We came in and Brian Virgil led the way to the little alcove where we had left Strong sound asleep.
My brain couldn't process what my eyes were relaying to it right away.
On the bed was the most beautiful woman I believe I had ever seen in my life. Naked too. She had dark, dark red hair, longer than mine, dark brows and lashes that were way longer than mine, and she had a tiny waist and the rest of her was shapely and curvaceous. Even her feet were pretty.
I remembered to breathe. "You didn't hide the mutant somewhere and are playing a trick on us?" I asked half joking.
"You'd better get the poor girl some clothes," Danse said frowning slightly and trying not to stare.
I have some extra lab wear around here," said Dr. Virgil going to one of the lockers in the room.
Then the woman turned, and opened her lovely, jade green eyes, and cleared her throat, "Where am I?" she asked foggily, still trying to wake up fully. Even her voice was lovely and pleasing to the ear.
I sat by her bed, which she fit into very easily now, and gently removed the pieces of Strong's old armor that were still on her. "You are in a Science Academy," I said smiling at her, "In Jamaica Plain, in the Commonwealth. Where are you from?"
"I'm from the town of Pleasant Valley," she said.
"Where is that?" Danse asked her.
She looked at Danse, and sighed. "In the Taconics," she said. "My family is there."
"We'll take you home, then," Danse promised. Her eyes didn't leave his face.
"If you can give us landmarks, it will help us find it," He said. He smiled for her.
"It's between the Hudson River and the old Taconic Parkway," she said, smiling back at him.
Dr. Virgil brought her some tie pants and a lab coat. I helped her dress. The men had turned away for some semblance of privacy for her.
"Tomorrow then, in the morning. If you are up to the trip. We'll be flying," Danse told her, "What's your name?"
"Callista. Callista Bellwether. And you?" Her lovely eyes took in every bit of Danse. I was thinking some very uncharitable thoughts and missing my friend Strong right about now.
"Danse. And this is my wife, Z. Dr. Brian Virgil, here, has been caring for you."
"I don't know how to thank you. All of you," she said finally cast her gaze at me and Brian, before bringing her eyes back to Danse, who was gazing back. I had the urge to elbow him, but quelled it.
"Are you hungry or thirsty?" I asked gently.
"No, no, I'm not…Actually, I feel kind of nauseous."
"Normal side effect," Dr. Virgil said matter of factly.
"Side effect of what?" Callista asked, frowning slightly.
"I gave you a serum. You had been infected with forced evolutionary virus, my dear," he explained in a calm tone, "it has been quite some time since you've been yourself."
"How long?" she asked, her eyes suddenly wide with shock, "and what kind of virus?"
"We're not sure how long," I added quickly, wondering if Virgil had any bedside manner at all. "We'll find out for sure when we find your family."
"Oh, thank goodness," she breathed. "I am very anxious to go home."
"Sleep for now," Dr. Virgil said, "I am going to give you a sleeping aid. It will help with the nausea and the headache."
"Headache?" she looked askance at him.
"You don't have one?" he asked, surprised.
"No. I don't really want to take any drugs, doctor. If they aren't necessary," She said, her voice beginning to quake.
"I strongly recommend you do, my dear. I'm your doctor, now and you need your sleep, especially since its looking like tomorrow is going to be a very active day for you." He said looking stern.
Danse saved the day; he took her hand and looked into her eyes, "It's safe, Callista. We've been taking care of you and keeping you safe. We won't let any harm come to you. I promise."
"Alright, then. Thank you, Danse," she said not letting go of his hand.
He waited until she had taken the pills and she began to drift off, before he gently pried her fingers from his.
I smiled at them. Danse looked at me strangely. "Why do you have that look on your face?" he asked.
"What look?" I was smiling, for crying out loud.
"Like you just bit into a mutfruit and found it was rotten."
I rolled my eyes, "Nevermind. Let's go radio home and let them know we're spending the night. And tell Forquar too."
"Alright," Danse said standing, "And Dr. Virgil, the girl is disoriented and frightened, so try to make her feel safe and not bring up all the possible side effects she could experience or tell her she's been a super mutant for a few years. If you don't mind my advice."
He shrugged, good naturedly. "Sure, sure, Danse, whatever you say. I am much more at home in the lab with my beakers and petri dishes than with people anyway. I appreciate your help. Do you think she would've gotten hysterical or something?" He looked at her, blinking his eyes, as if she were one of his creatures floating in a cylinder.
Danse shrugged too. "I don't know, Doctor. But a calm patient is surely better than an upset one."
We left and found the radio hut. Their radio woman, Augusta, called The Castle for us and we chatted with Franklin who would relay our love and the news of our delayed arrival back home to Shaun and our other people.
We found Forquar in the outside restaurant seating, having a beer. We joined him and told him we would be flying over the Taconic range tomorrow. He said he would enjoy being our pilot again. The CSA was Forquar's assigned base and he had quarters there. Danse and I took the guest quarters again.
I slowly took off my clothes, one piece at a time, wanting Danse to watch me, and undid my braid slowly. I could feel his eyes on me even though I had my back to him. I unpacked my brush and began to brush out my hair. I felt his warm breath on my shoulder. "Let me," he said, taking the brush from my hand.
He took his time, seeming to be enjoying himself. Then his other hand lightly stroked my buttocks, in light, tickly touches. I tried to hold still, but it got to be too much tickle for me to bear it. I jumped a bit then turned to him.
"She's a beautiful woman," I breathed as I turned around, my hair swinging and brushing both of our torsos. That tickled too.
"What?" Danse looked at me, surprised, "You're thinking about her right now?"
"Never mind," I said, embarrassed, "I guess I felt a little jealous, to be honest."
"Jealous? Z, you can't be … look at me," he said, his voice deep and commanding. "There will never be anyone for me besides you. Ever. You are … a part of me. The better part, actually. If it was just you and me and the children, in the entire world, I would be happy. That woman, Callista, she is a fine example of a woman, physically, I suppose. But you, to me are a hundred times more beautiful because I love you. You will always be the most beautiful woman in the world to me. Forever."
He pulled me closer to him and looked deep into my eyes. I was drawn into his deep, dark brown ones. Whatever he saw in them made him want to explain more fully.
He spoke, his voice deep and low and intense, "I love you, and when I say those three words, they mean more than human language could ever impart." He kissed me lightly then pulled back to look at me again, "Z, I need to bind myself to you in every way possible. I vowed myself to you when we wed, but it is not enough. When we make love, when you bring me to that highest point of pleasure that exists for a man, it is only then I feel like we barely touch that place where I long to go and stay, where we are bound together as one creature and still it not enough for me - yet it is more than either of us can conceive of." He kissed me again, lightly again, and spoke intently, his hands stroking my shoulders to my wrists and finally taking hold of my hands, tightly, "How can I express what I want to say to you? It is too big to stay contained, this longing, this love, too powerful to just not make the earth tremble in our binding, our becoming one for those moments when time has been frozen, when we are removed from the limitations of our individual bodies and souls, and this had to express itself somehow - become corporeal - in a new creation - it created new life, or took on a life of its own: Hope and Harmony. They were made from our love. No greater thing could we have done than make those two precious lives born from our joining. So, when I tell you I love you, Z, it means all that and more."
"Oh," I said, blushing, "Oh, my heart. Danse, I love you. I think you put it quite well."
He started caressing me lightly, as if he were exploring my body for the very first time.
Gooseflesh rose up everywhere his fingers traced and my nipples hardened and stood out boldly. Which made him pay attention to them next. He took his time in his exploration. "I love you, Z," he said half a dozen times, for each part of me he made love to. Soon I was a puddle of melted mush under his hands. He gently lowered me to the bed and planted kisses, starting with my brow then going all the way down to my thighs, which he gently parted with his hands. I felt the caress of his tongue and I groaned with my growing desire. He suckled me and I almost cried out from the unbearable pleasure.
Knowing all the sounds and motions I make when aroused he knew when to stop, to draw out my pleasure and then he mounted me, gently and slowly, bringing his gaze back to my eyes.
We rolled over until I was sitting atop him, and it was my turn to explore and love him. I took my time, stroking and kissing every tendon, every muscle, in his well-defined form, from his shoulders to his toes. Then I teased his nipples with my mouth and tongue and teeth until he groaned, and then I went lower, taking him into my mouth, while I gently explored with my hands.
He moaned, then rolled me over again, mounting me. "I need to be in you, now," he hoarsely demanded.
I took him in, where he belonged and it was like welcoming him home after a long journey.
"Danse, please, harder, deeper," I begged.
He fulfilled my wishes and after holding back as long as he could, he thrust faster until my pleasure burst in me and flooded through me. That brought him to his climax, moaning my name.
We fell asleep, damp with sweat from our lovemaking in each other's arms.
THE MORNING DAWNED clear but with storm clouds to the east.
Forquar announced we had plenty of time as we were flying westward and the storm was moving slowly.
Danse and I took Callista into town to get breakfasted and to get her outfitted. She drew every eye when she passed. She didn't seem aware of it, though, which pleased me. If Arthur weren't married, I would have tried to play matchmaker. If anyone could get his mind off me, it would be Callista. After breakfast, Danse went to meet Forquar and go over some maps to plan our journey. At the little outdoor restaurant, Christopher Fenn, the restaurant owner, fawned over Calllista and gave her her breakfast on the house – as a welcome to Jamaica Plain. Danse and I paid for our meals. I smiled and shook my head.
I got her some sturdy travelling garb, and good soft, leather boots and long boot socks. I bought her a pretty blue dress too, for her to bring home with her and some blue slip on shoes. She ought to have something pretty to wear, I had decided. Then we went to the Armory, where Lyle and soon Carl were stumbling over each other to find goodies for her.
"Can you handle a laser rifle?" asked Lyle, trying to keep his eyes on her face.
"I can handle a pipe rifle. Is there much difference?" she asked smiling at him. He looked like he would melt into a pile of goo.
"Actually, a laser rifle is easier to handle, and its generally lighter," he said, bringing out a sleek, pretty rifle for her to try. "I've already adjusted the aim on this one at the range," he assured her, "this baby will do the trick." He was smiling goofily at her.
"We'll take it," I said. I wasn't made out of money, but in my travels I had found so many caches of caps with no home, that I had plenty to spare and could afford to be very generous.
He then fitted her up with some lightweight polymer armor, which for all its lightness had ten times more protection than leather armor.
I brought a case of fusion cells for her rifle and we were ready to go.
The gentlemen looked rueful at our leaving. "Come back and visit sometime, Callista," Carl called out after us.
"I will, thank you, Carl. And thank you Lyle," she called back, smiling sweetly at them both.
Holy crap. This girl could have her pick of any man, excepting my Danse of course, that she had an inkling to have.
We went into the CSA and found Dr. Virgil.
"And how is my patient after being up for a few hours?" he asked, looking her over as a doctor would, not as a man.
"I feel fine, Doctor," Callista said, "the food tasted great and the nausea is gone. No headache. So tell me, what virus did I have and why can't I remember how I got here?"
I cringed, but she should know the truth. Danse took her hand in his. It didn't bother me one iota.
"You must've been captured by super mutants, Callista," Dr. Virgil said matter of factly, "and instead of …. Well, they chose to give you the forced evolutionary virus that turned you into one of them. I just recently found a way to reverse the virus and Z brought you to me."
Her beautiful mouth opened, her eyes widened. She turned to look at me, panic in her eyes, then she found Danses' eyes and she took the breath she had been holding.
"How long … ?" she asked, softly.
I answered, "We don't know, Callista. But I've known you as a mutant for nearly four years."
"Oh," she said softly. Her jade eyes began to fill with unshed tears. "Thank you, Z, for getting me here. I really want to go home, now."
Danse gave her a gentle hug and when she let herself be embraced, she shed her tears. After a short time, where Dr. Virgil was looking a little bewildered, she lifted her face, "I'm okay. Really. It's just a shock, is all. Thank you all."
Danse patted her in a fatherly manner, and said, "Let's get you home, Callista."
We climbed the several stories of the CSA and opened the door to the rooftop. Our vertibird with the Minuteman Insignia boldly painted on its doors waited for us.
Callista sure enough took up a lot less room on a vertibird than Strong did.