re concerned. What is his story anyway? "

She shifted restlessly; " he’s known me since I was a child maybe he feels protective like an older brother."

Ed looked skeptical. Raine frowned, " what?"

" 4139 right? "

" Wha? "

" The number of the house."

" Uh yes. "

" I see it up ahead," he slowed preparing to turn Raine pushed herself up from the back and frowned.

" Ed! Keep going don’t even slow down."

" What is it?"

" Someone’s there." She slumped back weary her chest felt like it was on fire, " Damn. I was so counting on them loosing interest. "

He met her gaze. "Dominants? "

Pushing her hair back with a grimace. " Yes. "

" Now what? We can’t keep driving around you need a real bed and rest. I just wish I had a chance to grab some antibiotics."

She sighed, " I don’t know, I just don’t know. "

Ed studied her thoughtfully, " look why don’t we get back on the expressway stop at the local McD’s get something to eat I’ll look for a phone and you can decide what you want to do. "

She nodded; " all right I confess I’d kill for a Chocolate Shake right about now. "

Ed ginned, "ah a girl after my own heart."

" I suspect you say that to all the girls Dr. Tate," she grinned.

Walter grimaced hanging up the phone; he rubbed the ridge between his brows. "Well that’s the answering machine again and his cell phone service keeps giving me a recording." He looked over at Tom’s calm demeanor.

"Any ideas? "

He shrugged, " they will call, Raine can take care of herself." Walter leaned back in the chair fingers steepled.

" The question is can she take care of herself and Ed in her condition. Well we have people looking we’re doing all we can I suppose as galling as it is all we can do is wait."

Walter frowned, " where is Sloan? "

" She’s freshening up."

" That’s another thing I want Ed back here so we can give Sloan a complete work up we don’t know what they did to her while she was in there. Theres something else while I was questioning the young woman at the hospital I asked her to page Dr. Windsong. I requested a few extra tests while Susan was assisting me in locating the Doctor. I took the liberty of also acquiring copies of the work ups they did on Raine."

" And," Sloan asked?

Walter glanced up, " how do you feel?"

She smiled tiredly; " I’m fine really."

Tom walked over to guide her into a chair; " you look pale sit rest you’ve had a rough time as well." She squeezed his hand gently.

" Yes Sloan you had us quite worried," Walter replied.

" What interested you about Raine’s tests? "

Walter smiled ruefully, " Its what they didn’t find that interested me more."

Sloan stared blankly. She cleared her throat picking her way without betraying confidences; " I was under the impression the Dominants want her for her ability to take their masking to a higher level."

Walter shrugged, " that’s also possible." The phone broke the silence. " Excuse me. Yes of course we’ve been expecting him thank you his friend?" Ah of course send them up please. Yes thank you I appreciate your concern."

Sloan looked up. "Ed? "

" No Raine’s … er acquaintance Michael and a individual. I only have a description but it sounds like the person from the hospital," he sighed. " I wish I had Ibuprofen right now." Sloan and Tom exchanged an amused look.

Sloan bit her lip; "seriously I’m starting to worry." Tom leaned over Sloan’s shoulder glancing at the files taking a finger and pushing them aside. He glanced up quickly.

Walter nodded, " interesting yes? "

" This can’t be right."

" I assure you it is gave me quite a turn as well but here;" he pushed the final piece closer. " Look for yourself, no wonder they want her so bad."

" Want who? "

"Ahh Michael, come in please."

His glance slid around the room. " Any word? "

* snort * breathe man. " I bet you would give that Emily Post chick nightmares." Cy pushed him aside he nodded, "Greetings humans." He nodded at Tom, " and not. " Stepping into the room he moved over to the wall and placed his back to it and slid down to sit onto the floor cross-legged he leaned his head back against the wall and yawned. " Sooo have we found Romeo and Juliet yet? "

Sloan blinked, realizing she was staring " um no. No word yet."

Michael said flatly, " shut up Cy." Cy’s mouth quirked into a lopsided smile.

Tom shook his head, " how is it you’ve survived this long? "

Cy murmured, " because I’m good."

" Yes well be that as it may, we were just talking about Raine’s body." Cy choked back a laugh. Walter flinched realizing what he said.

Michael raised his eyebrow?

Tom interrupted impatiently, "other than the obvious why does everyone want to get their hands on Raine?" She should be dead several times over by now. "

Michael shrugged, " your point being? "

Tom and Walter exchanged glances, " my point is simple even factoring in not wanting to loose your cooperation and her abilities it’s still not logical we’re missing something."

" I would kill the first one that even thinks about it is what you’re missing."

"You know with that long hair, your broody Heathcliff persona, toss that oo I’m so in touch with my emotions theme, Cy wise cracked and you would be a hit on the Sally Jesse show." Michael ignored him from habit.

" What are you asking me Daniels if I know something I’m not telling? Yes several things. About why they’re so fascinated with Raine? No, it was self-evident. It was enough for me that they kept their distance for as long as they did. Unfortunately time and consequences often conspire against us I wasn’t able to always keep on top of what was happening with the situation."

" You mean get Raine to obey your word as gospel like the rest do," murmured Cy.

" What is this all about?" Michael glanced at their faces he didn’t need to try and read their emotions Sloan’s face was like an open book concern vied with curiosity. Glancing at the papers on the desk, he stepped closer. "Are these the reason for all the questions? " Have you discovered something wrong with Raine? "

" Its so amazing if we can learn at what stage.."

" Nothing conclusive," Walter interrupted. Michael continued staring at Sloan.

Turning to Attwood he smiled, " What condition do you want Tate in when I find him? "

Cy laughed, " that’s right he’s alone with her again." Cy stood abruptly, " Your becoming so human," he taunted. He walked over and sat on the corner or the desk scooping up he papers. " Lets cut through all the he denies and you threaten shall we," glancing through them he whistled. " I believe these are the source of the good doctor’s panty waddage."

Michael took the papers; "it looks right to me so who wants to give me the bottom line."

Cy gestured, " your right all this here looks accurate for us that is; this though." He tapped the paper with the others, " you’ll need her to translate but it doesn’t… something’s off. "

Michael glanced, " Sloan? " She exchanged glances with Walter and Tom.

" Tell him he won’t quit until he knows anyway," Tom pointed out.

" Michael if this accurate it means that her reproductive processes are that of a human female."

" What are you saying? "

" Well. Perhaps Humans and Dominants are closing the gap in unexpected ways. Raine from what we can gather has the abilities mentally and physically of your species look here her blood work 1.6 differential see?" And here, she gestured pushing the scan forward her brain activity, size it’s all consistent with what we currently know about the Dominants." Until here internally her body has characteristics unique to the human female. She’s never had children, actually it seem she trailed off."

" Seems? "

Sloan shook her head. " Perhaps, now this is just a guess mind you this is why the others are so interested in getting their hands on her. Mother Nature is solving the co-existence problem herself. "

###

Continued…