Caleb 42 – Action.

When I got up the next morning, there was a spider in the bathroom sink. I watched for a moment as it tried to run up the porcelain, all eight legs pumping madly, and yet getting nowhere.  I was starting to feel like that. I had so many things going on in my life just now, that I seemed to be spinning on the spot, not knowing which way to turn, and yet not progressing in any way.

It was an illusion, I realized. Time was passing, albeit with glacial speed. Having to drive up to the Steadman ranch had seemed a pain at first, but in reality, it had been a blessing. It had taken up almost the whole weekend, meaning there was only a week to go before our exams, and less than two weeks before Ness, Dean, and Cheryl would be coming down. I was looking forward to that immensely.

What I hadn’t been looking forward to, as we drove home on the Sunday night, was getting back to the house and spending time there. The presence of Dylan in my home had made it a place I no longer wanted to be. I had an unreasonable and unreasoned hatred of him. I didn’t understand it, but there it was. Hopefully, as soon as Gracie was back on her feet, he would be leaving, and I could have my home back. A month, no more. I was counting those days also.

It was after nine by the time we got home. We had stopped off for something to eat on the way. Josh and Louise were in the living room watching television. I presumed Gracie and Dylan were in Gracie’s room. I didn’t ask.

“Hey,” said Josh as we entered the house. “Good trip?”

“Yeah,” I said, “but long. I’m just going to grab a drink, then I’m for bed.”

“How’s Ness?” asked Louise. “You all okay now?”

I smiled at her. “Yes,” I replied, “we’re all good.”

“I’m glad,” she said. “I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

After a quick drink, I had a shower and went to bed. Mary came to bed with me and held me until I fell asleep.

Monday passed as Mondays do – starting at the dojo and going on to spend time in class, and then onto an afternoon in my ‘office’ at the range. Three hypnotherapy appointments. After an early dinner, I went to meet Jeevan at the church hall where I had first seen him performing as the Maharishi Guptal-Pah.

He was half way through his set, when I realised that the woman in the third row, with the red jacket on, was the woman we had cured from pancreatic cancer.

I examined her and saw that her tumours were all gone. There was still a little way for her body to go to be completely back to normal, but I expected that another week or so would see it done. I wondered why she had come back.

I pointed her out to Jeevan.

“I saw,” he sent. “Let’s see what happens.”

There was nobody that really needed healing in the audience. For some reason tonight’s crowd were in extremely good health, apart from one guy who had a pilonidal sinus, a very painful condition, which we resolved easily for him.

As the audience filed out, I noted that the woman was hanging back, waiting to speak to Jeevan.

Eventually, she was the only one left. Security was heading for her, to ask her to leave, but Jeevan indicated to him to let her be. He was as interested to see what she wanted as I was. Strangely neither of us had thought to look into her mind. I guessed that we both thought, that since she was healed, we had no reason to do so.

She approached and spoke to Jeevan. I hung back.

“Hi,” she said. “I wanted to come and thank you.”

“Thank me?” asked Jeevan, his Indian accent still thick.

“I felt it,” she said. “I didn’t realise at the time what I was feeling, but I felt your power.”

“I don’t…” began Jeevan.

“You healed me,” she said. “I don’t know how, but you did. The doctors say I am in full remission. They don’t understand why, since I was only getting palliative care. They cannot find a trace of a tumour in my body, and I was riddled with them.”

“I think you must be…”

“You know what I think?” she said, noticing me for the first time. “I think that you are someone with real power, pretending to be a charlatan to hide the good you do. And you,” she continued turning to me. “You were there also. I felt you too.” Her phone beeped in her pocket.

“If you have a minute,” she said. “There’s someone I would like you to meet.”

Jeevan and I looked at each other. He shrugged. We followed the lady outside. There was a minivan a little way from the door, a man in the driver’s seat, and two young teenagers in the rear.

“Nick,” she said. “This is the Maharishi Guptal-Pah, and…” she looked at me.

“Mister Kay,” I said. She half smiled.

“Mister Kay,” she repeated. The man looked at us. I could see he was conflicted. She had obviously told him that she believed that Jeevan had been responsible for her healing, but he was having a hard time believing it. However, he couldn’t deny that she was, indeed, healed, and the doctors had absolutely no idea how that had come about. “This is Nick, my husband, and my two kids, Deborah and Sam. This is my family, the reason I am so thankful for your help.”

“Hi,” Nick said. “Nicola is convinced that you are responsible for her cancer going away. I don’t know if that’s true, but I have read that the human body can do wonderful things, if you believe. Sometimes miracles happen. Whether you did, or did not, heal her, you made her believe that she would get better, and she did. For that I will be forever grateful.”

I looked into the back seat of the minivan, where the two children a boy and a girl were gazing at Jeevan with wide eyes.

“If,” Jeevan began, “what you suspect is true, then a lot of attention would be the last thing that I would desire, no?”

Nicola looked at him and gave a small smile. “I understand,” she said. “I promise that nobody will hear your name from us. But no matter what, Maharishi, Mister Kay, if there is EVER anything my family or I can do to repay you, you only have to ask.”

“Thank you,” Jeevan said. I nodded to her, when she turned her eyes to me.

She climbed into the passenger seat of the minivan, and they drove off.

“Well,” said Jeevan. “That’s a first. I have had children feel the healing before as you did, but that is the first time an adult has felt it. Maybe it is your power that she felt. You are so powerful that perhaps it is more discernible when you use a lot of it to heal.

“You are now two for two. Two major Healings and two patients who felt it. Perhaps we need to be more circumspect in future.”

I thought about that as I made my way home. I wasn’t sure just how we could be more circumspect than we were already being, but I would leave that in Jeevan’s hands. We had another two sessions before I would be heading up to the ranch, so I would see what he had in mind.

The house was in full darkness when I got home. That was unusual since normally the girls went to bed after me. I went in, to find the girls in the bedroom, talking quietly.

“What’s going on,” I asked. “How come you’re all in here?”

“We were disturbing Gracie,” said Amanda. “Dylan asked if we could keep the noise down. So, we decided to come to bed.”

“Noise?” I asked. “Were you having a party or something?”

“No,” said Jules. “The girls were in the living room watching television. I was in my workshop. I had my music on but not loud.”

“I see,” I said, turning back to the door.

“Caleb,” said Mary. “Don’t.”

“I’m just going to have a quiet word,” I said.

“Please,” said Mary. “It’s just for a little while.”

I clenched my jaw.

Even with Amanda’s power playing over us it took me some time to get to sleep.

Tuesday morning in the dojo, Kevin and I were sparring. It gave me an opportunity to work out some of my aggression.

“Okay,” Kevin said, the third time I had put him on the mat. “What’s got your panties in a bunch?”

“Huh?” I asked.

“You’re working out some aggression,” he said. “I don’t mind, since it gives me a good workout, but I’d like to know exactly why I’m getting my ass kicked. Normally when someone fights angry, they become careless, but for some reason with you, it focuses you. You become even more effective.”

“We have someone staying with us,” I said, “that is proving to be difficult.”

“Then kick them out,” he said. “Problem solved.”

“It’s not that simple,” I said. “He’s looking after Gracie. The girl that got attacked.”

“And does she actually need looking after?” he asked.

I thought about that. Why was Dylan there? Mainly because Gracie was still in full leg casts, which the doctors didn’t think they could remove for another three to four weeks. But I knew that she would be fine. Her legs were strong enough for her to walk unaided. And would be back up to full strength within another week. She didn’t need the casts, nor did she need Dylan.

After training, I went home, and made breakfast.

I said nothing to Dylan, even when he came out to get a couple of plates for him and Gracie. He nodded his thanks and returned to her room.

“Only another few weeks,” whispered Mary into my ear. She could see I was bristling.

Once again, I made an early dinner, since I was due to be teaching at the dojo.

When Dylan came into the kitchen, he looked at what I had cooked, and shook his head.

“I’ll order something in,” he said, turned around and left. I began to count. I was up to sixty-three before I could think of anything other than snapping that prick’s neck.

Mary and Amanda just sat at the kitchen table, watching me. I had felt their power washing over me, but it had made absolutely no difference.

Wednesday morning was ethics again.

Once more, it seemed the Professor had been bugging my house.

“Some Native American tribes,” he began, “believe that if you save someone’s life – you then take on responsibility for that person for the rest of their life. Conversely, Adomnan of Iona speaks of a man who was saved from a death sentence. He swore an oath of slavery to the man who saved him. In each instance the person who did the saving ends up becoming responsible for the person they saved, albeit in a very different form.

“There is, obviously, another position that argues that saving someone’s life has no binding effect on either of the parties involved. This final proposition seems to be society’s position today. In fact, as many rescuers have found to their cost, saving someone’s life can be fraught with peril. An ever increasingly litigious society means that saving someone’s life could end up in a lawsuit for anything from broken ribs to lost spectacles.

“I would like you to consider each of these positions, but also the overriding question: If presented with an opportunity to save a life, do you, or do you just pass by? Now I am obviously not talking about those with a duty of care, such as medical staff, and first responders. I am talking about bystanders. Do you intervene, or do you walk away?”

“That surprised me,” said Dana as we walked to lunch after the class.

“What did?” I asked.

“You, saying that you would seriously consider not getting involved,” she replied. “You have always struck me as someone who would help anyone they could.”

“Sometimes helping someone can come back to haunt you,” I said.

“Oh,” she said, her face falling. “Did I…”

“It’s not you,” I said. “We agreed to let Gracie come and stay at the house and her new boyfriend, the nurse, is being a real pain in the ass. You, are awesome.”

She smiled a little at that.

We ate lunch with the girls and then I went to class. I had a couple of hypnotherapy sessions, the latter of which didn’t start until four, so I was late getting home.

When I got home, I could hear Dylan talking in the living room. I looked in to see him standing in front of a seated Jules.

“It’s the noise you see,” he said, “that buzzing.”

“That’s my fume extractor,” she said. “I need that to take away the fumes when I’m soldering.”

“It disturbs Gracie,” he smiled at her. “I’m sure you understand.”

Jules heaved a sigh. “Okay,” she said. “I can do my project at college.”

“Perfect,” he said beaming. “Thanks.” He saw me and gave a bright smile. “Hi Caleb. What time’s dinner?”

“About an hour,” I said.

“Excellent,” he said bustling out of the living room and into Gracie’s room.

“Where are the twins?” I asked. “On the deck?”

“In our room,” she said. “Apparently them being out on the deck is too noisy for Gracie.”

Once more I bit my tongue.

I went into our bedroom. The twins were both sitting on the bed reading.

“Hi,” I said.

They looked up and on seeing my face grimaced. “It’s only for a few more weeks,” Mary said. I hmphed and went into the bathroom to get a shower.

After dinner, which once again Dylan came and collected before disappearing into Gracie’s room, I cleaned up and then decided to go and sit out on the deck with a beer.

I sat on one of the lawn chairs, sipping at my beer, and playing idly with my phone.

When I had finished, I went back into the house, and into the living room where Jules and the twins were watching television. This was unusual. Normally Jules didn’t watch too much television. Most evenings, if she was not doing her homework, she would be in her workshop tinkering. It’s what she loved to do.

I dropped into a chair, and Jules came over and curled up on my lap.

“You okay?” I asked.

“I guess,” she said dully.

I sat and idly played with her hair as we both stared at the television. We were watching something that just didn’t register, at least with me. I wondered how much longer we were going to have to put up with Dylan.

I found out about half an hour later.

“It’s ten o’clock,” the voice came from the door to the living room.

I had been daydreaming, and was, actually, considering taking myself to bed.

I watched Mary and Amanda both stand up. Mary reached for the remote control for the television, presumably to turn it off.

“I’m watching that,” I said. “Leave it on please.”

Jules, who had felt me tense, sneaked her hand into mine and squeezed.

Amanda looked from me to Dylan and back again.

“Gracie needs her rest,” said Dylan, “And the noise…”

“Gracie has been in bed all day,” I said. “She’s had plenty of rest. She’ll be fine.”

Dylan snatched up the remote control and turned off the television.

“She needs quiet,” he said.

I nudged Jules, who for some reason didn’t want to get off my lap. She wasn’t for moving.

“Jules,” I said. “Let me up please.”

“Caleb,” she began.

“Let me up,” I repeated. She looked at me.

“No,” she said.

“If you don’t let me up,” I sent to her. “He is going through the window in 3-2...”

Jules slid out of my lap. I stood.

“Dylan,” I said, he smiled at me.

“Yes?”

“Get out,” I said quietly. “Get all your shit together and leave, now.”

“Caleb,” Mary began. I silenced her with a look.

“No,” he said. “Gracie needs me.”

“You have been asked to leave my property,” I said. “You are now trespassing. You either leave under your own volition, or I will use force to remove you.”

He looked at me, his eyes beginning to widen.

“But… Gracie.”

“Gracie will be fine,” I said. “You, however, will not, unless you are out of this house in the next five minutes.”

He scuttled back toward Gracie’s room. I heard the door close.

“Caleb,” said Amanda. “We agreed to let him stay.”

“No,” I said. “We agreed to let them come. They came. It didn’t work out. Now he is leaving. Gracie doesn’t need him in any case. The only reason he’s here is because she is in full leg casts. The only reason she is still in casts is that he is here. He’s slowing her recovery by being here. The ‘care’ he is offering is all to maintain a lie.”

After ten minutes, Dylan hadn’t emerged from Gracie’s room. I guessed that he thought if he stayed out of my way I would cool down. It was a good plan, but it wouldn’t work. I was about to go and chase him out, when there was a knock on the door.

I opened it to find two police officers on the porch.

“Hi,” I said. “Can I help you?”

“We’ve had a call for help from a Nurse claiming that he is being threatened.” I smiled.

“That will be Dylan,” I said. “I asked him to leave my house and he refused. I told him that he was trespassing and that unless he left, I would use reasonable force to remove him.”

“He claims that he is here looking after a patient,” said the other officer “and that she would be at risk if he were forced to leave.”

“She isn’t at risk,” I said. “She is bed bound, her legs in plaster. Other than that, she’s fine.”

“Are you qualified to make that determination?” said the first officer.

“Why would the hospital allow her to be discharged,” I asked, “if she was at risk? She needed some domiciliary care is all. The nurse came to provide that care, and now I want him to leave. Gracie will be perfectly safe until other arrangements can be made.”

“I think it would be better,” said the officer, “if he stayed.”

“Your thoughts,” I said. “Are appreciated, but irrelevant. He is trespassing on my property. I am now asking you to remove him.”

The two officers looked at each other.

“Can we talk to him and the person he is here to look after?” they asked.

“Certainly,” I said. “Come in. They are down the hall in her bedroom.”

I showed them and they followed me to Gracie’s room. I knocked and Dylan opened the door. He smiled when he saw the police.

I looked into the room and saw Gracie. She was looking worried. I went back to the living room so they could talk to them. I could hear everything.

“Sir, Ma’am,” said the first officer. “Sir, the owner of this house says that he has asked you to leave his property. As the owner he is perfectly within his right to do that.”

“He threatened me,” said Dylan, “with violence.”

I had heard enough. I had to defend myself, so I returned to the bedroom.

“I told you I would use reasonable force to remove you from my property,” I said. “You are trespassing and refusing to leave.”

“I’m here looking after a sick woman,” he said. “She needs me.”

“If she is that sick,” I said. “Why was she discharged from the hospital? The only reason you are here is because she has leg casts on, or so you claim. I know the real reason you are still here. You are trying to pursue a relationship with her which, if I am not mistaken, is prohibited by the NCSBN. Dating a current patient is not allowed.”

“She’s not a current patient,” he said. “She was discharged.”

“So, if she’s not a patient, why do you need to be here?” I asked.

“I…” he began “She’s not able to get out of bed. She needs looking after.”

“Either she needs nursing care, in which case you are her nurse, and in breach of your own code of practice, or she doesn’t in which case you don’t need to be here. So, am I reporting you to the state board, or are you leaving?”

The two police officers were looking between us like they were watching a tennis match.

He looked to the officers for help.

“Are you here as her nurse,” asked the officer, “or as her boyfriend?”

Dylan looked at Gracie. She didn’t speak. He sighed and began gathering his things. It took him a few minutes to get everything together. Every so often he shot daggers at me with his eyes. Finally, he turned to Gracie. “I’ll call you,” he said. I noticed he didn’t attempt to kiss her.

The police officers followed him out of the house.

“Thank you, officers,” I said politely. “You were a great help.”

I watched as Dylan got into his car and pulled away then closed the front door.

Both Amanda and Mary were glaring at me as I walked back toward Gracie’s room. Jules looked amused. All three followed me. I knocked on the door jamb of the open door. Gracie looked up at me as we all entered.

“Gracie, I’m…”

“Is he gone?” she asked interrupting me.

“Yes,” I said. “he…”

“Thank FUCK for that,” she said.

Both Mary and Amanda gaped.

“He’s been fucking suffocating me,” she said. “I tell you if my gun hadn’t been out of reach, I’d have probably shot myself by now.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” asked Mary.

“You were being so accommodating,” said Gracie. “I knew you guys didn’t have time to look after me, so I thought I could suffer it until I was back on my feet.”

“Which he was preventing,” I said.

“What do you mean?” asked Gracie.

“Your arms are completely healed,” I said. “Your legs are strong enough to support you. As long as you don’t jump out of a second-floor window you will be fine. Another week and they will be as good as they ever were. The only reason you’re still in the casts is because he was here.”

“Now you fucking tell me,” she said.

I split both casts on her arms with TK and gently eased them away from her.

Slowly and carefully, she moved her arms, flexing the muscles. There was some wasting but nowhere near as much as there could have been.

“How does that feel?” I asked.

She rubbed at her arms, sighing in pleasure. “So good,” she said. “They’ve been itching like a bitch.”

She threw off the bedclothes. She was naked from the waist down, but that didn’t seem to bother her.

“Now these,” she said.

The casts creaked as I split them down both sides and eased them away from her legs. She sighed in pleasure as she started to rub at her thighs and then squeaked, pulling the covers over her. “Don’t look,” she said, “They’re all hairy.”

I laughed.

I threw her a pair of jogging pants, and she slipped them on under the covers.

“Want to try and stand?” I asked. She nodded.

She scooted over to the edge of the bed and sat up. Then, with me on one side and Mary on the other, she stood.

“How does that feel,” I asked.

“My legs feel weak,” she said, “But it doesn’t hurt.”

“You need to take it easy for another week,” I said. “After that you can start exercising to build up your muscles again. I’ll help you along a bit. Couple of weeks you should be back to the way you were.”

“I need a bath,” she said. “I smell like a fish market.”

Jules chuckled – “I’ll go run you one.”

We walked with her to the bathroom, more for moral support than for any other reason.

“I’ll help you into the bath,” I said. “Your legs are quite strong, but slipping and falling would be a bad idea.”

“You just want to see me naked,” she said and  I smiled.

“Okay,” I said, “that too. But my argument is still valid.”

“Don’t look at my hairy legs,” she said.

“It’s your ass he’ll be watching,” commented Jules.

Once the bath was ready, I lifted her in using TK. Mary and Amanda stayed to help her get clean. I’m certain that there was more cleaning in certain areas than was absolutely necessary, but I didn’t begrudge any of them that. They called me back in when it was time to lift her out of the bath. The girls helped her get dry. I walked with her back to her bed. Before she sat on the edge of the bed, she threw her arms around me.

“I still need to thank you for saving my life,” she said, “And also now for saving me from that guy.”

“No,” I said, “You don’t.”

“Yes,” she said. “And once my legs are better, the girls have said I can have you for a whole night to show my appreciation.”

“Did they now?” I said, amused.

“Of course,” she said. “They did kind of suggest that they might like to join in the thanking. They apparently feel that they owe you too.”

I helped Gracie to sit on the edge of her bed. And then slide onto it. I had stripped and remade it while she had been in the bath. She sighed in pleasure at the cool clean linen.

“Thanks, Caleb,” she said again. “For everything.”

She pulled me down and kissed me softly.

“Goodnight Gracie,” I said pulling her covers up and tucking her in.  We turned the light out as we left the room.

I went into our room and was getting ready for bed. Mary and Amanda came in, followed by Jules.

Jules opened her mouth.

“Yes,” I said. “I would have.”

She closed it again.

Mary and Amanda looked at her.

“I tried to stop him getting up,” she explained. “I wouldn’t move off his lap. I thought I could get him to cool down.”

“So why did you move?” asked Amanda.

“Because he told me that if I didn’t,” she said. “He would use TK and throw Dylan through the window – he gave me a three second countdown.”

Both Mary and Amanda looked at me slack jawed. Then Amanda giggled. “You should have stayed where you were,” she said. “That guy was a dick.”

Mary looked at Amanda, then at me, and then she too began to chuckle.

“I thought he and Gracie were really getting along,” she said.

“She was putting up with him, for our sake,” I said. “And we were doing the same, for hers. I wish we had spoken to her about him days ago.”

“That reminds me,” Jules said to Mary and Amanda, “you each owe me five bucks.”

“What for?” I asked.

“We took bets on how long it would be before you finally snapped and threw him out,” said Amanda. “I have to say that Jules had the most faith in you. I said the end of last week. Mary said Monday. Jules was the only one who thought you would make it all the way to today.”

I looked between them.

Mary came over to me, followed closely by Amanda and Jules.

“Thank you,” she said. “You tried. You really tried hard to honor the group decision.”

“I think he deserves a fucking medal for putting up with that prick for so long.” Sent Ness. “Jules – I’ll give you your five when I see you next week.”

“I had Tuesday,” she directed at me, “but only because it was the only day left when I found out about the bet.”

“What about later on in the week?” I sent to all of them, so Ness would be included.

The looks on all three girls faces, along with the feelings coming from Ness told me how likely any of them thought it was, that I would last that long.

I shook my head, laughing ruefully, before climbing into bed.

“It’s late,” I said. “I’m going to sleep.”

All three girls clustered around me. Jules snuggled into me, while I felt both Mary and Amanda flex their power. I was asleep in minutes.

+++++

Josh and Louise gaped as Gracie came to breakfast the next morning.

“Morning,” she said to them.

“Where’s Dylan,” Josh asked.

“He left,” I said. “Last night.”

“Left?” asked Louise.

“Caleb threw him out,” said Gracie. “Finally.  He was becoming more and more insufferable by the hour.”

“And you’re up?” said Josh. “How?”

“Caleb had already Healed me,” said Gracie. “My legs are not one hundred percent yet, but I don’t need the casts anymore. Dylan being here was holding me back.”

“What are you going to do today?” I asked her.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I…

Her phone rang. She looked at the screen and scowled. “It’s Dylan.”

“You’d probably best answer it,” I said. “If you don’t, he may turn up here with EMT’s or police claiming that you are in danger.”

“Hi Dylan,” she said. “Yes, no, I’m fine. Just having breakfast with Caleb and the guys. No, I don’t need anything thanks. No. No I wouldn’t come here. Caleb has said he doesn’t want you here. You don’t want to get arrested for trespass. No, I’m perfectly fine. No, they are looking after me. I’m good. Okay – no, I’ll call you if I need anything. Thanks – bye.”

“The sad thing is,” she said, “is that he’s a really sweet guy. He’ll make someone a lovely mother someday.”

“You have all our numbers,” I said. “If you need anything text. We’ll be eating early tonight because we go to the range on a Thursday.”

“Which range?” she asked. I told her. “Excellent – you mind if I tag along? I could do with getting some practice in.”

I looked at the girls who all nodded. “Sure,” I said.

I made up something for Gracie to have for lunch before I left for class.

I was driving away from the house, when I noticed a familiar car parked down the street. I pulled over and picked up my phone.

“Frank Howe,” he answered.

“HI Frank, its Caleb.”

“Hey Caleb, what’s up?”

I explained about Dylan, and how I had had him removed last night, and that he was currently watching our property.

“My problem,” I said, “is that I’ve healed Gracie. If he gets to see her, and sees the state she is in, it will cause all kinds of issues.”

“Maggie said that you and another healer actually saved Gracie’s life,” he said. “So, thank you for that. Give me a description of the car?”

I told him the make, model, and license plate. He rang off.

Fifteen minutes later, a black SUV pulled up behind Dylan’s car, red and blue lights flashing. I smiled to myself and went to start my day. I was a little late, but I was happy that Gracie would be okay.

When I got home that evening, Frank and Maggie were sitting in the living room talking to Gracie.

“Hey Caleb,” said Frank as I walked through the door.

“Hi Frank,” I said, “Maggie.”

“We just stopped in to see how Gracie was doing,” he said. “It’s remarkable, considering what happened. She looks like she was never injured.”

“Her legs still need some time,” I said.  “Another couple of weeks before they will be one hundred percent.”

Gracie looked at me with a small smile.

“What about her other injuries,” asked Frank, “like where she was shot?”

I quirked an eyebrow at Gracie – she nodded. It was okay for me to tell him her medical details.

“All the bullets were taken out. We left all but one, for the surgeons to remove,” I said. “The reason they were all like ball bearings is that we had to make them smooth otherwise we would have done more harm as we moved them so we could heal the damage they had done.  I went on to describe the injuries I had seen, as well as her current condition.

“We also smoothed out the surgery scar,” I said. “I didn’t think she would want to have a zipper up the front of her body.”

“The fact that you damaged the bullets removing them did cause us a few issues,” Maggie said. “Obviously ballistics couldn’t do anything with them. But we got them in any case, there was a lot of other physical evidence. They are going to be in prison for a long time.”

I smiled. “Good.”

“Your return to duty is going to be determined by your doctors,” said Maggie to Gracie. “Go for a check-up in four weeks, which is after your casts were supposed to be off, and let them decide. Your new ‘boyfriend’ has been told in no uncertain terms to stay away. If he causes you any problems let me know.

“Caleb, can I have a word?”

I stood. “No problem.”

I took her out onto the deck.

“Your twenty-first birthday is coming up,” she said. I nodded. I had a fleeting thought that she was about to ask me what I wanted for my birthday, I should have known better.

“Under normal circumstances,” she said, “we would be getting ready to remove your amulet but obviously in your case we won’t need to worry about that. But there is still the matter of your oath.”

“My what now?” I asked.

“Every descendant of the line is required to swear an oath to the council,” she said. “It’s normally done just after we remove the amulet, but in your case, we’ll obviously have to get you to swear it on, or around, your birthday.”

I considered that for a moment. “An oath?” I asked. “What kind of oath?”

“It’s nothing much,” she said. “It’s a binding, that says that you will obey the council and it’s decrees you know, that kind of thing. It’s what gives the council its authority.”

“A binding?” I said, “So, its enforced by powers?”

She nodded.

“Do all powered families have this, or just us?”

“I can’t comment on other powered lines,” she said. “But we have it.”

“And is it all the power users?” I asked. “As in both Stotts and Eversons? Or is it just the Stotts that have to swear it?”

“I swore it,” she said.

“Will you let me see?” I asked. She looked at me levelly, then shook her head.

And when is this supposed to happen.

“Around your twenty first birthday,” she repeated.

“Where?” I asked.

“You will be summoned before the council.”

I nodded. “No!” I said.

“What?” she asked, startled.

“It’s simple enough,” I replied, “No. I will neither be answering a summons from this self-appointed council, nor will I be swearing any oaths to them. It’s not happening.”

“Caleb you can’t.”

“Can’t what?” I asked.

“Can’t not swear,” she said. “They won’t allow it.”

“Are you telling me that there is a legal way I could be required to swear an oath. Can you get a court to order it? Surely that would be slavery, no?”

She shook her head. “There’s no legal directive to swear any kind of oaths. You will obviously have to swear an oath if you join the bureau but even that we can’t make you swear – we can only prohibit you joining if you don’t.”

“So, if there’s no legal directive,” I asked, “how are they going to force me to swear? Is a senior agent in the FBI going to condone coercion in swearing an oath?”

“I don’t have a choice,” she said. “I swore the oath.”

I looked her in the eye.

“Really?” I said. “Then this is where it stops.”

I flexed my power, and in a second, I tore away her shields. Her eyes widened and she instinctively reached for her gun.

“Freeze,” I said quietly, imagining her unable to move. She froze.

As gently as I could I entered her mind searching for the oath she had sworn. It didn’t take me much time to find it. As I had expected it was a Compulsion. I examined it carefully and realized that it had been created by Maggie’s own power. I was sickened. The oath, it appeared, was designed to make a Compulsion user use their own power to bind them to the council. It was clever in a Machiavellian way. Because it was done using the persons own power then, no matter how strong they got, they would never be able to break it.

I could see fear in Maggie’s eyes. She knew she was at my mercy and was wondering what I was going to make her do.

Once I was certain that the oath had been completely removed, I withdrew from her mind, and released her.

Her shields were back up in an instant. I waited for what she would do next. Was I about to get shot, arrested, what?

“You…”

“I Removed the Compulsion,” I said. “That wasn’t an oath, it was a Compulsion. An abuse of power. A way to keep our family subservient to a council that wants to keep us under their heels.

“Well it stops, and stops with me. I do not recognize the council, and I will not be swearing any oaths or allowing them to place any Compulsions on me. Any that try will meet the full force of my resistance and I’ll let the cards fall where they may.

“As far as I am concerned, our family needs to rule itself. We are capable of policing ourselves. We need to get out from under the thumb of the Everson’s who have spent generations effectively enslaving us. Well, guess what, slavery is illegal. Their reign is over. I’m proposing that we create our own council. And as the matriarch of our line, I am proposing that you lead it.

“What sickens me is that the ‘oath’ seems designed to use the victims own power to Compel them. We are forced to forge and apply our own shackles.

“So,” I concluded, “the ball is in your court. Are you and I at war? Or are we going to put an end to all this shit and pull our family out from under Everson’s shadow.”

“There’s going to be hell to pay,” she said. Then she grinned.

“Has Dianna sworn an oath?” I asked.

She nodded, “Everyone swears.”

“And there’s the sick beauty of it,” I said, “because only the Stott line has Compulsion, we are the only ones actually ‘bound.’ Someone without Compulsion could recite the ritual all day with impunity since they don’t have the power within themselves to create the binding.

“Will they be able to see that It has been removed?” she shook her head again.

“Not unless my shields are down,” she replied. “I swore it so long ago I doubt they would even think to check. Obviously if they told me to drop my shields and I refused that would be kind of a giveaway.”

“What about your aura?” she looked at me a little scornfully.

“You think I haven’t learned how to control my aura?”

“Can you teach me?” I asked. “Because I haven’t.”

I saw her internalize for a few seconds, and she offered me a memory.

I took it and instantly knew how to control my aura.

“Who else in our family is senior enough to warrant a place on the council?” I asked.

She grimaced, “There isn’t really anyone,” she said. “I’m matriarch, so by years seniority I should be on the council. The only other requisite would be power, and given your power, it would be you.”

“I’m too new to all this,” I said. “But we can’t have a council with just one person.”

“No,” she said. “We can’t.”

“I’m thinking my father,” I said. “As almost a norm, he may bring a perspective to the council that we might not otherwise see.”

“That’s interesting,” she said. “A good idea. It will also help with the optics of what is going on; show that this is not just a power grab. We need at least one more.”

“Who else is there?” I asked. “Who else do I need to remove oaths from?”

“Your father,” she said, “although they nearly didn’t bother with him, given his power. That leaves Gerald, your cousin, and his father, your uncle, and your aunt.”

“Is that it?” I asked. “Is that the sum total of our line?”

“That are of age,” she said. “Gerald has a couple of kids, both of whom are currently wearing amulets. Your aunt has a child, and your uncle has two by different women. They don’t live with him. All of them are wearing amulets. One of your uncle’s children is due to ‘emerge’ in three months.

“What about Gerald’s father,” I asked.

“He’s a reasonable man,” she said. “He works for the bureau but not as an agent. His power is not great, Gerald’s is stronger.”

“So that’s three,” I said. “I have one other suggestion for a fourth.”

“Who?” she asked.

“Dianna.”

“But she’s a…” started Maggie but then stopped. “Clever, that way we have self-governance but by having a senior Everson still party to council affairs, we’re maintaining some connection. You’re starting to get a feel for the politics.”

“Would you swear…” began Maggie.

“Not a binding,” I said. “But an oath, maybe, depending on the wording. I won’t be enslaved.”

Maggie nodded.

“How messy is this going to get,” I asked. “If we go up against them, how will they respond?”

“Largely,” she said, “they rely on us for firepower. It’s a generational thing. They control the older generations to ensnare the younger generations and so on.”

“You say largely,” I said. “What else do they have?”

“A senior judge,” she said. “She’s the basis for their legal power if I can’t get things done.”

“Shit,” I said. “What can we do about that?”

“Talk to her,” she said.

“You think she’ll listen?”

“I have no idea,” she said. “But if we release everyone from the binding oath first, we have some capital to negotiate with.”

“I have exams next week. Monday to Wednesday. Then I have Thursday and Friday. And the following week before my birthday. The party is on Saturday. I want to get this in place before my birthday.”

“Your uncle I could get to come to you,” she said. “He’s not that far away. Your aunt, though, is in New York. It’s a flight.”

“I might have a solution for that,” I said.

“What are you going to tell the twins,” she asked. “Remember who they are.”

“I trust my girls,” I replied. “But I’ll proceed with caution.”

When we went back into the house, all the girls were home and sitting in the living room talking to Frank and Gracie.

Everyone looked up as we entered. The twins looked nervous on seeing Maggie.

“Amanda will give you the details for the party,” I said. “And remember – you have twenty-one years to make up for.”

Maggie grinned. “Good grief,” she said. “I’m being scalped by my own flesh and blood.”

The twins relaxed a little.

“I’ll call you,” she said to me before looking at the twins. “Sorry,” she said. “I can’t tell you apart. Amanda?”

Amanda smiled, raising her hand a little. Maggie closed on her to ask about the party.

“We’re about to eat,” I said. “You guys staying?”

“I wish we could,” said Frank. “I’ve heard good things about your culinary skills, but sadly we’re already late.”

Maggie looked up “Okay,” she said, “I’ll take the hint.”

Frank stood, and after a few more seconds of conversation with Amanda, Maggie joined him, and they left.

After dinner, we went to the range. Hoss grinned when he saw Gracie.

“Hey, Blue,” he called to her, “haven’t seen you in a while. Where you been?”

“Work,” she said. “You know how it is.”

“You need a lane?” he asked.

“Nah,” she said. “Caleb and the girls have two – I’ll shoot with them.”

“You know these reprobates?” he asked grinning at me.

“I wouldn’t admit to it in court,” she said, “but yes.”

We got our gear and spent an hour on the range. Gracie’s legs were getting tired after about thirty minutes though, she went back out to talk to Hoss while we finished up. I cleaned my gun, and we put our gear away.

+++++

Friday morning, I had a late start. After I had once again set up some lunch for Gracie, I went to PSU and sequestered myself in my office. I pulled out my phone and dialled.

“Hey son,” Dean said, “everything alright?”

“Pops,” I said, “I need a huge favor.”

“It’s done,” he said. “When?”

“Aren’t you going to ask what?”

“Well I’ll obviously need to know, but whatever it is, it’s yours.”

“You’re coming up next weekend?” I said.

“Yes.”

“I need a day, maybe two, in New York between then and my party.”

“Not a problem. We can fly into Teterboro. I’d say it’s between a four and five hour flight. I’d go early on day one and come back in the afternoon of day two.”

“Are you not even going to ask why?”

“Nope, if you want to tell me, you can.”

“Not over the phone, but I will when I see you.”

“Good enough,” he said. “Is everything okay?”

“It might get interesting,” I said.

“Things sometimes do,” he said. “Whatever happens, I’ve got your six.”

“Thanks, Pops.”

He hung up.

I was heading for lunch when my phone buzzed. I looked; it was an unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Is that Caleb?” a male voice.

“Speaking.”

“My name is John,” said the voice. “John Stott.”

“Uncle John,” I said smiling. “Calling to ask what I want for my birthday?”

He laughed. “Maggie said you would try and scalp me,” he said. “But she also said I needed to have a face to face with you ASAP. She wouldn’t say why.”

“She’s right,” I said. “When are you available?”

“You’re not going to tell me either,” he said. “Are you?”

“When we meet.”

“I’m about an hour away from Portland,” he said. “I can get there this afternoon?”

I looked at my schedule for the afternoon. I had two hypnotherapy appointments, both at the range. I would finish the last at four. Seeing him at the range would be good, since I wasn’t sure I wanted the twins to know about my meeting him yet.

“Can you get here for four?” I asked. I gave him the address of the range.

“A gun range?” he enquired.

“A long story,” I replied. “I’ll explain when you get here.”

“Okay,” he agreed, “I’ll see you then.”

I ate lunch with the girls and then headed out to the range for my afternoon.

“Hi Hoss,” I said when I arrived. He waved a hand lazily at me.

“I’ve got an extra person coming today at four,” I said. “The room still free?”

“Sure,” he said. “I’ll put it on the list.”

When John arrived, I knew instantly who he was. He and my father could easily have been twins, if one of them had let himself go a little bit.

Despite being very like my father, he was probably about fifty pounds heavier. He dressed rich. He was obviously someone with money. The suit, the shoes and the watch, all screamed cash, but it wasn’t vulgar.

Hoss nodded to me, as John came in, and patted his own belly meaningfully; he obviously thought he knew why John was here. I grinned at him.

“Caleb,” John said, shaking my hand, “I didn’t think you and I would ever meet. Your father and I don’t exactly see eye to eye.”

“So I hear,” I said. “My parents and I are not exactly seeing eye to eye at the moment either.”

“I heard,” he responded, “you broke your amulet?”

“I did, and I’m pissed that they lied to me all my life.”

“You can’t blame them,” he said. “The council…”

“Fuck the council,” I said. He grinned.

“We’re all obliged to…” he began.

That was when I struck. I had spent the time talking so far examining his shields. They were good, but not perfect. I had found a way through. I didn’t want to tear his shields down as I had done with Maggie; that had been a spur of the moment decision.

I took control, and John stopped talking. His eyes widened as he realized what I was doing and that he could do nothing about it. I lowered his shields, and gently sought out and removed his binding to the council. Once I was certain it was all gone, I retreated from his mind, and then released him.

He was on his feet in a second ready to go to war.

“WHAT THE FUCK!!!!” he yelled. “HOW DARE YOU…”

“I dared,” I said, still seated “because it was necessary. Now if you sit down, and stop shouting, I’ll explain why.”

He glared at me for a few seconds more. I wondered if he would actually attack me, but eventually he dropped back into his seat, it creaked ominously.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Hoss poked his head in.

“Sorry to interrupt,” he said. “I heard shouting. Everything okay?”

“Sorry Hoss,” I said, “sometimes things get a little emotional. We’re good.”

“Okay then,” he said retreating and closing the door behind him.

I looked back at John.

“I’m sure you’ve had time to look and see what I was up to in your mind,” I said. “All I did was to remove the binding that was forcing you to obey the council’s edicts. You are no longer tied to them. You are free.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Because our family has been subjugated for too long,” I replied. “And I’m putting an end to it.”

“But Maggie…”

“Has already been released,” I interrupted. “We are forming our own family council. There will be an oath to swear, but it will not be a binding. That’s not to say that we are going to be allowed to use our powers indiscriminately. We are still going to be subject to the same rules and laws as before.”

“Who is going to be on the council?” he asked.

“Maggie for certain,” I said. “Perhaps my father, Gerald’s father, and Dianna.”

He considered that for a moment.

“Self-governance for our family?” he said. “It will be the first time in generations. Do you think that the Everson’s are going to sit back and allow it?”

“Since they rely on the Stotts for their firepower,” I said, “they won’t have a choice.”

“Not entirely,” he said. “They are power users in their own right, also they have a senior judge in their pocket.”

“I know,” I said. “I want to get everything in place and then have the new council go meet with her. I’m trying to get this all done before my birthday, which is when the old council will be expecting me to swear my oath. I’m sorry I had to ambush you like that, but if you’d known what I wanted to do, the Compulsion would have forced you to act against me.”

“Just how powerful are you?” he asked.

“Ask Maggie to show you her memories when you see her next,” I said.

“I might just do that,” he said thoughtfully. “My shield…how did you get through?”

I offered him the memory of how I had managed breach his shield. I saw him internalize for a second as he examined it.

“I’m getting careless,” he said. “I need to pay more attention to it. I don’t spend a lot of time around other power users.”

“Maggie intimated that you and she had some kind of deal going on,” I said. “My plan is to join the FBI and go after power users that break the law.”

“Shame,” he replied. “I could use you in my organization.”

“I don’t think my father would ever forgive me,” I responded smiling ruefully.

“You might be right,” he agreed. “So, your birthday in a couple of weeks?”

I nodded. “What’s my favourite uncle getting me?” I grinned at him.

“Favourite uncle?” he laughed. “Fuck, I’ll have to think about it. I guess I have some making up to do.”

“Twenty-one years,” I agreed. “I’m having a party. You should come.”

He shook his head. “Your father and I will never ever see eye to eye. It would only cause a row. I will keep in touch though.”

“Will you swear an oath to the new council?” I asked.

“Is it optional?”

“Of course,” I said. “It won’t be binding in any other way than on your honor.”

He nodded. “Your father would tell you I have none of that in any case. I will, however, recognize the authority of the new council when it’s formed.”

“It goes without saying that we need to keep silent about this until after my birthday?”

“Of course.”

I stood.

We exited the room, and I held my hand out to him again.

“It was nice to meet you,” I said.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me into a hug. “Good to meet you too,” he replied slapping my back. “Keep in touch.”

After he left, I walked over to Hoss.

“That,” I said, “was my uncle. Black sheep of the family. I’m not really supposed to have contact with him.”

Hoss tilted his head.

“Family,” he said finally, “complicated shit.”

I nodded.

Friday night, we once again had a small barbecue – this time there was only Dana, Alan and Anne, and the residents of the house attending. We kept it low key and, surprisingly, the HOA Nazi didn’t say a word.

We spent the weekend studying for our exams. Or at least Jules and the twins did. I had already memorized everything I needed to know. If it wasn’t already in my head, then it wasn’t part of the course. I was confident of once again acing every exam; it was a simple regurgitation of facts and figures.

My ethics exam would be a different matter. We would be presented with an ethical dilemma and would have to present our response with reasoning. I was more nervous about that exam then all the others combined.

Saturday afternoon I went out for a run, and just happened to run into Gerald who for some reason was also out exercising, some forty miles from his home. What was even more surprising was that his father, who had not done a day’s exercise in the last twenty years, had also decided to join him.

I don’t know what Maggie had said to them to get them to meet me like that. However, they left the meeting free of their oaths and fully in support of the idea of a Stott family council. Gerald’s father had agreed to be on that council when it was formed.

There were only my parents, and my aunt left, that I needed to speak to.

The exams went pretty much as I had expected them to. I completed each paper in a fraction of the time allocated Once each exam was completed, I left the room in search of something to fill the time between exams.  Food was high on that list.

The dean had apparently taken me at my word regarding my new abilities, and there was only the standard proctor in the room. I did notice, however, that he did seem to spend more time on my side of the room than on the other.

My ethics exam was also a breeze, the question was one we had debated extensively, and I easily recounted all of the salient points made in class. I took care not to regurgitate the professors closing comments word for word, since having a perfect memory did not, in and of itself, show an understanding of the issue. I figured that I would get marked down for merely parroting what he had said in the lesson.

Wednesday afternoon found me, exams over, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts, sunning myself in our back yard. Gracie was on one of the other chairs.

My phone buzzed. My mother.

“Hi mom,” I said. “How’s things?”

“Hi Caleb,” she said. “I was just calling about the arrangements for your birthday. Amanda said that there would be space for us to stay with you?”

“Yes,” I said. “There’s a room here for you. When are you coming up?”

“We thought we’d travel up next Friday,” she replied. “Probably get there around four-ish.”

“Perfect.”

“Caleb,” she started, she sounded worried. “There’s something else you need to know,”

“Yes?” I replied.

“You have to go and see the council,” she said. “Probably just after your birthday.”

“Maggie told me,” I responded.

She sighed in obvious relief.

“I thought you’d be upset,” she said. “I didn’t think you’d want to go.”

“Maggie and I discussed things at length,” I told her. “We’re good.”

“Good,” she said. “I’m glad.”

“So,” I said. “About my birthday present...”

She laughed.

“You’ll have to wait and see,” she said. “We’ll see you next Friday.”

“See you then,” I said and hung up the phone.

Since I wasn’t in class, Mary had booked both Thursday and Friday fully with hypnotherapy appointments. I had told her not to book any more after the end of term, so these were going to be the last ones for the year. They would be the final appointments for all the clients, and I would start the new year with a completely new set.

Friday night, once again we decided not to go out. It felt unfair leaving Gracie on her own, although she had protested that she was a big girl and fully able to entertain herself alone for the evening. We had a nice meal, Dana being the only non-resident present. She too was looking a little down. Now that the semester was over, she knew that we would be going off travelling for a while, and she, although looking forward to it, would be working in the prosecutor’s office as a gofer. She was due to start the week after next.

None of the girls knew about the trip to New York. I wondered how I was going to break it to them. It could wait. Maggie had given me my aunt’s contact details and told her that I would be coming to NYC sometime next week. My aunt had agreed to meet with me, although I hadn’t spoken to her directly.

Saturday morning, we almost had a row. All the girls wanted to come and meet the Steadman family at the airport. I didn’t see the point. It would mean taking two or even three vehicles, especially if Josh and Louise wanted to come too. There was enough room in my truck for the entire family and their luggage. Gerry was going to book a hotel room in the city and do his own thing while he was up. Dean said that he had Gerry doing something for him while he was here, and I didn’t pry.

In the end, common sense won out and I went alone, in my truck, to meet the plane. Since the airport they were using, Troutdale, was only a small local one, I managed to drive right onto the apron. I probably wouldn’t have been able to do that at Portland International.

I spotted the jet when it was about half a mile from touchdown, watched as it landed, and then taxied to where I was waiting. The engines spooled down, and the door opened.

“CALEB!!” Ness came barrelling out almost before the steps had fully extended, dashing across the intervening concrete, and throwing her arms, and legs, around me.

“Hey Squirt,” I said pulling her into a hug and holding onto her tight, “I’ve missed you.”

I looked up to see Dean and Cheryl walking towards me, both grinning. There was no releasing Ness, so I had to hug the pair of them around her.

“Ness,” I said. “You’re going to have to let go. We need to get the stuff into the truck.”

Reluctantly, she released me, and we loaded quite a lot of baggage into the bed of my truck. It was fortunate I’d brought the truck. I didn’t think there would have been enough room in an ordinary car.

Finally, Gerry stopped unloading bags from the jet and closed it up. Dean went and had a quick word with him and then came back.

“All ready?” I asked and he nodded.

“Let’s go.”

There was a delegation waiting for us when we pulled up outside the house.

The twins and Jules, along with Josh and Louise, Dana, and Gracie were all standing outside. I glanced across the road and saw that Tom Pritchard was glaring through his window at us. I grinned.

Jules and the twins came over and got hugs and kisses from Dean, Cheryl and Ness. I made the introductions with Josh, Louise, Dana, and Gracie.

“You all live here?” asked Cheryl.

“Josh and Louise moved in when we did,” I said. “Gracie’s been here a couple of months, long story. Dana’s just visiting. She’s in one of my classes.”

“I don’t know how you do it,” Dean said. “How do you manage to surround yourself with so many gorgeous girls?”

Gracie and Louise grinned; Dana went puce.

“Just lucky I guess,” I guessed.

The twins took them in and gave them the guided tour, while Josh helped me unload the luggage.

“You’re a lucky guy,” Josh said to me. “Jules’ sister is gorgeous.”

“Thanks,” said Ness from behind him. He jumped and went scarlet.

“Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t know you were there.”

She grinned at him. “That makes it even better,” she said.

I laughed at him. “Ness, don’t tease him. He’s so easy it’s not even sport.”

We finally got everything unloaded from the truck and I put it in the garage. We moved Dean and Cheryl into the spare room. Louise and Josh had offered to move out of their room so that Jules’ parents could have the ensuite, but Dean and Cheryl wouldn’t hear of it.

“Caleb,” said Dean, “I wonder if you would do me a favour?”

“Sure,” I said, wondering what he needed.

“I have to go to New York next week,” he said. “I’d like you to come with. I have a meeting I could do with your assistance at.”

“Why don’t we all go,” suggested Cheryl. “The girls and I could do some shopping.”

The twins were overjoyed with that idea, but Jules was looking at her parents with a shrewd eye. Then she looked at me.

“What day were you thinking of?” I asked.

“Fly there Tuesday, back Wednesday afternoon,” he said.

“Sounds good,” I said. “I’m sure the girls would love it.”

“Why don’t Josh and Louise come too,” said Jules. “There’s room on the Jet.”

Gracie declined her invitation, but Dana happily accepted, since she was not starting her summer job until the week after.

I took Ness and showed her around the kitchen. Between us we made lunch.

Jules cornered me later on that afternoon.

“What’s going on?” she asked. I didn’t even bother to try and bullshit her – she could detect it a mile away.

“Politics,” I said. “I can’t explain just now, but the long and the short of it is I need to visit my aunt in New York, and I don’t want Dianna to know, yet.”

“Is this going to cause an argument?” she asked.

“Possibly,” I said. “But probably less if I can do what I need to do before Dianna finds out.”

“Be careful,” she said, “and remember the girls are in the middle.”

“That is exactly why I’m doing it this way,” I said. “If they weren’t I wouldn’t need to.”

That night we had yet another barbecue and invited the neighbours. We introduced them and let Alan and Anne know that our guests would be staying for the week until my birthday. Incidentally we invited them to my party too.

Anne nodded slightly at me that she understood. Nothing was going to be happening through the gloryhole while Jules’ parents were here. They would leave it closed.

We had to do some moving around of stuff in the bedroom to accommodate Ness. When all the extraneous guests had left, Ness would have the spare room for her own space. It was strange, and something I had never considered before, but Ness asked the question.

“What about the twins. Why don’t they have their own space? For that matter why don’t you?”

Mary answered.

“The reason Jules had her own space originally was that Caleb wanted her to be able to have somewhere to go, if she became uncomfortable with us having sex during the times that she has no sex drive. Also, for when we ‘shared’ with others, especially other guys, like Josh.

“That is why Caleb thought you might like your own space too. Sometimes we will share with others, with other men. You know Caleb’s sexuality, but you might not want to be involved in that.

“Caleb doesn’t have his own space because he doesn’t need it. We would only bring men back he would be involved with. If we were going to share outside of that – we would go elsewhere.”

“And Caleb is okay with that?” asked Ness.

“Okay is probably too strong a word. He understands that we need it. We messed up badly a couple of weeks ago, and I think we hurt him although he did his best not to show it. Your sister, however, educated us.”

“I am not sure how he would feel if you wanted to share with other men,” Amanda said. “He would not prevent it, if that is what you wanted, but you don’t actually need to share like we do and like he does. If you do ever feel the desire to share with someone else, please be gentle about it. Don’t hide it, but be gentle.”

“I don’t want anyone else,” said Ness, but then smiled a little. “No other men at least.”

“Louise will be desperate to get some time with you,” said Amanda.

“What about Josh?” said Ness looking doubtful.

“Josh is lovely, and he won’t touch you if you don’t want him to,” said Mary. “He understands boundaries and will do as much or as little to, or for, you as you want or allow. If you want nothing at all to do with him, then he’ll be fine with it.”

“Did he and Caleb really…”

“They did,” said Amanda, “and it was really hot to watch.”

+++++

Sunday morning, I went out for a run. Gracie decided to accompany me, which was a bit of a nuisance because I knew that she would not be able to run the distance that I would normally run. I stayed with her, and she managed about four miles before her legs were cramping up. Her bones however were perfectly fine. If anything, they were now stronger than before they had been broken. She just needed to work up her muscles again. I gave her a little help again, and we made it back to the house.

When we got back, Ness was already in the kitchen making breakfast. Jules Josh and Louise were sitting at the table, enjoying what she had made for them.

“This is awesome,” said Josh. “Caleb you’re fired.”

I laughed. “Turncoat,” I said. “Where’s the loyalty?”

“I’m completely loyal,” Josh announced, “to my stomach – and right now my stomach is voting for Ness.”

She grinned at him.

I went to get a shower, and then came back to enjoy my portion of my fiancées culinary skills.

“We’re going to see Nana Babi,” said Louise. “I guess you guys are too busy?”

“Give her our regards,” I said. “Tell her not to forget my party next week.”

“You think she’ll come?” asked Josh.

“I hope so,” I said. “She needs to get out of that house once in a while.”

“Who’s Nana Babi?” asked Ness, and Louise spent the next thirty minutes catching her up on the tale. We could have done so instantly by sharing the memory, but Louise was enjoying telling, and Ness seemed to be enjoying listening.”

By the time the tale was done, Dean and Cheryl had joined, and Ness had made them their breakfasts too.”

Dana, as per her open invitation came for Sunday lunch. And was suitably impressed by Ness cooking. The conversation around the table was lively and animated but I saw Ness looking at Dana strangely on a couple of occasions.

“You ok, Squirt?” I asked her through the connection.

She started a little and looked at me.

“I like Dana,” she replied, “But there’s just something about her. I can’t put my finger on it; she just seems a little off.”

“It may be because she’s trans,” I explained gently. “She’s finally living the life she wants though, so be kind.”

“She’s a guy??”

“She has a guy’s body,” I said, “For the moment. But it’s what she feels inside that’s important.”

I saw Ness thinking this over for a while.

“Poor thing,” she said eventually. “I’d hate to feel like I was in the wrong body. Are you and she…”

“We kissed, once,” I said. “I honestly don’t think she really wants sex at the moment. I think she though it was the price she would have to pay for hanging around with us.”

“I hope you set her straight,” I saw her giggle a little at the double entendre.

“She just wants someone to be there for her,” I responded. “I assured her that we, all of us, were. There were no strings attached.”

“Guys,” sent Jules to both of us. “It’s getting obvious – Remember we have outsiders at the table.”

I glanced at Jules who was, at that moment deep in conversation with Dana. She was distracting the only person at the table who didn’t know about our powers.

“You are so lucky,” said Dana as I was driving her back to the dorms later that night. She had stayed for the day, and we had all had a good time just shooting the breeze. I had beaten Ness into the kitchen to make dinner, after which Dana had said she needed to get back.

“I know it,” I said.

She looked at me for a moment. “Does Ness know about me?” she asked finally.

“We have no secrets between us,” I said. “You have to remember she grew up with Jules, and she’s engaged to me. Alternative lifestyles are the norm for her. She would probably have more of a reaction if I told her you were a vegan.”

“Really?” she asked.

“Daughter of a dairy farmer?” I queried. “Of course, she hates those weirdo’s”

Dana laughed.

“She doesn’t really,” I said. “I just made that up. Ness doesn’t have an ounce of hate in her.”

“When are we going to New York?” she asked.

“Tuesday,” I said. “Back Wednesday. It will be an early start Tuesday though. I’ll text you the details.”

“Okay,” she said, as I pulled up outside the dorms.  Before I could say anything more, she leaned forward and kissed me again.

“I’m sorry,” she said, breaking the kiss. “You just make me feel…wanted.”

She turned and jumped out of the truck, closing the door behind her. She walked into the dorms without looking back.

I sighed.

More complications.