Out of Time (Collectors Cross-Over)

Chapter 13

Nate - Matched

I, for one, was glad to be back in DC. Never thought I'd say that, but our house was really cool. I was more relaxed here, and given what we did in Kentucky, I was ready to relax. I sent an email to Patrick about getting back into the lab, but he'd had an emergency and wouldn't be back until later next week. More time with my wife? Sign me right up?

Lilac had a couple of things she wanted Sam to look over, but Sam was going to be spending time with Charles helping with the spell that would locate this damn demon. He also told us Carl was looking into what we'd need to do once we found the demon. Honestly, as long as I didn't have to offer up my soul, or some shit like that, I'd probably do anything to get my Keeper back.

I was sitting on the couch and Emily came in. She looked hot and sexy wearing a pair of shorts that showed off her long legs, her Sambas, and one of my tshirts. It always turned me on when she was wearing my clothes. She curled up against me as she always does, and her head was on my chest. God, I loved this feeling. I reached up and pulled her hair out of the ponytail she had it in, and was running my hands through it to comb it out. I was just about to lean down and kiss her on the head when I noticed it wasn't Emily in my arms.

"The fuck?" I jumped up and shoved the guy away from me. "Who the hell are you? Where's Emily?" I looked at the guy who had to be my height, but seemed to have more muscle on him. I reached out with my mind to hold him still.

"Dude, calm down," the guy laughed. "Let me go. You must be Nate."

"Brody!" I shouted.

"What?" he walked into the room a minute later, Sean trailing behind him. "Ian? What are you doing here?"

"That's Ian?" I let him go and turned to Brody. "The one you guys work with?"

"Yes," Brody nodded. "Where's Emily?"

"Oh, fuck," I leaned against the wall. "Fuck me. They must have gotten switched." I slid down the wall and put my head in my hands. I couldn't handle anything. My wife was gone, and try as I might, I couldn't find her. I thought it was bad when Brody wasn't there, but this was like cutting my heart right out of my chest. If I thought it was bad when she was at practice right after Brody was switched, how would I be now? I didn't have hair left to cut, and I really didn't want to get naked in front of the guys. I heard a squawking and knew that Poe was out standing vigil over me.

"Is he going to be ok?" Ian asked, and I could hear him moving. He must have been walking closer to Brody. By this point, I was curled up in a ball on the floor. I may have been crying, I don't know. I didn't even care right then, I just knew I needed Emily. "And where'd the bird come from?"

"I'm sure the other Brody told you that he's Matched with the Emily from here," Brody was trying to keep his voice low. "I'll explain Poe later."

"Yeah, he said something about it," Ian said.

"Oh, hey, I'm Sean," I could hear Sean walking across the room. I just wanted everyone to shut the fuck up. This wasn't helping me at all, and was now starting to make me mad.

"Ian Dixon," Ian replied. "It still freaks me out that this is all true. The fact that you guys look just like the others is a bit weird too. Too bad he cut his hair, or it'd be a little easier to look at him."

"Emily likes my hair," I finally looked up.

"Oh, fuck," Sean must have gotten the same realization I had. "I gotta call Dad and Sam. They're working on the ritual."

"Brody P. told us about that" Ian's voice again.

"I hope this doesn't set things back," Brody M.'s voice this time.