Progeny

Chapter 1

Tim and Ellie stepped out of the airline terminal early Thursday morning, smiling at each other. When Tim was scheduled for a series of book signings in San Diego, California, he asked Ellie to come with him. It would be their first trip away from the ranch, other than for work, since the birth of their youngest child, Joselyn, in January. Now it was April, almost 2 years post the Nuclear Attack on Washington, DC. and with Jossie, the baby's nickname, now four months old and sleeping a full 8 hours at night, the couple was confident their brood would be safe and happy with their grandparents, aunties and uncles for a few days.

Having arranged for an early check-in, the couple rode a shuttle from the airport to their beachfront hotel. Once in their room, they checked out the ocean view from their terrace before spending a few minutes unpacking. As Tim's first session started at 11:00, they had a little time to spare. After a quick walk on the beach, they returned to the pool deck and outdoor bar, finding a table and ordering lunch. Although there was only an hour's difference in time between New Mexico and the West Coast, they'd had breakfast quite early and Tim preferred that his stomach not be growling while he was talking with his Gemcity fans!

After a delicious lunch, they returned to the room where they changed clothes, Tim gathered everything he needed for the session and off they went!

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That first session, which ended at 1:00 PM, went very well, with the perfect number of fans, enough to keep Tim busy while also leaving him time for a brief chat with many of them. When fans reported that the line was now winding around the block, Ellie, who'd stayed for this session, found the end and made her way forward, thanking each fan for being patient. Contacting a local café, she asked them to take beverage orders for the waiting fans, paying with one of Thom E Gemcity's credit cards.

Tim's second session, from 4:30 to 6:30, also went well. They'd returned to the hotel between sessions so Tim could soak his left hand. He would do that after each session, before he went to sleep that night and Friday morning before his first session. They had snacks at the hotel to tide them over as 6:30, which was 7:30 at home, was considerably later than they usually had dinner. Ellie did a little shopping, mostly browsing, during that second session.

Knowing they'd both be tired, they hadn't planned anything for that evening except perhaps another walk on the beach after dinner at the hotel.

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Friday morning and Tim smiled as the next fan approached the table. They'd had a good crowd and these folks were almost the last ones. A young girl, looking older than 9-year-old Tyler but younger than 14-year-old Callum, stood in front of him. Tall and thin as a rail, she wore a scarf turban-style around her head, a medical mask over her mouth and nose, long sleeves and gloves on her hands. His heart went out to her. Then he noticed the girl's bright eyes, alive with excitement.

He held out his hand, first looking at the woman behind her who he hoped was her mother or at least with the girl. When she gave a quick nod, Tim again smiled at the child, "Hello, I'm Thom E Gemcity, what's your name?"

Her smile was invisible behind the mask but he could hear it in her reply. "I'm Tessa, Mr. Gemcity and I'm really happy to meet you!"

"I'm happy to meet you too, Tessa!"

They shook hands and then Tim turned to the mother who introduced herself as Avery Camden. Tim nodded, "I'm happy to meet you both. Now, what would you like me to sign and what would you like me to say?"

Tessa giggled, "My book, here, and just Tessa please, from you." She leaned forward, whispering, "Can you put Timothy McGee, your real name?"

He whispered back to her, "What makes you think that's my real name?"

"Because it's an anagram of Thom E Gemcity."

He chuckled and her eyes suddenly widened. "You look like my brother!"

"I do? What's his name?"

"There are two of them, twins, Seanie and Mark. They're 10. You look like Sean."

"Hmm, so how old are you, 14 or 15?"

"No way! I just turned 12!"

"Congratulations!"

He quickly signed her book adding a note with a winky face that his real name was not what she thought but he gave her 3 more smiley faces for her effort. She and her mother moved on while he signed books for the next people in line.

Ellie entered the bookstore, smiling at her husband. She'd dropped her purchases off at their hotel before coming in to meet him. They'd have lunch somewhere and do some sightseeing this afternoon. The one thing she and Tim decided ahead of their trip is that this year there would be no new babies for them! As she headed for one of her favorite genres, she noticed a woman discreetly watching Tim, accompanied by a young girl who looked tired and rundown.

Tessa's mother was trying to be subtle about hanging around the bookstore but she had a question for Mr. Gemcity and now that she'd met him, she had more than one question. While Tim did a quick wrap-up with the store manager, Ellie watched the woman, seeing her hesitancy and thinking that it would be great to do something extra for the girl. Finally deciding on a plan, she approached the mother, knowing Tim would love the idea.

"Excuse me. Hi, I'm Ellie, Thom's wife. I know this is unusual but he likes to get to know his fans when he can, hear their views, it really helps his thought process when he's writing. Would the two of you like to join us for lunch? We'll treat and I promise we're safe. We're both federal agents, here's my badge and ID."

Tim overheard her as he and the manager confirmed the hours for the signing sessions tonight and tomorrow. He smiled, lunch would be just the thing. He'd hoped to make the girl's day something special and he wanted to find out if there was anything they could do for her. What that might be, he had no idea. Except maybe to dedicate his next book, due out in 3 months, to her.

Ms. Camden agreed, feeling relieved and a little ashamed, thinking she'd been too obvious. But Tessa was thrilled and her daughter's happiness was a priority. She smiled when the couple asked for her recommendation for luncheon restaurants, obviously they were from out of town.

Taking separate cars, they met at the cafe, one with a patio that overlooked the bay. Ms. Camden smiled at them, "This is one of my favorite places. I love the patio out back, the food is good, it's quiet after the lunch rush and they serve until 3."

Ellie and Tim returned the smile and Ellie said, "Sounds perfect. Our hotel room looks out on the ocean and we've had a couple of walks on the beach but more ocean views are always welcome! We haven't seen it in a while."

"Do you live in the Midwest?"

"No, for most of the last two years we've lived in New Mexico. Before that, we lived in Virginia. I'm originally from Oklahoma and my husband was born in Maryland."

"Oh no, you lived in the strike zone?"

"Yes, in Arlington, just outside of DC where we worked."

"I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Are your family and friends all right?"

Tim nodded, "Took us awhile to reconnect with some of them but yes, everyone's all right. We were lucky…" He told her about the ranch in New Mexico purchased for family vacations and the shelter and those who stayed on afterward, still living on the ranch.

Ellie nodded, "My family has a ranch in Oklahoma but they sheltered with us. We didn't know how bad it would be or how long it would be before we could see or even talk with them."

"I'm so grateful you all got out. Were you on the government flights?"

Tim shook his head and briefly told her what they'd done.

"And now you live in Albuquerque, that's a big difference!"

Ellie chuckled, "We like the dry heat versus the humidity and the traffic in Albuquerque is hardly noticeable after years of the DC Beltway."

Ms. Camden nodded, "We lived in DC Metro for a few years and I remember that the traffic never let up!"

After placing their orders, Tessa pulled out her phone, "Here's a photo of my brothers."

Ellie looked at the photo before giving Tim a look. Resisting the impulse to sigh, he looked and hooked an eyebrow. One of the boys looked like him; the other looked like his dad. The only twins on Henry's DNA chart also had an older sister, who was now sitting right there with them.

He pointed to them, "That's Sean and that's Mark?"

She nodded but then was confused when her new friends turned to her mother. Her mom shrugged, "My former husband couldn't have kids and we wanted a family. We did a lot of research and decided to purchase genetic material from a cryogenics bank in Massachusetts."

Tim scrolled through his phone, finally finding the information he wanted. Handing Tessa's mother his phone, he said, "Does that information look familiar?"

She looked stunned at the information that contained the donor number of Tessa and the twins' biological father, blinking before nodding without looking up. Ellie looked at the girl, "Tessa, I'd really like to see the ocean. Would you like to come out to the patio with me?"

Ms. Camden nodded to her daughter, "That's fine, sweetie. No more than 15 minutes, our food will be ready by then. Keep your jacket, mask and gloves on."

"Ok, Mom."

She and Ellie walked towards the patio door as the other two watched. As soon as the child was out of earshot, Tim said, "Your daughter looks like her great-grandmother, my paternal grandmother Anne Baxter Gibbs. Mark looks like my dad; I'll show you a photo if we have time. My name is Timothy Jackson Gibbs; Sean and I both look like my maternal grandfather, McKenzie Fielding. What can we do to help Tessa?"

Appreciating the 'cut to the chase' approach, Ms. Camden said, "She needs a bone marrow transplant; at this point it may be the only thing that will save her. Everyone on my side of the family has been tested and no one is a match. I wrote to the Cryogenic Bank asking if they would contact our donor but I only sent it two days ago. When I saw you at the bookstore, you looked so much like Sean that I hoped God had answered our prayers."

Tim nodded, "I don't know much about bone marrow transplants but I do know there's a chance we won't match and even if we do, that doesn't mean it'll help Tessa. However, it's not just me. My grandfather, both my parents, my sister and my cousins, there are 7 of them, will want to test too. And my kids too, Ellie and I have 6 at home, 5 of whom share DNA with Tessa."

"There are age restrictions. No one under 18 or over 65."

"Okay, that eliminates my grandfather, 3 of the cousins and our kids. Our eldest is 9." He frowned, "We'll go ahead and test but I wonder if there's a way for the bank to contact any other donor offspring and ask if they'll help."

"Do you know how many there are?"

He shrugged, "Several although I don't know their names - just that they exist. When we adopted our son Henry, Social Services ran his DNA and came up with several half-siblings but they're listed as male or female, no names or birthdates. Is there anything else we can do? Financial support, help with the kids?"

"We're all right financially, thanks. My ex-husband works for the federal government and has a good medical plan. I also work and have medical insurance; between the two plans nearly everything has been covered." She held up crossed fingers. "My parents have been helping with the children. It's hard on the boys but they've been good."

"I'm assuming this is urgent, the transplant needed as soon as possible?"

"Yes."

"Is the testing done at the hospital or a doctor's office?"

"We did ours at the hospital. The test is a cheek swab; the extraction is done under general anesthesia, although on an outpatient basis. I'll call her primary doctor right now and see if you can be tested before you leave. How long are you here?"

"Sunday but I can stay longer if it means getting the test done and if I'm a match, I can return as soon as they can get things scheduled. We have 5 doctors in my family so I'll ask them to coordinate getting my parents, sister and cousins tested. Ellie will want to be tested too and possibly other people in our families."

"Wow, 5 doctors!"

Tim smiled, "We have a large family. A few of us, my parents, my sister the doctor, my grandfather, cousins, 5 of my kids and I are blood related. Along with my godparents, everyone else either married in, was adopted by my parents, my cousins or Ellie and me. A few other folks are good friends who've become family."

"A chosen family, wonderful."

"Yes, it is. Now, is Tessa's last name also Camden?"

"Oh no, it's Mays. Do you need her father's full name…I mean…?"

He smiled, "Child Protection Services refers to them as custodial fathers and I don't know if I need his name."

Asking to be called Avery, Tessa's mother made the phone call to her daughter's doctor while Ellie and Tessa wandered back inside. Their server arrived with their food just as the call ended. The ladies sat as Avery said, "Sunday morning, if that works."

Tim nodded, "We can make it work." He looked at Ellie who just nodded, if whatever 'it' was meant helping Tessa, she agreed.

As they finished eating, they could see Tessa was tiring; after making a few plans, they went their separate ways.