Author's Note: I just want to say thanks to all of you who reviewed. I was pretty sure that everyone would forget this story. My muse is kicking me into gear lately so here we go...
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Vin awoke with a start sitting upright. The sleep cleared from his mind as he tried to figure what is was that had woke him. His eyes searched the darkness that enveloped the room, his eyes adjusting to the darkness as if it was full light due to his feline DNA.
Nothing looked out of order. Then, the small sound came again. A moan of pain coming from the bed next to him. This time Paige sat up also.
"What's going on?" She asked. She leaned over and turned on the bedside lamp.
"I don't-" His sentence broke off as he saw Lexa curled tightly into a ball on her side away from him. She was shivering and a cold sweat had broke out on her forehead.
"A seizure?" Paige asked.
"Don't think so." Vin said shaking his head.
Another moan came from her and Vin's stomach twisted.
"This isn't good. She doesn't speak for weeks, doesn't even move on her own and this is the first thing she does?" Vin said worriedly.
Paige slipped from her bed . She walked to their pile of stuff and pulled out the black trash bag that had miraculously survived the night.
She pulled the records out and spread them on the bed.
"Are those what I think they are?" Vin asked.
"If you think they are records from other X5s from Manticore that were in your program than you would be right." She said and sat down opening a record.
She turned to the section reserved for second trimester and began to read.
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Sixty five miles away from the bar Russ Calloway walked out of, the man woke rubbing his eyes. He took a look around and became scared not knowing how he got there. He started the engine and swore he would never drink again.
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An hour later Paige had made her way through four records and Lexa's condition was growing worse. The had progressed from light shivers to occasional violent shaking. Vin had to put a washcloth in between her teeth to prevent her from biting her tongue. He gathered her in his arms. Her shaking eased slightly.
"I think I know what the problem is." Paige said triumphantly. Then her smile faded.
"What's wrong? That's good right?" Vin asked confused.
"Just because I think I know what's wrong doesn't mean that I can fix the problem."
"What the hell does that mean?" Vin demanded. His voice deepened startling Paige.
"Okay, the way I understand it is they were giving the mothers hormones in pills and shakes right?" Vin nodded. "Well, at first I figured they were trying to use them to make the babies more compliant, but now I think they were trying to substitute them for the father's hormones. They must have had an adverse effect on Lexa."
"Why would a pregnant woman need male hormones? Doesn't she produce everything the baby and she would need?" His eyebrows drew together.
"Well, a NORMAL woman would. But we aren't talking about a normal woman Vin. You see when they messed with all of your body chemistry with those experiments they made you dependent on each other. When they first started and you were in pain didn't you find that when you guys touched it lessened?"
Vin nodded. "But that doesn't explain it. I mean, we were away from Alec for seven years. Wouldn't this have happened by now?"
"She wasn't pregnant before now. Plus the longer you guys are together the more hormones you guys share. Your body becomes dependent on them. Add in the fact you two were together so you were getting them anyways. Alec had other transgenics around and they stopped those type of experiments on him when you left. They ended up having to separate all of the teams still at Manticore. They found they were becoming unruly. When they would try to punish one of them the others would jump to their rescue."
She paused and looked at him. "They only allow them together on mission now." She quietly added. "There were many who couldn't handle it and they killed themselves. Psychologically, it was too much to be alone after being so close to the rest of their team."
Vin stared at the floor for a moment. He couldn't imagine trying to live without Lexa. Through the years she had become a part of him. His best friend, his sister. His fist clenched in the bedspread. This would not happen. He was her big brother and he would save her.
"Okay so we need to get Alec here, that's what you're saying?"
She nodded. "Yeah, and as soon as possible. You see how she calms a bit when you are near, when you touch her? I guess that even though you aren't the baby's father, evidently her body recognizes your hormones."
She put the file aside. "Every time you touch, your body leaves a scent. There are thousands of pores in your body for your hormones to transfer."
"So that's how the pain would ease, it's like we were sharing?"
"You could say that."
"Okay, I have to go call Logan and tell him the change of plans. Are you going to be okay here? You need anything?"
"I could use some food."
"At" he glanced at the clock on the wall. "Three Am.? I'll see what I can manage."
"Thanks. Be careful."
"Really? I thought I would tattoo "Hey! I'm a revved up killing machine that just escaped from my institution, wanna take me back?" Across my forehead. Not a good plan?" He said shaking his head.
Paige rolled her eyes and went into the bathroom to get another wet washcloth. She followed Vin to the door and locked it behind him.
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The wind blew sand into his eyes as he walked to the gas station to call Logan. He wiped the top of his head in agitation. He could feel the stubble growing back. They had allowed him to shave his head at Manticore which had surprised him. He briefly contemplated letting his hair grow back.
He reached the phone and pulled the change from his pocket silently chuckling at the way he had got it. He went back to the office to find the door closed again and the sounds of passion louder. Poor Elden had nearly cried when Vin had asked for change.
He deposited the fifteen dollars required for the ten minute call and dialed Logan's number once again. It rang three times before the older man answered.
"Hello?" Came Logan's weary voice over the line.
"It's Vin. We have a problem."
***To Be Continued...
Next chapter we find out what Alec and Max are up to...