True to his word, Lewis was 'right back' with an undamaged pair of pants for her. He seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood, and pulled them out of her reach twice. Keri finally turned her back on him. "You know, you're…I don't know how old and you're acting like a kid. It is not becoming."

Lewis chuckled, wrapped his arms around her, and tucked the jeans into her hands. "I'm 47, but I feel like a teenager at the moment," he said as he nibbled on her ear. "The release from the imperative has that effect."

"Release?" Keri stiffened. "I thought the imperative was released only when the female becomes pregnant?"

"Hmm? Oh, the permanent release, certainly. But while the possibility of conception remains from the most recent semen deposit, the imperative eases enough to feel as though it has been released." He inhaled deeply, running his nose down her body. Keri began to feel lightheaded under the full focus of all of his senses. "No, you haven't conceived, well, not yet." He sounded somewhat disappointed.

"And I won't. I'm on The Pill, remember?"

"Mmmm. I remember. However, that particular prescription won't work against my species," he said absently, stroking her breasts under the camisole top she wore.

"What?" She struggled desperately in his grip. "Damn it, Lewis, let go!" He released her, looking quite bewildered. "I can't get pregnant, how are we going to do anything if that happens?" She moved to stare at herself in the mirror. "Besides which, I don't want to get pregnant, I've never wanted children."

Lewis moved behind her. She could see him glower in the mirror. "You do not wish to bear my offspring?" he asked, his tone incredulous.

... ...

Keri sighed at their reflections. "Lewis, I love you, you know that." She leaned back against his chest and pulled his arms around her. "I'm just not the motherly type. I can't deal with diapers, crying kids, waking up at all hours. I'm just too damn selfish."

He bent to brush his lips across her hair. "I understand. This is not an appropriate time, at any rate…you are right, I would find it more difficult to protect you were you bearing. But later…once you are safe…"

"Um, didn't you hear the, I'm too selfish part?"

His arms tightened around her as he nuzzled her jaw. "Yes. I've chosen to ignore it."

"Lewis!" She twisted in his arms to glare at him. His quiet chuckle did nothing to soothe her outrage.

"Ah, Keridwen. If my people accept us you will not need to be the motherly type. I would hold a high enough position that many will vie for the privilege of caring for our offspring."

"Are they going to have the pregnancy and the labor, too?" She sighed at his frown. "Look, it doesn't matter right now. We can talk about it later, okay?" He was staring into her eyes…she could almost swear he looked…hurt. Keri reached for the bond, just as he began to slam down his shields. "No! Lewis, don't hide from me, please!"

"Keridwen," he began wearily. "What do you want from me? Do you want me to lie, to say it does not matter, that it is okay to discuss it later?"

"No." She slid her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek against him. "Does it really matter that much to you?" Looking up into his eyes she felt the pride and need warring within him. "Yeah, I guess it does." Keri sighed, and then stretched to gently kiss him. "Lewis, once we're safe, I will consider it an honor to have your child."

Lewis looked at her warily, disbelief sketched across his face. "You need not condescend to me, Keridwen," he told her with a touch of bitterness.

Frowning in surprise, Keri realized that this time she was the one that was shielding. She carefully and ostentatiously dropped them then looked deep into his eyes. "I would never do that; no games, no lines. I love you, even if you don't understand what that means." She sighed. "Look, I'm 39 years old. That's getting up there for us humans to be having their first child. We've got to know that it will be safe enough for me before I'll do this, but if it is, then I will, gladly. Okay?"

He cupped her face in one hand, sliding his thumb across her lips. His eyes drifted closed as his other arm tightened around her. "Thank you, my mate."

... ...

The rest of the group was waiting on their bikes when he and Keridwen finally emerged. Most of them averted their gazes. Two of their women looked directly at Keridwen, open sympathy in their eyes. His mate refused to look at any of them, took her place behind him and buried her face in his back. He nodded at the newly sullen Bear and started his engine, then waited for the older man to take the lead. He knew that his point had been made earlier and was now in control of himself enough to realize that pushing the dominance issue would cost him several valuable allies…if it had not already done so. Perhaps when Keridwen had recovered her composure, she would be able to mend any rifts.

They continued down Highway 99 for a half-hour before turning onto Interstate 5. Traveling on I-5 would take them directly into LA County in a few more hours. It would be dark by then, but perhaps that was just as well. He pulled up beside Bear. "Are you planning on stopping for the night, or pushing on through after dark?" he asked.

Bear glanced at him. "Ain't ya gonna tell me what ta do again?" he asked sarcastically. "Not like we don' know who the fuck's top dawg here."

Lewis sighed. It seemed it would be up to him to undo the damage. "As it concerns myself and my lady's welfare, I will override you should it become necessary, but these are your people. It is your call as to whether you want to camp for the night. Costa Mesa is on the other side of LA, you would have to push on much further than we would, and without a place to stay if we enter the area after dark."

Bear frowned, considering the matter, and then apparently decided to accept the statement for what it was…a peace offering. "Well, now. Renee has family in Glendale. They won't be mindin' too much if we crash in their backyard. An' I don't like what I was hearin' at the truck stop 'bout the Snakes just comin' through a few hours afore us. I know damn well they went an' camped. Not takin' our ladies anywheres near that crew. Ain't enough of us, even if one a us is a superman, ta protect 'em there."

"Now Bear, you know very well that Momma would love to see me," Renee put in.

"Yeah, but she ain't gonna be all that thrilled ta be seein' me."

"Ah, hell. She likes you better'n the last guy I shacked up with."

Bear looked at Lewis and rolled his eyes. "Well, maybe then she won't be takin' her shotgun ta me like she did him," he said with a grin.

The big man received a swat between the shoulders from Renee, who then looked over at Keridwen. Lewis felt his mate turn her head in Renee's direction as the other woman said "Men. What do they know, anyway?"

"Sometimes I wonder," Keridwen agreed.

... ...

They had made one more stop for a meal and restroom use; then had continued the ride down I-5 without any incident other than Keri feeling like her backside was going to fall off. Oh, and her back was itching. Not the kind of itch you can scratch…the kind of itch that she felt when someone was staring at her.

At first she thought it was the others looking at her and speculating about her and Lewis in the restroom, now she wasn't so sure. There had been no sign of it in the diner, but once they were back on the road it had started again. She had debated telling Lewis about it for the past several miles.

"Lewis," she said, leaning to talk in his ear. "I've got this really weird feeling, like someone's watching us."

He glanced towards the side she was leaning forward on. "Can you pick up their intent?"

"I don't know what you mean by that."

"Does it feel hostile, neutral or what?" he clarified.

Keri thought about it. It didn't feel hostile. But there was a kind of worry behind it…not quite a fearful feeling. "Cautious." That was the word she needed.

"Could be the CHP," he speculated. "I'll check it."

She could feel his level of concentration rising. At the same time, the itchy feeling disappeared.

"I'm not picking up anything," Lewis told her.

"That's because they stopped. I don't feel it anymore."

"Hmm."

"Hmm? What kind of answer is that?"

Lewis raised an eyebrow in her direction. "It means that there are several possible answers. Some of them are harmless; others could mean potential danger. Unfortunately there's no way to tell until or if it happens again."

"Oh. Okay, if I feel anything else, I'll let you know right away." Keri sighed and slid back down to a more comfortable position on the raised part of the seat as he nodded. She nestled in, letting herself drowse a bit but keeping her arms tightly wrapped around his lean waist. Hopefully they'd reach Glendale before her butt fell completely asleep.

... ...

Lewis pulled up beside Bear in front of a small home in the heart of Glendale. Renee had jumped off the bike and dashed into the house almost before Bear had finished braking. Bear turned to give him a wary look. Lewis ran quickly through his options and selected the behavior that would be most likely to ensure a positive reception should he need to use this group again. He held out his hand to the older veteran and when Bear responded in kind, grasped hands firmly. "Debt more than paid," Lewis said. "Thank you for helping to protect my lady."

Bear's eyebrows rose nearly to his hairline. "Brother, I didn't do much a nothin', 'cept let ya piss me off a bit." He grinned. "For real, man. Ya need us ya can leave a message here with Renee's mom. Renee calls her a lot. 'Course, ya can find us in Costa Mesa for a week or so startin' tomorra."

Lewis nodded. "I won't forget this," he said, then started the motor and pulled away. He wouldn't forget it. There could well come a time, and soon, when he could make good use of a couple of renegade SEALs and an old Green Beret.

As they cruised back onto I-5 South, heading for the CA-134 East onramp to Pasadena, Lewis felt Keridwen rubbing her cheek against his back. She evidently approved of how he had handled their parting from the biker vets, though he was certain that she would not be pleased at his motives…but that was not her concern. His mouth twitched. Perhaps he was beginning to learn how to merge her emotion-based needs with his survival instincts and need to provide security for his mate.

They reached Pasadena in less than twenty minutes despite the heavy traffic. A few minutes later they pulled into the Public Storage facility on North Lincoln Avenue. Lewis sent Keridwen in to rent a storage space for them, and to purchase a box for each of their packs, a roll of tape and a lock. She emerged about twenty minutes later with everything but the lock.

"Well, that was fun. They weren't really thrilled about giving me a storage space without an ID, but the kid bought the story about my bags getting misrouted by the airline. The lock's on the compartment already," she told him as he looked over her purchases and raised an eyebrow. "Do you know they want $93.00 a month for that thing? Highway robbery, geez."

They waited for the young man to go into the back of the retail area before wheeling the bike into the complex. Keridwen punched in the codes for the elevator and they rode it to the proper floor. She led the way through the maze of halls to the 5-foot by 9-foot locker and opened it. Lewis wheeled in the bike and pulled the door closed behind them. "Get changed," he told her, handing her a set of clothing. "We need to pass as University staff members, if not actual professors or TA's." He selected his new clothing, changed, and then began boxing their packs. Before taping them closed he removed the license plate and several of the more noticeable and easily removable customizations from the motorcycle and placed them in the boxes as well.

Keridwen had finished changing and stood staring at him with a questioning look. He gestured towards the chicken wire that was the enclosure's only roof. "In case someone comes looking for stolen items without a warrant. The bike won't fit the profile, and without plates is legitimately in storage." She nodded and stuffed the jeans and camisole into the final box before he taped it shut as well.

"On to the University?" she asked.

He nodded. "Yes. As I recall, most of Tom's sapiens acquaintances tended to work late. One of them should be there if he isn't there himself." Lewis smiled down at her. "Are your shoes comfortable?"

"Yes, I guess so. Why?"

"It's quite a few blocks."

Keridwen sighed. "Just don't start going around in circles on me, okay? We're not trying to lose anyone, and I really don't want to have leg cramps again."

"Hmm. You didn't like the massage?" he asked, his mouth twitching in mirth.

She stopped to mock-glare at him. "Of course I did. But I'd much rather have one without the cramps, thank you." He chuckled. "In fact, I'd love to have one next time we're in one place long enough." She leaned in against his chest and gave him a hopeful look. "Please?"

Lewis laughed aloud. "Of course, my mate. I live to cherish you." He placed a hand in the small of her back and encouraged her to start walking in the proper direction. "But for now, we walk." He chuckled at her put-upon sigh.

... ...

They had been walking for blocks…many blocks, as promised. Her feet weren't hurting yet, but her backside was still aching from the long ride south. Lewis, of course, seemed to be having no problems whatsoever. She sighed as they crossed yet another intersection and turned yet another corner.

At one point he'd stopped and moved over to the side of the street next to a florist's shop and simply stood and concentrated. She'd waited patiently, glad for the rest, until he was done. "They're not here," he'd said, sounding a bit surprised. "Let's go on to the lab."

Finally the houses and shops gave way to what looked like a university campus. Lewis had her wait on a bench and ducked into a used bookstore just off campus. When he emerged, he handed her two well-worn but thankfully slender books on law and government. He carried several equally worn books dealing with psychology.

"You are a TA at the undergraduate level for the two courses marked on this course book flyer," he informed her, handing a poorly Xeroxed sheet to her. "I am a professor teaching undergrads the circled courses."

"And what if someone from one of those courses asks about it?"

He gave her a sour look. "Then," he told her. "We improvise."

Keri sighed and followed him down the street.

She suddenly realized they were taking a rather circuitous route through the grounds, but decided it was probably a good idea. Danielle had her hooks into this lab, so some of her people might be around. Keri decided to watch the people they were passing a bit more closely…without being obvious about it. Busy with her self-appointed task, she almost missed it when Lewis left the path and entered the shadows of a stand of trees. He came to an abrupt halt at the other end of it.

"There it is," he said quietly. Across the parking lot that adjoined the grove of trees stood a long low building of typical university construction. Only a sign revealed that the anthropology and genetics labs were contained therein.

Lewis was scanning deeply again. And again, he looked disappointed. "I don't recognize anyone there…but then, I would not know Dr. Tate by scanning. Let's go take a look, shall we?" He turned and started to leave the cover of the trees.

Keri opened her mouth to agree then gasped. She grabbed Lewis by the arm, pulling him back with all her strength. They ended up sprawled on the ground just inside the tree line.

His eyebrows rose as he stared at her flushed face. "Keridwen, you can't possibly be out of cont…" he broke off as she clapped a hand over his mouth.

"Look over there," she whispered in his ear. "That's Dani's top agent…I think his name's Foster. And those men he's directing…I've seen most of them at her facilities. Why would she have so many people here?"

Lewis frowned thoughtfully. He rolled over onto his stomach and peered across the wide parking lot. Keri moved beside him, and then shivered.

"Uh oh. That feeling's back," she told him. "Someone's watching again…I think it's the same ones."

... ...

Lewis nodded and dropped back into an intense scanning mode. At the edges of his perception something familiar moved in and out of existence. Someone was…masking. And doing it quite well. He frowned and concentrated harder. No, it wasn't Tom…and if it was not…they could be in a great deal of trouble.

ELSEWHERE

"Good afternoon, Tom. I hear you've been…uncooperative with today's testing."

The younger man glared up at him, but made no audible response.

Dr. David Bowman sighed. He didn't really blame the man, but he'd thought that Tom understood that the more he cooperated with the baseline testing, the more likely it would be that he would remain whole and healthy. "I thought we had an agreement, Tom," he ventured.

"Our agreement was for standard diagnostic type testing…non-invasive, non-surgical, and not harmful."

"Certainly. A diagnostic endoscopy isn't harmful or surgical, and while it is marginally invasive I didn't…"

Tom stood; it was a fluidly aggressive movement. "I'm not ignorant, doctor. I've had enough medical training and experience with researchers to know the difference between a scope intended for viewing and one that uses a laser to cut samples or perform surgeries."

"Are you saying…" Dr. Bowman broke off as Tom snapped a glare in his direction. He cleared his throat to buy time to recover from his shock. "Tom, I'm sorry. I did not authorize anything but a camera probe. I'll discuss this with Dr. Montclair. This was…not attempted with my knowledge."

Tom nodded, albeit a bit stiffly, and sat down on the hard cot. "Perhaps you need to keep a closer leash on your people, David."

Bowman smiled. If Tom was back to calling him by his first name, then he knew that he was being told the truth. "You're absolutely right. Uh, Tom. I'm afraid I wasn't able to make much headway on your questions about the other lab. I was called into my superior's office and firmly informed that it was not my concern. I'm sorry."

He paused and took a step closer to lean on the bars of the cell. Cautiously he sub-vocalized as he spoke again, knowing that while Tom's sensitive hearing would pick up the sound the hastily installed and somewhat substandard recording equipment would not. "Judging by the reactions when I mentioned the four names, they are not in custody. Ashton is furious about it." He swallowed as Tom gave the barest of nods in acknowledgment.

"I'll pursue the matter outside of the facility but I must be cautious. She assured me that if I made it my concern that I would be removed from the project. And if that happens, the only light of day I'll see this lifetime will be the walk between where they pick me up and whatever they'll use to transport me to my execution."

Tom stood and paced the length of the cell. "I appreciate your asking, Dr. Bowman," he said aloud. "Please, don't trouble yourself further. I'm sure your superior would not appreciate even scientific curiosity over the matter."