Chapter 8

"It's ok Karen, just hang in there." Allison was helping her threw the final stages, but with the monitors down she was flying blind. There was no time to set up the old equipment and she needed to record as much as possible in case of an emergency with either Karen or the baby. A fast pregnancy and delivery was dangerous for all concerned.

"Joe I need your help." But Joe didn't budge. Zane noticed the distance in Joes expression as he entered the room. Something wasn't right. "Zane. Thank god."
"What do you need?"

"Get these monitors up and running now."

"Joe!" Allison's bark snapped her out of her dream state.

"I'm sorry."

"Hold her hand."
"I'm sorry Joe. I know you weren't ready for any of this."

"We can talk about that later. Right now we need to worry about your baby."
"It looks like a simple short." Zane told them, still worried about Joe's reactions. He'd never seen her so spooked.
"It's coming." Karen screamed.

"I can see the head." Allison told her.

"There." Zane announced as the lights came back on.

"Zane grab me that towel." Allison pointed to the thermo blanket just out of reach.

"One more push Karen and you are going to be a mum."

"Aggghhhhh."

"Oh God." Joe squirmed.

"Not afraid of a little blood are you Joe?" Zane asked trying to ease her tension.

"Not a word."

"When I give the word Zane, I need you to catch the baby and wrap it tightly."
"Oh isn't there someone else…"
"Now." Before anyone could blink, Karen pushed out a beautiful baby girl. Zane held it tightly in his arms as Allison made sure that everything was safe for Karen. Then she checked the baby out as it lay in Zane's arms.

"Here you go Dr Cain, here's your daughter." Zane announced with a giant smile on his face.

"I'm sorry. I have to go." Joe fled the room as Zane watched with concern.

"That's it Allison. What is wrong with her?" Zane asked with concern in his voice, "This is not the Joe we know. Something is wrong and I want you to tell me what it is."
"I can't… but you should speak to Joe… and soon."
"I have tried, so many times but she has avoided me for the last two months. Whatever it is she doesn't want me anywhere near her."
"Give her time." Karen told him, "She'll come around."

"That's something I don't have much of." He sighed as he left to return to his lab.

oOo

"That's it." Henry cried out. "We don't blow it up into smaller pieces, we shrink it into smaller pieces."
"That's the spirit." Carter encouraged him, "How exactly."

"Taggart's shrink ray." Zane chimed in as he returned, with a much friendlier attitude.

"Oh I don't know. We shrunk the town last time we used that thing."
"With a few moderation, I think we could make it work."

"It would still be a three step process though. We'd have to hit it three or four times until it was small enough not to do any damage."

"Great. How long?" Jack asked.

"Given the modifications we have to make. We would need at least 28 hours."
"All right.. so we have a plan. What can I do to help?"
"Honestly Jack…" Henry smiled.

"Got it. Staying out of your way."

oOo

"Allison." Jack called out as he saw her walking in the corridor. I was just looking for you.

"I'm a bit busy now Jack."

"I know." He pulled her aside, "I need to talk to you about something."

"I'm sorry. What is it?"
"I was going over the emergency procedures and they mentioned something about a bunker."
"Yes. There is an emergency bunker just a mile out of town."
"How many can it hold?"
"In theory. Approximately 1000 people."
"And there's over 2000 people in eureka."
"Where are you going with this Jack?"
"I think we need a backup plan just in case things go pear shaped."
"Henry knows what his doing."
"Are you willing to risk Kevin's life on that, Jenna's?" He asked touching her child.

"Do it."

"Already on it."

"Jack. Once people find out there will be a panic."
"I know." He thought to himself, but if he could save just half of Eureka's knowledge then the world wouldn't be entirely lost.

oOo

"That's the last of the preserves." Vincent told him as he loaded them into Jacks van. "I'll get started on the rest of your list."
"You haven't told anyone have you Vincent?"
"Of course not sheriff. I understand what's at stack here."

"Thanks Vincent."
"Sheriff." Vincent grabbed his hand, "Jack… good luck."
"Thanks." He took jumped into his jeep. "We'll know one way or another in less than three hours. I need you at the coordinates in less than two and a half."
"Oh, I'm not going."
"What.. Vincent."
"I'm a genius, I know that. But my spot should go to someone who can really make a difference in repairing the world, or a child. I've had a good life. I'll take my chances."

"I don't know what to say?"

"Just keep them safe…" Vincent started to tear up so Jack drove away.

oOo