Dreams I'll Never See (Intersex gxgxg)

Chapter 13

I just looked between them, unsure about what was happening. I'd been expecting a delivery, but this wasn't at all what I'd thought it would be. Deciding it wasn't useful to keep pointing my gun at the pair in the hallway, I stepped back, opening the door the rest of the way so they could push the trolley into the room. "Come on in." Was it a risk? Yeah, but I knew Joe's voice from years of talking to him and the girl looked as though she couldn't hurt a fly. Appearances could be deceiving, but I was pretty sure I was right about this one.

To my surprise, the girl was the first one in, and she quickly waved at the three little heads peeking up from the bed. "Hi!" Joe followed right behind her with the luggage trolley that was obviously very heavy.

"This wasn't the delivery service I was expecting. You couldn't use FedEx?" I asked as I put the gun away. "Are those bins my new toys?"

"They are. We can go through those in a bit, because it will take up a lot of room," Joe replied. "But I'm really here as her escort." He nodded towards the blonde who sat on the rollaway bed. Bella, Willow, and Lexie had already stood up and sat on the edge of the bed, looking quite confused.

The blonde looked us all over before speaking. "You can call me Petra. And ever since you were removed from military custody, you've been working for me. There is no agency per se, it is just Joe and I, and a few other people trying to do a little good in the world. You've done amazingly difficult work, and I wish it didn't fall to you to do so, but I am glad that you've stuck it out with us for so long."

"But you're a kid like me!" Bella blurted out. "Aren't you?"

Petra giggled, looking even more like the kid that Bella accused her of being. "No, not really. I'm 20, and I've been doing this for more than half my life. It may seem odd, but it's true."

"And Petra isn't your name I assume?" I asked.

"As much as Jessica is yours." She simply shrugged with a smile still on her face. "None of us are free to live in the open with the people we've crossed around the world. Because those that we cross are the ones that are the real danger. They're the ones that hurt people, that ruin lives. We just bring the justice to them. Most of them are untouchable unless we do something, they're too well protected or live in a country where they have no accountability."

I just stared at this girl, calmly discussing the running of some sort of global organization that was focused on bringing down criminals. How many other people were out there doing the same thing I was, just in different states or countries? "Thank you." I nodded at her, trying to keep this unemotional. There were days that I hated this job, that I hated what I was doing and feeling that I had turned into a monster. "I don't always know how I feel about what I do, but I do realize that the people I deal with wouldn't stop, or would be back out doing it again, if I didn't take care of it."

Petra stood up, walking over in front of me. "You've been amazing, and I know that you've lost a lot. If you need to talk, I can put you in touch with a therapist to help you work through things."

That might be a good thing, I realized. If Lexie and Willow were serious about wanting me to help raise their kids – wait, our kids – in some capacity, then I probably should do that. I would want to try to be a good parent, right? "Yeah, I'd like that. Thanks."

"But in the meantime, can I steal your girls for some shopping and brunch? Joe would like some time to show you the toys he brought, and I have a feeling that your friends would rather get some good food and some more necessities."

"Yes! I need a phone and food!" Bella yelped. "I'll go!"

"I guess we're going too." Willow was sharing a look with Lexie, who gave a tentative nod in return.