Inner Workings

Inner Workings - Part 16

Rachel was glad there was a screen between her and Dr. Mariah Kilo. The pregnant woman was silent, the kind of silence you hear before an explosion, or a car bomb, went off.

"People in power never fail to show me how stupid they are," ground out Mariah. "When did Watch One say he'd have backup out to our guys."

"By tomorrow, early morning. But I have a feeling Harrison will use this as an opportunity to point out that Louis as a science subject should not be allowed in threatening situations as an agent."

"Oh, he probably will. And frankly I'm tempted to do so as well."

Rachel pressed her mouth shut to keep from talking back. She needed Mariah on her side to get Watch One motivated to help. Telling Mariah that she had no right to ground Louis from his job, his calling, would not help that purpose.

"Has Harrison been told yet?" asked Rachel.

"No, but when he does he's going to spin a shit storm to bring Louis back."

"And Will."

"Right, him too."

For a second Rachel wondered if Mariah even cared about Will.

***

"Shit," swore the soccer player. It was the same one that had gotten the ice pack earlier. His jersey read Jones. "You okay?"

The burning stone in Will's chest made it hard to breathe. His face turned red as he tried to swallow again but ended up coughing, clutching his middle as his throat lurched, causing him to gag. If he didn't get Massaru down to Louis soon he might suffocate. Hell, Will might suffocate in the process.

Jones put the cup back in Will's hand and he downed it in one gulp. Slowly, the stone in his throat made it down. Honey water or not, his throat was sore.

"Hic!" And now he had hiccups, which made his gut hurt as well as his throat. "Ow."

"Sorry." The soccer player helped Will to his feet, gingerly touching the bruised arm. "Didn't mean to make you choke right after you got blown up."

"I'll be okay," Will rasped. But he didn't know if Massaru was okay. He couldn't feel anything inside, which worried him. "What did you need?"

Jones pointed over to the news crew. "Those guys wanted to get a statement from the ones closest to the bomb. I didn't know if you wanted to get hassled by them or not."

Will grimaced, looking at the vans and prime time hungry reporters. "I'd rather not."

"Thought so." Jones' brow furrowed. "Where are the other guys that were with you?"

"Huh? Oh, they had a meeting to go to. I don't suppose you could help me get a taxi. I have no idea how to get around in San Francisco."

Jones smiled and grabbed one of the suitcases. "I grew up around here. Follow me; we'll go around the news vans.

Following Jones, Will felt a slight squirm inside. Louis and Massaru were alive, at least they were now. Hopefully he could find a way to talk to them once he was in the city.

He had two lives inside him. Two. Will had swallowed down two people. To think he had convinced Reese to do the same thing. The redhead deserved another box of Maple Bacon Doughnuts once he got back to Watch Two.

Will had to agree. Worst fucking idea ever.

***

Massaru opened his eyes to pitch blackness, lungs heaving. He felt as if he had run a marathon, though in his life he had never attempted to do so. If this was what if felt like, he probably never would. He was in liquid up to his thighs, sitting, and a shuddering pair of arms held him up against a warm chest. Louis. Massaru remembered where he was, and the suffocating struggle it had been to get there.