A/N: Just one more chapter to go. Again, sorry that it's short. We'll see if the muse ever hits me to get me writing more about Elizabeth and the other 4400. Right now, this is all there is but I'm even hoping there will be more. :)
Elizabeth nervously nodded as another person greeted her with a smile and a polite hello. She licked her lips, a nervous habit, but her mouth felt so dry. It was ridiculous but she felt like she couldn't even string together enough words to say hello back to these people. She smiled a bit though, while worrying that she looked out of place. It was getting so bad that she almost couldn't concentrate on much else.
She tried to inconspicuously check to make sure that her dress wasn't falling down. She was wearing a strapless dark purple dress with a beautiful pattern made of sequins swirling around it. Elizabeth was constantly worried that it was going to fall down despite the fact that she took every precaution to prevent that from happening.
Shawn wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled Elizabeth away from another visitor. "I just need to borrow her for a bit," he said to the man, flashing him a smile. The man just turned to talk to another member of the 4400 Center's staff.
"Thanks," Elizabeth whispered.
"What's wrong?" Shawn asked once they were away from the crowds. "You're normally so outgoing. You look like a deer caught in the headlights out there."
Elizabeth uncertainly shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just so nervous. Maybe it's all the energy in the room. Maybe it's knowing Jordan's keeping an eye on me."
Shawn chuckled. "He's not keeping an eye on you."
Elizabeth nodded toward a tall, thin man who was clearly watching them. He was out of ear shot but she knew he was watching her. She had seen him following her since she arrived at the gala on Shawn's arm. When Shawn was pulled away for a quick word with Jordan, she watched the man move closer to her and follow her as she made a circuit around the room on her own. He was staring right at them and it made Elizabeth shiver.
"Don't tell me that Jordan's not having someone keep an eye on me," she said. "Not when that guy's staring right at us."
Shawn turned to look where Elizabeth was looking. He didn't recognize the guy and Shawn was certain that he knew everyone who worked for Jordan Collier. Shawn shook his head as he turned back to Elizabeth. "That's not one of his guys," he told her. His voice was laced with concern. "I don't know who he is."
"I think we should go talk to him."
Shawn gave Elizabeth a strange look. "We?"
"Yes, you and I," she said to him more forcefully. "I think we should go talk to him, find out who he is and what he wants."
Shawn started to shake his head, but the look in her eyes told him that she was serious. "Okay," he replied with a nod. "Okay. We'll go talk to him."