Just in Time: Portals of Time (9 page)

“Why?”

“I can alleviate some of your fatigue and anxiety.”

“How?”

“I take it on myself.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I’m a sensitive, which means I not only feel people’s emotions, but in certain circumstances, I can drain them of some of it. I can also block the transfer if I want, but I’d like to help you.”

“Amazing. But no. You’re already pale. You’ve had to rest all day.”

Celeste put her palm on her stomach. “I’ve been eating your sustenance. I believe I’ve overindulged. But I feel much better now.”

“I came in here to see if
I
could help
you
. I brought some tea.” She gestured to the tray.

Celeste struggled to place
tea
. A beverage. Made from leaves. “Would I like it?”

“Hmm. With some honey. It calms an upset stomach, and the soul, I think. Truthfully, I could use a cup.” She rose without waiting for a response, poured some liquid and something else, must be this honey, into cups and brought one to Celeste.

She sipped and her eyes widened. “It’s wonderful. Sweet.” A frown. “Are you sure this is good for me?”

“Yes.”

After Helen ingested some of the tea, her state of anxiety decreased.

“So, they’ve told you everything, Helen?”

She nodded. “I still can’t believe Jess lied to me.”

“He thought it best.”

“It wasn’t.”

“I seek your forgiveness.” Helen looked puzzled. “Oh. Your wording is
I’m sorry
. He didn’t think you should know he was going to be harmed.”

“Killed.”

“That’s the term you use.”

“Do you honestly think he would die without your intervention, Celeste?”

“Of course. That’s why we traveled to your time.”

“I’m glad his research would—will—change the world, but all of what you say sounds like fantasy.”

Celeste drank more of the lovely brew. “There’s good news, Helen. We can stop it.”

“You can’t be sure.”

“The computeller predicts a ninety-nine point one percent probability that we can.”

“God, I hope so. But what if we’re in the nine tenths of a percent? Somebody has to be.”

“Then our world will end. And your life will change irrevocably.”

Helen shook herself. “No, I’m going to believe Jess will live.”

“As do I.”

“They said you’ve come to do something else, too. That you’re not even sure it’s Jess’s work that causes changes in the future.”

She glanced at the computeller where Alex Lansing’s face beamed out at them. “I’m unable to discuss that with you.”

“That’s what the others said.”

Contrary to the men of this time, Helen seemed able to accept their reluctance to reveal the next task. Gesturing to the computeller, she said, “That thing’s amazing.”

Celeste tried to nudge the machine away so Helen couldn’t view the screen. In doing so, she disrupted her teacup and splashed the liquid down the front of her shirt. “Oh, my.”

“Tea stains,” Helen quipped, stood abruptly and hurried into the bathing room. She returned with a cloth. Before Celeste realized her intent, Helen had removed the cup from her hand and began to blot the liquid from Celeste’s chest.

It was like being hit with a blast from a sand storm in the future where all the noxious, unstable elements out of inside spun together and shook the Domes. Emotions exploded inside Celeste. Helen felt so deeply, as deeply as other sensitives in Celeste’s time. Her fear, pain, anger, and abject sadness filled Celeste’s heart. But…there was something else. Something so small she might have missed it. She focused on it and oh, by the godheads!

Helen was talking, but Celeste was not listening. She concentrated on the tiny sound that grew louder and louder. A feeling of pure joy superseded the negative emotions coming at her from Helen.

“Are you taken aback, Celeste?” She held up the cloth. “Was this too intimate for you? Don’t women touch each other in your time?”

“It isn’t that.” She grabbed Helen’s hand.

“Oh, no, please, don’t take on my pain.”

“I’m not. There’s something else.”

Helen cocked her head in confusion. “What now?”

Celeste said, “Helen, you’re carrying a child in your womb.”

Literally jumping back, Helen covered her stomach with her hands and burst into water leakage.

“I don’t understand.” Celeste was bereft. “You thought you were unable to conceive. This should make you happy.”

“No, no, I’m not happy. Don’t you see? If I’m pregnant already, Jess could be killed any time. I was hoping…if you’re right, conception would be further away. Now I know I could lose my husband any minute.”

DORIAN SAT AT
the eating table watching Luke and Alisha discuss the situation. They’d been arguing since Helen left to lie down. Jess hadn’t said much and Pastor David listened intently to everyone, but Luke was brimming with anger. He’d pounded his fist on the table, kicked a chair when he’d stood, and…Nord, what was wrong with these people?…gone to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle of amber liquid. Alcohol. They drank substances that would make them feel differently! Whenever Luke took a sip, it seemed to make him even angrier.

David spoke. “Luke, they’re not going to reveal their other task. Can you table your frustration over it so we can hear more about Jess’s situation? Maybe let them make plans for protecting him.”

Luke’s dark eyes narrowed on Alisha. “She’s the stickler. Dorian would tell us.”

“I would not.” She didn’t often lie, she
would
tell them, because she couldn’t see the harm except for the contract they’d made with the Guardians. But Alisha would be angry with her.

“You’re a lot easier to get along with than she is.” This from Luke—begrudgingly.

David said, “That’s enough!” Up to now, the mild-mannered minister had been calm and sensible. So everyone quieted at his sharply uttered words. “Jess’s safety is paramount here. Not your egos.”

“I have no ego.” This from Alisha who, despite her declaration, wouldn’t know how to take orders from men.

Luke snapped, “Of course you do. I highly doubt people have changed that much in your time.”

“We put the welfare of society above our own…preferences. That’s how the world united.”

David smiled broadly. “Now, that’s good news.”

Dorian watched Luke. He ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath. He could benefit from some therapeutic massage and pulse-point calming. She knew how to do both and, for a moment, longed to ease his anxiety.

He surprised her, though, when he began to calm himself. His hand fisted as if he was trying to contain his emotion. “David’s right. I’m being obstinate. I—” He glanced behind Dorian to see his sister-in-law and Celeste. “Helen? Are you all right?”

Helen nodded.

His eyes narrowed on her. “You seem more upset than when you went to take a nap.”

Jess rose from his chair and crossed to his mate. “Honey, what is it? Did Celeste upset you? She’s a sensitive and—”

“I did upset her.”

“I’ve only know you a few weeks, Celeste, but you wouldn’t hurt a fly.” At least Jess could control his temper.

“Why would I…? Never mind. We have some news.”

“Oh, Nord, not more revelations.” This from Alisha. “Megadamn you, Celi.”

“Mega what?” This from David.

“Helen touched me, Lisha. That’s all.”

“Why didn’t you take away her fear?”

“She resisted that. But I experienced something else.” She placed her hand on Helen’s shoulder. “Tell Jess, Helen.”

Helen’s lips trembled. “I…” She closed her eyes. “I’m pregnant.”

Dorian froze. Alisha’s mouth dropped open. Celeste’s eyes filled with moisture.

Jess hugged Helen, kissed her head and began to cry.

“Oh, this is just great.” Luke’s tone was frustrated. “You’re all going to fall apart now.”

Angered, Dorian whirled on Luke. “You have no idea how monumental this is to us. We have never heard anyone utter those words before. Pregnancy within the womb doesn’t happen in our time. It’s like an urban legend to us.”

Luke didn’t cower. His body language became more hostile. “Yeah, well, all this announcement means to me is Jess is one step closer to his date with death.”

Everybody stilled. And Helen fainted.

LATER THAT NIGHT
, still chagrined at his behavior—these women drove him crazy and brought out an ugly side of him—Luke walked onto the racquetball court with his brother. “I’m sorry I scared Helen into a faint.” Stopping to shed his light over-shirt, he was again filled with so many emotions he couldn’t think straight. Which is why he’d asked Jess to come with him to the gym to let off some steam. He glanced up above, where Dorian sat with Alisha. They’d have no idea what the phrase meant. At least it all made sense now.

“Luke, I know you’re upset by what’s happened.” Jess managed a kind tone and benevolent expression. “But truthfully, I’m so damn psyched about the baby, about Helen finally getting her dream, that I’m not even mad at you.”

“You could use some of my anger, Jess. After what you’ve found out from the Sisters of Doom.” The notion struck Luke to the core—he could lose his brother.

Jess chuckled. “Don’t let Alisha hear you call them that.” He lifted the hem of his long-sleeved shirt and pulled it over his head. “I’m thinking about the future in a different way. That I’m going to have a daughter. Uncle Luke,” he laughed.

Trying not to douse his brother’s good mood, Luke gave him a more genuine smile than he’d managed lately. “It
is
cool.” He picked up his racquet. “Ready?”

“Yeah, though you’ll kill me. As usual. I don’t even care.”

“You’re getting better at the game.”

Still, Luke took it easy on his first serve, sending the ball below the blue line, but not too hard. Jess got the return shot and hit it into the corner. It bounced back over Luke’s head. He ran toward the back of the court, nabbed the ball with the end of his racquet, and it spiraled through the air. Before he turned to see where the shot landed, he got another glimpse of the women. Alisha was working on her computer thingy, but Dorian was leaning over the railing—looking as though she’d never seen a game before. Which she probably hadn’t. He’d have to ask her about sports in her time. Jeez, he hoped they still had some. If not, what would men do? What would they talk to each other about?

“My point.”

Luke pivoted.

“I got the ball back. While you were checking out the Sisters of Doom.” Again, he chuckled on the reiteration of Luke’s term.

Luke got back in the game and tried to continue the easy play. But the competitor in him took over, and after winning a set and serving again, he sliced a tough-to-reach shot into the wall, which ricocheted back. Jess dove for it and slid across the floor.

“Ow…” Jess grabbed hold of his leg.

“Jesus.” Luke flew to him. “Are you all right?”

“Twisted my ankle.”

“Sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.”

Luke didn’t understand how noncompetitive his brother was. “We’ll have to quit, though.”

The door to the court flung open, and in rushed Dorian, carrying some kind of device. “Is he hurt?” She seemed honestly worried.

“Twisted ankle.”

She scanned the enclosed space. “I didn’t think anyone could get in here. But…” She sent a troubled gaze to Luke. Suddenly, her sass was gone.

“He’s okay, Dorian.” Luke reached out and touched her. She stared at his hand on her arm as if…as if a man didn’t do that so casually in her time. Didn’t touch a woman to comfort her. But how could that be? He nodded to the device. “What’s that?”

“My weapon.”

The thing was metal, sleek and had a trigger-like mechanism. “A gun?”

“No. We call it a peacekeeper. It incapacitates a miscreant.”

Fascinated, he asked, “Can I see it?”

Alisha entered the court, precluding her answer. From her bag, she pulled out another device and knelt down next to Jess, who was still stretched out on the floor. She said, “Let me see your injury.” She felt his leg, his ankle. “Some tendons are over-stretched. And swelling. She settled the device close to his skin, switched it on and ran it over his lower-leg area. A low hum emitted from it.

“What the fuck?” Jess rarely swore, so Luke took note.

He asked, “What happened?”

“The pain’s gone.”

“And the swelling,” Alisha pronounced.

“What
is
that thing?” Luke wanted to know.

“It’s a mini-Multimed.”

Luke shook his head.

“It’s a medical device from the future,” Dorian explained. Among other things, it calms injured muscles and tendons. I don’t know exactly how it works. The best minds in the future have collaborated together for centuries to make technological advances like this. There are larger Multimeds at medical centers, but we brought the miniature version.”

“Man, you could make a fortune on that in our time.”

Alisha pulled Jess up by the hand. “Feel better?”

“Yep.” He shook his head. “I could get used to having that around.”

Luke caught sight of Dorian. She’d picked up the racquet and swung it back and forth. She’d snagged the ball with her other hand and now squeezed it. Then she looked up at him. “Can I play?”

Just what he needed. “You don’t know how.”

“I perused your Internet on the drive over to the gymnasium. I have the basics down.” She held out her foot. “I even wore these sneaker shoes.”

His eyes narrowed on her. “Maybe you’re sandbagging me. Maybe you’ve played in your time.”

“I have no desire to build sacks of sand around you.”

He burst out laughing.

She didn’t look amused. “Oh, it’s another idiom.” She held up the racquet. “Well?”

Alisha started to say something, but Dorian sent her a pleading look. “I want to, Lisha. Please. It won’t hurt anything and you can watch Jess for a few minutes.”

“All right. It’ll be nice to see you beat the pants off of him.”

Dorian just shook her head.

Without even limping, Jess left the court with Alisha, and Luke took up his position; Dorian knew right where to go. She also knew how to serve the ball, return what should have been an ace from him and lunge for the little blue sphere. Finally, she missed.